cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The ethics of partial-liver donation.

Living donors have participated in solid-organ transplantation throughout the 48 years since Dr. Joseph Murray successfully performed kidney transplantation between identical twins. Kidney transplantation from living, unrelated donors is no longer unusual, and some centers allow for anonymous donors or for a donor swap in cases of biologic incompatibility. Surgical advances now permit each of two donors to provide a lobe of lung to a patient with end-stage lung disease from cystic fibrosis. In spite of these advances, it is still not clear exactly how safe it is to donate a large part of one's liver. Altruism is characterized by . . .
Impedance to Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow in the Cervical Spinal Canal is Dominated by Geometric Complexity

In a fluid system, longitudinal impedance (LI) is the impedance per unit length of a conduit. Its magnitude depends on conduit geometry and the mechanical properties of both the fluid and conduit. In the context of vein grafts, LI has been shown to correlate with vein graft size and graft patency at one year from surgery [1]. More generally, LI has been shown to be consistent over a wide range of physiological flows [2]. Due to its ability to characterize the effect of geometry on flow in a conduit, LI may be useful in examining differences between a healthy spinal canal and one affected by Type I Chiari malformation (CMI). CMI is a complex disorder of the craniospinal system classically characterized by herniation of the cerebellar tonsils of 3–5 mm past the foramen magnum [3], which has proven difficult to properly diagnose as the associated neurological symptoms may overlap with the symptomatology of other disorders. Current methods of quantifying CMI severity, such as cerebellar tonsil herniation depth, do not necessarily correlate with symptom severity. Likewise, studies that have sought to hydrodynamically analyze CMI by measuring cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) velocity have yielded mixed results. We hypothesized that the severity of obstruction to CSF flow in the CMI-affected cervical spinal canal can be quantified and compared by calculation of LI.© 2011 ASME
In vitro studies of a new synthetic thrombin inhibitor

Abstract (2R, 4R)4-methyl-l-[N α -(3-methyl-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-8-quinoline-sulfonyl)-L-arginyl]-2-piperidine carboxylic acid monohydrate (MCI-9038) was found to be a potent synthetic inhibitor of thrombin. In concentrations as low as 1 μM, the thrombin time, prothrombin time, and partial thromboplastin time were more than doubled. The venom (Bothrops atrox) time was similarly prolonged. The drug also inhibited the thrombin-induced activation of factors VIII and XIII. While MCI-9038 in concentrations of 10 −4 M had no effect on platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP, epinephrine, and arachidonate, nanomolar concentrations inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and the release of platelet ADP. The drug also significantly inhibited the adhesion of thrombin-treated platelets to cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells. We conclude that MCI-9038 is an extremely potent inhibitor of the effects of thrombin on platelets and clotting factors.
The relationship between craving, anxiety, and other symptoms in opioid withdrawal

Craving and anxiety share many similar attributes including comparable responses to pharmacological agents. To better characterize the relationship among craving, anxiety, and other opioid withdrawal signs and symptoms, we examined 32 opioid-dependent subjects undergoing clonidine-assisted opioid withdrawal. A 13-item analog scale measured subjective withdrawal symptoms. Statistical analyses of separate subscale items, using craving as the dependent variable, showed that the highest positive correlations occur for craving and anxiety. The high correlation between craving and anxiety suggests common mechanisms underlying both.
Effect of cilostazol on experimental diabetic neuropathy in the rat.

Two proposed mechanisms of diabetic neuropathy are microvascular ischaemia and a reduction in Na,K-ATPase activity. We evaluated the effect of cilostazol, a drug that is both a potent phosphodiesterase inhibitor that normalizes nerve Na,K-AT-Pase and a vasodilator, on nerve blood flow (NBF) to determine whether it would improve experimental diabetic neuropathy. We examined whether epineurally applied cilostazol acted as a vasodilator on the peripheral nerve of normal and diabetic rats, and whether feeding the rats a cilostazol-supplemented diet could improve diabetic neuropathy. Cilostazol increased nerve blood flow (NBF) in a dose-dependent fashion with an EC50 of 10−5.74 mol/l. Cilostazol also normalized NBF in experimental diabetic neuropathy with a 10−4 mol/l local application on the sciatic nerve. In diabetic neuropathy, a cilostazol-supplemented diet improved both NBF and nerve conduction in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Potential mechanisms of action of cilostazol on the nerve include its effect on NBF, Na, K-ATPase, and restoration of the thromboxane:prostacyclin ratio. Cilostazol may have potential in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.
Detection of somatic TP53 mutations in tampons of patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether tumor cells could be detected in the vagina of women with serous ovarian cancer through TP53 analysis of DNA samples collected by placement of a vaginal tampon.METHODS:Women undergoing surgery for a pelvic mass were identified in the gynecologic oncology clinic. They
Cones change rod sensitivity.

