cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Supersymmetric moose models: An extra dimension from a broken deformed conformal field theory

We find a class of four dimensional deformed conformal field theories which appear extra dimensional when their gauge symmetries are spontaneously broken. The theories are supersymmetric moose models which flow to interacting conformal fixed points at low energies, deformed by superpotentials. Using $a$-maximization we give strong nonperturbative evidence that the hopping terms in the resulting latticized action are relevant deformations of the fixed-point theories. These theories have an intricate structure of RG flows between conformal fixed points. Our results suggest that at the stable fixed points each of the bulk gauge couplings and superpotential hopping terms is turned on, in favor of the extra-dimensional interpretation of the theory. However, we argue that the higher-dimensional gauge coupling is generically small compared to the size of the extra dimension. In the presence of a brane the topology of the extra dimension is determined dynamically and depends on the numbers of colors and bulk and brane flavors, which suggests phenomenological applications. The RG flows between fixed points in these theories provide a class of tests of Cardy's conjectured $a$-theorem.
The Civil War at Sea. By Craig L. Symonds. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2012. Pp. viii, 248. $17.95.)

Few events in American history have received more attention from historians than the Civil War. Virtually every aspect of those horrendous years has been described, analyzed, and even dramatized. A...
Synthesis and hydrolytic stability of 5′-aminoacylated oligouridylic acids

Abstract Dimers and trimers of uridylic acid with a phenylalanine residue at their 5′-terminus were prepared in solution via intermediates with acid-labile protecting groups. A 5′-aminoacylated octanucleotide was prepared on solid support using a phosphoramidate linker and an allyloxycarbonyl-protected phenylalanine.
Economic Aspects of the Open Ocean Fishery Resources Development

The biological basis for open-ocean fisheries is large, but utilization of both traditional as well as unconventional resources requires new harvesting and processing technologies and much more efficient fishing vessels and support ships. Some nations are expanding their ocean-going fleets but the basic constraint lies in the economics of these activities, as costs of distant-water fisheries are already very high and will tend to grow quickly in the foreseeable future. It becomes increasingly evident that contemporary open-ocean fisheries are economically inefficient and as a high energy consuming activity can be developed only with governmental subsidies, which at the present time support this expansion for political rather than economic reasons.
Angular-momentum biasing: A new paradigm for linear, magnetic-free, non-reciprocal devices

A paradigm to obtain magnetic-free, linear non-reciprocal devices is presented based on biasing with the angular-momentum vector, achieved either by directly spinning a loading material or by imparting spatiotemporal modulation over a substrate. This technique is shown to be applicable to any range of the electromagnetic spectrum, and even to different types of waves, such as acoustic waves. Furthermore, it can be realized with integration-friendly materials, such as metals and semiconductors, thus opening a path for the much sought realization of integrated, compact and linear non-reciprocal components.
The importance of family history in cerebrovascular disease.

The role of genetics in cerebrovascular disease remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of family history on atherothrombotic infarction or transient ischemic attack.Ninety patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack and 90 age- and sex-matched community control subjects were studied prospectively. Medical and family histories were obtained from all subjects, and a complete physical examination was performed.Eighty-five patients and 86 control subjects knew their family history for ischemic heart disease and stroke. A positive history for ischemic heart disease was present in 62 (73%) of the patients and 46 (53%) of the control subjects (P = .019), and a positive family history for stroke was present in 38 (47%) of the patients and 21 (24%) of the control subjects (P = .014).Although a positive vascular family history was not an independent risk factor in a multivariate analysis, it was an excellent marker of the presence of other established vascular risk factor...
Why prevent invasive Candida infections

In the Journal, Weitkamp et al. describe their approach to the application of fluconazole prophylaxis to high-risk preterm infants to prevent invasive Candida infections (ICIs). This group examined their incidence of ICI, and instituted prophylaxis at a cutoff for ICI based on gestational age and birth weight, and reported a significant decrease in ICI, elimination of Candida-related mortality and a reduction in empiric antifungal use. This paper gives insight into the application of this evidence-based therapy to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
An Objective Measurement of Cyclofusional Response

An objective method was developed to measure the time course of torsional eye movements about the line of sight. The resolution of the system was better than ?°.
Effect of Internal Stress on the Strength of BaTiO3

The strength of BaTiO3 which had been hot-pressed to ∼99% of theoretical density and tested above the Curie temperature was—9000 psi greater than at room temperature. This measured difference in strength is attributed to internal stress from the cubic→tetragonal phase transformation. Correction of measured strength to zero porosity predicts internal stresses of ∼11,000 psi, in good agreement with the dielectric theory for fine-grain BaTiO3. The internal stress is nearly independent of grain size in the range ∼1.5 to 150 μm, showing that 90° domains do not reduce internal stresses causing failure. Lower internal stress in commercial BaTiO3 is attributed to greater porosity, large flaw sizes, and possibly the effects of additives.
Preterm Birth Is Associated with Higher Uric Acid Levels in Adolescents

