cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment of distal ureteral stones in children: similarities to the american urological association guidelines in adults.

Purpose: The American Urological Association (AUA) published clinical guidelines for the treatment of ureteral calculi in adults and note that up to 98% of stones less than 5 mm. in diameter will pass spontaneously. Ureteroscopy and shock wave lithotripsy were acceptable treatment choices for stones less than 10 mm. in diameter in the distal ureter. We reviewed our management of distal ureteral stones in children to see if the AUA Guidelines for adults would apply.Materials and Methods: A total of 14 males and 19 females with a mean age of 12 years (range 0.5 to 17) required hospitalization in the last 6 years for distal ureteral obstruction due to stones. Excretory urography or computerized tomography was performed in all cases, and mean stone size was 4 mm. (range 1 to 15). When stones did not pass spontaneously most patients were treated with ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy.Results: There were 12 (36%) with a mean age of 11 years and a mean stone size of 2 mm. (range 1 to 3) who passed stones spontaneo...
Association between linear skull fractures and intracranial hemorrhage in children with minor head trauma

To determine whether skull fractures can be used to associate intracranial hemorrhage with minor head trauma (MHT). We conducted a retrospective study evaluating the association between linear skull fractures and intracranial hemorrhage among children with MHT. Furthermore, we evaluated the significance of small intracranial hemorrhages by assessing the need for neurosurgical interventions. The case group included 114 children with a diagnosis of a linear skull fracture and the control group included 125 children without the diagnosis. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses to estimate the odds ratio (OR) between linear skull fractures and intracranial bleeding. Among the cases, 29 of 114 (25%) children were diagnosed with an intracranial hemorrhage on CT, compared to only 14 of 125 (11%) among the controls. The multivariable OR for intracranial hemorrhages comparing cases and controls adjusted for age and gender was 2.17 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01, 4.68). All the intracranial hemorrhages were small (3.8 ± 2.3 mm) and none of them required any neurosurgical intervention. The presence of a linear skull fracture is an independent risk factor for intracranial hemorrhage. However, all the intracranial hemorrhages associated with the skull fractures were small and did not require any neurosurgical interventions.
SOME INSIGHTS ON ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN FOR SAFE ELDERLY PEDESTRIAN TRAVEL

This paper presents insights into the relationship between road infrastructure and elderly pedestrian involvement in traffic accidents. We combine insights from empirical studies involving the probability of a pedestrian accident with insights from studies involving the probability of injuries to elderly pedestrians who are involved in vehicle-pedestrian accidents. The combined insights provide some direction to the methodology for identifying non-motorized improvements for supporting safe elderly travel. The results of the study indicate that after controlling for vehicle volumes, road infrastructure variables posing the greatest risk of pedestrian accidents in urban corridors include the presence of center turning lanes, traffic signal spacing exceeding 0.5 miles and roadway illumination. Center turning lanes indicate the presence of long corridors which may induce elderly pedestrians especially to attempt to cross roadways mid-block using center turning lane sections as refuges. Presence of traffic signals provides reduced pedestrian accident risk if the spacing is less than 0.5 miles. Especially for elderly pedestrians, the availability of protected crossings at signalized intersections is important considering the fact they cannot travel long block lengths in order to use signalized crossings. Presence of continuous roadway lighting decreases elderly pedestrian accident risk. The results also show the greatest impacts on injury severity probabilities are from the occurrence of elderly pedestrian accidents in non-intersection locations. Specifically, if elderly pedestrians are involved in marked crosswalk accidents, the probability of lower severity injury is higher; in contrast, if they are involved in unmarked, non-intersection locations such as mid-blocks, the probability of high severity injury is higher. We obtained these results through the use of Bayesian analysis. Bayesian analysis allows us to use subjective prior information on the distribution of parameters in combination with information from the observed data. The advantage of Bayesian analysis in the assessment of key road variables on safe elderly travel is that we can examine the robustness of results.
Methods for characterizing the co-development of biofilm and habitat heterogeneity

Biofilms are surface-attached microbial communities that have complex structures and produce significant spatial heterogeneities. Biofilm development is strongly regulated by the surrounding flow and nutritional environment. Biofilm growth also increases the heterogeneity of the local microenvironment by generating complex flow fields and solute transport patterns. To investigate the development of heterogeneity in biofilms and interactions between biofilms and their local micro-habitat, we grew mono-species biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and dual-species biofilms of P. aeruginosa and Escherichia coli under nutritional gradients in a microfluidic flow cell. We provide detailed protocols for creating nutrient gradients within the flow cell and for growing and visualizing biofilm development under these conditions. We also present protocols for a series of optical methods to quantify spatial patterns in biofilm structure, flow distributions over biofilms, and mass transport around and within biofilm colonies. These methods support comprehensive investigations of the co-development of biofilm and habitat heterogeneity.
Hexagram Inverter for Medium-Voltage Six-Phase Variable-Speed Drives

