cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The independent impact of congestive heart failure status and diuretic use on serum uric acid among men with a high cardiovascular risk profile: a prospective longitudinal study.

Objective To evaluate the independent impact of congestive heart failure (CHF) status (compensation or decompensation) on serum uric acid levels among men with high cardiovascular risk profile. Method We analyzed 11,681 men from the Multiple Risk Factor Interventional Trial, using data prospectively collected at baseline and annually over 6 years (64,644 visits). We evaluated the impact of change in CHF status during study follow-up, as compared with study baseline, on hyperuricemia (serum uric acid ≥7 mg/dL) and serum uric acid levels, using generalized estimating equations, adjusting for age, race, weight, weight change, education, alcohol intake, diuretic use, hypertension, serum creatinine level, and dietary factors. Similarly, we evaluated the independent impact of change in diuretic use (initiation or discontinuation). Results At baseline, mean serum uric acid was 6.88 mg/dL. Compared with no change in CHF status, odds ratios of hyperuricemia were 1.67 (95% CI, 1.21 to 2.32) for CHF decompensation and 0.21 (95% CI, 0.08 to 0.55) for compensation. The corresponding uric acid differences were 0.41 (95% CI, 0.20 to 0.62) and −1.00 (95% CI, −1.72 to −0.27), respectively. The odds ratios for initiation and discontinuation of diuretic were 3.32 (95% CI, 3.06 to 3.61) and 0.39 (95% CI, 0.35 to 0.44). Conclusions CHF decompensation and diuretic use are both independently associated with increased odds of hyperuricemia among men with a high cardiovascular risk profile, whereas CHF recovery and diuretic discontinuation are associated with substantially lower odds of hyperuricemia.
Early days at MRL

AbstractFor the past 40 years, Eric Cross has been the worldwide leader of the international ferroelectrics community, organising meetings, advising students and colleagues, and building up an outstanding research programme at Penn State University. This paper describes the beginnings of the Penn State programme and some of the people involved, including George Brindley, Wilhelm Buessem, Ray Pepinsky and Rustum Roy. Three important events in its history were the work on multilayer capacitors with Erie Technological Products and Sprague Electric leading to the formation of the NSF Center for Dielectric Studies; the longstanding programme on piezoelectric transducers sponsored by the ONR which led to new families of composite ferroelectrics, to phased array ultrasound, and to near perfect electromechanical coupling factors; and the electrostriction measurements on relaxor ferroelectrics which played a key role in the development of reliable active optics systems. These were exciting times, and I am proud to...
Diabetes and disabilities: assistive tools, services, and information.

The purpose of this guide is to provide diabetes educators with a comprehensive list of assistive tools, services, and information for diabetes self-management for people with visual, manual, and hearing disabilities. A list of tools and products has been compiled by members of the Disabilities Specialty Practice Group (DSPG) and is updated periodically. The original list was assembled in 1988 with the support of a grant from the Diabetes Research and Education Foundation, Bridgewater, New Jersey. The last revised list was titled “Diabetes Aids and Products for People With Visual or Physical Impairment” and was published in Diabetes Educ. 1992;18:121-138. In addition to tools and products, organizations that provide services and information for people with disabilities are provided to diabetes educators.
Recursive Filter Objective Analysis of Meteorological Fields: Applications to NESDIS Operational Processing

Abstract A recursive filter objective analysis method is described. It is a "successive approximation" system with the particular feature of locally varying scaling, making it especially appropriate for dealing with inhomogeneous data. Attention is given to proper treatment of lateral boundaries, which permit its use in limited domains. Thissystem provides estimates of input data quality that can be used for editing datasets before their distribution and for the weighting of data in application by other users, Two- and three-dimensional versions of the analysis operating on a Cartesian grid are used operationally at the National Environmental Satellite and Data InformationService. They are used both in the production of data and for quality control prior to dissemination. Examplesof these applications are given.
Quadrupole moments of the first excited states in 20Ne and 22Ne

Abstract Static quadrupole moments of the first excited states of 20 Ne and 22 Ne have been measured using the reorientation effect in projectile excitation. The Ne nuclei, accelerated by the Berkeley Hilac, were Coulomb excited by thin targets of 120 Sn, 130 Te or 148 Sm and the gamma-ray yields in coincidence with particles scattered at angles of 90° and 160° were evaluated using the de Boer-Winther Coulomb excitation program. The results obtained are Q( 20 Ne , 2 + ) = −0.24 ±0.03 b , B (E2, 20 Ne , 0 + → 2 + ) = 0.048±0.007 e 2 · b 2 , Q( 22 Ne , 2 + ) = −0.21 ±0.04 b, and B( E 2, 22 Ne , 0 + → 2 + ) = 0.033±0.006 e 2 · b 2 .
Ca isotope variations in Allende

Ca-isotope measurements of Allende Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs), together with those on an apatite-enriched fraction from Orgueil, indicate the existence of widespread excesses on the neutron-rich isotope Ca-48. Isotopic anomalies are noted in 7 out of 11 CAIs analyzed. This abundance of isotopic excesses places Ca alongside Ti and O, although no clear correlation has yet been found between Ca-48 and Ti-50, which are thought to be coproduced by neutron-rich nucleosynthetic processes within stars. It is suggested that the higher volatility of Ca, by comparison with Ti compounds, led to a variable dilution with isotopically normal Ca in vaporization and recondensation processes in stellar envelopes, the interstellar medium, and/or the solar nebula.
Thyroid eye disease: therapy in the active phase.

