cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On global symmetric solutions to the relativistic Vlasov–Poisson equation in three space dimensions

A collisionless plasma is modelled by the Vlasov–Maxwell system. In the presence of very large velocities, relativistic corrections are meaningful. When magnetic effects are ignored this formally becomes the relativistic Vlasov–Poisson equation. The initial datum for the phase space density ƒ0(x, v) is assumed to be sufficiently smooth, non-negative and cylindrically symmetric. If the (two-dimensional) angular momentum is bounded away from zero on the support of ƒ0(x, v), it is shown that a smooth solution to the Cauchy problem exists for all times. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toward a framework for examining agribusiness competitiveness.

A framework for examining the competitiveness of firms in the food and agribusiness sector based on the firm's view of the vertical production-marketing system is offered- Recent examples are used to illustrate the evolution of perspectives employed by firms in the sector away from the producer towards the consumer. The need for a systems perspective in addressing competitiveness is stressed throughout the article. Areas for further research are suggested.
Presidential campaign expenditures: Evidence on allocations and effects

This paper analyzes the impact of presidential campaign spending on election results. Analyses of expenditures and voting are often plagued by simultaneity between campaign spending and expected vote share. However, game-theoretic models of resource-allocation decisions made by a central actor (i.e., a presidential campaign) suggest that candidates will spend more in close races and in races likely to be pivotal. We provide empirical support for this theory; using Federal Communications Commission data from the 1972 presidential election, we find that expenditures were higher in states where the election was expected to be closer and in states likely to be pivotal. We use these two factors as instruments in a two-stage least squares model to estimate the effect of spending on votes. We find that, contrary to previous theory and research, presidential campaign spending significantly increases a candidate's vote share.
Understanding multidigit whole numbers: The role of knowledge components, connections, and context in understanding regrouping 3+-digit numbers

Abstract This case study of a PST's understanding of regrouping with multidigit whole numbers in base-10 and non-base-10 contexts shows that although she seems to have all the knowledge elements necessary to give a conceptually based explanation of regrouping in the context of 3-digit numbers, she is unable to do so. This inability may be due to a lack of connections among various knowledge components (conceptual knowledge) or a lack of connections between knowledge components and context (strategic knowledge). Although she exhibited both conceptual and strategic knowledge of numbers while regrouping 2-digit numbers, her struggles in explaining regrouping 3-digit numbers in the context of the standard algorithms indicate that explaining regrouping with 3-digit is not a mere extension of doing so for 2-digit numbers. She also accepts an overgeneralization of the standard algorithms for subtraction to a time (mixed-base) context, indicating a lack of recognition of the connections between the base-10 contexts and the standard algorithms. Implications for instruction are discussed.
The use of particle image velocimetry in the physical modeling of flow in electromagnetic or direct-chill casting of aluminum part II. Results of the physical model, including bag geometry, blockage, and nozzle placement

This second part of a two-part article describes the application of the physical model and particle image velocimetry (PIV) system, treated in Part I, to studying the flows in the pool at the top of the casters used for semicontinuous casting of aluminum. The effects of various designs of “bags” that are used in the industry to modify the flow were determined, as were the effects of blocking the outflow “windows” of the bag and the effects of varying the submergence of the nozzle delivering metal into the bag. The flows were found to be strongly dependent on bag design; for example, on the length of the bag and the presence of windows in the bottom of the bag. Flows in the vicinity of the (simulated) solidification front were greatly changed by such apparently small changes in design as lengthening the bag by 50 mm. A qualitative explanation is offered for some of these effects, and the article ends with a discussion of what might be the best flow from the viewpoint of caster operability or ingot structure.
Internet Accessible Remote Experimentation: Setting the Right Course of Action

This paper will have two parts. In the first part the author will focus on the current status of remote experimentation designs and how this has impacted our education and research activities with a notion that whether we are moving too fast while its acceptance has not yet realized. While for the second part, the author will describe some of the developments of remote experiment designs through his own work. Researchers have been working on remote experimentations for a considerable period of time and are making remarkable breakthroughs utilizing cutting edge technologies and current understanding of educational and learning strategies. After all of these developments, the popularity of remote experimentations is still very limited and does not have the attention of the academic community to incorporate them as a part of their regular curriculum. There are a number of factors that hinder acceptance of remote laboratories as a part of a curriculum. These are integration of a number of areas, modular designs, commercial products, maintenance, and administrative support. The paper will address these issues and will highlight how we can move forward in a coordinated manner so there will be a viable remote experimentation infrastructure with a high degree of acceptance. The author has a number of federal research grants (USA) where he has developed Internet accessible remote experimentation facilities. These facilities have features like use of single computer for accessing multiple experiments, manipulating experimental setup from remote locations, integrated assessment, and real-time learning management features. The developed facilities have used for delivering a number of experiment courses, while gathering data in terms of achieving learning outcomes and assessing the effectiveness of the system in terms of system designs.
Quotas in the International Monetary Fund

