cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulseless Oximetry: A Preliminary Evaluation

BACKGROUND Pulse oximetry fails when pulsations are weak or absent, common in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). We developed a method to measure arterial oxygenation (Sao 2 ) noninvasively in pulseless patients with LVADs. METHODS The technique involves 5- to 10-s occlusions of radial and ulnar arteries on one hand. A fingertip is transilluminated alternately with light-emitting diodes emitting 660 nm (red) and 905 nm (infrared). During the approximately 1 s after release of occlusion, changing attenuance of each wavelength is measured and their red/infrared arterial blood attenuance ratio (R/IR) calculated. We studied five normal subjects breathing hyperoxic, normoxic, or hypoxic gas mixtures to establish a calibration curve, using standard pulse oximetry as the gold standard. We also studied seven pulseless patients with LVADs (two studied twice) at clinically determined oxygenation. RESULTS Normal subject data showed close correlation of oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (Spo 2 ) with R/IR, (Spo 2 =111 – [26.7 × R/IR]; R 2 = 0.975). For patients with LVADs, predicted Sao 2 (from the calibration curve) tended to underestimate measured Sao 2 (from arterial blood) by a clinically insignificant 1.1 ± 1.6 percentage points (mean ± SD), maximum 3.4 percentage points. CONCLUSIONS Preliminary results in a small number of patients demonstrate that pulseless oximetry can be used to estimate arterial saturation with acceptable accuracy. A noninvasive oximeter that does not rely on pulsatile flow would be a valuable advance in assessing oxygenation in patients with LVADs, for whom the only current option is arterial puncture, which is painful, risks arterial injury, and only provides a snapshot evaluation of oxygenation.
Modulation of hepatitis C virus quasispecies heterogeneity by interferon‐α and ribavirin therapy

To determine the effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and ribavirin therapy on hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasispecies heterogeneity, 29 patients with chronic HCV infection treated with either IFN-alpha (n = 15), ribavirin (n = 7) or placebo (n = 7) were studied. HCV quasispecies heterogeneity was determined by single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of the HCV E2 hypervariable region 1 (HVR1). For patients receiving IFN-alpha, HVR1 was amplified in 14 of 15 patients before, and in six of seven patients after therapy. After controlling the amount of amplicon loaded, a reduction in the number of SSCP bands was observed with IFN-alpha therapy (median number of SSCP bands per patient was eight before therapy and two after therapy). In the seven patients within each of the ribavirin- and placebo-treated groups, there was no significant difference in the viraemia level, number of SSCP bands per patient or the SSCP band pattern, before and after therapy. These findings suggest that at the doses given, IFN-alpha, but not ribavirin, exerts a selective pressure on HCV quasispecies heterogeneity.
Neurons of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis: a golgi study in the rat.

Abstract Neuronal morphology in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) was studied using Golgi techniques. The principal neurons of the lateral subdivision of BST have ovoid perikarya and 4–5 dendrites that branch several times and exhibit a dense covering of spines. Adjacent to the internal capsule is a small region, termed the “juxtacapsular subdivision” of BST, that consists of small, spiny cells. Neurons of the medial subdivision of BST have ovoid perikarya and 2–3 dendrites that branch sparingly. Dendritic spine density varies from sparse to moderate. Dendrites in the dorsocaudal portion of the medial subdivision extend into a cell-sparse zone adjacent to the lateral ventricle. Cells in the lateral portion of the preoptic continuation of BST have dendrites oriented perpendicular to fibers of the stria terminalis which traverse this area while medially located cells are oriented parallel to fibers of the stria. Axons of BST neurons emit collaterals that arborize modestly near the cell of origin. Neurons in the lateral and medial subdivisions of BST resemble, respectively, cells in the lateral and medial subdivisions of the central amygdaloid nucleus. Neurons in the juxtacapsular subdivision of BST are similar to neurons of the intercalated masses of the amygdala.
Selective oxidation of hydrocarbons on composite oxides

Abstract A catalyst for the selective oxidation of hydrocarbons to unsaturated aldehydes, acids, acid anhydrides, divinyls, or styrenes has to perform several functions. First, it must supply a limited amount of oxygen to the reactant, sufficient to allow the formation of the desired product but not enough to allow complete oxidation. Further, it must provide appropriate sites for the adsorption of the hydrocarbons in deformed, reactive states. Last, the catalyst should be capable of transferring electrons from and to the reactants. These three demanding characteristics of an active catalyst impose severe limitations on the systems that can effectively perform selective oxidation reactions. Therefore catalyst selectivity, normally measured by the rate of formation of the specific product relative to that of undesired products, is sensitive to reaction conditions (temperature, feed rate, feed composition, and reactor design) and is very dependent on the details of the structure of the catalyst itself, its ...
The evaluation of different MAS techniques at low spinning rates in aqueous samples and in the presence of magnetic susceptibility gradients.

