cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of discoid lupus erythematosus with other clinical manifestations among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background Cutaneous discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be associated with less severe disease and with low frequency of nephritis and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Objective We sought to investigate associations between confirmed DLE and other SLE manifestations, adjusting for confounders. Methods We identified patients with rheumatologist confirmation, according to 1997 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) SLE classification criteria, more than 2 visits, longer than 3 months of follow-up, and documented year of SLE diagnosis. DLE was confirmed by a dermatologist, supported by histopathology and images. SLE manifestations, medications, and serologies were collected. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses tested for associations between DLE and each of the ACR SLE criteria, and ESRD. Results A total of 1043 patients with SLE (117 with DLE and 926 without DLE) were included in the study. After multivariable adjustment, DLE in SLE was significantly associated with photosensitivity (odds ratio [OR] 1.63), leukopenia (OR 1.55), and anti-Smith antibodies (OR 2.41). DLE was significantly associated with reduced risks of arthritis (OR 0.49) and pleuritis (OR 0.56). We found no significant associations between DLE and nephritis or ESRD. Limitations Cross-sectional data collection with risk of data not captured from visits outside system was a limitation. Conclusions In our SLE cohort, DLE was confirmed by a dermatologist and we adjusted for possible confounding by medication use, in particular hydroxychloroquine. We found increased risks of photosensitivity, leukopenia, and anti-Smith antibodies and decreased risks of pleuritis and arthritis in patients with SLE and DLE. DLE was not related to anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, lupus nephritis, or ESRD. These findings have implications for prognosis among patients with SLE.
Foucault's Ethical Ars Erotica

If Foucault is best known for his 1970s work on the disciplinary subjectivations that characterize modern biopower, his ethical project of the early 1980s is generally viewed as an attempt to rethink subjectivity through a return to the self in the ancient world. This standard view of Foucault is not inaccurate. But the view is flawed by its lack of attention to the ethical thinking that emerges from the beginning of Foucault’s life-long project to interrogate the relation between subjectivity and truth. Importantly, with the recent appearance of the first full English translation of Foucault’s first major book, History of Madness, Anglophone readers now have the opportunity to retrace the ethical thread that runs through Foucault’s work from start to finish.1 In 1961, History of Madness begins to articulate an ethics that Foucault will describe in the 1980s as a practice of freedom in relation to others. Specifically, Madness presents us with an ethics of eros: a desubjectivating thinking that will continue through Foucault’s archaeologies of the 1960s, his genealogies of the 1970s, and his “return” to the subject in the early 1980s.2 In contrast to many of Foucault’s interpreters, I argue that Foucault was always asking about ethics because, from “madness” to “ethics,” he was always asking about the subject and the other; he was always, from the start, trying to find a way out from under those modes of subjectivation that keep us, and others, unfree. Never a substance, never pre-given, Foucault’s subject cannot be assumed as the ready-made agent of highminded moral projects; for Foucault, there is no presumed subject of an ethics that will then be applied, through the agency of the subject, to a
Comparison of Aluminum Etch Rates in Carbon Tetrachloride and Boron Trichloride Plasmas

Etch rates of aluminum and "native aluminum oxide" films were studied as a function of substrate temperature in a parallel plate plasma etcher using and plasmas. Differences in the inhibition period for vs. etching were attributed to the relative abilities of these etchants to scavenge oxygen and water vapor and to etch native aluminum oxide. The temperature dependence of the etch rates suggested basic differences in the rate‐controlling steps for vs. plasma etching. The surface chemistry of the electrode materials played an important role in the etch rates observed with and.
Argentine multiculturalism and the ethnographic shift in documentary cinema: Martín Rejtman's Copacabana

The paper examines Martin Rejtman's critical documentary work in the context of broader representations of Argentina, especially Buenos Aires, as a multicultural society. It contends that the notion of multiculturalism, as a description of postcolonial social formations, does not properly apply to the Argentine case, and that the construction of an image of Buenos Aires in terms of a harmonious, multiracial coexistence is an injurious misrepresentation. The paper first focuses on Rejtman's new approach to the cultural analysis of immigration in Argentina as it stems from the imposition of ‘curiosity’ and the adoption of an ethnographic perspective. Secondly, it assesses the relationship between this new proposal, the notion of multiculturalism, and its applicability to the Argentine context. Finally, it appraises the connections between the analysis of contemporary Argentina and the significance of the progression from a poetics of fiction to a poetics of documentary in Rejtman's Copacabana (2006) and his...
Two catalytic subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase generated by alternative RNA splicing are expressed in Aplysia neurons.

