cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Models, Models, and Models

Michael Dummett famously maintained that analytic philosophy was simply philosophy that followed Frege in treating the philosophy of language as the basis for all other philosophy (1978, 441). But one important insight to emerge from computer science is how difficult it is to animate the linguistic artifacts that the analysis of thought produces. Yet, modeling the effects of thought requires a new skill that goes beyond analysis: procedural literacy. Some of the most promising research in philosophy makes use of a variety of modeling techniques that go beyond basic logic and elementary probability theory. What unifies this approach is a focus on what Alan Perlis called procedural literacy. This essay argues that the future spoils in philosophical research will disproportionally go to those who are procedurally literate.
An algorithm for discrete booleans with applications to finite element modeling of complex systems

In this paper we describe a robust algorithm for three-dimensional boolean operations between boundary representation objects whose geometry is given by discrete (faceted) data. The algorithm presents a new approach for computing the intersection graph which is critical for robustness. It uses elementary computational-geometry operations such as, facet-segment intersection, point containment in simplices and edge recovery in a plane, to produce high-level boolean operations including union, intersection, difference as well as the imprint of the boundary of one object onto another. We also demonstrate the extension and application of the algorithm to mesh-based volumes. We show the robustness and efficacy of our algorithm by employing it to model complex three-dimensional finite element mesh models such as a complete ship where some of the model components are defined in a CAD-based system while others come from legacy mesh-based facetized representations. Use of our algorithm has enabled automation of modeling of very complex configurations reducing the turnaround time for analyses-ready numerical representations from several months to hours or less.
Effect of daily charge feedback on inpatient charges and physician knowledge and behavior.

• Concurrent charge feedback has gained widespread acceptance as a method of minimizing hospitals' losses under the Medicare prospective payment system despite the fact that its effect on patient outcomes, physician behavior, or charges has not been studied in depth. In a controlled trial on two medical wards in an academic medical center, the effect of daily charge feedback on charges was studied. Sixty-eight house staff and 16 teaching attending physicians participated during a 35-week period, taking care of 1057 eligible patients. No significant differences in charges were seen when all patients were included. Since 45% of patients had planned protocol admissions (diagnostic workups or protocol treatment) on which the house staff had little chance to impact, a subgroup analysis was performed, excluding these patients. In the remaining patients, a highly significant reduction in mean total charges (17%), length of stay (18%), room charges (18%), and diagnostic testing (20%) was found. In-hospital mortality and preventable readmission within 30 days were similar on the two wards. It was concluded that charge feedback alone is effective in a teaching hospital for decreasing charges. (Arch Intern Med1989;149:426-429)
Flaunting the feminine side of research studies.

Biological differences between women and men exist in the prevalence, presentation, and response to treatment for many diseases. In 2001, the Institute of Medicine confirmed that sex is a vital variable that should be considered when designing and analyzing studies at all levels of biomedical
Fundamental Optical Absorption in the IIA-VIB Compounds

The fundamental optical absorption in the range of $h\ensuremath{\nu}$ from 2.5 to 5.8 ev has been measured on well-annealed thin films of the following compounds: BaO, SrO, BaS, SrS, CaS, BaSe, SrSe, CaSe, MgSe, BaTe, SrTe, CaTe, and MgTe. The absorption peaks are ascribed to excitons and are observed to shift to lower energies for increasing atomic numbers of either the IIA or VIB elements. A doublet splitting is observed which is close to the values for the spin-orbit splitting of the free negative VIB ions for the selenides and tellurides but which is somewhat larger for the heavier oxides and sulfides.
Port level fishing dynamics: Assessing changes in the distribution of fishing activity over time

Abstract This article assesses changes in the relative distribution of commercial fishing activity within a system of ports. Like other coastal fisheries in the United States, fishing activity declined significantly at California׳s central and north coast region ports between 1981 and 2007. The central questions addressed in this paper are: how have the changes in overall fishing activity (as measured by total regional fishing trips, revenues, and landings) affected fishing activity in each of the central and northern California coastal region׳s 30 fishing ports? How have individual ports fared relative to other ports and the region as a whole during this decline? The analysis assesses the degree to which the relative distribution of fishing activity across ports-as measured by port rankings-is stable over time. The formal rank correlation analysis shows that ports׳ rankings have changed slowly and have changed more over longer intervals. In addition, the rankings change less (more) when the comparison is made over a larger (smaller) set of ports. Tests for the statistical significance of differences in percentage changes in fishing activity between region-wide totals and individual ports are performed. The results indicate that ports differ in terms of their dynamic fishing activity patterns over time, which constitutes a rejection of the null hypothesis that the cumulative percent changes at individual ports are the same as changes at the region-wide level.
Anti-preferential Attachment: If I Follow You, Will You Follow Me?

