cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Piermont Allochthon in the Littleton-Moosilauke area of west-central New Hampshire: Alternative interpretation and reply

Several recent papers have accepted the idea that there is a large overthrust, the "Piermont allochthon," in west-central New Hampshire. In my opinion, such an overthrust does not exist. For the reasons given below, I believe that stratigraphic and structural proof of this hypothesis are lacking and that other interpretations can fit the known facts as well or better. Careful mapping combined with routine observation of primary geopetal features and supported by U-Pb zircon age determinations prove the existence of the Piermont allochthon in a 200-km-long belt that includes the type area of the Ordovician Albee Formation of M. P. Billings near Littleton, New Hampshire. The Albee Formation of Billings is divided into seven stratigraphic units that are correlated with one Upper Ordovician(?) formation, one Lower Silurian(?) formation, three Silurian formations, one Upper Silurian(?) formation, and one Lower Devonian formation previously mapped in the Central Maine trough. In the Littleton area, the allochthon is bounded on the west by the Monroe fault, and on the east by the Foster Hill sole fault, which coincides with the contact that Billings mapped between his Albee Formation and the overlying Ordovician Ammonoosuc Volcanics. This contact must be a fault, because stratigraphic sequences on opposite sides face (young) toward, and are truncated against, one another. Where exposed, the Foster Hill fault is a sharp, pre-metamorphic boundary with only local evidence of shearing. Regional geologic relationships indicate that the Piermont allochthon has traveled several to many tens of kilometers relative to the southeast adjacent Bronson Hill-Boundary Mountains anticlinorium. For reasons given elsewhere, however, my previous interpretation that the allochthon is an Acadian thrust sheet is probably not tenable.
Temporal Frequency Channels Are Linked across Audition and Touch

Summary Temporal frequency is a fundamental sensory dimension in audition and touch. In audition, analysis of temporal frequency is necessary for speech and music perception [1]; in touch, the spectral analysis of vibratory signals has been implicated in texture perception [2, 3] and in sensing the environment through tools [4–7]. Environmental oscillations impinging upon the ear are generally thought to be processed independently of oscillations impinging upon the skin. Here, we show that frequency channels are perceptually linked across audition and touch. In a series of psychophysical experiments, we demonstrate that auditory stimuli interfere with tactile frequency perception in a systematic manner. Specifically, performance on a tactile-frequency-discrimination task is impaired when an auditory distractor is presented with the tactile stimuli, but only if the frequencies of the auditory and tactile stimuli are similar. The frequency-dependent interference effect is observed whether the distractors are pure tones or band-pass noise, so an auditory percept of pitch is not required for the effect to be produced. Importantly, distractors that strongly impair frequency discrimination do not interfere with judgments of tactile intensity. This surprisingly specific crosstalk between different modalities reflects the importance of supramodal representations of fundamental sensory dimensions.
Splitting manifolds as M × R where M has a k-fold end structure

Abstract Let X be a locally finite simplicial complex of dimension n , n ⩾ 5, equipped with a k -fold end structure [4] and consider a piecewise linear ( n + 1)-dimensional manifold M that is proper homotopy equivalent to X × R by F : M → X × R , where R is the set of real numbers. The question arises as to whether or not the manifold M can be split, i.e., written as M = N × R where N is a n -manifold and where there is a proper homotopy between F and ( p 1 ∘ F 0 ) × id : N × R → X × R , preserving the natural ( k +1)-fold end structure, where F 0 is F | N and p 1 is the projection X × R → X . Of particular significance is the fact that X is noncompact. When the construction of such splittings is attempted, algebraic obstructions arise, which vanish if and only if the construction can be completed. This paper develops such an obstruction theory by utilizing methods of L.C. Siebenmann and the k -fold end structures of F. Waldhausen.
Nonreciprocal magneto-optics for millimeter waves

The magnetooptical principles that form the basis for isolators and circulators at infrared wavelengths, i.e. 0.8 and 1.3 mu m, have been successfully applied at 1 cm (35 GHz). Unlike the infrared case, which functions on the wings of a crystal-field absorption line, millimeter-wave rotation originates from ferrimagnetic resonance, and its magnitude is directly proportional to the ferrite magnetization. The basic theory is adapted to interpret experiments over a band from 26 to 40 GHz, with unmatched iron-garnet rotation elements used in a Gaussian-beam spectrometer and with the addition of antireflection quarter-wave plates. An experimental demonstration of a 45 degrees rotator yielded an effective isolation greater than 40 dB, with a total insertion loss substantially less than 0.1 dB over a 20% bandwidth. >
Suppression of pulmonary host defenses and enhanced susceptibility to respiratory bacterial infection in mice following inhalation exposure to trichloroethylene and chloroform

Numerous epidemiological studies have associated episodes of increased air pollution with increased incidence of respiratory disease, including pneumonia, croup, and bronchitis. Trichloroethylene (TCE) and chloroform are among 33 hazardous air pollutants identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as presenting the greatest threat to public health in the largest number of urban areas. Also, both are common indoor air pollutants. Here, we assessed the potential effects of TCE and chloroform on resistance to pulmonary bacterial infection and related alveolar macrophage (AM) function. CD-1 mice were exposed by inhalation to filtered air (control) or concentrations of TCE ranging from 5 to 200 ppm, or concentrations of chloroform ranging from 100 to 2000 ppm. Immediately following exposure, mice were challenged with an aerosol of Streptococcus zooepidemicus and monitored for clearance of bacteria from the lung and mortality. In separate experiments, exposed mice were injected intratracheally with v...
On the brink of becoming a T cell.

