cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Idiopathic Calcinosis Cutis of the Penis

Background: Calcinosis cutis—the deposition of insoluble calcium salts in the skin and the soft tissue—occurs in the following five settings: calciphylaxis, dystrophic, iatrogenic, idiopathic, and metastatic. Idiopathic calcinosis cutis of the penis is rare. Purpose: This paper describes a man with idiopathic calcinosis cutis of the penis, summarizes the clinical features of previously reported men with this condition, and also reviews dystrophic, iatrogenic, and metastatic penile calcinosis. Methods: A 27-year-old Pakistan man presented with concurrent, asymptomatic, individual nodules on the right mid-ventral penile shaft and left side of scrotum and two additional papules on the right side of the scrotum. Evaluation and treatment included the excision of all lesions. Reports of patients with penile calcinosis were identified using a medical search engine (PubMed Central) and referenced citations from the published papers on this subject. Results: Microscopic examination of the patient's nodules showed idiopathic and dystrophic calcinosis cutis of the penis and scrotum, respectively; the scrotal papules were fibroepithelial polyps. Including this individual, idiopathic calcinosis cutis of the penis has only been reported in 11 men. It presents as either an asymptomatic nodule (5 patients) or multiple lesions (6 patients) of less than one-year duration, on either the penile shaft (distal in 4 patients, mid in 2 patients, both in 1 patient, and site unspecified in 1 patient) or the prepuce (3 patients) of uncircumcised men less than 30 years of age. Concurrent scrotal calcification was noted in two patients. Dermal deposits of calcium are found in the dermis—often with surrounding histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells; concurrent features of dystrophic penile shaft calcification, such as calcium within syringomas or transepidermal elimination of calcium through eccrine sweat ducts, was only noted in two men. The nodules do not recur following excision. Conclusion: Idiopathic calcinosis cutis of the penis is extraordinary and has only been reported in 11 men. It presents as an asymptomatic nodule or nodules on mid- to distal penile shaft or foreskin. Concurrent scrotal calcinosis cutis was noted in two men. Microscopic examination shows calcium deposits in the dermis, usually with associated histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells; concurrent changes of dystrophic calcification were also present in two men. Excision of the penile nodules not only provides the diagnosis, but also successfully resolves the condition without recurrence.
Distribution and Persistence of Staphylococcus and Micrococcus Species and Other Aerobic Bacteria on Human Skin

The distribution of Staphylococcus and Micrococcus species and associated coryneform bacteria, Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Bacillus, and Streptomyces on skin was determined during October 1971 from samples collected on persons living in North Carolina and New Jersey. Persistence of these organisms on skin was estimated in temporal studies conducted during the period from June 1971 to June 1972 on persons living in North Carolina. Staphylococci and coryneforms were the most predominant and persistent bacteria isolated from the nares and axillae. Staphylococci, coryneforms, micrococci, and Bacillus were the most predominant and persistent bacteria isolated from the head, legs, and arms. Acinetobacters were most frequently isolated during the warmer months of the years. Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis were the most predominant and persistent staphylococci isolated from the nares, whereas S. epidermidis and S. hominis were the most predominant and persistent staphylococci isolated from the axillae, head, legs, and arms. S. capitis was often isolated from the head and arms and S. haemolyticus was often isolated from the head, legs, and arms. S. simulans, S. xylosus, S. cohnii, S. saprophyticus, S. warneri, and an unclassified coagulase-positive species were only occasionally isolated from skin. Micrococcus luteus was the most predominant and persistent Micrococcus isolated from skin and preferred regions of the head, legs, and arms. M. varians was the second most frequent Micrococcus isolated. M. lylae, M. sedentarius, M. roseus, M. kristinae, and M. nishinomiyaensis were only occasionally isolated from skin. M. lylae was most frequently isolated during the colder months of the years.
Tools for loading MEDLINE into a local relational database

Researchers who use MEDLINE for text mining, information extraction, or natural language processing may benefit from having a copy of MEDLINE that they can manage locally. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) distributes MEDLINE in eXtensible Markup Language (XML)-formatted text files, but it is difficult to query MEDLINE in that format. We have developed software tools to parse the MEDLINE data files and load their contents into a relational database. Although the task is conceptually straightforward, the size and scope of MEDLINE make the task nontrivial. Given the increasing importance of text analysis in biology and medicine, we believe a local installation of MEDLINE will provide helpful computing infrastructure for researchers. We developed three software packages that parse and load MEDLINE, and ran each package to install separate instances of the MEDLINE database. For each installation, we collected data on loading time and disk-space utilization to provide examples of the process in different settings. Settings differed in terms of commercial database-management system (IBM DB2 or Oracle 9i), processor (Intel or Sun), programming language of installation software (Java or Perl), and methods employed in different versions of the software. The loading times for the three installations were 76 hours, 196 hours, and 132 hours, and disk-space utilization was 46.3 GB, 37.7 GB, and 31.6 GB, respectively. Loading times varied due to a variety of differences among the systems. Loading time also depended on whether data were written to intermediate files or not, and on whether input files were processed in sequence or in parallel. Disk-space utilization depended on the number of MEDLINE files processed, amount of indexing, and whether abstracts were stored as character large objects or truncated. Relational database (RDBMS) technology supports indexing and querying of very large datasets, and can accommodate a locally stored version of MEDLINE. RDBMS systems support a wide range of queries and facilitate certain tasks that are not directly supported by the application programming interface to PubMed. Because there is variation in hardware, software, and network infrastructures across sites, we cannot predict the exact time required for a user to load MEDLINE, but our results suggest that performance of the software is reasonable. Our database schemas and conversion software are publicly available at http://biotext.berkeley.edu .
Ibrutinib in B lymphoid malignancies

