cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Randomized trial of normal saline solution injection versus bipolar electrocoagulation for treatment of patients with high-risk bleeding ulcers: is local tamponade enough?

Abstract Background: Endoscopic injection of normal saline solution is reportedly an effective treatment for bleeding ulcers. If it is as effective as standard therapy, low cost, wide availability, and lack of injury would make saline solution injection an attractive option. Methods: Patients with clinical evidence of major bleeding from an ulcer with active bleeding or a nonbleeding visible vessel were randomly assigned to injection with normal saline solution (1-2 mL boluses; mean volume 30 mL) or bipolar electrocoagulation (20 W, 10-sec applications; mean time 100 sec). Patients, those caring for patients, and those collecting data were blinded to therapy. Results: Further bleeding occurred in 14 (29%) of 48 patients in the saline solution group versus 6 (12%) of 52 patients in the bipolar group (95% CI [2%, 33%]; p = 0.04). Significantly more units of blood were transfused in the saline solution group (median 2 units vs. 0 units; p = 0.01). Hospital days (median 4 vs. 3) and mortality (6% vs. 2%) were not significantly different in the 2 groups. Independent risk factors for further bleeding were saline solution injection ( p = 0.02), units transfused before therapy ( p = 0.02), and ulcer size ( p = 0.03). Conclusion: Local tamponade with saline solution injection is less effective than bipolar electrocoagulation for the treatment of bleeding ulcers. (Gastrointest Endosc 2002;55:6-10.)
Longevity of Borehole and Shaft Sealing Materials: Characterization of Ancient Cement Based Building Materials

Durability and long-term stability of cements in plasters, mortars, and/or concretes utilized as borehole plugging and shaft sealing materials are of present concern in the national effort to isolate nuclear waste within deep geological repositories. The present study consists of an examination of selected ancient building materials and provides insights into the durability of certain ancient structures. These data were combined with knowledge obtained from the behavior of modern portland cements and natural materials to evaluate the potential for longevity of such materials in a borehold environment. Analyses were conducted by petrographic, SEM, chemical, and x-ray diffraction techniques. 7 references, 5 figures, 2 tables.
Limits of the McDonaldization thesis: eBayization and ascendant trends in post-industrial consumer culture.

Ritzer's McDonaldization thesis holds that McDonald's, with its efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control, is a good model for the forces of modern capitalism that structure both production and consumption. This article argues that while McDonaldization represents a particular collection of forces, there also exists a rising countertrend in post-industrial societies that we call eBayization. Whereas McDonaldization produces homogeneity and predictability, eBayization provides variety, adventure, and surprise, both for better and worse. Underlying these differences in the product line and consumer experience is a difference in organizational structures wherein McDonaldization emphasizes a centrally coordinated market, while eBayization brings the freedoms and abuses of a risk society.
Eye Movements on a Single-Column and Double-Column Text Web Page

This study examines user eye movement patterns of a single-column and double-column text web page. The results show a higher number of fixations for information in a second column of an article tha...
Social suppression of female reproductive maturation and infanticidal behavior in cooperatively breeding Mongolian gerbils

In several cooperatively breeding species, reproductively suppressed, nonbreeding females are attracted to infants and routinely provide alloparental care, while breeding females may attack or kill other females' infants. The mechanisms underlying the transition from alloparental to infanticidal behavior are unknown. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that this transition is associated with cessation of reproductive suppression and onset of ovarian activity in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus), a cooperatively breeding rodent. Young female gerbils were housed with their natal family (FH), with a female pairmate (PH) or singly (SH). When females were either 11–13 or 16–18 weeks of age, we characterized their behavioral responses to an unfamiliar pup, reproductive development, and plasma progesterone, cortisol, and prolactin concentrations. In both age groups, FH females were significantly less likely to attack pups than PH or SH females and in fact never did so. FH females also had smaller ovaries and uteri, less developed scent glands, and lower progesterone levels, and were more likely to be anovulatory than PH or SH females, especially in the 11- to 13-week-old age group. Prolactin concentrations did not differ with reproductive status but were significantly higher in females that did not attack pups than in those that did. We found no other significant associations, however, between reproductive or endocrine measures and behavioral responses to pups. These results suggest that cohabitation with the natal family inhibits both infanticidal behavior and reproductive maturation in young female gerbils but that these two effects may not be causally related.
Design and Operation of Land Treatment Systems for Minimum Contamination of Ground Watera

