cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Optical and Electronic 3-Dimensional Circuits

Optical and 3D electronic implementations of a rearrangeably non-blocking permutation network are compared using complexity models. The electronic complexity model is based on the Thompson model for VLSI while the optical complexity model is new and based on the characteristics of optoelectronic devices and holographic optical elements. The analysis holds the manufacturing cost size and BER of the two implementations equal while comparing their latency. Whether optics is better than electronics depends on the message length.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Regression of spontaneous mammary carcinomas using direct injections of neuraminidase and BCG.

Abstract 1. 1. Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase (VCN) injected directly into spontaneous mammary adenocarcinomas will induce a slowing of tumor growth. 2. 2. BCG will induce a similar regressive effect. 3. 3. The combined intratumor injections with BCG and VCN will induce the total regression of some spontaneous mammary adenocarcinomas. By analogy with the effect of these agents in syngeneic transplanted tumors, the effect can be considered to be immunological. 4. 4. Additional mammary adenocarcinomas will develop in mice with regressing tumors possibly because the immunity induced by the intratumor injections of VCN and/or BCG is not directed to the MTV antigen but rather to weaker specific antigens on the treated tumor.
Plasma concentration of Fas/Fas ligand and left ventricular function in response to metoprolol in conjunction with standard treatment.

Recent studies suggest that cardiac myocyte apoptosis contributes to the progress of CHF (congestive heart failure). In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that metoprolol in conjunction with the standard treatment regime for CHF [an ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor, diuretics and digoxin] may significantly reduce the plasma concentrations of the apoptotic mediators sFas (soluble Fas) and sFasL (soluble Fas ligand) in patients with CHF. An ELISA was used to determine the plasma concentrations of sFas and sFasL in 106 patients with stable CHF at recruitment. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and after 1 year of treatment with metoprolol in conjunction with the standard treatment regime for CHF (i.e. an ACE inhibitor, diuretics and digoxin). The dose of metoprolol was doubled on a biweekly basis up to 50 mg twice a day or maintained at the maximum tolerated dose. Data after 1 year were available for 92 patients and were analysed. The plasma concentrations of sFas and sFasL in patients with CHF decreased significantly ( P <0.01) after 1 year of treatment with metoprolol in conjunction with the standard treatment regime compared with at baseline (5.4±0.2 compared with 3.2±0.1 ng/ml respectively for sFas, and 52.1±2.3 compared with 26.7±1.0 pg/ml respectively for sFasL). Compared with baseline, after 1 year of treatment with metoprolol in conjunction with the standard treatment regime there were significant improvements in LV (left ventricular) ejection fraction (from 32.6±0.9 to 51.5±0.8%; P <0.01), LV end-diastolic dimension (from 69.8±0.6 to 57.7±0.3 mm; P <0.01), LV end-systolic dimension (from 53.9±0.6 to 40.5±0.5 mm; P <0.01), LV end-diastolic volume (from 254.7±5.0 to 164.1±2.2 ml; P <0.01) and LV end-systolic volume (from 142.0±4.2 to 72.2±2.0 ml; P <0.01). In addition, the distance walked in a 6-min walk test increased markedly ( P <0.01) from 260.3±5.2 m at baseline to 440.9±5.7 m after 1 year of treatment. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that metoprolol in conjunction with an ACE inhibitor, diuretics and digoxin in patients with CHF can lead to a reverse in LV remodelling potentially through its anti-apoptotic effects. Abbreviations: ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; β-AR, β-adrenoreceptor; CAD, coronary artery disease; CHF, congestive heart failure; DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy; FasL, Fas ligand; GPT, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase; HHD, hypertensive heart disease; LV, left ventricular; LVEF, LV ejection fraction; NA, noradrenaline; NYHA, New York Heart Association; sFas, soluble Fas; sFasL, soluble FasL; TNF, tumour necrosis factor
Measuring and simulating particulate organics in the atmosphere: problems and prospects

Abstract Although organics constitute approximately 10–70% of the total dry fine particle mass in the atmosphere, their concentrations and formation mechanisms are less well understood than those of other components such as sulfate and nitrate. This is because particulate organic matter is an aggregate of hundreds of individual compounds whose concentrations cannot be characterized by a single analytical technique; more than half of the organic carbon mass has not yet been identified as individual compounds. Moreover, the collection process itself can alter the gas–particle equilibrium of a number of condensable organics resulting in both positive and negative sampling biases. The incomplete characterization of particulate organics coupled with the complexity of the photochemical reactions that produce particulate matter from volatile organic emissions has prevented the development of a first principle simulation approach. These limitations are providing an impetus for numerous scientific studies, proving organics to be the next frontier for particle characterization and simulation. This paper reviews the current state of organic aerosol sampling, analysis, and simulation, examines the limitations of the current technology, and presents prospects for the future. The emphasis is on distilling findings from recent atmospheric, smog chamber, and theoretical studies to provide a coherent picture of what has been accomplished, especially during the last five years, and what problems are ripe for further investigation.
Lean, premixed, prevaporized combustion for aircraft gas turbine engines