Objective To compare serum uric acid levels in adolescents born prematurely and adolescents born at term and to assess the correlation between serum uric acid and blood pressure (BP) in those born prematurely. Study design In this observational cohort study, 124 adolescents born prematurely and 44 adolescents born at term were studied at 14 years of age. Multivariate analyses were used to describe the relationship of premature birth to serum uric acid while adjusting for confounding variables. Pearson correlation was used to describe the relationship between uric acid and systolic BP among those born prematurely. Results Adjusting for race, sex, maternal hypertension, and fetal growth, we found that preterm adolescents had greater serum uric acid levels than adolescents born at term (adjusted mean difference 0.46, 95% CI 0.10-0.81 mg/dL; 27.4, 6-48.2 μmol/L; P = .012). Among those born prematurely, uric acid was positively correlated with systolic BP (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.29, 0.12-0.44; P = .0013). Conclusions Serum uric acid levels are greater in adolescents born prematurely than in those born at term, and this difference could contribute to greater BP among individuals born prematurely.
A general parallel sparse-blocked matrix multiply for linear scaling SCF theory

A general approach to the parallel sparse-blocked matrix–matrix multiply is developed in the context of linear scaling self-consistent-field (SCF) theory. The data-parallel message passing method uses non-blocking communication to overlap computation and communication. The space filling curve heuristic is used to achieve data locality for sparse matrix elements that decay with “separation”. Load balance is achieved by solving the bin packing problem for blocks with variable size. With this new method as the kernel, parallel performance of the simplified density matrix minimization (SDMM) for solution of the SCF equations is investigated for RHF/6-31G ∗∗ water clusters and RHF/3-21G estane globules. Sustained rates above 5.7 GFLOPS for the SDMM have been achieved for (H 2 O) 200 with 95 Origin 2000 processors. Scalability is found to be limited by load imbalance, which increases with decreasing granularity, due primarily to the inhomogeneous distribution of variable block sizes.
Stabilization of dextransucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-512F by nonionic detergents, poly(ethylene glycol) and high-molecular-weight dextran

Dextransucrase (sucrose: 1,6-alpha-D-glucan 6-alpha-D-glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.5) (3 IU/ml culture supernatant) was obtained by a modification of the method of Robyt and Walseth (Robyt, J.F. and Walseth, T.F. (1979) Carbohydr. Res. 68, 95-111) from a nitrosoguanidine mutant of Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-512F selected for high dextransucrase production. Dialyzed, concentrated culture supernatant (crude enzyme) was treated with immobilized dextranase (EC 3.2.1.11) and chromatographed on a column of Bio-Gel A-5m. The resulting, purified enzyme lost activity rapidly at 25 degrees C or on manipulation, as did the crude enzyme when diluted below 1 U/ml. Both enzyme preparations could be stabilized by low levels of high-molecular-weight dextran (2 micrograms/ml), poly(ethylene glycol) (e.g., 10 micrograms/ml PEG 20 000), or nonionic detergents (e.g., 10 micrograms/ml Tween 80). The stabilizing capacity of poly(ethylene glycol) and of dextran increased with molecular weight. Calcium had no stabilizing action in the absence of other additions, but reduced the inactivation that occurred in the presence of 0.5% bovine serum albumin or high concentrations (greater than 0.1%) of Triton X-100. In summary, dextransucrase could be stabilized against activity losses caused by heating or by dilution through the addition of low concentrations of nonionic polymers (dextran, PEG 20000, methyl cellulose) or of nonionic detergents at or slightly below their critical micelle concentrations.
Body size and geographic range do not explain long term variation in fish populations: a Bayesian phylogenetic approach to testing assembly processes in stream fish assemblages.

We combine evolutionary biology and community ecology to test whether two species traits, body size and geographic range, explain long term variation in local scale freshwater stream fish assemblages. Body size and geographic range are expected to influence several aspects of fish ecology, via relationships with niche breadth, dispersal, and abundance. These traits are expected to scale inversely with niche breadth or current abundance, and to scale directly with dispersal potential. However, their utility to explain long term temporal patterns in local scale abundance is not known. Comparative methods employing an existing molecular phylogeny were used to incorporate evolutionary relatedness in a test for covariation of body size and geographic range with long term (1983 – 2010) local scale population variation of fishes in West Fork White River (Indiana, USA). The Bayesian model incorporating phylogenetic uncertainty and correlated predictors indicated that neither body size nor geographic range explained significant variation in population fluctuations over a 28 year period. Phylogenetic signal data indicated that body size and geographic range were less similar among taxa than expected if trait evolution followed a purely random walk. We interpret this as evidence that local scale population variation may be influenced less by species-level traits such as body size or geographic range, and instead may be influenced more strongly by a taxon’s local scale habitat and biotic assemblages.
Recurrent scattering of spontaneous radiation from a randomly occupied optical lattice

