cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal comfort models for outdoor thermal comfort in warm humid climates and probabilities of low wind speeds

Abstract With continuing rapid growth in the warm humid regions of the U.S.A. along the Gulf Coast, interest is increasing in the evaluation of airflow for thermal comfort. Both indoor and outdoor conditions are of interest. Indoor conditions have been the subject of research for many years supported by organizations such as ASHRAE Inc., but much less work has been done on outdoor thermal comfort. As an initial step in developing a technique for estimating the probability of outdoor thermal comfort, a review is made of two thermal comfort models suited to outdoor applications. The first model is the WBGT index developed by Yaglou & Minard (1957) for which direct reading instruments are available. The second describes comfort zones based on readily available National Weather Service Data suggested by Macfarlane (1958). The principal difficulty in modeling outdoor thermal comfort is the complex effects of intense asymmetrical radiant heat gain from the sun and nearby heated surfaces. Both of the comfort models described can accept high radiation. Probability distribution for low wind speeds are discussed.
Sexual behavior of captive lowland gorillas

One of the more enduring issues in the study of sexual behavior concerns the degree to which this activity is regulated by hormones. In his early review of this subject, Beach (1942) concluded that, across phylogeny, species with relatively greater encephalization developed greater cognitive control over behavior and a decreased behavioral dependence on hormones. At the time Beach proposed his hypothesis, there had been few systematic laboratory studies conducted on the more advanced species and among the apes, only the chimpanzee having been investigated (Yerkes and Elder, 1936; Yerkes, 1939). The results of these latter studies indicated that chimpanzees, in general, copulated at all phases of the female's sexual cycle, but also that the preponderance of sexual activity occurred during a 10-day midcycle period of maximal female genital swelling. The concordant increase in copulation with genital swelling suggested that hormones were influencing sexual behavior of this species, whereas the occurrence of copulation at phases other than.midcycle indicated at least some degree of behavioral independence from hormones. Therefore, based on the chimpanzee data, the great apes appeared to display an emancipation from hormonal regulation of sexual behavior commensurate with their taxonomic affiliation with man. Clearly, evaluation of the phyletic status of a taxonomic family, such as the great apes, requires data on more than a single species in order to define which of the characteristics of interest pertain to the family as a whole and which pertain only to the particular species studied. There is still a paucity of information in the literature related to sexual behavior of the other two great apes, gorilla and orangutan, and that which pertains to the gorilla was derived primari-
Strategy for Applying Neutrino Geophysics to the Earth Sciences Including Planetary Habitability

Antineutrino data constrain the concentrations of the heat producing elements U and Th as well as potentially the concentration of K. Interpretation is similar to but not homologous with gravity. Current geoneutrino physics efficiently asks simple questions taking advantage of what is already known about the Earth. A few measurements with some sites in the ocean basins will constrain the concentration of U and Th in the crust and mantle and whether the mantle is laterally heterogeneous. These results will allow Earth science arguments about the formation, chemistry, and dynamics of the Earth to be turned around and appraised. In particular, they will tell whether the Earth accreted its expected share of these elements from the solar nebula and how long radioactive heat will sustain active geological processes on the Earth. Both aspects are essential to evaluating the Earth as a common or rare habitable planet.
Chemische Reaktionen in Flüssigkeitsringpumpen

Flussigkeitsringpumpen sind deshalb fur Gas/Flussigkeitsreaktionen besonders ge-eignet, weil die Pumpe gleichzeitig die Reaktionspartner ansaugt und fordert, auf den gewunschten Reaktionsdruck bringt, als Absorptionsmaschine wirkt und als Reaktionsraum dient. Auserdem lassen sich bei labilen, nur unter Verlusten komprimierbaren Gasen durch die Anwesenheit des Reaktionspartners wahrend der Kompression Zerfalls- und Nebenreaktionen verhindern. — An der grostechnischen Herstellung von Essigsaureanhydrid aus Keten und Essigsaure wird neben anderen Vorteilen gezeigt, das durch eine Einheit, bestehend aus Pumpe und Reaktinskuhler, ganze Wascheranlagen ersetzt werden konnen.
Scattering Solutions in Networks of Thin Fibers: Small Diameter Asymptotics

Small diameter asymptotics is obtained for scattering solutions in a network of thin fibers. The asymptotics is expressed in terms of solutions of related problems on the limiting quantum graph Γ . We calculate the Lagrangian gluing conditions at vertices \({v\in \Gamma }\) for the problems on the limiting graph. If the frequency of the incident wave is above the bottom of the absolutely continuous spectrum, the gluing conditions are formulated in terms of the scattering data for each individual junction of the network.
Perceptual load corresponds with factors known to influence visual search

