cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asymptotic characterizations of input–output-to-state stability for discrete-time systems☆

Abstract We establish the equivalence between global detectability and output-to-state stability for difference inclusions with outputs, and we present equivalent asymptotic characterizations of input–output-to-state stability for discrete-time nonlinear systems. These new stability characterizations for discrete-time systems parallel what have been developed for continuous-time systems in Angeli et al. [Uniform global asymptotic stability of differential inclusions, J. Dynamical Control Systems 10 (2004) 391–412] and Angeli et al. [Seperation principles for input–output and integral-input-to-state stability, SIAM J. Control Optim. 43 (2004) 256–276].
Rhizobium free-living nitrogen fixation occurs in specialized nongrowing cells

A model for free-living N2 fixation by Rhizobium sp. RC3200 is presented that asserts that this process occurs in nongrowing cells. Cultures containing mixed populations of cell types, N2-fixing and vegetative, grow cooperatively. In nitrogen-limited liquid suspension cultures, cooperative growth occurs by means of ammonium that is produced and exported by nongrowing, N2-fixing cells and transported to vegetative cells. This model implies prokaryotic differentiation: the creation of metabolically specialized cells, terminally nonviable, that functionally cooperate in a higher cell order. Here, the switch to a Rhizobium N2-fixing cell state is regulated by both O2 and utilizable nitrogen.
Efficacy and tolerability of lower-dose topotecan in recurrent ovarian cancer: a retrospective case review.

Topotecan (1.5 mg/m2/day for 5 consecutive days of a 21-day cycle) is an established recurrent ovarian cancer treatment, but myelosuppression can be dose limiting. This study evaluates the activity and tolerability of low-dose topotecan in our clinical experience. Case records were reviewed for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer in first through third relapse. Eligible patients had received ≥2 cycles of ≤1.25 mg/m2 topotecan. Adverse events were evaluated using laboratory and clinical evaluation data. Twenty-seven eligible patients, most with advanced disease, received a total of 209 cycles (median, six cycles). Grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicities during 184 cycles in 24 assessed patients were neutropenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia in 35%, 28%, 36%, and 11% of cycles, and 21, 19, 16, and 10 patients, respectively. Only four grade 4 toxicities occurred: anemia (one) and thrombocytopenia (three). Myelosuppression was reversible, noncumulative, and manageable. Moreover, nonhematologic toxicity was generally mild to moderate, and the only two grade 3 events were constipation and deep vein thrombosis. Low-dose topotecan was active in this setting. Lower-dose topotecan is generally well tolerated and active in patients with pretreated ovarian cancer. Prospective clinical trials of low-dose topotecan in recurrent ovarian cancer are warranted.
Integrator Bound-Based Nonlinear Decoder for Delta-Sigma Modulator

A new nonlinear iterative delta-sigma decoder based on the modulator integrator bounds is presented. The proposed decoder has faster convergence and more efficient decision levels than the previously known zoomer decoder. The proposed decoder shows the best-known mean-squared error (MSE) performance, about 5.25 dB gain over the zoomer decoder. The decoder MSE bound is 0.27(d/2)2/L3, while the zoomer decoder provides claimed 0.91(d/2)2/L3, both of which obtained through numerical simulations. The differences in initial conditions and solution developments show that the proposed decoder is not a special case of the zoomer decoder. While the optimality of the zoomer decoder is based on the assumed initial condition, it is argued that the assumed condition is not optimal, since it maximizes the first quantization error and it wastes first two modulator output bits. The proposed algorithm decodes an output stream of a first-order delta-sigma modulator with a static input and an initial condition. Solution tracking behaviors, decision levels, and MSE, or signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) performances of both decoders are examined and compared to justify the claims.
Attitudes toward the teaching of formal methods of software development in the undergraduate computer science curriculum: a survey

This paper reports on a survey related to current views concerning the feasibility and importance of teaching formal methods of software development at the undergraduate level. Principle areas of interest considered include formal logic, formal specification, and formal proofs of correctness of programs. After alluding to several points of contact with current literature on this topic, the paper reports on a questionnaire designed by the authors that was mailed to computer science departments of selected colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. The principle goal of the survey is to determine attitudes of computer science faculty concerning the teaching of formal methods at the undergraduate level.
Calcium ionophore pre-treatment induces type-1 polarized DCs with enhanced T cell stimulatory function and IL-12 production.