Abstract Recent studies provide fresh insight into the mechanisms by which precursor cells are committed to and develop within the T-lymphocyte lineage. Precursor/product studies have identified developmental stages between that of the pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell and thymocytes committed to the T lineage. Specific ligands and signaling pathways interacting with the Notch-1 receptor and its ability to influence commitment within the lymphoid lineage have been described. Although the structural features or putative ligands endowing the pre-TCR with constitutive signaling capacity remain elusive, numerous distal mediators of pre-TCR signaling have been identified. It remains for the future to determine what roles they may have in survival, proliferation, lineage commitment and allelic exclusion of TCR genes. Receptor editing and lineage commitment of αβ T cells still represent controversial topics that need further study.
Polarized electron sources for the 1990's

Abstract The new generation of electron accelerators provides higher energies, luminosities, and/or duty factors than have been available heretofore, and presents important physics opportunities for electro-weak interaction studies and for experiments that exploit the spin degrees of freedom in electron scattering. Recent developments in polarized electron source technology promise dramatic improvements over earlier experiments. We review the status of these sources, with emphasis on those best suited for accelerator applications.
Interrenal and thyroid development in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus): effects of nursery environment on larval growth and cortisol concentration during settlement.

Abstract Red drum settle into shallow seagrass meadows during the larval stage. Day–night cycles in these habitats result in marked diel temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) cycles, and it is possible that extreme fluctuations influence endocrine development and growth of larvae. Here, we described red drum interrenal and thyroid ontogeny and determine responses to environmental stimuli with special emphasis on settlement to explore possible role of hormones as mediator of directive environmental factors. This study detected an early activation of thyroid and interrenal axis during the yolk-sac phase and a second activation of the thyroid starting at settlement size to the end of the larval period. Whole-body l -thyroxine (T4) and 3-5-3′-triiodo- l -thyronine (T3) showed a sharp decline at the juvenile stage. In contrast, cortisol steadily declines during the larval phase to a minimum before the end of the larval period. Older settlement-size larvae exposed to a strong stimulus increased whole body cortisol. In contrast, new settlers showed a minor cortisol rise suggesting changes on stress responsiveness during the ontogeny of the species. Additionally, settlement-size larvae exposed to various environmentally realistic temperature or DO fluctuations showed no difference in growth compared to fish grown under stable conditions (control). However, growth rate was significantly reduced in DO cycled fish with prolonged exposure to hypoxia. No differences were found in whole-body cortisol levels in the reduced growth treatment groups, suggesting that growth retardation was not related to a cortisol-mediated stress response. In moderate DO and temperature treatment groups, cortisol showed wider fluctuations than control groups during the night time that were not related to stress.
Use of an Automatic Under-Vehicle Inspection System as a Tool to Streamline Vehicle Screening at Ports of Entry and Security Checkpoints

Vehicle inspection at ports of entry is a critical component of border security. One part of the vehicle screening process involves customs and border protection (CBP) personnel performing a preliminary inspection of the underside of random vehicles by looking under the vehicle through a mirror mounted on a stick, searching for anomalies or foreign objects present on the undercarriage structure and components of a vehicle. If any deviances are detected, the vehicle is directed to a secondary and more thorough inspection. This paper presents a project that aims at automating this preliminary undercarriage inspection by using an automatic under-vehicle inspection system (AUVIS) and image processing algorithms to assist personnel in identifying vehicles for secondary inspection. The inspection system will image the undercarriage of every car in a lane as they approach the CBP agent and use a novel change detection algorithm to compare the captured image to a corresponding reference image of the vehicle's make and model. The software will detect and highlight any differences between the two images to provide a rapid and objective recommendation for secondary inspection.
Capillary Spreading Dynamics of Electrowetted Sessile Droplets in Air

We report the contact line dynamics of sessile water droplets, 1.1−1.6 mm in radius, spread by electrowetting in air. Coplanar electrodes patterned on the substrate allow a true sessile condition with no wire into the droplet. The frequency response of the droplets is studied using 25 VAC ranging from 10 to 205 Hz. The effect of contact angle hysteresis is seen in form of stick-slip motion. A model developed provides a good match to the experimental result. Step response is studied with voltages in the range of 20−80 VDC. Two regimes of motion are observed. In the first regime, local flows cause the contact line speed to increase and reach a maximum while the contact angle is still changing. Global flows in the second regime cause the contact line to move with a reduced speed and attain the spherical shape pertaining to the new equilibrium contact angle. A model is used to describe the motion.
“After stormy seas calm once more I see”: Reconciliation and remoralization in euripides

