cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic immune clearance of rabies virus from the CNS

The long-held concept that rabies infection is lethal in humans once the causative rabies virus has reached the CNS has been called into question by the recent survival of a number of patients with clinical rabies. Studies in animal models provide insight into why survival from a rabies virus infection that has spread to the CNS is possible and the immune mechanisms involved. In the CNS, both innate mechanisms capable of inhibiting virus replication and the activity of infiltrating rabies virus-specific T and B cells with the capacity to clear the virus are required. Deficiencies in the induction of either aspect of rabies immunity can lead to lethal consequences but may be overcome by novel approaches to active and passive immunization.
Teaching Interpersonal Skills for Negotiation and for Life

Students enrolled in the Negotiation Workshop at Harvard Law School during the past twenty years have participated in an innovative exercise called the Interpersonal Skills Exercise (IPS). Developed through a collaboration of therapists and instructors from Harvard Law School, the exercise uses role plays, videotaping, and certain aspects of psychodrama to help students practice interpersonal skills that they have difficulty performing. The exercise allows students to work in an intensive, safe, and interactive environment with feedback from peers and course instructors. This brief note describes the IPS exercise in more detail, outlining its origins, purposes, and structure.
State engineering of photon pairs produced through dual-pump spontaneous four-wave mixing

We study theoretically the joint spectral properties of photon-pairs produced through spontaneous four-wave mixing (SFWM) with two spectrally distinct pump pulses in optical fibers. We show that, due to the group velocity difference between the pulses, the signature of the interaction can be significantly different from spontaneous parametric down-conversion or SFWM with a single pump pulse. Specifically, we study the case where temporal walk-off between the pumps enables a gradual turn-on and turn-off of the interaction. By utilizing this property, we develop a new approach towards tailoring the spectral correlations within the generated photon pairs, demonstrating the ability to produce factorable photon-pair states, and hence heralded single photons in a pure wave-packet. We show that the use of two pumps is advantageous over single-pump SFWM approaches towards this goal: the usage of the dual-pump configuration enables, in principle, the creation of completely factorable states without any spectral filtering, even in media for which single-pump SFWM tailoring techniques are unsatisfactory, such as standard polarization-maintaining fiber.
The roles of thiols in the bacterial organomercurial lyase (MerB).

The bacterial plasmid-encoded organomercurial lyase, MerB (EC 4.99.1.2), catalyzes the protonolysis of organomercury compounds yielding Hg(II) and the corresponding protonated hydrocarbon. A small, soluble protein with no known homologues, MerB is widely distributed among eubacteria in three phylogenetically distinct subfamilies whose most prominent motif includes three conserved cysteine residues. We found that the 212-residue MerB encoded by plasmid R831b is a cytosolic enzyme, consistent with its high thiol requirement in vitro. MerB is inhibited by the nonphysiological dithiol DTT but uses the physiological thiols, glutathione and cysteine, equally well. Highly conserved Cys96 and Cys159 are essential for activity, whereas weakly conserved Cys160 is not. Proteins mutant in highly conserved Cys117 are insoluble. All MerB cysteines are DTNB-reactive in native and denatured states except Cys117, which fails to react with DTNB in the native form, suggesting it is buried. Mass spectrometric analysis of try...
Balance of Payments Problems of Countries Reconstructing with the Help of Foreign Loans

Introduction, 208.— The problem, 209.— Assumptions and method, 210.— Investment: the expansion ratio, 213.— Operation: three types, 216.— Implications, 218.— Service costs, 219.— Changes in the flow of capital, 220.— Lagged payments for imports, 225.— Qualitative conclusions, 226.— Quantitative conclusions, 229.— Appendix, 232.
Effect of radiation trapping on the polarization of an optically pumped alkali-metal vapor

Calculations are presented of the limitations imposed by radiation trapping on the electron spin polarization produced in an alkali-metal vapor by optical pumping in a large magnetic field. It is found that electron spin polarizations of 90% are possible with Na densities up to ${10}^{19}$ atoms/${\mathrm{m}}^{3}$ and ground-level relaxation times of 150 \ensuremath{\mu}s in a large magnetic field using a cylindrical geometry of radius 7.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ m.
Possible mechanism of hypothermia induced by intracerebroventricular injection of orphanin FQ/nociceptin.