The application of lean, premixed, prevaporized combustion to aircraft turbine engine systems can result in benefits in terms of superior combustion performance, improved combustor and turbine durability, and environmentally acceptable pollutant emissions. Lean, premixed prevaporized combustion is particularly attractive for reducing the oxides of nitrogen emissions during high altitude cruise. The NASA stratospheric cruise emission reduction program will evolve and demonstrate lean, premixed, prevaporized combustion technology for aircraft engines. This multiphased program is described. In addition, the various elements of the fundamental studies phase of the program are reviewed, and results to date of many of these studies are summarized.
Thiazide-Type Diuretics and β-Adrenergic Blockers as First-Line Drug Treatments for Hypertension

Systemic arterial hypertension affects 72 million US adults and an additional hundreds of millions of persons worldwide.1,2 Most of these are candidates for pharmacological treatment to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, based primarily on a very large body of epidemiological and intervention research in humans. Because of this high prevalence and the cardiovascular consequences of untreated or inadequately treated hypertension, the selection of drugs for initial and continuing, long-term treatment has large public health and economic implications. Fortunately, such decisions and the expert recommendations that seek to guide them can call on evidence from 4 decades of randomized multicenter clinical trials evaluating effects of treatment on clinical CVD. We summarize that evidence in this article, in approximate chronological order, and we comment on the related treatment guidelines. We close with some of the major clinical questions yet to be resolved. Response by Messerli et al p 2705 Before the current era beginning in the early 1990s of emphasis on positive-control trials, which directly compare different drug regimens, there were 3 decades of trials that compared an active regimen with placebo or, in a few cases, “usual care.” For most of this period, the mainstay of treatment was generally a thiazide-type diuretic (hereinafter called thiazides) or, to a lesser extent, a β-adrenergic blocker (termed β-blockers). With few exceptions, these trials, especially those with high statistical power and thiazide-based regimens, showed benefit for CVD outcomes.3–8 This evidence, which provided a basis for recommending thiazides or β-blockers as first-step drugs in most editions of US guidelines through 1997,9 needs to continue to be given due weight in practice and practice guidelines. The largest and most consistent benefits from the earlier trials were for stroke and (where reported) heart failure. Benefits for coronary heart disease (CHD) were less clear, …
Visualizing and quantifying adhesive signals

Understanding the structural adaptation and signaling of adhesion sites in response to mechanical stimuli requires in situ characterization of the dynamic activation of a large number of adhesion components. Here, we review high-resolution live cell imaging approaches to measure forces, assembly, and interaction of adhesion components, and the activation of adhesion-mediated signals. We conclude by outlining computational multiplexing as a framework for the integration of these data into comprehensive models of adhesion signaling pathways.
Sprouting Neurological Function

Injury to the spinal cord, the main information highway up and down the body, triggers upregulation of highly glycosylated proteins at the site of injury. This acts as a barrier to nerve regeneration and “traps” nerves’ growing tips, preventing neurological recovery. Lang et al. developed an inhibitor that interferes with proteoglycan binding to its receptor [protein tyrosine phosphatase σ (PTPσ)] and is able to reverse the nerve regrowth blockage after spinal cord injury and improve the animals’ functional recovery. Rats with spinal cord injury were injected with the PTPσ-binding drug subcutaneously daily for several weeks. At the end of treatment, urinary function and walking were improved compared with control animals, with higher doses producing better urinary function. Unexpectedly, the researchers did not observe regeneration of corticospinal tract fibers through the injury in the treated rats. Rather, below the lesion, they saw significant sprouting of dense territories of serotonergic neurons. Treatment with a serotonin antagonist reduced locomotor and urinary function in the treatment group but not the control group. This result indicated that the neurological improvement was a result of increased serotonin production from sprouting and regrowth of nerves that survived the injury rather than of reconnections of injured nerve fibers. The practical advantage of delivering the drug systemically and the positive results of this study suggest that this approach holds great potential as a treatment for patients with spinal cord injury. B. T. Lang et al ., Modulation of the proteoglycan receptor PTPσ promotes recovery after spinal cord injury. Nature 10.1038/nature13974 (2014). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nature13974.html
Housing instability and food insecurity as barriers to health care among low-income Americans

