cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endocrine Adiponectin–FGF15/19 Axis in Ethanol-Induced Inflammation and Alcoholic Liver Injury

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the most prevalent form of liver disease, encompassing a spectrum of progressive pathological changes from steatosis to steatohepatitis to fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Alcoholic steatosis/steatohepatitis is the initial stage of ALD and a major risk factor for advanced liver injuries. Adiponectin is a hormone secreted from adipocytes. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 15 (human homolog, FGF19) is an ileum-derived hormone. Adipocyte-derived adiponectin and gut-derived FGF15/19 regulate each other, share common signaling cascades, and exert similar beneficial functions. Emerging evidence has revealed that dysregulated adiponectin-FGF15/19 axis and impaired hepatic adiponectin-FGF15/19 signaling are associated with alcoholic liver damage in rodents and humans. More importantly, endocrine adiponectin-FGF15/19 signaling confers protection against ethanol-induced liver damage via fine tuning the adipose-intestine-liver crosstalk, leading to limited hepatic inflammatory responses, and ameliorated alcoholic liver injury. This review is focused on the recently discovered endocrine adiponectin-FGF15/19 axis that is emerging as an essential adipose-gut-liver coordinator involved in the development and progression of alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Abstract 19810: Oxidized LDL Exposure Enhances Baseline Platelet Activation and Amplifies Shear-mediated Activation

Introduction: Atherosclerotic heart disease is the leading cause of advanced cardiac failure. For end-stage patients, mechanical circulatory support is essential. While live-saving, it is often limited by device-related thrombosis. Blood is exposed to abnormal flow and high levels of shear stress within these devices, and shear has been associated with platelet activation. These patients exhibit hypercholesterolemia, and the deposition of oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) along arteries foreshadows cardiac failure. It remains unknown if there is a mechanistic link between atherogenic lipids and shear-mediated platelet activation. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that oxLDL and shear exhibit synergistic effects on platelet activation, creating an environment susceptible to thrombosis. Methods: Human gel filtered platelets (GFP) isolated from 8 donors were incubated with 0.5 u g oxLDL or non-oxidized LDL (nLDL) for 15 minutes, and then exposed to uniform shear flow in a hemodynamic shearing device (HSD) at 37 °C. Samples were collected at 0 (no shear exposure), 2, and 5 minute time points during shear exposure of 70 dynes/cm 2 . Platelet activity was measured using a prothrombinase based platelet activation assay. Results: GFP incubated with oxLDL had a twofold increase in platelet activation levels compared to baseline controls (p Conclusions: Exposure of platelets to oxLDL significantly increased their susceptibility to shear-mediated activation - with a net higher level of activation as well as an acceleration of activation. Our findings suggest that persistent hyperlipidemia in mechanical circulatory support patients may be a further risk factor amplifying device-related thrombosis. Further studies are warranted as to the mechanisms operative in oxLDL amplified platelet activation and their contribution to thrombotic risk.
Towards Quantum Control of Light: Shaping Quantum Pulses of Light via Coherent Atomic Memory

We describe a technique for generating pulses of light with controllable, well-defined photon numbers, propagation direction, timing, and pulse shapes. The technique is based on preparation of an atomic ensemble in a state with a desired number of atomic spin excitations, which is later converted into a photon pulse. Spatio-temporal control over the pulses is obtained by exploiting long-lived coherent memory for photon states and electromagnetically induced transparency in an optically dense atomic medium. Using photon counting experiments we observe collective behavior of atomic spins in a room-temperature ensemble, enabling controlled generation and shaping of few-photon sub-Poissonian light pulses. We discuss the prospects for controlled generation of n-photon Fock states.
Brand Personality Usage in Crisis Communication in Facebook

This study examines the role of brand personality in organizational crisis communication within the context of social media. Content analysis methods are employed to analyze brands' official Facebo...
Methodological Impression Management in Ethnographic Research

In this article, we contend that turning a sharp dramaturgical lens on the dynamics of fieldwork clarifies a number of longstanding ethical challenges in ethnography—challenges that have shifted an...
Quantifying the Sub‐Cellular Distributions of Gold Nanospheres Taken Up by Cells through Stepwise, Site‐Selective Etching

A quantitative understanding of the sub-cellular distributions of nanospheres taken up by cells is of key importance to the development of effective nanomedicine. With gold nanospheres as a model system, here we demonstrate, for the first time, how to quantify the numbers of nanospheres bound to plasma membrane, accumulated in cytosol, and entrapped in endo-lysosomes, respectively, through stepwise, site-selective etching. Our results indicate that the chance for nanospheres to escape from endo-lysosomes is insensitive to the presence of targeting ligand although ligand-receptor binding has been documented as a critical factor in triggering internalization. Furthermore, the presence of serum proteins is shown to facilitate the binding of nanospheres to plasma membrane lacking the specific receptor. Collectively, these findings confirm the potential of stepwise etching in quantitatively analyzing the sub-cellular distributions of nanospheres taken up by cells in an effort to optimize the therapeutic effect.
Nitrification Kinetics in Single-Sludge Biological Nutrient Removal Activated Sludge Systems

