cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fermi Arc Criterion for Surface Majorana Modes in Superconducting Time-Reversal Symmetric Weyl Semimetals.

Many clever routes to Majorana fermions have been discovered by exploiting the interplay between superconductivity and band topology in metals and insulators. However, realizations in semimetals remain less explored. We ask, ``Under what conditions do superconductor vortices in time-reversal symmetric Weyl semimetals---three-dimensional semimetals with only time-reversal symmetry---trap Majorana fermions on the surface?'' If each constant-${k}_{z}$ plane, where $z$ is the vortex axis, contains equal numbers of Weyl nodes of each chirality, we predict a generically gapped vortex and derive a topological invariant $\ensuremath{\nu}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$ in terms of the Fermi arc structure that signals the presence or absence of surface Majorana fermions. In contrast, if certain constant-${k}_{z}$ planes contain a net chirality of Weyl nodes, the vortex is gapless. We analytically calculate $\ensuremath{\nu}$ within a perturbative scheme and provide numerical support with a lattice model. The criteria survive the presence of other bulk and surface bands and yield phase transitions between trivial, gapless, and topological vortices upon tilting the vortex. We propose $\mathrm{Li}({\mathrm{Fe}}_{0.91}{\mathrm{Co}}_{0.09})\mathrm{As}$ and ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{1+y}{\mathrm{Se}}_{0.45}{\mathrm{Te}}_{0.55}$ with broken inversion symmetry as candidates for realizing our proposals.
List-Decodable Mean Estimation in Nearly-PCA Time

Traditionally, robust statistics has focused on designing estimators tolerant to a minority of contaminated data. Robust list-decodable learning focuses on the more challenging regime where only a minority $\frac 1 k$ fraction of the dataset is drawn from the distribution of interest, and no assumptions are made on the remaining data. We study the fundamental task of list-decodable mean estimation in high dimensions. Our main result is a new list-decodable mean estimation algorithm for bounded covariance distributions with optimal sample complexity and error rate, running in nearly-PCA time. Assuming the ground truth distribution on $\mathbb{R}^d$ has bounded covariance, our algorithm outputs a list of $O(k)$ candidate means, one of which is within distance $O(\sqrt{k})$ from the truth. Our algorithm runs in time $\widetilde{O}(ndk)$ for all $k = O(\sqrt{d}) \cup \Omega(d)$, where $n$ is the size of the dataset. We also show that a variant of our algorithm has runtime $\widetilde{O}(ndk)$ for all $k$, at the expense of an $O(\sqrt{\log k})$ factor in the recovery guarantee. This runtime matches up to logarithmic factors the cost of performing a single $k$-PCA on the data, which is a natural bottleneck of known algorithms for (very) special cases of our problem, such as clustering well-separated mixtures. Prior to our work, the fastest list-decodable mean estimation algorithms had runtimes $\widetilde{O}(n^2 d k^2)$ and $\widetilde{O}(nd k^{\ge 6})$. Our approach builds on a novel soft downweighting method, $\mathsf{SIFT}$, which is arguably the simplest known polynomial-time mean estimation technique in the list-decodable learning setting. To develop our fast algorithms, we boost the computational cost of $\mathsf{SIFT}$ via a careful "win-win-win" analysis of an approximate Ky Fan matrix multiplicative weights procedure we develop, which we believe may be of independent interest.
Access Delay Constrained Activity Detection in Massive Random Access

In 5G and future generation wireless systems, massive IoT networks with bursty traffic are expected to co-exist with cellular systems to serve several latency-critical applications. Thus, it is important for the access points to identify the active devices promptly with minimal resource consumption to enable massive machine-type communication without disrupting the conventional traffic. In this paper, a frequency-multiplexed strategy based on group testing is proposed for activity detection which can take into account the constraints on network latency while minimizing the overall resource utilization. The core idea is that during each time-slot of active device discovery, multiple subcarriers in frequency domain can be used to launch group tests in parallel to reduce delay. Our proposed scheme is functional in the asymptotic and non-asymptotic regime of the total number of devices (n) and the number of concurrently active devices (k). We prove that, asymptotically, when the number of available time-slots scale as ${\Omega }\left( {\log \left( {\frac{n}{k}} \right)} \right)$, the frequency-multiplexed group testing strategy requires $O\left( {k\log \left( {\frac{n}{k}} \right)} \right)$ time-frequency resources which is order-optimal and results in an O(k) reduction in the number of time-slots with respect to the optimal strategy of fully-adaptive generalized binary splitting. Furthermore, we establish that the frequency-multiplexed GT strategy shows significant tolerance to estimation errors in k. Comparison with 3GPP standardized random access protocol for NB-IoT indicates the superiority of our proposed strategy in terms of access delay and overall resource utilization.
Metabolic Analysis of the Asparagine and Glutamine Dynamics in an Industrial CHO Fed-Batch Process.

Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell lines are grown in cultures with varying asparagine and glutamine concentrations, but further study is needed to characterize the interplay between these amino acids. By following 13 C-glucose, 13 C-glutamine, and 13 C-asparagine tracers using metabolic flux analysis (MFA), CHO cell metabolism was characterized in an industrially relevant fed-batch process under glutamine supplemented and low glutamine conditions during early and late exponential growth. For both conditions MFA revealed glucose as the primary carbon source to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle followed by glutamine and asparagine as secondary sources. Early exponential phase CHO cells prefer glutamine over asparagine to support the TCA cycle under the glutamine supplemented condition, while asparagine was critical for TCA activity for the low glutamine condition. Overall TCA fluxes were similar for both conditions due to the trade-offs associated with reliance on glutamine and/or asparagine. However, glutamine supplementation increased fluxes to alanine, lactate and enrichment of glutathione, N-Acetyl-Glucosamine (NAG) and pyrimidine-containing-molecules. The late exponential phase exhibited reduced central carbon metabolism dominated by glucose, while lactate reincorporation and aspartate uptake were preferred over glutamine and asparagine. These 13 C studies demonstrate that metabolic flux is process time dependent and can be modulated by varying feed composition. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A Proof of the Elliptical Range Theorem via Kippenhahn's Theorem

The elliptical range theorem asserts that the field of values (or numerical range) of a two-by-two matrix with complex entries is an elliptical disk, the foci of which are the eigenvalues of the given matrix. Many proofs of this result are available in the literature, but most, with one exception, are computational and quite involved. In this note, it is shown that the elliptical range theorem follows from the properties of plane algebraic curves and a straightforward application of a well-known result due to Kippenhahn.
Teaching of the Society for Fetal Urology grading system for pediatric hydronephrosis is improved by e-Learning using Computer Enhanced Visual Learning (CEVL): A multi-institutional trial

Summary Introduction It is unclear how clinicians learn to grade pediatric hydronephrosis (HN) and how effective their training has been. We sought to: 1. Assess how clinicians learn to grade HN and their confidence in their training and abilities and 2. To assess Computer Enhanced Visual Learning (CEVL) e-Learning to learn the Society for Fetal Urology (SFU) grading system for pediatric HN. Methods and materials A multi-institutional online survey was distributed to pediatric urologists, nephrologists, and radiologists. Respondents used a 6-point Likert scale (0 = not confident to 5 = very confident) to assess their confidence in knowledge of the criteria, indications, and ability to grade HN, and how they learned to grade. Participants assigned SFU grades to 15 neonatal ultrasounds (US). A CEVL module on the SFU grading system was accessed and a post-CEVL survey completed. Changes in confidence and accuracy of grading were compared before and after CEVL e-Learning. Results The most common method of learning was “casually during training” (44.5%). Significant increases in confidence in knowledge of criteria, indications, and ability to grade, as well as the accuracy of grading were seen following CEVL e-Learning (Figure A and B). Discussion Although the SFU grading system is considered the predominant grading system for HN, its application in clinical practice has been inconsistent. While this may be due to the grading system itself, it is possible that deficient training and confidence are the root causes. Our data supports this by demonstrating that most clinicians receive only casual training and accordingly, report low confidence in their knowledge and ability to grade HN. Therefore, we conclude that there exists a strong need to improve the teaching of the SFU grading system. e-Learning has been shown to be effective in teaching difficult topics and skills. We demonstrate that e-Learning with CEVL is effective in increasing both the confidence and accuracy of SFU grading of pediatric HN. Limitations of our study include a small sample size, low response rate, and discrepant participation. Furthermore, we did not assess the extent to which the CEVL module was used or include a control group learning through traditional means. Therefore, we were unable to evaluate the efficiency of learning or be certain that the improvements seen were derived exclusively from CEVL. Conclusion Current training in SFU grading of HN is mostly unstructured and inaccurate grading is common. Learners who use CEVL show improvements in their confidence and ability to SFU grade HN. Download : Download high-res image (201KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure . Confidence (A) and accuracy of grading (B) before and after CEVL e-Learning. a Confidences are expressed on a 6-point Likert scale (0 = no confidence to 5 = very confident) b Number of correctly graded US are out of 15. * p-value
Traditional and non-traditional male college students’ attitudes on muscularity

Body dissatisfaction has been studied widely in women, and is now receiving considerable attention in men, particularly in terms of muscularity dissatisfaction. The present study found that traditional students display higher levels of drive for muscularity (DFM) than do non traditional students. In addition, in traditional students, DFM is predicted by appearance orientation, whereas in non traditional students DFM is predicted by investment in appearance and body type dissatisfaction. Future research implications are discussed.
Comment on "Intervention Effects of a School-Based Health Promotion Programme on Obesity Related Behavioural Outcomes".

