cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computability of homotopy groups of nilpotent complexes

In 1956, E.H. Brown Jr. proved the following theorem: Let X be a connected, simply connected, locally finite, simplicial complex. Then n,X is effectively computable for n > 1. In this paper we generalize this theorem to the case where X is a nilpotent complex. (See the end of Section 1 for some examples.) We rely on the fact that the Postnikov system of a nilpotent complex has a principle refinement. As in the simply connected case, this system is recursively computable. However, the nilpotent case differs from the simply connected case in that the homotopy groups of X cannot be read directly from the Postnikov system. This requires the construction, for each n > 0, of an n-connected cover of X. Because this construction is less well controlled with respect to the computability of homology than the Postnikov system, the homotopy groups of X are recursively computable. That is, we give a procedure which generates a recursively enumerable abelian group presentation of n, X, whereas if n,X is a finite nilpotent group it is possible to obtain a finite presentation of Z, X, for n > 1. In Section 1 we are concerned with preliminaries, including the definitions of a recursive function, and a recursively enumerable (r.e.) presentation. In Section 2 the description is given of an inductive construction of the Postnikov system of a locally finite nilpotent connected complex. In this construction we adapt the method of Brown [l], with only the minor alterations necessary to obtain the refined Postnikov system appropriate for a nilpotent complex. Section 3 introduces the applications of some notions, borrowed from recursion theory, to simplicial topology. In particular, we define recursive simplicial sets and maps. We then show that such objects behave nicely with respect to such topological constructions as pullbacks and pathspaces. In addition we show that K(G; n) is a recursive complex when G is nicely presented. Our primary motivation for the adoption of these ideas is that the homology groups of a recursive complex are recursively
An efficient elliptic curve cryptography processor using addition chains with high information entropy

RFID tags in the supply chain provide the capabilities of bar codes without requiring a line of sight, but this benefit can compromise the privacy of the tag owner. The problem can be corrected by equipping RFID tags with public key cryptography but due to the extreme constraints on area and power, the processor must be as small and as energy-efficient as possible. We present a public key cryptography processor (based on elliptic curves over binary extension fields) that does not use the Montgomery ladder algorithm. The new algorithm has the processor perform point additions based on integer addition chains, without computing the integer chains. Point doubling is performed only once per encryption. Key bits are interpreted in a new way, but the algorithm is independent of the key, resisting simple side-channel attacks. This paper includes an analysis of information entropy, to determine the strength of keys and improve processor design. The processor's performance results are presented, and are competitive with the smallest, lowest-energy designs in the literature.
The Role of Shallow Trench Isolation on Channel Width Noise Scaling for Narrow Width CMOS and Flash Cells

RTS noise is a growing issue in flash memory as the cell size scales down. By investigating NMOS and Ring devices, it is shown that noise induced by the STI edge dominates cell RTS/noise with scaling or after cycling. Device 1/f characterization highlights the drain STI edge as a critical area for RTS improvement in flash.
Blood collection tube-related alterations in analyte concentrations in quality control material and serum specimens

Objectives Several previous studies have described the effects of interfering substances on clinical assay results; however, the effects of exogenous substances, particularly additives from blood collection tubes on quality control (QC) specimens and serum specimens have not been well examined. This study examines the effects of blood-collection tube additives on total triiodothyronine (TT3), and thyroxine (TT4), cortisol, and routine clinical chemistry tests in QC and serum specimens from apparently healthy volunteers.
THE RELATION OF TIME, INTENSITY AND WAVE-LENGTH IN THE PHOTOSENSORY SYSTEM OF PHOLAS.

The most effective point in the visible spectrum for the stimulation of Pholas is 550 mµ. On the red side, the effectiveness drops rapidly to almost zero. On the violet side, the effectiveness drops to about half, and rises again in such a way as to indicate a possible second maximum in the near ultra-violet. On the basis of certain ideas these data are assumed to represent the properties of the absorption spectrum of the photosensitive system in Pholas . A comparison with Mya shows that the absorption spectra of the photosensitive systems in the animals are distinctly different. Nevertheless the way in which intensity and reaction time are related in the two animals are found to be identical. The conclusion is then drawn from this and from previous work, that although the fundamental properties of the photoreceptor process show an identical organization in several different animals, the materials which compose these processes are specific.
Reactive Melt Transport in the Mantle and Geochemical Signatures of Mantle-derived Magmas

predicted effects, but more complete sample suites yielding detailed Modeling of equilibrium reactive melt transport in the mantle, temporal–compositional variations of clearly cogenetic lavas are including the effects of mineralogic reactions and changes in porosity needed to test the petrogenetic significance of reactive melt transport in the solid matrix, provides a series of robust predictions of the on erupted magmas. consequences of reactive melt transport on magma trace element compositions. The composition of the leading melt batch through a column of reactive mantle (the melt front) will be shifted towards that of an incipient partial melt of the mantle matrix. Successive melt batches migrating through and emerging from the column will
Nutrient limitation, hydrology and watershed nitrogen loss

