cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tracking Multipath Structures in Shallow Water Acoustic Channels using Nonlinear Feature Representations

We investigate geometric braids as a connected nonlinear feature representation to capture time-varying multipath activity for shallow water acoustic channels. These feature representations allow real-time continuous determination of dominant multipath within the channel delay spread, while keeping the identity of different and potentially intersecting multipath separate. While braids do not offer unique representations for individual delay taps, they can track and adapt non-uniformly across estimated acoustic channels. We aim to investigate the limitations of the braiding technique and the parameters that dictate the morphology of braids in the content of shallow water channel multipath. While the multipath activity can exhibit substantial time-variability, we focus on individual braids for each band and their evolution within the delay spread and time. Results will be shown and discussed through a few example underwater acoustic channels simulated using the BELLHOP model and a portion of the estimated channel from experimental field data collected during the SPACE08 experiment.
Crime, quarantine, and the U.S. coronavirus pandemic

Research Summary Policy Implications Priorresearch has produced varied results regarding the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on crime rates, depending on the offenses and time periods under investigation. The current study of weekly offense rates in large U.S. cities is based on a longer time period, a greater number of offenses than prior research, and a varying number of cities for each offense (max = 28, min = 13, md = 20). We find that weekly property crime and drug offense rates, averaged across the cities, fell during the pandemic. An exception is motor vehicle theft, which trended upward after pandemic‐related population restrictions were instituted in March 2020. Robbery rates also declined immediately after the pandemic began. Average weekly homicide, aggravated assault, and gun assault rates did not exhibit statistically significant increases after March. Beginning in June 2020, however, significant increases in these offenses were detected, followed by declines in the late summer and fall. Fixed‐effects regression analyses disclose significant decreases in aggravated assault, robbery, and larceny rates associated with reduced residential mobility during the pandemic. These results support the routine activity hypothesis that the dispersion of activity away from households increases crime rates. The results for the other offenses are less supportive.Quarantines and lockdowns, although necessary to reduce contagious illness, are not desirable crime‐control devices. An object lesson of the coronavirus pandemic is to redouble effective crime reduction strategies and improve police–community relations without confining people to their homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Criminology & Public Policy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Yeast cell selection and synchrony: density gradients and mating factor block.

Publisher Summary The chapter focuses on methods for selecting homogeneous populations of cells from heterogeneous cultures. These homogeneous populations are either examined directly or allowed to grow in a synchronous manner to provide cells at all stages of the cell cycle. This chapter discusses the methods, which are easy to perform and do not require special rotors or equipment. These techniques are applied equally well to small or large quantities of cells. Two methods are presented, one physical and the other physiological. The physical method utilizes the cell density shifts observed during the cell cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Two procedures for deriving homogeneous populations based on this observation are described. The Ludox density method has the advantage of producing self-generating gradients, while the Renographin density method utilizes ordinary gradient markers. Both techniques are recommended for diploid cells. Haploid cells, because of asynchronous bud growth and separation, are more difficult to synchronize by physical methods. Thus a physiological method, involving mating factor block of cells in G 1 , is presented for both a and α cells. Methods for the purification of a and α mating factors are detailed.
Reaching High-Yield Fusion with a Slow Plasma Liner Compressing a Magnetized Target

AbstractDynamics of the compression of a magnetized plasma target by a heavy liner made of partially ionized high-Z material is discussed. A soft-landing (shockless) mode of the liner deceleration is analyzed. Conclusion is drawn that such mode is possible for the liners whose thickness at the time of the first contact with the target is smaller than ~10% of the initial (uncompressed) target radius. A combination of the plasma liner with one or two glide cones allows for direct access to the area near the center of the reactor chamber. One can then generate a plasma target inside the plasma liner at the optimum time. The other advantage of the glide cones is that they can be used to deliver additional fuel to the center of the target near the point of maximum compression and thereby increase the fusion yield.
A diffusion gradient chamber for studying microbial behavior and separating microorganisms.

The natural habitats of most microbes are dynamic and include spatial gradients of growth substrates, electron acceptors, pH, salts, and inhibitory compounds. To mimic this diffusive aspect of nature, we developed an analytical diffusion gradient chamber (DGC) that can be used to separate, enrich for, isolate, and study the behavior of microorganisms. The chamber is a polycarbonate box containing an arena (5 by 5 by 2 cm) into which is cast a semisolid growth medium. Continuously replenished solute reservoirs positioned on each side of the arena but separated from it by a porous membrane enable the formation throughout the gel of multiple, intersecting gradients of solutes in two dimensions. With glucose as the solute, a gradient which spanned a 100-fold range in concentration was established across the arena in about 4 days. The shape of the glucose gradient was accurately predicted by a mathematical model based on Fickian diffusion. The growth and migratory behavior of Escherichia coli in response to imposed gradients of attractants (aspartate, α-methyl aspartate, and serine) and a repellent (valine) were examined. Cells responded in predictable ways to such gradients by forming distinctive growth and migration patterns in the DGC. This was true for wild-type E. coli as well as specific chemotaxis and motility mutants. The patterns yielded information about the threshold concentration of chemoeffectors needed to elicit a response as well as their saturating concentration. It was also evident that the metabolism of attractants significantly affected the gradients and, hence, the movement of cells. Finally, it was possible to separate E. coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens in the DGC on the basis of their differential responses to gradients of various chemoeffectors. Images
Regulation of the expression of Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc glycosphingolipids in kidney.