Nitrification kinetics as a function of mixed liquor temperature were compared for a conventional fully-aerobic activated sludge system and a system accomplishing biological nutrient removal (BNR) by incorporation of anaerobic and anoxic zones using the UCT configuration. The systems treated the same municipal wastewater and both had flow rates of 151 L/day. The nitrification rates were greater in the nutrient removal system compared to the conventional system as long as the aerobic MCRT was above the minimum for complete nitrification. It was concluded that BNR systems require less aerobic volume than fully aerobic systems to accomplish nitrification because the aerobic biomass concentration is greater in the BNR systems, particularly if the UCT configuration is used. Nonetheless, BNR systems require more total volume to accomplish complete nitrification than fully aerobic systems, and the volume differential increases as mixed liquor temperatures decrease.
Structure and Regulation of the FSH Receptor Gene

This chapter discusses the structure and regulation of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor gene. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone are the two major signals that control sperm production in the testes. Both of these hormones elicit their actions through specific receptors located in Sertoli cells, which, when bound by hormone, stimulate various cellular processes necessary for Sertoli cells to properly nurture the developing germ cells. FSH receptor (FSHR) is located at the cell surface, where it contains both extracellular and intracellular domains connected by an a-helical segment that spans the membrane. FSHR is a member of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family that, accordingly, couples to a small intracellular GTPase (G-protein) that links FSH binding to cellular response. In males, FSHR is expressed exclusively in Sertoli cells, where it preferentially couples to Gs, thereby inducing adenylyl cyclase activity and synthesis of the second messenger cAMP. Although the mechanism is not as well understood, FSH can also regulate ion channels on the plasma membrane of Sertoli cells, which causes an increase in intracellular calcium levels.
A vehicle recall index and the sales impact by type of recall

A vehicle recall index is created to measure the safety provided by a vehicle. Compared to J. D. Power's indices, the newly created index provides additional, useful information for consumers to use when buying a car. The importance of recall information is reflected in the negative impact on sales. The impact is measured using an event study methodology to evaluate the sales loss and time to recover from a major recall. The effect of two types of recalls is compared: 1) Toyota's unintentional problem from a defective gas pedal design causing injuries; 2) Volkswagen's intentional modification of the emission control unit to report false information resulting in no injuries. The model indicates that Toyota's sales declined for the subsequent five months, while Volkswagen's sales were affected for eleven months. The conclusion is that consumers responded more to the Volkswagen 'cheating' scandal in their purchase of a new car.
Augmenting Visualizations with Interactive Data Facts to Facilitate Interpretation and Communication

Recently, an increasing number of visualization systems have begun to incorporate natural language generation (NLG) capabilities into their interfaces. NLG-based visualization systems typically leverage a suite of statistical functions to automatically extract key facts about the underlying data and surface them as natural language sentences alongside visualizations. With current systems, users are typically required to read the system-generated sentences and mentally map them back to the accompanying visualization. However, depending on the features of the visualization (e.g., visualization type, data density) and the complexity of the data fact, mentally mapping facts to visualizations can be a challenging task. Furthermore, more than one visualization could be used to illustrate a single data fact. Unfortunately, current tools provide little or no support for users to explore such alternatives. In this paper, we explore how system-generated data facts can be treated as interactive widgets to help users interpret visualizations and communicate their findings. We present Voder , a system that lets users interact with automatically-generated data facts to explore both alternative visualizations to convey a data fact as well as a set of embellishments to highlight a fact within a visualization. Leveraging data facts as interactive widgets, Voder also facilitates data fact-based visualization search. To assess Voder's design and features, we conducted a preliminary user study with 12 participants having varying levels of experience with visualization tools. Participant feedback suggested that interactive data facts aided them in interpreting visualizations. Participants also stated that the suggestions surfaced through the facts helped them explore alternative visualizations and embellishments to communicate individual data facts.
Physical Properties of Cotton Fiber and Their Measurement

Cotton fiber is a highly variable natural product. The economic and industrial value of cotton is directly related to the physical properties of the fibers. In marketing cotton, the length, strength, color grade, and micronaire of the fiber are of paramount importance. Researchers need to understand the market impact of fiber properties as well as the performance impact of these and additional properties such as fineness, maturity, neps, length distribution, and fiber cohesion. Additionally, it is important to understand the variability of these properties within a cotton sample. The distribution of the fiber properties also has an important role in the performance of a cotton. There are many ways to measure each of the properties of cotton fiber ranging from tedious manual methods, which often serve as the references for other methods, to high-speed instrumental methods. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods must be understood to properly apply the test methods and to interpret the results.
Proceedings of the Twenty-Fourth ACM Symposium on Operating Systems Principles