(1997). “After stormy seas calm once more I see”: Reconciliation and remoralization in euripides. The European Legacy: Vol. 2, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the Study of European Ideas, pp. 28-33.
Spherical shields perturbed to ellipsoids in transport theory

One-dimensional spheres are perturbed to ellipsoids, and perturbation theory for inhomogeneous transport problems is applied to estimate the leakage of an uncollided decay gamma ray, a neutron thermal capture gamma ray, and a neutron inelastic scatter gamma ray. Only the shielding is perturbed, not the source. The surface transformation function for the sphere-to-ellipsoid change-of-shape perturbation is derived. Schwinger, Roussopolos, and combined perturbation estimates are applied. The perturbation estimates are defined to estimate the total (4π) flux at an external spherical surface detector, and they were accurate for point-detector fluxes when the leakage estimated from a point detector was similar to the total external surface flux. For uncollided line fluxes, the Schwinger estimate worked very well when the response of interest was the total external surface flux, but perturbation theory did not work well when the response of interest was the flux measured at a single external point (unless extra care was taken to account for geometric effects). For thermal capture line fluxes, the Roussopolos estimate was extremely accurate for one point detector location but its accuracy depended on the detector location. For inelastic scatter line fluxes, the detector fluxes were relatively insensitive to the detector location and the perturbation estimates were fairly accurate.
The kinetics of the oxidation of substituted 2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline complexes of iron(II) with peroxydisulfate ion

Abstract The kinetics of the oxidation of six different complexes of iron(II) with 2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline by peroxydisulfate ion has been studied in aqueous solutions. The rate constants and the equilibrium constants for the proposed mechanism have been calculated. The proposed mechanism is (for the Fe(dipy) 3 2+ for example) and The activation parameters have been reported and discussed. A linear relationship is obtained for the log of rate constants and pKa of ligands and also for the free energy of activation and the standard free energy of the oxidation reduction step.
Software architecture in a changing world: developing design strategies that anticipate change

It is now generally accepted that separating software architecture into multiple views can help in reducing complexity and in making sound decisions about design trade-offs. Our four views are based on current practice; they are loosely coupled, and address different engineering concerns [1]. This tutorial will teach you how global analysis can improve your design, and how to use UML to describe these views. You will learn: (1) the purpose of having separate software architecture views, (2) the differnce between using UML for software architecture and the use of UML for designing OO implementations, (3) how to apply global analysis to analyze factors that influence the architecture and to develop strategies that guide the design, (4) the importance of designing for anticipated change to produce more maintainable architectures, and (5) how to incorporate software architecture design in your software process. This tutorial is aimed at experienced softwre engineers, architects, and technical managers. It is assumed that participants know the basic UML diagrams. Experience in developing models and software design is helpful.
Catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis in adipocytes of spontaneously hypertensive rats

We investigated the catecholamine-stimulated lipolytic response of perirenal adipocytes isolated from spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive (C) rats of the Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) strain. Younger rats (10-17 weeks) were matched with respect to age and body weight. Age-matched SHR rats were smaller than their C counterparts, had equal-size adipocytes, and demonstrated lipolytic responses equal to C cells. Weight-matched SHR rats were older than normotensive controls, had larger adipocytes, and showed depressed norepinephrine (NE)-stimulated responses with a rightward shift in the dose-response curve. Rates of lipolysis of SHR and C cells were not different in the simultaneous presence of norepinephrine and theophylline. Nine- to ten-month-old rats were of comparable body weight and adipocyte size regardless of blood pressure status; however, SHR cells still showed a significantly blunted response to catecholamine stimulation. We conclude that (1) the NE-stimulated lipolytic response of adipocytes of SHR rats is significantly less than that elicited from C cells; (2) this function difference seems unrelated to a size difference between cells of younger, SHR and C rats, thus implicating the adrenergic system; and (3) whole body growth (as reflected by body weight) and perirenal adipocyte growth do not proceed in parallel in actively growing SHR rats.
Effects of Branched and Straight Chain Amines and Azasteroids on Blood and Egg Cholesterol of White Leghorn Chickens

