cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Late pulmonary valve replacement after repair of tetralogy of Fallot

Abstract Background: Pulmonary regurgitation appears to be well tolerated early after repair of tetralogy of Fallot; however, it may result in progressive right ventricular dilatation and dysfunction necessitating eventual valve replacement. Our objective was to review our experience with late pulmonary valve replacement after complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Methods and results: A total of 42 patients (16 female and 26 male) were operated on between July 1, 1974, and January 1, 1998. Mean age was 22 years (range 2-65 years). The mean interval between tetralogy repair and pulmonary valve replacement was 10.8 years (range 1.6 months–33 years). Mean follow-up was 7.8 ± 6.0 years (maximum 23 years). Indications for pulmonary valve replacement included decreased exercise tolerance in 58%, right heart failure in 21%, arrhythmia in 14%, syncope in 10%, and progressive isolated right ventricular dilatation in 7%. Heterograft prostheses were used in 33 patients and homografts in 9. Five patients underwent isolated pulmonary valve replacement; concomitant procedures performed in 37 patients included tricuspid valve repair/replacement (n = 18), residual ventricular septal defect repair (n = 12), atrial septal defect closure (n = 4), pulmonary artery patch angioplasty (n = 17), and right ventricular outflow tract enlargement (n = 13). One patient died early (2%) of multiorgan failure. There were 6 late deaths, 3 of which were cardiac related. Survival was 95.1% ± 3.4% and 76.4% ± 8.9% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Functional class of patients was improved significantly; preoperatively, 76% of patients were in New York Heart Association class III-IV, and after pulmonary valve replacement, 97% of surviving patients were in class I-II ( P =.0001). Moderate to severe reduction in right ventricular function was noted on preoperative echocardiography in 59% and on late echocardiography in 18% ( P =.03). Of the 5 patients who had supraventricular arrhythmias before pulmonary valve replacement, 1 had postoperative recurrence and the arrhythmia is controlled with antiarrhythmic therapy; the other 4 are in normal sinus rhythm at late follow-up. Eight patients subsequently underwent pulmonary valve re-replacement without early mortality at a mean interval of 9.0 ± 4.2 years (range 3.8-16.8 years). Freedom from pulmonary valve re-replacement was 93.1% ± 4.7% and 69.8% ± 10.7% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. The only significant risk factor for re-replacement was young age at the time of the initial pulmonary valve replacement ( P =.023). Conclusion: Late pulmonary valve replacement after tetralogy repair significantly improves right ventricular function, functional class, and atrial arrhythmias, and it can be performed with low mortality. Subsequent re-replacement may be necessary to maintain functional improvement. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001;121:344-51)
RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING OF THE CANINE INTERCONDYLAR FOSSA

The intercondylar fossa is believed to play an important role in the pathology of cranial cruciate ligament rupture and therefore has received considerable attention in the last decade. Accurate radiographic imaging of the intercondylar fossa requires that the central x-ray beam pass through the center of the intercondylar “tunnel”. The anatomy of the canine intercondylar fossa is similar to humans, however, the orientations of the intercondylar fossa's differ. Consequently, the positioning techniques described for humans are not appropriate for the dog. To pass through the center of the dog, intercondylar fossa, the central x-ray beam should be 12° (S.D. 1.7°) caudal from the femoral diaphysis in the sagittal plane and obliqued caudolateral to craniomedial 7° (S.D. 0.60°) (caudo78°proximo7° lateralcraniodistomedial oblique). Cross table positioning was used with the hip flexed and the radiograph cassette placed on the cranial surface of the stifle. However, superimposition of the tuber ischii and soft tissues caudal to the femur made 15° to 20° the best angle obtainable. There was not a significant difference (p = 0.17) in the notch width index between a 12° versus 20° angle of the central x-ray beam caudal to the femoral diaphysis, both with 7° of external rotation of the stifle. The notch width index of 0.252 obtained from radiographic measurements was not significantly different from measurements obtained grossly of 0.254 (n = 26; p = 0.69). Failure to oblique the central x-ray beam caused a significant (p = 0.0008) decrease in the apparent fossa width radiographically.
Grounded theory in genetic counseling research: an interpretive perspective.

As qualitative inquiry has gained wider acceptance in genetic counseling research, it has become increasingly important for researchers and those who evaluate their work to recognize the diversity of methods that fall under this broad umbrella. Some of these methods adhere to the traditional conventions of scientific research (e.g., objectivity, reliability, validity, replicability, causality and generalizability). When such studies are evaluated by reviewers who are well versed in scientific methods, the rigor of the study may be readily apparent. However, when researchers are using methods that do not conform to traditional scientific conventions, the distinction between well conducted and poorly conducted studies may become more difficult to discern. This article focuses on grounded theory because it is a widely used qualitative method. We highlight key components of this method in order to contrast conventions that fall within a scientific paradigm to those that fall within an interpretivist paradigm. The intent is to illustrate how the conventions within these two different paradigms yield different types of knowledge claims—both of which can advance genetic counseling theory and practice.
Cellular mechanisms of protein metabolism in the nephron. IV. The partition of succinoxidase and cytochrome oxidase activities in the cells of the proximal convolution of the rat after intraperitoneal injection of egg white.

