cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endocrine, cardiovascular, and behavioral responses to clonidine in patients with panic disorder

Abstract We examines adrenergic regulation in patients with panic disorder by challenging 10 patients and 14 age-matched and sex-matched controls with intravenous infusions of clonidine hydrochloride (2 μg/kg), an alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist. Growth hormone, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), blood pressure, heart rate, and behavioral (anxiety, sedation) responses were monitored. The data replicated the previously reported finding of blunted growth hormone (GH) responses to clonidine in patients with panic disorder. Reported abnormalities in MHPG, cardiovascular, and behavioral responses of panic patients to clonidine infusion were not replicated. The robustly blunted GH response to clonidine in panic patients supports the adrenergic dysregulation hypothesis of panic disorder, but alternative interpretations of this finding are available and further study is needed.
Comparative Toxicokinetics of Explosive Compounds in Sheepshead Minnows

Juvenile sheepshead minnows Cyprinodon variegatus were exposed to the explosive compounds 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), octahydro−1,3,5,7-tetranitro−1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) and to the TNT transformation products 2-aminodinitrotoluene (2-ADNT) and 2,4-diaminonitrotoluene (2,4-DANT) in five separate water-only experiments. A one-compartment model was used to characterize uptake (ku) and elimination (ke) rate constants and to estimate bioconcentration factors (BCFs). The compounds investigated in this study are weakly hydrophobic. Kinetically derived BCFs (9.6, 13.1, 0.5, 1.7, and 0.5 ml g–1 for TNT, 2-ADNT, 2,4-DANT, RDX, and HMX, respectively) confirmed the expected low bioaccumulative potential of those compounds and the positive relationship between log BCF and log Kow (1.6, 2.0, 0.8, 0.9, and 0.2 for TNT, 2-ADNT, 2,4-DANT, RDX, and HMX, respectively). The uptake clearance (ku) was relatively slow for all compounds (7.3, 12.6, 1.3, 0.15, and 0.06 ml g–1h–1 for TNT, 2-ADNT, 2,4-DANT, RDX, and HMX, respectively), and overall, it decreased with decreasing compound hydrophobicity. Elimination was extremely fast for the nitroaromatic compounds (0.77, 0.96, and 2.74 h−1 for TNT, 2-ADNT, and 2,4-DANT, respectively), thus resulting in very short biological half-lives (<1 hour), but it was much slower for the cyclonitramines (0.09 h–1 for RDX and 0.12 h−1 for HMX). Although ADNTs were present in fish exposed to TNT, the parent compound was the dominant compound in tissues during the uptake and elimination exposures. The rates of metabolite formation (0.06 h–1) and elimination (0.16 h–1) were much slower than the rate of elimination of the parent compound (0.80 h–1). Because of the fast elimination rate of TNT and its transformation products and the exceedingly low bioaccumulative potential of RDX and HMX, exposure conditions likely associated with the presence of explosives in aquatic systems are unlikely to pose unacceptable risks to fish.
GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING EDUCATION: A PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL CHALLENGE FOR FUTURE BACCALAUREATE FACULTY AND STUDENTS

Investigators in this study wanted to know if student nurses were increasing their factual knowledge and changing their attitudes about the elderly, as well as, desire to work with them. Respondents included two groups of undergraduates from a main campus (n = 87) and two from a satellite campus (n = 47) of a Baccalaureate College of Nursing (BSN) in a southern university during 1992‐1995. E. D. Palmore's (1990) quizzes (FAQ1, FAQ2, FAMHQ) were used as pre‐tests (upon entering the junior year) and post‐tests (upon completion of the senior year). E. D. Palmore's (1988) “documentation” and “classification” of items were used to calculate knowledge and attitude scores. Feelings about working with the elderly were part of demographic data, as were “determinants” in E. D. Palmore's (1982) “Theoretical Model.” Mean scores within groups were by dependent t tests. Grand Means for comparison between campuses were by independent t Jests at a ≤ .05 level of significance. Students from the main campus scored signific...
An Investigation of Factors Contributing to Styrene and Styrene-7,8-oxide Exposures in the Reinforced-Plastics Industry

Abstract During the manufacturing of reinforced plastics, large amounts of styrene and trace quantities of styrene-7,8-oxide (SO) are released. Since previous work suggests that inhalation of even small amounts of SO might be an important health risk, we investigated several possible factors contributing to styrene and SO exposure during the manufacture of reinforced plastics. Factors related to job type, worker and the type and quantity of styrene-containing resins were investigated using mixed-effects multiple linear regression models. Overall, SO exposure levels were positively correlated with styrene exposure levels. However, this correlation was statistically significant only among hand laminators who had the highest exposures to both styrene and SO. An important factor for predicting both styrene and SO concentrations was the type of resin used, while the quantity of resin consumed was predictive of styrene but not of SO exposure. Since SO exposure appears to be associated with factors other than coexposure to styrene, more effort should be placed on investigating emissions of SO per se. The type of mixed-models regression analysis employed in this study can be used for clarifying the underlying patterns for exposures to styrene and SO as well as for evaluating preventive measures. 1999 British Occupational Hygiene Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Seeing And The Design And Location Of A 15 Meter Telescope

