cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Welcome to the neighborhood: epithelial cell‐derived cytokines license innate and adaptive immune responses at mucosal sites

There is compelling evidence that epithelial cells (ECs) at mucosal surfaces, beyond their role in creating a physical barrier, are integral components of innate and adaptive immunity. The capacity of these cells to license the functions of specific immune cell populations in the airway and gastrointestinal tract offers the prospect of novel therapeutic strategies to target multiple inflammatory diseases in which barrier immunity is dysregulated. In this review, we discuss the critical functions of EC-derived thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interleukin-25 (IL-25), and IL-33 in the development and regulation of T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokine-dependent immune responses. We first highlight recent data that have provided new insights into the factors that control expression of this triad of cytokines and their receptors. In addition, we review their proinflammatory and immunoregulatory functions in models of mucosal infection and inflammation. Lastly, we discuss new findings indicating that despite their diverse structural features and differential expression of their receptors, TSLP, IL-25, and IL-33 cross-regulate one another and share overlapping properties that influence Th2 cytokine-dependent responses at mucosal sites.
A new member of the Nbn(μ3-X)n−2(μ-X)nLn+6 (n > 2) cluster family: Nb4Cl10(PEt3)4(H2NPh)2. Synthesis, structure, and relationship to other members

NbCI5 was reduced by Na/Hg in THF in the presence of Ph2N2 and PEt3 and afforded a rhomboidal tetranuclear niobium cluster compound, Nb4Cl10(PEt3)4 (H2NPh)2. Crystallographic data for the compound are: space group P\(\bar 1\),a = 12.147(3),b = 12.338(3),c = 11.657(2) A, α = 92.31(2),(2),β = 115.99(1)γ = 63.27(2)°,V = 1375.5(6) A3,Z = 1. Two sets of Nb-Nb edges and one diagonal have lengths of 2.8952(5), 2.9414(8), and 3.O001(6) A, respectively corresponding well to five Nb-Nb single bonds. The structure, chemistry, and relationship of this compound to other members of the Nb n (μ3-X)n−2-(μ-X)nLn+6 (n >2) family are discussed.
Erectile dysfunction in the aging man: current options for treatment

Erectile dysfunction is more prevalent in aging males, and its occurrence is increased in the presence of associated cardiovascular comorbidities. Available treatments include a wide range of options to regain erectile function and thereby improve patients’ quality of life. Oral phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors are considered to be the first line of therapy for the majority of causes of erectile dysfunction, due to their high efficacy, ease of use and acceptable safety profile. Second-line therapies include vacuum tumescence devices, intraurethral suppository or intracavernosal injections with various vasoactive agents. Penile prosthesis implantation has the highest rate of success but is reserved as a final treatment option due to cost, invasiveness and irreversibility. Gene therapy for erectile dysfunction is in the early stages of investigation and will require further basic clinical studies before being considered as a viable option. Overall, available treatment options for erectile dysfunction can succ...
Evocative Books: Books That Inspire Personal Response and Engagement

The authors review numerous children's books that encourage reader interaction and response, including pop-up books, books that invite interactive reading aloud, books with evocative illustrations, funny books, and those that generate emotional response. A conversation with author Kevin Henkes is also featured, along with reflections from authors Lisa Yee and Robert Sabuda.
Interferometric optical fiber sensors for absolute measurement of displacement and strain

Two displacement sensing techniques based on determination of the phase shift induced in an unbalanced interferometer due to laser frequency modulation are described. Experimental results demonstrating the operation of the schemes are presented; optical displacements over a 50 mm range have been recorded with a resolution of 25 microns. Both approaches are suitable for passive remote sensing applications. The authors also discuss the use of this type of sensing approach for the measurement of 'D.C.' parameters, such as quasi-static pressure and structural strain.
A model of the ion sputtering process

Abstract This paper proposes a new model of the ion sputtering process. According to this model: (1) Sputtering atoms or ions originate almost entirely from the surface layer. (2) Atoms initially leave the surface in the same charge state in which they exist in the crystal, and are largely neutralized in traversing a region near the surface. (3) Neutralization can be explained in terms of quantum mechanical electron transmission and reflection phenomena that occur when the atom is within about three lattice spacings from the surface. The model upon which the theory is based pictures a potential well at the metal surface caused by the electric field of the departing ion. This potential well completely cancels the effect of the potential barrier normally present at the surface of the undisturbed metal, and for certain distances of the ion from the surface, results in a very high probability of emission of an electron from the metal surface, which then immediately neutralizes the emitted ion. This high neutralization probability explains the very low (10−2 to 10−6) sputtered ion yields observed experimentally. The ion sputtering yields for a number of elements were computed and compared with values obtained experimentally. It is found that the theory gives results compatible with experiment, and also provides an, at least qualitative, explanation for some of the heretofore rather puzzling experimentally observed features of ion sputtering.
Effectiveness of mild therapeutic hypothermia following cardiac arrest in adult patients with congenital heart disease.