One account of the early versus late selection debate in attention proposes that perceptual load determines the locus of selection. Attention selects stimuli at a late processing level under low-load conditions but selects stimuli at an early level under high-load conditions. Despite the successes of perceptual load theory, a noncircular definition of perceptual load remains elusive. We investigated the factors that influence perceptual load by using manipulations that have been studied extensively in visual search, namely target-distractor similarity and distractor-distractor similarity. Consistent with previous work, search was most efficient when targets and distractors were dissimilar and the displays contained homogeneous distractors; search became less efficient when target-distractor similarity increased irrespective of display heterogeneity. Importantly, we used these same stimuli in a typical perceptual load task that measured attentional spillover to a task-irrelevant flanker. We found a strong correspondence between search efficiency and perceptual load; stimuli that generated efficient searches produced flanker interference effects, suggesting that such displays involved low perceptual load. Flanker interference effects were reduced in displays that produced less efficient searches. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that search difficulty, as measured by search intercept, has little bearing on perceptual load. We conclude that rather than be arbitrarily defined, perceptual load might be defined by well-characterized, continuous factors that influence visual search. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Changes in Adrenocortical Function Precede the Onset of Persistent Estrus in Rats Exposed to Constant Light Before Puberty

The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes in adrenal function precede the onset of persistent estrus in rats undergoing exposure to constant light either from birth (LL) or after weaning age (S-LL-shift to LL from a 14 h light, 10 h dark photoperiod). Serum corticosterone shifts in response to a two minute ether stress administered at 0800 h at 25, 50 or 100 days of age were compared in LL, S-LL and LD (reared from birth in 14:10) rats. The patterns of serum corticosterone were comparable in all three groups at 25 days of age. At 50 days of age, the S-LL rats had higher basal corticosterone and showed an earlier stress response which persisted for 2 h while the other two groups showed a slower response that peaked at the 30 mm sample period and then fell to baseline by 60 mm. At 100 days of age, the LD rats continued to show a slower rise and more rapid fall while both LL exposed groups had higher basal levels, a more rapid response and persistent elevation past 60 mm. This difference in the appearance of a deviant stress pattern was associated with the onset of persistent estrus which began at 100 days of age in the S-LL rats and at 150 days in the LL rats. It therefore appears that changes in adrenocortical function precede the loss of ovulatory cycles in both LL-reared groups and that these changes (elevated basal corticosterone and a prolonged stress response) emerge earlier in the S-LL groups which developed persistent estrus earlier.
Comparison of Hip Torque and Radial Forcing Effects on Locomotion Stability and Energetics

Hip torque and radial forcing along the leg are two common actuation methods for legged robots. However, hip torque and radial forcing have not been compared as potential alternative strategies of actuation. The respective advantages and disadvantages of hip torque and radial forcing are not well known. In this paper, we compare hip torque and radial forcing actuation through the simulation of two models: a Rotary-forced Spring-Loaded Inverted Pendulum and a Radially Forced Spring-Loaded Inverted Pendulum. Both actuation methods can produce fully asymptotically stable locomotion. Interestingly, it is found that they improve locomotion stability in different ways: hip torque first destabilizes locomotion when initially introduced but greatly stabilizes locomotion when it keeps increasing; radial forcing always stabilizes locomotion, but in a moderate way.© 2013 ASME
The crystal structure of n-propylarsonic acid

Abstract The crystal structure of n-propylarsonic acid has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffractometer methods. The crystal is orthorhombic, Pccn, a = 14.561(4), b = 11.024(4), c = 7.692(3) at 22°, 8 molecules/unit cell. The coordination around As is roughly tetrahedral, with As-O(1) = 1.708(5), As-O(2) = 1.719(5), As-O(3) = 1.652(4) and As-C(1) = 1.917(7) «, and the molecules are linked into chains of dimers along the c axis by hydrogen bonds O(1)⋯O(2) = 2.581(6) and O(3)⋯O(2) = 2.573(6) «. The other bond distances are C(1)-C(2) = 1.51 (2) and C(2)-C(3) = 1.28(2) «, where the pronounced apparent shortening of the latter bond seems to be associated with very large thermal motions of C(2) and C(3). These large thermal movements probably occur since the chains along the c axis are held together by van der Waal's forces. The hydrogen atoms could not be located with certainty, and the final R for As, O and C atoms only was 0.036.
Compression of digital video data using artifical neural network differential vector quantization

A vector quantizer based on artificial neural networks is developed for use in digital video data compression applications. A series of experiments investigating the edge performance of various distortion measures and experiments exploring various vector sizes are presented. The paper then describes a differential vector quantizer which preserves edge features and an adaptive algorithm, Frequency-Sensitive Competitive Learning, which is used to develop equiprobable vector quantizer codebooks. By using codebooks comprised of equiprobable codevectors, variable length coding is unnecessary which results in robust performance in the presence of channel bit errors. The resulting coder is efficient, robust, and permits real-time hardware realizations. The DVQ coder currently under construction is also described.
Fast repetition rate (FRR) fluorometry: variability of chlorophyll a fluorescence yields in colonies of the corals, Montastraea faveolata (w.) and Diploria labyrinthiformes (h.) recovering from bleaching.