The paper, “Intervention Effects of a School-Based Health Promotion Programme on Obesity Related Behavioural Outcomes” by Kobel et al. [1], reports secondary outcomes from a cluster-randomized controlled trial (cRCT): the Baden-Wurttemberg primary school study (DRKS-ID: DRKS00000494) [2]. Importantly, the design of this cRCT properly incorporated crucial aspects of such trials, such as the lack of independence of subjects within clusters and the nesting of clusters within treatment conditions [2]. Additionally, plausible analytical models (e.g., linear mixed effects models or GEE models) were planned [2]. Unfortunately, the statistical analysis ultimately reported in [1] is inconsistent with the predefined analysis plan and does not take the impact of clustering and nesting into account. Ignoring the potential similarity among individuals in the same cluster (school) can underestimate the variance of intervention effects and inflate the degrees of freedom in the hypothesis testing and, therefore, increase the type I error rates and jeopardize the validity of conclusions from cRCTs [3, 4]. We agree with others that the cRCT is one of the most important designs in the community- or school-based obesity studies. Unfortunately, many seem not to understand the implications of clustering and nesting and the need for specialized statistical models to analyze such data. To be consistent with recommended best practices and to improve the transparency and utility of cRCTs, we suggest that Kobel et al. reanalyze their data according to their prespecified plan by taking the clustering and nesting into account and report their results following the CONSORT 2010: extension to cluster-randomized trials [5].
Semiempirical calculations of internal barriers to rotation and ring puckering: II. Amindo/3 study

Abstract The MINDO/3 technique is examined for its applicability to rotational barriers and ring puckering of strained-ring compounds. Comparisons are made with MINDO/2' and INDO on the compounds ethane, acetone, isobutylene, 3-oxetanone, cyclobutane, cyclobutanone, methylenecyclobutane, and 1,1-difluorocyclobutane. The MINDO/3 method improperly predicts all ring compounds to energetically favor the planar conformation as does its predecessor. Some improvement in bond lengths and bond angles is observed by MINDO/3 but the rotational barriers are still underestimated.
Chapter 14 Market demand and excess demand functions

Publisher Summary Market demand and market excess demand functions are defined by summing the preference-maximizing actions of consumers. These functions are central to most treatments of value theory. It discusses that the demand theory of the individual consumer has been well developed. Just as consumer demand theory is the study of properties common to demand functions that are generated by the preference-maximization of an individual consumer, market demand theory investigates properties that are shared by market demand functions. As market demand is often the observable and relevant variable for analysis, it is important to see how it is restricted by the utility hypothesis. When preferences are homothetic and the distribution of income is independent of prices, the market demand function has all the properties of a consumer demand function. The chapter discusses conditions under which market demand and market excess demand functions are consumer demand functions. It also provides an overview of Debreu's theorem, which explains that for every continuous function F that satisfies homogeneity and Walra's Law and for every compact set of positive prices K, there exists an economy with market excess demand function F on K.
On the Formation of Thin Ice Crystal Plates: A New Type of Morphological Instability in Diffusion-Limited Growth

We propose a new type of morphological instability in the diffusion-limited growth of faceted crystals from the vapor phase that can explain the formation of thin ice plates at temperatures near -15 C. The instability appears when the attachment kinetics for facet growth depends strongly on the morphology of the facet surface. In particular, we propose that the condensation coefficient for growth of ice prism facets increases dramatically when the width of the facet approaches atomic dimensions. This model reconciles several conflicting measurements of ice crystal growth, and makes additional predictions for future growth experiments. Other faceted crystalline materials may exhibit similar morphological instabilities that promote the diffusion-limited growth of thin plate-like or needle-like crystal structures.
Community response of insects associated with eastern hemlock to imidacloprid and horticultural oil treatments.

The hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand, is an invasive species reducing the populations of eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis L. Carriere, throughout the eastern United States. Systemic imidacloprid and horticultural oil are the primary chemicals used to control infestations of this invasive pest; however, the impact of these two chemicals on nontarget canopy insects is unknown. This study was initiated in November 2005 to assess the effects of (1) imidacloprid soil drench, (2) imidacloprid soil injection, (3) imidacloprid tree injections, and (4) horticultural oil applications on multiple levels of organization (composition, overall specimen abundance and species richness, guild specimen abundance and species richness, and individual species) within the phytophagous and transient canopy insect community. Community composition differed significantly among treatments based on analysis of similarity. Mean species richness and specimen abundance were significantly reduced by one or more treatments. Soil drench applications significantly reduced species richness for the detritivore and phytophaga guilds. Furthermore, specimen abundance for species in the detritivore, fungivore, phytophaga, scavenger, and transient phytophaga guilds was significantly lower in the soil drench treatment. This trend was consistent in all insect guilds examined, with the exception of the hematophaga guild that was not significantly lower than for species on the control trees. Of the 293 species documented to be associated with eastern hemlocks, 33 species were found to be directly effected by one or more of the chemical treatments.
Commonly named emotions in everyday conversations

Analyse de la frequence des designations d'etats emotionnels dans les conversations quotidiennes de 20 etudiants des deux sexes et pendant une demi-heure de conversation quotidienne chez 20 couples maries
Failure Mitigation Techniques for 1T-1MTJ Spin-Transfer Torque MRAM Bit-cells