Abstract It was recently demonstrated that the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) linewidths for stationary biological samples are dictated mainly by magnetic susceptibility gradients, and that phase-altered spinning sideband (PASS) and phase-corrected magic angle turning (PHORMAT) solid-state NMR techniques employing slow and ultra-slow magic angle spinning (MAS) frequencies can be used to overcome the static susceptibility broadening to yield high-resolution, spinning sideband (SSB)-free 1 H NMR spectra [Magn. Reson. Med. 46 (2001) 213; 47 (2002) 829]. An additional concern is that molecular diffusion in the presence of the susceptibility gradients may limit the minimum useful MAS frequency by broadening the lines and reducing SSB suppression at low spinning frequencies. In this article the performance of PASS, PHORMAT, total sideband suppression (TOSS), and standard MAS techniques were evaluated as a function of spinning frequency. To this end, 300 MHz (7.05 T) 1 H NMR spectra were acquired via PASS, TOSS, PHORMAT, and standard MAS NMR techniques for a 230-μm-diameter spherical glass bead pack saturated with water. The resulting strong magnetic susceptibility gradients result in a static linewidth of about 3.7 kHz that is larger than observed for a natural biological sample, constituting a worst-case scenario for examination of susceptibility broadening effects. Results : (I) TOSS produces a distorted centerband and fails in suppressing the SSBs at a spinning rate below ∼1 kHz. (II) Standard MAS requires spinning speeds above a few hundred Hz to separate the centerband from the SSBs. (III) PASS produces nearly SSB-free spectra at spinning speeds as low as 30 Hz, and is only limited by T 2 -induced signal losses. (IV) With PHORMAT, a SSB-free isotropic projection is obtained at any spinning rate, even at an ultra-slow spinning rate as slow as 1 Hz. (V) It is found empirically that the width of the isotropic peak is proportional to F − x , where F is the spinning frequency, and x =2 for MAS, 0.84 for PASS, and 0.5 for PHORMAT.
Radio physics of the outer solar system

The remote sensing of low frequency nonthermal radio emission is the astronomy of field and particle phenomena. Observations conducted from space lead to information about the composition and dynamic processes occurring in planetary magnetospheres as well as within the interplanetary and interstellar medium. The potential of this technique is demonstrated by considering observations obtained from earth orbit missions.
Reproductive Biology of Pacific Ocean Perch in the Gulf of Alaska

Abstract Despite the ecological and economic importance of rockfish fisheries in Alaska waters, little information is available concerning the reproductive biology of the majority of federally managed rockfish species in the Gulf of Alaska. Pacific Ocean Perch Sebastes alutus are the most abundant and commercially important rockfish in this region. This study examines the reproductive biology of Pacific Ocean Perch within the Gulf of Alaska, utilizing histological techniques to microscopically examine ovarian tissue. Pacific Ocean Perch samples were obtained throughout the year during National Marine Fisheries Service and Alaska Department of Fish and Game scientific surveys, as well as scientific charters. Ovaries of Pacific Ocean Perch began to ripen during the month of August with yolk increasing until February. Embryos appeared within the ovaries during February and continued to grow and develop until parturition in May. Results from this study indicate the fork length at 50% maturity is 33.4 cm and t...
Role of mTOR in the degradation of IRS-1: regulation of PP2A activity.

We have investigated the role of PI 3-kinase and mTOR in the degradation of IRS-1 induced by insulin. Inhibition of mTOR with rapamycin resulted in approximately 50% inhibition of the insulin-induced degradation of IRS-1. In contrast, inhibition of PI-3 kinase, an upstream activator of mTOR, leads to a complete block of the insulin-induced degradation. Inhibition of either PI-3 kinase or mTOR prevented the mobility shift in IRS-1 in response to insulin, a shift that is caused by Ser/Thr phosphorylation. These results indicate that insulin stimulates PI 3-kinase-mediated degradation of IRS-1 via both mTOR-dependent and -independent pathways. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulation leads to a lower level of degradation, but significant phosphorylation of IRS-1. Both the degradation and phosphorylation of IRS-1 in response to PDGF are completely inhibited by rapamycin, suggesting that PDGF stimulates IRS-1 degradation principally via the mTOR-dependent pathway. Inhibition of the serine/threonine phosphatase PP2A with okadaic acid also induced the phosphorylation and degradation of IRS-1. IRS-1 phosphorylation and degradation in response to okadaic acid were not inhibited by rapamycin, suggesting that the action of mTOR in the degradation of IRS-1 results from inhibition of PP2A. Consistent with this, treatment of cells with rapamycin stimulated PP2A activity. While the role of mTOR in the phosphorylation of IRS-1 appears to proceed primarily through the regulation of PP2A, we also provide evidence that the regulation of p70S6 kinase phosphorylation requires the direct activity of mTOR.
On the group of automorphisms of strongly connected automata