Orphanin/nociceptin (OFQ/N), a 17-amino-acid peptide, is an endogenous peptide, the receptor for which is similar to μ-, δ- and κ-opioid receptors (∼65% homology). Reports indicate that OFQ/N can block the antinociception induced by μ-, δ- and κ-opioid agonists in the rat and in the mouse, indicating that there is a functional interaction between opioid receptors and OFQ/N receptors in the nervous system. It is well known that activation of the μ- and κ-opioid receptors results in hyperthermia and hypothermia, respectively, in Sprague–Dawley rats. The present studies were designed to examine effects of OFQ/N on body temperature (Tb) and explore whether the mechanism of Tb change induced by OFQ/N involved the opioid system. The results show that (1) i.c.v. injection of a high dose of OFQ/N (9–18 μg) produces hypothermia in adult rats; (2) OFQ/N (1.8 μg, i.c.v., t=+30 s after morphine) can decrease morphine-induced hyperthermia; (3) neither the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone (10 mg/kg, s.c., t=−15 s before OFQ/N) nor the κ-opioid receptor antagonist nor-BNI (1 μg/5 μl, i.c.v., t=−30 s before OFQ/N) reduces the hypothermia induced by i.c.v. injection of OFQ/N at dose of 18 μg (P>0.05); (4) 60 μg/5 μl AS oligo (i.c.v. treatment on days 1, 3 and 5) against OFQ/N receptors significantly reduces the hypothermia induced by i.c.v. injection of 9 μg OFQ/N (P<0.01). These results suggest that the hypothermia induced by i.c.v. injection of a high dose of OFQ/N (9 or 18 μg) is mediated, at least partially, by its own receptor, independent or downstream of opioid receptors in the rat brain and that OFQ/N probably acts as a physiological antagonist to reduce morphine-induced hyperthermia.
MRI in children with postinfectious disseminated encephalomyelitis

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, an inflammatory and demyelinating disorder of central nervous system white matter, typically occurs following childhood viral infections. Although CT may demonstrate abnormalities, many children have normal CT studies in spite of widespread neurologic abnormalities. We report a series of five patients with the typical clinical presentation of disseminated encephalomyelitis who were studied using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In each case the children presented with progressive subacute neurologic abnormalities including headache, diplopia, ataxia, hemiparesis, seizures, dysarthria, and/or coma. CT was nondiagnostic. MRI clearly demonstrated multifocal white matter lesions of the cerebrum, brainstem, and cerebellum which corresponded to clinical signs. The patients improved dramatically with corticosteroid therapy. MRI showed progressive resolution of multifocal lesions in conjunction with clinical improvement.
Keynote talk: Deciphering the brain, cousin to the chip

Summary form only given, as follows. At a very fundamental level, VLSI chips and animal nervous systems are closely related. They both process information via a large and complex network of relatively simple components. We understand exactly how chips work, and how they are built, because we design them ourselves. Nervous systems, on the other hand, are poorly understood, both in overall design and details of implementation. Biological technology has now advanced to the point where we can begin to investigate these issues, using methods conceptually similar to those used to analyze and reverse engineer chips. This talk will introduce discuss the methods that are now being used and prospects for f urther understanding. The current state of the art in this endeavor might be compared to that of VLSI design at the time when only individual circuits could be implemented. As with VLSI, a similar long and intensive effort lies ahead until the full potential of this technology is known. The fruit of this understanding will be huge, however - the talk will close with a some potential benefits, both intellectual and commercial, that such an understanding will provide.
Minimally invasive osteosynthesis techniques of the femur

Indirect reduction techniques and carefully planned and executed direct reduction techniques result in maximal preservation of the biology of the fracture site and bone fragments. These techniques, coupled with the use of small soft tissue windows for the insertion of instruments and implants, result in minimal additional trauma to the soft tissues and fracture fragments. Without direct visualization, minimally invasive osteosynthesis (MIO) techniques are more demanding than open reduction and internal fixation; however, the biologic advantages are vast. As such, MIO techniques represent a fascinating new armamentarium in fracture fixation.
Maternal Literacy Beliefs and the Quality of Mother-Child Book-reading Interactions: Assoications with Children's Early Literacy Development

This study examined the relation among mothers' literacy-related beliefs, the home literacy environment, the quality of mother–child book-reading interactions, and children's development of early literacy skills. The participants of this study were 60 mothers and their 4-year-old children. After controlling for mothers' educational attainment, mothers' literacy beliefs were positively related to the quality of home literacy environments and the instructional and affective quality of joint book-reading interactions. The quality of children's home literacy environments and mother–child joint book-reading interactions was related to children's development of early literacy skills. Findings are discussed in relation to the importance of understanding the connection between parents' literacy beliefs and behaviors in designing effective literacy interventions and creating school and family literacy connections.
Marketing the goods of salvation: Bourdieu on religion

Pierre Bourdieu's work has had a resounding impact on disciplines ranging from linguistics to anthropology to art history to literary criticism. Scholars of religion have, however, been relatively slow to catch on to the theoretical gold mine that academics in other fields have discovered in Bourdieu's work, doubtless in part because Bourdieu himself pays only limited attention to religion. The present article is intended to serve as an introduction to Bourdieu's theory of practice as it applies to his sociological theory of religion, which is especially serviceable for the analysis of the relationship among religion, class and power. Haitian religion and culture are used as a case study in the spirit of Bourdieu's own insistence that theory always be confronted with the substantive and never be exercised in a vacuum.
Modification of learning and memory in goldfish through the use of stimulant and depressant drugs

