cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of stroke volume and cardiac output determination by ultrasound and dye dilution in acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract Thirty-eight determinations of stroke volume and cardiac output over a wide range of values were obtained in close proximity using pulsed reflected ultrasound (echocardiography) and dye-dilution methods in 9 patients admitted to a myocardial infarction research unit. None of these patients had clinically detectable valvular regurgitation. The correlation coefficients between the 2 methods were 0.901 for stroke volume and 0.881 for cardiac output, suggesting that these measurements can be reliably determined using the ultrasound technique. Stroke volume as measured by echocardiography was higher than by dye dilution in patients with inferior wall infarction. Suitable echograms were obtained from about 60 percent of the patients studied. Possible causes for not obtaining satisfactory echograms in the remaining patients are discussed. The method of pulsed reflected ultrasound provides a simple, safe, noninvasive technique that can be performed at the bedside for the measurement of stroke volume and, therefore, cardiac output in man.
CORTICAL DEPENDENCE OF MID AND LATE EVOKED RESPONSES IN HUMAN BRAIN; HYDRANENCEPHALLY

In animals, middle and late auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) originate in the cerebral cortex. An infant with hydranencephally provided an opportunity to make this previously undescribed anatomic correlation in humans. On CT scan, no tissue above the level of the thalamus was noted. Macrocephally was present along with markedly increased transillumination. Evoked potential testing was carried out at 1 week, 3 and 8 months of age according to standard techniques. Brain stem AEPs were essentially intact, except for increased conduction times (I-V) on the left. Middle AEPs showed normal No and Po, suggesting that these components may depend upon the thalamus rather than the cortex. By contrast, N1, P1, N2, P2, long latency AEPs and the cortical visual evoked responses were all completely absent (isoelectric) suggesting no electrical tissue response above the level of the thalamus. Further confirmation was noted in the absence of any components after 14 m sec recorded from the scalp on somatosensory AEPs. In this hydranencephalic infant, the absence of middle and long latency auditory, visual and somatosensory evoked responses strongly suggests that, in man, these middle and late potentials are dependent upon intact cerebral hemispheres.
LOCUS OF CONTROL: PERCEIVED CONTINGENCY OR PERCEIVED COMPETENCE?

The hypothesis that the superior performance of internal in contrast to external subjects on a variety of tasks is based on perceived competence rather than on perceived contingency was examined. A Perceived Competence Scale and a Perceived Contingency Scale, derived from Collins' 1974 factor analysis of the Rotter 1966 Locus of Control Scale, were given to 100 subjects. Subjects then performed two intentional and two incidental tasks. Stepwise multiple regression analyses for each dependent measure, with scores on the three scales as independent variables, provided partial support for the hypothesis. Only scores on the Perceived Competence Scale contributed to variance on the first intentional and first incidental task. None of the comparisons were statistically significant for the other two dependent measures. The voluminous literature showing superior performance by internally scoring subjects may not provide as much support for the locus of control construct as is currently thought. A perceived compet...
Laser-based ignition of H2O2 and D2O2 premixed gases through resonant multiphoton excitation of H and D atoms near 243 nm

Abstract We have investigated the use of a tunable laser system that operates in the ultraviolet (UV) to ignite premixed reactive gaseous flows of H 2 O 2 and D 2 O 2 at atmospheric pressure. The amount of incident laser energy (ILE) required to ignite the premixed flows as a function of laser excitation wavelength shows two distinct minima. The spectral position of these minima correspond exactly to the location of the resonance, two-photon excitation wavelengths of atomic hydrogen and deuterium at 243.07 and 243.00 nm, respectively. The relative spacing between these minima at the energy level of the 1S–2S two-photon excited transition is 22 cm−1, which is in excellent agreement with the known value for HD deuterium isotope shift (22.4 cm−1). We believe that this is both the first report of a sensitive wavelength dependence on the laser energy required to ignite these mixtures through resonant multiphoton excitation of H and D atoms (produced from H2 and D2 photolysis) and the first report of a deuterium isotope-wavelength-effect in laser ignition. Measurement of the ILE required for ignition versus equivalence ratio (Φ) shows that the most efficient ignition occurred with ∼ 0.55 mJ ILE at Φ = 0.7 in the fuel-lean region. Strong experimental evidence is given that shows that ignition occurs through the efficient resonant formation of a well-controlled, laser-produced microplasma. An estimate of the laser power dependence for the photolysis, excitation, and ionization processes responsible for microplasma initiation was determined in a molecular-beam time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Threshold for microplasma formation (70 torr) was determined in a variable pressure flow cell. These new experimental results indicate that resonance enhancement in the formation of a microplasma is a well-controlled ignition method that appears to alleviate the problems associated with the sharp thresholds encountered in the well-known, nonresonant laser-produced spark (gas breakdown) process.
Computer-Assisted Instruction in the Liberal Arts Using a Simple Authoring System