The emergence of spin-transfer torque magnetic RAM (STT-MRAM) as a leading candidate for future high-performance nonvolatile memory has led to increased research interest. Current STT-MRAM technology faces several major obstacles in attaining its potential. One of the major issues is in the design of 1T-1MTJ STT-MRAM bit-cells under process variations: the bit-cells need to be significantly upsized to improve bit-cell failure, resulting in increased bit-cell area and power dissipation. In this paper, we analyze four circuit-level solutions that enable smaller 1T-1MTJ STT-MRAM bit-cells with improved yield, namely, bit-line voltage boosting, word-line voltage boosting, access transistor body biasing, and an applied external magnetic field. Results from simulation using 45-nm bulk CMOS access transistor and 40-nm magnetic tunneling junction technology show that word-line voltage boosting can be the best failure mitigation technique. Bit-cells designed with word-line boosting for write has a bit-cell area reduced by > 75% at iso-failure probability, compared to bit-cells without any failure mitigation technique. When bit-cell failure probability is optimized instead, 5 Oe of applied external magnetic field assisted write reduces power consumption by 15% , compared to bit-cells designed without failure mitigation techniques.
Pilot Performance Controlling Multiple Rovs in Terminal Airspace and Strategies for Managing them

This paper is based on a demonstration of a distributed simulation conducted between the Flight Deck Display Research Laboratory (FDDRL) of NASA Ames Research Center and the Center for the Study of...
Continuing Evaluation and Research Needs in National Family Planning Promotion: Plus a Change, Plus C'est La M me Chose.

A priority listing of existing health promotion research needs in large-scale family planning programs in East and Southeast Asia is presented. Areas of needed research include: family planning provider/user interaction; contraceptive use continuation; perceptions of service source; comparative educational and social marketing approaches; and psycho-social needs. Interestingly many of the present needs were identified by researchers and program planners in national and international agencies more than a decade ago. Possible reasons for their not being implemented are discussed. Possibly the most obvious yet most ignored area of needed research in the family planning program promotion model is the attitude of the public to the source of the message. Both trust and expertise seem to be involved in terms of credibility of the source. Knowing to what extent villagers are likely to trust a country state or national government or which governmental agencies are considered to be competent is essential information to consider in family planning program planning. Although there have been studies on comparative educational approaches (types of incentives various media group vs. home visit education) little use is being made of the findings. The experience of marketing research into places companions styles and meanings associated with products in specific social groups seems to be applicable to contraceptive products as well. The use of simple pretests to ask respondents about the meanings they read into promotional literature would be useful. The why of family planning needs special attention with increasing numbers of younger people coming of marriagable age. Some research issues in order of priority are: perceptions of children and sex preference; the effects of disincentives and incentives; psychosocial costs and perceptions of family planning practice; population-socialization; and approaches to changing fertility attitudes and motivations. Barriers to research include: lack of trained researchers in a newly emerging field; few scholars are seriouly interested; lack of government interest and funding; limited coordination and communication among researchers; lack of external funds; action orientation of funding organizations; and lack of assurance for research continuity.
The Linguistic Reflexes of Ontological Dependence

Nouns used to pick out ontologically dependent entities such as holes and flaws, unlike those picking out “ordinary” entities, such as coats and tables, cannot felicitously stand as indefinite subjects of a locative copular sentence (#A hole is in the bucket), but appear freely in there-sentences (There is a hole in the bucket). This contrast is further evidence in favour of the idea that the two sentence types have different underlying predication structures (cf. Barwise and Cooper, 1981; Francez, 2007; Hazout, 2004; McNally 1998a; Williams, 1984, 1994), but also that the preposition in, occurring in both constructions, is ambiguous between a locative and relational meaning. That locative in is distinct from the in that relates a dependent entity to its host is confirmed by inferences between and among sentences containing these two forms. Locative in, whose meaning is roughly that of enclosure or containment, is licensed as a predicate in a locative copular sentence; this sentence type is used to state the location of an entity. However, because a dependent entity’s location is entirely contingent on its host, it cannot be felicitously introduced in this way. By contrast, it is possible to introduce a dependent entity by stating that its host has the dependent entity in it, which is what a there-sentence does. Following Hornstein, Uriagereka and Rosen (1994), the underlying representation of a there-sentence which realizes this relation does not contain a preposition; rather, relational in is derived via incorporation into the copula, like have (Kayne, 1993).
The effects of degree of mixing on the properties of filled elastomers

A new technique has been established for improving the degree of mixing of the filler in an elastomer matrix. This technique includes a unique heating and colling mixing procedure in conjunction with surface modification of the carbon black and proper choices of polymers. The heating cycle is for decreasing the microvoid concentration and for enhancing polymer–filler adhesion. The cooling cycle is for improving the degree of mixing of the filler. Experimental data obtained from several polychloroprene systems strongly substantiate the new mixing technique. The results clearly show that a good degree of mixing obtained using the foregoing mixing technique can indeed enhance the mechanical and permeability properties of filled elastomers.
Potential of Ultralow-Power Cellular Neural Image Processing With Si/Ge Tunnel FET