Abstract Recently, an underwater version of a fast repetition rate fluorometer (FRRF) was developed for the non-destructive study of fluorescence yields in benthic photoautotrophs. We used an FRRF to study bleached colonies of the corals, Montastraea faveolata and Diploria labyrinthiformes at sites surrounding Lee Stocking Island, Exuma, Bahamas, to assess their recovery from bleaching (∼1 year after the initial bleaching event) induced by elevated temperatures. The steady state quantum yields of chlorophyll a fluorescence (Δ F ′/ F ′ m ) from photosystem II (PSII) within coral colonies were separated into three categories representing visibly distinct degrees of bleaching ranging from no bleaching to completely bleached areas. Differences in Δ F ′/ F ′ m were significantly different from bleached to unbleached regions within colonies. Dark, unbleached regions within colonies exhibited significantly higher Δ F ′/ F ′ m values (0.438±0.019; mean±S.D.) when compared to lighter regions, and occupied a majority of the colonies’ surface area (46–73%). Bleached regions exhibited significantly lower Δ F ′/ F ′ m (0.337±0.014) and covered only 7–25% of the colonies’ surface area. The observations from this study suggest that zooxanthellae in bleached regions of a colony exhibit reduced photosynthetic activity as long as one year after a bleaching event and that in situ fluorescence techniques such as FRRF are an effective means of studying coral responses and recovery from natural or anthropogenic stress in a non-destructive manner.
24-hour human urine and serum profiles of Bisphenol A following ingestion in soup: Individual pharmacokinetic data and emographics

Here we present data to evaluate potential absorption of Bisphenol A through non-metabolizing tissues of the upper digestive tract. Concurrent serum and urine concentrations of d6-BPA, and its glucuronide and sulfate conjugates, were measured over a 24 h period in 10 adult male volunteers following ingestion of 30 μg d6-BPA/kg body weight in soup. The pharmacokinetic behavior of BPA and its metabolites in this cohort (rapid absorption, complete elimination, evidence against sublingual absorption) was reported. This Data in Brief article contains the corresponding individual pharmacokinetic data, reports the demographics of the cohort and provides additional details related to the analytical methods employed and is related to [4].
The skeletal correlates of behavioral modification in the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus).

The effects of behavioral modification on the skeletal morphology of the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) are investigated. Climibing, with increrased prehensile use of the foot, is found to bring about significant changes in metatarsal and long bone morphology. Differences in metatarsal robusticity related to weight-bearing differences associated with different locomotor patterns are reported for a natural history setting for Peromyscus.
Erratum to “Mating activates estrogen receptor-containing neurons in the female monkey brain” [Physiology and Behaviour 85(4) (2005) 404–413]

The Publisher regrets that this article was published containing an error. Fc-fos_ should appear as Fc-fos [4]_ in the second line of the abstract. Please see the complete corrected abstract as it should appear below. In contrast to some other species, the numbers of activated neurons in the brains of male and female macaques are high in both mated and unmated animals. Dual labeling with the 1D5 anti-estrogen receptor antibody and the Fc-fos [4]_ polyclonal anti-c-fos antibody was used in 19 female cynomolgus monkeys to examine whether mating selectively increases the activation of neurons containing estrogen receptors (ER). Mated females, and social controls exposed to males without mating, were euthanized about 75 min after the start of the test, exactly 60 min after the first ejaculation (mated females, N =7) and 75 min after the start of exposure to a male (social controls,
Automated Scheduling of Personnel to Staff Operations for the Mars Science Laboratory

Leveraging previous work on scheduling personnel for space mission operations, we have adapted ASPEN (Activity Scheduling and Planning Environment) [1] to the domain of scheduling personnel for operations of the Mars Science Laboratory. Automated scheduling of personnel is not new. We compare our representations to a sampling of employee scheduling systems available with respect to desired features. We described the constraints required by MSL personnel schedulers and how each is handled by the scheduling algorithm.
Deformation and microstructural changes in SiC whisker-reinforced Si3N4 composites

Constant stress compressive creep studies have been conducted on hot-pressed Si3N4 containing 30 vol. % SiC whiskers and an initial vitreous phase composed of Al2O3, Y2O3, and SiO2. The conditions of temperature and stress were 1470–1670 K and 50–350 MPa, respectively; the atmosphere was purified N2 at 1 atm. Significant changes in the stress exponent and activation energy indicate a change in the controlling creep mechanism at ≍225 MPa and 1570 K. Prolonged annealing in the unstressed condition reduced creep rates but had little effect on the stress exponent values. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the break in the stress exponent curves was caused by the removal of the amorphous material at the grain boundary and resulting contacts between Si3N4 grains. The break in the activation energy curves is believed to be similarly related. Analysis of all the data indicates that the composite creeps via grain boundary sliding accommodated by viscous flow at low stresses and temperatures and by diffusion at high stresses and temperatures. The contributions of these two mechanisms varied measurably as a function of stress and temperature. No cavitation was observed. The presence of the SiC whiskers had no observable effect on deformation.
INHIBITION OF OVARIAN AND TESTICULAR STEROIODOGENESIS BY EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), but not fibroblast growth factor, inhibits the gonadotropin stimulation of estrogen and testosterone production by primary cultures of ovarian granulosa and testicular Leydig cells, respectively. EGF also inhibits gonadal steroidogenesis induced by cholera toxin and (Bu)2cAMP, and the inhibitory effect of EGF is not associated with cell proliferation. EGF may play an important endocrine role in the regulation of steroidogenic functions of gonadal cells.
Effects of the tumor inhibitor, vernolepin, and of its thioether adduct, on the activity of catechol O-methyltransferase in vitro.