Abstract Steady-state (i), masking (ii), and moving-stimulus (iii) experiments all show that cones decrease rod sensitivity. The effect is larger for the transient conditions [(ii) and (iii)]. For (i) the steady adapting field test, rod sensitivity was measured as a function of eccentricity for two backgrounds, a 500 nm scotopic background and a 700 nm mesopic background which produced the same threshold as the 500 nm background at a single eccentricity. Since the eccentricity functions are of different shape for the two backgrounds, cones change rod sensitivity, (ii) Scotopically equal green and red fields have unequal masking effects upon test flashes seen by rods alone; the masking effect is much larger than the steady effect. (iii) Thresholds for rods centered within rotating vanes are higher if the vanes stimulate cones in addition to rods.
Antiproteolytic Activities Found in Human Tears

Human tears were found to inhibit the thiol-dependent protease, papain. Inhibitory activity in normal tears was compared with that in patients with blepharitis, infectious and allergic conjunctivitis, and herpes simplex. Activities lower than normal were found in some patients with infectious conjunctivitis and blepharitis. Higher than normal activities were found in patients with herpes simplex and allergic conjunctivitis. Differences from normal values were found to be statistically significant in allergic conjunctivitis and blepharitis by analyses of sample medians, means, and geometric means. A function of this inhibitor in external ocular inflammations is suggested.
Leucocoria as the presenting sign of a ciliary body melanoma in a child.

Editor,—Uveal melanoma is generally a disease of adulthood. It has been reported that 0.6% to 1.6% of all uveal melanomas occur in patients under 20 years of age. In a review of 3706 consecutive patients with uveal melanoma, Shields and associates found that 1.1% were children and teenagers younger than 20 years of age, of whom only 0.3% had ciliary body melanoma. Patients with ciliary body melanoma usually are asymptomatic until the tumour impinges on the lens and causes visual distortion. Children with intraocular tumours generally have few visual symptoms and adapt to visual distortion without complaints. Leucocoria in childhood is the most frequent presenting sign of retinoblastoma, but it is generally not associated with uveal melanoma. We report an unusual case of a 9 year old child with a ciliary body melanoma who presented with leucocoria. ### CASE REPORT A 9 year old white girl was referred to Oncology Service at Wills Eye Hospital with a 1 month history of leucocoria and strabismus in her right eye (Fig 1A). She was otherwise healthy and her medical history was unremarkable. Figure 1 Slit lamp photograph showing the inferonasal dark tumour, subluxing the cataractous lens, causing leucocoria (A). Gross pathology reveals …
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Coulometric Array Detection of Electroactive Components in Fruits and Vegetables: Relationship to Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity

An HPLC procedure utilizing reversed-phase chromatography coupled with a coulometric array detection system was developed for the characterization of overall antioxidant status in fruits and vegetables. The method was reliable and sensitive (20 pg to 1 ng detection limit) and can also be used to identify and simultaneously quantify multi-antioxidants including vitamin C, glutathione, phenolic acids, and flavonoids in fruits and vegetables. Each fruit and vegetable aqueous extract showed an unique distribution of chromatographic peaks that could serve as a “fingerprint” for the fruit or vegetable. A significant positive linear correlation was demonstrated in fruit and vegetable aqueous extracts between the total antioxidant activities determined by using oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORACROO•) assay and the electrochemical data generated from the coulometric array detectors. From these data, the ORACROO• assay appears to be a valid and useful procedure for measuring total antioxidant activity in extr...
The Health of Young Children in American Cities