LetA = (S, I, M) be a strongly connected finite automaton withn states. Weeg has shown that ifA has a group of automorphisms of orderm, then there is a partitionπ of the setS inton/m blocks each withm states. Furthermore ifs i ands j are in the same block ofπ, thenT ii =T jj , whereT ii = {x|x ∈ Σ* and thenM(s i , x) =s i }. It will be shown that the partitionπ also must have the substitution property and that these two conditions are sufficient for ann state strongly connected automaton to have a group of automorphisms of orderm. Necessary and sufficient conditions for twon-state strongly connected automata to have isomorphic automorphism groups are given. Also, it is demonstrated that forT ii to equalT jj it is necessary to check only a finite number of tapes and consequently provide an algorithm for determining whether or notA has a group of automorphisms of orderm.
The meteorite of Ensisheim: 1492 to 1992

The history of the 127 kg stony meteorite that fell at Ensisheim in Alsace on November 7, 1492 is reviewed along with people's responses to it through the 500 years since the fall. Stories surrounding the various theories of the time are shown by poems, religious tracts, graphic illustrations and paintings, and broadsheets issued over various periods in the context of politics. Consideration is given to the Ensisheim Stone as analyzed in Paris and Berlin.
Implementation of a training program to improve pharmacy services for high-risk neonatal and maternal populations.

Purpose A training program aimed at increasing pharmacists’ role in the care of high-risk maternal, neonatal, and pediatric patients is described. Summary In preparation for the planned expansion of a large Ohio hospital’s maternal and neonatal critical care services, the pharmacy department developed a training program to increase the knowledge and skill sets of staff pharmacists, especially those who lacked residency training. The program also supported the department’s transition to an integrated patient-centered pharmacy practice model. Clinical practice guidelines, policy statements, and other sources were used to develop a series of 57 one-hour lectures on a wide range of topics in maternal–neonatal critical care. The lectures were delivered one morning each week, every other week, over 30 months, with additional case-based homework assigned; a passing score (80%) on all module examinations and homework assignments was required for continued course participation. Trainees who completed the voluntary program earned a certificate from the department head and continuing-education credit from the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, and they were eligible to engage in expanded rounding and patient counseling activities. The program appeared to have a positive impact on patient satisfaction and efforts to reduce medication misadventures in the neonatal intensive care unit. Conclusion The implementation of a training program to educate non-residency-trained pharmacists in selected areas of maternal, neonatal, and pediatric health care helped enable the expansion of pharmacy services to include admission, daily, and discharge counseling. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2013; 70:143–9
Radiation dose escalation in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer.

Abstract Purpose To review the treatment outcomes of limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) patients treated with ≥50 Gy of radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) between 1987 and 2000 and to assess for evidence of a continuation of a radiation dose response. Methods and materials The MGH cancer registry was searched for SCLC patients treated with radiotherapy between 1987 and 2000. Records of LS-SCLC patients treated with curative intent and radiation doses ≥50 Gy at MGH were reviewed. Surgical patients were excluded. Results Eighty-four LS-SCLC patients were treated with radiotherapy at MGH between 1987 and 2000. Of the 84 patients, 54 (64%) met the inclusion criteria; 30 patients (56%) in this study died, and 4 (7%) were lost to follow-up. The median follow-up of the surviving patients was 42 months. The median overall survival was 29 months. The 2- and 5-year survival rate was 64% and 47%, respectively. The local control rate at 3 years was 78%. Conclusion The overall survival, local control, and disease-free survival rates for LS-SCLC patients treated with ≥50 Gy of radiation compare favorably with historical data. These findings suggest a continuation of the radiation dose–response curve in LS-SCLC. This further supports the need for appropriately powered, Phase III, prospective randomized trials in radiation dose escalation or radiation dose intensification for LS-SCLC.
Decomposition of trimethylgallium on Si(100): Spectroscopic identification of the intermediates

The decomposition of trimethylgallium (TMG) on a heated Si(100) substrate is studied using TPD, XPS and EELS. It is found that the decomposition of TMG is largely an intramolecular process. The TMG adsorbs molecularly at low temperatures. Upon heating, one of the methyl groups in the TMG reacts with a hydrogen on another methyl group liberating methane. This leaves a CH2 group bound to the gallium which is seen clearly with EELS. Upon further heating, another hydrogen reacts with the remaining methyl group producing additional methane. Simultaneously, the remaining fragments decompose into gallium atoms and CH groups. The CH groups dissociate above 750 K yielding adsorbed hydrogen and adsorbed carbon. The hydrogen desorbs between 750 and 850 K while the carbon gets incorporated into the growing film. These results show that carbon incorporation is an intrinsic part of the TMG decomposition process. Thus, TMG would not be an appropriate source gas when one needs to produce films with very low carbon levels.
Beyond Intelligent Agents: E-Sensors for Supporting Supply Chain Collaboration and Preventing the Bullwhip Effect