NE OF THE KEY ELEMENTS of the International Monetary Fund, agreed at Bretton Woods, was the multipurpose quota.' The purpose of this paper is to describe the role and the operating significance of Fund quotas. This will be done by examining (1) the nature of and the relation between the functions ascribed to quotas, (2) the determination of quotas for original members at Bretton Woods and for the members admitted after the Fund commenced operations, (3) the adequacy of quotas, in the light of their functions and of economic developments since Bretton Woods, and (4) the adjustment and review of quotas.
The creative industry of integrative systems biology

Integrative systems biology (ISB) is among the most innovative fields of contemporary science, bringing together scientists from a range of diverse backgrounds and disciplines to tackle biological complexity through computational and mathematical modeling. The result is a plethora of problem-solving techniques, theoretical perspectives, lab-structures and organizations, and identity labels that have made it difficult for commentators to pin down precisely what systems biology is, philosophically or sociologically. In this paper, through the ethnographic investigation of two ISB laboratories, we explore the particular structural features of ISB thinking and organization and its relations to other disciplines that necessitate cognitive innovation at all levels from lab PI’s to individual researchers. We find that systems biologists face numerous constraints that make the production of models far from straight-forward, while at the same time they inhabit largely unstructured task environments in comparison to other fields. We refer to these environments as adaptive problem spaces. These environments they handle by relying substantially on the flexibility and affordances of model-based reasoning to integrate these various constraints and find novel adaptive solutions. Ultimately what is driving this innovation is a determination to construct new cognitive niches in the form of functional model building frameworks that integrate systems biology within the biological sciences. The result is an industry of diverse and different innovative practices and solutions to the problem of modeling complex, large-scale biological systems.
Study of interaction between silicon surfaces in dilute ammonia peroxide mixtures (APM) and their components using atomic force microscope (AFM)

Force measurements have been conducted between H-terminated Si surface and Si tip in DI-water, NH"4OH:H"2O (1:100), H"2O"2:H"2O (1:100) and NH"4OH:H"2O"2:H"2O (1:1:100-1:1:500) solutions as a function of immersion time using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The approach force curve results show attractive forces in DI-water, NH"4OH:H"2O (1:100) and H"2O"2:H"2O (1:100) solutions at separation distances of less than 10nm for all immersion times (2, 10 and 60min) investigated in this study. In the case of dilute ammonia-hydrogen peroxide mixtures, the interaction forces are purely repulsive within 2min of immersion time. The adhesion forces have also been measured between the surface and the tip in DI-water, NH"4OH:H"2O (1:100) and H"2O"2:H"2O (1:100) solutions. The magnitude of the adhesion force is in the range of 0.8-10.5nN in these solutions. In dilute APM solutions, no adhesion force is measured between the surface and the tip and repulsive forces dominated at all separation distances.
Can You Hold Please? How Internal Medicine Residents Deal With Patient Telephone Calls

Little is known about the mechanisms used in internal medicine residency programs to handle patient telephone calls. To address this, a survey of internal medicine residents was conducted at 10 different internal medicine residency programs. The response rate was 76% (N = 388). Approximately 90% of the residents handled patient telephone calls. The residents saw a mean of 7 patients per week in clinic (standard deviation +/- 2) and received an average of 2 patient calls daily (standard deviation +/- 2). The mean number of patient calls received each night on-call was 3 (standard deviation +/- 6) and on weekend call days, an average of 4 patient calls were received (standard deviation +/- 8). Internal medicine residents reported spending an average of 7 minutes per call talking to the patient (standard deviation +/- 5) and 8 minutes in follow-up activities (standard deviation +/- 6). Residents reported documenting calls less than 35% of the time. Residents disagreed with the statements "I am very satisfied with my patient telephone call system" and "My patients are very satisfied with my telephone call system." Most internal medicine residents handle a significant amount of patient telephone calls, and the systems for handling these calls are less than satisfactory. The procedures used to manage patient calls and the training for this component of practice should be improved.
Laparoscopic skills training