A new multilevel inverter - hexagram inverter is proposed for medium-voltage (MV) variable-speed-drive (VSD) applications, which is composed of six standard two-level voltage source inverter (VSI) modules interconnected through the inductors. With six AC terminals, it can be used for both three- and six-phase drives. This paper studies its six-phase applications. Compared to a same output power and voltage VSI, the proposed inverter has the current stress reduced to half and voltage stress reduced to one-third; whereas compared to a same output power and current VSI, the voltage stress is reduced to one-sixth. The other advantages of the new inverter include a modular structure resulting in easy construction and maintenance, no voltage unbalance problem, easy control with well-developed VSI control techniques, automatic and equal current and power sharing among the modules, and fewer components and lower dc energy storage requirements compared to the cascaded H-bridge (CHB) inverter. These eminent features make it a strong candidate for MV VSD applications.
A PHASE-I CLINICAL-TRIAL OF A PROTRACTED CONTINUOUS-INFUSION OF 5-FLUOROURACIL WITH ORAL FOLINIC ACID IN PATIENTS WITH UNRESECTABLE ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE COLON OR RECTUM

Studies of the mechanism of action of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) suggest that maximal inhibition of the target enzyme thymidylate synthase can be achieved with a protracted infusion of 5-FU and oral leucovorin. We report the results of a phase I study in which seven patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated with a 30-day continuous infusion of 5-FU and a fixed 50 mg dose of oral folinic acid every 6 hours. The 5-FU dose started at 100 mg/m(2)/day with planned escalations of 50 mg/m(2)/day. The qualitative toxic effects observed included diarrhea, mucositis, and hand/foot syndrome. These toxic effects were manageable at 100 mg/m(2)/day, but became dose-limiting at 150 mg/m(2)/day with two of four patients unable to complete the planned 30-day infusion. No objective responses were observed, but minor activity was documented in two patients. We recommend a starting dose of 125 mg/m(2)/day for subsequent phase II trials of this regimen in patients with colorectal cancer.
Osteoplastic obliteration of the frontal sinuses. A review of 100 patients.

One hundred consecutive osteoplastic frontal sinus operations were reviewed. The obliteration of the frontal sinus was achieved by natural bony obliteration instead of by operative fat obliteration. The operation was performed for 6 cases of trauma, 13 cases for an osteoma, 56 cases for frontal sinusitis without previous frontal sinus surgery and 25 cases for frontal sinusitis with previous frontal sinus surgery. Headaches were the presenting chief complaint of all cases, and 93 of them had some degree of frontal sinusitis. Localized osteomyelitis of the frontal sinus was present in 42 cases. Although 85 patients were completely satisfied with the results of the operation, 15 continued to have frontal headaches. Complete bony obliteration of the frontal sinus occurred in 93 cases. The seven patients who had incomplete bony obliteration of the frontal sinus are being followed closely for signs and symptoms of recurrent frontal sinus disease.
Departmental and citizen complaints as predictors of police coercion

Purpose – This paper seeks to examine a variety of measures of complaints and their relationship to police officers' use of coercion in encounters with suspects.Design/methodology/approach – Data from the Project on Policing Neighborhoods, involving the systematic social observation of police, were combined with complaint data from the St Petersburg Police Department to examine the influence of complaints on use of coercion in everyday encounters. Hierarchical models, which included theoretically relevant control variables, were used to test multiple measures of departmental and citizen complaints as predictors of officers' use of coercion.Findings – The analyses indicate that, net of other important predictors, officer complaint rate for force and verbal discourtesy is associated with higher levels of coercion in encounters with suspects. The analyses also indicate that officers' verbal discourtesy complaint rate is associated with higher levels of coercion, but complaint rates for physical force are not...
Peanut allergy and anaphylaxis

Peanuts are a frequent cause of food allergy and the most common cause of fatal food-induced anaphylaxis in the U.S. Advances during the past two years have promoted our understanding of peanut allergens and peanut allergy prevalence, etiology, diagnosis, and therapy. The advances highlighted in this review include evidence that the peanut allergens most important in disease differ in different parts of the world, that early oral exposure to peanuts may decrease the frequency of peanut allergy, while early nonoral exposure may have the opposite effect, that complement activation by peanut constituents appears to promote peanut-induced anaphylaxis and that oral immunotherapy, anti-IgE antibody, and a herbal formulation are promising approaches for the treatment of this disorder.
Mineralogy and the release of trace elements from slag from the Hegeler Zinc smelter, Illinois (USA)