Welcome to the Proceedings of the 24th ACM Symposium on Operating Systems Principles (SOSP 2013), held at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Farmington, Pennsylvania, USA. This year's program includes 30 papers, and touches on a wide range of computer systems topics, from kernels to big data, from responsiveness to correctness, and from devices to data centers. The program committee made every effort to identify and include some of the most creative and thought-provoking ideas in computer systems today. Each accepted paper was shepherded by a program committee member to make sure the papers are as readable and complete as possible. We hope you will enjoy the program as much as we did in selecting it.
Cystic Fibrosis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa: the Host-Microbe Interface

In human pathophysiology, the clash between microbial infection and host immunity contributes to multiple diseases. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a classical example of this phenomenon, wherein a dysfunctional, hyperinflammatory immune response combined with chronic pulmonary infections wreak havoc upon the airway, leading to a disease course of substantial morbidity and shortened life span. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that commonly infects the CF lung, promoting an accelerated decline of pulmonary function. Importantly, P. aeruginosa exhibits significant resistance to innate immune effectors and to antibiotics, in part, by expressing specific virulence factors (e.g., antioxidants and exopolysaccharides) and by acquiring adaptive mutations during chronic infection. In an effort to review our current understanding of the host-pathogen interface driving CF pulmonary disease, we discuss (i) the progression of disease within the primitive CF lung, specifically focusing on the role of host versus bacterial factors; (ii) critical, neutrophil-derived innate immune effectors that are implicated in CF pulmonary disease, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antimicrobial peptides (e.g., LL-37); (iii) P. aeruginosa virulence factors and adaptive mutations that enable evasion of the host response; and (iv) ongoing work examining the distribution and colocalization of host and bacterial factors within distinct anatomical niches of the CF lung.
Primary Pulmonary MALT Lymphoma: Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes – Single Institution Experience

Abstract 4168 Background: Primary Pulmonary MALT lymphoma represents 15–20% of Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphomas of Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT). In contrast to the more common gastric MALT lymphoma, natural history, prognosis and treatment outcomes for primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma are not well defined. Herein, we report a single institution experience. Methods: Consecutive patients with primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma registered in the Mayo Clinic Lymphoma Database, which includes all consenting patients with lymphoma seen at Mayo Clinic Rochester, were reviewed for clinical features, treatment outcome progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The pathology for all patients was centrally reviewed by hematopathologist and the diagnoses were based on WHO lymphoma classification criteria. PFS and OS were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method and the Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the impact of variables on PFS and OS. Results: Between December 1986 and June of 2009, ninety-seven patients with primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma were enrolled. The median age at diagnosis was 63 years (range 31–87). There were 43 (44%) males. The initial presentation was a unilateral pulmonary lesion (n=47, 48%), bilateral pulmonary lesions (n=41, 42%), and pulmonary lesion with intrathoracic lymphadenopathy (n= 4, 4%). Bone marrow involvement and presence of B symptoms were 4, 4% and 5, 5%, respectively. International Prognostic Index (IPI) was 0–1, 2–3 and 4–5 in 69, 25 and 1 patient(s) respectively. The median follow-up was 10.4 years. The estimated median OS was 13. 6 years and the median PFS was 5.5 years ([Figure][1]). In a multivariate analysis, age >60 (p=0.02) and ECOG PS>2 (p=0.01) were associated with shortened survival. The IPI and age adjusted IPI were not predictive of overall survival. The treatment outcomes for the most common treatment modalities are summarized in the [Table][2] below. The median PFS of the 38% of patients who had a complete surgical resection was excellent at 11.2 years; whereas for observed patients with residual disease after biopsy was 3.2 years. Only 8 patients received single agent rituximan with relatively low response rate. View this table: ![Figure][3] Summary: The prognosis of primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma is favorable, with a median survival of over 13 years. In patients with resectable disease, surgery alone is associated with excellent disease control. Further prospective studies are needed to define the optimal treatment of primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare. [1]: #F1 [2]: #T1 [3]: pending:yes
Acute myocardial infarction in pregnancy: Complex challenges in clinical - decision making for the mother and fetus

Abstract Acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy is a very uncommon condition, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is by far the most common cause of an acute coronary syndrome in the general population. The causes of an acute coronary syndrome in the pregnant patient are wide and varied. This has important implications with respect to the diagnosis of the etiology and the subsequent management of the cause. There are a number of diagnostic tools for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease but it is important to understand their role in pregnant patients. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is one of the most common causes of acute coronary syndrome in pregnant patients. Understanding its pathophysiology and knowing the natural history of this condition is paramount in the management of this condition. The article also lists the various therapeutic modalities available to the clinician. Finally, we discuss the delivery of the baby and post partum care of these complex patients.
Disruptive Behavior and Noncompliance

