cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonathermal potting of optics

Historically lenses and windows on many military production programs, are potted (elastomerically bonded), often with less than theoretical athermal potting gaps. Actual gaps may vary by factors of 2 to 4 less than ideal for athermal potting. Yet these military systems have passed rigorous qualification tests and seem to work adequately. Are problems lurking in the extremes of cold or hot for which MTF measurements are not typically done? Are typical stress levels high enough to impact optical performance? This manuscript will address these issues. Finite element models will be used to examine a number of representative germanium optics to show to what extent these elements are affected by non-optimal potting gaps. Cases include a convex-concave lens, a concave-concave lens, and a convex-convex lens. All the optical elements will be potted in aluminum housings.
Lasers for large modulation bandwidth and low-threshold applications

Carrier transport and recombination dynamics are seen to be the intrinsic limitations to the performance of quantum well lasers. The carrier relaxation times as a function of quantum well width were measured in laser structures using a streak camera. Auger recombination rates were experimentally determined in compressively strained InxGa1-xAs/InGaAsP/InP quantum wells from the large signal modulation of single mode lasers. In order to overcome the intrinsic limitations in present semiconductor laser designs, a new device concept has been demonstrated: the tunneling injection quantum well laser, in which the carriers are injected into the active lasing subband by resonant and sequential tunneling. The highest 3 dB modulation bandwidth (12.5 GHz) and the highest differential gain (6 X 10-16 cm2) for a single quantum well laser have already been demonstrated. To realize threshold currents of much less than 1 mA, quantum wire lasers are required. We present theoretical and experimental results on the performance characteristics of quantum wire lasers. The experimental structures are being realized in the InxGa1-xAs/GaAs system by MBE growth and regrowth and electron beam lithography.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Precursor-directed polyketide biosynthesis in Escherichia coli

Precursor-directed polyketide biosynthesis was demonstrated in the heterologous host Escherichia coli. Several diketide and triketide substrates were fed to a recombinant E. coli strain containing a variant form of deoxyerythronolide B synthase (DEBS) from which the first elongation module was deleted resulting in successful macrolactone formation from the diketide, but not the triketide, substrates.
Adenoviral-Mediated Transfer of a Lysostaphin Gene into the Goat Mammary Gland

As a step toward preventing and curing Staphylococcus aureus mastitis, an adenoviral-mediated gene transfer technique was used to enable mammary cells to synthesize and secrete lysostaphin, an anti-staphylococcal protein. A lysostaphin gene, modified for eukaryotic expression of the bioactive variant, Gln125,232-lysostaphin, was inserted into a replication deficient adenovirus by homologous recombination in 293 cells. The resulting adenoviral vector containing the modified lysostaphin gene (Ad-lys) was used to infect bovine mammary epithelial cells in vitro and caprine mammary cells in vivo. A similar adenoviral vector containing the Escherichia coli gene encoding beta-galactosidase (Ad-lacZ) was also evaluated. Transduction of cultured bovine cells by Ad-lacZ was confirmed by the presence of beta-galactosidase in fixed cells 48 h postinfection. Bovine cells transduced by Ad-lys secreted immunoreactive Gln125,232-lysostaphin (0.8 microg/ml) into media that had approximately 20% bioactivity compared with native lysostaphin. To evaluate transduction in vivo, udder halves of four nonlactating goats were exposed to 10(10) plaque-forming units (pfu) ofAd-lacZ by two intramammary infusions given 48 h apart. The animals were euthanized 24 h later, and extensive expression of beta-galactosidase was detected in cells lining the teat canals, with more moderate expression observed in adjoining mammary parenchyma. Udder halves of two other nonlactating goats were infused with 10(10) pfu of Ad-lys while contralateral udder halves received Ad-lacZ. The animals were euthanized 48 h postinfusion. In both animals, extensive expression of beta-galactosidase was detected in Ad-lacZ exposed teats. Immunoreative Gln125,232-lysostaphin was detectable in secretions from Ad-lys exposed glands 24 h postinfusion, increasing to approximately 1 microg/ml at 48 h postinfusion. As with cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells, the bioactivity of goat-derived Gln125,232-lysostaphin was approximately 20% of native lysostaphin. These results demonstrate that an adenoviral vector can be used to introduce a gene into the ruminant mammary gland, enabling the secretion of a bioactive form of lysostaphin.
Affinity to infinity in peer-to-peer knowledge platforms

Adapting the social paradigm of face-to-face human communication, they promote ad hoc knowledge exchange among peers, leveraging individual expertise at the periphery of the network.
Mechanisms of change associated with technology-based interventions for substance use

Background Technology-based interventions (TBIs) for substance use disorders have been increasing steadily. The mechanisms by which TBIs produce change in substance use outcomes have not been reviewed. This article is the first review of the conceptual and empirical underpinnings of the mechanisms associated with TBIs for substance use disorders.
Hydrogen impurities in oxides and halides