Abstract Background: The purpose of this study was to quantify the learning curve of a previously validated laparoscopic skills curriculum. Methods: Second-year medical students (MS2, n=11) and second (PGY2, n=11) and third (PGY3, n=6) year surgery residents were enrolled into a curriculum using five video-trainer tasks. All subjects underwent baseline testing, training (30 minutes per day for 10 days), and final testing. Scores were based on completion time. The relationship between task completion time and the number of practice repetitions was examined. Improvement (the difference in baseline and final performance) amongst groups was compared by one-way analysis of variance using the baseline score as a covariate; P Results: Baseline scores were not significantly different. Final scores were significantly better for MS2s versus PGY3s. Adjusted-improvement was significantly larger for the MS2s compared with PGY2s and PGY3s, and for PGY2s compared with PGY3s. The mean number of repetitions corresponding to a predicted 90th percentile score was 32. Conclusions: Inexperienced subjects benefit the most from skills training. For maximal benefit, we recommend that each task be practiced for at least 30 to 35 repetitions.
Response of stoichiometric and rich premixed methane-air flames to unsteady strain rate and curvature

The interaction of a premixed methane-air flame with a two-dimensional counter-rotating vortex pair is studied under stoichiometric and rich conditions using a detailed C1C2 chemical mechanism. The flame structure and transient response are examined, both at curved cusps and on the vortex-pair centreline. Differences between the two flames are observed in the unsteady behaviour of species mole fractions and production rates. In contrast with earlier one-dimensional opposed-jet flame data, the present results show that the rich flame exhibits a faster response to unsteady strain-rate disturbances than does the stoichiometric flame. Analysis of the results suggest this may be due to the increased dependence of the flame on H, and the decreased role of OH, under rich conditions. Results are also presented from an experimental V-flame vortex-pair interaction study. Measured peak CH and OH data are also found to exhibit a faster flame response under rich conditions.
The Accafellows: exploring the music making and culture of a collegiate a cappella ensemble

Despite the growth in number and popularity of collegiate a cappella ensembles in the USA over the past 20 years, few researchers have studied these self-governed, student-run, popular music ensembles. This ethnographic case study examined the music making and culture of the Accafellows, an all-male a cappella group at a mid-western American university. An analysis of coded data from individual and group interviews and rehearsal and performance observations revealed five emergent themes: (1) music-making culture; (2) fraternity; (3) alumni involvement; (4) autonomy, leadership and hierarchy; and (5) value of participation. Findings provide a glimpse into the musical lives of the nine members of the group and shed light on the value of their participation in this music ensemble. On the basis of these findings, the author provides recommendations for music educators and suggests future research on informal music practices in formal settings.
Fundamental Problems Lie Ahead in the Drug Discovery and Commercialization Process: Restructuring of the Pharmaceutical Industry and an Improved Partnership with Academia Are Required

The upcoming years should be a golden age for drug discovery because the Human Genome Project, with the complete sequencing of the human genome, should reveal literally thousands of potential new drug targets. This new information, together with the increased understanding of transcription control, signaling pathways, protein structure and function, computer modeling of molecular interactions, and rational drug design (virtual screening), should bode well for a large series of drug discoveries based on molecular information. If the above scenario is potentially valid, it is in everyone's interest to facilitate the process to make it happen because nothing less than the improved health of tens of millions of people in the United States, and hundreds of millions of people worldwide is at stake. However, it is now becoming apparent that the pharmaceutical industry, as presently structured, will not be able to translate these new opportunities into an adequate number of marketed drugs to sustain much of the industry financially. In fact, the current downtrend will continue if the industry continues on its present course, and it will be in serious trouble within the next 5 years. If the golden age is to happen, first, the pharmaceutical industry has to be restructured to make profits from smaller patient population markets, and, second, a partnership needs to be developed between industry and academia for drug discovery to make the whole process much less expensive and faster. For its part, academia is currently ill-prepared to play a significantly more important role in drug discovery. Thus, by analogy, we are looking at a two-wheeled cart to carry the burden of drug discovery into the next few decades, with the tire on the drug industry wheel already leaking badly and the tire on the academia wheel almost flat. In this article, I review the current approaches …
Capillary Viscometry of Some Lyotropic Nematics

Abstract Capillary viscometry measurements as a function of temperature were made on two lyotropic nematic liquid crystals involving the surfactants potassium laurate and sodium decylsulfate. The transitions between rod-like, disc-like, and biaxial phases are clearly seen, and the origins of the anomalies are discussed.
Effects of inoculum density and cultivar resistance on common scab of potato and population dynamics of Streptomyces scabies

The interaction ofStreptomyces scabies, causal agent of common scab, and its potato host was examined under scab-conducive conditions in the greenhouse. Three potato cultivars with different levels of resistance to common scab were inoculated with four levels of two rifampin-resistant strains ofS. scabies. In general, scab severity increased linearly with an increase in log10 of the inoculum, but both cultivar resistance and strain ofS. scabies affected the slope of the regression line. Rhizosphere and rhizoplane populations ofS. scabies also increased with increasing soil population. One strain ofS. scabies consistently had higher rhizosphere and rhizoplane populations than the other strain. However, rhizosphere population was not consistently related to scab severity, scab incidence, cultivar resistance, or strain virulence.
Automated correction of phase errors in the Advanced Photon Source linac.

