cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Auxiliary field approach to dilute Bose gases with tunable interactions

We rewrite the Lagrangian for a dilute Bose gas in terms of auxiliary fields related to the normal and anomalous condensate densities. We derive the loop expansion of the effective action in the composite-field propagators. The lowest-order auxiliary field (LOAF) theory is a conserving mean-field approximation consistent with the Goldstone theorem without some of the difficulties plaguing approximations such as the Hartree and Popov approximations. LOAF predicts a second-order phase transition. We give a set of Feynman rules for improving results to any order in the loop expansion in terms of composite-field propagators. We compare results of the LOAF approximation with those derived using the Popov approximation. LOAF allows us to explore the critical regime for all values of the coupling constant, and we determine various parameters in the unitarity limit.
Comparison of Response Surface Construction Methods for Derivative Estimation Using Moving Least Squares, Kriging and Radial Basis Functions

Response construction methods using Moving Least Squares (MLS), Kriging and Radial Basis Functions (RBF) are compared with the Global Least Squares (GLS) method in three numerical examples for derivative generation capability. Also, a new Interpolating Moving Least Squares (IMLS) method adopted from the meshless method is presented. It is found that the response surface construction methods using the Kriging and RBF interpolation yields more accurate results compared with MLS and GLS methods. Several computational aspects of the response surface construction methods also discussed.
Muscular Strength and Incident Hypertension in Normotensive and Prehypertensive Men

The protective effects of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on hypertension (HTN) are well known; however, the association between muscular strength and incidence of HTN has yet to be examined. Purpose: This study evaluated the strength-HTN association with and without accounting for CRF. Methods: Participants were 4147 men (age = 20-82 yr) in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study for whom an age-specific composite muscular strength score was computed from measures of a one-repetition maximal leg and a one-repetition maximal bench press. CRF was quantified by maximal treadmill exercise test time in minutes. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals of incident HTN events according to exposure categories. Results: During a mean follow-up of 19 yr, there were 503 incident HTN cases. Multivariable-adjusted (excluding CRF) HR of HTN in normotensive men comparing middle- and high-strength thirds to the lowest third were not significant at 1.17 and 0.84, respectively. Multivariable-adjusted (excluding CRF) HR of HTN in baseline prehypertensive men comparing middle- and high-strength thirds to the lowest third were significant at 0.73 and 0.72 (P = 0.01 each), respectively. The association between muscular strength and incidence of HTN in baseline prehypertensive men was no longer significant after control for CRF (P = 0.26). Conclusions: The study indicated that middle and high levels of muscular strength were associated with a reduced risk of HTN in prehypertensive men only. However, this relationship was no longer significant after controlling for CRF
Atomic-absorption spectrometric determination of cobalt, nickel, and copper in geological materials with matrix masking and chelation-extraction

Abstract An atomic-absorption spectrometric method is reported for the determination of cobalt, nickel, and copper in a variety of geological materials including iron- and manganese-rich, and calcareous samples. The sample is decomposed with HP-HNO 3 and the residue is dissolved in hydrochloric acid. Ammonium fluoride is added to mask iron and 'aluminum. After adjustment to pH 6, cobalt, nickel, and copper are chelated with sodium diethyl-dithiocarbamate and extracted into methyl isobutyl ketone. The sample is set aside for 24 h before analysis to remove interferences from manganese. For a 0.200-g sample, the limits of determination are 5–1000 ppm for Co, Ni, and Cu. As much as 50% Fe, 25% Mn or Ca, 20% Al and 10% Na, K, or Mg in the sample either individually or in various combinations do not interfere. Results obtained on five U.S. Geological Survey rock standards are in general agreement with values reported in the literature.
Neural regeneration: Extending axons from bench to brain

Many studies have shown that myelin in the central nervous system strongly inhibits the regeneration of axons, so it comes as a surprise to discover that adult neurons transplanted into the brain rapidly extend their axons through myelinated pathways.
Bacterial Assay for Quantitative Measurement of Nanomolar Concentrations of a Metabolite

A mutant of Pseudomonas fluorescens was used to develop a radioligand, competitive binding assay to quantitatively measure gamma-aminobutyric acid. The highly reliable and reproducible assay was sensitive (nM detection), rapid, and easy to perform. Nonspecific activity and scatter were insignificant. Radiolabel was irreversibly fixed by the cells in an energy-dependent reaction. The finding that a bacterium was effective in quantitatively detecting nanomolar amounts of a metabolite suggests that other bacteria or their mutants might be used in competitive binding assays to detect and quantify amino acids or other substances occurring in trace amounts.
Myth as Metaphysics: The Christian Saviour and the Hindu Gods

