cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Steroids for post-tonsillectomy pain reduction: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether meta-analysis supports the use of corticosteroids to reduce post-tonsillectomy pain for pediatric patients.METHODS: A systematic review of currently available randomized controlled trials using a single-dose, intravenous corticosteroid during pediatric tonsillectomy was performed. Visual analog pain scale (VAS) data was extracted with reviewers blinded to results. Meta-analysis was performed with weighted mean difference and random-effects model using Revman 4.2 software.RESULTS: Eight randomized trials were included in analysis of post-tonsillectomy pain. A statistically significant reduction in pain as measured by VAS on postoperative day 1 was noted (mean VAS difference = −0.97; CI 95 % = −1.74,−0.19; P = 0.01).CONCLUSIONS: A single, intraoperative dose of dexamethasone may reduce post-tonsillectomy pain on postoperative day 1, by a factor of 1 on a 10-point pain scale. As the side effects and cost of dexamethasone dose appear negligible, consideration of routine use se...
Semantic Elaboration through Integration: Hints Both Facilitate and Inform the Process

Semantic knowledge can be extended in a variety of ways, including self-generation of new facts through integration of separate yet related episodes. We sought to promote integration and self-generation by providing “hints” to help 6-year-olds (Experiment 1) and 4-year-olds (Experiment 2) see the relevance of separate episodes to one another. Varying the timing of presentation of the hints—whether provided between episodes or before test—afforded insights into the processes responsible for self-generation of new semantic knowledge through integration. In both experiments, hints provided immediately before testing facilitated performance relative to a control condition. In contrast, hints provided between episodes did not. The findings imply that integration of distinct experiences is not an automatic process set into motion based on shared elements. Even when integration is primed through a hint that a prior episode is relevant to a forthcoming experience, shared elements apparently are not sufficient to ...
Acute bipolar I affective episode presentation across life span.

OBJECTIVES There is a paucity of evidence on bipolar I acute symptoms' presentation in the elderly individuals compared to younger patients. The current literature provides little, and at times conflicting, information on age-related bipolar disorder (BD) symptom presentation. This article aims to compare symptom profile by age group among patients with bipolar I in an acute affective episode as evaluated in outpatient settings. METHODS The current analyses include all Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) participants with a lifetime diagnosis of bipolar I disorder. We compared the presence and severity of acute mood elevation (mania and hypomania) and acute depression symptoms between younger (20-59 years old) and older individuals (older than or equal to 60 years). RESULTS With the exception of distractibility, all acute depression symptoms presented with comparable frequency and severity between younger and older individuals. No statistical significance was found regarding the presence of psychotic symptoms between the 2 groups, with symptoms reported by 11.2% of younger versus 9.4% older individuals, χ(2) (1, N = 1541) = 0.03, P = .74. No significant effects were found for mood elevation severity between the 2 age groups. Psychotic symptoms were reported in 12.7% versus 15.2%, χ(2) (1, N = 658) = 0.07, P = .65, and irritability in 97.7% versus 97.8%, χ(2) (1, N = 651) = 0.00, P = 1.00, in the younger and older group, respectively. CONCLUSION We found no statistically significant association between age and symptoms presentation of acute depression and mood elevation among patients with BD I. Acute BD I affective states present with similar profile and severity in old and young patients.
Caractéristiques syntaxiques de la parenthèse en latin : linéarisation, délimitation et insertion

Le but de cet article est d’analyser les regles syntaxiques du placement de l’incidente en latin. L’incidente – ou proposition parenthetique – presente en effet le paradoxe suivant : bien qu’autonome sur un plan structurel (elle forme une proposition independante), elle s’insere dans une autre phrase sur un plan syntagmatique (lineairement, elle se situe a l’interieur d’une autre proposition, l’hote). Nous proposons de considerer que, malgre son autonomie syntaxique, l’incidente obeit a des contraintes syntaxiques precises d’insertion.Tout d’abord, nous montrons que l’incidente, toujours continue, est delimitee sur ses bords gauche et droit, bien que depourvue de marqueurs specifiques : le changement de proposition marque le debut de l’incidente, tandis que la reprise de la phrase hote en montre la fin, au moyen de repetitions pouvant mener a des anacoluthes.En outre, nous montrons que la place de l’incidente dans la phrase hote suit des regles specifiques. Premierement, les sites d’insertion sont contraints : ils se situent a la frontiere des groupes fonctionnels de l’hote. De plus, il existe des contraintes distributionnelles entre ces sites d’insertion. Nous proposons de considerer que le domaine de l’incidente correspond au(x) constituant(s) sur le(s)quel(s) porte semantiquement l’incidente et que celle-ci se place toujours a l’interieur ou a la peripherie de son domaine : une incidente a une proposition independante se place en deuxieme position de son domaine, tandis qu’une incidente a un constituant occupe la frontiere droite de son domaine.
The synthesis and cationic polymerization of novel epoxide monomers