1. Shifts of enzymatic activity have been followed during the formation and evolution of the droplets that form in the cells of the proximal convolution of the nephron of the rat after the injection of a 50 per cent solution of egg white in isotonic saline. 2. Twelve hours after injection there is a 35 to 40 per cent decrease in succinoxidase and cytochrome oxidase activities in the fraction containing the larger particles; i.e. mitochondria and droplets in equal concentration. Although after 30 hours the quantitative proportion of droplets and mitochondria is the same as previously, the activities of the fraction have returned to the normal observed originally in the uninjected rat in a corresponding fraction consisting of mitochondria only. 3. The microsome fraction shows an average increase of 35 per cent in oxidative enzyme activities during the early period following injection, and decreases to the original figure in the later period of droplet formation. 4. It is concluded from the shifting pattern of localization of oxidative enzyme activity within the cell particulates that the absorption droplets arise by the incorporation of the mitochondrial elements, which originally contain the highest enzyme activity, with absorbed protein through the intermediate stage of smaller (microsomal) particles.
Simultaneous image segmentation and 3D plane fitting for RGB-D sensors — An iterative framework

In this paper, we segment RGB-D sensor (e.g. Microsoft Kinect camera) images into 3D planar surfaces. We initialize a set of plane equations based solely from the depth (point cloud) information. We then iteratively refine the pixel-to-plane assignment and plane equations. During this process, the number of planes are also reduced by merging adjacent local planes with similar orientations. For the pixel-to-plane assignment, we treat the image as a Markov Random Field (MRF), and solve the association problem using graph-based global energy minimization. We design the energy terms to encapsulate both appearance cues from the RGB (color) channels and shape cues from the D (depth) channel. Experiments show that the use of both appearance and geometry information significantly improves the segmentation quality, especially so at genuine plane edges and plane intersections. As a byproduct, the framework also automatically fills in missing depth information.
Technological Tradition and Change in Tibetan Silversmithing Techniques in Songpan, Sichuan Province, China

Silver jewelry and repousse work have been a significant part of the material culture of Tibet for centuries. While objects such as offering bowls, skullcups, butter lamps, ewers, portable shrines and incense burners serve religious purposes, many other type of objects are important in the secular life of Tibetans. This secular silver material culture includes items such as necklaces, bracelets, rings, hair ornaments, amulet cases, vessels, belts or waistbands and hooks for milk pails or butter churners. The discussion presented here focuses on secular silver objects made in the workshop of a traditional Tibetan silversmith in the town of Songpan in northwestern Sichuan Province, China (traditionally comprising part of eastern Tibet). With interruptions in traditional practices during the Cultural Revolution, the question has been raised about whether or not such practices have continued [1]. This research is part of an effort to document traditional Tibetan craft practices and identify threats to their preservation. Workshop processes start with the craftsman acquiring the silver, making or buying tools, arranging the work area, and the customer commissioning a piece. Technical processes include working the silver ingot to form an object, annealing and quenching, making silver wire, filigree, granulation, soldering, inlay work, pickling and finishing. Some changes have been introduced in how the workshop operates during the lifetime of the current craftsman, leading to differences between his procedures and that of his father, under whom he apprenticed. Some of these changes are due to technological advances (new equipment becoming available) and some are due to larger societal changes (for example, new government regulations regarding purchasing of raw silver). These changes are often in technological style affecting the fabrication stages, but not necessarily visible in completed objects, which retain their traditional forms, visual style and functions.
Electronic structure of the benzene–tetracyanoethylene complex: A synthesis of molecular orbital and density functional descriptions

The electronic structure of the benzene–tetracyanoethylene electron donor–acceptor complex is investigated at the HF/6-311G** level of theory. The computed electronic wave function is analyzed with rigorous interpretive tools that involve both molecular orbital and density functional approaches. The in situ electronegativity difference is calculated at 3.32 eV, resulting in a charge transfer of 0.016. This extent of charge transfer is found to account for only ca. 17% of the interaction energy of ca. 33% of the dipole moment. The remaining part of the dipole moment originates from buckling of the tetracyanoethylene moiety. The dependence of the electronegativity difference on the magnitude of charge transfer is found to be highly nonlinear. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Molecular epidemiology of multiresistant Staphylococcus epidermidis

Molecular epidemiology has provided several clues about the antimicrobial resistance genes of nosocomial, multiresistant coagulase-negative staphylococci. First, it has shown that a huge reservoir of resistance genes is maintained in these organisms on the bodies of both patients and the hospital personnel who care for them. In turn, extensive use of antimicrobial agents within specific sectors of the hospital probably provides selection pressure for the evolution and amplification of these genes. Secondly, indirect evidence suggests that Staphylococcus epidermidis may itself serve as a reservoir for antimicrobial resistance genes that are transferred to S. aureus.
Late Pliocene equatorial Pacific