This article presents a new concept for supporting electronic collaboration, operations, and relationships among trading partners in the value chain without hindering human autonomy. Although autonomous intelligent agents, or electronic robots (e-bots), can be used to inform this endeavor, the article advocates the development of e-sensors, i.e., software based units with capabilities beyond intelligent agentâ€™s functionality. E-sensors are hardware-software capable of perceiving, reacting and learning from its interactive experience through the supply chain, rather than just searching for data and information through the network and reacting to it. E-sensors can help avoid the â€œbullwhipâ€ effect. The article briefly reviews the related intelligent agent and supply chain literature and the technological gap between fields. It articulates a demand-driven, sense-and-response system for sustaining e-collaboration and e-business operations as well as monitoring products and processes. As a proof of concept, this research aimed a test solution at a single supply chain partner within one stage of the process.
The Drexel defusion scale: A new measure of experiential distancing

Defusion, the ability to achieve psychological distance from internal experiences such as thoughts and feelings, is considered to be a key mechanism of cognitive behavior therapy and is particularly emphasized in certain acceptance-based behavior therapies like mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Unlike other treatment components such as cognitive restructuring, however, defusion has been less well studied as a potential mediator of change. One reason for this lack of attention is the absence of a well-validated measure of defusion. Current measures confound defusion with other related, yet distinct, constructs such as psychological acceptance or mindful awareness. One challenge in measuring defusion is that the meaning of the construct is not readily apparent to respondents. The current study reports on a new measure, the Drexel defusion scale (DDS), by providing information about its development, reliability, and validity. Results from several samples indicate that the measure is unidimensional, with good internal consistency. The DDS is highly correlated with measures of acceptance and decentering, suggesting high convergent validity. Higher scores on the DDS are also associated with less psychopathology and a higher quality of life, even after controlling for measures of similar constructs, indicating that the DDS provides incremental validity beyond existing measures. Additionally, among a treatment-seeking sample, increases in the DDS were associated with improvements in psychological functioning, for both those receiving ACT and CT treatment. The DDS appears to be a reliable and valid measure of defusion.
Changes in the G0 state of WI-38 fibroblasts at different times after confluence

Abstract Some events in the prereplicative phase of WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts stimulated to proliferate are found to be a function of the length of time the cells have been quiescent. At 5 days after plating, when the cells first become confluent, the prereplicative phase upon stimulation by a nutritional change is relatively short, DNA synthesis begins at 8 h after stimulation, and there is no increase in chromatin template activity. At 9 days after plating the prereplicative phase of stimulated cells is lengthened to 14 h and there is an increase in chromatin template activity within 1 h of stimulation. Finally, in 18-day cells, the prereplicative phase is lengthened even further to 20 h, and there is a lag after stimulation before the increase in chromatin template activity. It is proposed that confluent WI-38 cells initially arrest in G 1, subsequently pass into G 0, and continue to go deeper into G 0 as they remain quiescent.
Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase Gene Expression SP1 AND MAZ POTENTIAL FOR TISSUE-SPECIFIC EXPRESSION

Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) promoter-luciferase reporter gene constructs (pGL3RP863, pGL3RP444, and pGL3RP392) transfected into COS1, RS1, PC12, NIH/3T3, or Neuro2A cells showed the highest basal luciferase activity in the Neuro2A cells. DNase I footprinting with Neuro2A cell nuclear extract identified protected PNMT promoter regions spanning the -168/-165 and -48/-45 base pair Sp1/Egr-1 binding sites. Gel mobility shift assays and transient transfection assays using site-directed mutant PNMT promoter-luciferase reporter gene constructs indicated that the elevated basal luciferase activity in the Neuro2A cells was mediated by Sp-1. Furthermore, activation of the PNMT promoter by Sp1 depends on both its binding affinity for its cognate target sequences and its intracellular concentrations. When Sp1 levels were increased through an expression plasmid, luciferase reporter gene expression rose well beyond basal wild-type levels, even with either Sp1 binding element mutated. Finally, another transcription factor expressed in the Neuro2A cells competes with Sp1 by interacting with DNA sequences 3' to the -48 base pair Sp1 site to prevent Sp1 binding and induction of the PNMT promoter. The DNA consensus sequence, Southwestern analysis, and gel mobility shift assays with antibodies identify MAZ as the competitive factor. These findings suggest that Sp1 may potentially contribute to the tissue-specific expression of the PNMT gene, with the competition between Sp1 and MAZ conferring additional tissue-specific control.
Effects of Adrenocorticotropin on Pregnancy and Prolactin in Mice

The effect of chronic ACTH administration on pregnancy and serum PRL levels was studied in 40 adrenalectomized and 71 intact house mice. Three periods of gestation were examined: days 1–8 (series I), day 8 to parturition (series II), and day 1 to parturition (series III). Day 1 of gestation was determined by the presence of a vaginal plug. Mice received daily sc injections of 4 U of ACTH or the gelatin vehicle between 0900–1100 h. Bilateral adrenalectomy was performed 7 days before mating, and adrenalectomized mice were maintained on 50 μg cortisone acetate/day. In series I, ACTH treatment reduced maternal body weight, uterine weight, and nidation sites in intact (P < 0.01) and adrenalectomized mice (P < 0.05) compared to their respective controls. In series II, ACTH treatment reduced maternal body weight, uterine weight, litter size and pup size in intact mice (P < 0.01). No significant differences were observed among adrenalectomized ACTH-treated mice and adrenalectomized controls in this series. In ser...
Distribution, movement and diet of the snailSearlesia dira in the intertidal community of San Juan Island, Puget Sound, Washington