A distinction which is often rehearsed in some strands of Christian writing on the ‘Eastern’ religions, especially Hinduism, is that while they are full of ‘mythological’ fancies, Biblical faith is based on the solid rock of ‘historical’ truth. I argue that the sharp contours of this antithesis are softened when we consider two issues regarding the relation between ‘myth’ and ‘history’. First, the decades–long attempts to separate the ‘historical’ facts about Jesus Christ from the interpretive elements in the Biblical narrative highlight the presence of ‘mythical’ imagination in Christian thought. Second, a comparative study of the Christian understanding of Jesus Christ as the Incarnate God and the Hindu conception of avatāras reveals a highly significant set of differences and analogies, and shows how the supposed equivalences between ‘historical as real’ and ‘mythological as unreal’ need to be reformulated.
The history and evolution of bankruptcy as an international strategic management tool

Over the centuries, social and cultural norms, in different countries, have led to legal systems that recognise bankruptcy as a viable strategic change management tool. The purpose of this paper is to study bankruptcy and insolvency approaches different countries use to solve their economic problems. Also, this paper examines the influence country culture and legal systems have on evolution of bankruptcy management practices. Bankruptcy data and legal practices of different countries were obtained from those countries' websites and various published reports. The data were examined and compared, noting differences in legal structures among the countries studied. It was found that, whereas the aim of bankruptcy laws was to remedy the countries' economic problems, the approaches taken differed markedly. Little specific work has been done in this area and in that sense, this study is warranted. Effective bankruptcy insolvency management may benefit world economic stability and growth.
Enhancing Osteogenic Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells by Nanofibers

Controlled differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESC) is necessary to their use as a cell source for tissue engineering or regeneration. To date, most studies have concentrated on chemical cues to direct ESC differentiation. However, during normal embryonic development, multiple factors beyond chemical cues play a role, including the extracellular matrix (ECM) in bone development. In this study, we use nanofibrous (NF) matrices to mimic the morphology of the ECM to examine the contribution of the ECM morphology to the differentiation of mouse ESC. After 12 h of differentiation culture, mouse ESC form protrusions interacting with NF matrices, while they appear not to interact with flat films. Immunofluorescence staining after 26 days of differentiation culture indicates a greater degree of differentiation for mouse ESC on NF matrices compared to flat films. Polymerase chain reaction results, also, show greater degree of osteogenic differentiation on NF matrices compared to flat films when osteogenic supplements are added to the culture. Overall, these results demonstrate that NF morphology contributes to the controlled differentiation of mouse ESC.
Boolean set operations on non-manifold boundary representation objects

Abstract For Boolean operations on geometric models, we have developed an intersection algorithm for non-manifold boundary models with vertices, linear edges, planar faces, and volumetric regions. The algorithm operates by intersecting entities in an ordered manner, from vertex to edge, then to face elements. Singular intersections are systematically handled by determining if an entity in one object is within a tolerance region of the entity in the other object. The algorithm performs Boolean operations between objects of different dimensionality as well as solids. An implementation of the proposed algorithm and the experimental results are briefly discussed.
Analysis of the toenail as a biomonitor of supranutritional intake of Zn, Cu, and Mg

The toenail was examined as a biological monitor of Mg, Zn, and Cu intake using an observational case control model. The One Source Cohort matched 63 individuals in Columbia Missouri who took the One Source multivitamin with 63 control individuals. The matching criteria were based on age, sex, ethnicity, smoking status, and body mass index. The multivitamin contained supra-nutritional levels of Se, Mg, Cu, and Zn. The toenail clippings were examined for these elements using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). A statistical analysis did not indicate a significant difference for Mg, Cu, or Zn between the nails of One Source supplement users and control subjects (p<0.76, 0.55, and 0.85, respectively). The trace nutrient Se was used as an internal control. Previous studies have consistently demonstrated that toenail Se is positively correlated with Se supplement use and the analysis did result in a significant correlation in the toenails of One Source users and control subjects (p<1·10−4). This internal Se control suggests that the One Source Cohort is largely free from misclassification errors that could interfere with the biomonitor response for the supranutritional intake of Mg, Cu, and Zn.
Measurement of changes in plasma membrane phospholipid polarization following nanosecond pulsed electric field exposure

The exposure of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) to living cells has been shown to create nanopores in the plasma membranes. These nanopores allow the passage of small ions but exclude the transport of larger molecules such as Propidium ions, with permeabilization persisting for many minutes. To characterize these nanopores and the effect of temperature of the formation and resealing of these pores, we have chosen to use 6-Propionyl-2-(N,NDimethylamo) Naphthalene (PRODAN) as an indicator of membrane organization. PRODAN is a fluorescent dye with a large excited-state dipole moment that displays extensive solvent polarity-dependent fluorescent shifts. By monitoring this shift in fluorescence spectrum, disruption of the membrane after an electric exposure is observed as an immediate increase in the membrane fluidity, likely indicating poration of the membrane. High-speed imaging results indicate that a change in membrane organization occurs instantly (<5 ms), with longer pulse widths having a more dramatic effect on the membrane. This instantaneous membrane disruption was shown to recover within 500 ms.
Beyond the belly of the house Space and power around the Mandara Mountains

