cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Imaging of Perineural Spread

Perineural invasion is one of the patterns of often clinically occult spread of head and neck cancer that can take malignancies far from the site of tumor origin and well beyond the limits of even the most skilled clinician’s physical examination. Because of that, perineural spread substantially affects treatment planning and prognosis. These patterns were legacy knowledge observed and described by surgeons, radiotherapists, and pathologists long before the advent of modern imaging with CT and MRI. This manifestation of disease spread has now become routinely “visible” in the treatment planning phase of medical decision making in the last four decades. This chapter will explore factors related to pretreatment diagnostic and surveillance imaging with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which have contributed to an extraordinary, now decades long, outcome improvement in this difficult oncologic treatment scenario.
Credit and the Labour Share: Evidence from US States

We investigate the role of credit markets as a cause for changes in the US labour share. Causal evidence is provided that the labour share declined between 0.8 and 1.2 percentage points following the interstate banking deregulation, explaining more than half of the overall reduction during that period. The lower costs of credit and greater bank competition in each state are mechanisms that led to the decline. To quantify the relationship between credit and factor payments, we calibrate a model with financial frictions and highlight financial development as a potential channel for the reduction in labour share observed globally.
Connecting Cluster Substructure in Galaxy Cluster Cores at z=0.2 With Cluster Assembly Histories

We use semi-analytic models of structure formation to interpret gravitational lensing measurements of substructure in galaxy cluster cores (R ~0.8 and to have suffered ~0.4 (e.g. A68, A773) are interpreted as, on average, forming since z~0.4 and suffering >10% mass growth in the ~500Myr preceding z=0.2, i.e. since z=0.25. In summary, observational measurements of f_sub can be combined with structure formation models to estimate the age and assembly history of observed clusters. The ability to ``age-date'' approximately clusters in this way has numerous applications to the large clusters samples that are becoming available.
Diabetes Remission Status During Seven-year Follow-up of the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery Study.

CONTEXT Few studies have examined the clinical characteristics that predict durable, long-term diabetes remission after bariatric surgery. OBJECTIVE To compare diabetes prevalence and remission rates during 7-year follow-up after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and laparoscopic gastric banding (LAGB). DESIGN An observational cohort of adults with severe obesity recruited between 2006 and 2009 who completed annual research assessments for up to 7 years after RYGB or LAGB. SETTING Ten US hospitals. PARTICIPANTS A total sample of 2256 participants, 827 with known diabetes status at both baseline and at least 1 follow-up visit. INTERVENTIONS Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or LAGB. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Diabetes rates and associations of patient characteristics with remission status. RESULTS Diabetes remission occurred in 57% (46% complete, 11% partial) after RYGB and 22.5% (16.9% complete, 5.6% partial) after LAGB. Following both procedures, remission was greater in younger participants and those with shorter diabetes duration, higher C-peptide levels, higher homeostatic model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA %B), and lower insulin usage at baseline, and with greater postsurgical weight loss. After LAGB, reduced HOMA insulin resistance (IR) was associated with a greater likelihood of diabetes remission, whereas increased HOMA-%B predicted remission after RYGB. Controlling for weight lost, diabetes remission remained nearly 4-fold higher compared with LAGB. CONCLUSIONS Durable, long-term diabetes remission following bariatric surgery is more likely when performed soon after diagnosis when diabetes medication burden is low and beta-cell function is preserved. A greater weight-independent likelihood of diabetes remission after RYGB than LAGB suggests mechanisms beyond weight loss contribute to improved beta-cell function after RYGB.Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00465829.
‘A Strong, Brown God’: T.S. Eliot’s Mississippi River Exploration of the White Atlantic

T.S. Eliot opens ‘The Dry Salvages,’ the third of his Four Quartets with a speaker stating the belief that ‘the river/Is a strong brown god, sullen, untamed, intractable’ (1–2). This article begins...
Decreased Surface NKCC2 Expression and Increased Urinary Excretion of Water and Ions in VAMP3 Knockout Mice

Trafficking of the NKCC2 cotransporter to the apical surface of thick ascending limbs (TAL) regulates excretion of urine, ions and blood pressure. We showed that vesicle fusion proteins VAMP2 and VAMP3 mediate NKCC2 exocytosis to the TAL plasma membrane. VAMP3 also mediates NKCC2 expression. We showed that VAMP3-/- mice have lower blood pressure in normal and low-Na diet. However, it is not know whether surface NKCC2 is decreased in VAMP3-/- mice and the contribution of VAMP3 to renal function is unclear. We hypothesize that VAMP3-/- mice have decreased surface NKCC2 expression and increased excretion of water and ions. First we studied VAMP3-/- kidney histology and we found no abnormalities. Next, we measured surface NKCC2 in TAL suspensions by surface biotinylation. Surface NKCC2 was decreased by 46 ± 4% compared to wt. We also observed 23% higher urine volume (wt= 1.3 ± 0.1 ml/day vs VAMP3-/- = 1.6 ± 0.2 ml/day) and lower urine osmolality (wt= 3433 ± 166 mOsm vs VAMP3-/- = 2924 ± 131 mOsm). UNa, UK and...
INTERFACING NONEQUILIBRIUM MODELS WITH COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS METHODS

