cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DETERMINANTS OF JOURNEY TO WORK FLOWS: SOME EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

Theoretical models of residential location make the assumption that the crucial determinant of residential location is the employment linkage with the place of work. While the literature dealing with the journey to work is quite extensive, very little empirical evidence exists on the determinants of travel behavior by sex. The purpose of this paper is to provide some empirical results on the influence of various factors on the journey to work behavior by sex. The model was estimated using Zellner's seemingly unrelated regression technique and the empirical results confirm, in general, the theoretical model with significantly different influences across sex.
A dicistronic gene pair within a cluster of "EF-hand" protein genes in the genomes of Drosophila species.

Abstract Androcam is a Drosophila melanogaster calmodulin-related protein that functions specifically in the testis. We show that the Acam gene is part of a cluster of three intronless genes arranged in a head-to-tail manner. The additional genes also encode calmodulin-related proteins with testis-specific transcription. Acam and the 5′-most gene ( gene1 ) generate monocistronic transcripts. Surprisingly, the central gene ( gene2 ) is transcribed only as a dicistronic transcript with Acam. A similar cluster is found in D. yakuba . In D. pseudoobscura , the cluster contains four genes: two Acam -type genes downstream of a single gene related to both gene1 and gene2 and a fourth weakly related gene. Nevertheless, the D. pseudoobscura cluster also generates a dicistronic transcript from a gene pair analogous to the gene2 – Acam pair. A cotranscribed gene1/2 – Acam gene pair may be the founding feature of this locus. Although Acam protein is present in D. melanogaster and D. pseudoobscura testes, cognate proteins for the gene1/2- type ORFs are not detectable by immunoblotting and mass spectrometry techniques.
Application of the fusion reactor to thermochemical-electrochemical hybrid cycles and electrolysis for hydrogen production from water

Abstract Current studies of hydrogen production from water by thermochemical-electrochemical hybrid cycles and electrolysis are being done with particular attention to their application to the use of fusion energy. Eight hybrid cycles are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria: (1) thermodynamics, (2) experimental performance, (3) process design, (4) applicability of fusion reactors, and (5) possibility of commercialization in about five years. Current commercial technologies are presented for low temperature electrolysis of water; research and development efforts on the advanced alkaline water electrolyzer and the solid polymer electrolyzer are discussed; and the possibility of water electrolysis by advanced power cycles using fusion reactor energy is examined.
Morphine induced changes in ethanol-and water-intake are attenuated by the 5-HT3/4 antagonist tropisetron (ICS 205-930)

The opiate agonist morphine has been shown to increase ethanol intake and mesolimbic dopamine (DA) levels. Conversely, the 5-HT3/4 antagonist tropisetron has been shown to decrease ethanol intake and morphine-induced increases in mesolimbic DA levels. This study was designed to test the effects of acutely administered tropisetron on morphine-induced changes in ethanol (6% v/v) and water intake in a two-bottle test procedure. Ten water restricted male rats were injected with combinations of morphine (0.0, 0.56, 1.0, 1.5, 10.0, and 17.0 mg/kg, SC) and tropisetron (0.0, 1.0, 10.0, and 17.0 mg/kg, SC) prior to test sessions. Morphine (1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg) significantly increased absolute (g/kg) and relative ethanol intake (ethanol/total fluid). Tropisetron alone did not affect ethanol or water intake. When tropisetron (10.0 and 17.0 mg/kg) was administered in combination with morphine (1.5 mg/kg), the increase in ethanol intake induced by morphine was attenuated. Tropisetron (1.0 mg/kg) reversed a decrease in ethanol intake induced by morphine (17.0 mg/kg). The two highest doses of tropisetron partially attenuated a significant decrease in water intake produced by morphine (17.0 mg/kg). These data suggest that opiate and 5-HT3 mechanisms could interact in the regulation of ethanol intake. However, the doses of tropisetron tested were high and, therefore, the potential involvement of 5-HT4 receptors or other neurotransmitter systems in regulating ethanol intake is discussed.
The association of body mass index with Barrett's oesophagus.

