cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ensemble-mean dynamics of the ENSO recharge oscillator under state-dependent stochastic forcing

(1) In this paper, the conceptual recharge oscillator model for the El Nino-Southern Oscillation phenomenon (ENSO) is utilized to study the influence of fast variability such as that associated with westerly wind bursts (WWB) on dynamics of ENSO and predictability. The ENSO-WWB interaction is simply represented by stochastic forcing modulated by ENSO-related sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies. An analytical framework is developed to describe the ensemble-mean dynamics of ENSO under the stochastic forcing. Numerical ensemble simulations verify the main results derived from the analytical ensemble-mean theory: the state-dependent stochastic forcing enhances the instability of ENSO and its ensemble spread, generates asymmetry in the predictability of the onsets of cold and warm phases of ENSO, and leads to an ensemble-mean bias that may eventually contribute to a climate mean state bias. Citation: Jin, F.-F., L. Lin, A. Timmermann, and J. Zhao (2007), Ensemble-mean dynamics of the ENSO recharge oscillator under state-dependent stochastic forcing, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L03807, doi:10.1029/2006GL027372.
The relaxation time heuristic for the initial transient problem in M/M/k queueing systems

Abstract The relaxation time heuristic is a technique for reducing initialization bias in Monte-Carlo simulation of stationary, infinite-capacity, Markovian queueing systems. It differs from many existing methods in that no preliminary simulation runs are required; it is based on characteristics of the underlying theoretical model. We present results of experiments designed to validate the technique for estimating, with virtually no added cost, the steady-state expected number of customers in M/M/k queueing systems.
Impact on perioperative outcomes of concomitant hiatal hernia repair with laparoscopic gastric bypass.

Background The role of laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair (LHHR) at the time of laparoscopic Roux-en-y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is still debatable. This study aims to assess the safety of concomitant LHHR with LRYGB.
Pyrimidine nucleosides of the furanose form of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose.

Abstract Partial demercaptalation of 2-deoxy-2-(trifluoroacetamido)- D -glucose diethyl dithioacetal yielded ethyl 2-deoxy-1-thio-2-(trifluoroacetamido)-α- D -glucofuranoside (2). This compound was also prepared by deacetylation of ethyl 2-acetamido-3,5,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-1-thio-α- D -glucofuranoside followed by treatment of the product with S-ethyl trifluorothioacetate. Acetylation of 2, followed by treatment with chlorine, gave 3,5,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-(trifluoroacetamido)- D -glucofuranosyl chloride (6), which was condensed with bis(trimethylsilyl)cytosine to give 1-[3,5,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-(trifluoroacetamido)-β- D -glucofuranosyl]cytosine (7). Compound 7 was deacylated with methanolic ammonia to give 1-(2-amino-2-deoxy-β- D -glucofuranosyl)cytosine, isolated as the sulfate. Condensation of 6 with bis(trimethylsilyl)-thymine yielded 1-[3,5,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-(trifluoroacetamido)-β- D -glucofuranosyl]thymine, which was deacylated with methanolic ammonia to give 1-(2-amino-2-deoxy-β- D -glucofuranosyl)thymine, isolated as the hydrochloride.
Identification and genetic mapping of bovine chemokine genes expressed in epithelial cells

RNA fingerprinting by arbitrarily primed (RAP)-PCR was used to identify two bovine genes that were differentially expressed in epithelial cells during an inflammatory response. RNA fingerprints revealed two differentially amplified transcripts when monolayers of Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells were stimulated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in combination with cycloheximide (CX). Sequence analysis showed that both transcripts encoded members of the alpha C-X-C chemokine family; one was interleukin 8 (IL-8), and the other was a protein closely related to bovine growth-regulated protein (GRO)-gamma (89% identical). The latter putative epithelial cell inflammatory protein was designated ECIP-1. IL-8 and ECIP-1 genes were placed on the cattle genetic map with single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers amplified from genomic DNA. Multi-point linkage analysis indicated that the gene locations were indistinguishable from those of serum albumin (ALB) and vitamin D-binding protein (GC) on bovine Chromosome (BTA) 6. In humans, ALB and GC are located near IL-8, GRO-gamma, and seven other alpha chemokines on Chr 4 (HSA 4q11-4q13), suggesting that this gene cluster has been conserved on BTA6. These results provide a starting point for characterizing allelic variation in chemokine genes and their role in the pathogenesis of bacterial infections in cattle.
Social Media Data Analytics Applied to Hurricane Sandy

Social media websites are an integral part of many people's lives in delivering news and other emergency information. This is especially true during natural disasters. Furthermore, the role of social media websites is becoming more important due to the cost of recent natural disasters. These online platforms are usually the first to deliver emergency news to a wide variety of people due to the significantly large number of users registered. During disasters, extracting useful information from this pool of social media data can be useful in understanding the sentiment of the public, this information can then be used to improve decision making. In this paper, we developed a prototype that automates the process of collecting and analyzing social media data from Twitter. Furthermore, we explore a variety of visualizations that can be generated by the tool in order to understand the public sentiment. We demonstrate an example of utilizing this tool on the Hurricane Sandy disaster between October 26, 2012 to October 30, 2012. Finally, we perform a statistical analysis to explore the causality correlation between an approaching hurricane and the sentiment of the public.
A detailed model for simulation of catchment scale subsurface hydrologic processes

