cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison Between the Performance of Binary Coding and Real Number Encoding in Genetic Algorithms Applied to the IHCP

In this paper a comparison between binary coding and real number encoding has been drawn for solving a one dimensional heat conduction equation with specified boundary conditions. A test problem is taken and solved using binary coding as well as real number encoding and the results obtained are compared to that of the test problem, based on which the conclusions are drawn.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Optimal Management of the Post–Intestinal Transplant Patient

The lack of controlled interventional studies limits the ability to assess optimal management of intestine transplant recipients. This report aims to examine factors that probably impact on the quality of patient care in the setting of intestine transplantation. The specific practice in the most experienced intestine transplant programs in the United States was surveyed with regard to immunosuppressive regimens, treatment of acute allograft rejection, feeding, and viral surveillance and treatment. The most striking finding was in the level of agreement between the centers, particularly with regard to use of tacrolimus for maintenance immunosuppression, methylprednisone boluses for treatment of acute rejection, early postoperative enteral feeding, and ganciclovir prophylaxis.
Constitutive activation of transcription and binding of coactivator by estrogen-related receptors 1 and 2.

In this report, we demonstrate that, in contrast to most previously characterized nuclear receptors, hERR1 and hERR2 (human estrogen receptor-related protein 1 and -2) are constitutive activators of the classic estrogen response element (ERE) as well as the palindromic thyroid hormone response element (TREpal) but not the glucocorticoid response element (GRE). This intrinsically activated state of hERR1 and hERR2 resides in the ligandbinding domains of the two genes and is transferable to a heterologous receptor. In addition, we show that members of the p160 family of nuclear receptor coactivators, ACTR (activator of thyroid and retinoic acid receptors), GRIP1 (glucocorticoid receptor interacting protein 1), and SRC-1 (steroid receptor coactivator 1), potentiate the transcriptional activity by hERR1 and hERR2 in mammalian cells, and that both orphan receptors bind the coactivators in a ligand-independent manner. Together, these results suggest that hERR1 and hERR2 activate gene transcription through a mechanism different from most of the previously characterized steroid hormone receptors. (Molecular Endocrinology 13: 2151‐2162, 1999)
An analysis of Knoop microhardness

Abstract This paper describes a new analysis of Knoop hardness results. The relation is a modified version of Kick's Law which correlates the applied load to the long Knoop diagonal by a term that considers the resistance offered by the test specimen itself. The theory is applied to nine specimens of varient hardness and proven valid by graphical methods. Discussion is given for usage of the modified law to obtain Knoop hardness numbers independent of the applied load. Miscellaneous observations are also given for standardization and limits of Knoop hardness ranges.
A comparison of the aerodynamic and the theoretical-profile-shape methods for measuring pesticide evaporation from soil

Abstract The theoretical-profile-shape (TPS) method for measuring the volatilization flux of four pesticides from fallow soil was found to provide results which were not statistically different from the aerodynamic method using the Thornthwaite-Holzman (TH) equations. This result was from a side-by-side field comparison using the two methods. The aerodynamic field experiment required 1 hectare of uniformly surfaced land area, detailed gradient measurements of horizontal wind speed at four heights above the surface, temperature at three heights, and pesticide air concentration at five heights. In contrast, the TPS method required a circular plot ( r =20 m) of ≈ 0.1 hectare and a single measurement of wind speed and pesticide air concentration at a predetermined height above the treated surface. These results indicate that the simpler TPS method can be reliably used to determine evaporative fluxes for compounds with low vapor pressures ( −2 Pa) with more rapid final flux determinations and reduced expense.
∞6 Mixed plate theories based on the Generalized Unified Formulation.: Part II: Layerwise theories

The generalized unified formulation introduced in Part I for the case of composite plates and Reissner’s Mixed variational theorem is, for the first time in the literature, applied to the case of layerwise theories. Each layer is independently modeled. The compatibility of the displacements and the equilibrium of the transverse stresses between two adjacent layers are enforced a priori. Infinite combinations of the orders used for displacements ux, uy, uz and out-of-plane stresses σzx, σzy, σzz can be freely chosen. ∞6 layerwise theories are therefore presented. The code based on this capability can have all the possible ∞6 theories built-in, thus, making the code a powerful and versatile tool to analyze different geometries, boundary conditions and applied loads. All ∞6 theories are generated by expanding 13 1×1 invariant matrices (the kernels of the Generalized Unified Formulation). How the kernels are expanded and the theories generated is explained. Details of the assembling in the thickness direction and the generation of the matrices are provided.
Finding a Niche for Species in Nature Ethics

This essay examines the relationship between Marti Kheel’s ecofeminism, particularly as articulated in her recent book Nature Ethics , and holistic eco-philosophy. It begins by arguing that while Kheel’s view shares some common ground with holistic thinkers, her position is best understood as one that re-conceives the meaning of holism. Next, her comments on species preservation are discussed both to show her individualism, and to highlight a weakness in her approach to issues involving at-risk species. It is then suggested that one could develop a more holistic answer to questions about species that is consonant with Kheel’s overall philosophical approach.
The power of PACs.