Site seeing at good locations has rο (5000 A) ≈15 cm, and the 5 percentile seeing is about three times better. There are seeing effects at particular locations, but no known geographic trends. The dominant observatory problem is mirror seeing, and ventilated honeycomb mirrors are the current best solution. The detailed effects of phasing precision are discussed. It is assumed that adaptive optics can control separate 2m sized portions of the entrance pupil. Finally the efficiency of use of a telescope is estimated as a function of the image size produced by misfigure, misfocus, misalignment and local seeing etc.
Laser speckle contrast imaging of skin blood perfusion responses induced by laser coagulation

We report application of laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), i.e., a fast imaging technique utilising backscattered light to distinguish such moving objects as red blood cells from such stationary objects as surrounding tissue, to localise skin injury. This imaging technique provides detailed information about the acute perfusion response after a blood vessel is occluded. In this study, a mouse ear model is used and pulsed laser coagulation serves as the method of occlusion. We have found that the downstream blood vessels lacked blood flow due to occlusion at the target site immediately after injury. Relative flow changes in nearby collaterals and anastomotic vessels have been approximated based on differences in intensity in the nearby collaterals and anastomoses. We have also estimated the density of the affected downstream vessels. Laser speckle contrast imaging is shown to be used for highresolution and fast-speed imaging for the skin microvasculature. It also allows direct visualisation of the blood perfusion response to injury, which may provide novel insights to the field of cutaneous wound healing.
Surgical approach for treatment of epidermoid anal carcinoma

The incidence of malignancy of the anus is rare when compared to colorectal cancer. At The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, 43 patients with anal cancer were seen since 1932. Five-year survival for patients treated by local excision, abdominal-perineal resection, and abdominal perineal resection with associated inguinofemoral groin node dissection was 43%, 66%, and 33%, respectively. Therapy should be guided by location, size, and depth of the local lesion, as well as clinical node status. In general, local excision should be reserved for the most minute lesion. Groin dissection should be carried out when nodes are clinically diseased.
Nasal airway response to exercise

Abstract Increased nasal airway patency with physical exercise has been a frequent observation of patients with allergic rhinitis. This response has been documented in a patient with allergic rhinitis in whom airway patency was measured by a rhino-manometric technique before and after handball exercise. In an additional six subjects, the phenomenon was further studied using a controlled step exercise. The mechanism of the nasal airway response to exercise was evaluated by autonomic stimulation and blockade. Intravenous infusion of epinephrine and norepinephrine failed to simulate the response to exercise. The exercise response was not significantly blocked by autonomic blockade with intramuscular phentolamine or intravenous guanethidine. Significant blockade occurred with topical phentolamine and especially with stellate ganglion block. These findings indicate that the main mechanism responsible for increased nasal airway patency with exercise is sympathetic nerve discharge. Other possible contributing factors are discussed.
Bell's inequalities between independent particles

The prospect of inducing quantum correlations between two particles that have never interacted is discussed. It is shown that a quantum mechanical state can be formed that predicts violations of Bell's inequalities of the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt type between two particles which have been at space-like separations for all times. It is also shown that these are the strongest inequalities derivable from a general local realistic theory using the same strong locality assumptions as in the Bell inequalities.
Phototropism in Arabidopsis roots is mediated by two sensory systems

Phototropism has been well-characterized in stems and stem-like organs, but there have been relatively few studies of root phototropism. Our experiments suggest that there are two photosensory systems that elicit phototropic responses in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana: a previously identified blue-light photoreceptor system mediated by phototropin (=NPH1 protein) and a novel red-light-based mechanism. The phototropic responses in roots are much weaker than the graviresponse, which competes with and often masks the phototropic response. It was through the use of mutant plants with a weakened graviresponse that we were able to identify the activity of the red-light-dependent phototropic system. In addition, the red-light-based photoresponse in roots is even weaker compared to the blue-light response. Our results also suggest that phytochrome may be involved in mediating positive phototropism in roots.
Global Tropical Cyclogenesis

Tropical cyclones are potentially devastating natural hazards, and yet the processes that lead to the formation of these powerful atmospheric storms are poorly understood. Tropical cyclogenesis is the process whereby an organized area of thunderstorms known as a tropical disturbance is transformed into an identifiable surface low pressure system; that is, a tropical cyclone. Numerous questions remain unanswered about tropical cyclogenesis. Why do tropical cyclones form? How do tropical cyclones form? Can tropical cyclogenesis be forecasted? How might tropical cyclogenesis be affected by global climatic changes?
The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccer

by David Goldblatt, New York, Riverhead Books, 2006, ix + 933 pp., 19 photographs, bibliography, index, $25.00 (pbk). ISBN 9781594482960 David Goldblatt’s The Ball is Round has set a new standard i...
Attraction and attachment of zoospores of the parasitic chytrid Rozella allomycis in response to host-dependent factors.