A common question in social networking research is how edges form to produce social graphs with the common characteristics, including a power-law degree distribution and a small diameter. One common model for edge formation in synthetic networks is preferential attachment. We examine the edge formation process of one Online Social Network (OSN), Buzz net, and look for evidence for preferential attachment. To our surprise, we find that a form of` `anti-preferential attachment'' is common, in which high-degree nodes add edges to low-degree nodes, perhaps as a means of self-promotion. We also find that nodes are most likely to reciprocate edges from low-degree nodes, limiting the extent to which anti-preferential attachment can succeed in boosting a high-degree node's in-degree.
Other messages, other missions; or, Sahlins among the Melanesians

Responding to a number of developing critiques, Sahlins (1991) has recently adapted his ‘structural history’ model to accommodate endogenous change in pre-colonial conditions. His reformulation, however, critically restricts the model's applicability to mythopraxis of a specific sort, viz. the historical actions of divine heroes in societies structured along Dumontian lines of ‘hierarchy’ as supposedly exemplified in Fiji and Polynesia generally. This article examines certain implications of this new structural history – particularly Sahlins's revision of the ‘structure of the conjuncture’ notion – by analyzing a case of relatively late historical contact and change involving exogenous Europeans as well as Melanesians (i.e. the later phases of the so-called Yali movements of post-World War II Papua New Guinea). Here, neither ‘heroic history’ nor ‘hierarchy’ as Sahlins has incorporated them into his new model are evident. What is apparent instead is a dialectical interplay of articulated messages and enacted missions on the part of a complex and shifting multiplicity of both expatriate as well as indigenous constituencies.
First experiments on ultrasonic crop density measurement

Abstract An on-line crop density measurement delivers interesting information about the local crop condition. Once this measurement is established in a non-destructive way, crop density monitoring could be performed during the growing season and results would immediately be used for a site-specific application of nitrogen. In this work, some primary results are shown from an ultrasonic crop density measurement. A commercial sensor, normally used for level measurements, is equipped with an extra output, providing a signal corresponding with the ultrasonic wave transmitted through a band of crop. Because of the properties of the measured signal, a non-linear transformation of the measured signal is necessary. With the result of this static compensation, a good estimation can be found of the energy in the received wave, closely related with the volumetric density of the crop. Once the appropriate signal is found, an experimental set-up is constructed for dynamic crop density measurements. A small wagon is placed on two parallel rails with a stroke of crop in between. On both sides of this wagon, two ultrasonic transducers are placed. One as transmitter of the ultrasonic wave, the other one as receiver at the other side of the crop. With this arrangement, a first calibration curve is made, delivering an exponential relationship between the transmitted energy and volumetric crop density.
A high-throughput robotic sample preparation system and HPLC-MS/MS for measuring urinary anatabine, anabasine, nicotine and major nicotine metabolites

Background Most sample preparation methods characteristically involve intensive and repetitive labor, which is inefficient when preparing large numbers of samples from population-scale studies.
Experimental Study of Nuclear Shadowing in Photoproduction

The total cross section for hadron production by high-energy photons has been measured from a number of nuclei ranging from hydrogen to uranium. Some shadowing is observed at a level considerably less than predicted by conventional vector-meson dominance but consistent with a modified theory. The energy dependence predicted by vectormeson dominance is observed. The shadowing in heavy nuclei shows a smooth transition from electroproduction to photoproduction.
k-Uniform Rotundity of Lorentz–Orlicz Spaces

Abstract It is known that if an Orlicz function space is k -uniformly rotund for some k ≥2, then it must be uniformly convex. In the paper, we show that a similar result holds in Lorentz–Orlicz function spaces.
Rapid, high-resolution in situ hybridization histochemistry with radioiodinated synthetic oligonucleotides

In situ hybridization histochemistry is a valuable technique for localizing specific messenger RNA (mRNA) and detecting changes in gene expression. Generally, the mRNA of interest has been detected by probes obtained from cloned DNA and labelled to high specific activity by nick translation. Such probes have a number of disadvantages which can be circumvented by the use of short synthetic oligonucleotides designed to be complementary to a known mRNA sequence. We report here that synthetic oligonucleotides complementary to part of the mRNA coding for rat arginine-vasopressin (AVP) can be labelled to high specific activity with (/sup 125/I), using either the primer extension method with the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I or the 3'-tailing method with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. Both AVP probes hybridized well to the magnocellular neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. A strong autoradiographic signal was present by 2 days, with grains largely confined to the perikaryon. These results compare favorably to those obtained with (/sup 32/P)- or (/sup 3/H)-labelled probes. Given the ease of the 3'-tailing method, (/sup 125/I)-labelled oligonucleotides appear to be especially useful probes for in situ hybridization histochemistry.
A review of therapeutic studies of idiopathic membranous glomerulopathy