Abstract The activity of cat erythrocyte lysate catechol O -methyltransferase (COMT) in vitro is shown to be amenable to control by a variety of reagents including an SH reactive tumor inhibitor (vernolepin), its non-SH reactive derivative (the bis- n -propanethiol adduct of vernolepin), n -propanethiol itself, and the organic solvent, methanol. The ability of the adduct to modify COMT activity extends to all other sources examined (partially purified rat liver COMT and 78,000 g supernatant from rat liver, kidney, spleen and brain). Alterations in kinetic parameters (apparent K m and V max) were observed when the adduct of vernolepin enhanced cat erythrocyte COMT activity.
Process-Property Relationship for Air Plasma-Sprayed Gadolinium Zirconate Coatings

The continuous need of elevating operating temperature of gas turbine engines has introduced several challenges with the current state-of-the-art yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ)-based thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), requiring examination of new TBC material with high temperature phase stability, lower thermal conductivity, and resistance to environmental ash particles. Gadolinium zirconate (Gd2Zr2O7) (GDZ) has been shown to meet many of these requirements, and has, in fact, been successfully implemented in to engine components. However, several fundamental issues related to the process-ability, toughness, and microstructural differences for GDZ when compared to equivalent YSZ coating. This study seeks to critically address the process-structure-property correlations for plasma-sprayed GDZ coating subjected to controlled parametric exploration. Use of in-flight diagnostics coupled with in situ and ex situ coating property monitoring allows examination and comparison of the process-property interplay and the resultant differences between the two TBC compositions. The results indicate that it is feasible to retain material chemistry and fabricate relevant microstructures of interest with GDZ with concomitant performance advantages such as low conductivity, mechanical compliance, sintering resistance, and suppression of environmentally induced damage from ash particles. This study provides a framework for optimal design and manufacturing of emergent multi-layer and multi-material TBCs.
Inbreeding depression in Campanula rapunculoides L. I. A comparison of inbreeding depression in plants derived from strong and weak self-incompatibility phenotypes

The evolution of selfing taxa from outcrossing ancestors has occurred repeatedly and is the subject of many theoretical models, yet few empirical studies have examined the immediate consequences of inbreeding in a population with variable expression of self-incompatibility. Because self-incompatibility breaks down with floral age in Campanula rapunculoides, we were able to mate outbred and selfed maternal plants in a crossing design which produced progeny with inbreeding coefficients of 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75. Cumulative inbreeding depression in plants that were selfed for one generation was very high in families derived from strongly self-incompatible plants (average δ = 0.98), and somewhat lower in families derived from plants with weaker expression of self-incompatibility (average δ = 0.90). Relative to outbred progeny, inbred progeny produced fewer seeds, had lower rates of germination, less vegetative growth and fewer flowers per plant. Inbred progeny also took longer to germinate, and longer to produce a first leaf and to flower. Interestingly, inbred plants also produced 40% fewer seeds than outcrossed plants (t-test P < 0.001) even when mated to the same, unrelated pollen donor, suggesting that inbreeding can produce profound maternal effects. Most importantly, our results demonstrate that progeny derived from plants with stronger expression of self-incompatibility exhibited greater levels of inbreeding depression than progeny from plants with weaker expression of self-incompatibility. Moreover, the decline in fitness (cumulative, ln-transformed) over the four inbreeding levels was steeper for the progeny of the strongly self-incompatible lineages. These empirical results suggest that inbreeding depression and mating system phenotype have the potential to coevolve.
SPARSE RECONSTRUCTION FOR DISPARITY MAPS USING COMBINED WAVELET AND CONTOURLET TRANSFORMS

Disparity estimation is a key component in 3D image processing, yet dense estimation is a computationally intensive task. In this paper, we propose to estimate the dense disparities from a small set of spatial measurements. Observing that disparity maps mainly contain contours and smooth regions, we formulate the problem as a sparse reconstruction problem using a combined wavelet and contourlet bases. We show that the combined transform yields better reconstruction results than existing methods.
MDCube: a high performance network structure for modular data center interconnection