Mild therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is an established therapy to improve survival and reduce neurologic injury after cardiac arrest. Adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are at increased risk of sudden cardiac death. The use of TH in this population has not been extensively studied. The aim of this study is to report our institutional experience using this treatment modality in patients with ACHD after cardiac arrest. We performed a retrospective observational study of a cohort of 245 consecutive patients treated with TH after cardiac arrest from 2007 to 2013. Five patients were identified as having complex ACHD with a mean age of 28 years. All were treated with TH according to an institutional protocol utilizing active surface cooling to maintain a core body temperature of 32°C to 34°C for 24 hours after cardiac arrest. Congenital lesions in these 5 patients included anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery; l-transposition of the great arteries; d-transposition of the great arteries status post atrial switch; unoperated tricuspid atresia, atrial septal defect, and ventricular septal defect with Eisenmenger's physiology; and surgically corrected atrial septal defect, cleft mitral valve, and subaortic membrane. All 5 patients suffered cardiac arrest due to ventricular arrhythmia and all survived to discharge without significant neurologic impairment. Therapeutic interventions included anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery ligation, percutaneous coronary intervention, and defibrillator implantation. In conclusion, in 5 patients with ACHD, the use of TH after cardiac arrest resulted in 100% survival to hospital discharge with good neurologic outcome postresuscitation.
Contrasting Valence-Band Auger-Electron Spectra for Silver and Aluminum

Measurements of the ${L}_{2,3}\mathrm{VV}$ ($V=\mathrm{valence}$) Auger spectrum of aluminum and the ${M}_{4,5}\mathrm{VV}$ Auger spectrum of silver cannot be simply related to the valence-band density of states. The data for Al indicate a strong energy variation of the transition probability. For silver, the position and shape of the Auger spectrum are associated with multiplet splitting of localized double-$d$-hole final states.
Spectrum of H218O in the 2900 to 3400 cm−1 region

Abstract Measurements of line center positions of H 2 18 O in the 2900 to 3400 cm −1 region have been made at high resolution. This region contains absorptions of the (020) band and P -branch absorptions of the (100) and (001) bands of H 2 18 O. Values of the energy levels of the (020) state were determined in which ground state energy levels derived by Fraley, Rao, and Jones [ J. Mol. Spectrosc. 29 , 312 (1969)] and Williamson, Rao, and Jones [ J. Mol. Spectrosc. 40 , 372 (1971)] were used in the analysis. A new set of ground state levels was obtained by an iterative procedure.
Investigation into the Activity of Heteropolyacids Towards the Oxygen Reduction Reaction on PEMFC Cathodes

Abstract A total of 18 heteropolyacids (HPAs) were investigated to determine their activity as non-Pt oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell cathodes (PEMFCs). Polarization curves, cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy determined that, of the HPAs tested, only molybdenum based HPAs are active for the ORR and that vanadium substitutions improved the activity. The reduction potentials of the HPAs in the fuel cell environment were determined by cyclic voltammetry. This showed that no activity is seen above 0.55 V, as the catalysts must first be reduced in situ by 4e − before the HPA can reduce oxygen. The potential at which the HPA can be reduced has been determined to be the limiting factor when using these catalysts for ORR in PEMFCs. Power densities of 67 mW/cm 2 at 0.2 V were obtained using H 5 PMo 10 V 2 O 40 . Molybdenum based HPAs were covalently bonded to the carbon achieving mass loadings ∼3× that obtained through adsorption. Using this approach catalyst, performance was improved to 86 mW/cm 2 at 0.2 V. The increased loadings did not significantly increase the potentials at which the HPA becomes active for the ORR. We were able to show that MEA degradation, as measured by F − emission rates, using these catalysts are reduced during accelerated testing protocols.
Performing Postcolonially: Contextual changes in the adaptations of Wole Soyinka's death and the king's horseman and Femi Osofisan's once upon four robbers

Abstract Postcolonial theatre and intercultural theatre have different aims and performance strategies. The former seeks to “dismantle the effects of colonialism” (Lawson 153) while the latter re‐packages foreign materials for new “target” audiences (Pavis Crossroads 137). Rustom Bharucha challenges Western adaptations for misinterpreting other cultures’ ideas, but the problem is both conceptual and practical. Adaptations that gloss over the political agenda of texts and their concerns for cultural authenticity or that privilege transcultural presentation strategies produce mere “atmospherics” (Soyinka Dialogue 3) and “cultural fragments” (Brandon 31) instead of reinforcing the postcolonial intentions of “source” texts. This article will distinguish between postcolonial and transcultural strategies and analyse how transcultural approaches to space, mise‐en‐scene and characterisation in Western productions of Wole Soyinka's Death and King's Horseman written in 1975 and Femi Osofisan's Once Upon Four Robber...
Unintended pregnancies: a call for nursing action.