This study examined the behavior of populations of zoospores of the obligately parasitic, endobiotic chytridRozella allomycis towards young, vegetative thalli of various saprophytic fungi, in order to identify host-dependent factors which control the development ofRozella. An inverted microscope was employed for continuous observation of parasite-host interaction in petri dishes of broth or agar medium. Two factors appear to control the initial stages of invasion byRozella of both susceptible and resistant species of the host genus,Allomyces: (i) a soluble exudate which attractsRozella zoospores, (ii) a receptor on the cell-wall surface which causesRozella zoospores to adhere, and to encyst and to germinate immediately thereafter. A related, nonsusceptible species,Blastocladiella emersonii, also attractsRozella zoospores, but supports very limited attachment.Rozella zoospores neither accumulate around, nor adhere to young thalli of non-blastocladialean fungi. This host-specific behavior pattern is compared with that of saprophytic and facultatively parasitic Phycomycetes, whose zoospores show nonspecific chemotactic responses and require no receptor for attachment, encystment and germination.
Increased protein phosphorylation of cytoplasmic dynein results in impaired motor function

Inhibition of serine/threonine protein phosphatases in rat hepatocytes by okadaic acid and microcystin increased the phosphorylation of several components of the cytoplasmic dynein complex. UV light/vanadate cleavage and Western blot analysis revealed that two of these components with molecular masses of approx. 400 kDa and 74 kDa were dynein heavy- and intermediate-chains respectively. This increased phosphorylation resulted in inhibition of dynein ATPase activity, and reduced motor-dependent avidity of endosomal/lysosomal membranes for microtubules.
Maternal anaemia in West and Central Africa: time for urgent action.

OBJECTIVE: To review the prevalence severity and determinants of anaemia among women in West and Central Africa (WCA) and raise awareness among policy makers and programme planners in the region. DESIGN: Systematic descriptive review of data in the public domain of the ORC Macro MEASURE Demographic and Health Surveys national nutrition surveys oral and technical communications at regional meetings studies published in scientific journals and WHO and UNICEF databases. SETTING: West and Central Africa region. SUBJECTS: Women of childbearing age. RESULTS: The prevalence of anaemia among pregnant and non-pregnant women is higher than 50 % and 40 % respectively in all countries. Within countries this prevalence varies by living setting (rural v. urban) womens age and education. Across countries socio-economic and climatic differences have no apparent association with the prevalence of anaemia among women. Several factors contribute either alone or jointly to the high rates of maternal anaemia in this region. These include widespread nutritional deficiencies; high incidence of infectious diseases; low access to and poor quality of health services; low literacy rates; ineffective design implementation and evaluation of anaemia control programmes; and poverty. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing the multiple causes and minimizing the consequences of anaemia on maternal and child health and development in WCA require integrated multifactorial and multisectoral strategies. This also calls for unprecedented historical and stronger political will and commitment that put adolescent girls and maternal health at the centre of the development agenda.
Information extraction from the GER 63-channel spectrometer data

The unprecedented data volume in the era of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE) demands innovative information extraction methods and advanced processing techniques. The neural network techniques, which are intrinsic to distributed parallel processings and have shown promising results in analyzing remotely sensed data, could become the essential tools in the MTPE era. To evaluate the information content of data with higher dimension and the usefulness of neural networks in analyzing them, measurements from the GER 63-channel airborne imaging spectrometer data over Cuprite, Nevada, are used. The data are classified with 3-layer Perceptron of various architectures. It is shown that the neural network can achieve a level of performance similar to conventional methods, without the need for an explicit feature extraction step.
On Final Value Control

Final value control of linear plants is discussed. An expression for the closed loop fundamental matrix in terms of the open loop transition matrix is presented. It is shown that for scalar minimum energy final value control the singularities in the feedback loops are inversely proportional to the order of the derivative being fed back. That is, the position loop has an ηth order singularity, the velocity loop an η—lth order singularity, etc. A partially closed loop control is developed that allows the highest-order feedback singularity to be set between η and zero. Those results are illustrated by examples.
Functional Depletion of Mahogunin by Cytosolically Exposed Prion Protein Contributes to Neurodegeneration