Searlesia dira Reeve is a locally abundant, carnivorous gastropod that occurs from Alaska to central California. I studied populations of this snail at a variety of sites on San Juan Island in order to provide information on their distribution and abundance and to analyze their community role, i.e., their potential impact on their prey populations and their dietary overlap with co-occurring invertebrate predators. I established permanent transects, both random and in crevices, at three areas of differing exposure to wave action. On these transects I recorded the number and size ofS. dira, activity, distance to nearest neighbor, other organisms present, and tidal height on four phases of the mixed semi-diurnal tidal cycle. The results are (1) an increase in density with increase in substrate relief, (2) an occurrence of highest densities in moderately exposed and exposed sites rather than in protected ones, (3) an increase in mean size with increase in depth along the intertidal gradient, (4) an increase in both total activity and feeding success on the high water immediately following an extreme minus low tide occurring during the daytime in the summer, (5) a relative restriction of feeding success to that high tide, and (6) a similarity of the diet to the relative abundance of the main observed prey for most areas. The main exceptions are chitons and one lower intertidal limpet, all of which are taken in excess of their apparent abundance and especially in the middle intertidal. The upward extension of some lower intertidal prey populations, such as chitons, may be limited by the increased susceptibility of individuals at the upper margin of the population to predators such asS. dira; susceptibility appears to be increased after periods with a higher probability of increased physiological stress, such as extreme low tides on summer days.
Oscillations in transfer reactions

Abstract The possibility of oscillations in the concentration of a reactant species in a transfer reaction is investigated. Analytic expressions are derived for the concentration of the reactant species as a function of time, taking into account the probability of formation of the reaction complex, the probability of tunneling and the probability of dissociation of the complex. A particle in a symmetric double-well potential, such as a proton in a symmetric hydrogen bond, may oscillate between the two potential energy minima. As a consequence of this, it is shown that under certain conditions the concentration of the reactant in the transfer reaction may oscillate with time.
Using General System Approach For Product Lifecycle Management Software Selection And Evaluation

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product from its conception, through design and manufacture, to service and disposal. One of the toughest aspects of PLM implementations is choosing the appropriate software. In order to choose the right software that meets the business requirements, it is necessary to have a systematic view to serve as an evaluation guideline for advice from an independent third-party and that can guide decision makers through a structured process and understands the entire PLM market. This is an important aspect of the PLM assessment and planning process. This study built a systems model to fulfill the PLM software selection and evaluation needs.
Relationship of tensile interfacial strength to lead-free BGA impact performance

With the increased use of Lead-free alloys in BGA packages and assemblies, new reliability issues have become critical. A common mode of failure during impact conditions for BGA assemblies is brittle failure at the interface between the BGA substrate pad and the bulk solder joint. However, the strength characteristics of these interfaces, which include an intermetallic compound (IMC) layer, are not well understood as most existing tests focus on the strain of the entire joint at failure (or number of drops to failure). The present study uses high-speed tensile tests to isolate and characterize the interfacial strength of BGA assemblies. These results are compared to the impact performance of the BGA assemblies as measured by a four-point dynamic bend test and the relative merit of the test methods are assessed. In addition, the interfacial mi era structure of the different assemblies is characterized and related to test results.
The Actions of Polynucleotides on Effector Stage Cloned Murine T-Helper Cells Differ in Each Subset and Depend on Antigen Concentration

Polynucleotides enhance T-helper (Th) cell-mediated humoral immune responses in naive resting Th cells, B cells, and antigen-presenting cells (APC) from unprimed mouse spleen. If polynucleotides augment Th cell functions independent of the activation stage of Th cells, then polynucleotides may cause hyperimmune responses. In this study we examined the effects of polynucleotides on effector-stage murine Th cell clones in vitro. The A.E7 clone (primed with pigeon cytochrome C, origin: B10.A mice) and CDC35 clone (primed with rabbit γ-globulin, origin: DBA/2 mice) were used as representative type 1 (Th1) and type 2 (Th2) Th cells, respectively. Th clones were stimulated with antigen (Ag) in polynucleotide-supplemented or control cultures in the presence of syngeneic spleen cells (either CD4 - or irradiated). The number of antibody (Ab)-secreting cells was counted to measure T-dependent Ab production. Production of interferon-γ (IFNγ) for the Th1 clone and interleukin-5 (IL-5) for the Th2 clone were measured. Without Ag stimulation, cytokine production and the number of Ab-secreting cells formed were very low and not altered by polynucleotides. With suboptimal Ag challenges provided by Ag-primed spleen cells, polynucleotides enhanced IFNγ production by the Th1 clone, while they suppressed Th1 clone-mediated Ab production and IL-5 production by the Th2 clone. Polynucleotides did not alter Th2 clone-mediated Ab production. These actions of polynucleotides appeared to be dose-dependent. With optimal Ag challenges, polynucleotides did not affect our measures of Th cell activation. Polynucleotide action in vitro on effector-stage Th cell clones differed in each Th cell subset and depended on Ag concentration.
Dynamic calibration technique for thermal shear-stress sensors with mean flow

