cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pelvic/Perineal Reconstruction: Time to Consider the Anterolateral Thigh Flap as a First-line Option?

Background Abdominoperineal resection (APR) and pelvic exenteration continue to be common procedures for the treatment of colorectal malignancy. The workhorse flap for reconstruction in these instances has been the vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. The associated donor site morbidity, however, cannot be ignored. Here, we provide a review of the literature and present the senior author's (A.M.) experience using the pedicled anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap for reconstruction of soft tissue defects following APR and pelvic exenteration. Methods Patients who underwent pelvic/perineal reconstruction with pedicled ALT flaps between 2017 and 2019 were included in the study. Parameters of interest included age, gender, body mass index, comorbidities, history of radiation, extent of ablative surgery, and postoperative complication rate. Results A total of 23 patients (16 men and 7 women) with a median age and body mass index of 66 years (inter-quartile range [IQR]: 49-71 years) and 24.9 kg/m2 (IQR: 24.2-26.7 kg/m2) were included in the study, respectively. Thirteen (56.5%) patients presented with rectal cancer, 5 (21.7%) with anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 4 (17.4%) with Crohn's disease, and 1 (4.3%) with Paget's disease. Nineteen patients (82.6%) received neoadjuvant radiation. Nine (39.1%) patients experienced 11 complications (2 major and 9 minor). The most common complication was partial perineal wound dehiscence (N = 6 [26.1%]). Stable soft tissue coverage was achieved in all but one patient. Conclusions The ALT flap allows for stable soft tissue coverage following APR and pelvic exenteration without being associated with abdominal donor site morbidity. Consideration to its use as a first-line reconstructive option should be given in pelvic/perineal reconstruction.
Status and Prospect of KOTO-I

KOTO is the first experiment with the designed sensitivity of O(10−11) to probe for new physics through the rare decay. From 2017 to 2019, there were critical changes in the data acquisition system that further improved the research potential of KOTO for diverse research topics. In this article, we present the new trigger system of KOTO and several byproduct analysis.
Use Case Methodology in XSEDE System Integration

Use cases are a foundational element of most system design and development methodologies. The XSEDE system integration team defines and references its intended user experiences through use cases. In XSEDE, use cases enable people from many backgrounds and disciplines to speak coherently with each other about XSEDE’s capabilities and proposed changes to the system. With use cases as an organizing principle, XSEDE has built an open and transparent framework in which researchers, software developers, and service providers can view the system’s intended user experiences, the implementation activities aimed at delivering those experiences, and the resulting system. Use cases are one of several metrics used by the XSEDE project to continuously measure and track our value to the community. In section 1, we explain why the XSEDE project tracks use cases and the benefits this provides. In section 2, we describe the methods XSEDE follows for defining and tracking use cases. In section 3, we describe the tools XSEDE uses to manage use cases.
New Fission Product Yield Measurements at Oregon State University

Cumulative fast fission product yields for 235 U and 238 U were measured at Godiva-IV in burst mode. Data was collected starting 45 minutes after the prompt irradiation. Data analysis codes were developed to analyze gammarays and calculate fission product yields with their respective uncertainties. Due to uncertainties in the branching ratios, different γ-rays from the same isotope led to different fission yield. This led to an effort at Oregon State University (OSU ) to utilize the Rabbit facility at their 1 MegaWatt Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics (TRIGA ) nuclear research reactor. The new experimental setup will allow us to measure branching ratio data and short-lived fission product yields starting seconds after a prompt irradiation.
Effect of In-Built Anisotropic and Heterogeneous Material Properties on Machinability in Drilling of AISI 304 Stainless Steel