Abstract The amino acid sequences of two catalytic (C) subunits of Aplysia CAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAPK) have been deduced from the nucleotide sequences of cDNAs generated from neuronal poly(A) + RNA. Both subunits contain 352 residues and are identical except for amino acids 142–183, which differ at 10 out of 42 positions. They derive from alternatively spliced transcripts of a single gene (C APL ) containing two mutually exclusive exon cassettes. C APL transcripts are present in several classes of identified neurons containing transmittersensitive adenylate cyclase, including sensory cells, bag cells, and the left pleural giant cell. Combinatorial expression of the various regulatory (R) and C subunits might produce kinase isoforms with distinct roles in neuronal modulation. Alternatively, holoenzymes with overlapping properties together might contribute to the definition of individual cell types and physiological states.
The poetics of augmented space

How is our experience of a spatial form is affected when the form is filled in with dynamic and rich multimedia information? (The examples of such environments are particular urban spaces such as shopping and entertainment areas of Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Seoul where the walls of the buildings are completely covered with electronic screens and signs; convention and trade shows halls; department stores, etc.; and at the same time, any human-constructed space where the subject can access various information wirelessly on her cell phone, PDA, or laptop.) Does the form become irrelevant, being reduced to functional and ultimately invisible support for information flows? Or do we end up with a new experience in which the spatial and information layers are equally important? In this case, do these layers add up to a single phenomenological gestalt or are they processed as separate layers?
A Metric for Quantifying Key Exposure Vulnerability in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks are often used in applications where message confidentiality, integrity, and authentication are required. Cryptography is a common mechanism for meeting these security requirements. The use of cryptography requires that nodes share secret keys, which are typically assigned to each node according to key distribution schemes. Given a key distribution, there is currently no design metric for evaluating vulnerability to key exposure. In this work, we introduce a metric for analyzing and comparing the resilience of key distributions by introducing the concept of a Link Key Security Metric (LKSM). We define the properties needed in an LKSM and provide a metric that satisfies them.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-II Is Increased in Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Pulmonary Fibrosis and Contributes to the Fibrotic Process via Jun N-Terminal Kinase- and Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase-Dependent Pathways

Systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related pulmonary fibrosis, for which there are few effective therapies, is the most common cause of SSc-related mortality. We examined insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II expression in explanted lung tissues from control and SSc patients to determine its role in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. IGF-II levels in vivo were detected using immunohistochemistry. Primary lung fibroblasts were cultured from lung tissues, and IGF-II mRNA was measured using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Western blot analysis measured extracellular matrix (ECM) production and phosphorylated signaling molecules. Immunostaining revealed increased IGF-II expression in fibroblastic foci of SSc lungs. Furthermore, primary SSc lung fibroblasts had a fourfold increase in IGF-II mRNA and a twofold increase in IGF-II protein compared with normal lung fibroblasts. IGF-II mRNA in SSc lung fibroblasts was expressed primarily from the P3 promoter of the IGF-II gene, and IGF-II induced both a dose- and time-dependent increase in collagen type I and fibronectin production. IGF-II triggered the activation of both phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and Jun N-terminal kinase signaling cascades, the inhibition of which diminished IGF-II-induced ECM production. Our study demonstrates increased local IGF-II expression in SSc-associated pulmonary fibrosis both in vitro and in vivo as well as IGF-II-induced ECM production through both phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase- and Jun N-terminal kinase-dependent pathways. Our results provide novel insights into the role of IGF-II in the pathogenesis of SSc-associated pulmonary fibrosis.
Experimental test of the quasilinear theory of the interaction between a weak warm electron beam and a spectrum of waves.

Recent theoretical work has suggested that the quasilinear description of the weak-warm-beam--plasma instability is incomplete. It has been argued that beam-mediated mode-coupling effects neglected in standard quasilinear theory play an important role, and that their average effect is a zeroth-order increase in the growth rate. We have experimentally observed strong mode-coupling effects when a weak warm beam interacts with waves on a slow wave structure. However, when we average the effects of the mode coupling we do not observe the predicted zeroth-order increase in the growth rate.
Kinetic aspects of non-linear effects in asymmetric synthesis, catalysis, and autocatalysis

Abstract The Kagan ML n models developed for rationalizing non-linear effects of catalyst enantiopurity have become a valuable mechanistic tool for probing complex asymmetric catalytic reactions. This work demonstrates how these models also provide clues about reactivity that may be used for further evidence to test a mechanistic hypothesis. Special considerations for probing non-linear effects in asymmetric synthesis using stoichiometric chiral auxiliaries and in asymmetric autocatalysis are highlighted in comparison with asymmetric catalysis.
Mass spectral fragmentation pathways in 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine

The electron impact (EI) fragmentation pathways of 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine (TNAZ) along with some 15N and 2H analogs were studied. Collision-induced dissociation was also used to investigate important peaks in the EI spectra. Isotopically labeled compounds allowed the determination of most of the major fragmentation peaks. It was found that the major pathway involves the loss of NO2 or HNO2 from the dinitroalkyl group followed by a loss of NO2 or NO from the nitramine group. The peak at m/z 46, [NO2]+, the base peak, resulted primarily from N—N bond scission while the peak at m/z 30, [NO]+, was equally likely to come from any NO2 bond. The fragmentation pathway of TNAZ showed similarities with other nitramine and nitrocarbon explosives. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular Biology of Aging