Pediatric psychologists are frequently consulted by pediatric and subspecialist physician colleagues to address disruptive behavior and noncompliance in the medical setting. Externalized behaviors that interfere with medical care can impede health improvement and outcomes, putting pediatric patients at risk for longer hospitalizations and medical complications, and places increased demand on the already limited resources of the healthcare system. Both inpatient and outpatient approaches for addressing disruptive behavior and noncompliance are presented in this chapter. Assessment and intervention models are discussed, as well as strategies for pediatric psychologists consulting and collaborating with medical colleagues in a joint effort to improve patient care and health outcomes. Influences of family systems and the role of medical trauma as contributing factors in disruptive behaviors and noncompliance are highlighted.
Mobility and Alterity in Iberian Late Prehistoric Archaeology: Current Research on the Neolithic–Early Bronze Age (6000–1500 BCE)

Archaeological investigations of late prehistoric Iberia between the Neolithic and Bronze Age (6000–1500 BCE) have long been a battleground between indigenist and exogenous models, and understandin...
Revealed Preference for Relative Status: Evidence from the Housing Market

This paper investigates the value individuals place on their relative status in consumption, as opposed to absolute status. Using observed housing sales from three Ohio MSAs in 2000, we employ a spatial hedonic price model to estimate the total marginal willingness-to-pay for both relative and absolute characteristics of housing units. Using this revealed-preference approach, we find evidence that strongly suggests that while individuals do desire relative status, they value absolute status considerably more. For instance, our estimates indicate that if all homes in Columbus were to increase in size by 100 square feet the average house would increase in sale price by \$559, suggesting that the absolute effect of having more house dominates the relative effect of neighboring homes increasing as well.
Local and global (f)actors in environmental and sustainability education policies: the case of New York City public schools

Within an educational system increasingly focused on test-based accountability, how can a local education authority adopt an interdisciplinary environmental and sustainability education (ESE) polic...
Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal adenocarcinoma is a disease with protean manifestations involving approximately 15000 individuals in the United States annually. The incidence doubled in males and slightly increased in females over the period from 1930 to 1967. Currently, about 5000–7000 patients die of this disease annually. The incidence of renal adenocarcinoma increases steadily after the age of 30. In men, the tumor is most prevalent in the sixth decade and in women, in the seventh decade. The average age at the time of diagnosis is 57 years. It is rarely found in children, having been reported somewhat less than 100 times in infancy and childhood.
Introducing Lifestyle Medicine Within the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Arizona

Purpose: High-value care is becoming increasingly important as the United States shifts toward a more sustainable health care system. Lifestyle medicine (LM) may be the highest-value model of care....
High Yield Standard Cell Libraries: Optimization and Modeling

In this paper, we present a flow for architecting standard cell libraries in nanometer technologies. The proposed approach relies on a Yield Characterization Environment to evaluate a set of manufacturability metrics and analyze multiple design trade-offs. We have identified four classes of manufacturability objectives that we addressed in our standard cell architectures: Average Functional Yield, Functional Yield Consistency, Performance Consistency and Leakage. Cells optimized for different manufacturability objectives present different trade-offs and require different layout architectures. We will show examples of such different trade-offs and architectural requirements and show the impact of adopting high-manufacturability standard cells on product Yields.
Cysteine proteases as therapeutic targets: does selectivity matter? A systematic review of calpain and cathepsin inhibitors

Cysteine proteases continue to provide validated targets for treatment of human diseases. In neurodegenerative disorders, multiple cysteine proteases provide targets for enzyme inhibitors, notably caspases, calpains, and cathepsins. The reactive, active-site cysteine provides specificity for many inhibitor designs over other families of proteases, such as aspartate and serine; however, a) inhibitor strategies often use covalent enzyme modification, and b) obtaining selectivity within families of cysteine proteases and their isozymes is problematic. This review provides a general update on strategies for cysteine protease inhibitor design and a focus on cathepsin B and calpain 1 as drug targets for neurodegenerative disorders; the latter focus providing an interesting query for the contemporary assumptions that irreversible, covalent protein modification and low selectivity are anathema to therapeutic safety and efficacy.
A Review of: “Through the Kitchen Window: Women Explore the Intimate Meanings of Food and Cooking”

In 1997, Arlene Voski Avakian first published Through the Kitchen Window: Women Explore the Intimate Meanings of Food and Cooking. With the 2006 release of the paperback edition, this collection of...
Messengers: Distributed Programming Using Mobile Agents

Messengers are agents, each capable of navigating through the underlying network and performing various tasks at each node. Their use facilitates a programming paradigm shift allowing applications to be written not as collections of communicating processes but from the point of view of each Messenger as it navigates through the system. Using several different applications, we demonstrate the MESSENGERS programming style and its implications for distributed programming. The advantages of programming in MESSENGERS include the ability to compute in unknown network topologies, the ability to modify or extend the applications' functional capabilities at runtime, and the ability to dynamically exploit computational resources. Furthermore, MESSENGERS programs result in a smaller semantic gap between the abstract algorithms and their implementations, which makes program construction a more intuitive process.
Sex in Advertising