The northeastern Mandara Mountains of Cameroon and Nigeria are occupied at high population densities, with households spread across an abrupt mountain landscape. Ritual and political power in this area inheres to a great extent to the physical being of the mountains themselves. The exercise of such power is dispersed within mountain households, with few opportunities for aggregation of authority through control of communal activity in public spaces. The plains around these mountains are occupied at lower densities, by nucleated Islamic communities integrated within the Wandala state. Fewer roles for household ritual remain, and communal activity in public spaces is controlled by Wandala elites. Archaeological data indicate that the predecessors of both mountain and plains societies were iron-using communities in the plains around the massif.This article discusses the evolution of ritual and political systems over the last two millennia, from the plains to the mountains above them, and the implications of ...
Tensor polarizability of the 2 P 1 1 state of He 4 by electric-field level crossing

A measurement of the tensor polarizability of the $2 ^{1}P_{1}$ state of atomic helium has been made by the electric-field level-crossing technique using an atomic-beam apparatus. The experimental procedure is as follows: An atomic beam containing metastable $2 ^{1}S_{0}$ and $2 ^{3}S_{1}$ helium atoms is produced by electron bombardment of ground-state helium atoms. The beam then passes through a region in which the atoms are subjected to a uniform, variable electric field. In this region the $2 ^{1}S_{0}$ atoms are excited to the $2 ^{1}P_{1}$ state by linearly polarized 20 582-\AA{} ($2 ^{1}S_{0}\ensuremath{-}2 ^{1}P_{1}$) resonance radiation. The extreme uv photons emitted in the direction of the incident resonance light when the $2 ^{1}P_{1}$ state decays to the ground state are counted. The sum intensity of the 584-\AA{} ($2 ^{1}P_{1}\ensuremath{-}1 ^{1}S_{0}$) photons and the 601-\AA{} ($2 ^{1}S_{0}\ensuremath{-}1 ^{1}S_{0}$) photons, due to the electric-field quenching of the $2 ^{1}S_{0}$ atoms, is measured as a function of the applied electric field for the incident light polarized at 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to the direction of the static electric field. From these measurements the tensor polarizability ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}(2 ^{1}P_{1})$ of the $2 ^{1}P_{1}$ state is found to be (3.32 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.10) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}23}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$, in good agreement with the theoretically calculated value of 3.34 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}23}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$.
Geographical patterns of end-stage renal disease incidence and risk factors in rural and urban areas of South Carolina.

Abstract To assess the geographical patterns of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) incidence and to identify the risk factors on the regional differences, the authors conducted an ecological study on incidence of ESRD and related risk factors in the 46 counties of South Carolina (SC). Age and gender adjusted, race specific incidence rates for each county in SC were calculated for the 11,346 ESRD patients of all ages who registered in the United States Renal Data Systems Network 6 from 1990 to 1999. County level exposure measures on population physician density, hospitalization rates of diabetes and hypertension, per capita income, percent college degree, and percent below poverty were evaluated. There was a significant increase in mean incidence rates of ESRD from 1990 to 1999 in SC ( p 0.0001 ) . The incidence rates were consistently higher in rural than in urban counties. Population physician density (relative risk (RR) 0.49, 95% confidence interval (95%Cl, 0.41–0.58) and rural residence (adjusted RR 1.66, 95%Cl 1.59–1.74) were significantly associated with ESRD incidence. The strong relationship between ESRD and physician density suggests that access to adequate treatment of diabetes and hypertension is of paramount importance for ESRD prevention, and has important public policy implications.
Enhancing Employee Outcomes in Crime Labs: Test of a Model

Abstract This study developed and tested a model identifying determinants of employee turnover intentions and desirable performance behaviors, including helping others and engaging in knowledge sharing. Data collected from 798 employees at 10 FORESIGHT laboratories suggest that job satisfaction and embeddedness are the primary antecedents of turnover intentions and knowledge sharing, and that embeddedness is a stronger predictor variable of both outcomes. The employees’ understanding of the lab's strategic vision is the primary predictor of embeddedness, and job autonomy is the primary predictor of job satisfaction.
Self-sustained electrochemical promotion catalysts for partial oxidation reforming of heavy hydrocarbons

Abstract This paper presents a new self-sustained electrochemical promotion (SSEP) catalyst. The SSEP catalyst consists of microscopic selective anodic (Ni–Cu–CeO2) and cathodic (La0.9Sr0.1MnO3) phases that are coupled via microscopic oxygen ion conduction (yttria-stabilized zirconia, YSZ) and electronic conduction (Ni–Cu) phases. A series of partial oxidation reforming (POXR) tests on n-pentadecane in the temperature range between 450 and 650 °C were conducted in order to verify the effect of SSEP. The SSEP catalyst was compared with non-SSEP catalysts in short of one or more components. The performance of the SSEP catalyst was better than that of the non-SSEP catalysts in the entire temperature range. At 450 and 500 °C, the fuel conversion and yield of the SSEP catalysts were respectively 2–4 folds and hundreds of folds better than those of the non-SSEP catalysts and a commercial Pt–CeO2 catalyst under the same operation conditions. These results demonstrate that the concept of SSEP catalysts can be employed to improve catalytic POXR of heavy hydrocarbons.
Transition metal complexes of 3-acetylisoquinoline thiosemicarbazones as potential antifungal agents

