cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Communicating and Learning Through Non-speech Audio

Multimedia communication is the rule rather than the exception in most human interaction other than with computers. There is a great deal which can be learned from traditional communication and applied to human-computer interaction in an educational context. This chapter is based upon such an approach, looking at the use of non-speech sounds. This is a good example of the expansion of the interface in that previously auditory output from computers have generally been restricted to undifferentiated ‘beeps’, which implies that one of the most powerful channels of communication has been virtually ignored.
Endemic plant communities on special soils: early victims or hardy survivors of climate change?

Summary 1. Predicting and mitigating climate change effects on ecological communities is a tremendous challenge. Little attention has been given to how endemic-rich communities on isolated patches of low-nutrient soil (e.g. serpentine) will respond to climate change. 2. To address spatial factors (the isolated nature of outcrops), we incorporate habitat patchiness into species distribution models under climate change. The degree of overlap between current and future suitable habitat does not change when patchy habitats are incorporated, probably because serpentine occurs in mountainous regions where climatically and edaphically suitable regions geographically coincide. The dispersal distances required to move to newly suitable habitat are large, however, making successful migration unlikely. 3. To address how non-spatial factors affect the climate change responses of serpentine plant communities (e.g. the impacts of nutrient limitation and stress-tolerant functional traits), we conduct a literature review. Some studies suggest that serpentine communities may be at less risk than ‘normal’ soil communities due to their stress-tolerant functional traits, but there is also evidence to the contrary. 4. Synthesis. Assessing climate change risk for the world’s diverse edaphic floras requires determining impacts on both special and ‘normal’ soil communities. Studies are needed that use functional traits, evaluate the role of evolutionary and ecological plasticity, examine responses across spatial and temporal scales and assess the efficacy of managed relocation efforts.
A new method for detection of watermarks in geometrically distorted images

The goal of this study is to investigate the performance of the watermarking scheme proposed by Ramkumar and Akansu (see IEEE Trans. on Multimedia, 1999) for watermarked images distorted by geometrical attacks such as StirMark. Although the geometric distortions are not visually noticeable, the watermark cannot be detected due to the resulting high mean square error between the original and attacked images. In order to extract the watermark from distorted images, the effects of these attacks must be minimized. This work focuses on the recovery of an attacked image using a reliable distortion estimation. The performance test is studied for several images attacked by StirMark. The proposed algorithm is shown to reduce false alarm probability in detection of the watermark from about 0.005 for (for StirMarked images) to less than 10/sup -50/.
Sitagliptin Reduces Inflammation and Chronic Immune Cell Activation in HIV Adults With Impaired Glucose Tolerance

Context: HIV infection is associated with a greater risk for fasting hyperinsulinemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and higher incidence rates for vascular disease, myocardial infarction, or stroke despite effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The underlying mechanism(s) may involve chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and immune cell activation. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (sitagliptin) improve glucose tolerance and may possess immunomodulatory effects because leukocyte CD26 cell surface receptors express dipeptidyl peptidase-4 activity. Objective: Sitagliptin will reduce inflammatory and immune cell activation markers known to be elevated in cART-treated HIV-infected (HIV+) adults with impaired glucose tolerance. Design: This was designed as a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of sitagliptin in HIV+ adults. Setting: The setting was an academic medical center. Patients: Patients were cART-treated HIV+ men and women (n = 36) with stable HIV disease and ...
Parity Violation in Atoms

The electroweak theory of Weinberg, Salam, and Glashow predicted the existence of parity-violating neutral currents (PVNC’s). Ten years ago, Bouchiat and Bouchia1 pointed out that such neutral currents would give rise to parity-violating effects in atoms that might be observable. Since that time there has been considerable effort to measure these effects using a variety of laser-based techniques. In recent years this work has produced results of steadily improving precision for a number of atoms. As well as exploring this entirely new area of atomic structure, these results provide improved tests of the electroweak theory.
Chemical colitis due to endoscope cleaning solutions: A mimic of pseudomembranous colitis

A unique form of colitis was observed during endoscopy of the lower gastrointestinal tract in 21 patients. The patients were prepared using either tap-water enemas or standard lavage solutions. Patients were found to have discrete or confluent white plaques adherent to the colonic mucosa, mild to severe erythema of the surrounding mucosa, and variable amounts of foamy liquid upon withdrawal of the endoscope. Stool assays for Clostridium difficile toxin and bacterial cultures were negative. Mucosal biopsies revealed vacuolar changes in the lamina propria, with slight to moderate vascular congestion and foci of intramucosal hemorrhage. Five patients developed rectal bleeding, tenesmus, and increased frequency of stools, lasting up to 12 days. We believe these cases were due to contamination of the endoscope's air-water channel with solutions used during endoscope cleaning. Recognition of this entity is important, as it is preventable and may mimic pseudomembranous colitis.
Compensation of motion artifacts in catheter-based optical frequency domain imaging