Abstract Six branched and straight chain secondary or tertiary amines with chain lengths of 12 to 18 carbons and two azasteroids, 25-aza-5α-cholestane and 25-azacoprostane, were fed to mature White Leghorn hens, and their effectiveness was compared with 20,25-diazacholesterol dihydrochloride (SC-12937), an azasteroid known to lower egg cholesterol. Feed consumption, body weight, egg production, egg and plasma cholesterol and desmosterol, and plasma total lipid were measured. The 6 amines were fed at 200 ppm, and only the C12 branched chain amine N,N,3,7,11-pen-tamethyldodecanamine reduced plasma and egg cholesterol with a concomitant increase in desmosterol. After 4 weeks, plasma desmosterol was 0, 13, 60, and 75% of total sterol for control, 200 ppm C12 branched chain amine, 5 ppm diazacholesterol, and 5 ppm azacholestane, respectively. Egg production was severely reduced to 6 and 0% by feeding 5 ppm azacholestane for 2 and 4 weeks, respectively, and to 69 and 36% by feeding 5 ppm diazacholesterol. After 4 weeks egg cholesterol was 79 and 36% of the total sterol for the 200 ppm C12 branched chain amine and 5 ppm diazacholesterol, respectively. Concomitant increases in desmosterol accompanied all reductions in cholesterol. The depletion and repletion rates of egg cholesterol were measured in a subsequent experiment. After 2-½ weeks of feeding the test substances, egg cholesterol was reduced with concomitant increases in desmosterol. Egg cholesterol was 100, 71, and 50% of the total egg sterol for control, 200 ppm, and 400 ppm C12 branched chain amine, respectively; 58, 13, and 3% for .1, .5, and 1.0 ppm azacholestane; 28, 29, and 18% for 1, 2.5, and 5 ppm azacholesterol; and 23% for 1 ppm azacoprostane. The experimental diets were then withdrawn, and egg cholesterol repletion was studied biweekly. Egg cholesterol was repleted to 100% of the total sterol after withdrawal times of 2 weeks for C12 branched chain amine, 8 weeks for azacoprostane, 14 to 16 weeks for diazacholesterol, 10 to 16 weeks for the lower levels of azacholestane, and longer than 16 weeks for 1 ppm azacholestane. The increase in desmosterol accompaning the demonstrated reduction in egg cholesterol, particularly with azasteroids, causes one to question the usefulness of this approach to lower cholesterol.
Histopathological study on the effects of hyperthermia on microvasculature

Abstract Recent experimental evidence suggests that hyperthermia has profound effects on tumor tissue microcirculation. Indeed, this is one of the suggested mechanisms involved in the anti-tumor effects of heat. Groups of WAG-Rij rat transplanted tumors (rbabdomyosarcoma-BA1112) were ireated with local hyperthermia (Radio-Frequency). Various temperatures (ranging from 38° to 43°C) were used. Animals were subsequently sacrificed at 1, 3, and 24 hours after beating and tumors were subjected to detailed pathological studies for evaluation of the effects of heat on microcireulation as well as on tumor cells. The results are indicative of no specific changes in microvasculature up to 40.5°C. At intermediate temperatures (42°C) vessels show marked dilatation and congestion (?stasis). At higher temperatures (44.5°C) there is massive hemorrhage and necrosis with rupture of vessel walls. The degree and intensity of this process also depends on the interval between heating and time of sacrifice of the animal. Detailed results are presented. The correlation of pathological findings and blood flow observations as well as their relevance to treatment of cancer patients are discussed.
The lower boundary of the Holocene

A decision appears imminent to define the lower boundary of the Holocene formally in terms of the European sequence, as comprising all or part of the interval between the end of the Bolling Interstade and the end of the Younger Dryas Stade (ca. 12,100–10,350 14C years BP). However, a lower boundary in this position can define the base of a European provincial stage only (the Flandrian). The interval contains no boundary suitable for global use, because temperature trends in many parts of the north polar and north temperate regions, including Europe, were then distorted by vast masses of melting ice inherited from Full-Glacial times. The last unquestionably worldwide major climatic event before the Hypsithermal Interval was the sharp cooling that has been inferred from glacier advances culminating about 14,500–14,000 14C years BP, and consequently the horizon at the transition from cooling to warming at the end of this episode should be defined as the base of the Holocene.
Hydration of CO adsorbed on Pt(100) at cryogenic temperatures in UHV environments.

Adsorption of small amounts of D2O (ca. 0.01 L exposure) on CO(sat)/Pt(100) surfaces in ultrahigh vacuum at 105 K was found to split the asymmetric peak at 2100 cm-1 in the infrared reflection absorption spectra attributed to the stretching of CO adsorbed on atop sites into two clearly defined features: an intense component, which shifted toward lower energies due to surface hydration of adsorbed CO (originally at 2100 cm-1, peak a), and a smaller peak centered at 2094 cm-1 (peak b), which remained fixed in position even after closing the D2O dosing valve. The energies of peaks a and b, as determined by statistical analyses, correlated very well with those reported in the literature for CO adsorbed at high coverages on Pt(100) originally in the (5 × 20) or (hex) reconstruction, and on the unreconstructed Pt(100)−(1 × 1), respectively, at 90 K. On these bases, the asymmetry of the peak observed for CO(sat)/Pt(100) (no D2O dosing) is ascribed to the presence of CO linearly adsorbed on these two different s...
Loss of Expression of Human Spectrin Src Homology Domain Binding Protein 1 is Associated with 10p Loss in Human Prostatic Adenocarcinoma