Abstract The effect of H-impurity on the properties of vitreous SiO 2 is presented. Thermogravimetric analyses of the volatility of pure ZrF 4 using two different carriers, N 2 and CO, show that outgas H 2 O should be taken into account. Consequently, it is shown that the intrinsic hydrolyzed state of pure ZrF 4 is significant. It is proposed that the stronger hydrogen bonded fluoride glasses will have generally a higher content of H-impurity than the oxide (SiO 2 ) counterpart.
Marijuana impacts mood in bipolar disorder: a pilot study

Patients with bipolar disorder (BP) often report subjective mood improvements after smoking marijuana (MJ); however, empirical studies supporting this claim have not been conducted. We conducted this study to determine if marijuana has an impact on mood in bipolar patients who smoke marijuana (MJBP), hypothesizing MJBP participants would experience improved mood after smoking MJ. All participants completed electronic mood ratings three times daily and recorded episodes of MJ use using Palm Pilot devices in their own environments in order to examine the impact of MJ use on mood in MJ-smoking bipolar patients (n = 12) and pure MJ smokers (MJ; n = 20). Difference scores were calculated between pre and post-MJ scales. Patients with BP (n = 11) who did not smoke MJ were also included as a comparison group. Significant mood improvement was observed in the MJBP group on a range of clinical scales after smoking MJ, while the MJ group reported a slight worsening of symptoms. Notably, total mood disturbance, a comp...
Detection and localization of radiotherapy targets by template matching

Radio opaque fiducials are implanted in tumors for the purpose of tracking the target motion using X-ray projections during radiation therapy dose delivery. In this paper we describe and evaluate a novel method based on template matching for detection and localization of arbitrary shaped fiducials. Segmentation methods are not adequate for these fiducials because their appearance in online X-ray projections can vary greatly as a function of imaging angle. The algorithm is based on using the planning CT image to generate templates that correspond to the imaging angles of the online images. We demonstrate successful tracking of complex shape fiducials in clinical images of lung and abdomen. We also validate the algorithm by comparing the results with a segmentation approach for one case in which the fiducials could be tracked by both methods. We also show how by adaptive thresholding of the match scores, we can control the false detection rate.
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFICACY OF CRITERION REFINEMENT PROCEDURES IN MANTEL‐HAENSZEL DIF ANALYSIS

Differential item functioning (DIF) analysis is a key component in the evaluation of the fairness and validity of educational tests. Although it is often assumed that refinement of the matching criterion always provides more accurate DIF results, the actual situation proves to be more complex. To explore the effectiveness of refinement, we conducted a simulation study consisting of 40 conditions that varied in terms of amount and pattern of DIF, sample sizes, and ability distributions. We found that the effectiveness of refinement was heavily dependent on whether DIF was balanced (with positive DIF values compensating for negative DIF values) or unbalanced (all in one direction). In balanced conditions, the unrefined method generally produced better results, whereas, in unbalanced conditions, the opposite was true. In the absence of information about the pattern of DIF, it is probably best to choose the refined method because it is only slightly disadvantageous in balanced conditions, whereas the unrefined method can be substantially disadvantageous in certain unbalanced conditions.
Notch signaling represses p63 expression in the developing surface ectoderm

The development of the mature epidermis requires a coordinated sequence of signaling events and transcriptional changes to specify surface ectodermal progenitor cells to the keratinocyte lineage. The initial events that specify epidermal keratinocytes from ectodermal progenitor cells are not well understood. Here, we use both developing mouse embryos and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to explore the mechanisms that direct keratinocyte fate from ectodermal progenitor cells. We show that both hESCs and murine embryos express p63 before keratin 14. Furthermore, we find that Notch signaling is activated before p63 expression in ectodermal progenitor cells. Inhibition of Notch signaling pharmacologically or genetically reveals a negative regulatory role for Notch signaling in p63 expression during ectodermal specification in hESCs or mouse embryos, respectively. Taken together, these data reveal a role for Notch signaling in the molecular control of ectodermal progenitor cell specification to the epidermal keratinocyte lineage.
Biocatalysis of the Antimalarial Artemisinin by Mucor ramannianus. Strains

AbstractBiocatalysis of artemisinin by different strains of Mucor ramannianus.* illustrates a simple approach to bioengineering for attaining useful biotransformation strains for preparative or downstream development. Three different strains of M. ramannianus. on the malt/sucrose medium were compared for their native ability to metabolize the antimalarial artemisinin and produce significant yields of hydroxylated artemisinin derivatives. The M. ramannianus. strains transformed the antimalarial into hydroxylated metabolites, in particular 7β.-hydroxyartemisinin at 88% yield and 6β.-hydroxyartemisinin at 51% yield.M. ramannianus. strains: M. ramannianus. 1839, University of Wisconsin, M. ramannianus. ATCC 9624, American Typical Cultures Collection, M. ramannianus. ATCC MYA-883 (R-56), Jefferson County, Arkansas (American Typical Cultures Collection).
A distributed control architecture of high-speed networks