BACKGROUND: Homelessness and hunger are associated with poor health outcomes. Housing instability and food insecurity describe less severe problems securing housing and food. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between housing instability and food insecurity and access to ambulatory health care and rates of acute health care utilization. DESIGN: Secondary data analysis of the National Survey of American Families. PARTICIPANTS: 16,651 low-income adults. MEASUREMENT: Self-reported measures of past-year access: (1) not having a usual source of care, (2) postponing needed medical care, or (3) postponing medication; and past-year utilization: (1) not having an ambulatory care visit, (2) having emergency department (ED) visits, or (3) inpatient hospitalization. RESULTS: 23.6% of subjects had housing instability and 42.7% had food insecurity. In multivariate logistic regression models, housing instability was independently associated with not having a usual source of care (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08 to 1.59), postponing needed medical care (AOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.46 to 2.31) and postponing medications (AOR 2.16, 95% CI 1.70 to 2.74), increased ED use (AOR: 1.43, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.70), and hospitalizations (AOR 1.30, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.67). Food insecurity was independently associated with postponing needed medical care (AOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.21) and postponing medications (AOR 2.15, 95% CI 1.62 to 2.85), increased ED use (AOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.66), and hospitalizations (AOR 1.42, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.85). CONCLUSIONS: Housing instability and food insecurity are associated with poor access to ambulatory care and high rates of acute care. These competing life demands may lead to delays in seeking care and predispose to acute care.
TAKOTSUBO CARDIOMYOPATHY CASE SERIES – A POTENTIAL ROLE OF BETA BLOCKERS?

Since the first description of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC), an increasing number of cases have been diagnosed and yet there is no known effective therapy. More precisely, Beta Blockers (BB) that have been shown to have significant benefit in heart failure have not been shown to be of benefit in
Learning with click graph for query intent classification

Topical query classification, as one step toward understanding users' search intent, is gaining increasing attention in information retrieval. Previous works on this subject primarily focused on enrichment of query features, for example, by augmenting queries with search engine results. In this work, we investigate a completely orthogonal approach—instead of improving feature representation, we aim at drastically increasing the amount of training data. To this end, we propose two semisupervised learning methods that exploit user click-through data. In one approach, we infer class memberships of unlabeled queries from those of labeled ones according to their proximities in a click graph; and then use these automatically labeled queries to train classifiers using query terms as features. In a second approach, click graph learning and query classifier training are conducted jointly with an integrated objective. Our methods are evaluated in two applications, product intent and job intent classification. In both cases, we expand the training data by over two orders of magnitude, leading to significant improvements in classification performance. An additional finding is that with a large amount of training data obtained in this fashion, a classifier based on simple query term features can outperform those using state-of-the-art, augmented features.
From Thought to Theory to School: The Role of Contextual Factors in the Evolution of Schools of Management Thought

The process by which theories form into schools of thought has been the focus of much scholarly attention, but the current model of McKinley et al. (1999) focuses primarily on theory content attributes. In this paper, we introduce theory context attributes that also influence the school formation process. Specifically, we suggest that factors such as the quality of the publication outlet, the reputation of the theory originator and the reputation of the theory originator’s university will all influence the likelihood of a theory being detected and assimilated and, consequently, evolving into a school of thought. We further highlight the effects of different combinations of theory and context attributes on the probability of a theory developing into a theory school. We suggest that theories with high content and high context attributes are more likely to evolve into a school of thought than theories with low content or low context attributes. Finally, we discuss future research implications.
The Price of a Free Concert

While many musicians have begun to compliment their work with elements and ideas taken from a number of other disciplines, these disciplines have typically not included economics. However, economics provides an effective analytical framework that people in many seemingly unrelated fields—including music—can use to illuminate issues they commonly face over the course of their professional activities. This article is intended as an example of this: using elementary economic tools, it examines from both a philosophical-aesthetic and practical standpoint the question of whether or not a music conservatory should charge the public for entrance to its students' performances.
Proteolytic abilities of some lactic acid bacteria in a model cheese system

Abstract Various lactic acid bacteria were blended into freshly-made starter-free Cheddar-type cheese (acidified with glucono-δ-lactone) to form slurries that were ripened anaerobically at 32 °C for five days. Reversed-phase HPLC analysis of the water-soluble nitrogen extracts from the slurries (secondary proteolysis) showed differences in the numbers and areas of peptide peaks, suggesting differences in proteolytic abilities among species and strains of lactic acid bacteria. Tertiary proteolysis, assessed by spectrophotometric measurements of Cd-ninhydrin colour yields of the water-soluble nitrogen extracts also showed differences in the concentrations of free amino acids produced by the different lactic acid bacteria. Results suggest that casein proteolysis by starter and non-starter bacteria during cheese ripening may be specific for various species and strains of lactic acid bacteria.
Cigarette smoking and pain: Depressive symptoms mediate smoking-related pain symptoms