Societal problems, including drug use, poverty, and violence, are the basis of many severe health problems of urban children. This article addresses the health problems and care needs of young children in American cities and summarizes the nursing knowledge and skills needed for urban nursing practice.
Abstract 3776: Bone marrow stromal cell paracrine signaling and IL-6 induce autophagy in bone metastatic prostate cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of death in North American men, where 80% of PCa mortality is due to bone metastasis. It is imperative to understand the biology of PCa cells in bone, especially as related to the role of the microenvironment in cellular adapation. Our lab recently published data revealing that bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) paracrine signaling induces apoptosis in co-cultured bone metastatic PCa cells. However, a subpopulation of the bone metastatic PCa cells can avoid apoptotic cell death and undergo neuroendocrine differentiation (NED), a phenotype that contributes to tumor growth and is correlated with poor prognosis. One process that mediates cell survival and differentiation is autophagy, a process of sequestering cytoplasmic components for degradation and recycling to maintain cellular homeostasis. Autophagy provides a long term survival and growth advantage for cancer cells by relieving metabolic stress. Neuronal differentiation with cytoplasmic reduction is one adaptive response that can involve autophagy. Thus, we hypothesize that autophagy is a cytoprotective mechanism for PCa cell survival and NED in the bone microenvironment. To address this, we assessed the paracrine effect of BMSC on bone metastatic PCa cell autophagy and identified interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a BMSC paracrine factor that can induce PCa autophagy. We provide experimental data showing that IL-6 can protect PCa cells from apoptosis and simultaneously induce PCa NED. Current experiments are underway to determine if IL-6-induced autophagy functions upstream of bone metastatic PCa cell survival and NED and to dissect the IL-6 signaling pathway responsible for autophagy induction in PCa cells. These studies will identify IL-6 pathway components as molecular targets to attenuate cytoprotective autophagy in PCa cells in the bone microenvironment, providing new avenues for long term treatment of bone lesions in PCa patients. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3776. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3776
The relationship of pulmonary artery pressure and survival in congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Abstract Background/purpose Pulmonary hypertension is an integral part of the pathophysiology of the respiratory failure associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Hypothesizing that the evolution of the pulmonary hypertension would determine clinical outcome, the authors examined pulmonary artery pressures in relation to survival in their CDH patients. Methods The authors performed a retrospective chart review of all neonates with the CDH from 1991 to 2002 at their institution eliminating infants with complex congenital heart disease, prematurity, or limited treatment. Cardiac ECHO data were used to estimate pulmonary artery pressures as a ratio to systemic pressure. Statistical analyses of estimated pulmonary pressure ratios stratified by survival status and time were performed using χ 2 and Fisher's Exact Test methods. Results Forty-seven full-term CDH infants with 428 cardiac ECHO evaluations were studied. Long-term survival rate was 74%. Forty-nine percent of patients had normal pulmonary artery pressure estimates within the first 3 weeks of life. All patients survived. Seventeen percent had persistent systemic or suprasystemic pressure estimates unrelieved by treatment interventions resulting in 100% mortality rate. Thirty-four percent had intermediate reductions in pressure estimates over time with 75% survival rate. Systemic pulmonary artery pressures were associated with decreased survival at all time-points when compared with normal-pressure survivors: week 1, 60% ( P Conclusions The evolution of pulmonary hypertension is a critical determinant of survival in CDH patients with current treatment strategies. Three groups can be modeled with markedly different clinical performance patterns. Using serial cardiac ECHO examinations, pulmonary artery pressure estimations can be used to predict clinical outcome.
IMap: visualizing network activity over internet maps

We propose a novel visualization, IMap, which enables the detection of security threats by visualizing a large volume of dynamic network data. In IMap, the Internet topology at the Autonomous System (AS) level is represented by a canonical map (which resembles a geographic map of the world), and aggregated IP traffic activity is superimposed in the form of heat maps (intensity overlays). Specifically, IMap groups ASes as contiguous regions based on AS attributes (geo-location, type, rank, IP prefix space) and AS relationships. The area, boundary, and relative positions of these regions in the map do not reflect actual world geography, but are determined by the characteristics of the Internet's AS topology. To demonstrate the effectiveness of IMap, we showcase two case studies, a simulated DDoS attack and a real-world worm propagation attack.
Capacity of WCDMA links with hetorgenous traffic

The soft capacity of the commercial WCDMA systems is defined as the average load that assures that the instantaneous load in the system stays below a target threshold with a high probability. In military communication systems each user link is required to have assured availability and hence the capacity has to be based on assured availability of each link rather than on an aggregate measure such as the system load factor. In this paper we derive the uplink capacity of WCDMA links based on link availability requirements for each user with a heterogeneous mix of user traffic, channel characteristics and orthogonality conditions. We use a unique approach by formulating and solving the capacity problem as an eigenvalue/eigenvector problem. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the impact of various factors such as heterogeneous traffic and orthogonality conditions on capacity.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with two original lifting bars.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in which the abdominal wall is lifted with two original lifting bars, especially for patients with cardiopulmonary disease. Methods : We developed our original lifting bar. It consisted of a bent stainless steel rod 5 mm in diameter. We used two lifting bars to get a better surgical field. We performed LC on many cardiopulmonary-compromised patients. Results: Since 1994, we have performed 250 LCs with good results using the two-bar method. No severe complication occurred in any LC using the two-bar method. Only two cases were converted to conventional open surgery. Conclusion: By traction to the teres ligament, the liver is lifted to the median abdominal wall. As a result. the surgeon can get a suitable surgical in field in which manipulate the inferior surface of the liver. Our lifting method is suitable for cardiopulmonary-compromised patients.
Truncation error bounds for modified continued fractions with applications to special functions

Much recent work has been done to investigate convergence of modified continued fractions (MCF's), following the proof by Thron and Waadeland [35] in 1980 that a limit-periodic MCFK(a n , 1;x 1), with $$\mathop {\lim }\limits_{n \to \infty } a_n = :a \in \mathbb{C} - ( - \infty , - \tfrac{1}{4}]$$ andnth approximant $$g_n = S_n (x_1 ) = \frac{{a_1 }}{1} + \frac{{a_2 }}{1} + \cdots + \frac{{a_{n - 1} }}{1} + \frac{{a_n }}{{1 + x_1 }},$$ converges more rapidly to its limitf than the ordinary reference continued fractionK(a n /1) withnth approximantf n =S n (0). Herex 1 denotes the smaller (in modulus) of the two fixed points ofT(w)=a/(1+w). The present paper gives truncation error bounds for bothf n andg n that exploit the limit-periodic property lima n =a. Certain a posteriori bounds given forg n are shown to be best possible, relative to the given (limited) information available. This is the first instance in which truncation error bounds for this problem have been shown to be best possible. Also included in this paper are results on speed of convergence, a practical method for constructing the bounds, and applications to a number of special functions. The given numerical examples indicate that the error bounds are indeed sharp. For the function arctanz, we give graphical contour maps of the number of significant digits in the approximationsf n (z),g n (z) andp n (z), thenth partial sum of the Maclaurin series, forz in a key region of the complex plane. These maps help us compare the various approximations with each other and add to our understanding of their convergence behavior.
Carpo:metacarpal ratio. A new quantitative measure of radiologic progression of wrist involvement in rheumatioid arthritis.