In this paper we discuss how thermo-chemical nonequilibrium models must be chosen to suit specific hypersonic flows. Current models can be very complicated, involving a large chemical kinetics model and many internal energy modes. Also, realistic hypersonic flows have a very large range of length scales, making them difficult to simulate with computational methods. Therefore, it is important to use thermo-chemical models that are appropriate; the models should have sufficient complexity to capture the relevant properties of the flow, with a minimum of computational cost. Thus, there is no single thermo-chemical model that is appropriate for all re-entry flows, and more complicated models may not be useful because they make the problem computationally intractable.
Ovarian Follicle Biology and the Basis for Gonadotoxicity

Normal ovarian function requires tight control of germ cell meiosis and the quantitative activation or loss of ovarian follicles from the primordial follicle pool over the reproductive lifespan. The mechanisms controlling the activation of specific subsets of primordial follicles during this lengthy time are complex, involving coordination of what we now understand to be multiple molecular cues. In this chapter we review ovarian follicle development from initial formation in the embryo to activation, growth and endocrine regulation during the normal reproductive lifespan. We discuss how the unique features of primordial follicle biology relate to their vulnerability to chemotherapy and radiation treatment, emphasizing the importance of preserving the ovarian reserve to ensure normal ovarian function and the endocrine health of the individual.
The quality of training for nursing assistants

Training of personnel is held to be critical to the quality of care for frail elders. This article reports the evaluations of 48 experienced nursing assistants (NAs) on the quality of their training, its relevance to their work, and gaps or needed changes. Findings are from in-depth interviews with NAs conducted as part of a larger study of workforce satisfaction.
The consumer electronic bus symbol encoding sublayer: a twisted pair implementation

The consumer electronic bus (CEbus) is the communication standard for home automation systems. The implementation of the consumer electronic bus physical layer symbol encoding sublayer (PLSE) is presented. The PLSE performs several functions in the CEbus node. It is responsible for decoding and encoding CEbus symbols into the proper signal duration on the physical medium. It is also responsible for detecting and reporting medium failures to the layer system management and provides the medium access control (MAC) sublayer with a time base specific to each medium. The circuit can be realized using discrete components and can be easily implemented on a VLSI circuit. The circuit controller base clock may be scaled to adapt to the PLSE to various data signalling rates, while maintaining constant symbol encoding and decoding relative errors. >
Fetal oxygen consumption and mechanisms of heart rate response during artificially produced late decelerations of fetal heart rate in sheep

Abstract Delayed decelerations of fetal heart rate were produced by abruptly decreasing uterine blood flow to zero for 20 seconds in chronically instrumented, normoxic sheep. Fetal O 2 content, and O 2 tension in umbilical blood decreased significantly before the decline in heart rate. Fetal arterial blood pressure did not change significantly. Complete vagal blockade abolished the late deceleration and uncovered a late acceleration, which in turn was eliminated by total β-adrenergic blockade. We conclude that these late decelerations in normoxic sheep are vagally mediated and due to chemoreceptor rather than baroreceptor activity.
Binomial Effect Size Display

The binomial effect size display (BESD) was designed to indicate the practical importance of any particular effect size estimate. The BESD displays the difference between two proportions such as the difference between the success rate of a new intervention and the success rate of the standard intervention. For example, an r of 0.20 is said to account for ‘only 4% of the variance’, but the BESD shows that this proportion of variance accounted for is equivalent to increasing the success rate (e.g., survival rate, improvement rate, etc.) from 40 to 60%. Keywords: coefficient of determination (r2); effect size; Pearson correlation (r); r equivalent ; significance level; success rate
Bio-X: Removing Bodily Contingency in Regenerative Medicine

This paper addresses the social, cultural, and ethical dynamics of research in regenerative medicine. The author turns to both science fiction and recent developments in regenerative medicine for clues about the future of the body and medical practice, suggesting that regenerative medicine uses the body as its own resource for the purposes of preserving life, and that by attempting to remove the body from the limitations of both mortality and contingency, regenerative medicine fundamentally alters the meaning of “human.”
Hard Graphs for Randomized Subgraph Exclusion Algorithms

A randomized version of the Clique approximation algorithm by Boppana and Halldorsson is analyzed. The Boppana Halldorsson algorithm is currently the only approximation algorithm for the Clique problem with a non-trivial performance guarantee. This paper presents a class of graphs on which the performance ratio of the randomized version of the algorithm is not better than Ω(√n) with probability greater than 1-1/nω(1).
Regional and subcellular [3h]estradiol localization in selected brain regions and pituitary of female mice: effects of unlabeled estradiol and various anti-hormones.