A novel heterodyne Doppler interferometer method for compensating motion artifacts caused by cardiac motion in intracoronary optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) is demonstrated. To track the relative motion of a catheter with regard to the vessel, a motion tracking system is incorporated with a standard OFDI system by using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) techniques. Without affecting the imaging beam, dual WDM monochromatic beams are utilized for tracking the relative radial and longitudinal velocities of a catheter-based fiber probe. Our results demonstrate that tracking instantaneous velocity can be used to compensate for distortion in the images due to motion artifacts, thus leading to accurate reconstruction and volumetric measurements with catheter-based imaging.
Intrapancreatic accessory spleen: CT appearance and differential diagnosis

Although autopsy studies report that the second most common site of the accessory spleen is in the tail of the pancreas, intrapancreatic accessory spleens (IPASs) are rarely recognized radiologically. With recent improvements in imaging techniques, IPASs are more commonly detected on imaging studies. IPAS can be mistaken for other type of mass-forming lesions in the tail of the pancreas, particularly an asymptomatic small neuroendocrine neoplasm. Rarely, an epidermoid cyst originating from IPAS may simulate other cystic pancreatic lesion. Accurate preoperative diagnosis would obviate unnecessary surgery. IPAS should be considered when a hypervascular mass is seen in the tail of the pancreas on CT. Typical location, similar attenuation of the lesion to the spleen on noncontrast, and postcontrast CT at different phases are helpful to make diagnosis of IPAS. In particular, characteristic heterogeneous contrast enhancement of IPAS on the arterial phase may be helpful for correct diagnosis. However, when it remains difficult to exclude the other diagnosis, 99mTc labeled heat-damaged red blood cell scintigraphy or superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced MRI can be used to confirm the diagnosis of IPAS.
A DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH TO CHILDREN WITH SUSPECTED OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA)

Most children with OSA will benefit from tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Although polygraphic monitoring remains the definitive diagnostic technique, we wondered if all children suspected of having OSA require such evaluation. We therefore administered a standardized questionnaire to the parents of 23 children with polygraphically proven OSA due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy, 46 age and sex-matched normal children, and 23 children subsequently referred for possible OSA. Significantly increased frequencies of the following symptoms were found in the OSA group compared to the control group: difficulty breathing during sleep, 96% vs 2%; apneas observed by the parents, 78% vs 5%; snoring, 96% vs 9%; restless sleep, 78% vs 23%; chronic rhinorrhea, 61% vs 11%; and mouth breathing when awake, 87% vs 18%. Using discriminant analysis, an OSA score was derived which correctly classified all controls and 22 of 23 OSA patients. Considering the data from all groups, we found that (1) OSA scores > 3.5 were highly predictive of OSA requiring adenotonsillectomy, (2) no child with an OSA score < -1 had OSA, and (3) children with OSA scores between -1 and 3.5 require polygraphic monitoring to determine the severity of sleep-related airway obstruction and the need for surgical treatment. Use of the OSA score should decrease the need for polygraphic monitoring and facilitate selection of children for adenotonsillectomy. (Supported in part by the Children's Research Guild).
Vertical ionization potentials of ethylene: the right answer for the right reason?

The photoelectron spectrum of ethylene is studied using coupled cluster methods, including an existing ambiguity in what are reported to be its experimental vertical ionization potentals. Two complementary methods are used for generating the ionization potentials: δE CCSD(T) and IP-EOM-CCSD. The adiabatic IP of the neutral molecule in the ground state is well known and widely accepted to be 10.5122eV. The basis set extrapolated adiabatic IPS with zero-point corrections are 10.46 eV and 10.56 eV, respectively, but a vibronic coupling between the ground state cation and its first excited state can reduce these values by ∼0.03 eV. From an exponential basis set extrapolation the vertical ionization potentials are predicted to be 10.8 eV (B3u, 13.2eV (B3g 15.0eV (Ag), 16.4eV (B2u), and 19.6eV (B1u) ±0.1 eV.
Zymosan activated plasma infusion in sheep: Effects of ethanol administration

Abstract Zymosan activated plasma infusion induces pulmonary sequestration of neutrophils and the release of TXA 2 into the pulmonary vascular bed causing profound and transient pulmonary hypertension. Since ethanol (ETOH) inhibits several inflammatory functions of neutrophils, including adherence and aggregation, we examined the ability of anesthetic doses of ETOH to alter the hemodynamic and cellular response to the infusion of zymosan activated plasma (ZAP) in vivo. Twenty five ml of autologous ZAP was intravenously infused into five control and seven (ETOH-treated sheep during mechanical ventillation. In control sheep the mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) transiently increased from 14.7±1.4 mm Hg (mean±SEM) to a pead of 38+8 mm Hg by three minutes after beginning the infusion of ZAP. Blood leukocyte concentration transiently decreased 19% below the baseline value due to pulmonary sequestration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Plasma TXB 2 levels measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) increased from 0.2 to 5.4 ng/ml six minutes after the initiation of ZAP infusion. In five sheep, intravenous infusion of 200 ml of 96% ETOH yielded very high plasma concentrations (882±101 mg%) and completely inhibited both the rise of PAP and the increase of plasma TXB 2 levels after ZAP infusion. However, blood leukocytes transiently decreased 58% below the baseline value. Lower plasma levels of ETOH (200 and 400 mg%) did not prevent either the increase of PAP or the elevation of plasma TXB 2 after ZAP infusion.
Effects of Prereading Story Mapping on Elementary Readers' Comprehension