The problem of recurrent scattering of spontaneous radiation from a randomly occupied optical lattice is discussed herein theoretically. The intensity of the scattered radiation is calculated and averaged over the random distribution of atoms trapped inside the lattice. From the intensity of the scattered radiation, two properties of random lasing are derived. First, the random lasing's strongest oscillation has a wavelength comparable to the lattice constant and, second, its emission spectrum is discontinuous. In the present paper, a quantity, the number of multiple scattering channels based on the long-range regularity possessed by an optical lattice, is defined. This quantity is found to significantly determine the magnitudes of the mean intensity of the scattered radiation and the wave decay constant.
New horizons in x-ray fluorescence analysis†

Although the present-day x-ray analyst has at his or her disposal a sufficient variety of instrumentation and data reduction schemes to enable him or her to perform elemental analysis on many different types of materials, there exists a continuing demand to improve detection limits, to extend the capability to lower atomic numbers and to make the analytical process more efficient (easier!). There are advances in x-ray physics and instrumentation being pursued which may contribute to these objectives. The status of these efforts is reviewed and some suggestions are made concerning their potential.
Intercourse compliance, ovulation, and treatment success in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development-Reproductive Medicine Network's Pregnancy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PPCOS) Trial

Objective To investigate the relationship among intercourse compliance, ovulation, and the occurrence of pregnancy in the Reproductive Medicine Network's Pregnancy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (RMNPPCOS) Trial. Design Post hoc data analysis of subjects in the Reproductive Medicine Network PPCOS Trial. Setting Academic medical centers. Intervention(s) None. Patient(s) Six hundred twenty-six infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome with a mean age of 28.1 ± 4 years and mean body mass index of 35.2 ± 8.7 kg/m 2 . Main Outcome Measure(s) Intercourse compliance, ovulation, and pregnancy. Result(s) Data on 2925 cycles were included in the analysis, of which 1340 were ovulatory cycles and 1585 were nonovulatory cycles. The rates of intercourse compliance in the PPCOS trial were similar across all treatment groups at all cycles except cycle 4. Among cycles with known ovulation status, 81.2% of patients were compliant with intercourse instructions. Patients were more intercourse compliant in those cycles during which ovulation occurred (83.2% vs. 79.4%). With regard to ovulatory cycles, there was no difference in the occurrence of pregnancy when comparing intercourse compliant versus intercourse noncompliant cycles. Conclusion(s) Intercourse compliance was not associated with the occurrence of pregnancy in ovulatory cycles in the PPCOS Trial. The occurrence of ovulation still remains a critical predictor for the occurrence of pregnancy.
Design of a 6- by 6-foot coal-fired heater for a CCGT air heater

The U.S. Department of Energy is sponsoring a program of research and development on coal-fired heaters to provide heat input to the working fluid of a closed-cycle gas turbine/cogeneration system. One of the fired heater concepts being researched employs the atmospheric pressure fluidized bed coal combustion concept. This paper describes a research oriented atmospheric fluidized bed of 6- by 6-foot plan dimensions that has been designed and is being constructed for utilization during the R&D program. The design rationale is presented, details of the more significant details are described and discussed, and the planned methods for utilizing the 6- by 6-foot AFB as a research tool are presented.Copyright © 1982 by ASME
Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin forms large conductance, voltage-gate ion channels when incorporated into planar lipid bilayers

Abstract Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin is a member of the bacterial RTX (repeats in toxin) toxin family, produced by a diverse group of Gram-negative pathogens. Members of this group of toxins, although similar in sequence, differ in target cell specificity with Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin demonstrating a unique species-and cell-type specificity. Purified A. actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin added to pre-formed POPE/POPS lipid bilayers showed no spontaneous incorporation (to concentrations of 250 ng/ml). Reproducible channel activity was seen when the bilayer was reformed from lipid monolayers in the presence of toxin (50 ng/ml) in one of the aqueous chambers. Control experiments with heat-inactivated toxin did not display channel activity under the same experimental conditions. The channel behavior showed a complex pattern of multiple conductance levels of 118 262 and 406 pS in solutions containing 0.140 M NaCL The first two states showed voltage-dependent channel gating with approximately equal but opposite apparent gating charges of 1.4 electrons. A model accounting for the multiple conducting states and gating properties is presented.
An approximate Bernoulli process for information propagation along two parallel roads

Abstract This research studies information propagation via inter-vehicle communication along two parallel roads. By identifying an inherent Bernoulli process, we are able to derive the mean and variance of propagation distance. A road separation distance of 3 2 times the transmission range distinguishes two cases for approximating the success probability in the Bernoulli process. In addition, our results take the single road as a special case. The numerical test shows that the developed formulas are highly accurate. We also explore the idea of approximating the probability distribution of propagation distance with the Gamma distribution.
Hope for the best, and prepare for the worst

Physicians often deal with hope as something to embrace or negate completely. But this exclusive focus on hope constricts options for discussing how a patient, family, and physician can work togeth...
The effects of alphavirus infection on neurons