The treatment of idiopathic membranous glomerulopathy remains an enigma. We have reviewed many of the important clinical trials concerning membranous glomerulopathy using a meta-analysis and a secondary pooled analysis to test the effects of corticosteroid or alkylating, therapy compared with no treatment on renal survival and complete remission of the nephrotic syndrome. A search was performed using MEDLINE (1968 through 1993) for articles on idiopathic membranous glomerulopathy and glomerulonephritis. Bibliographies of articles were reviewed for completeness. Sixty-nine articles were reviewed. Meta-analysis was performed for four trials that evaluated corticosteroids compared with no treatment and for three trials that evaluated alkylating therapy compared with no treatment. Pooled analysis was performed on randomized and prospective studies (10 studies) and then with 22 case series added. All studies evaluated renal biopsy-proven disease. Meta-analysis was performed on the relative chance of being in complete remission for each study. Renal survival could be evaluated by pooled analysis only. For pooled analyses, Cox's proportional hazard and logistic regression models were used to test the effect of therapy on renal survival and the nephrotic syndrome, respectively. Data concerning gender, nephrotic syndrome, and geographic region were used in all statistical models. Evaluation of renal survival revealed no differences by treatment group (P > 0.1). By meta-analysis, the relative chance of complete remission was not improved for corticosteroid-treated patients (1.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.99 to 2.44; P > 0.1), but was improved for patients treated with alkylating agents (4.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.44 to 15.96; P < 0.05) when compared with no treatment. Pooled analysis of randomized and prospective studies, as well pooled analysis with all studies, supported the findings of the meta-analysis. Corticosteroids or alkylating therapy did not improve renal survival in idiopathic membranous glomerulopathy. Complete remission of the nephrotic syndrome was observed more frequently with the use of alkylating agents.
Aberrant Promoter Methylation of the ABCG2 Gene in Renal Carcinoma

ABCG2 is a ubiquitous ATP-binding cassette transmembrane protein that is important in clinical drug resistance. Little is known about the mechanism(s) regulating the expression of ABCG2. We hypothesized that DNA methylation could play a role in the epigenetic regulation of ABCG2 gene expression. The promoter methylation status of three renal carcinoma cell lines was assessed with restriction enzyme digestion-coupled PCR and bisulfite genomic sequencing. Both UOK121 and UOK143, with known methylation of the VHL promoter, showed induction of ABCG2 expression after 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) treatment, suggesting that aberrant methylation of the ABCG2 gene was associated with gene silencing. In vitro methylation of the ABCG2 promoter-driven luciferase reporter vector resulted in a significant inhibition of transcription. Our data suggested that the ABCG2 gene is regulated coordinately at both histone and DNA levels. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that the methylated promoter in UOK121 and UOK143, but not the unmethylated one in UOK181, is associated with the methyl CpG binding domain proteins (MBDs), MBD2 and MeCP2. Histone deacetylase 1 and a corepressor, mSin3A, were identified binding to the promoter region containing the CpG island, thereby suppressing ABCG2 transcription. Reactivation of ABCG2 was achieved by treatment with 5-aza-dC, a demethylating agent, concomitant with the release of MBDs from the promoter. Furthermore, the association of methylated lysine 9 on histone H3, a hallmark of promoter methylation, with the promoter was reduced following 5-aza-dC treatment. These data suggest that DNA methylation-dependent formation of a repressor complex in the CpG island contributes to inactivation of ABCG2.
Application of 4-methyl-7-methoxycoumarin derivatives to the high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of fatty acids

A high pressure liquid chromatographic method of fatty acid analysis has been developed using the fluorescent label, 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin. Two simplified procedures for derivatization using sealed reaction vessels allow derivatization of volumes of 200 to 500 mm3 and 2 to 5 mm3 respectively.
Fluoxetine: A Randomized Clinical Trial in the Maintenance of Weight Loss

Because current weight-reduction treatments have considerable recidivism, a therapy that could help patients maintain weight loss would be of benefit. A six-center, randomized, double-blind trial compared the effects of the specific serotonin uptake inhibitor, fluoxetine hydrochloride, and placebo on maintenance of weight loss. Obese outpatients who had lost > or = 3.6 kg after 8 weeks of single-blind fluoxetine 60 mg/day in the qualification phase (N=317 [70.4% of patients entered]; mean +/- standard deviation [SD] weight loss, 6.8 +/- 2.8 kg) were randomly assigned to fluoxetine 20 mg/day (N=104), fluoxetine 60 mg/day (N=106), or placebo (N=107) for 40 weeks (maintenance phase). Patients received minimal nutrition/dietary counseling. Qualification phase clinic visits were biweekly; maintenance phase visits were monthly for 4 months, then bimonthly for 6 months. Patients treated with fluoxetine 60 mg/day continued to lose weight for 8 additional weeks (16 weeks total; maximum mean +/- SD weight loss, 7.2 +/- 4.6 kg); those treated with fluoxetine 20 mg/day or placebo began to regain weight. Mean weights remained below baseline values at week 48 (all groups); treatment differences were not statistically significant. Study completion rates were comparable (fluoxetine 20 mg/day, 67.3%; fluoxetine 60 mg/day, 56.6%; placebo, 67.3%; p = 0.175). Among commonly reported adverse events (> 10% incidence), only asthenia was reported statistically significantly (p < 0.050) more frequently with fluoxetine than with placebo. Few patients discontinued for any single adverse event. Fluoxetine 60 mg/day was effective for a longer period than fluoxetine 20 mg/day or placebo in maintaining weight loss. Overall, fluoxetine was safe and well tolerated.
Effect of estradiol and relaxin on collagen and non-collagen protein synthesis by mammary fibroblasts.