Introduction: Most lymphomas and lymphoid leukemias are of B cell origin. Indolent B cell lymphomas, most commonly follicular lymphoma but including Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia and mantle cell lymphoma, as well as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, are incurable with standard therapy. New treatments are needed. Survival of normal and many abnormal B cells depends on signals through the B-cell receptor, and a key element of this pathway is Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK). The oral BTK inhibitor ibrutinib is already US FDA approved in four different indications based on marked treatment benefit in indolent B cell lymphoma/leukemia.Areas covered: This review covers the clinical pharmacology of ibrutinib, its efficacy in clinical trials in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mantle cell lymphoma, and Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, as well as safety and toxicity. Future directions are discussed.Expert opinion: Ibrutinib is a well-tolerated once-daily oral BTK inhibitor with impressive activity in treating indolent B...
Optical processing using optical memories

The spatial- and wavelength-selective properties of volume holograms make it possible to overlap multiple holograms within the same volume, yet access them independently. By recording the interference fringes between coherent reference and object beams, information displayed on a spatial light modulator (SLM) can be densely packed into a photosensitive material. Reilluminating with the original addressing reference beam reconstructs a weak copy of the original data-bearing object beam, which can then be detected with a pixel-matched camera. Alternatively, these holograms can be read out with a new data-bearing object beam, performing optical correlation between the input and stored data pages. The volume nature of the holograms produces many optical correlations in parallel; however, one dimension of the 2-D correlation function is lost. This multi-channel optical correlation can be used to implement a content-addressable memory, in which an entire database is compared against an input pattern simultaneously. If the patterns displayed during storage represent the records of a digital database, and the input pattern represents a search query, then the content-addressable holographic memory becomes a parallel database machine. Exact searches through the digital database can be implemented holographically by positionally encoding the data into blocks of SLM pixels.
Accumulation of Oxygenated Fatty Acids in Oat Lipids During Storage

ABSTRACT Oxygenated fatty acids were identified in oat grain by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We hypothesized that most of these were the results of lipoxygenase activity. This hypothesis was tested by measuring concentrations of these compounds after hydrothermal treatments and storage of oat groats or oat flour for 22 weeks at 37°C and 65% relative humidity. Steam treatments inactivated lipases, whereas roasting at 106°C did not. Free fatty acids accumulated quickly in untreated or roasted flour, but not in steamed flour or groats. A total of six hydroxy and epoxy fatty acids were identified. Oxidized fatty acids were found in both esterified lipids and free fatty acids, indicating that lipase action was not necessary for lipid oxidation. More oxidation products were found in flour than in groats, and less were found in the steamed treatments. Lipoperoxygenase appeared to be involved in the formation of oxidation products, although nonenzymatic mechanisms may also operate. Hydroxy-fatty acids ar...
Once weekly fluconazole for antifungal prophylaxis post-liver transplantation

Abstract Background Invasive fungal infections (IFI) remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) recipients. In this retrospective study, the outcomes of a protocol using once weekly fluconazole for 3 months after OLT in low‐ and high‐risk patients were reviewed. Methods In total, 221 OLTs were evaluated in the 3‐year period after institution of the new protocol to determine the incidence of IFI within 6 months post‐OLT. Results In this cohort, 11 IFIs developed during the 6‐month post‐transplant period, with the majority being non‐albicans Candida. High‐risk patients had a greater rate of IFI (16.7% versus 3.4%, P = 0.038) and a significantly longer intensive unit care (ICU) and hospital lengths of stay compared with low‐risk patients. Patient and graft survival were similar between the groups. Our patient population appeared to be at low risk for IFI, with 92% of the entire cohort considered low risk. Discussion Given the low incidence of IFI in the low‐risk group and the possibility of such protocol selecting out for fluconazole‐resistant fungi, the use of weekly fluconazole for 3 months may not be justifiable in low‐risk OLT recipients. Given the increased resource utilization observed with IFI, further examination of a more intensive prophylactic strategy in high‐risk patients may be warranted.
Clinical Use of Diuretics in Congestive Heart Failure