Sindbis virus is an alphavirus that causes encephalitis in mice. The primary target cells for central nervous system infection are neurons. The outcome of neuronal infection is dependent on the age of the mouse at the time of infection (maturity of the neuron) and the strain of virus used for infection (virulence of the virus). Sindbis virus causes neuronal death by inducing apoptosis. As neurons mature, they become resistant to virus-induced apoptosis, resulting in a persistent infection. Host production of antibody to a viral surface glycoprotein acts to downregulate virus replication in the infected neurons by a noncytolytic mechanism and clears infectious virus from the central nervous system. Specific genetic changes in the virus result in more virulent strains that cause severe disease and sometimes death in mature animals. These same genetic alterations also confer the ability to overcome the resistance of neurons to induction of cell death. Therefore, mature neurons infected with virulent viruses do not recover from infection even in the presence of an adequate immune response.
Nitrous Oxide in Pediatric Anesthesia: Friend or Foe?

Purpose of reviewNitrous oxide has been used in clinical practice for over 150 years, often for pediatric procedures. Not only are there problems when used in patients with a variety of inborn errors of metabolism, but effects of nitrous oxide on the developing human brain are unknown.Recent finding
A design for a high intensity slow positron facility using forward scattered radiation from an electron linear accelerator

A tungsten moderator will be placed behind the target of the Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator (ORELA) to convert gamma radiation to slow positrons. These will be extracted and led through evacuated solenoids to an experiment room. A Penning trap will be used to extend the slow positron pulses to achieve duty factors of 10% or greater. The facility will be used for atomic and molecular physics studies, positron microscopy, and materials research. Operations will be inexpensive and will not interfere with the normal function of ORELA, the measurement of neutron cross sections by flight-time spectrometry.
Target foil motion

Abstract A target rotator and a target wobbler, both using a minimum of space in the scattering chamber, have been designed and built. All adjustments can be made from outside the chamber and targets can be traferred to and from target holders without breaking the vacuum.
The Role of Plasma Fatty Acid Composition in Endogenous Glucose Production in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Hepatic insulin resistance and increased endogenous glucose production (EGP) are associated with increased plasma free fatty acids (FFA). However, the contribution of FFA composition to the regulation of EGP is not known. Six obese nondiabetic subjects and 6 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) were studied after an overnight and a 3-day fast. Plasma insulin concentrations after an overnight fast were similar in the DM2 and nondiabetic patients (88.8 +/- 26.4 v 57.6 +/- 12.6 pmol/L, not significant [NS]) despite increased plasma glucose (9.9 +/- 1.8 v 5.1 +/- 0.1 mmol/L, P <.01) and EGP (510.3 +/- 77.7 v 298.3 +/- 18.3 micromol x m(-2) x min(-1), P <.05) in the patients with DM2. Absolute rates of gluconeogenesis using the heavy water method were also increased in the patients with DM2 (346.8 +/- 74.9 v 198.8 +/- 16.4 micromol x m(-2). min(-1), P <.05). No differences were observed in plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) between the diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. However, total saturated fatty acid (SFA) concentrations (350 +/- 37.4 v 230.9 +/- 33.3 micromol/L, P <.02) were significantly increased in the diabetic subjects. Rates of EGP were correlated with total plasma FFA concentration (r =.71, P <.01) and the concentration of SFA (r =.71, P <.01), but not monounsaturated fatty acids or PUFA. Rates of gluconeogenesis were also correlated with plasma FFA (r =.64, P <.05) and SFA (r =.67, P <.05). We observed no relationship between EGP and either total FFA or fatty acid composition after a 3-day fast. We conclude that increases in EGP are associated with concentrations of plasma SFA after an overnight fast.
Issues in fishery products safety in the united states

Most seafoods available to the U.S. public are wholesome and unlikely to cause illness in the consumer. Nevertheless, there are areas of risk. The major risk of acute disease is associated with the consumption of raw shellfish, particularly bivalve molluscs. For persons living in tropical areas, there is a risk of ciguatera; other natural toxins (paralytic shellfish poisoning, neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, etc.) have been associated with shellfish from endemic areas. Finally, there are less well-defined risks of acute and chronic disease related to environmental contamination of aquatic food animals. Dealing with such risks on a short-term basis requires improvements in the present system of regulatory control. In the long term, amelioration and eventual elimination of some hazards require strengthening and more effective application of control measures to prevent the disposal of human and industrial waste into offshore marine and fresh waters. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Back-projection image reconstruction using photon density waves in tissues