Low-rate or irrigation-type systems for land application of sewage effluent or similar wastewater are often used in humid areas because they have a small impact on the underlying ground water. In arid areas, low-rate systems cannot be used to produce renovated water for ground-water recharge, because the renovated water will have a much higher salt content than the effluent. Renovated water of relatively low salt content can only be produced with high-rate systems. Such systems, which require permeable soil, can also be used in humid areas to reduce the land requirements. To minimize the impact of high-rate systems on ground-water quality, the system should be managed to remove as much of the pollutants (particularly nitrogen and phosphorus) as possible from the wastewater as it seeps through the soil, and to restrict the spread of renovated wastewater in the ground-water basin. Nitrogen removal can be maximized by stimulating denitrification in the soil. Certain soils can store large quantities of phosphate. The spread of renovated water in the ground water can be controlled by intercepting the flow of renovated water with wells or drains for reuse or discharge into surface water. Techniques for predicting the underground flow system are presented.
A Practical Double Directional Channel Model for 60 GHz Wireless Communication Networks

We propose a modified channel model for 60 GHz wireless systems. This model includes the effects of directional antennas and polarization. We study the statistics of the angular parameters of the channel model and simplify an existing channel model for practical applications. The effects of antenna beamwidth in commonly encountered scenarios are investigated. The results can be used as the basis for cost analysis. We also simulate the performance of the channel and compare our results with non-directional transmission.
Novel Electron-Rich Bulky Phosphine Ligands Facilitate the Palladium-Catalyzed Preparation of Diaryl Ethers

A general method for the palladium-catalyzed formation of diaryl ethers is described. Electron-rich, bulky aryldialkylphosphine ligands, in which the two alkyl groups are either tert-butyl or 1-adamantyl, are the key to the success of the transformation. A wide range of electron-deficient, electronically neutral and electron-rich aryl bromides, chlorides, and triflates can be combined with a variety of phenols with the use of sodium hydride or potassium phosphate as base in toluene at 100 °C. The bulky yet basic nature of the phosphine ligand is thought to be responsible for increasing the rate of reductive elimination of the diaryl ether from palladium.
Relationships among Language Proficiency, Communication Patterns, and Safety Performance in Small Work Crews in the United States

AbstractThe construction industry employs approximately 6% of all U.S. workers but accounts for over 16% of all occupational fatalities. Recent statistics indicate that over 40% of all U.S. construction laborers cannot speak English proficiently. To ensure strong safety performance, it is vital to include every individual in a construction crew in safety-related communications, regardless of language proficiency. Considering that most safety communication is delivered in English, it is not surprising that Spanish-speaking construction workers are fatally injured at a disproportionate rate. To conduct the first exploration of the characteristics of strong, multilingual safety networks in the Denver Metropolitan region of the United States, a multilingual research team conducted interviews with the members of 14 construction crews. Demographic attribute data for each individual (e.g., language proficiency, years of experience, position in the company) and network data were collected to analyze the safety co...
Modeling and Analysis of Attacks and Counter Defense Mechanisms for Cyber Physical Systems

In this paper, we develop an analytical model based on stochastic Petri nets to capture the dynamics between adversary behavior and defense for cyber physical systems. We consider several types of failures including attrition failure, pervasion failure, and exfiltration failure which can happen to a cyber physical system. Using a modernized electrical grid as an example, we illustrate the parameterization process. Our results reveal optimal design conditions, including the intrusion detection interval, and the redundancy level, under which the modernized electrical grid's mean time to failure is maximized. Further, there exists a design tradeoff between exfiltration failure, attrition failure, and pervasion failure when using redundancy to improve the overall system reliability.
Ethical Dilemmas of Nuclear Deterrence

For the first time in the nuclear era, normative and practical issues have become explicitly intertwined in widespread public discussion of deterrence. Previously, “main-stream” strategic analysts typically avoided overt attention to normative questions, preferring to concentrate on the alleged psychological or military foundations of deterrence theory. Public commentators who did raise normative issues all too often did so only at the fringes, debating the virtues of pacifism or the implications of simple “red vs. dead” declarations. Of course there had long been analysts who insisted on raising more subtle and complex normative issues, but their impact was limited. In the past few years, however, normative issues have been brought front and center and knitted inextricably into the traditional political and military context. In this chapter, I shall address these issues by explication of the choices faced, and the conclusions adopted, by the Catholic bishops.
Sustained Production of β-Glucuronidase from Localized Sites after AAV Vector Gene Transfer Results in Widespread Distribution of Enzyme and Reversal of Lysosomal Storage Lesions in a Large Volume of Brain in Mucopolysaccharidosis VII Mice

The lysosomal storage disorders are a large group of inherited diseases that involve central nervous system degeneration. The disease in the brain has generally been refractory to treatment, which will require long-term correction of lesions dispersed throughout the central nervous system to be effective. A promising approach is somatic gene therapy but the methods have so far been inadequate because they have only achieved short-term or localized improvements. A potential approach to overcome these limitations is to obtain sustained high level expression and secretion of the missing normal enzyme from a small group of cells for export to neighboring diseased cells, which might allow the therapeutic protein to reach distal sites. We tested this in a mouse model of mucopolysaccharidosis VII (Sly disease) using an adeno-associated virus vector. After a single treatment the vector continuously produced the normal enzyme from infected cells at the injection sites. The secreted enzyme was disseminated along most of the neuraxis, resulting in widespread reversal of the hallmark pathology. An extensive sphere of correction surrounding the transduction sites was created, suggesting that a limited number of appropriately spaced sites of gene transfer may provide overlapping spheres of enzyme diffusion to cover a large volume of brain tissue.
Fragmented international volunteerism: need for a global pediatric surgery network