Loop diuretics have become indispensable in the management of patients with cardiac decompensation and severe edema. To evaluate the relative potency of these agents, bumetanide and furosemide were compared in 20 patients with edema associated with congestive heart failure in a double-blind, parallel study design. The dosage of the drugs administered daily for three days was 1 to 2 mg bumetanide or 80 mg furosemide. Both agents were highly effective in reducing the edema and relieving the symptoms of heart failure. Muscle cramps and abdominal pain as side effects were deemed not severe. Laboratory values indicative of mild hypochloremic alkalosis and hyponatremia were observed in two patients. Hypokalemia and reversible eighth-nerve involvement were not apparent in this study.
Ureterovesical reimplantation in children Surgical results in 491 children

Abstract The experience with ureterovesical reimplantation in 491 children is presented. A success rate of 92 per cent using the Paquin technique is reported. The ineffectiveness of ureteral reimplantation in the face of massive hydronephrosis and thick-walled contracted bladder is stressed.
Type 2 diabetes after gastric bypass: remission in five models using HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, and medication status

Background The remission rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) vary according to the glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FG), and medication status. Our objectives were to describe remission using the American Diabetes Association standards for defining normoglycemia and to identify the factors related to the preoperative severity of T2DM that predict remission to normoglycemia, independent of weight loss, after RYGB. The setting was an urban not-for-profit community hospital. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from a cohort of 2275 patients who qualified for bariatric surgery (2001–2008). Five different models for defining remission (no diabetes medication and a FG Results Of the 505 patients, 43.2% achieved remission using the most stringent criteria (no diabetes medication, HbA1c P P P Conclusion Remission, defined at a threshold less than what would be expected to result in microvascular damage, was achieved in 43.2% of diabetic patients by 14 months after RYGB. A more recent diagnosis of T2DM and the absence of preoperative insulin therapy were significant predictors, regardless of how remission was defined, independent of the percentage of excess weight loss.
Mild alkaline borohydride treatment of glycoproteins—A method for liberating both N- and O-linked carbohydrate chains

Abstract The generally accepted concept that N -linked oligosaccharides in glycoproteins are considerably more stable to mild alkali than are O -linked chains has been reexamined. A number of 3 H-labeled model glycoproteins (fetuin, transferrin, and glycophorin) were treated with: (i) 0.05 m OH − −1 m BH 4 − at 50°C for 16 h, (ii) 0.1 m OH − −0.8 m BH 4 at 37°C for 68 h, and (iii) 1 m OH − −4 m BH 4 − at 80°C for 24 h. Analysis of the products by gel filtration and paper electrophoresis showed that both N - and O -linked chains were released by all three conditions. A portion (40%) of the asparagine-linked units produced under condition (i) remained as glycopeptides. Although mild alkaline borohydride cannot be used as a diagnostic reagent for distinguishing N - and O -glycosides, it is a useful general procedure for the analysis of the carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins. Application of the method to a differentiation antigen (gp 160) of human kidney epithelia is described.
A survey of the research on future internet architectures

The current Internet, which was designed over 40 years ago, is facing unprecedented challenges in many aspects, especially in the commercial context. The emerging demands for security, mobility, content distribution, etc. are hard to be met by incremental changes through ad-hoc patches. New clean-slate architecture designs based on new design principles are expected to address these challenges. In this survey article, we investigate the key research topics in the area of future Internet architecture. Many ongoing research projects from United States, the European Union, Japan, China, and other places are introduced and discussed. We aim to draw an overall picture of the current research progress on the future Internet architecture.
CHARACTERIZATION OF PSYCHROPHILIC OSCILLATORIANS (CYANOBACTERIA) FROM ANTARCTIC MELTWATER PONDS

Oscillatorian cyanobacteria dominate benthic microbial mat communities in many polar freshwater ecosystems. Capable of growth at low temperatures, all benthic polar oscillatorians characterized to date are psychrotolerant (growth optima > 15° C) as opposed to psychrophilic (growth optima ≤ 15° C). Here, psychrophilic oscillatorians isolated from meltwater ponds on Antarctica's McMurdo Ice Shelf are described. Growth and photosynthetic rates were investigated at multiple temperatures, and compared with those of a psychrotolerant isolate from the same region. Two isolates showed a growth maximum at 8° C, with rates of 0.12 and 0.08 doublings·d−1, respectively. Neither displayed detectable growth at 24° C. The psychrotolerant isolate showed almost imperceptible growth at 4° C and a rate of 0.9 doublings·d−1 at its optimal temperature of ∼23° C. In both photosynthesis versus irradiance and photosynthesis versus temperature experiments, exponentially growing cultures were acclimated for 14 days at 3, 8, 12, 20, and 24° C under saturating light intensity, and [14C] photoincorporation rates were measured. Psychrophilic isolates acclimated at 8° C showed greatest photosynthetic rates; those acclimated at 3° C were capable of active photosynthesis, but photoincorporation was not detected in cells acclimated at 20 and 24° C, because these isolates were not viable after 14 days at those temperatures. The psychrotolerant isolate, conversely, displayed maximum photosynthetic rates at 24° C, though photoincorporation was actively occurring at 3° C. Within acclimation temperature treatments, short-term photosynthetic rates increased with increasing incubation temperature for both psychrophilic and psychrotolerant isolates. These results indicate the importance of temperature acclimation before assays when determining optimal physiological temperatures. All isolates displayed photosynthetic saturation at low light levels (<128 μmol·m−2·s−1) but were not photoinhibited at the highest light treatment (233 μmol·m−2·s−1). Field studies examining the impact of temperature on photosynthetic responses of intact benthic mats, under natural solar irradiance, showed the mat communities to be actively photosynthesizing from 2 to 20° C, with maximum photoincorporation at 20° C, as well as capable of a rapid response to an increase in temperature. The rarity of psychrophilic cyanobacteria, relative to psychrotolerant strains, may be due to their extremely slow growth rates and inability to take advantage of occasional excursions to higher temperatures. We suggest an evolutionary scenario in which psychrophilic strains, or their most recent common ancestor, lost the ability to grow at higher temperatures while maintaining a broad tolerance for fluctuations in other physical and chemical parameters that define shallow meltwater Antarctic ecosystems.
The influence of coherency strain on the elevated temperature tensile behavior of Ni-15Cr-AI-Ti-Mo alloys