[1] Late Pliocene foraminiferal Mg/Ca and δ18O records from Ocean Drilling Program Hole 806B in the western equatorial Pacific (WEP) reveal warm pool climate evolution during the onset of Northern Hemisphere glaciation, 3.1–2.3 Myr B.P. Mg/Ca data indicate an average late Pliocene sea surface temperature (SST) of 27.8°C, a small long-term cooling of 0.3°C between 3.1 and 2.3 Ma, and a glacial-interglacial (G-I) SST range of 2°C throughout this time interval. For comparison, Pleistocene SSTs at this site over the last 0.9 Myr average 27.7°C with a G-I range of 3°C. Orbital-scale variability in Hole 806B SSTs during the late Pliocene occurs predominantly at ∼100 ka, in contrast to foraminiferal δ18O records, which show a dominant 41 kyr period. Variability at a 41 kyr period, out of phase with local annual insolation changes driven by obliquity, is also observed in the new WEP SST record. The WEP SST record suggests that an ∼3°C equatorial Pacific SST zonal gradient prevailed during the late Pliocene, compatible with a weaker Walker circulation. Adjustment of Hole 806B SSTs for past changes in seawater Mg/Ca suggests that SSTs higher than 30°C prevailed at 3 Myr B.P., followed by a progressive cooling of the warm pool through the late Pliocene. The characteristics of late Pliocene tropical climate evolution suggest that atmospheric greenhouse gas forcing played a major role in driving the observed G-I SST changes.
Computational materials science of cement-based materials

This paper describes recent research and theoretical results obtained for cement-based materials using computational materials science techniques. Computer-generated microstructure models are used to simulate the microstructure development during hydration, and exact algorithms are applied to these models to compute experimentally verifiable physical properties. Good agreement is found between experimental and simulation results.
Food metabolizability and water balance in intact and cecectomized great-horned owls

Abstract 1. 1. In great-horned owls food metabolizability, food intake and body weight were not significantly affected by cecectomy. 2. 2. Following cecectomy, water ingestion increased.
Graphics and Ethos in Biomedical Journals

This article describes a study that examined the tables and figures in articles from a basic research journal, The Journal of Cell Biology, and compared them to tables and figures from an applied medical journal, The New England Journal of Medicine. Comparison of graphics between the two journals shows sharp differences in terms of range of graphics types, visual consistency within and between articles, or use of color. As the articles take into account what is needed by different audiences, the graphics help to build the credibility of the journal. The study also addresses the question of how scientific visuals contribute to the persuasiveness of a writer, looking at how the graphics within an article affect the credibility or ethos of the writer.
AN INVASIVE PLANT PROMOTES UNSTABLE HOST–PARASITOID PATCH DYNAMICS

In theory, the rate of interpatch dispersal significantly influences the population dynamics of predators and their prey, yet there are relatively few field experiments that provide a strong link between these two processes. In tallgrass prairies of North America, the planthopper, Prokelisia crocea, and its specialist parasitoid, Anagrus columbi, exist among discrete host-plant patches (prairie cordgrass, Spartina pectinata). In many areas, the matrix, or habitat between patches, has become dominated by the invasive exotic grass, smooth brome (Bromus inermis). We performed a landscape-level field study in which replicate cordgrass networks (identical in number, size, quality, and distribution of cordgrass patches) were embedded in a matrix composed of either mudflat (a native matrix habitat) or smooth brome. Mark–recapture experiments with the planthopper and parasitoid revealed that the rate of movement among cordgrass patches for both species was 3–11 times higher in smooth brome than in mudflat. Within three generations, planthopper and parasitoid densities per patch were on average ∼50% lower and spatially 50–87% more variable for patches embedded in a brome as compared to a mudflat matrix. A brome-dominated landscape also promoted extinction rates per patch that were 4–5 times higher than the rates per patch in native mudflat habitat. The effect was more acute for the parasitoid. We suggest that the differences in population dynamics between networks of patches in brome and those in mudflat were driven by underlying differences in interpatch dispersal (i.e., patch connectivity). To our knowledge, this is the first experimental study to reveal that matrix composition, in particular, the presence of an invasive plant species, affects the spatial and temporal dynamics of an herbivore and its natural enemy.
Identity theft as a threat to CRM and e-commerce

Customer loyalty, a main component of customer relation management, is a tool used by companies to become profitable online. However, is currently under attack by the exponentially growing menace of identity thieves. In the past few years, identity theft has cost US consumers and businesses over $35 billion dollars. Identity theft affects everyone from businesses to consumers to government agencies. Through conceptual modelling and a variety of statistical techniques, including factor analysis and principal-components analysis, a series of hypotheses was tested on a sample of 107 working professionals in the metropolitan sector of Pittsburgh, PA. Six independent variable constructs, in order of decreasing variance explained or importance included Passwords and Security, Online Invasion, Security Priorities, Poor Experiences, Anti-Virus Protection and Employment Experience. A number of results points to the fact that individual customers must bear the majority of the burden to develop prevention strategies when dealing with identity thieves.
Homologous Recombination and Its Role in Carcinogenesis