The preparation of a novel series of multifunctional silicon-containing epoxide monomers, oligomers, and polymers has been carried out. The hydrosilylation method employed was found to be applicable to the design and synthesis of a wide variety of materials with different chemical and mechanical characteristics, which range from hard and brittle to elastomeric. By tailoring the kinds of and number of epoxide groups that are incorporated into these materials, it is possible to substantially modify their reactivity in photoinitiated cationic polymerization
Omental infarct: CT imaging features

Background The aim of this study is to describe contrast-enhanced computed tomographic (CT) features of acute omental infarction and to study the evolutionary changes on follow-up CT imaging.
The role of the seven dimensions of job satisfaction in salesperson's attitudes and behaviors

Abstract To date, the majority of studies on job satisfaction use either a global measure or the JDI measure. To extend current research, this study uses the seven dimensions of job satisfaction as described by Churchill et al. [Churchill, G.A., Ford, N.M., Walker, O.C. Measuring the job satisfaction of industrial salesmen. J Mark Res 1974; 11 (3): 254-260.] to explore the relationship between job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion, organizational commitment and propensity to leave. Findings suggest that: 1) emotional exhaustion only relates to certain dimensions of job satisfaction and 2) job satisfaction dimensions related to organizational commitment and propensity to leave are not necessarily the same. Overall, this research provides an argument for the use of the seven dimension job satisfaction scale, as opposed to global measures or the JDI measure.
Using a Simple Crack Growth Model in Predicting Remaining Useful Life

DOI: 10.2514/1.C031808The remaining useful life of a system can be predicted from available data and/or physical models, which iscommonly known as prognosis. In this paper, the remaining useful life (e.g., the number of cycles to failure) of asystemexperiencingfatiguecrackgrowthisestimatedusingasimplephysicalmodel.Thispapershowsthatasimplemodel,suchastheParismodelwithanassumedanalyticalstress-intensityfactor,canbeusedforcomplexgeometriesbycompensatingfortheerrorintheassumedstress-intensityfactorbyadjustingmodelparameters.Theadjustmentis done automatically by a process of Bayesian identiﬁcation. True damage growth is simulated using the extendedﬁnite-elementmethodtomodeltheeffectsofcracklocationandgeometryontherelationshipbetweencracksizeandstress-intensityfactor.Thedetectionprocessofcracksizeusingstructuralhealthmonitoringsystemsismodeledbyadding random noise and a deterministic bias to the simulated damage growth. Equivalent model parameters arethenidentiﬁedusingtheBayesianinference,fromwhichtheremainingusefullifeisestimated.Usingthreeexamplesofdamagegeometries,itisshownthattheremainingusefullifeestimatesareaccurateevenwiththeuseofanassumedanalytical stress-intensity factor.
Proper "normalization" of flow-mediated dilation for shear.

To the Editor : Established in 1992 by Celermajer and colleagues ([1][1]), the measurement of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is the most used noninvasive assessment of endothelial function. In an effort to standardize the FMD measurement among researchers, guidelines for the ultrasonic
Aesthetic Discrimination Against Persons

An Acquaintance of mine decided, in the late 1950s, to become an officer in the U.S. Navy, until he discovered a Navy regulation stating that ugly men would not be accepted as officer candidates. Surely there is something suspicious about such a policy. Yet, in a time when people are so conscious of the many forms of discrimination — race, colour, sex, age, religion — it is somewhat surprising that little serious attention is given to the practice of what I shall call ‘aesthetic discrimination against persons’, discrimination on the basis of appearance or looks. It is true that, in recent years, some social scientists have conducted research leading them to the conclusion that human beings prefer and esteem good looking people over plain or ugly ones (a conclusion the truth of which has been known for thousands of years prior to its ‘proof’). A few of these researchers have even been willing to venture moral opinions on the subject.
Electroencephalographic sleep in spousal bereavement and bereavement-related depression of late life

Abstract Although spousal bereavement in late life is common and frequently leads to major depression, the boundary between bereavement without a depressive syndrome and bereavement-related depression has been insufficiently studied from a physiological perspective. Because other forms of depression are associated with physiological changes, including sleep, we have attempted to clarify the relationship of bereavement and bereavement-related depression by investigating electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep in 31 elderly volunteers with recent spousal bereavement, stratified by the presence ( n = 15) or the absence ( n = 16) of major depression (Research Diagnostic Criteria). Entry into the study was limited to volunteers without a personal history of psychiatric disorder. As hypothesized, bereaved subjects with major depression had significantly lower sleep efficiency, more early morning awakening, shorter rapid eye movement (REM) latency, greater REM sleep percent, and lower rates of delta wave generation in the first nonREM (NREM) period, compared with bereaved subjects without depression. Furthermore, the sleep of bereaved subjects with single-episode major depression resembled that of elderly patients with recurrent unipolar major depression ( n = 15) on measures noted above. Sleep in bereavement without depression was similar to that of 15 healthy control subjects (neither bereaved nor depressed). These findings suggest that the current DSM-III-R concept of uncomplicated bereavement is not confirmed, as the sleep patterns of subjects who develop a depressive syndrome in the context of bereavement, many of whom might be considered to have "uncomplicated bereavement" by DSM-III-R standards, are identical to sleep patterns found in major depressive episodes. To our knowledge, this is the first study of EEG sleep in spousal bereavement with and without major depression.
Experience with inferior vena cava filter placement in patients undergoing open gastric bypass procedures