THIS PAPER describesDISCUSS, a combination of two computer programs currently under development at Hamilton College.DISCUSS is designed to help improve students’ reading skills and their preparation for class discussion. One part of the system, namedAuthor, provides instructors with both graphical and textual interfaces for designing and developing automated, interactive lessons. The lessons focus students’ attention on important questions about assigned readings and require students to write responses to those questions. In essence, the lessons enable an instructor to have students carry on dialogues with texts through the computer as a means to prepare them for dialogues in the classroom — student to student, student to teacher, class to text. TheAuthor program also gives an instructor a number of tools for monitoring students’ progress through sessions and for communicating with individual students and classes as a whole. TheStudent part ofDISCUSS presents lessons to students, solicits student responses (with Macwrite-like editing features), and saves the responses for printing. Unlike conventional CAI systems,DISCUSS supports a variety of open-ended, discursive question types and allows for anonymous interaction among students.
Evolving concepts of sleep cycle generation: From brain centers to neuronal populations

As neurophysiological investigations of sleep cycle control have provided an increasingly detailed picture of events at the cellular level, the concept that the sleep cycle is generated by the interaction of multiple, anatomically distributed sets of neurons has gradually replaced the hypothesis that sleep is generated by a single, highly localized neuronal oscillator.Cell groups that discharge during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep (REM-on) and neurons that slow or cease firing during REM sleep (REM-off) have long been thought to comprise at least two neurochemically distinct populations. The fact that putatively cholinoceptive and/or cholinergic (REM-on) and putatively aminergic (REM-off) cell populations discharge reciprocally over the sleep cycle suggests a causal interdependence.In some brain stem areas these cell groups are not anatomically segregated and may instead be neurochemically mixed (interpenetrated). This finding raises important theoretical and practical issues not anticipated in the original reciprocal-interaction model. The electrophysiological evidence concerning the REM-on and REM-off cell groups suggests a gradient of sleep-dependent membrane excitability changes that may be a function of the connectivity strength within an anatomically distributed neuronal network. The connectivity strength may be influenced by the degree of neurochemical interpenetration between the REM-on and REM-offcells. Recognition of these complexities forces us to revise the reciprocal-interaction model and to seek new methods to test its tenets.Cholinergic microinjection experiments indicate that some populations of REM-on cells can execute specific portions of the REM sleep syndrome or block the generation of REM sleep. This observation suggests that the order of activation within the anatomically distributed generator populations may be critical in determining behavioral outcome. Support for the cholinergic tenets of the reciprocal-interaction model has been reinforced by observations from sleep-disorders medicine.Specific predictions of the reciprocal-interaction model and suggestions for testing these predictions are enumerated for future experimental programs that aim to understand the cellular and molecular basis of the mammalian sleep cycle.
Why do anemonefishes inhabit only some host actinians

The 25 species ofAmphiprion and one ofPremnas (family Pomacentridae) are obligate symbionts of 10 species of facultatively symbiotic sea anemones. Throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific range of the relationship, a fish species inhabits only certain of the hosts potentially available to it. This specificity is due to the fishes. Five fishes occupy six sea anemone species at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia.Entacmaea quadricolor harborsP. biaculeatus, A. melanopus andA. akindynos. Adults ofPremnas occur deeper than about 3 m in large, primarily solitary actinians; juveniles may occupy peripheral members ofEntacmaea clones in shallow water. Specimens ofA. melanopus live exclusively in clonal anemones, which are found no deeper than 3 m. Most individuals ofA. akindynos inEntacmaea are juveniles, occurring shallow and deep, in solitary anemones or at the margins of clones. Interspecific as well as intraspecific social control of growth may be responsible for keeping fish small at clone fringes. Conspicuous specimens ofE. quadricolor depend upon their anemonefish to survive. Actinians cleared of symbionts disappeared within 24 h, probably having been eaten by reef fishes.Entacmaea, the most abundant and widespread host actinian at Lizard Island and throughout the range of the association, is also arguably the most attractive to anemonefishes. I believe its vulnerability to predation was a factor in its evolving whatever makes it desirable to fishes. Experimental transfers pitted fish of one species against those of another, controlling for ecophenotype of host, and sex, size and number of fish. Competitive superiority was in the same order as abundance and over-all host specificity:P. biaculeatus, A. melanopus, A. akindynos. At least three factors are necessary to explain patterns of species specificity - innate or learned host preference, competition, and stochastic processes.
Surgical management of renal trauma: is vascular control necessary?