The effective treatment of cancer by immunotherapy requires the induction of high numbers of tumor-specific type-1 polarized T cells. Since DCs are the key antigen-presenting cells capable of activating and polarizing T cells, the generation of type-1 polarized DCs for DC-based anti-cancer therapies is desired. We have previously shown that DCs matured with calcium ionophore (CI) alone results in the generation of type-2 polarized DCs, which lack IL-12 production. However, we now show that pre-treatment of monocyte-derived DCs with CI followed by the maturation with the inflammatory cytokine IFNγ and the TLR agonists LPS (TLR2) and R848 (TLR7/8), results in an enhanced IL-12 production by the DCs compared to DCs matured without CI pre-treatment. The effect of CI on IL-12 production appears to be dependent on the kinetics of CI pre-treatment as well as on the maturation factors used following CI addition. The CI-matured DCs show a more mature phenotype (based on CD83 and CCR7 expression), express higher levels of the co-stimulatory molecule CD70, and have reduced expression of the inhibitory molecule PD-L1 compared to DCs matured without CI-pre-treatment. When loaded with antigen these CI-matured DCs strongly induce T cell proliferation and the expression of the cytolytic proteins granzyme B and perforin by CD8+ T cells in a mixed leukocyte reaction. The ability of CI to induce type-1 polarization with enhanced IL-12 secretion and T cell stimulatory function allows for the development of type-1 polarized DC-based anti-cancer vaccines.
Statistical aspects of autorhythmometry

Abstract Statistical aspects of different types of autorhythmometry are discussed; the long records of equispaced automated recording versus sporadic, unequidistant and skew self‐measurements during a few cycles. Multiple regression is seen as a main tool for fitting of trends and sine curves simultaneously. Possible errors in this procedure are explored, including the difference between the representation of data as vector components or as phase‐amplitude pairs.
Decision support systems for robotic surgery and acute care

Doctors must frequently make decisions during medical treatment, whether in an acute care facility, such as an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), or in an operating room. These decisions rely on a various information sources, such as the patient's medical history, preoperative images, and general medical knowledge. Decision support systems can assist by facilitating access to this information when and where it is needed. This paper presents some research eorts that address the integration of information with clinical practice. The example systems include a clinical decision support system (CDSS) for pediatric traumatic brain injury, an augmented reality head- mounted display for neurosurgery, and an augmented reality telerobotic system for minimally-invasive surgery. While these are dierent systems and applications, they share the common theme of providing information to support clinical decisions and actions, whether the actions are performed with the surgeon's own hands or with robotic assistance.
24: Bone Mineral Density in Female Adolescents With Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified

for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). No such WC cut-offs have been identified in adolescents, despite the consensus that risk factors for ASCVD are present in adolescents. The current study aims to identify WC cut-offs that will distinguish AfricanAmerican males ages 12 to 19 years with central adiposity who are at risk for ASCVD as defined by meeting metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria. Methods: This study is a secondary data analysis using data from the CDC Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-1994). A subpopulation of African-American males, ages 12 to 19 years with records containing data on WC and at least three of the following variables, were included in this study: fasting glucose, high density lipoprotein (HDL), serum triglyceride (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). This resulted in 428 participants, with a weighted sample size of 1,688,814 African-American males. Participants were scored and grouped based on ASCVD risk factors as defined by the American Heart Association, National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III as modified by Cook, et al. These include: fasting glucose 110 mg/ dL, HDL 40 mg/ dL, TG 110 mg/ dL, SBP and DBP 95% for age and gender. Individuals were categorized as low risk ( 3 risk factors) or high risk ( 3 risk factors) for ASCVD. Using WC as the independent variable, receiver-operating characteristics curve (ROC) analysis was used for each year of age to identify the optimal WC measurements that identify high-risk individuals. Results: Initial linear regression models confirm that WC predicts abnormal values in all dependent variables except fasting glucose. Results of ROC analysis are pending. Conclusions: It is expected that waist circumference values that identify three or more risk factors (thus defining MetS) will be considered the optimal cut-off point at which a clinical provider should begin screening for MetS. Sources of Support: None.
The fate and effect of hairs removed from honeybees with hairless-black syndrome

Abstract Honeybees, Apis mellifera , attacking other bees exhibiting hairless-black syndrome were found to have ingested bee hairs probably as a result of the attack. Experimental samples of bees were fed bee hairs and virus isolated from sick bees both separately and in combination. Control samples, samples fed hair, samples fed virus, and samples fed both hairs and virus averaged 8, 7, 37, and 70% mortality, respectively. Presence of hairs enhanced the effect of the virus.
Assimilation or Exclusion? Japanese and Mexican Americans in California

This paper argues that the current socioeconomic positions of ethnic groups reflect in part the historical processes that differentially allocated labor market opportunities by ethnicity. With historical and current data, we illustrate the usefulness of this approach by investigating two ethnic groups at opposite ends of the socioeconomic spectrum—native-born Japanese and Mexican American men and women in California. We first document the structural context facing these two immigrant groups when they entered the U.S., describing how early experiences shaped their occupational concentrations. Using 1980 Census data we then show how the current occupational distributions of these ethnic groups resemble those of their immigrant ancestors, and how this occupational concentration now affects earnings attainment, relative to whites. The evidence on gender differences suggests caution in generalizing from the experiences of male ethnics—the occupational and earnings attainments of female ethnics differ notably from those of their male counterparts.
Rapid Synthesis of Functional Polymer Brushes by Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of an Acidic Monomer