Summary Groups of ovariectomized mice were pretrated for 30 min with either vehicle, unlabeled estradiol benzoate or one of the following anti-hormones: cyproterone acetate, CI-628 or CN-69, 725-27. One hour after an I.V. injection of [ 3 H]estradiol the levels of toluene extractable radioactivity retained in the crude nuclear and cytosol fractions of selected brain regions, pituitary and plasma were determined by liquid scintillation spectrometry. The major findings were: (1) In vehicle treated animals [ 3 H]estradiol uptake in the pituitary greatly exceeded that in all brain regions. Within the brain uptake was greatest in the preoptic anterior hypothalamus (POA-AH) and medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) samples. Nuclear uptake exceeded cytosol uptake only in the pituitary and POA-AH and MBH samples. (2) Estradiol benzoate pretreatment greatly reduced nuclear, and to a lesser extent cytosol [ 3 H]estradiol uptake in pituitary, POA-AH and MBH samples. Estradiol benzoate pretreatment also reduced nuclear uptake in the dorsal middle hypothalamus (DMH). (3) The anti-androgen cyproterone acetate, previously shown to have anti-strogenic effects in female sexual behavior tests, was found to have no effect on nuclear or cytosol [ 3 H]estradiol uptake in brain and pituitary. (4) The anti-estrogen CI-628 was found to reduce nuclear [ 3 H]estradiol uptake in the POA-AH and pituitary samples. It also reduced cytosol [ 3 H]estradiol uptake in the pituitary sample. The anti-estrogen CN-69, 725-27 produced a much greater inhibition of nuclear [ 3 H]estradiol uptake than CI-628 in the POA-AH, MBH, DMH, dorsal posterior hypothalamus and pituitary samples. This anti-estrogen also reduced cytosol [ 3 H]estradiol uptake in the POA-AH, MBH and pituitary samples. (5) A preliminary chromatographic analysis of vehicle control samples indicated that 70–98% of the nuclear radioactivity in target regions such as POA-AH, MBH and pituitary was iso-polar with authentic estradiol, while less than 50% of the radioactivity in plasma and cortex behaved as estradiol.
Control of Fan Blade Vibrations Using Piezoelectrics and Bi-Directional Telemetry

A novel wireless device which transfers supply power through induction to rotating operational amplifiers and transmits low voltage AC signals to and from a rotating body by way of radio telemetry has been successfully demonstrated in the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) Dynamic Spin Test Facility. In the demonstration described herein, a rotating operational amplifier provides controllable AC power to a piezoelectric patch epoxied to the surface of a rotating Ti plate. The amplitude and phase of the sinusoidal voltage command signal, transmitted wirelessly to the amplifier, was tuned to completely suppress the 3rd bending resonant vibration of the plate. The plate's 3rd bending resonance was excited using rotating magnetic bearing excitation while it spun at slow speed in a vacuum chamber. A second patch on the opposite side of the plate was used as a sensor. This paper discusses the characteristics of this novel device, the details of a spin test, results from a preliminary demonstration, and future plans.
Self-Reported Everyday Memory and Depression in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Depression and memory difficulties are among the most common complaints voiced by patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Nevertheless, little is known about how depression might affect patients' perceptions of their memory difficulties. The present investigation was designed to explore this issue. Results supported a model that integrates aspects of Beck's theory of depression and the concept of depressive realism. Consistent with the depressive realism literature, nondepressed MS patients significantly overestimated their everyday memory compared with their actual performance on verbal memory and attention/concentration indices, whereas moderately depressed patients' everyday memory ratings mirrored their actual neuropsychological performance. Supporting Beck's negative cognitive schema notion, mildly depressed patients significantly overestimated their memory difficulties. Implications for the treatment of memory problems among MS patients are discussed.
Progestin receptors in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus and arcuate nucleus-median eminence are decreased by idazoxan.

Abstract Steroid-dependent lordosis behavior in ovariectomized (OVX) guinea pigs is attenuated by α1-and/orα2-noradrenergic (NE) receptor antagonists. Correlated with the decrease in lordosis after α1-NE receptor blockade by prazosin is a decrease in ‘cytosol’ progestin receptors in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN). We examined whether a presumed α2-NE receptor blocker (idazoxan, IDA) also affects progestin receptors. A decrease in ‘cytosol’ progestin receptors was found after IDA treatment of OVX, estrogen-treated guinea pigs in the VMN and the arcuate nucleus-median eminence (ARC-ME). Apparently, either prazosin or IDA can inhibit lordosis behavior and decrease ‘cytosol’ progestin receptors in the VMN. In contrast, idazoxan but not prazosin, decrease ‘cytosol’ progestin receptors in the ARC-ME.
Information capacity of radiation detectors and of light

Data are presented on the information capacity and on the information efficiency of a beam of light and of several kinds of detectors including heat detectors, a multiplier phototube, an image orthicon, four photographic films, and human vision. The information efficiency is the information capacity divided by the number of photons that are needed to achieve the capacity, and is measured in bits per photon. The photographic films are discussed in separate sections from two points of view: that of maximizing the information capacity in bits/cm2, and that of maximizing the information efficiency. The other detectors and the beam of light are discussed only from the point of view of maximizing the information efficiency, because there is no upper bound to the information capacity that is related to practical use. The paper is primarily a review of the results of four previously published papers, but some new material is included: The results in Tables I and II on the information capacity of a beam of light are more extensive and more accurate than those previously published, and an explicit proof is given for the fact that it is not necessary to employ a radiation signal having spatial structure to obtain the greatest information efficiency with an image-transducing detector; a time varying radiation signal incident at a single point of the responsive surface is sufficient to achieve the maximum possible information efficiency.
Xerophthalmia, keratomalacia and nutritional blindness.