Objective: To assess in a randomized prospective manner nephrectomy rate, transfusion rate, blood loss, and time of operation in penetrating renal trauma patients randomized to vascular control or no vascular control before opening Gerota's fascia. Method: During a 53-month period from January of 1994 to May of 1998, 56 patients with penetrating renal injuries were entered into a randomized prospective study at an urban Level I trauma center. The patients were randomized to a preliminary vascular control group or no vascular control group. Randomization was performed intraoperatively before opening Gerota's fascia. All renal injuries were identified and diagnosed intraoperatively. Intravenous pyelography was not performed preoperatively. If the patient was randomized to the no control group and significant bleeding ensued after opening of Gerota's fascia, the renal hilum was cross-clamped. All injuries were included regardless of patient age, associated injuries, blood loss, severity of renal injury, or other abdominal organs injured. All injuries that required renorrhaphy or partial nephrectomy underwent drainage with closed Jackson-Pratt drainage. Results: Twenty-nine patients were randomized to the preliminary vascular control group, and 27 patients were randomized to the no vascular control group. The average age in the vascular control group was 25.3 years (SD, 10.9) and 23.4 years (SD, 8.2) in the no control group. The average penetrating abdominal trauma index in the vascular control group was 22.9 (SD, 10.9) and in the no control group 23.7 (SD, 13.7). Nine nephrectomies (31%) were performed in the vascular control group, and eight nephrectomies (30%) were performed in the no vascular control group (p > 0.05). The average operative time for the vascular control group was 127 minutes and for the no control group was 113 minutes (p > 0.05). Eleven patients (38%) required intraoperative blood transfusion in the vascular control group (average, 5.5 U/patient transfused) versus eight patients (30%) in the no vascular control group (average, 5.2 U/patient transfused) (p > 0.05). The average blood loss in the vascular control group was 1.06 liters versus 0.91 liters in the no control (p > 0.05). There was one mortality in the study population. Conclusion: Vascular control of the renal hilum before opening Gerota's fascia has no impact on nephrectomy rate, transfusion requirements, or blood loss. Operative time may be increased with the vascular control technique.
A remote in situ apparatus for ambient toxicity testing of larval and yearling fish in river or estuarine systems

A remote in situ apparatus for ambient toxicity testing of prolarval and yearling striped bass, Morone saxatilis, was designed and tested in the upper Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River during the 1989 spawning season. The apparatus' design, capabilities and significance in environmental monitoring are discussed.
Efficient Algorithms for Persistent Storage Allocation

Efficient disk storage is a crucial component formany applications. The commonly used method of storing data on disk using file systems or databases incurs significant overhead which can be a problem for applications which need to frequently access and update a large number of objects. This paper presents efficient algorithms for managing persistent storage which usually only require a single seek for allocations and deallocations and allow the state of the system to be fully recoverable in the event of a failure. Our system has been deployed for persistently storing data at the most accessed sport and event Web site hosted by IBM and results in considerable performance improvements over databases and file systems forWeb-related workloads.
Uterine activity during pregnancy in ambulatory patients: Comparison of singleton and twin gestations

Abstract Prelabor uterine activity was monitored daily in a group of ambulatory outpatients who were delivered at term. the study included 22 patients with one fetus and 18 with twin gestations. The mean weekly frequency of uterine activity during twin gestations was found to be significantly higher throughout pregnancy than that identified during pregnancies with a single fetus. In twin gestations a gradual significant rise in frequency of contractions could be observed with advancing gestational age. The data presented could help establish the guidelines for evaluation of uterine activity records during pregnancies complicated by a multifetal gestation.
Fiber Bragg grating strain sensor demodulation with quadrature sampling of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer

A simple and highly sensitive phase-demodulation technique is proposed, and its use for a fiber Bragg grating strain sensor is experimentally demonstrated. Sampling a phase-modulated Mach–Zehnder output with controlled time delay produced two quadrature data streams that have relative quadrature phase difference (90°). The Bragg wavelength-dependent phase information is extracted by application of digital arctangent function and phase unwrapping to the quadrature signals. By use of this technique with a reference grating, strain sensing at as much as a 30-kHz sampling rate was obtained with strain resolution of 3.5 microstrains and 6 nanostrains/ Hzin quasi-static and dynamic strain measurements, respectively.
AN EVALUATION OF TWO CATHODE MATERIALS AND THE IMPACT OF COPPER ON BIOELECTROCHEMICAL DENITRIFICATION

Abstract The denitrification efficiency of two types of cathode material (stainless-steel rods wrapped with stainless-steel mesh, and graphite rods wrapped with polypropylene mesh) used as attachment media for a mixed culture of denitrifying microorganisms was evaluated. Statistical analysis showed that the difference in performance of the two types of biologically active cathodes was insignificant. Exposure of the biologically active cathodes to copper inhibited the attached microorganisms and had a statistically significant reduction in denitrification efficiency. Statistical comparisons between the biological tests and the abiotic tests confirmed that denitrification was induced biologically. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Using quality-of-life measurements to predict patient satisfaction outcomes for antireflux surgery.