The effect of coherency strain on elevated temperature tensile strength was examined in a model, two-phase y’-strengthened Ni-15Cr-Al-Ti-Mo alloy series. The temperature dependence of coherency strain as represented by the γ-γ’ mismatch was determined over the temperature range 25 to 800 °C. The flow stress incrementAσγ, due to precipitation of γ’, was found to correlate well to the magnitude of the γ-γ’ mismatch over the same temperature interval. The correlation was strongest for high misfit alloys regardless of the Antiphase Boundary Energy (APBE). The predominance of by-pass type dislocation-particle interactions in high coherency alloys confirms that strengthening is primarily due to coherency strains. Conversely, alloys with low misfit exhibit two distinct particle shear mechanisms believed to be dependent upon the relative APBE and matrix stacking fault energy of the alloy.
Finite-Amplitude Stability of Rossby Wave Flow

Abstract Finite-amplitude stability characteristics of Rossby wave flow are investigated in the context of the inviscid barotropic model on a beta plane. It is shown that a superimposed disturbance, unstable in the linear sense, grows as long as it lags the basic Rossby wave. However, when the disturbance becomes sufficiently large, it alters the phase and the amplitude of the Rossby wave flow. The phase correction of the Rossby wave is to the west and, in time, large enough to reverse the phase relation between the disturbance and the basic wave. At the time when the two become in phase, the growth of the disturbance is halted and subsequently, when the disturbance leads the Rossby wave, the disturbance slowly decays out. The basic Rossby wave equilibrates with a phase and amplitude which differ from their initial values.
Student and residence life: Planning a campus around students

A carefully constructed combination of services, programs, mentoring, interventions, opportunities, and celebrations brought the campus to life.
Ozone impacts on forests

Ozone is the air pollutant of major concern for forests, and is also recognized as a significant greenhouse gas. Current background O3 levels in the Northern Hemisphere have increased around 2‐4.5 times since pre-industrial times. Although many questions remain, we now know a great deal about how O3 affects forests at the cell/leaf level (by inducing a cascade of biochemical, physiological and morphological responses) and at the tree/canopy level (by affecting allocation and carbon strength, reproduction, hydrology and the response to co-occurring stressors). The most significant O3 impact is on the regulatory capacity of resource allocation rather than on productivity. However, forest ecosystems are much complex. Gas exchange measurements carried out at steady state suggest that O3 reduces stomatal conductance and thus increases protection from drought and additional O3. Ozone, however, may impair stomatal control and predispose trees to drought stress under dynamic conditions, as those in forests. Ozone-induced increases in sap-flow have been shown to result in stem growth losses, depletion of soil moisture in the rooting zone and reduced streamflow, with implications for all the forest hydrological processes. In addition, species-specific and individual-specific responses to O3 affect forest competition and biodiversity. There is a need to scale from the cell and leaf level up to the ecosystem and regional level, and to develop a biologically significant and usable standard to protect forests from O3. Further work is needed for understanding the cause/effect-based relationships between O3 and other stresses at the stand and ecosystem level. Modelling may provide new insights into O3 impacts on forests, even though scalar and conceptual uncertainties still limit the current understanding of basic physiological mechanisms.
Tribological Performance of Aluminum Micro and Nano Composites