Cancer develops when cells no longer follow their normal pattern of controlled growth. In the absence or disregard of such regulation, resulting from changes in their genetic makeup, these errant cells acquire a growth advantage, expanding into precancerous clones. Over the last decade, many studies have revealed the relevance of genomic mutation in this process, be it by misreplication, environmental damage, or a deficiency in repairing endogenous and exogenous damage. Here, we discuss homologous recombination as another mechanism that can result in a loss of heterozygosity or genetic rearrangements. Some of these genetic alterations may play a primary role in carcinogenesis, but they are more likely to be involved in secondary and subsequent steps of carcinogenesis by which recessive oncogenic mutations are revealed. Patients, whose cells display an increased frequency of recombination, also have an elevated frequency of cancer, further supporting the link between recombination and carcinogenesis.
Bone health in a nonjaundiced population of children with biliary atresia.

Objectives. To assess bone health in a cohort of nonjaundiced children with biliary atresia (BA) and the effect of growth and development on bone outcomes. Methods. Children ages one to eighteen years receiving care from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia were recruited. Each child was seen once and assessed for growth, pubertal development, concurrent medications, bilirubin, ALT, albumin, vitamin D status, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone mineral content (BMC) of the lumbar spine and whole body. Results. BMD declined significantly with age, and upon further analysis with a well-phenotyped control cohort, it was found that BMC was significantly decreased for both lumbar spine and whole body, even after adjustment for confounding variables. An age interaction was identified, with older subjects having a significantly greater impairment in BMC. Conclusions. These preliminary results demonstrate that children with BA, including those without jaundice, are likely to have compromised bone health even when accounting for height and puberty, which are common confounding factors in chronic disease. Further investigation is needed to identify the determinants of poor bone mineral status and to develop strategies to prevent osteoporosis later in life.
Chromosome banding and phylogenetics of the golden mouse, Ochrotomys nuttalli

The number and location of nucleolus organizer regions, and G- and C-band karyotypes of Ochrotomys nuttalli were compared with those of other seemingly closely related New World peromyscine rodents. Although Ochrotomys was once considered a subgenus of Peromyscus, it shares few apparent G-band homologies with any peromyscine. The presumed homologous karyotypic elements shared between Ochrotomys and other peromyscine genera also are shared with Neotoma (the probable sister group of peromyscines) and these elements are hypothesized to be primitive for the group. The largest autosome in Ochrotomys appears to be shared with a distantly related species, Sigmodon hispidus, and this chromosome might be represented as two acrocentric autosomes (tandem fission products) in peromyscines and Neotoma. If this hypothesis is correct, the peromyscines as currently recognized likely are polyphyletic. The unusually extensive rearrangement of the Ochrotomys karyotype relative to peromyscines appears to represent a case of karyotypic megaevolution.
Geometry of a Black Hole Collision

The Binary Black Hole Alliance was formed to study the collision of black holes and the resulting gravitational radiation by computationally solving Einstein's equations for general relativity. The location of the black hole surface in a head-on collision has been determined in detail and is described here. The geometrical features that emerge are presented along with an analysis and explanation in terms of the spacetime curvature inherent in the strongly gravitating black hole region. This curvature plays a direct, important, and analytically explicable role in the formation and evolution of the event horizon associated with the surfaces of the black holes.
Role of the GlnK signal transduction protein in the regulation of nitrogen assimilation in Escherichia coli

Two structurally similar but functionally distinct PII-like proteins, PII and GlnK, regulate nitrogen assimilation in Escherichia coli. Studies with cells indicated that both PII (the glnB product) and GlnK (the glnK product) acted through the kinase/phosphatase NRII [NtrB, the glnL (ntrB) product] to reduce transcription initiation from Ntr promoters, apparently by regulating the phosphorylation state of the transcriptional activator NRI-P (NtrC-P, the phosphorylated form of the glnG (ntrC) product). Both GlnK and PII also acted through adenylyltransferase (ATase, the glnE product) to regulate the adenylylation state of glutamine synthetase (GS). The activity of both GlnK and PII was regulated by the signal-transducing uridylyltransferase/uridylyl-removing enzyme (UTase/UR, glnD product). Our experiments indicate that either PII or GlnK could effectively regulate ATase, but that PII was required for the efficient regulation of NRII required to prevent expression of glnA, which encodes GS. Yet, GlnK also participated in regulation of NRII. Although cells that lack either PII or GlnK grew well, cells lacking both of these proteins were defective for growth on nitrogen-rich minimal media. This defect was alleviated by the loss of NRII, and was apparently due to unregulated expression of the Ntr regulon. Also, mutations in glnK, designated glnK*, were obtained as suppressors of the Ntr- phenotype of a double mutant lacking PII and the UTase/UR. These suppressors appeared to reduce, but not eliminate, the ability of GlnK to prevent Ntr gene expression by acting through NRII. We hypothesize that one role of GlnK is to regulate the expression of the level of NRI-P during conditions of severe nitrogen starvation, and by so doing to contribute to the regulation of certain Ntr genes.
Rationality, Optimality, and Choice Esser's Reconstruction of Alfred Schutz's Theory of Action