Background:The management of active thyroid eye disease (TED) can be a challenging therapeutic dilemma. The pathogenic complexity, disease heterogeneity, clinical unpredictability, and ocular morbidity associated with TED necessitate a team approach.Evidence Acquisition:A literature search ending on
Thermal vacuum and solar simulation test of the Explorer XXXVIII spacecraft

Explorer 38 critical component equilibrium temperature tests in thermal vacuum chamber using modified solar simulator, noting agreement with model
Evolution of optical solitons in nonlinear dispersive lossy fibres

A variational technique has been applied to the evolution of optical solitons in a nonlinear dispersive lossy fibre. An analytical model has been developed to describe the interaction of two co-propagating orthogonally polarized optical pulses in a lossy fibre, governed by a pair of coupled nonlinear Schroedinger equations, and the threshold amplitude at which the solitons form a bound state has been obtained.
Sticks and carrots: Two incentive mechanisms supporting intra-group cooperation☆

Abstract In this note, we introduce two distinct incentive mechanisms that support dynamic intra-group cooperation in the context of prisoner's dilemma payoffs: rewards for cooperating, and punishments for defection, where the rewarding or punishing party may be outside the relationship.
X-Ray masks for very deep X-Ray lithography

The high aspect ratio, deep x-ray lithography and electrodeposition process [Becker et al. (1986)] can be expensive unless throughput is high enough. The use of a very high energy synchrotron has allowed the cost of exposure to be significantly reduced through simultaneous exposure of stacked photoresist [Guckel et al (1994)]. Synchrotron radiation at high photon energies has resulted the use of a large area x-ray mask. Both stacked exposures and a large area x-ray masks have significantly increased the throughput of the deep x-ray lithography and electrodeposition process.
Machinability analysis for 3-axis flat end milling

This paper presents a method for geometric machinability analysis. The implementation of the strategy determines the machinability of a part being processed using a plurality of 3-axis machining operations about a single axis of rotation for setup orientations. Slice file geometry from a stereolithography model is used to map machinable ranges to each of the line segments comprising the polygonal chains of each slice. The slices are taken orthogonal to the axis of rotation, hence, both two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) machinability analysis is calculated for perpendicular and oblique tool orientations, respectively. This machinability approach expands upon earlier work on 2D visibility analysis for the rapid manufacturing and prototyping of components using CNC machining.
Identity Formation, Metaphors, and Values: A Rejoiner to Berzonsky

Berzonsky (1986), in elaborating on the discovery and creation (construction) metaphors for identity formation, has not accurately represented my views on two key points: (1) the implications of the discovery metaphor regarding personal responsibility and accountability, and (2) the possibility of conducting scientific research involving metaphors for psychological processes. Our contrasting perspectives on these issues are discussed.
MicroRNAs and Epithelial Immunity

MicroRNAs are required for development and maintenance of the epithelial barrier. It is hypothesized that microRNAs are involved in regulating epithelial anti-microbial defenses by targeting key epithelial effector molecules and/or influencing intracellular signaling pathways. Additionally, aberrant microRNA expression has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases at the skin and mucosa. Increased understanding of the role of microRNAs in epithelial immunoregulation and identification of microRNAs of pathogenetic significance will enhance our understanding of epithelial immunobiology and immunopathology.
A dynamic programming approach to the optimization of elastic trusses

The optimal design of elastic trusses is discussed from a dynamic programming point of view. Emphasis is placed on minimum volume design of statically determinate trusses with displacement and stress constraints in the discrete case, i.e., when the cross-sectional areas of the bars are available from a discrete set of values. This, a design constraint usually very difficult to handle with standard nonlinear programming algorithms, is naturally incorporated in the present formulation. In addition, the functional equation approach is shown to furnish a direct solution to the problem of determining a design, among all possible ones satisfying certain volume and displacement constraints, for which the maximum stress is a minimum. A successive approximation approach is briefly indicated as an extension of the method to solve statically indeterminate trusses. Finally, several numerical examples are presented and the main features of the methods are briefly exposed.
Nutrient dyshomeostasis in congestive heart failure.