This paper presents the development of a dynamic calibration technique for thermal shear-stress sensors using acoustic plane wave excitation. The technique permits the independent variation in the mean and fluctuating shear stresses. The theoretical development and the practical implementation of the technique are presented. The studied configuration has the capability to dynamically calibrate shear-stress sensors up to 20 kHz. An illustrative application of this technique to an uncompensated silicon micromachined thermal shear-stress sensor operated in constant current mode is discussed. Specifically, the sensor has been statically calibrated over a range of wall shear stress from 7 to 80 mPa. A dynamic calibration of the sensor over a range of 2–12 mPa has been performed up to 7 kHz.
Copolymers of nylon 266 and nylon 66: Synthesis and characterization

Copolymers of nylon 266 and nylon 66 were prepared by interfacial polymerization of N-glycyl hexanediamine and hexanediamine with adipoyl chloride. According to the results of intrinsic viscosity measurements and GPC analysis, the molecular weights of the copolymers were relatively high. The copolymers have similar solubility features as nylon 66. Both melting and glass transition temperatures T m and T g showed a minimum at around 20-30% nylon 66 content. The copolymers are semicrystalline. Copolymers with lower T m could be melt-spun into fibers without apprecialble thermal degradation
Predicting Back Pain Sufferers' Intentions to Exercise

One important factor in reducing back pain is the performance of exercises prescribed by physicians during treatment. The present investigation was conducted to examine the correlates of an individual's intention to adhere to such prescriptions. On the bases of M. Fishbein's (1980) theory of reasoned action and I. Ajzen's (1988) theory of planned behavior, attitudes, subjective norms, and 2 types of perceived behavioral control were measured in a sample of American patients. Attitudes and subjective norms failed to predict intentions to exercise in accordance with the physician's orders, but each of the perceived behavioral control measures did moderately well as an independent predictor and quite well when combined in a multiple regression approach.
On-Chip Clocking for Nanomagnet Logic Devices

We report local control of nanomagnets that can be arranged to perform computation in a cellular automata-like architecture. This letter represents the first demonstration of deterministically placed quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) devices (of any implementation), where devices are controlled by on-chip local fields.
S-Box: A scalability analysis framework for ad hoc routing protocols

The scalability of routing protocols for ad hoc networks is a key design issue for achieving large-scale deployments of MANETs. In this work, we propose S-Box, a ldquoblack-boxrdquo type scalability analysis framework. S-Box combines statistical design of experiments (DOE) methods, empirical modeling techniques, and a newly proposed performance measure, called the scalability index. The proposed scalability index is able to quantify the overall scalability performance of ad hoc routing protocols by aggregating the values of multiple individual metrics into a single scalar value. Given a specific deployment scenario, S-Box can be used to (1) determine the routing protocol that achieves the best overall scalability among a set of candidate protocols and (2) determine how to adjust parameter values (e.g., number of RREQ retries) of a routing protocol to achieve optimal scalability performance. To demonstrate its systematic operation and effectiveness, we use S-Box to study the scalability of DSR and AODV (with and without local repair), which shows S-Box can provide a convenient and systematic way to address practical scalability problems.
MBiCMOS: complex logic and modified gates for improved performance

Modified MBiCMOS (merged BiCMOS) gates and complex MBiCMOS logic are demonstrated. The modified MBiCMOS gate uses a low-V/sub t/ PMOS device in the gate pulldown to achieve a CMOS/MBiCMOS crossover of 2.4 V. Complex MBiCMOS logic continues to outperform CMOS at scaled supplies. Device merging not viable beyond two-input NAND or NOR functions in a triple-diffused process. However, even without device merging, complex MBiCMOS gates are typically 25% smaller than their BiCMOS equivalents. Complex MBiCMOS gates up to the four-NAND, four-NOR level showed measured CMOS/MBiCMOS crossover voltages of 2.6 V. >
Is MRI Subchondral Acetabular Edema or Cystic Change a Contraindication for Hip Arthroscopy in Patients with FAI

Objectives:Arthroscopic treatment for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) generally has good results, but the outcome can worsen with increasing arthritis, largely defined as joint space narrowing. ...
Current-mode CMOS quaternary threshold logic full adder circuit

Abstract The quaternary full adder accepts two quaternary inputs and a binary CARRY input and develops a two-quaternary-digit output word that is the base-four sum of the inputs. A current-mode CMOS circuit is presented that implements the quaternary threshold logic full adder function more area efficiently, with fewer current comparators and decoders (and hence transistors), than previously reported. It has been realized in standard polysilicon-gate CMOS technology.
A Rationale to Use Bladder Boari Flap Reconstruction for Late Kidney Transplant Ureteral Strictures

