cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 21301: Effect of Chest Compression Parameter Variation on Waveform Characteristics of the Ventricular Fibrillation Electrocardiogram

Introduction: The ventricular fibrillation (VF) electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform is known to deteriorate over time if untreated, recover with CPR, and to predict defibrillation success. VF ECG measures could inform CPR quality feedback algorithms based on patient physiologic response. Objectives: Investigate the effects of chest compression parameters (rate, depth and duty cycle (DC)) on VF ECG waveform characteristics in a swine cardiac arrest model. Methods: Twelve mixed-breed domestic swine were sedated, anesthetized and paralyzed, followed by endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Animals were instrumented with a battery of physiological sensors, including multi-lead ECG, recorded continuously with a high-fidelity data acquisition unit at 1000Hz. VF was induced with a 3-second 100mA transthoracic shock. After 7 minutes, animals were randomized to receive continuous CPR with a custom robotic device using 1 of 6 pre-programmed, cross-over 2-phase CPR schemes that varied 1 parameter in 5 x 1-minute intervals per phase while holding the other 2 parameters fixed. Frequency (AMSA) and slope-based (MS) quantitative ECG characteristics of the ECG were calculated at the end of each 1-minute interval and compared between rate, depth and DC schemes, as well as experimental phases. Correlations between CPR parameter settings and ECG characteristics were calculated. Results: Compression rate showed a low-to-moderate correlation (0.454) with change in MS in Phase I, however neither DC nor depth showed a correlation with either AMSA or MS. In ANOVA models, MS differed between CPR groups at the end of Phase I (p = 0.046) but not AMSA, suggesting similar response of quantitative ECG measures after extended time intervals. Conclusions: In this study only chest compression rate in early phase CPR appeared to be related to quantitative characteristics of the VF ECG. Rate may be important clinically in the early phase of CPR.
Adaptive Leader Following in Networks of Discrete-Time Dynamical Systems: Algorithms and Global Convergence Analysis

Most of the results on adaptive leader following in multiagent systems pertain to continuous-time agent dynamics. It is implicitly presumed that the information flow among agents is continuous and infinitely fast. Since in the discrete-time setting, there no need for this assumption, it is of interest to develop adaptive methods for leader-follower synchronization in networks of discrete-time dynamical systems. There main challenges are as follows: 1) in general, the sample values of the leader's trajectory arrive at each agent with different delays; 2) since the received leader's trajectory samples do not carry the imprint of a leader, and are immersed in the state values of respective neighbors, agents do not have explicit knowledge of the leader's samples; and 3) the uncertainty in the agent dynamics calls for an appropriate adaptive rule for generating interagent coupling gains. This paper considers unknown linear agent dynamics of general order and arbitrary leader's trajectory, on a directed graph topology. Two novel distributed algorithms are proposed for both cases of known and unknown control directions. It is proven that all agents synchronize to the leader's trajectory, the tracking error is an $l_2$ sequence, the input signals remain bounded, and the parameter estimates are convergent sequences.
Enchanted Music, Enchanted Modernity: Theosophy, Maud MacCarthy, and John Foulds

ABSTRACTRecent scholarship, especially the works of Gauri Viswanathan, Alex Owen, and Joy Dixon, has established the wide-ranging influence and importance of the Theosophical Society to early twent...
The Steady-State (Static) Solution of the Aeroelastic Equation

In this chapter we specialize to the time-invariant version of the aeroelastic equations of Chap. 3 where we set all the time derivatives to zero and there is no input. It is called the static solution in that there is no change with time. It is of interest on its own—it is in fact central to the study of stability—but it also serves to illustrate the solution techniques used for the general case in Chap. 6.
Strategies for increasing adherence to clinical guidelines and improving patient outcomes in small primary care practices.

Article-at-a-Glance Background The best way to get research findings into practice needs to be determined, particularly in small practices. The Practice Partner Research Network (PPRNet) is a nationwide practice-based research network of small primary care practices that use the same electronic medical record (EMR). Between 2000–2003 the PPRNet Translating Research into Practice (TRIP) project tested a multimethod intervention to help practices improve primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Intervention sites each hosted six to seven site visits and participated in two annual network meetings during the two-year intervention period. A model describing practice-based improvement strategies was validated using prospective data from 10 intervention and 9 control sites. Results The model consisted of five categories of improvement strategies: Prioritize Performance, Involve All Staff, Redesign Delivery Systems, Activate Patients, and Use EMR Tools. PPRNet-TRIP intervention practices used more of the model items than did controls (69% versus 48%, p = .053), as did high-performing practices versus mid-range or low performers (81% versus 39% versus 46%, p = .001). Conclusion The PPRNet-TRIP Improvement Model might guide small practices in their efforts to translate research into practice and improve care outcomes.
99 – Successful Aging