Abstract Slag from the former Hegeler Zn-smelting facility in Illinois (USA) is mainly composed of spinifex Ca-rich plagioclase, fine-grained dendritic or coarse-grained subhedral to anhedral clinopyroxenes, euhedral to subhedral spinels, spherical blebs of Fe sulfides, silicate glass, and less commonly fayalitic olivine. Mullite and quartz were also identified in one sample as representing remnants of the furnace lining. Secondary phases such as goethite, hematite and gypsum are significant in some samples and reflect surficial weathering of the dump piles or represent byproducts of roasting. A relatively rare Zn-rich material contains anhedral willemite, subhedral gahnite, massive zincite, hardystonite and a Zn sulfate (brianyoungite), among other phases, and likely represents the molten content of the smelting furnace before Zn extraction. The bulk major-element chemistry of most slag samples is dominated by SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and CaO. The bulk composition of the slag suggests a high viscosity of the melt and the mineralogy suggests a high silica content of the melt. Bulk slag trace-element chemistry shows that the dominant metal is Zn with >28.4 wt.% in the Zn-rich material and between 212 and 14,900 mg/kg in the other slags. The concentrations of other trace elements reach the following: 45 mg/kg As, 1170 mg/kg Ba, 191 mg/kg Cd, 242 mg/kg Co, 103 mg/kg Cr, 6360 mg/kg Cu, 107 mg/kg Ni, and 711 mg/kg Pb. Zinc, as the dominant metal in the slags, is likely the most environmentally significant metal in these samples; Cd, Cu, and Pb are also of concern and their concentrations exceed US Environmental Protection Agency preliminary remediation goals for residential soils. Spinel was found to be the dominant concentrator of Zn for samples containing significant Zn (>1 wt.%); the silicate glass also contained relatively high concentrations of Zn compared to other phases. Zinc partitioned into the silicates and oxides in these samples is generally more resistant to weathering and therefore less leached when compared to the slag samples with lower bulk Zn concentrations where Zn is likely partitioned into volumetrically minor sulfides. This is confirmed by leachate tests that resulted in low leachate Zn concentrations for samples with Zn partitioned into spinel. In contrast, the concentrations of Zn and SO4 are close to those expected from the dissolution of stoichiometric ZnS in leachates from samples in which the dominant host of Zn is suspected to be sulfides. The fact that Zn and other metals occur commonly as sulfides, which are more reactive than the silicates and oxides into which they dominantly partition according to other slag studies, indicates the Hegeler slag pile may be more of an environmental concern than other slag piles.
Words in wards: language, health and place

Abstract The role of place in medical encounters which involve language is examined using theoretical arguments backed by empirical studies. Links between language and place, health and place and especially language and health are discussed. The language–health link is developed in terms of explanatory models; how language is used in medical encounters; and power, dominance and resistance relationships. Then it is shown how considerations of place enhance knowledge about this link. The paper closes with a set of research questions which focus on the role of place.
Noradrenergic mechanisms for the anticonvulsant effects of desipramine and yohimbine in genetically epilepsy-prone rats: studies with microdialysis.

Abstract A large body of evidence suggests that the seizure-prone state of genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPRs) results, in part, from deficits in central nervous system noradrenergic function. In order to link the synaptic concentration of norepinephrine (NE) to seizure behavior, we evaluated the effects of both desipramine and yohimbine on convulsions and on extracellular NE and serotonin (5-HT) concentrations in the thalamus of severe seixure GEPRs (GEPR-9s). Under anesthesia, guide cannule were stereotaxically placed over thalami. After recovery from surgery, dialysis probes were inserted and the animals were placed individually into a plexiglass chamber where they were allowed to move about freely. Artificial CSF was prefused and samples were collected for analysis on HPLC with electrochemical detection. Either desipramine (10 and 20 mg/kg) or yohimbine (10mg/kg) was administered i.p. after a stable baseline of NE or 5-HT was established. Significant increases in the extracellular NE concentration were seen after injection of both drugs. Temporal linkage exists between the maximum NE increases and the maximum decrease in audiogenic response score (ARS) for these two agents. No significant increases in the extracelular 5-HT concentration occurred after administration of either desipramine or yohimbine at a dose of 10 mg/kg. We conclude that these two drugs are effective anticonvulsants in GERPs atleast partially because they enhance noradrenergic transmission.
Account of scintillation efficiency for low-velocity heavy ions

The track-effect theory of scintillation efficiency is generalized for applicability at low velocities and applied to room-temperature pulse-height data ($L$ vs $E$) for keV-energy heavy ions ($6\ensuremath{\le}Z\ensuremath{\le}80$) in CsI(Tl). By subtraction of the elastic-collision-loss contribution to the total energy, data are reduced to the form $\frac{dL}{d\ensuremath{\eta}}$ vs velocity, where $\frac{dL}{d\ensuremath{\eta}}$ is the differential light emission per unit of electronic energy deposit. It is found that agreement between theory and experiment is achieved over the entire range of the data with no specific role attributed to elastic scattering other than the consumption of a portion of the energy of the incident ion. The role of electron promotion in determining the pulse-height characteristics is examined. Those features of the model developed specifically for low-velocity application are presented. Results of the treatment and implications regarding the degree of applicability of the track-effect model are discussed.
Environmental Monitoring for Biological Threat Agents Using the Autonomous Pathogen Detection System with Multiplexed Polymerase Chain Reaction