A control architecture for a high-speed packet-switched network is described. The architecture was designed and implemented as part of the PARIS (subsequently plaNET and BBNS) networking project at IBM. This high bandwidth network for integrated communication (data, voice, video) is currently operational as a laboratory prototype. It will also be deployed within the AURORA Testbed that is part of the NSF/DARPA gigabit networking program. The high bandwidth dictates the need for specialized hardware to support faster packet handling for both point-to-point and multicast connections. A faster and more efficient network control is also required in order to support the increased number of connections and their changing requirements with time. The new network control architecture presented exploits specialized hardware, thereby enabling tasks to be performed faster and with less computation overhead. In particular, since control information can be distributed quickly using hardware packet handling mechanisms, decisions can be made based upon more complete and accurate information. In some respects, this has the effect of having the benefits of centralized control (e.g., easier bandwidth resource allocation to connections), while retaining the fault tolerance and scalability of a distributed architecture. >
Using landscape metrics to model source habitat for Neotropical migrants in the midwestern U.S.

Size of a forest patch is a useful predictor of density and reproductive success of Neotropical migratory birds in much of eastern North America. Within these forested landscapes, large forest tracts appear to be sources-fragments in which surpluses of offspring are produced and can potentially colonize new fragments including woodlot sinks where reproduction fails to balance adult mortality. Within agricultural landscapes of the midwestern U.S., where forests are severely fragmented, high levels of brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and intense predation on nests generally result in low reproductive success for Neotropical migrants regardless of forest size. In some midwestern U.S. landscapes, however, the variation in reproductive success among forest fragments suggests that 'source' habitat could still exist for Neotropical migrants. We used vegetation, fragment and landscape metrics to develop multivariate models that attempt to explain the variation in abundance and reproductive success of Neotropical migrants nesting in an agricultural landscape in northern Indiana, USA. We produced models that reasonably described the pattern of species richness of Neotropical migrants and the abundance of wood thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) and several other Neotropical migrant species within 14 forest fragments. In contrast, we were unable to produce useful models of the reproductive success of wood thrushes breeding in the same forest fragments. Our results suggest that (l) abundance patterns of Neotropical migrants are probably influenced by both landscape-and fragment-scale factors: (2) multivariate analyses of Neotropical migrant abundance are not useful in modeling the corresponding patterns of reproductive success: and (3) the location of any remaining 'source' habitat for Neotropical migrants breeding within agricultural landscapes in North America will be difficult to predict with indirect measures such as vegetation composition or landscape context. As a result, the potential for developing conservation strategies for Neotropical migrants will be limited without labor-intensive, direct measurements of demographic parameters.
Comparative Pharmacokinetics of Coumarin Anticoagulants XXV: Warfarin–Ibuprofen Interaction in Rats

The effect of ibuprofen on the pharmacokinetics and anticoagulant action of racemic warfarin was determined in a crossover study on male Sprague-Dawley rats. At average plasma concentrations of 24-83 mg/liter, ibuprofen decreased the biological half-life and increased the total clearance of warfarin. It also increased the anticoagulant effect produced by a given plasma concentration of total (free and protein-bound) warfarin. These effects of ibuprofen appear to be a consequence of its displacing effect on warfarin in plasma.
Impact of Correlation on Linear Precoding in QSTBC Coded Systems with Linear MSE Detection

In this paper, we study a wireless multiple-input multiple-output system in a Rayleigh flat-fading environment with correlation among the transmit antennas. We assume that the receiver has perfect CSI and the transmitter only knows the correlation matrix. The transmitter employs a quasi-orthogonal space-time block code in combination with a linear precoder; the receiver uses a linear MMSE detector. We analyze the optimal transmit precoding strategy that minimizes the average sum MSE at the receiver. We show that, as expected, the optimal precoding directions coincide with the eigenvectors of the transmit correlation matrix. The optimal power allocation, however, only supports at most 2 directions at all SNRs independent of the number of transmit antennas, which correspond to the 2 largest eigenvalues of the transmit correlation matrix. We characterize this optimal power allocation by the necessary and sufficient optimality conditions. At high SNRs, the optimal allocation approaches equal power on the two supported modes. At low SNRs, the weaker mode is dropped and the precoding matrix becomes single-mode beamforming. We provide a closed-form expression characterizing this low-SNR range. Numerical simulations confirm our theoretical analysis.
Clinical examples of resolution of some idiopathic and other chronic disease by careful allergic management.

A series of complicated cases is presented in which the aspect of allergy and its careful management influenced the resolution and control of the disease. Examples consist of patients with severe headache, nasal obstruction, pharyngitis, Meniere's disease, gastrointestinal trouble — especially vomiting and diarrhea, anorexia nervosa, bronchiectasis, and severe chronic otitis externa with generalized eczema. The methods used to detect the allergic factors are mentioned, and the treatment necessary to bring about resolution of the diseases is discussed. Pertinent knowledge obtained from each case is elucidated.
Wrong disc space level surgery: medicolegal implications.