The concept of successful aging is particularly important for women. Women have a longer life expectancy than men do, but they tend to spend a larger proportion of their old age living with disability. Therefore, interventions to promote successful aging among women have the potential to affect public health substantially by enhancing physical functioning and quality of life among the increasing number of older women. There are no strict criteria for classifying a person as a successful ager; successful aging is a general term used to describe an older person who functions well across multiple domains. Unfortunately, there is no universally accepted tool to measure successful aging, such as a successful aging scale or a successful aging test. Researchers tend to infer that an older woman is aging successfully if she lacks evidence of physical, cognitive, or psychological impairment. Although successful aging is more than merely the absence of measurable impairment, most existing measures of successful aging tend to assess impairment across multiple domains and use this information to draw conclusions about successful aging. Measures of successful aging typically include objective and subjective indicators of physical and cognitive functioning.
The Influence of Environmental Pressures, Diversification Strategy, and Union/Nonunion Setting on Employee Participation

This study tests the hypotheses that environment, diversification strategy, and union/nonunion setting affect the number and variety of employee participation programs. A survey of large U.S. manufacturing firms measured the implementation of employee participation programs. Regression results suggest that environmental pressures exert a direct effect on participation in union settings. However, in nonunion settings, environment and diversification strategy both correlated directly with participation. These results suggest that unions could potentially affect participation program implementation.
Substantial Reduction in Driveline Infection Rates With the Modification of Driveline Dressing Protocol.

ABSTRACT Background Driveline infection (DLI) is a cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs). We hypothesized that an alternate dressing protocol would decrease the rate of DLIs. Methods and Results A retrospective review of CF-LVAD implants at a single institution from January 2010 to October 2015 was conducted. Patients were divided into implants before (group 1) and after (group 2) the introduction of the new protocol on September 1, 2012. Patients were followed until death, transplantation, change in dressing type, or 2 years. 153 patients were included: 61 in group 1 and 92 in group 2. Group 1 had fewer HVADs than group 2 (27.9% vs 71.7%; P Conclusions Dramatic improvement in freedom from DLI at 2 years was achieved with a new driveline dressing protocol. This demonstrates that DLI rates can be improved with alternate percutaneous site care techniques in CF-LVAD patients.
Making Market for Correlated Assets

I show that if more than one assets are correlated with a traded factor, then under certain conditions, an informed trader can make superior profits or reveal less information if she trades a combination of these correlated assets to gain exposure to the factor. Information sharing by market makers in correlated assets is thus necessary to level the playing field. The result holds for both risk neutral and risk averse investors.
Disparities associated with the receipt of palliative care in patients with metastatic gastric cancer.

28Background: Metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma (mGA) is frequently associated with debilitating symptoms that negatively impact quality of life. We aim to determine the rate of palliative care (PC...
Nickel-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov hydroarylation of alkenes

We have developed a nickel-catalyzed hydroarylation of alkenes using aryl halides as coupling partners. Excellent anti-Markovnikov selectivity is achieved with aryl-substituted alkenes and enol ethers. We also show that hydroarylation occurs with alkyl substituted alkenes to yield linear products. Preliminary examination of the reaction mechanism suggests irreversible hydrometallation as the selectivity determining step of the hydroarylation.
Electronic and vibrational properties of van der Waals heterostructures of vertically stacked few-layer atomically thin MoS2 and BP

Abstract The state-of-the-art heterostructure-based devices often involve stacks of epilayers of few nanometer thick crystals. However, the ultimate limit would be a hitherto single-atomic-layer structure. Using material-by-design approach, the flexibility of two-dimensional (2D) materials could be explored to develop a multilayered artificial van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure where the synergistic coupling between the individual materials and the underlying interface creates new and novel functionalities. Herein, based on first-principles calculations, we report that vertically stacked few-layer vdW heterostructure of monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and hexagonal boron phosphide (BP) is a strong electrically narrow direct bandgap material. More intriguingly, few-layer vdW heterostructure of monolayer MoS2 and BP exhibits superior mechanical properties. In striking contrast to heterostructures of MoS2/graphene, MoS2/WS2, and few-layer graphene, where the 2D moduli are lower than the sum of the 2D modulus of each nanosheet, the mechanical strength of few-layer hybrid vdW heterostructure of monolayer MoS2 and BP rather increased with increasing thickness. We attribute this difference to the unique interlayer and interface coupling, which affected the vibrational properties of the heterostructures including the emergence of shear and breathing phonon modes as well as the transformation of flexural phonon modes. Such superior mechanical properties could be explored for nanoelectromechanical device applications, e.g., as a nanoresonator. We demonstrate that the electronic structure could as well be tuned with both increasing numbers of monolayer stacks and defect-engineering promising for low-power applications.
The variability of South Korean temperature associated with climate indicators