The pathways leading from aberrant Prion protein (PrP) metabolism to neurodegeneration are poorly understood. Some familial PrP mutants generate increased Ctm PrP, a transmembrane isoform associated with disease. In other disease situations, a potentially toxic cytosolic form (termed cyPrP) might be produced. However, the mechanisms by which Ctm PrP or cyPrP cause selective neuronal dysfunction are unknown. Here, we show that both Ctm PrP and cyPrP can interact with and disrupt the function of Mahogunin (Mgrn), a cytosolic ubiquitin ligase whose loss causes spongiform neurodegeneration. Cultured cells and transgenic mice expressing either Ctm PrP-producing mutants or cyPrP partially phenocopy Mgrn depletion, displaying aberrant lysosomal morphology and loss of Mgrn in selected brain regions. These effects were rescued by either Mgrn overexpression, competition for PrP-binding sites, or prevention of cytosolic PrP exposure. Thus, transient or partial exposure of PrP to the cytosol leads to inappropriate Mgrn sequestration that contributes to neuronal dysfunction and disease.
John Ford's Vernacular Orientalism and Wartime Hawai'i

On the eve of America's entry into WWII, Henry Luce, founder of magazines such as Time, Fortune, and Life predicted in a now famous Life editorial the coming of the American Century. “So far,” writ...
Degradation of polyphosphates in solution. III. Hydrolysis of linear long-chain sodium polyphosphate

Three samples of sodium polyphosphate (DP ≈ 30, 75, and 170) were degraded at pH 5 and 65.5°C., and specific rate constants for individual processes were determined. The first-order rate constant for the formation of orthophosphate from endgroups was independent of chain length and about 50 times as large as the rate constant for the chain scission per interior phosphate group. The latter rate appeared to increase with increasing DP. The formation of trimetaphosphate was more than 10 times as fast at a given chain end than at a given middle group. Assuming that the reaction at the chain ends was independent of DP, the specific rate for the formation of trimetaphosphate from middle groups increased with DP also.
Polymix breeding with parental analysis of progeny: an alternative to full-sib breeding and testing

Implementation of most traditional full-sib crossing and testing designs is logistically difficult, costly, and genetic gain is constrained by resource availability. An alternative to full-sib crossing and testing can ameliorate all these constraints. The alternative solution is to apply a pollen mix (PMX) of many male parents rather than a single pollen for each cross. PMX breeding is easy to implement, ensures good estimates of breeding values of the parent being pollinated, and provides for increased genetic gain opportunity because of the significantly increased number of effective parental combinations tested. However, PMX breeding has found limited use because inbreeding and pedigree control is lost. The development of relatively inexpensive molecular markers allows for the paternity analysis of progeny, thus allowing full pedigree control. We call this system PMX breeding with parental analysis (PMX/WPA). The feasibility of PMX/WPA was evaluated in a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) third-generation population of 45 select individuals, among which there was considerable relatedness. All parental trees were genotyped at seven chloroplast and three nuclear microsatellite loci. Unique fingerprints were obtained for all 45 individuals, but unambiguous paternal determinations for progeny from a complete pollen mix would not be possible due largely to relatedness in the breeding population. The inclusion of more markers and/or the creation of polmixes and breeding groups that avoid relatedness would resolve this problem. Three PMX/WPA scenarios are described and compared with conventional full-sib breeding and testing systems: (1) paternity analysis of only the forward (next generation) selection candidates in each generation, (2) paternal genotyping of all progeny test individuals in PMX crosses and using those data to construct the effective full-sib crosses for statistical analysis, and (3) like #2 except mixing seed of the several PMX crosses for ease of greenhouse rearing and progeny testing and then doing maternal and paternal analysis.
Estimating palaeorelief from detrital mineral age ranges

We propose a method that uses the increase in mineral age with elevation in some bedrock landscapes to quantify palaeotopographic relief from the age range of detrital minerals in coeval sediment. We use the rate at which mineral age changes with elevation (its age-gradient, dt/dz) and its age range (Dt) in the sediment to invert for relief: Dz=Dt/(dt/dz). Relief inversion requires a single-grain dating precision high enough that detrital grains originate from resolvably different elevations (e.g. laser microprobe 40Ar/39Ar fusion). The technique assumes that there is no change in mineral age during erosion and transport, that sediment is mixed well enough and (or) sampled sufficiently to capture the extrema of mineral ages, and that isochrons were horizontal during erosion. Subject to these constraints, inversion of the age range of individual grains in synorogenic sedimentary sequences allows quantitative estimation of relief development for eroded mountain ranges. This method provides the only direct quantitative measure of palaeorelief, a poorly constrained, but important aspect of many geological, geomorphological and geodynamic models.
Posttranslational phosphorylation and ubiquitination of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Poly(A) polymerase at the S/G(2) stage of the cell cycle.