Abstract Introduction Pediatric general surgeons volunteering internationally often work independently, some without prior assessment of the needs of those they wish to assist. Consequently, care may be inefficient, duplicated, or misdirected. A study was performed to assess whether a network for pediatric surgery volunteer work exists. Methods A search of the Internet was performed to determine whether a pediatric surgery network exists. Worldwide pediatric surgery societies were identified and grouped by country according to income. Web sites for medical volunteer organizations were examined for links to a network of pediatric surgery volunteer work. Results A search of the Internet revealed no pediatric surgery volunteer network. Ninety-seven pediatric surgery societies were identified. Fifty-one of the organizations were identified as residing in low- and middle-income countries. Searching 50 Web sites for these societies revealed no existing pediatric surgery network. Of 45 Web sites for volunteer medical work, 1 surgery networking Web site was identified. Only 4 pediatric general surgery international volunteer opportunities were cited on that Web site. Conclusions This study demonstrated that no pediatric surgery volunteer network exists. By identifying pediatric surgery organizations in low- and middle-income countries, it is speculated that one might link the surgeons in these regions with those wishing to volunteer their services.
The microarchitecture of the IBM eServer z900 processor

The recent IBM ESA/390 CMOS line of processors, from 1997 to 1999, consisted of the G4, G5, and G6 processors. The architecture they implemented lacked 64-bit addressability and had only a limited set of 64- bit arithmetic instructions. The processors also lacked data and instruction bandwidth, since they utilized a unified cache. The branch performance was good, but there were delays due to conflicts in searching and writing the branch target buffer. Also, the hardware data compression and decimal arithmetic performance, though good, was in demand by database and COBOL programmers. Most of the performance concerns regarding prior processors were due to area constraints. Recent technology advances have increased the circuit density by 50 percent over that of the G6 processor. This has allowed the design of several performance-critical areas to be revisited. The end result of these efforts is the IBM eServer z900 processor, which is the first high-end processor based on the new 64-bit z/Architecture™.
Characteristics and outcomes of patients who achieve high workload (≥10 metabolic equivalents) during treadmill exercise echocardiography.

Abstract Objective To determine the frequency and prognostic significance of abnormal exercise echocardiographic results for patients achieving a workload of 10 or more metabolic equivalents during treadmill exercise echocardiography. Patients and Methods Patients who underwent treadmill exercise echocardiography from November 1, 2003, through December 31, 2008, and exercised for 9 or more minutes using the Bruce protocol (N=7236) were included. Clinical and exercise echocardiographic characteristics and outcomes were evaluated. Variables associated with abnormal exercise echocardiographic results and mortality were identified. Results Exercise echocardiographic results were positive for ischemia in 862 patients (12%). Extensive ischemia developed in 265 patients (4%). For patients with normal exercise echocardiographic results, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates were 0.30% and 0.05% per person-year of follow-up, respectively. For patients who had extensive ischemia, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates were 0.84% and 0.25% per person-year of follow-up, respectively. Patients at highest risk were those who had extensive and severe regional wall motion abnormalities at rest (n=58), and their all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates were 2.65% and 0.76% per person-year of follow-up. Exercise echocardiographic variables did not identify sizable patient subgroups at risk for death and did not provide incremental prognostic information (C statistic was 0.74 compared with 0.73 for the clinical plus exercise electrocardiography model). Conclusion Patients achieving a workload of 10 or more metabolic equivalents during treadmill exercise testing do not often have extensive ischemic abnormalities on exercise echocardiography. Although exercise echocardiographic results provide some prognostic information, it is not of incremental value for these patients, whose short-term and medium-term prognosis is excellent.
Mixed analytic-numerical solutions for a simple radiating system.

A procedure is presented for dealing with “fast” radiating systems. It employs a method of matching a numerical solution in the source region to an analytic solution in the outer region. As a test of its effectiveness it is applied to a simple radiating system composed of a nonrelativistic harmonic oscillator coupled to a spherically symmetric scalar field. The effects of radiation damping on the oscillator are readily calculated and agree with the exact analytic predictions that one can derive. The accuracy of the “monopole formula” is checked and shown to fail in the fast-motion regime. It is also shown that the asymptotic damping of the system is independent of the initial conditions as long as the total energy is positive and constant. An instability of the system is also discussed.
Bilevel multiobjective packaging optimization for automotive design