Objective Patients undergoing open gastric bypass (OGB) for morbid obesity are at significant risk for pulmonary embolism (PE) despite the use of subcutaneous heparin injections and sequential compression devices. Prophylactic preoperative inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement may reduce this risk. We report our experience with simultaneous IVC filter placement and OGB in an operating room setting. Methods From July 1999 to April 2001, 193 patients (group 1) underwent OGB. Eight patients had prophylactic intraoperative IVC filters placed for deep vein thrombosis, PE, or pulmonary hypertension. From May 2001 to January 2003, 181 patients (group 2) underwent OGB. There were 33 IVC filters placed for body mass index (BMI) greater than 55 kg/m 2 in addition to the above-mentioned criteria. To confirm observations made in group 1 and 2 patients, from July 2003 to May 2005, 197 patients (group 3) underwent OGB, and patients with a BMI greater than 55 kg/m 2 (n = 35) were offered IVC filter placement. Group 3A (n = 17) consented to IVC filter placement, and group 3B (n = 18) did not. Results Fifty-eight IVC filters were placed (100% technical success rate) with an increase in operating room time of 20 ± 5 minutes. In group 1, the eight patients with IVC filters had a BMI greater than 55 kg/m 2 . There were four PEs (3 fatal and 1 nonfatal) in the other 185 patients, all which occurred in patients with BMIs greater than 55 kg/m 2 . In group 2, there were no PEs. The perioperative PE rate in these patients was reduced from 13% (4/31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1%-25.7%) to 0% (0/33; 95% CI, 0%-8.7%). Perioperative mortality was reduced from 10% (3/31; 95% CI, 0%-20.0%) to 0% (0/33; 95% CI, 0%-8.7%). There were no pulmonary emboli or deaths related to PE in group 3A patients. Group 3B patients had a 28% PE rate (two fatal and three nonfatal) and an 11% PE-related death rate. None of the remaining patients in group 3 had a PE. Conclusions Intraoperative IVC filter placement for the prevention of PE in morbidly obese patients undergoing OGB is feasible. We observed a significant reduction in the perioperative PE rate when a BMI greater than 55 kg/m 2 was used as an indication for IVC filter placement despite the use of subcutaneous heparin injections and sequential compression devices.
Pancreatic plasmacytomas in a patient with multiple myeloma: CT and ultrasound findings.

Extramedullary plasmacytomas are an unusual manifestation of multiple myeloma. They occur most frequently in tissues or organs rich in reticuloendothelial cells. Pancreatic plasmacytomas are rare, with only a few case reports in the literature. We present the ultrasound (US) and computed tomographic (CT) findings of two pancreatic plasmacytomas in a patient with multiple myeloma
California State Mandated MRSA Screening: Healthcare Dollars Down the Drain!

Results: Based on a poll of the over 250 participants at the broader meeting, the top four priorities, with the lead agencies in parentheses are: 1. Coordination, collaboration and integration (State and Local Health Departments), 2. Surveillance, validation, analysis and reporting (State and Local Health Departments), 3. Culture of safety, health and learning (QIO) and 4. Quality improvement/best practices (QIO). These results were in high agreement with the results of the focus group. Lesson Learned: More needs to be done to assist the state-level HAI programs, where one of the biggest challenges is developing the rapidly growing HAI public health infrastructure as public reporting and the intersection of public health and HAI is still a burgeoning topic. Coordination and collaboration is also a big concern as more and more requirements are being added to state and federal legislation. As such, a detailed environmental scan of state-HAI activities will be taking place over the next year to identify current needs and gaps.
The effect of inducers and inhibitors of urethane metabolism on its in vitro and in vivo metabolism in rats.

Abstract The activation of urethane (ethyl carbamate) is important in its exerting its carcinogenic effect. Rats were treated with inducers and inhibitors of urethane metabolism, and the conversion of [carbonyl-14C]urethane to 14CO2 in vivo was measured. The cytochrome P-450 inducers, phenobarbital and β-naphthoflavone, and esterase inhibitor, paraoxon, were without effect while the CYP2E1 inhibitor, diethyldithiocarbamate, decreased metabolism to about 3% of control. Ethanol administered acutely inhibited urethane metabolism. Pyridine, shown previously to enhance this metabolism in microsomal preparations, greatly inhibited it in vivo. The discordant results between the in vitro and in vivo studies may be related to the presence of pyridine acting as an inhibitor in whole animals and suggest that caution is needed in extrapolating from in vitro results to in vivo implications.
Thin Teflon-like films for eliminating adhesion in released polysilicon microstructures

Abstract This paper presents a method for depositing thin Teflon-like films to eliminate adhesion or suction in released polysilicon microstructures. A commercial plasma reactor is used in direct and remote plasma modes with commercially available trifluoromethane (CHF3) to deposit thin hydrophobic films around and under released microstructures. Hard, uniform, Teflon-like films which penetrate into undercuts beneath structures have been produced. Thus far, surfaces beneath gears as large as 1600 μm diameter with a gap of 2.0 μm are hydrophobic after being exposed to plasma treatment. These Teflon-like coatings have been shown to reduce the coefficient of friction from 1.0 to 0.07.
Hymenolepis citelli: development and chemical composition in hypothermic ground squirrels.