This letter studies the application of tunnel FET (TFET) for ultralow power image processing through cellular neural network (CNN). Through steeper switching slope, and thereby higher g m /I DS , a TFET-based CNN synapse can deliver the same performance as MOSFET even with a lower power. A TFET-based synapse is also scalable to the ultralow power regime; hence, by comprising more cells than MOSFET at the same power, TFET can reduce the multiplexing overheads in image processing with CNN. Utilizing unique properties of TFET, we show an improved performance for low power image processing using TFET.
Ideology as communication process

Defined as any symbolic construction of the world in whose superordinate “name” human beings can comprehensively order their experience and subsume their specific activities, ideologizing is presented as the function of innate intra‐ and interpersonal categorizing of experience. Ideologies are seen to flourish in open systems and to decline in closed ones. Classical conceptions of science illustrate the process, to the end that an autonomous scientific ideology for the social sciences, including communication, is suggested.
On the effect of mechanical shocks on the congelation of subcooled plant tissues

Cylindrical shells of potato tissue were slid around the bulb of a thermometer and subcooled. Attempt was then made to induce crystallization by tapping the upper end of the thermometer. Out of 122 trials 52 were successful. In a few experiments, 15 repeated taps were ineffective. There is absolute evidence of the efficacy of tapping in some cases and of its inefficacy in others.
Characterization of a circular thin film plasma source for atomic emission spectroscopy

Abstract A plasma source for analytical atomic emission spectroscopy is described based on the electrical vaporization by capacitive discharge of a thin Ag film deposited on a polycarbonate membrane filter. The source is designed for the rapid, direct analysis of solid powder samples collected by filtration from fluid media. A concentric electrode system consisting of a ring-shaped graphite electrode placed on the thin film surface and a pointed graphite rod located under the membrane substrate results in a plasma with cylindrical symmetry and a radial current path. Discharge current vs time and intensity vs time profiles are compared for the concentric electrode geometry and the linear geometry used in previous studies. Two values of tank circuit inductance also are compared. Both neutral-atom and ion line radiation from an Mn sample are more intense when the center electrode is initially cathodic. The inside diameter of the ring-shaped electrode and thus the surface area of the Ag film exposed to the plasma have relatively little effect on the intensity of continuum background and line radiation from a sample deposited near the center of the film. Particle size effects, while significant, are smaller than with the linear electrode geometry. Analytical curves are presented for several lines using both a low-inductance and a high-inductance discharge. Log-log slopes range from about 0.85 to 1.05 for ion lines. Detection limits are somewhat poorer than with the linear geometry.
Collisional relaxation of vibrational states of SrOH with He at 2 K

Vibrational relaxation of strontium monohydroxide (SrOH) molecules in collisions with helium (He) at 2 K is studied. We find the diffusion cross section of SrOH at 2.2 K to be and the vibrational quenching cross section for the (100) Sr–O stretching mode to be . The resulting ratio is more than an order of magnitude smaller than for previously studied few-atom radicals (Au et al 2014 Phys. Rev. A 90 032703 ). We also determine the Franck–Condon factor for SrOH () to be .
CEMENTLESS FEMORAL REVISION ARTHROPLASTY : 2- TO 5-YEAR RESULTS WITH A MODULAR TITANIUM ALLOY STEM

Seventy-five consecutive cementless femoral revision arthroplasties were performed, using a modular titanium alloy stem (S-ROM, Joint Medical Products, Stamford, CT). Sixty-six hips were available for complete follow-up evaluation at 2 to 5 years (average, 3.4 years). Independent clinical analysis compared pre- with postoperative modified Harris hip scores and examined patient satisfaction. Independent radiographic analysis was also undertaken. There were two rerevisions, both for hematogenous sepsis. Of the rest, clinical scores improved from a preoperative value of 44 to a postoperative value of 83. Eighty-nine percent of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the results of surgery. Fifty-two stems had solid bony ingrowth, seven were stabilized by fibrous tissue, and five were radiographically loose. Five-year survival, with rerevision as endpoint, was 96.4%.
Raman Gain in Silicon Using Highly Confined Waveguide Structure

We show ultra-fast Raman gain dynamics in submicron-size silicon-on-insulator strip waveguide. Using high confinement structures and pico-second pump pulses, we show 6-dB net nonlinear gain with 20.7-W peak pump power in a 7-mm long waveguide.
An improved spectrophotometric triiodide assay for lipid hydroperoxides

