cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural non-linearities and the nature of the classic flutter instability

Abstract The paper presents an investigation of the subcritical/supercritical nature of the flutter Hopf bifurcation of a two degree of freedom with linear, quadratic, and cubic restoring forces. Under certain conditions, the instability gives rise to stable limit cycle oscillations, whereas unstable periodic orbits appear for other conditions, providing a potentially dangerous non-linear instability mechanism in regimes for which linear analyses predict stability. The analytic approach employed herein, allows for a more thorough investigation of the high-dimensional parameter space than that afforded by others’ experimental and computational efforts. Counterexamples to previously held conjectures are readily found. Favorable comparisons are made to predictions based on less rigorous describing function or harmonic balance techniques.
Abstracts from the Proceedings of the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry (ADMSEP)

The 32nd Annual Meeting of the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry (ADMSEP) was held June 22nd to June 24th 2006, in Annapolis, Maryland. Approximately 100 registrants from 80 medical schools were in attendance. Plenary sessions, workshops, and posters covered a wide range of educational topics, including issues of professionalism, the challenge of mentoring residents to become teachers, and analyses of psychiatric OSCE cases at various points in the curriculum. Dr. Geoffrey Norman, Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Dimensions of Clinical Expertise at McMaster University, offered the keynote address titled, “Beyond Problem-Based Learning.” In his talk, he argued that the concepts of problem-based learning (PBL) tend to be learned in unsystematic order, which makes it difficult for students to truly learn and understand new material. He suggested that successful transfer of concepts to new problems requires learning from multiple problems. In his talk, he outlined the new c...
Identity Processes among Racial and Ethnic Minority Children in America

A synthesis of the literature related to identity processes among American ethnic and racial minority children and adolescents is presented. In general, ethnic and racial identification, preferences, and attitudes have been studied among younger children, while the constructs of ego identity and ethnic identity have been generally studied among adolescents. The literature is unequally distributed across ethnic groups, with more research on African Americans and American Indians, and on Hispanics and Asians. Methodological concerns, such as problems of nonequivalence across groups, are identified in the conduct of research on ethnic and racial minorities. The synthesis concludes with an identification of intervention efforts along with an articulation of conceptual issues salient for promoting and theorizing about identity development processes among ethnic and racial minority children and adolescents.
High carrier density and metallic conductivity in poly(3- hexylthiophene) achieved by electrostatic charge injection

The use of electrostatic charge injection (i.e., the transverse field effect) to induce both very large two-dimensional hole densities (∼ 1015 charges cm–2) and metallic conductivities in poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is reported. Films of P3HT are electrostatically gated by a solution-deposited polymer-electrolyte gate dielectric in a field-effect-transistor configuration. Exceptionally high hole field-effect mobilities (up to 0.7 cm2 V–1 s–1) are measured concurrently with large hole densities, resulting in an extremely large sheet conductance of 200 μS sq.–1. The large room-temperature conductivity of 1000 S cm–1 together with the very low measured activation energies (0.7–4 meV) suggest that the metal–insulator transition in P3HT is achieved. A maximum in sheet conductance versus charge density is also observed, which may result from near-filling of the valence band or from charge correlations that lower the carrier mobility. Importantly, the large hole densities in P3HT are achieved using capacitive coupling between the polymer-electrolyte gate dielectric and P3HT (i.e., the field effect) and not via chemical or electrochemical doping. Electrostatic control of carrier density up to 1015 charges cm–2 (∼ 1022 charges cm–3) opens opportunities to explore systematically the importance of charge-correlation effects on transport in conjugated polymers without the structural rearrangement associated with chemical or electrochemical doping.
Magnetization of High-Tc Molecule-Based Magnet V/TCNE/CH2Cl2

Abstract Room-temperature molecular magnets based on V/TCNE may be prepared via two routes, identified as V(C6H6)2/TCNE/CH2Cl2 and V(CO)6/TCNE/CH2Cl2. Both compounds have critical temperatures exceeding 350 K. The magnetization M(T,H) of samples prepared via both routes have been compared. The saturation magnetization of the V(CO)6-derived material (M0 ∼10 4 emu·Oe·mol−1) is larger than that observed for V(C6H6)6-derived materials (M0 ∼ 0.6 × 104emu·Oe·mol−1), and the behavior of M(T) at H = 100 Oe is more like that exhibited by crystalline magnets. Whereas V(C6H6)2/TCNE/CH2Cl2 has a linear M(T) for 5 ≈ T ≈ 300 K, the magnetization of V(CO)6/TCNE/CH2Cl2 follows the Bloch spin-wave form M(T) = M(0)(1 - BT3/2), where the zero-temperature magnetization M(0) is suppressed from M0 by the effect of random magnetic anisotropy (RMA). The values of M(0) and the spin-wave dispersion constant B, as well as the range of validity of the T3/2 law, vary among different preparations of the magnet, reflecting a correlatio...
Characterization of human T-cell responses to Yersinia enterocolitica superantigen.