Vitamin A deficiency remains a major cause of pediatric ocular morbidity. Over five million children develop xerophthalmia annually, a quarter million or more becoming blind. It is also a major pathway for measles-associated blindness, particularly in Africa. Treatment is practical and inexpensive, based upon the oral administration of 200,000 IU vitamin A on two successive days, at a cost of 10 cents U.S. Given the potential rapidity of corneal necrosis (keratomalacia) and the relative inaccessibility of health services to those at greatest risk, prevention is probably more important than treatment. Oral administration of high dose supplements (2000,000 IU every 3 to 6 months), vitamin A fortification of commonly consumed items, or best of all, increased dietary intake of natural sources of vitamin A will reduce the number of needlessly blind young children. Given recent evidence that vitamin A deficiency greatly increases overall mortality, even among children without evidence of xerophthalmia, the same prophylactic regimen may improve child survival by 35% or more.
Cytoplasmic malic enzyme from mouse kidneys.

NADP+-dependent cytoplasmic malic enzyme was purified to homogeneity from mouse kidneys by a two-step procedure involving 8-(6-aminohexyl)-amino-2', 5'-ADP-Sepharose affinity chromatography and DEAE-Sephadex ion exchange chromatography. The biochemical properties of the purified enzyme from DBA/2J mice were characterized. These include the determination of molecular weight and amino acid compositions, steady-state kinetics, thermal stability and inactivations by iodoacetate and urea. The native enzyme is a tetramer with a molecular weight of 270,000.Km's for NADP+, L-malate, NADPH and pyruvate were determined to be 3.3 micrometer, 50 micrometer, 10.5 micrometer respectively. Similar to the pigeon liver enzyme, the mouse enzyme exhibits an ordered kinetic mechanism proceeding with the binding of coenzyme first. The enzyme is only weakly inhibited by ATP and other cellular metabolites. A remarkable similarity in amino acid compositions was found between the mouse and rat liver malic enzymes.
Development of self-assembling mixed protein micelles with temperature-modulated avidities.

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are polypentapeptides that undergo hydrophobic collapse and aggregation above a specific transition temperature, Tt. ELP diblocks sharing a common “core” block (I60) but varying “outer” blocks (A80, P40) were designed, where Tt,I < Tt,A < Tt,P. The formation of ~55 nm diameter mixed micelles from these ELP diblocks was verified using dynamic light scattering (DLS), multiangle light scattering (MALS) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). To confer affinity to the blood circulating protein fibrinogen, a fibrinogen-binding tetrapeptide sequence (GPRP) was fused to A80-I60, while P40-I60 was fused to a non-binding control (GPSP). The self-assembling, peptide-displaying, mixed micelles exhibit temperature-modulated avidities for immobilized and soluble fibrinogen at 32 °C and 42 °C. In this initial proof-of-concept design, the engineered mixed micelles were shown to disengage fibrinogen at elevated temperatures. The modular nature of this system can be used for developing in vivo depot systems that will only be triggered to release in situ upon specific stimuli.
Graphene Cathode-Based ZnO Nanowire Hybrid Solar Cells

Growth of semiconducting nanostructures on graphene would open up opportunities for the development of flexible optoelectronic devices, but challenges remain in preserving the structural and electrical properties of graphene during this process. We demonstrate growth of highly uniform and well-aligned ZnO nanowire arrays on graphene by modifying the graphene surface with conductive polymer interlayers. On the basis of this structure, we then demonstrate graphene cathode-based hybrid solar cells using two different photoactive materials, PbS quantum dots and the conjugated polymer P3HT, with AM 1.5G power conversion efficiencies of 4.2% and 0.5%, respectively, approaching the performance of ITO-based devices with similar architectures. Our method preserves beneficial properties of graphene and demonstrates that it can serve as a viable replacement for ITO in various photovoltaic device configurations.
Admissible Suslin cardinals in L( R )

Assuming AD + (V = L(R)), it is shown that for K an admissible Suslin cardinal, O(K) (= the order type of the stationary subsets of K) is "essentially" regular and closed under ultrapowers in a manner to be made precise. In particular, O(K) >> K+, K++, etc. It is conjectured that this characterizes admissibility for L(R). ?
Kinetics and Mechanism of Drug Release From Calcium Alginate Membrane Coated Tablets