Unintended pregnancies occur in all age groups and socioeconomic strata of our society and represent significant social, medical, and economic costs. Nearly 50% of all pregnancies in the United States are classified as unintended, and approximately 48% of all women ages 15 to 44 have experienced at least one unintended pregnancy. Contributors to unintended conceptions in the U.S. included barriers to accessing contraception, fears about using it, errors in use, and lack of back-up plans when errors in use occur. As important proponents of women's health, nurses are in an ideal position to address each of these contributors to unintended pregnancy through health promotion activities including patient education and counseling, through public policy advocacy, and through a commitment to a research agenda.
Modelling and analysis of the elution stage of perfusion chromatography. Effects of intraparticle convective velocity and microsphere size on system performance

Abstract A mathematical model describing the dynamic elution (elution stage) in columns with spherical bidisperse perfusive or spherical bidisperse purely diffusive adsorbent particles is presented and its solution is obtained numerically. The desorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) from spherical anion-exchange porous particles was studied for different values of the intraparticle Peclet numbers of the adsorbate, (Peintra)a, and eluent, (Peintra)e, and of the microsphere diameter, dm. It was found that as (Peintra)a increases, the asymmetry of the elution peak of the adsorbate (at the exit of the column) decreases, the peak height increases and the time, Te, required for the elution of the adsorbate decreases. The results also show that Te decreases, and the average bulk concentration of the adsorbate, Cd, bulk, in the solution collected at the exit of the column and the concentration factor, CF, increase as the diameter of the microsphere, dm, decrease and the value of (Peintra)a increase for the adsorbent particles used in the column. Furthermore, the results clearly show that for given values of dm and (Peintra)a, the systems with reverse flow during the elution stage exhibit better performance than that obtained from the system where the eluent flows in the same direction in the column during the elution stage as was the direction of flow of the adsorbate in the column during the adsorption stage.
THE OBJECTIVE ATTITUDE

I aim to alleviate the pessimism with which some philosophers regard the ‘objective attitude’, thereby removing a particular obstacle which P.F. Strawson and others have placed in the way of more widespread scepticism about moral responsibility. First, I describe what I consider the objective attitude to be, and then address concerns about this raised by Susan Wolf. Next, I argue that aspects of certain attitudes commonly thought to be opposed to the objective attitude are in fact compatible with it. Finally, I examine the prospects of someone who wishes to adopt the objective attitude permanently. In response to philosophers who claim that this would be psychologically impossible, I argue that our commitment to attitudes that presuppose moral responsibility can soften and fade, often without our noticing it.
Architecture of product lines

A product line is a family of products designed to take advantage of their common aspects (commonalities) and predicted variabilities. A product line may be software only, e.g., a family of GUIs; software + hardware, e.g., a family of televisions; or hardware only. Where software is a part of the product line, the variability accommodated by the product line is an economic decision and strongly affects the technology and the architecture used in the design and implementation of the product line. For example, where variability is narrowly bounded, a domain specific language may be used to define the product line and generate members of it, but the market for it may be relatively narrow. On the other hand, initial investment cost may be high, production cost very low, and time to market very short. Where variability is broadly bounded, a complex software architecture may be needed, production of products may be only semi-automated, time to market may increase, but market appeal may be much wider. Empirical studies, using baseline techniques, suggest that applying product line engineering produces a factor of three to five improvement in product development cost or product development speed. This talk will focus on the architectural considerations in defining and designing a product line, particularly questions such as "What are the attributes of a good software product line architecture?" and "How might a product line architecture change the economics of software development?", introducing an open market both in architecture and in software components. I will illustrate points with examples taken from Lucent Technologies and Avaya, from the Software Product Line Hall of Fame, from building architecture, and from other industries.
Human GH pulsatility: an ensemble property regulated by age and gender.

Age and gender impact the full repertoire of neurohormone systems, including most prominently the somatotropic, gonadotropic and lactotropic axes. For example, daily GH production is approximately 2-fold higher in young women than men and varies by 20-fold by sexual developmental status and age. Deconvolution estimates of 24-h GH secretion rates exceed 1200 ώg/m2 in adolescents and fall below 60 ώg/m2 in aged individuals. The present overview highlights plausible factors driving such lifetime variations in GH availability, i.e., estrogen, aromatizable androgen, hypothalamic peptides and negative feedback by GH and IGF-I. In view of the daunting complexity of potential neuromodulatory signals, we underline the utility of conceptualizing a simplified three-peptide regulatory ensemble of GHRH, GHRP (ghrelin) and somatostatin. The foregoing signals act as individual and conjoint mediators of adaptive GH control. Regulation is enforced at 3-fold complementary time scales, which embrace pulsatile (burst-like), entropic (orderly) and 24-h rhythmic (nycthemeral) modes of GH release. This unifying platform offers a convergent perspective of multivalent control of GH outflow.
Metal removal from water discharges by a constructed treatment wetland