Abstract We reported that antigenic preparations from Yersinia enterocolitica stimulate murine T cells in a manner consistent with that of superantigens. As a consequence we examined whether Y. enterocolitica antigenic preparations stimulate human T-cell cultures. Human T cells, enriched from peripheral blood lymphocytes, were stimulated to proliferate in the presence of Y . Enterocolitica cytoplasmic and membrane preparations. This activity has also been shown to be sensitive to protease treatment, indicating the presence of a protein, and when separated by ion-exchange chromatography a single peak of activity is resolved. Furthermore, this proliferation was inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, by the presence of antibodies directed against MHC class II antigens, indicating a requirement for these molecules. When these cells were stained with a panel of Vβ-specific antibodies to determine if there was an enrichment of a particular Vβ-bearing T-cell subset after stimulation, results indicate a significant enrichment of T cells bearing Vβ3, Vβl2, Vβl4, and Vβl7 over controls. Taken together, these data are consistent with a Y. enterocolitica product acting as a superantigen for human T cells.
Differences in herbivore preferences, phlorotannin production, and nutritional quality between juvenile and adult tissues from marine brown algae

Juvenile and adult marine organisms differ in their morphology, chemistry, physiology, behavior, and ecology. Because juvenile algae are thinner, smaller, and have more delicate tissues than adults, they are often assumed to be more susceptible to grazers. We examined within-species food preferences of four common generalist herbivores for juvenile and adult tissues of eight common brown algae in two-choice laboratory food-preference experiments. Our results showed that juvenile algae did not tend to be a preferred food of herbivores. Juvenile tissues were significantly preferred over adult tissues in only four of the 32 combinations of algae and herbivores tested. In 12 experiments, adult tissues were preferred over juvenile tissues, and no choice occurred in the remaining 16 experiments. When sea urchins exhibited a preference, it was always for adult tissues. The other three herbivores, an isopod and two snails, were more variable in their choices, sometimes preferring juveniles, sometimes adults, and sometimes having no preference. We measured nitrogen and phlorotannin concentrations in adult and juvenile seaweeds to see whether these parameters were correlated with herbivore food preferences. Nitrogen levels were similar in juveniles and adults of three algal species and were higher in juveniles of two. Phlorotannin levels were higher in juveniles of four species and lower in juveniles of one. The other three species showed no differences in phlorotannin levels. Phlorotannin concentrations decreased with increasing juvenile size in three species and increased with increasing size in one species. Neither nitrogen nor phlorotannin concentrations explained overall herbivore food preferences for algae of different stages. Our results suggest that preferences of certain grazers for juvenile algae are not as strong as previously assumed and are dependent on herbivore species. Preferences between juveniles and adults are likely to be determined by a combination of morphological and chemical features of the tissues and the unique responses of herbivore species to those features.
An Analysis of 3D Particle Path Integration Algorithms

Several techniques for the numerical integration of particle paths in steady and unsteady vector (velocity) fields are analyzed. Most of the analysis applies to unsteady vector fields, however, some results apply to steady vector field integration. Multistep, multistage, and some hybrid schemes are considered. It is shown that due to initialization errors, many unsteady particle path integration schemes are limited to third-order accuracy in time. Multistage schemes require at least three times more internal data storage than multistep schemes of equal order. However, for timesteps within the stability bounds, multistage schemes are generally more accurate. A linearized analysis shows that the stability of these integration algorithms are determined by the eigenvalues of the local velocity tensor. Thus, the accuracy and stability of the methods are interpreted with concepts typically used in critical point theory. This paper shows how integration schemes can lead to erroneous classification of critical points when the timestep is finite and fixed. For steady velocity fields, we demonstrate that timesteps outside of the relative stability region can lead to similar integration errors. From this analysis, guidelines for accurate timestep sizing are suggested for both steady and unsteady flows. In particular, using simulation data for the unsteady flow around a tapered cylinder, we show that accurate particle path integration requires timesteps which are at most on the order of the physical timescale of the flow.
Determination of the rate constant for the radical - radical reaction CN(X{sup 2}{summation}{sup +}) + OH(X{sup 2}II) at 292 K.

The rate constant for the reaction of the cyano radical, CN(X{sup 2}{Sigma}), with the hydroxyl radical, OH(X{sup 2}{Pi}), has been measured to be (1.4 {+-} 0.48) x 10{sup -10} cm{sup 3} molecule{sup -1} s{sup -1} at a temperature of 292 {+-} 2 K. The error estimate includes both systematic and random error at the level of one standard deviation. The measurements were carried out by simultaneously monitoring the temporal dependencies of the CN and OH radical concentrations on the same photolytic laser pulse that created the transient species. The rate constant was determined by two independent methods of data analysis: one based on the simulation of CN and OH concentration profiles using a detailed kinetic mechanism and the other based on a new integrated-profiles analysis (Int. J. Chem. Kinet. 1998, 30, 47).
“Packaging identity through sound”: Tourist performances in contemporary China