The reconstruction of scattering and absorption inhomogeneities in tissues generally involves the solution of the inverse scattering problem. This is a computationally intesive task that cannot be easily performed during image acquisition. Instead, we obtain approximate spatial maps of absorption and scattering coefficients using a back-projection algorithm, similar in principle to that used in computerized tomography. Given the nonlinear nature of light propagation in tissue, we expect that this approach can only give a first approximation solution of the reconstruction problem. Our preliminary results indicate that relatively accurate maps are rapidly obtained. We have reconstructed, to a first approximation, the optical parameters and positions of scattering and partially absorbing objects. Our back-projection approach employs frequency-domain methods using a light emitting diode as the light source (100 MHz modulation frequency, peak wavelength 715 nm). Data is collected from multiple linear scans of the investigated area at different projection angles, as in computerized tomography.
Like water for data flow

This issue's Whiteboard takes a bit of a different tack from past columns. Rather than exhorting us to follow process A or stop making mistake B, Dineh Davis immerses herself in the almost mystical idea of water as a metaphor for information. She envisions water as helping us understand and appreciate the diversity in humanity's relationships with information and its technology, enabling us to increase user participation in its development. Now, you may see some problems with this idea. But I'd say that they're, er, soluble.---Elizabeth Buie
Particle size dependence of coal char reactivity

Studies of the reactivity of coal chars are limited in both scope and number, particularly for process chars from U.S. coals at high temperatures. This brief communication presents new results on the dependence of char reactivity at high temperature on particle diameter for five process chars and interprets these data and companion results of a previous study as they relate to reaction zone.
"Scientifically Based Research" and Qualitative Inquiry

Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. (Anonymous, often attributed to Albert Einstein; Calaprice, 2000)
Quasi-static and dynamic loading responses and constitutive modeling of titanium alloys

Abstract The results from a systematic study of the response of a Ti–6Al–4V alloy under quasi-static and dynamic loading, at different strain rates and temperatures, are presented. The correlations and predictions using modified Khan–Huang–Liang (KHL) viscoplastic constitutive model are compared with those from Johnson–Cook (JC) model and experimental observations for this strain rate and temperature-dependent material. Overall, KHL model correlations and predictions are shown to be much closer to the observed responses, than the corresponding JC model predictions and correlations. Similar trend has been demonstrated for other titanium alloys using published experimental data [Mech. Mater. 33(8) (2001) 425; J. Mech. Phys. Solids 47(5) (1999) 1157].
Ultradelocalized Aromatics - A New Class Of Nonlinear Optical Media

This paper is concerned with the development and theoretical modeling of a new class of organic nonlinear optical media, namely the polyacene quinones. The research is a collaborative effort involving research groups with expertise in the following areas: synthesis (L. L. Miller and coworkers), laser spectroscopy (P. F. Barbara and coworkers), computational chemistry (J. Almlof and coworkers) and solid state chemistry (M. C. Etter and coworkers). Polyacene quinones are large, delocalized aromatic molecules that offer extraordinarly large electronic π delocalization lengths, which is an important attribute for the the realization of large nonlinear optical effects in organic media. Several large polyacene quinones have been synthesized and the methodology has been demonstrated to be general. Considerable progress has been made in studying the electronic structure and optical transitions of small polyacene quinones, which is a prerequisite to developing a model for the nonlinear optical properties of the polyacene quinones. The first degenerate-four-wave-mixing measurements have been made on a polyacene quinone.
Renin Production by Organ Cultures of Renal Cortex

Diploid cells of the human and canine renal cortex can be isolated by newly developed techniques for organ culture. Some of these cells have abundant Bowie's positive granules. Bioassays for renin activity have shown that these granular cells can synthesize considerable amounts of renin in vitro. These investigations provide a model for studying the production of renin at cellular level.
Pulsed holmium:YAG-induced thermal damage in albumen

ABSTRACTThe development of thermal damage during pulsed Holmium:YAG (2  2. 12 pm, t = 250 s) irradiation of albumen was analyzed experimentally and nmnencally with the intent of validating the Arrhemus integral and investigating the influence of beam profile and dynamic changes in absorption. Fast flash videography wasperformed to document the transient development of coagulation during and after the laser pulse. A two- dimensional dynamic optical-thermal model was developed.The optical component involved a discretized Beer's law method in which absorption is a function of temperature.The thermal component was comprised of 1) a cylindrical coordinate (r,z) finite difference formulation of the heatconduction equation in which the output from the optical model was used as the source term and 2) a routine forcalculating thermal damage using the Arrhenius relation. At the end of each time step, the temperature thstributionwas used to recalculate the absorption coefficient array, which in turn is used in the optical component.The model showed good agreement with experimental data and the literature. The Arrhemus integral was shown tobe valid for the sub-vaporization pulsed laser regime. Experimental and numerical results indicated that spatialbeam profile has a significant impact on thermal damage. Simulations predicted that at higher radiant exposuresdynamic changes in absorption become more significant, accounting for a 10% increase in coagulation depth.Keywords: thermal damage, albumen, pulsed holmium laser, laser-tissue interaction, high speed imaging, heattransfer, dynamic optical properties, numerical modeling, finite difference, Arrhemus integral
Other autonomic neuropathies associated with ganglionic antibody