In the present investigation, the tribological performance of aluminum micro (100 to 200 μm particle size) and nano (47 nm particle size) composites was studied using a three pin-on-disk tribometer under dry conditions. As a basis for comparison, the tribological performance of aluminum alloys was also studied. The pins made of these materials were then slid against a steel disk under ambient conditions. Tests were conducted at a sliding velocity of 1.58 m/s for a normal load of 30 N. The worn surfaces of the pins were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. Based on the experiments, it was observed that the nano-composites significantly outperformed all of the other materials with respect to friction levels. It was also discovered that the nano-composites exhibited the best wear performance among the composites investigated. The size of the reinforcement particle trapped at the interface and the hardness ratio of the mating materials were specifically found to play an important role in determining the friction and wear performance of the materials investigated.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Frequency-dependent conductivity of electron glasses

Results of dc and frequency-dependent conductivity in the quantum limit---i.e., $\ensuremath{\Elzxh}\ensuremath{\omega}g{k}_{B}T$---for a broad range of dopant concentrations in nominally uncompensated, crystalline phosphorous-doped silicon and amorphous niobium-silicon alloys are reported. These materials fall under the general category of disordered insulating systems, which are referred to as electron glasses. Using microwave resonant cavities and quasioptical millimeter-wave spectroscopy we are able to study the frequency-dependent response on the insulating side of the metal-insulator transition. We identify a quantum critical regime, a Fermi glass regime, and a Coulomb glass regime. Our phenomenological results lead to a phase diagram description, or taxonomy, of the electrodynamic response of electron glass systems.
Sleep improves memory: the effect of sleep on long term memory in early adolescence.

Sleep plays an important role in the consolidation of memory. This has been most clearly shown in adults for procedural memory (i.e. skills and procedures) and declarative memory (e.g. recall of facts). The effects of sleep and memory are relatively unstudied in adolescents. Declarative memory is important in school performance and consequent social functioning in adolescents. This is the first study to specifically examine the effects of normal sleep on auditory declarative memory in an early adolescent sample. Given that the majority of adolescents do not obtain the recommended amount of sleep, it is critical to study the cognitive effects of normal sleep. Forty male and female normal, healthy adolescents between the ages of ten and fourteen years old were randomly assigned to sleep and no sleep conditions. Subjects were trained on a paired-associate declarative memory task and a control working memory task at 9am, and tested at night (12 hours later) without sleep. The same number of subjects was trained at 9pm and tested 9am following sleep. An increase of 20.6% in declarative memory, as measured by the number correct in a paired-associate test, following sleep was observed compared to the group which was tested at the same time interval without sleep (p<0.03). The performance on the control working memory task that involved encoding and memoranda manipulation was not affected by time of day or relationship to sleep. Declarative memory is significantly improved by sleep in a sample of normal adolescents.
Bioturbation recorded by a sedimentary siloxane horizon

A Puget Sound (Washington State, USA) sediment core was quantitatively analyzed for organic silicon content, as derived from post-1945 release of poly(organo)siloxanes (silicones). The sedimentary silicone data record and preserve a smeared event horizon, dating the first appearance of silicones in the sediment column. This record of bioturbation preserved deep in the column appears somewhat in contrast to the record provided by 210Pb geochronology. Aliquots of the same core segments had been dated previously using 210Pb, and analyzed for silicone content, as reported in this study. Core samples older than 50 years showed no detectable silicone, as measured by a new procedure utilizing inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, after solvent extraction to collect the silicone from gram-sized sediment core samples.
Portable intensity interferometry

A limitation of the current generation of long baseline optical interferometers is the need to make the light interfere prior to detection. This is unlike the radio regime where signals can be recorded fast enough to use electronics to accomplish the same result. This paper describes a modern optical intensity interferometer based on electronics with picosecond timing resolution. The instrument will allow for portable optical interferometry with much larger baselines than currently possible by using existing large telescopes. With modern electronics, the limiting magnitude of the technique at a 4-m aperture size becomes competitive with some amplitude-based interferometers. The instrumentation will permit a wireless mode of operation with GPS clocking technology, extending the work to extremely large baselines. We discuss the basic observing strategy, a planned observational program at the Lowell Observatory 1.8-m and 1.0-m telescopes, and the science that can realistically be done with this instrumentation.
A Variable Negative-Inductance Integrated Circuit at UHF Frequencies

A floating variable Negative Impedance Inverter (NIl) circuit is proposed that is derived from Linvill's unbalanced negative impedance converter. A negative-inductance Integrated Circuit (IC) has been realized using the IBM 8 HP BiCMOS process with an inductance that tunes from -64 to -40 nH. The IC is short-circuit-stable (which has been verified by experiment) and is dc coupled at the terminals, making it directly applicable to susceptance cancellation for slot antennas and artificial magnetic conductors. This letter reports the circuit topology, measurement technique, and measured data.
Lower mantle tomography and phase change mapping

