cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing Intermediate Coronary Lesions More Than Meets the Eye

Although invasive coronary angiography traditionally has been considered the reference standard for diagnosing coronary artery disease, its limitations are being highlighted with increasing frequency.1 This is particularly evident in patients with intermediate or moderate coronary artery lesions. For this subset of narrowings, a number of adjunctive, invasive techniques have been proposed to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the coronary angiogram. Article see p 2557 In landmark work by Lance Gould and colleagues, coronary flow reserve (CFR) defined as hyperemic coronary flow divided by resting coronary flow, was first proposed as a method for evaluating the functional significance of intermediate stenoses.2 However, CFR by definition interrogates the status of the entire coronary circulation, both the epicardial vessel and the microcirculation. In patients with microvascular dysfunction, for example from diabetes mellitus or a past myocardial infarction, CFR will be abnormal, thus limiting its application for identifying ischemia-producing epicardial disease. CFR is also limited by its lack of a normal value in any given patient or vessel. For example, in 1 patient a value of 3 may be normal, whereas in another patient a value of 5 is normal. A final limitation of CFR is its variability or lack of reproducibility; because resting flow is a component of its definition, changes in resting flow that occur with hemodynamic perturbations can dramatically affect CFR.3,4 For these reasons, CFR has fallen out of favor for invasively evaluating intermediate coronary lesions.5 Others have proposed intracoronary anatomic evaluation with techniques, such as intravascular ultrasound.6 Intravascular ultrasound provides improved morphologic assessment of intermediate coronary disease, but its ability to predict future events7 or to correlate with other measures of myocardial ischemia has been disappointing,8 because it fails to account for 1 of the most important determinants of the ischemic …
Optical characterization of crystal dislocations: The case of bismuth germanate

Abstract Dislocations in Bi 4 (GeO 4 ) 3 single crystals were characterized by several optical methods: (i) Chemical etching followed by etch pit examination using optical microscopy. (ii) Stress birefringence microscopy, a method that reveals the anisotropy of the stress field around dislocations. For dislocations viewed end-on, the sign of the edge component has been determined by a simple procedure involving external compression of the crystal. Birefringence images of dislocations viewed side-on are only obtained when the Burgers vector has an edge component parallel to the direction of observation. (iii) Parallel beam, Schlieren and phase contrast microscopy, combined with analog contrast enhancement. By these techniques the field of mass densities around the dislocations is observed. (iv) Dark field microscopy to detect the inclusion strings that might decorate dislocations.
Locke's theory of classification

(2003). Locke's theory of classification. British Journal for the History of Philosophy: Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 249-259.
The general Lie group and similarity solutions for the one-dimensional Vlasov-Maxwell equations

The general Lie point transformation group and the associated reduced differential equations and similarity forms for the solutions are derived here for the coupled (nonlinear) Vlasov-Maxwell equations in one spatial dimension. The case of one species in a background is shown to admit a larger group than the multispecies case. Previous exact solutions are shown to be special cases of the above solutions, and many of the new solutions are found to constrain the form of the distribution function much more than, for example, the BGK solutions do. The individual generators of the Lie group are used to find the possible subgroups. Finally, a simple physical argument is given to show that the asymptotic solution for a one-species, one-dimensional plasma is one of the general similarity solutions.
Large Sessile Adenomas Are Associated With a High Prevalence of Synchronous Advanced Adenomas

Background & Aims: The prevalence of synchronous neoplasia in patients with large sessile colorectal adenomas is uncertain. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center review of synchronous neoplastic findings in 190 consecutive patients with intact colons and single large sessile adenomas resected endoscopically. Synchronous polyps were those removed at the colonoscopy that discovered the large sessile adenoma or at any follow-up endoscopic examination within 12 months of discovery of the large sessile adenoma. Results: Seventy-five percent of patients had at least 1 synchronous adenoma, and the 190 patients had a mean of 4 synchronous adenomas. Thirty percent of patients had ≥1 synchronous advanced adenoma (adenoma ≥1 cm in size or with high-grade dysplasia or villous elements). There were a total of 116 synchronous advanced adenomas, including 89 adenomas 10–19 mm in size and 8 that were ≥20 mm in size. Conclusions: Colonoscopists should be aware that patients with large sessile adenomas have a high prevalence of synchronous advanced neoplasia. Prospective study of this issue is warranted.
Photoactivated cross-linking of prolactin to hepatic membrane binding sites

Summary [125I]prolactin was found to show high affinity (Kd =1.8×10−10 M), saturable, and specific binding to microsomal membranes from rat liver. The specifically bound hormone was then cross-linked to membrane proteins using N-hydroxysuccinimidyl azidobenzoate and these proteins were separated by SDS gel electrophoresis. This treatment resulted in a band of radioactivity (60,000 daltons) that was not seen in controls lacking reagent or light activation. The cross-linked product was eliminated by competition during binding with unlabeled lactogenic hormones (such as ovine prolactin, rat prolactin, or human growth hormone). These data indicate that prolactin (24,000 daltons) was cross-linked to a peptide of 36,000 daltons. This peptide may be the binding site of the prolactin receptor.
Multiple Brain Markers are Linked to Age-Related Variation in Cognition