Summary Background: Obesity has been linked to gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms and oesophageal adenocarcinoma; however, there is no published evidence for an association with Barrett's oesophagus. Aim: To investigate the association between obesity and Barrett's oesophagus. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients who underwent upper endoscopy at the Southern Arizona Veteran's Affairs Healthcare System between 1998 and 2004. We examined male patients without malignancy, with available information on weight and height. Based on endoscopic and histological findings, patients were classified as cases with Barrett's oesophagus or non-cases without Barrett's oesophagus. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association of body mass index and obesity with Barrett's oesophagus and Barrett's oesophagus length while adjusting for age and race. Results: There were 65 cases with Barrett's oesophagus and 385 non-cases without Barrett's oesophagus. The mean body mass index was significantly higher in cases than in non-cases (29.8 vs. 28.0, P = 0.03). Cases had significantly greater mean weight than controls (206 lb vs. 190,P = 0.005). The proportions of cases with body mass index 25–30 and body mass index ≥30 were greater than those in non-cases (44.6% vs. 37.7%) and (40.0% vs. 33.5%), respectively (P = 0.08). In the multivariable logistic regression model adjusting for race and age, when compared with body mass index < 25, the odds ratio was 2.43 (95% confidence interval: 1.12–5.31) for body mass index 25–30 and 2.46 (1.11–5.44) for body mass index ≥30. When examined as a continuous variable the adjusted odd ratio for each five-point increase in body mass index was 1.35 (95% confidence interval: 1.06–1.71, P = 0.01). The association between weight and Barrett's oesophagus was also statistically significant (adjusted odd ratio for each 10 pound increase = 1.10, 1.03–1.17, P =0.002). Among the 65 cases of Barrett's oesophagus, there was no correlation between the length of Barrett's oesophagus at the time of diagnosis and the body mass index (correlation coefficient = 0.03, P = 0.79). Conclusion: This retrospective cross-sectional study in male veterans shows that overweight is associated with a two-and-half-fold increased risk of Barrett's oesophagus. Larger studies of the underlying mechanism are warranted to better understand how and why obese patients are at greater risk for Barrett's oesophagus.
Isotope Effect in Superconductivity

Calculations of the coefficient representing the isotope effect in superconductors are carried out and results tabulated. The calculated and experimental values for this coefficient compare favorably. It is found that differences between the isotopic effects in transition metuls and simple'' metals can be explained in terms of band structure. (T.F.H.)
Eliminating duplicates under interval and fuzzy uncertainty: An asymptotically optimal algorithm and its geospatial applications

Geospatial databases generally consist of measurements related to points (or pixels in the case of raster data), lines, and polygons. In recent years, the size and complexity of these databases have increased significantly and they often contain duplicate records, i.e., two or more close records representing the same measurement result. In this paper, we address the problem of detecting duplicates in a database consisting of point measurements. As a test case, we use a database of measurements of anomalies in the Earth's gravity field that we have compiled. In this paper, we show that a natural duplicate deletion algorithm requires (in the worst case) quadratic time, and we propose a new asymptotically optimal O(n⋅ log (n)) algorithm. These algorithms have been successfully applied to gravity databases. We believe that they will prove to be useful when dealing with many other types of point data.
Jobs, sex, love and lifestyle: when nonstutterers assume the roles of stutterers.

Purpose: This study assessed the impact of stuttering via a questionnaire in which fluent individuals were asked to assume the mindset of persons who stutter (PWS) in various life a
Performance of 64x64 MWIR super lattice light-emitting diode (SLED) array for IR scene generation

We designed and fabricated 64x64 supper lattice light emitting diode (SLED) array with peak emission wavelength of 3.8 micron. The light emission is observed from the bottom side of the device through the substrate. The CMOS driver circuit is fabricated in the 130 nm IBM 8HP SiGe process. The unit cells were designed to source up to 100mA to the LED. These unit cells can be individually addressable, and have analog drive and memory that can operate at a 1 kHz array refresh rate. We use supper lattice epitaxial active region LED structures grown on n-type GaSb substrates. After initial mesa etching and contact metal deposition, the LED array is flip chip mounted on the LCC package. The light emission is observed from the LED array by InSb focal plane MWIR camera and the apparent black body temperature is measured.
Simulation of the failure mechanisms of quasi-brittle materials

Abstract One of the major technical interests for quasi-brittle materials is the failure mechanism under uniaxial or triaxial loading, or under some other standard tests such as beam bending specimen and compact specimen. Recent research has led to development of formal procedures for predicting damage behavior of quasi-brittle material using computational simulation in the tests mentioned above. These procedures have subsequently been programmed into a computer module and thus have helped the researcher have a general direction of what the corresponding experiment will be. The objective of this paper is to present and describe results obtained using meso- or micro-mechanical simulation of quasi-brittle materials such as concrete and ceramic. Typical results show that the presented method provides a less expensive alternate to understanding the failure mechanisms of quasi-brittle materials.
Seeded growth of AlN on SiC substrates and defect characterization

Abstract In this study, seeded sublimation growth of aluminum nitride (AlN) on SiC substrates was investigated. Large diameter (15–20 mm) and thick (1–2 mm) AlN layers were demonstrated on Si-face, 3.5° off-axis 6H-SiC (0 0 0 1). A c-axis growth rate of 15–20 μm/h was achieved at 1830 °C, and the surface morphology was highly textured: step features were formed with a single facet on the top of the layer. High-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and molten KOH/NaOH etching were employed to characterize the AlN layers. The AlN crystals grew highly orientated along the c-axis, however, the impurities of Si (3–6 at%) and C (5.9–8 at%) from the SiC changed the lattice constants of AlN and shifted the AlN (0 0 .2) 2θ value from pure AlN toward SiC. All the growth surfaces had Al-polarity and the dislocation density decreased from 108 to 106 cm−2 as the film thickness increased from 30 μm to 2 mm.
River drainages and phylogeography: an evolutionary significant lineage of shovel-nosed salamander (Desmognathus marmoratus) in the southern Appalachians.

