cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Stem Cells in the Etiology and Pathophysiology of Endometriosis

Human endometrium is a dynamic organ that normally undergoes repetitive cyclic regeneration. To enable this rapid regeneration, it is not surprising that the endometrium contains a reservoir of progenitor stem cells. However, this pool of cells that allows the growth of the endometrium also allows for unrestrained growth that can reach beyond the endometrium. In this review, we will address the role of stem cells in endometriosis. Recent characterization of stem cell populations within human endometrium has opened the possibility of understanding their physiologic as well as their pathologic roles. While stem cells are critical to the cyclic regeneration of a healthy endometrium, we have shown that both endometrium-derived and bone marrow-derived stem cells can migrate to ectopic sites and contribute to the development of endometriosis. Furthermore, endometriosis interferes with the normal stem cell trafficking to the uterus that is necessary for endometrial growth and repair. Altered stem cell mobility and engraftment characterize this disease.
Turning publicly available gene expression data into discoveries using gene set context analysis

Gene Set Context Analysis (GSCA) is an open source software package to help researchers use massive amounts of publicly available gene expression data (PED) to make discoveries. Users can interactively visualize and explore gene and gene set activities in 25,000+ consistently normalized human and mouse gene expression samples representing diverse biological contexts (e.g. different cells, tissues and disease types, etc.). By providing one or multiple genes or gene sets as input and specifying a gene set activity pattern of interest, users can query the expression compendium to systematically identify biological contexts associated with the specified gene set activity pattern. In this way, researchers with new gene sets from their own experiments may discover previously unknown contexts of gene set functions and hence increase the value of their experiments. GSCA has a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI makes the analysis convenient and customizable. Analysis results can be conveniently exported as publication quality figures and tables. GSCA is available at https://github.com/zji90/GSCA. This software significantly lowers the bar for biomedical investigators to use PED in their daily research for generating and screening hypotheses, which was previously difficult because of the complexity, heterogeneity and size of the data.
Sidewise Technologies. National Security and Power Implications

Sidewise technologies are mature technologies applied to new problem areas. For mature one should think of boring, old fashioned, and attracting little notice from first rate scientists and engineers. They are on the frontier of two generations ago. Advanced technologies such as biotechnology, IT, and nanotechnology capture most of the attention of corporate and government technology officers. However, sidewise technologies are likely to be the important hidden drivers of competition in the coming decade. Adaptation of sidewise technologies by China, India, Iran, and others will pose an enormous challenge in business and military competition. Frameworks for recognizing and understanding sidewise technology competition are offered. The capacity to systems engineer combinations of sidewise technologies, with examples, are analyzed.
Adult sleep disorders.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses an approach to patients with sleep complaints, a brief description of the salient features for diagnosis and the principles of treatment of such conditions. The initial approach of treating a patient with sleep complaints must be clinical, based on history and physical examination before laboratory tests are undertaken. The history should include details about sleep habits; history of current or previous medical, neurologic, and psychiatric illnesses; drug and alcohol consumption as well as family history. Sleep histories must include the entire 24-hour span and not just symptoms occurring at sleep onset or during sleep at night. Particular attention should be paid to the frequency, type, and time of onset of the symptoms. Laboratory assessment must be considered an extension of the history and physical examination. Laboratory tests should include diagnostic workup for primary conditions that cause secondary sleep disturbance as well as workup of the sleep disturbance itself. The two most important laboratory tests are an overnight polysomnographic (PSG) study and multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT).
Statistical maritime radar duct estimation using hybrid genetic algorithm–Markov chain Monte Carlo method

[1] This paper addresses the problem of estimating the lower atmospheric refractivity ( M profile) under nonstandard propagation conditions frequently encountered in low-altitude maritime radar applications. This is done by statistically estimating the duct strength (range- and height-dependent atmospheric index of refraction) from the sea surface reflected radar clutter. These environmental statistics can then be used to predict the radar performance. In previous work, genetic algorithms (GA) and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) samplers were used to calculate the atmospheric refractivity from returned radar clutter. Although GA is fast and estimates the maximum a posteriori ( MAP) solution well, it poorly calculates the multidimensional integrals required to obtain the means, variances, and underlying posterior probability distribution functions of the estimated parameters. More accurate distributions and integral calculations can be obtained using MCMC samplers, such as the Metropolis-Hastings and Gibbs sampling (GS) algorithms. Their drawback is that they require a large number of samples relative to the global optimization techniques such as GA and become impractical with an increasing number of unknowns. A hybrid GA-MCMC method based on the nearest neighborhood algorithm is implemented in this paper. It is an improved GA method which improves integral calculation accuracy through hybridization with a MCMC sampler. Since the number of forward models is determined by GA, it requires fewer forward model samples than a MCMC, enabling inversion of atmospheric models with a larger number of unknowns.
Interpreting Mars ionospheric anomalies over crustal magnetic field regions using a 2-D ionospheric model