Abstract In this study, the effects of two teacher-directed prereading instructional procedures (directed reading activity [DRA] vs. story grammar/structured overview story mapping) on literal and inferential reading comprehension were compared. Sixty third-grade and 60 fifth-grade students were randomly assigned to treatment groups, and data were analyzed within grade levels by an analysis of variance. The prereading modified story mapping procedure resulted in 14% better inferential comprehension (p < .0005) and 7% better literal comprehension than did DRA at the third-grade level. Statistically significant differences between groups were not found at the fifth-grade level. Implications for practice and theory are suggested.
Post-translational modification of human erythrocyte pyruvate kinase

Abstract Upon storage, partially purified human erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (ATP: pyruvate-phosphotransferase, E.C. 2.7.1.40) from normal individuals was found to undergo a spontaneous oxidation to a form which displayed markedly reduced activity. This modified form of the enzyme exhibited kinetic patterns similar to those frequently reported for the enzyme in cases of nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia. The data are discussed in relation to the recently proposed theory that post-translational modification of pyruvate kinase is responsible for the abnormal kinetic patterns frequently encountered for this enzyme in the disease state. [Van Berkel, T. J. C., Koster, J. F., Kruyt, J. K. and Staal, G. E. J. 1973 Biochim. Biophys. Acta 321 , 496–502].
Acetate and phosphate anion adsorption linear sweep voltammograms simulated using density functional theory

Abstract Specific adsorption of anions to electrode surfaces may alter the rates of electrocatalytic reactions. Density functional theory (DFT) methods are used to predict the adsorption free energy of acetate and phosphate anions as a function of Pt(1 1 1) electrode potential. Four models of the electrode potential are used including a simple vacuum slab model, an applied electric field model with and without the inclusion of a solvating water bi-layer, and the double reference model. The linear sweep voltammogram (LSV) due to anion adsorption is simulated using the DFT results. The inclusion of solvation at the electrochemical interface is necessary for accurately predicting the adsorption peak position. The Langmuir model is sufficient for predicting the adsorption peak shape, indicating coverage effects are minor in altering the LSV for acetate and phosphate adsorption. Anion adsorption peak positions are determined for solution phase anion concentrations present in microbial fuel cells and microbial electrolysis cells and discussion is provided as to the impact of anion adsorption on oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution reaction rates in these devices.
A Randomized Trial of the Effect of a Walking Regimen on the Functional Status of 100 Adult Allogeneic Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Patients

Abstract To investigate the impact of exercise on adult allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients, we randomized 100 patients to either a structured walking regimen or to a control group with no formal exercise program. Starting on the day of admission for transplant, patients in the exercise arm were asked to walk on a treadmill twice a day for 15 minutes while in the hospital. After discharge, they were asked to walk once a day for 30 minutes. The effect of the exercise program was primarily measured by the change in the Karnofsky score (KPS) from transplant admission to day 100 posttransplant, which was scored by the attending physician who was blinded to the assigned exercise regimen. The decline in KPS was smaller in the exercise group than in the control group: 10 points versus 20 points. This difference was not statistically significant in the total study population (P = .21) but was statistically significant among the subset of older and less fit patients receiving nonmyeloablative pretransplant conditioning (P = .04). Sixty-four percent of patients on the exercise arm who had a baseline KPS
WE-E-224A-01: The Best of Both Worlds: Taking Advantage of Brachytherapy and External Beam Radiotherapy

Introduction. Brachytherapy and external beam radiation represent opposite ends of the inverse square dose fall off spectrum. Brachytherapy is well suited for the delivery of conformal localized high doseradiation. While external beam radiation is well suited for conformal local and regional treatment, it is able to treat larger volumes in comparison to brachytherapy. This paradigm fits well with the natural history of many malignancies to provide maximal tumor control probability while minimizing normal tissue complications. Methods and Materials. Two examples of combining brachytherapy and external beam radiation which illustrate the brachytherapy/external beam radiation therapy paradigm will be presented: The combination of high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy and intensity modulated radiation(IMRT) for the definitive management of localized prostate cancer, and the use of a Yttrium 90 dural plaque in conjunction with image guided IMRT for vertebral body chordomas with significant epidural disease. Results: HDR prostate brachytherapy and IMRT provides a very high level of disease control with only minor toxicity for patients with localized prostate cancer. This is likely due to careful treatment planning to minimize dose to critical structures such as the rectum and urethra while delivering a very high biologic effective dose to tumor bearing tissue. Similarly, Yttrium 90 dural plaques are able to deliver a very high dose of radiation to the dural surface, while underlying spinal cord will receive less than 5% of the prescribed dose. This will allow for a extremely high dose of radiation to be given to the planning target volume and increase the tumor control probability. Conclusions: Both brachytherapy and IMRT have inherent physical advantages that can be utilized to improve the therapeutic ratio of radiation therapy. Particularly in the management of tumors where a dose‐control relationship exits situated near dose sensitive structures, this paradigm is especially important.
Facilitating growth and leadership development at small colleges through the interactive approach to strategic planning

