cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hamiltonian trajectories and duality in the optimal control of linear systems with convex costs

A duality theorem is proved for problems of optimal control of linear dynamical systems in continuous time subject to linear constraints and convex costs, such as penalties. Optimality conditions are stated in terms of a “minimaximum principle” in which the primal and dual control vectors satisfy a saddle point condition at almost every instant of.time. This principle is shown to be equivalent to a generalized Hamiltonian differential equation in the primal and dual state variables, along with a transversality condition that likewise is in Hamiltonian form.
Cyclin D1 in Breast Cancer Pathogenesis

Taking a perspective on available evidence that emphasizes relevance to human disease, cyclin D1 is solidly established as an oncogene with an important pathogenetic role in breast cancer and other human tumors. However, the precise cellular mechanisms through which aberrant cyclin D1 expression drives human neoplasia are less well established. Indeed, emerging evidence suggests that cyclin D1 might act, predominantly or at least in part, through pathways that do not involve its widely accepted function as a cell cycle regulator. Although therapeutic exploitation of the role of cyclin D1 as a molecular driver of breast cancer carries great promise, it is also suggested that direct targeting of the cyclin D1 gene or gene products may prove more successful than approaches that rely on arguably incomplete knowledge of the oncogenic mechanisms of cyclin D1.
Continuous polymerization of caprolactam in a modular intermeshing corotating twin screw extruder integrated with continuous melt spinning of polyamide 6 fiber: Influence of screw design and process conditions

The continuous anionic polymerization of caprolactam to polyamide-6 in a modular, intermeshing, corotating twin screw extruder was investigated. Caprolactam was polymerized by anionic polymerization techniques under a range of processing conditions, including different screw configurations, temperature profiles, screw speeds, and throughputs. Studies were also made of melt spinning polyamide 6 into oriented filaments. The polyamide-6 melt spun filaments were characterized using birefringence and wide angle X-ray diffraction. Uniaxial stress measurements of the fibers were obtained and are reported. The results for the melt spun filaments compare favorably with the previous literature. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Priority-driven coding of progressive JPEG images for transmission in real-time applications

Since high-quality image/video systems based on the JPEG/MPEG compression standards often require power-expensive implementations at relatively high bit-rates, they have not been widely used in low-power wireless applications. To alleviate this problem, we designed, implemented, and evaluated a strategy that can adapt to different compression and transmission rates. (I) It gives important parts of an image higher priority over unimportant parts. Therefore, the high-priority parts can achieve high image quality, while the low-priority parts, with a slight sacrifice of quality, can achieve huge compression rate and thus save the power/energy of a low-power wireless system. (2) We also introduce a priority-driven scheduling approach into our coding algorithm, which makes the transmission of important parts earlier with more data than other parts. Through a balanced trade-off between the available time/bandwidth/power and the image quality, this adaptive strategy can satisfy users with desired images quality and lead to a significant reduction of the important parts' deadline misses.
Geomorphic predictors of riparian vegetation in small mountain watersheds

Aims Hydrogeomorphic processes operating at watershed, process zone and site scales influence the distribution of riparian vegetation. However, most studies examining the relationships between hydrogeomorphic processes and riparian vegetation are conducted at site scales. We quantified the relative importance of watershed, process zone and site geomorphic characteristics for predicting riparian plant community types and plant species abundances in four small mountain watersheds in central Nevada, USA. Methods We mapped riparian vegetation types and identified process zones (based on dominant geomorphic process and valley fill material) within the watersheds. We sampled sites in each combination of vegetation type and process zone (n = 184 sites) and collected data on watershed scale factors, valley and stream geomorphic characteristics and on plant cover of each geomorphic surface. Plant community types were defined by cluster and indicator species analyses of plant cover data, and related to geomorphic variables using ordination analysis (nonmetric multidimensional scaling). Linear mixed effects models were used to predict abundances of indicator species. Important Findings Variables describing position in the watershed (elevation, contributing area) that are related to gradients of temperature, moisture and stream discharge were of primary importance in predicting plant community types. Variables describing local geomorphic setting (valley width, stream gradient, channel sediments, geomor phic surface height) were of secondary importance, but accurately described the geomorphic setting of indicator species. The process zone classification did not include position in the watershed or channel characteristics and only predicted plant community types with unique geomorphic settings. In small mountain watersheds, predicting riparian vegetation distribution requires explicit consideration of scale and geomorphic context within and among water sheds in addition to site variables.
Psychosocial and behavioural contributors to health: Age-related increases in physical disability are reduced by physical fitness