The effects of stimulants and depressants on learning and memory in goldfish were investigated in a series of four experiments. Avoidance performance in a two-way, light-cued shuttle task was significantly facilitated by intracranial injection of picrotoxin (1.50 mg/kg) but significantly impaired by injection of sodium pentobarbital (30 mg/kg) 5 min before 20 training trials were given. These drugs in the dosages used in the present study did not affect general activity of the fish. When identical doses of the drugs (along with saline controls) were given immediately after the first two of three 10-trial training sessions given 48 h apart, avoidance performance during the second and third sessions was facilitated and impaired by the posttrial injections of the stimulant and depressant drugs respectively. Moreover, it was found in an extended experiment that picrotoxin improved performance if injected 25 sec or 1 h after each of two 10-trial training sessions, but not if injected after a 4 h delay. Pentobarbital impaired performance if injected 25 sec after training, but not if injected after a 1/2 h or a 1 h delay. These stimulant and depressant effects demonstrated in goldfish were interpreted in terms of their effects on memory consolidation processes.
Assessing spatial and temporal variability of VOCs and PM-components in outdoor air during the Detroit Exposure and Aerosol Research Study (DEARS)

Abstract Exposure models for air pollutants often adjust for effects of the physical environment (e.g., season, urban vs. rural populations) in order to improve exposure and risk predictions. Yet attempts are seldom made to attribute variability in observed outdoor air measurements to specific environmental variables. This research presents a statistical strategy to identify and explain the spatial and temporal components of air pollutant measurement variance using regional predictors and large-scale (with impacts over multiple kilometers of distance) emission source effects. The emission sources considered in this investigation include major highways and industries, and were chosen based on their proximity to monitoring areas designated in the Detroit Exposure and Aerosol Research Study (DEARS). Linear mixed effects models were used to investigate 24-h averaged outdoor residential air measurements of several pollutants, including PM 2.5 mass, PM components (elemental carbon, organic carbon, metals, elements), nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Three hierarchal statistical models were utilized to calculate and examine variance component estimates for each analyte before and after adjustment for fixed effects, which included sampling season, day of the week, air concentrations at an ambient (centralized) monitoring site, and the frequency of time a receptor was downwind of specific large-emissions sources. Results indicate that temporal variability accounted for the majority of total measurement variance (90% on average). Adjustments for ambient concentration and sampling season significantly reduced temporal variance estimates for most VOCs and for about half of the PM components (generally with reductions of 24–97%). Major exceptions to this trend were found with metals (Fe, Mn, and Zn), ethyltoluene, and p-dichlorobenzene, where only 4–30% of the temporal variance was explained after the same adjustments. Additional reductions in temporal variance (up to 37%) were observed after adjusting for the large-emission sources and day of the week effects, with the strongest effects observed for PM components, including select metals. Thus, for the Detroit airshed, VOCs appear to have been largely affected by regional factors, whereas PM components were explained by both regional factors and localized large-emissions sources. Examination of the radial directions associated with suspected emission sources generally supported a priori expectations of source–analyte associations (e.g., NO 2 increases from areas of high vehicle traffic). Overall, this investigation presents a statistical multi-pollutant analysis strategy that is useful for simultaneously (1) estimating spatial and temporal variance components of outdoor air pollutant measurements, (2) estimating the effects of regional variables on pollutant levels, and (3) identifying likely emissions sources that may affect outdoor air levels of individual or co-occurring pollutants.
Evaluation of pheromone to disrupt mating of Eoreuma loftini (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in sugarcane

The effect of the pheromone of Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), on mating of laboratory-reared females to feral males was tested on mating tables in sugarcane fields. Reductions of 94.3 and 90.5% in mating was obtained using pheromone formulated in cotton wicks and rubber septa, respectively. In three small field plots (≈0.4 ha) treated with 198 g/ha of pheromone in rubber septa, 81.9—95.5% reductions in mating were obtained in the treated areas; 98.6—99.4% reductions in pheromone trap captures were obtained. When (Z)-13-octadecenyl acetate was tested alone, a 63.8% reduction in mating was obtained through 28 d, but this decreased to 6.9% reduction after 43 d.
Parasitic modeling for accurate inductive switching simulation of converters using SiC devices

In this paper, the parasitic inductances for inductive switching of SiC devices in a switching converter were modeled and analyzed using a 3-D inductance extraction program. A double pulse test-bench was built to characterize the resistive and inductive switching behavior of the SiC devices. In order to capture the parasitic ringing in the fast switching transient, the gate-to-source switching loop and drain-to-source switching loop parasitic inductances of the PCB layout are extracted by the 3D inductance extraction program. The system model in Pspice includes SiC device models and the extracted parasitic elements. Simulation results are compared with experimental results. The comparison shows good agreement between simulation and experimental results under both resistive and inductive switching conditions.
Structural insights into the interaction between the bacterial flagellar motor proteins FliF and FliG.