Maintaining stable phasing in a linear accelerator is crucial for maintaining optimal performance. If phasing is incorrect, the beam will in general have an energy error and increased energy spread. While an energy error can be readily detected and corrected using position readings from beam position monitors at dispersion locations, this method is not useful for correcting energy spread in a system with many possible phase errors. While energy spread can be corrected by looking at beam size at a dispersive location, this typically involves a beam-intercepting diagnostic and is not compatible with top-up operation. Uncorrected energy spread results in poor capture efficiency in downstream accelerators, such as the Advanced Photon Source (APS) particle accumulator ring or booster synchrotron. To address this issue, APS has implemented beam-to-rf phase detectors in the linac, along with software for automatic correction of phase errors. We discuss the design, implementation, and performance of these detectors, as well as their use in feedback to automatically correct linac phase errors during top-up operation.
Maximizing throughput of power/thermal-constrained processors by balancing power consumption of cores

Technology scaling allows manufacturers to integrate more cores into a single chip (i.e., many-core processor), which delivers higher throughput by exploiting thread- and application-level parallelism. However, the chip's power and thermal constraints, which do not scale well with technology scaling, began to limit the maximum throughput that can be delivered by many-core processors. Meanwhile, the integration of more cores with technology scaling increases within-die (WID) core-to-core (C2C) frequency and power variations, reducing performance/power efficiency of many-core processors. In this paper, we propose an optimization technique that can maximize the throughput of power- and thermal-constrained processors considering the WID C2C variations. The optimization technique exploits our following three observations. First, the WID C2C variations result in different power and frequency trade-offs between fast and slow cores in a processor. Second, the throughput is proportional to the average frequency of cores in a processor when the processor allows each core at its own frequency (i.e., per-core clocking). Third, fast cores, which consume more power due to higher frequency and leakage, experience more thermal throttling than slow cores. Our experiments using a 32nm technology demonstrate that the proposed optimization technique, which balances power consumption between the cores, is very effective for processors exhibiting large C2C frequency and power variances. The results show that the maximum throughput of 16-core processors with high C2C power variance can be improved by nearly up to 10%.
Workflow Concepts of the Java CoG Kit

Many scientific simulations and experiments require the coordination of numerous tasks posed by interdisciplinary research teams. Grids can provide access to the necessary high-end resources to conduct such tasks. The complex tasks and their interactions must be supported through convenient tools. To address this issue, we introduce a number of Grid abstractions that make the development of Grid middleware-independent tools possible and allow for the integration of a number of commodity tools. Our vision is implemented through an integrated approach based on a layered architecture that bridges the gap between Grid middleware and scientific applications. Our abstractions include specialized services, a Grid workflow engine and language, and Gridfaces – graphical abstractions that can be employed in science portals and standalone applications.
Order-R vacuum action functional in scalar-free unified theories with spontaneous scale breaking

It is shown that in unified theories containing only fermions and gauge fields and in which scale invariance is spontaneously broken, radiative corrections induce an order-$R$ term in the vacuum action functional which is uniquely determined by the flat-space-time theory.
Construct Elicitation Techniques and the Production of Interpersonal Concepts in Children.

Explorations into the development of children's constructs have failed to explore systematically the effects of sorting methods upon the content of a child's constructs. This study addressed this weakness by investigating the effects of construct elicitation techniques on the content of children's constructs. Utilizing kindergarten, second, fourth, and sixth grade subjects, it was found that dyadic sorting and free response methods of construct elicitation differentially affect the types of constructs produced. Dyadic sorting led to fewer behavioral constructs for the kindergarten and second grade groups while having a similar effect upon personality constructs for the fourth grade group. By the sixth grade, the method effect had disappeared. The results were discussed in terms of the implications for free response and dyadic sorting methods of construct elicitation with children.
Estimating costs of protecting global ecosystem diversity

We estimate the costs to regional economies (as measured by the value of market goods and services forgone) from setting aside land to protect ecosystem diversity. Globally, our framework incorporates 43 unique sets of biological resources. The total annual costs (in 1990 dollars) of retiring 5, 10, and 15% of the world's land area to protect these resources are $45.5, $93.3, and $143.8 billion, respectively. About 45% of global costs occur in Japan and the EC; the US cost share is 15%. Among regional economies, the most impacted sectors are crops, livestock, and forest products.
Stability Limited Load Supply and Interchange Capability

Traditional load supply and interchange capabilities represent maximums based on steady state generation, line flow and voltage constraints. If the system cannot survive a list of transients when operated at these capabilities, the current computational algorithms do not provide a means for systematically determining alternative secure capabilities. In this paper, the recent results in direct stability methods are applied to give reasonably rapid solutions to this problem. The concept of a Potential Energy Boundary Surface (PEBS) is utilized to obtain transient energy stability margins and their sensitivity to load levels. The energy margins and their sensitivities are used to direct a systematic search for approximate stability limited capabilities.
Autonomy or communion? The passion of the Episcopal Church:

The Episcopal Church in the United States, the first church of the Anglican Communion apart from the Church of England, is torn between two allegiances: one to its historic membership of the Commun...
Child care subsidies and care arrangements of low-income parents

Abstract While enrollment into early education programs has increased significantly in the past two decades, many low-income children still do not attend these programs due to lack of funding and access. This study uses data from the 2005 National Household Education Survey to examine the effects of child care subsidies on the enrollment of low-income children in early childhood education programs. Multinomial regression results show that families that receive child care subsidies are more likely to place their child in center-based preschool programs. The analyses also show that subsidy receipt increases the probability of using center care for low-income households. These findings indicate that policies aimed at increasing funding and availability of early education for low-income families can help close the gap in enrollment.
Market Classifications in Modern Price Theory

Three elements in price theory, 560. — Shortcomings of contemporary price theory: the Robinsonian theory, 562; the Chamberlinian theory, 565. — Neglected market characteristics, 568. — Suggested classification of markets, 569. — Comment on such classifications, 572. — Suggested lines of development, 574.
Is Cyclin Zeuthen's "division protein"?

Abstract Biochemical evidence is presented for the presence of cyclin in Tetrahymena. Zeuthen previously postulated the existence of a heat-labile “division protein” to explain heat-shock-induced division synchrony in Tetrahymena [(1964) Synchrony in Cell Division and Growth (Zeuthen, E., Ed.), pp. 99–158, Interscience, New York]. We show that cyclin is heat-labile in Tetrahymena and suggest that cyclin may be Zeuthen's division protein. Cyclin and cell cycle control is of interest in Tetrahymena because the division mechanism drives macronuclear amitosis, closed and acentric micronuclear mitosis, and cortical differentiation in this cell type.
Miniature Light Sources for Timing Signal Recording

Photooptical recording of timing signals on the edge of motion-picture films is a regular requirement on many cameras used by the aerospace industry. The recording consists of regularly spaced, fine-line timing marks, plus pulse-width modulated rectangular blocks which define discrete time codes at regular intervals. Several previous papers have defined the problems of using miniature neon or argon lamps to record timing signals. Some improvements in mechanical-optical packaging have been proposed. This paper presents neon lamp data on new types, standard vs. high brightness, more certain ionization and “keep alive” circuits, lamp current vs. life, and operating ranges. Improvement in optical efficiency of signal recording blocks is examined. Wider operating range and more reliable recording by use of new electroluminescent (EL) diodes is considered. Sample 16mm recordings at 4 to 600 frames/s are analyzed. Available EL diodes with visible range emission are listed.
Impact of animal manure EM-bokashi on seed yield and quality of vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)

The study was undertaken to investigate the effect of EM treated animal manures (named as animal manure EM-bokashi) on yield and nutritional composition of seeds of vegetable cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L.). This experiment was carried out with five treatments and 15 replications. The pots were arranged in a completely randomized way in the net house. The treatments included a non-fertilizer application as a control, the recommended chemical fertilizer dose and three types of animal manure EM-bokashi (cattle manure EM-bokashi, goat manure EM-bokashi and poultry manure EM-bokashi). The results showed that application of EM treated animal manures significantly increased the number of leaves caused greater nodulation, produced higher number of pods per plant, yielded maximum number of seeds per pod, greater 100 seed weight, higher yield and increased seed quality compared to chemical and non-fertilizer treatments. Among the different types of animal manure EM-bokashi, goat manure EM-bokashi applied plants produced comparatively higher seed yield with good nutritional value in the present study thus it is most suitable for obtaining higher economic yield and better seed quality of vegetable cowpea on sandy regosol. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v48i1.15411 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 48(1) , 33-38, 2013
The ROSA26 LacZ-neo(R) insertion confers resistance to mammary tumors in Apc(Min/+) mice.