Hypothesis Preoperative quality-of-life measurement can predict which patients will be satisfied with surgical fundoplication in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Design Review of a prospectively gathered database. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients All patients underwent preoperative physiological testing by upper endoscopy, esophageal manometry, and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring, and some had contrast radiography and gastric emptying scintigraphy. Patients were examined for symptoms and completed a symptom severity questionnaire (the GERD–Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire) and a generic quality-of-life instrument (the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]). Patients then underwent either open or laparoscopic fundoplication. Main Outcome Measurements Patients were contacted to assess satisfaction 2 months to 5 years postoperatively. They completed the GERD–Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire and the SF-36. Patients were grouped into those satisfied and dissatisfied. Results Two hundred ninety patients were included. Median follow-up was 29 months. Thirty-four patients (12%) were dissatisfied with their surgical outcomes for any reason. The dissatisfied patients had statistically significantly worse scores preoperatively in 6 of the 8 domains of the SF-36 than satisfied patients. Dissatisfied patients had less symptomatic improvement. The satisfied patients had statistically significant improvement in 6 domains, whereas the dissatisfied patients had statistically significant worsening of scores in 2 domains. Conclusions Quality-of-life measurements are frequently used as an outcome end point. This study shows that a generic quality-of-life instrument can preoperatively identify patients with GERD who are likely to be dissatisfied with antireflux surgery. Use of quality-of-life instruments as a predictive tool for surgical outcomes deserves further study.
Income Elasticities of Demand for Rental Housing in Small Cities

The housing consumption of renters in small cities is examined using a constant elasticity model estimated from cross-sectional data for a sample of 500 households. Permanent income is estimated using a cohort averaging technique which adjusts for differential expectations of future incomes. The demand for housing is found to be highly inelastic with respect to income, particularly for large, poor, or black households. The results suggest that for a housing allowance to be an effective means of increasing housing consumption in small cities, it may have to include more restrictive earmarking requirements than in metropolitan markets.
Construction of fuzzy linguistic model

Using linguistic variables to describe the behavior of a hybrid system, which consists of a discrete event system and a continuous system, could make the design of the controller and verification of the system perform on an unified framework. In this paper, we show the construction of a fuzzy linguistic model from a given mathematical model of a physical system. By considering the state-space realization of the model, the system construction problem can be transformed into a function approximation problem, We propose to use projection theorem in obtaining an optimal fuzzy system which is the best approximation of a given nonlinear function in L/sub 2/(U) space. We show that the existence and uniqueness of the optimal solution is assured when the fuzzy basis functions (FBFs) are linearly independent. We demonstrate that the dependence of the basis functions can be examined by checking the condition of the Gram determinant associated to the FBFs. Finally, a method is proposed in converting the optimal coefficients into fuzzy sets to obtain a fuzzy linguistic model.
Trees, Forests, and Other Implications of a BRAF Mutant Gene Signature in Patients With BRAF Wild-Type Disease

To identify patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) for whom the few available targeted therapies are appropriate,KRASand BRAFmutation status is increasingly used in routine clinical practice. However, clinicians and biologists alike are underwhelmed by this classification, given that the presence or absence of KRAS and BRAF mutations frequently fails to capture both the underlying biology for an individual tumor as well as the implications for prognosis and therapy.Indeed,apartfromtheconsistentlackofbenefitofepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ‐directed therapy in patients with KRAS codon 12 mutations, the implications of KRAS mutations are unclear with respect to prognostic and predictive value. The most common mutation in BRAF involves the substitution of a glutamic acidforvalineatposition600(V600E)ofexon15;thisoccursinupto 15% of patients with colon cancer. 1 The predictive value of a BRAF mutationforbenefitfromEGFRinhibitorsisunclear;some 2-4 butnot all 5 reports demonstrate decreased response to EGFR inhibitors. In contrast to the conflicting prognostic data for KRAS mutations, multiple studies link the presence of BRAF mutations to poor prognosis relative to their BRAF wild-type counterparts in stage II and III disease, 6,7 as well as stage IV disease. 4,5,8,9 The interaction of BRAF mutations with known positive prognostic indicators such as microsatelliteinstability(MSI)islessclear,butsuggestsanattenuatingeffect. For example, despite the data that report improved prognosis in patients with microsatellite unstable tumors (MSI-H), BRAF may act as a sort of trump card, with worsened prognosis in a subset of patients withMSI-H,BRAFmutantcoloncancer. 9,10 Inaretrospectiveanalysis of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) trial 89803, an adjuvant chemotherapy trial for stage III colon cancer, patients with MSI-H and concomitant BRAF mutation had an intermediate prognosisflanked on one side by the poor survival that has been exhibited
Holocene coastal glaciation of Alaska