Abstract In order to determine the effect of relaxin and estradiol on collagen and noncollagen synthesis by mammary gland fibroblasts, fibroblasts isolated from guinea pig mammary glands were grown on plastic or Cytodex-3 collagen coated microcarriers. On plastic, estradiol (600 pg/ml) increased the incorporation of tritiated glycine into collagen. Non-collagenous protein synthesis was increased at all concentrations of estradiol, but it was greatest with 200 pg/ml estradiol. On Cytodex-3, 400 pg/ml estradiol increased the synthesis of collagen and non-collagenous protein. Relaxin (1 μg/ml) did not affect collagen synthesis but decreased the synthesis of non-collagenous protein.
Optimal Stock Depletion Policies with Stochastic Lives

This paper deals with the optimal issuing sequence of units, say batteries, from storage to the field when field lives are stochastic. Several appealing forms of the field life survival probability FIy∣x are given when the battery has been on the shelf a length of time x. These forms are used to investigate the optimally of LIFO issue youngest or FIFO issue oldest policies in two basic models. These models correspond to issuing batteries either according to a possibly random schedule the independent case or one after another as the successive batteries fail the dependent case.
Responding under variable-interval, variable-time, and extinction schedules in pigeons and crows

Common crows and pigeons were studied successively under variable-interval, variable-time, and extinction schedules. The rate and pattern of keypecking were similar for both species under the variable-interval schedule. While overall response rates did not differ between species under the variable-time schedule, there were major differences in the intrasession and interreinforcement distribution of responses. During the final sessions under this procedure, the crows showed marked within-session attenuation of responding, whereas the pigeons responded consistently throughout the sessions. The second difference, which appeared to be related to the first, involved the frequent occurrence of keypecks in pigeons that were directly elicited by food presentations. The crows never displayed this form of behavior. There was no difference between species in responding under extinction.
Use of electric and magnetic data to obtain a multiple dipole inverse cardiac generator: a spherical model study.

Cardiac electrical activity was modelled by two realistic generators in a spherical conductor with a centric inhomogeneity. The “Selvester” generator consisted of a 19-dipole array; the “Coriolis” generator was a 76-dipole array. Time varying electric and magnetic potentials at the surface of the sphere were calculated for each array. The inverse cardiac generator was a fixed-location, fixed-orientation, nonnegatively constrained multiple dipole array. Inverse dipole moments were calculated using electric data alone, magnetic data alone, and a combination of electric and magnetic data. The inverse solutions were examined in the presence of additive noise and modelling noise. Modelling noise involved translocating or misorienting the inverse dipoles, or assuming an incorrect conductivity for the inhomogeneity. Results for the Selvester and Coriolis simulations were similar. The mixed data solution using electric and magnetic data gave better results for additive (potential) noise but did not improve the solution in the presence of modelling noise. Septal dipoles showed the greatest errors. In the absence of modelling noise, the mixed data solution for the Coriolis array reproduced the surface magnetic and electric fields very well, but deviated from the ideal solution.
Vein-cutting behavior: insect counterploy to the latex defense of plants

Many mandibulate insects that feed on milkweeds, or other latex-producing plants, cut leaf veins before feeding distal to the cuts. Vein cutting blocks latex flow to intended feeding sites and can be viewed as an insect counteradaptation to the plant's defensive secretion. Experimental vein severance renders milkweed leaves edible to generalist herbivores that do not show vein-cutting behaviors and ordinarily ignore milkweeds in nature.
Risk assessment in setting inservice inspection priorities at light water reactors

Abstract As part of the Nondestructive Evaluation Reliability Program, sponsored by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Pacific Northwest Laboratory is developing a method that uses risk-based approaches to establish inservice inspection plans for nuclear power plant components. The method first uses probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) results and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FEMA) techniques to identify and prioritize the most risk-important systems and components for inspection. The acceptable level of risk from structural failure for important systems and components is then apportioned as a small fraction of the total PRA estimated risk for core damage. This process determines the target (acceptable) risk and failure probability values for individual components. The Surry Unit 1 Nuclear Power Station was selected for pilot applications of the method. The specific systems addressed are the reactor pressure vessel, the reactor coolant, the low-pressure injection, and the auxiliary feedwater. The results provide a risk-based ranking of components within these systems and relate the target risk to target failure probability values for individual components. These results will be used to guide the development of improved inspection plans for nuclear power plants.
Fuzzy logic and differences between interpretive soil maps