The spatially inhomogeneous, small-scale crustal magnetic fields of Mars influence the escape of planetary atmospheric species and the interaction of the solar wind with the ionosphere. Understanding the plasma response to crustal magnetic field regions can therefore provide insight to ionospheric structure and dynamics. To date, several localized spatial structures in ionospheric properties that have been observed over regions of varying magnetic field at Mars have yet to be explained. In this study, a two-dimensional ionospheric model is used to simulate the effects of field-aligned plasma transport in regions of strong crustal magnetic fields. Resulting spatial and diurnal plasma distributions are analyzed and found to agree with observations from several spacecraft and offer compelling interpretations for many of the anomalous ionospheric behaviors observed at or near regions of strong crustal magnetic fields on Mars.
Some Properties of Freeze-Dried Milk

Summary The effect of freeze-drying milk on the physical state of certain milk constituents and on the keeping qualities of the resulting powder has been studied. The fat emulsion of freeze-dried powder is partially destabilized. The presence of free fat in the powder makes reconstitution difficult. No crystallization of the lactose is evident in the spray- and freeze-dried powders. The data show that the ratio of β to a lactose in these powders is dependent upon the temperature of drying. The ratio in spray-dried powder closely approaches the equilibrium ratio in a lactose solution at 212° F., while the ratio in freeze-dried powder closely approaches that at 32° F. Flavor and keeping quality characteristics of freeze-dried milk are essentially the same as for spray-dried whole milk powder. Both dry milks have essentially the same flavor characteristics when fresh and both become tallowy in storage. They also may exhibit deterioration of the type associated with the Maillard reaction. The freeze-dried powder, however, frequently acquires a fruity flavor which is not apparent in spray-dried milk. Freeze-drying by the methods used in this study does not produce a more satisfactory product than spray-dried milk.
New Treatment Approaches for Dyslipidemia and its Management

The field of lipidology is evolving rapidly. Two novel medications have recently been approved for use in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH); the Apolipoprotein B (Apo B) mRNA antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), mipomersen (Kynamro®) and the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitor, lomitapide (Juxtapid®). Equally important have been the disappointments in cholesterol research; the halting of further investigation into the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor dalcetrapib, yet two others remain in development. The failure of the combination of extended release niacin and laropiprant to show benefit when combined with statin therapy has lead to the discontinuation of this product in Europe. Perhaps one of the most exciting avenues of future research is into the inhibition of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9).
A passion for accuracy

A cursory glance at doctors and others at the peak of their profession reveals that attention to detail binds them all
Product innovation and management in a small enterprise

Purpose – This paper aims to describe a product innovation and management approach that is in use by one small enterprise that may be of value to others. Design/methodology/approach – The case describes an approach to new product development and management. The organization's original name as well as individual managers' names have been changed at its request. Findings – The paper provides information and action approaches to new product developers in small organizations. Often smaller organizations lack the resources to approach product innovation and management in a systemized way. The small organization featured was able to innovate systematically despite a very small level of resources. In addition, it was in a position to perform product management when the situation warranted. Their results offer implications for new product development and management teams in other small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Research limitations/implications – As in all case studies, the specific conditions found in one organization may not be found more generally in others. Readers are cautioned that the conclusions drawn in the case may have limited applicability. Practical implications – The case depicts the process that one small firm used to innovate. It lacked frills and complexity but worked effectively. Originality/value – The case describes an intuitive approach to innovation born of great experience with the benefits of a product. It illustrates that the truest description of the voice of the customer comes from the customer himself.
ALKALI-ACTIVITY CORRELATIONS IN OPEN CLUSTERS