Numerous studies have shown an association between smoking and pain, with smokers reporting more pain and worse functioning. However, little is known about factors that impact this complex relationship. This study investigated the association between smoking, pain, and depressive symptoms. Participants were new patients seen at a multidisciplinary pain clinic. All patients were mailed an intake packet of validated questionnaires as part of an ongoing research and clinical care initiative. Of the 497 patients evaluated, 426 had valid smoking data. Among these patients, 32.6% (n = 139) reported being current smokers, 31.7% (n = 135) were classified as former smokers, and 35.7% (n = 152) were never smokers. A multivariate analysis of covariance (smoking status, age, gender, education) revealed a main effect for pain severity (F = 7.36, P<0.001), pain interference (F = 4.03, P = 0.001), and depressive symptoms (F = 7.87, P<0.001). Current smokers demonstrated higher pain severity, pain interference, and depressive symptoms compared with former smokers and never smokers (P<0.01 for all analyses), while there were no differences between the former-smoker and never-smoker groups. However, the effect of smoking on pain severity (P = 0.06) and pain interference (P = 0.22) was no longer significant after controlling for depressive symptoms in a mediation model. Additionally, among former smokers, longer quit duration was associated with less pain severity. In conclusion, smoking rates were high and smoking was associated with a worse chronic pain phenotype. Importantly, depressive symptoms emerged as a critical mediating factor in helping to explain the relationship between smoking and pain.
Primary Halide-Terminated Polyisobutylene: End-Quenching of Quasiliving Carbocationic Polymerization with N-(ω-Haloalkyl)pyrrole

N-(ω-Haloalkyl)pyrroles (1-(2-chloroethyl)pyrrole, 1-(2-bromoethyl)pyrrole, and 1-(3-bromopropyl)pyrrole) were used to end-quench quasiliving isobutylene (IB) polymerizations initiated from 2-chloro-2,2,4-trimethylpentane (TMPCl)/TiCl4 or 5-tert-butyl-1,3-di(2-chloro-2-propyl)benzene (t-Bu-m-DCC)/TiCl4 at −70 °C in hexane/CH3Cl (60/40, v/v). Prechilled N-(ω-haloalkyl)pyrrole, either neat or in a solution of the reaction solvents, was charged to the polymerizations at full (>98%) IB conversion. In all cases, quantitative end-capping of about 0.03 M chain ends (CE) was achieved within 4 min using [N-(ω-haloalkyl)pyrrole] = 2[CE] and [TiCl4] = 1.5[N-(ω-haloalkyl)pyrrole]. 1H NMR analysis revealed mixed isomeric end groups in which polyisobutylene (PIB) was substituted at either C2 or C3 of the pyrrole ring. The isomer ratio C2/C3 was observed to be effected by the alkylene tether length. N-(2-Haloethyl)pyrroles yielded isomer ratios C2/C3 in the range 0.26/0.74 to 0.29/0.71; 1-(3-bromopropyl)pyrrole yielded ...
Injection-locked operation of a 20-element coupled-stripe laser array

Single far-field lobe and single-mode operation of a 20-element GaAlAs gain-guided coupled-stripe array with 315 mW of output was obtained by injection locking with 3.9 mW of incident power. The 0.31° lobe width was near the diffraction limit. An external small-signal gain of 19 dB was obtained.
Laboratory thrombophilias and venous thromboembolism

Inherited abnormalities of coagulation are increasingly recognized in patients with venous thromboembolism. Common causes of hypercoagulability, also known as thrombophilia, include factor V Leiden, the prothrombin gene mutation, hyperhomocysteinemia, and antiphospholipid antibodies. Thrombophilia should be suspected in patients who develop idiopathic venous thromboembolism at a young age, recurrent thrombosis, thromboses at unusual sites, recurrent unexplained pregnancy loss, or if there is a family history of thrombotic disorders. The most cost-effective approach is to initially screen for factor V Leiden, the prothrombin gene mutation, hyperhomocysteinemia, and antiphospholipid antibodies because these are the most common defects causing thrombophilia. Long-term anticoagulation is controversial but should be considered if unprovoked venous thromboembolism recurs.
The transition from breast cancer 'patient' to 'survivor'.

Background: While much is now known about breast cancer survivors' long-term health, quality of life, and psychological state, relatively little is known about the period immediately following completion of treatment, when women transition out of the role of breast cancer ‘patient’ to life as ‘survivor’. Objective: To explore women's fears regarding risk of cancer recurrence, sense of loss of medical monitoring, and social support from health-care providers and other patients, and the strategies they use to cope with these issues. Method: Focus group interviews were conducted with women who had completed adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation for new stage I or II breast cancer in the prior 12 months. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and analyzed using a constant comparative analysis approach. Results: Of 216 women identified as eligible, over half (155) were reached by telephone and invited to participate. Of those invited, 47 (30%) agreed. Findings suggest that while women acknowledge positive life changes as a result of the cancer experience, emotional and physical stresses are prevalent following the completion of treatment. Conclusion: The period of time when women who have been treated for breast cancer transition to life without treatment presents numerous emotional and physical challenges. By illuminating patients' experience during this transition period, this study provides insights into the development of interventions to support women after treatment. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development and application of a dynamic model for hindered-settling column separations