Abstract Tourist performance, like any other type of performance, is by definition a heightened mode of communication. Focusing on the ideology and narrative that inform tourist production in the People's Republic of China, this paper views each performance as a process of self‐identification within the political context of the post‐Mao era. On the basis of fieldwork conducted in Xi'an, Shanghai, and Chaozhou, I argue that tourism in contemporary China assumes the role of a transnational network of exchanges in which the locals and the tourists are both fulfilling each other's need and imagination.
Full State Feedback Control Design for “Delay Scheduling”

A fixed full state feedback controller design approach is proposed for linear time invariant (LTI) systems with time delays. This approach enables the designer to use recently introduced “delay scheduling” procedure, which opens a new direction in control synthesis. “Delay scheduling” strategy suggests prolonging the existing (and unavoidable) delays in order to recover stability or to improve the control performance features. To be able to do this, however, system should have multiple stable operating zones in the domain of the delays. The main contribution of this paper is to develop a procedure for designing such a control law. It starts with a simple usage of LQR for non-delayed systems. This approach, nevertheless, imparts some complexities when delays are introduced. We handle them using a recent paradigm, called the Cluster Treatment of Characteristic Roots (CTCR). For an example to the ensuing design strategy, we use a fully actuated cart-pendulum system. Relevant simulations are carried out to show the viability of the proposed idea.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Social dynamics in the age of the web

The past decade has witnessed a momentous transformation in the way people interact and exchange information. Content is now coactively produced, shared, classified, and rated on the Web by millions of people, while attention has become an ephemeral and valuable resource that everyone seeks to acquire. This talk will describe our research on the interplay between popularity, novelty and collective attention in the Web, as well as a study of the dynamics of online opinion formation.
Relationship of the corpus callosum to visual areas I and II of the awake rabbit

Abstract In visual area I, many cells of origin of callosal axons (callosal efferent neurons) were physiologically identified in regions of cortex with visual field representations of 0 to 23° from the line of decussation (binocular cortex). A few callosal efferent neurons were found in cortex with field representations of 23 to 41°, and no callosal efferent neurons were found in cortex with field representations more than 41° from the line of decussation. Neurons that were synaptically activated by callosal input were found throughout visual area I. However, fewer synaptically activated neurons were found in monocular cortex than in binocular cortex, and these cells responded at a greater and more variable latency, higher threshold, and with fewer spikes than did cells that were closer to the border of visual areas I and II, suggesting a polysynaptic input to monocular visual area I. In visual area II, callosal efferent neurons and synaptically activated neurons were found at a high concentration in regions of cortex with visual field representations as great at 66° from the line of decussation. Regions of visual area II representing more lateral regions of visual space were not studied.
Monojets from new heavy vector bosons

A new scenario accounting for the production of monojets with large missing transverse energy is described and a specific model implementing it is constructed. The production rate for monojets is calculated.
Nonequilibrium effects in superconducting weak links

Abstract A simple phenomenological model is used to calculate the effects of the relaxation time of the superconducting order parameter on the impedance and current-voltage characteristics of superconducting weak links and the results are compared with experiments.
Implementation of UWB MIMO Time-Reversal Radio Testbed

This letter presents system implementation and validation of a real-time experimental ultrawideband (UWB) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radio testbed built at Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville. The incorporation of UWB technology with MIMO is promising in both communication and sensing applications. With the testbed, UWB MIMO algorithms are able to be experimentally explored by transmitting data through 500-MHz-bandwidth channels simultaneously supporting two transmit and eight receive antennas. Using a 2ntn 2 MIMO time-reversal (TiR) configuration as an example, 6-dB gain over a single-input-single-output (SISO) configuration is experimentally achieved, agreeing with theoretical estimation. In particular, signal-to-intersymbol-interference (ISI) ratio (SIR), a performance metric common to many real-world applications, is experimentally evaluated with BPSK modulation. The obtained SIR results suggest that the UWB MIMO-TiR is promising for high data rate transmission in harsh RF environments.
The Analysis of a Simple Class of Multistage Inspection Plans

A simple class of multistage inspection plans is considered for an ordered production process consisting of N-1 manufacturing stages and a final inspection stage. The plans are applied to batches of items of size S. At each stage any number of items from 0 to S may be inspected. Defectives found are replaced with non-defectives. Costs of inspection, replacement, and the cost of undetected defectives are included. It is shown that under certain conditions an optimal inspection plan has the property that at every stage either the whole batch is inspected or no inspection is performed. In such cases a very simple dynamic program can be solved to find the optimal plan.
Smart shoppers? Using QR codes and ‘green’ smartphone apps to mobilize sustainable consumption in the retail environment