A catchment scale numerical model is developed based on the three-dimensional transient Richards equation describing fluid flow in variably saturated porous media. The model is designed to take advantage of digital elevation data bases and of information extracted from these data bases by topographic analysis. The practical application of the model is demonstrated in simulations of a small subcatchment of the Konza Prairie reserve near Manhattan, Kansas. In a preliminary investigation of computational issues related to model resolution, we obtain satisfactory numerical results using large aspect ratios, suggesting that horizontal grid dimensions may not be unreasonably constrained by the typically much smaller vertical length scale of a catchment and by vertical discretization requirements. Additional tests are needed to examine the effects of numerical constraints and parameter heterogeneity in determining acceptable grid aspect ratios. In other simulations we attempt to match the observed streamflow response of the catchment, and we point out the small contribution of the streamflow component to the overall water balance of the catchment.
Bluff response to wave action

Abstract The unconsolidated materials forming the bluffs along the coasts of the Great Lakes are subject to active wave erosion which results in losses in millions of dollars annually due to property damage and reduction in property values. An understanding of the mechanics of bluff recession and the long-term trends in the evolution of coastal bluffs is required for an evaluation of engineering and management solutions for the problems created by retreating coastal bluffs. Bluff retreat is usually analyzed and measured from airphotos. However, since airphotos are taken at discrete points in time they are not capable of providing a full account of bluff retreat mechanisms. Field investigations, coupled with analytical methods, can enable investigators to identify patterns of bluff retreat. These patterns, subsequently incorporated into slope evolution models, shed light on data obtained over long periods from airphotos. The present paper explains recession rates and bluff profile changes as measured from airphotos with the help of bluff evolution models already established for the bluffs forming the Great Lakes shorelines.
On the Vlasov Limit for Systems of Nonlinearly Coupled Oscillators without Noise

We discuss the application to systems of coupled nonlinear oscillators of methods originally developed for the Vlasov-Poisson equations of plasma kinetic theory. These methods lead to a simple but rigorous derivation of the infinite-oscillator limit for the well-known Kuramoto model, and also to a compact proof of global existence and uniqueness of solutions to the resulting Kuramoto-Sakaguchi equations. Vlasov-limit techniques can also be adapted to prove a central limit theorem for statistical ensembles of systems of oscillators. However, we emphasize that the noiseless Kuramoto model itself is strictly deterministic, and that the Kuramoto-Sakaguchi equations can be formulated without any reference to a stochastic distribution of oscillator frequencies.
Gemcitabine, paclitaxel, and radiation for locally advanced pancreatic cancer: a Phase I trial.

Abstract Purpose: To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicities of gemcitabine, paclitaxel, and concurrent radiation for pancreatic cancer. Methods and Materials: Twenty patients with locally unresectable pancreatic cancer were studied. The initial dose level was gemcitabine 75 mg/m 2 and paclitaxel 40 mg/m 2 weekly for 6 weeks. Concurrent radiation to 50.4 Gy was delivered in 1.8 Gy fractions. The radiation fields included the primary tumor, plus the regional peripancreatic, celiac, and porta hepatis lymph nodes. Results: Dose-limiting toxicities of diarrhea, dehydration, nausea, and anorexia occurred in 3 of 3 patients at the second dose level of gemcitabine, 150 mg/m 2 /week. An intermediate dose level of gemcitabine, 110 mg/m 2 /week, was added, but gastrointestinal toxicity and pulmonary pneumonitis were encountered. The MTD therefore was gemcitabine 75 mg/m 2 /week with paclitaxel 40 mg/m 2 /week and concurrent radiation. Two of 11 patients treated at the MTD had Grade 3/4 toxicity. Four of 10 assessable patients treated at the MTD responded (40%), including one pathologic complete response. Conclusion: The maximum tolerated dosage of gemcitabine is 75 mg/m 2 /week with paclitaxel 40 mg/m 2 /week and conventional 50.4 Gy radiation fields. A Phase II Radiation Therapy Oncology Group study is under way.
Forecasting and hindcasting waves with the SWAN model in the Southern California Bight