B6.129S7-Gtrosa26 (ROSA26) mice carry a LacZ-neoR insertion on Chromosome (Chr) 6, made by promoter trapping with AB1 129 ES cells. Female C57BL/6J ApcMin/+ (B6 Min/+) mice are very susceptible to the induction of mammary tumors after treatment with ethylnitrosourea (ENU). However, ENU-treated B6 mice carrying both ApcMin and ROSA26 are resistant to mammary tumor formation. Thus, ROSA26 mice carry a modifier of Min-induced mammary tumor susceptibility. We have previously mapped the modifier to a 4-cM interval of 129-derived DNA that also contains the ROSA26 insertion. Here we report additional evidence for the effect of the ROSA26 insertion on mammary tumor formation. To test the hypothesis that the resistance was due to a linked modifier locus, we utilized two approaches. We have derived and tested two lines of mice that are congenic for 129-derived DNA within the minimal modifier interval and show that they are as susceptible to mammary tumors as are B6 mice. Additionally, we analyzed a backcross population segregating for the insertion and show that mice carrying the insertion are more resistant to mammary tumor development than are mice not carrying the insertion. Thus, the resistance is not due to a 129-derived modifier allele, but must be due to the ROSA26 insertion. In addition, the effect of the ROSA26 insertion can be detected in a backcross population segregating for other mammary modifiers.
Broadening and shifting of HF lines due to noble gases

Abstract Line widths in the 1-0 and 2-0 bands of HF due to a standard atmosphere of argon, krypton, and xenon have been measured. Results in the 1-0 band are similar to those seen in HCl. In the 2-0 band the widths increase at high J values for the heavier perturbers and show a significant decrease with increasing temperature. Results of line shift measurements in the 2-0 band corroborate the measurements of Jaffe, Rosenberg, Hirschfeld, and Gailar and indicate that the shifts are not proportional to the vibrational quantum number of the upper state or to the polarizability of the perturbing gas.
Extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in glaucomatous eyes

Two hundred ninety-six eyes of 250 patients undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with or without the implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC-IOL) were studied. Pre-existing glaucoma of varying severity was present in 139 eyes and no known ocular pathology other than cataract in 157 eyes. During the first eight weeks following surgery, intraocular pressure elevations greater than or equal to 15 mmHg above baseline were seen in 23% of glaucomatous eyes controlled before surgery with glaucoma medications, in 39% of glaucomatous eyes controlled before surgery with argon laser trabeculoplasty, and in only 3% of nonglaucomatous eyes. The implantation of a PC-IOL did not influence the incidence of postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) elevations. Among glaucomatous eyes with severe preoperative visual field loss (split fixation or central island less than or equal to 10 degrees), 9.7% had worsening of visual field after surgery. Open angle glaucoma of unclear etiology developed in 1.4% of normal eyes following uncomplicated ECCE with PC-IOL implantation. Surgical techniques the authors have found useful in glaucomatous eyes undergoing ECCE with PC-IOL implantation are discussed.
Titanium particles and surface-bound LPS activate different pathways in IC-21 macrophages.

It is still unknown if wear-debris particles themselves induce osteolysis or if they serve a functional role as receptors for ligands that incite an inflammatory response that ultimately leads to bone resorption. In this study, commercially pure titanium particles (cpTi) were subjected to a serial combination of different cleaning methods to remove Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or were incubated in LPS solutions of known concentrations. Then, the response of the macrophage cell line IC-21 to the cleaned particles, LPS-bound Ti particles, and soluble LPS was examined. It was found that cleaned particles up to 1000 particles per cell did not stimulate macrophages to release Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) or Interleukin 6 (IL-6), but they significantly increased the release of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) when the particle concentration was higher than 500 particles per cell. At one particle per cell, Ti particles bound with LPS stimulated the release of IL-6 and TNF-α by macrophages. The level of released cytokines was dependent on, and correlated with, the amount of LPS present on the particles. The macrophages were more sensitive to soluble LPS than to particle-bound LPS, and the simultaneous addition of cleaned Ti particles did not have additional effects on the effects of soluble LPS. This study shows evidence that, cpTi particles and LPS have distinct mechanisms of action on the IC-21 macrophages, but that both contribute to the development of an inflammatory response. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2006
Combinatorics and Nonparametric mathematics