Abstract Most ‘as-received’ stock materials possess local anisotropic and heterogeneous properties, as induced by rolling process, e.g., extrusion, forging, cold/hot-rolling, etc. followed by optional heat treatment process(es). During machining, such local (in-built) material properties can adversely affect the machinability. This work is performed based on a real industry problem in regard to unusual chip jamming, inconsistent tool life, and product quality. The aim of this work is to investigate local variability of anisotropic and heterogenous material and mechanical properties towards center of cylindrical bars, and their effect on machinability, such as, cutting force during machining of stainless steel AISI 304. Two different sources of cylindrical stock material are considered for investigation. Drilling experiments are performed in axial direction of cylindrical bars by varying tool size (6.5 mm and 10.8 mm), and cutting parameters (viz, speed and feed). It is observed that material and mechanical properties, e.g., engineering stress, strain, hardness and microstructures vary significantly within 6 mm from the side surface (outer dia). Such variation of in-built properties within any sample causes a variability in peak-to-peak force (∼13-25%) and cutting instability as the drill cutting edge passes through different radial locations in each rotation of the drill bit. Larger cutting force and variation were observed with larger variation in material properties. Further drilling tests at the center of the bars reveal that the machining issue is caused by these two material properties. The study also suggests some solutions to encounter the material issue.
Multilayer fabrication of durable catheter-deployable soft robotic sensor arrays for efficient left atrial mapping

Devices that perform cardiac mapping and ablation to treat atrial fibrillation provide an effective means of treatment. Current devices, however, have limitations that either require tedious point-by-point mapping of a cardiac chamber or have limited ability to conform to the complex anatomy of a patient's cardiac chamber. In this work, a detailed, scalable, and manufacturable technique is reported for fabrication of a multielectrode, soft robotic sensor array. These devices exhibit high conformability (~85 to 90%) and are equipped with an array of stretchable electronic sensors for voltage mapping. The form factor of the device is intended to match that of the entire left atrium and has a hydraulically actuated soft robotic structure whose profile facilitates deployment from a 13.5-Fr catheter. We anticipate that the methods described in this paper will serve a new generation of conformable medical devices that leverage the unique characteristics of stretchable electronics and soft robotics.
A scalable open-source MATLAB toolbox for reconstruction and analysis of multispectral optoacoustic tomography data

Multispectral photoacoustic tomography enables the resolution of spectral components of a tissue or sample at high spatiotemporal resolution. With the availability of commercial instruments, the acquisition of data using this modality has become consistent and standardized. However, the analysis of such data is often hampered by opaque processing algorithms, which are challenging to verify and validate from a user perspective. Furthermore, such tools are inflexible, often locking users into a restricted set of processing motifs, which may not be able to accommodate the demands of diverse experiments. To address these needs, we have developed a Reconstruction, Analysis, and Filtering Toolbox to support the analysis of photoacoustic imaging data. The toolbox includes several algorithms to improve the overall quantification of photoacoustic imaging, including non-negative constraints and multispectral filters. We demonstrate various use cases, including dynamic imaging challenges and quantification of drug effect, and describe the ability of the toolbox to be parallelized on a high performance computing cluster.
U.S. status of particulates — Monitoring, modeling, background, trends, and standards

Publisher Summary Particulate matter (PM) has been measured in the United States as total suspended particulates (TSP) and as particles of diameter 10 microns or less (PM 10 ). The first national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for PM were established in 1971 and were based on health data and air quality data assembled by the Department of Health Education and Welfare in 1969. The monitoring method for PM in the United States is basically gravimetric, as opposed to nephelometer or beta gauge instruments. The reason for this is the ability to analyze a subset of filters for speciated compounds comprising the particulate mix. Such analyses are essential for control strategies and provide a better understanding of the dynamics of a regional or local particulate situation. Unfortunately, gravimetric methods incur high costs per sample and are manual methods. This has resulted in less than everyday sampling for the majority of the U.S. particulate networks.
Warped-RE: Low-Cost Error Detection and Correction in GPUs