Analysis of 878 hand films shows the carpo : metacarpal ratio to be a sensitive quantitative index of progression of carpal involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. This index, easily calculated by dividing the lengths of the carpus by the third metacarpal, showed marked consistency in the ratio regardless of age, race, or sex in normal adults. A decreased ratio correlated highly with recognized radiographic stages of rheumatoid arthritis and thus suggested utility in longitudinal studies of patients with this disease.
Assessment of a greater trochanter-based method of locating the hip joint center

An alternative, yet unverified, predictive method that places the hip joint center (HJC) at one-quarter of the distance from the ipsolateral to the contralateral greater trochanter (GT method) is currently widely used in the biomechanics community. Therefore, the objective of this study was to confirm that this method is a viable option for estimating HJC coordinates. To accomplish this, HJC coordinates in the pelvic anatomical coordinate system were estimated via the GT method, a functional method, and the regression equations proposed by Bell et al. (1990). The HJC coordinated estimated by the functional method served as a baseline measurement. The results of this study demonstrate that all three methods evaluated offer repeatable estimates of HJC location. In comparison to the functional method, the GT method yielded a HJC estimate that was 7.6 mm medial, 12.2 mm posterior, and 4.8 mm proximal. On the other hand, the Bell regression equations estimated the HJC to be 2.6 mm medial, 7.2 mm posterior, and 21.7 mm proximal relative to the functional method. Additionally, the total 3D difference between the GT and functional methods was 23.5 mm compared to the 30.8 mm difference between the Bell and functional methods. These results suggest that the GT method is a viable option for estimating HJC coordinates.
Noradrenergic innervation of the penis in control and streptozotocin‐diabetic rats: Evidence of autonomic neuropathy

The noradrenergic sympathetic innervation of the penis of control and 4-month streptozotocin-diabetic rats was examined with the glyoxylic acid histofluorescence method. Noradrenergic varicosities were found in the corpora cavernosa in a dense subtunical plexus and in the perisinusoidal and trabecular regions of the erectile tissue, in the corpus spongiosum in perisinusoidal tissue, around large arteries and veins, and around small tortuous arterioles and small draining veins of the corpora cavernosa and spongiosum. Noradrenergic varicosities were diminished in number and fluorescent intensity in all regions of the penis of diabetic rats compared with controls. The subtunical plexus was absent, perisinusoidal and trabecular varicosities were sparse, and only occasional intermittent, discontinuous, dull fluorescent fibers or plexuses were found around the vessels. Quantitation with high-performance liquid chromatography revealed a significant reduction of norepinephrine in the penis of diabetic rats compared with controls. The present study suggests that long-term streptozotocin diabetes in the rat is accompanied by sympathetic autonomic neuropathy of the penis that seems to parallel changes in the noradrenergic content of penile corpora of men with diabetes and erectile impotence. The streptozotocin-diabetic rat merits further study to explore the relationship between noradrenergic innervation of the penis and erectile tissue.
THE RECOVERY OF METHYL f-BUTYL ETHER FROM CLOSE BOILING IMPURITIES BY EXTRACTIVE DISTILLATION

Methyl t-butyl ether cannot be separated from close boiling compounds by distillation because of the proximity of boiling points. Methyl t-butyl ether can be readily separated from close boiling ethers or hydrocarbons by using extractive distillation in which the extractive agent is dimethylformamide alone or admixed with certain organic compounds.
Slope correction for ocean radar altimetry

We develop a slope correction model to improve the accuracy of mean sea surface topography models as well as marine gravity models. The correction is greatest above ocean trenches and large seamounts where the slope of the geoid exceeds 100 $$\upmu $$ rad. In extreme cases, the correction to the mean sea surface height is 40 mm and the correction to the along-track altimeter slope is 1–2 $$\upmu $$ rad which maps into a 1–2 mGal gravity error. Both corrections are easily applied using existing grids of sea surface slope from satellite altimetry.
In situ observations of particle size evolution during the hydrothermal crystallization of TiO2: A time-resolved synchrotron SAXS and WAXS study