All models of speciation involve some mechanism for the separation of biological populations that eventually leads to the formation of new species. In the case of aquatic species, biological evolution is often coincident with geological evolution, because populations can become geographically isolated among river systems as drainage morphologies evolve. Thus, for species that are completely restricted to aquatic habitats (e.g., Wshes), river drainages provide a powerful framework for reconstructing phylogeny and historical biogeography (Avise, 1994). The southern region of the Appalachian mountains is a model setting for investigating the historical diVerentiation of populations in aquatic environments. The region’s communities and topography are very old as they were well south of the maximum extent of Pleistocene glaciation. The result has been the persistence of biota in the region and the opportunity for diversiWcation with time. For example, the Tennessee River system, which drains the western slopes and interior of the southern Appalachians, has the highest species richness and greatest number of endemic species of Wshes in North America (Jenkins et al., 1972; Starnes and Etnier,
Reactions of conjugated fatty acids. VIII. Dibasic acids by hydrogenation and oxidative cleavage

Conjugated linoleic acid can be hydrogenated as sodium soap in an aqueous or ethylene glycol solution with commercial nickel catalysts. Under suitable conditions the acid is reduced predominantly to monounsaturated acids with only a slight increase in saturated acids. An alkali-conjugation reaction mixture may be hydrogenated without isolating the conjugated acids. One set of conditions found suitable for hydrogenation is as follows: 10 g. of conjugated linoleic acid, 7 g. of sodium hydroxide, 250 ml. of water, and 0.05 g. of nickel placed under 40 p.s.i. hydrogen pressure and heated at 140°C. for 1 hour. Acids prepared from this reaction mixture have an iodine value of about 90. Oxidation and chromatographic analyses of the resultant dibasic acids indicate that with alkali-conjugated linoleic acid, 1,2, 1,4, and 3,4 addition of hydrogen take place with equal ease. The reduced acids contain 66%trans acids. Withtrans,trans conjugated linoleic acid, 1,4 addition takes place to a greater extent that 1,2 and 3,4 addition, and the reduced acids are allrans.
A balancing act: D4 receptor activation and the neurobiological basis of emotional learning.

The neural mechanisms by which emotionally significant memories are encoded and recalled, and their involvement in normal and disordered brain function, remain elusive. Glutamatergic projections from the basolateral amygdala (BLA) to the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are critically implicated in
Epicenter motion of an elastic half-space due to buried stationary and moving line sources*

Abstract A line source at (0,γ0) is buried in an elastic half-space (γ > 0) whose surface is free of stress. The source points in an arbitrary direction and excites both P and s waves within the solid. Exact expressions are found for the horizontal and vertical displacements along the y-axis. Wave front singularities are identified and curves are presented for the epicenter displacements. Next, the buried line source, starting at a depth h, is allowed to move downward with constant speed c. By using the dynamic reciprocal theorem, the epicenter displacements for the moving source problem are found in terms of an integral. Explicit expressions are then given for the epicenter velocities which are displayed graphically.
Temporal modulation transfer functions in patients with cochlear implants

Thresholds for the detection of amplitude modulation were measured in cochlear implant patients as a function of modulation frequency. Three types of threshold measures were taken: detection of amplitude modulation, detection of low‐frequency sinusoidal current waveforms, and detection of beats in two‐tone complexes. The temporal modulation transfer function (TMTF), defined as the plot of modulation detection thresholds as a function of modulation frequency, show low‐pass filter characteristics with similar cutoff frequencies for all three tasks. The similarity of these three measures suggests a common temporal mechanism. While modulation detection differs somewhat in normal‐hearing and implanted listeners, both exhibit the same general characteristics. The TMTFs are low pass with a cutoff frequency near 70 Hz for normal‐hearing listeners and near 140 Hz for implanted listeners. Patients with cochlear implants can best detect temporal modulation at modulation frequencies below 300 Hz, and are most sensitive to 80‐ to 100‐Hz modulation. At high carrier levels many implant patients could detect smaller modulation amplitudes than normal‐hearing listeners, a finding that is consistent with the smaller intensity DLs for some implanted listeners at high levels. These results demonstrate that, while implant listeners cannot discriminate steady‐state, high‐frequency stimuli, speech information might be conveyed by the envelope of the high‐frequency components of speech.
Paleoecological interpretation of a middle Pennsylvanian coal bed in the central Appalachian basin, U.S.A.