The acetylcholine receptor ganglionic (G-AchR) antibody is a very specific serologic test for autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy. The spectrum of autoimmune (or presumed to be autoimmune) autonomic disorders, however, is quite broad and positivity to this antibody has been reported in a variety of other conditions, albeit infrequent and with low titer. This review describes the autonomic neuropathies most frequently encountered in clinical practice in which an autoimmune etiology is suspected. They include a chronic form (pure autonomic failure) and limited autonomic neuropathies with predominant involvement of one neurotransmitter type (i.e., cholinergic vs. adrenergic) or one system (such as the gastrointestinal system) or a distal small fiber dysfunction. In each of these conditions, occasional positivity to the G-AchR antibody has been found, but the pathogenetic significance of such finding is still uncertain. Other antigens and antibodies yet to be identified are more likely to be responsible in these disorders.
Mechanics of Large Folds in Thin Interfacial Films

A thin film confined to a liquid interface responds to uniaxial compression by wrinkling, and then by folding, that has been solved exactly before self-contact. Here, we address the mechanics of large folds, i.e., folds that absorb a length much larger than the wrinkle wavelength. With scaling arguments and numerical simulations, we show that the antisymmetric fold is energetically favorable and can absorb any excess length at zero pressure. Then, motivated by puzzles arising in the comparison of this simple model to experiments on lipid monolayers or capillary rafts, we discuss how to incorporate film weight, self-adhesion, or energy dissipation.
Glucose preferences in wild and domestic guinea pigs

Abstract Male wild (Cavia aperea) and domestic (C. porcellus) guinea pigs were tested in two-bottle choice tests for preferences between glucose solutions of different concentrations and de-ionized water. Wild males showed significant preferences for concentrations between 0.025 and 0.4 M glucose while domestic males preferred only the 0.2 M glucose solution to de-ionized water. C. aperea males also consumed significantly greater volumes of liquid per kg body wt. 3 4 during the glucose tests than did the C. porcellus males. These comparative results contrast sharply with those obtained by other authors with wild and domestic Norway rats.
Theoretical and measured aeolian sand transport on a barrier island, Louisiana, USA

Over the past 100 years, the Isles Dernieres, a low lying barrier island chain along the coast of central Louisiana, Usa, has undergone more than 1 km of northward beach face retreat with the loss of 70% of its surface area. The erosion results from a long term relative sea level rise coupled with day to day wind and wave action that ultimately favours erosion over deposition. At a site in the central Isles Dernieres, 8 days of wind and beach profile measurements during the passage of one winter cold front documented aeolian erosion and deposition patterns under both onshore and offshore winds. For offshore winds, the theoretical erosion rate, based on wind shear velocity, closely matched the measured erosion rate; for onshore winds, the theoretical rate matched the measured rate only after being corrected by a factor that accounted for beach face morphology. In late February 1989, a strong cold front moved into coastal Louisiana. That cold front stalled over the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in 4 days of strong northerly winds at a study site on the Isles Dernieres. During those 4 days, the wind moved sand from the backshore to the upper beach face. When the cold front finally moved out of the area, the wind shifted to the south and decreased in strength. The onshore wind then restored some of the upper beach face sand to the backshore while increased wave activity moved the rest into the nearshore. The theoretical estimate of 1·28 m3 m−1 for the rate of sand transport by the northerly wind compares well with the measured backshore erosion rate of 1·26 m3 m−1, which was determined by comparing beach profiles from the start and end of the period of northerly winds. The theoretical estimate of 0·04 m3 m−1 for the rate of sand transport by the southerly wind, however, is notably less than the measured rate of 0·45 m3 m−1. The large discrepancy between the two rates can be explained by a difference in the shear velocity of the wind between the beach face, where the erosion occurred, and the backshore, where the wind stress was measured. Using an empirical relationship for the wind shear drag coefficient as a function of coastal environment, the theoretical estimate for the rate of sand transport by the southerly wind becomes 0·44 m3 m−1
Primary sensory neurons exhibit altered gene expression in a rat model of neuropathic pain.

Abstract Using a number of complementary anatomical and molecular techniques, we studied the effects of chronic constriction injury (CCI), a model of partial nerve injury that elicits behavioral hyperalgesia, on primary sensory neurons in the rat. Dorsal root ganglia taken from animals with CCI were analyzed for alterations in mRNA levels encoding growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), galanin (GAL), neuropeptide Y (NPY), substance P (SP), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). We found that GAP-43 expression increased 3-fold, peaking between 7 and 14 days after development of the CCI. However, within this same 7–14 day time frame, both CGRP and SP mRNAs fell to half their normally abundant constitutive levels of expression. The most dramatic change in expression occurred for GAL, NPY and VIP mRNAs which all rose rapidly (day 3) from non-detectable levels. Similar alterations in gene expression have been described after complete sciatic nerve transection or crush.
THE USE OF ADRENAL PRODUCTS IN ADDISON’S DISEASE