Forty years ago scientists framed the small-watershed concept to examine how ecological and hydrological processes interact to regulate biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems (Likens and Bormann, 1995). This approach inspired new ways of thinking, particularly at the watershed scale, about what controls nutrient losses from terrestrial ecosystems. How can we continue to link ecology and hydrology to provide new insights into long-standing, fundamental questions in biogeochemistry? At least one approach would be to frame questions that are consistent with an understanding of nutrient limitation—its causes and consequences—in terrestrial ecosystems. Nutrient limitation as a scientific concept originated in 19th century agricultural chemistry, and it continues to serve as an organizing principle in modern biogeochemistry. A limiting nutrient is defined as that element in shortest supply relative to demands for plant growth. The addition of a limiting nutrient will stimulate plant growth (i.e. net primary productivity) more than will additions of any other elements, and co-limitation by two or more nutrients is also possible. Nitrogen (N) is the most common limiting nutrient in the temperate zone, as indicated by its widespread use in agricultural fertilizers, and by experimental additions of nutrients to a range of natural terrestrial ecosystems (Vitousek and Howarth, 1991). Limitation by N is common in so many regions because it is not supplied by rock weathering (with few exceptions), and must accumulate from atmospheric deposition and biological fixation as ecosystems develop. With sustained inputs of N from atmospheric deposition (especially air pollution) and biological fixation, it is possible to overcome limitation by N, though experimental tests of limitation by nutrients other than N are rare for temperate terrestrial ecosystems (see Tanner et al. (1998) for a brief review of tropical forests). Nitrogen limitation has important consequences for the cycling and loss of N from watershed ecosystems. Plants and their mycorrhizal associates rapidly assimilate plant-available forms of N (i.e. NH4, NO3, simple amino acids) in N-limited ecosystems, and retain this N by conversion to more complex organic forms. Microbial communities in soils release available N during organic matter decomposition; however, they can assimilate it almost as rapidly in order to satisfy metabolic requirements for the decomposition of low-N litter. In this way, nutrient limitation drives tight retention of
ATTITUDES AND ATTAINED PROFICIENCY IN ESL: A SOCIOLINGUISTIC STUDY OF NATIVE SPEAKERS OF CHINESE IN THE UNITED STATES

The relations between various measures of attitudes toward self, the native language group, the target language group, reasons for learning English as a second language, reasons for traveling to the U.S. and attained proficiency in ESL were investigated. Subjects were Chinese speaking foreign students primarily studying at the graduate level in the U.S. It was hypothesized that positive attitudes, especially positive attitudes toward the target language group, would correspond to higher attainment in the target language, and similarly negative attitudes, especially toward the target language group would correspond to lower attainment in the target language. Results of factor analysis of the various attitude scales included in a questionnaire revealed meaningful clusters of attitudinal variables which were related to scores on an English proficiency test (based on the cloze procedure) via a multiple regression analysis. In general, attitudes toward self and the native language group—as well as attitudes toward the target language group—were positively correlated with attained proficiency in ESL. Indirect attitude scales of the type used earlier by Spolsky seemed to produce more meaningful variance than direct attitude questions which fit into the Lambert-Gardner paradigm of attitude research. However, the distinction between integrative and instrumental motives seemed helpful in explaining certain patterns in the data. Generally, learners who were apparently more integratively motivated performed better than those who were less integratively motivated. The relation between attained proficiency and attitudes toward the target language group, however, seemed more complex than the relations between attained proficiency and attitudes toward self, and towards the native language group. The relation between reasons for studying ESL or traveling to the U.S. and attained proficiency was contrary to previous predictions. For instance, there was a significant negative correlation between desire to stay in the U.S. permanently and attained ESL proficiency.
Degree design of coupled infrastructures

A recent asymptotic model of cascading failure in two-domain, coupled infrastructures is used to pose and solve a specific degree-distribution design problem. Low-order non-linear analysis exposes the mechanisms by which optimised graphs can form star-like clusters, and suggests why the optimisation is well-behaved numerically. Through computational examples on coupled systems of finite size, we demonstrate that the model assumption of degree independence can be somewhat relaxed, which is significant for geometric connectivity. Further, an assortative heuristic rule that matches degrees across the domain boundary can offer benefits in most finite-size cases.
MACE3J: fast flexible distributed simulation of large, large-grain multi-agent systems