The successful application of multiobjective optimization to engineering problems has motivated studies of more complex systems involving multiple subsystems and design disciplines, each with multiple design criteria. Complex system design requires participation of different teams that are highly specialized within each discipline and subsystem. Such a high differentiation results in limited sharing of information among the design teams. The mathematical modeling and the solution algorithm proposed in this paper address the issue of coordinating multiple design problems that negotiate according to conflicting criteria. The design of the layout of hybrid vehicles is formulated as a bilevel decomposed problem including a vehicle level and a battery level in concert with the specialization of the respective design teams required at each level. An iterative algorithm, the Multiobjective Decomposition Algorithm (MODA) is proposed, whose generated sequences are shown to converge to efficient designs for the overall design problem under certain conditions examined in the context of the block coordinate descent method and the method of multipliers. MODA applied to the hybrid electric design problem captures the bilevel tradeoffs originating by the conflicting objectives at the vehicle and battery levels.
Recent clinical and investigational applications of fibrin sealant in selected surgical specialties.

s c c r s t b i w i u i c l c ibrin sealant—also called fibrin suture, glue, or adhesive— or purposes of this review, refers to commercially prouced, virus-inactivated, human-plasma–derived thromin and fibrinogen, supplied in separate vials with a dualyringe delivery system that admixes the two components mmediately before application by spraying or dripping nto tissue. Once the components are combined, the hrombin catalyzes the conversion of the fibrinogen to ibrin, producing a fibrin clot (Fig. 1), which adheres to he tissue and can be used to achieve hemostasis, sealing, r adhesion according to the application site, operative etting, and surgical need. The fibrinogen component ay contain other plasma proteins that contribute to the lotting process, such as factor XIII. The thrombin comonent contains ionic calcium to activate factor XIII, hich catalyzes the cross-linking of soluble fibrin polyers, creating insoluble fibrin polymers and greatly inreasing the strength and stability of the fibrin clot. The fibrinogen component of commercial fibrin sealnts may also contain an antifibrinolytic—tranexamic cid or bovine-derived aprotinin—to delay degradation f the fibrin clot; these additives may be unnecessary r, in certain situations, potentially deleterious. Two ibrin sealants currently are available commercially in he US: Tisseel VH Fibrin Sealant (Baxter Healthcare orp), which was licensed in 1998, and Crosseal Fibrin ealant (Human) (Johnson & Johnson Wound Manageent, a division of Ethicon, Inc), which was licensed in 003. Tisseel is licensed for use as an adjunct to hemotasis in operations involving cardiopulmonary bypass nd for treatment of splenic injuries from blunt or pentrating trauma to the abdomen when control of bleed-
Hypogonadotropic disorders in men and women: diagnosis and therapy with pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

HYPOGONADOTROPIC hypogonadism (HH) is a clinical syndrome occurring in both sexes which has long puzzled clinicians due to the apparent paradox of nonfunctioning gonads in the face of normal or only slightly lowered levels of circulating gonadotropins. Using frequent sampling of gonadotropin levels as an index of hypothalamic GnRH secretion, we have examined the hypothesis that this group of disorders represents a spectrum of abnormal patterns of the pulsatile release of endogenous GnRH. After a broad, normative data base was established in both men and women for purposes of comparison, it appears that quantifiable abnormalities of GnRH secretion are discernible in both males and females with HH. These abnormalities include a total absence of GnRH secretion, defects of the amplitude and frequency of its secretion, and altered bioactivity of the gonadotropins released. In addition, physiological regimens of hypothalamic replacement therapy with exogenous GnRH, which are fashioned to mimic the normal freque...
Identification of residues mediating inhibition of glycine receptors by protons.

Abstract We previously identified H109 of the glycine α1 subunit as a putative proton binding site. In the present studies, we explored additional proton binding site(s) as well as the mechanism underlying modulation of glycine receptors by protons. Whole-cell glycine currents were recorded from HEK 293 cells transiently expressing wild type or mutant glycine receptors. Individual mutation of 3 of 4 remaining extracellular histidine residue into alanine (i.e., α1 H107A, H215A or H419A), reduced the receptor sensitivity to protons to a varying extent. In contrast, mutation of α1 H201A did not affect proton sensitivity. Double, triple or quadruple histidine mutation of these residues caused a further reduction of proton sensitivity, suggesting multiple binding sites for proton action on glycine receptors. Furthermore, the substitution T133A, which mediates Zn2+ inhibition, virtually abolished the proton effect on peak amplitude and current kinetics of glycine response. Replacement of T with S on position 133 partially restored receptor sensitivity to protons, suggesting the hydroxyl group of residue T133 is essential for proton-mediated modulation. In heteromeric α1β receptors, mutations β H132A and S156A, which correspond to H109 and T133 of the α1 subunit, respectively, also affected proton inhibition. In conclusion, multiple extracellular histidine residues (H107, H109, H215 and H419) and threonine residues of the α1 and β Zn2+ coordination sites are critical for modulation of the glycine receptor by protons.
Jones-matrix imaging of biological tissues with quadruple-channel optical coherence tomography