Previous studies (Galili, U., Clark, M. R., Shohet, S. B., Buehler, J., and Macher, B. A. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 84, 1369-1373; Galili, U., Shohet, S. B., Korbrin, E., Stults, C. L. M., and Macher, B. A. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 17755-17762) have established that there is a unique evolutionary distribution of glycoconjugates carrying the Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc epitope. These glycoconjugates are expressed by cells from New World monkeys and non-primate mammals, but not by cells from humans, Old World monkeys, or apes. The lack of expression of this epitope in the latter species appears to result from the suppression of gene expression for the enzyme UDP-galactose:nLc4Cer alpha 1-3-galactosyltransferase (alpha 1-3GalT) (Joziasse, D. H., Shaper, J. H., Van den Eijnden, D. H., Van Tunen, A. J., and Shaper, N. L. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 14290-14297). Although many non-primate species are known to express this carbohydrate epitope, the nature (i.e. glycoprotein or glycosphingolipid) of the glycoconjugate carrying this epitope is only known for a few tissues in a few animal species. Furthermore, it is not known whether all animal species express this epitope in the same tissues. We have investigated these questions by analyzing the glycosphingolipids in kidney from several non-primate animal species. Immunostained thin layer chromatograms of glycosphingolipids from sheep, pig, rabbit, cow, and rat kidney with the Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc glycosphingolipid-specific monoclonal antibody, Gal-13, demonstrated that kidney from all of these species except rat contained Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc neutral glycosphingolipids. A lack of expression of Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc glycosphingolipids in rat may be due to the lack of expression of the enzyme (alpha 1-3GalT) which catalyzes the formation of the Gal alpha 1-3Gal nonreducing terminal sequence of these compounds or to the lack of expression of glycosyltransferases which are necessary for the synthesis of the neolacto core structure of these compounds. These possibilities were evaluated in two ways. First, the three enzymes (UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:LacCer beta 1-3-N-acetyl-glucosaminyltransferase, UDP-galactose:Lc3Cer beta 1-4-galactosyltransferase, and alpha 1-3GalT) involved in the synthesis of the Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc glycosphingolipids were assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based assay system and carbohydrate sequence-specific monoclonal antibodies. Second, TLC immunostaining was done to determine if the glycosphingolipid precursors (i.e. Lc3Cer and nLc4Cer) are expressed in rat kidney. Interestingly, rat kidney had a relatively high level of alpha 1-3GalT activity compared with the other animals tested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Results on cyclic signal processing systems

We present a state space description for cyclic LTI systems which find applications in cyclic filter banks and wavelets. We also revisit the notions of reachability and observability in the cyclic context, and show a number of important differences from traditional noncyclic case. A number of related problems such as the paraunitary interpolation problem and the cyclic paraunitary factorizability problem can be understood in a unified way by using the realization matrix defined by the state space description.
The first year of experience in Colorado with the new abortion law

Abstract On April 25, 1967, Colorado was the first state to enact a modern abortion law. During the first 12 months' experience under the new law 407 therapeutic abortions were performed. Two hundred and ninety-one were performed for psychiatric reasons. These were followed in frequency by fetal indications, 47 patients; rape, 46 patients; and the physical health of the mother, 23 patients. The medical, social, and legal aspects of the problem and the methods that Colorado physicians have used for solving the problems are discussed.
The Second Sex in Town

Evaluating and integrating the available information assessment of the position of women in the fast growing towns of Subsaharan Africa is made. Changes that affect the position of women in Subsaharan Africa are discussed in an attempt to evaluate the impact of these changes in the urban setting. Then the 2 themes of opportunities for economic independence of urban women and the urban family are discussed followed by a short discussion of the policy implications of sex descrimination and occupation. Western ideology has been a potent factor in changing the position of women in much of Subsaharan Africa and women have found new aspirations. In addition the spread of modern methods of contraception is probably a major factor for change in the position of women since the possibility of effective birth control gives women the prospect of greater power over their futures and most important to the extent that family size is effectively reduced women will be less bound by home and children and in a better position to pursue career opportunities. There appears to be general agreement that women are better off in town that in rural areas and increasing numbers of women do find economic independence in town with the most striking developments occuring in commerce. Also whatever their views many men who want a woman to live permanently with them in town have to accept that she will gain a degree of economic independence since their earnings are insufficient to support a family in urban conditions. As a result sex discrimination in the urban setting carries high costs. It fosters the separation of families and/or leads to an increased demand for a costly urban infrastructure.
Some results on the modelling, analysis, and design of neural networks