A1. Hydrothermal crystal growth A1. SAXS A1. WAXS B1. Nanomaterials B1. Oxides B1. Titanium compounds abstract We have monitored the homogeneous crystallization of TiO2 phases from aqueous TiCl4 solutions at 100 1C using both time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering (TR-SAXS) and time-resolved wide-angle X-ray scattering (TR-WAXS). The WAXS data revealed that metastable anatase was the first phase to crystallize, but it began transforming to rutile within the first hour of reaction. Scherrer analysis of WAXS peak widths indicated that anatase particles grew to an average size near 7 nm on a time scale of minutes, after which their size remained static, while rutile grew rapidly from o 3n m to� 10 nm within 1 h, followed by slower growth at a rate of � 0.15 nm/h. Using a novel sample cell designed to withstand temperatures up to 150 1C and hydrothermal vapor pressure, we collected in situ SAXS data for the same conditions as the WAXS experiments. Fourier analyses of the SAXS images revealed the rapid emergence of a broad, Gaussian-type particle size distribution ranging in diameter from 1 to � 20 nm with a mean near 7 nm, in excellent agreement with our WAXS analysis. At 0.5 h, a second population of o3 nm particles emerged, and these crystals grew to � 9 nm after 7.5 h, which we interpret as the nucleation and growth of rutile (as was also observed in the WAXS patterns). In contrast to studies that presume a solid-state transformation from anatase to rutile during growth, our results suggest that anatase and rutile co-precipitate during the early stages of crystallization, but once anatase crystals grow to a critical size of 7 nm, they dissolve and the solution species re-precipitate onto primary rutile nanocrystals.
Neuronal substrates for SIV encephalopathy

Summary Prior to the onset of immunodeficiency disease, neurochemical and neuro-pathological events associated with motor and/or cognitive impairment can be identified in rhesus monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). These are astrocytosis, up-regulation of mRNA encoding the neuro-peptide somatostatin (SRIF) and an increased expression of MHC Class II antigen. End-stage immunodeficiency disease has been associated with robust viral expression in the CNS frequently observed as multinucleated giant cell formation. SIV encephalitis has not been observed in animals whose only clinical signs of SIV disease were motor and/or cognitive impairment.
Applying velocity specification techniques to control robotic positioning systems

Abstract Residual vibration limits the terminal positioning precision of robotic manipulators. The residual vibration exhibited by robotic manipulators can be due to low frequency structural modes, self-excited by the manipulator during operations. In these cases, redesigning the structure to modify the resonant frequency(ies) causing residual vibration can be impractical or too costly. In this paper, an intelligent controller scheme is developed to measure and control residual vibration caused by the principal structural resonance. The controller tests the robot structure for critical resonant modes, calculates a drive profile using motion specification techniques to control the residual vibration, and then evaluates its effectiveness. A frequency domain interpretation is used to select the preferred input driver waveform. A breadboard controller is also developed for a single-degree-of-freedom drive system and it is used to validate the proposed strategy. Test results for a simple cantilever beam system and for a desktop articular-arm robot are presented.
Dominant spinal muscular atrophy with lower extremity predominance: linkage to 14q32.

Objective: Spinal muscular atrophies (SMAs) are hereditary disorders characterized by weakness from degeneration of spinal motor neurons. Although most SMA cases with proximal weakness are recessively inherited, rare families with dominant inheritance have been reported. We aimed to clinically, pathologically, and genetically characterize a large North American family with an autosomal dominant proximal SMA. Methods: Affected family members underwent clinical and electrophysiologic evaluation. Twenty family members were genotyped on high-density genome-wide SNP arrays and linkage analysis was performed. Results: Ten affected individuals (ages 7–58 years) showed prominent quadriceps atrophy, moderate to severe weakness of quadriceps and hip abductors, and milder degrees of weakness in other leg muscles. Upper extremity strength and sensation was normal. Leg weakness was evident from early childhood and was static or very slowly progressive. Electrophysiology and muscle biopsies were consistent with chronic denervation. SNP-based linkage analysis showed a maximum 2-point lod score of 5.10 (θ = 0.00) at rs17679127 on 14q32. A disease-associated haplotype spanning from 114 cM to the 14q telomere was identified. A single recombination narrowed the minimal genomic interval to Chr14: 100,220,765–106,368,585. No segregating copy number variations were found within the disease interval. Conclusions: We describe a family with an early onset, autosomal dominant, proximal SMA with a distinctive phenotype: symptoms are limited to the legs and there is notable selectivity for the quadriceps. We demonstrate linkage to a 6.1-Mb interval on 14q32 and propose calling this disorder spinal muscular atrophy–lower extremity, dominant.
Building query optimizers for information extraction: the SQoUT project

Text documents often embed data that is structured in nature. This structured data is increasingly exposed using information extraction systems, which generate structured relations from documents, introducing an opportunity to process expressive, structured queries over text databases. This paper discusses our SQoUT1 project, which focuses on processing structured queries over relations extracted from text databases. We show how, in our extraction-based scenario, query processing can be decomposed into a sequence of basic steps: retrieving relevant text documents, extracting relations from the documents, and joining extracted relations for queries involving multiple relations. Each of these steps presents different alternatives and together they form a rich space of possible query execution strategies. We identify execution efficiency and output quality as the two critical properties of a query execution, and argue that an optimization approach needs to consider both properties. To this end, we take into account the userspecified requirements for execution efficiency and output quality, and choose an execution strategy for each query based on a principled, cost-based comparison of the alternative execution strategies.
Influence of Binary Surfactant Mixtures on the Rheology of Associative Polymer Solutions

Hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble emulsion polymers (HASE) are a class of comblike associative polymers that can impart high viscosities to aqueous solutions. The rheology of HASE solutions can be tuned by the addition of surfactants, such as nonylphenol ethoxylates (NP e), where e is the length of the hydrophilic (ethoxylate) chain. While previous studies have considered individual surfactants, our focus here is on binary surfactant mixtures. We find that equimolar NP4-NP12 mixtures significantly enhance the zero-shear viscosities of HASE solutions as compared to equivalent amounts of NP8, especially at high overall surfactant concentrations. Dynamic rheological measurements suggest that the higher viscosities are due to increases in the lifetime of hydrophobic junctions in the polymer-surfactant network. In contrast to the above results, equimolar NP4-NP8 mixtures are rheologically identical to equivalent solutions of NP6. The differences between the two sets of mixtures are further correlated with cloud point measurements and thereby with the overall hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of the surfactant system.
Variational Calculation of the Surface-Plasmon Dispersion Relation for a Metal

We have computed the surface-plasmon dispersion relation for a metal and compared it with experimental results for Al and Mg. The metal surface is approximated by a step potential and the calculation carried out within the quantum-mechanical random-phase approximation. The integral equation for the self-sustained oscillations is handled by a variational approach. Our dispersion relation is in much better agreement with experimental results than the relation computed for a semi-infinite electron gas.
Essential role of culture in developmental psychology

This chapter argues for the essential role of culture in forming the basic constructs and theories of developmental psychology. The case is made for the need to overcome the cultural insularity of core developmental concepts and methods in order to create a psychology that is more truly universal.
Synthesis and Characterization of Ge(II), Sn(II), and Pb(II) Monoamides with -NH2 Ligands.

The synthesis and characterization of the first divalent germanium, tin, and lead monoamide derivatives of the parent amide group −NH2 are presented. They have the general formula (ArMNH2)2 (M = Ge...
Mutual Life, Limited: Islamic Banking, Alternative Currencies, Lateral Reason. By Bill Maurer

Mutual Life, Limited: Islamic Banking, Alternative Currencies, Lateral Reason. By Bill Maurer. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2005. Pp. xix+217. $55.00 cloth;, $19.95 paper. Mark Twain's short story "The Million Pound Banknote" ([1893] 1996) concerns a bet that a person will be unable to live for one month with only a million-pound banknote. The main character discovers that he has a problem: how can he spend such a large note when it is not possible to get change? Artist J. S. G. Boggs (Weschler 1999) draws replicas of currency (with slight changes) and offers to exchange these original works of art for goods and services at their face value (and wants to get change in the actual currency in the process). On the one hand, there is a fictitious story about a real bank note whose value cannot be realized, as it cannot be exchanged. On the other, there is a factual story about fake money whose value comes about because it is an authentic, original work of art that can be exchanged. While Bill Maurer's Mutual Life, Limited references neither of these stories, their juxtaposition provides a good hint at the substance of the book, based on a comparison of Islamic finance and Ithaca HOURS, an alternative currency in the upstate New York city. Both Islamic banking, with its principle of lariba (attempting to avoid interest), and HOURS, ostensibly based on an hour's worth of work, seem at first glance to be alternatives to dominant capitalist finance. But beneath the immediate surface, these "alternatives"-and the dominant currency-may not be so distinct. Islamic banking and HOURS are inherently bound together with the prevailing capitalist global economy. Yet Maurer is hardly out simply to unmask these alternatives as mere shadows of the dominant economy. Rather, he argues, these alternatives restage the underlying forms of the economy, bound up with questions of equivalence as a moral form and the difficulty of a distinguishing test of truth when there are multiple worlds and uses of money. In short, both the alternatives-and the dominant economy-work and are enacted by agents despite (and perhaps because of) their impurities. Mutual Life, Limited also speaks to debates in anthropology and other social sciences about the scholarly enterprise. Maurer finds that his research subjects have debated the purity, truth, and status of Islamic finance and HOURS as alternatives. His research subjects have already made some of the comparisons that he set out to make and recommended reading lists to him before their interviews. Reflecting this experience and connecting the substantive discussion about alternative economies, Maurer aims for "lateralizations," rather than descriptions or explanations, reflecting the ways in which his field experience seems largely prefigured and anticipated. As a strategy of lateralization, Maurer holds the book out as performance, attempting to re-create a sense of field experience: The point here is the achievement of a homology of form and ... a ramping up of the kinds of textual achievements of my interlocutors. …
Relationship of caregiver education to child-oriented attitudes, job satisfaction, and behaviors toward children