Holocene #uctuations of the three cirque glaciers on the Seward Peninsula and "ve groups of tidewater- and land-terminating glaciers along the northernmost Gulf of Alaska, provide a proxy record of late Holocene climatic change. Furthermore, the movements of the coastal glaciers were relevant to late Holocene native American migration. The earliest expansion was recorded about 6850 yr BP by Hubbard Glacier at the head of Yakutat Bay in the Gulf of Alaska; however, its down-fjord advance to the bay mouth was delayed until &2700 BP. Similarly, expansions of the Icy Bay, Bering, and McCarty glaciers occurred near their present termini by &3600}3000 BP, compatible with marked cooling and precipitation increases suggested by the Alaskan pollen record. Decrease in glacier activity &2000 BP was succeeded by advances of Gulf coastal glaciers between 1500 and 1300 BP, correlative with early Medieval expansions across the Northern Hemisphere. A Medieval Optimum, encompassing at least a few centuries prior to AD 1200 is recognized by general retreat of land-terminating glaciers, but not of all tidewater glaciers. Little Ice Age advances of land-based glaciers, many dated with the precision of tree-ring cross-dating, were centered on the middle 13th or early 15th centuries, the middle 17th and the last half of the 19th century A.D. Strong synchrony of these events across coastal Alaska is evident. ( 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Modulation-scale analysis for content identification

For nonstationary signal classification, e.g., speech or music, features are traditionally extracted from a time-shifted, yet short data window. For many applications, these short-term features do not efficiently capture or represent longer term signal variation. Partially motivated by human audition, we overcome the deficiencies of short-term features by employing modulation-scale analysis for long-term feature analysis. Our analysis, which uses time-frequency theory integrated with psychoacoustic results on modulation frequency perception, not only contains short-term information about the signals, but also provides long-term information representing patterns of time variation. This paper describes these features and their normalization. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our long-term features over conventional short-term features in content-based audio identification. A simulated study using a large data set, including nearly 10 000 songs and requiring over a billion audio pairwise comparisons, shows that modulation-scale features improves content identification accuracy substantially, especially when time and frequency distortions are imposed.
An analysis approach to large-scale vehicular network simulations

Advances in parallel simulation capabilities are now enabling the possibility of simulating multiple scenarios of large problem configurations. In emergency management applications, for example, it is now conceivable to consider simulating phenomena in large (city- or state-scale) vehicular networks. However, an informed understanding of simulation results is needed for real-time decision support tools that make use a number of simulation runs. Of special interest are insights into trade-offs between accuracy and confidence bounds of simulation results, such as in the quality of predicted evacuation time in emergencies. In some of our emergency management projects, we are exploring approaches that not only aid in making statistically significant interpretations of simulation results but also provide a basis for presenting the inherent qualitative properties of the results to the decision makers. We provide experimental results that demonstrate the possibility of applying our approach to large-scale vehicular network simulations for emergency planning and management.
Lagrangian submanifolds and an application to the reduced Schrödinger equation in central force problems

In this Letter, a Lagrangian foliation of the zero energy level is constructed for a family of planar central force problems. The dynamics on the leaves are explicitly computed and these dynamics are given a simple interpretation in terms of the dynamics near the singularity of the potential. Lagrangian submanifolds also arise when seeking asymptotic solutions to certain partial differential equations with a large parameter. In determining such solutions, an operator between half densities on the Lagrangian submanifold and half densities on the configuration space is computed. This operator is derived for the given example, and the corresponding first order asymptotic solution to the reduced Schrodinger equation is given.
Toward Multivocality in Public Archaeology: Public Empowerment Through Collaboration

Archaeology, especially underwater and marine archaeology, stirs public interest like few other topics. The specter of solving the detective story is seen by the public as the ultimate adventure. Many are increasingly participating in global discourses about the meaning and importance of archaeological investigations and are drawn into public debates about underwater heritage protection and conservation. To meet this surging interest, public archaeologists in Florida and elsewhere are using collaborative approaches to devise effective strategies for conveying archaeological information and significance in both academic and public arenas. Successful programs empower and motivate lay persons to more active involvement. These programs move beyond the concept of the public as recipients or “customers” of interpretation to focus on active public participation and multivocality within archaeological and interpretation processes. Examples are given of this new focus: how non-academics or lay persons use and create new knowledge gained through professional/private collaboration.
Statistical Properties of Maximum Likelihood Estimators of Power Law Spectra Information