Shipping-container-based data centers have been introduced as building blocks for constructing mega-data centers. However, it is a challenge on how to interconnect those containers together with reasonable cost and cabling complexity, due to the fact that a mega-data center can have hundreds or even thousands of containers and the aggregate bandwidth among containers can easily reach tera-bit per second. As a new inner-container server-centric network architecture, BCube [9] interconnects thousands of servers inside a container and provides high bandwidth support for typical traffic patterns. It naturally serves as a building block for mega-data center.In this paper, we propose MDCube, a high performance interconnection structure to scale BCube-based containers to mega-data centers. MDCube uses the high-speed uplink interfaces of the commodity switches in BCube containers to build the inter-container structure, reducing the cabling complexity greatly. MDCube puts its inter- and inner-container routing intelligences solely into servers to handle load-balance and fault-tolerance, thus directly leverages commodity instead of high-end switches to scale. Through analysis, we prove that MDCube has low diameter and high capacity. Both simulations and experiments in our testbed demonstrate the fault-tolerance and high network capacity of MDCube.
Multimodal 2D and 3D biometrics for face recognition

Results are presented for the largest experimental study to date that investigates the comparison and combination of 2D and 3D face data for biometric recognition. To our knowledge, this is also the only such study to incorporate significant time lapse between gallery and probe image acquisition. Recognition results are presented for gallery and probe datasets of 166 subjects imaged in both 2D and 3D, with six to thirteen weeks time lapse between gallery and probe images of a given subject. Using a PCA-based approach tuned separately for 2D and for 3D, we find no statistically significant difference between the rank-one recognition rates of 83.1% for 2D and 83.7% for 3D. Using a certainty-weighted sum-of-distance approach to combining 2D and 3D, we find a multimodal rank-one recognition rate of 92.8%, which is statistically significantly greater than either 2D or 3D alone.
Load Pull Templates: A Method For Benchmarking Nonlinear Device Models With Load Pull Measurements

A Texas Instruments nonlinear GaAs FET Modified Materka model was developed in HP-EESof Series IV v5.0 using Libra Senior. A ?Load pull Template? was developed in the current HP-EESof software Libra IV v5.0 which utilizes the nonlinear model to simulate power out and power-added effiency load pull contours. Commercially available software was then used to compare modeled versus measured load pull contours and to verifY the accuracy of the nonlinear model.
MORPHOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL STUDIES OF FETAL THYMUS TRANSPLANTS IN MICE

The fetal thymus at 13 days of gestation withstands transplantation and develops normally under the renal capsule of a syngenic host. Distinct differences were observed between the fetal thymus grafts and grafts from neonatal or adult thymus donors. The fetal thymus graft did not undergo the rapid and severe necrosis observed when adult thymus was grafted. Furthermore, when thymuses were transplanted into allogenic recipients, rejection was delayed. The fetal thymus was as effective as the adult thymus in restoring syngenic neonatally thymectomized mice and far superior to adult thymus when grafted into allogenic recipients. These observations seem relevant to clinical efforts to restore immunocompetence in patients with congenital absence of the thymus.
Modeling distances in large-scale networks by matrix factorization

In this paper, we propose a model for representing and predicting distances in large-scale networks by matrix factorization. The model is useful for network distance sensitive applications, such as content distribution networks, topology-aware overlays, and server selections. Our approach overcomes several limitations of previous coordinates-based mechanisms, which cannot model sub-optimal routing or asymmetric routing policies. We describe two algorithms --- singular value decomposition (SVD) and nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF)---for representing a matrix of network distances as the product of two smaller matrices. With such a representation, we build a scalable system--- Internet Distance Estimation Service (IDES)---that predicts large numbers of network distances from limited numbers of measurements. Extensive simulations on real-world data sets show that IDES leads to more accurate, efficient and robust predictions of latencies in large-scale networks than previous approaches.
Optimal regulation of homogeneous systems

We present an offline numerical algorithm to generate a discontinuous feedback law to robustly regulate the origin of a continuous-time homogeneous system through sample and hold. The proposed feedback comes out of the solution of an infinite horizon optimization problem in discrete time and is in the form of a look-up table. We show that when applied to either chained systems or systems in power form the algorithm results in a closed loop whose origin is globally exponentially stable.
Communication Ability, Method, and Content Among Nonspeaking Nonsurviving Patients Treated With Mechanical Ventilation in the Intensive Care Unit

• OBJECTIVE To describe the communication ability, methods, and content among nonspeaking nonsurviving patients treated with mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit. • METHODS Fifty patients who received mechanical ventilation and died during hospitalization were randomly selected from all adult patients (N = 396) treated in 8 ICUs in a tertiary medical center during a 12-month period. Clinicians’ notes, use of physical restraints, and medication records were reviewed retrospectively. Data on communication method, use of sedation/analgesia (within 4 hours of communication event), and use of physical restraints were recorded on an investigator-developed communication event record for the first 10 communication episodes documented in each patient’s record (n = 275). Message content and method were recorded for every documented communication episode (n = 694), resulting in a total of 812 content and 771 method data codes. • RESULTS Most charts (72%) had documentation of communication by patients at some time during mechanical ventilation. Most documented communication exchanges were between patients and nurses. Primary methods of communication were head nods, mouthing words, gesture, and writing. Physical restraints were used in half of the patients. However, most of the documented communication episodes (127/202, 62.9%) occurred when physical restraints were not in use. Communication content was primarily related to pain, symptoms, feelings, and physical needs. Patients also initiated communication about their homes, families, and conditions. • CONCLUSIONS A clinically significant proportion of nonsurviving patients treated with mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit communicate to nurses, other clinicians, and family members primarily through gesture, head nods, and mouthing words. (American Journal of Critical Care. 2004;13:210-220)
Endogenous neurokinins facilitate synaptic transmission in guinea pig airway parasympathetic ganglia.