The binding of the soluble cytoplasmic protein FliG to the transmembrane protein FliF is one of the first interactions in the assembly of the bacterial flagellum. Once established, this interaction is integral in keeping the flagellar cytoplasmic ring, responsible for both transmission of torque and control of the rotational direction of the flagellum, anchored to the central transmembrane ring on which the flagellum is assembled. Here we isolate and characterize the interaction between the N-terminal domain of Thermotoga maritima FliG (FliGN) and peptides corresponding to the conserved C-terminal portion of T. maritima FliF. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and other techniques, we show that the last ∼40 amino acids of FliF (FliFC) interact strongly (upper bound Kd in the low nanomolar range) with FliGN. The formation of this complex causes extensive conformational changes in FliGN .W efind that T. maritima FliGN is homodimeric in the absence of the FliFC peptide but forms a heterodimeric complex with the peptide, and we show that this same change in oligomeric state occurs in full-length T. maritima FliG, as well. We relate previously observed phenotypic effects of FliFC mutations to our direct observation of binding. Lastly, on the basis of NMR data, we propose that the primary interaction site for FliFC is located on a conserved hydrophobic patch centered along helix 1 of FliGN. These results provide new detailed information about the bacterial flagellar motor and support efforts to understand the cytoplasmic ring's precise molecular structure and mechanism of rotational switching.
Abstract A27: Airway molecular alterations associated with premalignant lesion progression and lung cancer development

Recently, the National Lung Screening Trial reported a 20% reduction in lung cancer mortality and lung cancer chemoprevention trials targeting the arachidonic acid pathway have demonstrated decreases in lung cancer associated markers. These studies highlight possibilities for future reductions in lung cancer mortality through early detection and chemoprevention. Our group has previously identified smoking- and lung cancer-specific gene expression alterations in cytologically normal airway epithelial cells that can serve as a clinically-relevant biomarker for the early detection of lung cancer. Here, in an effort that could lead to markers of lung cancer risk, we identify changes in these cells associated with regression of premalignant airway lesions. Airway epithelial cells were collected via bronchoscopy from patients with bronchial dysplasia at baseline, on-treatment, and post-treatment with green tea extract (GTE) or placebo ranging from 2 to 6 months (n=27 patients, n=63 samples). RNA from the samples was processed and hybridized to Affymetrix Human Gene 1.0 ST microarrays. A linear mixed effect model was used to identify a gene expression signature predictive of subsequent dysplasia regression. Further a paired t-test was used to identify genes associated with dysplasia regression over time. Using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) we identified that the baseline dysplasia regression signature was enriched (FDR Citation Format: Jennifer Ebel Beane, Kahkeshan Hijazi, Katrina Steiling, Gang Liu, Sherry Zhang, Stephen Lam, Marc Lenburg. Airway molecular alterations associated with premalignant lesion progression and lung cancer development. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A27.
Radioactive Waste Management

For purposes of management, radioactive wastes are categorized as defense wastes or civilian wastes. Defense wastes include all government-generated nuclear waste, most of which come from the national weapons program, although a small part result from nondefense government research and development activities. Civilian wastes include high-level wastes (HLW) from power reactors, low-level (LLW) and other non-high-level wastes, and spent fuel. The types of wastes and their inventories are described in detail in Chapter 4.
Delay Based Congestion Detection and Admission Control for Voice quality in enterprise or carrier controlled IP Networks

Reservations based admission control, using Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) is the leading method being considered by traditional carriers for maintaining Quality of Service (QoS) when deploying Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). In this research we explore an alternative to reservations based admission control called Delay Based Congestion Detection and Admission Control (DBCD/AC), a form of Endpoint Admission Control. DBCD/AC is a method for edge devices, such as media gateways, to detect impending congestion in the core based on delay measurements and analysis. When impending congestion is detected, the edge devices refuse new incoming connections to the media gateways to mitigate the congestion. This research examines the characteristics of DBCD/AC and finds that DBCD/AC is a promising alternative to a reservations based admission control approach for enterprise or carrier controlled IP Networks.
The effects of the band bending caused by interface states in CdTe/CIS solar cells

In this paper, the effects of interface states in ZnO/CdS/CuInSe/sub 2/ and CdS/CdTe solar cells are presented. The effects are investigated through numerical modeling using the ADEPT (A Device Emulation Program and Tool) software package. The results show that donor-like interface states have very little effect, but acceptor-like interface states at the resistive ZnO/CdS can cause pinning of the bands at the interface, thus leading to nonexponential illuminated I-V curves when the interface state densities are high enough. High density of acceptor-like states between the CdS and In-rich CIS does not result in the two-diode like IV curves. Instead they can significantly lower the fill factor. In the CdS/CdTe solar cells, either donor- or acceptor-like interface states have little effect since almost all the depletion region lies in the CdTe. Thus, the metallurgical junction where the interface states are located is away from the electrical junction where the conductivity type changes.
Distribution of nitrous oxide and regulators of its production across a tropical rainforest catena in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico

Understanding of N2O fluxes to the atmosphere is complicated by interactions between chemical and physical controls on both production and movement of the gas. To better understand how N2O production is controlled in the soil, we measured concentrations of N2O and of the proximal controllers on its production in soil water and soil air in a field study in the Rio Icacos basin of the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. A toposequence (ridge, slope-ridge break, slope, slope-riparian break, riparian, and streambank) was used that has been previously characterized for groundwater chemistry and surface N2O fluxes. The proximal controls on N2O production include NO − ,N H + , DOC, and O2. Nitrous oxide and O2 were measured in soil air and NO − ,N H + , and DO were measured in soil water. Nitrate and DOC disappeared from soil solution at the slope-riparian interface, where soil N2O concentrations increased dramatically. Soil N2O concentrations continued to increase through the flood plain and the streambank. Nitrous oxide concentrations were highest in soil air probes that had intermediate O2 concentrations. Changes in N2O concentrations in groundwater and soil air in different environments along the catena appear to be controlled by O2 concentrations. In general, N processing in the unsaturated and saturated zones differs within each topographic position apparently due to differences in redox status.
Fluorescent Dye Tracing of Water Entry and Retention in Chilling of Broiler Chicken Carcasses

Abstract INTRODUCTION DURING slush ice chilling of chicken carcasses, water is absorbed by and trapped between tissues. Previous work in this laboratory has shown that bacterial populations in these chillers can reach levels in excess of 8×105 organisms per ml total mesophilic and 4.0×102 organisms per ml. capable of growth at 4°C. Current U.S.D.A. regulations allow 12 percent water pickup by carcasses from the final washer and chillers. In Federally inspected plants approximately 160 gm. of water could thus be picked up by a 1.36 kgm. (3 lb.) carcass. The number and types of microorganisms which might be introduced under the skin and into the muscles in this process are unknown. To determine the sites of penetration of water into the carcass, a tracer-dye technique was developed. The possibility of quantitative determination of water absorption and retention by this technique was also studied. Water is taken up rapidly by broiler chicken…
Developmental regulation of an snRNP core protein epitope during pig embryogenesis and after nuclear transfer for cloning

The appearance and stabilization of a core protein epitope of the snRNP is developmentally regulated during pig embryogenesis. The epitope recognized by the monoclonal antibody Y12 is present in the germinal vesicle of mature ooocytes and interphase nuclei of late 4-cell stage (24 to 30 hours post cleavage to the 4-cell stage) to blastocyst stage embryos. There was no antibody iocalization within pronuclei, or nuclei of 2-cell or early 4-cell stage embryos. Zygotes or 2-cell stage embryos cultured in the presence of α-amanitin to the late 4-cell stage showed no immunoreactivity, whereas control embryos had immunoreactivity. Thus antibody localization was correlated with RNA synthesis and RNA processing that begins by 24 hours post cleavage to the 4-cell stage. A final experiment showed no detectable immunoreactivity in 16-cell stage nuclei that had been transferred to enucleated activated meiotic metaphase II oocytes. Since immunoreactivity is associated with active RNA synthesis and RNA processing, it suggests that the 16-cell stage nucleus, which is RNA synthetically active, does not process RNA after nuclear transfer to an enucleated activated meiotic metaphase II oocyte. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Holocene loess deposition and soil formation as competing processes, Matanuska Valley, southern Alaska