1. The Human Mitochondrion and Pathophysiology of Aging and Age-related Diseases D.C. Wallace 2. Sirtuins: A Universal Link between NAD, Metabolism, and Aging S.-i. Imai and L. P. Guarente 3. Calorie Restriction in Lower Organisms S.L. Helfand, J.H. Bauer, and J.G. Wood 4. Evolutionary Theory in Aging Research S.N. Austad and T.B.L. Kirkwood 5. An Overview of the Biology of Aging: A Human Perspective G.M. Martin and C.E. Finch 6. p53, Cancer, and Longevity L.A. Donehower and A.J. Levine 7. Aging Processes in Caenorhabditis elegans H.A. Tissenbaum and T.E. Johnson 8. Cellular Senescence: A Link between Tumor Suppression and Organismal Aging? J.M. Sedivy, U.M. Munoz-Najar, J.C. Jeyapalan, and J. Campisi 9. Genome-wide Views of Aging Gene Networks S.K. Kim 10. Aging in Mammalian Stem Cells and Other Self-renewing Compartments D.J. Rossi and N.E. Sharpless 11. Yeast, A Feast: The Fruit Fly Drosophila as a Model Organism for Research into Aging L. Partridge and J. Tower 12. DNA Repair and Aging V.A. Bohr, D.M. Wilson, III, N.C. de Souza-Pinto, I. van der Pluijm, and J.H. Hoeijmakers 13. Extended Life Span in Mice with Reduction in the GH/IGF-1 Axis J.J. Kopchick, A. Bartke, and D.E. Berryman 14. Alzheimer's Disease: Genetics, Pathogenesis, Models, and Experimental Therapeutics P.C. Wong, D.L. Price, L. Bertram, and R.E. Tanzi 15. How Does Calorie Restriction Increase the Longevity of Mammals? R. Weindruch, R.J. Colman, V. P e9 rez, and A.G. Richardson 16. Determination of Aging Rate by Coordinated Resistance to Multiple Forms of Stress G.J. Lithgow and R.A. Miller 17. Molecular Mechanisms of Aging: Insights from Budding Yeast S.-J. Lin and D. Sinclair 18. Genetics of Exceptional Longevity T.T. Perls and P. Sebastiani 19. Mammalian Metabolism in Aging P. Puigserver and C.R. Kahn 20. Telomeres and Telomerase in Aging and Cancer J.W. Shay and W.E. Wright Index
Variables affecting the dynamic response of thermocouples attached to thin-skinned models.

Thermocouples dynamic response attached to thin skinned model under constant heating rate, considering error reduction in temperature measurement
Aspects of the osmotic and ionic regulation of the urine in Crangon vulgaris (Fabr.) (Crustacea: Natantia)

Abstract The composition of urine in intermoult Crangon vulgaris (Fabr.) was studied in varying salinities at 10°C. Measurements were made of freezing point depression, chloride, and sodium in urine and in blood. C. vulgaris has a urine isosmotic to the blood ( U B = 1 ) in the salinity range 5–30‰. U B for chloride is also 1, while U B for sodium is 1.15-1.20. The possible role of magnesium and calcium in balancing the high sodium ratio is discussed.
DSA template optimization for contact layer in 1D standard cell design

At the 7 nm technology node, the contact layers of integrated circuits (IC) are too dense to be printed by single exposure lithography. Block copolymer directed self-assembly (DSA) has shown its advantage in contact/via patterning with high throughput and low cost. To pattern contacts with DSA, guiding templates are usually printed first with conventional lithography, e.g., 193 nm immersion lithography (193i) that has a coarser pitch resolution. Contact holes are then patterned with DSA process. The guiding templates play the role of controlling the DSA patterns inside, which have a finer resolution than the templates. The DSA contact pitch depends on the chemical property of block copolymer and it can be adjusted within a certain range under strong lateral confinement to deviate from the natural pitch. As a result, different patterns can be obtained through different parameters. Although the guiding template shapes can be arbitrary, the overlay accuracy of the contact holes patterned are different and largely depend on the templates. Thus, the guiding templates that have tolerable variations are considered as feasible, and those have large overlays are considered as infeasible. To pattern the contact layer in a layout with DSA technology, we must ensure that all the DSA templates in the layout are feasible. However, the original layout may not be designed in a DSA-friendly way. Moreover, the routing process may introduce contacts that can only be patterned by infeasible templates. In this paper, we propose an optimization algorithm that optimize the contact layer for DSA patterning in 1D standard cell design. In particular, the algorithm modifies the layout via wire permutation technique to redistribute the contacts such that the use of infeasible templates is avoided and the feasible patterns that with better overlay control are favored. The experimental result demonstrate the ability of the proposed algorithm in helping to reduce the design and manufacturing cost of a DSA-enabled process at 7 nm technology node.
Impact of ground profile on scintillation: 50km and 200km slant paths from airplane to Antelope Peak