Two-dimensional depth-resolved Jones-matrix images of scattering biological tissues were measured with novel double-source double-detector polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT). The Jones matrix can be determined in a single scan with this OCT system. The experimental results show that this system can be effectively applied to the measurement of soft tissues, which are less stable than hard tissues. Polarization parameters such as diattenuation, birefringence, and orientation of the fast axis can be extracted through decomposition of the measured Jones matrix. The Jones matrix of thermally treated porcine tendon showed a reduction of birefringence from thermal damage. The Jones matrices of porcine skin and bovine cartilage also revealed that the density and orientation of the collagen fibers in porcine skin and bovine cartilage are not distributed as uniformly as in porcine tendon. Birefringence is sensitive to changes in tissue because it is based on phase contrast.
Trial of celecoxib in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objective: To determine whether chronic treatment with celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor that has been shown to be beneficial in preclinical testing, is safe and effective in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial was conducted. Three hundred research subjects with ALS were randomized (2:1) to receive celecoxib (800mg/day) or placebo for 12 months. The primary outcome measure was the rate of change in upper extremity motor function measured by the maximum voluntary isometric contraction strength. Secondary end points included safety, survival, change in cerebrospinal fluid prostaglandin E2 levels, and changes in the rate of decline of leg and grip strength, vital capacity, ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised, and motor unit number estimates. Results: Celecoxib did not slow the decline in muscle strength, vital capacity, motor unit number estimates, ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised, or affect survival. Celecoxib was well tolerated and was not associated with an increased frequency of adverse events. Prostaglandin E2 levels in cerebrospinal fluid were not elevated at baseline and did not decline with treatment. Interpretation: At the dosage studied, celecoxib did not have a beneficial effect on research subjects with ALS, and it was safe. A biological effect of celecoxib was not demonstrated in the cerebrospinal fluid. Further studies of celecoxib at a dosage of 800mg/day in ALS are not warranted.
14C tracer study of the fate of methylcyclohexane during naphtha conversion over PtAl2O3 catalysts

Abstract The 14 C distribution in the products show that methylcyclohexane is converted primarily to aromatics. The results suggest that dehydrogenation to toluene and demethylation to benzene occurs by a metal catalyzed pathway. Conversion of the aromatic (or naphthene) to paraffins occurs by a dual-functional metal-acid pathway.
Mechanism of burial metamorphism of argillaceous sediments: 3. O-isotope evidence

O-isotope analysis of shales sampled from wells drilled through sedimentary deposits in the Gulf of Mexico region indicates that the sediments and rocks are not isotopically equilibrated systems — even those that have been buried to depths where temperatures are as high as 170 °C. In comparison with the coarser fractions, the finer fractions of both clay minerals and quartz are almost always richer in O 18 . O-isotope disequilibrium among the clay fractions becomes less marked as burial temperature increases. O-isotope exchange between clay and pore water become more extensive at higher temperatures; this corresponds to more extensive diagenetic alteration of mixed-layer illite-smectite. There is no evidence for O-isotope exchange between detrital quartz and pore water. However, quartz that forms diagenetically as an accompaniment to the conversion of smectite to illite layers in the mixed-layer clay forms in equilibrium with the pore water. The usefulness of O-isotope geothermometry for determination of the maximum temperatures to which shales have been heated during burial was investigated. Temperatures were calculated from the O-isotope fractionations between coexisting fine-grained quartz and clay from three wells; these calculated temperatures progressively approached the measured well (logged) temperatures as depth of burial and temperature increased. In one well, good agreement between calculated and measured temperatures was obtained for measured temperatures between 100 and 180 °C. In two other wells, satisfactory agreement was approached but not obtained at measured temperatures as high as 120 °C. Temperatures calculated from the O-isotope fractionations of quartz and calcite or calcite and clay were not reasonable. This probably reflects isotope exchange between calcite and pore water after the silicates attained their measured isotope ratios. Consequently, calcite is not a suitable mineral for use in isotope geothermometry of diagenetically altered shales.
Markers for quantifying microbial protein synthesis in the rumen.

Measurement of ruminal microbial protein is necessary to quantify ruminal escape of dietary protein and microbial yields. Microbial markers used most widely have been the internal markers, diaminopimelic acid and nucleic acids (RNA, DNA, individual purines and pyrimidines, or total purines), and the external isotopic markers (e.g., 15N and 35S). Combined with digesta flow markers in ruminally and abomasally or intestinally cannulated ruminants, microbial yields can be estimated. An ideal marker system must account for both the bacterial and protozoal pools associated with both the fluid and particulate phases of digesta. No marker has proven completely satisfactory; hence, yield estimates are relative rather than absolute. Total purines represent robust microbial markers that should be adaptable by most investigators. Principal concerns about total purines relate to unequal purine: N ratios in protozoal and bacterial pools and to the need to assume that dietary purines are completely degraded in the rumen. A theoretically sounder, but more costly, method is continuous intraruminal infusion of 15N ammonium salts. However, 15N enrichments of bacterial and protozoal pools are not equal, so the basis for calculating microbial yield in faunated ruminants is uncertain. Urinary purine excretion may prove to be a noninvasive method for estimating microbial protein yields in intact dairy cows.
Mixed boundary-value problems for an elastic half-space

