cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complete O(Nfα2) weak contributions to the muon lifetime

Abstract The complete O(Nfα2) weak contributions to the muon lifetime, denoted as Δr(2), are calculated in the MS renormalization scheme. These come from 2-loop Feynman diagrams containing a loop formed by complete generations of massless fermions. They form an independent, gauge-invariant set of corrections that, because of the large number of light fermions in the Standard Model, is expected to make a significant contribution. In the MS renormalizaton scheme with μ′ — (πe γ ) 1 2 μ = M Z and for a Higgs mass, MH, in the range 100–1000 GeV the contribution varies from −0.55 × 10−4 to −1.54 × 10−4 for each massless generation of fermions.
Thermophysical properties of zirconium measured using electrostatic levitation

ABSTRACT Six thermophysical properties of both the solid and liquid zirconium measured using the high-temperature electrostaticlevitator at JPL are presented. These properties are: density, thermal expansion coefficient, constant pressure heat capacity,hemispherical total emissivity, surface tension and viscosity. For the first time, we report the densities and the thermalexpansion coefficients of both the solid as well as liquid Zr over wide ranges of temperatures. Over the 1700 2300 Ktemperature span, the liquid density can be expressed as p1(T) = 6.24 x HP - 0.29 (T - Tm) kg/rn3 with Tm 2128 K, 1fld the corresponding volume expansion coefficient as a = 4.6 x iO /K. Similarly, over the 1250 2100 K range, the measured density of the solid can be expressed as p(T) = 6.34 x i& - 0.15 (T - Tm), giving a volume expansion coefficient a = 2.35 x iO /K. The constant pressure heat capacity of the liquid phase could be estimated as Ci(T) = 39.72 - 7.42 x io-3 cr - Tm) J/molfK if the hemispherical total emissivity of the liquid phase cc remains constant at 0.3 over the 1825
Computational studies of benzyl-substituted halonium ions

Abstract Density functional computations were carried out whose objectives were to quantify the interactions of chlorine and bromine with neighboring cationic centers in a series of 1-aryl-2-haloethyl cations. Analysis of structural changes and bonding interactions gave rise to linear correlations with σ + values of the aryl substituents. Electron-donating groups diminished bridging and electron-withdrawing groups gave rise to stronger bridging.
Attrition rates, reasons, and predictive factors in supportive care and palliative oncology clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Attrition is common among supportive care/palliative oncology clinical trials. However, to the authors' knowledge, few studies to date have documented the reasons and predictors for dropout. In the current study, the authors' objective was to determine the rate, reasons, and factors associated with attrition both before reaching the primary endpoint and at the end of the study. METHODS: A review of all prospective interventional supportive care/palliative oncology trials conducted in the Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston between 1999 and 2011 was performed. Patient and study characteristics and attrition data were extracted. RESULTS: A total of 1214 patients were included in 18 clinical trials. The median age of the patients was 60 years. Approximately 41% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of ≥ 3, a median Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) for fatigue of 7 of 10, and a median ESAS for dyspnea of 2 of 10. The attrition rate was 26% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 23%-28%) for the primary endpoint and 44% (95% CI, 41%-47%) for the end of the study. Common reasons for primary endpoint dropout were symptom burden (21%), patient preference (15%), hospitalization (10%), and death (6%). Primary endpoint attrition was associated with a higher baseline intensity of fatigue (odds ratio [OR], 1.10 per point; P = .01) and a longer study duration (P = .04). End-of-study attrition was associated with higher baseline levels of dyspnea (OR, 1.06; P = .01), fatigue (OR, 1.08; P = .01), Hispanic race (OR, 1.87; P = .002), higher level of education (P = .02), longer study duration (P = .01), and outpatient studies (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The attrition rate was high in supportive care/palliative oncology clinical trials, and was associated with various patient characteristics and a high baseline symptom burden. These findings have implications for future clinical trial design including eligibility criteria and sample size calculation. Cancer 2013. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Preparative gradient elution chromatography of chemotactic peptides

Experimental and computational studies are carried out on the separation of a mixture of chemotactic peptides by reversed-phase gradient elution on commercial octadecyl silica supports with acetonitrile as the modulator. The solubility of this mixture is found to be a complex function not only of mobile phase composition, but also of the order in which the various constituents of the mobile phase are mixed together. In certain cases, the feeds seem to reach a metastable state in which they are fully soluble for several hours: this is exploited here for preparative separations. Separations are also carried out by stepwise and nonlinear isocratic elution, and the yields and productivities compared to those from gradient elution. Predictive simulations of all these separations are run using independently measured single component feed isotherms. Good agreement with experiment is found when multicomponent (nonlinear) feed interactions are accounted for, but not when the usual assumption of linear feed isotherms is made. Simultaneous concentration and separation of these feeds is easily achieved by gradient elution. Simulations indicate that the combination of the focusing power of the gradient with the multicomponent feed interactions is likely to give good separations even at high feed loadings.
Velocity distortions of spectral lines with combined doppler and collision broadening