Scientific study of multi-agent systems (MAS) requires infrastructure such as development testbeds and simulation tools for repeatable, controlled experiments with MAS structure and behavior. Testbeds and simulation tools are also critical for MAS education and development. A number of MAS testbeds currently exist, but to date none meets in a comprehensive way criteria laid out by many analysts for general, scientific, experimental study of MAS by a large community. Moreover, none really scales to very large MAS or exploits the power of modern distributed computing environments such as large multiprocessor clusters and computational grids. Because of this, and specifically to fulfill widespread need for tools supporting distributed collaborative scientific research in large-scale, large-grain MAS, we created the MACE3J system, a successor to the pioneering MACE testbed.MACE3J is a Java-based MAS simulation, integration, and development testbed, with a supporting library of components, examples, and documentation, distributed freely. MACE3J currently runs on single- and multiprocessor workstations, and in large multiprocessor cluster environments. The MACE3J design is multi-grain, but gives special attention to simulating very large communities of large-grain agents. It exhibits a significant degree of scalability, and has been effectively used in fast simulations of over 5,000 agents, 10,000 tasks, and 10M messages, and on multiprocessor configurations of up to 48 processors, with a future target of at least 1000 processors.This paper presents MACE3J design criteria and our approach to a number of critical tradeoffs that, to our knowledge, have not previously been treated explicitly in MAS literature or platforms. We present the innovative features of the MACE3J architecture that contribute to its breadth, flexibility and scalability, and finally give results from the use of MACE3J in real experiments in realistic MAS domains, both simple and complex.
Relationship of Hemoglobin A1C With the Presence and Severity of Retinopathy Upon Initial Screening of Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Purpose To determine a possible correlation specifically between hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1C) levels and the presence and severity of retinopathy during diabetic eye screening. Design Retrospective medical record review of all new patients examined in a Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) diabetic screening clinic in 2005. Methods Six hundred and seven new patients were included in the study. Demographic data, HgbA1C levels, and grade of diabetic retinopathy were collected. The data analysis was performed via regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results Among the 607 cases, no correlation between severity of retinopathy and HgbA1C level was found. A very small statistical difference of HgA1C levels existed between groups with and without retinopathy. Conclusion HgbA1C levels appeared to have little predictive value for presence/severity of retinopathy at initial screenings.
Completing Debt Management Plans in Credit Counseling: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Psychological factors associated with consumer behavior in completing debt management plans (DMPs) in credit counseling were identified. Guided by the theory of planned behavior, the study used a unique data set combining the survey data along with plan completion status data from a sample of clients of a national credit counseling agency. Findings suggest that consumers are more likely to report their intentions toward completing a DMP when they view completion favorably and anticipate completing the plan with ease, compared to those who view completion negatively and anticipate difficulty in completing a plan. In turn, the study shows that consumers' behavioral intentions directly affect their behavior—in this case, DMP completion. Furthermore, some evidence suggests that satisfaction with plan services increases consumers' intentions to complete a plan, and also that their perceived control directly and positively affects plan completion behavior. Study findings can be used by credit counselors and educators to develop strategies to help clients successfully complete their DMPs.
Anharmonic vibrational spectra of hydrogen bonded clusters: comparison between higher energy derivative and mean-field grid based methods

We present a comparison between two different approaches for calculating anharmonic frequencies, namely mean-field grid-based methods (VSCF, CC-VSCF, VCI) and those obtained by second-order perturbation theory from the third and fourth energy derivatives. For a meaningful comparison between the two approaches we report the results for the anharmonic frequencies with the two approaches for the F−(H2O), Cl−(H2O), HNO3 and HNO3(H2O) molecular systems at the same level of electronic structure theory and basis set. The two methods were found to produce results of similar accuracy for the origin of the fundamental band and selected overtone and combination bands. The optimal equilibrium and vibrationally averaged geometries, spectroscopic constants and anharmonic frequencies of the (HF) n , n = 2–4 clusters are reported at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory based on calculations of higher energy derivatives and compared to previous results obtained from CC-VSCF calculations at the MP2/TZP level of theory. Cont...
Adverse Clinical Consequences of Hyperglycemia from Total Parenteral Nutrition Exposure during Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Abstract Immunocompromised hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients frequently receive total parenteral nutrition (TPN), a dextrose-based solution that may exacerbate the infectious risks associated with hyperglycemia. This study assessed the incidence of hyperglycemia (glucose level ≥110 mg/dL) and its effect on clinical outcomes in TPN versus non-TPN recipients who received HSCTs. A retrospective cohort of 357 adults who were admitted for initial autologous or allogeneic transplantation at 2 university-affiliated centers was examined. To discern the temporality of outcomes, "before" and "after" comparisons were made by using actual infusion times for TPN patients and using timeframes based on mean hospital days before ("before") or during ("after") parenteral infusion for non-TPN patients. Patients demonstrated similar demographic and clinical characteristics when analyzed by institution, feeding, and donor-type strata, and 57% received TPN. After attempts to equilibrate disease acuity were employed, the proportion of hyperglycemic days was equivalent before but significantly greater after in patients exposed versus unexposed to TPN (87.5% versus 8.3%, respectively; P
Cardiac rehabilitation is associated with reduced long-term mortality in patients undergoing combined heart valve and CABG surgery.