The combination of a highly reactive monomer, 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl succinate (MES), and active catalyst systems, e.g., Cu(I) complexed with 1,1,4,7,10,10-hexamethyltriethylenetetramine (HMTETA), allows rapid formation of poly(carboxylic acid) brushes by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from a surface. ATRP from initiators immobilized on Au-coated Si wafers yields films with an ellipsometric thickness of 120 nm in less than 15 min. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of direct ATRP of protonated acidic monomers that is capable of yielding such thick films, and MES polymerizes much more rapidly than methacrylic acid both in solution and on a surface. The MES films are attractive for a number of applications, including immobilization of proteins. Assuming that a lysozyme monolayer has a thickness of 2 nm, a 55 nm poly(MES) brush binds ∼70 monolayers of lysozyme via ion-exchange interactions. Additionally, when derivatized with nitrilotriacetate−Cu2+ complexes, poly(MES) fil...
Comparing the effects of isoflurane and pentobarbital on the responses of cutaneous mechanoreceptive afferents

Background: While pentobarbital has been used extensively in neurophysiological experiments investigating activity in peripheral nerves, it has fallen out of favor as an anesthetic because of safety concerns and is often replaced with isoflurane. However, the effects of isoflurane on the excitability of mechanoreceptive afferents have yet to be conclusively elucidated. Methods: To fill this gap, we collected extracellular single-unit recordings of cutaneous mechanoreceptive afferents from the sciatic nerve of 21 rats during vibratory stimulation of the hindpaw. We then compared the strength and temporal structure of the afferent response measured under pentobarbital and isoflurane anesthesia. Results: We found that the strength and temporal structure of afferent responses were statistically equivalent whether these were evoked under isoflurane or pentobarbital. Conclusions: We conclude that, if these two anesthetics have any effect on the responses of mechanoreceptive afferents, their effects are indistinguishable.
Mechanisms of Reward Circuit Dysfunction in Psychiatric Illness Prefrontal–Striatal Interactions

The brain’s “reward circuit” has been widely implicated in the pathophysiology of mental illness. Although there has been significant progress in identifying the functional characteristics of individual nodes within the circuit and linking dysfunction of these brain areas to various forms of psychopathology, there remains a substantial gap in understanding how the nodes of the circuit interact with one another, and how the growing neurobiological knowledge may be applied to improve psychiatric patient care. In this article, we summarize what is currently known about the functions and interactions of two key nodes of this circuit—the ventral striatum and the ventromedial prefrontal/orbital frontal cortex—in relation to mental illness.
Predictive Value of Current Imaging Modalities for the Detection of Urolithiasis During Pregnancy: a Multicenter, Longitudinal Study

Purpose: We determined the optimal imaging study by which to diagnose and treat pregnant patients with suspected urolithiasis.Materials and Methods: A retrospective, multicenter study was performed to determine the comparative accuracy of imaging modalities used before the surgical management of suspected urolithiasis in pregnant patients. Patients with a clinical suspicion of urolithiasis were evaluated with directed imaging including renal ultrasound alone, renal ultrasound and low dose computerized tomography, or renal ultrasound and magnetic resonance urography. When indicated, patients underwent therapeutic ureteroscopy. The rate of negative ureteroscopy was determined and the positive predictive values of the imaging modalities were calculated.Results: A total of 51 pregnant patients underwent ureteroscopy. The mean age of the cohort was 27 years. Mean gestational age was 24.4 weeks. Of the women 24 (47%) underwent renal ultrasound and low dose computerized tomography, 22 (43%) underwent ultrasound ...
Rapid thermal processing of sol-gel derived PZT 53/47 thin layers

The method of rapid thermal processing (RTP) has been suggested to be a means by which the formation of intermediary phases in sol-gel derived Pb(Zr,Ti)O/sub 3/ (PZT) thin layers can be suppressed before the crystallization of the desired perovskite phase. However, the dependence of densification and crystallization processes in sol-gel derived materials on thermal processing conditions such as heating rate, /spl alpha/, and firing temperature, T/sub f/, can lead to differences in the properties of otherwise identical materials prepared by different thermal profiles. In this paper, the effects of thermal processing conditions on the properties of PZT 53/47 (i.e., Zr:Ti=53:47) thin layers are reported. The evolution of structure after RTP was examined by diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. It was found that crystallization of the perovskite phase shifted to higher temperatures, and the shrinkage normal to the plane of the substrate decreased, with increasing heating rate.
Menopause Knowledge and Attitudes of English-Speaking Caribbean Women: Implications for Health Education