Sex in advertising is a controversial topic in marketing. Types of sexual content typically consist of nudity or physically attractive models in revealing clothing, sexual poses, and other forms of sexual behavior, facilitating factors such as lighting, editing, and sound, and verbal information such as double entendre, suggestive language, or innuendo. Up to 10% of television commercials contain sexual content, compared to a higher proportion in magazine and Internet ads. Research shows that sex in advertising attracts attention, but if its use is not relevant to the product, it can distract viewers from attending to the advertised message and ad sponsor. However, most uses of sex in advertising assert sex-related outcomes as a result of buying and using the brand (e.g., “I'll be more sexually attractive if I use this fragrance.”). Archaeology discovered early forms of painted murals advertising brothels in ports along the Mediterranean coast. During the modern era, sex in advertising specifically targeted men or women in publications until the 1960s when television commercials reached mass audiences. Sex in advertising is not held in high regard within the advertising profession and its use prompts legitimate criticism regarding the ways in which sexual ads depict women. Keywords: sex in advertising; nudity; innuendo; gender; subliminal symbols
An Ontology-Based Approach to Blind Spot Revelation in Critical Infrastructure Protection Planning

One widely perceived yet poorly understood phenomenon in the practice of critical infrastructure protection is that of blind spots. These are certain aspects of the interrelationships among different critical infrastructure systems (CI systems) that could trigger catastrophe across CI systems but are concealed from planners, and discovered only in the aftermath of a crisis. In this paper, we discuss the sources of blind spots, and explore the feasibility of various techniques to help reveal blind spots.
Bayesian Nonparametric Estimation for Dynamic Treatment Regimes With Sequential Transition Times

ABSTRACTWe analyze a dataset arising from a clinical trial involving multi-stage chemotherapy regimes for acute leukemia. The trial design was a 2 × 2 factorial for frontline therapies only. Motivated by the idea that subsequent salvage treatments affect survival time, we model therapy as a dynamic treatment regime (DTR), that is, an alternating sequence of adaptive treatments or other actions and transition times between disease states. These sequences may vary substantially between patients, depending on how the regime plays out. To evaluate the regimes, mean overall survival time is expressed as a weighted average of the means of all possible sums of successive transitions times. We assume a Bayesian nonparametric survival regression model for each transition time, with a dependent Dirichlet process prior and Gaussian process base measure (DDP-GP). Posterior simulation is implemented by Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. We provide general guidelines for constructing a prior using empirical Baye...
Don Bloch’s vision for Collaborative Family Health Care: Progress and next steps.

BACKGROUND Don Bloch is the central figure in the origin story for the field of collaborative family health care; the journal Families, Systems, & Health; and for the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA). He exerted extraordinary intellectual and practical leadership for all 3. He convened a national working session in 1994 that took stock of the field and set out next steps, one of which was to create the interprofessional organization dedicated to collaborative family health care that is now CFHA. PURPOSE As part of honoring Don Bloch's contributions to the field and this journal, this article sets out tenets of his original vision and traces next steps toward this vision generated by national groups between 1994 and 2014, showing what is the same or different over these 20 years, and especially what this means for the field going forward. METHOD Precepts of Don Bloch's original vision are drawn from his writings, including the briefing papers he prepared for the national Wingspread group convened in 1994, which also set out next steps for the field. These steps are then compared with next developmental steps for the field generated by CFHA conference attendees in 2004 and again in 2014, after reviewing the history of the organization and the field. CONCLUSION Much of Don Bloch's vision has remained relevant to health care transformation, with a number of areas showing significant accomplishment and acceptance, whereas others remain aspirational, and a few others arguably being more difficult to achieve now than when Don articulated them.
New digitizing and memory system for wire spark chambers

Abstract A new digitizing and memory system for use with magneto-strictive wire spark chambers has been developed. The system is based on the use of fast shift registers as the memory element, and appears to reduce the cost of readout systems for large spark chamber arrays by a factor of about 10. Circuitry is described for use with a large spark chamber system requiring the digitization and storage of 1000 sparks per event. The principle has applications in any situation requiring the digitization and storage of the arrival times of a burst of pulses.
An algorithm for a dynamic programming model of fractional flows

In an earlier paper, the author introduced an n-dimensional dynamic programming model of fractional flows, characterized its solutions under general conditions, and developed methods for their computation. The latter, which resemble algorithms for n-state Markovian decision processes, break down when the costs are undiscounted and the flow matrices are nontransient. Here, an algorithm is presented that computes many of the quantities of interest more efficiently under milder assumptions. In addition, some of our earlier results for the undiscounted case are extended to models with nontransient flow matrices.
Role of carrier equilibrium in self-consistent calculations for double barrier resonant diodes