We present a census of correlations between activity measures and neutral resonance lines of the alkali elements Li i and K i in open clusters and star-forming regions. The majority of very young associations and star formation regions show no evidence of Li-activity correlations, perhaps because their chromospheric activity indicators have a dominant origin in accretion processes with implied disk-clearing timescales in the range of a few times 10 6 to � 4 ;10 7 yr. Alkali-alkali and/or alkali-activity correlations are newly noted within IC 2391, M34, and perhaps Blanco 1 and NGC 6475. Global X-ray luminosities are not as robust indicators as traditional optical indicators of alkali-activity correlations, nor are Li i–Ki relations. Intracluster alkali-activity correlations are not global but are seen only within different intracluster subsamples, evincing rich behavior. Li- and K-activity correlations appear to go hand in hand, likely suggesting that at least some part of intracluster Li variance is not due to real differential Li depletion. Although up to � 90% of the star-to-star variance in Li i and K i within such a subsample can be related to that in optical chromospheric emission, significant Li dispersion above observational scatter may remain even after accounting for this. We suggest, for example, that at least three independent mechanisms (including a possible intracluster age spread) influence the distribution in the M34 Li-Teff plane. We argue that Li-activity correlations are not illusory manifestations of a physical Li-rotation connection. Although an unexpected correlation between Li, chromospheric emission, and the k6455 Ca i feature in cool M34 dwarfs indicates that the role of ‘‘activity’’ is played by spots/plages, we note that the alkali-activity correlations are qualitatively opposite in sign to other abundance anomalies being rapidly delineated in active, young, cool stars.
Adenylate cyclase activity of avian granulosa: Effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Abstract The activity of adenylate cyclase in crude and purified preparations of hen granulosa was investigated by measuring the production of cyclic AMP during a 20-min incubation at 30°. Both NaF and guanosine 5′-β,γ-imidotriphosphate (Gpp(NH)p), the nonhydrolyzable analog of GTP, stimulated enzyme activity in a dose-related manner. Ovine LH and, to a lesser extent, ovine FSH also activated adenylate cyclase in the presence of half-maximally stimulating concentrations of Gpp(NH)p (10 −7 M ). Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (10 −10 –10 −4 M ) failed to significantly affect basal- or gonadotropin-promoted adenylate cyclase activity or the production of cyclic AMP by intact granulosa cells. Progesterone production, on the other hand, was enhanced by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (10 −8 –10 −6 M ). It is suggested that in chicken granulosa cells, as in the mammalian pituitary cells, the adenylate cyclase/cyclic AMP system is not a mediator of GnRH action.
Cluster analysis and the identification of aggregations

Correspondence: R. E. Strauss, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-3131, U.S.A. (email: rich.strauss@ttu.edu). The necessity of objectively determining the numbers of groups of organisms, along with their shapes, positions and other characteristics, arises often in ecological and behavioural studies (Hamilton 1971; Radakov 1973; Morse 1980; Ginsberg & Young 1992; Whitehead 1997). Choice by isolated animals of a particular conspecific group (herd, flock, or school) as a function of group size, shape and composition can have important consequences for their predation risk and foraging success (Caraco et al. 1980; Magurran & Pitcher 1983; Clark & Mangel 1986; Hager & Helfman 1991). Studies of grouping behaviour, in the laboratory and in the wild, must be based on operationally objective characterization of the numbers and sizes of such groups. This problem has recently emerged in our study of schooling behaviour in Corydoras paleatus, a benthic South American catfish that schools in two dimensions rather than three and displays a fission/fusion social behaviour that depends on group size. We initially observed that seven or fewer individuals (more or less) almost invariably cluster into a single aggregation, whereas 12 or more individuals (more or less) tend to spend most of their time separated into two aggregations. Groups of 7–12 individuals typically display an intermediate behaviour, alternately separating from one ‘school’ into two and remerging. Larger groups commonly associate and disassociate into two, three or more schools, usually differing in shape, orientation and number of individuals. Our objective has been to dissect this dynamic behaviour by filming aggregations from above under various experimental conditions, digitizing the positions and orientations of individuals, and quantifying the spatial structure over time using statistical tools appropriate for such studies (Morgan et al. 1976; Diggle 1983; Cressie 1991; Whitehead 1997). However, an unexpectedly difficult analytical task has been to determine objectively, at a particular time, the number of schools present and the most reasonable assignment of individuals to schools. This is complicated by the following factors, which are not uncommon in studies of group structure and dynamics (Hamilton 1971; Radakov 1973): (1) schools can differ in extent (area) and
Temperature dependence of the vacuum ultraviolet spectrum of solid xenon

Abstract The absorption spectrum of solid xenon was obtained at 5°K for xenon deposited at 5°K, xenon deposited at 5°K and annealed at 50°K, and xenon deposited at 50°K. The spectra obtained for the annealed and unannealed deposits at 5°K are similar to results previously reported. However, for a deposit temperature of 50°K additional bands are observed at 1502 A and 1322 A, with the relative intensities of these bands dependent on the deposition rate.
Conjugation of enzymes to anti-poliovirus globulin: effect of enzyme molecular weight on virus neutralization capacity.