Seventy-four 36-60 year old English-speaking Caribbean women living in the New York metropolitan area were surveyed to determine their knowledge and attitudes towards menopause, and to identify implications for health education practice. A 33-item questionnaire was distributed by the researcher and her trained research assistant at three sites. Sixty-three (85%) of the seventy four women surveyed returned useable questionnaires. Respondents lacked comprehensive understanding of the meaning of the term menopause and information about the risks of heart disease associated with menopause. In general, menopause health information was limited. The majority said they did not seek medical attention when symptoms were present. Among those who did seek care and those for whom treatment was prescribed, non-compliance was high, even with the support of a significant other. There was little correlation between the reported level of education and knowledge of health risks associated with menopause. Although limited in its generalizability, this study identifies the need for further research. It suggests the tailoring of health promotion and disease prevention strategies as well as identifying “efficacy-based” prevention strategies that focus on the needs of English-speaking Caribbean women.
A recoverable object store

A design is presented for the storage component of a self-recovering distributed operating system. This component consists of an object manager, which maintains objects on main memory and on the disk, and a recovery layer, which incorporates a collection of highly optimized algorithms based on optimistic recovery. With optimistic recovery it is possible for a machine (or collection of machines) to present a fault-free interface to programs running on it (or them), making all data appear to be persistent. The optimizations presented make it possible to do this at a cost no higher than that of transaction systems. >
The Role of Arachidonic Acid Metabolites in Local and Systemic Inflammatory Processes

Leukotrienes are synthesised from arachidonic acid via the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes/macrophages, basophils and certain mast cell populations. Their synthesis is closely regulated by several known factors and the cells which contain 5-lipoxygenase do not all possess the capability to synthesise all of the leukotrienes. Neutrophils produce leukotriene B4, which attracts other neutrophils, whereas the leukotriene C4, produced by eosinophils, increases the contractile activity of smooth muscle. Monocytes/macrophages are able to produce both of these leukotrienes. Receptor sites for leukotriene B4 have been identified on monocytes and neutrophils and receptors for leukotriene D4, a cleavage product of leukotriene C4, have been defined in pulmonary tissue.
The Power of the 2 × 2 Matrix: Using 2 × 2 Thinking to Solve Business Problems and Make Better Decisions

This article presents a review of the book “The Power of the 2×2 Matrix: Using 2×2 Thinking to Solve Business Problems and Make Better Decisions,” by Alex Lowy and Phil Hood.
Ecological aspects of plant selenium hyperaccumulation

Hyperaccumulators are plants that accumulate toxic elements to extraordinary levels. Selenium (Se) hyperaccumulators can contain 0.1–1.5% of their dry weight as Se, levels toxic to most other organisms. In this review we summarise what is known about the ecological functions and implications of Se (hyper)accumulation by plants. Selenium promotes hyperaccumulator growth and also offers a plant several ecological advantages through negative effects on Se-sensitive partners. High tissue Se levels reduce herbivory and pathogen infection, and high-Se litter deposition can inhibit neighbouring plants. There is no evidence for a cost of hyperaccumulation in terms of reproductive functions or pollinator visitation. Hyperaccumulators offer a niche for Se-tolerant herbivores, pollinators, microbes and neighbouring plants. They may even facilitate these partners through Se enrichment: neighbouring plants with elevated Se levels enjoy enhanced growth and reduced herbivory. Through combined negative and positive effects on ecological partners, Se hyperaccumulators likely affect local plant, microbial and animal species composition and richness, favouring Se-tolerant species at different trophic levels. By locally concentrating Se and altering its chemical form, Se hyperaccumulators likely play an important role in Se entry into, and Se cycling through, seleniferous ecosystems. These findings are of significance since they provide insight into the ecological reverberations of Se hyperaccumulation, and shed light on the possible selection pressures that have led to the evolution of this fascinating phenomenon. Better ecological insight will also help in the management of seleniferous areas and the agricultural production of Se-rich crops for phytoremediation or biofortification.
The contribution of user-based subsidies to the impact and sustainability of telecenters - the ecenter project in kyrgyzstan