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of Boari flap reconstruction (BFR) in the management of late-onset transplant ureteral strictures (TUS). Methods Between March 2007 and March 2014, there were 730 patients who underwent kidney transplant (KTx) at our institution. We identified 16 patients with TUS, occurring more than 60 days after KTx. Baseline clinical and posttransplant characteristics were reviewed and stratified upon treatment modality. Outcomes for each treatment modality were determined. Results Median time from transplant to the treatment of TUS was 703 days (range, 65-2617 days). BFR was the most common treatment modality and was used in 87.5% of patients (n = 14/16). This procedure was performed as both a primary treatment and as a salvage procedure in recurrent TUS refractory to balloon dilation and neoureterocystotomy. Incidence of BFR failure was 6.3% (n = 1/14). BFR as a primary treatment was more successful compared to other methods (P Conclusion Late TUS after KTx is a difficult complication to treat. Our study suggests that BFR can provide a higher success rate of primary treatment compared to other common treatment options. BFR can be used as a primary treatment of TUS or as a salvage procedure with similar success. Additional follow-up is necessary to evaluate the long-term efficacy of BFR for the treatment of late-onset TUS.
Hyper-Eddington accretion flows on to massive black holes

We study very-high rate spherically symmetric accretion flows onto a massive black hole (BH; 10 2 . MBH . 10 6 M⊙) embedded in a dense gas cloud with a low abundance of metals, performing one-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations which include multi-frequency radiation transfer and non-equilibrium primordial chemistry. We find that rapid gas supply from the Bondi radius at a hyper-Eddington rate can occur without being impeded by radiation feedback when (n∞/10 5 cm −3 ) > (MBH/10 4 M⊙) −1 (T∞/10 4 K) 3/2 , where n∞ and T∞ are the density and temperature of ambient gas outside of the Bondi radius. The resulting accretion rate in this regime is steady, and larger than 3000 times the Eddington rate. At lower Bondi rates, the accretion is episodic due to radiative feedback and the average rate is limited below the Eddington rate. For the hyper-Eddington case, the steady solution consists of two parts: a radiation-dominated central core, where photon trapping due to electron scattering is important, and an accreting envelope which follows a Bondi profile with T ≃ 8000 K. When the emergent luminosity is limited below the Eddington luminosity because of photon trapping, radiation from the central region does not affect the gas dynamics at larger scales. We apply our result to the rapid formation of massive BHs in protogalaxies with a virial temperature of Tvir & 10 4 K. Once a seed BH forms at the center of the galaxy, it can grow up to a maximum ∼ 10 5 (Tvir/10 4 K) M⊙ via gas accretion independent of the initial BH mass. Finally, we discuss possible observational signatures of rapidly accreting BHs with/without allowance for dust. We suggest that these systems could explain Lyα emitters without X-rays and luminous infrared sources with hot dust emission, respectively.
Ethical/Professional Responsibility Concerns for Rule 114 Lawyer-Mediators: A Vacuum of Applicable Rules?

The author asserts that under current Minnesota law, the ethical professional responsibilities of mediators may depend, in part, on their professional identity outside of the mediation process. The article analyzes the conflicting responsibilities created by a panoply of Minnesota statutes, court rules, and lawyer and neutral ethical codes.
Robotic-Assisted Microvascular Surgery of the Head and Neck

Traditional treatment of the majority of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma has relied on multimodality therapy, including chemoradiation or open surgical approaches with postoperative radiotherapy. Both treatment strategies have investigated and result in significant functional morbidity: the former because of the sequela of the early and late side effects of definitive radiation and chemotherapy; the latter because of the use of a lip splitting incision combined with a transmandibular approach and pharyngotomy to the oropharynx which would translate into a long postoperative recovery for the patient because of the morbidity of the surgery [1–7]. In some studies, the morbidity of midline mandibulotomy with a lip splitting incision has been as high as 20–48 % [8, 9], while other investigations have not found the functional impact as devastating as previously expected, especially when reconstructive techniques are used appropriately and when compared with the functional outcomes of concurrent chemoradiation [10, 11]. Large defects in the oropharynx prior the era of free tissue transfer relied on large and bulky regional pedicled flaps (i.e., pectoralis major muscle flap (PMMF)). This led to decreased mobility of the base of tongue and the pharyngeal wall which in turn signified increased dysphagia and gastrostomy tube dependence [12]. Improved reconstructive techniques utilizing free tissue transfer have dramatically improved these outcomes; however, the functional results remain suboptimal due to issues related to surgical access and traditional transmandibular or transcervical approaches [1, 13, 14]. Concurrent chemoradiation was introduced as an organ preserving strategy for treatment of oropharynx carcinoma because of improved functional outcomes with comparable survival outcomes to open surgery followed by adjuvant radiation or chemoradiation [15]. Nonetheless, organ preservation still carries a high risk of dysphagia and functional disturbances related to the therapy [2, 3, 16].
Can Fresh Osteochondral Allografts Restore Function in Juveniles With Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee

Background Failure of initial treatment for juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) may require further surgical intervention, including microfracture, autograft chondrocyte implantation, osteochondral autografting, and fresh osteochondral allografting. Although allografts and autografts will restore function in most adults, it is unclear whether fresh osteochondral allograft transplantations similarly restore function in skeletally immature patients who failed conventional treatment.
Numerical investigation of unsteady plane wakes at supersonic speeds

The two-dimensional stability behavior of the supersonic plane wake at transitional Reynolds numbers is investigated using direct numerical simulations. A spatial model is used, with the domain of interest placed around the base of a twodimensional body aligned with the flow. The complete two-dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved in a Cartesian coordinate system. They are discretized spatially using fourthorder split finite differences. For time integration, a fourth-order Runge-Kutta scheme is employed. Several free-stream boundary conditions were investigated. The flow at two free-stream Mach numbers was considered. At M = 2.46, no absolute instability was found at Reynolds numbers (based on base thickness) up to Re = 100,000. However, sinuous disturbances produce an oscillation in the recirculation region which decays exponentially in time, with the decay rate decreasing with increasing Reynolds number. At M 1.20 and Re = 4,000 the flow was found to be absolutely unstable, with disturbances growing exponentially until a finite amplitude periodic state is reached. As a consequence, the recirculation region oscillates strongly, and a Karman vortex street is formed downstream. The mean flow properties of this state differ significantly from a steady flow computation.
Book Review: A Manual of Acarology

Published by Oregon State University Book Stores, Inc. Corvallis, Oregon. 1970. 335 p., including 36 figures and 144 plates. Spiral bound paperback. $11.45 This is a well organized manual primarily emphasizing systematics and providing only basic information on biology, morphology, collection and preparation. Such basic information is presented clearly in 54 pages of 7 introductory chapters. The 10-page discussion of collection, preparation and mounting of mite specimens is particularly good. The remainder of the manual is devoted to mite classification to the family level with the exception of the Hydrachnellae and Cryptostigmata, which are keyed only to superfamilies.
E-045 The effect of liquid embolic agents on gamma knife radiosurgery dosimetry for arteriovenous malformations

Purpose The effectiveness of gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery to obliterate brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) may be diminished by the preoperative adjunctive use of endovascular liquid embolic agents. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if commercially available liquid embolic agents reduce the radiation dose to the target owing to attenuation of the Co-60 beam. Method and materials (1) The apparent linear attenuation coefficients for 120 keV to 140 keV x-rays in the embolized regions were retrieved from CT scans for several patients with AVM malformations who had undergone embolization procedures with liquid embolic agents for the purposes of reduction in nidal volume. Based on these coefficients and our virtual model of gamma knife with basic ray tracing, we obtained the path lengths and densities for the embolized regions. The attenuation of Co-60 beams was then calculated for various sizes and positions of AVM embolized regions and the number of beams used for treatment. (2) Published experiments for several high atomic number materials were used to estimate the effective Co-60 beam attenuation coefficients for N-butylcyanoacrylate (n-BCA, suspended in ethiodized oil) and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH, with suspended micronized tantalum powder) used in the AVM embolizations. The dose reduction during gamma knife radiosurgery was calculated based on the Co-60 energy attenuation coefficient. (3) Dose measurements were obtained in a phantom study with EVOH to confirm the estimates generated in the theoretical model described in (2) above. Results Based on apparent CT (keV) attenuation coefficients, the cumulative effect of either of the embolic agents decreased the dose delivered in gamma knife radiosurgery from −8 to −15% in a theoretical mod. Using the effective attenuation coefficient for Co-60 energies in the dose calculation yielded a 0.2% dose reduction per beam and less than 0.01–0.2% dose reduction in total. These theoretical results were validated in a phantom study. Conclusion Dose reduction due to attenuation of the Co-60 beam by the AVM embolization material is negligible for both n-BCA and EVOH, owing to the high energy Co-60 beam.
Interpreting the Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS) Findings on Sanitation, Hygiene, and Diarrhea.

Sanitation and hygiene are global concerns, as reflected in international development and human rights policy [1,2]. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include target 6.2: to “achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation” [3]. Globally, about 2.5 billion people do not use improved sanitation, of whom 1 billion defecate in the open [4]. Fecal contamination of the environment and poor handwashing are responsible for an estimated 577,000 deaths annually [5]. This is likely an underestimation: there is emerging evidence that poor sanitation and hygiene contribute to undernutrition [6,7] and could be responsible for approximately half of all child stunting [8–10]. Much of the health impact of inadequate sanitation and hygiene is attributed to diarrheal disease and its secondary effects. However, diarrhea is difficult to measure, and sanitation and hygiene are difficult to link to health outcomes [11].
FACTORS OF CARMICHAEL NUMBERS AND A WEAK -TUPLES CONJECTURE

In light of the recent work by Maynard and Tao on the Dickson $k$ -tuples conjecture, we show that with a small improvement in the known bounds for this conjecture, we would be able to prove that for some fixed $R$ , there are infinitely many Carmichael numbers with exactly $R$ factors for some fixed $R$ . In fact, we show that there are infinitely many such $R$ .