An elderly woman was admitted for palpitation, light-headedness, and syncope. Telemetry strips revealed numerous episodes of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) as well as premature beats and pauses. Analysis of the effects of spontaneous premature atrial contractions (PACs) on both the sinus discharge rate and on the SVTs revealed strict relationships that helped decipher the electrophysiological mechanisms of the arrhythmias and offered a rational approach to treatment. Invasive electrophysiological evaluation was not needed. A hitherto unreported phenomenon was the predictable termination of reentrant SVTs by spontaneous PACs. This instructional exercise shows the power of PACs in triggering and terminating arrhythmias, as well as their ability to serve as diagnostic tools in arrhythmia analysis.
Stereotypes of athletes.

To ascertain whether racial and sexual stereotypes of athletes exist, 140 female junior high school students rated six descriptions of athletes which were presented as pertaining to a male or female Black, Chicano, or Anglo athlete. No evidence for ethnic or sexual stereotyping was found, although descriptions of athletes in different sports were rated differently.
Psychiatric Comorbidity and Mortality After Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background— Prior studies of the impact of psychiatric comorbidity on outcomes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have frequently relied on inpatient secondary diagnosis codes. This study compared associations between psychiatric comorbidity and AMI outcomes that were derived using secondary diagnosis codes and codes captured from prior outpatient encounters. Methods and Results— Retrospective cohort study analyzing 21 745 patients admitted in 2004 to 2006 to Veterans Health Administration hospitals with AMI using administrative data. Psychiatric comorbidity was identified using (1) secondary inpatient diagnosis codes from the index hospitalization and (2) diagnoses from prior outpatient encounters. Outcomes included 30- and 365-day mortality and the receipt of coronary revascularization within 30 days of admission. Generalized estimating equations and Cox proportional hazards were used to adjust mortality and receipt of revascularization for demographic and clinical variables. Psychiatric disorders ...
Corrigendum to “Each of the eight simian hemorrhagic fever virus minor structural proteins is functionally important” [Virology 462–463 (2014) 351–362]

Corrigendum to “Each of the eight simian hemorrhagic fever virus minor structural proteins is functionally important” [Virology 462–463 (2014) 351–362] Heather A. Vatter , Han Di , Eric F. Donaldson , Ralph S. Baric , Margo A. Brinton a,n a Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States b Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
Accelerator Systems of the SSC

The objectives, organization, and immediate plans for the Accelerator Systems Division of the SSC have been presented. The preliminary results of a study on the commisioning and operational characteristics of the SSC as they are influenced by the various magnet types has been presented. The status of the present R&D work has been described, with particular attention to the experiment on synchrotron radiation induced gas desorption.
OP011 Increased growth and germination success in plants following hydrogen sulfide administration

The biological effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have received increasing attention in recent years, not only as a putative kill mechanism during past mass extinctions, but also as an important signaling molecule in both aerobic and anaerobic organisms. Hydrogen sulfide has recently been added to nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) as a newly categorized group of biologically active gases termed gasotransmitters and gasomediators. The origin of these dual activities remains unknown, but it may be that these varied signaling and biological mediating capabilities are remnants of biological responses by life either evolving or inhabiting highly sulfidic and anoxic environments of earlier times in Earth history. Today, H2S causes a wide variety of vital effects across the ”Tree of Life”, from metabolic inhibition, to energy source, to coordination of developmental growth programs in yeast and perhaps higher organisms as well. We report [1] that exposing either roots or seeds of multicellular plants to extremely low concentrations of dissolved hydrogen sulfide at any stage of life causes statistically significant increases in biomass including higher fruit yield. Individual cells in treated plants were smaller (∼13%) than those of controls. Germination success and seedling size increased in, bean, corn, wheat, and pea seeds while time to germination decreases. Additionally, it was determined that at high concentrations (>10 mM) it appears that photosystem (PS) II is inhibited whereas PSI remains active [2] . These findings indicated an important role of H2S as a signaling molecule that can increase the growth rate of all species yet tested. The increased crop yields reported here has the potential to effect the world’s agricultural output.
Fatty acid synthesis and metabolism of phospholipid acyl groups in strain L mouse fibroblasts

Abstract Strain L mouse fibroblasts grown in medium supplemented with 2.5% delipidized horse serum were found capable of desaturating oleic and linoleic acid to dienoic and trienoic acid(s), respectively. Although 40–60% of de novo fatty acid synthesis from [2- 3 H]acetate was inhibited by the administration of exogenous oleic or linoleic acid, sterol synthesis was only slightly affected. Within 24–48 h after incorporation, phospholipid fatty acyl groups could undergo active exchange between phospholipids. After this dynamic transition period was over, not only were the phospholipid acyls retained but some vicinal fatty acyl pairs of phospholipid also appeared to be stable and remained together throughout the depletion period. At any time in the experiment, however, introduction of exogenous fatty acid perturbed this phospholipid acyl retention, delayed the time at which the phospholipid acyl groups no longer moved between phospholipids and also decreased the ultimate number of phospholipid acyl groups retained by strain L mouse fibroblasts.
Matrices of Sinc methods