A spectrophotometric method is described for the measurement of lipid hydroperoxides, to a lower limit of 0.5 nmoles, based on the formation of triiodide ions measured at the absorbance maximum of 365 nm. The assay mixture, which was modified from an earlier published procedure [El-Saadani, M., Esterbauer, H., El-Sayed, M., Goher, M., Nassar, A.Y., and Jurgens, G. (1989)J. Lipid Res. 30, 627–630], contains 18% methanol together with nonionic and cationic detergents, and is designed so that the hydroperoxides to be measured can be added in either water or methanol. By incubating the reaction mixture at 50°C for 30 min, less-reactive hydroperoxides can be measured with the same fidelity as more-reactive ones. Under these conditions, the assay can be carried out under ordinary room lighting and without special protection from ambient oxygen with absorbance values being stable up to 15 h. Enzymatic standardizations showed that the triiodide method gave comparable results for H2O2, cumene hydroperoxide, linoleic acid hydroperoxide, phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide, and a photooxidized tissue extract containing a mixture of hydroperoxides. The triiodide assay is recommended primarily for measuring purified hydroperoxides.
The introduction ofliberal studies into a Project 2000 nurse education course

Abstract This paper discusses an attempt tointroduce liberal studies into a Project 2000 nurse education course. The paper reviews the origins of liberal studies and other attempts to nurture the ‘whole person’ in further and higher education, and describes a ‘contract learning’ approach to liberal studies adopted at one college of nursing. The results of an evaluative questionnaire completed by students about the liberal studies component of the course are outlined, and the implications discussed.
Myocardial oxygen consumption at constant left ventricular workload and varying arterial oxygenation.

The effect of arterial oxygen content (CaO2) changes on myocardial O2 consumption (M![Graphic][1] O2) was studied in dogs with controlled heart rate, cardiac output, and arterial pressure. M![Graphic][2] O2 did not change significantly as a result of systemic or selective left coronary CaO2 changes ranging randomly from hypoxaemia to hyperoxaemia. [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif
Parthenogenetic activation of in vitro matured bovine oocytes

Abstract Bovine germinal vesicle oocytes were collected from 2- to 4-mm follicles. 0ocytes were matured in medium 199 containing 10% bovine follicular fluid, FSH, and estradiol. Matured oocytes were cocultured for 2 to 24 h with dead bovine sperm in either Tyrode's medium without albumin or with 40% follicular fluid. After removal of sperm, oocytes were cultured an additional 48 to 72 h in synthetic oviduct fluid or medium 199 containing 10% follicular fluid without hormones. Oocyte activation rates (pronucleus to 8 cells), after exposure to dead sperm for 2, 4, 6, 12, or 24 h, in protein-free Tyrode's medium before embryo culture in synthetic oviductal fluid were 11, 17, 41, and 41%. Activation rates were decreased to 3, 9, 8, 27, and 34% for these same times by the addition of estrual follicular fluid to the protein-free Tyrode's medium. Substitution of bovine serum albumin for follicular fluid in the Tyrode's medium resulted in 47% oocyte activation. Activation depended on time and composition of media, occurred with high frequency with matured bovine oocytes under common in vitro culture conditions, and decreased in the presence of bovine follicular fluid. Therefore, because cleavage is not a sufficient measure of embryo quality, parthenogenetic controls must be run.
Beyond reasonable doubt: who is the culprit in lipotoxicity in NAFLD/NASH?

BACKGROUND & AIMS Type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are associated with insulin resistance and disordered cholesterol homeostasis. We investigated the basis for hepatic cholesterol accumulation with insulin resistance and its relevance to the pathogenesis of NASH. METHODS Alms1 mutant (foz/foz) and wild-type NOD.B10 mice were fed high-fat diets that contained varying percentages of cholesterol; hepatic lipid pools and pathways of cholesterol turnover were determined. Hepatocytes were exposed to insulin concentrations that circulate in diabetic foz/foz mice. RESULTS Hepatic cholesterol accumulation was attributed to up-regulation of low-density lipoprotein receptor via activation of sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP-2), reduced biotransformation to bile acids, and suppression of canalicular pathways for cholesterol and bile acid excretion in bile. Exposing primary hepatocytes to concentrations of insulin that circulate in diabetic Alms1 mice replicated the increases in SREBP-2 and low-density lipoprotein receptor and suppression of bile salt export pump. Removing cholesterol from diet prevented hepatic accumulation of free cholesterol and NASH; increasing dietary cholesterol levels exacerbated hepatic accumulation of free cholesterol, hepatocyte injury or apoptosis, macrophage recruitment, and liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS In obese, diabetic mice, hyperinsulinemia alters nuclear transcriptional regulators of cholesterol homeostasis, leading to hepatic accumulation of free cholesterol; the resulting cytotoxicity mediates transition of steatosis to NASH.
Quantitative measurement of hemodynamics during early cardiovascular development using spectral Doppler velocimetry

The study of hemodynamic effects on embryonic cardiovascular development has been limited by technology. Here we present an extension to Doppler OCT which may provide insight in the relationship between blood flow and heart development.
Does length of labor vary by maternal age