We have developed and field-tested a now operational civilian biodefense capability that continuously monitors the air in high-risk locations for biological threat agents. This stand-alone instrument, called the Autonomous Pathogen Detection System (APDS), collects and selectively concentrates particles from the air into liquid samples and analyzes the samples using multiplexed PCR amplification coupled with microsphere array detection. During laboratory testing, we evaluated the APDS instrument’s response to Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis by spiking the liquid sample stream with viable spores and cells, bead-beaten lysates, and purified DNA extracts. APDS results were also compared to a manual real-time PCR method. Field data acquired during 74 days of continuous operation at a mass-transit subway station are presented to demonstrate the specificity and reliability of the APDS. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently selected the APDS reported herein as the first autonomous detector com...
Structural analysis of strand misalignment during DNA synthesis by a human DNA polymerase

Insertions and deletions in coding sequences can alter the reading frame of genes and have profound biological consequences. In 1966, Streisinger proposed that these mutations result from strand slippage, which in repetitive sequences generates misaligned intermediates stabilized by correct base pairing that support polymerization. We report here crystal structures of human DNA polymerase lambda, which frequently generates deletion mutations, bound to such intermediates. Each contains an extrahelical template nucleotide upstream of the active site. Surprisingly, the extra nucleotide, even when combined with an adjacent mismatch, does not perturb polymerase active site geometry, which is indistinguishable from that for correctly aligned strands. These structures reveal how pol lambda can polymerize on substrates with minimal homology during repair of double-strand breaks and represent strand-slippage intermediates consistent with Streisinger's classical hypothesis. They are thus relevant to the origin of single-base deletions, a class of mutations that can confer strong biological phenotypes.
Comparative Biomechanics of the Jerk in Olympic Weightlifting

Abstract Numerical classification or “cluster” analysis was selected to determine whether or not there were generic characteristics which could distinguish various classification levels of weightlifters as they executed the jerk portion of the clean and jerk lift. Forty-five jerks (by 27 weightlifters) were compared across 27 kinematic variables, as well as height of the athlete and the number of years in competition. Master, Classes 1 and 2, Class 3, and athletes ranked below Class 4 each formed distinct groups. Master weightlifters generally performed the jerks with a shallower squat and a shorter braking phase than the other groups. Master and Class 1 weightlifters showed less horizontal displacement of the barbell during the squat than lifters ranked Class 2 and below. Few of the lifts approximated the characteristics of elite athletes.
Peritoneal Lavage Fluid Protease Levels after in Vivo Administration of Tolmetin in Hyaluronic Acid

Tolmetin sodium in a hyaluronic acid carrier (tolmetin-HA) was previously shown to reduce adhesion formation and alter the rate and extent to which wound repair cells enter the peritoneal cavity after surgery. In this study, the effect of tolmetin-HA on the levels of protease activities present in lavage fluid from the peritoneal cavity was determined at various postsurgical times. Collagenase activity in peritoneal lavage fluid was suppressed at 6, 12, and 24 hr after administration of tolmetin-HA in comparison to control. Elastase activity levels were biphasic with peak levels at 6 and 72 hr in lavage fluid from controls compared to peak levels at 6 and 48 hr in lavage fluid from treated rabbits. Plasminogen activator activity present in lavage fluid was significantly decreased at 48 hr after surgery in the tolmetin-HA-treated rabbits compared to controls. However, no alteration in the level of plasminogen activator inhibitor activity was observed in either the tolmetin-HA-treated or control rabbits. These data suggest that tolmetin-HA treatment altered the levels of neutral protease activity present in the peritoneal cavity and may therefore effect the proteolytic potential in the peritoneal cavity after surgery.
Comparison of spice-derived antioxidants and metal chelators on fresh beef color stability

Abstract Effects of Type I antioxidants eugenol and rosmarinic acid were compared to those of Type II antioxidants milk mineral (MM), sodium tripolyphosphpate (STPP), and phytate in raw ground beef held for 14 days at 4 °C in oxygen-permeable polyvinylchloride. Meat color stability was measured as % oxymyoglobin, Hunter a∗ value, chroma, and hue angle. Significant correlations (P
Helping Student Teachers Use Peer Tutoring.

(1984). Helping student teachers use peer tutoring. The Teacher Educator: Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 13-18.
Optic Nerve Head Swelling and Optic Atrophy in the Systemic Mucopolysaccharides

The ocular findings in 108 patients representative of all types of mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) were reviewed. Attention was focused on optic nerve head appearance. Optic nerve head swelling was observed in 8/14 eyes of MPS 1-Hurler (MPS 1-H); 9/21 MPS 1-Hurler-Scheie (MPS 1-H-S); 0/4 MPS I-S; 13/66 MPS II; 1/22 MPS III; 0/58 MPS IV; 5/12 MPS VI; and 2/2 MPS VII eyes. In three patients, optic nerve head swelling was present in one eye and optic atrophy in the fellow eye; in four patients, optic atrophy followed disc elevation; three patients presented with bilateral optic atrophy. It was concluded that optic nerve head swelling precedes the development of optic atrophy in the systemic MPS.
TORSION-FREE COVERS II

This paper continues the study of the existence of torsion-free covers with respect to a faithful hereditary torsion theory (ℑ,F) of left modules over a ringR with unity. If the filter of left ideals associated with (ℑ,F) has a cofinal subset of finitely generated left ideals, then every leftR-module has a torsion-free cover. An example is given to illustrate how this result generalizes all previously known existence theorems for torsion-free covers.
The partial chemical synthesis of inositol 1,2-cyclic 4,5-trisphosphate.