Smartphone-based mobile advertising is a promising marketing vehicle, especially in retail and point-of-purchase environments, yet we still do not know enough about what motivates consumers to turn to mobile advertising. This is particularly true of new forms of mobile advertising, like quick response (QR) codes, which rely on pull-based approaches, rather than push-style advertising. The study clarifies this omission by exploring various antecedents that encourage consumer use of mobile advertising. Relying on the uses and gratifications approach as a theoretical framework, this study tests three antecedents of new media adoption: institutional trust, involvement and market mavenism. Data are drawn from a representative sample of 401 American adults and their willingness to use QR codes in shopping environments within the context of purchasing sustainable products. The data were analysed using ordinary least squares regression. Results indicate government trust, buycotting and market mavenism are positively related to consumers' willingness to use mobile phone-based QR code advertising whereas corporate trust is negatively related. The results offer important theoretical and managerial implications: first, there is a need to include broader institutional trust variables in the uses and gratifications framework of new media use; second, QR code content should be carefully crafted to provide meaningful, usable information for involved consumers; and third, market mavens' tendency to share information should be harnessed by providing QR code content that is relevant, interesting and easily passed on to other consumers.
Automated Refactoring of Legacy Java Software to Enumerated Types

Java 1.5 introduces several new features that offer significant improvements over older Java technology. In this paper we consider the new enum construct, which provides language support for enumerated types. Prior to Java 1.5, programmers needed to employ various patterns (e.g., the weak enum pattern) to compensate for the absence of enumerated types in Java. Unfortunately, these compensation patterns lack several highly-desirable properties of the enum construct, most notably, type safety. We present a novel fully-automated approach for transforming legacy Java code to use the new enumeration construct. This semantics-preserving approach increases type safety, produces code that is easier to comprehend, removes unnecessary complexity, and eliminates brittleness problems due to separate compilation. At the core of the proposed approach is an interprocedural type inferencing algorithm which tracks the flow of enumerated values. The algorithm was implemented as an Eclipse plug-in and evaluated experimentally on 17 large Java benchmarks. Our results indicate that analysis cost is practical and the algorithm can successfully refactor a substantial number of fields to enumerated types. This work is a significant step towards providing automated tool support for migrating legacy Java software to modern Java technologies.
Challenges for Event Queries over Markovian Streams

Building applications on top of sensor data streams is challenging because sensor data is noisy. A model-based view can reduce noise by transforming raw sensor streams into streams of probabilistic state estimates, which smooth out errors and gaps. The authors propose a novel model-based view, the Markovian stream, to represent correlated probabilistic sequences. Applications interested in evaluating event queries-extracting sophisticated state sequences-can improve robustness by querying a Markovian stream view instead of querying raw data directly. The primary challenge is to properly handle the Markovian stream's correlations.
Thermal evaluations of 144 pin plastic flat packs

Experimental thermal evaluation procedures and results for 144-pin plastic flat packs soldered on a circuit board are presented. The board is positioned at the center of a 19-mm-wide air flow duct. Both internal and external thermal resistances are obtained for modules containing 6.7-mm*7.0-mm rectangular and 9.9-mm*9.9-mm square chips. The external thermal resistances at air velocities ranging from 0.5 to 4 m/s at power dissipation levels of 0.5-1.5 W are determined. It is found that external thermal resistances are significantly different for different chip sizes, and the difference is relatively constant in the range of variables covered in this experiment. Data on external thermal resistances are correlated with respect to air velocities. They indicate that air flow becomes turbulent at about 1.5 m/s. The internal thermal resistance increases slightly with respect to the air flow velocity. A numerical solution using a finite-difference method is performed, and the result shows the same trend as the experimental data. >
Problem size limitations for VLSI-based systolic arrays

VLSI-based systolic arrays have been promoted for almost a decade as efficient structures for many computationally-bound algorithms, such as the large class of matrix manipulation procedures. While they are very powerful conceptually, they suffer an inherent problem of requiring an enormous I/O bandwidth to sufficiently feed and drain the computational array. Satisfying this bandwidth, however, is difficult when the systolic structure is packaged in a pin-limited current technology carrier. Results of a study of the severity of this problem are presented, and data on the maximum size and throughput performance of such an array are provided. The pin limitation problem is solved by multiplexing operands onto and off of the chip, and the performance degrading effect of such multiplexing is obvious. >
An inequality for Chebyshev connection coefficients.

Equivalent conditions are given for the nonnegativity of the coefficients of both the Chebyshev expansions and inversions of the first n polynomials defined by a certain recursion relation. Consequences include sufficient conditions for the coefficients to be positive, bounds on the derivatives of the polynomials, and rates of uniform convergence for the polynomial expansions of power series.
Cardiac performance in response to loading pressures in Busycon Canauculatum (Gastropoda) and Mercenaria Mercenaria (Bivalvia)