BackgroundNo reports have been published to date on the impact of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on mortality in patients undergoing combined heart valve and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (V + CABG), a procedure that has increased significantly in frequency in recent years.MethodsWe identified consecutive patients who underwent V + CABG surgery in the Olmsted County from 1996 to 2007. Propensity scores were developed using more than 40 clinical, operative, and post-operative characteristics. The impact of CR on long-term mortality was assessed via landmark analysis and using propensity score regression adjustment and stratification techniques.ResultsA total of 201 patients were included in our study, in whom 86 deaths occurred over a mean follow up of 6.8 years. Forty-seven per cent of patients participated in CR, with a significant trend towards increased participation in recent years (p = 0.04). Conditional on 6-month survival and controlling for propensity factors as well as mortality risk f...
Electrical Conductivity of Ammonium Bromide

The electrical conductivity of NH4 Br single crystals is measured by both ac and dc techniques over the temperature range 50 to 130 °C. The dc conductivity as a function of temperature in both, pure and Cd2+ doped NH4Br samples shows excellent Arrhenius behavior. The activation enthalpy for conduction is 1.14 eV. Ac measurements exhibit a pronounced frequency dependent plateau at lower temperatures (≈ 50 to 100 °C). This plateau is believed to be due to a “proton loss”. Due to the existence of the plateau that masks any extrinsic region, the dc technique is more useful in the study of ionic defects in NH4Br. Assuming that transport is due to a vacancy mechanism, the enthalpy of vacancy migration is estimated to be 0.55 eV. The polarity of the vacancy is not uniquely determined. La conductivitye electrique des cristaux uniques de NH4Br a ete mesure par les methods ac et dc pour les temperatures de 50 jusqu a 130°C. Le conductivitye de comme function de temperature en NH4Br pure et avec Cd2+ impuritye montre un excellent comportement de type Arrhenius. L'enthalpie d'activation pour la conduction est 1,14 eV. Les mesurements ac ont montre un plateau qui depend de la frequence aux temperatures basses (≈ 50 jusqu'a 100°C). On esoi que ce plateau soit du a I'effect de „manque des protons”. A cause de I'existence du plateau qui couvre n'importe quelregion extrinsique, la technique dc est plus commode dans I'etude des defaut ionique en NH4Br. Si on fait I'assumption que le transport de charge electrique est du un mechanism de la lacune, on estime que I'enthalpie de migration de lacune soit 0,55 eV. La polarite de la lacune n'est pas uniquement determinee.
Plasmon drag effect in metal nanostructures

In order to better understand the mechanism of the photon drag effect in plasmonic nanostructures, photo-induced electric signals have been studied in gold and silver films and various plasmonic nanostructures. The spectral dependence of the effect points to the primary role of individual localized plasmon resonances in the photo-induced electromotive force (emf) generation responsible for the photon drag effect. We demonstrate the potential to engineer both the magnitude and polarity of the emf with nanoscale geometry and provide a simple model based on the intrinsic nonlinearity of metal in defining this effect.
The Impact of Mobile Phone Usage on Student Learning

In this study, we examined the impact of mobile phone usage, during class lecture, on student learning. Participants in three different study groups (control, low-distraction, and high-distraction) watched a video lecture, took notes on that lecture, and took two learning assessments after watching the lecture. Students who were not using their mobile phones wrote down 62% more information in their notes, took more detailed notes, were able to recall more detailed information from the lecture, and scored a full letter grade and a half higher on a multiple choice test than those students who were actively using their mobile phones. Theoretical and pedagogical implications are discussed.
Real-time gait mode intent recognition of a powered knee and ankle prosthesis for standing and walking

This paper describes a real-time gait mode intent recognition approach for the supervisory control of a powered transfemoral prosthesis. The proposed approach infers user intent by recognizing patterns in the prosthesis sensorpsilas signals in real-time, eliminating the need for sound-side instrumentation and allowing fast mode switching. Simple time based features extracted from frames of prosthesis signals are reduced to lower dimensions. Gaussian Mixture Models are trained using an experimental database for gait mode classification. A voting scheme is applied as a post-processing step to increase the robustness of decision making. The effectiveness of the proposed method is shown via gait experiments on a treadmill with a healthy subject using an able bodied adapter.
Generation of complex concentration profiles in microchannels in a logarithmically small number of steps

We describe the principles of design and the architecture of planar microfluidic networks producing concentration gradients with the shape of any given monotonic function. Each microfluidic network is fed by two separate source solutions and delivers to its outlet a set of N solutions that all differ in concentration. Inside the network, the source solutions flow through a series of k = log2(N−1) stages, where they are repeatedly split and mixed. Streams of the solutions emerging from the network are combined to create a single stream with the desired shape of the concentration profile across the direction of flow. To demonstrate the functionality of the proposed architecture, we have built and tested three networks with k = 4 and N = 17 that generate an exponential concentration profile, a linear profile, and a profile with a shape of two fused branches of a parabola.
Patterns of Amino Acid Evolution in the Drosophila ananassae Chimeric Gene, siren, Parallel Those of Other Adh-Derived Chimeras

siren1 and siren2 are novel alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh)-derived chimeric genes in the Drosophila bipectinata complex. D. ananassae, however, harbors a single homolog of these genes. Like other Adh-derived chimeric genes, siren evolved adaptively shortly after it was formed. These changes likely shifted the catalytic activity of siren.
Sex differences in time to task failure during early pubertal development