Abstract Background Operating the wrong disc level for herniated disc disease is a rarely reported complication. However, it is considered by many a breach in the standard of care. It is not unusual for litigation to result. Sixty-nine cases of wrong disc space level surgery were identified; 68 cases were the subject of lawsuits. Methods Sixty-five lawsuit outcomes were published in a national monthly newsletter of malpractice cases, Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements and Experts . Two cases came from medicolegal review, one case from a news article, and one case for which no claim was made. Results Thirty-seven cases were settled. A plaintiff verdict was rendered in 18 cases and a defense verdict in 13 cases (42% of the cases that were decided by a jury). Conclusions The authors summarize steps to reduce the incidence of this misadventure. The authors recommend that the patient be advised of this potential and the patient be informed of the risk factors when special circumstances exist.
Measurements of CO2 and energy fluxes over a mixed hardwood forest in the mid-western United States

Results from the first full year of measurements (1998‐1999) of above canopy CO 2 and energy fluxes at the AmeriFlux site in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest, IN, USA, are presented. The site is located in an extensive secondary successional broadleaf forest in the maple-beech to oak-hickory transition zone. The minimum fetch is 4 km. Turbulent flux measurements are obtained by an eddy-covariance system at 46 m (1.8 times the canopy height) with a closed-path infrared gas analyzer. Peak vegetation area index (VAI) was determined as 4.70.5 and the mean albedo during the vegetative period was 0.150.02. The aerodynamic roughness length was estimated as 2.11.1 m. It showed little variation with wind direction or season. The seasonal variations of energy partitioning and of net CO2 exchange are discussed in terms of the phenological development of the forest. To estimate the annual net ecosystem production (NEP) and carbon sequestration, eddy-covariance measurements during periods of poorly developed turbulence at night, and missing data were replaced by a simple parametric model based on measurements of soil temperature and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The night-time flux correction reduces the annual sequestration estimate by almost 50%. The corrected estimate of annual NEP for the 1998‐1999 season is 2.4 t C ha 1 per year 10%. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
The Role of the Central Nucleus of the Amygdala in Mediating Fear and Anxiety in the Primate.

Numerous studies demonstrate that the rhesus monkey is an excellent species with which to investigate mechanisms underlying human emotion and psychopathology. To examine the role of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) in mediating the behavioral and physiological responses associated with fear and anxiety, we used rhesus monkeys to assess the effects of excitotoxic lesions of the CeA. Behavioral and physiological responses of nine monkeys with bilateral CeA destruction (ranging from 46 to 98%) were compared with five animals with asymmetric lesions (42-86.5% destruction on the most affected side) and with 16 unoperated controls. Results suggest that similar to rodent species, the primate CeA plays a role in mediating fear- and anxiety-related behavioral and endocrine responses. Compared with controls and the asymmetric-lesion group, bilaterally lesioned monkeys displayed significantly less fear-related behavior when exposed to a snake and less freezing behavior when confronted by a human intruder. In addition, bilaterally lesioned monkeys had decreased levels of CSF corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), and both lesioned groups had decreased plasma ACTH concentrations. In contrast to these findings, patterns of asymmetric frontal brain electrical activity, as assessed by regional scalp EEG, did not significantly differ between control and lesioned monkeys. These findings suggest that in primates, the CeA is involved in mediating fear- and anxiety-related behavioral and pituitary-adrenal responses as well as in modulating brain CRF activity.
Optical property measurements establish the feasibility of photodynamic therapy as a minimally invasive intervention for tumors of the kidney

We measured the optical properties of freshly excised kidneys with renal parenchymal tumors to assess the feasibility of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in these patients. Kidneys were collected from 16 patients during surgical nephrectomies. Spatially resolved, white light, steady-state diffuse reflectance measurements were per- formed on normal and neoplastic tissue identified by a pathologist. Reflectance data were fit using a radiative trans- port model to obtain absorption (μa) and transport scattering coefficients (μ 0 s), which define a characteristic light propagation distance, δ. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of light propagation from cylindrical diffusing fibers were run using the optical properties extracted from each of the kidneys. Interpretable spectra were obtained from 14 kidneys. Optical properties of human renal cancers exhibit significant inter-lesion heterogeneity. For all diagnoses, however, there is a trend toward increased light penetration at longer wavelengths. For renal cell carcinomas (RCC), mean values of δ increase from 1.28 to 2.78 mm as the PDT treatment wavelength is increased from 630 to 780 nm. MC simulations of light propagation from interstitial optical fibers show that fluence distribution in tumors is significantly improved at 780 versus 630 nm. Our results support the feasibility of PDT in selected renal cancer patients, especially with photosensitizers activated at longer wavelengths. © 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation
Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Texas: A northern spread of endemic areas