The gene encoding human spectrin Src homology domain binding protein 1, or Hssh3bp1, which is a marker of macropinocytic vesicles and a potential regulator of macropinocytosis, co-localizes to a YAC containing chromosome 10p sequences at loci D10S89 and D10S111 that are frequently deleted in prostate tumors. Expression of Hssh3bp1 was evaluated at the protein level in 17 paired normal and malignant prostate tumor samples using the monoclonal antibody 2G8 to Hssh3bp1. These experiments demonstrated that 4/6 tumors (67%) with 10p deletion failed to express Hssh3bp1 protein compared to 5/11 (46%) tumors with intact 10p. Thus, loss of Hssh3bp1 expression is concordant with allelic loss of adjacent 10p sequences in human prostate tumors. In addition, two prostate tumor cell lines contain an exon skipping mutation in the Hssh3bp1 gene that leads to the abnormal splicing of the mRNA and loss of a portion of Abl tyrosine kinase SH3 domain binding site in the protein. These data are consistent with a role for Hssh3bp1 as a candidate tumor suppressor gene inactivated during prostate tumorigenesis.
Debenzoylation of N-benzoylnucleoside derivatives with ethylenediamine-phenol

Abstract Ethylenediamine-phenol (1:4 v/v) serves as a selective reagent for removing N-benzoyl protecting groups on purine and pyrimidine bases without disturbing trichloroethyl phosphotriester functions present in the same system.
An all-electronic four-digit digital voltmeter

The paper describes a four-digit electronic digital voltmeter and deals with the mode of operation of this instrument and a number of problems that have been solved in engineering it. A feature of the instrument is the automatic range change circuit which operates the input attenuator and minimizes the errors arising from the reverse grid current flowing in this attenuator. The fundamental accuracy of the instrument depends on the method of voltage comparison and particular emphasis is placed upon drift correcting these comparators using the principle of time-sharing. The generation of linear ramps is desribed and results of laboratory measurements verifying theoretical predictions are given. The high speed decimal counter using the trochotron tube is described and shown to be ideally suitable for operating with neon-type number tubes. The paper closes with the discussion of all the errors.
Role of INK4a/Arf Locus-Encoded Senescent Checkpoints Activated in Normal and Psoriatic Keratinocytes

During malignant transformation in skin, epidermal keratinocytes (KCs) frequently acquire the capacity to by-pass cellular senescence, a response that normally limits their unrestricted proliferation. Despite growing interest in the role for senescence during aging of skin and cutaneous carcinogenesis, little is known regarding regulation of three proteins encoded by the INK4a/ARF locus (p12, p14ARF, p16) in KCs. In this study, several molecular pathways are explored using cultured KCs and KCs freshly isolated from psoriatic plaques. p16 and p14ARF are predominantly expressed spontaneously when foreskin-derived early-passage KCs undergo confluency-induced premature senescence. Induction of p14ARF on confluency occurred with low E2F-1 levels. Suspension of KCs in methylcellulose induced p12 expression. Addition of various cytokines (interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α) or a phorbol ester [12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)] only induced p16, but not p14ARF. Confluent KCs up-regulated Ras activity and the downstream signaling involving ERK. Addition of MAPK inhibitor blocked cytokine and TPA-induced p16 expression. Confluency and interferon-γ induced premature senescence and p16 expression was linked to induction of the transcription factor Egr-1. KCs derived from chronic psoriatic plaques were characterized by enhanced p16, p14ARF, and p12 expression accompanied by elevated Egr-1 levels. These results demonstrate that multiple and highly divergent stimuli can trigger the senescent checkpoint in human KCs with differential regulation of p16, p14ARF, and p12. Although abnormal mitogenic signaling by oncogenic Ras is generally cited as being responsible for induction of premature senescence, our findings indicate that a broader perspective is warranted, to include confluency and cytokine-/TPA-induced pathways for KCs.
Fourier coefficients after gaps

i;h) 0 and @(n&--+0 as K--+ co. We do not know whether it also follows in (i) that zy=‘=, 1 fi(mle)12 < co. Our results are true for compact Abelian groups with ordered dual groups. The proofs, however, are the same as for the circle group, and, except for a few remarks, we shall confine our discussion to T. Our terminology and notation follow [5], which contains a discussion of ordered groups. When f is a function on T we write f (x) rather than f (ei2). Thus Lp( T), for 0 < p < 00, is the space of all measurable f for which
Ileorectal anastomosis for slow transit constipation: long-term functional and quality of life results.