Examining the physical mechanisms through which large-scale climate indicators, e.g., El Nino–Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole, affect hydroclimatic variables in the tropics and extratropics is a forefront scientific challenge. We examined climatic teleconnections between large-scale climate indices and temperature variability over South Korea. To do this, we calculated not only leading patterns of observed monthly mean and extreme temperature through an empirical orthogonal teleconnection (EOT) decomposition technique but also statistical correlations on a monthly basis using cross-correlation and lag regression analyses for the leading modes and global atmospheric circulation dataset. As a result, the spatial pattern of the leading EOT modes for mean (extreme high) temperature represents an eastern (southern) coastal mode for boreal summer and a northern (middle) inland mode in boreal winter, while extreme low EOTs exhibit a northern inland mode in summer and a western coastal mode in winter. The temporal evolution of the leading EOT modes exhibits a mostly increasing trend and an interdecadal oscillation. The leading EOT modes of mean temperature explain more variance than those of extreme temperature during warm and cold seasons. The findings from this study illustrate that tropical ENSO forcing has a coherent association with August and December temperature patterns, while the Indian Ocean Dipole is identified as a driver for temperature variability during fall season. The monsoon circulation over the western North Pacific also exhibits a significant negative correlation with the December temperature EOTs. The leading EOTs for October temperature exhibit the positive correlation with the tropical cyclone variability, while the leading EOTs for mean and extreme high temperature exhibit significant negative correlations with the snow depth over northeastern Eurasia in November. The leading patterns of the August and December mean temperature time series are predictable at up to 5-month lead time from the tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs), while a predictable response from Indian Ocean SSTs was detected at up to 4-month lead time.
Synthetic MMT: Old Line Keynesianism with an Expansionary Twist

Expansionary macroeconomic policy with a strong redistributive component is an attractive proposition, most recently launched on the basis of Modern Monetary Theory or MMT. The Theory is a synthesis of familiar ideas, newly relevant but scarcely path-breaking. Its basics \'96 Chartalist or fiat money, functional finance, and models based on consistent national accounting \'96 come straight from Maynard Keynes, Abba Lerner, and Wynne Godley. Functional finance is the heart of fiscalist Keynesianism built upon automatic stabilizers for the business cycle. MMT'92s job guarantee proposal is one more stabilizer which could be a modest helpful supplement to the system which exists. National accounting comparisons of a possible MMT package with the 2008 crash and the Trump tax cut are presented with emphasis on autonomous shifts in demand. The package could have problems with debt sustainability and external balance. Inflation is unlikely if wage repression in the USA is not reversed. But strong wage increases are presumably a goal of MMT.
Investigation on nickel contamination of food and potential health risk of dietary nickel in Shaanxi Province

Objective To understand the content level of nickel in all kinds of foods, and to assess the daily intake of nickel and the possible adverse health impact. Methods Statistical analysis of the nickel contents of 1872 samples. The dietary intake of nickel was obtained using the test results and the results of Shaanxi total diet study in 2002. The safety of dietary nickel was evaluated by using the tolerable daily intake( TDI)recommended by WHO. The health risk was assessed by using USEPA health risk assessment model. Results The content of nickel ranged from 0. 0586 to 0. 210 mg/kg in seven kinds of food, and the nickel content of cereals was higher than other kinds, the value of which was 3. 30 mg/kg. The average and the higher dietary intake of nickel were2. 17 μg/( kg·d) and 11. 2 μg/( kg·d), respectively. The rates of which were 18% and94%, compared to TDI value. That showed a potential health risk from Ni via dietary exposure for the people highly exposured. Because there was inadequate evidence for carcinogenicity of nickel, if nickel was non carcinogenic elements, the individual health risk of nickel was lower than the standard of ICRP. In contrast, the individual health riskof nickel was higher than the standard, which means a potential health risk for Shaanxi habitants. Conclusion This study showed a potential health risk from Ni via dietary exposure for the people highly exposured.
Dosimetric characterization of a body-conforming radiochromic sheet.