Abstract Induced hypothermia in the 13-lined ground squirrel Citellus t. tridecemlineatus profoundly affected an infection with Hymenolepis citelli (Cestoda). Effects noted on growth and development were as follows: size, weight, proglottid differentiation, and gametogenesis were significantly retarded; polysaccharide and protein concentrations were reduced; and alcohol-soluble sugar concentration was increased. Less than 6% of the cestodes established themselves in squirrels if hypothermia was induced within 72 hr postinoculation. Also adult cestodes were destrobilated 3–4 weeks after the onset of hypothermia, but the scoleces remained in about 50% of the hosts at the end of 6 months of host hypothermia.
Games presidents do and do not play: Presidential circumvention of the executive branch budget process

The federal executive budgetary process has been severely criticized in recent years for its apparent inability to curb budgetary growth and limit deficits. Much of this criticism ignores the essentially political, rather than administrative, causes of these trends. Budgetary growth and deficit spending may be viewed in part as the results of presidential circumvention of budgetary and fiscal policy processes. Circumvention consists of the movement of spending decisions out of the annual review and evaluation of current-year budgetary formulation, thus evading the constraints frequently imposed by budgetary and fiscal policies. The precise mechanisms of presidential circumvention have changed over time. However, the long-term impact of circumvention has been a reduction in the controllability and comprehensiveness of the annual federal budget, as well as higher rates of budgetary growth.
Research on Chinese Accounting Issues: A Review and Synthesis

Over the past two decades, economic reforms have significantly changed the economy and accountancy in China. As the planned centralized economy is gradually replaced by a market-driven economy, the the profession of accountancy is emerging and playing an increasingly important role. This paper reviews and synthesizes the recent literature on Chinese accountancy issues. It highlights the leading individual and institutional contributors, the major focus and research methods of their studies, and the journals, articles, and scholars exerting the greatest influence upon research of accounting in China.
Incidence of failure of continuous peripheral nerve catheters for postoperative analgesia in upper extremity surgery

Purpose To explore the incidence of failure of continuous peripheral nerve blockade (CPNB) after upper extremity operations. Methods Patient data regarding postoperative CPNB were retrospectively obtained from our institution's regional anesthesia database. Documented information on the first postoperative day included pain assessment ratings (numerical verbal pain scale, patient-reported breakthrough pain upon perceived return of sensation, appearance of the catheter site, complications, time of return of sensation, day of return of sensation, residual blockade, patient satisfaction with the block, and whether patient would receive the block again). Results A total of 207 patients received CPNB for postoperative analgesia. The failure rate on the first postoperative day for infraclavicular (133 patients) and supraclavicular (58 patients) CPNB was 19% and 26%, respectively. Interscalene CPNB (16 patients) yielded 3 incidences of failure. No significant difference was found between supraclavicular and infraclavicular block techniques. In addition, no significant differences were found between the incidences of CPNB failures with potentially more painful surgeries involving bone compared with potentially less painful soft tissue procedures. Conclusions The CPNB technique used for hand surgery postoperative analgesia was associated with nontrivial failure rates. The potential of CPNB failure and resulting breakthrough pain upon recovery from the primary nerve block is important to help establish patient expectations. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
Adsorption of multicomponent mixtures by solid adsorbents

A procedure based on kinetic principles is presented for the development of models for the adsorption of mixtures of gases in any number of layers by solid adsorbents. Equations of state for two-dimensional gas mixtures which are thermodynamically consistent with the adsorption models are also presented. The constants in the adsorption models for mixtures are obtained from the isotherms for the pure components. Good accuracy for the predicted adsorption of mixtures for the data available was obtained by use of a model for the adsorption of mixtures in bimolecular layers.
The micromechanics and microstructure of CO2 crazes in polystyrene