The interest for free space laser beam propagation has recently increased due to several experiments. These experiments have shown that optical links through the atmosphere can be effectively established, regardless of the several deleterious negative effects of refractive index fluctuations. The most deleterious effect is the scintillation which, consequently, has been widely investigated. However, it has not been reported yet what influence a ground profile has on scintillation values. In this paper we show theoretical results of the ground impact on scintillation, for a laser link between aircraft and mountain top; Antelope peak Nevada. The link was investigated for a specific mountainous profile of the ground for path lengths of 50 km and 200 km. The theoretical analysis shows that, if a low value is assumed for the Rytov variance (weak turbulence condition), then the presence of high peaks or mountains along the propagation path could have a remarkable impact on scintillation because the scintillation saturation effects do not occur; if the Rytov variance assumes medium-high values (moderate-to-strong turbulence conditions), then the scintillation index will be close to the saturation regime. Therefore the scintillation will be slightly affected by the mountains along the path, both for the plane wave model and the Gaussian beam wave model.
Phase II intensive monitored cardiac rehabilitation for coronary artery disease and coronary risk factors—A six-session protocol

To evaluate phase II intensive monitored cardiac rehabilitation using a 6-level, 6-session protocol, 31 patients were placed in a progressive 6-level exercise protocol with careful supervision and assessment of heart rate, rhythm, blood pressure and perceived exertion. Duration after the cardiac event ranged from 12 days to 8 years (median 10 months). Each exercise prescription was based on exercise testing with oxygen consumption determinations. Exercise activities were individually prescribed according to percentages of maximal MET level achieved on the exercise test. Each exercise session incorporated calisthenics, treadmill exercise, and bicycle and arm ergometry with progressively greater workloads on the various stations. All patients completed the 6 levels within 6 sessions of approximately 1 hour each, and achieved their designated 50 to 75% target heart rate with perceived exertion level 13 or less. There were no critical cardiac events, i.e., high-grade ventricular arrhythmias or myocardial infarction. All completed the 6-level protocol and progressed to a nonmonitored exercise program with no difficulty. The results of this short-term method of telemetry-monitored rehabilitation suggest benefits of proper exercise instruction, successful achievement of the 50 to 75% exercise target heart rate, detection of minor new arrhythmias and alterations of blood pressure response, adequate use of the perceived exertion scale, and a safe and effective transition to subsequent exercise programs.
Self‐reported Stigmatization Among Candidates for Bariatric Surgery

The popularity of bariatric surgery has increased the focus on the psychological aspects of extreme obesity. Although a growing literature has documented the psychosocial burden associated with extreme obesity, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the experience of weight-related stigmatization among extremely obese individuals. The present study investigated self-reported experiences of weight-related stigmatization, weight-related quality of life, and depressive symptoms among 117 extremely obese individuals (BMI = 48.2 +/- 7.5 kg/m2) who presented for bariatric surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. In general, these individuals reported infrequent weight-related stigma, which was unrelated to BMI. Some specific forms of stigmatization, however, appear to be related to body size. The occurrence of stigmatization was associated with poorer weight-related quality of life and greater symptoms of depression.
HIV-1 Infection of Cultured Human Adult Oligodendrocytes

The mechanism through which HIV-1 causes HIV dementia (HIVD) is not well understood. Myelin pallor is a common pathological finding in HIVD and could be explained by a direct infection of oligodendrocytes or interaction with HIV-1 gp 120. To determine if oligodendrocytes could be infected by HIV-1, we purified oligodendrocytes from adult human brain tissues obtained from temporal lobe resections. These cells were exposed to HIV-1 and infectivity was assayed by detection of p24gag antigen, PCR amplification, and cocultivation with CD4+ cells. These results indicate that HIV-1(IIIB and BaL) and one of four primary isolates tested can infect oligodendrocytes, resulting in the production of infectious virus. Furthermore, in an experiment that mimics a potential in vivo scenario, infected microglia were able to transmit virus to oligodendrocytes in a trans-well culture system. These experiments indicate that oligodendrocyte infection should be considered in studying the pathophysiology of HIVD.
Intentional infliximab use during pregnancy for induction or maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease.

Summary Aim: To study the effects of infliximab on pregnancy and foetal outcome. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of women with Crohn's disease treated intentionally with infliximab during pregnancy. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of congenital malformations. Secondary outcome measures were the rate of premature birth, low-birth weight, small for gestational age infants, intrauterine growth retardation and caesarean section. Results: Ten women were identified. Eight women received maintenance infliximab infusions throughout their pregnancy and two women received their initial infliximab infusions during pregnancy. All 10 pregnancies ended in live births. No infants had congenital malformations, intrauterine growth retardation or small for gestational age parameters. Three infants were premature and one had low-birth weight. Eight women had a caesarean section. Conclusions: This is the first reported series of intentional infliximab use throughout pregnancy. These data, combined with other studies of inadvertent use of infliximab during pregnancy, suggest that the benefits of infliximab in achieving response and maintaining remission in mothers with Crohn's disease may outweigh the risk to the foetus of exposure to the drug. Further prospective data collection will be helpful to confirm these findings.
Trust, Norms, and Cooperation: Development and Test of a Simplified Model