Abstract The clinical syndrome congestive heart failure (CHF) has its origins rooted in a salt-avid state mediated largely by effector hormones of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. In recent years, this cardiorenal perspective of CHF has taken on a broader perspective. One which focuses on a progressive systemic illness, whose major features include the presence of oxidative stress in diverse tissues and elevated circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines coupled with a wasting of soft tissues and bone. Experimental studies, which simulate chronic renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation, and translational studies in patients with salt avidity having decompensated biventricular failure with hepatic and splanchnic congestion have forged a broader understanding of this illness and the important contribution of a dyshomeostasis of Ca 2 + , Mg 2 + , Zn 2 + , Se 2 + , and vitamins D, B 12 , and B 1 . Herein, we review biomarkers indicative of the nutrient imbalance found in CHF and raise the question of a need for a polynutrient supplement in the overall management of CHF.
Trade, harvest, and conservation of caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) in the Himalayas

Unsustainable trade in wildlife is regarded as a major driver of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Unregulated wildlife trade propels over-exploitation of species, resulting in population declines, and often in combination with other factors may ultimately extirpate species from their natural habitats. Concern about the impacts of trade on biodiversity has largely focused on flagship animal species. Here, we report on the impact of trade on natural populations of the world’s most expensive biological resource, a unique caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis). Based on interviews with 203 harvesters and 28 traders, and focus group discussions in Dolpa, Nepal, we quantify the amount of harvest and trade. After legalization of trade in Nepal in 2001, trade volume increased persistently, reaching a peak of 2442.4 kg in 2009 and subsequently declining to 1170.8 kg in 2011. The local market price has increased by up to 2300% over the last 10 years. However, mean annual harvest declined from 260.66 ± 212.21 pieces per person in 2006 to 125.82 ± 96.84 pieces per person in 2010. Our analysis of harvesters’ perceptions of resource abundance and sustainability shows that virtually all harvesters (95.1%) believe the availability of the caterpillar fungus in the pastures to be declining, and 67% consider current harvesting practices to be unsustainable.
Presentation rates and verbal discrimination learning

The effects of 1-, 2-, 4-, and 8-sec anticipation times and 1-, 2-, 4-, and 8-sec study times on verbal discrimination learning were investigated using 192 college students. In Experiment 1 (96 Ss), the items were more meaningful and there were fewer pairs of items than in Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, anticipation time alone was significant, with better performance resulting from a longer anticipation time. In Experiment 2 (96 Ss), both study time and anticipation time were significant; with longer times, better performance was found. The results were discussed in terms of frequency theory.
Estimating Nonresponse Bias with Temporary Refusals

The accuracy of survey results are always endangered by the presence of nonresponse bias. Although we have a precise measure of the extent of nonresponse, we seldom have any information on how the nonrespondents differ from the respondents. In this article we attempt to estimate the characteristics of nonrespondents and thereby estimate nonresponse bias by comparing cooperative respondents with converted respondents who are known as temporary refusals.
Adherence to surgical care improvement project measures and the association with postoperative infections.

Context The Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) aims to reduce surgical infectious complication rates through measurement and reporting of 6 infection-prevention process-of-care measures. However, an association between SCIP performance and clinical outcomes has not been demonstrated. Objective To examine the relationship between SCIP infection-prevention process-of-care measures and postoperative infection rates. Design, Setting, Participants A retrospective cohort study, using Premier Inc's Perspective Database for discharges between July 1, 2006 and March 31, 2008, of 405 720 patients (69% white and 11% black; 46% Medicare patients; and 68% elective surgical cases) from 398 hospitals in the United States for whom SCIP performance was recorded and submitted for public report on the Hospital Compare Web site. Three original infection-prevention measures (S-INF-Core) and all 6 infection-prevention measures (S-INF) were aggregated into 2 separate all-or-none composite scores. Hierarchical logistical models were used to assess process-of-care relationships at the patient level while accounting for hospital characteristics. Main Outcome Measure The ability of reported adherence to SCIP infection-prevention process-of-care measures (using the 2 composite scores of S-INF and S-INF-Core) to predict postoperative infections. Results There were 3996 documented postoperative infections. The S-INF composite process-of-care measure predicted a decrease in postoperative infection rates from 14.2 to 6.8 per 1000 discharges (adjusted odds ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-0.95). The S-INF-Core composite process-of-care measure predicted a decrease in postoperative infection rates from 11.5 to 5.3 per 1000 discharges (adjusted odds ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.74-1.01), which was not a statistically significantly lower probability of infection. None of the individual SCIP measures were significantly associated with a lower probability of infection. Conclusions Among hospitals in the Premier Inc Perspective Database reporting SCIP performance, adherence measured through a global all-or-none composite infection-prevention score was associated with a lower probability of developing a postoperative infection. However, adherence reported on individual SCIP measures, which is the only form in which performance is publicly reported, was not associated with a significantly lower probability of infection.
Problems in the Control of a Nuclear Reactor -- Steam Electric Power Plant

The problems of controlling a nuclear reactor-steam electric power plant are associated both with nuclear reactor control and with control of the integrated system, which includes the reactor as a heat source. The problems can be attacked by appropriate use of existing methods for analyzing controlled systems. Existing nuclear power plants demonstrate the feasibility of using these methods. They also indicate that not all the problems are completely solved.
The FUGI macroeconomic model and world trade to 1990