Abstract A phenomenological model, termed the “dynamic hindered-settling model”, has been developed to represent the separation in a hindered-settling column. The model is based on the convection–diffusion equation as applied to hindered-settling conditions. The key features of the model development include the derivation of equations for the finite-difference solution scheme for material balance, the integration of the modified form of Concha and Almendra’s hindered-settling equation to calculate settling velocities of particles, the development of a system to account for the continuous input/output of solids, and the addition of time-step functions to account for the underflow control valve action of a hindered-settling column. A Fortran program was written to solve the model. Simulations were carried out to evaluate column performance as a function of design and operating variables and material properties. The results, which are presented as product size distributions or fractional recovery curves, demonstrate that the dynamic hindered-settling model can be used to predict hindered-settling column separations.
Reassessing the efficacy of the Dornier MFL-5000 lithotriptor

Purpose: The Dornier MFL-5000 * *Dornier Medical Systems, Inc., Marietta, Georgia. is a multifunctional lithotriptor unit that has been purported to be highly efficacious for treating stones. Our experience led us to believe that the actual success rates are not as high as those reported by others. We objectively reexamined the efficacy of this device and factors contributing to treatment success or failure.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records and x-rays of 105 consecutive patients treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL*) using the MFL-5000 during an 18-month period from September 1997 to March 1999. One patient was excluded from study due to a stone within a caliceal diverticulum. Patients were divided evenly by gender and stone laterality. In 70% of cases a stent was placed preoperatively to relieve obstruction and/or facilitate the passage of calculous fragments. The majority of stones (70%) were 10 mm. or less. Treatment success was determined by examining x...
TSH stimulates 32P-labeling of thyroid nuclear HMG 14, a protein associated with actively transcribed chromatin.

Thyroid slices were incubated with 32Pi with or without TSH. 32P-labeling of acid-soluble nuclear proteins was then examined by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. We found that TSH enhanced the labeling of the high mobility group protein HMG 14, a protein that is preferentially associated with actively transcribed chromatin. This observation suggests that changes in HMG 14 phosphorylation may be involved in mediating TSH-induced effects on the structure and. function of active chromatin.
A Brief Review of Silicosis in the United States

Silicosis may be defined as the disease resulting from chronic occupational exposure to silica dust. Silica is primarily composed of quartz dust and has been classified since 2000 as a known human carcinogen by the U.S. government. Silicosis may lead to impairment of lung function resulting from fibrosis of the lungs. This may in turn lead to an increased susceptibility to the development of tuberculosis. Respirable particles are in the size range of less than one micrometer to as large as 30 micrometers. Silicosis is an untreatable, but preventable disease. This review explores the history of silicosis in the U.S. mining industry, including case studies of occupational silicosis.
Two domains at the origin are required for replication and maintenance of broad-host-range plasmid R1162.

Two domains at the replicative origin of broad-host-range plasmid R1162 are required in cis for plasmid maintenance in Escherichia coli and for plasmid DNA replication in cell extracts. Increasing the distance between the domains reduces replication in vitro, without substantially changing plasmid DNA content or stability in vivo. Images
Interfacial shear viscosity at fluid-fluid interfaces

Fluid-fluid interfaces containing surface-active agents or macromolecules exhibit interfacial shear viscosity phenomena. The purpose of this paper is to investigate theoretically the dynamics of liquid-liquid and liquid-gas interfaces containing surfactants, and to establish the validity of the proposed model from shear flow data at uncontaminated interfaces. A theoretical analysis for the measurement of interfacial shear viscosity at liquid-liquid interfaces with an improved viscous traction surface viscometer is presented. The analysis takes into account the finite depths of the two liquids and permits interpretation of the experimental results in terms of interfacial shear viscosities at the liquid-gas interface in addition to the liquid-liquid interface. Results of the present analysis clearly show a strong coupling of interfacial and bulk fluid flows. Extensive measurements of the interfacial velocities at a xylene-water interface were made. A cetane-water interface was also studied. Interfacial flow data for uncontaminated systems were found to be in excellent agreement with theory.
Designing an Intelligent Tutoring System Interface to Account for Personality Differences

Intelligent Tutoring Systems have been designed for a variety of purposes. Much of the design effort has been aimed at the actual subject matter. Often ignored has been the critical nature of the interface. If the way people interact with computers is directly related to their personality, then systems should respond differently to different people. This paper describes the design of an interface for an Intelligent Tutoring System that, given the student's personality, will make adjustments in the style of interaction.
Can QOL Researchers Learn Anything “Scientifically” Meaningful from Popular Cultural Icons Who Speak on Happiness and Well-Being?