This article provides an overview of how the interactive approach to strategic planning can facilitate long-range development of colleges with enrollments of 2500 students or less. Presented is a detailed description of how to conduct environmental and competitor analyses, how to develop an organizational mission statement and institutional goals, and the evolution of leadership through the strategic planning process.
Fluid resuscitation: past, present, and the future

Hemorrhage remains a major cause of preventable death following both civilian and military trauma. The goals of resuscitation in the face of hemorrhagic shock are restoring end-organ perfusion and maintaining tissue oxygenation while attempting definitive control of bleeding. However, if not performed properly, resuscitation can actually exacerbate cellular injury caused by hemorrhagic shock, and the type of fluid used for resuscitation plays an important role in this injury pattern. This article reviews the historical development and scientific underpinnings of modern resuscitation techniques. We summarized data from a number of studies to illustrate the differential effects of commonly used resuscitation fluids, including isotonic crystalloids, natural and artificial colloids, hypertonic and hyperoncotic solutions, and artificial oxygen carriers, on cellular injury and how these relate to clinical practice. The data reveal that a uniformly safe, effective, and practical resuscitation fluid when blood products are unavailable and direct hemorrhage control is delayed has been elusive. Yet, it is logical to prevent this cellular injury through wiser resuscitation strategies than attempting immunomodulation after the damage has already occurred. Thus, we describe how some novel resuscitation strategies aimed at preventing or ameliorating cellular injury may become clinically available in the future.
Gas-Lift Reactors for Rapid Reactions with Appreciable Gas Consumption

Gas-lift reactors offer important advantages for a number of gas/liquid and gas/liquid/solid reactions. However, the design and operation of these reactors can be complex when there is a substantial change in the molar gas flow rate along the length of the reactor, e.g., when a gaseous reactant is converted into a liquid product. In this situation, there is a strong coupling between reactor hydrodynamics and reaction kinetics, which arises from the fact that the rate of liquid circulation through the reactor and the longitudinal profile of gas holdup in the riser are mutually dependent. Several one-dimensional models have been developed to describe kinetic/hydrodynamic coupling in gas-lift reactors. These models offer useful insights into the parameters that affect reactor performance. The models can also be used to explore different approaches to scale-up.
CEACAM6 gene silencing impairs anoikis resistance and suppresses metastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Introduction: Inadequate or inappropriate cell-substrate contact normally induces a form of apoptotic cell death termed anoikis. Malignant cells are often able to escape anoikis; this feature may contribute to their ability to form metastases. We hypothesized that carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) gene silencing would suppress anoikis resistance in pancreatic cancer cells. Methods: CEACAM6 was analyzed by Northern and Western blot. Anoikis was induced in PANC1, Capan2, MiaPaCa2 and MiaAR (an anoikis-resistant MiaPaCa2-derived sub-line) by polyHEMA culture and quantified by YO-PRO-1/propidium iodide flow cytometry (anoikis fraction). Caspase activity was quantified by fluorometric profiling and its contribution to anoikis confirmed with caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk. CEACAM6 expression was suppressed by siRNA (siCEACAM6). Metastatic ability was determined in an orthotopic nude mouse model. Results: CEACAM6 expression varied between cell lines, over-expression being associated with greater anoikis-resistance and in vivo metastatic ability. siCEACAM6 treatment suppressed native and acquired anoikis -resistance (see table) TABLE—ABSTRACT 7. Cell line Anoikis fraction in polyHEMA culture (Mean % ± SEM) Untreated Control siRNA siCEACAM6 siCEACAM6 z-VAD-fmkc MiaPaCa2 14.1 ± 0.5 17 ± 0.5 23.4 ± 1.3∗ 3.0 ± 1.0‡ MiaAR 1.2 ± 0.5† 2.5 ± 0.5 21.1 ± 1.1∗ 0.7 ± 0.5‡ PANC1 15.1 ± 0.6 16.1 ± 0.9 33.6 ± 2.2∗ 7.3 ± 1.1‡ Capan2 27.0 ± 1.1† 29.2 ± 1.1 35.2 ± 2.4∗ 20.3 ± 1.8‡ P < 0.01: ∗ vs control. † : vs MiaPaCa2. ‡ vs siCEACAM6. via increased caspase 3 and 8-acitvity (respective mean activities vs control in MiaPaCa2: 150% and 133%. MiaAR: 220% and 150%. P < 0.05), an effect abrogated by z-VAD-fmk. MiaAR metastasis was decreased from 100% of mice (median metastases: 3, range 0–8. n = 6) to 0% (n = 6. P < 0.05). Conclusion: CEACAM6 gene silencing promotes anoikis, reverses acquired anoikis resistance and inhibits metastasis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. CEACAM6 warrants further investigation as a novel therapeutic target.
Bioaccumulation and voltammetry of gold at flower-biomass modified electrodes.