This paper gives a brief review of Sinc methods, with emphasis on the matrices of Sinc methods. A novel procedure is presented, based on Sinc convolution, for solving a Poisson problem over a rectangular region. Although some of the work of Gragg may already be applied to the solution of Sinc-matrix problems, this paper also points to new directions of matrix research.
Carrier‐free astatination of steroid hormones

The alpha emitting radiohalogen 211At has potential use as a radiotherapeutic agent when linked to biologically active molecules. The range of compounds which may be astatinated is limited by relative lack of knowledge of organoastatine syntheses. The production of astatovinyl steroids was carried out via electrophilic substitution of tri-n-butylstannylvinyl steroids with astatide in the presence of mild oxidizing agents. The astatinated steroids are synthesized rapidly and in carrier-free fashion yielding compounds of high radiochemical purity.
Comm-ing across the midline.

Comm downregulates the Slit receptor Robo on commissural axons, thereby enabling midline crossing. Elegant new experiments show that Comm functions by diverting Robo to the endosomal pathway, preventing its delivery to the growth cone.
Identification and characterization of an operon, msaABCR, that controls virulence and biofilm development in Staphylococcus aureus

Community-acquired, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains often cause localized infections in immunocompromised hosts, but some strains show enhanced virulence leading to severe infections even among healthy individuals with no predisposing risk factors. The genetic basis for this enhanced virulence has yet to be determined. S. aureus possesses a wide variety of virulence factors, the expression of which is carefully coordinated by a variety of regulators. Several virulence regulators have been well characterized, but others have yet to be thoroughly investigated. Previously, we identified the msa gene as a regulator of several virulence genes, biofilm development, and antibiotic resistance. We also found evidence of the involvement of upstream genes in msa function. To investigate the mechanism of regulation of the msa gene (renamed msaC), we examined the upstream genes whose expression was affected by its deletion. We showed that msaC is part of a newly defined four-gene operon (msaABCR), in which msaC is a non-protein-coding RNA that is essential for the function of the operon. Furthermore, we found that an antisense RNA (msaR) is complementary to the 5′ end of the msaB gene and is expressed in a growth phase-dependent manner suggesting that it is involved in regulation of the operon. These findings allow us to define a new operon that regulates fundamental phenotypes in S. aureus such as biofilm development and virulence. Characterization of the msaABCR operon will allow us to investigate the mechanism of function of this operon and the role of the individual genes in regulation and interaction with its targets. This study identifies a new element in the complex regulatory circuits in S. aureus, and our findings may be therapeutically relevant.
Stability Analysis of Dynamic Equilibria

Information for decision making is classified into four elements: alternatives, criteria, outcomes, and preferences. By the assumption of procedural rationality, a decision maker always collects and uses information necessary to form expectations about various alternatives and makes his choices from Pareto-optimal alternatives. The Pareto-optimality of an alternative depends on evaluation criteria, the assessments of criterion functions, and the existence of other relevant alternatives. Therefore, Pareto-equilibria will dynamically change with time and new information input. This paper studies the stability of dynamic Pareto-equilibria in a process of multicriterion decision making. Both local and global measures of stability are proposed and their equivalence is proved. Conditions for a sequence of equilibria to be stable are identified.
A General Synthesis of Functionalized Hydroxy Quinones

Abstract During the course of synthetic studies, the preparation of hydroxy quinones such as 1 became necessary. Existing methodology1 is plagued with problems associated with regioselectivity and overoxidation.
Security of fragile authentication watermarks with localization

In this paper, we study the security of fragile image authentication watermarks that can localize tampered areas. We start by comparing the goals, capabilities, and advantages of image authentication based on watermarking and cryptography. Then we point out some common security problems of current fragile authentication watermarks with localization and classify attacks on authentication watermarks into five categories. By investigating the attacks and vulnerabilities of current schemes, we propose a variation of the Wong scheme18 that is fast, simple, cryptographically secure, and resistant to all known attacks, including the Holliman-Memon attack9. In the new scheme, a special symmetry structure in the logo is used to authenticate the block content, while the logo itself carries information about the block origin (block index, the image index or time stamp, author ID, etc.). Because the authentication of the content and its origin are separated, it is possible to easily identify swapped blocks between images and accurately detect cropped areas, while being able to accurately localize tampered pixels.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Degradation of paternal mitochondria after fertilization: implications for heteroplasmy, assisted reproductive technologies and mtDNA inheritance

Maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA has long been regarded as a major paradox in developmental biology. While some confusion may still persist in popular science, research data clearly document that the paternal sperm-borne mitochondria of most mammalian species enter the ooplasm at fertilization and are specifically targeted for degradation by the resident ubiquitin system. Ubiquitin is a proteolytic chaperone that forms covalently linked polyubiquitin chains on the targeted proteinaceous substrates. The polyubiquitin tag redirects the substrate proteins to a 26-S proteasome, a multi-subunit proteolytic organelle. Thus, specific proteasomal inhibitors reversibly block sperm mitochondrial degradation in ooplasm. Lysosomal degradation and the activity of membrane-lipoperoxidating enzyme 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) may also contribute to sperm mitochondrial degradation in the ooplasm, but probably is not crucial. Prohibitin, the major protein of the inner mitochondrial membrane, appears to be ubiquitinated in the sperm mitochondria. Occasional occurrence of paternal inheritance of mtDNA has been suggested in mammals including humans. While most such evidence has been widely disputed, it warrants further examination. Of particular concern is the documented heteroplasmy, i.e. mixed mtDNA inheritance after ooplasmic transplantation. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has inherent potential for delaying the degradation of sperm mitochondria. However, paternal mtDNA inheritance after ICSI has not been documented so far.
A psychometric investigation of “macroscopic” speech measures for clinical and psychological science

The analysis of vocal expression is a critical endeavor for psychological and clinical sciences and is an increasingly popular application for computer–human interfaces. Despite this, and despite advances in the efficiency, affordability, and sophistication of vocal analytic technologies, there is considerable variability across studies regarding what aspects of vocal expression are studied. Vocal signals can be quantified in a myriad of ways, and their underlying structure, at least with respect to “macroscopic” measures from extended speech, is presently unclear. To address this issue, we evaluated the psychometric properties—notably, the structural and construct validity—of a systematically defined set of global vocal features. Our analytic strategy focused on (a) identifying redundant variables among this set, (b) employing principal components analysis (PCA) to identify nonoverlapping domains of vocal expression, (c) examining the degrees to which the vocal variables are modulated as a function of changes in speech task, and (d) evaluating the relationship between the vocal variables and cognitive (i.e., verbal fluency) and clinical (i.e., depression, anxiety, and hostility) variables. Spontaneous speech samples from 11 independent studies of young adults (>60 s in length), employing one of three different speaking tasks, were examined (N = 1,350). Confounding variables (i.e., sex, ethnicity) were statistically controlled for. The PCA identified six distinct domains of vocal expression. Collectively, vocal expression (defined in terms of these domains) was modulated as a function of speech task and was related to the cognitive and clinical variables. These findings provide empirically grounded implications for the study of vocal expression in psychological and clinical sciences.
Gene therapy for experimental brain tumors using a xenogenic cell line engineered to secrete hIL-2.

Local delivery of cytokines has been shown to have a potent anti-tumor activity against a wide range of malignant brain tumors. In this study, we examined the feasibility and efficacy of using a rat endothelial cell line (NTC-121) transfected with the human interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene in treating experimental murine CNS tumors. The NTC-121 cells were injected intracranially in C57BL/6 mice (N = 10/group) along with non-irradiated, non-transfected B16/F10 (wild type) melanoma cells. Sixty percent of mice treated with IL-2 (p 120 days. Control animals that received only wild type cells had a median survival of 18 days (range 15–20). Histopathological examination of brains from animals sacrificed at different times showed no tumor growth in the non-irradiated NTC-121 group, moderate (1–2 mm) tumor growth in the irradiated group, and gross tumor invasion (>2 mm) and tissue necrosis in the control group. Moreover, animals treated with IL-2 showed an accumulation of CD8+ T cells around the site of the injected tumor. The use of a xenogenic cell line to deliver hIL-2 stimulates a strong immunologic cytotoxic anti-tumor response that leads to significant prolongation of survival in mice challenged with the B16/F10 intracranial melanoma tumor. Our findings demonstrate that the use of a xenogenic cell line can provide a potent vehicle for the delivery of gene therapy and may therefore represent a new approach for brain tumor therapy.
Development of nanobiocomposite fibers by controlled assembly of rod-like tobacco mosaic virus

One-dimensional composite nanofibers were generated via in-situ polymerization of polyaniline on the surface of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and the head-to-tail assembly of TMV. These composite nanofibers have very high aspect ratio and good processibility. Two factors contribute to the formation of such TMV-composite fibers: (1) the accumulation and polymerization of monomers on the surface of TMV; and (2) the possibility of prolongation and stabilization of TMV helices. This strategy has been used in the synthesis of other polymeric bionanofibers with a variety of starting materials. In addition, the morphology of the final composite materials can be modulated by the covalent modification of TMV. When sulfonic acid groups are tailored to the exterior surface of TMV, polymerization of aniline can induce TMV to form branched structures with knot-like connections. On the other hand, modification of TMV with noncharged groups like acetylenes can block the assembly process completely. TEM and AFM are used to analyze the morphology and structure of composite fibers. This novel strategy to assemble TMV into 1D supramolecular assembly could be utilized in the fabrication of advanced materials for potential applications including electronics, optics, sensing, and biomedical engineering.
Habits of the heart revisited: autonomy, community, and divinity in adults' moral language