The aging process is associated with increased risk for disease which can cause physical and economic burden for older adults. In a national longitudinal sample of 3910 participants aged 24–75 years (55% women), we examined psychosocial and behavioural factors associated with physical health in adulthood. With hierarchical regression analyses controlling for Time 1 values of the dependent variable and demographic characteristics, we found that participants reporting better social relations, a higher sense of control, a smaller waist circumference and greater physical activity at Time 1 reported better self-rated physical health (Adj. R 2 = 0.33, F (11, 3661) = 164.66, p < 0.001) and less physical disability (Adj. R 2 = 0.44, F (13, 3659) = 226.25, p < 0.001) 9 years later than their counterparts reported. Furthermore, significant interactions showed that smaller waist circumference and greater physical activity at Time 1 attenuated age-related increases in physical disability. Beneficial effects of physic...
Comparison of an Automated and Point-of-Care Immunoassay to GC-MS for Urine Oxycodone Testing in the Clinical Laboratory

OxyContin, a controlled-release formulation of oxycodone, is increasingly abused. Monitoring patient compliance by urine drug testing may deter illegal diversion of OxyContin. Two urine immunoassays were evaluated with a 100 ng/mL cutoff for oxycodone. The Microgenics Corporation Oxycodone DRI on the Bayer ADVIA 1650 and a point-of-care (POC) immunoassay, Monitect Oxycodone POC from Branan Medical Corporation, were compared to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with a detection limit of 50 ng/mL free oxycodone. Between-day precision for DRI yielded coefficients of variation from 3.9% to 7.0% at 75 and 125 ng/mL. Fifty-two positive and 52 negative urines were tested. The DRI had a 100% agreement with GC-MS. Two positive specimens had free oxycodone 100 ng/mL, were identified by GC-MS analysis. The POC assay had two false positives and 15 indeterminate (+/-) results. Codeine or hydrocodone was present in all but one of these samples. There was no interference with DRI from morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, dihydrocodeine, or 6-monoacetyl morphine. Four-hundred and ninety urine samples were subsequently tested with DRI to estimate the oxycodone-positive rate at our hospital, and 47 (9.4%) were positive. The confirmation rate with GC-MS for free oxycodone, not including metabolites, was 93%. The Microgenics DRI offers good performance for oxycodone urine testing and is a better choice for the clinical laboratory than the POC assay. Confirmation of screened positive samples requires a method that can detect total oxycodone and oxymorphone.
Neural-fuzzy controller for real-time mobile robot navigation

A neural integrated fuzzy controller (NiF-T), which integrates the fuzzy logic representation of human knowledge with the learning capability of neural networks, is developed for nonlinear dynamic control problems. The NiF-T architecture comprises three distinct parts: (1) fuzzy logic membership functions (FMF), (2) rule neural network (RNN), and (3) output-refinement neural network (ORNN). FMF are utilized to fuzzify input parameters. RNN interpolates the fuzzy rule set; after defuzzification, the output is used to train ORNN. The weights of the ORNN can be adjusted on-line to fine-tune the controller. NiF-T can be applied for a wide range of sensor-driven robotics applications, which are characterized by high noise levels and nonlinear behavior, and where system models are unavailable or are unreliable. In this paper, real-time implementations of autonomous mobile robot navigation utilizing the NiF-T are realized. Only five rules were used to train the wall following behavior, while nine were used for the hall centering. With learning capability, the robot, SMAR-T, successfully and reliably hugs wall, and locks onto hall center. For all of the described behaviors, their RNNs are trained only for a few hundred iterations and so are their ORNNs trained only for less than one hundred iterations to learn their parent rule sets.
ITDB: an attack self-healing database system prototype

The ITDB project addresses the following problem: How can we tolerate the successful attacks (or intrusions) into a database system in such a way that the database system can continue delivering essential services in the the face of attacks and damage? While traditional secure database systems rely on preventive controls, an ITDB system can detect intrusions, isolate attacks, contain, assess, and repair the damage caused by intrusions in a timely manner such that a self-stabilized level of database trustworthiness can be provided to applications. ITMB illustrates intrusion tolerance design principles in three ways: (1) using multiple intrusion tolerance phases to achieve defense-in-depth; (2) using isolation and multiphase damage containment to tolerate (or live with) a not so good intrusion detector; (2) on-the-fly self-healing transparent to applications.
Distribution of Methanogenic and Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria in Near-Shore Marine Sediments

The distribution of methanogenic and sulfate-reducing bacteria was examined in sediments from three sites off the coast of eastern Connecticut and five sites in Long Island Sound. Both bacterial groups were detected at all sites. Three distributional patterns were observed: (i) four sites exhibited methanogenic and sulfate-reducing populations which were restricted to the upper 10 to 20 cm, with a predominance of sulfate reducers; (ii) three sites in western Long Island Sound exhibited a methanogenic population most abundant in sediments deeper than those occupied by sulfate reducers; (iii) at one site that was influenced by fresh groundwater, methanogens and sulfate reducers were numerous within the same depths; however, the number of sulfate reducers varied vertically and temporally with sulfate concentrations. It was concluded that the distributions of abundant methanogenic and sulfate-reducing bacteria were mutually exclusive. Methanogenic enrichments yielded all genera of methanogens except Methanosarcina, with the methanobacteria predominating.
Computational Studies of Atmospheric-Pressure Methane–Hydrogen DC Micro Glow Discharges