This study examined relationships between behaviors toward children and a variety of caregiver characteristics—formal education, child-oriented attitudes, satisfaction with child care employment, and commitment to the child care field as a career. Detailed narrative descriptions of the behavior of 37 center-based caregivers responsible for groups of three- to five-year-olds were collected and then coded according to the Prescott, Jones, and Kritchevsky (1967) observational system. Caregivers also answered attitude and job satisfaction questionnaires and provided information about their educational background and child-related preparation. Overall findings indicated that, for the most part, caregiver actions stressed “caretaking” as opposed to “educational” functions. However, variations in behavior were related to caregiver characteristics. In contrast to previous research, higher education, as well as child-related preparation, was associated with several qualities of caregiver behavior—decreases in restriction and increases in encouragement, development of children's verbal skills, and the use of indirect forms of guidance. Education was positively associated with caregiver commitment to child care as a career. Also, career commitment, child-oriented attitudes, job satisfaction, and stimulating but nondirective behaviors toward children were positively correlated with one another. Results are discussed in relation to social policies concerning the preparation and training of child care professionals.
Hemodialysis access placement with preoperative noninvasive vascular mapping: comparison between patients with and without diabetes.

c We retrospectively analyzed data on preoperative vascular mapping in 195 consecutive patients to investigate the common belief that patients with diabetes are poor candidates to have an arteriovenous fistula placed as dialysis access because they lack suitable blood vessels. There was no difference in venous diameter, arterial diameter, and arterial peak systolic velocity measurements between patients with and without diabetes. Patients with diabetes had a greater prevalence of vascular calcifications and greater cuff measurements of systolic segmental arterial pressure. In 140 of 195 patients, subsequent vascular access surgery had been performed in our institution, and 127 of these patients were on hemodialysis therapy at the end of the study period. There was no difference in the prevalence of fistula placement (66% versus 60%; chi-square5 2.6; df 5 2; P 5 0.28, not significant [NS]) and percentage of functioning fistulae between patients with and without diabetes (67% versus 62%; chi-square 5 0.27; df 5 1; P 5 0.61, NS). The percentage of patients dialyzed through a temporary catheter was equal in patients with and without diabetes (18%). In summary, patients with diabetes seem to be as good candidates for arteriovenous fistula placement as patients without diabetes. Additional studies are required to determine the long-term outcome of fistulae in patients with diabetes. © 2001 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.
Intensive Performances of Mothering: a Sociological Perspective

This article explores multiple identities and meanings of mothering by interpreting two narrative performances of mothering in the early 1970s. One performance is from a work of art by feminist Mary Kelly, Post-Partum Document (1983), the other from a research interview conducted in the early 1980s with a DES daughter. Both women perform versions of intensive mothering. The essay shows that moving between narratives produced in a research interview and a work of art enlarges the field of narrative analysis and fills in details about how intensive mothering is a historically specific and embodied practice.
Seismicity and seismological method

Abstract A straight-forward way for seismologists to contribute to earthquake prediction research is to find the state of stress inside the earth from seismograms of numerous small earthquakes taking place in the general area where a large one is expected. The success of this approach depends on the capability of seismologists in finding conditions about earthquake sources from seismograms. This in turn depends on the available theory to deal with seismic waves and on our knowledge about the wave medium. Ray theory can give us information on positions of earthquake foci, time sequence of earthquakes, geometrical aspects of stress, and some measure of energy release. Recent efforts in this direction, primarily directed toward micro-earthquakes, have produced evidence that indicates the significance of such studies in earthquake prediction research. Normal mode theory can give us additional information about the source condition, because we can incorporate an arbitrary source function in space and time in the scheme of this theory. We can, for example, measure the stress-drop in an earthquake from the spectrum of surface waves, if some additional near-field observations are available. Both ray theory and normal mode theory have their own limitations. Difficult problems arise especially when we try to obtain source conditions of micro-earthquakes, because they generate short period waves which suffer strongly from the heterogeneity of wave medium. Recent studies bearing upon these problems will be reviewed and possible approaches to overcome the above mentioned difficulties will be discussed.
Exponents of multiattribute models

Abstract The effect of different exponents on the predictive ability of multiattribute models is examined. Survey data on 1202 individuals concerning their preferences for television shows is analyzed. The results indicate that the optimal power is not 1, and that consequently it may be somewhat more advantageous to improve on an already strong attribute than on relatively weak ones.
Inversion of the Penrose transform and the Cauchy–Fantappie formula

Abstract We discuss the construction of an explicit inversion of the Penrose transform with the focus on connections with the Radon transform, multi-dimensional residues and the Cauchy–Fantappie integral formula following to results [1] , [2] . The focus is on the new representation (M) of the inverse Penrose transform as a residue. The proof of this formula can be extracted from [1] . This proof includes an explicit computation of this residue (D) . In this formula not the exact values of all coefficients but the existence of a differential operator, inverting the Penrose transform (we call this Leibnitz–Newton’s phenomenon) is important. It is similar to local inversion formulas in integral geometry.
Muscarinic receptor binding in rat brain using the agonist, [3H]cis methyldioxolane