In this paper the mixed problem for an isotropic, elastic half-space is considered. Boundary conditions are prescribed interior and exterior to a circular region of unit radius, and the state of stress is assumed to be axially symmetric. Several authors have treated this problem. Mossakovskii(1) considered a punch adhering to and indenting an elastic half-space. Has solution was obtained by introducing certain operators that transformed the half-space problem into a problem in plane potential theory. The method of linear relationship was used to solve this auxiliary problem and inverse operators returned the plane to the half-space. The general case of a circular, rigid punch adhering to a half-space was treated by Ufliand (2,3) and a solution was obtained through the use of toroidal coordinates and the Mehler-Fok integral transforms.
Calibration Transfer from Sample Cell to Fiber-Optic Probe

A calibration transfer method, piecewise direct standardization (PDS), was applied to a set of two-component samples measured on the same UV-visible spectrometer with the use of a cuvette cell with a 10-mm pathlength and a fiber-optic probe with a 2-mm pathlength. Piecewise direct standardization proceeds by determining a structured transformation matrix using the spectra of a few samples measured with both devices. This transformation matrix can then be used to transform any spectrum measured on one device to that obtained on another device, thereby making the calibration model transferable between devices. We used the spectra measured in a cuvette as the standard set and transferred the calibration model obtained for these spectra to spectra measured with a 2-mm fiberoptic probe on the same instrument. The total standard error of prediction (SEP) for the fiber-optic probe was 5.84 before the calibration transfer and 1.87 afterwards. Spectra were also processed by taking the Fourier transform prior to the calibration transfer. The 512 data points in each spectrum were compressed to 32 terms, starting with the first term after the dc offset. This processing reduced the background and the noise. As a consequence, in the Fourier domain, the total SEP was 5.69 before the calibration standardization and 0.79 after the calibration standardization. A calibration transfer was also performed between two fiber-optic probes; the total SEP in the spectral domain was 2.16 prior to the transfer and 1.04 after the transfer, whereas in the Fourier domain the SEP was 1.50 prior to the transfer and 0.77 after the transfer.
Multirobot Active Target Tracking With Combinations of Relative Observations

In this paper, we study the problem of optimal trajectory generation for a team of heterogeneous robots moving in a plane and tracking a moving target by processing relative observations, i.e., distance and/or bearing. Contrary to previous approaches, we explicitly consider limits on the robots' speed and impose constraints on the minimum distance at which the robots are allowed to approach the target. We first address the case of a single tracking sensor and seek the next sensing location in order to minimize the uncertainty about the target's position. We show that although the corresponding optimization problem involves a nonconvex objective function and a nonconvex constraint, its global optimal solution can be determined analytically. We then extend the approach to the case of multiple sensors and propose an iterative algorithm, i.e., the Gauss-Seidel relaxation (GSR), to determine the next best sensing location for each sensor. Extensive simulation results demonstrate that the GSR algorithm, whose computational complexity is linear in the number of sensors, achieves higher tracking accuracy than gradient descent methods and has performance that is indistinguishable from that of a grid-based exhaustive search, whose cost is exponential in the number of sensors. Finally, through experiments, we demonstrate that the proposed GSR algorithm is robust and applicable to real systems.
Wound care: The role of advanced wound healing technologies

Wound repair and regeneration is a highly complex combination of matrix destruction and reorganization. While major hurdles remain, advances over the past generation have improved the clinician's armamentarium in the medical and surgical management of this problem. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the current literature regarding the pragmatic use of three of the most commonly employed advanced therapies; namely, bioengineered tissue, negative pressure wound therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy with a focus on the near-term future of wound healing, including stem cell therapy.
Solid State NMR Studies of the Aluminum Hydride Phases

Several solid state NMR techniques including magic-angle-spinning (MAS) and multiple-quantum (MQ) MAS experiments have been used to characterize various AlH3 samples. MAS-NMR spectra for the 1H and 27Al nuclei have been obtained on a variety of AlH3 samples that include the (beta)- and (gamma)- phases as well as the most stable (alpha)-phase. While the dominant components in these NMR spectra correspond to the aluminum hydride phases, other species were found that include Al metal, molecular hydrogen (H2), as well as peaks that can be assigned to Al-O species in different configurations. The occurrence and concentration of these extraneous components are dependent upon the initial AlH3 phase composition and preparation procedures. Both the (beta)-AlH3 and (gamma)-AlH3 phases were found to generate substantial amounts of Al metal when the materials were stored at room temperature while the (alpha)-phase materials do not exhibit these changes.
The Role of Adenosine in Promoting Cardiac β-Adrenergic Subsensitivity in Aging Humans