Atmospheric-pressure methane-hydrogen micro glow discharges were computationally investigated using a 2-D hybrid model. The plasma model was solved simultaneously with a model for the external circuit. Simulations were conducted for a pin-to-plate electrode configuration with an interelectrode separation of 400 ?m. The spatiotemporal evolutions of electrons, species densities, electric field, and electron and gas temperatures were studied. A total of 81 reactions were considered, which included electron-neutral, electron-ion, ion-neutral, and neutral-neutral reactions. An 84-step reaction mechanism consisting of 15 surface species and four deposited bulk species was considered. A time-stepping technique was employed to address the time scales of plasma transport (in microseconds) and neutral and fluid transport (in milliseconds) in 2-D simulations with detailed volume and surface chemistry. The simulations indicated H3 + and CH5 + ions to be the most prominent hydrogen and hydrocarbon ions. The gas temperature predictions suggested the discharge to be operating as a nonthermal glow discharge. The effect of discharge current on both plasma and deposition characteristics was studied. The simulations predicted a flat voltage-current characteristic, indicating the discharge to be operating in normal glow mode. The predicted voltage-current characteristic was found to be in favorable agreement with the experimental measurements. With an increase in discharge current, the deposition rate profile expanded in the lateral direction, suggesting that deposition occurred at the cathode spot.
Pathway of Complex Formation between DNA and Three Subunits of CBF/NF-Y: PHOTOCROSS-LINKING ANALYSIS OF DNA-PROTEIN INTERACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF EQUILIBRIUM STEPS OF SUBUNIT INTERACTION AND DNA BINDING *

In this study, we used a photocross-linking method to identify specific contact of CCAAT-binding factor (CBF) subunits in a CBF-DNA complex. The analysis showed that all three subunits in the CBF-DNA complex were cross-linked to DNA and that CBF-B and CBF-C were cross-linked more strongly than CBF-A. None of the CBF-A and CBF-C subunits, which together formed a CBF-A/CBF-C heterodimer, were cross-linked without CBF-B; in contrast, CBF-B was cross-linked in the absence of CBF-A/CBF-C. No subunit of heterotrimeric CBF containing DNA-binding domain mutant of either CBF-B or CBF-C was cross-linked to DNA, and interestingly, cross-linking of CBF-B that occurred without CBF-A/CBF-C was inhibited in presence of mutant CBF-C/CBF-A heterodimer. Altogether, these results indicated that the specific DNA contact surface of each CBF subunit is generated as a result of interaction between CBF-B and CBF-A/CBF-C heterodimer and that the three CBF subunits interact interdependently with DNA to form a CBF-DNA complex. Equilibrium interactions among the three CBF subunits and between CBF subunits and DNA were studied by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. This showed that at equilibrium DNA-binding conditions, the CBF-A/CBF-C heterodimer is very stable, but association between CBF-B and CBF-A/CBF-C is very weak. The nature of the association of CBF-B with CBF-A/CBF-C was also revealed by studying the inhibition of CBF-DNA complex formation by the mutant CBF-B. This study indicated that the association between CBF-B and CBF-A/CBF-C is stabilized upon interaction with DNA, a process likely to favor formation of a high-affinity CBF-DNA complex.
A Political Economy of Aid

We model how the size of a leader's support coalition and government rev- enues aect trades between policy concessions and aid. We …nd that aid bene…ts donor and recipient leaders, while harming the recipient's, but not the donor's, citizenry. The willingness to grant policy concessions for aid depends on how easily leaders can reimburse supporters for their concession. As coalition size increases, incumbents rely more on public goods to reward supporters, making it di¢ cult to compensate for policy concessions. Small coalition leaders rely more on private goods to retain o¢ ce, making it easier for them to grant policy concessions for aid. Empirical tests of bilateral aid transfers by OECD nations between 1960 and 2001 support the predictions that 1) aid is given by wealthy, large coalition systems; 2) relatively poor, small coalition systems are most likely to get aid; but, 3) conditional on receiving aid,the amount increases as the recipient's coalition size, wealth and policy salience increase. Evidence sug- gests that OECD members have little humanitarian motivation for aid giving.
Visual System IV

The previous chapters focus on the retinogeniculostriate system, which mediates form and color vision. Retinal projections to other sites mediate other visually guided behaviors and ocular reflexes. The retinal projections to areas other than the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) are termed extrageniculostriate pathways, and include (1) the retinotectal pathway, (2) the retinopretectal pathway, (3) the retinal projections to the pregeniculate nucleus, (4) the retinohypothalamic pathway, and (5) the retinal projections to the accessory optic nucleus. The organization of these pathways in comparison to the geniculostriate pathway is schematically illustrated in Figure 21.1, and the organization of the different extrageniculate pathways is summarized in Table 21.1.
Hydroxyl Radical Inhibits Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-ATPase Function by Direct Attack on the ATP Binding Site