The poly(A) polymerase of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Pap1) is a 64-kDa protein essential for the maturation of mRNA. We have found that a modified Pap1 of 90 kDa transiently appears in cells after release from a-factor-induced G1 arrest or from a hydroxyurea-induced S-phase arrest. While a small amount of modification occurs in hydroxyurea-arrested cells, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis and microscopic examination of bud formation indicate that the majority of modified enzyme is found at late S/G2 and disappears by the time cells have reached M phase. The reduction of the 90-kDa product upon phosphatase treatment indicates that the altered mobility is due to phosphorylation. A preparation containing primarily the phosphorylated Pap1 has no poly(A) addition activity, but this activity is restored by phosphatase treatment. A portion of Pap1 is also polyubiquitinated concurrent with phosphorylation. However, the bulk of the 64-kDa Pap1 is a stable protein with a half-life of 14 h. The timing, nature, and extent of Pap1 modification in comparison to the mitotic phosphorylation of mammalian poly(A) polymerase suggest an intriguing difference in the cell cycle regulation of this enzyme in yeast and mammalian systems. Addition of a poly(A) tail to the 39 end of a eukaryotic mRNA is an essential step in the regulation of gene expression. Polyadenylation enhances initiation of translation (45), mRNA stability (5), and transport of mRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm (25). The importance of this modification is reflected in the fact that all eukaryotic mRNAs, except for the replication-dependent histone mRNAs of metazoans, are polyadenylated. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, polyadenylation occurs in the nucleus in a two-step reaction (for recent
Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Salmonella arizonae from an integrated turkey operation.

SUMMARY. Fifty cases submitted between 2000 and 2002 were selected for retrospective analysis to evaluate possible relationships between Salmonella arizonae isolated from breeder flocks, hatching eggs, and meat bird flocks belonging to a single turkey integrator. In all the meat bird cases selected for this study, arizonosis was the primary diagnosis. In birds under 1 month of age, clinical signs and pathologic changes were observed in older birds. The Salmonella arizonae isolates were analyzed by antibiotic resistance pattern and serotype and genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Serotyping and PFGE yielded similar results, but the antibiotic resistance patterns did not correspond to either serotyping or PFGE typing. The presence of common pulsed-field patterns in breeder flocks, eggs, and meat bird flocks suggested that S. arizonae was being transmitted vertically from the breeder flock.
A Damage-coupled Criterion of Localized Necking Based on Acoustic Tensor

The development of a localized necking criterion for strain-softening materials is presented. The criterion is applicable to materials with anisotropic damage and anisotropic plasticity. The critical condition of damage evolution leading to localized necking is of primary interest in this investigation. As a consequence of plastic instability, the singularity of acoustic tensor is taken as the critical condition for localized necking in strain-softening materials, which often occurs prior to fracture. Effective tangent modulus tensor for materials with anisotropic damage is established. The damage-coupled localized necking criterion, along with the inclination angle of localization band, for strain-softening materials is derived. The closed-form expression of the localized necking criterion has potential applications in the failure analysis of strain-softening materials such as hot metals, rocks, soil, solder, etc. Tensile testing at elevated temperature (450°C) has been performed for aluminum alloy Al606...
Underinvestment in Literacy? The Potential Contribution of Government Involvement in Elementary Education to Economic Growth in Nineteenth-Century England

The case for government involvement in the provision of elementary education in nineteenth-century England is assessed by presenting estimates of the rate of return to literacy. Before government involvement, the estimated rate of return to male literacy was considerably above the return on most alternative investments in the English economy. The differential narrowed with the onset of government involvement. The evidence is much weaker for any initial underinvestment in female literacy. The contribution to national income from correcting any initial underinvestment in literacy appears to have been modest. T HERE has been a long-standing controversy over whether government involvement in providing elementary education in nineteenthcentury England was justified. The controversy has largely focused on the extent and quality of schooling before and after government involvement. Defenders of government involvement have argued that before government involvement enrollment rates were low and the quality of instruction poor. Those who have questioned the necessity of government involvement have argued that enrollment rates and instructional quality were relatively high before government involvement, compared with other countries and with subsequent English experience.1 One difficulty in resolving this controversy has been the lack of criteria for the appropriate amount and quality of schooling. Comparisons over time and with other countries cannot be conclusive because the optimal amount and quality of schooling could vary over time and across countries. For example, E. G. West has used such comparisons
Equatorial Waves in the Presence of the Equatorial Undercurrent

Abstract Because of the narrow region over which it has high speeds, the Equatorial Undercurrent has little effect on long waves with large phase speeds, such as long Kelvin and equatorially trapped inertia-gravity modes with equivalent depths ≳30 cm. The Rossby branch of the Rossby-gravity family, and the gravest Rossby modes, have phase velocities comparable to the maximum speed of the Undercurrent and are significantly modified by this current. Meanders of the Undercurrent that are due to superimposed neutral (non-amplifying) waves must have westward phase propagation; standing or eastward traveling meanders are possible only if the Equatorial Undercurrent is unstable.
Binary subwavelength grating with dynamic subperiod