Purpose A novel radiochromic PRESAGE sheet (Heuris Inc.) with 3 mm thickness has been developed as a measurement tool for 2D dosimetry. Its inherent ability to conform to irregular surfaces makes this dosimeter advantageous for patient surface dosimetry. This study is a comprehensive investigation into the PRESAGE sheet's dosimetric characteristic, accuracy and its potential use as a dosimeter for clinical applications. Methods The characterization of the dosimeter included evaluation of the temporal stability of the dose linearity, reproducibility, measurement uncertainties, dose rate, energy, temperature and angular dependence, lateral response artifacts, percent depth dose curve, and 2D dose measurement. Dose distribution measurements were acquired for regular square fields on a flat and irregular surface and an irregular modulated field on the smooth surface. All measurements were performed using an Epson 11000XL high-resolution scanner. Results The examined dosimeters exhibit stable linear response, standard error of repeated measurements within 2%, negligible dose rate, energy, and angular dependence. The same linear dose response was measured while the dosimeter was in contact with a heated water surface. Gamma test and histogram analysis of the dose difference between PRESAGE and EBT3 film, PRESAGE and the treatment planning system (TPS) were used to evaluate the measured dose distributions. The PRESAGE sheet dose distributions showed good agreement with EBT3 film and TPS. A discrepancy smaller than the statistical error of the two dosimeters was reported. Conclusions This study established a full dosimetric characterization of the PRESAGE sheets with the purpose of laying the foundation for future clinical uses. The results presented here for the comparison of this novel dosimeter with those currently in use reinforce the possibility of using this dosimeter as an alternative for irregular surface dose measurements.
Strategies for Implementing Group Mental Health Interventions in a VA Community Living Center

Objectives: Group mental health interventions are difficult to implement into rehabilitation facilities, but no one has studied the specific barriers. This mixed-methods project systematically exam...
Multi-Tissue Neocortical Transcriptome-Wide Associations Study Implicates 8 Genes Across 6 Genomic Loci in Alzheimer's Disease

Background: Alzheimer9s disease (AD), an incurable neurodegenerative disease, currently affecting 1.75% of the United States population, with projected growth to 3.46% by 2050. Identifying common genetic variants driving differences in transcript expression that confer AD-risk is necessary to elucidate AD mechanism and develop therapeutic interventions. We modify the FUSION Transcriptome Wide Association Study (TWAS) pipeline to ingest expression from multiple neocortical regions, provide a set of 6780 gene weights which are abstracatable across the neocortex, and leverage these to find 8 genes from six loci with associated AD risk validated through summary mendelian randomization (SMR) utilizing IGAP summary statistics. Method: A combined dataset of 2003 genotypes clustered to Central European (CEU) ancestry was used to construct a training set of 790 genotypes paired to 888 RNASeq profiles across 6 Neo-cortical tissues (TCX=248, FP=50, IFG=41, STG=34, PHG=34, DLPFC=461). Following within-tissue normalization and covariate adjustment, predictive weights to impute expression components based on a gene9s surrounding cis-variants were trained. The FUSION pipeline was modified to support input of pre-scaled expression values and provide support for cross validation with a repeated measure design arising from the presence of multiple transcriptome samples from the same individual across different tissues. Results: Cis-variant architecture alone was informative to train weights and impute expression for 6780 (49.67%) autosomal genes, the majority of which significantly correlated with gene expression; FDR
Clinical Management of Children with Oropharyngeal Aspiration – Physician Survey

Introduction: Pulmonary aspiration in infants and children is common, with 25% of the pediatric population reported to experience some type of nonspecific swallowing dysfunction. Diagnosing and man...
AI-Powered Educational Robotics as a Learning Tool to Promote Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science Education.

AI is considered as a rapidly advancing technological domain capable of altering every aspect of our lives and society. Many children may have used AI-assistants, and some have had the privilege of growing up with AI-assistants or AI-assisted smart devices in their homes. Educators across fields from computer science, AI, to education strongly suggest that it is crucial to help people understand the science behind AI, its limits, and potential societal impacts in our everyday lives as well as in the future. What is specifically urgent is to prepare K-12 students for their future professions, which might not currently exist, and becoming citizens capable of understanding and utilizing AI-enhanced technologies in the right way in the future so that they would not benefit some populations over others. AI4K12, a joint project between CSTA (CS Teacher Association) and AAAI (Association for Advancing Artificial Intelligence, is developing K-12 AI guidelines for teachers and students organized around the Five Big Ideas in AI which were introduced in 2019. Aligned with Computer Science Standards and the standards of the core subjects, the Five Big Ideas in AI can guide students’ learning of AI while learning computer science concepts and the concepts of other subjects. This position paper explores the idea to promote computing education, including computer science and computational thinking skills, and AI education through AI-powered educational robotics as a motivating learning tool.
Dioxin Disrupts Thyroid Hormone and Glucocorticoid Induction of klf9, a Master Regulator of Frog Metamorphosis