Oxygen-derived free radicals have been reported to damage the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+)-ATPase, potentially contributing to cellular Ca2+ overload and myocardial damage after ischemia and reperfusion. To determine whether the ATP binding site on Ca(2+)-ATPase is involved in oxygen radical injury, SR vesicles containing bound Ca(2+)-ATPase were isolated from rabbit cardiac and skeletal muscle and exposed to a hydroxyl radical (.OH)-generating system consisting of H2O2 and Fe(3+)-nitrilotriacetic acid in amounts that generate a magnitude of .OH similar to that which occurs in the reperfused heart. .OH exposure completely inhibited Ca(2+)-ATPase activity and SR 45Ca uptake for both cardiac and skeletal muscle. In contrast, when the purified vesicles were premixed with 1 mmol/L ATP before exposure to .OH, complete protection was observed: there was no loss of ATPase activity or 45Ca transport. No significant protection occurred with adenosine, sucrose, AMP, or ADP (1 mmol/L each). SDS-gel electrophoresis indicated that .OH did not damage the primary structure of the enzyme. Electron paramagnetic resonance spin-trapping experiments demonstrated that ATP did not scavenge .OH. These results suggest that .OH denatures the SR Ca(2+)-ATPase by directly attacking the ATP binding site, and occupation of the active site by ATP protects against .OH-induced loss of enzymatic activity and SR Ca2+ transport. The depletion of ATP that occurs during ischemia may enhance the toxic effect of .OH at the time of reperfusion.
Hyperinfectivity: A Critical Element in the Ability of V. cholerae to Cause Epidemics?

Background Cholera is an ancient disease that continues to cause epidemic and pandemic disease despite ongoing efforts to limit its spread. Mathematical models provide one means of assessing the utility of various proposed interventions. However, cholera models that have been developed to date have had limitations, suggesting that there are basic elements of cholera transmission that we still do not understand. Methods and Findings Recent laboratory findings suggest that passage of Vibrio cholerae O1 Inaba El Tor through the gastrointestinal tract results in a short-lived, hyperinfectious state of the organism that decays in a matter of hours into a state of lower infectiousness. Incorporation of this hyperinfectious state into our disease model provides a much better fit with the observed epidemic pattern of cholera. These findings help to substantiate the clinical relevance of laboratory observations regarding the hyperinfectious state, and underscore the critical importance of human-to-human versus environment-to-human transmission in the generation of epidemic and pandemic disease.
Stolen twin: fascination and curiosity/twin research reports: evolution of sleep length; dental treatment of craniopagus twins; cryopreserved double embryo transfer; gender options in multiple pregnancy/current events: appendectomy in one twin; autistic twin marathon runners; 3D facial recognition; twin biathletes.

The story of her allegedly stolen twin brother in Armenia is recounted by a ‘singleton twin’ living in the United States. The behavioral consequences and societal implications of this loss are considered. This case is followed by twin research reports on the evolution of sleep length, dental treatment of craniopagus conjoined twins, cryopreserved double embryo transfer (DET), and gender options in multiple pregnancy. Current events include the diagnosis of appendectomy in one identical twin, the accomplishments of autistic twin marathon runners, the power of three-dimensional (3D) facial recognition, and the goals of twin biathletes heading to the 2014 Sochi Olympics in Russia.
Mirnas as cancer biomarkers

In this chapter we discuss the attributes of a good cancer biomarker, and more specifically the attributes of a good micro (mi)RNA biomarker for cancer. In discussing miRNAs biomarkers in different cancers, we (1) provide evidence supporting the potential use of circulating (serum and plasma), urinary, salivary, and pleural effusion miRNAs as diagnostic markers, (2) discuss the advantages of their use, and (3) address challenges (e.g., validation of cancer biomarkers) and possible solutions in their assessment as biomarkers for clinical application.
Eurozone Bank Crisis & Federalism

The laggards of the Eurozone pose a novel economic and legal issue. Whereas the Eurozone sorely needs growth in the PIRGS, neither conventional Keynesian stimulus nor devaluations are likely to be productive. This essay proposes that growth be rekindled by forced over-recapitalization of the laggards’ private banks. This will generate local growth while circumventing inefficient national governments and without starting an inflation spiral or additional bureaucracy. The danger is that the proposal leaves open the possibility that member states can take advantage of their banks which implies the Eurozone needs to revisit its approach to federalism, to help which the paper juxtaposes the development of US bank federalism.
Relationship between colicin V activity and virulence in Escherichia coli.