Abstract We present the results of theoretical studies of velocity distortions produced by directed motion in a conical source flow on lines with combined Doppler and collision broadening. At 300 K, we find that the velocity effect for an axial velocity of 1×10 -5 c becomes negligibly small as the line-shape parameter a is increased from 0 to 10.
Drug-nutrient interactions and their implications for safety evaluations

In order to assess the relevance of the drug-nutrient interactions described in this chapter to routine toxicologic studies, the range of nutrient concentrations within which these interactions may occur must be compared to the range of nutrient concentrations found in routinely used rodent diets. While obviously deficient levels of some nutrients were supplied to demonstrate some of the interactions, others occur when the nutrients are present in adequate or excess levels, such as might be found in commercially available diets. These diets are known to vary from batch to batch in nutrient content. A lifetime toxicity/carcinogenicity bioassay using rodents may last longer than 2 years, during which time several batches of diet will be used. The variation in diet composition, coupled with inadequate diet description, makes nutrient-toxin interactions not only possible, but difficult to recognize. These considerations raise the practical and philosophical question as to what type of diet is most appropriate for rodents used for safety evaluation of drugs and chemicals. Is it appropriate to use diets that vary unpredictably in nutrient content, that infer a degree of protection against chemical carcinogenesis and which supply some nutrients such as protein in great excess of dietary needs? Is the increase in sensitivity to chemical carcinogens of animals fed purified diets desirable or does this increased sensitivity of the bioassay exceed that required to assess the risk of human exposure? In other words, is the use of purified diets likely to increase the number of false positive results? Proper interpretation and extrapolation of safety evaluation studies requires adequate description of the test system. Given the profound influence of diet on the response to some toxins, the composition of the diet should, ideally, be defined with the same rigor as are the test compound and the strain, age, sex, and housing conditions of the animals. It is likely, however, that natural ingredients diets will continue to be the diets of choice in safety evaluation studies. This is largely due to economic reasons. It is possible, however, to use these diets with greater confidence if open-formula diets are used and the concentration of each nutrient is reported. Consideration should also be given to preparing diets for use in adult and aging rodents, diets in which protein content is reduced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
MORE MOSSES WITH CHLOROCHYTRIUM1

The green alga Chlorochytrium is reported intracellular in the mosses Archidium tenerrimum Mitten (Archidiaceae) and Funaria hygrometrica Hedwig (Funariaceae).
X-ray spectra of the Crab pulsar and nebula

The spectrum of the Crab pulsar was measued from 2 to 50 keV as a function of pulse phase and a progressive hardening and subsequent softening of the spectrum across the pulse was found. The fraction of the pulsed flux which exhibits spectral variability is 0.14 and is concentrated solely in the region between the two peaks. A model is suggested in which the pulsed X-ray emission from the Crab pulsar consists of two components: one which has no spectral dependence with pulse phase and which is physically related to the double peaked gama ray pulse and, perhaps, the radio and optical pulses; and another component which exhibits spectral variability with pulse phase is confined to and comprises the interpeak emission, and which is only seen at X-ray energies. These results and studies of the binary X-ray pulsar Hercules X-1 suggest a phenomonological similarity. If the spectrally varying component in the Crab pulsar arises from a hot, magnetized plasma near the neutron star surface then higher energy spectral observations of this phase region might reveal spectral features which can be used to determine the surface field strength.
Inhibition of methoxyresorufin demethylase activity by flavonoids in human liver microsomes

Abstract Flavonoids are a class of dietary phytochemicals with anticarcinogenic properties. A Series of ten structurally related flavonoids were evaluated for their effect on methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD) activity in human liver microsomes. All compounds inhibited this cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) mediated activity. 3,5,7-Trihydoxyflavone (galangin) was the most potent inhibitor, followed by 3-hydroxyflavone and flavone. The relative inhibitory potency of flavonoids is related to their structures. The results suggest that flavonoids may modulate pharmacological and toxicological effects mediated by CYP1A2.
Design and characterization of strain-compensated InGaAs/GaAsSb type-II MQW structure with operation wavelength at ~3μm

GaInAs/GaAsSb type-II multiple quantum wells (MQWs) grown on InP substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) were investigated for potential use in p-i-n photodiodes operating in the mid-infrared spectral region. In these quantum well structures, electrons and holes are spatially separated. The resulting spatially indirect type-II detection occurs at longer wavelength than the spatially direct intraband recombination in either GaInAs or GaAsSb. A 4-band k · p Hamiltonian model was employed to calculate the detection wavelengths and wavefunction overlaps. A p-i-n structure with 100 pairs of Ga 0.66 In 034 As (∼7.0 nm)/GaAs 0.25 Sb 0.75 (∼5.0 nm) MQWs structure with operation wavelength of above 3.0 μm was designed and grown by MBE. The compressively strained GaAsSb layers are strain-compensated by tensile strained GaInAs. Photo response of above 3 μm was observed by room temperature responsivity measurements.
HOBr in Sulfuric Acid Solutions: Solubility and Reaction with HCl as a Function of Temperature and Concentration