Abstract The economic model presented here was designed to explore and simulate trade between (in this version) 62 countries or regions. The main structural elements and equations are described, and some results concerning national GDP growth and inter-regional trade levels are given.
Interstellar Abundance Gradients in NGC 2403: Comparison to M33

We present new long-slit spectra of 12 H II regions in the Scd spiral galaxy NGC 2403. Gas-phase element abundances for O, N, S, Ne, and Ar were estimated using direct measurements of electron temperature based on detections of [O III] λ4363, [S III] λ6312, and [O II] λ7320-7330, and from theoretical photoionization analysis. We find abundance gradients for O/H and N/O of -0.102 ± 0.009 dex kpc-1 and -0.032 ± 0.005 dex kpc-1, respectively. The relatively flat N/O gradient suggest a significant source of primary nitrogen. An upper limit for the C/O ratio for one H II region was determined from a Hubble Space Telescope FOS spectrum. A mild outward increasing gradient in S/O is seen at marginal significance (0.03 ± 0.02 dex kpc-1). We compare the abundance gradient and effective oxygen yield deduced for NGC 2403 with those determined for M33, another Scd galaxy with very similar structural parameters. We find close agreement in most of the chemical properties between NGC 2403 and M33. However, the effective yield for oxygen determined from closed box chemical evolution calculations is higher in M33 than in NGC 2403. The higher yield derived for M33 is similar to the case of H I-deficient Virgo spiral galaxies. We also compare NGC 2403 and M33 with a larger sample of unbarred spirals having abundance measurements. The global metallicity of the spirals correlates well with galaxy luminosity, as already noted from earlier investigations. The O/H gradient per unit disk scale length does not correlate with galaxy luminosity with possibly small intrinsic scatter, suggesting that spiral galaxies are homologous with regard to chemical evolution. The correlation between gas abundances and local surface brightness (mass density) in late-type spirals appears to be described well by chemical evolution models incorporating self-regulating star formation. However, the characteristic abundance at a given value of surface brightness correlates with galaxy luminosity. This suggests that an additional parameter which scales with galaxy mass influences the chemical properties of disks.
Nucleon-deuteron doublet scattering lengths with three-nucleon potentials.

The n-d and p-d s-wave scattering lengths are calculated for the spin-doublet configuration, including a three-nucleon potential in the Hamiltonian. Numerical results for the Reid-soft-core two-body potential plus the Tucson-Melbourne or Brazil three-body forces are presented. Comparison is made with Kohn variational estimates computed using the wave functions obtained by solving the Faddeev equations. Inclusion of the three-nucleon potentials does not alter our previous conclusions about the scattering lengths; all calculated Sa/sub nd/ and Sa/sub pd/ values lie on separate Phillips curves. The experimental value of Sa/sub nd/ lies on the n-d Phillips curve, while a considerable discrepancy remains for the p-d case.
Methods and Measures in Developmental Emotions Research: Some Assembly Required.

The remarkable contributors to this special issue highlight the importance of developmental research on emotion and its regulation, as well as its conceptual and methodological challenges. This commentary offers some additional thoughts, especially concerning alternative views of the convergence of multiple measures of emotional responding, the conceptualization of emotion and emotion regulation, and future directions for work in this field. In the end, in light of the complex construction of emotion and its development, we may learn from studying the divergence among multiple components of emotional responding as we do from expectations of their convergence. In each case, some assembly is required.
Performance modeling of infrastructure condition data with maintenance intervention

Accurate prediction of infrastructure condition is critical to infrastructure management agencies. Reliable and accurate predictions of infrastructure conditions save significant amounts of money for infrastructure management agencies through better planning of maintenance and rehabilitation activities. A good performance model relies heavily on the quality of the data collected and stored in the infrastructure management system. However, records of maintenance treatments are sometimes unavailable in the inventory. As a result, it is difficult to determine if a sudden increase in condition is caused by a maintenance intervention or by random measurement errors. Agencies with this problem usually filter the data set by removing possible outliers, subjecting the data to several quality control checks. For example, the change in condition may be considered a measurement error if the magnitude of the change is less than a given threshold. However, determination of the threshold value is sometimes arbitrary an...
Urinary secretory immunoglobulin A and free secretory component in pyelonephritis