Abstract The Naval Research Laboratory created a wave forecasting system in support of the Nearshore Canyon Experiment (NCEX) field program. The outer nest of this prediction system encompassed the Southern California Bight. This forecasting system is described in this paper, with analysis of results via comparison to the extensive buoy network in the region. There are a number of potential errors, two of which are poor resolution of islands in the Bight—which have a strong impact on nearshore wave climate—and the use of the stationary assumption for computations. These two problems have straightforward solutions, but the solutions are computationally expensive, so an operational user must carefully consider their cost. The authors study the impact of these two types of error (relative to other errors, such as error in boundary forcing) using several hindcasts performed after the completion of NCEX. It is found that, with buoy observations as ground truth, the stationary assumption leads to a modest increase in root-mean-square error; this is due to relatively poor prediction of the timing of swell arrivals and local sea growth/decay. The model results are found to be sensitive to the resolution of islands; however, coarse resolution does not incur an appreciable penalty in terms of error statistics computed via comparison to buoy observations, suggesting that other errors dominate. Inaccuracy in representation of the local atmospheric forcing likely has a significant impact on wave model error. Perhaps most importantly, the accuracy of directional distribution of wave energy at the open ocean boundaries appears to be a critical limitation on the accuracy of the model-data comparisons inside the Bight.
Replicase-mediated resistance

Abstract Transformation of a plant with a DNA sequence derived from a gene encoding a viral replicase can endow it with a high level of resistance to the virus. To date, plants have been made resistant to tobacco mosaic virus, pea early browning virus, cucumber mosaic virus and potato virus X. It is considered that expression of replicase-derived sequences at the protein level interferes with normal functioning and/or assembly of viral replicase enzyme complexes leading to a general, marked inhibition of viral replication in the cells of these transgenic plants. Analogous studies of animal viruses in tissues culture cells indicate that mutants of viral-encoded replication-associated proteins can act as inhibitors of virus replication. This paper discusses the present status and future prospects for the control of virus disease using sequences derived from viral genes encoding replicase and replication-associated proteins.
Thymoma of the Left Thymic Lobe with a Contralateral Small Pleural Implant Successfully Detected with Diffusion-weighted MRI:

Thymoma is the most common primary neoplasm of the anterior mediastinum. At diagnosis, up to 40% of patients present with advanced disease. Because advanced thymomas receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging is crucial to plan the correct treatment. For characterizing thymomas, CT is the first choice modality, whereas 18F-FDG/PET is reserved for questionable cases and MRI is not routinely employed. Hereby, we describe a case of thymoma with a single contralateral pleural implant in a 30-year-old woman. The small pleural thickening detected at CT was correctly interpreted as pleural seeding related to thymoma at diffusion-weighted (DW)-MRI after a negative 18F-FDG/PET scan, and was subsequently confirmed at surgery. Precise diagnosis and accurate preoperative staging are crucial in managing thymic epithelial tumours in order to design the appropriate treatment and improve prognosis. Indeed, when stage IVa for pleural seeding is diagnosed preoperatively, a multimodality approach including primary chemotherapy followed by surgery and postoperative radiotherapy/chemotherapy is recommended. This is the first report that used DW-MRI for the characterization of pleural seeding in thymoma and demonstrates that DW-MRI could be useful for the correct pre-operatory staging in thymoma patients, especially in cases with indeterminate pleural thickenings at CT, in order to define the correct management.
Prediction of atmospheric dispersion of pollutants in an airport environment

In this article we discuss the development of a methodology to predict atmospheric turbulent dispersion of pollutants generated from air traffic in an airport. It is based on the Lagrangian stochastic model (LSM), developed by Das and Durbin [2005. A Lagrangian stochastic model for dispersion in stratified turbulence, Physics of Fluids 17, 025109]. The approach is via the backward trajectory formulation of the model. The sources and receptors in an airport type problem are modeled as spheres and procedures have been derived for concentration calculation by both forward and backward trajectory methods. Some tests are performed to highlight certain features of the method. The turbulence statistics that are required as input are provided in terms of similarity profiles. The airport domain is partitioned to make the required search algorithms efficient. Pollutant concentration profiles are calculated over a range of meteorological data.
RESULTS OF A ROCKET EXPERIMENT DESIGNED TO MEASURE DIURNAL VARIATION OF ATMOSPHERIC OZONE

Abstract The rocket-borne ozonesonde, developed by the Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory, White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), N. Mex., has been deployed for the study of diurnal variation of ozone in the stratosphere and mesosphere. Five ozonesondes were rocket launched in January 1968 within a 24-hr period, and the data obtained showed ozone variations between day and night above the main ozone peak (22 km). The ozone concentration in the upper stratosphere increased during the night and decreased during the day. A significant decrease in the ozone concentration was observed after sunrise. A Mast electrochemical ozonesonde was also flown during this 24-hr period to compare the data from the two systems in the region of overlap.
Finite-density nonhomogeneous newtonian cosmologies