Male, aged 40, American, married, was admitted to the Medico Chirurgical Hospital in October, 1911, complaining of extreme weakness, almost like that of approaching death, attacks of dangerous collapse, dyspnoea, loss of weight and marked constipation. The family history was negative. He had a mild attack of smallpox at the age of 26; diphtheria at the age of 10 and pneumonia at the age of 27 years. Prior to 1911 brownish spots were noted on the skin of the face, neck and hands, which gradually increased in size and depth of color. In July, 1911, weakness was first observed which gradually increased, and during the preceding five years there had been a gradual loss of flesh: During 1911 he lost weight rapidly and weighed slightly less than 100 pounds when admitted to the hospital; whereas in 1906 he weighed 135 pounds. In August, 1911, while at work in his office he suffered a collapse, which recurred in five minutes.
Nonpenetrating filtering surgery and goniopuncture (staged trabeculectomy) for episcleral venous pressure glaucoma.

Abstract Purpose To report long-term (>5 years) success of non-penetrating filtering surgery in glaucoma due to elevated episcleral venous pressure. Design Observational case report. Methods A 25-year-old woman developed severe glaucoma due to elevated episcleral venous pressure. Nonpenetrating filtering surgery (opening of the Schlemm canal and resection of corneal stroma overlying the trabecular meshwork and Descemet membrane) was performed with mitomycin. Three months later, the meshwork was perforated ab interno by neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser via goniolens (goniopuncture). Results There were no complications, and no glaucoma medications were used postoperatively. Intraocular pressure ranged from 10 mm Hg to 18 mm Hg during the first 4 months and thereafter between 6 mm Hg and 12 mm Hg. Conclusions Glaucoma due to elevated episcleral venous pressure, an entity associated with significant trabeculectomy risks, can be safely and successfully treated with non-penetrating filtering surgery followed by goniopuncture (staged trabeculectomy).
Whither magic numbers: a variational Monte Carlo study of six and seven atom helium clusters

Abstract Helium clusters as a result of the dominant influence of quantum mechanics have very little in common with classical rare-gas clusters. Since classical clusters show differences in structure and stability as a function of cluster size — the more stable sizes are referred to as “magic numbers”—do any of these size differences exist in the case of helium? Variational Monte Carlo studies of six and seven atom helium clusters suggest that they do.
Transport properties of the composite material carbon-poly(vinyl chloride)

We have found that at low temperatures the transport properties of carbon-poly(vinyl chloride) composites are governed by tunneling of carriers across a barrier that is modulated by temperature-activated fluctuations. The current-voltage characteristics can be divided into three regimes. At low dc fields the materials are Ohmic; at a critical dc field, the materials enter a thermally activated breakdown regime; above the breakdown field the $I\ensuremath{-}V$ characteristic may be studied with voltage pulses and the material is non-Ohmic. The dependence of the resistivity $\ensuremath{\rho}$ on temperature is discussed.
The Neglected Arboviral Infections in Mainland China

The major arboviral diseases in mainland China include Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (also known as Xinjiang hemorrhagic fever), and tick-borne encephalitis. These and other newly found arbovirus infections due to Banna virus and Tahyna virus contribute to a large and relatively neglected disease burden in China. Here we briefly review the literature regarding these arboviral infections in mainland China with emphasis on their epidemiology, primary vectors, phylogenetic associations, and the prevention programs associated with these agents in China.
"We Were an Oddity": A Look at the Back-to-the-Land Movement in Appalachia

n 1975, attendance at the annual Mountain State Folk Festival in Glen- ville, West Virginia, swelled above five thousand. Young folk enthusiasts joined the ranks of old-time musicians and local residents to celebrate Appalachian traditions. Most festival promoters would have been beside themselves with joy knowing that their event attracted such a sizeable crowd. But something about the new people who attended the Mountain State Festival bothered long-time attendees. Festival promoter Mack Samples was not only concerned about the growing size of the event, which he feared would outgrow the small town, but he was also worried about the effects that the newcomers would have on mountain culture. Not only were they showcasing new styles of music, but also, much to the shock of old-time musicians, female festival attendees were playing the fiddle! Even more problematic to Samples, however, was that these people were not merely attending the festival. They were coming to Appalachia to live. 1 "Appalachia is 'in' and has been for five years or more," wrote David A. Peyton in 1975. "The arts, crafts, the Appalachian life style are a lure to those from outside the region." During the 1960s and 1970s, countless thousands of Americans moved into the hills and hollers of Appalachia to live out their dreams of a simpler existence. Many aimed for self-sufficiency, believing that simple living and old-time practices had the potential to heal a broken America. As Peyton explains, the settlers who came to Appalachia felt that certain aspects of the region's culture and environment would be conducive to realizing their Arcadian dreams: "Thousands of them are lured to Appalachia annually. Many buy inexpensive hillside farms and vow to build lives based on the Appalachian values and traditions they have found at folk festivals." 2 Of course, festivals were by no means the only regional features attracting would-be back-to-the-landers. A number of pathways led them into the southern highlands. Once they arrived, their desire to achieve self-sufficiency was met with more than a few raised eyebrows from mountain residents. What many residents knew that the newcomers did not
Copper diazine spin ladders: Synthesis, structure and magnetic analyses of Cu(2-methylthiopyrazine)Br2