A full-scale constructed wetland treatment system consisting of four pairs of wetland cells (3.2 ha total area) with water flowing through a pair of cells in series prior to discharge was investigated. A retention basin provided stable water flow to the system. Water retention time in the wetland system was approximately 48 hours, and the wetland cells operated at circumneutral pH. Vegetation development within the cells has been excellent. Copper removal efficiency was greater than 75 % from the start-up of the system, while mercury efficiency improved with maturation of the treatment cells. Sampling of the water course through the wetlands conducted during the fourth year of operation validated continued performance, and assessed the fate of a larger suite of metals present in the water. Copper and mercury removal efficiencies were still very high, both in excess of 80 % removal from the water after passage through the wetland system. Mercury removal continued along the entire water course through the system, while copper was removed almost immediately upon entering the wetland cells. Lead removal from the water by the system was 83 %, zinc removal was 60 %, and nickel was generally unaffected. Organic carbon in the water was also increased by the system and reduced the bioavailability of some metals. Operation and maintenance of the system continued to be minimal, and mainly consisted of checking for growth of the vegetation and free flow of the water through the system. The system was entirely passive, relying on gravity as the power source of water flow. No reportable permit exceedances have been experienced since the wetland began treating an outfall discharge.
Sub‐Micrometer‐Sized Biodegradable Particles of Poly(L‐Lactic Acid) via the Gas Antisolvent Spray Precipitation Process

Sub-micrometer-sized particles of poly(L-lactic acid) may be formed by using near-critical or supercritical carbon dioxide as an antisolvent to precipitate poly(L-lactic acid) from droplets of methylene chloride solution sprayed into a carbon dioxide continuous phase. Particle sizes may be controlled by varying the density of the carbon dioxide; at constant temperature in the supercritical region, higher carbon dioxide densities yield larger particles. Two methods (one batch and one continuous) for introducing the poly(L-lactic acid) solutions into carbon dioxide are demonstrated. Although the two methods use very different mechanisms for forming the droplets, similar particle sizes are observed as a function of carbon dioxide density. We suggest that mass transport, rather than jet breakup and hydrodynamics, controls particle sizes in the near-critical and supercritical regions.
A comparison of diagnostic labeling by school psychologists and psychiatric personnel

Abstract This study compared judgments regarding deviant child behavior made by 14 school psychologists with those made by 15 psychiatric personnel from a previous study in order to determine whether the law of parsimony is utilized in attaching labels. It was found that the school psychologist's behavior in attaching labels to deviant child behavior is diametrically opposite that of psychiatric personnel; school psychologists tend to be more attracted to the less complex labels and/or interpretation impressions.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission

The Mars reconnaissance orbiter (MRO) will be launched in August 2005 by an Atlas V 401 expendable launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. It will deliver to Mars orbit a payload to conduct remote sensing science observations, identify and characterize sites for future landers, and provide critical telecom/navigation relay capability for follow-on missions. The mission is designed to provide global, regional survey, and targeted observations from a low 255km by 320km Mars orbit with a 3:00 P.M. local mean solar time (ascending node). During the one Martian year (687 Earth days) primary science phase, the orbiter will acquire visual and near-infrared high-resolution images of the planet's surface, monitor atmospheric weather and climate, and search the upper crust for evidence of water. After this science phase is completed, the orbiter will provide telecommunications support for spacecraft launched to Mars in the 2007 and 2009 opportunities. The primary mission ends on December 31, 2010, approximately 5.5 years after launch.
A Simplified New Assay for Assessment of Fungal Cell Damage with the Tetrazolium Dye, (2,3)-bis-(2-Methoxy-4-Nitro-5-Sulphenyl)-(2H)-Tetrazolium-5-Carboxanilide (XTT)

Studies of antimycotic host defenses have been limited by the paucity of rapid, reproducible quantitative assays for fungal cell damage. Prior studies defined a colorimetric method that uses MTT, a tetrazolium dye, to quantify polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL)-mediated damage to fungi. These relatively simple, rapid, and reproducible assays require cumbersome extraction of precipitated MTT-formazan and high cell densities to overcome relatively low sensitivity. In experiments that compared assays with MTT and another tetrazolium dye, 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulphenyl)-(2H)-tetrazolium-5-+ ++carboxanilide (XTT), estimates of damage to Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae by human PMNL were similar with both dyes. However, XTT reduction was more rapid and sensitive, yielding accurate results with fewer organisms and PMNL. The water-soluble XTT-formazan product also simplified measurements by eliminating the need for solvent-extraction steps that are obligatory in MTT assays. Thus, XTT is advantageous for quantitative assessment of fungal cell damage, although MTT remains useful for assessing fungal cell viability by direct microscopic visualization of precipitated formazan.
Mobile Multi-Target Tracking in two-tier hierarchical Wireless Sensor Networks