Colicin V activity is not essential to ColV plasmid-mediated virulence enhancement in Escherichia coli.
Chemoselective Oxidation of Polyols with Chiral Palladium Catalysts

Chiral palladium-based catalysts derived from pyridinyl oxazoline (pyOx) ligands catalyze the oxidation of alcohols, including 1,2-diols, triols, and tetraols, with high regio- and chemoselectivity. Screening of various chiral oxazoline-derived ligands for the oxidation of a model diol, 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD), revealed that the nature of the ligand had a significant influence on the activity and chemoselectivity for oxidation of vicinal diols. The PyOx ligands containing an α-methyl substituent were the most active for the oxidation of 1,2-PD using benzoquinone as the terminal oxidant. Oxidation of vicinal diols and polyols occurs selectively at the secondary alcohol to afford α-hydroxy ketones in isolated yields of 62–87%. Chemoselective oxidation of meso-erythritol with the chiral [(S)-(α-Me(tert-Bu)PyOx)Pd(OAc)]2[OTf]2 afforded (S)-erthyrulose in 62% yield and 24% ee.
Beyond macroprudential regulation: Three ways of thinking about financial crisis, regulation and reform

This paper considers the debate about the ‘macroprudential regulation’ of finance in the context of a broader view of the relation of finance to the real economy. Five ideas are central to the argument. The first idea is that the two dominant families of ideas about finance and its regulation share a failure of institutional imagination. Neoclassical economists blame localized market and regulatory failures for the troubles of finance. Keynesians invoke the way in which the money economy may amplify cycles of despondency and euphoria. Neither current of thought recognizes that the institutions of finance in particular, and of the market economy in general, can take different forms, with different consequences for the organization of production and exchange as well as for distribution. The second idea is that, under present arrangements, finance readily becomes the master rather than the servant of the real economy and lays itself open to recurrent booms and busts. The third idea is that present arrangements can be reformed in ways that more effectively put finance at the service of the productive agenda of society. The fourth idea is that the regulation of finance, including what we now call macroprudential regulation, can and should be designed as initial moves in such an institutional reshaping. The fifth idea is that neoclassical and Keynesian conceptions are inadequate guides to the execution of this task. We can find in law and legal thought many of the intellectual and practical tools that we need. Policy Implications • Macroprudential regulation should be seen as the first step in the institutional reshaping of the financial system. The central principle of macroprudential regulation should be to hold finance to its central task of serving the productive agenda of society. • Regulatory reform, operating at both the national and the supranational level, should incorporate the following elements: (1) repudiation of regulatory dualism; (2) heightened scrutiny of certain classes of financial transactions lacking in any plausible relation to the expansion of GDP and the enhancement of productivity; and (3) a series of international and multilateral rules giving pride of place to all forms of investment in the real economy, and providing restrictive treatment for short term portfolio capital. • Comparative law and legal analysis, viewed as the study of actual and potential institutional set ups for different areas of social practice, including the area of finance, has a crucial role to play in expanding our understanding and imagination of alternative institutional strategies of reform.
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements for Chronic Epilepsy

Omega-3 fatty acid (FA) supplements (lg EPA and 0.7g DHA daily) were used in the treatment of 58 patients with refractory epilepsy, in a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted by researchers at the UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
The Utilization of Oligosaccharides by Some Species of Ceratocystis

Albritton's (1953) summary of the sugars utilized by fungi for growth shows that fewer species utilize lactose, maltose, sucrose, and raffinose than utilize the monosaccharides (glucose, fructose, and galactose) which these oligosaccharides yield on hydrolysis. If fungi hydrolyze oligosaccharides before utilizing the constituent monosaccharides, the nutrient solution would be expected to contain a mixture of sugars during a part of the period of incubation. Mixtures of sugars may support more rapid, or extensive, growth than equivalent amounts of the individual sugars comprising the mixture (Horr, 1936; Lilly and Barnett, 1953; Waters et al., 1953; Johnson and Johan, 1954; and Lilly and Barnett, 1956). Certain sugars appear to be utilized only if a second sugar or other source of carbon is also present (Waters et al., 1953; Sistrom and Machlis, 1955; and Machlis, 1957). Some species synthesize new oligosaccharides when cultured on media which contain disaccharides. An extensive literature on oligosaccharide synthesis by fungi has been published since 1950 when Bacon and Edelman (1950) and Blanchard and Albon (1950) reported that yeast invertase produced oligosaccharides as well as glucose and fructose during the hydrolysis of sucrose. The following fungi, among others, have been reported to synthesize exocellular oligosaccharides from certain disaccharides: Aspergillus and Rhizopus species (Aso and Shibasaki, 1953) ; A. oryzae (Wallenfels, 1951) ; Saccharomyces fragilis (Roberts and McFarren, 1953); Myrothecium verrucaria (Crook and Stone, 1953) ; Penicillium roqueforti (Kurasawa et al., 1953) ; P. chrysogenum (Giri et al., 1953) ; and P. spinulosum (Bealing and Bacon, 1953). The ability of certain species to synthesize exocellular poly-
Induction of Hypothermia by Dimethyl Sulfoxide in Rats Exposed to Gold Tissue and Enzyme Changes.