Leishmaniasis, an infection caused by various species of Leishmania protozoa, is usually transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sandflies. The clinical presentations are extremely diverse and dependent on a variety of host and parasitic factors. Although rare in the United States, cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in south-central Texas. At this time, no autochthonous cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis are known to have been reported in north Texas. We report 9 autochthonous cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis obtained in residents of north Texas. None of these patients had any travel history to areas known to be endemic for Leishmania.
Habit, Emotion, and Self-Conscious Action:

Modern sociological theory tends to be overly cognitive, underemphasizing both habit and emotions. During the past decade, the increased attention to the sociology of emotions has helped partially to correct for some of the problems created by overly cognitive theories. More recent attention is focusing on habitual activities. Although several classic theorists dealt with habit, the concept was dropped from modern sociological theories, beginning some seventy years ago. The present article extends the research on the removal of the concept of habit from sociological theory by evaluating the treatment of habit by George Herbert Mead and symbolic interactionists. Although Mead's theory integrated habit with cognitive and emotional processes, most symbolic interactionists have taken an overly cognitive position that neglects habit. The sharp contrast between the two positions adds to the documentation that sociology has drifted toward highly cognitive theories in the past half century. Mead's theory shows th...
Radiation Issues for Fermilab Booster Magnets

The demands of the Fermilab neutrino program will require the lab’s 30+ year old 8 GeV Booster to deliver higher intensities than it ever has. Total proton throughput is limited by radiation damage and activation due to beam loss in the Booster tunnel. Of particular concern is the epoxy resin that acts as the insulation in the 96 combined function lattice magnets. This paper describes a simulation study to determine the integrated radiation dose to this epoxy and a discussion of the potential effects.
Effects of explicit atmospheric convection at high CO2

The effect of clouds on climate remains the largest uncertainty in climate change predictions, due to the inability of global climate models (GCMs) to resolve essential small-scale cloud and convection processes. We compare preindustrial and quadrupled CO2 simulations between a conventional GCM in which convection is parameterized and a “superparameterized” model in which convection is explicitly simulated with a cloud-permitting model in each grid cell. We find that the global responses of the two models to increased CO2 are broadly similar: both simulate ice-free Arctic summers, wintertime Arctic convection, and enhanced Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) activity. Superparameterization produces significant differences at both CO2 levels, including greater Arctic cloud cover, further reduced sea ice area at high CO2, and a stronger increase with CO2 of the MJO.
Graphene on Ru(0001) Moiré Corrugation Studied by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy on Au/Graphene/Ru(0001) Heterostructures

Two-dimensional Au islands of different thicknesses grown on graphene/Ru(0001) were used to study the corrugation of the moire structure of graphene/Ru(0001) and discriminate between its mainly structural or electronic character. A comparison of the apparent corrugation measured by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) for different Au thicknesses with results of elasticity theory equations applied to a gold film over a corrugated substrate shows that the corrugation observed for the graphene/Ru(0001) moire is of structural nature rather than electronic. STM showed a large value for the corrugation of the first Au monolayer on graphene/Ru(0001), 1.7 A; using density functional theory calculations, we explain this large corrugation of the Au monolayer as the result of a strong (weak) binding of the Au layer at the valley (hill) regions of the graphene/Ru(0001) moire structure and infer an actual corrugation of the graphene/Ru(0001) moire structure of ∼1.2 A from the measured corrugation of the Au monolayer.
Housing Policy and Urban Inequality: Did the Transformation of Assisted Housing Reduce Poverty Concentration?

Poverty concentration reflects long-standing inequalities between neighborhoods in the United States. As the poverty concentration paradigm gained traction among policymakers and social scientists, assisted housing policy was overhauled. New assisted housing programs introduced since 1970 have dramatically reduced the geographic concentration of assisted housing units, changing the residential location of many low-income residents. Was this intervention in the housing market enough to reduce poverty concentration? Using national longitudinal data, I find that the deconcentration of assisted housing from 1977 to 2008 only modestly reduced poverty concentration in the 100 largest metropolitan areas. The results are driven by the deconcentration of assisted housing after 2000, when policies had a greater focus on dispersal of assisted housing to low-poverty neighborhoods. My results suggest that even a substantial shift in housing policy cannot make great strides in deconcentrating poverty given the existing landscape of durable urban inequality. Assisted housing policy exists alongside many other structural forces that cluster poor residents in neighborhoods, and these factors may limit its ability to reduce poverty concentration. Moreover, new housing programs rely on the private market to determine the location of assisted units, and the enduring place hierarchy among neighborhoods may influence both where assisted housing is located and its effect on the residential choices of non-assisted residents in ways that undermine poverty deconcentration.
Essence and Possibility in the Leibniz‐Arnauld Correspondence