The authors cite selected papers on neural networks to give a perspective on the present subject matter. They then discuss their own work dealing with the local stability analysis of equilibrium points in the continuous Hopfield model. The authors summarize (global) analysis and synthesis results for a class of neural networks which includes as a special case the continuous Hopfield model. They summarize analysis and synthesis results for a class of neural networks with variable structure, which correspond to the discrete Hopfield model. Also summarized are the analysis and design results for a class of neural networks which are modeled by linear analog circuits that are allowed to operate in saturated modes. Specific applications of neural networks to sorting problems are also presented. >
Friction Stir Processing in Wrought and Cast Aluminum Alloys

Friction Stir Processing (FSP) of various aluminium alloys including wrought 6061 and cast A356, 319, and A390 have been systematically investigated in this study. The effects of processing on microstructure, hardness, tensile properties, and fatigue crack growth behaviour of the alloys were studied. The alloys were judiciously selected to understand the effects of Si level, type, and morphology, and to evaluate the contributions of different secondary phases and strengthening precipitates. Individual and combined effects of these microstructural features were also assessed. The results will be presented and discussed.
The generation of multiple matrix cracking and fiber-matrix interfacial debonding in a glass composite

Abstract The phenomena of multiple matrix cracking and fiber–matrix interfacial debonding are directly observed and analyzed in a transparent SiC fiber-reinforced borosilicate glass composite. Under a certain load, the number of matrix cracks and the length of interfacial debonding are directly measured because of the availability of this transparent glass composite. These observations on the interfacial debonding accompanying the multiple matrix cracking, and their comparison with the theoretical analyses of the matrix cracking and debonding behaviors are presented. The micromechanics of matrix cracking, interfacial debonding, and associated matrix crack saturation/saturation stress are also analyzed.
Cocaine selectively alters neurotransmitter receptor mRNAs in mouse embryos

Alterations in gene expression due to in utero cocaine exposure may adversely affect nervous system development The present study examined whether or not cocaine administration to pregnant mice alters embryonic mRNA levels for several developmentally-regulated genes. Antisense RNA amplification was performed using RNA from LM/Bc embryos at gestational days 9.5 and 10.5 after three days of cocaine treatment. This technique highlights simultaneous changes that occur in the expression of many genes after a teratogenic insult. Significant changes occurred in the expression pattern of only four genes from a total of 42 candidate cDNAs. These included increases in the relative levels of the a and β1 subunits of the GABAA receptor without concurrent changes in the non-NMDA glutamate receptor subunits. The results support the hypothesis that in utero cocaine exposure leads to specific changes in gene expression that may ultimately contribute to developmental abnormalities.
February: American History Month in Massachusetts

As the field of history expands with each passing decade, so does the number of reference works on historical events. Many fine reference works have been released in recent years, and the following is an annotated list of some of those that librarians ought to consider purchasing. The materials included were published in the decade beginning with the American Bicentennial. The scope of the bibliography is also limited to certain subjects deemed appropriate by the author, and excludes a number of excellent works that were considered too limited (bibliographies of individuals, for example), even though they might well be proper purchases for a library's reference collection. Also excluded, generally, are those works that are revisions of earlier works. The range of subjects included within the larger context of “American history” is somewhat dependent on the materials actually published, and the author has attempted to select only those materials that have received favorable reviews.
Xanthine oxidase and endothelium dependent relaxation

Abstract Superoxide anion (O 2 ) generated from xanthine oxidase/xanthine has been used to decrease the half life of endothelium derived relaxing factor (EDRF). However, by itself, xanthine oxidase causes endothelium dependent relaxation. This relaxation is unrelated to the oxidative property of the enzyme since it is not inhibited by allopurinol. In addition, the relaxation is not inhibited by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, or the phospholipase A2 inhibitor, p-bromophenacyl bromide. On the other hand the relaxation is inhibited by the trypsin inhibitor (TI) from chicken egg white. A similar endothelium dependent relaxation elicited by pancreatin and trypsin is also inhibited by TI. Pancreatin used in the preparation of xanthine oxidase contains trypsin, chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidase. When compared to trypsin both chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidase elicit little relaxation. Thus the endothelium dependent relaxation elicited by xanthine oxidase is likely due to contamination with trypsin. Our results emphasize that when the superoxide generating system, xanthine oxidase/xanthine is used to study the effect of oxygen radicals on EDRF, it is advantageous to ensure that only purified preparations of xanthine oxidase are used.
Plasmid DNA and IL-4 modulate expression of mHC class I and costimulatory molecules in B lymphocytes.