SummaryTopical and intraperitoneal treatment of rats with DMSO produced a 1 to 2°C drop in body temperature in 5 hours at 23°C; however, those treated topically showed an early transient rise of as...
Continued use oxygen system of dampen devices in patients with altificial airuay

Objective to study the artificial airway in patients with wet process,continued use oxygen system with dampen device effect.Method The trachea random disposable tracheal sleeve tube into the set for patients with oxygen,divided into experimental group(group A) 46 patients,which use moist oxygen therapy device system and control group(group B) with 48 cases which put oxygen tubes directly into the artificial gas canal,gas canal caveved with and use the wet gauze continuous injector to drip into.Through two different airway dampen,methods,the contrast between two methods of phlegm formed scab phlegm thick,respiratory infections nursing working hours.Results The patients who used oxygen system with dampen have less chance to have respiratory infections compaired with the patients who used injector to drip.And Aloso,it reduced the nursing work and time.Conclusion Continuous moist artificial airway has a remarkable effect on nuring the artificial airway.
The future of the physician assistant movement.

Two phenomena are shaping physician assistants and their futures: change in human societies and change in health care delivery.
The metabolism and excretion of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the rat.

Abstract THE AVAILABILITY of synthetic Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychotomimetic component of marihuana has stimulated the investigation of its behavioral effects and pharmacological actions. Recent reports have described the excretion of THC (1,2), the formation of the 11-hydroxy metabolite of THC by liver microsomes (3,4) and its excretion in urine (5). The present studies were undertaken to further investigate the fundamental aspects of the fate of THC in rats. These studies have confirmed the findings of Agurell et al , that in rats THC is excreted almost completely in feces as more polar metabolites. Moreover, evidence is presented which shows that THC disappears from the tissues of rats in a biphasic fashion. That is, immediately after its administration the levels of THC in rats decline very rapidly; after several hours, however, the compound disappears with a long half-life which resembles the rate of excretion of metabolites in urine and feces. Moreover, it appears that neither the hepatic metabolism nor excretion in bile are limiting factors in the excretion of metabolites of THC in feces. The rate of excretion of these compounds is probably determined by their rate of movement down the intestine possibly combined with an enterohepatic circulation.
Long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste: strategies and implications for package design

Abstract Storage of radioactive materials must be done in a safe and secure manner. The varied physical characteristics of these materials, coupled with unique chemical and radioactive attributes, require isolation and containment to protect both the environment and human health. Although all radioactive materials used in commercial, medical, and industrial applications require special care in storage, this chapter will focus on the storage of spent fuel from light-water reactors. Spent fuel is particularly hazardous, is hazardous for centuries, and is spotlighted as the point in the commercial nuclear fuel cycle with expected long-term operations with an unclear disposition pathway. This is because no nation in the world has yet to open and operate a spent-fuel repository. The longer that nuclear nations delay in building repositories for spent fuel, the more it continues to be placed in long-term storage awaiting final disposition decisions. Because the industry and nuclear nations have not solved the spent-fuel issue, it serves as an argument for limiting or ceasing expansion of nuclear power. This chapter will discuss current spent-fuel storage systems, implications of these systems, and trends that are taking shape for the near future as spent fuel is stored for longer periods.
Inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Solid Tumors

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway plays an integral role in many cellular processes and is frequently altered in cancer, contributing to tumor growth and survival. Small molecule inhibitors have been developed that target the three major nodes of this pathway: PI3K, AKT, and mammalian target of rapamycin. However, because oncogenic PI3K pathway activation is achieved in diverse, potentially redundant ways, the clinical efficacy of these inhibitors as monotherapies has, so far, been limited, despite demonstrating promising preclinical activity. Moreover, pathway activation is associated with resistance to other therapies; thus, in combination, PI3K pathway inhibitors could restore therapeutic sensitivity to these agents. To maximize therapeutic benefit, drug combinations and schedules must be explored to identify those with the highest efficacy and lowest toxicity overlap. In addition, defining appropriate patient subpopulations, for both monotherapy and drug combinations, will be important. However, identifying predictive biomarkers remains a challenge.
A randomized controlled trial assessing the use of ultrasound for nurse-performed IV placement in difficult access ED patients.

Objective This study analyzed outcomes associated with nurse-performed ultrasound (US)-guided intravenous (IV) placement compared to standard of care (SOC) palpation IV technique on poor vascular access patients. Methods This was a randomized, prospective single-site study. Phase 1 involved education/training of a cohort of nurses to perform US-guided IVs. This consisted of a didactic module and hands-on requirement of 10 proctored functional IVs on live subjects. Phase 2 involved patient enrollment. emergency department patients meeting strict criteria of poor access were randomized to US-guided or SOC palpation arm. A functional IV placed by a study nurse was considered successful. Unsuccessful placement implied the study nurse failed, and a rescue IV was attempted. Time to IV placement was the total time required to obtain a functional IV and, if needed, a rescue IV. Results A total of 124 subjects were enrolled; 63 were randomized to the US-guided arm, and 61 were randomized into the SOC arm; 2 patients were excluded, leaving 59 patients. Success rate was 76% for the US-guided arm and 56% for the SOC arm (P=.02). Compared to the SOC arm, the odds ratio for success for the US-guided arm was 2.52 (95% confidence interval, 1.09-5.92). The mean time to IV placement for the US-guided arm was 15.8 and 20.7 minutes for the SOC arm (P=.75). Conclusion In difficult access patients, nurses were more successful in obtaining IV access using US guidance than palpation SOC technique. Lengthier placement times were observed more frequently when the SOC IV technique was used.
Traveling electromagnetic waves on linear metallic nanosphere arrays