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine lengths of first and second stages of labor across maternal age groups to determine whether different norms should be established. Study Design We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all laboring, term, singleton, and cephalic deliveries at a single institution between 1980-2001. Median lengths of labor were compared among 6 maternal age groups. Statistical comparisons were made using Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were performed. Results Among 31,976 births, length of labor differed significantly by maternal age for both nulliparous and multiparous women. Younger nulliparous women (age, P 39 yrs). After we controlled for potential confounders, we found that older women had a persistently higher likelihood of experiencing longer labor and prolonged labor than younger women. Conclusion Length of labor and prolonged labor increases with increasing maternal age.
Non-thermal inactivation of Escherichia coli K12 in buffered peptone water using a pilot-plant scale supercritical carbon dioxide system with a gas–liquid porous metal contactor

Abstract This study evaluated the effectiveness of a supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) system, with a gas–liquid porous metal contactor, for reducing Escherichia coli K12 in diluted buffered peptone water. 0.1% (w/v) buffered peptone water inoculated with E. coli K12 was processed using the SCCO2 system at CO2 concentrations of 3.1–9.5 wt%, outlet temperatures of 34, 38, and 42 °C, a system pressure of 7.6 MPa, and a flow rate of 1 L/min. Increased CO2 concentrations and temperatures significantly (P
New solutions of distinct physical structures to high-dimensional nonlinear evolution equations

Abstract In this work, we employ the tanh–coth method for a reliable treatment on nonlinear evolution equations. Three models, namely the (3 + 1)-dimensional Jimbo–Miwa equation, the (2 + 1)-dimensional Calogero–Bogoyavlenskii–Schiff equation, and the (3 + 1)-dimensional potential YTSF equation, are use as vehicles to conduct the analysis. New travelling wave solutions are formally derived. The work shows the power of the proposed scheme and the variety of the obtained solutions.
The tangled web of signaling in innate immunity.

Similarities in innate immune signaling exist between mammals and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Now, Ziegler et al. (2009) and Ren et al. (2009) demonstrate that a protein kinase C δ homolog in C. elegans is involved in innate immunity, providing evidence that the conservation of immune signaling networks extends further than previously thought.
Characterization of anomalous diffusion in porous biological tissues using fractional order derivatives and entropy

In this high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study at 17.6 Tesla of a fixed rat brain, we used the continuous time random walk theory (CTRW) for Brownian motion to characterize anomalous diffusion. The complex mesoporus structure of biological tissues (membranes, organelles, and cells) perturbs the motion of the random walker (water molecules in proton MRI) introducing halts between steps (waiting times) and restrictions on step sizes (jump lengths). When such waiting times and jump lengths are scaled with probability distributions that follow simple inverse power laws (t-(1+α), |x|-(1+β)) non-Gaussian motion gives rise to sub- and super- diffusion. In the CTRW approach, the Fourier transform yields a solution to the generalized diffusion equation that can be expressed by the Mittag-Leffler function (MLF), Eα (- Dα, β|q|βΔα). We interrogated both white and gray matter regions in a 1 mm slice of a fixed rat brain (190 μm in plane resolution) with diffusion weighted MRI experiments using b-values up to 25,000 s/mm2, by independently varying q and Δ. When fitting these data to our model, the fractional order parameters, α and β, and the entropy measure, [Formula: see text], were found to provide excellent contrast between white and gray matter and to give results that were sensitive to the type of diffusion experiment performed.
Ti-diffused LiNbO 3 branched-waveguide modulators: Performance and design

We report here experimental studies of an amplitude modulator using Ti-diffused LiNbO 3 branched waveguides. In this paper we present experimental evidence in support of three problem areas connected with the improvement of performance of the device. Solution of the problems has involved the development of a new in-diffusion process to eliminate any background radiation, introduction of a new electrode arrangement which consists of extra electrodes at the branching section to control the splitting action, and finally performing measurements at a longer wavelength ( \lambda_{0} = 1.15 \mu ) to overcome the limitations of available photomasks.
Recent Progress in Thin 3 He– 4 He Films

We review recent work on the properties of 3He–4He thin film mixtures. The subject is introduced by reviewing the contributions made by Gasparini and co-workers. In the first part of this survey, we examine a microscopic calculation of the effects that an adsorbed 3He component has on the collective excitations associated with a 4He film, third sound. The work in question computes the change in the third sound velocity due to adding 3He, and we can compare this with existing experiment. For small 3He coverage, the change in the third sound speed depends on the derivatives of the species chemical potentials with respect to the areal density. The microscopic calculation shows oscillations in the third sound speed that reflect the layered structure of the film. In the second part of this survey, we concentrate on the 3He component. An important impact of the 4He environment is to change the bare mass in the limit of zero 3He concentration to a hydrodynamic mass. Quasiparticle interactions are introduced through the Landau parameters. Our Landau parameters are determined by fitting s-wave and p-wave T-matrix components using experimental results for the effective mass and the spin susceptibility. We can then predict the thermodynamic behavior of the mixture films at finite polarization, and in addition we can predict the spectrum of zero-sound excitations at all polarizations.
Peak functions for modeling high resolution soil profile data