Interpretive soil pre-mapping is essentially a geovisualization enterprise. It involves the creation of soil-landscape mental models that underpin soil boundary delineation. For a given area, different soil scientists will inevitably produce different interpretive soil maps regardless of whether they use similar or different tools and techniques. Only one official soil map normally created by an individual soil scientist is provided by national soil mapping agencies. The extent and gravity of the differences between this map and other possible soil map perspectives of the area is largely unknown. This paper draws upon a fuzzy logic approach to quantify the magnitude and seriousness of the differences between two interpretive soil maps. One map was created by an individual soil scientist using traditional soil mapping methods. The other was produced by four collaborating soil scientists concurrently immersed in an innovative Experiential GIS environment. The fuzzy method dovetails nicely with the imprecise and predominantly qualitative nature of interpretive soil mapping. It determined the degree of overall disagreement between the interpretive maps and specifically between a soil pre-map and a final soil map as at least 43%. The method illuminated the difficulty in differentiating different soil classes and the gravity of consequent soil misclassifications through the feedback from independent soil data quality specialists. This feedback was also displayed in intuitive surface map form. Rather than encourage the creation of several same area and same scale soil maps by several independent soil scientists, this study advocates collaborative soil mapping to embed multiple perspectives into the official soil map. The joint effort does not, however, necessarily lead to a more detailed soil map as the collaborating soil scientists may be lumpers instead of splitters.
The Relationship between Glucose Metabolism, Resting-State fMRI BOLD Signal, and GABAA-Binding Potential: A Preliminary Study in Healthy Subjects and Those with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy:

Glucose metabolism has been associated with magnitude of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal and connectivity across subjects within the default mode and dorsal attention networks. Similar correlations within subjects across the entire brain remain unexplored. [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ([18F]-FDG PET), [11C]-flumazenil PET, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans were acquired in eight healthy individuals and nine with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Regional metabolic rate of glucose (rMRGlu) was correlated with amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFFs) in the fMRI signal, global fMRI connectivity (GC), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and gamma-aminobutyric acid A–binding potential (GABAA BPND) across the brain. Partial correlations for ALFFs, GC, and ReHo with GABAA BPND were calculated, controlling for rMRGlu. In healthy subjects, significant positive correlations were observed across the brain between rMRGlu and ALFF, ReHo and GABAA BPND, and between ALFFs and GABAA BPND, controlling for rMRGlu. Brain-wide correlations between rMRGlu and ALFFs were significantly lower in TLE patients, and correlations between rMRGlu and GC were significantly greater in TLE than healthy subjects. These results indicate that the glutamatergic and GABAergic systems are coupled across the healthy human brain, and that ALFF is related to glutamate use throughout the healthy human brain. TLE may be a disorder of altered long-range connectivity in association with glutamate function.
Measuring the vibrational response of the mouse ear using coherently interleaved optical coherence tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is becoming a popular tool for imaging morphology in the middle and inner ear. Vibratory measurements of the structures of the ear facilitate better understanding of the function and limitations of the ear. We have developed an algorithm that enables a standard spectrometer based OCT system to measure the full spectrum (90 kHz) frequency response of the mouse ear by incorporating coherently interleaved sampling, increasing the effective Nyquist rate of the system by a factor of 5+. The algorithm is evaluated by measuring the frequency response of a mouse tympanic membrane to a pure tone stimulus.
Nutrition Update : Practical Mineral Recommendations: Translation to Clinical Practice

Adequate nutritional intake is well-recognized as the cornerstone of therapy for individuals with diabetes. Although the importance of mineral intake for these individuals is not as well-established and the subject has been elaborated upon elsewhere, the purpose of this paper is to briefly review the interaction of certain minerals with diabetes and to offer recommendations for mineral intake.
Results of vascularized rib grafts in complex spinal reconstruction.

Background: The application of vascularized rib grafts in spine surgery has been limited to the treatment of kyphosis with anterior placement of the rib graft to facilitate anterior spine arthrodesis. The outcomes following use of vascularized rib grafts in complex spinal reconstruction have not been adequately evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine the results, including the time to osseous union and complications, following anterior or posterior placement of pedicled vascularized rib grafts for complex spinal reconstruction. Methods: The medical records and images of all patients in whom a vascularized rib graft had been used for a multisegmental spine reconstruction at a single institution between 1994 and 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. Eighteen patients (mean age, 45.3 years) who had been followed for an average of 31.8 months were identified. Details regarding indications, the levels that were spanned, the graft length, the time to union, and complications were evaluated. Results: The preoperative diagnoses included metastatic or primary tumor (thirteen patients) and progressive kyphosis secondary to chronic osteomyelitis (two), injury (one), congenital anomalies (one), or implant failure (one). On the average, 4.4 levels were fused and 1.9 vertebral bodies were excised. All eighteen arthrodeses included various forms of allograft and/or autograft material, and instrumentation was used, in addition to the vascularized rib graft, in twelve patients. The mean rib length was 16.1 cm, and a rib between the fifth and eleventh ribs, inclusive, was used, depending on the location of the spinal reconstruction. The average time to union was 6.8 months, and all rib grafts united. There were no complications specific to the rib-harvesting procedure. Conclusions: The use of a vascularized rib graft in complex spinal reconstruction adds little time to the overall procedure, is associated with low morbidity, and appears to offer substantial benefits to the patient. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The pure rotational spectrum of NaCH3 (X̃1A1)