B lymphocytes are capable of spontaneous internalization of plasmid (p)DNA, an event that set in motion the antigen-presenting function in this class of hemopoietic cells. Previously, we showed that priming of CD8 T lymphocytes by spontaneously transgenic B lymphocytes requires T-cell help, and that this can be replaced by soluble IL-4. To better understand this phenomenon we studied the relative role of pDNA and IL-4 on the expression of MHC-I and a panel of critical costimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80, CD86, OX40L, and LAG-3). Whereas upregulation of MHC-I is contributed by pDNA, IL-4 mainly upregulates CD86 and to a lesser degree CD40. The two effects appear to be independent. In addition, however, it was found that IL-4 stabilizes MHC-I transcription in lymphocytes after spontaneous transgenesis with pDNA. These results further our understanding of events that take place in specialized mammalian cells after exposure to pDNA. They also point to the fact after pDNA internalization that the antigen-prese...
Siblicide A Descriptive Analysis of Sibling Homicide

This study presents a first look at the phenomenon of siblicide on a national level using data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reports and the Supplementary Homicide Reports. Five hundred and fourteen (514) single victim cases between 1993 and 1995 were examined. Contrary to what one might expect, siblicide was more common in early to middle adulthood as opposed to adolescence. Results indicated a stable trend in the frequency of siblicide at approximately 1.0% of the national homicide rate over a 12-year period. Specific variables addressed included age, gender, type of weapon, race/ethnicity, offender-victim relationship, and the geographical distribution of siblicide cases.
Synchronization of mouse L-P59 cells by centrifugal elutriation separation.

Abstract Cell separation by centrifugal elutriation was employed to obtain synchronized cells from asynchronous populations of mouse L-P59 fibroblast cells. The fractions most enriched in specific phases of the cell cycle contained about 90% G1-phase cells, 70% S phase cells and 60% G2 + M phase cells, respectively, as determined by pulse cytophotometry and autoradiography. When replated, cells from separated fractions divided synchronously in culture. The method is rapid and large numbers of cells (3 × 10 8 ) can be processed in a single run with no loss of viability. This method should be applicable to most cell lines which can be obtained in single-cell suspension.
Post-embryonic expression pattern of C. elegans let-60 ras reporter constructs.

Abstract let - 60 ras plays roles in the differentiation of several C . elegans tissues (Yochem, J., Sundaram, M., Han, M., 1997. Ras is required for a limited number of cell fates and not for general proliferation in Caenorhabditis elegans . Mol. Cell. Biol. 17, 2716–2722). To understand the transcriptional regulation of ras and to identify new functions for ras in development, we examined expression patterns of let - 60 :: lacZ and let - 60 :: GFP reporter constructs in C . elegans hermaphrodites. Fusion constructs were expressed in vulval precursor cells, sex myoblasts and in cell lineages of the somatic gonad, germline cells (GFP construct only), hypodermis, muscle and nervous system.
Interactions of the Vaccinia Virus A19 Protein

The A19 protein of vaccinia virus (VACV) is conserved among chordopoxviruses, expressed late in infection, packaged in the virus core, and required for a late step in morphogenesis. Multiple-sequence alignments of A19 homologs indicated conservation of a series of lysines and arginines, which could represent a nuclear localization or nucleic acid binding motif, and a pair of CXXC motifs that suggested a zinc finger or redox active sites. The importance of the CXXC motif was confirmed by cysteine-to-serine substitutions, which rendered the altered protein unable to trans-complement infectivity of a null mutant. Nevertheless, the cysteines were not required for function of the poxvirus-specific redox pathway. Epitope-tagged A19 proteins were detected in the nucleus and cytoplasm in both infected and uninfected cells, but this distribution was unaffected by alanine substitutions of the arginine residues, which only partially reduced the ability of the mutated protein to trans-complement infectivity. Viral proteins specifically associated with affinity-purified A19 were identified by mass spectrometry as components of the transcription complex, including RNA polymerase subunits, RAP94 (RNA polymerase-associated protein 94), early transcription factors, capping enzyme, and nucleoside triphosphate phosphohydrolase I, and two core proteins required for morphogenesis. Further studies suggested that the interaction of A19 with the RNA polymerase did not require RAP94 or other intermediate or late viral proteins but was reduced by mutation of cysteines in the putative zinc finger domain. Although A19 was not required for incorporation of the transcription complex in virus particles, the transcriptional activity of A19-deficient virus particles was severely reduced.
Journey and Transactions Frequency: An Alternative Explanation of Rent-gradient Convexity