AbstractCompressed tablets containing guaifenesin (model drug), calcium acetate (reactant) and pharmaceutical excipients were prepared. The tablets were coated with calcium alginate hydrogel using a novel, self-correcting membrane coating technique. Effects of coating time, the type of alginate polymer and pH of the dissolution medium on the rate of drug release were evaluated. In distilled water, zero order drug release profiles were obtained from the coated tablets. The release rate decreased with an increase in the coating time (increased coat thickness) and molecular weight of alginate polymer. The release rate constants correlated with model for spherical reservoir system and, were used to calculate permeability of guaifenesin in the calcium alginate coatings. Alginate polymer with higher guluronic acid content provided acid stable coating and higher molecular weight polymer produced membrane with lower permeability for guaifenesin.
Dante's Argenti: Episode and Function

WHILE crossing the Stygian fifth circle of the Inferno where the wrathful are confined, Dante suddenly encounters his former neighbor and political enemy Filippo Argenti. Immediately the two exchange a volley of insults. These are about to give place to actual violence when Virgil intercedes to protect the Christian pilgrim and to utter unqualified praise for Dante's rigorous severity toward the condemned sinner. The pilgrim then wishes to see his foe dunked in the marsh, and Virgil assures him hewill soon begratified. Theepisode, occupying thirty-four taut, intensely dramatic lines, ends with Dante offering thanks to God, not for his deliverance from danger, but for having had the pleasure of seeing the enranged Argenti attacked by all the denizens of the black mire. No one reading the Inferno can fail to notice that the pilgrim's behavior here stands in sharp contrast to his conduct in the preceding circles of Hell. Up to this point he has reacted with surprise, compassion, regret, or, at worst, indifference to the condition of the souls encountered along the way. Nowhere else has he given any sign of being pleased with their torments, still less of wishing to see them aggravated. Indeed, in the whole of the Inferno there are but few instances in which, as here, the poet takes the risk of being charged with deliberate cruelty; and these few instances are found far from the circles assigned to sins of incontinence, at the very bottom of Hell. As a consequence of this sharp reversal of attitude, many of Dante's interpreters doubtless the majority of them have found the Argenti episode somewhat embarrassing to deal with. Many have not hesitated to condemn it, in fact, as a deviation from high purpose and a lapse from strict justice. Referring to the passage in question, for example, Isidoro Del Lungo declares that it is "improntato di inopportuna crudelth."' Similarly E. G. Parodi says:
Depression and thoughts of death among disadvantaged mothers: risk factors and impact on maternal and child health

Our hypothesess were that modifiable societal risk factors would contribute to depression and thoughts of death (DTD) and that DTD would affect maternal and infant well-being. Retrospective database analysis with bivariate and multivariate statistics utilizing 3 years of data from the prospective Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Eight hundred and eighty mothers (18%) were clinically depressed; of these, 286 (33%) reported thoughts of death. DTD were significantly associated with family violence and alcohol use; a combination of DTD with family violence or maternal alcohol use markedly increased the risk of infant hospitalization (p-value <0.001). The association of DTD with problems of violence, substance abuse, and health outcomes underscores the complex relationships among these risk factors. Routine screening for these issues should be implemented.
Photon antibunching from a single lithographically defined InGaAs/GaAs quantum dot

We demonstrate photon antibunching from a single lithographically defined quantum dot fabricated by electron beam lithography, wet chemical etching, and overgrowth of the barrier layers by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. Measurement of the second-order autocorrelation function indicates g(2)(0) = 0.395 ± 0.030, below the 0.5 limit necessary for classification as a single photon source.
Bacterial debridement of the burn eschar: The in vivo activity of selected organisms

Abstract Rats with 42-cm2 dorsal scald burns were inoculated twice daily with broth cultures of selected organisms. A moisturizing cream was also applied twice daily to two-thirds of the population to enhance bacterial colonization. Relative to a battery of four concurrent control groups, most of the selected organisms failed to demonstrate any debriding activities. Strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa did measurably (but unpredictably) demonstrate debriding abilities. A strain of Proteus mirabilis was found to be an excellent debrider but rapidly induced morbidity. An isolate of Bacillus cereus proved capable of accelerating eschar slough, was predictable in its capabilities, and did not induce morbidity. The tissue populations and the debriding abilities of S. aureus and of P. mirabilis were unaffected by the presence or absence of the moisturizing cream. Bacillus cereus and P. aeruginosa colonization levels were increased approximately one logarithm per gram of tissue with use of the moisturizing cream, and both organisms required use of the cream for demonstration of debriding activity. A variety of qualitative sampling techniques were used to confirm the presence and location of the inoculated organisms; histologic sections indicated that colonization at the viable-nonviable tissue interface was a factor in sloughing of the eschar in toto.
Effect of Accent on Speech Intelligibility in Multiple Speaker Environment with Sound Spatialization

Cocktail Party Effect has been used to isolate one sound above others in a multiple speaker environment. In previous studies, we have demonstrated that intelligibility can be improved by introducing directionality and gender differences in a multiple speaker environment [1]. In this study, we examine the effect of accents on speech intelligibility. To improve clarity of speech, each speaker is assigned a direction using Head Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs) which creates an auditory map of multiple conversations. We see that listeners can comprehend an odd accent in a multiple speaker environment better than the accent used by most speakers. An overall improvement of 31.4% was observed when this effect was tested over 12 subjects.
Zero Cost Test Point Insertion Technique for Structured ASICs