The article responds to Hartmut Esser's essay, “The Rationality of Everyday Behavior. A Rational Choice Reconstruction of the Theory of Action by Alfred Schutz,” which also appears in this issue. The author provides historical and contextual evidence in support of Esser's thesis that Schutz's theory of action converges with rational choice theory in fundamental respects. He is more critical of Esser's second purpose, however, which is to subsume Schutz's theory of action under the framework of subjective expected utility theory. Prendergast argues that the two-step selection rule that Esser devises to this end reduces rational choice to a tautology.
Molecular mechanisms for the regulation of histone mRNA stem-loop–binding protein by phosphorylation

Replication-dependent histone mRNAs end with a conserved stem loop that is recognized by stem-loop–binding protein (SLBP). The minimal RNA-processing domain of SLBP is phosphorylated at an internal threonine, and Drosophila SLBP (dSLBP) also is phosphorylated at four serines in its 18-aa C-terminal tail. We show that phosphorylation of dSLBP increases RNA-binding affinity dramatically, and we use structural and biophysical analyses of dSLBP and a crystal structure of human SLBP phosphorylated on the internal threonine to understand the striking improvement in RNA binding. Together these results suggest that, although the C-terminal tail of dSLBP does not contact the RNA, phosphorylation of the tail promotes SLBP conformations competent for RNA binding and thereby appears to reduce the entropic penalty for the association. Increased negative charge in this C-terminal tail balances positively charged residues, allowing a more compact ensemble of structures in the absence of RNA.
The Evolution of Cellular Degeneration in Dorsal Root Ganglia Exposed to Doxorubicin in Tissue Culture

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin®) is a drug having both antibiotic and antimitotic properties. It intercalates between base pairs of DNA causing breaks in the helical strands. It is widely used as a cancer chemotherapeutic agent but is limited in use by a dose-related cardiomyopathy and necrosis of peripheral ganglia. This study of cultured mouse spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia examined the sequential pathological changes of living tissue by light and fluoresence microscopy and of fixed tissue by electron microscopy. Fluorescence microscopy showed that doxorubicin has rapid access to ganglia cells and preferentially binds to the nucleus and nucleolus. Pathological changes of the peripheral neurons include clumping of nuclear chromatin, relocation of the indented nucleus to an eccentric position, occasional loss of the nuclear envelope, dissociation of the nucleolus into the pars granulosa and the pars fibrosa, accumulation of inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm, swollen cisternae and a loss of Nissl substance. Axons display changes in localization of organelles prior to undergoing proximal Wallerian-like degeneration. Schwann cells occasionally display clumped nuclear chromatin. Some satellite cells undergo necrosis. These findings are dose- and time-related and essentially duplicate those previously reported in animal studies. Thus, the in vitro model may provide a useful tool for ascertaining the sequence of events occurring in sensory neuronopathy
Optical soliton perturbation with nonlinear damping and saturable amplifiers

Abstract The method of multiple-scale perturbation method is developed in a new way to study the propagation of optical solitons through a fiber governed by the perturbed nonlinear Schrodinger’s equation. We show that by newly introducing a proper definition of the phase of the soliton for the first time, one can obtain the correction to the pulse at the higher order. Also, numerical simulations support the analytical argument.
Comparison of eigenvalues for Sturm-Liouville boundary value problems on a measure chain

Abstract Under consideration is a class of even-ordered linear differential equations (-1) m χ δ 2m (t)=α ∑ i=0 m-1 p i (t)χ δ 2i (ω(t)) with Sturm-Liouville boundary conditions α i χ δ 2i (0) − β i +χ δ 2i (ω) = 0, y i +1χ δ 2i (ω(1)) + δ i +1χ δ 2i (ω(1)) = 0, for 0 ≤ i ≤ m − 1. The derivative in this dynamic equation is the generalized delta-derivative defined on a measure chain. For a pair of eigenvalue problems for this dynamic equation, we first verify the existence of smallest positive eigenvalues and then establish a comparison between the smallest eigenvalues of each eigenvalue problem.
Evidence for the Role of Propagating Stress Waves during Fracture

During the fracture of a brittle material, the breaking of a bond launches a propagating stress wave which may trigger the breaking of other bonds. Such a process might be important just prior to an avalanche of bond-breaking events when there would be a relatively high density of bonds on the verge of breaking. This paper reports experiments with a model brittle material where the time and location of individual bond-breaking events are measured during fracture. Evidence for the role of propagating stress waves has been found.
Atomic three- and four-body recurrence formulas and related summations