In the 1680s, Gottfried Leibniz and Antoine Arnauld engaged in a philosophically rich correspondence. One issue they discuss is modal metaphysics – questions concerning necessity, possibility, and essence. While Arnauld's contributions to the correspondence are considered generally astute, his contributions on this issue have not always received a warm treatment. I argue that Arnauld's criticisms of Leibniz are sophisticated and that Arnauld offers his own Cartesian account in its place. In particular, I argue that Arnauld offers an account of possibility that is actualist (only actual things exist), modal actualist (modality is irreducible) and essence-based (essences ground de re counterfactuals).
Failure Analysis of a Striking Bar

This paper describes the failure investigation of a tubular shaft that is part of a hammer drill assembly. The failure investigation was particularly challenging as the fracture surfaces were completely damaged during service subsequent to the failure process. However, careful examination of the component and its assembly revealed many clues that pointed to the root causes of failure. The basic failure mode was identified as torsional fatigue failure in combination with high bending stresses. The failure was determined to be originated on the inside diameter of the tubular shaft. The root causes were determined to be operational overload in the presence of rough machining marks on the bore surface and higher than necessary operating torque required to overcome the dry adhesive friction in the system. The preventative measures recommended were manyfold including improving surface finish on the bore diameter, reducing dry sliding friction, decreasing the overall level of dynamic loads by appropriate design changes, and adding a surface strengthening heat treatment.
Ukrainian-Russian Relations—European and Eurasian Contexts

In terms of civilization and culture, Ukraine is both a European and a Eurasian state with priorities—Russia and the West—determined by foreign and by domestic factors. Ukraine's unnatural, contradictory, and dual-vectored foreign policy, the object of bitter discussion and criticism for several years, is influenced by complex patterns of postcommunist reforms that are creating a new geopolitical reality and by the impact on it of two different regions—Greater Europe and Eastern Europe. Russia's special role in these processes is obvious. The foreign policy of the two states and Ukrainian-Russian relations largely determine both the nature and the pace of change in the eastern part of the continent, as well as the chances of achieving stability and optimal conditions for cooperation throughout Europe.
Single Residue Substitutions That Confer Voltage-Gated Sodium Ion Channel Subtype Selectivity in the NaV1.7 Inhibitory Peptide GpTx-1

There is interest in the identification and optimization of new molecular entities selectively targeting ion channels of therapeutic relevance. Peptide toxins represent a rich source of pharmacology for ion channels, and we recently reported GpTx-1 analogs that inhibit NaV1.7, a voltage-gated sodium ion channel that is a compelling target for improved treatment of pain. Here we utilize multi-attribute positional scan (MAPS) analoging, combining high-throughput synthesis and electrophysiology, to interrogate the interaction of GpTx-1 with NaV1.7 and related NaV subtypes. After one round of MAPS analoging, we found novel substitutions at multiple residue positions not previously identified, specifically glutamic acid at positions 10 or 11 or lysine at position 18, that produce peptides with single digit nanomolar potency on NaV1.7 and 500-fold selectivity against off-target sodium channels. Docking studies with a NaV1.7 homology model and peptide NMR structure generated a model consistent with the key poten...
Determining an optimal hierarchical forecasting model based on the characteristics of the data set: Technical note

Abstract The efficient flow of goods and services involves addressing multilevel forecast questions, and careful consideration when aggregating or disaggregating hierarchical estimates. Assessing all possible aggregation alternatives helps to determine the statistically most accurate way of consolidating multilevel forecasts. However, doing so in a multilevel and multiproduct supply chain may prove to be a very computationally intensive and time-consuming task. In this paper, we present a new, two-level oblique linear discriminant tree model, which identifies the optimal hierarchical forecast technique for a given hierarchical database in a very time-efficient manner. We induced our model from a real-world dataset, and it separates all historical time series into the four aggregation mechanisms considered. The separation process is a function of both the positive and negative correlation groups' variances at the lowest level of the hierarchical datasets. Our primary contributions are: (1) establishing a clear-cut relationship between the correlation metrics at the lowest level of the hierarchy and the optimal aggregation mechanism for a product/service hierarchy, and (2) developing an analytical model for personalized forecast aggregation decisions, based on characteristics of a hierarchical dataset.
Effect of Intravenous Low Intensity Laser Radiation on cNOSmRNA in Experimentally Modeled Rabbit of Diabetic Stroke

Objective To observe the effect of intravenous low intensity laser radiation(ILIB)with traditional chinese medicine on cNOSmRNA of the rabbits of experimental diabetic stroke.Method 35 successfully modeled rabbits,after alloxian injection for diabetes and photochemical radiation for stroke, were randomized into four treatment group:control group,ILIB group,traditional Chinese herb medicines treatment group,and a group with compound treatment of ILIB and TCH.7 unmodeled rabbits were made as the normal group.The cNOSmRNA level was compared with eath other.Results Compared with control group,ILIB group and traditional Chinese herb medicines treatment group can't significantly rectify the disorderly cNOSmRNA,but E can.Conclusions Group E can effectively reduce the cNOSmRNA level and nervous injury,cure diabetes cerebral infarction.
Über die Schaumzellen im Stroma des Endometriums: Vorkommen und histochemische Befunde