Introduction: We compared fatigability and activation of elbow flexor muscles in children at 3 pubertal stages during a sustained submaximal contraction. Methods: In 72 healthy children (39 boys) aged 11 ± 3 years (range, 8–14 years), differences in fatigability (time to task failure) and muscle activation were compared at 3 Tanner stages (T1–T3). Results: Time to task failure and muscle activation were similar between boys and girls at prepubertal Tanner stage 1. Time to task failure was briefer for girls than boys at Tanner stages 2 and 3 and was predicted by the coactivation indices and percent body fat in girls. Muscle torque was the only predictor for the time to task failure in boys. Conclusions: Differences in fatigability and muscle coactivation were evident during the initial pubertal stages (T2 and T3), but not before the onset of puberty (T1). Muscle Nerve 49: 887–894, 2014
Resorbable Tricalcium Phosphates for Bone Tissue Engineering: Influence of SrO Doping

Tricalcium Phosphate (TCP) was doped with 0.5, 2.0, and 5.0 mol% Strontium Oxide (SrO) through the wet precipitation process to investigate the influence of SrO on the biological and mechanical properties of TCP. XRD results showed that SrO doping did not change the phase stability of the β-phase of TCP during sintering at 1120°C. The apparent density of TCP increased from 95.1 ± 2.5% to 99.4 ± 0.5% with the addition of 5.0 mol% SrO doping. SrO doping also increased the compressive strength of pure β-TCP from 121.1 ± 21.4 MPa to 185.9 ± 16.7 MPa with 5 mol% SrO addition. Initially, the addition of 0.5 and 2.0 mol% SrO had a statistically insignificant impact on the as-processed samples' compressive strength. When the samples were immersed in a simulated body fluid for 12 weeks, the addition of SrO improved the compressive strength from 109.4 ± 22.9 MPa for pure TCP to 208.8 ± 34.6 MPa with 5.0 mol% SrO addition. An improvement in hFOB cell attachment and proliferation was observed for all dopant concentrations using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) imaging and MTT assay studies, indicating excellent biocompatibility of all the samples. 2.0 mol% SrO doping showed the best cell differentiation and proliferation results. It was shown that SrO simultaneously improved mechanical properties of TCP such as compressive strength as well as biological properties via enhanced cell attachment and proliferation.
Hardware Reconfiguration Capability for Third Generation Sensor Nodes: Design and Challenges

In this paper, we describe the main capabilities for the third generation of the sensor nodes. The challenges for implementing such nodes is focused on providing the hardware design reconfiguration at minimum power consumption and developing the components library that can be used to develop sensor nodes at short period of time. The impact of using third generation nodes on network level evaluation and next-generation applications is also discussed in this work.
The Political Ecology of Banana Exports and local Food Production in St. Vincent, Eastern Caribbean

Abstract In St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Eastern Caribbean, export banana production is expanding at the same time that local food production is declining and food imports are rising. When export agriculture is accompanied by such changes, the general assumption in much of the development literature, including political ecology, is that export agriculture has undermined local food production, leading to insufficient food supplies and thereby requiring increased food imports. This study, based on twelve months of field-work during 1988–89, employs a political-ecological perspective and asserts that in the case of the Vincentian banana industry, these assumptions are not valid. Conflicts between export agriculture and local food production in relation to the allocation of land and labor that could undermine food production are, for the most part, not of major significance. Unequal control over land has contradictory effects on the relation between export production and local food production, reflec...
Strategic Risk Control and Regulation

The purpose of this chapter is to outline elements of risk and strategic control. These include detection and inspection programs, tracking (through control charts) as well as their uses in risk management and financial regulation. The statistical sampling and control literature pertaining to these problems is immense and we therefore refer at the end of the chapter to standard references on such topics as well as to specific research papers relating to strategic controls and regulation. Strategic risk control is increasingly important but has received relatively little attention. For this reason, I chose to focus greater attention on such problems that are far more appropriate. Examples are used to highlight the approaches that this chapter outlines. A number of industrial control cases are outlined applicable as well in the financial sector.
Foreword: the Changing Regulatory Framework for Mining Ventures

(1996). Foreword: the Changing Regulatory Framework for Mining Ventures. Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law: Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 251-261.
Effect of Root Size and Soil Moisture on the Number of Clover Root Borers Present in Red Clover Roots