Appreciable amounts of inositol 1,2-cyclic 4,5-trisphosphate (cIP3) are formed on agonist stimulation of secretory cells, e.g., pancreas (1,2) and parotid (3,4). However, the physiological role of this compound is unknown. To obtain sufficient amounts of cIP3, we have developed a synthetic method to produce cIP3 from inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (I(1,4,5)P3). The method is an adaptation of the dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) method of Khorana et al. (5), which was originally developed to synthesize 2',3'-cyclic ribonucleotides. The method involves treatment of the pyridinium salt of I(1,4,5)P3 with DCCD in pyridine water, which cyclizes part of the 1-phosphate on the inositol ring to the 1,2-cyclic phosphate. The compound identified as cIP3 cochromatographed with authentic cIP3 in two HPLC systems and on ionophoresis. It was converted to I(1,4,5)P3 on mild acid treatment--a characteristic of cyclic inositol phosphates. Inositol 1,2-cyclic 4,5-trisphosphate is then purified by HPLC. Sufficient amounts of cIP3 can be prepared by this method to carry out numerous experiments on its possible cellular role.
Reassessment of biotin-responsiveness in “unresponsive” propionyl CoA carboxylase deficiency

HIGH-DOSAGE BIOTIN TREATMENT of multiple carboxylase deficiency markedly improves the clinical manifestations of the disorder and increases the activities of the three biotin-dependent enzymes, propionyl CoA carboxylase, fi-methylcrotonyl CoA carboxylase, and pyruvate carboxylase, 12 to near-normal or normal values. In contrast, biotin supplementation in isolated PCC deficiency fails to restore the residual enzyme activity even to near-normal in either peripheral blood leukocytes or cultured fibroblasts from affected individuals?. ~ Consequently, biotin treatment has been assumed to provide no therapeutic benefits to these "unresponsive" patients and has usually been discontinued. Our re-examination of the effect of biotin on PCC activity in peripheral blood leukocytes and in cultured fibroblasts from patients with isolated PCC-deficiency, presented here, has revealed that biotin does increase residual activities 122% in leukocytes and 76% in cultured fibroblasts. Although even the enhanced activities remain considerably below the normal range, some approach 15 to 20% of normal. If similar increases are also achieved in
AngioVac Aspiration for Paradoxical Emboli Protection through a Fenestrated Fontan During Central Venous Thrombus Manipulation

This case reports describes a 39-year-old female with a history of surgically repaired hypoplastic left heart syndrome who presented with a left peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) with associated large volume subclavian and brachiocephalic vein thrombus. Due to the presence of a right-to-left shunt via a fenestrated Fontan, there was clinical concern for a paradoxical embolism during removal of the PICC. The AngioVac aspiration system was successfully utilized to aspirate thromboemboli from the level of the proximal Glenn shunt during manipulation and removal of the PICC. This is the first reported case to demonstrate the safe and effective use of the AngioVac aspiration system for protection of paradoxical emboli through a cardiac right-to-left shunt during a procedure at high risk for thromboembolism.
Preclinical evaluation of PDS (polydioxanone) synthetic absorbable suture vs chromic surgical gut in urologic surgery

A variety of suture materials are available for use in urologic surgery. Urologists have relied on absorbable suture materials which provide transient strength in anticipation that healing will occur before the suture is absorbed. Absorbable sutures thus decrease the chance of stone formation, known to occur on suture material in direct contact with the urinary stream. This report compares the breaking strength retention of polydioxanone (PDS) suture and chronic surgical gut after in vivo residence in the urinary bladder and subcutaneous tissue of the dog.
Effect of Dispersant on Molecular Composition and Fate of Oil Exposed to Sunlight in Seawater Systems

Oil spilled in aquatic systems is exposed to sunlight, resulting in important photochemical processes. Photochemistry likely plays a major role in the fate of oil spilled in areas with sunlight exp...
Laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy in obese women with gynecologic malignancies