A lower mantle S wave triplication (Scd) has been recognized for many years and appears to be explained by the recently discovered perovskite (PV) to postperovskite (PPV) phase change. Seismic observations of Scd display (1) rapid changes in strength and timing relative to S and ScS and (2) early arrivals beneath fast lower mantle regions. While the latter feature can be explained by a Clapeyron slope (λ) of 6 MPa/K and a velocity jump of 1.5% when corrected by tomographic predictions, it does not explain the first feature. Here, we expand on this mapping approach by attempting a new parameterization that requires a sample of D" near the ScS bounce point (δ VS) where the phase height (hph) and velocity jump (β) are functions of (δ VS). These parameters are determined by modeling dense record sections collected from USArray and PASSCAL data where Grand's tomographic model is the most detailed in D" structure beneath Central America. We also address the range of λ to generate new global models of the phase boundary and associated temperature variation. We conclude that a λ near 9 MPa/K is most satisfactory but requires β to be nonuniform with a range from about 1.0 to 4.0% with some slow region samples requiring the largest values. Moreover, the edges of the supposed buckled slabs delimitated by both P and S waves display very rapid changes in phase boundary heights producing Scd multipathing. These features can explain the unstable nature of the Scd phase with easy detection to no detection commonly observed. The fine structure at the base of the mantle beneath these edges contains particularly strong reflections indicative of local ultralow velocity zones, which are predicted in some dynamic models.
Surface-complex films of guanidine on tantalum nitride electrochemically characterized for applications in chemical mechanical planarization

Abstract Chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) of tantalum nitride is an essential step of material processing in the fabrication of integrated circuits. This CMP step often involves the chemical formation of a structurally weak oxide-complex film on the wafer surface, followed by selective removal of the film with mechanical abrasion under reduced loading. The present work investigates certain chemical aspects of this strategy of TaN-CMP by using guanidine carbonate (GC) as a surface complexing agent, and employing electrochemical experiments. The experiments are designed to study the chemical and electrochemical origins of the CMP-specific surface complex films formed on a TaN wafer in acidic solutions of GC and hydrogen peroxide. Open circuit potential, polarization resistance, and electrochemical impedance measurements are employed to probe the surface effects that facilitate material removal in chemically prevailing CMP of TaN. The results are discussed in view of designing slurry variables to support barrier layer planarization with reduced roles of mechanical abrasion.
Ruminations of a road traveled towards empowerment: Musing narratives of teaching, learning and self-realization

Teachers’ narratives, when viewed as a form of critical inquiry, can allow teachers to tell and retell stories from their evolving points of view and contextual positions, with the goal of better understanding the complexity and depth of the experiences that have informed their teaching. This narrative, which weaves the voices of the author and her students to tell the story of their connected journey to empowerment, critically reflects upon the author’s experiences teaching dance in an inner city high school in the United States, and how these experiences have shaped her values, understandings and identity as a dance educator.
Restricted signed permutations counted by the Schröder numbers

Gire, West, and Kremer have found ten classes of restricted permutations counted by the large Schroder numbers, no two of which are trivially Wilf-equivalent. In this paper we enumerate eleven classes of restricted signed permutations counted by the large Schroder numbers, no two of which are trivially Wilf-equivalent. We obtain five of these enumerations by elementary methods, five by displaying isomorphisms with the classical Schroder generating tree, and one by giving an isomorphism with a new Schroder generating tree. When combined with a result of Egge and a computer search, this completes the classification of restricted signed permutations counted by the large Schroder numbers in which the set of restrictions consists of two patterns of length 2 and two of length 3.
Low protein intake is associated with impaired titanium implant osseointegration.

Low protein intake is highly prevalent among orthopaedic elderly patients. We studied the effects of an isocaloric low protein diet on the resistance to pull-out of titanium rods implanted into rats proximal tibia. Isocaloric low protein intake impairs titanium implant osseointegration, with a decreased strength needed to completely loose the implant and altered bone microarchitecture in its vicinity.
Stark Shift in the 6s6p 3 P 1 State of Mercury

We have measured the differential Stark shift in the 6s6p3P1 state of mercury. The technique we used was to measure the shift in the magnetic-field level crossing in 199Hg when an additional electric field was applied. We obtained the value E(mJ = ±1) − E(mJ = 0) = −2.367 ± 0.024 kHz/(kV/cm)2 · ∊2, where ∊ is the electric field.
The role of whole grains in disease prevention

Abstract Despite universal acceptance of the importance of whole grains in the diet, consumer knowledge of the benefits of whole grains and intake of these foods are low. This review summarizes the research supporting whole-grain consumption and gives practical suggestions about how to increase whole-grain intake. Whole-grain foods are valuable sources of nutrients that are lacking in the American diet, including dietary fiber, B vitamins, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, copper, and magnesium. Whole-grain foods also contain phytochemicals, such as phenolic compounds, that together with vitamins and minerals play important roles in disease prevention. The exact mechanisms linking whole grains to disease prevention are not known but may include gastrointestinal effects, antioxidant protection, and intake of phytoestrogens. Dietary intake studies indicate that consumption of whole grains is far less than the recommended intake of 3 servings a day, with an average daily intake of 1 or fewer servings a day. A new whole-grains health claim, allowed in July 1999 by the Food and Drug Administration, and inclusion of a whole-grain recommendation in the 2000 revision of the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans, should help increase whole-grain consumption. J Am Diet Assoc. 2001; 101:780–785 .
Antimicrobial agents: the old and the new.