We propose a two-tier hierarchical Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) to address the Mobile Multi-Target Tracking (MMTT) problem. We develop the Cluster Head (CH) and cluster member election schemes using a Particle Cardinality Balanced Multi-Bernoulli (CBMeMBer) Filtering algorithm. Under our proposed schemes, the CHs with better views of the tracked targets are activated at each time step and fuse their estimations sequentially. Within the cluster of each activated CH, the sensors gaining more information on the tracked targets transmit their measurement-sets to the CH. The CH processes the information locally and estimates the number of targets and their states. Applying the CBMeMBer Filtering technique, we also develop the data fusion method to determine the order of CHs during the sequential data fusion and the number of active sensors within the cluster of each activated CH. The simulation results show that our proposed scheduling schemes and data fusion methods perform well even when the target dynamics and/or measurement process are severely nonlinear.
The Institutional Entrepreneur as Modern Prince: The Strategic Face of Power in Contested Fields

This paper develops a theoretical framework that situates institutional entrepreneurship by drawing from Gramsci’s concept of hegemony to understand the contingent stabilization of organizational fields, and by employing his discussion of the Modern Prince as the collective agent who organizes and strategizes counter-hegemonic challenges. Our framework makes three contributions. First, we characterize the interlaced material, discursive, and organizational dimensions of field structure. Second, we argue that strategy must be examined more rigorously as the mode of action by which institutional entrepreneurs engage with field structures. Third, we argue that institutional entrepreneurship, in challenging the position of incumbent actors and stable fields, reveals a ‘strategic face of power’, particularly useful for understanding the political nature of contestation in issue-based fields.
Branched-Chain Amino Acid Metabolism: Implications for Establishing Safe Intakes

There are several features of the metabolism of the indispensable BCAAs that set them apart from other indispensable amino acids. BCAA catabolism involves 2 initial enzymatic steps that are common to all 3 BCAAs; therefore, the dietary intake of an individual BCAA impacts on the catabolism of all 3. The first step is reversible transamination followed by irreversible oxidative decarboxylation of the branched-chain alpha-keto acid transamination products, the branched chain alpha-keto acids (BCKAs). The BCAA catabolic enzymes are distributed widely in body tissues and, with the exception of the nervous system, all reactions occur in the mitochondria of the cell. Transamination provides a mechanism for dispersing BCAA nitrogen according to the tissue's requirements for glutamate and other dispensable amino acids. The intracellular compartmentalization of the branched-chain aminotransferase isozymes (mitochondrial branched-chain aminotransferase, cytosolic branched-chain aminotransferase) impacts on intra- and interorgan exchange of BCAA metabolites, nitrogen cycling, and net nitrogen transfer. BCAAs play an important role in brain neurotransmitter synthesis. Moreover, a dysregulation of the BCAA catabolic pathways that leads to excess BCAAs and their derivatives (e.g., BCKAs) results in neural dysfunction. The relatively low activity of catabolic enzymes in primates relative to the rat may make the human more susceptible to excess BCAA intake. It is hypothesized that the symptoms of excess intake would mimic the neurological symptoms of hereditary diseases of BCAA metabolism.
Comparison of soluble and immobilized trypsin kinetics: Implications for peptide synthesis.

The protease trypsin was immobilized to porous glass in both the presence and absence of acetylated soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI) to determine whether immobilization could alter enzyme activity in favor of aminolysis over hydrolysis. Actiive-site titration with 4-methylumbelliferylguanidinobenzoate (MUGB) showed that only about 10% of immobilized trypsin had catalytic activity. Immobilization in the presence of STI produced a higher yield of active enzyme accessible to the inhibitor but did not increase the total yield of MUGB-active immobilized enzyme. Thus, enzyme inactivation upon immobilization could not be attributed to an inaccessible enzyme orientation, nor did STI prevent inactivation by stabilizing the active-site conformation. Kinetic parameters were determined for soluble and immobilized trypsin for two esters, N-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester (TAME) and N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE), and two amides, N-benzoyl-L-arginine p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) and N-t-boc-leucylglycylarginine p-nitroanilide (LGRNA). In all cases, immobilization caused a greater decrease in kcat for amidase activity than for esterase activity. The ratio [kcat/ Km (ester)]/[kcat/Km (amide)] increased slightly or stayed the same (for I.GRNA) or decreased sharply (for BAPNA). Including STI during immobilization had little effect on the active enzyme's intrinsic kinetics. A direct comparison of energy diagrams and free energies of activation for BAEE and BAPNA indicates that immobilization raises the free energy barriers for both amide and ester hydrolysis and lowers the energy barrier for aminolysis. In practice, these effects should lower the amidase activity and increase the aminolysis–hydrolysis ratio, rendering the immobilized enzyme a more efficient catalyst for peptide synthesis. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Microwave ionization of hydrogen Rydberg atoms: Resonance analysis and critical fields

A rational ratio of the microwave frequency [omega] and the Kepler frequency [Omega] of microwave perturbed hydrogen Rydberg atoms results in a [omega]/[Omega]=[ital K]/[ital M] type resonance ([ital K],[ital M] integer). This paper presents accurate analytical expressions for the widths of all [ital K]/[ital M]-type resonances within the framework of the one-dimensional model for microwave ionization of hydrogen Rydberg atoms. The analytical resonance widths are used together with Chirikov's overlap criterion in a model to compute critical ionization fields in the adiabatic regime ([omega][lt][Omega]). The model explains the experimentally observed phenomenon of stabilization at [omega]/[Omega]=1/[ital M].
Fundamental limits on optical pulse detection and digital communication