Abstract Laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed successfully in 10 women weighing over 180 pounds (mean 212 lbs) in conjunction with simple (7) or radical (3) hysterectomy for carcinoma of the endometrium or cervix. Four patients had extensive lysis of adhesions in adition, and one had a myomectomy to allow access to the cul-de-sac. Mean operating time was approximately 4 hours (range 2.5–7 hrs), mean blood loss 1030 ml (range 300–2000 ml), and median hospital stay 3.5 days. The average number of lymph nodes recovered was 33 (range 11–49 nodes). It is concluded that obesity, even in the presence of other pelvic pathology, does not significantly limit the feasibility of pelvic lymphadenectomy. This finding is important to the laparoscopic management of women with endometrial carcinoma.
Speckle and spectroscopic orbits of the early A-type triple system Eta Virginis

Eta Virginis is a bright (V = 3.89) triple system of composite spectral type A2 IV that has been observed for over a dozen years with both spectroscopy and speckle interferometry. Analysis of the speckle observations results in a long period of 13.1 yr. This period is also detected in residuals from the spectroscopic observations of the 71.7919 day short-period orbit. Elements of the long-period orbit were determined separately using the observations of both techniques. The more accurate elements from the speckle solution have been assumed in a simultaneous spectroscopic determination of the short- and long-period orbital elements. The magnitude difference of the speckle components suggests that lines of the third star should be visible in the spectrum.
Differences between liver gap junction protein and lens MIP 26 from rat: Implications for tissue specificity of gap junctions

Abstract Liver gap junctions and gap-junction-like structures from eye lenses are each comprised of a single major protein (M r 28,000 and 26,000, respectively). These proteins display different two-dimensional peptide fingerprints, distinct amino acid compositions, nonhomologous N-terminal amino acid sequences and different sensitivities to proteases when part of the intact junction. However, the junctional protein of each tissue is well conserved between species, as demonstrated previously for lens and now for liver in several mammalian species. The possibility of tissue-specific gap junction proteins is discussed in the light of data suggesting that rat heart gap junctions are comprised of yet a third protein.
Visits to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from South Asia and the Middle East, 1946–1990: An indicator of changing international programs and politics

International study programs have contributed to the diffusion of modern irrigation technologies, approaches, and problems. But the patterns and processes of international travel have received little attention to date. This paper examines foreign visits to the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) from South Asia and the Middle East from 1946 to 1990. Using data from the Foreign Activities Branch of the USBR, we compare the participation rates from 16 countries in South Asia and the Middle East. India, Turkey, and Egypt had the highest rates of participation, followed by Pakistan, Iran, and Israel. The frequency of visits is influenced by political, economic, cultural, and institutional factors. But the most important factors appear to be foreign relations and geopolitics. Given the problems faced by national irrigation bureaucracies around the world, there is a need to focus more directly on political factors than in the past.
The Psychosocial Well-Being of Black and White Mothers Following Marital Dissolution: A Brief Report of a Follow-Up Study

A subsample of divorced/separated Black and White mothers from the National Survey of Families and Households was followed over a five-year period to determine cultural differences in psychosocial well-being. Discriminant analysis, with education and time since divorce/separation controlled, indicated that White mothers at Time 2 differed from Black mothers in terms of higher levels of personal mastery, informal support, and economic well-being. Also, White mothers evidenced significant improvement in five of the six psychosocial domains: informal support, self-esteem, happiness, economic well-being, and depression, whereas Black mothers indicated improvement in informal support and happiness, and evidenced a marginal decline in personal mastery. Cultural differences also were noted in the greater income of White mothers at Time 2 as well as a greater likelihood for White mothers to remarry.
Genes involved in resistance to powdery mildew in barley differentially modulate root colonization by the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Erysiphe graminis are obligate biotrophic fungi with different outcomes in their interaction with plants, different targeted host tissues, but similar patterns of development and infection processes. These similarities raise the question of whether the two types of biotrophic fungal infections have common features in their regulation. To investigate this question, we compared a number of Ror and Rar barley mutants susceptible to E.graminis f. sp. hordei, as well as their resistant progenitors, for susceptibility to infection by the AMF Glomus mosseae. The two powdery mildew-resistant lines BC Ingrid and Sultan presented a similar reduction in G. mosseae development within roots when compared to the wildtype cultivar Ingrid, indicating a systemic effect of the altered genes in the plant. Ror and Rar mutants, in which susceptibility to powdery mildew is restored, showed increased resistance to AM fungal development in their roots when compared to their progenitors, which suggests that corresponding mutations must have affected genes which differentially modulate symbiotic and pathogenic biotrophic plant-fungus interactions.
Initiation and characterization of keratinocyte cultures from biopsies of normal human conjunctiva.