Abstract At least 180 small spore species assignable to 62 miospore genera have been identified from the Middle Pennsylvanian Hernshaw coal bed in southern West Virginia, and its stratigraphic equivalent, the Fire Clay coal bed, in eastern Kentucky. The established natural affinities of a majority of these miospore taxa indicate that the Hernshaw-Fire Clay peat swamp supported a diverse flora consisting of arborescent and “herbaceous” lycopods, ferns (tree-like and small varities), calamities and cordaites. Four floral groupings are recognized in the Hernshaw-Fire Clay coal bed. The inferred paleoecology and vertical stratification of each of these four floral groupings is similar in structure to the “phasic” floral communities found in modern domed peat systems, suggesting that the ancient Hernshaw-Fire Clay peat swamp was a domed deposit. Compositional characteristics (petrographic make up, ash yield and sulfur content) associated with the four groupings are consistent with, and support this interpretation. Where uninterrupted by inorganic partings, the Hernshaw-Fire Clay coal bed commonly contains basal coal layers dominated by Lycospora -bearing arborescent lycopods, with successive increments showing a progression to a more fern- and “herbaceous”-lycopod-dominant flora in younger layers. These observations are corroborated by petrographic analyses, which show the bed to be compositionally stratified. Increments dominated by Lycospora have high vitrinite contents, in contrast to increments containing increased percentages of fern- and “herbaceous”-lycopod-affiliated taxa that are enriched in inertinite macerals. The volcanic ash fall, preserved as the flint-clay parting in the Hernshaw-Fire Clay coal bed, had a considerable effect on the development of the ancient Hernshaw-Fire Clay peat swamp. Besides interrupting peat formation, the presence of an inorganic substrate represent a major change in edaphic conditions within the swamp. This disruption is demonstrated by a change in palynflora and by the establishment and proliferation of some plant groups, notably cordaites and calamites, that may have been better adapted to growth on mineral soils. These palynologic and petrographic relationships, thought to be indicative of a domed peat-swamp origin, are not confined to the Hernshaw-Fire Clay coal bed, but appear to be characteristic of many coal beds in the Appalachian basin, and also of coal beds in other basins.
Application and calibration of a field-portable excitation-emission matrix fluorometer for analysis of environmental contaminants

A field portable, single measurement, excitation-emission matrix fluorometer is applied to five environmental analyses. All applications require the uses of multi-way spectral deconvolution and calibration methods in order to uniquely resolve the spectral profiles of the targets analytes from interfering fluorophores. A modified multi-way calibration methods are applied to extend the dynamic range of the fluorometer by permitting robust calibration in the presence of intense Rayleigh and Raman backgrounds and localized detector saturation. The multi-way resolution methods are applied to calibrate chemically induced fluorescence changes induced by a target analyte from that of a fluorescent probe designed for molecular recognition. The multi-way resolution and calibration methods are also applied to potential sensor design relying of photoinduced degradation to and form fluorescent products. The EEM and multi-way methods are finally demonstrated in determining binding constants and capacity factors for fluorescent metal-ligand interactions.
Cortico-limbic circuitry and the airways: Insights from functional neuroimaging of respiratory afferents and efferents

After nearly two decades of active research, functional neuroimaging has demonstrated utility in the identification of cortical, limbic, and paralimbic (cortico-limbic) brain regions involved in respiratory control and respiratory perception. Before the recent boon of human neuroimaging studies, the location of the principal components of respiratory-related cortico-limbic circuitry had been unknown and their function had been poorly understood. Emerging neuroimaging evidence in both healthy and patient populations suggests that cognitive and emotional/affective processing within cortico-limbic circuitry modulates respiratory control and respiratory perception. This paper will review functional neuroimaging studies of respiration with a focus on whole brain investigations of sensorimotor pathways that have identified respiratory-related neural circuitry known to overlap emotional/affective cortico-limbic circuitry. To aid the interpretation of present and future findings, the complexities and challenges underlying neuroimaging methodologies will also be reviewed as applied to the study of respiration physiology.
Pressure Dependence of the Paramagnetic Resonance Spectra of Two Dilute Chromium Salts

The pressure dependences of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters of trivalent chromium in ammonium aluminum alum and potassium cobalticyanide have been measured up to 10 000 kg/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ near room temperature. In the case of the alum, runs have been made at 0, 24 and 50\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The $g$-value remains unchanged while the crystalline field splitting, $\ensuremath{\delta}$, increases by \ensuremath{\sim}30%, ${(\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\delta}}{\ensuremath{\partial}P})}_{T}$ decreasing with rising temperature and pressure.
Welfare “Recidivism” among Former Welfare Recipients:

With welfare reform soundly launched and its effects already praised, it is time to examine its impact on former welfare recipients. A typology of adaptation to welfare—comprising dependency, supplementation, self-reliance, and autonomy—was developed based on former welfare recipients' financial status and employment status. An examination was also made of ways in which welfare recipients changed from more independent modes of adaptation (autonomy and self-reliance) to less independent modes (supplementation and dependency). Using longitudinal data extracted from a U. S. Department of Labor survey, event history analysis was applied to investigate changes in adaptation mode and factors contributing to these changes, among former welfare recipients across a period of 18 years. The investigation found that return to welfare was uncommon. Furthermore, the results show that nonpoor former recipients most often joined the ranks of the working poor because of welfare reform, ethnicity, education level, occupati...
Return current region aurora: E∥, jz, particle energization, and broadband ELF wave activity