Abstract The immune defense mechanisms of mucosal surfaces involve secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) antibodies and, to a lesser degree, other specific and nonspecific immune factors. These antibodies are dependent on a secretory component (SC) for their transmission through the epithelium. This SC is also secreted without Ig as free SC (FSC). The kidney does produce these proteins; however, the ability of the lower urinary tract to secrete them has not been shown. Thus, an upper urinary tract infection should produce more urinary sIg and possibly more FSC than a lower tract infection. To demonstrate this, urine was obtained from normal controls (N = 33), cystitis patients (N = 22), and pyelonephritis patients (N = 27). Monoclonal antibodies binding to specific conformational epitopes were used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect the levels of sIgA and FSC in these groups. Previous sIgA measurements have been hampered by lack of specificity of the capture antibody. Urine creatinine was obtained to correct for the effect of diuresis. A one-tailed Student's t -test for nonparametric populations was performed to assess differences. The sIgA levels in the normal and cystitis groups were equivalent (1.4 μg/mg/mL and 1.3 μg/mg/mL, respectively; P = 0.32). When these two groups were compared with the pyelonephritis group (24.1 μg/mg/mL), a statistically significant difference was seen ( P = 0.012 and P = 0.011, respectively), with no overlap. There was a statistical difference in the levels of FSC in these same groups, but a large degree of overlap. Urinary level of sIgA as measured by this monoclonal antibody is a sensitive test to differentiate pyelonephritis from cystitis, but FSC levels are not predictive. This may be due to differential secretion of sIgA by upper and lower urinary tract mucosa when exposed to infectious agents.
Social Interest, Running, and Life Adjustment

High social interest persons and runners reported significantly higher life adjustment scores than did low social interest persons and nonrunners. The interaction effect, however, was not significant.
No hemispheric differences for mental rotation of letters or polygons

Hemispheric effects for mental rotation were assessed with letters and polygons presented in their normal or mirror-image form at various degrees of rotation from upright to the center, left, and right visual fields. Mean reaction times and error rates for center-field processing were shorter than for those for either the left or right visual-field presentations. No evidence was found of any hemispheric differences for either the letter (verbal) or polygon (spatial) stimuli. These results suggest that the cognitive processes underlying mental rotation are not hemisphere-specific.
Neonatal body composition according to the revised institute of medicine recommendations for maternal weight gain.

Background: In 2009, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released revised pregnancy weight gain guidelines. There are limited data regarding the effect of maternal weight gain on newborn adiposity. Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate neonatal fat mass, lean body mass, and percentage body fat according to current Institute of Medicine (IOM) pregnancy weight gain guidelines. Design: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective observational cohort study of neonates delivered at least 36 wk gestation and evaluated for fat mass, lean body mass, and percentage body fat. Women with abnormal glucose tolerance testing and other known medical disorders or pregnancies with known fetal anomalies were excluded. Pregravid body mass index (BMI) was categorized as normal weight ( 30 kg/m2). Maternal weight gain was quantified as less than, equal to, or greater than current IOM guidelines. Newborn body composition measurements were compared according to weight gai...
Environmentally controlled variation in shell size of Ambonychia Hall (Mollusca, Bivalvia) in the type Cincinnatian (Upper Ordovician)

The common Ordovician bivalve genus Ambonychia Hall of the type Cincinnatian Series displays great variation in shell size that is strongly correlated with paleoenvironment. In older Cincinnatian sequences the largest mean and maximum shell size are found in the highest energy paleo-environments with decreasing size found in lower energy paleoenvironments. Further, the smallest size class of Ambonychia frequently is excluded from the higher energy paleoenvironments, possibly associated with differential taphonomic destruction of smaller shells. The deep-to-shallow water trend in mean and maximum shell size is not present in younger Cincinnatian sequences, perhaps because of a change in the morphology of the younger Ambonychia species, such as the development of a keeled umbo.
Trading Favors within Chinese Business Groups

A dominant aspect of ownership in the developing world is pyramidal structures, which allow shareholders to control corporations with relatively low investments. The uneasy relationship between these controlling investors and minority shareholders, and the potential impact on the broader macro economy, has been well studied by corporate governance scholars. On the one hand, the mismatch of cash flow and control rights leads to a range of agency problems and resultant resource misallocations, potentially impacting the macro economy (see Randall Morck, Daniel Wolfenzon, and Bernard Yeung 2005 for a comprehensive overview). Yet pyramids are one important mechanism that enables the formation of diversified business groups that, too, are a dominant feature of business organization in much of the world. The economics and management literature has taken a more ambivalent view of business groups, with their agency problems and rent seeking behaviors often counterbalanced by productive efficiencies from correcting market failures in weak institutional environments (see, in particular, a survey of the business groups literature by Tarun Khanna and Yishay Yafeh 2007 which emphasizes this tension). Often, the channels that enable value extraction by controlling interests overlap with those required to overcome market failures. For example, consider a controlling shareholder of a publicly listed firm that has a separate, completely owned, Trade and The InTernal OrganIzaTIOn Of fIrms
Abacavir sulfate, lamivudine, and zidovudine (Trizivir).