We examine the extent to which user-based subsidies can promote the sustainability and development impact of telecenters, where sustainability is defined in financial and social terms. We do this by looking at a coupon scheme used by the USAID funded eCenter network in Kyrgyzstan. The network consisted of partnerships with existing commercial computer centers which provided fee-based ICT services to their communities. The eCenter program temporarily provided subsidized coupons for Internet access and computer training to users of these centers.Using a mixed-method approach, we found that user-based subsidies have to a certain degree aided financial sustainability by bringing new users to the centers, some of who will, conceivably, become long-term customers bringing ongoing revenues. The subsidies also helped to "kick-start" operations during the initial stage of the project. However we found that the distribution of the coupons did not lead to any significant enhancements to social sustainability by, for instance, encouraging users from underrepresented social groups (though we did find that women were marginally more likely to take advantage of the program). Moreover, we found that the distribution of both Internet and training coupons favored more regular users of the eCenters. Finally, looking beyond sustainability to impact within the community, we found that the coupon program had a limited development impact on participating communities. For example, the population of users who reported economic benefits from using the eCenter (eg. subsequent employment or starting a new business), did not make more use of the coupon program than the user population at large, suggesting that the coupon program itself did not account for this benefit.We argue that, even in the presence of such modest positive effects, user-based subsidies still offer an intriguing model. We believe that if the eCenters had narrowly targeted particular participants for the coupon programs it is likely that the benefits of the program can be enhanced. For example, better social targeting of the coupons could have brought in more women or under represented groups. From a financial sustainability point of view, explicitly targeting new users (as opposed to people already using the center) could have also been more effective. In terms of impact, coupons could have been distributed, for example, specifically to entrepreneurs looking to start a new business. A method of incentivizing eCenter management to perform such targeting is probably required.
Radiolabeled peptides in diagnosis and therapy

During the past few years, there has been exponential growth in the development of radiolabeled peptides for diagnosis and therapy. This is because the peptides can be synthesized easily and inexpensively, they have fast clearance and rapid tissue penetration, and they are less likely to be immunogenic. More importantly, most peptides have a high affinity for characteristic receptor molecules that are overexpressed on malignant mammalian cells. Peptides can be labeled with a variety of radionuclides intended for specific applications, diagnostic or therapeutic, by using both conventional and novel chelating moieties, many of which can be incorporated during the solid state synthesis of a chosen peptide. High specific-activity peptides can be prepared and used to minimize unwanted physiologic effects, and known sequences of amino acids can be modified to slow their in vivo catabolic rate. These characteristics have paved the way for the preparation of a large number of radiolabeled peptides for a variety of clinical and experimental applications. This article briefly discusses the peptide chemistry; it also summarizes the preparation of radiolabeled peptides and outlines their applications in imaging vascular thrombosis, detecting infection and inflammation, and localizing tumors. Their therapeutic applications in oncology are also presented and the future directions outlined. Peptides that have been approved for human use, such as Acu Tect (Diatide, Londonderry, NH) or OctreoScan (Mallinckrodt, St. Louis, MO), or those that have made it to clinical trials, are emphasized. Also discussed are selected promising agents that are still in preclinical investigation.
Effects of different verbal instructions on change of lumbar multifidus muscle thickness in asymptomatic adults and in patients with low back pain

Background: Spinal stabilisation exercise has been shown to be effective in the rehabilitation of low back pain (LBP). Due to the isometric nature of spinal stabilisation exercise, manual therapists use various verbal instructions to elicit lumbar multifidus muscle contraction.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess whether or not three verbal instructions would alter muscle thickness of the lumbar multifidus muscle differently in asymptomatic individuals and patients with LBP.Methods: Three verbal instructions were selected for this study: (1) swell the muscle underneath the transducer, (2) draw your belly button in towards your spinal column and (3) think about tilting your pelvis but without really doing it. Lumbar multifidus muscle thickness was determined using parasagittal ultrasound (US) imaging. Measurements of muscle thickness were collected at rest and during verbal instructions from 21 asymptomatic adults and 21 patients with LBP. Percent changes of muscle thickness during contracti...
The American Mineralogist at 100 years, and a mineralogy renaissance

The meaning of the word mineralogy affects the way scientists view our field, and obviously enough, the journal as well. The use of the word has changed dramatically since the 17th and 18th centuries, when geological investigations were as much in the service of mineralogy as vice versa (Laudan 1987). At that time, “mineralogy” was the all-encompassing term for the study of Earth materials. “Geology” was coined not to subjugate mineralogy, but rather to replace terms like “geognosy” and “cosmogony”, so as to better describe the goal behind the study of minerals, i.e., to understand Earth and it is history (Laudan 1987). Forgetting our heritage, and perhaps because “Geology” was later identified with petrology and field studies, we now use “Earth Sciences” in place of Geology (see Heaney 2007). Similarly, the once all-encompassing “Mineralogy” is now often viewed quite narrowly—to some, barely relevant to understanding Earth and planetary systems Such views would make no sense to Werner, Hutton, Lyell, Darwin, or Dana. They still thought in terms of a world divided into three kingdoms: animal, vegetable, and mineral (see Laudan 1987). “Minerals”, then, were effectively the universe of all non-living things. Biologists still retain the Becher and Linnaean kingdoms (as “Animalia” and “Plantae”) and have since added a few more. Mineralogists, in contrast, at least in a formal sense, divested themselves from a large fraction of the …
Generation of high-flux ultra-broadband light by bandwidth amplification in spontaneous parametric down conversion