Approximate self-consistent solutions are obtained to the coupled Vlasov and Poisson equations for a system of self-gravitating point masses subject to a general nonuniform, but spherically symmetric, initial condition. The method of solution, which is essentially the variational determination of a trial distribution function by the application of Hamilton's principle to the trial Lagrangian, is capable of interesting generalization, but, as used here, does not allow for the escape of mass. The model describes cosmologies, or evolving star clusters, in which the usual cosmological principle is modified: Isotropy and homogeneity are approximate symmetries in the interior of the system only, while, to present approximation, the Hubble law is still exact. The model agrees with the major observational results of homogeneous isotropic cosmologies, but differs from them in predicting finite (infinite) oscillations of the central density $\ensuremath{\rho}(0)$ in the gravitationally bound (unbound) case and, in all cases, a finite maximum density $\ensuremath{\rho}{(0)}_{max}$. The equation for $\ensuremath{\rho}(0)$ is that of the average density in homogeneous, but not isotropic, rotating cosmologies. The value of $\ensuremath{\rho}{(0)}_{max}$ is constrained observationally only by a requirement of compatibility with the 3\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K blackbody radiation, which yields the lower limit $\ensuremath{\rho}{(0)}_{max}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}21}$ g ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$.
Leaf Area Consumption of Cotton, Peanuts, and Soybeans by Adult Graphognathus peregrinus and G. leucoloma

In laboratory tests, leaf area consumed by adult Graphognathus peregrinus (Buchanan) averaged 0.30, 0.72, and 0.92 cm2/day for cotton, peanut, and soybean foliage, respectively. Graphognathus leucoloma (Boheman) consumed 1.40 and 2.17 cm2/day of peanut and soybean foliage, respectively. In field cage tests, populations of 50 or more G. leucoloma /plant caused a significant reduction in total leaf area of R3 soybeans and reduced total pod production. Populations of 10 G. peregrinus /V5 soybean plant caused a significant reduction in total leaf area but did not significantly reduce yield.
A College of Education Dean Looks at a Romance Language Program

A critique of the teaching program outlined by members of the Department of Romance Languages of Ohio State University in these columns in the previous volume.)
Gestational age–specific risks vs benefits of multicourse antenatal corticosteroids for preterm labor

Objective The purpose of this study was to estimate a gestational age threshold at which the benefits of treatment with weekly courses of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) during preterm labor outweigh the risks. Study Design Risk-benefit ratios by gestational age were determined with the use of a Markov microsimulation decision-analysis model with a 1-week cycle length. Single course and multiple (weekly to a maximum of 4) courses of ACS by gestational age of entry (23 weeks to 31 weeks 6 days' gestation) were compared. Benefits were composite events (respiratory distress syndrome, chronic lung disease, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or stillbirth) averted. Risks were small head circumference and small for gestational age. Results More composite events are averted (benefits) than risks acquired (ratio, 6:1) when multiple courses of ACS are initiated at 26 weeks' gestation. When multiple courses of ACS are initiated at 29 weeks' gestation, the risk-benefit ratio is 1. Beyond 29 weeks, there is a suggestion of more risk than benefit. Conclusion The model suggests that multiple courses of ACS that are initiated at
Identifying factors of online news comments

The purpose of this project was to identify the factors which should be studied based on the available components of the online comments and using available data analysis tools. The factors were the geographic locations, the number of readers' recommendations as a sentimental indicator, and top phrases of the comments. The selected news story was the execution of Troy Davis reported by The New York Times on September 21, 2011 (Severson, 2011). Troy Davis, an African American, was convicted of murdering an off-duty police officer in Savannah, Georgia in 1989. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the appeal despite worldwide opposition to Davis's death sentence. This story was selected due to the significant international level of attention it received, and the topic of “death penalty.” There were 1527 comments collected on December 22, 2011, 60 days after the story was published online. The comments were classified into 2-tier geographic categories based on the 4 regions and 9 divisions defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. The preliminary results indicated that the geographic locations, the number of readers' recommendations as a sentimental indicator, and top phrases of the comments were appropriate research factors for studying online news comments.
Abstract PR-8: Development of a multiplex panel of putative biomarkers for assessing pharmacodynamic effects of anticancer therapies targeting apoptosis.