Age-related alterations in brain structure and function have been challenging to link to cognition due to potential overlapping influences of multiple neurobiological cascades. We examined multiple brain markers associated with age-related variation in cognition. Clinically normal older humans aged 65-90 from the Harvard Aging Brain Study (N = 186) were characterized on a priori magnetic resonance imaging markers of gray matter thickness and volume, white matter hyperintensities, fractional anisotropy (FA), resting-state functional connectivity, positron emission tomography markers of glucose metabolism and amyloid burden, and cognitive factors of processing speed, executive function, and episodic memory. Partial correlation and mediation analyses estimated age-related variance in cognition shared with individual brain markers and unique to each marker. The largest relationships linked FA and striatum volume to processing speed and executive function, and hippocampal volume to episodic memory. Of the age-related variance in cognition, 70-80% was accounted for by combining all brain markers (but only ∼20% of total variance). Age had significant indirect effects on cognition via brain markers, with significant markers varying across cognitive domains. These results suggest that most age-related variation in cognition is shared among multiple brain markers, but potential specificity between some brain markers and cognitive domains motivates additional study of age-related markers of neural health.
WARM N COLD: malignant and benign renal tumors in children

Although Wilms tumor is the most common renal malignancy in children, the differential diagnosis is extensive and includes both malignant and benign disorders. We present a simple mnemonic-WARM N COLD, to aid in remembering these diverse tumors. Imaging clues including age of the patient, associated disease or syndrome as well as salient imaging characteristics such as bilaterality, and type or presence of metastasis are also presented and can help differentiate between these renal tumors of childhood.
Field and Laboratory Studies of Attraction of the Synthetic Sex Pheromone to Male Cabbage Looper Moths

Catches of male Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) in traps equipped with black light lamps were increased for 4 weeks by the presence of the synthetic sex pheromone on sand substrate. When the pheromone was dispensed fresh each night, 0.5 mg of pheromone per trap was near optimum, since the catch was not increased by adding more pheromone. When the diameter of the container holding a mixture of sand and pheromone was increased, catches were greater the 1st night but significantly less the 2nd and 3rd nights. Light traps baited with pheromone and mounted on barrels containing water coated with diesel oil were about twice as effective as baited survey light traps. However, pheromone alone (no lamp) suspended above the oil was not effective. A Y-tube apparatus was used in the laboratory to determine the concentration causing a 50% response by males; the response was not affected when fumes of diesel oil or cyanide were present.
Retinopathy of prematurity in Brazil: an emerging problem

The tragedy of blindness from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) does not arise from a lack of knowledge about the disease. Based on results of large multicenter trials we know when sight-threatening acute retinopathy is most likely to develop we know that babies at risk are usually in hospital under medical care and we have treatments currently available that have been proven effective in markedly decreasing visual morbidity. Nevertheless blindness due to ROP is an emerging reality in many countries as survival rates of very premature babies improve. This is of particular importance in countries with medium levels of human development (as defined by the UN Development Program Index) in which the number of neonatal intensive care units is increasing rapidly and effective detection and treatment programs are not yet in place. Prevention of blindness from ROP requires a complex series of interactions that must be carefully choreographed. The paper by Fortes Filho et al. in this issue of Jornal de Pediatria highlights many important issues regarding the detection of sight-threatening disease. (excerpt)
AN ARBITRAGE PRICING APPROACH TO EVALUATING MUTUAL FUND PERFORMANCE

A test procedure, derived from arbitrage pricing theory, that permits the measurement of the security selection performance of professional portfolio managers is developed and applied to a sample of mutual funds over the period of the 1970's. The evidence indicates that more than one factor was present in the market during that interval as a systematic influence on the profile of securities returns. Consistent with prior studies, the evidence also suggests that mutual fund portfolios did not outperform a passive buy-and-hold investment strategy. A comparative analysis of the same data, using performance measures based on the single-factor market model, produces similar but less powerful results, both in the aggregate and at the individual fund level.
Turbulence and rod vibrations in an annular region with upstream disturbances

Abstract Disturbances in nominally parallel flow are produced by the use of grids upstream of a flexible rod in an annular region. The turbulence decay in two annular regions and the vibrations of the same rod are measured for a wide range of flow velocities, grid configurations, and hydraulic diameters typical of those found in nuclear reactors. The creation and characterization of the upstream flow disturbances as a test parameter are the unique contributions of the work. The data show that upstream turbulence propagated well into the annular region with the largest hydraulic diameter and had a significant effect on the rod vibration. However, for the smallest hydraulic diameter the upstream disturbances decayed very rapidly and the rod vibration was nearly identical for different upstream disturbances.
Medications That Exacerbate or Induce Cognitive-Communication Deficits