This paper contends that in many real-world situations, the frequency with which transactions take place is central to the relationship between land prices and location. It will therefore be argued that an approach which makes the transactions and journey frequency endogenous to the cost problem is the correct way in which time should be incorporated into many urban rent-distance models. Under these conditions, it can be shown that a convex distance-rent gradient can be generated without the need for the assumption of a convex indifference curve or isoquant. Furthermore, in many such cases, the convex distance-rent curve can be shown to exist irrespective of whether transport costs are concave, linear or greater than linear with distance. Real examples will be used to illustrate the problem.
Langmuir Study of Octadecyltrimethoxysilane Behavior at the Air−Water Interface

The behavior of octadecyltrimethoxysilane (C18TMS) at the air−water interface for different subphases pH has been studied through surface pressure−area and surface potential−area isotherms combined with Brewster angle microscopy. C18TMS monomolecular behavior has been assigned to the one observed at pH around 8.0. Hydrolysis or hydrolysis followed by condensation occurs when pH is lowered below 5.0. Hydrolysis followed by condensation is also observed when the pH is raised above 10.5. The type of catalysis predominantly influences the product of the reaction. Condensation is performed at low pH under two constraints: steric hindrance between the C18 tail chains and electrostatic repulsion between polar groups, resulting in a very low or nil polymerization degree of the condensation products around the isoelectric point (pH 3.8). Higher concentration of chloride ions gradually inhibits the second constraint, resulting in the formation of a linear polymer. Only steric hindrance has been observed under basi...
Caffeine challenge in patients with panic disorder: baseline differences between those who panic and those who do not

A proportion of patients with panic disorder (PD) display an increased sensitivity to the anxiogenic/panicogenic properties of caffeine. The aim of this study is to identify probable baseline differences between PD patients who panic and those who do not, after caffeine administration. In a randomized, double-blind, cross-over experiment performed in two occasions 3–7 days apart, 200 and 400 mg of caffeine, respectively, were administered in a coffee form to 23 patients with PD with or without Agoraphobia. Evaluations included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the DSM-IV ‘panic attack’ symptoms (visual analogue scale form), the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), as well as breath-holding (BH) duration, heartbeat perception accuracy and heart rate. Only those patients who did not present a panic attack after both challenges (‘no panic group’, N=14, 66.7%), and those who presented a panic attack after at least one challenge (‘panic group’, n=7, 33.3%) were included in the analysis. The panickers, compared to the non-panickers, presented at baseline: significantly higher total score of the SCL-90-R; significantly higher scores on all the SCL-90-R clusters of symptoms, except that of ‘paranoid ideation’; significantly lower BH duration. The present preliminary findings indicate that PD patients who panic after a 200 mg or a 400 mg caffeine challenge, compared to the PD patients who do not panic after both of these challenges, may present at baseline significantly higher non-specific general psychopathology—as reflected in the SCL-90-R—and significantly shorter BH duration. Depression and Anxiety. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) in reflection on learning and practice.

Methods: A purposive sample of 10 practicing physicians (6 male, 7 primary care) was recruited from geographic regions throughout Virginia. Five participants were previous users of a PDA. Three sources of data were analyzed: (1) a questionnaire describing PDA usage, (2) transcripts from telephone interviews, and (3) CCAF written comments. A study team member installed the PDA system and conducted individualized training on the basis of current equipment, software, and skills of the learner. Telephone interviews were completed 4–6 months after training. Results: All physicians accessed the system after training. Use of the PDA was associated with the value of information for making clinical decisions. Information accessed by PDA was used not only for clinical decisions but also for patient education and for teaching medical students. Use of the CCAF prompted physicians to reflect on changes in clinical practice.
Political Aspects of Mobility in China's Urban Development

Traditionally, Chinese urbanism was as much “a way of life”as in present-day America or Europe though its style, scope and effect on general social change differed markedly from its Western counterparts. The pre-modern Chinese city, predominantly an administrative-military center, extended and enforced imperial authority and proved to be a hostile environment to entrepreneurship. Typically, the mark of officialdom was stamped on the Chinese city, and urban life and elite status were often equated. Moreover, the appeal of urban living remained sufficiently strong through the years to attract large numbers of non-official local elites or “gentry” as well as officials, particularly during periods of relative social instability and peasant unrest. Since the perquisites of status surrounded the lives of city dwellers in many areas of China, the young peasant aspirant to the elite also considered movement to the city and upward social mobility to be roughly equivalent. This view of mobility and the city in the Chinese scheme of things provides a basis from which we can examine trends in recruitment and their consequences for social change for selected periods since the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Particular emphasis will be placed on the interrelationships of urban social mobility and industrialization and on the implications of these interrelationships for political legitimacy in the Chinese People's Republic.Following the time-honored Chinese system of evaluating occupations, the official was accorded unmatched prestige. The general citizenry, well beneath all officials, was classified into scholars, peasants, artisans, and merchants—in descending order of rank—with a tiny group of declassed individuals placed far below them.
Effects of early inhaled nitric oxide therapy and vitamin A supplementation on the risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature newborns with respiratory failure.