Background: Regulators of apoptotic cell death are high interest targets for cancer therapy, and several mechanism-based investigational agents in clinical development directly target the molecular components of apoptosis pathways. We have undertaken development of a multiplex assay of candidate biomarkers of this mechanism for quantifying the commitment, onset, and induction of apoptosis by both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Quantitation of these pharmacodynamic biomarkers in early clinical trials will assist hypothesis testing and confirm the intended mechanism of action of investigational agents. The panel may also be adaptable to diagnostic applications to identify patients most likely to respond to a particular apoptosis inducer. Methods: The panel being developed includes quantitative determinations of Bcl-xl, Mcl-1, Survivin, Smac dimer, cleaved Lamin-B, active/total Caspase-3, BIM, and six oligomeric forms of Bax and Bak with Bcl2 family proteins in lysates of tumor biopsies. Calibrators for oligomeric proteins, which are formed in vivo by the non-covalent association of BH3 domain proteins, are being developed as recombinant fusion proteins. The housekeeping gene GAPDH is used as an internal control. The multiplex, sandwich immunoassay is built on the Luminex® xMAP technology platform using MagPlex bead, which allows for significant automation in the detection of multiple proteins in a 96-well plate format, with increased sensitivity, smaller sample volumes, and less preparation time. Results: Suitable, high quality capture antibodies against proteins in the panel as well as detection antibodies labeled with fluorescent dyes have been identified and tested for sandwich formation using recombinant calibrators and cell lysates. Capture and reporter antibody pairings are currently standardized for optimal assay performance. The feasibility of developing several oligomeric calibrators (among Bak-Bcl-xl, Bak-Mcl-1, Bak-Bak, Bak-Bax, Bax-Bax, and Bax-Bcl2) as recombinant fusion proteins has been established. Conclusions: The proposed multiplex panel represents the most comprehensive selection of putative biomarkers for the apoptosis pathway, to date. Our strategy to quantify oligomeric forms of Bcl-2 family proteins in tumor lysates represents a novel approach since it evaluates a pathway based on alterations in protein dynamics, instead of the levels of various proteins. Once developed, validated, and fit to purpose, the panel will facilitate drug discovery and the real-time pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of drugs targeting apoptosis. Funded by NCI Contract No HHSN261200800001E. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr PR-8.
The Significant Association Between Punitive and Compensatory Damages in Blockbuster Cases: A Methodological Primer

This article assesses the relation between punitive and compensatory damages in a data set, gathered by Hersch and Viscusi (H-V), consisting of all known punitive damages awards in excess of $100 million from 1985 through 2003. It shows that a strong, statistically significant relation exists between punitive and compensatory awards, a relation that replicates similar findings in nearly all other analyses of punitive and compensatory damages. H-V's claim that no significant relation exists between punitive and compensatory awards in these data appears to be an artifact of questionable regression methodology.
Raccoon rabies: the re-emergence of an epizootic in a densely populated area

Abstract Investigation of sporadic or isolated cases of rabies was encouraged in the 1950s by the implementation of a national surveillance system for reporting of rabies cases. Low level enzootic disease was recognized in several wild species during this period, including a small focus of rabies in raccoons in Florida. Phylogenetic analysis of the virus transmitted by rabid raccoons and reconstruction of the early history of raccoon rabies in the United States suggests that rabies was present in these animals long before its recognition by the public health community and that the emergence of raccoon rabies as a major threat to public health was the result of several natural and human-mediated events. In recent years, reports of raccoon-human contact and rabies in raccoons have increased as changes in human demographics and land development have concentrated raccoon populations in urban and suburban settings. In addition to the natural spread of rabies from Florida to raccoon populations in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina, a separate focus in the northeastern states is believed to have been caused by the translocation of raccoons from the southeast to Virginia and West Virginia. Oral vaccination of wild species may be an important adjunct to traditional rabies control measures in the management of this disease in the future.
METAPHORS AND THE PEJORATIVE FRAMING OF MARGINALIZED GROUPS: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION

Although the importance of metaphors is described in the social work literature, few articles or books in the profession have considered the role of metaphors in social policy, especially in providing a negative frame within which marginalized groups can be considered. This negative framing naturally supports aversive social policies designed to control the behaviors or opportunities of such groups. This article describes both the importance of metaphors within the political arena and the role of dehumanizing metaphors in fostering a receptive environment for these aversive policies. Policy practice that includes advocating for vulnerable community groups requires the ability to analyze and shed the light of reason on these metaphors.
Development of Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells Is Driven by the c-Rel Enhanceosome

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are essential for maintaining immune homeostasis. Although Foxp3 expression marks the commitment of progenitors to Treg cell lineage, how Treg cells are generated during lymphocyte development remains enigmatic. We report here that the c-Rel transcription factor controlled development of Treg cells by promoting the formation of a Foxp3-specific enhanceosome. This enhanceosome contained c-Rel, p65, NFAT, Smad, and CREB. Although Smad and CREB first bound to Foxp3 enhancers, they later moved to the promoter to form the c-Rel enhanceosome. c-Rel-deficient mice had up to 90% reductions of Treg cells compared to wild-type mice, and c-Rel-deficient T cells were compromised in Treg cell differentiation. Thus, Treg cell development is controlled by a c-Rel enhanceosome, and strategies targeting Rel-NF-kappaB can be effective for manipulating Treg cell function.
Oral cortisone in intractable bronchial asthma: Preliminary report

Abstract 1.1. Three patients received cortisone acetate tablets orally for severe, chronic, intractable bronchial asthma. 2.2. Each patient experienced prompt relief from symptoms of bronchial asthma which had been continuously present, in the first patient for three months; in the second, for two months; and in the third, for six months. 3.3. With proper dosage, symptomatic relief was confined to the period during which oral cortisone was administered. 4.4. Except for an initial gain in weight and also an initial decrease in urinary output in one patient, there were no hormonal or other side effects.
A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF CONTEXTUALIZATION AND FAMILIARIZATION ON RESPONSES TO THE TOEFL VOCABULARY TEST ITEMS