Trust at the interpersonal level in organizational settings has been researched extensively, yet little has been learned about the process through which trust affects cooperation and of the role of the social context in this process. Further, the models most often cited are complex and difficult to operationalize. This study investigates the effects of trust, subjective norms, and intent to cooperate on cooperative behavior using a simplified model. The findings demonstrate that the simplified model is useful for understanding the link between trust and cooperation and underscore the importance of perceived norms in the process. Implications for management are discussed.
Coarsening of Faceted Crystals

The influence of the nucleation energy barrier on the capillary-driven coarsening of faceted crystals that exchange material by diffusion is quantified. Our calculations are based on the assumption that the transport of material between particles must happen in series with the nucleation of partial layers on flat facets. Using a numerical model based on this idea, we simulate the time evolution of distributions of crystals that are made up of perfect faceted crystals (without step-producing defects), crystals containing step-producing defects, and mixtures of the two types. We find that the coarsening of a distribution containing only perfect faceted crystals is arrested at a size where the nucleation energy barrier becomes prohibitive. This critical size ranges from a few nanometers to several hundred nanometers, depending on material parameters and experimental conditions. When a small fraction of the crystals have step-producing defects (for these crystals the nucleation energy barrier vanishes), they can grow to large sizes at the expense of the perfect crystals and a bimodal grain size distribution is created. Based on these results, we hypothesize that when abnormal coarsening is observed in nature, it results from the presence of a small number of crystals with step-producing defects.
HBGC123D: a high-performance computer model of coupled hydrogeological and biogeochemical processes

Groundwater flow and transport models have been used to assist management ofsubsurf ace water resources and water quality. The needs ofmore efficient use oftechnical and financial resources have recently motivated the development ofmore effective remediation techniques and complex models ofcoupled hydrogeological and biogeochemical processes. We present a high-performance computer model of the coupled processes, HBGC123D. The model uses a hybrid Eulerian–Lagrangian finite element method to solve the solute transport equation and a Newton’s method to solve the system ofnonlinear, mixed kinetics and equilibrium reaction equations. Application of the model to a laboratory soil column with multispecies tracer injection suggests that one may use the model to derive important parameters of subsurface solute fate and transport. These parameters may be used for predictive purpose in similar field problems. To this end, we present a three-dimensional, hypothetical bioremediation simulation on an aquifer contaminated by CoNTA. The simulation suggests that, using oxygen alone to stimulate the biodegradation of the contaminant, one may reduce the waste to 40% in 10 years. Using a refined mesh ofthis three-dimensional model, we also conduct a performance study of HBGC123D on an array of SGI Origin 2000 distributed shared-memory processors. Both the computational kernels and the entire model show very good performance up to 32 processors. The CPU time is essentially reduced by 20-fold using 64 processors. This result suggests that HBGC123D may be a useful tool in assisting environmental restoration efforts such as waste site characterization and remediation. # 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Method of Calculating True Particle Size Distributions from Observed Sizes in a Thin Section

Particle size distributions obtained from a thin section are usually a skewed version of the true distribution. A previous method for determining the parent distribution was questionable because negative particle frequencies could be obtained. Here, we describe a method of determining parent distributions of spherical particles using a model with adjustable parameters. Our calculated distributions are somewhat broader than the distributions obtained with previous methods, but the average particle sizes are nearly identical. The newly developed model is applicable to any type of transmission microscopy.
The Birth of the Mineral Species “Aguilarite” and What Came Next: A Twice‐Told Tale

Resumen Este articulo explora la emergencia del mineral ‘aguilarita’ descubierta por Ponciano Aguilar en Guanajuato, Mexico, a principios de los anos 1890. Por si misma, la aguilarita no es especialmente importante—es un mineral oscuro y opaco que no tiene un uso economico y posee un moderado interes para los coleccionistas y mineralogistas. Sin embargo, las circunstancias de su descubrimiento y designacion posterior se prestan a dos modos de analisis y tipos de conocimiento: uno proviene del trabajo de Bruno Latour y otros en el campo conocido como la Teoria del Actor-Red, y el otro esta influenciado por la economia politica en la antropologia, con particular enfasis en los estudios sobre la cadenas de mercancias. En este articulo, utilizo el nacimiento de la aguilarita para analizar algunas de las formas de como estos enfoques tratan la relacion entre los objetos y las personas, y las consecuencias de ello. ?Que revelan y que esconden estas dos formas de contar la historia de la aguilarita? ?Como pueden trabajar juntas?
System reliabibility measures using fuzzy sets