A detailed study of the interaction of HOBr and HCl in cold sulfuric acid solutions has been performed using a coated-wall flow tube coupled to an electron-impact mass spectrometer. The liquid-phase bimolecular rate constants, measured over a temperature range from 213 to 238 K and in solutions from 59.7 to 70.1 wt % composition, show a strong positive dependence on both acid composition and temperature. The solubility of HOBr has also been measured in these solutions by analyzing its time-dependent uptake. Henry's Law constants (H) determined from the measured values of HD1/2 and the liquid-phase diffusion coefficient (D) are independent of acid composition over the above range of solution compositions. The values of H demonstrate a clear Clausius−Clapeyron temperature dependence, with a heat of solution of −9 ± 1 kcal/mol. When the atmospheric importance of these data is assessed, two conclusions are reached. In the stratosphere, under aerosol conditions observed soon after the Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eru...
Scale-resistant surfaces: Fundamental studies of the effect of surface energy on reducing scale formation

In this work, we performed a systematic investigation of the effect of surface energy on scale formation. We made a catalogue of smooth substrates with varying surface energies by depositing self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of functionalized coatings (organosilanes) on glass slides and exposed these substrates to a saturated aqueous solution of CaSO4. The systems reached supersaturation due to evaporation of the aqueous phase over time, resulting in CaSO4 scale formation on the substrates. We show a significant reduction in scale formation with decreasing surface energy. To determine the surface chemistry and elemental composition of the substrates, we characterized them by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the results of this study were used to explain the effect of chemistry on surface energy. Furthermore, by looking at the contribution of the substrates’ surface energy from polar and apolar components, we demonstrate that the polar component is a key factor governing scale formation on a substrate. Hence, a significant reduction in scale deposition can be achieved by minimizing the polar sites at the surface-scale interface. The proposed approach is distinctive because it studies how changing the surface properties can result in scale mitigation, whereas previous research in the field mostly have focused on developing effective chemical inhibitors to change the solid and liquid properties in the fluid phase. Our findings provide a fundamental understanding of scale formation as a function of surface energy attributes and provide insights for the design of scale-resistant surfaces with potential for technological applications.
Inhibition of carnitine palmitoyltransferase in the rat small intestine reduces export of triacylglycerol into the lymph.

Following digestion of dietary triacylglycerol (TAG), intestinal epithelial cells absorb fatty acids and monoacylglycerols that are resynthesized into TAG by enzymes located on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). A study in rat liver (Abo-Hashema, K. A., M. H. Cake, G. W. Power, and D. J. Clarke. 1999. Evidence for TAG synthesis in the lumen of microsomes via a lipolysis-esterification pathway involving carnitine acyltransferases. J. Biol. Chem. 274: 35577–35582) showed that there is a carnitine-dependent ER lumenal synthesis of TAG. We wanted to test the hypothesis that a similar pathway was present in rat intestine by utilizing etomoxir, a specific inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT). Intraduodenal infusion of etomoxir inhibited CPT activity in the ER by 69%. Etomoxir did not affect either the uptake of intraduodenally infused [3H]glyceryltrioleate by the intestinal mucosa or the production of mucosal [3H]TAG, excluding the possibility that etomoxir interfered with TAG absorption or synthesis. Etomoxir did not inhibit protein synthesis, glucose, cholesterol or palmitate absorption or metabolism, or ATP concentrations. Etomoxir substantially (74%) diminished lymph TAG output from intralumenally infused glyceryltrioleate. In conclusion, these data strongly support the hypothesis that an ER CPT system exists and is necessary for processing dietary TAG into chylomicrons. The significant reduction in lymphatic output of chylomicron TAG on etomoxir treatment suggests that the major source of chylomicron TAG is a diacylglyceroltransferase on the lumenal surface of the ER.
Emerging EPO and EPO receptor regulators and signal transducers.

As essential mediators of red cell production, erythropoietin (EPO) and its cell surface receptor (EPO receptor [EPOR]) have been intensely studied. Early investigations defined basic mechanisms for hypoxia-inducible factor induction of EPO expression, and within erythroid progenitors EPOR engagement of canonical Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (JAK2/STAT5), rat sarcoma/mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (RAS/MEK/ERK), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways. Contemporary genetic, bioinformatic, and proteomic approaches continue to uncover new clinically relevant modulators of EPO and EPOR expression, and EPO’s biological effects. This Spotlight review highlights such factors and their emerging roles during erythropoiesis and anemia.
Properties of new scintillator glasses and scintillating fibers

Abstract We present data on the light output and optical properties of new scintillation glasses. Data on light (ϱ ⋍ 2.6 g/cm 3 ) and heavy (ϱ > 3.4 g/cm3) glasses are presented. In addition, the performance of scintillating glass fibers fabricated using a new light glass is discussed.
Is Spending More Potent For or Against a Proposition? Evidence from Ballot Measures