The mechanism by which aging decreases the cardiac chronotropic response in human subjects is unknown. We investigated the role of endogenous adenosine in attenuating the chronotropic response to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation due to aging by employing the adenosine receptor antagonist, theophylline. Sixteen healthy elderly (67.1 +/- 1.3 yrs) and sixteen healthy young (26.1 +/- 0.6 yrs) subjects were studied. The bolus dose of isoproterenol necessary to increase the heart rate 25 beats per minute (I25) was determined by calculating the log dose response curve before and after a 30-min infusion of theophylline (6.5 mg/kg) in each subject. In addition, the effect of theophylline on the orthostatic increase in plasma renin activity (PRA) was determined. The I25 for the elderly and young groups were 34.55 +/- 6.98 and 10.85 +/- 1.93 ng/kg, respectively (p < .01). After theophylline administration, the difference in I25 in the two groups was no longer present (13.32 +/- 2.72 vs 7.46 +/- 1.26 ng/kg). The dose ratios (I25 after theophylline/I25 before theophylline) in the elderly and young groups were 0.43 +/- 0.06 and 0.82 +/- 0.14, respectively (p < .05). After the administration of theophylline, the orthostatic increase in PRA was enhanced more in the elderly subjects (0.53 +/- 0.23 vs 1.54 +/- 0.35 ng AI/ml/hr; p < .01) than in the young (1.31 +/- 0.23 vs 2.49 +/- 0.53 ng AI/ml/hr; p-value n.s.). Plasma norepinephrine changes after theophylline and postural norepinephrine changes after theophylline were not different in the two age groups. Excessive adenosine production or effect is partly responsible for the cardiac chronotropic resistance to isoproterenol and the diminished postural change in PRA in the elderly.
DMT1 expression is increased in the lungs of hypotransferrinemic mice

Despite a lack of transferrin, hypotransferrinemic (Hp) mice demonstrate an accumulation of iron in peripheral organs including the lungs. One potential candidate for such transferrin-independent u...
Alkene Hydrogenation Catalyzed by Nickel Hydride Complexes of an Aliphatic PNP Pincer Ligand

To investigate metal–ligand cooperativity as a strategy for promoting nickel-catalyzed alkene hydrogenation, cationic and neutral nickel(II) hydride complexes of the aliphatic pincer ligand PNHPCy {PNHPCy = HN[CH2CH2P(Cy)2]2} have been synthesized and characterized. Cationic hydride complex [(PNHPCy)Ni(H)]BPh4 (2) catalyzed the hydrogenation of styrene and 1-octene under mild conditions. Only low conversion was observed in the hydrogenation of 3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde using 2. The neutral hydride complex (PNPCy)Ni(H) (3) was also found to be an alkene hydrogenation catalyst. Mechanistic experiments suggest that for catalyst 2, the hydrogenation reaction proceeds through a pathway involving initial insertion of the alkene into the Ni–H bond. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, reactivity comparisons with the methyl-substituted hydride complex [(PNMePCy)Ni(H)]BPh4 {PNMePCy = (CH3)N[CH2CH2P(Cy)2]2} suggest that metal–ligand cooperativity is not involved in these rare examples of mild and homogeneous nickel hydrogenation catalysis.
Perceived barriers to psychological treatments and their relationship to depression

In spite of repeated calls for research and interventions to overcome individual and systemic barriers to psychological treatments, little is known about the nature of these barriers. To develop a measure of perceived barriers to psychological treatment (PBPT), items derived from 260 participants were administered to 658 primary care patients. Exploratory factor analysis on half the sample resulted in 8 factors, which were supported by confirmatory factor analysis conducted on the other half. Associations generally supported the criterion validity of PBPT scales, with self-reported concurrent use of psychotherapy and psychotherapy attendance in the year after PBPT administration. Depression was associated with greater endorsement of barriers. These findings suggest that the PBPT may be useful in assessing perceived barriers.
A Testbed for Visualizing Sensornet Behavior

We present a testbed for visualizing the behavior of sensor network applications constructed using TinyOS 2.0. The testbed enables network designers to capture node-level runtime behaviors and to link the captured behaviors to form a network-level snapshot. A multi-resolution approach based on static selectors and dynamic filters helps to achieve manageable visualizations by including only those network nodes and program actions relevant to a global behavior of interest. We demonstrate the system's utility using a standard network example and summarize its resource usage and performance characteristics.
PKorat: Parallel Generation of Structurally Complex Test Inputs