In this paper, the techniques of statistical decision theory are applied to direct detection of optical pulses. A realistic and general model of a classical photodetector/amplifier receiver is considered. Optimum decision strategies and corresponding receiver sensitivities are derived both for single-pulse detection and for continuous digital communication in which the intersymbol interference is constrained to be zero. A comparison is made to the classic work of Personick and Smith. Their results are shown to be remarkably close to the fundamental limits at high bit rates. At low bit rates, the optimal filter for small duty-cycle pulses gives much better performance than the filters analyzed by Personick and Smith. Optimum values for the Personick integrals are also given. Results are given for a number of cases of practical importance including a photodiode/FET receiver. >
Asymptotically flat spaces in asymptotically null-spherical coordinates

The behaviour of asymptotically flat gravitational fields in the framework of general relativity is studied by the use of tetrad formalism. For this, a system of coordinates u, r, H and 0 is used, such that at spatial infinity u = const. is a null hypersurface and r, 0 and 5 reduce to the usual spherical polar coordinates. A set of four vectors (a tetrad) is also chosen with the only restriction that they are everywhere null. The metric tensor and the four vectors are expanded in inverse powers of r; the rotation coefficients and the tetrad components of the Riemann tensor are then calculated in a similar expansion; and the first two terms in the expansion beyond their values for a flat space are retained. The field equations in these approximations are derived explicitly and their effect on the expansion of the tetrad components of the Riemann tensor is studied; and the total energy and linear momentum are examined. In this paper three main results are derived: (i) the form of the peeling theorem in the above-mentioned coordinates for an arbitrary null tetrad; (ii) the generalized expression for the news function of the field; (iii) a simple criterion for recognizing certain classes of non-radiating fields. 1. INTRODIUCTION During the last decade a great deal of work has been done on asymptotically flat spaces in general relativity. Bondi, van der Burg & Metzner (i962) investigated the case of a gravitational field with an axis and a plane of symmetry while Sachs (i962) investigated the general case of a field with no symmetries. Among their results, two important ones were the mass-loss formula and the so-called peeling theorem. Using a slightly different approach, Newman & Penrose (I962) and Newman & Unti (I962) derived the peeling theorem from different assumptions and analysed in more detail the field at infinity. And finally, Newman & Penrose (I965) discovered ten absolute constants of the field with physical meanings still unknown. All the foregoing investigations were carried out in a system of coordinates
Cardiovascular disease in Noonan syndrome

Background Noonan syndrome (NS), a relatively common autosomal dominant disorder with an incidence of 1 in 1000 to 2500 live births, is the most common syndromic cause of congenital heart disease after Trisomy 21. Objective To comprehensively define the spectrum of cardiac morphology and specific clinical course of a large cohort of NS patients. Design Retrospective, descriptive case series study. Patients An international Harvard-based NS registry was combined with clinical data from NS patients followed at Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts, USA. Results We identified 293 patients with NS. Cardiovascular disease was seen in 81% (n=237) including pulmonary stenosis in 57%, secundum atrial septal defects in 32% and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 16%. A genetic mutation of the RAS-MAPK signalling pathway was identified in 62% (n=136). Genotype-phenotype associations were noted between PTPN11 mutations and atrial septal defects (p=0.001), and pulmonary stenosis (p RAF1 mutations were associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (p Conclusions Patients with NS have a distinct spectrum of cardiac phenotypes that may have a natural history and response to therapy atypical to that normally seen in non-syndromic heart disease. A diagnosis of NS in a patient with pulmonary stenosis or infant-onset hypertrophic cardiomyopathy would facilitate condition-specific counselling on outcome and prognosis.
Read / write performance for low memory passive HF RFID tag-reader system

Certain applications of passive radio frequency identification (RFID), such as those in healthcare where the patient's name, identification or medical record must be stored, require data within a tag to be encrypted. Encrypted data within an RFID tag has the potential to affect the accuracy or time to read/write the data by the reader. The current research measures and analyzes the effects of encryption, distance of read and delay time between two read/write cycles on the accuracy of the read or write function in an RFID infrastructure. The research also measures and evaluates the time to read/write (R/W) data that is encrypted and compares this encrypted data with unencrypted data. The data encryption standard (DES) encryption method is used in this research due to the limitation of the tag. A multi-functional interface has been developed for the user to test the performance using a High Frequency RFID reader. The measurements were repeated 1000 times for each R/W test. The performance of R/W accuracy is not affected in any meaningful way by encryption even though there is an increase in memory requirement from 88 bytes to 128 bytes. The effect of R/W distance shows that the performance decreases with increase in the distance between the reader and the tag. By inserting a small amount of delay time between different cycles, we can get a significant increase up to 100% accuracy for read function. However, the write accuracy is not affected as significantly as the read accuracy. The effect of the encryption on the time to write the data on the tag shows that encrypted data group takes 70-120 milliseconds for the transmission more than the unencrypted data group. We conclude that while the encryption does not have a significant impact on the accuracy of R/W, the distance and cycle delay does. Also, the encrypted data takes longer to write to the tag.
A Consensus Map for Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.). I. Construction and Integration of Individual Linkage Maps From Two Outbred Three-Generation Pedigrees