Objective To assess whether the combination of early inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy and vitamin A supplementation lowers the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature newborns with respiratory failure. Study design A total of 793 mechanically ventilated infants (birth weight 500-1250 g) were randomized (after stratification by birth weight) to receive placebo or iNO (5 ppm) for 21 days or until extubation (500-749, 750-999, or 1000-1250 g). A total of 398 newborns received iNO, and of these, 118 (30%) received vitamin A according to their enrollment center. We compared patients who received iNO + vitamin A with those who received iNO alone. The primary outcome was a composite of death or BPD at 36 weeks postconceptual age. Results BPD was reduced in infants who received iNO + vitamin A for the 750-999 g birth weight group compared with iNO alone (P = .01). This group also showed a reduction in the combined outcome of BPD + death compared with iNO alone (P = .01). The use of vitamin A did not change the risk for BPD in the placebo group. Overall, the use of vitamin A was low (229 of 793 patients, or 29%). Combined therapy improved Bayley Scales of Infant Development II Mental and Psychomotor Developmental Index scores at 1 year compared with infants treated solely with iNO for the 500-749 g birth weight group. Conclusions In this retrospective analysis of the nonrandomized use of vitamin A, combined iNO + vitamin A therapy in preterm infants with birth weight 750-999 g reduced the incidence of BPD and BPD + death and improved neurocognitive outcomes at 1 year in the 500-749 g birth weight group.
Mn-euvering manganese: the role of transporter gene family members in manganese uptake and mobilization in plants

Manganese (Mn), an essential trace element, is important for plant health. In plants, Mn serves as a cofactor in essential processes such as photosynthesis, lipid biosynthesis and oxidative stress. Mn-deficient plants exhibit decreased growth and yield and are more susceptible to pathogens and damage at freezing temperatures. Mn deficiency is most prominent on alkaline soils with approximately one third of the world’s soils being too alkaline for optimal crop production. Despite the importance of Mn in plant development, relatively little is known about how it traffics between plant tissues and into and out of organelles. Several gene transporter families have been implicated in Mn transport in plants. These transporter families include NRAMP (natural resistance associated macrophage protein), YSL (yellow stripe-like), ZIP (zinc regulated transporter/iron-regulated transporter [ZRT/IRT1]-related protein), CAX (cation exchanger), CCX (calcium cation exchangers), CDF/MTP (cation diffusion facilitator/metal tolerance protein), P-type ATPases and VIT (vacuolar iron transporter). A combination of techniques including mutant analysis and Synchrotron X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy can assist in identifying essential transporters of Mn. Such knowledge would vastly improve our understanding of plant Mn homeostasis.
Cutaneous mucor infection treated with wide excision in two children who underwent marrow transplantation

Cutaneous mucor infection developed in two children who had undergone bone marrow transplantation for treatment of leukemia. One infection occurred before transplantation, and the other occurred during the period of profound neutropenia after transplantation. Both children were treated with an extensive wide excision of the infected area, and there was no evidence of mucor along the resected edges of tissue. Both patients received extensive treatment with either amphotericin (case 1) or amphotericin and itraconazole (case 2). These two cases represent aggressive management of cutaneous mucor infections, which is believed to be required for the successful completion of a marrow transplantation procedure.
Regional pharmaceutical preparation for biological and chemical terrorism.

Background: The United States National Office of Domestic Preparedness has determined that the threat of a biological or chemical attack is very real. As an active participant of a 13-county regional task force, one of the roles of the poison center was to determine the pharmaceutical needs of the community in the event of a terrorist action and develop a financially responsible method of acquisition and storage. Methods: Working with local health officials, an extensive literature review was conducted to identify possible biological and chemical poisons. Treatment recommendations were identified and an estimated amount to treat 5,000 people for 24 hrs was determined. Instead of purchasing the medications, a unique solution utilizing a regional pharmacy wholesaler was used. Discussion: An important element in a biological or chemical terrorist event is the availability of the pharmaceuticals and the capability of delivering them rapidly. The poison center is the ideal agency to help coordinate this endeav...
Σ 1 -elementarity and Skolem hull operators

Abstract The exact correspondence between ordinal notations derived from Skolem hull operators, which are classical in ordinal analysis, and descriptions of ordinals in terms of Σ 1 -elementarity, an approach developed by T.J. Carlson, is analyzed in full detail. The ordinal arithmetical tools needed for this purpose were developed in [G. Wilken, Ordinal arithmetic based on Skolem hulling, Annals of Pure and Applied Logic 145 (2) (2007) 130–161]. We show that the least ordinal κ such that κ 1 ∞ (as defined in [T.J. Carlson, Elementary patterns of resemblance, Annals of Pure and Applied Logic 108 (2001) 19–77] and described below) is the proof theoretic ordinal of the set-theoretic system KP l 0 , confirming a claim of Carlson. Moreover, we characterize the class of all ordinals κ such that κ 1 ∞ and provide an ordinal arithmetical analysis of Carlson’s entire structure R 1 in the style of [T.J. Carlson, Ordinal arithmetic and Σ 1 -elementarity, Archive for Mathematical Logic 38 (1999) 449–460].
THE EFFECT OF MATERIAL STRENGTH ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PRINCIPAL HUGONIOT AND QUASI-ISENTROPE OF BERYLLIUM AND 6061-T6 ALUMINUM BELOW 35 GPa