We show different ways in which unused multiplexers (MUXes) and scan flip-flops (flops) in a structured application specific integrated chip (SA) design can be re-configured to insert test points to drastically reduce test volume and test generation time. We convert unused hardware in SAs into: (a) conventional control points, (b) complete test points, (c) pseudo-control points or (d) inversion test points. Since only unused hardware is used, the proposed test point insertion (TPI) technique does not entail any extra hardware overhead. Test points are inserted using timing information, so they do not degrade performance. We also present novel gain functions that quantify the reduction in test volume and automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) time due to TPI and are used as heuristics to guide the selection of signal lines for inserting test points. Experimental results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness and scalability of the proposed technique. Using very little unused hardware and TPI run time, we reduced ATPG time by up to 63.1 % and test data volume by up to 64.5% while also achieving a near 100% fault efficiency for very large industrial designs
The infrared and Raman spectra of ZrO2-SiO2 glasses prepared by a sol-gel process

Infrared and Raman spectra were measured and interpreted on the basis of structure for various ZrO2-SiO2 glasses that were prepared by a sol-gel process involving zirconium nitrate. Interpretation of the spectra indicates the presence of both Zr-O-Si and Si-O-H linkages depending upon heat treatment conditions, and the evidence of zirconium atoms with eight fold coordination for glasses with high ZrO2 contents. The crystalline products formed during glass devitrification were monitored by vibrational spectra. The formation and detection of tetragonal ZrO2, zircon, monoclinic ZrO2 and α-cristobalite depended upon the conditions of devitrification.
Purification of canine myocardial mitochondrial creatine kinase

Mitochondrial creatine kinase, purified for the first time, is a dimeric molecule with a mol.wt of 82,000 and does not hybridize with M or B subunits or react to their specific antiserum. A specific antiserum to the mitochondrial form was developed which does not cross-react with the B or M subunits. Thus, the mitochondrial form is biochemically and immunologically unique.
Transvenous pacing in pediatric patients

Cardiac pacing has been traditionally carried out by the epicardial approach in pediatric patients.1-3 This has been true for several reasons: (1) pacemakers were too large to implant safely in the pectoral area; (2) leads were too large to easily insert into the cephalic vein; (3) leads were considered likely to interfere with the tricuspid valve; (4) lead dislodgement rate was considered unacceptably high. Adults are usually paced by a transvenous approach.4 Because many of these problems appeared to have been solved, we decided to evaluate the feasibility of transvenous pacing in our pediatric patients. Transvenous pacing has been reported in only a small group of children .5 In this report we present the early results of the first year of transvenous pacing in our clinic.
Signal stabilization of a control system

FEEDBACK loops, in states of self-oscillation, can often be stabilized by the introduction of an appropriate signal. In this paper a theory is developed to explain this phenomenon. The theory is applied to a system which is linear except for a limiter. Experimental results for the system showing the removal of the hunt by a stabilizing signal are given in a previous paper.1
Organizational Density and Neighborhood Employment

Previous research finds that organizations are important sites where knowledge about employment is diffused and social ties are embedded. This article builds upon this research by asking whether organizational density has implications for employment at the neighborhood level. More specifically, this study focuses on the relationship between ethnic organizational density and employment by the extent to which ethnic organizations influence neighborhood employment levels. Using post–World War II San Francisco as a case study, this article finds that the density of ethnic organizations positively affects neighborhood employment over time, though this effect is spatially tempered by their location in particular regions of the city.
Crystal and molecular structures of trifluoroacrylonitrile, F2C=CF-CN, and trifluorovinyl isocyanide, F2C=CF-NC, by low-temperature X-ray crystallography and ab initio calculations.

The structures of trifluoroacrylonitrile, F2C=CF-CN, monoclinic, P2(1/n) (no. 14), a = 8.595(4), b = 8.748(1), c = 5.421(1) A, beta = 102.83(2) degrees, Z = 4, and its thermally unstable isomer trifluorovinyl isocyanide, F2C=CF-NC, monoclinic, P2(1/n), a = 8.501(2), b = 8.828(2), c = 5.599(2) A, beta = 101.11(2) degrees, Z = 4 were determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis at 113 and 128 K, respectively, from single crystals grown by partial melting and gradient cooling in small glass capillaries. Selected experimental bond lengths of F2C=CF-CN/F2C=CF-NC are as follows: C=C 1.326(1)/1.304(2), C...N 1.158(1)/1.167(2) A. The C-F bond lengths of the CF2 group are significantly shorter than those of the CF(NC) and CF(CN) units, respectively. The vibrational frequencies and molecular geometries of this cyanide/isocyanide pair were also calculated by ab initio methods for comparison with the experimental results, which were found to be in general agreement.
Electrodiagnostic Approach to the Patient with Suspected Myopathy