Abstract Purpose: Some medications can cause or exacerbate cognitive-communication deficits and thus complicate, rather than facilitate, restoration of health. Unfortunately, the literature regardi...
Science and History: A Reply to Turner

We are honored that a scholar of Jonathan Turner's stature has found our article worthy of extended commentary, and we are grateful for this opportunity to engage in a dialogue with him. We find Tu...
The Relationship between Telephone-Administered Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Depression and Neuropsychological Functioning in Parkinson’s disease

This letter is the first to describe the impact of telephone-based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression on neuropsychological functioning in Parkinson’s disease. Telephone-administered CBT was associated with improvements in verbal memory following 10 weeks of treatment. Baseline verbal and working memory were related to depression improvement over time.
A weibull brittle failure model for biaxial loading of a notched composite material

Abstract A brittle failure model based on the Weibull theory is developed for a plate subjected to biaxial stresses. The failure model is based on an opening mode (mode I) failure propagating outward from an existing through-hole. This model leads to Weibull integrals which are simplified to one dimension in order to evaluate the highest risk-to-failure volume. The Weibull integrals are evaluated numerically for an isotropic plate with a center through-hole with a searching scheme to find the most likely angle of fracture. When compared with experimental results, the Weibull integrals yield generally conservative estimates of notched strength, predicting a more rapid degradation of strength in the presence of a notch than is actually experienced. The integrals also correctly predict the strengthening effect due to the biaxial tension.
Bus-coupled microresonator lasers

Microresonators are of considerable interest in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) applications due to their small feature size and versatile functionality. When combined with other high-Q passive and active elements connected through a common bus line, microresonator lasers will enable the fabrication of sophisticated photonic integrated circuits (PICs) that take full advantage of compact chip layouts. Circular microresonator lasers are attractive sources for PICs because of their cleavage-free cavity and excellent wavelength selectivity. We have demonstrated an InP/InGaAsP microdisk resonator laser, where a high-Q microdisk lasing mode is vertically coupled out through a straight bus waveguide. The vertically coupled design is realized by using wafer-boding techniques. By connecting multiple microdisk lasers through a common output bus line, we have demonstrated an 8-channel laser arrays with 1.6 nm (200 GHz) spectral channel spacing. The channel spacing is achieved by varying the disk resonator radii from 10.6 to 10.95 mm. Typical threshold current of ~ 7 mA is observed under CW lasing operation near 1510 nm. In this presentation we will discuss the operating characteristics of microresonator lasers and the use of resonators in laser cavities as wavelength selection and stabilization elements.
Using the Semivariance to Estimate Safety-First Rules

tion. An example of a safety-first rule is: Choose the fertilization level to maximize income subject to the constraint that there is a 5% or less probability of not being able to pay for the fertilizer from crop revenues (de Janvry). Safety-first rules are used by de Janvry, Nakajima, and Roumasset to analyze production decisions of low income farmers in developing countries. Wright provides an application to the nineteenth century cotton industry; Telser applies it to hedging; and Boussard and Petit use a safety-first model to explain cropping patterns. For a theoretical review of various safety-first rules, see Pyle and Turnovsky. There are at least three methods to estimate the probability mass in the lower part of the revenue distribution. Although the best method is to use the observed frequency itself, often there are insufficient observations in the tails. A second
Infrared frequency measurements on the ClO fundamental band

Abstract By means of a tunable diode laser, new frequency measurements have been made on the 1-0 band of 35 ClO and 37 ClO in the region from 829 to 881 cm −1 . The new measurements are calibrated against recently measured OCS absorption frequency standards. Measurements of more than 40 1-0 band transitions are combined with 2-0 band measurements and with the results of microwave measurements in a least-squares analysis. The Hamiltonian used for the analysis takes into account the coupling between the 2 Π 1 2 and 2 Π 3 2 states and includes the dependence of the molecular parameters on the reduced mass of the molecule. The resulting constants are used to calculate the frequencies of all the stronger absorption lines with an accuracy ranging from ±0.0002 to ±0.0065 cm −1 , depending on the transition.
Cationic bis(oxazoline) and pyridyl-bis(oxazoline)Cu(II) and Zn(II) Lewis acid catalysts. A comparative study in catalysis of Diels-Alder and aldol reactions

Abstract A systematic comparison of the cationic Lewis acidic Cu(II) and Zn(II) catalysts derived from bis(oxazoline), box, and pyridyl-bis(oxazoline), pybox, ligands is presented. Upon screening the catalysts in the Diels-Alder and aldol reactions, the Cu-based catalysts were found to be superior.
ACCOUNTING STANDARD SETTING: A CHALLENGE FOR CRITICAL ACCOUNTING RESEARCHERS

Abstract This note is fashioned as a response to the commentaries by Harvey Hendrickson and Dwight Owsen contained in this edition. For these purposes, it treats these pieces as exemplars of a larger body of work being done under the rubric of critical accounting scholarship. It questions the value of continuously challenging public accounting in scattered and unfocused ways and offers some ideas for more productive directions.
Short term air quality standards for suspended particulate matter in New York State.