We describe self-consistent calculations for the current-voltage characteristics of double barrier resonant tunneling diodes using two models representing extreme limits for the carrier equilibrium conditions outside the double barriers. We show that for SiGe double barrier diodes the model of Ohnishi et al.1 clearly gives closer agreement with experiment while for AlAsGaAs structures the model of Cahay et al.2 is more appropriate. Comparison of the two models gives insight into the role of scattering and thermal equilibrium in the regions adjacent to the double barrier in determining the current-voltage characteristics of these devices. The existence of an intrinsic bistability for these self-consistent calculations is confirmed.
White pine seed-tree legacies in an aspen landscape: influences on post-disturbance white pine population structure

Abstract White pines that survived late nineteenth century logging and wildfires in the Great Lakes region act as seed-sources for white pine regeneration in aspen and oak ecosystems that developed following these disturbances. The local abundance of remnant white pines may influence the direction of succession following disturbance, yet no studies have quantified relationships between characteristics of remnant white pine seed-sources and the structure of post-disturbance white pine populations. The objective of the present study was to relate the number, size, and location of remnant white pine seed trees to the structure of post-disturbance white pine populations. The study was conducted in a 75–80 year old bigtooth aspen-dominated forest in northern Michigan. White pine seed-source characteristics varied considerably across the study area, as did stem densities and the age and height structures of post-disturbance white pine populations. Regenerating white pine populations which were located close to several large remnant trees were larger, began establishing sooner after disturbance, and contained a greater diversity of age and height classes relative to populations with less favorable seed-source characteristics. Additionally, plots with small post-disturbance white pine populations often had large populations of red maple advanced regeneration. Variable successional pathways in the study area may reflect the influence of remnant white pine seed-sources, and ultimately, a disturbance history that allowed some seed trees to survive logging and wildfires. Retention of large white pine seed trees in commercial aspen forests may be an important silvicultural tool if a goal of management is to maximize structural and compositional diversity in managed stands.
Pleasure travel (tourist) motivation: A factor analytic approach

The major motives underlying pleasure travel were investigated by factor-analyzing Figler’s Travel Motivation Survey, which is based on a variety of motives for pleasure travel suggested in the tourism literature. This questionnaire was administered to 325 subjects. The data analysis uncovered five orthogonal factors, which together accounted for 46.6% of the total response variance. The five factors, as well as the percentage of variance accounted for by each one, were as follows: anomie/authenticity-seeking (20.1%), culture/education (9.6%), escape/regression (7.4%), wanderlust/exploring the unknown (5.1%), and jetsetting/prestige-seeking (4.4%). The test-retest reliability of each factor was also established. These data empirically support some of the notions proposed in previous travel literature, although past studies have usually focused on only a few motives, have been nonquantified, and/or have not provided data on the relative importance of each motive. The present data quantitatively revealed a hierarchy of independent motives underlying pleasure travel.
Further Validation of an Instrument to Measure Patient Satisfaction with Pharmacy Services

The objectives of this study were to further validate an instrument to measure patient satisfaction and to explore the possible effects of a pharmacy assistance program for the elderly on patient satisfaction. Data were collected in telephone interviews with 180 recent prescription purchasers in Iowa. Satisfaction was measured using a previously developed multi-item, multidimensional instrument. Relationships between satisfaction and patient demographics, use, and provider characteristics were assessed. The relationships between these variables and satisfaction differed across the dimensions of satisfaction. The construct validity of the instrument was supported.
An Inseparable Tandem of European Identity? Anti-Americanism and Anti-Semitism in the Short and Long Run

Anti-Americanism has been part of Europe's elite discourse at least since the founding of the United States of America in 1776. However, the congruence of antipathy towards America on the mass and elite levels stems largely from events since 1990. While the policies of the administrations of George W. Bush have contributed to this convergence between elite and mass attitudes, its main reasons have been structural. European anti-Americanism has been accompanied by manifestations of anti-Semitism since the nineteenth century. However, the acuity and acerbity of this link is also a phenomenon of the last fifteen years.
Quantum physics: high NOON for photons.

Entangled photons conspire to create interference patterns that would normally be associated with a wavelength much smaller than that of the individual photons — beating the diffraction limit.
Renormalization of the Energy-Momentum Tensor And the Validity of the Equivalence Principle at Finite Temperature

Using the techniques of finite-temperature field theory we renormalize the electromagnetic and gravitational couplings of an electron which is immersed in a heat bath with $T\ensuremath{\ll}{m}_{e}$. By taking the nonrelativistic limit, we demonstrate that the inertial and gravitational masses are unequal. The implications for the equivalence principle are discussed.
An economic analysis of traditional and technology-based approaches to weight loss.