Electrodiagnostic testing is a useful component of the approach to a patient with suspected myopathy. It follows the history and is guided by the neurologic examination findings. Uncovering various electrodiagnostic patterns (eg, fibrillation potentials with short-duration motor unit potentials, short-duration motor unit potentials without fibrillation potentials, myotonic discharges, and short-duration motor unit potentials with complex repetitive discharges) can lead to more targeted laboratory testing and a refined differential diagnosis. Electromyography may also be used to detect subclinical myopathy, assess disease activity, and help select a suitable muscle for biopsy.
Electrostatic and Hydrodynamic Separation of DNA Fragments in Capillary Tubes

Two separation mechanisms are demonstrated for DNA fragments in free solution inside narrow capillary tubes. No sieving medium or buffer additive is needed. In the electromigration mode, a likely model is that dissociated silanol groups on the capillary walls create an excess of positive charges in the diffuse layer near the surface. These provide electrostatic shielding of the negatively charged DNA fragments to lower their electrophoretic mobility against electroosmotic flow. Small fragments can access the diffuse layer more readily because of lower steric hindrance and larger diffusion coefficients and are therefore eluted earlier than the large fragments. In the hydrodynamic mode, the Poisseuille flow profile causes molecules near the surface to move slower. So, the smaller DNA fragments are eluted later than the larger fragments.
Hierarchical feeding behaviour in the leopard frog (Rana pipiens)

Abstract Hierarchical feeding orders are expressed in grouped leopard frogs by an increasing stability of rank ordering in respect to frequency of capturing worms. The feeding hierarchy reaches significant reliability only after frogs are housed together for several months. Frogs which obtain worms most quickly tend to weigh the most and show the greatest degree of accuracy. Hierarchical feeding behaviours are primarily subtle, including pushing and climbing in an apparent attempt to gain position to jump at the worm. Occasional instances of nipping occur in closely competitive frogs after the worm has been ingested.
Abduction: A Theory of Visual Interpretation

Peirce's notion of abductive reasoning provides a theoretical framework in which to analyze visual interpretation, that is, how viewers understand a visual and interpret its meaning. This paper demonstrates that a different kind of interpretive logic operates for visual communication processes than for language-based communication processes, and this logic is best articulated in the semiotic literature where the notion of interpretation is more carefully conceptualized.
Biological effects of dimethyl sulfoxide on yeast.

Abstract The effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on yeast cells were investigated. It was determined that while exposure of yeast to increasing concentrations of DMSO resulted in decreasing cell viability, it did not cause cell lysis or protein leakage from the cells. The inclusion of DMSO in growth medium resulted in the conversion of yeast cultures to respiratory deficient petites. This mutagenic effect requires cell growth for its expression.
Cognitive Styles in the Deaf

Summary.-To evaluate sex and developmental differences in the cognitive style functioning of the deaf and test an hypothesis derived from Witkin's diffeventiarion theory (concerning the relationship between cognitive style and communication ability) 90 Ss at three age levels were rested. Each S was given three cognitive style tests, the Rod and Frame Test (RlT), the Children's Embedded Figures Test (CEFT), and the Poppelreuter Test (P-T). The Paragraph Meaning scores of the Stanford Achievement Test were used to assess one aspect of communication ability, reading. Special procedures were utilized in the cognitive resting of Ss and in particular, a method €or the administration of the RFT to deaf individuals was developed. The results revealed consistent and clear-cut sex differences in cognitive style, such that boys were significantly more field independent than girls. Expected developmental differences in the direction of increasing field independency with age were evident in the performance of boys bur were absent in the scores of girls. The relationships between cognitive style and communication measures indicate a partial confirmation of the differentiation hypothesis tested. Cognitive styles serve as a means of organizing and s~~mmarizing a wide variety of behavior and are conceived of as "stable and enduring mediating structures" (Gardner, Holzman, Klein, Linton, & Spence, 1959) which can determine general response patterns. This area of investigation has been active for over 15 years and has encompassed a number of research approaches (Witkin, Lewis, Hertzman, Machover, Meissner, & Wapner, 1954; Witkin, Dyk, Faterson, Goodenough, & Karp, 1962; Gardner, et al., 1959; Gardner, Jackson, & Messick, 1960; Kagen, Moss, & Sigel, 1963). Cognitive sryle research has had the effect of promoring reconceptiialization in the area of intelligence and has attempted to provide a bridge between research in cognitive and personality functioning (Maccoby, 1964). This investigation lies within the theoretical and methodological approach of Witkin and his co-workers. In particular, the field dependence-independence dimension was studied in three age groups of profoundly deaf children. An hypothesis derived from differentiation theory (Witkin, et al., 1962) was investigated. The deaf, because of their early and severe deprivation of auditory stimulation, traditionally have been viewed as possessing intellectual skills inferior to chose of a hearing group (Heider & Heider, 1940; Levine, 1960; Oleron, 1950, 'This article is based upon a Ph.D. dissertation (Fiebert, 1965) completed at the University of Rochester under the direction of Emory L. Cowen. I am indebted to the administrators, teachers, and smdenrs at the Rochester School for the Deaf, the Kendall School for the Deaf, and the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in their effort and participation in this research.
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: clinicopathology and molecular alterations