Nonparametric statistics, toric varieties, matroids – a more disparate trio of mathematical subjects can hardly be imagined, and yet, they share a basic idea. The idea is to replace a numerical or continuous quantity in an existing “classical” subject by a discrete combinatorial quality. In nonparametric statistics, one replaces the values of the sample points, which are usually real numbers, by, say, their ranks or signs. In the theory of toric varieties, the replacement is done through the action of the group of diagonal matrices. Under this action, two nonzero coefficients in a polynomial are in the same orbit and, hence, it only matters whether a coefficient is zero or nonzero. In matroid theory, one replaces the value of a determinant by the bit of information whether it is zero or nonzero. Retaining more information, such as the trinary piece, or trit of information whether the determinant is zero, positive or negative, one obtains oriented matroid theory. Pushing this further, by retaining a 2, 4, or 8-tuple of bits or trits, one obtains complex, quarternionic, and octonionic matroids or oriented matroids. The last two types of matroids have not been studied and one expects that the theory will be complicated. A satisfactory axiomatization for quarternionic matroid would require understanding identities between determinants over skew fields. Similarly, a theory of octonionic matroids would uncover the precise role played by associativity in linear algebra or, equivalently, Desargues’ theorem in geometry. Several papers in this journal show nonparametrization in action. Four of these papers are about symplectic analogues of matroids. The paper by Serganova, Vince, and Zelevinsky [8] and the two papers of Borovik, Gelfand, Vince, and White [1, 2] (one of which appeared in an earlier issue) study symplectic matroids in terms of a certain polytope similar to the independent-set polytope for matroids. The more general polytope, defined using Coxeter groups, was defined by Gelfand and Serganova [5] in 1987. The independent-set polytope, has wide applications in combinatorial optimization since its definition by Edmonds in 1970 [3]. Another paper [6], by the author, gives a direct (and somewhat different) definition of a symplectic matroid in terms of an exchange-augmentation axiom derived from a straightening identity for Pfaffians. This definition harks back to Whitney’s definition of a matroid in 1935. The study of symplectic matroids may be viewed as part of an Erlanger Programm to study analogues of matroids for the classical linear groups first suggested by Gian-Carlo Rota in his Bowdoin lectures in 1971 [7]. Symplectic matroids also provide a natural context to study the synthetic or intrinsic geometry of symplectic spaces. Another way combinatorics can assume center stage in a subject is to replace a continuous object by simpler combinatorial structures. The classical example of this is the replacement of a topological space by a simplicial complex in algebraic topology. The definition of combinatorial The term “trit” is due to Donald Knuth.
The CMS Silicon Strip Tracker Operation and Performance

The CMS Silicon Strip Tracker (SST), comprising 9.6 million readout channels from 15148 modules covering an area of 198 m 2 , needs to be precisely calibrated in order to correctly interpret and reconstruct the events recorded from the detector, ensuring that the SST performance fully meets the physics research program of the CMS experiment. Calibration constants may be derived within several workflows, from promptly reconstructed events with particles as well as from commissioning events gathered just before the acquisition of physics runs. These calibration procedures have been exercised since summer 2009 when the CMS detector has been commissioned using cosmic muons and proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 900 GeV, 2.36 and 7 TeV. During these data taking the performance of the SST has been carefully studied: the noise of the detector, the data integrity, the S/N ratio, the hit reconstruction efficiency, the calibration workflows have been all investigated with time and for different conditions, at the full detector granularity. In this paper we describe the calibration procedures and the detector performance results from the latest CMS operation.
A New Metric for Net-Zero Carbon Buildings

In this study a new carbon equivalency metric was developed in order to quantify the compound carbon emissions that buildings are responsible in the built environment. This metric first analyses the rationale about the management of exergy balance among supply and demand involved in satisfying building power and energy loads. Then using the degree of the rationale found, direct carbon emissions from the building and avoidable secondary carbon emissions that the building is responsible due to exergy mismatches are calculated. Based on this metric a net-zero carbon building definition was introduced and its advantages for quantifying the actual impact of buildings on global sustainability were discussed in comparison to net-zero energy building and carbon neutral building concepts. A case study for an example net-zero energy building is presented, which reveals that the new carbon equivalency metric can indicate whether the building is actually environmentally neutral or not. Results show that the example building has negative impact on environment and global sustainability in terms of carbon emissions even though it is rated a net-zero building. This paper also discusses that although another new net-zero exergy building definition may reduce the shortcomings of the net-zero building definition, only the net-zero carbon building metric may accurately rate the environmental impact of buildings. Beyond carbon emissions from buildings, the same metric can be used for any variety of greenhouse emissions and sectors.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Mortality from hepatocellular and biliary cancers: Changing epidemiological trends

Abstract OBJECTIVES: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma may be rising in the United States. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological trends in mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and biliary cancers (BCs) in Maryland during the last 3 decades. METHODS: The number of deaths due to HCC and BCs from 1970 to 1997 were obtained from the Maryland State Department of Health & Hygiene vital statistics database. Malignant neoplasms of the gallbladder and intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts were grouped together as biliary cancers. To determine the trend in mortality, the total time period was divided into seven 4-yr periods. RESULTS: Mortality from HCC increased from 0.94 to 1.84 per 100,000 population (rate ratio = 1.94, CI = 1.87–2.03) and that from BCs increased from 1.28 to 1.7 per 100,000 population (rate ratio = 1.31, CI = 1.26–1.36) over the study period. Although mortality due to HCC doubled in men (1.34 to 2.7 per 100,000) during this period, only a modest increase was observed among women (0.59 to 1.06 per 100,000). Because of a marked increase in the number of deaths among white Americans, the difference in HCC-related mortality between white Americans and African Americans decreased considerably during this period. Mean age at death increased steadily for BCs from 67 to 73 yr, whereas there was no real trend for HCC. Among African Americans, the death from HCC remained stable, but there was a 2-fold increase in BC-related death. CONCLUSIONS: There was a marked increase in deaths from HCC over the past 3 decades in Maryland. This increase was more evident among men and white Americans. Deaths due to BCs increased modestly during the same period of observation. The marked rise in BC-related deaths among African Americans remains unexplained.
Nutrition and labor productivity