Frog metamorphosis, the development of an air-breathing froglet from an aquatic tadpole, is under endocrine control by thyroid hormone (TH) and glucocorticoids (GC). Metamorphosis is susceptible to disruption by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist. Kruppel-Like Factor 9 (klf9), an immediate early gene in the endocrine-controlled cascade of expression changes that govern metamorphosis, can be synergistically induced by both hormones. This process is mediated by an upstream enhancer cluster, the klf9 synergy module (KSM). klf9 is also a target of the AHR. We measured klf9 mRNA expression following combined exposures to triiodothyronine (T3), corticosterone (CORT), and TCDD in the Xenopus laevis cell line XLK-WG. klf9 was induced 6-fold by 50 nM T3, 4-fold by 100 nM CORT, and 3-fold by 175 nM TCDD. Co-treatments of CORT and TCDD or T3 and TCDD induced klf9 mRNA 7- and 11-fold, respectively, while treatment with all 3 agents induced a 15-fold increase. Transactivation assays examined regulatory sequences from the Xenopus tropicalis klf9 upstream region. KSM-containing segments mediated a strong T3 response and a larger T3/CORT response, while induction by TCDD was mediated by a region ~1 kb farther upstream containing 5 AHR response elements. Unexpectedly, this region also supported a CORT response in the absence of readily- identifiable glucocorticoid responsive elements, suggesting mediation by protein-protein interactions. A similar AHRE cluster is positionally conserved in the human genome, and klf9 was induced by TCDD and TH in HepG2 cells. These results indicate that AHR binding to an upstream AHRE cluster represents an initiating event in TCDD disruption of klf9 expression and metamorphosis.
Uncle Sam in your kitchen: using population approaches to improve diet.

Until healthful food is widely affordable and accessible to all people, any discussions of how policy might infringe on the right to choose may be misguided.
Electron beam (10 MeV) irradiation to decontaminate spacecraft components for planetary protection

Lander missions and sample return missions (Class IVa and Class IVb) require the highest degree of planetary protection (PP). To date, dry heat sterilization is the only NASA approved PP technique for meeting the stringent sterility requirements to prevent forward contamination. However, spacecraft and payloads are made of a diverse set of materials and components which are heat sensitive or incompatible with dry heat sterilization such as inflatables, low-temperature adhesive, batteries, paints and polymers. Electron beam (E-Beam) based ionizing irradiation generated using linear accelerators is a routine and effective means for decontamination, sterilization, sanitation, and pasteurization that is widely used in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The salient features of this technology include its penetrating abilities, ability to handle bulk materials, speed and cost. Ionizing irradiation destroys bacterial vegetative cells and spores by means of DNA strand breakage. However, high energy (10 MeV) E-beam irradiation has not been qualified for planetary protection. Studies have shown that doses between 20kGy and 40kGy are sufficient to reduce spore counts by over 12 orders of magnitude depending on the type of Bacillus strain spores. Since normal spacecraft surfaces are known to have spore counts in the range of 10/sup 6//m/sup 2/ , it is anticipated that significantly smaller doses would be sufficient for the PP sterilization application. Microbiology and material compatibility studies have been initiated to develop high energy (10MeV) irradiation protocols specifically for planetary protection purposes. Initial data suggest that different Bacillus sp. spores (previously isolated from spacecraft assembly facilities) exhibit different sensitivities to ionizing irradiation. The data indicates that at least a 6-log reduction of Bacillus sp. spores on aluminum (Ti/Al alloy) coupons was achievable using 30 kGy of E-beam radiation. The availability of different sterilization techniques provides the flexibility needed to treat various type of spacecraft associated materials and components.
Cyclic Nucleotide-dependent Protein Kinases X. AN ASSAY METHOD FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF GUANOSINE 3',5'-MONOPHOSPHATE IN VARIOUS BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS AND A STUDY OF AGENTS REGULATING ITS LEVELS IN HEART AND BRAIN

Abstract An assay method has been developed for the measurement of tissue levels of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) based upon the ability of the cyclic nucleotide to activate cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase prepared from either lobster tail muscle or silkmoth pupal fat body. The method has been used to measure cyclic GMP levels in various biological tissues and human urine, and in slices of heart and brain incubated under various conditions. The results obtained with this new method agree well with published values of tissue levels of cyclic GMP. The limit of the sensitivity of the assay method is about 0.5 pmole of cyclic GMP in an incubation volume of 0.2 ml (2.5 x 10-9m). Acetylcholine caused a rapid (within 0.5 min) increase of 5- to 10-fold in the cyclic GMP level in rat ventricular slices. The cyclic GMP level returned to the basal value within 5 min. Acetylcholine also effectively lowered the increase in myocardial adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) caused by isoproterenol or glucagon. Isoproterenol or glucagon, in reverse fashion, effectively lowered the increase in myocardial cyclic GMP level caused by acetylcholine. The basal level of myocardial cyclic AMP was not significantly influenced by acetylcholine, nor the basal cyclic GMP level by isoproterenol or glucagon alone. Acetylcholine increased cyclic GMP levels and decreased cyclic AMP levels in rabbit cerebellar slices. In cerebral cortex slices, acetylcholine increased cyclic GMP levels without affecting cyclic AMP levels. Norepinephrine, on the other hand, lowered the cyclic GMP levels while greatly increasing the cyclic AMP levels of cerebellum. Histamine was without effect on cyclic GMP levels in cerebellum but increased cyclic AMP levels. In cerebral cortex, histamine caused a slight increase in cyclic GMP levels accompanied by a great elevation in cyclic AMP levels. These data support the concept that the levels of cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP are under separate regulatory control.
Oscillatory Metastability in Optical Network Synchronizer Circuits