Treatment Review is intended to inform and update nurses about treatments relevant to HIV/AIDS. Product information presented in this column does not imply endorsement by the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.
Nervous system of the head and thorax of the adult tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)

Abstract The nervous system of M. sexta is described and compared to that of A. polyphemus and other insects. The nervous system of M. sexta has not undergone the same degree of fusion as that of A. polyphemus and therefore more peripheral nerves arise from the ganglia of M. sexta than from the ganglia of A. polyphemus . The fields of innervation of the nerves in the 2 moths are, however, very similar. In addition, several fine nerves, not previously described in Lepidoptera, have also been found. These include the ocellar pedicels and associated nerves and several nerve branches in the thorax.
Survival of mouse oocytes after being cooled in a vitrification solution to −196 °C at 95° to 70,000 °C/min and warmed at 610° to 118,000 °C/min: A new paradigm for cryopreservation by vitrification

There is great interest in achieving reproducibly high survivals of mammalian oocytes (especially human) after cryopreservation, but the results to date have not matched the interest. A prime cause of cell death is the formation of more than trace amounts of intracellular ice, and one strategy to avoid it is vitrification. In vitrification procedures, cells are loaded with high concentrations of glass-inducing solutes and cooled to -196°C at rates high enough to presumably induce the glassy state. In the last decade, several devices have been developed to achieve very high cooling rates. Nearly all in the field have assumed that the cooling rate is the critical factor. The purpose of our study was to test that assumption by examining the consequences of cooling mouse oocytes in a vitrification solution at four rates ranging from 95 to 69,250°C/min to -196°C and for each cooling rate, subjecting them to five warming rates back above 0°C at rates ranging from 610 to 118,000°C/min. In samples warmed at the highest rate (118,000°C/min), survivals were 70% to 85% regardless of the prior cooling rate. In samples warmed at the lowest rate (610°C/min), survivals were low regardless of the prior cooling rate, but decreased from 25% to 0% as the cooling rate was increased from 95 to 69,000°C/min. Intermediate cooling and warming rates gave intermediate survivals. The especially high sensitivity of survival to warming rate suggests that either the crystallization of intracellular glass during warming or the growth by recrystallization of small intracellular ice crystals formed during cooling are responsible for the lethality of slow warming.
The Transition to Mass Parties and Ideological Politics The Jamaican Experience Since 1972

The dominant views in the literature on the evolution of ideological mass-membership parties, which hold that these parties emerged with the entry of the masses into politics and as a result of prolonged electoral competition moderated their ideological stands to appeal to more centrist voters, cannot account for the case of a mass party which, after years of electoral competition, moves sharply to the left and maintains or increases its electoral base, as was the case for the People's National Party (PNP) under Michael Manley in Jamaica in the 1970s. One element of the political strategy of “Democratic Socialism” of the PNP under Manley was the organizational strengthening of the party and the adoption of a stronger ideological profile and a commitment to ideological education at both the elite and mass level. This article discusses the importance as well as the limitations of the process of party transformation. On the basis of two surveys of the Jamaican elite, one carried out in the summer of 1974 and...
Density Functional Theory Study of Copper Clusters

A density functional theory study of copper clusters is presented. Fully optimized geometries, electronic structures, HOMO−LUMO gaps, spin density distributions, and ionization potentials are repor...
Clinical definition for multiple sclerosis treatment trials.

Clinically, the Schumacher Panel criteria remain the best set of diagnostic criteria. Two subsets therein are definable, i.e., exacerbating–remitting (ER) and chronic progressive (CP), with the latter subdivided into progressive from onset and secondarily progressive. A clinically stable stage can also be recognized. It has been customary in treatment trials to separate ER and CP patients. End point for the latter is a comparison of neurologic status at the end of the trial with that entry. A similar assessment can be made for ER patients. With this criterion both types could be included in a single study. One could also, though, treat the exacerbation in an acute study or assess whether exacerbations can be prevented in a long-term trial. Most clinicians no longer consider monophasic disease as multiple sclerosis (MS). Depending on clinical extent, such patients are divisible into acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, Devic disease, transverse myelopathy, or optic neuritis. Each subgroup could be studied as with an acute exacerbation or in long term as to whether future and different neurologic insults can be prevented. One measure of neurologic status is the Disability Status Scale (DSS), which grades clinical impairment due to MS on a 0 (normal) to 10 (death due to MS) basis. The expanded DSS (EDSS) subdivides each step 1 through 9 into two. Type and severity of neurologic impairment is defined by graded involvement in the following eight functional systems (FS): pyramidal, cerebellar, brainstem, sensory, bowel and bladder, visual, cerebral, and other. Frequency and severity of each FS correlates strongly with DSS scores. In treatment trials, change of one full step on (E)DSS can be used to define improvement or worsening for each patient.
Cooperativeness Computation And Its Application To Data-Retrieval

When a question is posed, its interpretation can he modeled in terms of its speaker's intention, background, and expectation, factors which accompany the question. In this context, if the question's hearer attempts to identify and consider a set of multiple possible interpretations, we deem his behavior to be cooperative. We show how this observation can be applied towards cooperative database retrieval.
Distinct Dosage Compensation Effects by Subunits of Drosophila MSL Complexes