Although loess–paleosol sequences are among the most important records of Quaternary climate change and past dust deposition cycles, few modern examples of such sedimentation systems have been studied. Stratigraphic studies and 22 new accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon ages from the Matanuska Valley in southern Alaska show that loess deposition there began sometime after f6500 14 C yr B.P. and has continued to the present. The silts are produced through grinding by the Matanuska and Knik glaciers, deposited as outwash, entrained by strong winds, and redeposited as loess. Over a downwind distance of f40 km, loess thickness, sand content, and sand-pluscoarse-silt content decrease, whereas fine-silt content increases. Loess deposition was episodic, as shown by the presence of paleosols, at distances >10 km from the outwash plain loess source. Stratigraphic complexity is at a maximum (i.e., the greatest number of loesses and paleosols) at intermediate (10–25 km) distances from the loess source. Surface soils increase in degree of development with distance downwind from the source, where sedimentation rates are lower. Proximal soils are Entisols or Inceptisols, whereas distal soils are Spodosols. Ratios of mobile CaO, K2O, and Fe2O3 to immobile TiO2 show decreases in surface horizons with distance from the source. Thus, as in China, where loess deposition also takes place today, eolian sedimentation and soil formation are competing processes. Study of loess and paleosols in southern Alaska shows that particle size can vary over short distances, loess deposition can be episodic over limited time intervals, and soils developed in stabilized loess can show considerable variability under the same vegetation. D 2004 University of Washington. All rights reserved.
Use of Doppler echocardiography and amyl nitrite inhalation to characterize left ventricular outflow obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The presence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) of either a resting or dynamic nature may have important therapeutic and prognostic implications in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Doppler echocardiograms combined with amyl nitrite (Amyl) inhalation were performed in 333 consecutive patients referred for suspected HCM to diagnose and categorize the nature and severity of LVOTO. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was present by 2-D and M-mode criteria in 145/333 (44 percent) patients. Normal limits of resting and post-Amyl continuous wave Doppler peak left ventricular outflow tract velocities were established in 15 subjects with completely normal 2-D and Doppler echocardiograms. Based on these criteria, of the 145 patients with HCM, 63 (43 percent) were classified as having resting LVOTO, peak velocity 4.2 ±1.3 m/s. Among 82 patients with HCM without resting LVOTO, 47 (57 percent) received Amyl. Latent LVOTO was provoked in 25/47 (53 percent), peak post-Amyl velocity 4.5 ± 1.2 m/s. The remaining 22 (47 percent) had nonobstructive HCM, as indicated by no significant increase in post-Amyl velocity. Among a total 62 subjects receiving Amyl, none experienced serious morbidity or mortality. Doppler echocardiography, in conjunction with Amyl inhalation in selected patients, is a useful noninvasive method to diagnose and categorize patients with HCM according to the nature and severity of LVOTO. (Chest 1990; 97:389–95)
COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY OF THE ALGAL GENERA TETRACYSTIS AND CHLOROCOCCUM1

SUMMARY Antigens of algae in the genera Tetracystis and Chlorococcum have been studied extensively by immunodiffusion techniques. Some antigens were species-, group-, or genus-specific; others were common to both genera. The results largely supported other data from morphology, physiology, and ultrastructure but indicated a probable error in the taxonomic placement of one species. The cross reactivity between genera may be of importance in human inhalant allergy to algae.
A Method for the Determination of 11-Nor-Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-9-Carboxylic Acid in Urine Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection

Nor-delta-9-tetrehydrocannabinol-9-carboxyllc acid (THC- COOH) was Isolated using solid phase extraction and Identified with high performance liquid chromatography (RPLC) with electrochemical detection (EC). HPLC/EC was compared to an established HPLC procedure using ultraviolet (UV) detection. Statistical analysis revealed good precision, Ilnserlty, and correlation between the HPLC/EC and HPLC/UV methods. Within-run and between-run precision for the HPLC/ EC vs. HPLC/UV analyses yielded coefficients of of 4.1 vs. 6.7% and 8.3 vs. 10.9%, respectively. Standard curves over a range of 20 to 160 ng/mL of THC-COOH in fortified urine on four separate analytical runs yielded correlation coefficients of greater than 0.99 for each method. Quantitative results from 15 positive urine specimens also compared favorably between the two rpethods (r = 0.9923). Using an immunoaseay screening technique with confirmation by HPLC/UV and high efficiency thin layer chromatography (HETLC), further evaluation of the HPLC/EC method was echleved by examining 50 cannablnoid positive and 50 cannablnold negative clinical urine specimens and 500 sequentially collected postmortem urine specimens.
Autonomy and empowerment in advanced practice registered nurses: lessons from New Mexico.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the association between autonomy and empowerment of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and predictor variables of physician oversight, geographical location, and practice setting. As the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is implemented, these characteristics are vital to understanding how APRNs practice and the relationship of APRNs to other healthcare team members, including physicians. Data sources This was a descriptive, correlational survey of APRNs in New Mexico exploring autonomy and empowerment in relation to variables of physician oversight, geographical location, and practice setting. Conclusions New Mexico's APRN Nurse Practice Act supports independent practice and prescriptive authority. Results indicated that APRNs are highly empowered and autonomous. However, nearly 40% of respondents identified practicing with physician oversight. Further investigation of subscales of empowerment also provided insight of relationships among healthcare team members, particularly physicians. Implications for practice This research provides additional knowledge for policy changes that support APRNs assuming more responsibility for primary care. However, understanding the APRN role within the healthcare team is necessary for effective implementation of primary care in New Mexico.
Asthma treatments: new and emerging therapies

Background As part of this primer, this article is intended to introduce new and emerging therapies for treating asthma. Methods A PubMed search was performed for the years 2013 through 2015 for asthma review, asthma treatment, asthma therapy, and asthma new. Subset searches were additionally performed as suggested by information contained in the first round of searches. Results There is continuing work toward the identification of additional cellular and molecular mechanisms of asthma. Many of these suggest additional targets for therapy. New pharmaceuticals, biologics, and procedures are reviewed in greater depth. Conclusion This is a summary of new and emerging asthma therapies.
Experiments using laser-driven shockwaves for EOS and transport measurements