Abstract Muscarinic receptor binding was measured in rat forebrain preparations using the muscarinic agonist, [ 3 H]cis methyldioxolane ([ 3 H]CD). The results of equilibrium binding studies using [ 3 H]CD concentrations between 0.5–64 nM showed that [ 3 H]CD binding did not saturate in this concentration range, although the binding isotherm was concave downward. Nonlinear regression analysis of the binding data revealed the presence of two populations of muscarinic receptors having dissociation constants of 1.83 and 123 nM and binding capacities of 85 and 1320 fmol/mg protein, respectively. Competitive inhibition experiments showed that [ 3 H]CD binding was readily displaced by several muscarinic agonists and antagonists. The stereospecificity of [ 3 H]CD binding was demonstrated in competitive inhibition experiments using the stereoisomers of benzetimide and acetyl-β-methylcholine. Dexetimide was 10,000 times more potent than levetimide and l-acetyl-β-methylcholine was 520 times more potent than d-acetyl-β-methylcholine. A variety of nonmuscarinic cholinergic drugs were not effective at inhibiting [ 3 H]CD binding at a concentration of 10 μM.
GSR and polarization capacity of skin

By applying a square voltage pulse to skin through GSR electrodes and observing the voltage waveform across a small series resistance, the conductivity of skin may be seen to decrease sharply (e.g., by 80% or more) during the first 50 to 500 microseconds to a steady-state or DC value. At the end of the pulse, a back e.m.f. may be observed across the skin, equal to, e.g., 80% of the pulse voltage and opposite in polarity. During the GSR this polarization voltage decreases, producing an increase in apparent DC conductance, while the initial peak conductance does not change. This indicates that the GSR involves a change in polarization capacity of some membrane(s) in the epidermis.
Experimental investigation and theoretical modeling of dehydriding process in high-pressure metal hydride hydrogen storage systems

This study explores the endothermic dehydriding (desorption) reaction that takes place in a high-pressure metal hydride (HPMH) hydrogen storage system when hydrogen gas is released to the fuel cell. The reaction is sustained by circulating warm fluid through a heat exchanger embedded in the HPMH powder. A systematic approach to modeling the dehydriding process is presented, which is validated against experimental data using two drastically different heat exchangers, one using a modular tube-fin design and the other a simpler coiled-tube design. Experiments were performed inside a 101.6-mm (4-in) diameter pressure vessel to investigate the influences of hydrogen release rate, heat exchanger fluid flow rate and fluid temperature on the dehydriding process for the HPMH Ti1.1CrMn. It is shown the dehydriding reaction rate can be accelerated by increasing the fluid temperature and/or the rate of pressure drop. HPMH particles located in warmer locations close to heat exchanger surfaces both began and finished dehydriding earlier than particles farther away. 2-D and 3-D models were created in Fluent to assess the dehydriding performances of the modular tube-fin heat exchanger and coiled-tube heat exchanger, respectively. The models are shown to be quite accurate at predicting the spatial and temporal variations of metal hydride temperature during the dehydriding reaction.
Overcoming the barriers in micellar drug delivery: loading efficiency, in vivo stability, and micelle–cell interaction

Importance of the field: Spontaneously constructed from block copolymers in aqueous media, the polymer micelle has been extensively studied as a potential carrier of poorly water-soluble drugs, but cellular uptake pathways and stability of micelles in blood have not yet been clearly understood. An in-depth insight into the physical and biological behaviors of polymer micelles is necessitated for designing next-generation micelles.Areas covered in this review: This review suggests possible solutions to improve micellar drug loading capacity, scrutinizes the parameters influencing the micelle stability in blood, and also discusses the fate of micelles in cellular and in vivo environment, respectively. Direct and indirect evidences from the literatures mostly published after 90's were collected, analyzed and summarized.What the reader will gain: A critical analysis of micelle's stability in vivo and micelle-cell interaction is provided to highlight the key issues to be addressed to affirm that micelle can pr...
Black Phosphorus p-MOSFETs With 7-nm HfO 2 Gate Dielectric and Low Contact Resistance

We report record contact resistance and transconductance in locally back-gated black phosphorus p-MOSFETs with 7-nm thick HfO2 gate dielectrics. Devices with effective gate lengths, $L_{\mathrm {\mathbf {eff}}}$ , from 0.55 to 0.17 $\mu \text{m}$ were characterized and shown to have contact resistance values as low as $1.14~\pm ~0.05~\Omega $ -mm. In addition, devices with $L_{\mathrm {\mathbf {eff}}}= 0.17~\mu \text{m}$ displayed extrinsic transconductance exceeding 250 $\mu \text{S}$ / $\mu \text{m}$ and ON-state current approaching $300~\mu \text{A}$ / $\mu \text{m}$ .
Terahertz radiation from shocked materials

Distinct physical mechanisms for the generation of temporally coherent, narrow bandwidth optical radiation are few and rare in nature. Such sources, including lasers, have widespread applications ranging from spectroscopy to interferometry. We review the recent theoretical prediction of a new type of temporally coherent optical radiation source in the 1–100 THz frequency range that can be realized when crystalline polarizable materials like NaCl are subject to a compressive shock wave.