Graphics processing units (GPUs) are now the dominant computing fabric within many supercomputers. As such many mission critical applications run on GPUs, which demand stringent reliability and computational correctness guarantees from GPUs. Prior approaches to GPU reliability have tackled solely either error detection, or error correction assuming error detection is already present. In this paper we present Warped Redundant Execution (Warped-RE), a unified framework that is capable of detecting and then correcting transient and nontransient errors in the GPU execution lanes. Our work exploits two critical properties of applications running on GPUs. First, we observe that neighboring execution lanes in GPUs may operate on the same values. Thus when neighboring lanes execute the same instruction using the same values then these lanes provide inherent DMR (dual modular redundancy) or even inherent TMR (triple modular redundancy) opportunities. The second property we exploit is that due to insufficient parallelism or due to branch divergence, applications do not fully utilize all the available execution lanes. In this case it is possible to force DMR or TMR on unused execution lanes, when inherent redundancy is insufficient. During error-free execution, Warped-RE uses a combination of inherent and forced DMR to guarantee that every thread computation within every warp instruction will be verified. When an error is detected in a warp instruction, the instruction is re-executed in TMR mode in order to correct the error and identify execution lanes with potential non-transient errors. Our evaluations show 8.4% and 29% average performance overhead during the DMR and TMR operation modes, respectively. Compared to traditional DMR and TMR, Warped-RE reduces the power overhead by 42% and 40%, respectively.
Muscle spindles in muscle control

Afferent discharges from single muscle spindles in the frog were recorded from the dorsal root ganglion in the reflexively active loop and in the same loop opened by cutting the dorsal roots. The closed loop response (i.e. pulse frequency) to muscle stretch was smooth and without “dead zones”, as compared to the response to the same stretch when the loop was open. The variations in gain between the open and closed loop modes of operation are shown to be small, both for muscle spindle afferent outflow and for muscle tension.
Chromatographic peak shape

Abstract The calculation of the higher central moments of chromatographic peaks has been a long-time burden of the chromatographer. The calculation of these quantities experimentally is not often accomplished since the integration process is extremely sensitive to noise and the limits of integration, causing the results to vary over a large range. Owing to these discrepancies, the purpose of this work was to derive the moments of the predetermined eight-parameter peak shape model of Chesler and Cram after fitting the equation to experimental data, and to offer a comparison of the results to the direct integration of the profile. In some cases, the experimental moments are in close agreement with those predicted by the model, whereas in others the difference is quite substantial.
Telling Stories: Exogenous Influences on Media, Presidential, and Congressional Framing of Biofuels

This article examines how key political actors—the media, the president, and Congress—framed biofuels from 1999 through 2008, and what factors had the most pronounced influence on their storytelling. Special attention is paid to how their stories concerning biofuels changed in response to shifts in the broader political milieu and whether these actors influenced one another's storytelling. The findings indicate that these actors most commonly told stories concerning biofuels' impacts on the environment (good and bad), the economy (good and bad), and energy security. The results also suggest that while these actors had little if any influence on one another's storytelling, media, presidential, and congressional framing was heavily shaped by the economic climate in the country, and by key events such as 9/11, which elevated the issue of energy security. These events and conditions were vital because they established which storylines would resonate in the public sphere. Related Articles Shanahan, Elizabeth A., Mark K. McBeth, and Paul L. Hathaway. 2011. “Narrative Policy Framework: The Influence of Media Policy Narratives on Public Opinion.” Politics & Policy 39 (3): 373-400. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00295.x/abstract Waage, Eric. 2008. “U.S. Energy Policy Response to International Food Prices: The Costs and Effects of Corn Ethanol Production.” Politics & Policy 36 (5): 792-804. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2008.00135.x/abstract Davitt, Marcia. 2008. “Biofuels Policy through the Lens of Social Sciences.” Politics & Policy 36 (6): 1148-1149. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2008.00157_5.x/abstract Related Media Film Clips: Clean Skies News. 2009. “Congress Discusses Future of Biofuels.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECpYJfpAzY4 Trent, Jonathan. 2012. “Energy from Floating Algae Pods.” TEDGlobal. http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_trent_energy_from_floating_algae_pods.html Bomani, Bilal. 2011. “Plant Fuels that could Power a Jet.” TEDGlobal. http://www.ted.com/talks/bilal_bomani_plant_fuels_that_could_power_a_jet.html U.S. Department of Energy. 2012. “Maps and Data.” Alternative Fuels Data Center. http://www.afdc.energy.gov/data/ Este articulo analiza como actores politicos clave—los medios, el presidente y el congreso—enmarcaron los biocombustibles de 1999 a 2008 y que factores tuvieron la influencia mas fuerte en sus historias. Se dedica especial atencion a como sus historias sobre biocombustibles cambiaron en respuesta a desplazamientos en el contexto politico y a si tales actores influyeron mutuamente sus narrativas. Los hallazgos indican que estos actores predominantemente contaron historias sobre los impactos (positivos y negativos) de los biocombustibles sobre elmedio ambiente, la economia y la seguridad energetica. Estos eventos y condiciones fueron vitales porque establecieron que narrativas llegarian a tener resonancia en la esfera publica.
Legislative Coalitions in a Bargaining Model with Externalities