The results of colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) in patients diagnosed by physiologic testing as having slow transit constipation (STC) have been reported. The durability of functional results and long-term quality of life (QoL) in these patients, however, has not been established. Between 1987 and 2002, 3670 patients were evaluated for constipation at our institution; 110 (3%) fulfilled the criteria for STC and underwent an IRA. Patients were prospectively followed and functional outcomes assessed annually by standardized questionnaires. After a median follow-up of 11 years, 104 eligible patients were mailed validated questionnaires to assess functional outcomes and QoL (Knowles-Eccersley-Scott Symptom [KESS] score, the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life [IBS-QOL], and the SF-12 health survey). Prospectively assessed functional data was available on 85 of 104 (82%) eligible patients. At last follow-up, improvement of constipation and satisfaction with bowel function was reported by 98% and 85% of patients, respectively. Performance measures including social activity, household work, sexual life, and family relationships were reported to have improved or were not affected as a result of surgery by 75%, 86%, 81%, and 86% of the patients respectively. Fifty-nine patients (57%) responded to the study questionnaires. All 59 patients reported their constipation to be better since IRA, 83% did not require any medication, and 85% reported being satisfied with bowel function. The KESS scores of patients undergoing IRA for STC (median 6, range 0–35) were lower than reported scores of STC patients not operated upon (median 21, range 11–35, P<0.001) indicating symptomatic improvement after surgery. Mean IBS-QOL scores were similar to reported scores of patients undergoing IRA for other conditions [80 (23) versus 84 (16)], P=0.7). Mean SF-12 physical and mental summary scores were similar to reported SF-12 scores of the normal population (49.5 versus 50 and P=0.70, 48.7 versus 50, P=0.42, respectively). Ileorectal anastomosis in appropriately selected patients with slow transit constipation results in durable symptomatic relief and a long-term quality of life indistinguishable from the general population.
Flannery O'Connor's theology of friendship: Blasphemer and pagan landlady

Friendship in Flannery O’Connor’s world is scarce. Enmity prevails. Yet, in Wise Blood, O’Connor’s adversaries heal each other, as a self-mortifying blasphemer and covetous pagan woman forge a tie ...
Natural durability of tropical and native woods against termite damage by Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar)

Abstract Environmental pressure has resulted in voluntary removal of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) from wood preservatives in residential applications in the United States. A new generation of copper organic preservatives was formulated as replacements, but these preservatives may not provide a permanent solution to all related problems. Some of these issues include concern over copper in aquatic environments and corrosion of fasteners. Copper preservatives in general are also poor inhibitors of mould. Therefore, we still need to evaluate alternative solutions in order to address current inadequacies of copper organic wood preservatives. In this study, six hardwoods and six softwoods were evaluated for their ability to resist termite damage by Reticulitermes flavipes. Mass loss versus specific gravity showed an inverse correlation in tropical hardwood species, but a slightly positive correlation in native softwood species. Also, southern yellow pine and Douglas-fir wood blocks were evaluated after treatment with 0.1% copper borate, water-borne (WB) copper naphthanate, and N′N-naphthaloylhydroxylamine (NHA). Erisma, juniper, ipe, and white-cedar were highly resistant. The NHA-protected Douglas-fir and southern pine resisted attack as effectively as copper borate or WB copper naphthanate treatment. These results indicate that selected naturally durable wood species, both tropical and native, inhibit R. flavipes damage as effectively as preservative treatment.
PREDICTING INHABITANT ACTION USING ACTION AND TASK MODELS WITH APPLICATION TO SMART HOMES

An intelligent home is likely in the near future. An important ingredient in an intelligent environment such as a home is prediction – of the next low-level action, the next location, and the next high-level task that an inhabitant is likely to perform. In this paper we model inhabitant actions as states in a simple Markov model. We introduce an enhancement to this basic approach, the Task-based Markov model (TMM) method. TMM discovers high-level inhabitant tasks using the supplied unlabeled data. We investigate clustering of actions to identify tasks, and integrate clusters into a hidden Markov model that predicts the next inhabitant action. We validate our approach and observe that for simulated data we achieve good accuracy using both the simple Markov model and the TMM, whereas on real data we see that simple Markov models outperform the TMM. We also perform an analysis of the performance of the HMM in the framework of the TMM when diverse patterns are introduced into the data.
Long-term follow-up of prostate cancer patients treated with vaccine and definitive radiation therapy

Vaccine therapy in combination with radiation therapy may improve distant and/or local control in prostate cancer. We present long-term follow-up data on the secondary and exploratory endpoints of safety and biochemical failure, respectively, from patients with clinically localized prostate cancer treated definitively with a poxviral vector-based therapeutic vaccine combined with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Thirty-six prostate cancer patients received definitive EBRT plus vaccine. A total of 18 patients were treated with adjuvant standard-dose interleukin-2 (S-IL-2) (4 MIU m–2) and 18 were treated with very low-dose IL-2 (M-IL-2) (0.6 MIU m–2). Seven patients were treated with EBRT alone. Twenty-six patients treated with EBRT plus vaccine returned for follow-up, and we reviewed the most recent labs and clinical notes of the remaining patients. Median follow-up for the S-IL-2, M-IL-2 and EBRT-alone groups was 98, 76 and 79 months, respectively. Actuarial 5-year PSA failure-free probability was 78%, 82% and 86% (P=0.58 overall), respectively. There were no significant differences between the actuarial overall survival and the prostate cancer-specific survival between the two vaccine arms. Of the 26 patients who returned for follow-up, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group grade ⩾2 genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity was seen in 19% and 8%, respectively, with no difference between the arms (P=1.00 and P=0.48 for grade ⩾2 GU and GI toxicity, respectively). In all, 12 patients were evaluated for PSA-specific immune responses, and 1 demonstrated a response 66 months post-enrollment. We demonstrate that vaccine combined with EBRT does not appear to have significant differences with regard to PSA control or late-term toxicity compared with standard treatment. We also found limited evidence of long-term immune response following vaccine therapy.
Surveillance of developmental disabilities with an emphasis on special studies