The recent academic literature suggests that pressure from special interest groups has little or no influence on whether initiatives and referendums are passed or defeated. Further, there is a consensus that, to the degree that groups' campaigning is important for explaining outcomes, groups opposing the initiative and favoring the status quo have an advantage over groups that support change. These studies have not considered that interest groups campaign strategically and therefore that campaigning is endogenous in ballot measure elections. This study examines the effect of campaigning on ballot proposition elections and develops a research design that accounts for strategic and endogenous campaign advertising. The research design uses a two-way fixed-effects model to estimate the effect of interest group pressure on ballot measure outcomes. The data are based on television advertising for or against California ballot measures from 2000 to 2004. The results show that supporting and opposing interest groups' campaigning has a quantitatively important and statistically significant influence on ballot measure outcomes. The campaigning of supporting interest groups is at least as productive as that of opposing interest groups.
A computer model study of the ventricular fibrillation vulnerable window: sensitivity to regional conduction depressions.

The cardiac vulnerable window is typically defined to be that portion of the cardiac cycle during which ectopic stimuli can induce ventricular fibrillation (VF). We have used cardiac electrophysiological computer modeling to investigate how the size and shape of the cardiac vulnerable window is affected by regional conduction velocity depressions (RCVDs), as might be found in ischemia. Computer simulations were performed on a three-dimensional finite-state, discrete-element model of the ventricles of a dog heart, with simulated RCVDs of 0% (normal) to 100% (infarcted) isolated to the apical region of this heart. Using a programmed electrical stimulation protocol, vulnerability was quantified as the number of ectopic stimuli necessary to induce VF. We observed a nonlinear and nonmonotonic relation between increases in RCVD and the vulnerability of the heart to ectopic stimuli. The size and shape of the vulnerable able window remained stable through RCVDs of 30%, expanded rapidly thereafter through RCVDs of 90%, and then contracted significantly at the RCVD of 100%. These increases in vulnerability were manifest as both a lowering of the overall stimulus thresholds necessary for fibrillation (window “deepening”), and an increase in the fraction of the cardiac cycle susceptible to these ectopic stimuli (window “widening”). In all cases of induced VF, the mechanism of induction was through reentry facilitated by temporary functional block. Moreover, the ability to form such a block—and thus the likelihood of subsequent VF—was enhanced as the RCVD increased. Taken together, these results demonstrate the complex relation between vulnerability and RCVD and, at the very least, suggest that the entire shape of the vulnerable window, rather than just its minimum threshold, is important when determining a heart's electrical stability. These conclusions are supported by results obtained from an experimental study—which utilized a similar programmed stimulation protocol—of normal and ischemic canine hearts.
Developmental Instability in Fragmented Populations of Prairie Phlox: A Cautionary Tale

Considerable attention has recently been focused on using levels of developmental instability among members of a population to detect environmental or genetic stresses on animals or plants. It is not yet clear, however, that high developmental instability in a sample of individuals always indicates environmen- tal stress or poor genetic quality. We studied 13 fragmented populations of prairie phlox ( Phlox pilosa L.) to test the hypothesis that developmental instability should decrease with increasing population size—as ex- pected if small populations suffer genetic problems associated with inbreeding or are exposed to more envi- ronmental stress than larger populations. We used two different measures of developmental instability, each calculated for two different traits: radial asymmetry of flowers (for petal width and petal length) and modu- lar fluctuating asymmetry of leaves ( for leaf widths at two points along the leaf ). There were weak but signif- icant correlations among individuals for four of six pairwise combinations of these measures. Surprisingly, three of our four measures of developmental instability showed strong population size effects that were oppo- site to those expected: developmental instability increased with population size. We conclude that measures of developmental instability cannot be applied uncritically for biomonitoring without considerable knowledge of developmental mechanisms, natural history, and population biology of the species in question.
Relationship between Two Expressions of Reliability: Percentage Agreement and PHI.

Studies in applied behavior analysis have used two expressions of reliability for human observations: percentage agreement (including percent occurrence and percent nonoccurrence agreement) and cor...
Oxidative Heck Coupling Using Pd(II) Supported on Organosilane-Functionalized Silica Mesocellular Foam

Oxidative Heck couplings of arylboronic acids and olefins are carried out under air to facilitate reoxidation of palladium without the need for an added co-oxidant using Pd(II) supported on silica surface-tethered bipyridyl, iminopyridine, or 3-aminopropyl ligands. Use of silica-supported iminopyridine or bipyridine ligands gives active catalysts, with the bipyridine-based catalyst being most efficient. The Heck products are formed with high yields and selectivities over the 1,4-addition product, and the silica supported bipyridine-based catalyst is easily recovered via simple filtration. Unlike similar supported catalysts in traditional Heck reactions involving aryl halides and olefins, the catalysts presented here can be used for multiple catalytic cycles without activity or selectivity loss.
Metabolic engineering—a genetic toolbox for small molecule organic synthesis

Metabolic engineering is an emerging field that exploits biosynthetic machinery as a means to genetically design small molecule production within heterologous host organisms. Molecular design and synthesis with biological tools has lagged behind total synthesis technology for about seventy-five years and owes its existence to relatively new molecular biology techniques. Here the field of metabolic engineering is explained as a comparison to total organic synthesis, including the sequence of scientific events leading up to successful implementation and future goals in the field. It is expected that metabolic engineering will take a place alongside traditional organic synthesis as a powerful means to design and create small organic molecules.
Identification of 15-hydroxy-11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid as a vasoactive 15-lipoxygenase metabolite in rabbit aorta.