In an effort to evaluate criticisms of the current TOEFL® vocabulary item format and to ascertain the comparative effectiveness of alternative vocabulary test item formats, the present study investigated the functioning of eight different multiple-choice formats that differed with regard to the length and inference-generating quality of the stem, with regard to the nature of the task (matching versus supply), and with regard to the degree of passage embeddedness of item stems or response options. In all, 1,040 vocabulary test items (80 familiarization items and 960 experimental items) were developed and administered in counterbalanced clusters to a total participating sample of 190 adult English-as-a-second-language students (99 persons with a controlled prior 75-minute familiarization activity and 91 with no familiarization activity) at two language institutes. These two levels of familiarization were examined to ascertain effects of familiarization on performance with the eight item types. Also, self-reports of levels of prior exposure to particular item types were correlated with actual performance with those item types. Results indicated that, for the present sample of persons and items, the current TOEFL vocabulary item format performed comparatively well in terms of appropriateness of difficulty, mean internal consistency reliability, and criterion-related validity. Such performance came in spite of earlier suggestions that current item stems may be too long, lack inference-generating information about the meaning of the targeted vocabulary, and place undue reliance on matching rather than supply format. Among alternative item formats considered, only items embedded in reading passages appeared to outperform current TOEFL vocabulary format in terms of estimates of both reliability and criterion-related validity. Use of an item format that differed from current TOEFL vocabulary format only in the uniform presence of inference-generating information in the item stem and in reduction of mean length of stem also slightly outperformed current TOEFL vocabulary item format in terms of the particular criterion validity indicated by correlation with vocabulary total score; however, these correlational differences did not quite attain statistical significance. In general, multiple-choice items using stems with underscored target vocabulary in context performed better than did either multiple-choice single-word-or-phrase matching tasks or multiple-choice supply-type items. Participation in the familiarization activity did not relate significantly or differentially to performance with any item type. However, self-reports of familiarity with particular item types suggested that some types were more familiar than others, and the three most familiar item types, including current TOEFL vocabulary format, exhibited a significant positive correlation between self-report of familiarity with the item type and successful performance with the item type.
Efficient cepstral normalization for robust speech recognition

In this paper we describe and compare the performance of a series of cepstrum-based procedures that enable the CMU SPHINX-II speech recognition system to maintain a high level of recognition accuracy over a wide variety of acoustical environments. We describe the MFCDCN algorithm, an environment-independent extension of the efficient SDCN and FCDCN algorithms developed previously. We compare the performance of these algorithms with the very simple RASTA and cepstral mean normalization procedures, describing the performance of these algorithms in the context of the 1992 DARPA CSR evaluation using secondary microphones, and in the DARPA stress-test evaluation.
Parallel Labeling of Three-Dimensional Clusters on Networks of Workstations

Cluster algorithms have application in diverse areas, including statistical mechanics of polymer solutions, spin models in physics, and the study of ecological systems. Most parallel cluster labeling algorithms are designed for SIMD and MIMD multiprocessors and based on relaxation methods. We present a parallel 3-D cluster labeling algorithm based on mapping tables, for distributed memory environments. The proposed algorithm focuses on minimizing interprocess communication to enhance execution performance on workstation networks. We implemented the algorithm with the aid of theEcliPSeparallel replication toolkit, exploiting special tree-combining and data reduction features of the system. We report on performance results for experiments conducted on workstation clusters.
Effects of unmixed and mixed presentation upon verbal mediating responses

Unmixed and mixed presentation of sets representing the mediation and control forms of two three-stage paradigms was studied by presenting sets representing only one form of one paradigm in the unmixed-task conditions (UT) or by presenting both mediation and control sets of one paradigm for the mixed-task conditions (MT). The sets displaying the mediation and control forms of one paradigm, the chaining model, were schematized as A-B, B-C, A-CDE, and A-B, X-C, A-CDE, respectively. The mediation and control forms of the other paradigm, the response equivalence model, were B-C, B-A, A-CDE, and X-C, B-A, A-CDE. The three stages of a set were shown successively before the first stage of the next set was presented. Mediated responding on the test trials was greater under UT than under MT for the chaining paradigm and was greater under MT than under UT for the response equivalence paradigm.
Evidence for stable interstitial and substitutional sites of cobalt in gold from Mössbauer studies

Abstract Two interstitial models are suggested, and the predicted equilibrium concentrations are compared with experimental measurements of the zero-phonon fraction of samples quenched from various temperatures. Transition rates between the substitutional and the interstitial sites appear to be diffusion limited. The existence of a 〈100〉 impurity dumbbell is favored by all available information.
Serial Frozen Section of Whole Brain