On obtient une compression quasi isentropique en appliquant une charge qui consiste en une onde de deformation uniaxe avec un faible taux de deformation et un temps d'accroissement eleve. Des donnees experimentales recentes montrent que le quasi-isentropique de l'aluminium 6061-T6 depasse de quelques pourcents le Hugoniot principal. A partir de donnees Hugoniot, de donnees choc-choc en retour et de donnees choc-decharge pour Be et l'Al 6061-T6 on a construit les quasi-isentropiques en fonction du volume specifique
Adsorption and Partitioning of Organic Compounds onto/into Fractal Sorbents

A model of organic chemical adsorption and partitioning onto/into fractal sorbents is developed in terms of sorption probabilities and location of the sorbate on the sorbent surface. Evidence is presented that the application of a Langmuir derived model to fractal aggregates provides a consistent and mechanistic explanation for both adsorption and partitioning processes. Partitioning-like processes are visualized in terms of adsorption to the inner sites of fractal sorbents, analogous to partitioning of solutes into humic acids. The model for the sorption process exhibits nonlinear dynamics. First, molecules are adsorbed at the outer sites of the aggregates in a fast process that dominates the initial kinetics of sorption. Second, molecules slowly diffuse inward and sorb to the inner sites of the aggregate. For the latter case, sorbate molecules exhibit partitioning-like processes which make a larger contribution to overall sorption at long equilibration times. Implications for the interpretation of parti...
High level of adherence to HAART among refugees and internally displaced persons on HAART in western equatorial region of Southern Sudan

Background: Signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 marked the end of the 20 year war in Southern Sudan. However, the decades of war and lawlessness have completely disrupted the healthcare infrastructure in the whole of southern Sudan. HIV sero-prevalence in the western equatorial state of Southern Sudan (12.1%) is the highest in the country. the massive numbers and mobility of internally displaced persons as well as insecurity due to frequent rebel attacks make providing ART for HIV infected persons in this part of Africa very challenging. Supplement: Abstracts of the Tenth International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1758-2652-13-S4-info.pdf Conference: Tenth International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection 7-11 November 2010 Glasgow, UK (Published: 8 November 2010) doi:10.1186/1758-2652-13-S4-P123 Cite this article as: Salami et al.: High level of adherence to HAART among refugees and internally displaced persons on HAART in western equatorial region of Southern Sudan. Journal of the International AIDS Society 2010 13(Suppl 4):P123. Full text: PubMed Central: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3112898/
Does size matter? The significance of prostate size on pathologic and functional outcomes in patients undergoing robotic prostatectomy

We examined the effect of prostate weight on perioperative data, and the pathological and functional outcomes of robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP).Data were available from 716 consecutive patients before, during and after undergoing RALP at one institution. Prostate size was arbitrarily stratified by recorded prostate weight into 80 g, corresponding to small, moderate and large glands, respectively. Perioperative data and the histopathological and functional outcomes were compared across these groups by both univariable and multivariable-adjusted analyses.Increased prostate size was associated with increased age, preoperative prostate-specific antigen levels, body mass index, operative duration, blood loss, lower biopsy and pathological Gleason scores, and lower pathological staging (P < 0.05). The incidence of extensive positive surgical margins was 14.8%, 9.7%, and 5.3% in small, moderate and large prostates, respectively (P < 0.001). However, after multivariable adjustment, only Gleason score and pathological stage were significantly associated with the incidence of positive margins (P < 0.05); prostate weight was not significantly associated. Overall, 78% and 92% of patients were potent and continent at 12 months, respectively, which was not affected by prostate size.Patients with larger prostates had favourable pathological outcomes after RALP. When controlling for pathological stage, prostate size was not associated with margin positivity. Functionally, neither continence nor potency at 12 months was affected by prostate size.
Liquid rocket combustion instability analysis by CFD methods