Arachidonic acid (AA) causes endothelium-dependent smooth muscle hyperpolarizations and relaxations that are mediated by a 15-lipoxygenase-I (15-LO-I) metabolite, 11,12,15-trihydroxyeicosatrienoic ...
Microtubule plus-end dynamics in Xenopus egg extract spindles.

Microtubule dynamics underlie spindle assembly, yet we do not know how the spindle environment affects these dynamics. We developed methods for measuring two key parameters of microtubule plus-end dynamic instability in Xenopus egg extract spindles. To measure plus-end polymerization rates and localize growing plus ends, we used fluorescence confocal imaging of EB1. This revealed plus-end polymerization throughout the spindle at ∼11 μm/min, similar to astral microtubules, suggesting polymerization velocity is not regionally regulated by the spindle. The ratio of EB1 to microtubule fluorescence revealed an enrichment of polymerizing ends near the spindle middle, indicating enhanced nucleation or rescue there. We measured depolymerization rates by creating a front of synchronized depolymerization in spindles severed with microneedles. This front could be tracked by polarization and fluorescence microscopy as it advanced from each cut edge toward the associated pole. Both imaging modalities revealed rapid depolymerization (∼30 μm/min) superimposed on a subset of microtubules stable to depolymerization. Larger spindle fragments contained a higher percentage of stable microtubules, which we believe were oriented with their minus ends facing the cut. Depolymerization was blocked by the potent microtubule stabilizing agent hexylene glycol, but was unaffected by α-MCAK antibody and AMPPNP, which block catastrophe and kinesin motility, respectively. These measurements move us closer to understanding the complete life history of a spindle microtubule.
Out of the Mouth of Minnows

The skeleton articulates at specialized junctions, or joints. Although many factors that specify joints are known, how these different mechanisms are integrated to define the joint remains unclear. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Askary et al. (2015) utilize zebrafish to identify genetic regulatory mechanisms of joint specification and differentiation.
Topology selection of FPGA look-up tables for low-leakage operation

Modern field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are increasingly becoming prone to leakage power dissipation, which can be attributed to their flexibility and increasing densities. One of the most important types of elements that are used throughout the FPGA fabric are the NMOS pass-transistor based multiplexers, which play a prominent role in both the logic and routing blocks. In this paper, we undertake a comparative study of various FPGA-LUT topologies that are based on different constituent multiplexers from a leakage power dissipation perspective, for a 45nm CMOS process. We found that a LUT constructed with two 8:1 decoded multiplexers or with three 4:1 multiplexers has lesser amount of leakage when compared to other topologies.
Why are Non-profit Performing Arts Organisations Successful in Mid-sized US Cities?

This paper examines the locational success of non-profit arts organisations (PAOs) in six mid-sized cities and their metropolitan areas in the United States. The cities are located in the US rust belt and they do not fare well on Florida's creativity index. Yet they are ranked among the top 30 of some 400 North American cultural cities. Based on interviews with 63 performing arts directors, it is found that localisation economies as well as creative capital theories explain the attractiveness of mid-sized cities to the performing arts industry. While urbanisation economy factors were ranked lowly, this may be explained by the non-profit nature of the industry so that a significant share of interfirm or interorganisational linkages is voluntary, donated and informal. The results also reveal that non-profit organisations are relatively embedded in their local urban economies and rely rather heavily on local communities for patronage, performers and reputation.
ELECTROMAGNETICALLY INDUCED NEGATIVE REFRACTIVE INDEX IN DOPED SEMICONDUCTORS AT OPTICAL FREQUENCIES

Based on methods of quantum optics, we discuss the possibility of achieving the negative index of refraction in a semiconductor with donor-like impurities. The quantum states of hydrogen-like donor atom and states of an electron in conduction band constitute a discrete-level atomic medium within the optical range. The coherent coupling of an electric dipole transition with a magnetic dipole transition leads to permeability and permittivity responses and, within some frequency band, ensures the negative refractive index. The magnetic moment between two quasi-atomic states separated by optical frequencies is induced by a low-frequency electromagnetic field. The implementation of this scheme is carried out in tin-doped indium oxide, and the calculations show feasibility of the effect within a broad bandwidth ∼2% with a high figure of merit greater than 10 in the optical regime.
Editorial Comment: Salting the Brain to Improve CBF in SAH Patients