Abstract Poliovirus type 1 antibody was coupled to s-galactosidase by use of glutaraldehyde. Purification of the crude conjugates by Sepharose 6B column chromatography was effective for isolating the active components. Analysis of crude conjugates by centrifugation in sucrose density gradients showed that they were heterogeneous; purified conjugates migrated as a single band. The virus neutralization capacity of s-galactosidase conjugates was compared to that of conjugates prepared with other enzymes (ribonuclease, alkaline phosphatase, peroxidase and s-glucuronidase). It was found that conjugates prepared with enzymes of mol. wt ⩽ that of IgG retained neutralizing activity to poliovirus type 1; the others (s-glucuronidase and s-galactosidase) had greatly reduced activities.
Simultaneous confidence bands for isotonic functions

Abstract Procedures for simultaneous confidence bands are provided for bivariate regression data { x , Y x , x ∈ X } , where EY x is an unknown monotonic function of x . A new bandwidth procedure is introduced which generalizes the previously introduced procedures of Korn [1982. Confidence bands for isotonic dose–response curves. Appl. Statist. 31, 59–63] and Lee [1996. On estimation for monotone dose–response curves. J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 91, 1110–1119]. To gain insight into the comparability and applicability of these procedures a unifying geometric framework is used. This framework leads to certain optimality results for these banding procedures and allows for extensions to settings that have not been previously considered.
Hyperosmotic volume regulation in the tissues of the mussel Mytilus edulis

Abstract 1. 1. Alanine and glycine were the principal amino acids involved in FAA accumulation during hyperosmotic stress. 2. 2. Alanine accumulated most rapidly in mantle and slowest in the adductor muscle. 3. 3. Glycine increased most rapidly in the digestive gland and at approximately equal rates in adductor and mantle tissues. 4. 4. There was no significant variation in the concentration of ammonia in adductor muscle or mantle tissue during 70 hr following transfer from 15 to 30‰ seawater; changes in the concentration of ammonia in digestive gland were not correlated with amino acid accumulation.
Damage Processes in a Quasi-Isotropic Composite Short Beam Under Three-Point Loading

Composite materials have complex failure modes that include delamination, fiber debonding and breakage, and matrix microcracking. In this paper, the influence of these damage modes on the failure of the short-beam three-point bend test is investigated for a composite with a quasi-isotropic layup. Failure is found to initiate in a region near the point of application of the load, a location where classical-type analytical descriptions of specimen behavior are unreliable. Furthermore, the locations of failure show little reproducibility. Observed fracture behavior is explained in terms of the overall stress state in the beam before fracture, and failure is predicted from the stress map, using the maximum strain criterion.
Judicial and prosecutorial endorsement of innovative techniques in the trial of domestic abuse cases

The study reported here measured judges' and prosecutors' perceptions regarding the use of innovative techniques in cases in which spouse abuse or child abuse was alleged. The data indicate that receptivity to the use of innovative techniques was relatively high, with perceptions of actual use somewhat lower. Judges tended to be somewhat more supportive than prosecutors of court-ordered treatment for offenders and were more likely to see themselves as using innovative techniques than to see the techniques as commonly used. Prosecutors were more likely see innovative techniques as commonly used than they were to perceive themselves as using the techniques frequently.
Myocardial protection in the failing heart: I. Effect of cardioplegia and the beating state under simulated left ventricular restoration.

Objective Heart failure was induced by cardiac pacing to evaluate myocardial flow distribution of the open ventricle during delivery of either cardioplegia or in the beating state during simulated left ventricular restoration. Methods Studies included 5 (pacing-induced) failing pig hearts and 6 control hearts. Pacing-induced cardiac failure reduced fractional shortening by approximately 22%, increased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter by 34%, caused pulmonary hypertension (mean blood pressure increased from 12 to 35 mm Hg), and led to significant ascites. Global and regional coronary blood flow were measured with microspheres during cardiopulmonary bypass at 80 mm Hg perfusion pressure in either vented (collapsed) or open (exposure by traction for left ventricular restoration) left ventricles during continuous perfusion under either beating-heart or cardioplegic conditions. Results In control hearts, venting and exposure ventriculotomy did not affect flow. In failing hearts decompressed by venting, coronary flow was lower during the beating and cardioplegic delivery than during control conditions at the same perfusion pressure of 80 mm Hg. Mean cardioplegic flow during ventricular decompression by venting exceeded beating flow by 97%. Conversely, traction to increase the ventricular radius during exposure ventriculotomy reduced endocardial cardioplegic coronary blood flow by 64% (from 0.97 to 0.59 mL/[min · g]), whereas the beating state raised endocardial flow by 95% (from 0.40 to 0.78 mL/[min · g]). Changing ventricular shape changed coronary vascular resistance in failing hearts during beating or cardioplegic delivery. Conclusions Coronary blood flow alterations occurred only in failing hearts when geometry was changed from closed to open state. The beating method provided more endocardial flow than cardioplegic delivery during ventricular exposure for restoration. Vascular remodeling raised coronary vascular resistance in failing hearts, thereby requiring higher pressure for similar blood flows.
Report on the Workshop on Practical Protection in Humanitarian Crises