During 2 consecutive years, similar field experiments were condoled in New York to study the effects of red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) root size and percentage available soil moisture on numbers of the clover root borer, Hylastinus obscurus (Marsh.) (Scolytidae: Coleoptera). In 1956, as soil moisture decreased, borer numbers increased; as root size increased, borer numbers increased. A multiple regression analysis indicated that either root size or soil moisture could account for most of the variation in borer numbers, because the two independent variables were closely correlated to each other: as soil moisture decreased, root size. Increased. In 1957, it was found that root size alone was responsible for the majority of the variation in borer numbers. On the basis of these data and differences in the number of areas sampled, the distance between sampling areas, Uniformity, and ranges of soil moisture in 1956 as compared with 1957, the conclusion was reached that root size has a more direct influence than soil moisture on borer numbers. Soil moisture is believed to indirectly affect borer numbers owing to its influence on root size.
Contralateral Oblique View Is Superior to the Lateral View for Lumbar Epidural Access

Objective . The purpose of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of the contralateral oblique (CLO) view and the lateral view for lumbar interlaminar epidural access. Design . After the epidural space was accessed, fluoroscopic images at eight different angles (antero-posterior view, multiple CLO, and lateral view) were prospectively obtained. Visualization and location of needle tip relative to bony landmarks were analyzed. The epidural location of the needle was subsequently confirmed by contrast injection and analysis in multiple views. Results . Visualization of the needle tip and the relevant radiologic landmarks was superior in the CLO view. The needle tip location in the epidural space was most consistent at a CLO angle of 45°. Conclusion . This study shows that the CLO view for lumbar interlaminar epidural access offers clear advantages over the lateral view on many clinically important grounds: the needle tip visualization is better, the important radiological landmarks are better visualized, and the needle tip when placed in the epidural space presents a more precise relationship to these landmarks. All of these differences were highly significant. Thus, when using this view, the needle may be directly placed in very close vicinity to the epidural space and true loss of resistance expected soon thereafter. In addition, this view provides the ability to plot the cranio-caudad needle trajectory. The combination of these factors is likely to improve the ease and efficiency of epidural access. The crisp visualization of the final moments of epidural access could also translate to improved safety and accuracy. In light of this, it is suggested that a CLO view at 45° be considered the preferred view for gauging needle depth during interlaminar lumbar epidural access.
Varying degrees of ventromedial hypothalamic destruction in the weanling rat and its effect on plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

Es wurden ein- und dreipaarige elektrolytische Lasionen in den ventromedialen Kernen von Ratten gesetzt, wobei es zu einer Erhohung von Triglyceriden und Cholesterin kam. Dieses Hypothalamus-Gebiet enthalt Regulationszentren des Serumlipidspiegels.
Pharmacogenomics in pediatric rheumatology.

Purpose of reviewDespite major advancements in therapeutics, variability in drug response remains a challenge in both adults and children diagnosed with rheumatic disease. The genetic contribution to interindividual variability has emerged as a promising avenue of exploration; however, challenges re
What Is Money? Conclusions on the Nature of Money

In an important sense our task throughout this monograph has been to develop a theory of the nature of money. When asked “What is money?”, most people respond — quite reasonably — that money is used to buy something. This gets at money’s use as a medium of exchange, which is of course the most familiar use. If pressed further, most would also say that money is something one can hold as a store of value. Indeed, economists recognize money as the safest and most liquid store of value available, at least outside situations with high inflation, when money’s value falls rapidly. Some people will also mention the use of money to pay down debt, with money used as a means of payment, or means of final settlement of contractual obligations. Finally, if we ask people “How much is that worth?” — pointing to just about anything — a common response would be to evaluate worth in terms of money, this time acting as the unit of account used to measure wealth, debt, prices, economic value.
Wahl des Richtigen Ausdruckes

Schlecht gewahlte oder falsch gebrauchte Worte konnen wie zerbrochene oder misfarbene Ziegelsteine den erfreulichen Eindruck eines sonst vollkommenen Baues zunichte machen. Der Gebrauch langer technischer Ausdrucke statt einfacher, kurzer Bezeichnungen ist ein ernster Fehler der wissenschaftlichen Literatur. Es bedarf keines Hinweises, das eine Darstellung um so gefalliger wirkt, je klarer und einfacher sie ist. Lange, technische oder gesuchte Ausdrucke zeugen von Autismus; sie sind kein Zeichen von Gelehrsamkeit.
Breather soliton dynamics in microresonators.

The generation of temporal cavity solitons in microresonators results in coherent low-noise optical frequency combs that are critical for applications in spectroscopy, astronomy, navigation or telecommunications. Breather solitons also form an important part of many different classes of nonlinear wave systems, manifesting themselves as a localized temporal structure that exhibits oscillatory behaviour. To date, the dynamics of breather solitons in microresonators remains largely unexplored, and its experimental characterization is challenging. Here we demonstrate the excitation of breather solitons in two different microresonator platforms based on silicon nitride and on silicon. We investigate the dependence of the breathing frequency on pump detuning and observe the transition from period-1 to period-2 oscillation. Our study constitutes a significant contribution to understanding the soliton dynamics within the larger context of nonlinear science. Breather solitons can be found in both physical and biological nonlinear systems. Here, Yuet al. demonstrate this type of soliton in silicon and silicon nitride microresonators, which advances the understanding of soliton-based comb-generation in microresonators.
Increased mitochondrial superoxide in the brain, but not periphery, sensitizes mice to angiotensin II-mediated hypertension