Synchronization of signal packets is required in networks in order to route the packets. Due to changes in the interarrival times of the packets the inputs to the routing circuits may exhibit oscillatory metastability. Oscillatory metastability can be eliminated in optical circuits by the addition of logic signal stretch. This can be done because the propagation time of optics can be precisely controlled. An algorithm for inserting logic signal stretch to eliminate oscillatory metastability is presented herein.
Libertarianism vs. Libertinism

There is perhaps no greater confusion in all of political economy than that between libertarianism and libertinism. That they are commonly taken for one another is an understatement of the highest order. For several reasons, it is difficult to compare and contrast libertarianism and libertinism. First and most important, on some issues the two views do closely resemble one another, at least superficially. Second-perhaps purely by accident, perhaps due to etymological considerations-the two words not only sound alike, but are spelled almost identically. It is all the more important, then, to distinguish between the very different concepts these words represent.
A smart meeting room with pervasive computing technologies

Usability of pervasive computing features along with the detection of a meeting is very effective for the users. In this paper, we present the design of a smart meeting room (SMR) that not only detect the starting and ending of a meeting but also provide the support of participant's context information, knowledge usability and ephemeral group communication. Our approach will play a vital role for not only for meeting detection but other closely related applications of pervasive computing.
Regulatory interactions of stress and reward on rat forebrain opioidergic and GABAergic circuitry

Palatable food intake reduces stress responses, suggesting that individuals may consume such ?comfort? food as self-medication for stress relief. The mechanism by which palatable foods provide stress relief is not known, but likely lies at the intersection of forebrain reward and stress regulatory circuits. Forebrain opioidergic and gamma-aminobutyric acid ergic signaling is critical for both reward and stress regulation, suggesting that these systems are prime candidates for mediating stress relief by palatable foods. Thus, the present study (1) determines how palatable ?comfort? food alters stress-induced changes in the mRNA expression of inhibitory neurotransmitters in reward and stress neurocircuitry and (2) identifies candidate brain regions that may underlie comfort food-mediated stress reduction. We used a model of palatable ?snacking? in combination with a model of chronic variable stress followed by in situ hybridization to determine forebrain levels of pro-opioid and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA. The data identify regions within the extended amygdala, striatum, and hypothalamus as potential regions for mediating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis buffering following palatable snacking. Specifically, palatable snacking alone decreased pro-enkephalin-A (ENK) mRNA expression in the anterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) and the nucleus accumbens, and decreased GAD65 mRNA in the posterior BST. Chronic stress alone increased ENK mRNA in the hypothalamus, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus; increased dynorphin mRNA in the nucleus accumbens; increased GAD65 mRNA in the anterior hypothalamus and BST; and decreased GAD65 mRNA in the dorsal hypothalamus. Importantly, palatable food intake prevented stress-induced gene expression changes in subregions of the hypothalamus, BST, and nucleus accumbens. Overall, these data suggest that complex interactions exist between brain reward and stress pathways and that palatable snacking can mitigate many of the neurochemical alterations induced by chronic stress.
Near‐Infrared Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy for Tablet Quality Determination

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has become a well-established tool for the characterization of solid oral dosage forms manufacturing processes and finished products. In this work, the utility of a traditional single-point NIR measurement was compared with that of a spatially resolved spectroscopic (SRS) measurement for the determination of tablet assay. Experimental designs were used to create samples that allowed for calibration models to be developed and tested on both instruments. Samples possessing a poor distribution of ingredients (highly heterogeneous) were prepared by under-blending constituents prior to compaction to compare the analytical capabilities of the two NIR methods. The results indicate that SRS can provide spatial information that is usually obtainable only through imaging experiments for the determination of local heterogeneity and detection of abnormal tablets that would not be detected with single-point spectroscopy, thus complementing traditional NIR measurement systems for in-line, and in real-time tablet analysis.
Corrosion chemistry closing comments: opportunities in corrosion science facilitated by operando experimental characterization combined with multi-scale computational modelling