A new recursive procedure is reported for the evaluation of certain three-body integrals involving exponentially correlated atomic orbitals. The procedure is more rapidly convergent than those reported earlier. The formulas are relevant to ab initio electronic-structure computations on three- and four-body systems. They also illustrate techniques that are useful in the evaluation of summations involving binomial coefficients.
Universality of the operator product expansions of SCFT4

Abstract We study the operator product algebra of the supercurrent J α α and Konishi superfield K in four-dimensional supersymmetric gauge theories. The Konishi superfield appears in the JJ OPE and the algebra is characterized by two central charges c and c ′ and an anomalous dimension h for K . In free field (one-loop) approximation, c ∼ 3 N ν + N χ and c ′ ∼ N χ , where N ν and N χ are, respectively, the number of vector and chiral multiplets in the theory. In higher order c , c ′ and h depend on the gauge and Yukawa couplings and we obtain the two-loop contributions by combining earlier work on c with our own calculations of c ′ and h . The major result is that the radiative corrections to the central charges cancel when the one-loop beta-functions vanish, suggesting that c and c ′ are invariant under continuous deformations of superconformal theories. The behavior of c and c ′ along renormalization group flows is studied from the viewpoint of a c -theorem.
Solar X-ray Jets, Type-II Spicules, Granule-size Emerging Bipoles, and the Genesis of the Heliosphere

From Hinode observations of solar X-ray jets, Type-II spicules, and granule-size emerging bipolar magnetic fields in quiet regions and coronal holes, we advocate a scenario for powering coronal heating and the solar wind. In this scenario, Type-II spicules and Alfv?n waves are generated by the granule-size emerging bipoles (EBs) in the manner of the generation of X-ray jets by larger magnetic bipoles. From observations and this scenario, we estimate that Type-II spicules and their co-generated Alfv?n waves carry into the corona an area-average flux of mechanical energy of ~7 ? 105?erg?cm?2?s?1. This is enough to power the corona and solar wind in quiet regions and coronal holes, and therefore indicates that the granule-size EBs are the main engines that generate and sustain the entire heliosphere.
The intelligent pediatric cardiologist's guide to resource allocation between high technology and primary care

Abstract Health care costs are increasing at an unsustainable rate, largely due to changes in technology that raise rather than lower costs. As a result, policymakers are examining options and methods for changing the mix of high technology and primary care. This paper reviews four methods of allocating resources between these two types of care and finds flaws with each. The first method, the status quo, allocates resources largely based on the patient's insurance status, an approach that is highly inequitable. A second approach, used in Canada and Europe, is to substantially shift the balance of care toward primary care, largely through constraining the availability of high-technology resources. The third method, cost-effectiveness analysis, fails to address the fact that most persons find ‘saving a life’ more worthy than providing a small benefit to a large number of people. The final method, allocation by community values, cannot adequately overcome the deep differences in values that exist in society.
Atmospheric mercury in northern Wisconsin: Sources and species

The atmospheric chemistry, deposition and transport of mercury (Hg) in the Upper Great Lakes region is being investigated at a near-remote sampling location in northern Wisconsin. Intensive sampling over two years and various seasons has been completed. A multi-phase collection strategy (gas-, particle- and precipitation-phases) was employed to gain insight into the processes controlling concentrations and chemical/physical speciation of atmospheric Hg. Additional chemical and physical atmospheric determinations (e.g. ozone, particulate constituents, meteorology) were also made during these periods to aid in the interpretation of the Hg determinations. For example, correlations of Hg with ozone, sulfur dioxide and synoptic-scale meteorological features suggest a regionally discernible signal in Hg. Comparison to isosigma backward air parcel trajectories confirms this regionality and implicates the areas south, southeast and northwest of the site to be sources; for Hg. Particle-phase Hg (Hgp) was found to be approximately 40% in an oxidized form, or operationally defined as “reactive”. However, this was quite variable from year-to-year. Hgp and other particle constituents (esp. sulfate) show significant correlation and similarity in behavior (concentration ratios in precipitation and in particles). These observations are part of the growing evidence to support the hypothesis that precipitation-phase Hg arises in large part from the scavenging of atmospheric particulates bearing Hg. Observed concentrations of rain and particle-Hg fit broadly the theoretical expectations for nucleation and below-cloud scavenging. Significant increases in the Hg/aerosol mass ratio appear to take place during transport Enrichment of aerosols is taken as evidence of gas/particle conversion which could represent the step linking gas-phase Hg with rain. The refined budget indicates ca. 24% of total deposition is from summer particle dry deposition, and that this deposition also contributes ca. 24% of all reactive Hg deposition. Additionally, almost all (86%) deposition (wet and dry) occurs during the summer months.
Perspective taking in conversation: A defense of speaker non-egocentricity

Abstract The goal of this paper is twofold. The overarching aim is to address the issue of egocentrism and to argue that conversational participants are generally not egocentric. However, it also secondarily addresses the issue of the appropriate methods to use to study perspective taking in conversation. I argue that we should not rely solely on narrow temporal focus, individualistic methodologies, such as those used in Visual World eye-tracking studies, which tend to look at millisecond snapshots of the behavior of individuals rather than at broad temporal swaths of behavior of dyads (or of larger groups of conversationalists). I also challenge the idea that in referential communication there is a first automatic, egocentric phase of comprehension that is then followed by a conscious and effortful non-egocentric phase.
Long-term high-velocity oxidation and hot corrosion testing of several NiCrAl and FeCrAl base oxide dispersion strengthened alloys