Hypertonic saline solutions (HSs) have been used in various concentrations in patients with intracranial pathologies to treat cerebral edema and elevated intracranial pressure (ICP).1 Since the first animal experiments by Weed and McKibben2 in 1919, many data have been published on the use of HSs in both animal models and human patients with hemorrhagic shock with and without elevated ICP and with isolated intracranial processes. All these studies have shown that HS effectively reduces ICP and cerebral edema with subsequent enhancement of cerebral perfusion pressure. Another beneficial effect of HS is an increase in intravascular volume and therefore maintenance of adequate …
Does using the Internet facilitate the maintenance of weight loss

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a weight maintenance program conducted over the Internet. DESIGN: Longitudinal, clinical behavioral weight loss trial with 6-month in-person behavioral obesity treatment followed by a 12-month maintenance program conducted both in-person (frequent in-person support; F-IPS, minimal in-person support; M-IPS) and over the Internet (Internet support; IS). SUBJECTS: A total of 122 healthy, overweight adults (age=48.4±9.6, BMI=32.2±4.5 kg/m2, 18 male) MEASUREMENTS: Body weight, dietary intake, energy expended in physical activity, attendance, self-monitoring, comfort with technology. RESULTS: Results (n=101) showed that weight loss did not differ by condition during treatment (8.0±5 vs 11±6.5 vs 9.8±5.9 kg, P=0.27 for IS, M-IPS and F-IPS, respectively). The IS condition gained significantly more weight than the F-IPS group during the first 6 months of weight maintenance (+2.2±3.8 vs 0±4 kg, P<0.05) and sustained a significantly smaller weight loss than both in-person support groups at the 1 y follow-up (−5.7±5.9 vs −10.4±9.3 vs −10.4±6.3 kg, P<0.05 for IS, M-IPS and F-IPS, respectively). Attendance at maintenance meetings was greater for the F-IPS than the IS condition over the 1 y maintenance program (54 vs 39%, P=0.04). Acceptability of assigned condition was higher for subjects in the F-IPS than IS condition. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that Internet support does not appear to be as effective as minimal or frequent intensive in-person therapist support for facilitating the long-term maintenance of weight loss.
MANAGING MENTALLY ILL INMATES IN PRISONS

Mentally ill inmates now comprise a substantial portion of the prison population and pose administrative and therapeutic challenges to prison administrators and mental health professionals. Some ev...
Effects of various periods of cold potassium cardioplegic arrest upon myocardial contractility and metabolism

A maximal “safe” period of cardioplegic arrest has not been documented. Twenty-five dogs were therefore subjected to 1, 2, and 3 hr of potassium cardioplegic arrest (Groups I, II, and III), using 200 ml at 20-min intervals of D5 0.2 NS with 20 mEq KCl and 6 mEq NaHCO3/500 ml at 0–4°C. Results: Myocardial temperature decreased to 13°C after each cardioplegic infusion. Left ventricular pressure volume curves did not decrease significantly in Group I, but did in Group II, from 204 ± 20 mm Hg with 10-ml volume to 140 ± 8 (P < 0.03). Group III decreased from 117 ± 9 with 5-ml volume to 60 ± 3 (P < 0.0004), from 160 ± 11 with 10-ml volume to 108 ± 6 (P < 0.004), and from 181 ± 17 with 15-ml volume to 127 ± 9 (P < 0.03). Cardiac output was less in Group III than in Groups I and II 60 min after bypass [44 ± 10 vs 76 ± 8 ml/min/kg (P < 0.08)]. Myocardial ATP was significantly less in Group III than Group I 15 min after reperfusion and 60 min after bypass, being 2.25 ± 0.35 and 2.95 ± 0.81 vs 5.18 ± 0.85 and 5.68 ± 0.60 μmoles/g (P < 0.05). Myocardial lactate increased from 3.65 to 8.55 ± 0.81 μmoles/g at 60 min of cardioplegia, 9.36 ± 0.67 at 2 hr, and 12.01 ± 2.0 at 3 hr. Myocardial glycogen decreased through the cardioplegic period and remained depressed in Group III 30 min after bypass, being 488 ± 124 mg%, as compared to 901 ± 130 in Group I (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Hearts subjected to 1 and 2 hr of potassium cardioplegia showed relatively little hemodynamic or metabolic derangement, as compared to those subjected to 3 hr of cardioplegia.
Contract, Uncertainty and Innovation