A simple power law model consisting of a single spectral index, a is believed to be an adequate description of the galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) proton flux at energies below 10(exp 13) eV, with a transition at the knee energy, E(sub k), to a steeper spectral index alpha(sub 2) greater than alpha(sub 1) above E(sub k). The Maximum likelihood (ML) procedure was developed for estimating the single parameter alpha(sub 1) of a simple power law energy spectrum and generalized to estimate the three spectral parameters of the broken power law energy spectrum from simulated detector responses and real cosmic-ray data. The statistical properties of the ML estimator were investigated and shown to have the three desirable properties: (P1) consistency (asymptotically unbiased). (P2) efficiency asymptotically attains the Cramer-Rao minimum variance bound), and (P3) asymptotically normally distributed, under a wide range of potential detector response functions. Attainment of these properties necessarily implies that the ML estimation procedure provides the best unbiased estimator possible. While simulation studies can easily determine if a given estimation procedure provides an unbiased estimate of the spectra information, and whether or not the estimator is approximately normally distributed, attainment of the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) can only he ascertained by calculating the CRB for an assumed energy spectrum-detector response function combination, which can be quite formidable in practice. However. the effort in calculating the CRB is very worthwhile because it provides the necessary means to compare the efficiency of competing estimation techniques and, furthermore, provides a stopping rule in the search for the best unbiased estimator. Consequently, the CRB for both the simple and broken power law energy spectra are derived herein and the conditions under which they are attained in practice are investigated. The ML technique is then extended to estimate spectra information from an arbitrary number of astrophysics data sets produced by vastly different science instruments. This theory and its successful implementation will facilitate the interpretation of spectral information from multiple astrophysics missions and thereby permit the derivation of superior spectral parameter estimates based on the combination of data sets.
Finding relevant functions in millions of lines of code

Source code search engines locate and display fragments of code relevant to user queries. These fragments are often isolated and detached from one another. Programmers need to see how source code interacts in order to understand the concepts implemented in that code, however. In this paper, we present Portfolio, a source code search engine that retrieves and visualizes relevant functions as chains of function invocations. We evaluated Portfolio against Google Code Search and Koders in a case study with 49 professional programmers. Portfolio outperforms both of these engines in terms of relevance and visualization of the returned results.
Competency: a concept analysis.

TOPIC. Concept analysis of competency. PURPOSE. The purpose of this concept analysis was to further explore uses of the concept and theoretically define how important the multidimensional aspects of competency are to the professional practice of nursing. SOURCE OF INFORMATION. Published literature. CONCLUSIONS. Competency is essential to the profession of nursing, and providing a clear theoretical definition of competency is only the first step. The competency of all nurses and healthcare providers must be assessed to provide safe care, protect the public, and maintain the credibility of nurses. Standards must be established and adhered to both in practice and evaluation of competency.
Threats and opportunities for freshwater conservation under future land use change scenarios in the United States

Freshwater ecosystems provide vital resources for humans and support high levels of biodiversity, yet are severely threatened throughout the world. The expansion of human land uses, such as urban and crop cover, typically degrades water quality and reduces freshwater biodiversity, thereby jeopardizing both biodiversity and ecosystem services. Identifying and mitigating future threats to freshwater ecosystems requires forecasting where land use changes are most likely. Our goal was to evaluate the potential consequences of future land use on freshwater ecosystems in the coterminous United States by comparing alternative scenarios of land use change (2001–2051) with current patterns of freshwater biodiversity and water quality risk. Using an econometric model, each of our land use scenarios projected greater changes in watersheds of the eastern half of the country, where freshwater ecosystems already experience higher stress from human activities. Future urban expansion emerged as a major threat in regions with high freshwater biodiversity (e.g., the Southeast) or severe water quality problems (e.g., the Midwest). Our scenarios reflecting environmentally oriented policies had some positive effects. Subsidizing afforestation for carbon sequestration reduced crop cover and increased natural vegetation in areas that are currently stressed by low water quality, while discouraging urban sprawl diminished urban expansion in areas of high biodiversity. On the other hand, we found that increases in crop commodity prices could lead to increased agricultural threats in areas of high freshwater biodiversity. Our analyses illustrate the potential for policy changes and market factors to influence future land use trends in certain regions of the country, with important consequences for freshwater ecosystems. Successful conservation of aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem services in the United States into the future will require attending to the potential threats and opportunities arising from policies and market changes affecting land use.
Ribosomal protein S27-like and S27 interplay with p53-MDM2 axis as a target, a substrate and a regulator

Several ribosomal proteins regulate p53 function by modulating MDM2. We recently found that RPS27L, a RPS27-like protein, is a direct p53-inducible target. Here we showed that RPS27 itself is a p53-repressible target. Furthermore, the N-terminal region of either RPS27L or RPS27 binds to MDM2 on the central acidic domain of MDM2. RPS27L or RPS27 forms an in vivo triplex with MDM2-p53 and competes with p53 for MDM2 binding. Similar to p53, RPS27L, but not RPS27, is a short-lived protein and a novel MDM2 substrate. Degradation of RPS27L requires the RING or acidic domain of MDM2. Ectopic expression of RPS27L or RPS27 inhibits MDM-2-mediated p53 ubiquitination and increases p53 levels by extending p53 protein half-life, whereas siRNA silencing of RPS27L decreases p53 levels by shortening p53 half-life, with a corresponding reduction in p53 transcription activity. RPS27L is mainly localized in the cytoplasm, but upon p53-activating signals, a portion of RPS27L shuttled to the nucleoplasm where it colocalizes with MDM2. Both the cytoplasmic and the nuclear p53, induced by ribosomal stress, were reduced upon RPS27L silencing. Our study reveals a multilevel interplay between RPS27L/S27 and p53-MDM2 axis, with RPS27L functioning as a p53 target, a MDM2 substrate and a p53 regulator.
Pd-Catalyzed TCE Dechlorination in Groundwater: Solute Effects, Biological Control, and Oxidative Catalyst Regeneration