Abstract Although CO2 at 1 atmosphere pressure is not a crazing and/or cracking agent for polystyrene (PS), we have established that it becomes one at higher pressure. Crazes grown from cracks in PS thin films in high pressure CO2 are investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The fact that broken craze fibrils retract strongly upon exposure to high pressure CO2 gas suggests that the primary effect of the CO2 is plasticization, not surface energy reduction. Quantitative analyses of TEM micrographs of crazes grown at CO2 pressures in the range 5 to 100 MPa at 34°C and 45°C have been carried out to find the craze fibril volume fractions vf(x) and the surface displacements w(x) along each craze. From the fibril volume fraction profile along the craze, the dominant craze thickening mechanism of CO2 crazes is shown to be the same as that for air crazes, i.e. the surface drawing mechanism, and not the fibril creep mechanism. The craze surface stress profile is computed from the craze surface displacements using a distributed dislocation analysis. These profiles all show a stress concentration at the craze tip which falls to a roughly constant value σb, over the rest of the craze. The fracture toughness GIc (and critical stress intensity factor KIc) for propagation of a crack in PS at these CO2 pressures can also be computed. All these quantities (Vf, σb, GIc and KIc) show pronounced minima as a function of CO2 pressure at 20 MPa, the same CO2 pressure at which Tg of the polymer also reaches a minimum. These minima are more pronounced at 45°C than at 34°C. The GIc's and KIc's are depressed by orders of magnitude at the minimum, which corresponds to the qualitative observation that CO2 becomes a severe cracking agent at these pressures. These observations provide additional confirmation that the major mechanism for the environmental crazing and cracking of PS by CO2 is plasticization of the craze fibrils and surfaces.
Recruiting and enrolling pregnant adolescents for research.

Difficulty obtaining a sample is not justification for failure to study a hard-to-enroll population, particularly a vulnerable population such as pregnant adolescents. Recruitment of a representative, adequate sample of pregnant adolescents for a recent instrument development study provided multiple challenges. Although carefully developed, the sampling plan required several modifications to achieve the sample (n = 145). Those challenges and the ensuing modifications to the sampling plan are discussed in relation to (a) access/institutional concerns, (b) the human subject's protection considerations, and (c) developmental/personal concerns of the pregnant adolescents. Recommendations for sampling strategies for future research are offered.
Vesicle adsorption and lipid bilayer formation on glass studied by atomic force microscopy.

The adsorption of phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles (30, 50, and 100 nm nominal diameters) and of dye-labeled PC vesicles (labeled with 6% Texas Red fluorophore (TR) and encapsulated carboxy fluorescein (CF)) to glass surfaces was studied by contact mode atomic force microscopy in aqueous buffer. These studies were performed in part to unravel details of the previously observed isolated rupture of dye-labeled PC vesicles on glass (Johnson, J. M.; Ha, T.; Chu, S.; Boxer, S. G. Biophys. J. 2002, 83, 3371-3379), specifically to differentiate partial rupture, that is, pore formation and leakage of entrapped dye, from full rupture to form bilayer disks. In addition, the adhesion potential of PC vesicles on glass was calculated based upon the adhesion-driven flattening of adsorbed vesicles and a newly developed theoretical model. The vesicles were found to flatten considerably upon adsorption to glass (width-to-height ratio of approximately 5), which leads to an estimate for the adhesion potential and for the critical rupture radius of 1.5 × 10-4 J/m2 and 250 nm, respectively. Independent of vesicle size and loading with dye molecules, the adsorption of intact vesicles was observed at all concentrations below a threshold concentration, above which the formation of smooth lipid bilayers occurred. In conjunction with previous work (Johnson, J. M.; Ha, T.; Chu, S.; Boxer, S. G. Biophys. J. 2002, 83, 3371-3379), these data show that 6% TR 20 mM CF vesicles adsorb to the surface intact but undergo partial rupture in which they exchange content with the external buffer.
Genetics of Primary Inherited Disorders of the Optic Nerve: Clinical Applications

Inherited disorders of the optic nerve significantly impact vision in children and adults. The optic nerve disorders most commonly encountered clinically are glaucoma and primary optic neuropathy including Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and autosomal dominant or Kjer's optic atrophy. Current knowledge of the genetics of optic neuropathy and glaucoma makes it possible to test for mutations in disease-causing genes allowing for presymptomatic testing and risk assessment, and recent advances have revealed important disease mechanisms that may suggest potential therapeutic targets. In this perspective, we describe the current approaches and limitations to genetic testing for these disorders and provide an update on the development of gene-based therapies.
Infection on a chip: a microscale platform for simple and sensitive cell-based virus assays.

The plaque assay has long served as the “gold standard” to measure virus infectivity and test antiviral drugs, but the assay is labor-intensive, lacks sensitivity, uses excessive reagents, and is hard to automate. Recent modification of the assay to exploit flow-enhanced virus spread with quantitative imaging has increased its sensitivity. Here we performed flow-enhanced infection assays in microscale channels, employing passive fluid pumping to inoculate cell monolayers with virus and drive infection spread. Our test of an antiviral drug (5-fluorouracil) against vesicular stomatitis virus infections of BHK cell monolayers yielded a two-fold improvement in sensitivity, relative to the standard assay based on plaque counting. The reduction in scale, simplified fluid handling, image-based quantification, and higher assay sensitivity will enable infection measurements for high-throughput drug screening, sero-conversion testing, and patient-specific diagnosis of viral infections.
Gerchberg-Type Linear Deconvolution And Extrapolation Algorithms