Abstract The reaction of copper(II) bromide with 2-methylthiopyrazine (meSpz) in THF/CH2Cl2 gave crystals of [Cu(meSpz)Br2]n. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m: a = 13.754(6) A, b = 6.825(2) A, c = 9.731(4) A, β = 104.598(8)°. The structure comprises ladders where the rungs of the ladder are formed by bridging bromide ions and the rails are formed by bridging meSpz molecules. Magnetic susceptibility data over the range 1.8–325 K was fit to a strong-rung ladder model resulting in J/krung = −39.79(17) K and J/krail = −18.0(4) K.
A principle for the formation of the spatial structure of cortical feature maps.

Abstract Orientation-selective cells in the striate cortex of higher animals are organized as a hierarchical topographic map of two stimulus features: (i) position in visual space and (ii) orientation. We show that the observed structure of the topographic map can arise from a principle of continuous mapping. For the realization of this principle we use a mathematical model that can be interpreted as an adaptive process changing a set of synaptic weights, or synaptic connection strengths, between two layers of cells. The patterns of orientation preference and selectivity generated by the model are similar to the patterns seen in the visual cortex of macaque monkey and cat and correspond to a neural projection that maps a more than two-dimensional feature space onto a two-dimensional cortical surface under the constraint that shape and position of the receptive fields of the neurons very smoothly over the cortical surface.
Virtual ideals

We examined the effect of video game play with muscular avatars on the body image of college-aged males.The muscularity of the avatar used in video game play was found to decrease body esteem in males.Game play with a muscular avatar did not appear to affect perceptions of muscularity among the men in this sample. The perpetuation of unrealistic body ideals by popular media has been linked to negative body image and self-esteem; however, the influence of video games has remained largely unexamined despite their growing popularity as a media form, particularly among men. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether playing video games that emphasize an unrealistic male body ideal has a negative impact on body satisfaction. Participants played a highly realistic video game for 45min and then completed questionnaires measuring muscularity concerns and body image. Men randomized to the experimental group played the game with a character of exaggerated muscularity, whereas those randomized to the control group played with a character of average build. Men in the muscular condition reported significantly lower body satisfaction than men in the control condition. Considering the wide-spread use of video games, as well as the increasing muscularity of the ideal male body in popular culture, this finding could have important implications for the psychological well-being of men who regularly play video games. Further research should assess whether this lowered body satisfaction is maintained and to determine if negative behavioral consequences emerge.
Joint continuity of the local times of Markov processes

Consider a Markov process on the real line with a specified transition density function. Certain conditions on the latter are shown to be sufficient for the almost sure existence of a local time of the sample function which is jointly continuous in the state and time variables.
Three readings of political liberalism: Rawls, Maritain and Crick

John Rawls's idea of political liberalism, understood as a 'merely' political doctrine rather than as an aspect of a more comprehensive moral view, has been at the forefront of discussion in contemporary political theory. The idea is commonly discussed in relation to perfectionist liberalism on the one hand, and modus vivendi pluralism on the other. In this essay, I examine political liberalism in a different context, by analysing the ideas of political order advanced in well-known works by Jacques Maritain and Bernard Crick and comparing them with Rawls's ideas. The examination deepens our understanding both of Rawls's specific account of political liberalism and of the problems confronting any account of liberalism understood as a political ideology appropriate to a society characterized by various types of pluralism.
Modal Analysis of Inclined Jet Film Cooling Flows With Density Variation

Thermal and hydrodynamic flow field over a flat surface cooled with a single round inclined film cooling jet and fed by a plenum chamber is numerically investigated using Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and validated with published measurements. The calculations are done for a free stream Reynolds number Re = 16000, density ratio of coolant to free stream fluid ρj/ρ∞ = 2.0 and blowing ratio BR = ρjV/ρ∞V = 1.0. A short delivery tube with aspect ratio l/D = 1.75 and 35° inclination is considered. The evolution of the Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H), hairpin and Counter-Rotating Vortex Pair (CVP) vortical structures are discussed to identify their origins. Modal analysis of the complete 3D flow and temperature field is carried out using a Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) technique. The modal frequencies are identified, and the specific modal contribution towards the cooling wall temperature fluctuation is estimated on the film cooling wall. The low and intermediate frequency modes associated with streamwise and hairpin flow structures are found to have largest contribution (in-excess of 28%) towards wall temperature (or cooling effectiveness) fluctuations. The high frequency Kelvin-Helmholtz mode contributes towards initial mixing in the region of film cooling hole away from the wall. The individual modal temperature fluctuations on the wall and their corresponding hydrodynamic flow structures are presented and discussed.Copyright © 2013 by ASME