Neurokinin-containing nerve fibers were localized to guinea pig airway parasympathetic ganglia in control tissues but not in tissues pretreated with capsaicin. The purpose of the present study was ...
South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Ethical and Theological Perspectives

How do governments deal with human rights violations committed by former regimes? South Africa's solution has been to set up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which offers amnesty to perpetrators who tell the truth about the past and disclose their deeds to the victims; the goal is the reconciliation of former enemies. While the TRC has a clear political focus, it is at its heart a deeply theological and ethical initiative. At times, however, it appears that ethics and theology are at cross-purposes, that justice is less important than Christian mercy; this viewpoint springs from a narrow understanding of what constitutes justice. Does offering amnesty to perpetrators and forgiving enemies deny the victims justice? Or does the TRC embody a “different kind of justice,” as one commentator recently suggested? In this overview of the TRC—its establishment, procedures, and principles—special attention is given to the ethical and theological arguments for this unique approach.
How Do or Should Arbitrators Deal with Domestic Public Policy or Regulatory Issues. Does it Affect Arbitrability

In Arbitration, especially in the International scenario, public policy has always been treated as a doubled-edged sword. There has constantly been conflicting views in determining the nature, scope and definition but, until date nothing concrete has come up which can be universally accepted. It has been considered as a ‘helpful tool, dangerous as a weapon’. These views have given birth to the much-debated division of ‘public policy’ as domestic and international. Nevertheless, with the further classification came the confusion as to its application, terminology and scope of both. Where some nations interpreted it broadly, some at the same time exploited it rendering the whole arbitral process futile. As per my understanding, ‘broad interpretation’ of the term has literally taken arbitration out of the hands of the arbitrators bestowing the same to the national courts and the judges, demeaning the whole logic of alternative dispute resolution. The same thesis has been followed here and exemplified through the whole discussion in this research paper and possible conflicts and solutions have been sought for, where relevant. For a more specific consideration, the nations have been categorised as civil law and common law jurisdictions taking up the legislation and case laws from France, India, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States of America. Efforts have been made towards critically evaluating the position of ‘public policy exception’ in these nations and the final recommendation of reforming the concept of ‘public policy’ in a more universal dimension for global acceptance and application has been portrayed.
Nucleation kinetics for gold deposited onto mica substrates

Abstract The nucleation behavior of gold deposited under ultra high vacuum conditions onto cleaved mica substrates has been measured over the temperature range 270–450 °C at impingement fluxes of 6 × 10 13 and 8 × 10 12 atoms cm −2 sec −1 . A step-kinetic technique was used wherein separate substrate areas were exposed for successively longer times to the vapor beam from a thermal source. The deposits were examined in a high resolution electron microscope. For mica cleaved in situ in UHV, the variation in number density of nuclei with time of exposure to the atom beam revealed that nucleation occurred rapidly on preferred sites which were exhausted within the first few seconds of exposure. After the initial saturation, nucleation appeared to occur randomly over the rest of the surface. The number density of preferred sites increased with decreasing temperature indicating that a spectrum of preferred sites of varying degrees of potency were active. The random nucleation rates could by analyzed satisfactorily using the atomistic model for nucleation. A critical sized nucleus consisting of one atom is consistent with the data. The characteristic energy for nucleation (2 ΔG des − ΔG sd ), was found to be 1.1 eV. Nucleation behavior on mica substrates cleaved in air did not indicate the presence of active preferred sites, but nucleation was more rapid.
Marketing + MIS = e-service

Traditional service marketers moving to e-services find fewer obstacles and more revenue opportunities in the process.
Ontogenetic shifts in fusion–rejection thresholds in a colonial marine hydrozoan, Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus

Like many modular organisms, genetically distinct colonies of the hydrozoan Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus naturally fuse to produce chimeras. One of the principal cooperative benefits of fusion arises from the increased size of the resulting chimeric individual, which may enhance survivorship. However, fusion also promotes conflict through competition between cell lineages for representation in reproductive tissues. Previous studies on H. symbiologicarpus show that, consistent with kin selection theory, a highly polymorphic self/non-self recognition system limits fusion to close kin. However, these recognition systems are intrinsically subject to error. Conspecific acceptance threshold theory predicts that as the costs and benefits of making recognition errors change, or the frequencies of encounters between acceptable and unacceptable kin vary, the recognition system should respond. Specifically, as the benefits of acceptance decline or the frequency of encounters with unacceptable individuals increases, the acceptance threshold should become more restrictive. We tested this hypothesis by monitoring changes in the expression of fusion/rejection behaviors of H. symbiolongicarpus during colony establishment, a period of high mortality when the size-dependent benefits of fusion may be changing most rapidly, and the frequency of encounters with close kin declines. Across seven full-sib families, fusion frequencies between pairs of sibling colonies declined from 73% for 3-day-old colonies to 58% by day 12. This decline is consistent with optimal acceptance threshold theory. However, the period of maximum decline also corresponds to an interval during which the recognition effector mechanism becomes fully functional, suggesting that the shift to a more restrictive conspecific acceptance threshold may reflect an intrinsic constraint on recognition system maturation.
Globular Glial Tauopathy Presenting as Semantic Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) most often is due to TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) pathology1. Herein, we report a novel case of svPPA due to a globular glial tauopathy.
Conversion of levoglucosan and cellobiosan by Pseudomonas putida KT2440

Pyrolysis offers a straightforward approach for the deconstruction of plant cell wall polymers into bio-oil. Recently, there has been substantial interest in bio-oil fractionation and subsequent use of biological approaches to selectively upgrade some of the resulting fractions. A fraction of particular interest for biological upgrading consists of polysaccharide-derived substrates including sugars and sugar dehydration products such as levoglucosan and cellobiosan, which are two of the most abundant pyrolysis products of cellulose. Levoglucosan can be converted to glucose-6-phosphate through the use of a levoglucosan kinase (LGK), but to date, the mechanism for cellobiosan utilization has not been demonstrated. Here, we engineer the microbe Pseudomonas putida KT2440 to use levoglucosan as a sole carbon and energy source through LGK integration. Moreover, we demonstrate that cellobiosan can be enzymatically converted to levoglucosan and glucose with β-glucosidase enzymes from both Glycoside Hydrolase Family 1 and Family 3. β-glucosidases are commonly used in both natural and industrial cellulase cocktails to convert cellobiose to glucose to relieve cellulase product inhibition and to facilitate microbial uptake of glucose. Using an exogenous β-glucosidase, we demonstrate that the engineered strain of P. putida can grow on levoglucosan up to 60 g/L and can also utilize cellobiosan. Overall, this study elucidates the biological pathway to co-utilize levoglucosan and cellobiosan, which will be a key transformation for the biological upgrading of pyrolysis-derived substrates.
What is Economic Freedom

This essay is an exercise in critique. I take a concept – freedom – as it is conventionally defined and show that its logical extension leads to conclusions that are in tension with standard or existing beliefs about freedom. In particular, I show that the concept freedom, when applied to economic relationships, leads to rather different conclusions than current defenders – and critics – believe.A feature of mainstream philosophical debates is that those broadly classified as ‘right-wing’ present themselves as defenders of economic freedom, understood as the defense of lightly regulated markets, and robust rights of property and contract. Meanwhile, those broadly classified as ‘left-wing’ present themselves as limiting or reducing economic freedom in the name of other values, like justice or solidarity, understood as restricting property and contract for the sake of redistributing resources and opportunities. In this discussion of economic freedom there are at least two conceptual problems: inconsistency in the use of the term freedom, and vagueness with respect to the definition of the economic liberties. These mistakes jointly lead to misrepresentations about the range of possible positions one might take on economic freedom, and give the ‘right-wingers’ an unjustified rhetorical advantage in claiming to defend economic freedom – an advantage ‘left-wingers’ are too quick to concede. Right-wing defenders of economic freedom are not engaged in a consistent defense of freedom. And there is no logical reason why the left-wing position must be presented as the limitation of freedom for the sake of other values.
Systemic treatment with nanoliposomal CPT-11 is efficacious in intracranial tumors

C122 Treatment of brain tumors has been hindered by inadequate drug delivery. Nanoliposomal CPT-11 is a novel liposome-based nanoparticle encapsulating CPT-11 (irinotecan). This nanoliposomal CPT-11 formulation has proven highly efficacious in a variety of different tumor models when administered systemically (1) and also via convection-enhanced delivery in brain tumor models (2). Here we describe the treatment of an orthotopic U87 brain tumor model using nanoliposomal CPT-11 administered systemically. Biodistribution and pharmacokinetic studies in the intracranial tumors demonstrated substantial advantages for nanoliposomal CPT-11, including 13-fold increased drug exposure in tumors (AUCs of 197.8 μg·d/g and 14.8 μg·d/g for nanoliposomal CPT-11 and free CPT-11, respectively). Following administration of nanoliposomal CPT-11, the active metabolite SN-38 reached tumor Cmax of 95.6 ng/g, compared to 32.2 ng/g for free CPT-11. Antitumor efficacy of nanoliposomal CPT-11 was compared to free CPT-11 and saline control. While the control group showed mean survival of 20.8 d (median = 21), free CPT-11 prolonged mean survival to 29.5 d (median = 30 d, Log-Rank p
Recent References: January through April 1988*