Abstract The pure rotational spectrum of NaCH3 and NaCD3 in their X 1 A 1 states has been recorded using millimeter/sub-mm direct absorption techniques in the 300–510 GHz range. This work is the first gas-phase detection of sodium monomethyl, which was created by the reaction of sodium vapor with tetramethyl tin. Ten rotational transitions were measured for NaCH3 for the K=0 through K=5 components and, in select cases, up to K=10, and four transitions (K=0–7) for NaCD3. Rotational constants have been accurately determined for both isotopomers, suggesting a sodium–carbon bond length of 2.30 A and an H–C–H bond angle of 107.3°.
Fabrication of vertical silicon nanowire photodetector arrays using nanoimprint lithography

ABSTRACT Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is an attractive method for its ability to quickly and cheaply pattern nano-scaled dimensions, and is an enabling technology for patterning large area substrates. The benefits of NIL are demonstrated through its application towards large area nanowire image arra ys. In this work, we have fa bricated and characterized top down silicon nanowire detector arrays by using UV curing NIL and deep Reac tive Ion Etching techniques. Fabricated devices show over 10 6 gain value at low incident light power, which is comparable to high sensitivity of an e-beam written lithography device. This technology is suitable for fabrication of high density, addressable imager arrays. .Keywords: Nanoimprint lithography, photodetector, phototransistor, silicon, nanowire. 1. INTRODUCTION Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is becoming an increasingly a ttractive method for pattering nano-scale dimensions since NIL allows for the ability to quickly and cheaply pattern a large sized substrate. Although current applications of this technology are limited to patterned magnetic media and optical components, many fabrication areas for electrical, optical, photonic, and biomedical devices could benefit from this technology
New Type of Membrane Material for Water Desalination Based on a Cross-Linked Bicontinuous Cubic Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Assembly

A polymeric membrane material for efficient water desalination based on a cross-linked type I bicontinuous cubic (QI) lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) assembly is described. This ordered, nanoporous, polymer material is formed by the self-assembly of a cross-linkable gemini amphiphile in water and contains interpenetrating organic networks separated from one another by a continuous, ultrathin water layer surface (ca. 0.75 nm gap spacing) with overall cubic symmetry. Supported membranes of this material are produced by hot-pressing the initial LLC monomer gel at high pressure through a commercial microporous hydrophilic membrane support at 70 °C and then radically photocross-linking the infused QI monomer phase. In stirred dead-end water filtration tests, the resulting 40-μm thick, optically transparent, supported LLC membranes exhibit 95−99.9% rejection of dissolved salt ions, neutral molecules and macromolecules, and molecular ions in the 0.64−1.2 nm size range in a single pass. This rejection performance ...
Experimental solid mechanics in the nineteenth century

Fashion, fortune, dogma, and genius have each played a role in the 19th century history of experimental solid mechanics. The dominant themes are traced and critically evaluated, from the epoch-making experiments of Alphonse Duleau and Pierre Dupin in 1811 that for 50 years stimulated successive studies in various aspects of solid mechanics including giving impetus to the linear theory of elasticity in the 1820's, to the ingenious and definitive experiments of Eduard Gruneisen in 1906, who adapted Michelson-Morley interferometry to solid mechanics, reaching strains as small as 10−8. The 19th century was rich in experimentists and elegant experiments that in every decade contributed to a fascinating panorama of discovery in the laboratory.
Enlargement of the optic nerve sheath complex in thyroid ophthalmopathy

Abstract Unilateral Graves' ophthalmopathy is an unusual finding on cranial computed tomography. The case presented illustrates the unusual finding of enlargement of the optic nerve sheath complex on cranial computed tomography.
Infrared safety in factorized hard scattering cross-sections

Abstract The rules of soft-collinear effective theory can be used naively to write hard scattering cross-sections as convolutions of separate hard, jet, and soft functions. One condition required to guarantee the validity of such a factorization is the infrared safety of these functions in perturbation theory. Using e + e − angularity distributions as an example, we propose and illustrate an intuitive method to test this infrared safety at one loop. We look for regions of integration in the sum of Feynman diagrams contributing to the jet and soft functions where the integrals become infrared divergent. Our analysis is independent of an explicit infrared regulator, clarifies how to distinguish infrared and ultraviolet singularities in pure dimensional regularization, and demonstrates the necessity of taking zero-bins into account to obtain infrared-safe jet functions.
Changes in sensory responsivity in deep layer neurons of the superior colliculus of behaving rats