During the past decade, reconstructions of monkey brains lesioned or implanted for behavioral studies have been time consuming. The imbedding process especially has taken precious months that delay completion of an otherwise finished study. To overcome this difficulty the present method, developed for rapid location of electrode implant sites, was modified to allow serial analysis of whole monkey brains. At the time Ss are sacrificed their brains are perfused with 10% formalin. The brain is then fixed for a week in 10% formalin ( a rat brain requires only 48 hr.), neutralized with chalk or CaC1: after which a small unwanted portion, caudally or rostrally, is cu: away and a small metal pin is inserted to form a guide hole through the entire length of brain. The brain is then placed in 20% alcohol for 36 hr. If a Technicon is available or a Lipshaw Tissue Plunger and Rotator, the time can be shortened to 12 hr. When ready co section, the metal pin is removed and the brain is frozen, using a freezing block in which dry ice is evaporated in 70% alcohol. For most work, a modification of the type furnished by the American Optical Co. is advantageous. The well is enlarged to permit greater circulation of the alcohol and better temperature control. The mounting base for the brain in the well is made removable and interchangeable so that other mounting bases of varying diameters can be used for different size brains or tissue blocks. Sections are floated in 20% alcohol and mounted onto prepared glass slider with the aid of a sable brush. Sections adhere to the slides beccer if Mayer's fixative is applied the day before needed, and the slides incubated at 37OC overnight. The slides can be nutnbered at this time, using Labink, which after it has dried overnight does not come off during any staining process. An entire monkey brain can be sectioned, requiring 5 to 7 hr. of fairly constant temperame control. In this instance, a single, large, thick piece of dry ice is used. If it is of such diameter and height chat, as it melts, it fills the entire freezing well around the mounted brain and yet retains the same height as the brain, a more even temperature is obtained. Thus, as one sections, the ice melts just fast enough to clear the edge of the knife as it is drawn across. Intermittent cutting, as well as uneven freezing, resulcs in poor sections. This is especially true of larger mounts where not only the temperature but the sectioning should be fairly constant.
Ocular neuromyotonia in a patient with cavernous sinus thrombosis secondary to mucormycosis.

Purpose To report a case of ocular neuromyotonia occurring after cavernous sinus thrombosis secondary to mucormycosis. Methods Case report. We performed serial comprehensive neuro-ophthalmologic examinations. Results Fifteen months after initial total ophthalmoplegia of the right eye and complete right upper eyelid ptosis, isolated ocular neuromyotonia, characterized by episodic upward jerking movements of the right upper eyelid, was noted. Conclusion Ocular neuromyotonia, which usually manifests in patients with a history of intracranial tumors and cranial radiation, may also be secondary to infectious cavernous sinus thrombosis.
Chloropalladation of 1-aryl-ω-methylenebicyclo[n.1.0]alkanes

Abstract The chloropalladation of 1-aryl-ω-methylenebicyclo[n.l.0]alkanes affords a mixture of (1-aryl-3-chloro-2-methylenecycloalkyl) - and (3-aryl-3-chloro-2-methylenecycloalkyl)palladium chloride dimers in excellent yield. These products have been characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The regioselectivity of the chloropalladation appears to be dependent on ring strain, steric hinderance and to some extent, the ability of the aryl substituent to stabilize partial positive charge.
Histologic findings in free-ranging Sarasota Bay bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) skin: mercury, selenium, and seasonal factors.

Full-thickness epidermal biopsy samples were collected from free-ranging common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Sarasota Bay, Florida, USA. Season (summer or winter) of collection, mercury (Hg) concentration, and selenium (Se) concentration were compared to histologic parameters. Epidermal Hg concentration was positively related to age (P<0.001) and negatively related to height of the stratum spinosum (P<0.05). The mitotic index and heights of the stratum externum and intermedium were lower in summer than in winter (P<0.01). Transmission electron microscopic examination revealed variation in the diameters (60–138 nm) and arrangements of collagen fibers, regardless of age or concentrations of Hg and Se. The significance of the variation in height of the stratum spinosum and the perivascular collagen degeneration to dolphin health need further investigation.
Relationship between lead exposure, cognitive function, and drug addiction: Pilot study and research agenda

Abstract Lead toxicity has been associated with behavioral handicaps, reading disability, antisocial and hyperactive behavior, juvenile delinquency, and impaired cognition. In addition, preclinical studies suggest an association with drug addiction; e.g., animals treated with lead either pre- or postnatally self-administer opiates at a much higher rate than untreated animals. Iron deficiency further increases the risk of lead toxicity through enhanced absorption of lead in the gastrointestinal tract. Female injection drug users have a high prevalence of iron deficiency, although the question remains as to whether this relationship is either a partial function of high lead exposure or heroin use. Specific aims were to preliminarily determine whether female injection heroin users have high tibial lead concentrations, a marker for cumulative lead exposure, compared with normal reference populations, and whether cognitive deficits potentiated the relationship between lead exposure and frequency of heroin use. Tibial lead concentrations were measured via 109Cd-based K-shell X-ray fluorescence. In 26 female injection heroin users, mean (standard deviation (SD)) tibial lead concentration was 14.5 (6.8) μg/(g bone mineral), which was 1.8 times higher than the tibial lead concentration found among age-adjusted normal community-dwelling women. Interaction effects of tibial lead concentration and selected cognitive functions on frequency with which heroin was used were significant. Further research is warranted to determine whether a history of lead exposure is associated with increased proclivity to drug addiction.
A Norm against Student Questions