Constraint solving lies at the heart of several specification-based approaches to automated testing. Korat is a previously developed algorithm for solving constraints in Java programs. Given a Java predicate that represents the desired constraints and a bound on the input size, Korat systematically explores the bounded input space of the predicate and enumerates inputs that satisfy the constraint. Korat search is largely sequential: it considers one candidate input in each iteration and it prunes the search space based on the candidates considered. This paper presents PKorat, a new parallel algorithm that parallelizes the Korat search. PKorat explores the same state space as Korat but considers several candidates in each iteration. These candidates are distributed among parallel workers resulting in an efficient parallel version of Korat. Experimental results using complex structural constraints from a variety of subject programs show significant speedups over the traditional Korat search.
Bayesian Networks: an Exploratory Tool for Understanding ICT Adoption

Understanding technology adoption in emerging regions is challenging given the complex interrelations among socioeconomic factors that affect it directly and indirectly. The issue of impact assessment of technology adoption projects, especially the kind implemented in areas where prior technology has been very limited, is highly problematic and open to many methodological difficulties. Ethnographic evaluations have provided insight into the quality of interactions and into conceptions of technology and its adoption, whereas some quantitative analysis has been useful for high-level abstraction. In this paper, we examine the use of Bayesian networks as tools that can be used in revealing the structure of the relationships between demographic, social, and economic factors, and penetration for various technologies. Our hypothesis is that technology adoption cases in emerging regions display unique aggregated characteristics that make Bayesian network-based analysis a useful starting point in defining relationships between variables in project analysis. We compare the usability of Bayesian networks in analyzing two data sets: (1) a detailed survey focusing on 500 respondents across 14 favelas in Rio de Janeiro; and (2) a comprehensive survey of 998 users of the Akshaya tele-kiosk initiative in Kerala, India. Our illustrations show how Bayesian networks can be useful as statistical analysis tools that reveal new hypotheses, suggest unintended correlations in data, and confirm standing hypotheses.
The caudal block: The “no turn” technique *

Abstract The caudal block is an effective technique that is very common and popular in pediatric regional anesthesia. To perform this block safely, good anatomic knowledge and accurate guidelines about techniques and drugs administration must be followed. The usual approach is well-known and often described, but in some cases is not without risks. The “no turn” technique is a very easy approach that reduces these risks and is useful for teaching hospitals that are minimizing the time of the learning curve. In this article, the technique is shown and the doses of local anesthetics and adjuvants are described. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
The Structure of Customer Complaint Behavior in the Airline Industry

Using recent data published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the structure of customer complaint behavior in the airline industry in the United States is examined. The interrelationships among twelve categories of customer complaints are studied in detail. Factor analysis results indicate the presence of multidimensional aspects of complaining behavior. Three distinct aspects of complaining behavior in the airline industry are detected, corresponding to operational, marketing, and special situation problems.
Frigg: a simulation environment for multiple-processor DSP system development

A simulation environment oriented to the needs of the developer of custom multi-DSP systems has been developed and implemented. The simulator, Frigg, builds on the capabilities of a general-purpose behavioral simulator and manufacturer-supplied processor simulators. Frigg allows a user to simultaneously view the detailed behavior of the hardware and software comprising a complete multiprocessor system. Frigg is currently being used to simulate a variety of multi-digital-signal-processor systems and has proved useful for verifying hardware designs, performing detailed performance evaluations, and testing software and software tools. >
Safety, state and peace promotion in the Middle-East: Where do we begin?

No Abstract. African Safety Promotion: A Journal of Injury and Violence Prevention Vol. 4 (2) 2006: 6-19
Discussion: Future Organization and Control of U.S. Agricultural Production and Marketing

Breimyer has issued a strong challenge to us to, as he termed it, "try to find order in the crazy mixture of things now happening in agriculture." As a reactor, I hope to add to this challenge through a somewhat different, but I hope not conflicting, approach. This I propose to do by first calling your attention to the distinction between "ideal" and "actual" patterns of behavior. The term "ideal" is defined as what some individuals regard as right, good, proper, preferable, etc. These individuals from whose point of view a pattern is ideal may be all the individuals in a society or an identifiable group or subgroup of individuals such as farmers, agricultural leaders, agricultural economists, or the congressional farm bloc. The term "actual" is defined as that pattern which an objective, omniscient scientific observer would observe, whether the people being observed were aware of it or not. The social scientist, and especially the economist, in his development of theoretical models often hypothesizes a set of conditions, as for example "perfect competition." In concept, this formulation of a model is not the formulation of an ideal pattern per se; however, these conditions often are adopted as ideal patterns from the point of view of many individuals and groups in a society. This distinction between ideal and actual patterns is perhaps so obvious that men have been aware of it since time began. But it can be an extremely useful tool of analysis to social scientists because of the various theoretical propositions that grow out of this distinction. A few of these general propositions are as follows: (1) There is no society whose members do not distinguish betwen ideal and actual patterns. (2) In no society do ideal and actual patterns of the members coincide exactly. (3) Some of the ideal patterns are always inconsistent with others, as John Brewster has so effectively demonstrated in his discussions of the conflicts between the Protestant work ethic and the democratic creed.