The discussion on binary subwavelength gratings has recently been increased due to its simple fabrication procedure and potential applications in a variety of optoelectronic fields. Most designs of binary subwavelength gratings have been confined in the way that the grating ridges and/or channels are chirped and the defined grating period does not change during the design process. For some applications (e.g. interconnections), however, a dynamic diffraction pattern may be more desirable. In these cases, the variation of the diffraction angle and/or multiple diffraction beam pattern may be required. Therefor the rearrangement of the grating ridges and/or channels becomes a necessary. The newly arranged profile of the grating ridges and/or channels may be total different from the original one and may need to be changed into another profile later. This paper proposes a design method which optimize the diffraction efficiency at a desired angle and/or optimize the diffraction efficiencies at a multiangle pattern by forming a dynamic 'subperiod' within the initial defined grating period. Some design examples have been provided to prove the design concept.
Computational Efficiency of Symplectic Integrators for Space Debris Orbit Propagation

Two varieties of symplectic integrator, based upon the Wisdom-Holman map for solar system integration (WH) and the Stormer-Verlet method (SV), are formulated for the propagation of space debris trajectories under a simple perturbation model. Computational eciency is examined by using several di↵erent implementations of these integrators to propagate two dissimilar orbits for fifteen thousand periods. The accuracy of a nonsymplectic Bulirsch-Stoer (BS) integrator is matched by a sixth-order SV integrator in one-tenth to one-fifth as much computation time, or by the WH method in one to two orders of magnitude less time provided that perturbations are suciently weak. Further relative gains in eciency are seen for the WH method when a more demanding perturbation model is used. Short-term propagations of a statistical distribution of points show that the symplectic integrators retain similar leads versus the BS method in tracking the mean values of orbital elements closely related to energy, while their advantage is diminished when tracking the inclination, right ascension, and perigee.
Effects of ad libitum and restricted feed intake on growth performance and body composition of Yorkshire pigs selected for reduced residual feed intake

Residual feed intake (RFI), defined as the difference in the observed and expected feed intake while accounting for growth and backfat, has gained much attention, but little is known about why pigs selected for reduced RFI are more efficient. To this end, a line of Yorkshire pigs selected for reduced RFI was developed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the 5th generation of this select line against a randomly selected control line for performance, carcass and chemical carcass composition, and overall efficiency toward the later part of the growth phase. Eighty barrows, 40 from each line, were paired by age (~132 d, P 0.05) in growth performance, reduced backfat, increased dressing percentage, and reduced maintenance requirements. All of these traits are appealing to the producer and result in increased profits in the production setting.
Distribution of Growth Factors in Subfoveal Neovascular Membranes in Age-related Macular Degeneration and Presumed Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome

Purpose We performed a histopathologic and immunohistologic study to determine the macro-molecular and cellular components of subfoveal neovascular membranes removed at the time of submacular surgery. Methods Subfoveal neovascular membranes were surgically removed from ten patients (seven with age-related macular degeneration and three with presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome). Tissues obtained were examined by light and electron microscopy to identify structural components. Immunohistochemical staining was then performed with monoclonal antibodies to various growth factors, including transforming growth factor-beta 1, basic fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and epidermal growth factor, as well as antibodies against procollagen 1 and phosphotyrosine residues. Results Most cells in subfoveal neovascular membranes are retinal pigment epithelial cells and cells resembling fibroblasts, with some vascular endothelial cells, lymphocytes, and macrophages. Basic fibroblast growth factor was found in the extracellular matrix and in endothelial cells. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 was found in endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and retinal pigment epithelial cells. Procollagen 1 was found in protein-synthesizing fibroblasts, and phosphotyrosine residues were detected within fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and retinal pigment epithelial cells. Conclusions Subfoveal neovascular membranes are neovascular complexes composed of retinal pigment epithelial cells, fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, and chronic inflammatory cells. Furthermore, transforming growth factor-beta 1 and basic fibroblast growth factor are present within the major cell types, which suggests a possible pathogenic role in the development of the neovascular complex.
An Auxiliary Lens for Use with the Concave Grating

A discussion of the elementary theory of the astigmatism of the concave grating. A spherocylindrical lens placed in front of the plate serves to produce a stigmatic image of the slit and increases the speed of the instrument by about 25×and doubles the dispersion, allowing the full theoretical resolving power to be realized.
Promised Lead-Time Contracts Under Asymmetric Information