The intent of this article is to raise anew the question of the extent to which individualism prevails in the moral vocabulary of Americans. The present study affirms the observation of Bellah and his colleagues that a language of individualism is common among middle-class Americans. However, it departs from their conclusion that this language has become preponderant. Analyses of thirty in-depth interviews about a variety of moral issues revealed that the moral language of young middle-class adults indeed centered on the rights, interests, and feelings of the individual. However, this was not the language of midlife and older adults. They spoke of community and divinity considerations as much as individualistic considerations.
Normal mode analysis of Pyrococcus furiosus rubredoxin via nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) and resonance raman spectroscopy.

We have used 57Fe nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) to study the Fe(Scys)4 site in reduced and oxidized rubredoxin (Rd) from Pyrococcus furiosus (Pf). The oxidized form has also bee...
Nonlinear lightwave circuits in chalcogenide glasses fabricated by ultrafast laser

This Letter reports a nonlinear directional waveguide coupler written by ultrafast laser in gallium lanthanum sulfide chalcogenide glass. The nonlinear waveguide device is tested with laser pulses input in two orthogonal polarizations, and all optical switching at 1040 nm between the two coupled waveguides is observed at a peak fluence of 16 GW/cm2. The spectra and autocorrelation measurement from the waveguide outputs show dominant nonlinear effects and negligible dispersion for light propagation in both channels.
Envelope-Tracking Adaptive Integral Method for Band-Pass Transient Scattering Analysis

An envelope-tracking (ET) algorithm is presented for efficiently solving integral equations pertinent to the analysis of transient scattering from perfect electrically conducting surfaces. The algorithm solves space-time samples of the complex envelope of the surface current density by implicit time marching; thus, the time-step size is inversely proportional to the bandwidth—not the maximum frequency content—of the fields of interest. At each time step, anterpolation, propagation, interpolation, and near-zone correction stages are performed to compute the right-hand side of a matrix equation, which involves 4-D space-time FFTs, and to accelerate its iterative solution, which involves 3-D space FFTs. These FFTs dominate the computational costs of the method: they require $O({N_{\mathrm{C}}} [\log^2 {N_{\mathrm{g}}} + {\bar{N}_{\mathrm{I}}} \log {N_{\mathrm{C}}}])$ operations per time step; here, $N_{\mathrm{C}}$ is the number of nodes on an auxiliary regular grid, $N_{\mathrm{g}}$ is determined by the number of time steps that fields take to travel the maximum distance between two points on the scattering surface, and $\bar{N}_{\mathrm{I}}$ is the average number of iterations needed for the iterative solution to converge at each time step. Moreover, the algorithm is systematically compared to its time- and frequency-domain counterparts. To this end, radar profiles of benchmark targets are computed, a time-domain dB-error norm is proposed, the algorithms’ parameters are optimized subject to at most 2% error in the radar profile according to this norm, and the computational costs are measured, as target size, shape, and excitation pulse are varied. The results show that the algorithm outperforms its time-domain counterpart and is competitive with its frequency-domain counterpart.
Understanding the Nucleation and Growth of Metals on TiO2: Co compared to Au, Ni and Pt

The nucleation and growth of Co clusters on vacuum-annealed (reduced) and oxidized TiO2(110) have been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and de...
ICI mitigation for pilot-aided OFDM mobile systems

Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) is robust against frequency selective fading due to the increase of the symbol duration. However, for mobile applications channel time-variations in one OFDM symbol introduce intercarrier-interference (ICI) which degrades the performance. This becomes more severe as mobile speed, carrier frequency or OFDM symbol duration increases. As delay spread increases, symbol duration should also increase in order to maintain a near-constant channel in every frequency subband. Also, due to the high demand for bandwidth, there is a trend toward higher carrier frequencies. Therefore, to have an acceptable reception quality for the applications that experience high delay and Doppler spread, there is a need for ICI mitigation within one OFDM symbol. We introduce two new methods to mitigate ICI in an OFDM system with coherent channel estimation. Both methods use a piece-wise linear model to approximate channel time-variations. The first method extracts channel time-variations information from the cyclic prefix. The second method estimates these variations using the next symbol. We find a closed-form expression for the improvement in average signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) when our mitigation methods are applied for a narrowband time-variant channel. Finally, our simulation results show how these methods would improve the performance in a highly time-variant environment with high delay spread.
Fluconazole Dose Recommendation in Urinary Tract Infection