Recent advances in characterization tools, computational capabilities, and theories have created opportunities for advancement in understanding of solid–fluid interfaces at the nanoscale in corroding metallic systems. The Faraday Discussion on Corrosion Chemistry in 2015 highlighted some of the current needs, gaps and opportunities in corrosion science. Themes were organized into several hierarchical categories that provide an organizational framework for corrosion. Opportunities to develop fundamental physical and chemical data which will enable further progress in thermodynamic and kinetic modelling of corrosion were discussed. These will enable new and better understanding of unit processes that govern corrosion at the nanoscale. Additional topics discussed included scales, films and oxides, fluid–surface and molecular–surface interactions, selected topics in corrosion science and engineering as well as corrosion control. Corrosion science and engineering topics included complex alloy dissolution, local corrosion, and modelling of specific corrosion processes that are made up of collections of temporally and spatially varying unit processes such as oxidation, ion transport, and competitive adsorption. Corrosion control and mitigation topics covered some new insights on coatings and inhibitors. Further advances in operando or in situ experimental characterization strategies at the nanoscale combined with computational modelling will enhance progress in the field, especially if coupling across length and time scales can be achieved incorporating the various phenomena encountered in corrosion. Readers are encouraged to not only to use this ad hoc organizational scheme to guide their immersion into the current opportunities in corrosion chemistry, but also to find value in the information presented in their own ways.
Basal and stimulated nitric oxide in control of kidney function in the aging rat

To investigate the activity of nitric oxide (NO) in control of renal hemodynamics during aging, studies were conducted on conscious Sprague-Dawley rats aged 3-5 mo (young, Y) and 18-22 mo (old, O). Blood pressure (BP) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) were higher in O vs. Y in control, and acute systemic NO synthesis inhibition (NOSI) increased BP and RVR, with an enhanced renal vasoconstrictor response in O. Infusion of the NO substrate L-arginine produced similar, selective renal vasodilation in both groups. The endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine caused similar falls in BP and RVR, whereas sodium nitroprusside produced an exaggerated depressor response in O vs. Y without falls in RVR in either age group. Urinary excretion of the stable NO oxidation products (NOx) decreased with age, suggesting a decline in the overall somatic NO production. In conclusion, basal tonically produced NO has a more pronounced role in maintenance of renal perfusion in aging, whereas L-arginine- and agonist-stimulated renal vasodilation is not impaired with age. NO production from some source may be reduced with aging, as indicated by falls in 24-h NOX excretion, although the similarity in pressor response and enhanced renal vasoconstrictor response to NOSI suggests that the role of NO in control of total peripheral and renal vascular resistance is maintained.
HEMOPHILIA A: EXPERIENCE WITH PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS AND CARRIER DETECTION USING DNA ANALYSIS

Prenatal diagnosis and carrier detection of hemophilia A using DNA analysis has been attempted in 113 families since February 1985. DNA polymorphisms within and linked to the factor VIII (F8) gene were used as markers for the defective FB gene in these families. When possible, diagnosis was preferentially based on DNA markers within the F8 gene, while in about 25% of families, diagnosis was based on DNA markers linked to the F8 (theoretical error rate in these latter cases is 1-5%). The results of these studies are as follows: Prenatal Diagnosis: 64 families. Diagnoses made: 45 (normal males: 20, affected males: 14, carrier females: 5, noncarrier females: 6). Diagnoses not made: 26 [Because a) the carrier status of a female fetus was not requested, b) pregnancy was terminated prior to testing, or c) family was noninformative in the initial phase of the study because of lack of DNA polymorphism markers]. Carrier testing: 72 families (carriers: 33, noncsrriers: 28, noninformative families: 4, new mutations to hemophilia: 5, incomplete linkage analyses: 2). These data suggest that carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia A using the present DNA polymorphisms is possible in most but not all families at risk. Additional DNA polymorphisms within the F8 gene are needed to further improve the efficacy and eliminate the possibility of error in diagnosis due to the recombination distance of some DNA markers from the F8 gene.
Intraindividual variability and short-term change. Commentary.

Background: Interest in the study of intraindividual variability is growing rapidly. Objective: The present collection of papers deals with both longer-term, grow
Metabolism of bromobenzene to glutathione adducts in lung slices from mice treated with pneumotoxicants.