Transition metal complexes of two 3-acetylisoquinoline thiosemicarbazones were prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, as well as physical and spectral techniques. The copper(II) complexes appear to have planar stereochemistry while the cobalt(III) and iron(III) complexes are octahedral. They possess less antifungal activity than complexes of the analogous 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone complexes.
The GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin inhibits 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3A receptors

For a number of years it has been known that the CNS convulsant picrotoxin inhibits the GABA(A) receptor, an anion-selective member of the ligand-gated ion channel (LGIC) superfamily. PTX also inhibits other anion-selective LGIC members, such as GABA(C), glycine and glutamate-gated Cl(-) channels. In the present report, we tested the ability of picrotoxin to inhibit cation-selective 5-HT(3A) receptors. Murine 5-HT(3A) receptors were expressed in HEK293 cells, and functionally evaluated using whole-cell patch clamp recording. Picrotoxin inhibited 5-HT-gated currents in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC(50) of approximately 30 microM. Moreover, the blockade by PTX was non-competitive and use-facilitated. Pentylenetetrazole and U-93631, ligands that act at a domain similar to that of picrotoxin in GABA(A) receptors, also inhibited the 5-HT(3A) receptor. For each ligand tested, its potency was 5-10 fold lower than typically observed in GABA(A) receptors. Our results demonstrate that, in addition to being a relatively non-selective inhibitor of anionic LGICs, picrotoxin also inhibits the cation-selective 5-HT(3A) receptor. Moreover, the fact that both PTZ and U-93631 similarly inhibit the 5-HT(3A) receptor is consistent with the suggestion that the site of picrotoxin action in this receptor may be comparable to that in anion-selective LGICs.
Enteric drainage pancreatic transplantation

Enteric drainage is currently the preferred method of pancreatic transplantation. This technique results in long-term good control of diabetes. In this report we discuss the postoperative radiologic anatomy and complications.
Guiding Medical Students Through the Match: Perspectives From Recent Graduates

Objective. Little has been written about the counseling of medical students as they go through the process of selecting and ranking residency programs for the National Resident Matching Program. The Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD) and the Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics jointly sought to evaluate the current status of advice and counseling for students going through the Match, and to elicit suggestions for improvement. Methods. Surveys evaluating satisfaction with aspects of and advice received regarding the Match were sent to each of the 199 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited member programs of the APPD with a request that they be distributed to all first-year pediatric residents during the orientation process for the 2001–2002 academic year. Surveys were both voluntary and anonymous. Results were compiled by the administration of the APPD. Results. We received responses from 42% of all US pediatric categorical or combined residents entering pediatric residency in July of 2001. Respondents included at least 1 representative from every US medical school. Ninety-seven percent of respondents were either very satisfied (88%) or somewhat satisfied (9%) with where they matched, whereas 82% were either very (42%) or somewhat (40%) satisfied with the advice they received regarding the match. The Fellowship and Residency Interactive Database, the faculty advisor, and resident-to-student counseling were the top 3 resources identified by the respondents. Of 12 resources listed in the survey, only the Green Book was rated as unhelpful. Four areas for improvement regarding the advising process were identified: timing, standardization, and quantity of advice and accuracy of online information resources, with specific suggestions given for each. Conclusions. Overall, recent medical school graduates are quite satisfied with both where they matched in pediatrics and the process that got them there. However, several areas for improvement in the advising/counseling system were identified. Potential approaches to these concerns or resources to develop approaches to them were identified.
Progesterone and environmental tobacco smoke act synergistically to exacerbate the development of allergic asthma in a mouse model

Summary Background Asthma affects males and females differently. Females have a higher incidence than males after the onset of puberty. This suggests a hormonal component to the development of the disease. Progesterone, a female hormone, has previously been shown to illicit a T-helper type 2 (TH2) immune response similar to that seen in allergic asthma. Previous studies performed by our laboratory have shown that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) enhances the immune response to allergens. Objective To determine if the combination of exposure to ETS and progesterone would further exacerbate the immune response in a mouse model of allergic asthma. Methods Female mice were ovariectomized and then implanted with time-release progesterone pellets. Mice were housed in either filtered air (FA) or ETS chambers and half were exposed to aerosolized house dust mite allergen (HDMA). Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed for cell differentials; lung and spleen cells were harvested to compare IL-4 and IFN-γ production by ELISPOT. Results Progesterone pellet implantation resulted in increased serum progesterone levels (28.3±8.43 vs. 13.5±7.22 ng/mL in placebo-treated mice, P<0.0001). Serum total IgE levels were significantly greater in progesterone vs. non-progesterone treated animals that were also exposed to HDMA. ETS exposure enhanced total IgE levels as well. Lung homogenate cells from HDMA/progesterone-treated animals stimulated with Concavalin A produced significantly more IL-4 compared with HDMA/placebo-treated animals (200±17.6 vs. 146±17.5 spots/well, P<0.01 in ETS exposed animals and 221±28.9 vs. 167±23.4 spots/well, P<0.01 in animals housed in FA). HDMA/ETS-treated animals had higher eosinophilia in lavage than all other groups. Conclusion Increased serum progesterone levels exacerbate the allergic asthmatic phenotype in a mouse model. These effects are further exacerbated by the addition of environmental tobacco smoke. Progesterone provides a major contribution to the gender differences seen in the development and elicitation of the asthmatic response.
Using Student Article Presentations for Evidence-Based Practice and Evidence-Based Education