OBJECTIVE:To identify the most appropriate dose of fluconazole for the treatment of symptomatic fungal urinary tract infection (UTI).DATA SOURCES:Primary literature identified through MEDLINE (1990–June 2000). Key search terms included fluconazole and urinary tract infection.DATA SYNTHESIS:Fluconazole is approved for the treatment of candidal UTIs, but dosage recommendations are not consistent. An evaluation of clinical studies of fluconazole for the treatment of candidal UTI was performed.CONCLUSIONS:Questions remain about the optimal dosing of fluconazole, including the most appropriate dose in non-albicans species of candida as well as the optimal duration of therapy. Until further studies are performed, a fluconazole 200-mg loading dose followed by 100 mg/d for at least four days appears to be the most appropriate dose for the treatment of symptomatic candidal UTI in patients without systemic fungal infection or severe renal failure.
A state space technique for the solution of nonlinear 3-D transient eddy current problems

The authors present a novel method for 3-D nonlinear transient eddy current and field computations in electrical devices. The method utilizes the state-space approach for handling the time variation in a volume containing excitation coils, metallic structures, and nonconducting media. A nonlinear magnetic circuit example, excited from a time-varying source, was successfully implemented. A comparison between the results of the proposed state-space method, the Crank-Nicolson technique, and measured data is provided to show the effectiveness and validity of the proposed approach. The results of the comparisons reveal excellent agreement while the proposed method outperforms the Crank-Nicolson technique in terms of CPU time. >
The reduction of insulin gene transcription in HIT-T15 beta cells chronically exposed to high glucose concentration is associated with the loss of RIPE3b1 and STF-1 transcription factor expression.

The most important regulator of insulin gene expression in pancreatic beta- cells is glucose, which affects gene transcription, mRNA translation, and secretion. Insulin gene transcription is both positively and negatively regulated by glucose. Recently, we have shown that the inhibition of insulin gene transcription caused by passaging HIT T-15 beta-cells, in the presence of high glucose, was due, in part, to reduced expression of a key regulator of insulin enhancer-mediated expression, somatostatin transcription factor-1 (STF-1). In this study, we have examined whether the activity of the other essential transcription regulators of insulin gene expression, the RIPE3b1 and insulin control element (ICE) activators, were also influenced in these HIT T-15 cells. The results show that the binding and trans-activation functions of the RIPE3b1 activator are reduced in parallel with the loss in STF-1 and insulin gene expression. In contrast, the regulatory properties of the ICE activator are unaffected. Our stud...
A Qualitative Investigation of Graduate-Student Changes Associated With Multicultural Counseling Courses:

The critical incidents technique was used to gather information from graduate students about the changes they experienced connected to their participation in multicultural counseling courses. Trainees were also asked what course elements were linked to their personal changes. Racial and ethnic differences in response frequencies were analyzed. A diverse sample of 124 trainees from a variety of graduate programs participated in this Web-based qualitative survey. Trainees reported changes in terms of increased knowledge, increased self-understanding, attitude, and behavior and attributed these changes to didactic, interactive, and reflective activities, the influence of the instructor, and the course as a whole. The identified themes are illustrated through the use of the trainees' own words. Chi-square analyses found no differences between students of color and White students in types of changes reported or elements reported as catalysts for changes. The implications of these findings for the future of mul...
The nomenclature of polymict basaltic achondrites

The system of nomenclature for basaltic achondrite meteorites is discussed, and new classification criteria are proposed. Under the new system, all achondrites are divided intno the broad groupings 'monomict' and 'polymict' by the number of lithologies present. The monomicts are classified structurally as brecciated or unbreccciated and as eucrites, diogenites, or cumulate eucrites. The polymicts are classified using an arbitrary mineral-chemical standard based on the percentage content of diogenite (magnesium orthopyroxenite): diogenites have more than 90 percent, eucrites have less than 10 percent, and all other polymicts area howardites. Tables listing all known achondrites by classification are provided.
Economic Coercion in World Politics: With a Focus on North-South Relations

Earlier studies of economic sanctions underestimated the role and importance of more subtle forms of coercion because they concentrated attention on highly public, formally legislated attempts at economic coercion in world politics, such as the cases of Italy in the 1930s and Rhodesia since 1965. The author agrees with Galtung, Knorr, and others that in highly public cases, sanctions will often fail in their avowed political purpose because they actually stimulate nationalism and thus resistance in the target-state; he argues that in an increasingly (but unequally) interdependent world, relatively subtle sanctions can be politically effective—with only moderately purely economic effects—by exploiting the LDC's typically fragmented interest-group and class structure. In order to describe and explain how such economic coercion works, it is necessary to bridge several “islands” of literature: on economic sanctions, on the structure of dependency, and on the causes of political instability.
Intrusive gravity currents between two stably stratified fluids