Epigenetic regulation at the chromosomal level compensates for the difference in the dosage of X-linked genes between the sexes (dosage compensation). In Drosophila, this regulatory mechanism operates through the MSL complex that enhances the transcription of many genes on the X chromosome in males. The results of an investigation of the structural effects of various subunits of the complex confirmed that enriched, specific acetylation of histone H4 at lysine 16 by the histone acetyl transferase subunit MOF induced a more disorganized state of reconstituted single chromatin fibers. In addition, targeting of the MSL complex to plasmids by inclusion of the MSL assembly locus reduced the level of negative supercoiling. Similar targeting of incomplete complexes distinguished the roles that the various subunits of the complex play in this topological modification. Finally, the potential contribution of ISWI containing remodeling complexes to the architecture of compensated chromatin was analyzed and the results indicate a probable role for this remodeling factor in dosage compensation.
Constructing conformal maps of triangulated surfaces

Abstract We describe a means of computing the uniformizing conformal map from a triangulated surface whose triangles are realized as Euclidean triangles in R 3 onto a fundamental domain in the unit disc D , plane C , or sphere S 2 . Mapping such triangulated surfaces arises in a number of applications, such as conformal brain flattening. We use the circle packing technique of Bowers, Hurdal, Stephenson, et al., to first create a quasiconformal approximation to the conformal map; then we apply a discrete form of conformal welding to reduce the distortion and converge to the conformal map in the limit.
USE OF SONIC AND ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENTS ON BOVINE BONE TO ESTIMATE CHRONOLOGICAL AGE

SUMMARY– Sonic and ultrasonic measurements were made on bovine bone to explore their possible value in objectively determining chronological age of a beef animal carcass. The sonic resonant frequency of the bone and the transmission rate of an ultrasonic pulse through the bone were measured on the right large metacarpal bone of slaughtered beef animals of different ages of the same breed. Thirty-four bones from animals approximately 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months of age were measured. The simple correlation coefficient between animal age and the sonic resonance parameter, (FLP was 0.875 and between age and the ultrasonic velocity parameter, (cm/μsec)2 was 0.866.
Who are these three percent

It is all I can do to resist writing a column describing the background and results of the 2008 presidential election in the United States of America, but I must. I likely would not be able to contain all my many thoughts in a brief article and the Editor of the Croatian Medical Journal would not accept it anyway, which would be reasonable. Besides, I am a microbiologist, not a political scientist or historian, so I will leave that sort of thing to others. However, a bit of background might prepare you, dear reader, for what follows.
Technological Development and the Boundaries of the Firm: A Knowledge-Based Examination in Semiconductor Manufacturing

This paper examines how the knowledge-based view (KBV) can be applied to firm boundary decisions and the performance implications of those decisions. At the center of the paper is a theoretical and empirical examination of how firms most efficiently organize to solve different types of problems related to technological development, using the semiconductor industry as the empirical setting. Measures that capture important dimensions of performance support the proposition that organization affects performance in problem solving related to knowledge development. Integrated firms realize performance advantages when problem solving in technological development is ill structured and complex, while the same is true for specialized firms when problem solving in technological development is well structured and simple. Performance differences also arise from the presence of scale economies and scope economies.
A Concurrent Search Algorithm for Multiple Phase Transition Pathways

The challenge of accurately predicting a phase transition in computer-aided nano-design is estimating the true value of transition rate, which is determined by the saddle point with the minimum energy barrier between stable states on the potential energy surface (PES). In this paper, a new algorithm for searching the minimum energy path (MEP) is presented. Unlike existing pathway search methods, the new algorithm is able to locate both the saddle points and local minima simultaneously. Therefore no prior knowledge of the precise positions for the reactant and product on the PES is required. In addition, the algorithm is able to search multiple transition paths on the PES simultaneously. In this method, a Bezier curve is used to represent each transition path. Starting from a single Bezier curve, multiple curves with ends connected can be generated during the search process. For each Bezier curve, the reactant and product states are located by minimizing the two end control points of the curve, while the transition pathway is refined by moving the intermediate control points of the curve in the conjugate directions. A curve subdivision scheme is developed so that multiple transition paths can be located. The algorithm is demonstrated by examples.© 2013 ASME
Fuzzy control for forecasting and pattern recognition in a time series

The paper describes an object-oriented implementation of the algorithm advanced by Wang and Mendel (1992). Numerical results are presented both for time series with seasonal changes and time series corresponding to chaotic situations, such as encountered in the context of strange attractors. In the latter case, the effect of noise on predictive power of the fuzzy controller are explored. In addition, by introducing a distance between an observed and predicted data, one can apply the results of this study to a pattern recognition of temporal signatures. >
The aristocracy of the engineer

In today's world, the scientist and engineer need to stand as intelligent, liberally educated men regarding knowledge as a particularized competence which, in their general wisdom, can be shared with the rest of society.
Effect of caval‐portal shunt on ovarian tissue in rats: I. Histological observation