Im Stroma des reifen Adenocarcinoms des Endometriums kommen in etwa 38% der Falle Gruppen von grosen Schaumzellen vor. Sie liegen in gut erhaltenen, gut durchbluteten und entzundungsfreien Anteilen des Carcinoms. Gleich aussehende Zellgruppen fanden sich in 30% der glandular-cystischen Hyperplasien, 53% der adenomatosen Hyperplasien und 40,9% der Carcinomata in situ des Endometriums, und weiterhin in den hyperplastischen Endometrien der nur mit Oestrogenen behandelten Kastratinnen. Histochemisch liesen sich in den feinen Granula der Schaumzellen Lipoide nachweisen, die eine grune Eigenfluoreszenz zeigen, und bei denen es sich hochstwahrscheinlich um Cholesterinester und/oder Oestrogen handelt. Ein Zusammenhang der Schaumzellen mit einem ungehemmten Oestrogeneinflus ist anamnestisch sehr auffallend. Die Entwicklung aus endometrialen Stromazellen konnte entweder kompensatorisch durch Oestrogenmangel angeregt werden, oder reaktiv durch Oestrogenuberangebot, oder vielleicht durch eine ubergeordnete Regulationsstorung im Hypophysenoder Nebennierensystem.
Performance of two different digital evaluation systems used for assessing pre-clinical dental students’ prosthodontic technical skills

Introduction Proper integration of newly emerging digital assessment tools is a central issue in dental education in an effort to provide more accurate and objective feedback to students. The study examined how the outcomes of students’ tooth preparation were correlated when evaluated using traditional faculty assessment and two types of digital assessment approaches. Specifically, incorporation of the Romexis Compare 2.0 (Compare) and Sirona prepCheck 1.1 (prepCheck) systems was evaluated. Additionally, satisfaction of students based on the type of software was evaluated through a survey. Material and Methods Students in a second-year pre-clinical prosthodontics course were allocated to either Compare (n = 42) or prepCheck (n = 37) systems. All students received conventional instruction and used their assigned digital system as an additional evaluation tool to aid in assessing their work. Examinations assessed crown preparations of the maxillary right central incisor (#8) and the mandibular left first molar (#19). All submissions were graded by faculty, Compare and prepCheck. Results Technical scores did not differ between student groups for any of the assessment approaches. Compare and prepCheck had modest, statistically significant correlations with faculty scores with a minimum correlation of 0.3944 (P = 0.0011) and strong, statistically significant correlations with each other with a minimum correlation of 0.8203 (P < 0.0001). A post-course student survey found that 55.26% of the students felt unfavourably about learning the digital evaluation protocols. A total of 62.31% felt favourably about the integration of these digital tools into the curriculum. Conclusions Comparison of Compare and prepCheck showed no evidence of significant difference in students’ prosthodontics technical performance and perception.
A Tribute to Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye

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Numerical investigation of the lateral restraining stiffness effect on the bridge deck-wave interaction under Stokes waves

Abstract This paper addresses one fundamental question on the bridge deck-wave interaction: do the bridge deck vibrations result in smaller wave forces on the deck? In other words, are there any benefits to the coastal bridge structures vulnerable to waves once the bridge superstructure (deck) is allowed to vibrate to some extent, similar to the lateral restraining setups adopted to bridges in seismic areas? Based on a methodology of the mass-spring-damper system using a dynamic mesh updating technique proposed in previous studies, a wave model of the Stokes 2nd order wave theory is applied and verified with analytical solutions and experimental measurements in the literature, assuring a valid prediction in the following parametric study. The shear stress transport (SST) k - ω model is used as the turbulence closure for the RANS equations in order to capture the turbulence effects in the bridge deck-wave interaction. In the parametric study, general characteristics of the structural vibration and the wave forces are observed and discussed. The obtained results show that increasing the structural flexibilities in the transverse/lateral direction does not necessarily benefit the bridge structure with an obvious force reduction for both the horizontal and vertical forces on the bridge superstructure. However, this will unfortunately lead to larger horizontal forces on the interface between the bridge super and substructure and larger dynamic amplification factors for the bridge decks.
No preventive effects of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in patients with chronic renal failure