The Clean Air Act of 1970 requires each state to submit plans for implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of national ambient air quality standards subsequent to promulgation. Such plans have been geared to meet annual averages and maximum values. Based on experience in implementing the abatement plan it was found that air quality standards for averaging times shorter than one year are needed to shorten the time required to show contravention and to provide a basis for early corrective measures to regulate specific sources. This paper reports on the need and procedures used by New York State to develop such standards for suspended particulates. Daily suspended particulate data were analyzed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov method goodness of fit technique to determine that the form of the distribution was log normal. A method developed by Larsen for predicting short term maximum concentrations for log normally distributed data was used to determine numerical values for one, two, and three month standards. M...
Deep-level transient spectroscopy of Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As/GaAs using nondestructive acousto-electric voltage measurement

The amplitude and the transient time constant of the acoustoelectric voltage were measured as a function of temperature to determine the activation energy of deep levels in Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As/GaAs grown by molecular-beam epitaxy. In comparison to other methods based on monitoring the capacitance transient, the DLTS method has several advantages. The technique is nondestructive and highly sensitive, and because of the dependence of the polarity of the acoustoelectric voltage on the carrier type, it yields information about the charge of the transient carriers and the type of deep traps involved in the release or trapping of these carriers. >
Effects of stunning duration on quality characteristics of early deboned chicken fillets

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine effects of electrical stunning duration on quality of broiler chicken fillets. Seventy-two broiler chickens were electrically stunned for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 s, slaughtered, and chilled. After 1 h post-mortem, both pectoral muscles were excised and cooked. Cooking loss, pH, cooked color values, and shear values were measured. As stunning time increased, pH and shear values significantly increased. Except for a small but significant increase in yellowness, color values were unaffected by stunning duration. Cooking loss was unaffected by stunning duration. These data indicate that stunning duration can affect post-mortem muscle metabolism as measured by pH change. Therefore, control of the process of slaughtering broilers requires careful regulation of stunning duration.
Creating a new channel for campus communication

Walk around any college campus and in less than a minute you'll most likely notice a plethora of flyers and posters. The overwhelming result can be hundreds of posters competing with each other on cluttered bulletin boards, sidewalks, and even bathroom stall doors. A team of administrators and IT staffers at Colgate University set out to find a new communication tool to minimize the poster clutter effect and to provide students an innovative way to promote their events. The solution? A campus-wide network of six plasma display screens (50" diameter) located in the student center, library and the downtown bookstore. Each display continuously plays a queue of slides, videos, and flash movies from a central streaming media server. In the first semester of operation, over 600 slides were produced for the displays. In this presentation, we will cover the technology (Windows Media Server 9) used to setup this network of displays and discuss the level of support involved in creating content and maintenance. In addition, we will go over other technologies and solutions that can be put in place to create a similar network on your campus. The number of possibilities is endless.
An exploration of factors influencing institutional cultures of assessment

Abstract Theorisation about institutional cultures of assessment in higher education is hindered by an inability to measure the influence of institutional factors on assessment. The authors explore the factor structure of the Survey of Assessment Culture. A three factor model with strong reliability coefficients was developed and included the following factors fundamental to institutional cultures of assessment: (a) Clear Commitment, (b) Connection to Change, and (c) Vital to Institution. Future uses of the Survey of Assessment Culture and implications for research and practice are discussed.
Reproductive effects of the mammalian pineal.

The reproductive systems of mammals are anatomically and physiologically altered by the pineal gland. Characteristically, pineal removal accelerates gonadal growth in immature animals and causes a transient modest enlargement of the reproductive organs if the operations are done after adulthood is attained. Light deprivation renders the pineal strongly antigonadotropic. In addition, there are several conditions, e.g. , androgen-sterilization and anosmia, which potentiate, probably indirectly, the gonad-inhibiting capability of the rat's pineal. The chronic administration of pineal extracts or pineal substances has effects opposite to pinealectomy, i.e. , they restrict gonadal development or growth. The pineal is possibly important in adjusting the level of reproductive activity to seasonal changes in environmental conditions.
Evidence for constitutive neural cell proliferation in the adult murine hypothalamus.