Previous work modeling a legislature in which bill proposals and voting take a form analogous to offer-counteroffer bargaining offer a new view of what legislative parties are and why they are formed. However, such models either represent preferences as being purely distributive in nature, so that there are no variations in preference similarity across legislators and thus no reason for any particular group of legislators to form a party; or else used a full spatial model of legislative preferences, which lacks tractability. To gain the advantages from both approaches, this paper analyzes a distributive model with simple externalities. The model is employed to gain an improved understanding of the conditions under which legislative parties can be said to effect outcomes beyond what could be expected from purely myopic, rational behavior among legislators with similar preferences.
Beta2-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors mediate calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-II and synapsin I protein levels in the nucleus accumbens after nicotine withdrawal in mice

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are calcium-permeable and the initial targets for nicotine. Studies suggest that calcium-dependent mechanisms mediate some behavioral responses to nicotine; however, the post-receptor calcium-dependent mechanisms associated with chronic nicotine and nicotine withdrawal remain unclear. The proteins calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and synapsin I are essential for neurotransmitter release and were shown to be involved in drug dependence. In the current study, using pharmacological techniques, we sought to (a) complement previously published behavioral findings from our lab indicating a role for calcium-dependent signaling in nicotine dependence and (b) expand on previously published acute biochemical and pharmacological findings indicating the relevance of calcium-dependent mechanisms in acute nicotine responses by evaluating the function of CaMKII and synapsin I after chronic nicotine and withdrawal in the nucleus accumbens, a brain region implicated in drug dependence. Male mice were chronically infused with nicotine for 14 days, and treated with the β2-selective antagonist dihydro-β-erythroidine (DHβE), or the α7 antagonist, methyllycaconitine citrate (MLA) 20min prior to dissection of the nucleus accumbens. Results show that phosphorylated and total CaMKII and synapsin I protein levels were significantly increased in the nucleus accumbens after chronic nicotine infusion, and reduced after treatment with DHβE, but not MLA. A spontaneous nicotine withdrawal assessment also revealed significant reductions in phosphorylated CaMKII and synapsin I levels 24h after cessation of nicotine treatment. Our findings suggest that post-receptor calcium-dependent mechanisms associated with nicotine withdrawal are mediated through β2-containing nicotinic receptors.
Carnivore-Mouse Predation: An Example of its Intensity and Bioenergetics