This is review of two books written by “gurus” who address the topic of happiness and well-being from a spiritual perspective. One book is Matthieu Ricard’s Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life’s Most Important Skill (published by Little, Brown and Company, 2003). The other book is Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose (published by A Plume Book, 2005). The books are thought provoking and interesting reading for the layperson. From a scientific perspective, they should not be treated with any credibility. They advocate an image of the human condition and well-being that is not based on a good and scientific understanding of human nature.
Toward cell therapy for vascular calcification: osteoclast-mediated demineralization of calcified elastin

Abstract Background Elastin-oriented vascular calcification is a clinically significant feature, which involves formation of ectopic bone-like structures. Taking advantage of the similarities between arterial calcification and bone regulation, our hypothesis was that therapeutic approaches for limitation of vascular calcification could be developed using site-specific delivery of autologous osteoclasts. In the present paper, we tested the hypothesis that bone-marrow-derived osteoclasts have the ability to demineralize calcified elastin, without significant alterations in elastin integrity. Methods Active, multinucleated osteoclasts were obtained by in vitro maturation of rat bone-marrow-derived progenitor cells in the presence of vitamin D3 and retinoic acid. Cell phenotype was validated by staining for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, formation of resorption pits on hydroxyapatite-coated disks, and RT-PCR for identification of cathepsin K gene expression. Calcified aortic elastin was seeded with osteoclasts and calcium, and phosphorous levels were monitored in gels and culture media to detect demineralization of elastin. Soluble elastin peptides were also monitored in culture media for elastin degradation. For in vivo experiments, pure aortic elastin was coimplanted with allogenic osteoclasts subdermally into rats, and the degree of elastin calcification and degradation was evaluated using mineral analysis and desmosine quantitation. Results Bone-marrow-derived osteoclasts reduced mineral content of calcified elastin in vitro by 80%. Moreover, in vivo implantation of allogenic osteoclasts in the vicinity of calcifying elastin limited elastin mineralization by almost 50%, in the absence of detectable elastin degradation. Conclusions Osteoclasts have the ability to demineralize calcified elastin, without significant alterations in elastin integrity.
Are there any superstrings in eleven dimensions

Covariant actions are proposed for classical superstrings immersed in eleven space-time dimensions by construction of simple Chern-Simons terms. Local world-sheet variables are used which are space-time vectors, Majorana spinors, and antisymmetric tensors.
Bone morphogenetic proteins induce apoptosis in human pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells

Pulmonary vascular medial hypertrophy in primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is mainly caused by increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Mutations of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor type II (BMP-RII) gene have been implicated in patients with familial and sporadic PPH. The objective of this study was to elucidate the apoptotic effects of BMPs on normal human PASMCs and to examine whether BMP-induced effects are altered in PASMCs from PPH patients. Using RT-PCR, we detected six isoforms of BMPs (BMP-1 through -6) and three subunits of BMP receptors (BMP-RIa, -RIb, and -RII) in PASMCs. Treatment of normal PASMCs with BMP-2 or -7 (100-200 nM, 24-48 h) markedly increased the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis. The BMP-2-mediated apoptosis in normal PASMCs was associated with a transient activation or phosphorylation of Smad1 and a marked downregulation of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. In PASMCs from PPH patients, the BMP-2- or BMP-7-induced apoptosis was significantly inhibited compared with PASMCs from patients with secondary pulmonary hypertension. These results suggest that the antiproliferative effect of BMPs is partially due to induction of PASMC apoptosis, which serves as a critical mechanism to maintain normal cell number in the pulmonary vasculature. Inhibition of BMP-induced PASMC apoptosis in PPH patients may play an important role in the development of pulmonary vascular medial hypertrophy in these patients.
Fatigue properties of base copper materials used in the fabrication of TAB leads

An attempt was made to characterize the mechanical properties of various types of copper foils that are used for TAB (tape automated bonding) fabrication with a special emphasis on fatigue properties. Coffin-Manson plots of strain range versus cycles-to-failure and fatigue ductility values were generated from testing of specimens. In general, the wrought foils showed a high degree of anisotropy with up to a 5 to 1 difference in cycles-to-failure between machined and cross-machined directions. The anisotropy was observed to be much lower in the low-temperature annealable wrought foils, about 1.5 to 1. Observed grain structures of these materials correlated to their anisotropic behavior, with the low-temperature annealable materials showing smaller amounts of directionality in their microstructure. The ED (electrodeposited) coppers tested had fine-grained equiaxial structures with no significant effects from direction of test. Of the samples tested, the ED coppers performed better at low-cycle, high strain rates, while the wrought coppers had the best performance at high-cycle, low strain rates. The results of this work show that the fatigue performance of a particular type or temper of copper is an important consideration when designing a TAB tape. >
Assessment and Treatment of Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy in Children

Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is a term that is generally used to describe abnormally large adenoids and tonsils. Whether the adenoids and tonsils are, in fact, hypertrophic or are large because there is hyperplasia of the lymphoid cells is of little clinical significance. There are no standard weights, dimensions, or volumes that are accepted as diagnostic measures for adenotonsillar hypertrophy. It is a clinical term that describes a condition when the adenoids and tonsils appear to be consuming more space in the pharynx than is usual. The term adenotonsillar hypertrophy is also applied when average or small amounts of tissue, by their configuration and location, cause symptoms of pharyngeal airway obstruction. Small tonsils that are attached by a pedicle may rotate into the pharynx causing obstruction, and small amounts of adenoid and tonsil tissue may cause obstruction in a child with an unusual pharyngeal anatomy or abnormal muscular support. The complete role of adenoid and tonsil tissue in local and systemic immunity is not defined, but the pharyngeal lymphoid tissue remains active throughout childhood. The adenoid and tonsil tissue usually increases in size throughout childhood and tends to regress in ado1escence.l The cause for adenotonsillar hypertrophy is also not established but conditions causing recurrent acute or chronic inflammation in children seem to be associated with lymphoid hypertrophy in the pharyngeal and cervical lymph tissue. Children with large adenoids and tonsils often have a history of recurrent viral or bacterial upper respiratory infections. Chronic inflammation from upper
Prevalence of traumatic events and post‐traumatic psychological symptoms in a nonclinical sample of college students

The lifetime prevalence of traumatic events and their psychological impact were assessed in 440 undergraduate students. Eighty-four percent of the subjects reported experiencing at least one event of sufficient intensity potentially to elicit Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). One-third of the sample had experienced four or more traumatic events. Subjects who had experienced trauma reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptomatology than nontraumatized subjects, and these symptoms were more intense in subjects who experienced multiple traumas. Events that were particularly negative in their impact included unwanted sexual experiences and events that subjects reported were too traumatic to discuss openly. Males and females differed in their probability of experiencing some types of events and in the psychological response to certain events.
Controlled/living radical polymerization: Features, developments, and perspectives

Abstract Recent mechanistic developments in the field of controlled/living radical polymerization (CRP) are reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed on structure–reactivity correlations and “rules” for catalyst selection in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), for chain transfer agent selection in reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and for the selection of an appropriate mediating agent in stable free radical polymerization (SFRP), including organic and transition metal persistent radicals. Novel methods of fine tuning initiation, activation, and deactivation processes for all techniques are discussed, including activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET) and initiators for continuous activator regeneration (ICAR) ATRP, whereby Cu catalyst concentrations in ATRP can be lowered to just 10 ppm. Progress made in each technique related to the synthesis of both high and low molecular weight polymers, end functional polymers, block copolymers, expanding the range of polymerizable monomers, synthesis of hybrid materials, environmental issues, and polymerization in aqueous media is thoroughly discussed and compared.
Energy Levels of Gd 156 as Populated by Electron Capture from Tb 156

Thirty-six transitions from the excited levels of $^{156}\mathrm{Gd}$ as fed by electron capture in $^{156}\mathrm{Tb}$ have been studied. Level spins and parities, along with transition multipolarities, have been determined utilizing germanium solid-state detectors for the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays and the Davis precision solenoidal $\ensuremath{\beta}$-ray spectrometer for the conversion electrons. The energies as measured by the spectrometer are determined to well within one part in 7000. A decay scheme is presented and the energy levels are discussed.
Choosing Sides: Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism, and Social Goods Provision

In this paper, I present a formal model investigating the strategic competition for popular support between a terrorist group and its target government when the terrorist group provides social services. The results from this model show that terrorist groups only increase mobilization by providing social services provisions when the utility a potential supporter gains from those services increases at a faster rate than the probability of a successful attack would increase had those resources been used for military actions instead. This finding helps to explain why social provisions are only provided by a few terrorist organizations, despite the widespread belief that they aid in mobilization. The model predicts that social services are more likely to be provided when the public has great need of these services, such as in the absence of public goods provision by the government. Using originally collected club goods data from the Terrorist Organization Profiles by START, this result is strongly supported. Using an ordered logit, the results show that the provision of social services is more likely to result in a larger group when public goods are provided at low levels by the government. Additionally, once this positive impact on size has been taken into account, a negative binomial regression shows no effect of club goods on the likelihood of an attack. These results show that a terrorist organization only provides social services to increase mobilization and will do so only when this increase is sufficiently large to compensate for the loss of resources for military attacks.
Does Hierarchy Exist Among the Refereed Accounting Journals

The extent of literature revealed an uneven playing field in publishing in refereed business Journals. To test if this was also true for accounting Journals, we evaluated the relative frequency of articles published in top accounting Journals, and they too exhibited bias in their article selection. Chi-Square tests showed significant differences on three null hypotheses while Goodman Kruskal tau tests show refereed accounting Journals predict (p
Personalised care of patients with stroke in China: a challenge and an opportunity