Gerchberg's iterative extrapolation algorithm is generalized to two dimensions in two distinct ways. The first generalization is implemented on a coherent optical processor. Fundamental limitations are discussed. A second generalization is reformulated discretely and placed in closed form. A number of digital implementations are presented. A generalized methodology is then developed for a certain class of deconvolution problems. Gerchberg's algorithm and other deconvolution algorithms are shown to be special cases. Algorithm convergence and stability (posedness) are discussed and exemplified. Last, methods of incorporating further object information into the iterative algorithms are explored.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Anodic Dissolution of Zinc Electrodes in Alkaline Electrolyte: Mass Transport Effects

Mecanisme de dissolution anodique en trois etapes. Analyse des donnees obtenues avec une electrode a disque tournant. Le mecanisme propose utilise avec l'equation de Levich decrivant le transfert de matiere, est en accord avec les resultats experimentaux
"A Feeling of Connectedness": Perspectives on a Gentle Yoga Intervention for Women with Major Depression

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common and debilitating health conditions in women in the United States and worldwide. Many women with MDD seek out complementary therapies for their depressive symptoms, either as an adjunct or alternative to the usual care. The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences of women who participated in a yoga intervention for their depression. The findings from this interpretive phenomenologicalstudyarederivedfrominterviewswithanddaily logsby12womenwithMDDwhotookpartinan8-weekgentleyoga interventionaspartofalargerparentrandomized,controlledtrial. Results show that the women’s experience of depression involved stress, ruminations, and isolation. In addition, their experiences of yoga were that it served as a self-care technique for the stress and ruminative aspects of depression and that it served as a relational technique, facilitating connectedness and shared experiences in a safe environment. Future long-term research is warranted to evaluate these concepts as potential mechanisms for the effects of yoga for depression. DEPRESSION
Peristaltic Pumping by a Lateral Bending Wave

A form of fluid transport induced by an arbitrary traveling wave in the walls of a two-dimensional channel filled with a viscous incompressible fluid is investigated. This can be considered as a more general case of peristaltic transport, the latter transport phenomena being classically restricted to a wave motion which produces a progressive wave of area contraction or expansion. A perturbation solution is found satisfying the complete Navier-Stokes equations for the case of small amplitude ratio (wave amplitude/channel half width). All other parameters are left arbitrary. Two particular types of boundary waves are investigated. First, a sinusoidal wave of identical phase is imposed on each wall (in-phase motion), and secondly, an in-phase and a π out-of-phase contraction wave are imposed simultaneously. For the case of in-phase motion, a peristaltic induced mean flow is found to be proportional to the amplitude ratio squared. However, for the second case, the mean flow is found to depend linearly on amplitude ratio when an imposed pressure gradient exists, producing a peristaltic assist. Thus we see that for the superposition of two waves, the transport mechanism can increase from a second-order to a first-order effect.
Vκ gene repertoire and locus contraction are specified by critical DNase I hypersensitive sites within the Vκ-Jκ intervening region

The processes of Ig gene locus contraction and looping during V(D)J-recombination are essential for creating a diverse Ab repertoire. However, no cis-acting sequence that plays a major role in specifying locus contraction has been uncovered within the Igκ gene locus. In this article, we demonstrate that a 650-bp sequence corresponding to DNase I hypersensitive sites HS1-2 within the mouse Igκ gene V-J intervening region binds CCCTC-binding factor and specifies locus contraction and long-range Vκ gene usage spanning 3.2 Mb in pre-B cells. We call this novel element Cer (for "contracting element for recombination"). Targeted deletion of Cer caused markedly increased proximal and greatly diminished upstream Vκ gene usage, higher allele usage, more splenic Igκ(+) B cells, and nonlineage-specific Igκ rearrangement in T cells. Relative to wild-type mice, Cer-deletion mice exhibited similar levels of Vκ gene germline transcription and H3K4me3 epigenetic marks but displayed a dramatic decrease in locus contraction in pre-B cells. Thus, our studies demonstrate that DNase I hypersensitive sites HS1-2 within the Vκ-Jκ intervening region are essential for controlling locus contraction and creating a diverse Ab repertoire.
A comparative analysis of distinctive features of yeast protein sequences

The recently published sequence of yeast chromosome III (YCIII) provides the longest continuous stretch of a eukaryotic DNA molecule sequenced to date (315 kb). The sequence contains 116 distinct AUG-initiated open reading frames of at least 200 codons in length, more than 50 of which had not been described previously nor bear significant similarity to known proteins. We have analysed the YCIII known and putative protein sequences with respect to significant statistical features which might reflect on structural and functional characteristics. The YCIII proteins have striking similarities and differences in their sequence attribute distributions compared to the corresponding distributions for all available yeast sequences and other protein collections. Nine examples of YCIII proteins with distinctive sequence features are discussed in detail.
Sustainability as a Global Faith? The Religious Dimensions of Sustainability and Personal Risk