This paper proposes a new method for system reliability evaluation by redefining the traditional crisp success event as a fuzzy success event. We use the substitute characteristic to define the membership function for the fuzzy success/failure event. Through system function analysis and reliability block diagrams, the system performance variable is expressed as a function of the components performance variables. The membership function for the system fuzzy success event is further evaluated as a function of the system performance variable and utilized for system reliability performance evaluation. A generalized extension principle is proposed to investigate the dynamic behavior for time to fuzzy failure (TTFF) under given stochastic performance degradation processes. Numerical examples illustrate how the proposed method can be applied in system reliability performance evaluation as well as the advantages over traditional system reliability measures.
Testing the Hirshleifer–Riley Model: The Values of Information Sources for a Future Hospital Stay

This study tests whether the Hirshleifer–Riley (HR) model predicts the values of information sources for a future hospital admission. The main testable prediction of that model concerns the values of information sources for those who intend to choose the same hospital again and those who intend to choose a different hospital. Satisfaction with the prior choice should be negatively correlated with the values of information sources for intentional “stayers,” but positively correlated with the values of information sources for intentional “switchers.” The authors had a dataset comprising a sample of employees and spouses at a large employer who had been hospitalized during the past year. Respondents were asked to name the hospital(s) they would consider for a future overnight stay, as well as the values of three information sources: their physician’s recommendation, family or friends’ recommendation, and quality ratings comparing hospitals in the community. Analysis of the responses showed that moderately and highly satisfied consumers who intend to use the same hospital have lower values of quality ratings and that moderately and highly satisfied consumers who intend to switch hospitals have weakly significant, higher values of a physician’s recommendation. Otherwise, the HR model’s predictions are not supported. There is broader support for the idea that consumers who care about the attributes of the hospital—reputation, medical services, and amenities—have higher values for information sources. The findings suggest that “report cards” comparing hospital quality will be used by only a subset of consumers.
Correlation of ambient inhalable bioaerosols with particulate matter and ozone: a two-year study.

Abstract In this study, we have examined the relationships between the concentrations of ambient inhalable airborne fungi and pollen with PM10, PM2.5, ozone, organic carbon, selected trace metals (cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc), temperature, and relative humidity. The database was collected in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, during two consecutive years. Measurements of all environmental variables were performed at the same site continuously 5 days a week except during winter months. The airborne concentrations of biological and non-biological pollutants ranged as follows: total fungi: 184–16 979 spores m−3; total pollen: 0–6692 pollen m−3; PM10: 6.70–65.38 μg m−3; PM2.5: 5.04–45.02 μg m−3; and ozone: 2.54–64.17 ppb. Higher levels of total inhalable fungi and particulate matter were found during fall and summer months. In contrast, total pollen concentration showed elevated levels in spring. Peak concentrations of ozone were observed during summer and beginning of fall. Our study concluded that several types of inhalable airborne fungi and pollen, particulate matter, and ozone could be positively correlated as a result of the atmospheric temperature influence.
Interactions between 7-Hydroxymethotrexate and Methotrexate at the Cellular Level in the Ehrlich Ascites Tumor in Vitro

Abstract Studies were undertaken to characterize the cellular pharmacology of 7-hydroxymethotrexate (7-OH-MTX) in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, compare it to that of methotrexate (MTX), and define the interactions between the parent compound and its catabolite. Transport of 7-OH-MTX is mediated by the MTX-tetrahydrofolate cofactor carrier, with a K m of 9 µm in comparison to the MTX K m of 5 µm. Both compounds mutually inhibit their influx and steady-state levels of free drug accumulated. While influx of 7-OH-MTX is slower than influx of MTX, 7-OH-MTX efflux is likewise slower, so that the steady-state level of 7-OH-MTX achieved is comparable to that of MTX. Influx of 7-OH-MTX is inhibited by extracellular 5-formyltetrahydrofolate and trans -stimulated in cells preloaded with this tetrahydrofolate cofactor. The energetics of 7-OH-MTX transport is similar to that of MTX in that influx and net transport are stimulated by sodium azide, while net transport is reduced by glucose. As observed for MTX, 7-OH-MTX transport is sensitive to the anionic composition of the extracellular compartment and was shown to be inhibited by organic and inorganic phosphates. 7-OH-MTX does not, alone, inhibit [ 3 H]deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA at concentrations of up to 50 µm. However, the catabolite reduces MTX inhibition of deoxyuridine metabolism, presumably due to the reduction in the free level of intracellular MTX achieved. These findings support the possibility that when 7-OH-MTX accumulates to high levels relative to MTX in clinical regimens, it may modulate the pharmacological effects of MTX.
Cardiovascular applications of phase-contrast MRI.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to review and illustrate various clinical applications of phase-contrast MRI.CONCLUSION. Cardiac MRI has emerged as a valuable noninvasive clinical tool for evaluation of the cardiovascular system. Phase-contrast MRI has a variety of established applications in quantifying blood flow and velocity and several emerging applications, such as evaluation of diastolic function and myocardial dyssynchrony.
Apolipoprotein (a) fragments in relation to human carotid plaque instability.