In a recent report [1] we have employed the source scattering-matrix formulation [2] with vector spherical wave functions [3]–[4] to investigate traveling electromagnetic waves on infinite linear periodic arrays of lossless penetrable (magnetodielectric) spheres. It is assumed that either the spheres are sufficiently small that only the dipole scattered fields can be excited, or the frequency is such that all the scattered multipole fields are negligible except the dipole fields. Accordingly, the sphere scattering is treated using only electric and magnetic dipole vector spherical waves, the dipoles being orthogonal to each other and to the array axis. A summary of this work was presented at a recent conference [5]. Although our investigation was motivated in part by the recent theoretical demonstration by Holloway et al. [6] that a doubly negative medium can be formed by embedding an array of magnetodielectric spheres in a background matrix, the results are equally applicable to arrays of lossless “metallic” spheres, with negative relative permittivity and with relative permeability equal to one, excited by an electromagnetic field transverse to the array axis.
Adaptive wavelet-enriched hierarchical finite element model for polycrystalline microstructures

Abstract This paper proposes an adaptive, wavelet-enriched hierarchical finite element model (FEM) to enhance computational efficiency and solution accuracy for heterogeneous domains of anisotropic elastic materials. It is motivated by the need to overcome shortcomings of conventional methods like the standard FEM or fast Fourier transformation (FFT) based method for analyzing deformation in large polycrystalline microstructures. The multi-resolution wavelet functions are advantageous for selection of an optimal set of functions that can adaptively enrich the solution space with a prescribed level of accuracy. The proposed method introduces a discretization space that conforms to the profile of the solution sought. The method engages a second generation family of wavelets with a lifting scheme to generate hierarchical interpolation functions. An iterative algorithm efficiently calculates estimates of the solution from the previous iterate using a modified Jacobi method. The adaptive FE method performs significantly better than uniformly refined FEM in validation tests with focus on the convergence rate and error mitigation. A polycrystalline microstructure with elastically anisotropic grains is simulated by the adaptive wavelet-enriched hierarchical method, showing high convergence rates.
Factors associated with nonpayment behavior in the water sector of Nicaragua

Abstract Nonpayment behavior by consumers may jeopardize the financial sustainability of water utilities. Yet, little is known about factors underlying nonpayment behavior. This paper identifies determinants of nonpayment in Nicaragua using negative binomial regression models that account for overdispersion in the number of outstanding payments of water bills. We found that the average household had 37 outstanding monthly payments. Nonpayment was found to be inversely associated with consumer satisfaction with the current quality of water service and household income. However, nonpayment was found to be disassociated from the perceived consequentiality of not paying water bills on time. Policy implications are discussed.
Instantaneous variance scaling of AIRS profiles using a circular area Monte Carlo approach

Satellite observations are used to study the variance scaling of temperature and water vapor in the atmosphere. A high resolution of 13.5 km at nadir, instead of 45 km as in previous Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) studies, enables the derivation of the variance-scaling exponents down to length scales of ~ 55 km.With the variable-size circular area Monte Carlo approach the exponents can be computed instantaneously along the track of Aqua, which gives more insight into the scaling behavior of the atmospheric variables in individual Level 2 satellite granules. Scaling exponents are shown to fluctuate heavily between β = −1 and β = −3 at the larger scales, while at the smaller scales they are often closer to β = −2, and they decrease a bit for moisture at the smallest scales that are considered. Outside the tropics, the temperature large-scale variance-scaling exponent is often close to −3 due to large temperature slopes that are present along the track of Aqua, likely as a result of geostrophic turbulence. Around the tropics, this exponent is often closer to −1, because the tropical atmosphere is dominated by smaller-scale processes such as moist convection, leading to an observable reverse scale break. In contrast, water vapor is shown to have large-scale exponents often close to −3 around the tropics, because there, large-scale water vapor slopes are common along the Aqua track. Furthermore, the scale-break length scale turns out to be highly variable and shows a large spread. The presented variance-scaling results are of importance for cloud parameterization purposes.
Investigating the relationship between optimism and stress responses: A biopsychosocial perspective