We study the important problem of how a supplier should optimally share the consequences of demand uncertainty (i.e., the cost of inventory excesses and shortages) with a retailer in a two-level supply chain facing a finite planning horizon. In particular, we characterize a multiperiod contract form, the promised lead-time contract, that reduces the supplier's risk from demand uncertainty and the retailer's risk from uncertain inventory availability. Under the contract terms, the supplier guarantees on-time delivery of complete orders of any size after the promised lead time. We characterize the optimal promised lead time and the corresponding payments that the supplier should offer to minimize her expected inventory cost, while ensuring the retailer's participation. In such a supply chain, the retailer often holds private information about his shortage cost (or his service level to end customers). Hence, to understand the impact of the promised lead-time contract on the supplier's and the retailer's performance, we study the system under local control with full information and local control with asymmetric information. By comparing the results under these information scenarios to those under a centrally controlled system, we provide insights into stock positioning and inventory risk sharing. We quantify, for example, how much and when the supplier and the retailer overinvest in inventory as compared to the centrally controlled supply chain. We show that the supplier faces more inventory risk when the retailer has private service-level information. We also show that a supplier located closer to the retailer is affected less by information asymmetry. Next, we characterize when the supplier should optimally choose not to sign a promised lead-time contract and consider doing business under other settings. In particular, we establish the optimality of a cutoff level policy. Finally, under both full and asymmetric service-level information, we characterize conditions when optimal promised lead times take extreme values of the feasible set, yielding the supplier to assume all or none of the inventory risk---hence the name all-or-nothing solution. We conclude with numerical examples demonstrating our results.
Optimum Operating Conditions for Class B Radio-Frequency Amplifiers

A theoretical analysis of the efficiency and output of a triode operating as a class B radio-frequency amplifier is made. It is shown that for a given tube, plate voltage, and plate loss there is a definite value of load impedance which will give maximum output. Design formulas are developed for determining this load impedance, the proper grid excitation, and the resultant efficiency and output.
Antiplatelet therapy for preventing stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and no previous history of stroke or transient ischemic attacks.

Background Non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) carries an increased risk of stroke. Antiplatelet therapy (APT) is proven effective for stroke prevention in most patients at high-risk for vascular events, but its value for primary stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular AF merits separate consideration because of the suspected cardioembolic mechanism of most strokes in AF patients. Objectives To assess the efficacy and safety of long-term APT for primary prevention of stroke in patients with chronic non-valvular AF. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (searched August 2004). In addition, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to June 2004), and the reference lists of recent review articles. We also contacted experts working in the field to identify unpublished and ongoing trials. Selection criteria Randomized trials comparing long-term APT with placebo or control in patients with non-valvular AF and no history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke. A sensitivity analysis included one additional randomized trial involving primary prevention with aspirin plus very low dose warfarin. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently selected trials for inclusion and extracted data for each outcome. Unpublished data were obtained from trial investigators. Main results Three trials tested aspirin in dosages ranging from 75 mg to 325 mg per day and 125 mg every other day to placebo (in two trials) or control (in one trial) in 1965 AF patients without prior stroke or TIA. The mean duration of follow up averaged 1.3 years per participant. Aspirin was associated with non-significant lower risks of all stroke (odds ratio (OR) 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47 to 1.07), ischemic stroke (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.07), all disabling or fatal stroke (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.49) and all-cause death (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.04). The combination of stroke, myocardial infarction or vascular death was significantly reduced (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.97 ). No increase in intracranial hemorrhage or major extracranial hemorrhage was observed. Authors' conclusions Aspirin appears to reduce stroke and major vascular events in patients with non-valvular AF similar to its effect in other high-risk patients (i.e. by about 25%). For primary prevention among AF patients with an average stroke rate of 4% per year, about 10 strokes would likely be prevented yearly for every 1000 AF patients given aspirin.
Crisis Resource Management

Crisis Resource Management (CRM) in health care, a term devised in the 1990s, can be summarized as articulation of the principles of individual and crew behavior in ordinary and crisis situations that focuses on the skills of dynamic decision-making, interpersonal behavior, and team management.
Are tool properties always processed automatically? The role of tool use context and task complexity

Previous work with healthy adults supports the idea that perception of the orientation of a tool's handle may automatically activate cognitive components for grasping and use. An important source of evidence for this automatic activation view comes from studies showing interference when automatically activated action representations are inconsistent with the behaviors demanded by a task (e.g., Tucker and Ellis, 1998). Here, we evaluated whether such effects occur in a grip selection task in which responses were chosen based on a learned rule (Rule task) versus anticipatory planning (Plan task). Participants were asked to pantomime grasping horizontally presented objects with handles. In the Rule task, a color cue indicated on which side of the tool's handle the thumb had to be placed. In the Plan task, participants had to choose the most comfortable way to grasp and rotate the object into a specific end-position. Across three experiments we found evidence of interference on grip selection exclusively during the Rule task, and only when it was preceded by a prime task that involved tool use. These findings suggest that prior activation of cognitive components through use of tools can be effective over time and interferes with grip selection based on use of a pre-learned rule. Absence of interference effects during the plan task, even when preceded by the Use task, suggest that engagement of similar mechanisms during active planning overwrites this automatic activation of previously effective components. Possible cognitive and neural mechanisms are discussed.
Oxidative Stress and the Antioxidative Capacity in Myocardial Infarction