Forty-three female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups, with groups 1–4 subjected to end-to-side caval-portal shunt (CPS). In addition to CPS, group 1 (n = 13), group 2 (n = 10), and group 3 (n = 7) rats had undergone removal of the right ovary and one-half of the left ovary, the left ovary, and one-half of the left ovary, respectively. Group 4 (n = 6) rats were not subjected to ovariectomy. Group 5 (n = 7) animals were not subjected to CPS but underwent left ovarian hemiresection. The ovarian volume of the hemiresected ovaries increased to 393.00 ± 4.83 mm3 and 126.00 ± 44.3 mm3 from 18.40 ± 0.54 mm3 and 18.40 ± 0.59 mm in groups 1 and 3, respectively, at the end of three postoperative months. The nonresected ovaries enlarged to 339.98 ± 5.09 mm3 and 226.3 ± 46.2 mm3 from 36.79 ± 1.09 mm3 in groups 2 and 3, respectively. When no ovaries were resected, the CPS animals in group 4 showed an increment of ovarian volume of 1.75–2.2 times as much as the preoperative ones. In the animals that had undergone simple hemiovariectomy (group 5), the contralateral ovaries showed a significant increase in volume (40.2 ± 8.3 mm3 to 243.1 ± 114.8 mm3) at 3 months. The hemiresected ovarian volume increased from 27.1 ± 5.5 mm3 to 44.1 ± 11.8 mm3. The histological sections of ovaries in group 1 showed early formation of theca-luteoma 3 months postoperatively, and there were demonstrable corpora atretica 6 months postoperatively. In the group 2 ovarian sections, there were multiple follicular cysts, and these cysts were lined by clusters of granulosa cells. There were nondisintegrated ova ejected from the cumulus oophorus in the ovarian sections from group 2 3 and 6 months postoperatively. In the group 3 ovaries, there were abundant theca-luteal cells in the sections. Prominent granulosa-theca cell activity was present in the ovaries subjected to CPS. A similar observation was made in group 4, where more ovarian mass was left in situ. Group 5 animals not subjected to CPS showed compensatory hyperplasia in the nonresected ovaries, and the hemiresected ovaries showed a slight enlargement. No typical granulosatheca cell tumors were formed in any of the groups of rats, indicating that gonadotrophin-estrogen imbalance could not be achieved as a result of the large quantity of the ovary remaining in situ. © 1993 Wiley-Liss Inc.
Encouraging physical therapy compliance with a hands-Off mobile robot

This paper presents results toward our ongoing research program into hands-off assistive human-robot interaction [6]. Our work has focused on applications of socially assistive robotics in health care and education, where human supervision can be significantly augmented and complemented by intelligent machines. In this paper, we focus on the role of embodiment, empirically addressing the question: "In what ways can the robot's physical embodiment be used effectively to positively influence human task-related behavior?" We hypothesized that users' personalities would correlate with their preferences of robot behavior expression. To test this hypothesis, we implemented an autonomous mobile robot aimed at the role of a monitoring and encouragement system for stroke patient rehabilitation. We performed a pilot study that indicates that the presence and behavior of the robot can influence how well people comply with their physical therapy.
Adaptive hyperplane algorithm for texture characterization

Textural features are often consider as one of the most powerful features in describing the intrinsic physical properties of object surfaces in a scene. In this paper, we propose characterizing image textures by a least-squares hyperplane fitting of their image multidimensional primitives. The adaptive implementation of the hyperplane fitting process is carried out by a newly proposed nonlinear supervised neural unit trained by a constrained form of anti-Hebbian learning. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed texture characterization model in image classification and segmentation applications. >
A treatment algorithm for the management of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in the United States.

Background & Aims: Chronic hepatitis B is an important public health problem worldwide and in the United States. A treatment algorithm for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was developed by a panel of US hepatologists based on new developments in the understanding of the virology of HBV, availability of more sensitive molecular diagnostic testing, and advantages and disadvantages of currently approved therapies. Methods: This algorithm is based on available evidence, but where data are lacking, the panel relied on clinical experience and consensus expert opinion. Results: Serum HBV DNA can be detected at levels as low as 100 –1000 copies/mL by using molecular assays and should be determined to establish a baseline level before treatment, monitor response to antiviral therapy, and survey for the development of drug resistance. The primary aim of antiviral therapy is durable suppression of serum HBV DNA to the lowest level possible. The threshold level of HBV DNA for determination of candidacy for therapy is >10 5 copies/mL for patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B. A lower serum HBV DNA threshold is appropriate for patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B and those with decompensated cirrhosis, and the panel recommends thresholds of 10 4 copies/mL and 10 3 copies/mL, respectively. Conclusions: Interferon alfa-2b, lamivudine, and adefovir dipivoxil are all approved as initial therapy for chronic hepatitis B and have certain advantages and disadvantages. Issues for consideration include efficacy, safety, incidence of resistance, method of administration, and cost. Studies are under way to explore the safety and efficacy of combination therapy, which may prove to be more effective than monotherapy in suppressing viral replication and may decrease or delay the incidence of drug resistance.