The bioaccumulation of gold at antheral cells from flower Datura innoxia is investigated by incorporating these plant cells into a carbon paste matrix. The resulting plant-modified electrode offers a preferential uptake of gold from dilute solutions. The voltammetric behavior of the surface-bound gold is examined under different preconcentration conditions. Scanning electron microscopy offers useful insights into the gold collection process. Convenient measurements of micromolar gold concentrations are possible, with effective self cleaning allowing the use of a single electrode in multiple determinations (R.S.D. of 4.8% for 50 repetitions). The sensitivity and selectivity enhancements associated with the preferential bioaccumulation process, and the convenient surface regeneration, offer the prospect of using the flower-biomass containing electrodes as sensors for gold.
Modeling and simulating flash based solid-state disks for operating systems

Solid-State Disks (SSDs) made out of Flash devices have gained a lot of prominence in recent years due to their increasing performance and endurance. A number of mechanisms are being proposed to improve the performance and reliability of these devices from technological and operating system perspectives, to integrate them into personal computers and enterprise systems. Most of such proposals are being implemented and evaluated directly on top of these SSDs and require sophisticated framework and infrastructure for thorough performance evaluation. On the other hand, to our knowledge, very little has been done on modeling Flash devices and building efficient Flash simulators that can be used to simulate SSDs. Such models and simulators can give insights to make design decisions, save a lot of cumbersome work for setup and implementation, save hardware costs and allow researchers to focus on the real methods that are being proposed.This paper presents a linear model for NAND-based Flash devices based on the internal architecture of these devices. Parameters of the model are presented along with micro-benchmarks that can be used to extract these parameters. The model is validated on the STEC Zeus Flash SSD and extracted parameters are used to build a Flash simulator as a kernel extension in the AIX operating system. A key feature of the simulator is that it simulates I/O requests by maintaining minimal state information and is independent of the internal organization of a Flash SSD. The simulator is validated using commercial and raw-IO applications through experimentation on the simulator and real Flash disks.
Wafer Scale Integration of CMOS Chips for Biomedical Applications via Self-Aligned Masking

This paper presents a novel technique for the integration of small complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chips into a large area substrate. A key component of the technique is the CMOS chip-based self-aligned masking. This allows for the fabrication of sockets in wafers that are at most 5 μm larger than the chip on each side. The chip and the large area substrate are bonded onto a carrier such that the top surfaces of the two components are flush. The unique features of this technique enable the integration of macroscale components, such as leads and microfluidics. Furthermore, the integration process allows for microelectromechanical systems micromachining after CMOS die-wafer integration. To demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed technology, a low-power integrated potentiostat chip for biosensing implemented in the AMI Semiconductor's 0.5 μm CMOS technology is integrated in a silicon substrate. The horizontal gap and the vertical displacement between the chip and the large area substrate measured after the integration were 4 and 0.5 μm, respectively. A number of 104 interconnects are patterned with high-precision alignment. Electrical measurements have shown that the functionality of the chip is not affected by the integration process. A CMOS/microfluidic hybrid system is also demonstrated based on the proposed integration technology.
A search for rapid optical periodicities from Cyg X-l

ACCORDING to the most widely accepted model of the X-ray source Cyg X-1, the X rays are produced in a gas disk surrounding and accreting into a black hole with a mass of about 10M⊙. The accretion disk is maintained by matter transferred from the binary companion of Cyg X-1, the blue supergiant HDE226868. The X-ray luminosity of Cyg X-l is known to vary randomly on a wide range of time scales, from many days to a few milliseconds, with the shortest of these time scales corresponding to the dynamical time scale of the innermost stable orbit around the black hole1,2. The optical luminosity of the Cyg X-l system is also known to vary on time scales of days3, but only one case of extremely rapid optical variability has been reported4,5. The properties of the rapid variations were most unusual. The variations were transient and were detected only four times, but they occurred sufficiently frequently that three of these detections occurred during the total of only 2 h of observations accumulated by Auriemma et al. in July 19754,5. The variations were nearly periodic, with periods of 83.53 ms, 83.71 ms, 83.59 ms, and with |ΔP/P| ∼ 2× 10−4. The periodicities were long lived, lasting at least 6 min and probably over 10 min, so that the pulse trains consisted of over 4,000 pulses. The amplitudes of the pulses were large, up to 0.042 mag. No comparable behaviour has been detected in the X-ray light curve of Cyg X-l, and it is far from clear that this behaviour is consistent with our present conceptions of accretion disks. Thus, the detections of these pulses, if confirmed, would be of some importance since they would require a revision of the models for Cyg X-1. Therefore, we have taken an extensive set of observations of Cyg X-l with the purpose of detecting additional examples of the rapid periodicities.
Ordaining Women and The Woman’s Bible: Reading the Bible with B. T. Roberts and Elizabeth Cady Stanton