(1981). A Norm against Student Questions. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 55, No. 3, pp. 136-139.
Scheduling a permutation flow shop with family setups to minimise total tardiness

This paper presents several procedures for scheduling a permutation flow shop with family setups when the objective is to minimise total tardiness. These procedures are tested on several problem sets with varying numbers of families, jobs, and machines, three setup time distributions, and various levels of due date tightness and variability. The results show that variable greedy algorithms are effective when solving small problems, but a neighbourhood search procedure that includes searches with a neighbourhood defined by the sequence of batches of jobs belonging to the same setup family is more effective when solving large problems. Results are also presented, showing that significant reductions in total tardiness can be obtained if the time required to perform the family setups is reduced.
Noninvasive evaluation of hepatic fibrosis using frequency demodulation of ultrasound signals.

A new ultrasound image can be produced by frequency demodulation (FM) of the conventional ultrasound signal. This new FM image appeared to produce a more accurate representation of the fine structure of the liver. The individual features of the FM image were correlated with hepatic portal fibrosis and cirrhosis on liver biopsy in 34 patients with minimal hepatic fat and sinusoidal collagen. An overall ultrasound score correlated with portal fibrosis (r=0.788;P<0.001). We conclude that the FM image may be helpful in measuring and following the progression of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease.
A Test of Reinforcer Forms With Flaps.

Summary.-An experiment in which a new group, verbal-conditioning device (reinforcer form) was used was essentially replicated but with a modification of the reinforcer forms. The modification, involving paper flaps that conceal all symbols except those where S is working, was designed to make the experimental contingencies more analogous to the usual operant and respondent ones. Earlier results, showing the simultaneous operation of evaluative words as operant and respondent reinforcers, were confirmed. From an experiment introducing a new group, verbal-conditioning device (reinforcer form), Abell (1969a) concluded that a word can reinforce concurrently in both an operant and a respondent manner. However, as he suggested, the reinforcer forms that he used "do not provide contingencies completely analogous to the usual operant and respondent ones since S using one of these forms can see both 'future' stimuli lower on the page and the results of his past responses above" ( p. 132). The present study was designed to rectify this deficiency through the use of forms which preclude surveying by Ss. The hypotheses were the same as those of an earlier scudy (Abell, 1969a), i.e., that "the tendency to respond to CVCs followed by positive words is greater than that to CVCs followed by negative words" and that "CVCs preceding positive words are rated as more pleasant than those preceding negative words" (p. 126).
Stripping foils at RHIC

Abstract There are two major science programs at the relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC). These are the heavy ion programs, which collide beams of fully stripped ions, and the polarized proton program. A wide variety of stripper foils and carbon targets are used throughout the RHIC accelerator chain to facilitate these collisions. Each stripper and target has unique properties and functions. Those characteristics will be discussed, as well as recent efforts to improve their performance.
Stability patterns and trophic structure in a Delaware Bay plankton community.

Abstract Using qualitative loop analysis we have extended our examination of a Delaware Bay plankton community to include an investigation of the roles played by the various entities (population, guild or nutrient) in the community. IN an entity removal exercise, we used stability relationships as a probe into community structure. Six types of stability change are possible as a result of entity removal from the system: stable to stable (s → s); stable to unstable (s → u); stable to disconnected (s → d); unstable to stable (u → s); unstable to unstable (u → u); unstable to disconnected (u → d). Using these changes as an investigative tool, we found that in order to account for the stability-instability patterns, it was necessary to construct a refined trophic structure model. The observed connections between the entities in the larger model could be grouped into two different types of stability substructures: a simple pattern and a more complex branching pattern. These patterns map easily onto the refined trophic structure model. Using stability analysis it is also possible to model community structure in ways other than the traditional trophic approach. Patterns of system necessity and relative contribution to stability are observed. These patterns match the refined trophic structure model derived previously. The roles that the various entities play in the overall community were followed over an annual cycle. Entities were seen to change their roles as a function of time and status within a subgroup. These results show that stability determinations have the potential to be used as a valuable tool in community analysis.
Scaling Criteria for Slider Miniaturization Using the Generalized Reynolds Equation

The current trend in the magnetic storage industry is the reduction of the slider size and the height at which the sliderflies over a rigid disk. Lower flying heights are achieved by miniaturizing sliders and reducing the normal load. In this paper, force scaling criteria are determined for 3370 and 3370K sliders that are dynamically loaded or operated in contact start/stop mode. Two forms of the generalized Reynolds equation (the first-order and continued fraction formulations) are incorporated into the analysis. The new scaling equation relates the steady-state flying height to design and operating parameters such as the disk velocity, normal load, ambient pressure, and the shape and dimension of the slider rail