[1] In this paper we consider ion heating in downward current, downward electric field, premidnight auroral regions. We show a case study, a test particle model, and a statistical study. The case study and statistical study use electron, ion, wave, and field-aligned current data and include wave spectra and ion pitch angle distributions. The ion pitch angle distribution functions are used to calculate, through the momentum balance equation, a self-consistent local parallel electric field. The test particle model shows ion pitch angle distributions and moments resulting from a “pressure-cooker” arrangement of magnetic and electric fields. This simple model can reproduce the ion pitch angle distributions and the moments of these distributions as seen in the statistical database; the parallel electric field calculated from these moments is consistent with the imposed electric field profile. The statistical database uses data from 23 premidnight auroral Fast Auroral Snapshot crossings. The statistical study shows that the ion to electron energy ratio varies from 1 to 10; the broadband ELF wave power is controlled by the local value of jz · E∥; the relationship between jz and E∥ is controlled by ni; and the wave power near the cyclotron frequency is sufficient to provide the observed ion energies for oxygen in all cases and the observed ion energies for hydrogen for events near the poleward edge. The strong correlation between the wave power and jz · E∥ validates the use of the ion distributions as a probe of the local E∥. As expected from theoretical arguments, the current-voltage relationship in these regions is seen to be controlled by the local ionospheric density. Allowing for suitable range in values of the density, the model can be applied to both strong return-current regions within the auroral cavity and weak-field regions at the poleward boundary.
Nitrogen-incorporated nanodiamond vacuum field emission transistor with vertically configured self-aligning gate

Abstract A vacuum field emission (VFE) transistor in vertical configuration with nitrogen-incorporated nanocrystalline-diamond emitters is presented. A novel self-aligned gate partition technique was utilized to construct the VFE device. The gate-controlled modulation of the emission current was demonstrated. A high emission current of 160 μA and a low gate turn-on voltage of 25 V were achieved. The device displayed high DC voltage gain of 1000 and negligible gate intercepted current, which are crucial features for microelectronic applications. Basic transistor characteristics with distinct cutoff, linear, and saturation regions were observed, revealing the practical application of the device for vacuum microelectronics and integrated circuits.
TEMPORAL TRENDS IN CARE AND OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS RECEIVING FIBRINOLYTIC THERAPY COMPARED TO PRIMARY PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION IN THE GET WITH THE GUIDELINES CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE (GWTG-CAD) REGISTRY

Timely reperfusion after STEMI improves survival. Guidelines recommend primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) within 90 min of presentation to a PCI capable hospital. The alternative is fibrinolytic therapy within 30 min of presentation. We identified STEMI patients receiving
Hydrolytic degradation of polyisobutylene and poly‐L‐lactide–based multiblock copolymers

The hydrolytic degradation of a series of poly-L-lactide (PLLA)-polyisobutylene (PIB) multiblock copolymers was studied in phosphate buffer solution (pH = 7.4) at 37 °C. The multiblock copolymers were synthesized by chain extension of PLLA-b-PIB-b-PLLA triblock copolymers, which were obtained by ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide initiated by hydroxyallyl telechelic PIB. The degradation strongly depended on the PLLA segment length. At constant PIB segment length, the multiblock copolymer with the shortest PLLA segment length (DPn = 10), showed significant weight loss after 8 weeks, whereas weight loss for DPn = 36 was only observed after 24 weeks. The gel-permeation chromatographic analysis showed a similar decrease in the number-average molecular weight (M n ) with time further supporting the weight loss data. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed a decrease in ultimate stress and modulus with time. The crystallinity of multiblock copolymers changed significantly with degradation time as indicated from differential scanning calorimetric analysis.
SAR vibrometry using fractional Fourier transform processing

A novel signal-processing approach is reported for vibrometry in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging systems. The approach exploits the conventional deramp process; however, in place of Fourier-transform processing we utilize the fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) as a processing tool. The FRFT is geared toward non-stationary signals and chirped sinusoids particularly. A simplified mathematical expression is developed to describe the reflectivity of the aimed patch of ground containing vibrating targets as a function of space and time. Under the approximation that the velocities of vibrating point targets are constant during each probing chirped pulse, it is shown that the returned echo after the deramp process is a superposition of sinusoids that are chirped according to the Doppler effects induced by the vibrating point targets. By applying the multiangle centered discrete fractional Fourier transform (MA-CDFRFT) to the demodulated echoes, the instantaneous velocities of the vibrating point targets are estimated from the two coordinates of each peak in the MA-CDFRFT's frequency-angle plane. By repeating this process where a sequence of successive pulses are used to interrogate the vibrating targets, the velocities of the targets are estimated in each pulse, thereby generating a piecewise-linear estimate of the history of the vibration velocity in time. Theoretical performance evaluation of the proposed technique is carried out using real SAR-system parameters and simulated vibrating targets. The interplay amongst minimum detectable velocity, maximum detectable vibration frequency, pulse duration and chirp rate is determined analytically.
The pathologic and immunologic response to inhaled trimellitic anhydride in rats

Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) is a chemical intermediate used in the paint and plastics industry. Inhalation of TMA can induce four types of syndromes in TMA workers; three are immunologically based whereas the fourth, an irritant syndrome, is nonimmunologic. To evaluate the potential inhalation hazard of TMA under controlled conditions, Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed 6 hr/day via inhalation to target concentrations of 0, 10, 30, 100, and 300 μg/m3 for varying durations. Two sets of rats received either 5 or 10 exposures and were terminated. A third set received 10 exposures, and was held 12 days and terminated. A fourth set received 10 exposures, and was held 12 days, challenged with a single 6-hr exposure, and terminated. A fifth set received 10 exposures, and was held 12 weeks and terminated. There were no effects after 5 exposures; however, after 10 exposures the following parameters were increased in a concentration-related manner: absolute and relative lung weights, external hemorrhagic lung foci, alveolar macrophage accumulation, alveolar hemorrhage, pneumonitis, and lung and mediastinal lymph node nonspecific IgG and complement (C3). The rats exposed and rested 12 days were nearly recovered from these effects; however, rats rested 12 days and subsequently challenged exhibited lesions similar to those seen immediately following exposure. Exposed rats rested 12 weeks were completely normal in all of the above parameters. The timing and nature of the lung lesions, along with the presence of lung IgG and complement, are consistent with some of the known aspects of TMA-induced lesions in humans, and are reflective of results obtained from other hypersensitivity pneumonitis models.
Fate of collateral vessels following subintimal angioplasty.

Purpose:To evaluate the fate of collateral vessels adjacent to and within the target lesion following subintimal angioplasty (SIA).Methods:Pre and postprocedural angiograms were reviewed for 29 patients undergoing SIA of the lower extremity arteries over a 3-year period. The number of patent collateral vessels ≤5 cm proximal to the occlusion (proximal segment) and ≤5 cm distal to the occlusion (distal segment) were recorded pre and postprocedurally and compared. In addition, the number of collateral vessels that were re-opened within the recanalized segment following SIA was counted.Results:The mean number of patent collaterals in the proximal segment was 1.9 (range 0–4) preprocedurally and 1.4 (range 0–4) postprocedurally (p<0.002). The mean number of patent collaterals in the distal segment was 1.9 (range 0–4) pre-procedurally and 1.0 (range 0–4) postprocedurally (p<0.0001). Previously absent collaterals within the recanalized segment were observed in 4 (14%) of 29 patients post-SIA. The mean number of ...
Where Should Critically Ill Neurologic Brain Hemorrhage Patients Go and Can Transfer Harm Them

The brain is a complex organ subjected to acute neurological emergencies requiring rapid specialized care. With the advent of rTPA for acute ischemic stroke, the concept of aggressive intervention in neurological emergencies has grown to encompass other types of neurological emergencies such as intracranial hemorrhage and traumatic brain injury. This change has been fueled by the emergence of specialists who run and work in specialty units like the Neurocritical care unit (NCCU). These units have been shown to reduce morbidity, mortality, and the length of stay for critically ill neurologic patients [1–3]. The improved care in these units is driven by two underlying factors. The availability of technological interventions that are performed in the context of neurological specialty units and the concentration of neurological patients in a single location were the judgment and experience of specialty providers results in better outcomes [1–3]. Brain hemorrhage of all types, including intracranial (ICH) and aneurysmal subarachnoid (aSAH), is a subset of acute neurological emergencies for which truly definitive neurological care is now done in the setting of the NCCU. As we see the convergence of patients suffering from brain hemorrhages into the NCCU, issues arise pertaining to the need to transfer these patients to the NCCU in a rapid manner. What is the effect of urgent treatment in the NCCU on improved outcome for these neurological emergencies? Does the risk of transfer, or delay of transfer, affect outcomes? Three articles published in Neurocritical care present findings which raise questions about the effects of transfer and delay of transfer on outcomes in patients with ICH and aSAH.
Passage rates of propagating interfaces in randomly advected media and heterogeneous media

The mean passage rate of a propagating interface, subject to random advection or random variation of the local propagation speed, is investigated analytically and computationally. A model representing the longitudinal propagation of two points of the interface separated by a fixed transverse distance is formulated and analyzed. In the limit of weak random perturbations, the model predicts several parameter dependences of the mean passage rate. These predictions are evaluated by performing two-dimensional and three-dimensional numerical simulations of interface propagation. The analysis addresses broadband (i.e., multiscale, as in turbulent flow) as well as narrow-band perturbations. In the broadband case, scaling laws governing transient as well as statistically steady propagation are derived. The numerical simulations span a sufficient range of perturbation amplitudes to exhibit the complete amplitude dependence of the mean passage rate, including scaling behaviors governing the weak and strong perturbation limits.
Expression and function of the neurotransmitter serotonin during development of the Helisoma nervous system