Laser-driven shocks have broken new ground in providing data on strongly coupled systems. One example is the measurements of the Hugoniot of hydrogen isotopes to over 300 GPa and the clear signature of metallic behavior at pressures of 60 GPa. The resulting fluid is strongly coupled (Γ > 10) and probably composed of ions, atoms, and molecules - a very difficult system to understand. The latest interpretation of these measurements is discussed. In addition, recent shock measurements on the hydrogen-bonded compound water - both EOS and reflectivity - are shown. The metallic signature for water is very different than that of hydrogen.
When Due Process Is of No Consequence: Moral Mandates and Presumed Defendant Guilt or Innocence

Most current theories of justice are focused on how social identity, instrumental concerns, or both shape how people decide whether something is fair or unfair. A neglected consideration is that people may also be concerned with justice because they strive to be authentic moral beings by acting on the basis of values closely tied to their personal identity. We posited that self-expressive moral positions or stands (“moral mandates”) are important determinants of how people reason about fairness. Supporting this notion, we found that (a) people see some trial outcomes in morally mandated terms, e.g., that the guilty must be convicted and punished, and the innocent must not; (b) convicting a defendant believed to be innocent or acquitting a defendant believed to be guilty were seen as unfair, regardless of whether the verdict was achieved by a fair or unfair investigation and trial (Study 1); and (c) a guilty defendant's death was seen as equally fair, and an innocent defendant's death was equally unfair, if it was achieved by a trial that led to the death penalty or by vigilantism (Study 2). Procedural propriety only mattered when defendant guilt was ambiguous.
Variability and yield improvement: rules, models, and characterization

Yield and variability are becoming detractors for successful design in sub-90-nm process technologies. We consider the fundamental lithography and process issues that are driving variability and yield and the role of design rules in future processes. We examine the importance of layout-aware modeling and layout regularity, including advantages and cost. Characterization structures for examining the electrical effects of device-level variability are discussed as well as circuit techniques for mitigating variability and yield challenges.
Development as the aim of clinical intervention

This paper introduces a new, clinical-developmental approach to research, theory and intervention. A line of research is described exploring the relationship between developmental organizations of meaning and symptom expression in adolescence. These cross-sectional and longitudinal studies demonstrate needed distinctions between self-complexity and self-maturity/integration—concepts that are described in the context of an overarching framework. In the final section of the paper, clinical methods are introduced for different adolescent developmental worlds and are exemplified with two cases.
Thermal Stability of a Chemically Vapor Deposited Multilayer Coating Containing Amorphous Silica and Rutile Titania on Hi‐Nicalon Fiber

A multilayer coating consisting of consecutive layers of amorphous-silica, rutile-titania, and amorphous-silica was prepared on Hi-Nicalon fiber by chemical vapor deposition at 1050°C. It appeared that the silica and titania layers were strongly bonded to each other with no evidence of detachment and crack deflection at the interface region. The layered structure became morphologically unstable because of the growth of titania grains, the crystallization of the silica layers, and the oxidation of the fiber on exposure to 1200°C in air for 92 h.
Synthesis and intercalation chemistry of K[Ca2(Ca,Sr)n−3Nb3Tin−3O3n+1] (n = 4, 5)

Abstract A new series of layered perovskite oxides, K[Ca2(Ca,Sr)n−3Nb3Tin−3O3n+1], has been prepared by the incorporation of Ca(Sr)TiO3 perovskite slabs into KCa2Nb3O10. With an increase in n, there is a progressive increase in unit cell parameters. Potassium atoms in these compounds can be exchanged by protons and these protonated forms do not show a doubled c axis. Proton-exchanged forms of these layered perovskite oxides are solid acids and react with organic bases such as n-hexylamine, forming n-C6H13NH3[Ca2(Ca,Sr)n−3Nb3Tin−3O3n+1], resulting in large layer separations.
A column generation approach for scheduling a batch processing machine with makespan objective

In this paper, the single machine batch scheduling problem with non-identical job processing times, non-identical job sizes, and a fixed machine size capacity is considered with the objective of minimising makespan. The problem is solved using a column generation approach in which the original problem is decomposed into a restricted master problem and a subproblem. The restricted master problem is then linearly relaxed and iteratively solved to optimality by utilising improving columns generated by solving the subproblem. Finally, the restricted master problem is resolved as an integer programme to obtain a final feasible solution. The results are compared to previous results obtained using simulated annealing, a genetic algorithm, and a commercial solver. The solution quality and run time compare very favourably with these other approaches, producing at least an equivalent solution in all of the test cases and generating a better solution in 65% of the cases that contained 50 or more jobs.
Impact of nine chronic conditions for US adults aged 65 years and older: an application of a hybrid estimator of quality-adjusted life years throughout remainder of lifetime