A consensus map for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) was constructed from the integration of linkage data from two unrelated three-generation outbred pedigrees. The progeny segregation data from restriction fragment length polymorphism, random amplified polymorphic DNA, and isozyme genetic markers from each pedigree were recoded to reflect the two independent populations of parental meioses, and genetic maps were constructed to represent each parent. The rate of meiotic recombination was significantly greater for males than females, as was the average estimate of genome length for males (1983.7 cM [Kosambi mapping function (K)]) and females [1339.5 cM(K)]. The integration of individual maps allows for the synthesis of genetic information from independent sources onto a single consensus map and facilitates the consolidation of linkage groups to represent the chromosomes n = 12 of loblolly pine. The resulting consensus map consists of 357 unique molecular markers and covers approximately 1300 cM(K).
Pile-up rejection: Limitations and corrections for residual errors in energy-dispersive spectrometers

Pile-up rejection is commonly achieved through use of an auxiliary inspection channel with short time constants but low energy events can be missed because of electronic noise. A formula is derived to predict the detection efficiency of such a channel and the effect of adjusting the discriminator threshold or changing the time constants is demonstrated. When pulses are missed, spectrum distortion and counting losses are greater than would be predicted from the specified pulse pair resolution time so it is important to optimize the inspector adjustment. A mathematical analysis leads to formulae which can be used to correct for residual counting losses and sum peaks, and the relationship between empirical parameters obtained for these formulae and time constants in the electronics is demonstrated. The present state of the art in noise performance dictates that 1 μs is about the best resolution time that can be achieved for 1 ke V pulses. For further improvements, a fast beam switching technique could be used which would improve pulse pair resolution by a factor of three or more and thus afford adequate protection for the very low energy pulses that would be encountered with thin-window or windowless solid-state detectors.
Permeability of chemical delivery systems across rabbit corneal (SIRC) cell line and isolated corneas : A comparative study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the corneal permeability of phenylephrone chemical delivery systems (CDS) across isolated cornea and to evaluate the utility of the SIRC cell line (epithelial cells originating from rabbit cornea) as an in vitro model for predicting the ocular permeability. The effect of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) on the drug permeability through SIRC cell layers was also studied. The transport of phenylephrone CDS across the isolated cornea of the albino rabbit was measured at various pH values using a two-chamber glass diffusion cell, and the results were compared with the reported permeability values across SIRC cells of rabbit origin. Corneal membranes showed lower flux values for compounds, especially for hydrophilic compounds, than the SIRC cell line. A significant correlation was observed between the permeability coefficients through corneal membranes and SIRC cells. When the pH of the transport medium was increased, the permeability coefficients increased and lag times decreased in both in vitro models. Furthermore, both in vitro models showed significant correlation between permeability coefficients and lipophilicities of the drugs. The three esters, having higher lipophilic characteristics, showed higher permeability than phenylephrine HCl. The phenylacetyl ester of phenylephrone showed a three-fold increase in penetration across SIRC cell layers in the presence of 0.01% BAC. These results suggest that the use of SIRC cell layers can reasonably predict the permeability of ophthalmic drugs across corneal membranes.
Duodenal Ulcerogens Cysteamine and Propionitrile Induce Gastroduodenal Motility Alterations in the Rat

The effects of the duodenal ulcerogens cysteamine and propionitrile on gastroduodenal myoelectric activity and intraluminal pressure in the fasted rat as well as on contractility of isolated gut muscle strips were investigated. Duodenal ulcerogens, unlike the nonulcerogen but toxic analogue ethanolamine, caused an early disruption of the myoelectric migrating complex, a marked increase in the spiking activity, and a decrease in the frequency of the slow waves in the duodenum. Both the increased spiking activity and the decreased slow wave frequency were dose dependent for cysteamine. Manometrically recorded contractions at the stomach corpus, midantrum, and antropyloric region as well as in the proximal duodenum of the conscious rat showed decreased contractions at the corpus and midantrum and an increase at the pyloric and duodenal sites during an intravenous infusion of cysteamine. In vitro studies demonstrated that circularly or longitudinally cut muscle strips taken from different regions of the stomach and duodenum responded to cysteamine with increased contractility. In summary, the duodenal ulcerogens cysteamine and propionitrile rapidly induce motor abnormalities in the stomach and duodenum of the rat. In vitro studies suggest that a cholinergic mechanism may be involved. It is possible that motor changes play a role in the pathogenesis of the experimentally induced duodenal ulcers.
Should left ventricular assist devices be implanted in patients seventy years of age and older: a comparative analysis.