We present a method for generating an ultra-broadband spectrum of spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) that is independent of the thickness of the nonlinear crystal, thereby yielding down-converted photons of high flux. We show that the bandwidth amplification inherent in the SPDC process is maximized at a wavelength where the group-velocity dispersion is minimal. Experimental results demonstrating the broad spectrum produced by this technique are presented.
Large-Volume Injection Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for Automated Broad-Spectrum Drug Screening in Horse Urine

A rapid, sensitive, and rugged method for detecting drugs and drug metabolites in extracts of horse urine is described. The use of large-volume injection (LVI) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for analysis of horse urine extracts allowed automation of the derivatization procedure and reduction of the sample volume from 5 mL to 1 mL of urine. An autosampler and temperature-programmable inlet were used to automatically dissolve the sample extract and form trimethylsilyl derivatives of over 200 analytes. The suitability of this procedure for routine GC-MS detection of approximately 80 basic analytes in extracts of racehorse urine was investigated. The formation of derivatives using LVI with in-liner derivatization was compared to a manual procedure involving the dissolution of sample extracts in N,O-bis(trimethylsily)trifluoroacetamide, heating the resulting mixture, and injecting 1 or 2 microL of the mixture through a splitless injector into the GC-MS instrument. In all cases, the in-liner derivatization reactions were found to be as complete as conventional heating block procedures. Ruggedness testing of the method demonstrated that peak resolution, shape, and area were maintained through 40 consecutive injections of sample extracts. No evidence of the accumulation of interfering substances was observed. The limits of detection using LVI GC-MS for routine screening of basic drugs in urine were generally in the range of 5-25 ng/mL. The method is currently being used to detect basic analytes in horse urine extracts with a throughput of approximately 50 urine sample extracts per instrument per day.
Mobile free space optic nodes in single-input multiple-output setup under transmitter misalignment

Wireless optical nodes with mobility capabilities (mobile free space optics [FSO]) have emerged as a way to overcome limitations inherent in FSO links, for example, transmitter–receiver restrictive alignment requirement. This paper proposes the use of an angular diversity model for characterizing the performance of mobile FSO over atmospheric turbulence, and transmitter–receiver misalignment switch-and-examine combining technique is suggested for a diversity combining under unbalanced multireceiving configuration. A laser beam is modeled as spatial Gaussian profile, and channel fading is modeled as a lognormal distribution with spatially uncorrelated samples. Analytical and statistical discussion on the resultant output is presented, and bit error performance and processing load are numerically evaluated and compared with those obtained using selection combining diversity schemes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inviscid Solution for the Secondary Flow in Curved Ducts

This paper presents an analytical formulation and a numerical solution for three-dimensional rotational flow in curved ducts. The formulation is based on calculating the through flow vorticity and velocity components from the momentum equation, using a marching technique. The secondary velocities are determined from the simultaneous solution of the continuity and vorticity equations. These equations are transformed through the use of the streamlike function formulation into a single Poisson equation with Dirichlet boundary conditions. A numerical solution is obtained for the flow with large inlet velocity gradient in a 90-deg curved duct with constant radius of curvature. The results are presented and compared with the existing analytical and experimental data.
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy Prospects for clinical diagnosis and treatment

This article reviews diagnosis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) during life and possible approaches to prevention. A clinical diagnosis of "probable CAA" can be made in patients aged 60 years or older with multiple hemorrhages confined to lobar brain regions and no other cause of hemorrhage. Gradient-echo MRI facilitates diagnosis by showing previous hemorrhages with high sensitivity. This technique can also mark the progression of CAA, as 50% of studied patients developed new petechial hemorrhages during 1.5 years of follow-up. The apolipoprotein E epsilon2 and epsilon4 alleles are associated with increased risk and earlier age of first hemorrhage, but are neither sensitive nor specific for CAA. The major remaining challenges are to develop new markers for the presence of CAA and treatments to block vascular amyloid deposition and vessel breakdown.
Functional gait assessment and balance evaluation system test: reliability, validity, sensitivity, and specificity for identifying individuals with Parkinson disease who fall.

Background Gait impairments, balance impairments, and falls are prevalent in individuals with Parkinson disease (PD). Although the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) can be considered the reference standard for the determination of fall risk, it has a noted ceiling effect. Development of ceiling-free measures that can assess balance and are good at discriminating “fallers” from “nonfallers” is needed. Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) and the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) with the BBS among individuals with PD and evaluate the tests' reliability, validity, and discriminatory sensitivity and specificity for fallers versus nonfallers. Design This was an observational study of community-dwelling individuals with idiopathic PD. Methods The BBS, FGA, and BESTest were administered to 80 individuals with PD. Interrater reliability (n=15) was assessed by 3 raters. Test-retest reliability was based on 2 tests of participants (n=24), 2 weeks apart. Intraclass correlation coefficients (2,1) were used to calculate reliability, and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to assess validity. Cutoff points, sensitivity, and specificity were based on receiver operating characteristic plots. Results Test-retest reliability was .80 for the BBS, .91 for the FGA, and .88 for the BESTest. Interrater reliability was greater than .93 for all 3 tests. The FGA and BESTest were correlated with the BBS ( r =.78 and r =.87, respectively). Cutoff scores to identify fallers were 47/56 for the BBS, 15/30 for the FGA, and 69% for the BESTest. The overall accuracy (area under the curve) for the BBS, FGA, and BESTest was .79, .80, and .85, respectively. Limitations Fall reports were retrospective. Conclusion Both the FGA and the BESTest have reliability and validity for assessing balance in individuals with PD. The BESTest is most sensitive for identifying fallers.
Sensing pathogens and danger signals by the inflammasome.