Tracing the development of the religious dimensions of sustainability and sustainable development discourse, this article highlights the participation of religious individuals and groups in sustainability advocacy, and the manufacture of sustainability narratives which perform religious work. Since their inception, sustainability and its cognate, sustainable development, have been utilized in the public sphere to promote certain value sets and manage citizen populations. The religious dimensions of sustainability discourse have been some of the primary levers through which the social functions of sustainability have been realized. The term sustainability often acts as a shorthand reference to the core values, beliefs, and practices that particular individuals or groups would like to see persist over the long term. Focusing on the notion that it is largely the absence of conversations across these differing value structures and desirable futures that drives unsustainability, I highlight the work of nongovernmental leaders of sustainability movements who rely on what I have termed an ethic of personal risk.
The Crab Nebula: An Astrophysical Chimera

The Crab Nebula, henceforth the Crab, the remnant of the historical super- nova of 1054 AD, has long been of intense interest. The pulsar at the center of the Crab has a spin-down luminosity ∼10 5 times that of the Sun. The outer nebula holds several solar masses of material ejected by the explosion. Between the two lies the trapped pulsar wind, visible as synchrotron radia- tion at radio wavelengths through X-ray wavelengths. Recent observations with the Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and a host of other instruments have provided a wealth of information about the ex- traordinary structure and dynamics of the Crab. Understanding those data requires thinking of the Crab not in terms of its individual components, but instead as a single interconnected physical system formed as the axisymmet- rical wind from the pulsar pushes its way outward through a larger freely expanding supernova remnant.
FG-MC-CDMA System Performance in Multi-band Channels

In this paper, we describe a generalized version of multicarrier CDMA (MC-CDMA) that extends to multiple frequency sub-bands or multiple bands. We term this frequency-generalized MC-CDMA (FG-MC-CDMA). This technique can provide more flexibility in selection of data rates and a larger diversity order than comparable schemes, by generalizing MC-CDMA to allow for different spreading factors. We describe the scheme's principles of operation, and provide analytical and simulation results for its use in multi-band channels. Our results show that FG-MC-CDMA can be an attractive transmission scheme for reliable multi-rate wireless communications.
Metamaterials for the terahertz gap

Metamaterials are engineered materials which offer superb electromagnetic performance over naturally occurring materials, and offer great potential to construct novel devices operating in the terahertz frequency regime. Here we experimentally demonstrate metamaterial narrow band filters, perfect absorbing elements for THz imaging, and ultra-fast THz switches. Experiments are supplanted with simulation and theory, thus verifying high performance.
Automatic Refinement Checking of Pipelines with Out-of-Order Execution

We show how to automatically verify pipelined machines with out-of-order execution using refinement. Our notion of refinement is based on Well-Founded Equivalence Bisimulations. Proving refinement guarantees that a pipelined machine will preserve all safety and liveness properties of its instruction set architecture. Checking liveness-used to ensure that deadlocks do not occur, i.e., there is always forward progress-is essential for out-of-order machines as the control logic is involved and prone to deadlock defects. In previous work on out-of-order verification, liveness checking was either ignored or not automated. We developed two automatic methods based on refinement that check both safety and liveness of out-of-order pipelined machines. We use extensive experimentation based on 14 out-of-order machine models to study and compare these methods. We find overall that the cost of proving both safety and liveness is about 81 percent more than the cost of proving safety alone.
S-Nitrosylating Agents: A Novel Class of Compounds That Increase Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Expression and Maturation in Epithelial Cells

The endogenous bronchodilator, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), increases expression, maturation, and function of both the wild-type and the F508 mutant of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulatory protein (CFTR). Though transcriptional mechanisms of action have been identified, GSNO seems also to have post-transcriptional effects on CFTR maturation. Here, we report that 1) GSNO is only one of a class of S-nitrosylating agents that, at low micromolar concentrations, increase F508 and wild-type CFTR expression and maturation; 2) NO itself (at these concentrations) and 8-bromocyclic GMP are minimally active on CFTR; 3) a novel agent, S-nitrosoglutathione diethyl ester, bypasses the need for GSNO bioactivation by -glutamyl transpeptidase to increase CFTR maturation; 4) surprisingly, expression—but not S-nitrosylation—of cysteine string proteins (Csp) 1 and 2 is increased by GSNO; 5) the effect of GSNO to increase full maturation of wild-type CFTR is inhibited by Csp silencing (si)RNA; 6) proteins relevant to CFTR trafficking are SNO-modified, and SNO proteins traffic through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi after GSNO exposure; and 7) GSNO alters the interactions of F508 CFTR with Csp and Hsc70 in the ER and Golgi. These data suggest that GSNO is one of a class of S-nitrosylating agents that act independently of the classic NO radical/cyclic GMP pathway to increase CFTR expression and maturation. They also suggest that the effect of GSNO is dependent on Csp and on intracellular SNO trafficking. We speculate that these data will be of relevance to the development of NO donor-based therapies for CF.
Esophagogastric junction opening during relaxation distinguishes nonhernia reflux patients, hernia patients, and normal subjects.