The developing central nervous system seems to be particularly vulnerable to chemical insults. A model for developmental disabilities surveillance is presented that provides a reasonable framework for monitoring the prevalence of various developmental abnormalities in human populations. Effective monitoring will not only increase the likelihood of detecting the adverse effects of new physical or chemical agents in the environment but will provide a readily available case series for specially directed case-control studies. A specific example is provided of a large case-control study of cerebral palsy and intrapartum magnesium exposure among very low birth weight children, which is being conducted within the framework of a developmental disabilities surveillance program.
CATION ANTISITE DEFECTS AND ANTISITE-BASED-DEFECT COMPLEXES IN GaAs

Recent theory predicted that the Ga and B antisites in GaAs are bistable. As the Fermi level is lowered towards the valence-band maximum, a structural change from fourfold to threefold coordination will occur. The Ga antisite will undergo an atomic exchange in the presence of an As interstitial.
Methodology to determine friction in orthogonal cutting with application to machining titanium and nickel based alloys

Friction plays a very important role in machining titanium and nickel alloys. It is the source for the high amount of heat generation, and as a result, the excessive tool wear during machining these materials. The worn tool is known to create lower surface qualities with tensile surface residual stresses and machine-induced hardening at the surface, as well as high surface roughness. It is essential to create a method to determine how and to what extent the friction is built up on the tool. This study facilitates a determination methodology to estimate the friction coefficients between the tool and the chip on the rake face, as well as the tool and the workpiece on the flank face of the tool. The results are validated with experimental results from the titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V and the nickel alloy IN-100.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Motion of polymer ends in homopolymer and heteropolymer collapse

To investigate the polymer coil-to-globule transition we performed simulations for the kinetics of homopolymer and heteropolymer collapse. Our stimulations made use of abstract models of long flexible polymers to obtain extensive statistical sampling. For a variety of these models, the simulations suggest that collapse of long polymers is dominated by diffusion of the polymer ends, which accrete monomers and small aggregates. The growth of the end aggregate was found to be nearly linear in time for homopolymers and largely unaffected by variations in microstructure. In contrast, for heteropolymers the presence of non-aggregating (hydrophilic) monomers dramatically slows and alters the growth of the end mass. In models simulated, the end mass grows roughly as the cube root of time, but still dominates aggregation along the contour. In a model where only pairwise bonding is allowed, the collapse is uniform since more flexible end motion does not result in continued end accretion. The possible significance of our results for biopolymer kinetics is discussed.
Differences in HIV risk behavior of injection drug users in New York City by health care setting

The purpose of this study is to examine the HIV risk behaviors and demographic characteristics of injection drug users (IDUs) by type of health care setting, which can inform development of tailored structural interventions to increase access to HIV prevention and medical treatment services. IDU syringe customers were recruited from pharmacies as part of the “Pharmacist As Resources Making Links to Community Services” (PHARM-Link) study, a randomized community-based intervention in New York City (NYC) aimed at connecting IDUs to HIV prevention, medical, and social services. An ACASI survey ascertained demographics, risk behavior, health-care utilization, and location where health care services were received in the past year. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. Of 602 participants, 34% reported receiving health care at a community clinic, 46% a private medical office, 15% a mobile medical unit, and 59% an emergency room (ER). After adjustment, participants who attended a community clinic were sig...
Ethnicity and elevated liver transaminases among newly diagnosed children with type 2 diabetes

Background To examine the influence of ethnicity on liver transaminases among adolescents with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Comprehensive multidisciplinary treatment of chronic pain : a follow-up study of treated and non-treated groups

There are relatively few outcome studies of multidisciplinary chronic pain programs which have utilized no-treatment comparison groups. The present study compared a group of chronic pain patients (N = 42) treated in a comprehensive multidisciplinary pain program with a group of patients (N = 15) who were evaluated but not treated. Comparisons were made at evaluation and at a follow-up period averaging 11 months later. From evaluation to discharge, the treated group showed significant increases in physical functioning. From evaluation to long-term follow-up, both the treated and non-treated groups showed significant decreases in self-report pain ratings and interference with activities ratings. However, only the treated group showed a significant decrease in addictive medication use and increase in work functioning. The return-to-work rate for the treated group was 48% with an additional 28% of the patients being returned to vocational rehabilitation. None of the non-treated group returned to work or vocational rehabilitation. Results are discussed in terms of their support for the conclusion that comprehensive multidisciplinary pain programs produce marked subjective and functional changes.
A Survey of Visual Traffic Surveillance Using Spatio-Temporal Analysis and Mining