The NLR (nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat containing) family of intracellular sensors is a crucial component of the innate immune system. A number of NLR family members can form multiprotein complexes, called inflammasomes, and are capable of activating the cysteine protease caspase-1 in response to a wide range of stimuli including both microbial and self-molecules. Caspase-1 activation leads to processing and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18, which play crucial roles in host defense to infectious insults. Dysregulation of the inflammasome has also been linked to a number of autoinflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Recent advances in the inflammasome field will be discussed in this review.
Where Were We

As professionals, we owe it to our profession and our society to speak out clearly and effectively on investment-related issues that affect the lives and well-being of our fellow citizens and neighbors. We missed a great opportunity to advocate timely reform in retirement plans, but we still have the chance to advocate swift adoption of the new rules others have promulgated.
Insulin regulates expression of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes insulin regulates expression of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene. The inhibitory effect of insulin on PEPCK gene transcription is (1) achieved at physiologic concentrations of the hormone, (2) mediated through the insulin receptor, (3) specific, (4) seen in the absence of on-going protein synthesis, (5) readily reversible, (6) dominant over the action of inducing hormones, and (7) probably exerted at the step of transcript initiation. Studies of the regulation of mRNA PEPCK synthesis provided the first evidence of an effect of insulin on gene transcription and would be of interest even if this were the only example of this action of the hormone. In recent years, several additional examples of regulation of specific mRNA metabolism by insulin have been reported and it appears that the regulation of PEPCK synthesis represents a prototype of a general regulatory role of insulin. Considerable progress has been made toward understanding how insulin regulates the rate at which a specific protein is synthesized in a target tissue. There are at present many examples in which insulin affects mRNA metabolism, and in several of these instances, this hormone influences the rate of transcription of specific genes. Based on the rate at which additional examples are appearing, it is obvious that this is an important manifestation of insulin action.
NH+4 transport mediated by Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase in rat inner medullary collecting duct.

The interaction of K+ and NH+4 on the basolateral membrane of cultured rat inner medullary collecting duct cells (IMCD) was explored using 86Rb+ as a K+ congener. Ouabain addition decreased Rb+ uptake to 22.0 +/- 2.6% of control. Possible ouabain-sensitive NH+4 transport was therefore explored. Replacement of N-methyl-D-glucamine chloride with NH4Cl or KCl decreased both total and ouabain-sensitive Rb+ uptake. This inhibition of Rb+ uptake by NH+4 was not due to changes in intracellular pH or differences in cell viability. We conclude that NH+4 competes with K+ for binding on the Na(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase). An inhibitory constant (Ki) for NH+4 of 11.0 +/- 1.6 and a Michaelis constant (Km) for K+ of 1.9 +/- 0.7 mM were measured. To extend these observations, NH+4 was tested as a substrate for ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity in native permeabilized IMCD cells. With 20 mM K+, activity was 202 +/- 73 nmol ATP hydrolyzed.min-1.mg protein-1, and with 20 mM NH+4, activity was 259 +/- 81 nmol ATP hydrolyzed.min-1.mg protein-1. Thus NH+4 substitution for K+ on the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase is a likely mechanism for NH+4 uptake by the IMCD.
Community Lawyering: An Approach to Addressing Inequalities in Access to Health Care for Poor, of Color, and Immigrant Communities

After a long history of overt discriminatory practices in health care, people of color, immigrant and poor communities continue to struggle with unequal access to quality health care. The reasons for inequality in health care include, among other things, language barriers. In the wake of Alexander v. Sandoval, health and civil rights advocates have looked to alternative strategies for improving access to health care for marginalized communities. Community lawyering, which combines legal recourse with community organizing, addresses inequalities in health care by forcing hospitals and clinics to improve services to people in their communities. This Article undertakes a critical examination of community lawyering's potential for improving access to health services for marginalized communities, examining its advantages and limitations as a tool for social, legal and cultural change.
A safety evaluation of imatinib mesylate in the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: For the last 15 years, imatinib mesylate has been the first line treatment of choice for advanced (metastatic) GIST.Areas covered: This review describes key efficacy data on imatinib for the treatment of GIST, and focuses on safety and tolerability of imatinib, with emphasis on common adverse events management and long term toxicity profile.Expert opinion: Imatinib has been the standard of care for metastatic GIST and probably will continue to be so for the next few years. Still, despite dramatic responses initially, imatinib drug resistance continues to be the major factor for treatment discontinuation. The toxicity profile of imatinib has been well characterized, and although the majority of patients experience an adverse event during treatment with imatinib, these side effects are usually mild and manageable, with the majority of patients continuing treatment uninterruptedly. Early concerns regarding imatinib related cardiotoxicity in GIST have not been confirmed in large prospect...
Some differences between the soils ofRhizophora andAvicennia mangrove swamps in sierra leone