Contract today increasingly links entrepreneurial innovations to the efforts and finance necessary to transform ideas into value. In this Chapter, we describe the match between a form of contract that "braids" formal and informal contractual elements in novel ways and the process by which innovation is pursued. It is hardly surprising that these innovative forms of contract have emerged first in markets, and that the common law, and the theory of contract, then play catch-up. Between the time contracting practice adapts to the demands of innovation and the time contract doctrine adapts to the demands of practice, law acts as a friction on the innovation process rather than a lubricant to it. Our goal here is to reduce that lag by providing a theory that can guide courts in developing case law that addresses current forms of innovation This chapter provides an overview of our ongoing work. The starting point is the Knightian distinction between risk and uncertainty. In our view, traditional contracting techniques and traditional contract law address problems of risk. Braiding, or contracting for innovation, addresses conditions of uncertainty. We illustrate the relevance of this distinction by describing the shift in the organizational location of innovation - in particular a fundamental shift from vertical integration to contract as the organizing mechanism for cutting-edge innovation. We then describe the braiding of formal and informal contracting that has developed to organize collaboration across organizational boundaries where the desired outcome can, at best, be anticipated only very approximately. Next, we re-examine the interaction between formal and informal contracting to understand why braiding was not envisaged as a theoretical possibility before it became a salient reality, and to make theoretical sense of braiding now that it has. Finally, we look to recent case law, especially that considering preliminary agreements, to argue that the domain of braiding now includes contexts where uncertainty is not generated by technological development, and we examine the failure of courts to recognize the difference between and consequences of low-powered and high-powered enforcement in addressing braided contracts.
ASSESSING TEACHER EDUCATION THE USEFULNESS OF MULTIPLE MEASURES FOR ASSESSING PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Productive strategies for evaluating outcomes are becoming increasingly important for the improvement, and even the survival, of teacher education. This article describes a set of research and asse...
Applying systems thinking to assess sustainability in healthcare system of systems

Healthcare systems face increasing demands and reduced resources. Therefore, there is growing attention paid to sustainability in healthcare. Healthcare is a complex system of systems. This paper discusses healthcare system challenges and the need to consider a sustainable approach in addressing these challenges. An equitable and balanced approach is required to deal with the demands related to healthcare sustainability including societal needs, financial constraints, and intensifying environmental expectations. System dynamics, a systems thinking approach, is applied to help address the challenges of complexity, variability, and uncertainty related to a sustainable model for healthcare. Causal models illustrating the system dynamics factors and relationships are presented. Analysis of the system dynamics and associated factors produced a notional set of healthcare sustainability indicators. These indicators provide important measures of healthcare sustainability.
Word recognition in a segmentation-free approach to OCR

Segmentation is a key step in current OCR systems. It has been estimated that half the errors in character recognition are due to segmentation. We have developed a novel approach that performs OCR without the segmentation step. The approach starts by extracting significant geometric features from the input document image of the page. Each feature then `votes' for the character that could have generated that feature. Thus, even if some of the features are occluded or lost due to degradation, the remaining features can successfully identify the character. In extreme case, the degradation may be severe enough to prevent recognition of some of the characters in a word. In such cases, we use a lexicon-based word recognition technique to resolve ambiguity. Inexact matching and probabilistic evaluation used in the technique allow us to identify the correct word, by detecting a partial set of characters. This paper first presents an overview of our segmentation-free OCR system and then focuses on the word-recognition technique. Preliminary experimental results show that this is a very promising approach.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Color Image Watermarking Scheme in the Associated Domain of DWT and DCT Domains Based on Multi-channel Watermarking Framework

In this paper, a new watermarking scheme based on the multi-channel image watermarking framework is proposed, which is mainly used to resist geometric attacks. The multi-channel image watermarking framework generates a watermarking template from one of image channels data, and then embeds this watermarking template into another image channel. Self-synchronization can be obtained in the procedure of detecting watermarking, because both the watermarking template and watermarking image undergo a similar geometric attack. The watermarking scheme we propose in this paper generates watermarking templates from one image channel data to which we have done DWT and DCT transformation and embeds these watermarking templates into another image channel data to which we have done DWT and DCT transformation. This scheme is robust to some geometric attacks and common signal processing such as geometric distortion, rotation, JPEG compression and adding noise ect.. Experimental results demonstrate that this watermarking scheme produced by the multi-channel watermarking framework achieves a high performance of robustness.
Pesticide residues on tobacco

Tobacco is a unique crop with respect to possible contamination by pesticide residues because it is not classified as a food nor a drug and is, therefore, exempt from tolerances by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of the United States.
The impact of FDG-PET/CT in the management of patients with vulvar and vaginal cancer.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the changes in prognostic impression and patient management following PET/CT in patients with vulvar and vaginal carcinoma; and to compare PET/CT findings with those of conventional imaging modalities. Methods We summarized prospectively and retrospectively collected data for 50 consecutive patients from our institution that enrolled in the National Oncologic PET Registry and underwent FDG-PET/CT for a suspected or known primary or recurrent vulvar/vaginal cancer. Results 54/83 (65%) studies included had a diagnosis of vulvar cancer, and the remaining 29/83 (35%), a diagnosis of vaginal cancer. Following FDG-PET/CT, the physician's prognostic impression changed in 51% of cases. A change in patient management, defined as a change to/from a non-interventional strategy (observation or additional imaging), to/from an interventional strategy (biopsy or treatment), was documented in 36% of studies. The electronic records demonstrated that 95% of the management strategies recorded in the physician questionnaires were implemented as planned. MRI and/or CT were performed within one month of the FDG-PET/CT in 20/83 (24%) and 28/83 (34%) cases, respectively. FDG-PET/CT detected nodes suspicious for metastases on 29/83 (35%) studies performed. MRI and CT detected positive nodes on 6 and 11 studies respectively. Distant metastases were identified in 10 cases imaged with FDG-PET and 5 cases that had additional conventional CT imaging. All suspicious lesions seen on CT were positively identified on PET/CT. In 4 cases, an abnormality identified on PET/CT, was not seen on diagnostic CT. Conclusions FDG-PET/CT may play an important role in the management of vulvar and vaginal carcinoma.
Sensitive Bioassay Method for Measuring Antidiuretic Hormone in Mammalian Plasma