With a global crisis of approximately 15 million refugees and an estimated 20 to 25 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in need of protection the current protection regime is under increased scrutiny. "Practical Protection" is a fairly new concept. Those pursuing it aim to expand understanding and responsibilities for protection beyond those institutions with a specific protection mandate. "The Workshop on Practical Protection in Humanitarian Crises" was organized to bring the practical protection concept to representatives from a wide range of international agencies governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who discussed its implications for their work in humanitarian crises. Organizations with specific protection mandates primarily the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) work to protect uprooted groups through legal tools and recognized principles often in the context of assistance programmes that provide shelter food water medical care education and other forms of humanitarian assistance. They work in collaboration with NGOs and other international organizations that focus primarily on assisting forced migrants. These latter agencies have traditionally avoided overt involvement in protection activities. When UNHCR and ICRC are not present or are over-extended gaps in the protection regime emerge. The gap is particularly evident with regard to internally displaced and other war-affected populations but it is present in most refugee situations as well. The workshop was held on 17-18 December 2001 in Washington DC and was hosted by the American Red Cross (ARC) and the Institute for the Study of International Migration (ISIM) of Georgetown University with the support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Participants included policy makers researchers practitioners and representatives from international organizations and NGOs including ICRC and UNHCR. It is discussed how organizations could incorporate elements of protection--both legal and physical--into their own field practices. The discussion on practical protection can be divided into four major themes: (1) the meaning of "practical protection"; (2) the current protection regime as embodied in legal conventions principles and guidelines; (3) best practices in promoting practical protection drawn from the diverse experiences and expertise of the workshop participants; and (4) concrete next steps to enhance future protection possibilities. At the end of the day there were still divergent opinions but also strong areas of consensus. The following summary report aims to outline the workshop discussion noting areas of agreement and disagreement and highlighting proposed areas for collective action on certain protection issues. (authors)
Psychiatric aspects of HIV and AIDS

Abstract HIV-related neurocognitive changes (HRNC) are characterized by a number of different motor and cognitive impairments. Although clinically these abnormalities have been categorized, their underlying neurological basis remains to be elucidated. While neuronal deficits within the frontal cortex of patients with HIV are likely to play a key role in the aetiology of HNRC, the exact mechanisms behind these neuronal losses are not known. In addition, although the incidence of HRNC has decreased in the post-HAART era the prevalence has increased due to prolonged survival times for patients. The aim of this review is to summarize the molecular mechanisms and cell types involved in HIV neuropathological changes and relate these to the individual aspects of HNRC, with a focus on HIV-associated dementia (HAD). The relation of HNRC and HAD will be discussed in the context of other psychiatric disorders and how these disorders relate and impact on patients with HIV. Consideration of psychiatric complications associated with HIV medications will also be discussed, as well as future directions for psychiatric research within the field of HIV.
Drought Termination and Amelioration: Its Climatological Probability.

Abstract The preliminary Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) is calculated and disseminated operationally by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/United States Department of Agriculture's (NOAA/USDA) joint agricultural weather facility. On an operational basis, this index is more aptly described as the Palmer Hydrological Drought Index (PHDI) in order to differentiate it from its hindcast value, the PDSI. Using the PHDI the approximate precipitation required to ameliorate or terminate any ongoing drought was calculated across the United States for various prescribed periods, i.e., 1, 2, 3, and 6 months. The climatological probability of receiving at least the needed precipitation was calculated using the gamma distribution. The probability calculations indicate that in many portions of the country it is quite unlikely that serious drought can be terminated in a since season or even in two seasons. Furthermore, due to the varying climatologies across the country, the probability of ending o...
Intelligent heuristic for FMS scheduling using grouping

This paper presents an approach to scheduling production in a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) environment by employing intelligent grouping of parts which results in good schedules that are easily solvable. Scheduling production in a realistic setting represents a very hard managerial task defying exact solutions, except in very few instances. This article presents and tests a methodology which produces scheduling solutions for large problems with an average small deviation from the theoretical lower bounds. Since open-shop scheduling is the most frequently encountered scheduling discipline in FMS, we restrict the analysis to this setting. The methodology presented combines manufacturing concepts developed in the group technology context with insightful understanding of machine scheduling problems. With the increasing interest in FMS such an approach is both promising and timely.
An Approach for Incorporating Context in Building Probabilistic Predictive Models

With the increasing amount of information collected through clinical practice and scientific experimentation, a growing challenge is how to utilize available resources to construct predictive models to facilitate clinical decision making. Clinicians often have questions related to the treatment and outcome of a medical problem for individual patients; however, few tools exist that leverage the large collection of patient data and scientific knowledge to answer these questions. Without appropriate context, existing data that have been collected for a specific task may not be suitable for creating new models that answer different questions. This paper presents an approach that leverages available structured or unstructured data to build a probabilistic predictive model that assists physicians with answering clinical questions on individual patients. Various challenges related to transforming available data to an end-user application are addressed: problem decomposition, variable selection, context representation, automated extraction of information from unstructured data sources, model generation, and development of an intuitive application to query the model and present the results. We describe our efforts towards building a model that predicts the risk of vasospasm in aneurysm patients.
Nonlocal Josephson electrodynamics and pinning in superconductors.