The differences existing between a fibrous mud from aRhizophora mangrove swamp and a non-fibrous mud from a nearbyAvicennia swamp have been examined.
Love's Intermedial Limbecke: A Stylistic Analysis of Donne's “A Nocturnall upon S. Lucies Day, Being the Shortest Day”

ABSTRACTJohn Donne's “A Nocturnall upon S. Lucies Day, Being the Shortest Day” is a complex engagement with alchemy that many critics have found difficult to decode. The stylistic approach taken in this article examines the use of alchemy as a source domain at all levels of the poem. The conceptual metaphor Love is a Force is shown to have multi-planar expression. Graphologically, this renders “Nocturnall” a pattern poem, the stanzaic form of which resembles a limbecke (distillatory vessel). This intermediality is complemented by interlocking instantiations of the trope at the level of lexis, grammar and phonology.
Forage Nutritional Value for Equine as Affected by Forage Species and Cereal Grain Supplementation

Abstract The objectives of this review were to determine the abilities and limitations of various forage species in meeting the equine nutrient requirements, to determine the potential role of cereal grains in providing the additional energy needs, and to explore the adverse health effects if grain supplementation is not managed properly. As the major component of the horse’s diet, forages provide bulk, energy, protein, minerals, vitamins, and other essential nutrients in amounts capable of supporting a horse at maintenance or in light work. Forages are also needed to maintain normal microbial function in the horse’s hindgut and to support optimum anaerobic fermentation. The end-products of such fermentation include volatile fatty acids ( VFA ; mainly acetate, propionate, and butyrate) and B vitamins with VFA being considered the main source of the horse’s energy. When energy needs are high (e.g., growth, gestation, lactation, or heavy work), grain supplementation becomes important. Because of their high starch content, cereal grains have high ME and are considered the most important energy source in the equine diet. Under grain overload conditions, significant amounts of starch can enter the hindgut and can negatively affect fermentation. The negative effects include increased lactate production, decreased hindgut pH, shifting proportions of VFA, and occurrence of health problems (e.g., colic and laminitis). Meals containing high levels of starch also have been associated with circulatory and hormonal changes as well as fluctuation in growth of young horses. Therefore, proper management practices are required to select the source, level, and feeding regime of the grain supplement.
Analysis of Influenza during 2009 to 2012 in Kunming City

Objective This study aimed to analyze the situation and trend of influenza epidemic in Kunming city from 2009 to 2012 in order to provide the scientific basis for the control of the disease. Methods Throat swabs were collected from influenza-like illness(ILI) cases. The strains were isolated by Madin-Darby Canine kidney(MDCK) or tested by real-time RT-PCR, followed by the identification of the subtypes. Results Among a total of 2900 samples, 715 were positive for influenza A and 65 were positive for influenza B. Among influenza A positive samples, 578 were identified as influenza A(H1N1) subtype, 74 were identified as influenza A(H3) subtype, 2 were identified as Influenza A(H1) subtype and 61 were unidentified. All age groups were susceptible and 79.1% of the patients were younger than 30 years old. Conclusion Influenza A(H1N1) subtype was the predominant strain in Kunming city from 2009 to 2011. Influenza A(H1N1) subtype, influenza A(H3) subtype and influenza B subtype at varying strengths were predominant concurrently or in turns from 2009 to 2012. The age group of below 30 years should be the focus of disease prevention and control.
Introduction to Digital PCR

Digital PCR (dPCR) is a molecular biology technique going through a renaissance. With the arrival of new instrumentation dPCR can now be performed as a routine molecular biology assay. This exciting new technique provides quantitative and detection capabilities that by far surpass other methods currently used. This chapter is an overview of some of the applications currently being performed using dPCR as well as the fundamental concepts and techniques this technology is based on.
Coping and Sampling in Biological Machinery

Metaphors of growth dominate our conceptual landscape. Biological perspectives across most cultures are linked to birth, growth, and decay. Metaphors like this are a feature of expanding thought about objects. At first, we focused mainly on concrete objects of importance in literally foraging for food, water, and safety. The earliest cave paintings reflect this fact. Knowledge and tools are rooted in objects, and the imagination is a key feature of the human mind, which with suitable skill and ease lifts us toward explanation and the development of expanding tools for discovery.