Abstract Increased attention to evidence-based practice (EBP) within the profession has required more emphasis on research studies used in graduate courses. Instructors are now faced with determini...
Essential Limitations of Linear Regulation of Multibody, Flexible Dynamics

We consider the attitude regulation of multibody flexible space structures via linear regulators. Prior experience indicated that such systems may have a severely limited domain of attraction. We show that for the class of systems of interest to us such limitations can be associated with the presence of a nearby subcritical Hopf bifurcation.
Designs of Learning Controllers Based on Autoregressive Representation of a Linear System

Learning controllers that improve tracking performance through repeated trials are derived. The design is based on an autoregressive representation of a linear system. This input-output model can be interpreted in terms of an observer in state-space form. The control input is modified at every repetition as the system learns to produce a desired response, even in the presence of unknown repetitive disturbances. The coefficients of a nominal autoregressive model are first identified from input-output data. Using the identified coefficients, simple linear feedback learning controllers are designed that can correct for the errors that remain. An optimal learning gain matrix is also derived given the identified model. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the proposed learning approach.
Non-race concurrency bug detection through order-sensitive critical sections

This paper introduces a new heuristic condition for non-race concurrency bugs, named order-sensitive critical sections, and proposes a run-time bug detection scheme based on the condition. The order-sensitive critical sections are defined as a pair of critical sections that can lead to non-deterministic shared memory state depending on the order in which they execute. In a sense, the order-sensitive critical sections can be seen as extending the intuition in using data races as a potential bug condition to capture non-race bugs. Experiments show that the proposed scheme provides a good coverage for multiple types of non-race bugs, with a small number of false positives. For example, the scheme detected all 9 real-world non-race bugs that were tested as well as over 90% of injected non-race bugs. Additionally, this paper presents an efficient hardware architecture that supports the proposed scheme with minor hardware changes and a small amount of additional state - a 9-KB buffer per core and a 1-bit tag per data cache block. The hardware-based scheme could still detect all 9 real-world bugs that were tested and more than 84% of the injected non-race bugs. Moreover, the hardware supported scheme has a negligible impact on performance, with a 0.23% slowdown on average.
Wind/solar hybrid generation-based roadway microgrids

This paper presents the concept and design of a novel roadway microgrid. It operates as a smart microgrid that optimally utilizes the public right-of-way and roadway infrastructure to provide cost-effective, highly efficient, and reliable wind/solar electric power production, distribution, storage, and utilization. The fundamental unit of the microgrid is called the energy-plus roadway/traffic signal light (EPRTL), which contains a grid-connected wind/solar hybrid generation system installed on the pole of a roadway/traffic signal light for clean electric power production. The term “energy-plus” stands for annual energy consumption that is less than production. The generated electric power will be consumed locally by the roadway/traffic signal light; the excess power generated will be stored in batteries, optimally distributed in the microgrid, and supplied to the utility main grid. The deployment of the proposed roadway microgrid will dramatically change the role of the public right-of-way from an energy consumer to an energy producer, leading to energy-plus roadways. This will not only reduce the roadway agency operating costs but also generate new revenues for the Highway Trust Fund. The use of renewable electric power will also promote the development of green roadways.
Toward attack-resistant localization under infrastructure attacks

Trustworthy location information is important because it is a critical input to a wide variety of location-based applications. However, the localization infrastructure is vulnerable to physical attacks, and consequently, the localization results are affected. In this paper, we aim to achieve robust localization under infrastructure attacks. We first investigated the impact of infrastructure attacks on localization and showed that the performance of location estimations degraded significantly under the attack. We then derived an attack-resistant scheme that is not algorithm specific and can be integrated with existing localization algorithms. Our attack-resistant scheme exploited the characteristics of the geometric patterns returned by location estimates under the attack; that is, the localization results of a wireless device under the normal situation were clearly clustered together, whereas the localization results were scattered when an attack was present. Thus, our attack-resistant scheme is grounded on K-means clustering analysis of intra-distance of localization results from all possible combinations of any three access points. To evaluate the effectiveness and scalability of our proposed scheme, we used received signal strength for validation and applied our approach to three broad classes of localization algorithms: lateration based, fingerprint matching, and Bayesian networks. We validated our scheme in the ORBIT test bed (North Brunswick, NJ, USA) using an 802.11 (Wi-Fi) network and in a real office building environment using an 802.15.4 (ZigBee) network. The extensive experimental results demonstrated that the application of our scheme could help the broad range of localization algorithms to achieve comparable or even better localization performance when under infrastructure attacks as compared with normal situations without attack, thus, effectively eliminating the effects of infrastructure attacks. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhanced Evanescent Confinement in Multiple-Slot Waveguides and Its Application in Biochemical Sensing