Abstract Although there are many new antimicrobial agents, many of the old antibiotics are still useful in the treatment of infections, particularly those in the community. Antimicrobial resistance patterns and special pharmacologic properties should influence the selection of newer antimicrobial agents. Change from parenteral therapy to oral therapy should increase to avoid the complications of intravenous therapy and to reduce hospital costs. Older antibiotics that are less costly should be used when the etiology and susceptibility of infecting pathogens are known. There will continue to be new antibiotics produced. Understanding the microbiologic and pharmacologic advantages of the new agents compared with older agents is essential if the new agents are to be used properly and not destroyed by inappropriate use. (Am J INFECT CONTROL 1989;17:276-85)
Experimental Cross Sections for Charge-Changing Collisions of He + and He ++ Ions Traversing Gases

Ion beams of ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{He}}^{++}$, in the kinetic energy range 100 to 450 kev, are held in arcs of circular orbits in a magnetic field. When a few microns of gas are admitted the beam is attenuated by charge-changing collisions, since with change of charge the ion is lost from its orbit. Cross sections for such charge-changing collisions are designated by ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{if}}$, where $i$ is the initial positive ionic charge in electron units and $f$ the charge after the collision. (${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{10}+{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{12}$) has been directly measured for ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ in hydrogen, helium, and air, and (${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{21}+{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{20}$) for ${\mathrm{He}}^{++}$ in the same gases.
Just keep breathing: How mitochondrial metabolism influences sepsis outcome

Sepsis remains the leading cause of death in the intensive care unit. In patients with sepsis, the body responds to infection with a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) that causes intense organ injury and death. Along with tissue injury, intense metabolic changes take place and both glycolytic and lactic pathways are unbalanced. Whether changes in cell metabolism influence antimicrobial host defense is an intense area of research. It is known that free fatty acids and succinate (a product of glycolysis) influence activation of the inflammasome, a signaling platform required for the production of inflammatory mediators that belong to the interleukin-1 (IL-1) family. Recently, it has been determined that mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production is essential for optimal inflammasome activation. However, whether mitochondrial products derived during SIRS are involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis remains to be determined. Moon et al. studied the metabolic regulation of inflammatory responses by mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCPs), a superfamily of mitochondrial anion carrier proteins during sepsis. Total body and myeloid-specific UCP2-deficient mice were protected from polymicrobial sepsis; this protection correlated with increased UCP2 expression in leukocytes from both septic mice and humans. UCP2-deficient mice displayed reduced lipid synthesis and production of the inflammasome products IL-1β and IL-18 in vivo and in vitro. Pharmacologic and genetic inhibition of fatty acid synthase (FASN) suppressed NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)–mediated caspase-1 activation by down-regulation of NLRP3 and IL-1β production. Also, their data suggest that activation of FASN-mediated AKT/ p38 MAPK axis was critical for NLRP3 expression and caspase-1 activation. In conclusion, UCP2 was found to be a propathogenic mediator in sepsis, whereby UCP2 regulates NLRP3-mediated caspase-1 activation through lipid synthesis. This manuscript opens different therapeutic perspectives regarding the role of UCP2 in controlling different acute and chronic inflammatory human diseases. However, more studies are needed to indicate a possible translational application for UCP2 or NASF in human diseases. J.-S. Moon et al. , UCP2-induced fatty acid synthase promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation during sepsis. J . Clin. Invest. 10.1172/JCI78253 (2015). [[Full Text]][1] [1]: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/78253
THEORY OF HIGH-MODE PHENOMENA FOR STELLARATORS

It is shown that besides the ion orbit loss mechanism, which occurs in a region $a\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{t}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{p}lrla$, the drift-orbit transport flux driven by the collisionless helically trapped particles can also drive the poloidal $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{E}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{B}$ velocity in a region $rla\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{t}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{p}$ in stellarators. Here, $r(a)$ is the minor (plasma) radius, ${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{t}$ is the toroidal amplitude of the magnetic field spectrum, $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{E}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{B})$ is the electric (magnetic) field, and ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{p}$ is the poloidal ion gyroradius. The transport-flux-driven $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{E}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{B}$ velocity can be triggered most efficiently by an increase of the ion temperature gradient. The theory is applied to the high-mode phenomenon observed in stellarators.
Answering the Old Questions in New Ways: Economics in the Last 25 Years

Douglas W. Hands is Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. His research interests include economic theory and the methodology of economics. His articles have appeared in Economics Letters and Philosophy of the Social Sciences. Michael Veseth is Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Puget Sound. He is the author of Introductory Economics (Academic Press, 1981) and Public Finance (Reston Publishers, forthcoming). The questions of economics stay the same. It is the answers that have changed in the past twenty-five years.
General equations for modeling fluid/rock interaction using trace elements and isotopes