Abstract Recent studies showing that the bronchiolar Clara cell and alveolar Type II cell are major loci of cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases in the lung suggested that measurement of xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme activity might provide a useful and sensitive index of injury to these cell types. Accordingly, an assay has been developed for quantitating the rate of formation of reactive bromobenzene metabolites in lung slices which is based upon measuring the rate of formation of bromobenzene glutathione adducts. To demonstrate that monitoring adduct formation would yield quantitatively similar data to the traditional covalent binding assay for measuring the formation of reactive bromobenzene intermediates, covalent binding and conjugate formation were assayed in incubations of phenobarbital-induced hepatic microsomes conducted in the presence of various cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase inhibitors. Incubation conditions which decreased the rate of covalent binding (incubations done in the absence of glutathione) resulted in similar decreases in conjugate formation (incubations done in the presence of glutathione). In lung slices, the metabolism of bromobenzene to glutathione conjugates was linear for 20 min and continued to increase with time over the entire 160 min of the study. The formation of bromobenzene glutathione adducts in lung slices from piperonyl butoxide-treated animals occurred at a significantly lower rate than control. Likewise, lung slices from animals treated with butylated hydroxytoluene or carbon tetrachloride, agents known to injure alveolar epithelial cells, metabolized bromobenzene to glutathione conjugates at significantly slower rates than control. In contrast, treatment with naphthalene or dichloroethylene, agents which damage the bronchiolar epithelial cells, had little or no effect on conjugate formation. Similarly, there were no significant differences in the rate of bromobenzene glutathione conjugate formation between lungs of air- and ozone-exposed (1.0 ppm × 4 hr) mice killed 2,24,48,72, or 120 hr after exposure. These studies suggest that monitoring the rate of bromobenzene glutathione conjugate formation in lung slices may be a useful and sensitive biochemical index of injury to certain cells of the lung but that severe damage to the nonciliated bronchiolar epithelial cells has little effect on the rate of metabolic activation of this aromatic hydrocarbon.
Composite ultrasound transducer arrays for operation above 20 MHz

Methods for fabricating and modeling high frequency 2-2 composites and arrays are presented. The composites are suitable for arrays and small aperture single element devices operating above 20 MHz. Coupling coefficients above 0.65 and lateral mode frequencies near 60 MHz were achieved with this composite. Backing and matching materials were prepared to provide up to 70% bandwidth and coaxial cable was used to impedance match the elements to a 50 ohm source. A TPX lens was fabricated and bonded to the face to provide focusing in the elevation direction. Three prototype 4 element 30 MHz linear arrays were designed and built. The designs were analyzed in a time domain finite element analysis program and excellent agreement between theory and experiment was achieved.
Coexistence of a pulse and multiple spikes and transition layers in the standing waves of a reaction–diffusion system

Abstract We establish the existence of standing waves with one pulse, multiple spikes and transition layers in the nonlinear reaction–diffusion system u t = f ( u , w ) + u xx , w t = ɛ 2 g ( u , w ) + w xx , x ∈ R , where ɛ > 0 is a small parameter, f ( u , w ) = 0 has three branches u = h 1 ( w ) , u = h 2 ( w ) and u = h 3 ( w ) on an interval of w and g ( u , w ) = 0 intersects u = h 1 ( w ) once and u = h 3 ( w ) at most once. We use a different method to prove the existence of a single pulse. The existence of multiple spikes and transition layers is a new result. The new method is a topological shooting plan consisting of various shooting arguments. The main technical advance of this plan is that it provides a setup for proving the existence of not only a single pulse, but also multiple spikes and transition layers. The proof of the existence of spikes and transition layers involves more delicate estimates in order to assure the existence of certain types of solutions necessary in the topological shooting arguments. A two-dimensional topological shooting principle and another elementary topological principle are applied in the shooting arguments.
The Epidemiology of Retinal Reticular Drusen

Purpose To describe the prevalence and 15-year cumulative incidence of and risk factors for reticular drusen. Design Population-based prospective study. Methods Four thousand nine hundred and twenty-six persons, 43 to 86 years of age, were included between 1988 and 1990, of whom 3,684, 2,764, and 2,119 participated in five-, 10-, and 15-year follow-up examinations, respectively, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Main outcome measures included prevalence and 15-year incidence of reticular drusen determined by grading stereoscopic color fundus photographs. Results The prevalence at baseline and the 15-year cumulative incidence in either eye of reticular drusen was 0.7% and 3.0%, respectively. The 15-year incidence of reticular drusen varied with age from 0.4% in those 43 to 54 years of age to 6.6% in those 75 years or older at baseline ( P Conclusions This population-based study documents the long-term cumulative incidence of reticular drusen and its risk factors and shows its association with a high risk of incident late AMD.
Cell Population Tracking and Lineage Construction with Spatiotemporal Context

Automated visual-tracking of cell populations in vitro using time-lapse phase contrast microscopy enables quantitative, systematic, and high-throughput measurements of cell behaviors. These measurements include the spatiotemporal quantification of cell migration, mitosis, apoptosis, and the reconstruction of cell lineages. The combination of low signal-to-noise ratio of phase contrast microscopy images, high and varying densities of the cell cultures, topological complexities of cell shapes, and wide range of cell behaviors poses many challenges to existing tracking techniques. This paper presents a fully automated multi-target tracking system that can efficiently cope with these challenges while simultaneously tracking and analyzing thousands of cells observed using time-lapse phase contrast microscopy. The system combines bottom-up and top-down image analysis by integrating multiple collaborative modules, which exploit a fast geometric active contour tracker in conjunction with adaptive interacting multiple models (IMM) motion filtering and spatiotemporal trajectory optimization. The system, which was tested using a variety of cell populations, achieved tracking accuracy in the range of 86.9-92.5%.