Abstract Improved nutritional status may have a significant positive impact on labor productivity. Critical dimensions of productivity affected by nutrition include labor time and intensity of work. The various hypotheses relating nutrition and productivity are reviewed. A study of labor-intensive road construction workers in the Philippines is presented which corroborates many of these theoretical relationships.
From Fathering Daughters to Doddering Father

In this article, I consider some of the dilemmas and challenges of a male therapist working with female adolescents, in counterpoint to those facing the father of adolescent daughters. There is a conventional wisdom that female adolescents need female therapists; I argue that this kind of thinking is related to the common phenomenon of fathers withdrawing emotionally from their daughters when they reach adolescence. I draw out some implications of what it might mean to father an adolescent daughter if one does not accept the conventional wisdom.
Statistical distance and the geometry of quantum states

By finding measurements that optimally resolve neighboring quantum states, we use statistical distinguishability to define a natural Riemannian metric on the space of quantum-mechanical density operators and to formulate uncertainty principles that are more general and more stringent than standard uncertainty principles.
Immunobiology of the critical asthma syndrome.

It is now recognized that asthma incorporates a broad spectrum of syndromes with varying clinical manifestations. Future improvements in asthma treatment will require a clear characterization of these asthma phenotypes and the cellular mechanisms underlying these clinical manifestations. Herein, we will describe the current knowledge of asthma biology. This will include a review of the early pioneers in asthma and allergy, how this work led to our understanding of TH1 and TH2 cytokines, and the development of the “hygiene hypothesis.” We will discuss the utility and limitations of the TH1-TH2 model of asthma in animal and human studies, and how this knowledge addresses controversies surrounding the hygiene hypothesis and other competing models. We will discuss novel therapies that have been developed based on mechanistic understanding of asthma pathobiology, including successes and shortcomings of these therapies. We will review the early work that led to the recognition of “asthma phenotypes.” This will include the early discovery of various inflammatory subtypes in asthma and how these inflammatory subtypes correlate with response to therapy. Finally, we will describe recent discoveries in asthma biology that will include the role of the airway epithelium in asthma pathogenesis, novel cytokines important in asthma that may serve as novel therapeutic targets, and the identification of newly described innate immune cells and their role in asthma. Improved understanding of the complex biology underpinning the various asthma phenotypes is critical for our ability to optimize treatment for all patients that suffer from asthma and critical asthma syndromes.
Tadalafil has no detrimental effect on human spermatogenesis or reproductive hormones.

ABSTRACTPurpose: We assessed the effects on spermatogenesis of placebo vs 10 or 20 mg tadalafil administered daily for 6 months to healthy men and men with mild erectile dysfunction.Materials and Methods: In 2 studies 421 healthy men or men with mild erectile dysfunction who were 45 years or older and met semen criteria derived from WHO reference values were randomized to 6 months of treatment with placebo (101) or 10 mg tadalafil (103), or to placebo (106) or 20 mg tadalafil (111). Semen samples and serum for reproductive hormones (testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone) were collected at baseline, after 3 months and at the end of treatment.Results: Tadalafil had no adverse effects on spermatogenesis, as assessed by sperm concentration, sperm count per ejaculate, percent sperm motility, normal morphology or serum reproductive hormones. Tadalafil was well tolerated. Common adverse events were headache, dyspepsia and back pain.Conclusions: Chronic daily administration of tadalaf...
Linking Genomics to Immunotherapy by Reverse Immunology - ‘Immunomics’ in the New Millennium

The disclosure of the human genome sequence and rapid advances in genomic expression profiling have revolutionized our knowledge about molecular changes in malignant diseases. Rapidly growing gene expression databases and improvements in bioinformatics tools set the stage for new approaches using large-scale molecular information to develop specific therapeutics in cancer. On one hand, the ability to detect clusters of genes differentially expressed in normal and malignant tissue may lead to widely applicable targeting of defined molecular structures. On the other hand, analyzing the ‘molecular fingerprint’ of an individual tumor raises the possibility of developing customized therapeutics. One approach to use the emerging new datasets for the development of novel therapeutics is to identify genes that are specifically expressed in tumors as targets for immune intervention. This review will focus on the process from in silico analysis of expression databases and screening of potential candidate genes by bioinformatics to the in vitro and in vivo analysis to determine the immunogenicity of candidate tumor antigens. Basic biological principles of ‘reverse immunology’ as well as technical advantages and difficulties will be addressed.