The interaction of light propagating in the wave-guiding structures with the surrounding media through its evanescent field has been used to detect biochemical activities without labeling the target molecules. By introducing multiple slots in a dielectric waveguide, we found that a much stronger evanescent field could be achieved in the surrounding media while still maintaining good optical confinement. The experimental demonstration of microring resonator sensors using single-mode waveguides having three slots indicates a 5-fold increase in sensitivity for homogeneous sensing and more than 3-fold increase in sensitivity for surface sensing in comparison to those of a waveguide without slots. Numerical simulations suggest an even higher sensitivity enhancement (as high as 100 times) as more slots and larger waveguide widths are used.
Street music or the blues? The lived experience and social environment of depression.

Life's complexity is a haunting melody of continuously interacting variables .... Professional practice in nursing seeks to promote symphonic interaction between man [sic] and environment. . . (Rogers, 1970, pp. 41, 122). The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of clinical depression for women in the context of their social relations and environment. Twelve ethnically diverse female friend dyads were interviewed and completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Seventeen of these women had experienced a major depression in the past or were in treatment for clinical depression at the time of the study. This depression was characterized by dissonance experienced in childhood abuse and incest, uncontrollable moods despite self-medication, abusive or negligent therapy, failed social relationships in adulthood, and a lack of resources in the environment. In contrast, seven healthy women described their social environment as generally resonant and connected. Prevention of childhood abuse and racism, relief from economic hardships, early diagnosis, and safe, effective treatment are essential in helping women to survive clinical depression. Nurses in the community are in a unique position to affect this public health problem.
Securing peer-to-peer media streaming systems from selfish and malicious behavior

We present a flexible framework for throttling attackers in peer-to-peer media streaming systems. In such systems, selfish nodes (e.g., free riders) and malicious nodes (e.g., DoS attackers) can overwhelm the system by issuing too many requests in a short interval of time. Since peer-to-peer systems are decentralized, it is difficult for individual peers to limit the aggregate download bandwidth consumed by other remote peers. This could potentially allow selfish and malicious peers to exhaust the system's available upload bandwidth. In this paper, we propose a framework to provide a solution to this problem by utilizing a subset of trusted peers (called kantoku nodes) that collectively monitor the bandwidth usage of untrusted peers in the system and throttle attackers. This framework has been evaluated through simulation thus far. Experiments with a full implementation on a network testbed are part of our future work.
Antidepressants and Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk: A Review of the Literature and Researchers' Financial Associations with Industry

Background Antidepressant (AD) use has been purported to increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, although both epidemiological and pre-clinical studies have reported mixed results [1]–[6]. Previous studies in a variety of biomedical fields have found that financial ties to drug companies are associated with favorable study conclusions [7].
Rectal microRNAs are perturbed in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease of the colon

Background and aims Changes in intestinal microRNAs have been reported in adult patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. The goal of this study was to identify changes in microRNA expression associated with colitis in children with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods Rectal mucosal biopsies (n = 50) and blood samples (n = 47) were collected from patients with known or suspected inflammatory bowel disease undergoing endoscopy. Rectal and serum microRNA levels were profiled using the nCounter® platform and the TaqMan® low-density array platform, respectively. Significantly altered microRNAs were validated in independent sample sets via quantitative RT-PCR. In vitro luciferase reporter assays were performed in the human colorectal Caco-2 cell line to determine the effect of miR-192 on NOD2 expression. Results Profiling of rectal RNA identified 21 microRNAs significantly altered between control, UC, and colonic CD sample groups. Nine of the ten microRNAs selected for validation were confirmed as significantly changed. Rectal miR-24 was increased 1.47-fold in UC compared to CD samples (p = 0.0052) and was the only microRNA altered between IBD subtypes. Three colitis-associated microRNAs were significantly altered in sera of disease patients and displayed diagnostic utility. However, no serum microRNAs were found to distinguish ulcerative colitis from Crohn's colitis. Finally, miR-192 inhibition did not affect luciferase reporter activity, suggesting that miR-192 does not regulate human NOD2 . Conclusion This study has demonstrated that rectal and serum microRNAs are perturbed in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. Future studies identifying targets of inflammatory bowel disease-associated microRNAs may lead to novel therapies. * Abbreviations : IBD : inflammatory bowel disease UC : ulcerative colitis CD : Crohn's disease L2 CD : Crohn's colitis miRNA : microRNA UTR : untranslated region SAM : Significance Analysis of Microarrays TuD : tough decoy NOD2 : nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2 ROC : receiver operating characteristic AUC : area under the ROC curve
Residual Urine in an Elderly Female Population: Novel Implications for Oral Estrogen Replacement and Impact on Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection

ABSTRACTPurpose: While the distribution of post-void residual urine volume (PVR) has been well studied in men, scant literature is available concerning PVR in women. We characterized any relationship between PVR and urinary tract infection (UTI). We also characterized other factors that could impact bladder emptying, including oral estrogen replacement therapy.Materials and Methods: Inclusion criteria were at least 2 clinic visits and no antimicrobial prophylaxis in the last year. Women with a history of diabetes or cystocele were excluded. In a 17-month period 204 women met inclusion criteria. PVR was measured by catheterized specimen. Patients were categorized into groups by UTI history, namely 94 of those with no UTIs in the last year (group 1) and 110 with 1 or more documented UTIs in the last year (group 2). Factors that could affect bladder emptying were tested for the impact on PVR.Results: Mean PVR in the study group was 53.13 ml. The mean PVR in groups 1 and 2 was 33 and 70.25 ml, respectively. T...
How Ancient Agriculturalists Managed Yield Fluctuations through Crop Selection and Reliance on Wild Plants: An Example from Central India

Abstract The use of “average” yields to formulate models of premodern agriculture obscures the dynamic components of agricultural decision-making. Using colonial documents and archaeological data from the Deccan region of central India, this paper illustrates the complexities of how ancient peoples mitigated fluctuations in agricultural yields. Nineteenth-century documents show striking differences in yields from year to year, and illustrate the way in which people compensated for those fluctuations by using wild foods and cultivating alternate crops that were less palatable but more reliable. Archaeobotanical, archaeological, and textual data from the Chalcolithic to the Early Historic periods (c. 1500 B.C. to 300 A.D.) indicate similar adaptive strategies, in which the early inhabitants of the region managed resources at the household level to provide subsistence security as well as the steady provision of a tradable surplus. L'IMPORTANCE DES PLANTES SAUVAGES POUR LES ANCIENS AGRICULTEURS DE L'INDE. Les...
Characterization and Mitogenic Responsiveness of Murine Mammary Gland Mononuclear Cells

Lymphocyte traffic from subcompartments of intestinal mucosal associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) to mammary (1), salivary (2) and lacrimal (3) glands is a characteristic feature of the mucosal network. With respect to glandular structures it is not clear whether these compartments function simply by providing an environment into which precommitted B cells migrate and terminally differentiate or whether they also contain the functional cell populations necessary to interact in the generation of local antibody responses. Numerous studies have demonstrated the presence of viable lymphocyte populations in the colostrum, milk and mammary secretions for a variety of animal species (4–17). These cell populations have been isolated and studied with respect to cell surface markers (10,15–17) and responsiveness to mitogens (4,6–9,11–14). However, it is not known whether the cells which were characterized in these studies are expressed only in secretions or represent the total mononuclear cell component of the gland. Since little is known about isolated glandular cell populations and because the mouse is a well-defined model for studying B cell ontogeny, T and B cell interactions and cell traffic, the present report examines the morphological characteristics, membrane marker distribution and mitogen responsiveness of mouse mammary gland cell populations.
Determination of Evans Blue Dye in Blood and Tissues.

Summary1. A method is described for determination of Evans blue dye in various animal tissues. In brief it consists of (1) homo-genization of tissue in a concentrated solution of urea, (2) splitting of the Evans blue-protein complex and partial precipitation of protein and chromogens with acetone, and (3) complete precipitation of chromogens by addition of Somogyi reagents. 2. The method has been employed to follow the fate of the dye after intravenous injection into rats. After such administration of 12.5 mg of Evans blue, about 90% of the injected dye apparently left the blood but only about 15% could not be recovered from the body in 40 hours. At 140 hours after injection about 67% of the injected dye could still be recovered from the body.
Microbiologic profile of infections in presumed aseptic revision spine surgery