The performance of the isolated hearts of a gastropod, Busycon canaliculatum (L.), and a bivalve, Mercenaria mercenaria(L.), were examined at different perfusion levels around the expected physiological ranges. Both hearts followed the Frank-Starling relationship with regard to stroke volume versus preload, but the heart-rate response was species-dependent. The argument is developed that the molluscs might functionally apply Starling's Law of the heart to accommodate increased output during exercise. At the expected in vivo filling pressures the power output of the two hearts was the same (15–30 × 10?6Wg?1 ventricular tissue), but the Mercenaria filling levels were considerably lower. This clearly indicates that the cardiac muscle of each of the two species has evolved to operate at specific pressure ranges. Electrical recordings from the surface of the myocardium in the perfused Busycon hearts confirm that the shape changes reported in the literature, dealing with stretched myocardium, also occur for changes in the whole heart at realistic loading pressures. These results support previous conclusions that the cardiac output is controlled by the duration of the action potential plateau.
An accurate tangential force-displacement model for granular-flow simulations: contacting spheres with plastic deformation, force-driven formulation

An elasto-plastic frictional tangential force-displacement (TFD) model for spheres in contact for accurate and efficient granular-flow simulations is presented in this paper: the present TFD is consistent with the elasto-plastic normal force displacement (NFD) model presented in [ASME Journal of Applied Mechanics 67 (2) (2000) 363: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series A 455 (1991) (1999) 4013]. The proposed elasto-plastic frictional TFD model is accurate, and is validated against non-linear finite-element analyses involving plastic flows under both loading and unloading conditions. The novelty of the present TFD model lies in (i) the additive decomposition of the elasto-plastic contact area radius into an elastic part and a plastic part, (ii) the correction of the particles' radii at the contact point, and (iii) the correction of the particles' elastic moduli. The correction of the contact-area radius represents an effect of plastic deformation in colliding particles; the correction of the radius of curvature represents a permanent indentation after impact; the correction of the elastic moduli represents a softening of the material due to plastic flow. The construction of both the present elasto-plastic frictional TFD model and its consistent companion, the elasto-plastic NFD model, parallels the formalism of the continuum theory of elasto-plasticity. Both NFD and TFD models form a coherent set of force-displacement (FD) models not available hitherto for granular-flow simulations, and are consistent with the Hertz, Cattaneo, Mindlin, Deresiewicz contact mechanics theory. Together. these FD models will allow for efficient simulations of granular flows (or granular gases) involving a large number of particles.
Prolonged postoperative venous thrombo-embolism prophylaxis is cost-effective in advanced ovarian cancer patients

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of prolonged prophylaxis with enoxaparin in high-risk surgical patients with ovarian cancer. In addition, we sought to quantify the impact of prolonged prophylaxis (PP) on the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE), its related complications, and overall patient survival. Methods A Markov decision analytic model was used to estimate the costs, resource allocation and outcomes associated with the prolonged use of enoxaparin, for a total of four weeks after surgery, in patients undergoing primary debulking surgery for stage IIIC ovarian cancer. We estimated incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) at one and five year intervals; the estimated reduction in VTE episodes, bleeding episodes, and survival at the five year interval for a simulated cohort of 10,000 women. Results The incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) for prolonged prophylaxis (PP) was $5236/QALY and $-1462/QALY at one and five years respectively. For patients receiving PP, the model estimated a 12% reduction in the clinically evident VTE episodes and a higher five-year survival (31.61% vs. 29.96%; p Conclusions In ovarian cancer patients undergoing open abdominal surgery, prolonged VTE prophylaxis not only improves patient outcomes, but is also a cost saving strategy when modeled over five years. A significant reduction in the episodes of VTE and a higher overall survival warrants consideration for the routine use of PP in this patient population.
The Health Literacy Skills Instrument: A 10-Item Short Form

The 25-item Health Literacy Skills Instrument (HLSI) was designed to measure the ability to read and understand text and locate and interpret information in documents (print literacy), to use quantitative information (numeracy), to listen effectively (oral literacy), and to seek information through the Internet (navigation). It is a publically available measure that can be used in surveillance activities, to evaluate interventions, and in research examining the relation between health literacy and health outcomes. The authors developed a 10-item, short form (SF) version of the HLSI, the HLSI-SF, using data gathered for the development of the longer form. The authors selected 10 items for inclusion in the HLSI-SF and conducted a confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory analyses, then computed Cronbach's alpha. The HLSI-SF demonstrated acceptable internal consistency reliability (α = .70) for use in group-level comparisons. The HSLI-SF has many of the same advantages of the longer version with the additional benefit of taking only approximately 5 to 10 min to administer. The HLSI-SF offers researchers and practitioners a valid and reliable measure of health literacy skills.
Portosystemic shunting and persistent fetal vascular structures in aryl hydrocarbon receptor-deficient mice

A physiological examination of mice harboring a null allele at the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) locus revealed that the encoded aryl hydrocarbon receptor plays a role in the resolution of fetal vascular structures during development. Although the aryl hydrocarbon receptor is more commonly studied for its role in regulating xenobiotic metabolism and dioxin toxicity, a developmental role of this protein is supported by the observation that Ah null mice display smaller livers, reduced fecundity, and decreased body weights. Upon investigating the liver phenotype, we found that the decrease in liver size is directly related to a reduction in hepatocyte size. We also found that smaller hepatocyte size is the result of massive portosystemic shunting in null animals. Colloidal carbon uptake and microsphere perfusion studies indicated that 56% of portal blood flow bypasses the liver sinusoids. Latex corrosion casts and angiography demonstrated that shunting is consistent with the existence of a patent ductus venosus in adult animals. Importantly, fetal vascular structures were also observed at other sites. Intravital microscopy demonstrated an immature sinusoidal architecture in the liver and persistent hyaloid arteries in the eyes of adult Ah null mice, whereas corrosion casting experiments described aberrations in kidney vascular patterns.
Decreased fluid tolerance, accelerated transit, and abnormal motility of the human colon induced by oleic acid