Compelling evidence suggests that the mammalian brain is capable of generating new neurons throughout adult life. While neurogenesis can be induced at various brain sites by exogenous cues, constitutive birth of new neurons has been unambiguously demonstrated within the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus. The lack of strong evidence that constitutive neurogenesis occurs elsewhere in the adult brain could be due to its exclusive restriction to the SVZ and SGZ or, for instance, to the inadequacy of the methods used to reveal new-born neurons at other brain sites. By using intracerebroventricular (icv) delivery of the mitotic marker bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) we demonstrate that new cells are born continuously and in substantial numbers in the adult murine hypothalamus and that many of these cells appear to differentiate into neurons as assessed by the expression of doublecortin (Dcx) and other neuronal fate markers. As compared to intraperitoneal (ip) BrdU injections, central BrdU infusion also uncovers a higher-fold induction of hypothalamic cell proliferation by ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). It appears that new cells are born throughout the hypothalamic parenchyma without an apparent restriction to a specific neurogenic layer, as seen in the SVZ. Thus, we provide evidence that the adult hypothalamus is constitutively neurogenic and that hypothalamic cell proliferation is highly responsive to mitogen action. J. Comp. Neurol. 505:209–220, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Treatment of multiple cutaneous leiomyomas with CO2 laser ablation.

Background. Cutaneous leiomyomas are benign tumors that can be exquisitely painful. Symptomatic lesions often necessitate treatment, but many options are inadequate or create substantial morbidity. Without a definitive therapy of first choice, the search continues for alternative methods to alleviate discomfort in affected patients. Objective. To describe the use of CO2 laser ablation for the symptomatic treatment of a 73-year-old woman with multiple cutaneous leiomyomas in whom pharmacologic therapy was contraindicated and surgical excision was impractical. Methods. CO2 laser ablation of six symptomatic cutaneous leiomyomas was performed under local anesthesia. After initial success, all remaining symptomatic lesions were treated. Results. There was complete pain relief in the originally treated lesions 9 months postoperatively, and in all remaining treated lesions 3 months postoperatively. Conclusion. CO2 laser ablation may be an effective alternative treatment for symptomatic cutaneous leiomyomas.
Altering tooth eruption by blocking bone resorption--the local delivery of bafilomycin A1.

Tooth eruption is a complicated process requiring a coordination of bone resorption and bone formation by a variety of factors in and around the dental follicle proper and bone resorption is the rate-limiting step early in the process. We have recently described a method to deliver to the crypt of erupting dog premolars a reversible blocker of bone resorption, bafilomycin A1, and shown that its delivery for two week blocks bone resorption and eruption during this period without effect on adjacent teeth or on bone formation. In this study we show that delivery of 10−6 M bafilomycin A1 via a cannulated osmotic minipump for two weeks early in the eruption of premolars delayed the eruption of these teeth for eight weeks. Similar delivery of the vehicle to the contralateral premolar had no effect on eruption. These data are the first clinical application of this potent drug and show that a short term local delivery is reversible and that blocking resorption for two weeks causes a fourfold delay in tooth erupti...
Interaction of [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 with O2 oxidized Al(100): Effect of Al2O3 preparation on [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 decomposition

Abstract Thermal decomposition of [Rh(CO) 2 Cl] 2 was studied on two different Al 2 O 3 substrates prepared by oxidation of Al(100) with O 2 . Treatment of Al(100) with 1700 L O 2 at 200°C produced an 18 A Al 2 O 3 film. Oxidation of Al(100) with 4 × 10 −3 Torr of O 2 595°C formed an oxide overlayer greater than 80 A thick. Thermal decomposition of [Rh(CO) 2 Cl] 2 on the two Al 2 O 3 films was monitored with TPD, XPS, and AES. TPD data obtained during thermal decomposition of [Rh(CO) 2 Cl] 2 showed a marked difference in the CO evolution profiles on the two different substrates. The maximum in CO evolution varied by 125°C on the two samples. CO chemisorption measurements showed the formation of 120 A Rh particles on the thin (18 A) Al 2 O 3 support and 20 A Rh particles on the thick oxide overlayer. XPS data indicated that Rh o particles were present in both cases. The results suggest that structural differences in the two supports control the decomposition mechanism and therefore the resultant Rh particle size.
SYNDECANS, CELL SURFACE HEPARAN SULFATE PROTEOGLYCANS, ARE PRESENT IN AND CAN MODIFY THE PROTEOLYTIC BALANCE OF TRACHEAL ASPIRATES. † 1996

An imbalance between proteinases and antiproteinases is thought to mediate, in part, the inflammatory injury that leads to chronic lung disease in mechanically ventilated pre-term infants. The activities of some proteinases and proteinase inhibitors found in inflammatory fluids can be modifiedin vitro by heparin, a mast cell-derived glycosaminoglycan (GAG). The major cellular source of heparin-like GAG is the syndecan family of transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans, found on the surface of several cell types in the lung.
Optimal Scheduling of Media Packets with Multiple Distortion Measures