Several oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloys have been tested for cyclic, long-term, high gas-velocity resistance to oxidation at 1100°C and hot corrosion at 900°C. Both nominally Ni-16Cr-4Al and Fe-20Cr-4.5Al ODS alloys were subjected up to ∼2500 cycles, where each cycle consisted of 1 hr in a hot, Mach 0.3 combusted gas stream followed by a 3-min quench in an ambient temperature, Mach 0.3 air blast. For comparison to existing technology, a coated superalloy was simultaneously tested. The ODS iron alloy exhibited clearly superior behavior, surviving ∼3800 oxidation and ∼2300 hot corrosion cycles essentially unscathed. While the ODS nickel alloys exhibited adequate oxidation resistance, the long-term hot corrosion resistance could be marginal, since the best life for such alloys under these conditions was only ∼1100 cycles. However, the hot corrosion resistance of the ODS Ni-base alloys is excellent in comparison to that of traditional superalloys.
How to determine detection performance of a DPC-CTsystem from a conventional cone beam CT system?

Although the relative ease of implementation and compact nature of grating-based differential phase contrast CT (DPC-CT) has sparked tremendous enthusiasm for potential medical applications, the pros and cons of this imaging method remains to be addressed before an actual clinical system can be constructed. To address these unknowns, either numerical simulations or direct hardware implementations can be used. However, both approaches have their limitations. It is highly desirable to develop a research method to enable imaging performance prediction for a future DPC-CT system from the performance of an available absorption CT (ACT) system. In this paper, a theoretical framework was developed to accurately predict the noise properties and detection performance of DPC-CT from that of conventional ACT. The framework was derived based on a fundamental noise relationship between DPC-CT and ACT and was experimentally validated. An example has been given in the paper on how the framework can be utilized to predict model observer detectability index of a DPC breast CT constructed based on an existing absorption breast CT. This framework is expected to become a valuable tool in addressing the following questions: (i) With a fixed radiation dose in a particular clinical application, how well can a specific detection/discrimination imaging task can be performed provided that an existing ACT scanner is modified into a DPC-CT by inserting a grating interferometer, which is characterized by a few design parameters (e.g., pitches and duty cycles of the gratings, relative distance between the gratings, etc.) into the ACT system? (ii) If a DPC-CT system can outperform an ACT for certain detection/discrimination tasks under the constraint of identical radiation dose to the image object, how would one optimize design parameters of the gratings in order to maximize its potential clinical benefits?
Corrosion risk management in IT facilities

Environmental conditions in data centers determine the reliability of the IT equipment and operational uptimes. Due to continuous increase in energy usage and a trend towards sustainability, leads many data center operators to lean towards implementing energy efficiency measures. Many of today's data center are operated in a narrow temperature and relative humidity band, however these may change as ASHRAE recently expanded the limits of the temperature and relative humidity. These expansions are triggered by recent interest to implement air side economizer based cooling in data centers. For air side economized data centers besides pollutants that can be introduced unintentionally, the daily variation of temperature and relative humidity could possibly lead to condensation or corrosion. The variation of the corrosion rate due to daily changes of the indoor pollutant concentrations combined with temperature and humidity cycling are presented for a data center.
IF THEY GROW UP: EXPLORING THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT OF ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT SURVIVAL EXPECTATIONS.

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this paper examines individual and neighborhood predictors of adolescent and young adult survival expectations - their confidence of surviving to age 35. Analyses revealed that within-person increases in depression and violent perpetration decreased the odds of expecting to survive. Individuals who rated themselves in good health and received routine physical care had greater survival expectations. Consistent with documented health disparities, Black and Hispanic youth had lower survival expectations than did their White peers. Neighborhood poverty was linked to diminished survival expectations both within and between persons, with the between person association remaining significant controlling for mental and physical health, exposure to violence, own violence, and a wide range of socio-demographic factors. Language: en
Differential impact of serum glucose, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol on cardiovascular risk factor burden in nondiabetic, obese African American women: implications for the prevalence of metabolic syndrome