The Bible has long played a prominent part in shaping the discourses of American culture.11 Historian Mark Noll describes the Bible as the “‘the nation’s book’” (330–333). One discussion that parti...
Primary Ovarian Melanoma Arising in a Dermoid Stage IIIc: Long-Term Disease-Free Survival with Aggressive Surgery and Platinum Therapy

A 20-year-old female with a primary melanoma of the ovary arising from a mature cystic teratoma presented with bulky peritoneal metastases. Following aggressive surgical resection and platinum-based chemotherapy the patient remains disease-free 5 years following diagnosis.
Input-output modeling with stochastic extensions: An application to an influenza pandemic scenario

Disasters such as influenza pandemics can disrupt the operations of interdependent infrastructure and economic sectors, and consequently lead to significant economic losses. The magnitude of such consequences depends on the type, size, and activity of the economic sector. Moreover, the magnitude of such consequences depends on the degree of interdependencies between the economic sectors. This paper presents a simulation and analysis of the impacts of such a disaster on the economic sectors in a given region. We introduce a stochastic simulation model based on the dynamic inoperability input-output model (DIIM) to model the cascading effects of a disruptive event in the U.S. National Capital Region (NCR). The analysis conducted in this work is based on the 2009 H1N1 pandemic data. Two metrics were used to assess the impacts of the influenza pandemic on sectors: (i) inoperability, which is a measure of the percentage gap between the as-planned output and the actual output, and (ii) economic loss, which is a measure of the monetary value of the degraded output. The inoperability and economic loss metrics generate two different rankings of the economic sectors. Findings show that most of the critical sectors in terms of inoperability are sectors that are related to hospitals and healthcare-related providers. On the other hand, most of the sectors that are critically ranked in terms of economic loss are sectors with significant production outputs in the NCR region such as federal government agencies. Therefore, policy recommendations relating to potential mitigation and recovery strategies should take into account the balance between the inoperability and economic loss metrics.
The Management of Acute Respiratory Failure in a Respiratory Intensive Care Unit

The over-all management of acute respiratory failure has been greatly facilitated by the modern respiratory intensive care unit with improved techniques in patient care. The mortality from acute respiratory failure at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital has been reduced by about fivefold for patients treated in such a unit. During the first two years of operation of the respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) there were 269 admissions for acute respiratory failure. Ninety-eight of these admissions were for acute respiratory failure in association with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many of these patients had failed to improve with controlled, low-flow oxygen therapy prior to admission to the RICU and therefore presented a more difficult problem of management with greater expected mortality. Seventy-six percent of the COPD patients were managed with a tracheostomy. The mortality in the 98 episodes of acute respiratory failure from COPD was 7.1 percent.
Lagrange Multiplier Approach with Optimized Finite Difference Stencils for Pricing American Options under Stochastic Volatility

The deterministic numerical valuation of American options under Heston's stochastic volatility model is considered. The prices are given by a linear complementarity problem with a two-dimensional parabolic partial differential operator. A new truncation of the domain is described for small asset values, while for large asset values and variance a standard truncation is used. The finite difference discretization is constructed by numerically solving a quadratic optimization problem aiming to minimize the truncation error at each grid point. A Lagrange approach is used to treat the linear complementarity problems. Numerical examples demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Gadolinium, carbon dioxide, and iodinated contrast material for planning inferior vena cava filter placement: a prospective trial.

PURPOSE To prospectively compare the diagnostic accuracy of CO 2 and gadolinium to iodinated contrast material for inferior vena cavography before inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty patients underwent injection of iodinated contrast material, CO 2 , and gadolinium. Iodinated contrast material was used as the standard. Caval diameter was determined with calibrated software. Three readers blinded to contrast agent used measured the distance from the superior image border to the inferior margin of the renal veins and from the inferior image border to the iliac bifurcation. The measurements with CO 2 and gadolinium were compared to those with iodinated contrast material to obtain the interobserver and intraobserver variability. The presence or absence of caval thrombus and variant anatomy was noted. The same readers reexamined 12 studies in a separate session to determine intraobserver variability and correlation. RESULTS Caval diameter differed by 0.4 mm or less for all three agents. Measurements with all agents were within 2 mm of each other for all patients. Gadolinium and CO 2 were not significantly different from one another in measuring caval diameter. At the initial reading, compared with iodinated contrast material, gadolinium had greater mean interobserver error in measuring the distance to the iliac bifurcation and both renal veins (range, 1.6–1.8 mm) than CO 2 (range, 0.2–1.4 mm). This finding, although statistically significant for gadolinium ( P 2 at the levels of the iliac bifurcation ( P = .02) and right renal vein ( P = .008). Interobserver correlation for gadolinium was similar to that for iodinated contrast material at all levels. At repeat reading, there was significantly inferior intraobserver correlation with use of CO 2 for both renal veins ( P P 2 localized one of three. CONCLUSION CO 2 and gadolinium had limitations when compared with iodinated contrast material. Gadolinium provided superior consistency in identifying relevant landmarks for filter placement. CO 2 demonstrated significantly greater mean correlative error than gadolinium at initial and repeat readings.
Responses of the woodland salamander Ensatina eschscholtzii to commercial thinning by helicopter in late-seral Douglas-fir forest in northwest California