Local Josephson electrodynamics based on the sine-Gordon equation is generalized to the nonlocal case of high critical current density ${\mathit{j}}_{\mathit{s}}$ across a contact for which the Josephson penetration depth is smaller than the London magnetic penetration depth. Magnetic flux is shown to penetrate the contact in the form of Abrikosov vortices having highly anisotropic cores much larger than the coherence length. An exact solution describing such a vortex is found; the lower critical field, vortex mass, and flux-flow resistivity are calculated. It is argued that vortices localized on planar crystalline defects are weakly pinned, therefore any weak links with ${\mathit{j}}_{\mathit{s}}$ smaller than the depairing current density form a dissipative network which essentially reduces the critical current and facilitates a possibility of quantum flux creep.
Analysis of a Contaminated Bedrock Aquifer by Means of a Packer and Attempts at Remediation Using a Packer

A dolomite bedrock aquifer in the Northeast has been contaminated with volatile organic compounds. These compounds have made their way into our pumping well, which contains total volatile organic concentrations averaging 2 to 4 ppm. The source of these organics has not been positively identified. Television video logs show considerable vertical fractures in the upper 20 feet of the bedrock aquifer. Below this, where bedrock is more consolidated, there are a few areas of caverns and large crevices, some of which are 10 feet thick. It was first thought that perhaps the organics were entering the well through a few of the crevices that could be grouted off from the remainder of the aquifer. We fabricated an inflatable packer so that isolated sections of the well could be sampled. Using the video logs as guides, the vertical sections of the well was sampled and the centerline of the plume was determined. The packer was comprised of two steel rim supports that supported innertubes. The two packers were separated with 4 feet of steel rod. Placed on top of the lower section was a standard submersible well pump that could pump a flow rate of 10 gpm. The packer assembly was lowered into the well with a winch and then at selected locations the packer was inflated with air to 50 psig. The submersible pump was turned on and allowed to pump the section for 30 minutes to adequately purge the area and obtain a representative sample. The results of the sampling showed the maximum concentration to be at 95 feet below the surface. The entire aquifer is 125 feet thick. This means the lower third contains the organics. To determine what vertical section supplies the most water, we divided the well into thirds, and ran a material balance using three different compounds. From the analysis, we determined that a packer placed at the 70-foot level and only pumping from that section will reduce organics concentration by a factor of 10 and reduce flow only by 20 percent. A commercial packer has been installed at the 70-foot level in the well and the pump was raised above this level in hopes to reduce organics concentration in the well water. The packer is still under testing, but after four months of operation, there has been no dramatic decrease in contaminant levels. This may be the result of leakage around the packer or due to the high permeability of the dolomite aquifer.
Research review on anger in psychotherapy.

This article selectively reviews clinically relevant research on the theory and treatment of anger. Anger is first defined, within the context of emotion theory, as the cognitive, behavioral, physiological, experiential, and social manifestations of a central nervous system process. The theories and techniques used to treat anger from several theoretical perspectives are then evaluated, making conceptual links to a basic affective model. We then review research on the treatment of anger in clinical populations (aggressive adults and children, clients with post-traumatic stress disorder, and clients with cardiovascular disease). We conclude with a discussion of anger suppression and inhibition. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 55: 353–363, 1999.
Nonlinear superposition law for generalized Ermakov systems

Abstract We discuss a generalized Ermakov system for which a general nonlinear superposition law exists. We give an explicit example of the use of the new superposition law.
Durable bonding characteristics of thermoplastic olefins plasma-treated by low-temperature cascade arc torches

Low-temperature cascade arc torch (LTCAT) polymerization was applied to modify surface characteristics of thermoplastic olefins (TPOs). LTCAT has a unique feature that the activation of carrier gas (Ar) via creation of a plasma state and the deactivation of excited species that lead to surface modification or to the deposition of plasma polymer are spatially de-coupled. Consequently, the addition of a monomer or a reaction gas in the reaction chamber does not influence the first step of Ar plasma formation. The main active species in LTCAT are excited Ar neutrals, and no electric field exists in the reaction chamber. It was found that the beams of excited Ar neutrals are ideally suited for the surface modification of polymers because undesirable damage caused by the bombardment of energetic species can be avoided. The LTCAT of Ar was found to yield stable modification of TPO surfaces via post-plasma reaction of the treated surface with ambient oxygen. An excellent adhesion of a primer coating to surface of TPOs was obtained by treatment of the surface with Ar LTCAT, which passed the tape test after scribed samples were boiled in water for 8 h.
Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome with osteopenia and progressive hydrocephalus.