Angiotensin II (AngII) elicits the production of superoxide (O2•−) from mitochondria in numerous cell types within peripheral organs and in the brain suggesting a role for mitochondrial-produced O2•− in the pathogenesis of hypertension. However, it remains unclear if mitochondrial O2•− is causal in the development of AngII-induced hypertension, or if mitochondrial O2•− in the absence of elevated AngII is sufficient to increase blood pressure. Further, the tissue specific (i.e. central versus peripheral) redox regulation of AngII hypertension remains elusive. Herein, we hypothesized that increased mitochondrial O2•− in the absence of pro-hypertensive stimuli, such as AngII, elevates baseline systemic mean arterial pressure (MAP), and that AngII-mediated hypertension is exacerbated in animals with increased mitochondrial O2•− levels. To address this hypothesis, we generated novel inducible knock-down mouse models of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), the O2•− scavenging antioxidant enzyme specifically localized to mitochondria, targeted to either the brain subfornical organ (SFO) or peripheral tissues. Contrary to our hypothesis, knock-down of MnSOD either in the SFO or in peripheral tissues was not sufficient to alter baseline systemic MAP. Interestingly, when mice were challenged with chronic, peripheral infusion of AngII, only the MnSOD knock-down confined to the SFO, and not the periphery, demonstrated an increased sensitization and potentiated hypertension. In complementary experiments, over-expressing MnSOD in the SFO significantly decreased blood pressure in response to chronic AngII. Overall, these studies indicate that mitochondrial O2•− in the brain SFO works in concert with other AngII-dependent factors to drive an increase in MAP, as elevated mitochondrial O2•− alone, either in the SFO or peripheral tissues, failed to raise baseline blood pressure.
A High-Speed Inkjet-Printed Microelectromechanical Relay With a Mechanically Enhanced Double-Clamped Channel-Beam

We report a high-speed inkjet-printed three-terminal microelectromechanical (MEM) relay with a double-clamped beam that exploits the enhanced stiffness of the double-clamped structure to improve electrical performance. To minimize mechanical delay and pull-in voltage, the contact gap between the channel-beam and drain, and the stiffness of the beam and shape of the drain was carefully designed and optimized through a 3-D finite element simulation. The double-clamped beam prevents stiction-related failure between the channel-beam and drain despite the contact gap being only 370 nm for a >500 μm long beam. The resulting printed relay delivers a turn-ON delay of 8 μs at a gate voltage of 10 V, a pull-in voltage of only 7.2 V, immeasurable off-leakage, excellent subthreshold swing, and a small hysteresis window of 2 V without any bending or collapsing of the beam. The device also shows reliable operation over 10 5 cycles while maintaining a high ON/OFF ratio of 10 8 , and extremely low ON-state resistance of 3.7 Ω.
Spatial variability in tropospheric peroxyacetyl nitrate in the tropics from infrared satellite observations in 2005 and 2006

Abstract. Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) plays a fundamental role in the global ozone budget and is the primary reservoir of tropospheric reactive nitrogen over much of the globe. However, large uncertainties exist in how surface emissions, transport and lightning affect the global distribution, particularly in the tropics. We present new satellite observations of free-tropospheric PAN in the tropics from the Aura Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer. This dataset allows us to test expected spatiotemporal distributions that have been predicted by models but previously not well observed. We compare here with the GEOS-Chem model with updates specifically for PAN. We observe an austral springtime maximum over the tropical Atlantic, a feature that model predictions attribute primarily to lightning. Over northern central Africa in December, observations show strong interannual variability, despite low variation in fire emissions, that we attribute to the combined effects of changes in biogenic emissions and lightning. We observe small enhancements in free-tropospheric PAN corresponding to the extreme burning event over Indonesia associated with the 2006 El Nino.
Cobalt Electrodeposition from Cobalt Chloride Using Urea and Choline Chloride Ionic Liquid: Effect of Temperature, Applied Voltage, and Cobalt Chloride Concentration on Current Efficiency and Energy Consumption

Electrodeposition of cobalt from cobalt chloride using the urea and the choline chloride ionic liquid (2:1 molar ratio) was studied to search the optimized parameters for the higher current efficiency. The cyclic voltammetry was tested with 0.2 M CoCl2 using various scan rates to determine the reduction potential in Urea/ChCl at 323 K. Based on the data from cyclic voltammetry test, the transfer coefficient and the diffusion coefficient were calculated as 0.22 and 3.38 × 10−6 cm2/s, respectively. The parameters for electrodeposition of cobalt were various temperatures (323–383 K), applied potentials (2.4–3.3 V), and concentration of CoCl2 (0.2–0.5 mol/L). Current efficiency and energy consumption were calculated to investigate the optimal condition for the electrodeposition of cobalt. The highest current efficiency (95%) was obtained under the temperature 323 K, the applied voltage 2.7 V, and concentration 0.5 mol/L of CoCl2. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used for the characterization of cobalt deposits.
Disulfiram and diethyldithiocarbamate as enzyme inhibitors