Abstract We examined responses of the woodland salamander Ensatina ( Ensatina eschscholtzii ) to commercial thinning by helicopter in late-seral Douglas-fir forest in northwestern California, USA, using a before-after control-impact (BACI) design. We employed passive pitfall traps on eight (four each treatment and control) 100 trap grids over eight years (1996–2003), three years pre- and five years post-treatment. We conducted 3–11 weekly site visits within each of 10 trap periods depending upon weather over two spring and eight fall periods for a total of 50 visits to test for differences in surface counts and body condition. We standardized data to captures/1000 trap nights. Surface counts over the eight years were highly variable with less surface activity in spring compared to fall. Although the BACI design allows for initial differences among pre-treatment grids there were none. However, in the three years post-treatment (1999–2001) mean counts on treatment grids were significantly lower than on control grids. By 2002 and 2003, post-treatment counts on control and treatment grids both declined substantially, such that despite 47% more salamanders on control grids, variability was sufficient to preclude statistical significance. Recapture rates averaged 23.3% for three years pre-treatment, but increased to 51.4% for the five years post-treatment. Pre-treatment population estimates increased on control grids post-treatment, however, surface density estimates declined. On treatment grids both population and density estimates declined following treatment. Body condition analyses indicated no significant differences between controls and treatments for either sex prior to or post-treatment. The three years of significant differences in surface counts between controls and treatments post-treatment, followed by no differences in the last two years of the study, combined with no differences in BCIs, lead us to conclude that the surface activity of Ensatina on treatments grids was only temporarily impacted by the thinning. Declining population estimates on treatment grids also indicated at least a temporary reduction in those populations. We unexpectedly found declines in counts and density estimates on both sets of grids over the eight years, suggesting a wider effect may be causing reductions in the surface activity of these salamanders, and possibly in their populations.
HANDEDNESS AND COGNITION ACROSS THE HEALTHY LIFESPAN

The relationship between handedness and cognitive function varies across studies, perhaps partly due to the many medical and psychiatric conditions with known cognitive impact. This study examined cognitive performance in 643 healthy individuals (age 5-82) who were categorized as strongly right-handed, moderately right-handed, or left/mixed-handed. Cognitive differences emerged, as left/mixed-handed individuals demonstrating superior psychomotor speed and cognitive flexibility, and strongly and moderately right-handed individuals exhibiting better time estimation skills. No interaction-among handedness, sex, and age were found. These findings indicate cognitive differences associated with handedness exist independent of medical and psychiatric confounds. Further work is needed to clarify these findings.
Use of mental imagery in psychotherapy: a critical review.

The paper presents arguments in favor of the use of mental imagery for therapeutic purposes. Several existing imagery approaches to psychotherapy are critically examined and suggestions for future ...
Conservation of repeated DNA base sequences in theCrustacea: A molecular approach to decapod phylogeny

Analysis of data obtained from molecular hybridization of3H-labeled repetitious DNA has been utilized to reconstruct the broad outlines of phylogenetic relationships among decapod Crustacea. This molecular reconstruction agrees reasonably well with the paleontological record, and with other schemes obtained by comparative morphological and serological approaches. Preliminary evidence is in line with the hypothesis that continuous addition of new repeated sequence families to the genome over long periods of time may in part account for the correlation observed between percent repetitious DNA hybridized and divergence time. It is tentatively concluded that a core of DNA base sequence homology has been highly conserved throughout the evolution of theCrustacea. Demonstration of inter-species sequence homology has important implications to models which relegate a genetic regulatory function to repeated DNAs.
Enteric colonization by staphylococcus delphini in four ferret kits with diarrhoea