Due to the increase in diversity of wireless devices, streaming media systems must be capable of serving multiple types of users. Scalable coding allows for adaptations without re-encoding. To account for various viewing capabilities of each user, such as different spatial resolutions, multiple distortion measures are used. In this paper, we examine the question of how to broadcast media packets with multiple distortion measures to multiple users. We cast the problem as a stochastic shortest path problem and use Dynamic Programming to find the optimal policy. We generate an offline algorithm to generate the optimal transmission policy for the general case. We then show the optimal policy can be done online via a simple threshold policy for the case of independent Bernoulli packet losses. Through experimental results, we show that our policy, which considers multiple distortion measures, achieves up to 2dB gains over conventional approaches.
Plasmonic Monopole Antenna at the Optical Frequency Range

Optical monopole antenna is designed by extending the inner metal of a plasmonic coaxial cable out of the ground. The transmitting property is studied with the similarity and difference to the conventional microwave version addressed.
Effect of Equilibrium Bulk Water Content on the Humidity-Dependent Surface Mechanical Properties of Hydrophilic Contact Lenses Studied by Atomic Force Microscopy

The surface mechanical properties of neutral poly(HEMA) (HEMA, hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and ionic poly(HEMA+MA) (MA, methacrylic acid) soft contact lenses were compared using the atomic force microscope (AFM). Surface stiffness, adhesion, and viscoelastic effects were extracted from AFM load−displacement plots collected under a variable probing rate in order to gauge interfacial water content as a function of humidity. Below 60% relative humidity, the surfaces of both lenses are water-depleted, relative to the bulk, and behave as glassy (elastic) polymers. As the relative humidity exceeds ∼60% and surface evaporation decreases, the surfaces of both contact lenses soften and the viscoelastic relaxation time decreases. The onset of viscoelastic behavior at the poly(HEMA+MA) surface is delayed, relative to that of poly(HEMA). This suggests that poly(HEMA) has greater interfacial water content than poly(HEMA+MA), although it possesses a lower equilibrium water content in the bulk. The AFM data also show pol...
Community in the minimal state 1

If communitarian political philosophers such as Michael Sandel are right about the importance of genuine community commitment, then it is the liberal minimal state, rather than the more expansive state implied both by communitarianism and by Rawlsian welfare liberalism, that should be preferred. It is contended that Sandel's antiliberal arguments, while inadequate as a criticism of Rawls's particular formulation of liberalism, nonetheless contain an important challenge to rights‐based political theories generally. However, by considering the various senses in which individual rights can be said to draw lines between persons, it is shown how the classical liberal might meet Sandel's challenge.
Case Series: Amantadine Open-Label Treatment of Impulsive and Aggressive Behavior in Hospitalized Children With Developmental Disabilities

ABSTRACT Objective A growing body of literature implicates interactions between glutamatergic and neostriatal dopaminergic neurotransmitter systems in the development and expression of impulsivity, hyperactivity, and stereotypy. Amantadine hydrochloride, a drug used in young children for influenza prophylaxis, acts both as an indirect dopamine agonist as well as an N -methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. Thus an open clinical trial of this medication for the treatment of symptoms of impulse control disorders in children was performed. Method A total of eight children (seven with neurodevelopmental disorders and all inpatients) with target behaviors refractory to other treatments were selected after parental informed consent. All patients were male and ranged in age from 4 to 12 years. Outcome was based on subjective consensus clinical ratings by the multidisciplinary treatment team. Results For four of the children, amantadine was associated with marked clinical improvement. In the remainder, improvement was also observed. Amantadine was well tolerated. Conclusions On the basis of this experience, it appears that amantadine hydrochloride or related NMDA antagonists may warrant additional study in this and related populations.
Ethical considerations in testing victims of sexual abuse for HIV infection

AIDS-HIV Testing Child Abuse Victim Child Abuse Effects Child Sexual Abuse Child Victim Sexual Assault Victim Sexual Assault Effects Sexual Disease Violence Effects
A New Paradigm for Quality and Safety in Nursing

In a series of reports for over a decade, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has documented a quality chasm in health care and cited essential competencies for all health care professionals (IOM, 2000...
Religion and Ties Between Adult Children and Their Parents

Objectives. This study examined whether religious adults (measured by the frequency of attendance at religious ser vices) report more extensive ties with their parents. Method. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households ( N = 9,002), a series of bivariate and multivariate regression models were tested. Several dimensions of adult children’s relationships with their parents were considered including relationship quality, frequency of contact, providing care to parents, and providing other assistance. Results. Adult children who attended religious services more frequently were significantly more likely to provide assistance to parents, and they reported higher quality relationships and more frequent contact with both their fathers and mothers. Results were similar for sons and daughters, and for younger and older adult children. Discussion. A better understanding of what motivates and fosters strong ties between adult children and their parents is vitally important given the “graying” of America and the consequences of such ties for the health and well-being of both generations. Religion is only one of many factors associated with adult children’s ties to parents, and this association is generally modest, but it is an important factor that should be given greater attention in future research.
The Transcription Factor MTF-1 Mediates Metal Regulation of the Mouse ZnT1 Gene