We report on a boy with Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome, the 12th patient described to date. In addition to the commonly described anomalies of individuals with SGS, this patient also had cranial asymmetry, hypotonia, osteopenia, and hydrocephalus. These manifestations should be included in the diagnosis and anticipatory guidance of children with SGS. Am. J. Med. Genet. 70:450–453, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Particle-Hole Asymmetry and the Pseudogap Phase of the High-TC Superconductors

In the pseudogap phase of the copper oxide superconductors, a significant portion of the Fermi surface is still gapped at temperatures above the superconducting transition temperature T C. Instead of a closed Fermi surface, the low-energy electronic excitations appear to form unconnected Fermi arcs separated by gapped regions. It is generally believed that the spectral function is particle–hole symmetric (at low energies) in both regions—with a peak at the Fermi level on the Fermi arcs and a local minimum at the Fermi level in the gapped regions. Here, using high resolution angle-resolved photoemission and new techniques of analysis, we show that on a sizable portion of the Fermi surface, the electronic structure in the immediate vicinity of the Fermi level is not particle–hole symmetric in the pseudogap phase. This is clear evidence that an alternative ground state competes with the superconductivity. The observations are also consistent with the possibility that the Fermi arcs are, in fact, the inner surface of the predicted Fermi pockets.
Successive interference cancellation for time-Reversed underwater acoustic channels

In this paper, we propose a communications receiver architecture composed of a time-reversal approach to simplify the shallow underwater acoustic channel and to suppress multiuser interference followed by an iterative, successive interference cancellation (SIC) scheme to cancel the remaining interference. The SIC process is the multiuser interference equivalent of the decision-directed, feedback equalizer for intersymbol interference channels. The interference experienced by a particular user is estimated using previously decoded symbols from competing messages. Then, the interference estimate is optimally scaled, synchronized, and subtracted from the received signal. This process is repeated for all users until a stationary point is reached. Data collected during the Focused Acoustic Fields 2005 experiment (FAF05) are used to demonstrate the performance of the interference cancellation scheme. Previous experimental results showed that 3 users separated vertically by about 12 m can transmit simultaneously to a receiving array at a range of 20 km in 120 m deep water with an aggregate data rate of 6 kb/s. Each user transmits 16-QAM symbols at a rate of 500 symbols per second over a 1 kHz bandwidth centered at 3.5 kHz. As expected, the combination of iterative SIC with passive time-reversal is shown to increase significantly the output SINR over time-reversal alone. The output SINR is increased by as much as 6 dB when in the presence of strong interference. This translates to a significant bit error reduction from 664/46800 bits in error (bit error rate of 1.42×10 2) to 37/46800 bits in error (bit error rate of 7.91×10~4).
Diagnostic Electrocardiographic Sequences in Acute Pericarditis Significance of PR Segment and PR Vector Changes

Diagnostic electrocardiographic patterns were analyzed in 50 consecutive patients who had unequivocal clinical evidence of acute pericarditis. Distributions of P and QRS, and of P-R segment, ST-segment and T wave changes were plotted by lead and by mean frontal vector (A). Transient gross deviations of P-R segments, mainly in Stages 1 and/or 2, occurred in 41 patients (82%) and could produce an optical illusion of ST elevations when the J-points were actually on the baseline. A P-R was close to 180° opposite to A P and was not related to P wave or heart rate changes. In Stage 1, A ST tended to be concordant with A QRS and A T. T wave inversions in Stage 3 produced an A T which was distributed over an arc of 210° with no range of predilection. Transient increase in magnitude of a normally oriented PR vector was consistent with the subepicardial atrial injury of acute pericarditis. It is the analogue of the classic Stage 1 ST-segment abnormalities of subepicardial ventricular injury and was equally a...
RNA editing of the GABAA receptor α3 subunit alters the functional properties of recombinant receptors

RNA editing provides a post-transcriptional mechanism to increase structural heterogeneity of gene products. Recently, the α3 subunit of the GABAA receptors has been shown to undergo RNA editing. As a result, a highly conserved isoleucine residue in the third transmembrane domain is replaced with a methionine. To determine the effect of this structural change on receptor function, we compared the GABA sensitivity, pharmacological properties and macroscopic kinetics of recombinant receptors containing either the edited or unedited forms of the α3 subunit along with β3 and γ2L. Editing substantially altered the GABA sensitivity and deactivation rate of the receptors, with the unedited form showing a lower GABA EC50 and slower decay. Comparable effects were observed with a mutation at the homologous location in the α1 subunit, suggesting a common role for this site in regulation of channel gating. Except for the response to GABA, the pharmacological properties of the receptor were unaffected by editing, with similar enhancement by a variety of modulators. Since RNA editing of the α3 subunit increases through development, our findings suggest that GABAergic neurotransmission may be more effective early in development, with greater GABA sensitivity and slower decay rates conferred by the unedited α3 subunit.
Intervertebral disc replacement. Experimental study