Exogenous serotonin has been shown to evoke a neuron-selective inhibition of neurite outgrowth and synaptogenesis in identified Helisoma neurons in vitro. We demonstrate here that serotonin is present in the embryonic nervous system of Helisoma and can act as a regulator of neuronal development in vivo Serotonin-like immunoreactivity was first observed in neurons at an early stage of nervous system development (E20). Throughout embryogenesis, the number of serotonin-immunoreactive neurons increased in a stereotypic pattern that was unique for each type of ganglion. Strikingly, the number of serotonin-immunoreactive neurons continued to increase throughout adult life. Transient perturbation of endogenous serotonin levels during embryogenesis had profound effects on the development of specific identified neurons. Embryos treated with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine and raised to maturity showed aberrations in neuronal morphology, neuronal dye coupling, and strength of electrical synaptic connections. These effects were restricted to neurons known to be sensitive to the growth-inhibitory effects of serotonin in vitro. These results support the hypothesis that neurotransmitters are an important class of regulatory factors during normal development of the nervous system.
The semiannual variation of great geomagnetic storms and the postshock Russell-McPherron effect preceding coronal mass ejecta

Recent results indicate that the intense southward interplanetary magnetic fields (IMFs) responsible for great storms can reside in the postshock plasma preceding the driver gas of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) as well as in the driver gas itself. It is proposed here that strong southward fields in the postshock flow result from a major increase in the Russell-McPherron polarity effect through a systematic pattern of compression and draping within the ecliptic plane. Differential compression at the shock increases the Parker spiral angle and, consequently, the azimuthal field component that projects as a southward component onto earth's dipole axis. The resulting prediction is that southward fields in the postshock plasma maximize at the spring (fall) equinox in CMEs emerging from toward (away) sectors. This pattern produces a strong semiannual variation in postshock IMF orientation and may account at least in part for the observed semiannual variation of the occurrence of great geomagnetic storms.
Organizational factors affect comparisons of the clinical productivity of academic anesthesiology departments

Productivity measurements based on per operating room (OR) site and per case are not influenced by staffing ratios and have permitted meaningful comparisons among small samples of both academic and private-practice anesthesiology groups. These comparisons have suggested that a larger sample would allow for clinical groups to be compared using a number of different variables (including type of hospital, number of OR sites, type of surgical staff, or other organizational characteristics), which may permit more focused benchmarking. In this study, we used such grouping variables to compare clinical productivity in a broad survey of academic anesthesiology programs. Descriptive, billing, and staffing data were collected for 1 fiscal or calendar year from 37 academic anesthesiology departments representing 58 hospitals. Descriptive data included types of surgical staff (e.g., academic versus private practice) and hospital centers (e.g., academic medical centers and ambulatory surgical centers [ASCs]). Billing and staffing data included total number of cases performed, total American Society of Anesthesiologists units (tASA) billed, total time units billed (15-min units), and daily number of anesthetizing sites staffed (OR sites). Measurements of total productivity (tASA/OR site), billed hours per OR site per day (h/ OR/d), surgical duration (h/case), hourly billing productivity (tASA/h), and base units/case were compared. These comparisons were made according to type of hospital, number of OR sites, and type of surgical staff. The ASCs had significantly less tASA/OR site, fewer h/OR/d, and less h/case than non-ASC hospitals. Community hospitals had significantly less h/OR/d and h/case than academic medical centers and indigent hospitals and a larger percentage of private-practice or mixed surgical staff. Academic staffs had significantly less tASA/h and significantly more h/case. tASA/h correlated highly with h/case (r = -0.68). This study showed that the hospitals at which academic anesthesiology groups provide care are not all the same from a clinical productivity perspective. By grouping based on type of hospital, number of OR sites, and type of surgical staff, academic anesthesiology departments (and hospitals) can be better compared by using clinical productivity measurements based on per OR site and per case measurements (tASA/ OR, billed h/OR/d, h/case, tASA/h, and base/case).
Synthesis and biologic studies of arabinosylcytosine 5'-methylphosphonate

Abstract Arabinosylcytosine (ara-C), a clinically useful antitumor agent, is ineffective against cells that have deleted deoxycytidine kinase, the enzyme necessary for conversion of ara-C to its active nucleotide form. To circumvent this resistance, arabinosylcytosine-5'-methylphosphonate (ara-CMeP) was synthesized as an analogue of ara-CMP that would be membrane-permeable, resistant to serum phosphatase attack, and resistant to nucleoside deaminase inactivation. Ara-CMP was inhibitory to leukemia P388 in vitro but required concentrations 90-fold greater than that of ara-C for comparable cell inhibition. Both ara-CMeP and ara-CMP were competitive inhibitors of dCMP kinase from leukemia L1210 with K i values of 4.0 × 10 −3 and 4.4 × 10 −3 M respectively. However, ara-CMP is a substrate for dCMP kinase, whereas ara-CMeP was not. Thus, the inability of ara-CMeP to be phosphorylated precludes its usefulness as a functional analogue of ara-CMP.
Anaesthetic implications of hereditary angioneurotic oedema.