To estimate quality-adjusted life years (QALY) loss due to each of the following nine chronic conditions—depression, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, emphysema, asthma, arthritis, and cancer. We ascertained respondents’ health-related quality of life scores and mortality status from the 2005 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with mortality follow-up data through December 31, 2011. We included respondents aged 65 years and older (n = 2380). A hybrid estimator was used to calculate QALY from two parts: QALY during the follow-up period and QALY beyond the follow-up period. We calculated QALY by each of the nine chronic conditions. For persons aged 65 and older, QALY throughout the reminder of lifetime was 12.3 years. After adjusting for age- and sex-related differences, depression had an associated 8.2 years of QALY loss; diabetes, 5.6 years; hypertension, 2.5 years; heart disease, 5.4 years; stroke, 6.4 years; emphysema, 8.0 years; asthma, 4.8 years; arthritis, 0.3 years; and cancer, 2.5 years. Compared to persons without any chronic conditions, persons with one condition had an associated 4.7 years of QALY loss; persons with two conditions, 7.9 years; and persons with three or more conditions, 10.8 years. This study presents a QALY estimator for respondents in the NHANES-Linked Mortality File and demonstrates the utility of this method to other follow-up data. Continued application of our method would enable the burden of disease to be compared for a range of health conditions and risk factors in the ongoing effort to improve population health.
Privacy-preserving dual splitting distributed optimization with application to load flattening in California

This article presents a dual splitting technique for a class of strongly convex optimization problems whose constraints are block-wise independent. The average-based input in the objective is the only binding element. A dual splitting strategy enables the design of distributed and privacy preserving algorithms. Theoretical convergence bounds and numerical experiments show this method successfully applies to the problem of charging electric devices so as to even out the daily energy demand in California. The solution we provide is a privacy enforced algorithm readily implementable in a network of smart electric vehicle chargers. It can reach any arbitrary precision for the common optimization goal while relying on randomly perturbed information at the agent level. We show that, provided the community is large enough, an averaging effect enables the group to learn its global optimum faster than individual information is leaked. A limited number of messages are sent out in the distributed implementation which prevents adversary statisticians from having low theoretical Mean Square Errors for their estimates.
Progressive Architecture - Evolving a Launch Vehicle Configuration to Achieve an Affordable and Sustainable Program

A heavy lift launch vehicle that enables an architecture approach that will be affordable and sustainable should consider the following: 1) two different programmatic approaches - a direct capability vehicle and a progressive capability vehicle evolving to a pre-declared end-state, 2) a core stage concept that is standardized and configuration baselined to reduce vehicle manufacturing and production, infrastructure and processing life cycle cost growth, and 3) an evolving vehicle stack that employs an adjustable second or third stage configuration to meet customer mission requirements and objectives, resulting in tailored performance that enables satisfaction of mission goals. This paper will describe and provide the trade space and evidence of the relative benefits, impacts, and drawbacks between early heavy lift launch capability versus final configuration capability. Nomenclature
Defense inNasutitermes octopilis Banks (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae): comparative effectiveness of soldier secretion

Nasutitermes octopilis Banks is an abundant termite in the Kartabo area and other forested regions of Guyana. It lives in moist dead wood, with a gallery development similar to that seen in some species of Rhinotermitidae. It does not build covered runways; instead, it tunnels in soil and forest floor litter.N. octopilis soldiers can withstand ant attack more effectively than soldiers of other commonNasutitermes species in the erea. Their secretion appears to be repellent to ants, and renders worker termites selected from groups of workers and soldiers that have been in combat with one or more ants less acceptable as food to certain ant species. Pronounced differences in chemical composition between the secretions ofN. octopilis soldiers and other members of the genus are paralleled by differences in reactions elicited from ants. No evidence of toxicity or difference in “stickiness” from soldier secretions of members of other species of the genus was obtained.N. octopilis soldiers are very slow to fire their secretion, and do not rush out when the galleries are disturbed. Instead, they remain with the workers, and, by firing sparingly, can provide protection for longer intervals than similar-sized nasutes which fire more readily. In addition, secretions of otherNasutitermes species do not seem to render their combat-veteran workers less acceptable as food items. The abundance of the other species ofNasutitermes seems to be related to the building of covered runways and durable carton nests.
The Politics of Universal Health Insurance: Lessons from Past Administrations?

There is a remarkable consensus that American medical care—particularly its financing and insurance coverage—needs a major overhaul. The critical unanimity on this point—what Paul Starr has rightly termed a “negative consensus”—bridges almost all the usual cleavages in American politics—between old and young, Democrats and Republicans, management and labor, the well paid and the low paid. We spend more on and feel worse about medical care than our economic competitors, with nine out of ten Americans (including Fortune 500 executives) telling pollsters that our health system requires substantial change. That is the good news for medical reformers in the Clinton administration, the Congress, and the polity at large. The bad news for these reformers is that, for a variety of ideological and institutional reasons, American politics makes it very difficult to coalesce around a solution that reasonably satisfies the requirements for a stable and workable system of financing and delivering modern medical care. We have no assurance that the rare agreement on the seriousness of the nation's medical ills will generate the legislative support required for a substantively adequate and administratively workable program of reform.