Abstract Purpose: An elevated plasma level of lipoprotein (a) is an independent risk factor for atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease by yet undefined mechanisms. We have previously reported that matrix metalloproteinases cleave apolipoprotein (a) into 2 main fragments, F1 and F2, the latter (the C-terminal domain) exhibiting in vitro a high-affinity binding to extracellular matrix components, including fibrin(ogen). We therefore tested the hypothesis that the lipoprotein (a) matrix metalloproteinase–derived F2 is localized in potentially or morphologically unstable human carotid plaque at regions of increased matrix metalloproteinase activity. Methods: Carotid plaques removed after endarterectomy (n = 18) were evaluated for structural features indicative of instability (thin fibrous cap, inflammation, and proximity of the necrotic core to the lumen); each plaque was classified as unstable (n = 10) or stable (n = 8). Western blot analysis was performed to quantitate apolipoprotein (a) and its fragments F1 and F2 in plaque extracts. Immunohistochemical staining was used to localize apolipoprotein (a) and its fragments within the atherosclerotic plaque. In situ zymography was used to determine regions of gelatinase (matrix metalloproteinase 2 and matrix metalloproteinase 9) activity. Results: Western blot analyses demonstrated a 2.5-fold higher density of F2 in unstable plaques than in stable plaques (3.07 ± 1.9 vs 1.18 ± 0.8; P Conclusions: These findings suggest that F2 in regions of increased matrix metalloproteinase activity is a potential mechanism for superimposed thrombotic events in morphologically unstable human carotid plaques. The relationship between plasma lipoprotein (a) levels and accumulation of F2 and the potential correlation of F2 to human plaque disruption and thrombosis warrant further study. (J Vasc Surg 2000;32:555-63.)
Rheologic controls on the dynamics of slab detachment

Abstract The detachment of subducted lithosphere (slabs) has been proposed in a number of locations as the cause for observed volcanism and regional tectonic evolution. For example, along-strike progression of uplift in the Adriatic Sea and west-to-east progression of volcanism in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt may be caused by propagating detachment of subducted slabs. An understanding of the dynamics of slab detachment is necessary to relate the timing of detachment to surface observations. We demonstrate using two-dimensional (2D) numerical models that the timing, occurrence, and surface effects resulting from the detachment of subducted lithosphere are strongly dependent upon the stiffness (i.e. stress supported viscously) of the lithosphere and rheology of the upper mantle. In particular, in models with a Newtonian upper mantle where plastic yielding is the only weakening process within the slab, detachment does not occur. Models accounting for non-Newtonian upper mantle deformation demonstrate two modes of detachment: (1) slow and deep detachment of strong slabs (500 MPa or greater maximum yield strength) controlled by heating of the slab, and (2) fast and shallow detachment of weaker slabs (300 MPa) controlled by yielding within the slab interior. For slabs with a maximum yield strength of 500 MPa, the time to detachment increases with slab age (for ages ranging from 40 to 120 My), indicating that detachment time is controlled by the integrated stiffness of the slab, which limits the sinking rate. However, the detachment time for weaker slabs (300 MPa) is independent of age because weaker slabs sink rapidly, and the time to detachment is limited by the rate of flow of the surrounding mantle.
The Variability of Ground-Motion Prediction Models and Its Components

Modern ground-motion prediction models use datasets of recorded ground-motion parameters at multiple stations during different earthquakes and in various source regions to generate equations that are later used to predict site-specific ground motions. These models describe the distribution of ground motion in terms of a median and a logarithmic standard deviation ( e.g. , Strasser et al. 2009). This standard deviation, generally referred to as sigma (σ), exerts a very strong influence on the results of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) ( e.g. , Bommer and Abrahamson 2006). Although there are numerous examples of sigma being neglected in seismic hazard, it is now generally accepted that integration over the full distribution of ground motions is an indispensable element of PSHA (Bommer and Abrahamson 2006). Attempts to justify, on a statistical basis, a truncation of the ground-motion distribution at a specified number of standard deviations above the median have proven unfeasible with current strong-motion datasets (Strasser et al. 2008). The most promising approach to reduce the overall impact of sigma on the results of PSHA is to find legitimate approaches to reduce the value of the standard deviation associated with ground-motion prediction equations (GMPEs). The present state-of-the-practice of seismic hazard studies applies the standard deviations from ground-motion models developed using a broad range of earthquakes, sites, and regions to analyze the hazard at a single site from a single small source region. Such practice assumes that the variability in ground motion at a single site-source combination is the same as the variability in ground motion observed in a more global dataset and is referred to as the ergodic assumption (Anderson and Brune 1999). In recent years, the availability of well recorded ground motions at single sites from multiple occurrences of earthquakes in the same regions allowed researchers to estimate the ground-motion variability …
Quantification of Tissue Uric Acid Levels in a Harris's Hawk with Visceral Gout