Ľosdeme angioneurotique hereditaire (HANE) presents le danger ďaedeme larynge qui peut, parmi ďautres causes, etre declenche par ľanesthesiste manipulant les voies aeriennes. Ľanesthesie locale et regionale sont souvent recommandes. Cette histoire de cas concerne un patient qui tolera avec succes ľanesthesie generate endotracheal et dont la conduite compre-nait un pre-traitement prophylactique avec le danazol ainsi que des plasmas pre congeles.
Modeling and characterization of deep trench isolation structures

In this paper, we present a simple equivalent electrical circuit model and sidewall interface characterization results for a deep trench isolation structure. The trench structures used in the study consisted of n-silicon/undoped trench/n-silicon. The trenches were filled with undoped polycrystalline silicon and the trench sidewall was lined with thermal oxide and a deposited silicon nitride. The capacitance‐voltage characteristics across the trench were measured and compared against the model predictions. The circuit model includes the effect of the space-charge region and recombination‐generation currents in the undoped polycrystalline silicon trench fill material. The Terman method was used to extract the silicon/oxide sidewall interface density and the mid gap value was found to be less than 10 210 #/cm 2 -eV. q 2001
Small effective population size in the long‐toed salamander

The effective population sizes ( N e ) of six populations of the long-toed salamander ( Ambystoma macrodactylum ) from Montana and Idaho, USA were estimated from allozyme data from samples collected in 1978, 1996 and 1997 using the temporal allele frequency method. Five of the six estimates ranged from 23 to 207 (mean = 123 ∠ 79); one estimate was indistinguishable from infinity. In order to infer the actual N e of salamander populations, we compared the frequency distribution of our observed N e estimates with distributions obtained from simulated populations of known N e . Our observed N e estimate distribution was consistent with distributions from simulated populations with N e values of 10, 25, and 50, suggesting an actual N e for each of the six salamander populations of less than 100. This N e estimate agrees with most other N e estimates for amphibians. We conclude by discussing the conservation implications of small N e values in amphibians in the context of increasing isolation of populations due to habitat fragmentation.
Exact Decoding for Jointly Labeling and Chunking Sequences

There are two decoding algorithms essential to the area of natural language processing. One is the Viterbi algorithm for linear-chain models, such as HMMs or CRFs. The other is the CKY algorithm for probabilistic context free grammars. However, tasks such as noun phrase chunking and relation extraction seem to fall between the two, neither of them being the best fit. Ideally we would like to model entities and relations, with two layers of labels. We present a tractable algorithm for exact inference over two layers of labels and chunks with time complexity O(n2), and provide empirical results comparing our model with linear-chain models.
Feasibility of Reducing the Duration of Placebo-Controlled Trials in Schizophrenia Research

Use of placebo-controlled trials in medical and psychiatric research has been controversial, although a consensus is emerging about conditions under which placebo-controlled trials are ethical. In schizophrenia research, the paradigm of slow onset of antipsychotic effects has led to a model in which placebo-controlled trials of 6-8 weeks duration have been used to demonstrate efficacy. Recent evidence that the largest symptom reductions are typically seen in the first weeks of treatment suggests that shorter placebo-controlled studies to demonstrate antipsychotic efficacy are possible. In a pilot study of the feasibility of shortening placebo-controlled studies, we reanalyzed data from placebo-controlled registry trials of olanzapine and risperidone and found that trials as short as 4 weeks could have similar power to longer term 6-8 week studies, given the estimated time course of treatment effects. Although fuller evaluation is required, the results suggest future antipsychotic trials could be shortened from 6-8 weeks to 3-4 weeks with a relatively low increase in sample size requirements. Shortening placebo-controlled trials would reduce patient burden and ethical objections to prolonged administration of placebo and reduce potential bias due to high dropout rates in longer clinical trials.
Sensorpedia: Information sharing across incompatible sensor systems

The concept of adapting social media technologies is introduced as a means of achieving information sharing across incompatible sensor systems. Historical examples of interoperability as an underlying principle in loosely-coupled systems is compared and contrasted with corresponding tightly-coupled integrated systems. Examples of ad hoc information sharing solutions based on Web 2.0 social networks, mashups, blogs, wikis, and data tags are presented and discussed. The underlying technologies of these solutions are isolated and defined, and Sensorpedia is presented as a formalized application for implementing sensor information sharing for enterprises with incompatible sensor systems.
Reliable and valid: A procedure for establishing item-level interrater reliability for child maltreatment risk and safety assessments

Child protective service caseworkers need validated instruments to assist them in assessing safety and risk factors for child maltreatment. The literature provides growing evidence that actuarial risk assessments can be valid tools for classifying families according to risk of future maltreatment. However, compared to validity, we know less about the reliability of both whole assessments and individual items. In this study we tested interrater reliability for 108 individual risk and safety items. We used 31 realistic case vignettes for testing. Each item was completed six times for each vignette. Fifty-four caseworkers and supervisors participated in rating, generating a total of 20,088 ratings for analysis. To determine item reliability, we used measures of prevalence and percentage agreement and the Fleiss's kappa statistic. RESULTS show that interrater reliability varies widely from item to item. Items with higher prevalence and items documenting demographics, current CPS system involvement, substance abuse, or mental health issues tend to be most reliable. We provide an overview of the testing process, which is replicable in other contexts. We also discuss implications for child protective services practice and for developing or revising risk and safety assessment instruments.