Abstract General equations for modeling open and closed system fluid/rock interaction using trace elements and isotopes are presented. Taylor 's (1977) open system equation for stable isotopes is extended to account for a change in the Δ value between rock and fluid during interaction. It is shown that hydrothermal systems in which fractionation factors vary during fluid/rock interaction will significantly alter the isotopic ratios of rocks compared to equivalent systems with invariant fractionation factors. The equations for modeling trace element exchange are analogous to the stable isotope equations and permit the calculation of fluid/rock ratios using changes in trace element concentrations in the rock. Similarly to stable isotope exchange, the change of the trace element concentration in a rock during infiltration is a function of the trace element concentration in the fluid, the fluid/rock partition coefficient and the fluid/rock ratio rather than simply the concentration of the trace element in the fluid.
Virtual processing of hybrid SMA composites through martensitic transformation

The capability of Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) to modify the reference configuration of an SMA-composite through martensitic transformation is explored. It is intended that through careful selection of a thermomechanical loading path the composite can be "processed" such that the constituent phases are in a preferential reference configuration. Specifically, for materials which have preferred loading conditions (i.e., compression versus tension), such processing results in a residual stress state which takes advantage of the improved properties. The composite under investigation is assumed to be composed of an SMA phase and an elasto-plastic second phase. For analysis of such a composite, a Finite Element (FE) mesh based on a realistic microstructure is constructed by using the results of X-ray tomography. The resultant microstructure is analyzed using FE techniques. It is shown that through an isobaric loading path, transformation generates plastic strains in the elasto-plastic phase which modify the composite reference configuration. The effect of different applied loads is considered.
Some stroboscopic spinoffs in photographic technology

The potential of the high speed electronic flash and the stroboscope to significantly contribute to the fields of science and technology cannot be overemphasized. Important applications for these instruments and applied techniques have been described by Dr. Harold Edgerton and elaborated upon by numerous other workers. This paper presents a summary of some of these projects. They are presented here to not only gratefully acknowledge the direct connection to Dr. Edgerton's pioneering work but also to re-emphasize the usefulness of specific electronic flash and stroboscopic analysis techniques.
The syndrome of familial juvenile hypoadrenocorticism, hypoparathyroidism and superficial moniliasis.

The coincidence of hypoparathyroidism and Addison's disease in children is rare, only 7 cases being found in the available literature (1–9). The present paper surveys this material briefly and presents an additional patient with hypoadrenocorticism and hypoparathyroidism—a 15-year-old boy studied at The Cincinnati Children's Hospital, in whom the clinical diagnoses were confirmed by autopsy findings. From these data, evidence indicating that the syndrome in question has in general the features of “familial juvenile hypoadrenocorticism, hypoparathyrodism and superficial moniliasis” has been assembled, and the suggestion offered that other reported cases with some of these features are incomplete examples of the syndrome. Relationships between the monilial infection and the endocrine dysfunctions, and other implications of this syndrome, are also discussed.
Properties of the calcium-sensitive components of bovine arterial actomyosin

Abstract A calcium-sensitive actomyosin was prepared from bovine aortic muscularis. Calcium binding to this arterial actomyosin was measured using a centrifugation method. The amount of bound calcium necessary for full activation of the arterial actomyosin adenosine triphosphatase was approximately 36 μmol of Ca 2+ /kg of aorta. Calcium stimulation of the actomyosin ATPase could be prevented by lowering the free magnesium from 7 to 1 m m . However, calcium binding to the actomyosin increased slightly with a reduction of free magnesium levels. Positive cooperativity was evident in the sequence of reactions beginning with the binding of calcium and ending with the hydrolysis of ATP. However, there was no evidence for the cooperativity occurring at the initial calcium-binding step.
Confining Femininity:: A History of Gender, Power and Imprisonment

In this article, the author suggests that criminological accounts of the birth of the prison have been characterised by an unacknowledged chronological and gender bias. Rather than being the result...
Fatigue and Wear Evaluation of Ti-15Al-33Nb(at.%) and Ti-21Al-29Nb(at.%) Alloys for Biomedical Applications

In this work the fatigue and wear behavior of Ti-15Al-33Nb(at.%) and Ti-21Al-29Nb(at.%) was evaluated and compared to that for other titanium-based biomedical implant alloys, in particular Ti-6Al-4V(wt.%). Fatigue stress versus life curves were obtained for tests performed at room temperature in air at a stress ratio of R = 0.1 for maximum stresses between 75%–90% of the ultimate tensile strength. The results indicated that the fatigue strength and lives of the as-processed alloys are comparable to that for Ti-6Al-4V(wt.%). Heat treatment significantly increased the orthorhombic-phase volume fractions in the alloys and resulted in reduced fatigue strength. The wear resistance for the alloys was significantly greater than that for Ti-6Al-4V(wt.%). Based on the current results, it is proposed that titanium-aluminum-niobium alloys will be of considerable future interest for biomedical applications.Copyright © 2006 by ASME