The purpose of the present study was to establish and characterize serum-free epithelial cultures of normal human conjunctiva using fresh biopsy tissue. To this end, small pieces of normal conjunctiva were biopsied from patients undergoing routine cataract surgery. Fragments of the tissue were placed in explant culture in medium containing fetal bovine serum for approximately 1 week to promote epithelial cell outgrowth. Cultures were then passaged multiple times into serum-free medium. Cultures generated in this way were at least 95% keratinocytes and exhibited a typical epithelial morphology, which was dependent on the extracellular Ca(2+)concentration. Immunocytochemical staining revealed that E-cadherin, P-cadherin, and involucrin were present in the cultures, with distributions consistent with their in vivo localization patterns. Distribution of keratins 19, 3, and 4 in conjunctival epithelial cultures were also consistent with in vivo patterns and distinctly different from patterns observed in epithelial cultures similarly generated from cornea and foreskin. Hence, conjunctival keratinocyte cultures retain some tissue-specific markers and do not revert to a generic, culture phenotype.
Automatic vision programming

Abstract Techniques for automatically generating optimal vision programs from high-level task descriptions are presented. Vision programs are the object models that describe strategies to recognize and locate objects in an image. The effectiveness of the program depends on the features used for recognition and the order in which the features are evaluated. We describe three probabilistic feature utility measures and a cost function based on program execution time that serve as the basis of our technique. Techniques for computing the utility measures and combining them to generate the best vision program are described and are demonstrated on a realistic vision application.
SUPERSONIC CRIES OF BATS

THE recent discussion of bats in Nature1,2 raises certain questions which I believe can be answered on the basis of new data resulting from a continuation of the investigations in which Dr. Robert Galambos and I were engaged before the War3,4. The bat's ability to avoid obstacles depends upon a method of perception which I have called 'echo-location', or the location of objects by means of echoes5. The bats which we studied emit for this purpose short pulses of sound and hear the echoes which return from any solid object in their path. The emitted sound has a frequency of approximately 50 kilocycles per second, and hence is virtually inaudible to human ears. Many blind men also seem to use some form of echo-location based on audible sounds, for they can often detect obstacles at a distance, but lose this ability if their ears are stopped, or if they are distracted by loud noises6. Radar and the various underwater acoustic devices which locate distant objects by means of echoes are also examples of the general process of echo -location.
Oblique factor analytic solutions by orthogonal transformations

A general framework for obtaining all possible factor analytic solutions, orthogonal and oblique, for a given common factor space is developed in detail. Interestingly, and seemingly paradoxically, any one of these solutions may be obtained by orthogonal transformations of selected matrices; thus an oblique solution may be determined by orthogonal transformations. Within the possible oblique solutions, two distinct categories of solutions emerge, a special case of the simpler of which apparently provides a definitive solution to the problem of independent, but correlated, clusters. Possible further specializations of the general approach to specific problems are discussed.
High resolution photoemission studies of sulfur interaction with model catalytic surfaces

Abstract Synchrotron-based photoelectron spectroscopy was used to study sulfur reaction with two model catalytic surfaces: Cu/Ru(0001) and TiO 2 (110). Sulfidation of a strained copper film supported on a Ru substrate proceeds only after chemisorption of at least 0.2 monolayers of sulfur. The induction period was probed by STM to reveal significant restructuring of the metal surface and self-organization of sulfur into several distinct nano-patterns. Large chemical shifts of the S 2p core levels allow a definitive assignment of surface species (atomic vs. sulfidic sulfur). Sulfur reacts with a TiO 2 (110) surface readily from the very early stages of adsorption. We identified at least three types of sulfur species, namely S bonded to Ti rows, vacancies in the bridging oxygen rows, and S associated with the SO x groups.
Picard–Fuchs Uniformization and Modularity¶of the Mirror Map

Arithmetic properties of mirror symmetry (type IIA-IIB string duality) are studied. We give criteria for the mirror map q-series of certain families of Calabi–Yau manifolds to be automorphic functions. For families of elliptic curves and lattice polarized K3 surfaces with surjective period mappings, global Torelli theorems allow one to present these criteria in terms of the ramification behavior of natural algebraic invariants – the functional and generalized functional invariants respectively. In particular, when applied to one parameter families of rank 19 lattice polarized K3 surfaces, our criterion demystifies the Mirror-Moonshine phenomenon of Lian and Yau and highlights its non-monstrous nature. The lack of global Torelli theorems and presence of instanton corrections makes Calabi–Yau threefold families more complicated. Via the constraints of special geometry, the Picard–Fuchs equations for one parameter families of Calabi–Yau threefolds imply a differential equation criterion for automorphicity of the mirror map in terms of the Yukawa coupling. In the absence of instanton corrections, the projective periods map to a twisted cubic space curve. A hierarchy of “algebraic” instanton corrections correlated with the differential Galois group of the Picard–Fuchs equation is proposed.
A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO REDUCING ERRORS IN INSULIN THERAPY IN THE INPATIENT SETTING