We present an experimental and numerical study of one stratified fluid propagating into another. The two fluids are initially at rest in a horizontal channel and are separated by a vertical gate which is removed to start the flow. We consider the case in which the two fluids have the same mean densities but have different, constant, non-zero buoyancy frequencies. In this case the fluid with the smaller buoyancy frequency flows into the other fluid along the mid-depth of the channel in the form of an intrusion and two counter-flowing gravity currents of the fluid with the larger buoyancy frequency flow along the top and bottom boundaries of the channel. Working from the available potential energy of the system and measurements of the intrusion thickness, we develop an energy model to describe the speed of the intrusion in terms of the ratio of the two buoyancy frequencies. We examine the role of the stratification within the intrusion and the two gravity currents, and show that this stratification plays an important role in the internal structure of the flow, but has only a secondary effect on the speeds of the exchange flows.
Cellular Responses to Mycobacterial Antigens Are Present in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Used in the Diagnosis of Sarcoidosis

ABSTRACT Considerable evidence supports the concept that CD4+ T cells are important in sarcoidosis pathogenesis, but the antigens responsible for the observed Th1 immunophenotype remain elusive. The epidemiologic association with bioaerosols and the presence of granulomatous inflammation support consideration of mycobacterial antigens. To explore the role of mycobacterial antigens in sarcoidosis immunopathogenesis, we assessed the immune recognition of mycobacterial antigens, the 6-kDa early secreted antigenic protein (ESAT-6) and catalase-peroxidase (KatG), by T cells derived from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid obtained during diagnostic bronchoscopy. We report the presence of antigen-specific recognition of ESAT-6 and KatG in T cells from BAL fluid of 32/44 sarcoidosis subjects, compared to 1/27 controls (P
The effect of a high temperature reaction of Cu-In-Ga metallic precursors on the formation of Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S) 2

The influence of higher processing temperatures on the formation reaction of Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 thin films using a three step reactive annealing process and on the device performance has been investigated. High process temperatures generally lead to the formation of larger grains, decrease the amount of void formation and their distribution at the back Mo/Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 interface, and lead to a much faster formation reaction that shortens the overall reaction process. However, high temperature processing also leads to a decrease in device performance. A loss in open circuit voltage and fill factor could be attributed to enhanced interface recombination processes for the samples fabricated at higher process temperatures, which itself may be caused by a lack of Na and subsequent poor passivation of interface defect states. The lack of Na resulted in a decrease in free charge carrier concentration by two orders of magnitude.
Apospory in Mosses Discovered by Nathanael Pringsheim in a Brilliant Epoch of Botany

The revolutionary advances in scientific botany in the mid- and last half of the nineteenth century included Nathanael Pringsheim's pivotal discovery of apospory in mosses: the regeneration of sporophytic tissue to form gametophytic structures, without the benefit of spores. This discovery was expanded later when the different chromosome numbers in the gametophytic (n) and sporophytic (2n) phases were revealed. Thus, the full significance of apospory was realized: the tissue regenerated by the sporophyte is gametophytic in morphology, but bears the chromosome content of the sporophytic tissue from which it arose. Pringsheim's discovery helped to promote the homologous theory of alternation of generations and, by clarifying the commonalities of the thallophytes, bryophytes, pteridophytes, conifers, and flowering plants, to suggest evolutionary paths for these groups. In this remarkable era, botanists turned with in
Visualization for constructing and sharing geo-scientific concepts

Representations of scientific knowledge must reflect the dynamic nature of knowledge construction and the evolving networks of relations between scientific concepts. In this article, we describe initial work toward dynamic, visual methods and tools that support the construction, communication, revision, and application of scientific knowledge. Specifically, we focus on tools to capture and explore the concepts that underlie collaborative science activities, with examples drawn from the domain of human-environment interaction. These tools help individual researchers describe the process of knowledge construction while enabling teams of collaborators to synthesize common concepts. Our visualization approach links geographic visualization techniques with concept-mapping tools and allows the knowledge structures that result to be shared through a Web portal that helps scientists work collectively to advance their understanding. Our integration of geovisualization and knowledge representation methods emphasizes the process through which abstract concepts can be contextualized by the data, methods, people, and perspectives that produced them. This contextualization is a critical component of a knowledge structure, without which much of the meaning that guides the sharing of concepts is lost. By using the tools we describe here, human-environment scientists are given a visual means to build concepts from data (individually and collectively) and to connect these concepts to each other at appropriate levels of abstraction.
The fat-soluble vitamins 100 years later: Where are we now?