Metal regulation of the mouse zinc transporter (ZnT)-1 gene was examined in cultured cells and in the developing conceptus. Zinc or cadmium treatment of cell lines rapidly (3 h) and dramatically (about 12-fold) induced ZnT1 mRNA levels. In cells incubated in medium supplemented with Chelex-treated fetal bovine serum, to remove metal ions, levels of ZnT1 mRNA were reduced, and induction of this message in response to zinc or cadmium was accentuated (up to 31-fold induction). Changes in ZnT1 gene expression in these experiments paralleled those of metallothionein I (MT-I). Inhibition of RNA synthesis blocked metal induction of ZnT1 and MT-I mRNAs, whereas inhibition of protein synthesis did not. Metal response element-binding transcription factor (MTF)-1 mediates metal regulation of the metallothionein I gene. In vitroDNA-binding assays demonstrated that mouse MTF-1 can bind avidly to the two metal-response element sequences found in the ZnT1 promoter. Using mouse embryo fibroblasts with homozygous deletions of the MTF-1 gene, it was shown that this transcription factor is essential for basal as well as metal (zinc and cadmium) regulation of the ZnT1 gene in these cells. In vivo, ZnT1 mRNA was abundant in the midgestation visceral yolk sac and placenta. Dietary zinc deficiency during pregnancy down-regulated ZnT1 and MT-I mRNA levels (4–5-fold and >20-fold, respectively) in the visceral yolk sac, but had little effect on these mRNAs in the placenta. Homozygous knockout of the MTF-1 gene in transgenic mice also led to a 4–6-fold reduction in ZnT1 mRNA levels and a loss of MT-I mRNA in the visceral yolk sac. These results suggest that MTF-1 mediates the response to metal ions of both the ZnT1 and the MT-I genes the visceral yolk sac. Overall, these studies suggest that MTF-1 directly coordinates the regulation of genes involved in zinc homeostasis and protection against metal toxicity.
The germ cells in the hermaphroditic gland of Polygyra appressa

The male and female germ cells of Polygra appressa were found occurring together in the acini from the time the snails were 5 mm. in width onward, and their development traced backward to the gonial stage, in which the aspect of the female cells, present in small numbers in the acinus wall, and the male cells, in greater numbers in the lumen, seems identical. In oocytes, differentiation involves the enormous increase in volume of cell, nucleus, and plasmosome; the appearance of yolk and of a secondary nucleolus attached to the first one, and, in some cells, various other nucleoli, attached to the chromosomes. Meanwhile the chromosomes become diffuse and spread into the interior of the nucleus, finally condensing again on the periphery. The employment of various technical methods produced interesting variations in the aspect of oocyte chromatin and nucleoli. The appearance of the Nebenkern in spermatocytes during the growth period was noted, but no indication of its presence discovered in oocytes until the fairly late growth period. The chromosome forms were noted in spermatogonia, first spermatocytes and oocytes, and their numbers found to be 61 63, 31, and 31, respectively, but no clear dividing oogonia were found, on which similar observations could be made.
A Standardized Form of the Random Fatigue-Limit Model

Abstract This article discusses a standardization of the random fatigue-limit model (RFLM) presented by Pascual and Meeker (Pascual, F. G., Meeker, W. Q. (1999). Estimating fatigue curves with the random fatigue-limit model (with discussion). Technometrics 41:277–290). The basic RFLM has five model parameters and describes the relationship between fatigue life and applied stress, for example, in high-cycle fatigue behavior of materials used in jet engines. Possible extensions of the RFLM are also presented to generalize the model. The discussions here show that the model can be reparameterized so that the probability distribution function (pdf) and the cumulative distribution function (cdf) are indexed by a standardized stress, standardized slope, and a scale parameter. This “standardization” simplifies the computation of the pdf and cdf necessary for maximum likelihood estimation. This also allows for more efficient tabular and graphical presentation of quantiles. A practical example is presented to illu...
A parallel MAP algorithm for low latency turbo decoding

To reduce the computational decoding delay of turbo codes, we propose a parallel algorithm for maximum a posteriori (MAP) decoders. We divide a whole noisy codeword into sub-blocks and use multiple processors to perform sub-block MAP decoding in parallel. Unlike the previously proposed approach with sub-block overlapping, we utilize the forward and backward variables computed in the previous iteration to provide boundary distributions for each sub-block MAP decoder. Our scheme depicts asymptotically optimal performance in the sense that the BER is the same as that of the regular turbo decoder.
A reevaluation of the SIMP method with filtering and an alternative formulation for solid-void topology optimization