Background: Infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae was a major cause of morbidities and mortalities in the immunocompromised patients including those with chronic renal failure (CRF). The efficacy of PPV23 in patients with CRF under maintenance hemodialysis was analyzed. Methods: Patients with CRF under maintenance hemodialysis aged greater then 50 years in Taiwan Taoyuag CGMH received their PPV23 vaccinations voluntarily in January 2009. The risks of pneumonia, AMI, cerebrovascular events and mortality in CRF patients with and without PPV23 during the period of January 2009 to December 2013 were analyzed. Results: 545 patients were included in this study, 168 (30.8%) of them were PPV23 vaccinated. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that age, diabetes, ischemic heart disease and malignancies were independent factors for increased risk of death. Age, diabetes, COPD, heart failure and malignancies were associated with higher risks for development of pneumonia. Diabetes and history of ischemic heart disease were independent factors for higher risk of AMI. The only risk factor for cerebrovascular events was diabetes. PPV23 vaccination had no effect on death, pneumonia, AMI or cerebrovascular events in the 5-years follow-up period, with ORs of 0.691 (95%CI: 0.460-1.039, p=0.075) for all-cause death, 0.981 (95%CI: 0.654-1.471, p=0.927) for pneumonia, 0.610 (95%CI: 0.343-1.085, p=0.092) for AMI, and 0.745 (95%CI: 0.333-1.670, p=0.476) for cerebrovascular events. Conclusions: PPV23 vaccination had no protective effects on all-cause death, pneumonia, the development of AMI or cerebrovascular events in CRF patient under maintenance hemodialysis.
Remote health assistance and automatic ambulance service

We all are aware of the fact that Telemedicine plays a dominant role in the field of health care. It proposes to provide an expert medical care where the health care is an emergency. This paper outlined a design of a system using LabVIEW, ARDUINO and GSM module which measures different physiological parameters of patient and in case of any emergency situation, quick ambulance service is provided. A telemedicine System is designed using LabVIEW, Arduino and GSM module that helps in tele-diagnosis over long distance and supports in teleconsultation of patients by expert physicians. The system is designed for transmission of essential data from the emergency site to the consultative site. The system can telemetrically communicate to an ambulance for shifting the patients to the hospital in case of emergency.
The Impact of Cumulative Vocal Demands on Vocal Performance of Student Clinicians in Speech-Language Pathology

Effects of cumulative vocal demands on voice performance of student clinicians majoring in speech-language pathology were observed at three distinct points over the period of an academic semester. ...
Congenital Nystagmus Masquerading as Spasmus Nutans

Reports of retinal disease or optic pathway tumors masquerading as “spasmus nutans” have appeared in the current literature, raising questions regarding the diagnostic and exclusion criteria for th...
Integrating MPI with asynchronous task parallelism

This paper describes a programming model that integrates intra-node asynchronous task parallelism with inter-node MPI communications to address the hybrid parallelism challenges faced by future extreme scale systems. We explore the integration of MPI's blocking and non-blocking communications with lightweight tasks. We also provide the implementation details of a non-blocking runtime execution model based on computation and communication workers.
Expression of Nuclear Genes Encoding the Small Subunit of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase

Chloroplast biogenesis requires the coordinate expression of both nuclear and chloroplast genomes. While the chloroplast genome has been shown to encode several polypeptides, structural genes for the majority of the chloroplast proteins are localized in the nucleus (see Ellis, 1981, for a review). In higher plants, the two most prominant nuclear gene products destined for the chloroplasts are the small subunit (S) of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RUBISCO) (Chua and Schmidt, 1978b; Highfield and Ellis, 1978; Cashmore et al., 1978) and thylakoid polypeptide 15, the major subunit of the light-harvesting complex (LHC) (Apel and Kloppstech, 1978; Schmidt et al., 1981). In addition to their regulation by light (Apel, 1979; Tobin and Suttie, 1980; Highfield and Ellis, 1981; Sasaki et al., 1981), nuclear genes for these polypeptides are expressed differentially in the mesophyll and bundle-sheath leaf cells of C4 plants (Broglie et al., 1982). The mechanisms for the developmental and tissue-specific regulation of these genes are unknown, although transcriptional control is likely to be a major factor.
Fit for Purpose: Toward an Engineering Basis for Data Exchange Standards

Data standards are a powerful, real-world tool for enterprise interoperability, yet there exists no rigorous methodology for selecting among alternative standards approaches. This paper is a first step toward creating a detailed engineering basis for choosing among standards approaches. We define a specific sub-problem within a community’s data sharing challenge, and focus on it in depth. We describe the major choices (kinds of standards) applied to that task, examining tradeoffs. We present characteristics of a data sharing community that one should consider in selecting a standards approach—such as relative power, motivation level, and technical sophistication of different participants—and illustrate with real-world examples. We then show that one can state simple decision rules (based on engineering experience) that system engineers without decades of data experience can apply. We also comment on the methodology used, extracting lessons (e.g., “negative rules are simpler”) that can be used in similar analyses on other issues.
Measurements of Trapped α-Particles: 2 ≼ L ≼ 4.5

We have continued a program of measuring the fluxes and energy spectra of trapped α-particles because such measurements should give valuable clues as to the source and loss mechanisms of the much more abundant protons. A four element counter telescope was flown aboard satellite 1968–26B. This instrument was sensitive to both protons and α-particles with energies from 0.5 to 15 MeV/nucleon and resolved the spectrum into seven channels per particle species. The data presented here were taken from April 4 to 7, 1968.