Arthrodesis of the lumbosacral spine, although satisfactory for a majority of patients, has long term sequelae in 30% of patients. This is particularly true for adjacent segment degeneration. Numerous attempts at providing a mobile motion segment have been made in the past. The current status of the development of dynamic intervertebral prosthesis, including biomechanical and clinical data have been presented. The relevant material properties of plastics, ceramics, and metal are presented with the conclusion that metals currently present with the greatest longevity without undue fatigue and wear as many as 100,000,000 cycles (40 years use) as an alternative to spinal fusion. An analysis of the kinematics of the motion segment have resulted, together with the material properties in the development of a dynamic intervertebral disc for use in the lumbar spine. The disc resembles a normal motion segment. In motion stiffness and center of rotation, wear debris development in 1/300 equivalent to that of a total hip prosthesis for the same given time. Safety features include immediate screw fixation to prevent displacement, a wedge elastic (spring) shape, and a bony porous ingrowth surface. The prosthesis is constructed of cobalt chromium and titanium with minimal corrosive properties on long term testing.
We Agree: Fat IS a Feminist Issue! Response to Commentators

In our review of the literature on women and weight bias (Fikkan and Rothblum 2011), we attempted to cull findings from multiple disciplines that demonstrate the impact (social, educational, and financial) of the stigma of women’s weight. We undertook this for two purposes: the first was to address a gap in the weight bias literature, which tends to make only a side note mention that fat women suffer worse penalties than do fat men; the second, to raise the point that feminist scholars, though highly attuned to pressures on women to be thin, have spent less time discussing the disparate impact for women of being fat, despite the mounting evidence of how much weight bias impacts women. We offered some of our own thoughts on the persisting neglect of this topic among feminist writers, despite previous calls to action (Rothblum 1992, 1994). Given the dearth of attention to what has become one of the most frequent types of discrimination against women (Puhl et al. 2008), we asked: “is fat a feminist issue?” We were delighted with the response from the commentators and the thoughtful exploration they devoted to our question and to this issue within feminist scholarship. Here, we briefly summarize some of the main themes identified by these writers, offer our own thoughts on these themes and repeat their call to action for further study of this important area of women’s lives.
Loop spaces for the Q-construction

The algebraic K-groups of an exact category M are defined by Quillen as KiM=лi+1(QM), i≥0, where QM is a category known as the Q-construction on M. For a ring R, KiPR = KiR (the usual algebraic K-groups of R) where PR is the category of finitely generated projective right R-modules. Previous study of K∗R has required not only the Qconstruction, but also a model for the loop space of QPR, known as the S−1S-construction. Unfortunately, the S−1S-construction does not yield a loop space for QM when M is arbitrary. In this paper, two useful models of a loop space for QM, with no restriction on the exact category M, are descibed. Moreover, these construction are shown to be directly related to the S−1S-construction. The simpler of the two constructions fails to have a certain symmetry property with respect to dualization of the exact category M. This deficiency is eliminated in the second construction, which is somewhat more complicated. Applications are given to the relative algebraic K-theory of an exact functor of exact categories, with special attention given to the case when the exact functor is cofinal.
Consortium-based Approach to an Online Preceptor Development Program

Objective. To describe the implementation process of a consortium-based preceptor development program and to review completion and assessment data over the first 27 months. Design. Five 1-hour, Web-based preceptor development modules were developed using streaming media technologies. Modules were released using a password-protected Internet site and were free to consortium-affiliated preceptors. Preceptor's institutional affiliation, module completion dates, module assessments, and continuing education credits were recorded and made available to each institution. Assessment. Three hundred eighty-two preceptors completed 1489 modules. Fifty-six percent of preceptors were affiliated with more than 1 consortium institution. The number of participating preceptors per institution varied from 72 to 204. Sixty-five percent of preceptors completed all 5 modules. Preceptor satisfaction was high, with 93% agreeing with each course evaluation statement. Program cost per institution ranged from $12 to $35 per preceptor. Conclusions. A consortium-based approach to preceptor development is a convenient and effective means of providing required training.
X-UV spectra from Kr xi–xiv

M-shell transition arrays are newly identified in 30–300 A spectra of krypton plasmas and are associated with V-like to Fe-like ions.