Interventional treatment of patients with stroke should rekindle a push for ‘personalised’ medicine. In 1988, more than a quarter of a century ago, one of us (LRC) made a plea for personalised care in an editorial ‘What is wrong with Mr. Jones’.1 At that time, the technological tools available to image the brain and its vascular supply were far inferior to those available now. That editorial was focused on patients with transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs). Now experience has accrued concerning detailed personalised clinical and technological evaluation of patients with brain ischaemia and haemorrhage evaluated urgently and even those who have less urgent presentations seen in outpatient settings. Recent focus has centred on rapid management of patients with acute stroke. Randomised trials have now shown the effectiveness of aggressive interventional endovascular treatment of patients with ischaemic stroke diagnosed using modern brain and vascular imaging technology.2–7 Much has been written about these recent randomised trials of interventional treatment of selected individuals who have acute brain ischaemia. These studies proved that patients carefully selected using advanced brain and vascular imaging had better outcomes by applying interventional techniques that opened occluded brain-supplying arteries than controls primarily treated only with standard intravenous thrombolysis.2–7 The discussions and editorials8 ,9 that followed publication and presentations of the results of these trials have understandably mostly consisted of analyses that answer very practical questions. What is the time frame in which the treatment is likely to succeed? How is success measured? Which patients with what vascular lesions and what volume of brain infarction should be treated? Does the amount of collateral circulation already mobilised matter and, if so, how should it be measured? Does the ‘clot burden’ shown before treatment affect the ability to open the artery or bleeding after clot removal? What technology …
Infrared and Hot-Wire Investigations of Ice Roughness Induced Transition

During the early stages of ice accretion on aircraft surfaces, the surface condition changes quickly from smooth to rough. Because of the aerodynamic configuration along an airfoil, the roughness characteristics developed during an icing event vary tremendously along the airfoil in the direction of the flow. In the stagnation region of the flow around an airfoil, the relatively high shear rates, high droplet collection efficiency, and film dynamics create a relatively smooth region of ice. As the shear levels and collection efficiency decrease in the flow direction, the liquid film breaks, and beads begin to form which may run-back or solidify into roughness. The smooth-to-rough surface condition change which occurs on an iced airfoil may cause the flow to prematurely transition to turbulent flow. In this study, the flow over a surface with randomly sized and positioned hemispherical roughness generated to replicate characteristics of real short-duration icing roughness on a NACA 0012 airfoil is investigated. In addition to having random characteristics similar to those found on real iced airfoils, the surface also exhibits a transition from smooth-to-roughness. The flow near the smooth-to-rough transition is investigated using infrared surface temperature measurements during subsurface heating using thin film heaters and using hot-wire traces through the boundary layer. The measurements presented demonstrate excellent agreement regarding the stages of the transition process and the length of region required for the flow to transition from laminar to turbulent.
A proposal for the deinstitutionalization of patients

Outpatient treatment of cancer patients, often medically and psychologically sound, results in great savings for insurers but increased out-of-pocket expenses to patients. If insurers were to reimburse for nonmedical out-of-pocket costs as well as medical, this disincentive to deinstitutionalization would be removed.
Control of Brachycorynella asparagi (Homoptera: Aphididae) in irrigated asparagus with granular systemic insecticides, and disulfoton degradation in asparagus fern

A single shank side-dressing of phorate, aldicarb, or disulfoton granules in furrow-irrigated asparagus controlled Brachycorynella asparagi (Mordvilko) for up to 79 d after harvest. Concentrations of disulfoton metabolites in asparagus fern after 66 d suggest that protection may last longer. Disulfoton and aldicarb were superior to phorate in efficacy. Uptake of insecticides in sprinkler-irrigated asparagus was poor as shown by low levels of disulfoton residues in the fern throughout the growing season. Applied rates of disulfoton were correlated positively with residues recovered from asparagus fern and negatively correlated with resultant aphid population levels. Residue analyses also provided evidence that rooting habit of the asparagus plant, the application technique, and irrigation methods significantly affected insecticide uptake.
On the comparative toxicity of some alcohols with especial reference to isomers

While the comparative toxicology of various alcohols belonging to the aliphatic series has been studied by various authors, very little is known concerning the comparative pharmacological properties of some of their isomers. The present author, during the past winter, had occasion to determine the relative toxicity of methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and amyl alcohols, and, in that connection made a comparative study of isopropyl, isobutyl, and isoamyl alcohols, together with the normal propyl, butyl and amyl alcohols. The lethal dosage of the various alcohols was first determined by the cat method, that is, by injections intravenously of 5 or 1 per cent. solutions at regular intervals, and determining the amount of drug per kilo required to kill the animal. It was found, in these acute experiments, that the lethal dose of the normal alcohols followed the well-known Richardson's law, that is, decreased with the increase in molecular weight of the alcohol, as has been shown already by many observers. On compar...