This July 1988 issue of Nuclear Data Sheets is the four-month index to recent references to experimental nuclear structure data. (The National Nuclear Data Center maintains a complete computer file of references to the nuclear physics literature. A complete master file of Nuclear Structure References (NSR) is maintained by the National Nuclear Data Center.) This database record covers the entire volume 54, issue 3. The publisher has assigned separate DOIs to each key section of the volume. They are: 1) Recent References: January through April 1988 - DOI 10.1016/S0090-3752(88)80121-2; 2) Key numbers and keywords - 10.1016/S0090-3752(88)80122-4; 3) Reaction index - DOI 10.1016/S0090-3752(88)80123-6; 4) References - DOI 10.1016/S0090-3752(88)80124-8; 5) Secondary Sources - DOI 10.1016/S0090-3752(88)80125-X.
Trends in the Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Appendicitis

• On the basis of class B evidence and consensus, acute appendicitis in children can often be diagnosed clinically with only selective use of imaging. (13)(14)(15)(16) • On the basis of class B evidence and consensus, ultrasonography is the test of choice when acute appendicitis is suspected but is unclear based on history, physical examination, and laboratory results. (17)(18)(19) • On the basis of class B evidence and consensus, the use of computed tomography scan should be limited to cases of suspected complex appendicitis with abscess or when there is clinical suspicion for acute appendicitis but ultrasonography results are not helpful. (16) • On the basis of class C evidence and consensus, children with possible appendicitis ideally should be treated in medical centers that have skilled sonographic personnel. (21) • On the basis of class B evidence and consensus, simple appendicitis should be treated by appendectomy during normal operating hours. Preoperative treatment with intravenous antibiotics and fluids during the overnight hours halts disease progression and allows for the safest surgery with the benefit of a full and rested staff. (24)(25)(26) • On the basis of class B evidence and consensus, complex appendicitis with a well-defined abscess can be treated nonoperatively initially, with the option of an interval appendectomy after recovery from the acute infection. (29)(30) (31)(32)(33)
Glucose metabolism in obese men: abnormal intravenous and normal oral glucose tolerance.

SummaryPrevious reports from moderately obese women have demonstrated that while intravenous glucose tolerance is generally preserved, oral glucose tolerance is frequently abnormal. On the basis of such findings it has been suggested that oral glucose tolerance testing would more reliably predict or identify the truly latent diabetic obese. In an effort to reassess this proposition, we have administered oral glucose loads and intravenous glucose challenges to 11 severely obese, otherwise healthy, male subjects. Contrary to the reports in women, intravenous glucose tolerance was abnormal or borderline in 10 of 11 men in this group, whereas oral glucose tolerance was normal by three current criteria in all subjects studied. Insulin levels rose equally high in both tests and did not correlate with these discrepant results. As a lower proportion of an intravenous glucose load is directly handled by the liver, and others have reported that hepatic resistance to the action of insulin can be reversed in the pres...
Single-Center Experience With HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist Device Explantation.

In patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) myocardial recovery is uncommon. Given the heterogeneity of the population implanted and low incidence of recovery, the discovery of native left ventricular (LV) recovery and criteria for explantation of CF-LVAD system is not clearly determined. We sought to analyze the characteristics of the patients who underwent CF-LVAD explantation at our institution. Prospectively collected data on patients supported with CF-LVADs were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who underwent CF-LVAD explants were identified and their characteristics were analyzed with a focus on patient presentation and determinants of explantability. From November 2006 to June 2014, 223 patients (181 male, 42 female) underwent implantation of HeartMate II LVAD. Seven female (16.7%) and one male (0.6%) patients were explanted (P < 0.001). Mean age was 43 ± 9 years and etiology for cardiomyopathy was ischemic in three (37.5%) patients, nonischemic in four (50%) patients, and mixed in the one (12.5%) male patient of the cohort. Five (62.5%) patients presented acutely with significant hemolysis, and were found to have LV improvement as well as reduced, absent, or reversed diastolic flow velocities on echocardiography. Overall, mean lactate dehydrogenase level before explantation was 1709 ± 1168 U/L compared to the mean baseline level of 601 ± 316 U/L (P = 0.048). Mean LV ejection fraction (LVEF) improved from 17 ± 7% preimplant to 56 ± 11% pre-explantation (P < 0.001). Median number of days on CF-LVAD support was 870 (interquartile range, 209-975) while mean duration of follow-up after the CF-LVAD explantation was 276 ± 240 days. Mean LVEF dropped from 46 ± 19% postexplantation to 34 ± 10% during the most recent follow-up (P = 0.015). At our institution, patients who underwent LVAD explants were predominantly women with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Clinical evidence of hemolysis and echocardiographic evidence of reduced or absent diastolic flow velocities were common findings in these patients. Over time, patient's native LV function declined in the absence of LVAD (after LVAD explantation). Significant challenges remain in predicting LV recovery and identifying those individuals who have recovered myocardial function significant enough to be explanted.