Background: We evaluated outcomes in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients aged seventy years and above and compared results to outcomes in LVAD recipients below seventy years of age.Methods: From March 2006 through June 2012, 130 patients underwent implantation of either a HeartMate II (HM II; Thoratec Corp., Pleasanton, CA) or HeartWare (HeartWare Inc., Framingham, MA) LVAD at our institution. Four patients underwent device exchanges and were excluded. Of the remaining 126 patients, 6 (4.7%) were ?70 years of age. Patients in the age group ?70 years were compared to the group of patients < 70 years for perioperative mortality, long-term survival and incidence of postoperative complications.Results: Mean age was 72.2 ± 2.3 (70-75) years for the older group and 52.8 ± 11.4 (18-69) years for the younger group (P < .001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of diabetes, hypertension, chronic renal insufficiency, dialysis, hepatic function, preoperative ventilation or previous cardiac surgery between the groups (P = NS). There was no significant difference in survival between the groups, with survival at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years of 100%, 100% and 66.7% respectively for the older groups, versus 88.6%, 81.3% and 76.7% for the younger group (P = .634). There was no significant difference in postoperative bleeding requiring re-exploration, driveline infections, strokes, pneumonia, right ventricular failure, gastrointestinal bleeding or readmissions within thirty days (P = NS).Conclusions: These data demonstrate similar short- and long-term results for the two groups of recipients of LVAD implantation. Results support the use of long-term mechanical circulatory support in carefully selected elderly patients.
The Challenge of Sequence-Dependent Setups: Proposal for a Scheduling Competition Track on One Machine Sequencing Problems

Designing a scheduling competition to attract researchers from the several fields interested in scheduling problems seems a challenging, and highly worthwhile effort. In this paper, we propose a design for one possible track of this proposed scheduling competition. Specifically, we propose a track aimed at one machine sequencing problems. We argue that any such track must include problems with sequencedependent setups. Our proposed single machine sequencing track would additionally include a spectrum of objective functions of increasing optimization difficulty under sequence-dependent setups. We also offer a problem instance generator along with a set of benchmark problem instances for one potential competition problem—the weighted tardiness scheduling problem with sequence-dependent setups.
Transmutation of the Elements

When voltage is applied to the ends of a glass tube filled with rarefied gas, an arc of light passes from the cathode–negative end of the gas tube to the other end – the anode, which is positive. If vacuum pumps are used to reduce the gas pressure in the glass tubes, they cease to glow inside, but the glass shines where the invisible cathode rays apparently are striking it.
Obesity and obesity-related behaviors among rural and urban adults in the USA.

INTRODUCTION Previous studies have reported a higher prevalence of obesity among rural Americans. However, it is not clear whether obesity-related behaviors can explain the higher level of obesity among rural adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in obesity-related behaviors across rural-urban adult populations in the USA. METHODS Data were obtained from the 1999-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, restricted to 14 039 participants aged 20 years or more. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using measured height and weight, and individuals with BMI≥30 kg/m2 were categorized as obese. Physical activity recommendations were used to define participants' physical activity levels: no leisure-time physical activity, less than, meeting, and exceeding the recommended levels. Sedentary behaviors were measured by hours sitting and watching TV or videos or using a computer (outside of work). Dietary intake was assessed by one-day 24 hour dietary recall. Residence was measured at the census tract level using the Rural-Urban Commuting Area Codes. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine urban-rural differences after adjusting for sociodemographic, health, dietary, and lifestyle factors. RESULTS The prevalence of obesity was higher in rural than in urban residents (35.6% vs 30.4%, p<0.01), among both men (37.7% vs. 32.5%, p<0.01) and women (33.4% vs 28.2%, p<0.01). Compared to urban adults, more rural adults reported no leisure-time physical activity (38.8% vs 31.8%, p<0.01) and fewer rural adults met or exceeded physical activity recommendations (41.5% vs 47.2%, p<0.01). Rural adults had lower intake of fiber and fruits and higher intake of sweetened beverages. After adjusting for sociodemographic, health, diet, sedentary behaviors, and physical activity, the odds of being obese among rural adults were 1.19 times higher than that among urban adults (95% confidence interval: 1.06, 1.34). CONCLUSIONS Higher level of obesity, physical inactivity, and poor diet among rural residents and the persistent higher risk of obesity among rural adults after adjusting for obesity-related behaviors call for more research into 'obesogenic' environments in rural America. Effective programs are needed to help rural residents reduce high risks for obesity and unhealthy lifestyles.
Proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty: the volar approach.

Abstract Reconstruction of the proximal interphalangeal joint by arthroplasty using the Swanson implant is greatly simplified by the volar approach. The extensor tendon system is not violated, making an immediate motion program feasible. Combining this approach with local anesthesia allows for active and complete evaluation of the technique during the operative procedure.