The performance of a Pd-on-γ-Al2O3 catalyst for dechlorination of trichloroethylene (TCE) was evaluated in synthetic and real groundwater. Low initial TCE conversions were used to provide maximum sensitivity to changes in catalyst activity. TCE conversions of >24% were maintained in DI water for 60 days using 0.5 g of 1% (w/w) Pd-on-γ-Al2O3 and a retention time of 4.3 min. Slow catalyst deactivation was reversed by treatment with a dilute sodium hypochlorite solution. The presence of high concentrations of H2CO3, HCO3-, CO32-, SO42-, and Cl- did not adversely affect catalyst activity. TCE conversion increased 30% upon increasing the solution pH from 4.3 to 11. The presence of 87 mg/L SO32- or 0.4 mg/L HS- caused rapid catalyst deactivation, presumably due to chemisorption to active sites. Dilute sodium hypochlorite solutions regenerated catalysts deactivated by HS- and SO32-. Sulfate-reducing bacteria that developed in natural groundwater amended with H2 deactivated the catalyst, but activity was restored...
High Performance Firewalls in MANETs

Doing route selection based in part on source addresses is a form of policy routing, which has started to receive increased amounts of attention. In this paper, we extend our previous work on ROLF (ROuting as the Firewall Layer) to achieve source prefix filtering. This permits easy definition of “inside” and “outside”, even in MANET environment where there is no topological boundary. We present algorithms for route propagation and packet forwarding using ROFL, we measure its performance in a simulated environment with two different ad hoc routing protocols. Simulation results demonstrate that ROFL can significantly reduce unwanted packets without extra control traffic incurred, and thus improves overall system performance and preserves battery power of mobile nodes. ROFL is the first scheme to provide a concrete defense against some battery exhaustion attacks in MANETs. Moreover, it requires only minor changes to existing ad hoc network routing protocols, making it practical and feasible to be deployed in real world.
Parity Violating One Loop Six Point Function in Type I Superstring Theory

We evaluate in closed form the parity-violating one-loop six-point function with external gauge bosons in type-I superstring theory. The amplitude is proven finite for arbitrary internal symmetry. The axial-vector anomaly is obtained for general internal symmetry and is shown to vanish in the case of SO(32).
Photochemical etiology of promising ancestors of the RNA nucleobases

RNA is a product of chemical and biological evolution and the identification of its heterocyclic ancestors is essential for understanding the molecular origins of life. Among a diverse array of selection pressures thought to have shaped the composition of the nucleobases on prebiotic Earth, protection against intense ultraviolet radiation must have been essential. In this contribution, a detailed spectroscopic and photophysical investigation of barbituric acid and 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine, two promising candidates for the prebiotic ancestors of RNA nucleobases, is presented in aqueous solution. It is shown that although these pyrimidine derivatives absorb ultraviolet radiation strongly, both compounds possess efficient electronic relaxation mechanisms for dissipating most of the absorbed ultraviolet energy to their aqueous environment as heat within hundreds of femtoseconds, thus safeguarding their chemical integrity. In fact, these two heterocyclic compounds rival the photostability observed in the canonical nucleobases in aqueous solution, thus supporting the recent proposal that both barbituric acid and 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine are promising ancestors of the RNA nucleobases.
Gradient Characterizations of Analyticity

(1978). Gradient Characterizations of Analyticity. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 85, No. 5, pp. 333-337.
Effects of Erythrosin B on Hemocytes of the American Cockroach

Changes in levels of hemocytes occurred in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.) (Orthoptera: Blattidae), treated with the xanthene dye erythrosin B. Light-exposed, dye-injected roaches showed diminishing numbers of hemocytes at dosages from 0.068 and 0.244 mg of dye/g of body weight, resulting in reductions of nearly 11 and 40%, respectively; at an intermediate dosage, the reduction was ca. 26%. Light-exposed, dye-fed roaches also tended to have fewer hemocytes than untreated controls. Roaches held in darkness and either dye-fed or dye-injected tended to have higher levels of hemocytes in all cases except at the highest injected dose of 0.244 mg; at this dose there was a significant reduction of nearly 25%.
Interrelation of pH, temperature, and growth in the induction of pleomorphism in Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