Objective: To highlight the importance of insulinrelated medical errors in causing poor outcomes in a hospital setting and to propose a systems approach for improvement. Results: Evidence reported in the medical literature has identified insulin therapy errors as a large and clinically important problem. Insulin has been labeled as one of the top five “high-risk medications” in the inpatient setting. Although insulin therapy can be lifesaving in the hospital setting, it can be life-threatening if used inappropriately. Widespread major systemic problems, such as heavy patient loads for physicians and nurses, absence of backup checks in critical areas, defective communication and coordination, illegible handwriting, and unawareness of the importance of blood glucose control, create obstacles to appropriate and safe care of patients receiving insulin in the hospital. With thorough analysis of the setting, additional training, collective establishment of goals focused on patient safety, insertion of backup checks in areas susceptible to errors, encouragement of sharing of key clinical information, and, where possible, implementation of electronic medical records, systemic and knowledge-based problems will be minimized and outcomes will improve in insulin-treated hospitalized patients. Conclusion: Analysis and redesign of systems to develop a “culture of safety” will ultimately reduce insulin-related medical errors, provide a safe inpatient environment, and yield better outcomes. (Endocr Pract. 2004;10[Suppl 2]:100-108)
Micromotives in Global Environmental Policy

Protecting ourselves cost-effectively from such global environmental threats as climate change requires a good understanding of the behavioral underpinnings that drive choice under risk and uncertainty, lead to the design of efficient and effective protocols for cooperative action across nations, and create incentives for different control strategies within nations. Researchers can use experimental economic methods to gain insight into these micromotives of climate policy by testing the robustness of theoretical predictions, and by recognizing new patterns of choice. Experiments can be used to sharpen the best guesses guiding policy by identifying how decision makers can try to get more environmental progress at less cost by accounting for the relevant determinants of behavior.
Evaluation of air emission release rate model predictions of hazardous organics from land treatment facilities

The Thibodeaux-Hwang Air Emission Release Rate (AERR) model for volatile emissions from land treatment systems was evaluated on a constituent specific basis utilizing API Separator Sludge and a Slop Oil Emulsion Solids waste stream applied to laboratory sand and soil microcosms. Literature correlation equations were used for estimating air:oil partition coefficients necessary for model input. Measured data suggested that vapor partitioning and retardation by soil organic matter are of minor importance in the overall vapor soil transport process, and that volatile organic vapor soil diffusion can be adequately described simply by the physical environment through which the vapor is traveling. Subsurface waste application produced a two- to ten-fold decrease in emission rates as predicted from the Thibodeaux-Hwang AERR model compared with surface application conditions. Measured data followed the predicted linear relationship of flux rate versus l/t/sup l/2/ indicating the diffusional nature of soil vapor movement. The Thibodeaux-Hwang AERR model and the parameter estimation approach consistently overestimated flux rates for the pure constituents by only a factor of approximately 2 to 10, and consequently appear quite effective for the estimation of volatile organic emissions from complex waste/soil systems.
A VLSI Design of a Pipeline Reed-Solomon Decoder

A pipeline structure of a transform decoder similar to a systolic array is developed to decode Reed-Solomon (RS) codes. An important ingredient of this design is a modified Euclidean algorithm for computing the error-locator polynomial. The computation of inverse field elements is completely avoided in this modification of Euclid's algorithm. The new decoder is regular and simple, and naturally suitable for VLSI implementation. An example illustrating both the pipeline and systolic array aspects of this decoder structure is given for a (15,9) RS code.
Aerial Bombing and Counterinsurgency in the Vietnam War

Aerial bombardment has been an important component of counterinsurgency practice since shortly after it became a viable military technology in the early twentieth century. Due to the nature of insurgency, bombing frequently occurs in and around settled areas, and consequently it tends to generate many civilian casualties. However, the effectiveness of bombing civilian areas as a military tactic remains disputed. Using data disaggregated to the level of the smallest population unit and measured at multiple points in time, this article examines the effect of aerial bombardment on the pattern of local control in the Vietnam War. A variety of estimation methods, including instrumental variables and genetic matching, show that bombing civilians systematically shifted control in favor of the Viet Cong insurgents.
Realizing quality improvement through test driven development: results and experiences of four industrial teams

Test-driven development (TDD) is a software development practice that has been used sporadically for decades. With this practice, a software engineer cycles minute-by-minute between writing failing unit tests and writing implementation code to pass those tests. Test-driven development has recently re-emerged as a critical enabling practice of agile software development methodologies. However, little empirical evidence supports or refutes the utility of this practice in an industrial context. Case studies were conducted with three development teams at Microsoft and one at IBM that have adopted TDD. The results of the case studies indicate that the pre-release defect density of the four products decreased between 40% and 90% relative to similar projects that did not use the TDD practice. Subjectively, the teams experienced a 15---35% increase in initial development time after adopting TDD.
Collateral damage: American science and the war on terrorism

In the terrorist attacks of 2001, the United States government undertook a rushed effort to increase security. In addition to new legislation such as the Patriot Act and the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the government dramatically ramped up enforcement of laws that have long been on the books, and revised its policies to deal with new terrorist threats. While the need for increased security is undeniable, the costs of security measures need to be weighed as well, in terms of collateral damage they produce to the U.S. science and engineering (S&E) enterprise. In this article we focus on two main problems: the increasing difficulties faced by students and scientists from abroad in obtaining visas to visit and study in the United States, and the barriers that are being erected to communication and collaboration between U.S. investigators and international scholars.