Abstract Background & Aims: Flow across the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) is strongly related to opening dimensions. This study aimed to determine whether opening of the relaxed EGJ was altered in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods: Seven normal subjects (NL), 9 GERD patients without hiatus hernia (NHH), and 7 with hiatus hernia (HH) were studied. Cross-sectional area (CSA) of the relaxed EGJ was measured during low-pressure distention using a modified barostat technique that resulted in filling a compliant bag straddling the EGJ with renograffin to the set pressure. Swallows were imaged fluoroscopically at distensive pressures of 2–12 mm Hg. The diameter of the narrowest point of the EGJ in PA and lateral projections was measured from digitized images. CSA was determined as a function of intrabag pressure. Results: The minimal EGJ opening aperture occurred at the diaphragmatic hiatus in all subjects. At pressures ≤0 mm Hg, EGJ opening was observed only in HH patients, making it plausible for these patients to reflux during deglutitive relaxation. At pressures >0 mm Hg, there were significant increases in EGJ CSA both for HH and NHH compared with NL ( P P Conclusions: Anatomic degradation of the EGJ distinguishes GERD patients from normal subjects, and these changes may impact on both the observed mechanisms of reflux and the constituents of reflux during transient LES relaxation. Therapy focused on EGJ compliance may benefit GERD patients.
A Small Angle X-Ray Scattering Study of Chitosan 6-Sulfate in Water

It was recently reported that the reaction of chitosan, using a 2:1 mixture of sulfuric and chlorosulfonic acids, results in the preferential sulfation of the primary hydroxyl groups (1). The use of 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy (2) clearly indicates that the reaction occurs at the hydroxyl group at the O-6 position of the chitosan (see Naggi et al., this Volume).
Cerebral Amyloid and Hypertension are Independently Associated with White Matter Lesions in Elderly

In cognitively normal (CN) elderly individuals, white matter hyperintensities (WMH) are commonly viewed as a marker of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). SVD is due to exposure to systemic vascular injury processes associated with highly prevalent vascular risk factors (VRFs) such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. However, cerebral amyloid accumulation is also prevalent in this population and is associated with WMH accrual. Therefore, we examined the independent associations of amyloid burden and VRFs with WMH burden in CN elderly individuals with low to moderate vascular risk. Participants (n = 150) in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) received fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI at study entry. Total WMH volume was calculated from FLAIR images co-registered with structural MRI. Amyloid burden was determined by cerebrospinal fluid Aβ1-42 levels. Clinical histories of VRFs, as well as current measurements of vascular status, were recorded during a baseline clinical evaluation. We tested ridge regression models for independent associations and interactions of elevated blood pressure (BP) and amyloid to total WMH volume. We found that greater amyloid burden and a clinical history of hypertension were independently associated with greater WMH volume. In addition, elevated BP modified the association between amyloid and WMH, such that those with either current or past evidence of elevated BP had greater WMH volumes at a given burden of amyloid. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that cerebral amyloid accumulation and VRFs are independently associated with clinically latent white matter damage represented by WMHs. The potential contribution of amyloid to WMHs should be further explored, even among elderly individuals without cognitive impairment and with limited VRF exposure.
Spare Me: Towards an Empathetic Tool for Helping Adolescents a Teenagers Cope with Sickle Cell

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a painful blood disorder that affects hemoglobin in red blood cells causing them to sickle and clog the veins of its sufferers. More than 100,000 people live with SCD in the U.S. And more' than a million people are living with the disease world-wide. 60% of SCD patients, aged ten to nineteen, experience one or more painful events a year. Mobile health applications can improve the overall well-being of patients with chronic diseases by lowering costs, improving quality and access of care, and shifting behavior to prevention of hospital stays. Spare Me is a mobile health tool, that once complete, will help to predict sickle cell crises and communicate with its users on how to cope and remain healthy. This paper describes the affective communication strategy called Spare Me How. Spare Me How uses heart rate variability, pain-levels, diet, and fluid intake to create affective messages to send empathetic messages through instant message (IM).
Autonomic modulation in resistance-trained individuals after acute resistance exercise.

The effects of different types of acute bouts of resistance exercise on autonomic modulation in individuals that are resistance-trained compared to untrained individuals are unknown. Seventeen untrained and 17 resistance-trained participants were assessed for autonomic modulation after various acute resistance exercise bouts. Electrocardiogram readings were collected at rest and 25 min after a control period, whole-, lower-, or upper-body acute bouts of resistance exercise. Heart rate variability and heart rate complexity were used to assess autonomic modulation. Participants were similar for age, height, weight and measures of body composition (p>0.05) and were different for measures of maximal strength (p 0.05) in autonomic modulation at rest between groups. Significant decreases (p
Sampling method for representative elemental analysis of non-homogeneous coins

A microdrilling method and apparatus have been developed for the representative sampling of inhomogeneous ancient coins. By drilling through the cylindrical surface of coins a more average sample can be obtained than with surface sampling techniques. This drilling process leaves barely visible holes on the cylindrical surface of the coin, while the faces are unaffected. The technique has been successfully applied to 4th–5th century Roman bronze quadrantes. Preliminary analytical data, obtained by atomic-absorption spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and wet chemistry, show quite different compositions for the three coins analysed. Photomicrographic examination shows clear evidence of the inhomogeneity and the need for averaging sampling.