Abstract To determine whether the presence of unabsorbed fat in the colon altered colonic motility, intraluminal pressures were recorded in the terminal ileum and proximal colon, and serial 1-min γ camera scans were obtained while test solutions labeled with diethylenetetramine pentaacetic acid chelate of indium 111 were infused into the middle portion of the ascending colon. Seven subjects received a control solution, and 6 subjects received an emulsion of oleic acid (4.3 g/100 ml). Oleic acid accelerated colonic transit; isotope accumulated in the rectosigmoid faster in the first 120 min (4343 ± 1175 cpm) than it did during control infusion (1236 ± 348 cpm; p 60 mmHg, range 60–95 mmHg), prolonged (> 10 s, range 10–48 s), propagated pressure waves; they originated near the ileocecal junction at a median frequency of 1.3 times/hour fmean 4.1, range 0.4–15.7). These were associated with a narrow image of the ascending colon on scintiscan and movement of 65.9% ± 6.5% of counts from the ascending to transverse colon over the succeeding 4 min. A similar sequence was seen only once in 33 h of infusion with control solutions (p
Fibrinogen metabolic responses to trauma.

Coagulation complications are significant contributors to morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. Although the lethal triad of hypothermia, acidosis and coagulopathy has been recognized for over a decade, the underlying mechanisms related to the development of coagulopathy remain unclear. Recent data suggest that decreased fibrinogen levels contribute to the development of coagulation disorders. Thus, regulation of fibrinogen availability, not fully understood at present, may play an important role in survival of trauma patients. This review summarizes the recent findings of the studies that have explored mechanisms related to changes in fibrinogen availability following trauma-related events. Trauma alters fibrinogen metabolism in a variety of ways: hemorrhage – accelerated fibrinogen breakdown; hypothermia – inhibited fibrinogen synthesis; and, acidosis – accelerated fibrinogen breakdown. However, hemorrhage, hypothermia andcidosis all result in a consistent outcome of fibrinogen availability deficit, supporting the notion of fibrinogen supplementation in trauma patients with coagulation defects. Future prospective clinical trials are needed to confirm the beneficial effects of fibrinogen supplementation in trauma patients with bleeding complications.
A CMOS low-power, high-speed, asynchronous comparator for synchronous rectification applications

A novel approach for the design of an asynchronous comparator implemented in standard digital CMOS technology for power supply applications is presented. The 1 mV sensitivity comparator is designed for asynchronous event detection, featuring a multi-stage topology for power efficiency and minimum propagation delay. It also contains a mixed-mode offset compensation architecture that allows full compensation in a single cycle. The comparator has been successfully used in the design of a very high frequency, 300 mA multi-mode PWM/PSM (Pulse Width Modulation/Pulse Skipping Mode) buck converter. The comparator is able to operate with a supply voltage as low as 2.4 V. Operating with a 3.6 V supply, under typical operating conditions, the comparator features a 19 ns delay consuming 161 /spl mu/W.
An Exploratory Inquiry into the Role of Consumer Ethnocentrism as a Moderating Variable in Country of Origin Evaluations: A Conjoint Approach

Consumer ethnocentrism, as developed by Shimp and Sharma (1987), captures beliefs held by consumers on the appropriateness and morality of purchasing foreign made goods. Previous research has provided support work has provided support for consumer ethnocentrism as a moderating variable in the purchase of low involvement goods and in times of threat to the host country (Sharma, Shimp, and Shin 1995).
FOREWORD: MONITORING WETLANDS AT THE WATERSHED SCALE

The importance of monitoring and assessment to the management of the wetland resource has been widely recognized (e.g., NRC 2001, Heinz Center 2002, USEPA 2002). This special feature illustrates the assessment of wetlands in specific watersheds and examines issues fundamental to effective monitoring of the resource. We hope this work will serve as a model for the assessment of wetlands anywhere in the world, and contribute to the goal of making reporting on the condition of the resource routine.
Peripheral blood mitochondrial DNA copy number, length heteroplasmy and breast cancer risk: a replication study