Summary Four, 1-to 4-week-old ferret kits were submitted to the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health at Michigan State University for post-mortem examination. Grossly, multiple bowel loops in all ferret kits were distended by mucoid faecal material. Microscopically, there was no evidence of inflammation or notable alteration to the normal mucosal morphology. Gram-positive coccoid bacteria colonized variable segments of the small intestine. These bacteria were identified as Staphylococcus delphini by phenotypic and molecular analyses. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Staphylococcus enterotoxins was positive and polymerase chain reaction detected the gene for Staphylococcus enterotoxin E in the isolates. The hypersecretory diarrhoea in these ferret kits may have been associated with colonization of the small intestine by S. delphini, cultures of which were shown in vitro to be potentially capable of producing enterotoxin E. The condition described in these ferrets is similar to ‘sticky’ kit syndrome in mink.
Mitochondrial dynamic changes in health and genetic diseases

Mitochondria are highly specialized in function, but mitochondrial and, therefore, cellular integrity is maintained through their dynamic nature. Through the frequent processes of fusion and fission, mitochondria continuously change in shape and adjust function to meet cellular requirements. Abnormalities in fusion/fission dynamics generate cellular dysfunction that may lead to diseases. Mutations in the genes encoding mitochondrial fusion/fission proteins, such as MFN2 and OPA1, have been associated with an increasing number of genetic disorders, including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2A (CMT2A) and autosomal dominant optic atrophy. In this review, we address the mitochondrial dynamic changes in several important genetic diseases, which will bring the new insight of clinical relevance of mitochondrial genetics.
Utilization rates of thyroid hormones in mammals.

Abstract 1. 1. Thyroxine utilization rates (T4U: N = 37 species) and triiodothyronine utilization rates (T3U: N = 7 species) scale with body mass to the 0.81 and 0.74 power respectively. 2. 2. T4U rates tend to be lower in summer relative to other seasons, vary unpredictably during pregnancy and lactation, increase with regular physical activity, and generally decrease with age. 3. 3. Both T4U and T3U increase with cold exposure, decrease with heat exposure and during fasting, and increase/decrease with hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism. 4. 4. Since these T4U and T3U changes are qualitatively similar but quantitatively different, the T 3 U T 4 U ratio varies, suggesting a variable deiodination rate from thyroxine to triiodothyronine.
Angiotensin I: metabolism by plasma membrane of lung.

(8-L-[ 14 C] phenylalanine) angiotensin I is metabolized in one passage through blood-free lungs. Approximately 20 percent of the radioactivity emerges as angiotensin 11, the remainder as lower homologs. Radioactivity is not retained by the lungs but has the same volume of distribution and mean transit time as blue dextran, a compound unlikely to leave the intravascular space. Plasma membrane fractions of lung are capable of converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II. These data, taken together, indicate the circulating angiotensin I is metabolized by enzymes of the luminal surface of pulmonary endothelial cells.
Adolescents' agreement to test for HIV when different testing methods are offered

Offering rapid HIV testing improves rates of testing in adults, but little is known about whether offering adolescents a choice of testing methods increases rates of testing. The aims of the study were to determine rates of HIV testing in adolescents when different testing methods were offered and explore factors associated with agreement to be tested for HIV. Participants (n= 200, sexually experienced 13–22 year olds) were recruited from an urban adolescent clinic, completed a 99-item theory-based survey and were offered their choice of venipuncture, rapid fingerstick or rapid oral fluid HIV testing. Approximately half (49.5%) agreed to HIV testing. Male gender, parental completion of high school, intention to test for HIV if offered by clinician and higher perceived likelihood of current HIV infection were independently associated with agreement to test. Combining new strategies, such as opt-out testing, with routine testing may be needed to improve rates of adolescent HIV testing.
Differences in child versus parent reports of the child's health-related quality of life in children with epilepsy and healthy siblings.

Abstract Objectives Self versus proxy perspectives may produce different results that are important for clinical decision-making and for assessing outcomes in research studies. We examined differences in child versus parent report of the child's health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a large prospective, community-based study of newly diagnosed childhood epilepsy that included children with epilepsy (case) and sibling controls. Methods HRQOL was assessed 8 to 9 years after initial diagnosis of epilepsy in a subset of 143 case-control matched pairs using the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ), a generic HRQOL measure with child (CHQ-CF87), and parent (CHQ-PF50) versions. Results There were no significant differences between self-reported case and sibling control HRQOL scores on 9 of 11 scales or 2 global items. Nevertheless, parent ratings were significantly better (higher HRQOL) for sibling controls compared with epilepsy cases on 10 of 12 scales, global behavior and general health items, and the physical and psychosocial summary scores ( P ≤ 0.05). Parent–child agreement was low for cases and controls (kappa 0.27–0.33) for three single-item questions with the same wording on parent and child versions. Parent ratings of the case's HRQOL were often significantly associated with 5-year remission status and current antiepileptic drug use, but the case's self-reported HRQOL scores were not. In contrast, current pharmacoresistance was often associated with the child and parent ratings of the child's HRQOL. Conclusion Children with epilepsy report HRQOL that is comparable to that of sibling controls, while parents rate children with epilepsy as having lower HRQOL than sibling controls. Measuring outcomes in studies of this population should incorporate both perspectives.