Much of the early biochemical work on the effects of dithiocarbamates and thiuram disulfides followed the introduction of agents of this class as agricultural pesticides and fungicides in the 1930s and 1940s (Thorn and Ludwig, 1962). The discovery in 1948 of the clinical interaction between disulfiram (DSSD) and ethanol further stimulated interest in these agents. The early studies explored these compounds as inhibitors of growth, respiration and carbohydrate metabolism, and as biocidal agents. Investigation of their effects on isolated enzymes soon revealed that their inhibitory activity was due to their ability to complex the metals of metalloenzymes, or, alternatively, to react with enzyme sulfhydryl groups. Also, it was noted that sulfhydryl-containing endogenous compounds, such as glutathione (GSH) and cysteine, could often partially reverse the inhibition (Thorn and Ludwig, 1962).
Noninvasive diagnosis and prognosis assessment in chronic coronary artery disease: stress testing with and without imaging perspective.

Over the past 30 years, there have been great advances in cardiovascular imaging and treatment. Early in this period, new techniques were usually investigated on a limited research basis before widespread adoption. This research helped to develop evidence to define proper application in clinical practice. Sometimes, this evidence did not support the initial promising reports. Pulmonary blood volume measurements, regional ejection fraction images, digital subtraction angiography, stress echocardiography using transesophageal pacing, pacemaker therapy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, laser coronary angiography, and aortic valvuloplasty were all appropriately tested on a limited scale and abandoned. Response by Min and Shaw see p 257 In the past 15 years, declining Medicare reimbursements have contributed to a “make it up on volume/grow the business” mentality in medicine that often embraces a broader application of new technology before it has been adequately studied to establish its correct role. Many observers have commented that clinical practice often now “runs ahead of” guidelines. Should this pattern continue with respect to newer technology, eg, computed tomographic (CT) angiography, for the diagnostic and prognostic assessment of chronic coronary artery disease (CAD)? To answer this question, the reader must understand the current health-care crisis, the overwhelming evidence supporting the current use of stress imaging with or without imaging, and the limited evidence for CT angiography. The need for fundamental health-care reform is increasingly recognized. For the past 2 years, all the major presidential candidates have defined positions on health-care reform. A prominent 2-page advertisement in the Sunday New York Times signed by 10 past political leaders, including a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, summarized it well: “Mounting healthcare costs…threaten American competitiveness, and, if they remain unchecked, could even bankrupt the country. …The prognosis for our nation’s health is beyond unacceptable—it is inconsistent with America’s long-standing tradition of stewardship.”1 …
Professional socialization in medicine.

The institutional structures and informal means by which professional norms, beliefs, and behaviors are transmitted to medical trainees may undermine their empathy and idealism.
Domination in the hierarchical product and Vizing’s conjecture

Abstract Given a graph G , a set S ⊆ V ( G ) is a dominating set of G if every vertex of G is either in S or adjacent to a vertex in S . The domination number of G , denoted γ ( G ) , is the minimum cardinality of a dominating set of G . Vizing’s conjecture states that γ ( G □ H ) ≥ γ ( G ) γ ( H ) for any graphs G and H where G □ H denotes the Cartesian product of G and H . In this paper, we continue the work by Anderson et al. (2016) by studying the domination number of the hierarchical product. Specifically, we show that partitioning the vertex set of a graph in a particular way shows a trend in the lower bound of the domination number of the product, providing further evidence that the conjecture is true.
Modality-specific Changes in Motor Cortex Excitability After Visuo-proprioceptive Realignment.

Spatial realignment of visual and proprioceptive estimates of hand position is necessary both to keep the estimates in register over time and to compensate for sensory perturbations. Such realignme...
Thallium-201 imaging and estimation of residual high grade astrocytoma

Thallium-201 brain imaging was performed on five patients as a method to differentiate persistent and/or recurrent viable Grades III and IV astrocytoma tissue from necrosis or post-therapy changes. Planar images of the head and heart were obtained in order to calculate the ratio of tumor counts to cardiac counts. The heart was chosen as the internal reference organ, as thallium uptake dynamics are reproducible under ordinary circumstances. The numerical estimation of thallium uptake in the brain tumor, expressed in terms of the tumor/cardiac index, correlated well with the clinical course in all five patients. By visual inspection, the initial computed tomographic (CT) and thallium images suggested that the tumors were approximately the same size. Follow-up thallium images were discordant with follow-up CT images. Computed tomography, in general, appeared to depict image alterations suggesting more extensive regrowth of tumor than the actual clinical status or thallium brain scans demonstrated. Histologic examination best correlated with thallium images. In one patient's course of imaging they were able to detect tumor recurrence, by means of thallium imaging, 4 months prior to its appearance on CT. When performed serially, the tumor/cardiac index may provide an estimate of residual tumor burden, which can help distinguish tumormore » recurrence from changes secondary to therapy.« less