Neurons in the deep layers of the superior colliculus in behaving hooded rats were tested for responsivity to visual, auditory, or somesthetic stimuli. Some sensory cells, particularly those responsive to tactile stimuli, showed a change in responsivity (and sometimes an abolishment in firing rate or a change in receptive field size) when the animal was gently restrained or placed onto an elevated platform. Thus, sensory neurons in the superior colliculus of the behaving rat have response properties that vary according to the conditions of testing.
Metadata Quality Control in Digital Repositories and Collections: Criteria, Semantics, and Mechanisms

This article evaluates practices on metadata quality control in digital repositories and collections using an online survey of cataloging and metadata professionals in the United States. The study examines (1) the perceived importance of metadata quality, (2) metadata quality evaluation criteria and issues, and (3) mechanisms for building quality assurance into the metadata creation process. The survey finds wide recognition of the essential role of metadata quality assurance. Accuracy and consistency are prioritized as the main criteria for metadata quality evaluation. Metadata semantics greatly affects consistent and accurate metadata application. Strong awareness of metadata quality correlates with the widespread adoption of various quality control mechanisms, such as staff training, manual review, metadata guidelines, and metadata generation tools. And yet, metadata guidelines are used less frequently as a quality assurance mechanism in digital collections involving multiple institutions.
Development of Tokens as Secondary Reinforcers.

Abstract The present study was designed to ascertain whether token reinforcement can be demonstrated in children while controlling for any response facilitation from token delivery. One group of kindergarten children received tokens previously paired with trinkets and the other group received previously unpaired tokens as reinforcers for pressing one of two available buttons. All subjects subsequently received a brief extinction session in which relative rates of pressing the token and no-token buttons were measured. During extinction, the unpaired-token group pressed the two buttons almost equally. The paired-token group, in contrast, pressed the button that had previously delivered tokens almost three times as frequently as the other button, showing that the paired tokens were reinforcing. These results were interpreted as demonstrating that the operation of pairing tokens with trinkets makes the tokens reinforcing.
Hydrologic Impacts of Disturbed Lands Treated with Dust Suppressants

This study presents research on changes in hydrologic characteristics of disturbed land surfaces that have been treated with dust suppressants. Disturbed land surfaces, such as construction sites and unpaved roads, are sources of fine particulate matter. The application of dust suppressants affects the runoff characteristics as well as the water quality of the runoff. The changes in runoff characteristics were investigated in the field using a rainfall simulator on plots treated with 11 different dust suppressants. The rainfall simulation system was able to provide a uniform distribution of rainfall over a 2.4×2.4 m (approximately) plot at relatively low rainfall intensities (21 mm/h). Results of the study indicate changes in runoff rates and volume, and the timing of runoff initiation. The majority of the plots had higher runoff volumes and an earlier time of runoff initiation as compared to the control plot. The total suspended solids in the runoff were reduced for the majority of the plots. Extrapolati...
Moore's Law – The Genius Lives On

Walking through the four decades since Gordon Moore made his wonderful prediction: The 1970's was the era of invention; the 1980's, the era of scaling and manufacturing science, making Moore's Law viable and affordable. The 1990's was an era of manufacturing and speed. As we enter the 21st century, the challenge is to exploit the transistor integration capacity provided by Moore's Law, deliver increasingly higher performance, and yet stay within the power limits imposed in each platform segment.
Identifying Secondary Crashes and Their Contributing Factors

Secondary crashes are generally understood as crashes that occur as a result of primary incidents. Research is needed to determine the nature and cause of these crashes. However, to date, this research has been limited for two reasons. First, there is no uniform definition of secondary crashes. Second, the usually poor quality of incident data and the unavailability of related traffic data make any analysis of secondary crashes difficult. This paper describes a study that uses a comprehensive incident database from District 4 of the Florida Department of Transportation to identify freeway secondary crashes and their contributing factors. A method based on a cumulative arrival and departure traffic delay model was developed to estimate the maximum queue length and the associated queue recovery time for incidents with lane blockages. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were applied to understand the factors contributing to secondary crashes. The logistic regression analysis indicates that the following four factors have significant effects on the likelihood of secondary crashes: primary incident type, primary incident lane-blockage duration, time of day, and whether the incident occurred on northbound I-95.
Was the ministry an ethnic niche for urban Blacks in the early twentieth century