There is a paucity of data on the effect of pH on the development of the pleomorphic mutant on the surface of granular strains of dermatophytic fungi, although some work has been reported on the interrelation of pH and growth of various species. Dermatophytic fungi exhibit the ability to grow at pH values of the medium between 4 and 10 (Stockdale, 1953a). An optimum pH for growth of around 6.0 has been reported for Trichophyton tonsurans (Swartz and Georg, 1955) and an optimum of slightly below 7.0 for T. persicolor (Stockdale, 1953b). Dermatophytic fungi also possess the ability to increase the alkalinity of the growth medium, apparently due to the release of ammonia (Georg, 1959). McVeigh and Campbell (1950) found that, when using casein hydrolysate, asparagine, or urea as the nitrogen source, three normal granular strains of T. mentagrophytes changed the pH from around 5.0 to 7.0 in 14 days while three mutant pleomorphic strains did not alter the pH of the growth media. Since the optimum experimental conditions of medium, temperature, and time of incubation required to promote the induction and growth of pleomorphic patches on the mycelium of certain granular strains of T. mentagrophytes are now known (Klein, 1964), the optimum pH for this phenomenon could be ascertained. It is of importance to determine whether there is a positive correlation between mycelial growth capacity and the appearance of pleomorphs. It seemed reasonable that manipulation of the hydrogen ion concentration of the medium might permit an evaluation of this basically important question. This paper, therefore, reports the results of a study on the effects of pH and of temperature on dry weight yield of a typical granular and two typical pleomorphic strains of Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Robin) Blanchard (Klein, 1963) and the relation of pH to the induction and development of the pleomorphic mutant.
Transactions in Suffering: Mothers, Daughters, and Chronic Disease Comorbidities in New Delhi, India

The biomedical definition of comorbidity belies the complexity of its lived experience. This article draws on case studies of women with diabetes and various comorbidities in New Delhi, India, to explore intergenerational transactions surrounding suffering in contexts of comorbidity. The analysis synthesizes sociological theories of chronic disease work, psychological theories of caregiver burnout, and anthropological approaches to suffering and legitimacy to explore how, when, and by whom women's comorbid sources of suffering become routinized in everyday life. The analysis demonstrates, first, that comorbid suffering is not simply a matter of the addition of a second source of suffering to an existing one; rather, it comprises complex interactions between suffering, disability, family dynamics, and quality of life. Second, it illustrates several social routes through which comorbid suffering can fade into the background of everyday life, even when it is severe. Close attention to how suffering works in cases of comorbidity will be important as comorbid conditions become increasingly commonplace around the world.
Process Matters: Notes on Bioethics Consultation

In order to successfully resolve ethical conflicts, bioethics consultants must pay attention to process and heed stakeholders’ perspectives and values.
Study on the clinical diagnosis and treatment for tracheobronchial foreign bodies with electron-bronchoscopy

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics,diagnosis and treatment for airway foreign bodies with electron-bronchoscopy in children.Methods We retrospectively summarized the data about airway foreign bodies that diagnosed by electron-bronchoscopy.Results There were 60 airway foreign bodies diagnosed by electron-bronchoscopy.The ages was from 20 days to 17 years,and the course was from 6 hours to 7 years.38 airway foreign bodies were located underⅡ or Ⅲ grade bronchus.Alimentary foreign bodies were 52 cases.Conclusion Trachea and bronchus foreign bodies are one of the pathogeny in chronic reactive respiratory diseases and they are discovered by electron-bronchoscopy.Electron bronchoscope plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment to children trachea and bronchus foreign bodies.
Copper(I) thiocyanate networks with aliphatic sulfide ligands

Abstract A total of five new CuSCN-L compounds with alkyl sulfide ligands, L = methyl sulfide (Me 2 S), ethyl sulfide (Et 2 S), isopropyl sulfide (Pr i 2 S) or tetrahydrothiophene (THT) have been prepared and characterized. X-ray crystal structures for four of the compounds were obtained. Two compounds were collected from solutions of CuSCN in Me 2 S: {[Cu(SCN)(Me 2 S) 2 ]} n ( 1a ) in the form of colorless blocks and (CuSCN)(Me 2 S) ( 1b ) as a white powder. Neat mixtures of CuSCN in the other alkyl sulfide ligands yielded only one product each: {[Cu(SCN)(Et 2 S)]} n ( 2 ); {[Cu(SCN)(Pr i 2 S)]} n ( 3 ); and {[Cu(SCN)(THT) 2 ]} n ( 4 ). Crystals of 2 and 4 underwent destructive phase changes at lower temperatures. Two networks types were observed: 1:2 decorated 1-D chains ( 1a and 4 ) and 1:2 decorated 1-D ladders ( 2 and 3 ). Further network formation through bridging of the organic sulfide ligands was not observed.
Class Age-Structured Epidemic Models

This chapter introduces and studies class-age structured models. These include models structured by age-since-infection, age-since-recovery, etc. The chapter first derives and studies an SIR model with age-since-infection and mass action incidence. A reproduction number is derived, and its threshold properties are explained. A time-since-recovery model is introduced. Destabilization of this model is studied, and oscillatory solutions are presented. Numerical methods for class-age structured models are introduced. Matlab code for simulations is given.