Combustion instability in liquid rocket engines is simulated computationally by using a simple two-parameter model for the combustion response function. The objectives of the study are to assess the capabilities of CFD algorithms for instability studies and to investigate the response to parametric effects such as bombs and distributed combustion. Results indicate that numerical solutions of high accuracy can be obtained if a sufficient number of grid points are used per wavelength of the disturbance. The short-term response to bombs or pulses triggers a large number of modes in the combustor whose faithful resolution requires highly dense grids, although there is evidence that correct long-term solutions can be obtained even if all the short-term frequencies are not resolved. Long-term responses to pulses are shown to decay to the most unstable mode in small amplitude cases, and to exhibit limit cycles in large amplitude cases. Comparison of distributed with concentrated heat release indicates the former is more stable for given values of the combustion response parameters, and that the distributed heat release gives rise to higher frequency disturbances. Wave steepening is observed in the solutions, but its effect is less pronounced in multidimensional waves than in one-dimensional waves.
Systemic complications of pseudomonas conjunctivitis in a newborn special care unit (NBSCU). ♦ 1342

Systemic complications of pseudomonas conjunctivitis in a newborn special care unit (NBSCU). ♦ 1342
On the implementation of general four-terminal DC device models in SPICE

The circuit-simulator program SPICE has been used worldwide by industry and academia to simulate wide varieties of IC designs. With the advance of technology have come many new devices that cannot be simulated by SPICE in its current form. We present methods for implementing classes of new DC device models directly into the source code of SPICE. The techniques described are illustrated for the case of the El-Mansy MOSFET model.
Iterative skew minimization for low swing clocks

Abstract This paper presents a new methodology that implements a low swing clock tree. For low power IC design, low swing clock trees are one of the known techniques to lower the overall power dissipation through decreasing the power consumption of the clock network, while trading off the clock skew, local timing (slack) and the variation-tolerance (due to decreased noise margin). In this paper, an iterative skew minimization scheme for low swing clock trees is proposed via in-place buffer sizing considering multiple process corners. The proposed approach can preserve the power savings of the low swing clock tree implementation across multiple process corners. The effect of the decreased clock swing on the local timing is analyzed: The degradation in the timing slack is shown to be insignificant due to bounded clock slew eliminating most of the timing degradation on the clock network or the logic paths induced by decreased clock swing. The experimental results show that the proposed methodology can achieve an average of up to 11% power savings, with a skew degradation of less than 5% compared to the original full-swing clock tree, satisfying a practical skew budget. The proposed scheme is highly practical as it only performs in-place buffer sizing on the original clock tree.
Long-term followup of children with neonatal lupus and their unaffected siblings

Objective To determine in a longitudinal cohort study whether children with varied manifestations of neonatal lupus or their unaffected siblings later develop autoantibodies and/or rheumatic diseases. Methods To obtain information on the health of children ages ≥8 years who had manifestations of neonatal lupus (affected group) and their unaffected siblings (unaffected group), questionnaires were sent to mothers (with anti-SSA/Ro and/or anti-SSB/La antibodies) who were enrolled in the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases/Hospital for Joint Diseases Research Registry for Neonatal Lupus. Children of healthy mothers referred by the Registry enrollees comprised the control group. Further data were provided by review of medical records. Results Fifty-five mothers enrolled in the Registry returned questionnaires on 49 children with neonatal lupus and their 45 unaffected siblings. Six children with definite rheumatic/autoimmune diseases were identified: 2 with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, 1 with Hashimoto thyroiditis, 1 with psoriasis and iritis, 1 with diabetes mellitus and psoriasis, and 1 with congenital hypothyroidism and nephrotic syndrome. All had neonatal lupus, and their mothers had manifestations of autoimmune diseases (Sjogren's syndrome in 4, systemic lupus erythematosus/Sjogren's syndrome in 1, and undifferentiated autoimmune disease in 1). Antinuclear antibodies were present in 4 of 55 sera tested (2 of 33 affected children and 2 of 22 unaffected children). No serum contained antibodies reactive with SSA/Ro or SSB/La antigens. Conclusion These data suggest that children with neonatal lupus require continued followup, especially prior to adolescence and if the mother herself has an autoimmune disease. While there was no apparent increased risk of systemic lupus erythematosus, the development of some form of autoimmune disease (systemic or organ-specific) in early childhood may be of concern. During adolescence and young adulthood, individuals with neonatal lupus and their unaffected siblings do not appear to have an increased risk of developing systemic rheumatic diseases.
The other side of the healthy immigrant paradox: Chinese sojourners in Ireland and Britain who return to China due to personal and familial health crises.

Based on participant observation and interviews conducted between 2003 and 2006, this paper examines the experiences of three young adult Chinese sojourners in Ireland and the United Kingdom who return to the People’s Republic of China for permanent residence because of personal or familial health crises. Their experiences illustrate the plight of failed sojourners who are part of the little-studied other side of the “healthy immigrant paradox.” The experiences of the sojourners in this case study illustrate factors that tend to prevent less healthy or resourceful sojourner families from even entering the immigrant category, which has been shown to be paradoxically healthier than nonimmigrant native categories in epidemiological studies. This paper’s approach demonstrates how ethnography can contribute to the study of public health by shedding light on the experiences of marginal individuals who fall between the cracks of epidemiological studies.