Extensive cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) contributes significantly to ventricular dysfunction. Factors regulating left ventricular remodeling at different stages following MI are under investigation. There is growing recognition and experimental evidence that oxidative stress mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a role in the pathogeneses of myocardial repair/remodeling in various cardiac diseases. After acute MI, oxidative stress is developed in both infarcted and noninfarcted myocardium. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that oxidative stress participates in several aspects of cardiac repair/remodeling following infarction that includes cardiomyocyte apoptosis, inflammatory/fibrogenic responses, and hypertrophy. The exact pathways of ROS-mediated myocardial remodeling are under investigation. The therapeutic potential of oxidative stress–directed drugs in myocardial remodeling following infarction has not been fully realized. This chapter will address oxidative stress, antioxidative capacity, and their effect on cardiac repair/remodeling and dysfunction following MI.
Are Sudden Stratospheric Warmings Generic? Insights from an Idealized GCM

AbstractThis work examines the life cycle of sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) from composites of a large number of events. The events are sampled from idealized general circulation model (GCM) integrations and form a database of several hundred major, displacement, splitting, and weak vortex events. It is shown that except for a few details, the generic zonal-mean evolution does not depend on the definition used to detect SSWs. In all cases, the composites show the stratosphere in a positive annular mode phase prior to the events and a barotropic response in the stratosphere at onset. There is a clear positive peak in upward Eliassen–Palm (EP) flux prior to the onset date in the stratosphere and a much weaker peak in the troposphere, making the evolution more consistent with the picture of the stratosphere acting as a variable filter of tropospheric EP flux, rather than SSWs being forced by a strong “burst” in the troposphere. When comparing composites of SSWs from the database with apparent influence...
Five-Year Results of a Post-Market Approval Study of the First US FDA-Approved Hip Resurfacing Device: A Difference in Survival Between Male and Female Gender

Background Post-market surveillance is necessary to ensure the safety and efficacy of newly introduced technologies and implants. The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (Smith and Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN) was the first hip resurfacing implant approved for use by the US FDA in May 2006. A prospective, multi-center postmarket approval study has been in progress to assess safety and efficacy of this implant. Methods Patients meeting inclusion criteria were enrolled at five sites. Clinical evaluation and radiographs were obtained at 3 months and 1 year, and annually thereafter for a total of 10 years. Blood metal ion levels were measured at 1 year and 4 years. Results 265 patients have been enrolled thus far with 193 males; 28 patients have had bilateral procedures. The average age of the patients is 51.3 years (range 22–72). There have been 7 revisions (2.4%) in the entire cohort to date: 2 were for femoral neck fracture, 2 were for acetabular loosening; 1 was for femoral head osteonecrosis; 1 was revised on the day of surgery for errant implant placement; and 1 was for pseudotumor. K-M survival curves for the cohort are 97.8% at 5 years (Figure 1); men had 99% survival, while women had 94.5%. Whole blood metal ion analysis revealed a median cobalt and chromium levels of 1.5 ppb and 1.7 ppb at 1 year. There was a significant difference between the metal levels in men and women, however women also had smaller component sizes. Furthermore, a significantly higher percentage of female patients had outlier metal ion levels > 7 ppb. Conclusions This hip resurfacing device has demonstrated safety and efficacy comparable to THR, in this multicenter postmarket approval study. A gender difference in the survival rate and median metal ion levels does exist; therefore, it is important to continue close monitoring of this cohort to determine longer term results.
Global Health: Ethical Responsibilities of Health Service Volunteers.

In “Diagnosis by Documentary: Professional Responsibilities in Informal Encounters,” Wardrope and Reuber (2016) discuss health workers' professional responsibilities in informal encounters and expl...
Does quantifying epicardial and intrathoracic fat with noncontrast computed tomography improve risk stratification beyond calcium scoring alone

Background— Noncontrast cardiac computed tomography allows calculation of coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and measurement of epicardial adipose tissue (EATv) and intrathoracic fat (ITFv) volumes. It is unclear whether fat volume information contributes to risk stratification. Methods and Results— Cardiac computed tomography was performed in 760 consecutive patients with acute chest pain admitted thorough the emergency department. None had prior coronary artery disease. CACS was calculated using the Agatston method. EATv and ITFv were semiautomatically calculated. Median patient follow-up was 3.3 years. Mean patient age was 54.4±13.7 years and Framingham risk score 8.2±8.2. The 45 patients (5.9%) with major acute cardiac events (MACE) were older (64.8±13.9 versus 53.7±13.4 years), more frequently male (60% versus 40%), and had a higher median Framingham risk score (16 versus 4) and CACS (268 versus 0) versus those without events (all P 125 mL (67% versus 44%) and ITFv >250 mL (64% versus 42%) (all P 400. Conclusions— CACS and fat volumes are independently associated with MACE in acute chest pain patients and beyond that provided by clinical information alone. Although fat volumes may add prognostic value in patients with CACS >400, CACS is most strongly correlated with outcome.