Abstract Parametric and non-parametric depth functions have been used to estimate continuous soil profile properties. However, some soil properties, such as those seen in weathered loess, have anisotropic peak-shaped depth distributions. These distributions are poorly handled by common parametric functions. And while nonparametric functions can handle this data they lack meaningful parameters to describe physical phenomena in the depth distribution of a property such as a peak, an inflection point, or a gradient. The objective of this work is to introduce the use of asymmetric peak functions to model complex and anisotropic soil property depth profiles. These functions have the advantages of providing parameters, which quantify or describe pedogenic processes. We demonstrate the application of the Pearson Type IV (PIV) and the logistic power peak (LPP) functions to high resolution soil property depth profiles measured by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in a claypan soil landscape of Northeastern Missouri, USA. Both peak functions successfully fit clay, silt, and pH data for an example soil profile from a summit landscape position (R 2 = 0.90 for pH and 0.98 for silt and clay). The LPP function was further demonstrated to fit clay depth distribution for a shoulder, backslope, footslope, and a depositional landscape position (R 2 = 0.98, 0.96, 0.96, 0.91). Relationships between the fitted parameters of these profiles were useful to describe landscape trends in their morphological features and show promise to continuously describe pedogenic processes in three dimensions. Peak functions are a useful companion to high-resolution soil profile data collected by sensors and their combined use may allow more intensive mapping and better explanation of soil landscape variability.
Particle size distribution by turbidimetry

A turbidimetric method for rapidly estimating particle size distribution parameters for latex systems has received intensive evaluation. This method originally proposed by W. Heller and co-workers [J. Chem. Phys. 34, 1796 (1961)], and based on Mie theory, involves the generation of theoretical turbidity functions versus wavelength and the comparison of these theoretical curves with ones determined experimentally. A digital computer program involving the use of a lattice search technique by minimization of residual sums of squares over a response surface was developed and used for comparing these curves. It has been found that this curve matching leads to multivalued solutions and, unless prior estimates of the answer from some other technique are available, there are no criteria for choosing between alternative solutions. The response surface is in the form of a “trench” rather than a unimodel “depression.” Consideration of typical experimental errors for this technique yields quite large areas of uncertainty in the final answers further complicating the analysis of results. These findings indicate that this method, though very attractive because of the simplicity of the experimental technique, should not be used alone for particle size analysis and hence cannot be considered a routine or simple procedure.
THE RATES OF SECOND-ORDER GAS REACTIONS.

It has been shown that the most accurate existing measurements of the rates of second-order gas reactions show deviations from pure exponential temperature dependence, which can be empirically represented by a linear increase of the energy of activation with temperature. It is pointed out that this requires the chance of reaction to increase with the energy of the collision in a continuous fashion. Assuming a particular form for this variation, a theory is worked out which predicts that this linear increase shall fail at temperatures only slightly higher than those yet reached in the hydrogen iodide decomposition. There is reason to believe that the numerical results of this theory are substantially correct, even though the detailed assumptions are doubtless far from right.
A Place for Sharing—Outreach Connections: Native Health Information

Outreach Connections: Native Health Information provides a collaborative space offering descriptions of health information promotion and training activities for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Hospital librarians' institutions may serve Native communities, which are among the federal government's priority underserved groups. “Indian Country” includes every part of the United States, with more than half of the nation's Native citizens living in urban areas. Health information outreach is an opportunity for hospital librarians to contribute to their institution's missions. Outreach Connections can provide ideas for outreach projects, connections to colleagues who are involved in similar activities, and a place to highlight accomplishments.
Age differences in cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor expression and rb hyperphosphorylation in human corneal endothelial cells.

PURPOSE. Human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) are considered to be nonreplicative in vivo; however, isolated HCECs can be cultured and grown successfully, indicating that they retain proliferative capacity. This capacity to replicate tends to decrease with donor age. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) are important negative regulators of the cell cycle. Of those CKIs, p16 INK4a , p21 WAF1/Cip1 , and p27 Kip1 are expressed in corneal endothelium. To help reveal the mechanism of this age-related difference, the relative expression of those CKIs and the kinetics of hyperphosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein, Rb, were analyzed in HCECs from various aged donors. METHODS. Fresh-frozen sections of corneas from an 18-year-old and a 74-year-old donor were immunostained to reveal the expression and localization of the three CKIs in corneal endothelium in situ. HCECs from eight donors of various ages were isolated and cultured until they reached passage 4. After the cells reached confluence, total protein was extracted, and the
Gastric prostaglandin e output during basal and stimulated acid secretion in normal subjects and patients with duodenal ulcer

Abstract PGE output into the gastric lumen under basal conditions and after insulin hypoglycemia was studied in four normal subjects and eight patients with uncomplicated duodenal ulcers. In both groups, increased acid secretion following vagal stimulation was accompanied by a rise in PGE output. This observation, together with their known inhibitory effect on acid secretion, supports the concept that synthesis and local release of PGE may play a regulatory role. The fact that patients with ulcer disease have a slightly higher PGE output in gastric juice during basal and stimulated acid secretion does not support the hypothesis that PGE deficiency is an underlying mechanism in the pathogenesis of acid peptic disease.