Abstract It has been claimed that, in the early twentieth century, the ministry was an “ethnic niche” for Blacks—that is, an occupation into which Blacks gravitated in order to avoid joblessness during periods of economic dislocation. This study evaluates that claim by testing the hypothesis that the employment rate of Black men in the ministry was highest in those cities where the pressure on these men to find relief from unemployment was greatest. Census data on Northern and Southern cities in 1940, a year of the Great Depression, were examined. A multiple regression analysis shows that the hypothesis was most applicable to the Southern cities, possibly because the higher rate of church participation in the South provided Blacks in this region with favorable opportunities to establish an ethnic niche in the ministry.
Normal Variations in the Inorganic Phosphorus of the Blood of Dairy Cattle

The inorganic phosphate of the blood has been studied extensively in recent years because of its relation to various problems of nutrition, metabolism, and disease. In cattle the effect of the phosphorus level of the food on the percentage of inorganic phosphorus of the blood has already been demonstrated by us (1) (2). During the collection of these data we were impressed by the fact that unaccountable, and frequently large fluctuations may occur from day to day. This result led us to adopt the mean of the blood phosphate values obtained on three consecutive days as the probable true value. The day-to-day fluctuations, however, remained unexplained. The physiological factors influencing the concentration of blood phosphate have not been studied extensively. Havard andRcay (3) seem to have been the only workers who have noted marked periodic fluctuations. They report that the concentration of blood phosphate is very unsteady in human blood studied at hourly intervals when the subject is not kept completely at rest. Ordinary movements of the subject about the laboratory cause large variations. Havard and Reay believe that these changes are the result of exercise which they later (4) showed causes first a small rise and then a rapid fall in blood phosphate. In these studies the lowest level was reached hour after the period of exercise. working with rabbits, observed
λ-Normal forms in an intensional logic for English

Montague [7] translates English into a tensed intensional logic, an extension of the typed λ-calculus. We prove that each translation reduces to a formula without λ-applications, unique to within change of bound variable. The proof has two main steps. We first prove that translations of English phrases have the special property that arguments to functions are modally closed. We then show that formulas in which arguments are modally closed have a unique fully reduced λ-normal form. As a corollary, translations of English phrases are contained in a simply defined proper subclass of the formulas of the intensional logic.
Isolation of Genomic Fragments from Polymorphic Regions by Representational Difference Analysis

Representational difference analysis is an effective technique for isolating the differences between two nearly identical genomes. We have found the technique to be extremely valuable in our analyses of mouse germline mutations. We also present several technical improvements in the procedure that make it more efficient and reliable.
Efficient numerical simulation of a one-dimensional electrothermal deicer pad

In this paper, a new approach to calculate the transient thermal behavior of an iced electrothermal deicer pad is developed. The method of splines is used to obtain the temperature distribution within the layered pad. Splines are used in order to create a tridiagonal system of equations that can be directly solved by Gauss elimination. The Stefan problem is solved using the enthalpy method along with a recent implicit technique. Only one to three iterations were needed to locate the melt front during any time step. Computational times were shown to be greatly reduced over those of an existing one-dimensional procedure without any reduction in accuracy; the current technique was more than 10 times faster.
Characterization of Cracking Restraint at Saw-Cut Joints Using the German Cracking Frame

Cracking of concrete slabs at saw-cut notches under a given combination of weather and slab conditions is a major concern in the early stages of construction. Several factors affect crack initiation such as material strength parameters, the method and quality of curing, slab-subbase stiffness, and concrete shrinkage and creep. Early-age creep and shrinkage also appear to be key factors in stress and crack development at the tip of the saw-cut notch. These two factors were analyzed and characterized by experiments that provide some insight relative to how shrinkage and creep strain affect crack development. These results can be useful in evaluating the behavior of concrete and the development of cracking at saw-cut notches. The German cracking frame was used to provide restraint and the means to initiate cracking at an artificial notch during early-age strength development in the concrete while the concrete was undergoing creep and shrinkage strains. The cracking frame tests were conducted under constant temperature and relative humidity conditions in the laboratory. A fracture mechanics approach was followed to determine concrete strength at the saw-cut notch. It can be concluded that the development of creep strain in the concrete affects the cracking tendency of the concrete. The data seemed to suggest that a greater cracking tendency at the saw-cut notches did not result until after the incremental creep strain in the concrete had diminished sufficiently. The role of creep and shrinkage under field conditions relative to the control of cracking due to saw cutting in newly constructed concrete slabs is also considered indirectly.
Further studies on the effect of mammalian parathyroid extract on the serum calcium levels of two closely related teleosts.

Abstract 1. 1. The effect of mammalian PTH on the turnover of serum calcium, as judged by Ca 45 assay, on Fundulus catenatus during the breeding season, and on Fundulus kansae during the post-breeding season has been studied. 2. 2. F. catenatus and the male F. kansae did not respond to PTH; female F. kansae which had been exposed to estradiol benzoate showed decreased serum Ca following PTH injections. 3. 3. It is concluded that F. catenatus does not respond to PTH at any time, and that the response found in the female F. kansae is probably dependent upon estrogen conditioning.