Oxidative stress has consistently been linked to breast carcinogenesis, and mitochondria play a significant role in regulating reactive oxygen species generation. In our previous study, we found that increased levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and the presence of mitochondrial length heteroplasmies in the hypervariable (HV) regions 1 and 2 (HV1 and HV2) in peripheral blood are associated with increased risk of breast cancer. In current study with 1000 breast cancer cases and 1000 healthy controls, we intended to replicate our previous findings. Overall, levels of mtDNA copy number were significantly higher in breast cancer cases than healthy controls (mean: 1.17 versus 0.94, P < 0.001). In the multivariate linear regression analysis, increased mtDNA copy number levels were associated with a 1.32-fold increased risk of breast cancer [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.15-1.67]. Breast cancer cases were more likely to have HV1 and HV2 region length heteroplasmies than healthy controls (P < 0.001, respectively). The existence of HV1 and HV2 length heteroplasmies was associated with 2.01- and 1.63-folds increased risk of breast cancer (for HV1: OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.66-2.42; for HV2: OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.34-1.92). Additionally, joint effects among mtDNA copy number, HV1 and HV2 length heteroplasmies were observed. Our results are consistent with our previous findings and further support the roles of mtDNA copy number and mtDNA length heteroplasmies that may play in the development of breast cancer.
Interesting Western Odonata

In the following notes I wish to give a short account of the habits of some of the more interesting species of western Odonata. These are based on field observations made by the writer in Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada during the summers of 1913 and 1914.
Phenolic compounds (hydroxycinnamic acids, flavan-3-ols, flavonols) profile in fruit of Italian peach varieties

AbstractInterest in phenolic compounds of fruit is growing due to their positive effects on reducing the risk of cardiovascular and carcinogen diseases. The role of the flesh colour, of the tissue (exocarp or mesocarp) and of the cultivar on the content of phenolic compounds (hydroxycinnamic acids, flavan-3-ols, flavonols) was evaluated in peach, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, with a HPLC-DAD analysis, on 10 varieties deriving from the Italian breeding programmes, never previously characterized by this approach. The flavan-3-ols (catechin, epicatechin and procyanidin B1) were the most abundant class of phenolic compounds in peach cultivars analysed. Among hydroxycinnamic acids, neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids were also identified and measured in the peach cultivars analysed. Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside was the only flavonol found in the exocarp of all the cultivars evaluated, but in the mesocarp of only some cultivars. Content of phenolic compounds was confirmed to be strongly dependent on the cultivar and...
A Pharmaco-Bacteriologic Study of African Poisoned Arrows

Ledantec in 1890 pointed out that tetanus frequently occurred after arrow wounds in the New Hebrides, and succeeded in reproducing tetanus in guineapigs by direct inoculation of the arrow poison. In 1892 he found that certain animals died with the symptoms of septic gangrene after inoculation with certain lots of arrow poison from the New Hebrides or cultures therefrom which resembled the Vibrion septique of Pasteur. He ascribed these germs to contamination of the arrows with soil from marshes.' In spite of this propitious beginning there is relatively little known as to the bacteriology of arrow poisons or arrow wounds. Parke 2 suspected tetanus in some of his men who died following arrow wounds, but as the result of a study of the plants used in the preparation of arrows by the pygmies of Central Africa, in collaboration with Holmes,' the tetanic symptoms were finally ascribed to strychnine from a species of Strychnos, and when Lewin' wrote his now classical dissertation upon arrow poisons, the possibility of their effects being due to, or complicated by, bacterial infections was practically ignored. There have been, however, a few contributions since Lewin's thesis which suggest the importance of this view point. Thus Mines 5 said in discussing the Munchi arrow poison, "It is said that some tribes attempt to make their weapons still more deadly by placing the poisoned arrow heads in the flesh of putrefying corpses. They thus become carriers of bacterial infection. In this connection it is of interest to note that the extracts of the Munchi arrow poison acquired a putrefactive odour within a week, unless they were boiled, in which case they often remained unaltered for over a month." Parsons ' also recorded a similar observation in Northern Nigeria, decomposing animal secretions and carcasses serving as a sort of pincushion for infecting the arrows. Further, "where the tetanus bacillus abounds arrows are rendered poisonous by merely planting them head downwards in the soil." "No surgically clean arrow ever leaves the bow string, so that sepsis has to be guarded against in any case." This writer emphasized the treating of all arrow wounds as infected wounds and listed ten cases of men wounded with arrows, of whom five died in one-half to one and one-half hours, and five died in thirty hours to eight days, as follows: thirty hours,
Using the FACT-Neurotoxicity Subscale to evaluate quality of life in patients from across the globe

17032 Background: Translation of Patient Reported Outcomes measures is an essential component of research methodology in preparation for multinational clinical trials. One such measure is the FACT-...
Development of a Question Prompt Sheet for Cancer Patients Receiving Outpatient Palliative Care

Abstract Background: A question prompt sheet (QPS) is a structured list of potential questions available for patients to ask their doctor during a clinical encounter. Although it has been shown to improve physician–patient interaction during clinical consultations, there is paucity of data on its use in the palliative care setting. The aim of this study was to develop a single-page consensus list of prompt questions for use by patients attending outpatient palliative care. Method: An expert group of experienced physicians and mid-level providers were invited to participate in the study conducted in three Delphi rounds. A consensus in this study was defined a priori as an agreement (i.e., agree or strongly agree) by a minimum of 80% of the experts. Results: One hundred percent of the 22 invited experts participated in all the three Delphi rounds of the study. The top 25 questions with the highest level of endorsement were chosen and used toward the development of the QPS. Twenty-eight percent of the questi...
Optic nerve disease.