Intra-operative cultures may be obtained in revision spine surgery despite the absence of pre-operative clinical markers of infection. The microbiologic profile of culture positive cases in which there is no clear evidence of infection preoperatively has not been described. The aim of this investigation is to report on the microbiologic profile of unexpected culture positive revision spine surgery cases. We retrospectively reviewed 595 consecutive revision spine surgeries performed between 2008 and 2013. Five hundred and seventy-eight revision surgeries were performed for diagnoses other than infection and were included in the study. Operative cultures were obtained in 112 cases (19.4 %). Cultures were positive in 45 cases. Pseudarthrosis was not only the most common diagnosis overall (49.1 %) in which intra-operative cultures were obtained, it was also the most common revision surgical diagnosis where cultures were positive (55.6 %). Propionibacterium acnes was cultured in 54.2 % of cases with the primary diagnosis of pseudarthrosis, but only in 40.9 % of cases with other diagnoses (P = 0.554). Overall, staphylococcal species were found most commonly (57.8 % of cases), but P. acnes was at least one of the isolates in 48.9 % of cases and was three times more common than any other organism. Nearly one in five patients with the diagnosis of pseudarthrosis were culture positive. More specifically, pseudarthrosis was the most common culture positive diagnosis and P. acnes species predominated in this patient population. Propionibacterium acnes was overwhelmingly the most common single organism cultured in revision spine surgery. Given this, we recommend all cultures be held for P. acnes, particularly in the setting of pseudarthrosis.
Anesthetic managements for laryngotracheoesophageal cleft

食道閉鎖症の疑いにて一期的根治術を目的に手術室入室となった生後8.5時間の患児の麻酔導入の際, 麻酔科医によって「喉頭が異常に大きい」ことが発見され, 喉頭気管食道裂が疑われた. ファイバーによる精査にて, 気管分岐部に約1cmの隔壁がみられるものの食道閉鎖症を合併した完全型喉頭気管食道裂と診断された. 根治術は生後14日に施行され, 術中の気道確保の方法として左気管支挿管を選択した. 新生児の気管支挿管用には内径2.5mmのチューブが適当と思われた. 術後の気管支造影によって, 左上葉枝, 右上葉枝は気管分岐部から22mm, 15mmのところで分岐していることがわかった.
Impact of the Nature of the Excited-State Transition Dipole Moments on the Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Response of Polymethine Dyes for All-Optical Switching Applications

Designing molecular materials with the figures-of-merit needed for all-optical switching applications requires that, at the wavelengths of interest, the molecules have large real components |Re(γ)|...
Gastric lymphoreticular neoplasms: an immunologic study of 36 cases.

Thirty-six lymphoreticular neoplasms involving the stomach were studied by immunologic technics (particularly immunoperoxidase on paraffin sections) for the localization of immunoglobulins, lysozyme, and alpha one-antitrypsin. Fifteen of 29 (52%) primary gastric lymphomas marked as B-cell lymphomas and only one primary gastric lymphoma of true histiocytic type was identified. This is in contrast to the high incidence of true histiocytic tumors reported in some recent studies. Immunoperoxidase on paraffinembedded and frozen tissues from endoscopic biopsies or surgical resections was particularly useful in confirming the diagnosis of five of seven B-cell immunoblastic sarcomas and 8 of 12 small lymphoid proliferations including two pseudolymphomas. Twenty-two of 29 (76%) primary gastric lymphomas were largecell lymphomas. The previously reported high incidence of plasma cell tumors could not be confirmed. Atrophic gastritis remote from the neoplasm was noted in 8 of 15 (53%) patients, and this relationship is discussed.
Multiobjective optimization using direct search techniques

A new Pareto front approximation method is proposed for multiobjective optimization in practical engineering and scientific computing problems. The proposed algorithm is one of the very few methods in the category of deterministic scalarization approaches that can handle any number of objectives to produce well distributed Pareto fronts. A new adaptive weighting scheme is proposed for scalarizing a multiobjective optimization problem. Another contribution is the generalization of the star discrepancy based performance measure for problems with more than two objectives. A serial version of the algorithm is described and evaluated using three test problems from the literature with varying numbers of objectives. A possible extension of the proposed method to support high performance parallel and/or distributed computing is discussed.
Expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transport proteins in cold-acclimating ducklings.

The relationship between the cold-induced increase in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ transport proteins and the development of muscular nonshivering theermogenesis (NST) was investigated by deter...
Expanding the application of facial ceramic veneers.

"Full veneers," restorations similar in depth to ceramic veneers but extending over the lingual or occlusal surface as well as the facial surface, are a conservative option to conventional crowns. They have been used successfully at the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry for three years. Indications, technique and a patient study are presented.
Stratified or Egalitarian? the Sociopolitical Dynamics of Eighteenth-Century Pueblo Communities

ABSTRACTWhile Southwest archaeologists have spent a great deal of time debating the nature of pre-contact Pueblo Indian sociopolitical organization, much less attention has been paid to postcontact, eighteenth-century, sociopolitical organization. This article employs detailed analysis of colonial period, Spanish language documentation to argue that eighteenth-century Pueblo elites used a corporate based leadership strategy to govern Pueblo communities, There is little evidence to support an argument for more rigid political stratification (or a network based strategy) in these communities in the post-contact period. Nor is there evidence to suggest that a pan-Pueblo alliance, or chieftaincy, formed as a result of Spanish contact—despite efforts by Spaniards to create such an alliance for easier governing and control of Pueblo communities. Finally, this article also finds that caciques (or “traditional” Pueblo elites) and governors (an officer imposed by Spaniards) often worked together to resolve intra-c...