SUMMARY. A young, captive-bred Harris's hawk, Parabuteo unicinctus, exhibited high fever and apparent paralysis of one leg shortly before death. Postmortem examination revealed milky white kidneys, white crystalline deposits in the pericardial sack, and white crystals in one intertarsal joint. Uric acid concentrations determined for the kidneys, heart muscle, skeletal muscle, and scrapings from the pericardial sack (20 mg) and intertarsal joint (2 mg) were, respectively, 12,200, 200, 110, 20,700, and 43,000 mg/100 g tissue. Compared with a healthy hawk, concentrations were elevated by a factor of 50 in the kidneys, 37 in skeletal muscle, and 18 in cardiac muscle.
New burn-in methodology based on IC attributes, family IC burn-in data, and failure mechanism analysis

This paper describes a new methodology for selecting effective burn-in strategies for integrated circuits (ICs) in automotive applications. The method analyzes failure mechanisms for different IC technologies and utilizes family IC data to determine appropriate burn-in conditions for new ICs. The burn-in effectiveness for metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) and bipolar technologies is discussed. Burn-in data is presented to demonstrate that burn-in is no longer a cost effective screening process for bipolar ICs and some MOS ICs, but it is still needed for MOS ICs with large die sizes and complex processing technologies. Data also reveals that burn-in is primarily useful for detecting wafer processing defects rather than packaging defects. To select family ICs, a method based on IC attributes is described. Practical guidelines on how to use family IC data and acceleration factors to reduce burn-in time are also explained.
Rapid nonisotopic analysis of glutamate receptor gene expression using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

We describe a simple nonisotopic method for analyzing receptor gene expression using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and laser densitometry of agarose gels. Densitometry of known amounts of double stranded DNA molecular weight standards was used to estimate yield of glutamate receptor RT-PCR product (in ng DNA) obtained from rat brain. While unable to provide absolute quantitation of gene expression, this method using standard techniques allows for rapid analysis of relative levels of receptor gene expression without using radioactivity.
A New Modulation Method for Hexagram Inverter

Recently, Hexagram inverter has been proposed for medium-voltage variable speed drive systems. It is composed of six interconnected three-phase two-level voltage source inverters, and has the advantages of modular and symmetrical structure, even and much reduced voltage stress, low dc energy storage requirement, and easy control with well-developed two-level control techniques, and therefore, has the potential for future high power applications. This paper presents a modulation method for the Hexagram inverter, which improves the number of steps in the output voltages so as to reduce the voltage harmonics and operational dv/dt. Simulation and experimental results are both provided.
Modulation of drug transport properties by multicomponent diffusion in surfactant aqueous solutions.

Diffusion coefficients of drug compounds are crucial parameters used for modeling transport processes. Interestingly, diffusion of a solute can be generated not only by its own concentration gradient but also by concentration gradients of other solutes. This phenomenon is known as multicomponent diffusion. A multicomponent diffusion study on drug−surfactant−water ternary mixtures is reported here. Specifically, high-precision Rayleigh interferometry was used to determine multicomponent diffusion coefficients for the hydrocortisone−tyloxapol−water system at 25 °C. For comparison, diffusion measurements by dynamic light scattering were also performed. In addition, drug solubility was measured as a function of tyloxapol concentration, and drug−surfactant thermodynamic interactions using the two-phase partitioning model were characterized. The diffusion results are in agreement with a proposed coupled multicomponent diffusion model for ternary mixtures relevant to nonionic drug and surfactant molecules. Theor...
Design Approaches for Interactive Digital Narrative

While authoring has long been a concern for researchers engaged in interactive narrative, generalized design approaches have been less of a focus. At the same time, the need for design conventions to aid in the creation of artifacts has long been recognized, starting with Murray’s 1997 Hamlet on the Holodeck. However, unlike in the related field of game design, widely accepted, generalized conventions are still elusive. In this paper I investigate the state of affairs and identify several broad trajectories in the scholarly treatment of interactive narrative authoring. I propose a process and a set of design heuristics developed in my practice of teaching interactive digital narrative.
Social Transition: Supporting Our Youngest Transgender Children.

* Abbreviation: GID — : gender identity disorder Those of us who work with transgender children frequently face decisions based on evidence that is conflicted or lacking and encounter opponents who are rightfully wary about what they see as experimental treatments without well-examined outcomes. However, in a transgender population where nearly one half experience suicidal ideation, the risk of nonintervention is quite high.1 In this issue of Pediatrics , Olson and colleagues2 provide evidence in support of social transition, a completely reversible intervention associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety in transgender prepubescent children. Socially transitioned children, or those who have adopted the name, hairstyle, clothing, and pronoun associated with their affirmed, rather than birth gender, have become more visible in the media over the last several years. Although to date there has been no published evidence to support providers in suggesting social transition as a beneficial intervention, many families, often guided by mental health professionals, make that decision based on observational evidence in response to seeing how suffering can be alleviated by allowing the child to express their own sense of gender. Much of the research that is available on transgender youth and adults points to the dismal psychosocial outcomes faced by this population. Homelessness, substance … Address correspondence to Ilana Sherer, MD, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, 4050 Dublin Blvd, 2nd Floor, Dublin, CA 94568. E-mail: shereri{at}sutterhealth.org