The primary care physician is in a strategic position to recognize optic nerve diseases that are early manifestations of common systemic conditions. A detailed history and a few simple visual tests can yield the clues.
Quantitative analysis of the role of fiber length on phagocytosis and inflammatory response by alveolar macrophages.

In the lung, macrophages attempt to engulf inhaled high aspect ratio pathogenic materials, secreting inflammatory molecules in the process. The inability of macrophages to remove these materials leads to chronic inflammation and disease. How the biophysical and biochemical mechanisms of these effects are influenced by fiber length remains undetermined. This study evaluates the role of fiber length on phagocytosis and molecular inflammatory responses to non-cytotoxic fibers, enabling development of quantitative length-based models.Murine alveolar macrophages were exposed to short and long populations of JM-100 glass fibers, produced by successive sedimentation and repeated crushing, respectively. Interactions between fibers and macrophages were observed using time-lapse video microscopy, and quantified by flow cytometry. Inflammatory biomolecules (TNF-α, IL-1α, COX-2, PGE2) were measured.Uptake of short fibers occurred more readily than for long, but long fibers were more potent stimulators of inflammatory molecules. Stimulation resulted in dose-dependent secretion of inflammatory biomolecules but no cytotoxicity or strong ROS production. Linear cytokine dose-response curves evaluated with length-dependent potency models, using measured fiber length distributions, resulted in identification of critical fiber lengths that cause frustrated phagocytosis and increased inflammatory biomolecule production.Short fibers played a minor role in the inflammatory response compared to long fibers. The critical lengths at which frustrated phagocytosis occurs can be quantified by fitting dose-response curves to fiber distribution data.The single physical parameter of length can be used to directly assess the contributions of length against other physicochemical fiber properties to disease endpoints.
Abstract 72: Vascular and Cardiac Effects of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in Hyperhomocysteinemic Mice

BackgroundDiet-induced hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) produces endothelial and cardiac dysfunction and promotes thrombosis through a mechanism proposed to involve oxidative stress. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is upregulated in HHcy and can generate oxidants such as superoxide. We tested the hypothesis that iNOS mediates the adverse oxidative vascular, thrombotic, and cardiac effects of HHcy. MethodsMice deficient in iNOS (Nos2-/-) and their wild-type (WT) littermates were fed either a control (C) diet or a high methionine/low folate (HM/LF) diet for 3-6 months. Vasomotor function was assessed in cerebral arterioles in response to the endothelium-dependent dilator acetylcholine or the endothelium-independent dilator nitroprusside. Thrombotic occlusion of the carotid artery was measured in response to photochemical injury (rose bengal). Regional myocardial injury was measured after 30 minutes of ischemia and 2 hours of reperfusion of the left coronary artery. ResultsNos2-/- and WT mice fed the HM/LF...
Cutaneous Manifestations of Systemic Disease

Children manifesting systemic diseases cutaneously can present in unique ways compared to adults with similar diagnoses. A thoughtful investigative work-up must be sought in order to uncover these rare and complex, multisystem disorders. With many of the diseases discussed in the following chapter, the skin may be the first clue to an underlying problem, as it is sometimes the first organ to develop reactionary changes. Once a diagnosis is established, the therapeutic approach must consider the needs of the patient as a whole.
Precision oncology: Charting a path forward to broader deployment of genomic profiling

In this Perspective, David Hyman and coauthors discuss clinical research on the application of genomic information in oncology.
Thyroid neoplasms: incidental findings on extent of disease evaluation CT for other pediatric malignancies

Abstract Purpose We performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the risk of thyroid cancer in incidental thyroid nodules (ITNs) discovered on CT in patients with a history of pediatric cancer. Methods With IRB approval we reviewed the records of pediatric oncology patients age ≤21y with newly detected thyroid nodules on surveillance CT of the neck, chest, chest/abdomen/pelvis, or PET/CT performed between April 2008 and March 2015. Patients with Results The final cohort (N=68) included 35 females and 33 males (mean age 16.0±4.3[SD] years) with a mean follow-up time of 3.7±1.9[SD] years after CT detection of ITN(s). Twenty patients (29.4%) received a follow-up thyroid ultrasound, eleven (16.2%) of whom underwent fine needle aspiration (FNA) for cytopathologic diagnosis. Among these, six (8.8%) underwent thyroid resection, with final pathology demonstrating papillary carcinoma in five (7.4%) and benign pathology in one. Conclusions Despite the low incidence of thyroid nodules and low risk of thyroid malignancy in the general pediatric population, we found a significant rate of malignancy in CT-detected ITNs in our pediatric oncology patients, and recommend ultrasound and FNA of these nodules in this high-risk population. Level of evidence Level IV, retrospective study with no comparison group.