In 1913, McCollum and Davis (1) published a paper entitled “The Necessity of Certain Lipins in the Diet During Growth” in which they showed that ether extractable organic compounds present in butter or eggs were required for maintaining the normal growth of rats. This effect on growth could not be obtained simply by feeding lard or olive oil. This was taken by McCollum and Davis to indicate that dietary fat alone was not responsible for their findings. These early investigators went on to conclude “…that there are certain accessory articles in certain food-stuffs which are essential for normal growth for extended periods.” This paper from a century ago is generally considered to be the first to provide evidence for the existence of fat-soluble vitamins. We now understand that there are four distinct fat-soluble vitamins that are required to maintain the good health of higher organisms, vitamins A, D, E, and K. We also now understand, at the molecular level, much regarding how these vitamins act to maintain good health. Each vitamin has its own distinct metabolism and distinct mechanism(s) of action. These four fat-soluble vitamins will be the focus of a new Journal of Lipid Research Thematic Review Series that will be published in four separate issues. This is the first installment of the Thematic Review Series and will have as its focus recent advances in the area of vitamin A biology and biochemistry. Subsequent Journal of Lipid Research issues will consider each of the other fat-soluble vitamins.
Continents as lithological icebergs: The importance of buoyant lithospheric roots

An understanding of the formation of new continental crust provides an important guide to locating the oldest terrestrial rocks and minerals. We evaluated the crustal thicknesses of the thinnest stable continental crust and of an unsubductable oceanic plateau and used the resulting data to estimate the amount of mantle melting which produces permanent continental crust. The lithospheric mantle is sufficiently depleted to produce permanent buoyancy (i.e., the crust is unsubductable) at crustal thicknesses greater than 25-27 km. These unsubductable oceanic plateaus and hotspot island chains are important sources of new continental crust. The newest continental crust (e.g., the Ontong Java plateau) has a basaltic composition, not a granitic one. The observed structure and geochemistry of continents are the result of convergent margin magmatism and metamorphism which modify the nascent basaltic crust into a lowermost basaltic layer overlain by a more silicic upper crust. The definition of a continent should imply only that the lithosphere is unsubductable over 2 0.25 Ga time periods. Therefore, the search for the oldest crustal rocks should include rocks from lower to mid-crustal levels. Ke.vwordst continental crust; basalts; subduction; lithosphere; mantle
High resolution floating-point analog-to-digital converter

Floating-Point Analog-to-Digital Converters (FPADC) are required for acquiring high dynamic signals. This paper presents an FP-ADC conceived to realize a higher acquisition rate, while preserving the accuracy of classical solutions. In the proposed circuit, two ADCs operates simultaneously, in parallel: one acquires the exponent, while the second one, with a variable gain, finds out the best representation of mantissa. If an incorrect gain was set, the conversion is repeated based on the last acquired exponent. It is shown in the present paper, both theoretically and by simulation, that this new FP-ADC exhibits superior statistical characteristics. The domain of the input signals that can be converted by the FP-ADC is several orders of magnitude higher than that of a fixed-point ADC. Compared to classic FP-ADCs, this new FP-ADC is characterized by a higher acquisition rate.
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon. An ex vivo study of wear-related damage and failure at the femoral tunnel.

Patellar tendon grafts used in the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament may be subjected to thou sands of knee flexion-extension cycles during the early postoperative period. The purpose of this study was to model experimentally the patellar tendon graft wear- related damage and failure at the femoral tunnel during simulated knee motion of 0° to 112° of flexion at 1 cycle/ sec. To evaluate the effects of 2 different femoral tunnel orientations, tunnel chamfering, and 3 different graft loads on graft survival, 25 calf femurs and patellar ten dons were used. All 5 specimens with a "straight-line" femoral tunnel and an applied load of 5 pounds (22.3 N) survived greater than 125,000 cycles. All 5 of the 5-pound unchamfered transverse tunnel grafts failed at an average of 19,869 cycles, but chamfering transverse tunnels resulted in the survival of 4 of 5 specimens. Decreasing the load to 2 pounds (8.9 N) for transverse unchamfered tunnels increased survival to 1 of 5, and cycles to failure to 75,13...
Investigation of Ventilation and Current Effect of Tunnel Thruster for DP Applications

This paper presents a CFD simulation to study the ventilation phenomenon of tunnel thrusters in dynamic positioning (DP) mode of a typical North Sea shuttle tanker consisting of two main propellers, two rudders, and two bow tunnel thrusters. Measurements of blade thrust and moment for the propeller shaft (corresponding to propeller torque) with ventilated propellers at different submersion positions are presented and discussed. Additionally, in order to obtain insight into the effect of waves on ventilation which further affects propeller loading and dynamic fluctuations, simulations of a tunnel thruster are performed at different immersion ratios.This paper also presents and discusses the factors in the evaluation of thruster performance, such as, the extent of present knowledge for tunnel thrusters as related to ahead ship speed, and interaction between thruster jet flow and the mainstream with various drift angles. Moreover, thrust degradation of tunnel thrusters is considered in the thrust allocation algorithms for the DP capability calculation.The objective of this study is to understand the dynamics of thruster forces. In addition, results of the study provide knowledge for a robust thrust allocation algorithm for dynamic positioning capability assessment.Copyright © 2015 by ASME