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS, OMIM 175200) is an unusual inherited intestinal polyposis syndrome associated with distinct peri-oral blue/black freckling [1–9]. Variable penetrance and clinical heterogeneity make it difficult to determine the exact frequency of PJS [4]. PJS is a cancer predisposition syndrome. Affected individuals are at high risk for intestinal and extra-intestinal cancers. In 1997, linkage studies mapped PJS to chromosome 19p [10, 11], and subsequently a serine/threonine kinase gene defect (LKB1) was noted in a majority of PJS cases [12, 13]. A phenotypically similar syndrome has been produced in an LKB1 mouse knockout model [14–18]. Several PJS kindred without LKB1 mutations have been described, suggesting other PJS loci [19–22]. The management of PJS is complex and evolving. New endoscopic technologies may improve management of intestinal polyposis. Identification of specific genetic mutations and their targets will more accurately assess the clinical course, and help gage the magnitude of cancer risk for affected individuals.
Metabolic fate and function of dietary glutamate in the gut

Glutamate is a main constituent of dietary protein and is also consumed in many prepared foods as an additive in the form of monosodium glutamate. Evidence from human and animal studies indicates that glutamate is a major oxidative fuel for the gut and that dietary glutamate is extensively metabolized in first pass by the intestine. Glutamate also is an important precursor for bioactive molecules, including glutathione, and functions as a key neurotransmitter. The dominant role of glutamate as an oxidative fuel may have therapeutic potential for improving function of the infant gut, which exhibits a high rate of epithelial cell turnover. Our recent studies in infant pigs show that when glutamate is fed at higher (4-fold) than normal dietary quantities, most glutamate molecules are either oxidized or metabolized by the mucosa into other nonessential amino acids. Glutamate is not considered to be a dietary essential, but recent studies suggest that the level of glutamate in the diet can affect the oxidation of some essential amino acids, namely leucine. Given that substantial oxidation of leucine occurs in the gut, ongoing studies are investigating whether dietary glutamate affects the oxidation of leucine in the intestinal epithelial cells. Our studies also suggest that at high dietary intakes, free glutamate may be absorbed by the stomach as well as the small intestine, thus implicating the gastric mucosa in the metabolism of dietary glutamate. Glutamate is a key excitatory amino acid, and metabolism and neural sensing of dietary glutamate in the developing gastric mucosa, which is poorly developed in premature infants, may play a functional role in gastric emptying. These and other recent reports raise the question as to the metabolic role of glutamate in gastric function. The physiologic significance of glutamate as an oxidative fuel and its potential role in gastric function during infancy are discussed.
2007: the year of regulatory change.

Introduction. The two countries that performed the most organ transplants in 2006, the United States and China, initiated significant regulatory changes in 2007 that continue into 2008 and likely several more years. The purpose of this article is to highlight the reasons behind the regulatory initiatives, document the new regulations, and assess the impact thus far. Methods. Review of US and Chinese governmental regulations emphasizing the underlying principles and impact. Results. We evaluated the changes with respect to equity and transparency; understanding transplant policy; field strength; and informed consent. We found a number of similarities between the US and Chinese regulatory changes. The changes in the United States introduced new members into the team (independent donor advocates) and improved documentation, while China began the process of regulation by defining the process and identifying practices that are not allowed. Conclusions. We found a number of similarities between the regulatory changes in the United States and China. Both countries have made significant progress in attempting to improve the process for both donors and recipients. The United States is a more mature system, while China is attempting to move toward an international standard. In the short term, there may be decreased overall access to transplantation while transplant centers and policies adjust to the new regulations in both countries.
Comparing U.S. regions for selected economic and financial variables

The paper investigates patterns of differences of some key economic and financial variables among U.S. regions. The grouping of the states into regions is in accordance with the Bureau of Economic Analysis classification (New England, Mideast, Great Lakes, Plains, Southeast, Southwest, Rocky Mountain, Far West). Two main points are explored. The first deals with descriptive statistics of the variables for the eight regions. The second is the identification of regional similarities and dissimilarities for the variables. The research methodology is a one-way analysis of variance for testing hypotheses of regional mean equality. Multiple comparison procedures are employed to find whether regions ranked the highest really differ from one another and from the remaining regions.
Effects of STABEX on Cotton Imports of the European Community

An Armington approach was used to analyze the effects of the STABEX system on the cotton imports of the European Community. STABEX, a provision of the Lome Conventions, provides transfer payments from the European Community to certain former colonies when export earnings of protected commodities experience a shortfall. Since its inception, STABEX appears to have increased the market share of certain former European colonies at the expense of other regions, mostly composed of third world countries.
Using selective discard to improve real-time video quality on an ethernet local area network

To support real-time MPEG video on Ethernet, a selective discard scheme can be implemented to trade-off the loss of more important MPEG “I” frames for less important “B” frames. Such a scheme results in better video quality. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.