SummaryA method of bioassay for small amounts of antidiuretic hormone in plasma of a dog is presented. The method utilizes rats rendered unconscious with ethanol, under constant water load, and with intravenous injections of all standards and unknowns. Change in specific gravity of rat urine expressed as antidiuretic index is used as criterion of potency. This method appears to be the most sensitive bioassay for ADH available in that small dose changes of reference vasopressin, or endogenous circulating ADH, can be differentiated.
Nanoencapsulation techniques as a “safer by (molecular) design” tool

Abstract Designing safer materials is one of the main challenges in the world of nanotechnology because of the potential risks arising from nanomaterial production, use and disposal. In this work, two nanoencapsulation techniques are investigated and proposed as a “safer by (molecular) design” strategy for controlling and harmonizing the biological reactivity of silver and TiO2 nanoparticles. SiO2 coatings were applied to silver and TiO2 nanoparticles and the feasibility of two different encapsulation techniques, a colloidal approach and chemical synthesis nucleation, were compared. Nanomatrices and core–shell nanocapsules were obtained and thoroughly characterized in terms of their wet physicochemical features (particle size distribution and ζ -potential measurements) and TEM morphology. The colloidal and morphological identification of the samples produced served as a basis for assessing their biological reactivity (reported in subsequent publications).
The familial congenital adrenal syndrome; report of two cases and review of the literature.

(1952). The Familial Congenital Adrenal Syndrome: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature. Postgraduate Medicine: Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 301-312.
A Common Compiler Framework for Big Data Languages: Motivation, Opportunities, and Benefits.

The Bw-Tree is a high performance latch-free B-tree index that exploits log-structured storage. Its design addresses two emerging hardware platform trends. (1) Multi-core and main memory hierarchy: the Bw-tree is completely latch-free; it performs state changes (e.g., record updates, splits) as “deltas” prepended to prior state, installing new state via an atomic compare-and-swap instruction on an indirection page address mapping table. This improves performance by avoiding thread latch blocking while also improving multi-core cache behavior. (2) Flash storage: the Bw-tree organizes storage in a log-structured manner (using ”delta” records) on flash to exploit fast sequential writes and mitigate adverse performance impact of random writes. This also reduces write amplification and extends device lifetime. This article provides an overview of the Bw-tree architecture and its technical innovations that achieve very high performance on modern hardware.
Mass spectral fragmentation of 5α-hydroxysteroids

Abstract The mass spectra of a number of C-4α- and C-4β-alkylated cholestan-3β, 5α-diols have been found to contain an intense ion at m/e 332. The corresponding 6β-alkylated (R) cholestan-3β, 5α-diols exhibit an abundant ion at m/e 331 + R. The mass spectra of cholestan-5α-ol and cholestan-3β, 5α-diol also show an ion at m/e 332 which, however, is of relatively low abundance. The ion in question appears to arise from fragmentation processes which are characteristic of 5α-hydroxysteroids. A similar fragmentation has been found to occur in the cases of C-4 and C-6β-alkylated 5α-hydroxy-cholestan-3-ones. The results of isotopic labeling, high resolution and metastable ion defocusing studies are discussed in terms of the origin of several of the ions in the spectra of the various compounds.
Environmental covariates associated with Cambarus veteranus Faxon, 1914 (Decapoda: Cambaridae), an imperiled Appalachian crayfish endemic to West Virginia, USA

Cambarus veteranus Faxon, 1914, a narrow endemic crayfish native to the Upper Guyandotte River Basin (UGB) in West Virginia, USA, was petitioned in 2014 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to be listed as endangered, but a status survey was recommended to determine if listing was warranted. During May and June 2015, surveys were undertaken across the UGB to determine the current distribution of the species. A total of 71 sites were sampled, including all streams where the species was previously recorded, as well as semi-randomly selected streams, with 1-9 125 m long sites sampled per wadeable stream. Physiochemical and physical habitat data (based on the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index, QHEI) were obtained at each site to determine abiotic factors that were associated with the presence of C. veteranus . Site detection or non-detection of C. veteranus and associated site covariates were modeled using logistic regression to determine covariates associated with the presence of the species. Cambarus veteranus was present in both the Pinnacle Creek and Clear Fork/Laurel Fork watersheds at 10 sites, but it was not observed in the remaining 61 sites. An additive effects model with conductivity and QHEI was selected as the best approximating model. Cambarus veteranus was associated with lower than average UGB conductivity (379 μS) and high (>80) QHEI score. All sites where C. veteranus was not detected had higher conductivity and/or lower QHEI scores.