Background The financial burden and human losses associated with noncommunicable diseases necessitate cost-effective and efficacious interventions. Purpose An economic analysis of the Lifestyle Education for Activity and Nutrition (LEAN) Study; an RCT that examined the efficacy of traditional and technology-based approaches to weight loss. Methods Economic analyses from an organizational perspective were conducted for four approaches: standard care control (SC); group weight-loss education (GWL); a multisensor armband (SWA); and the armband in combination with group weight-loss education (GWL+SWA). Data were collected in 2008–2009. Weight loss was the primary outcome. Total costs, costs per participant, costs per kilogram lost, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated in 2010–2011. All costs are the actual expenses (i.e., staff time and materials) incurred by the LEAN study (except where noted) and reported in 2010 U.S. dollars. Results In the sample population of 197 sedentary, overweight, and obese adults (mean [±SD] age=46.9 ± 0.8 years, BMI=33.3 ± 5.2, weight=92.8 ± 18.4 kg), the GWL+SWA was the most expensive intervention in costs/participant ($365/partic) while yielding the greatest weight loss/partic (6.59 kg). The GWL was next in cost/partic ($240), but the SWA was less expensive in cost/partic ($183) and more efficacious (3.55 vs 1.86 kg/partic). The SC did not achieve significant weight loss. The SWA was the most cost effective ($51/partic/kg lost), followed by the GWL+SWA ($55) and GWL alone ($129). The ICER suggests that for each additional kilogram lost, the GWL+SWA cost $60 more than the SWA alone. Conclusions The SWA was the most cost-effective intervention ($51/partic/kg lost). The addition of the GWL increased the efficacy of the SWA intervention but increased costs by $60/partic for each additional kilogram lost. The technology-based approaches were more cost effective and efficacious than traditional approaches in promoting weight loss via lifestyle changes in sedentary, overweight, and obese adults.
Commentary on Rossheim and Thombs (2011): Artificial Sweeteners, Caffeine, and Alcohol Intoxication in Bar Patrons

Background: This commentary discusses the paper by Rossheim and Thombs (Alcohol Clin Exp Res 35, 2011), which examined the relationship between type of alcohol mixer (regular caffeinated cola, diet caffeinated cola, energy drink, or no mixer) and breath alcohol readings in bar patrons. Methods: The significance of the findings of this study and new unaddressed questions for the field are discussed. Results: Rossheim and Thombs (2011) reported that breath alcohol concentration readings were highest when patrons reported the consumption of caffeine mixers that were artificially sweetened (i.e., diet cola), after adjusting for potential confounds. Women were more likely to consume diet cola-caffeinated mixed drinks. Conclusions: The findings from this field study raise several new interesting questions. Given the reported gender difference in consumption of diet cola-caffeinated mixed drinks, more research is needed regarding gender differences in gastric emptying time for alcoholic beverages mixed with artificially sweetened versus sucrose sweetened caffeinated drinks. In addition, the recent explosion in the energy drink market has resulted in the availability of sugar-free or diet versions of most energy drink products. The implications of mixing diet energy drinks with alcohol are unknown. Language: en
Constructing the convex hull of a partially sorted set of points

Abstract In this paper we give an optimal algorithm for constructing the convex hull of a partially sorted set S of n points in R 2 . Specifically, we assume S is represented as the union of a collection of non-empty subsets S 0 , S 1 , S 2 ,…, S m , where the x -coordinate of each point in S i is smaller than the x -coordinate of any point in S j if i j . Our method runs in O( n log h max ) time, where h max is the maximum number of hull edges incident on the points of any single subset S i . In fact, if one is only interested in finding the hull edges that ‘bridge’ different subsets, then our method runs in O( n ) time.
Validation of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) cognitive function subscale.

Validation of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) Cognitive Function subscale. Background Formal cognitive function testing is cumbersome, and no self-administered instruments for estimating cognitive function in persons with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have been validated. The goal of this study was to determine the validity of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Cognitive Function scale (KDQOL-CF) for the assessment of cognitive impairment in persons with kidney disease. Methods We administered the KDQOL-CF to 157 subjects, 79 with ESRD and 78 with CKD participating in a cross-sectional study of cognitive function. Scores on the Modified Mini-Mental State Exam (3MS) were considered the gold standard measure of global cognitive function. Performance characteristics of the KDQOL-CF were assessed using correlation coefficients, Bland-Altman plots, and receiver operating characteristic curves. Results Median scores on the KDQOL-CF were 73 (interquartile range 60–87) for subjects with ESRD and 87 (interquartile range 73–100) for subjects with CKD ( P r = 0.31, P = 0.0001). Defining global cognitive impairment as a 3MS score Conclusion The KDQOL-CF is a valid instrument for estimating cognitive function in patients with CKD and ESRD. KDQOL-CF screening followed by 3MS testing in selected individuals may prove to be an effective and efficient strategy for identifying cognitive impairment in patients with kidney disease.
Effects of cardiomyoplasty on biventricular function in canine chronic heart failure