Abstract We investigated the relationship between optimism and psychological, behavioral, and psychophysiological stress responses. We expected that optimism would relate to challenge appraisals, more positive and less negative affect, better performance, and challenge physiological patterns. 153 participants reported their stressor appraisals and state affect regarding an impending stressor. Performance and cardiovascular reactivity were measured during the stressor. We replicated past research showing that challenge appraisals predict more positive and less negative affect, better performance, and cardiovascular reactivity. We extend past research showing that optimism predicts challenge appraisals and less negative affect, but not positive affect, performance, or cardiovascular reactivity. This research revealed some psychological benefits of optimism for acute stressors, which have also been found for chronic stressors.
Advances in Radiotracer Development for Molecular Imaging

Molecular imaging is currently defined by the society of nuclear medicine as the visualization, characterization and measurement of biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels in humans and other living systems [1]. Historically, molecular imaging can be traced back to France in 1896, when Henri Becquerel discovered that certain materials emitted energetic “rays”, a physical process that called radioactive decay later [2]. In 1950s, Michel Ter-Pogossian and his colleagues conducted some pioneering molecular imaging studies in the determination of oxygen content in malignant neoplasms by using 15O-labeled gas mixture. Later, based on 15O-labeled radiopharmaceuticals, Ter-Pogossian et al developed quantitative in vivo tracer techniques and carried out a series of brain imaging studies such as the first quantitative measurements of regional brain oxygen consumption in human etc [3, 4].
Possible Approaches to Controlling the IgE Antibody Response

It is clear that IL-4 induces the switching of resting B cells to the precursors of IgE-forming cells, and that IFNγ counteracted with IL-4 in the process. Indeed, anti-IL-4 and IFNγ inhibited the IgE formation both in vitro and in vivo. However, the quantity of the antibody or IFNγ required for the suppression of the in vivo IgE synthesis is too much for clinical applications. Another approach for the suppression of IgE antibody response is antigen-specific regulation. We have established an immunological maneuver for the generation of antigen-specific suppressor T cells in vitro from the antigen-primed T cell population. T cell hybridomas constructed from the suppressor T cells produced antigen-specific suppressor T cell factors upon antigenic stimulation or crosslinking of T cell receptors, and this factor suppressed the IgE antibody response in the donors of the T cells in a carrier (antigen)-specific manner.
Genetic Disorders in Libya

Libya is a Mediterranean North African country (Fig. 14.1). The country stretches along the northeast coast of Africa between Tunisia and Algeria on the west and Egypt on the east; to the south are Sudan, Chad, and Niger. Libya’s coastline is about 1,770 km with an estimated surface area of 1,775,500 km2. About 93% of the land is desert or semi-desert. Tripoli (the capital) is the country’s major city.
Time and Its Measures

Probably not too many physicists and philosophers of science would disagree with Wolfgang Rindler’s judgement that with the development of SR Einstein took the step that would “destroy the classical concept of time.”1 But what is or was the classical concept of time, and how did Einstein’s critique render it untenable? In order to answer those questions, we need to recur to the fountainhead of the classical concept of time: Isaac Newton and his Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica.
Relationship Between Foveal Cone Structure and Visual Acuity Measured With Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy in Retinal Degeneration.

Author(s): Foote, Katharina G; Loumou, Panagiota; Griffin, Shane; Qin, Jia; Ratnam, Kavitha; Porco, Travis C; Roorda, Austin; Duncan, Jacque L | Abstract: PurposeTo evaluate foveal function in patients with inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) by measuring visual acuity (VA) after correction of higher-order aberrations.MethodsAdaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) was used to image cones in 4 healthy subjects and 15 patients with IRD. The 840-nm scanning laser delivered an "E" optotype to measure AOSLO-mediated VA (AOSLO-VA). Cone spacing was measured at the preferred retinal locus by two independent graders and the percentage of cones below the average density of 47 age-similar healthy subjects was computed. Cone spacing was correlated with best-corrected VA measured with the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocol (ETDRS-VA), AOSLO-VA, and foveal sensitivity.ResultsETDRS-VA significantly correlated with AOSLO-VA (ρ = 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5-0.9). Cone spacing correlated with AOSLO-VA (ρ = 0.54, 95% CI 0.02-0.7), and negatively correlated with ETDRS letters read (ρ = -0.64, 95% CI -0.8 to -0.2). AOSLO-VA remained ≥20/20 until cones decreased to 40.2% (CI 31.1-45.5) below normal. Similarly, ETDRS-VA remained ≥20/20 until cones were 42.0% (95% CI 36.5-46.1) below normal. Cone spacing z scores negatively correlated with foveal sensitivity (ρ = -0.79, 95% CI -0.9 to -0.4) and foveal sensitivity was ≥35 dB until cones were 43.1% (95% CI 39.3-46.6) below average.ConclusionsVA and foveal cone spacing were weakly correlated until cones were reduced by 40% to 43% below normal. The relationship suggests that VA is an insensitive measure of foveal cone survival; cone spacing may be a more sensitive measure of cone loss.