The most popular way to introduce the notion of topology into the structural analysis of the topology optimization problem is through the Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP) method. The fundamental principle behind its use requires a density design variable dependent material constitutive law that penalizes intermediate density material in combination with an active volume constraint. Here, the SIMP method with filtering is reevaluated, and an alternative topology optimization problem formulation, called the SINH (pronounced “cinch”) method, is developed that exploits this principle. The main advantages of the SINH method are that the optimization problem is consistently defined, the topology description is unambiguous, and the method leads to predominantly solid–void designs.
Decentralized self-repair to maintain connectivity and coverage in networked multi-robot systems

We present a suite of algorithms that enable a team of mobile robots to repair connectivity in a wireless mesh network. Each robot carries a wireless router and can act as a mobile access point. The algorithms are distributed, with each robot computing it's trajectory using its position, the positions of its neighbors within communication range, and the position of a gateway node. The algorithms are validated via an analytical model as well as field experiments with 7 Create robots.
Olfactory Bulbectomy Blocks Mating-Induced Ovulation in Musk Shrews (Suncus murinus)

In many species, reproductive function can be modified by olfactory inputs. We employed bilateral olfactory bulbectomy (BULBX) to examine the effects of disruption of olfactory inputs on mating behavior and ovulation in female musk shrews. On several measures, sexual behavior was delayed in BULBX females compared to controls. When females were mated on five consecutive days, the majority of unoperated and sham-operated (SHAM) shrews ovulated; only one female subjected to BULBX ovulated. Administration of GnRH induced ovulation in the majority of females. We performed immunocytochemistry to assess the effects of bulbectomy on mating-induced responses of the neural GnRH system. In BULBX and SHAM females, the numbers of cells containing proGnRH immunoreactivity in the medial septum (MS)/diagonal band (DB) were significantly elevated 1 h after mating. Bulbectomy increased the numbers of GnRH-immunoreactive peptide-containing cells in the preoptic area, but it reduced neuron numbers in the MS/DB, as compared with those in SHAM controls. In addition, the GnRH-immunoreactive fiber area in the median eminence was greater in BULBX than in SHAM females. In sum, female musk shrews can display receptivity and engage in copulation without olfactory inputs. However, the olfactory system is essential for mating-induced ovulation.
Aspects of Intelligence in Gifted Preschoolers.

Stanford-Binet results for 36 gifted children of preschool age were classified into categories according to Guilford's Structure-of-Intellect(SI)model. Four of five operations categories were considered and the levels ofrelative magnitude between the different factors compared. Also examined were changes within the same factor over a two year span. Greatest variability b etween SIfactors occurred at younger age groups. Three factors showed a relative decline over the two year test span despite steady Stanford-Binet IQ levels.
Higher PEEP in patients with acute lung injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies of ventilation strategies that included higher PEEP in patients with acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have yielded conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether higher PEEP during volume-limited and pressure-limited ventilation is associated with 28-day mortality or barotrauma rates in patients with ALI/ARDS. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the bibliographies of retrieved papers to identify randomized controlled trials that compared higher and lower PEEP in adult patients with ALI/ARDS who were already receiving volume-limited or pressure-limited ventilation. Two of us independently abstracted study-level data, including study design, patient characteristics, study methods, intervention, and main results. We pooled the studylevel data with a random-effects model, unless heterogeneity was low (I 2 < 50%), in which case we used a fixed-effects model. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. RESULTS: Four randomized trials (2,360 participants) were evaluated. Higher PEEP had a nonsignificant trend toward lower 28-day mortality (pooled relative risk 0.90, 95% CI 0.79–1.02). There was no difference in barotrauma between the 2 groups (pooled relative risk 1.17, 95% CI 0.90–1.52). Two studies reported an adjusted hospital death rate, and the pooled results of sensitivity analysis with those adjusted rates were identical to those of the unadjusted analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In 4 recent studies that used volume-limited or pressure-limited ventilation in ALI/ARDS patients, higher PEEP was not associated with significantly different short-term mortality or barotrauma. This study does not support the routine use of higher PEEP in patients with ALI/ARDS. Key words: acute respiratory distress syndrome; adult; acute lung injury; mechanical ventilation; meta-analysis; mortality; randomized controlled trial; review. [Respir Care 2011;56(5):568–575. © 2011 Daedalus Enterprises]
Limit-cycle oscillations of aircraft caused by flutter-induced drag

It has been shown in earlier work that the energy for flutter comes from propulsion, that is, flutter leads to an increase in drag. The present paper seeks to explain the effect of flutter-induced drag on aircraft response. It is shown that the aircraft can undergo limit-cycle oscillations even if the oscillations are in the linear structural and aerodynamic lift range. These limit-cycle oscillations occur as a result of the inability of the engine to support exponentially increasing oscillations. The limit-cycle oscillations are composed of variations in flight speed and amplitude of vibration. This modality of limit-cycle oscillations has not been presented in earlier literature and leads to better understanding of the limit-cycle oscillation problem.