Dynamic cardiomyoplasty, the use of skeletal muscle to assist the heart, is a new therapy for the treatment of heart failure. However, the effects of cardiomyoplasty on biventricular function and the synchrony of ventricular contraction are not fully known. We assessed the efficacy of latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) dynamic cardiomyoplasty in a chronic model of biventricular failure. Five dogs received doxorubicin (1 mg.kg-1.wk-1) for up to 12 weeks to induce heart failure and then underwent a biventricular cardiomyoplasty. After operation, the muscle was progressively stimulated according to an established protocol. When training was complete (10 weeks), radionuclide ventriculographic and catheterization data were obtained. Peak left ventricular (LV) systolic pressure and its first derivative were unchanged, whereas LV end-diastolic pressure decreased slightly with LDM assistance (11.0 +/- 1.6 to 9.6 +/- 1.5 mm Hg; p < 0.05). Right ventricular (RV) systolic pressure increased significantly with LDM assistance from 21 +/- 2 to 26 +/- 3 mm Hg (p < 0.05), whereas its first derivative and RV end-diastolic pressure were unchanged. Dynamic cardiomyoplasty significantly improved LV ejection fraction from 0.18 +/- 0.07 without LDM assistance to 0.31 +/- 0.05 with LDM assistance (p < 0.05); similarly RV ejection fraction increased from 0.32 +/- 0.07 to 0.45 +/- 0.06 with LDM assistance (p < 0.05). The temporal sequence of LV wall motion was assessed by phase analysis of the radionuclide ventriculograms. With skeletal muscle assistance, standard deviation ("spread") decreased from 31.6 +/- 17.4 to 20.0 +/- 15.4 degrees (p < 0.06), whereas skewness ("symmetry") was unchanged. Dynamic cardiomyoplasty improved both LV and RV ejection fractions without increasing diastolic pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
On-line Routing, Wavelength Assignment, and Spectrum Allocation in Wavelength Convertible Flexible Optical WDM Networks

We introduce a Wavelength Convertible Flexible Optical WDM (WC-FWDM) network architecture that offers wavelength conversion capability in addition to dynamic allocation of resources as in FWDM networks. We introduce the on-line routing, wavelength assignment and spectrum allocation problem in WC-FWDM networks for the first time, and propose an auxiliary-graph based polynomial-time heuristic-algorithm. Numerical results demonstrate that WC-FWDM networks can significantly reduce the blocking of connections and improve network throughput over FWDM networks with no wavelength conversion capability and fixed grid networks. Furthermore, sparse wavelength conversion can gain the same benefits as full wavelength conversion through wavelength converter sharing.
Cerebellar Doppler velocimetry in the appropriate- and small-for-gestational-age fetus

Objective To compare superior cerebellar artery flow velocity waveforms in the appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) and the small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetus. Methods Superior cerebellar artery velocity waveforms were obtained prospectively from 172 AGA fetuses at 17–41 weeks' gestation. The pulsatility index (PI) was used to quantify the waveforms. Superior cerebellar artery velocity waveforms were also obtained from 30 SGA fetuses divided into group A (n = 15), with a normal umbilical artery PI, and group B (n = 15), with an abnormal umbilical artery PI. The transverse cerebellar diameter was measured in all SGA fetuses. Results The superior cerebellar artery PI was best represented by a second-order polynomial equation [PI = 0.145 + 0.101 × (gestational age) — 0.00197 (gestational age)2]. Small-for-gestational-age fetuses of group A had a superior cerebellar artery PI in the normal range, whereas 13 of 15 fetuses of group B (86.7%) had a PI value less than the individual 95% confidence interval. The transverse cerebellar diameter in group A fetuses was in the normal range in ten of 15 cases, whereas it was in the normal range for all group B fetuses. Conclusion Small-for-gestational-age fetuses with an abnormal umbilical artery PI have “cerebellar-sparing effect,” as suggested by a superior cerebellar artery PI less than the normal range and a normal transverse cerebellar diameter.
Nuclear deprimerones in rat liver and Novikoff hepatoma.

Extraction of total low molecular weight peptides controlling transcription (deprimerones) from rat liver and Novikoff hepatoma nuclei was performed with 80% ethanol at pH 9.5. The extracted material was fractionated on a Sephadex G-25 column and active peptidic fractions were collected as Sephadex fraction II of mol. wt. between 1600 and 600. The yield of this peptidic fraction was 600 μg/mg DNA from rat liver nuclei and 200 μg/mg DNA from Novikoff hepatoma nuclei. The results confirm a previously found decrease in chromatin deprimerones in tumor cells using different experimental approach and remain in accordance with the postulated deprimerone theory of carcinogenesis.