The focus of this survey is on spatio-temporal data mining and database retrieval for visual traffic surveillance systems. In many traffic surveillance applications, such as incident detection, abnormal events detection, vehicle speed estimation, and traffic volume estimation, the data used for reasoning is really in the form of spatio-temporal data (e.g. vehicle trajectories). How to effectively analyze these spatio-temporal data to automatically find its inherent characteristics for different visual traffic surveillance applications has been of great interest. Examples of spatio-temporal patterns extracted from traffic surveillance videos include, but are not limited to, sudden stops, harsh turns, speeding, and collisions. To meet the different needs of various traffic surveillance applications, several application- or event- specific models have been proposed in the literature. This paper provides a survey of different models and data mining algorithms to cover state of the art in spatio-temporal modelling, spatio-temporal data mining, and spatio-temporal retrieval for traffic surveillance video databases. In addition, the database model issues and challenges for traffic surveillance videos are also discussed in this survey.
A bidirectional fixed-bed reactor for coupling of exothermic and endothermic reactions

Performance of a bidirectional fixed-bed reactor subject to both flow reversal and switching between exothermic and endothermic reactions is simulated. During odd semicycles (blows) an exothermic reaction heats the bed, during even semicycles an endothermic reaction cools the bed and produces the desired product in the hot zone. Such an operation is possible and efficient when the inlet gas temperature is lower than the initial bed temperature, leading to the wrong-way behavior when the temperature front moves with a finite velocity (creep velocity) from the feed end to the exit during a semicycle. Since the dynamic nature of the fixed-bed reactor changes with each semicycle, the front velocity during an exothermic semicycle differs from the front velocity during an endothermic semicycle and an asymptotic expression is developed for the differential creep (front) velocity that quantifies this difference. Due to a nonzero differential creep velocity, the front exhibits an effective displacement after each cycle. This asymptotic expression for the creep velocity works very well except in the inlet and outlet region of the fixed-bed reactor. An expression developed for 100% energy efficiency shows that it can be reached only if the differential creep velocity is zero. A relation for the balanced operation of a reactor-regenerator is discussed as well as differences in reactor performance caused by reactions occurring in the gas or solid phase.
A modified "Golden Rule" for health care organizations.

Partners HealthCare (Partners) is an integrated health care delivery system in Boston, Massachusetts, that includes 2 large academic medical centers—Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital—with more than 6000 physicians, including more than 1200 primary care physicians. In November 2011, Partners leadership agreed to become a Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO), placing a significant fraction of their revenue at risk in a contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that encourages them to hold increases in medical expense trend below the national average. Given our negative experiences with capitation in the 1990s, the decision to participate was largely based on 4 factors that differentiated the current environment and agreement terms from our prior experience. First, efforts to reduce health care spending as a percentage of gross domestic product are likely to persist. Unlike in the 1990s, the extent to which current health care expenditures are crowding out other important programs is unsustainable. Accordingly, state and federal governments are taking a proactive role in cost-containment efforts. Second, the preservation of patient choice (as opposed to the closed networks of the 1990s) somewhat mitigates the “physician as gatekeeper” tension that contributed to the demise of capitation. Of course, this new twist also makes taking financial risk less appealing, but under the right conditions, the trade-off seems reasonable. Third, the threshold for achieving shared savings is to increase spending at a rate that is less than the national average. Such a moderate approach seems more reasonable than the steep discounts negotiated by commercial payers in the 1990s and is consistent with the scale and pace of change that will be required for success. Finally, Partners is better equipped to care for populations of patients today than we were in the 1990s. A universally adopted electronic health record, improved communication and notification tools, and real-time data tracking of patients as they move within our organization permit more precise and proactive management of quality and costs. In addition, we are better able to provide feedback on health care professional–specific variation to our physicians as part of our efforts to promote continuous improvement. What do we plan to do differently as a Pioneer ACO? Our plan includes 3 distinct but mutually reinforcing activities: (1) managing how financial incentives flow through our system, (2) implementing programmatic initiatives for managing cost and quality trends for our primary care population, and (3) demonstrating value to other ACOs that are referring their patients to us.
Imogene King's Theory: A Nursing Case Study of a Psychotic Client With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

The nursing theory of Imogene King provided an effective framework for viewing the complex interactions that occurred when a psychotic client with newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus infection (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related complex) was admitted to a general psychiatric unit. The interacting systems identified in King's theory assisted in the evaluation of the relationship that formed between the client and the nurses and provided a plan for action that led to the successful achievement of nursing care goals.
Limitations in anti-obesity drug development: the critical role of hunger-promoting neurons

Current anti-obesity drugs aim to reduce food intake by either curbing appetite or suppressing the craving for food. However, many of these agents have been associated with severe psychiatric and/or cardiovascular side effects, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Emerging knowledge on the role of the hypothalamus in enabling the central nervous system to adapt to the changing environment — by managing peripheral tissue output and by regulating higher brain functions — may facilitate the discovery of new agents that are more effective and have an acceptable benefit-risk profile. Targeting the molecular pathways that mediate the beneficial effects of calorie restriction and exercise may represent an alternative therapeutic approach for the treatment of chronic metabolic disorders such as obesity.