Abstract Metabolic syndrome (MetS) as defined by the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III criteria includes 3 metabolic parameters: serum glucose, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) measurements. However, the impact of each of the 3 metabolic parameters on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in African American women (AAW) is unknown. Therefore, we investigated CVD risk clusters associated with each of the 3 metabolic components of MetS in adult nondiabetic, overweight/obese AAW. We studied the clinical and metabolic CVD risk factors of 258 AAW (mean age, 42.4 ± 8.4 years; mean body mass index, 33.4 ± 8.0 (kg/m2). Fasting serum insulin, glucose, and C-peptide levels were obtained in each subject. Waist circumference and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured. Insulin sensitivity (Bergman minimal model method) and insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment) were calculated. We examined the prevalence of MetS and its components associated with each of the 3 metabolic components (ie, serum glucose, HDL-C, and triglycerides) of the MetS as defined by ATP III. Worsening of any of the 3 metabolic parameters was associated with increasing waist circumference but not with age and body mass index nor with insulin, C-peptide, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and insulin sensitivity. As a group, the prevalence of MetS was 35.5% in our AAW. The prevalence of MetS increased 3-fold from first to third tertiles of serum glucose (14.1% and 42.3%, respectively). Worsening of serum HDL-C from tertiles 3 to 1 was associated with significant increases in the prevalence of MetS (1.2% vs 42.3%, respectively). Comparing first with third tertile of triglycerides, there was no significant increase in MetS in our AAW (7% vs 17%). Contrasting the 3 metabolic components, the prevalence of MetS was higher in the third tertile of glucose (43.2%) and first tertile of HDL-C (42.3%) and least with the third tertile of triglycerides (17%). In summary, each of the metabolic components of MetS was associated with different degrees of the clustering of CVD risk factors in AAW. We found that alterations in serum glucose and HDL-C were more predictive of MetS, each yielding approximately 40% of the prevalence of MetS in our nondiabetic, obese AAW. We found that triglycerides had the least impact on MetS in our AAW. We propose (1) that the 3 metabolic parameters for MetS defined by ATP III should be weighted differently with respect to their potential for CVD risks and perhaps outcomes and (2) that nondiabetic AAW in our third tertile of serum glucose (>100 mg/dL) and/or first tertile of HDL-C (
Near surface measurements with a Doppler current profiler

The ability of the RD instruments 1200-kHz Doppler current profiler to measure currents in the near-surface layer is discussed. Data are presented from tests where an RD system was mounted on a bottom sled in an upward-looking mode. The sled was towed by a carriage at precise speeds in a test basin with and without waves. Data show mean flow errors with and without waves in all bins to the surface. Data were sampled at sufficient speed to look at wave particle velocities. An evaluation of that data is presented. An evaluation of sidelobe effects and sidelobe deflection techniques to obtain undistorted measurements is presented. >
Diversity and dissimilarity coefficients: A unified approach☆

Three general methods for obtaining measures of diversity within a population and dissimilarity between populations are discussed. One is based on an intrinsic notion of dissimilarity between individuals and others make use of the concepts of entropy and discrimination. The use of a diversity measure in apportionment of diversity between and within populations is discussed.
Graphene and carbon nanotube photonics

Graphene and carbon nanotube based photonic devices, including light emitters and high bandwidth photodetectors are demonstrated. The potential of these truly nanometer scale, 2-dimensional (graphene) and quasi 1-dimensional (nanotube) carbon materials in photonics are discussed.
Principles of a Low Fat Diet

From personal experience on low fat diets and through experience gained treating patients with low fat diets, the authors suggest that when such a diet is prescribed carefully it may be quite palatable and also reduce serum cholesterol concentration. The principles of a low fat diet and methods for making the diet appetizing are presented. Sample diet instruction sheets which can be individualized for different patients are also illustrated.
Monotone Recurrence Relations, Their Birkhoff Orbits and Topological Entropy.

Abstract : A generalization of the class of monotone twistmaps to maps of S sub 1 x R sub n is proposed. The existence of Birkhoff orbits is studied, and a criterion for positive topological entropy is given. These results are then specialized to the case of monotone twist maps. Finally it is shown that there is a large class of symplectic maps to which the foregoing discussion applies. Keywords: Dynamical systems; Theorems.
Surface image velocimetry for measuring short wind wave kinematics

Techniques are developed here for determining the propagation speeds of short wind waves from surface slope images. The surface slope images are taken in experiments at three different wind-wave facilities in Heidelberg, Marseilles, and San Diego. Travel distances of wavelets of different scales are determined from image pairs captured within a very short time interval by both wavelet tracking and coherence analysis methods. It is shown, for the first time by direct measurements, that most of the short wind waves are dispersive.
Óscar Romero and the Politics of Sainthood

In this article, we explore the debates surrounding the proposed canonization of Archbishop Oscar Romero, an outspoken defender of human rights and the poor during the civil war in El Salvador, who was assassinated in March 1980 by paramilitary death squads while saying Mass. More specifically, we examine the tension between, on the one hand, local and popular understandings of Romero’s life and legacy and, on the other hand, transnational and institutional interpretations. We argue that the reluctance of the Vatican to advance Romero’s canonization process has to do with the need to domesticate and “privatize” his image. This depoliticization of Romero’s work and teachings is a part of a larger agenda of neo-Romanization, an attempt by the Holy See to redeploy a post-colonial and transnational Catholic regime in the face of the crisis of modernity and the advent of postmodern relativism. This redeployment is based on the control of local religious expressions, particularly those that advocate for a more participatory church, which have proliferated with contemporary globalization