Populations of Microtus, Reithrodontomys and Mus reached a peak in Tilden Park, California, in June 1961, and reproduction almost ceased until the following spring. The impact of carnivores (feral cats, gray foxes, raccoons and skunks) on this standing crop of mice was measured by analysis of carnivore droppings systematically recovered from a 35-acre study area. Eighty-eight per cent of the 4,400 Microtus , 33% of the 1,200 Reithrodontomys and 7% of the 7,000 Mus were eaten by the carnivores before the next spring. As Microtus became scarce, the carnivore diet included more Reithrodontomys, Mus , gophers and finally wood rats. Numerous carnivores continued to hunt mice on the area even after the mice had been practically exterminated. At the beginning of the study the standing crop per acre, in kilocalories, of various components of the food chain was: roots, 7.3 million; hay (excluding seeds), 8.1 million; seeds, 1.9 million; Microtus , 6,402; Mus , 4,543; Reithrodontomys , 434; and carnivores, 650. The annual caloric requirements of the peak populations (per acre) would have been: Microtus , 1.4 million; Mus , 876,000; Reithrodontomys , 82,000; and carnivores, 11,700. The peak population of mice could not have survived for one year on the available seed crop. The carnivores ate 55% of the calories available as mice and could have survived a full year if all mice had remained available to them, but by the end of December so many mice had been lost to other agents of mortality and by emigration that only a 12-day supply remained. In spite of the initial high density of mice, 7% of the seed crop escaped destruction and grew to form a rich vegetation in the following season.
Phosphineborane analogs of trimethylsilyl amides

Abstract The reaction of (CH3)2(BH3)PCl with the lithium salts of acetamide, N-methyl acetamide, and N-methyl formamide produced the N(CH3)2(BH3)P-monosubstituted amides. Attempts to employ the same procedure for the preparation of the bis-acetamide, the acetanilide and the N-methyl benzamide derivatives were unsuccessful. Variable temperature NMR spectroscopy revealed the presence of rotational isomers for the formamide with a population of 0.85 for the major rotamer which on the basis of the 31P-formyl proton coupling constants was assigned the structure where the (CH3)2(BH3)P group is trans to carbonyl oxygen. The free energies of activation were determined to be 16.2 and 17.3 kcal/mol. For the other derivatives only one isomer could be detected down to—60°C. The compounds are similar to the trimethylsilyl analogs in structure and rotational populations, but the lower rotational barrier in the phosphineborane formamide derivative suggests a greater destabilization of the polar ground state amide resonance structure by the formal positive charge on phosphorus.
Site selective optical spectra of free base porphin in anthracene

Abstract The low temperature optical spectra of free base porphin in crystalline anthracene have been observed in the visible region of the spectrum. Quasilines and broad components were observed in the region of the forbidden Q bands. Site selection techniques were used to separate the spectra of inequivalent site species, and vibronic frequencies were assigned in the ground state and excited Q states. The relative strengths of the broad and quasiline components of the spectra in the Q x and Q y states indicated that the host lattice may affect the relative transition strengths of Q x and Q y . These results indicated that the strength of the transition to Q x is greater than that of Q y for a free porphin molecule.
Structural studies of a-Si:H based heterostructures☆

Abstract Raman scattering measurements have been performed on a series of a-Si:H/a-SiN x :H multilayer films with hydride layer thickness d varying from 8 – 90A. The results show that with decreasing thickness the hydride layers become progressively more disordered. This increasing bond angle disorder is attributed to an additional distortion in the amorphous network near the interface which arises from the mismatch in the interatomic distances between a-Si:H and a-SiN x :H. A comparison of the results for the multilayers with those for thick films of a-Si and a-Ge shows that for small layer thicknesses the interface induced disorder can significantly affect the properties of the hydride layer.
Computer analysis of characteristic elements of fractographic images

For the quantitative analysis of fractographic images, we have used the method of segmentation of fractographic images by multilevel thresholding. In contrast to known approaches, to decrease the distortion of a segmented image, we took into account common features characteristic of not only its large components, but also small ones, to which low peaks correspond in the histogram of brightness. This has enabled us to separate an image of a fragment of a fracture surface into connected regions and then determine and analyze their quantitative characteristics.
Comparison of the structural requirements for bacteriochlorophyll binding in the core light-harvesting complexes of Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodospirillum sphaeroides using reconstitution methodology with bacteriochlorophyll analogs.

Bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) structural requirements for formation of the core light-harvesting complex (LH1) and its structural subunit complex were examined by reconstitution with BChl analogs and the α- and β-polypeptides of Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Comparable results were obtained with most of the BChl analogs and the polypeptides of each bacterium, indicating the conservation of BChl binding sites. These systems showed the following common requirements for formation of the subunit complex and LH1: (1) Mg or a metal of similar size and coordination chemistry (e.g., Zn, Cd, Ni), (2) a bacteriochlorin oxidation state of the macrocyclic ring, (3) a 132-carbomethoxy group, and (4) an intact ring V. Some structural features were not as critically important. For example, the subunit complex and LH1 could be formed with both sets of polypeptides and BChl b, as well as with analogs containing either short (ethanol) or long (phytol) esterifying alcohols. Two derivatives were identified ...
Protective measures and vulnerability indices for the Enhanced Critical Infrastructure Protection Programme

Argonne National Laboratory in partnership with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has developed a methodology to systematically evaluate the protection posture and vulnerability of critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR). This vulnerability methodology is part of a larger effort by DHS called the Enhanced Critical Infrastructure Protection Programme, which seeks to mitigate vulnerabilities, enhance relationships, and improve information sharing between public and private entities. This methodology was constructed to be used in all CIKR sectors and to provide useful results to owners and operators of US facilities. The vulnerability index is also being used to assist DHS in analysing sector and subsector vulnerabilities, to identify potential ways to reduce vulnerabilities, and to assist in preparing sector risk estimates. The owner/operator also receives an analysis of the data collected for a specific asset, which gives an indication of the asset’s strengths and weaknesses with regard to security.
Paying Our Sleep Debt in Extra Pounds

Sleep is vital to sustain life and well-being, but the long lines at coffee shops suggest that many people don’t sleep enough. According to the National Sleep Foundation, on average adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night, but less than half of us report sleeping this amount during
Pediatric critical illness hyperglycemia: risk factors associated with development and severity of hyperglycemia in critically ill children.

Objective To determine which children are susceptible to critical illness hyperglycemia (CIH) and whether CIH severity and duration correlate with diagnosis or illness severity. Study design We developed a standard approach to identify and treat CIH in our medical/surgical pediatric intensive care unit. We define CIH as persistent blood glucose (BG) >140 mg/dL and titrate infused insulin to maintain BG 80 to 140 mg/dL. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with hyperglycemia from June 2006 through May 2007. Main outcomes were risk of development of CIH in different patient subgroups and CIH severity and duration. Results Average peak BG, CIH duration, and peak insulin requirements were 199 mg/dL, 6.3 days, and 0.09 units/kg/h, respectively, in patients with CIH. CIH severity and duration were highest in neurosurgical and patients with sepsis, those requiring mechanical ventilation and vasopressors, extracorporeal support, and those with highest illness severity scores. Conclusions CIH severity and duration correlate with diagnosis and illness severity. Certain "risk factors" may be predictive of who develops CIH.
Random Lorentz band model with exponential-tailed S-1 line-intensity distribution function

1/s line intensity distribution function for molecular spectra representation using growth curves calculated for Lorentz lines
Difference in the Definitions of Coherence in the Space-time Domain and in the Space-frequency Domain

Abstract Coherence in the space-time domain and in the space-frequency domain are compared and found to be non-equivalent. Coherence in the space-time domain is sufficient for coherence in the space-frequency domain. Coherence in the space-frequency domain is not sufficient for coherence in the space-time domain. The source spectrum as well as coherence in the space-frequency domain effect coherence in the space-time domain. The coherence in the radiation field from two very different localized sources is studied. It is found that the fields are coherent throughout the far field region only if the sources are monochromatic.
AIRFLOW PATTERN SIMILARITY CRITERIA FOR CEILING SLOT-VENTILATED AGRICULTURAL ENCLOSURES UNDER ISOTHERMAL CONDITIONS

The use of a scaled model can be an effective technique to predict ventilation performance of full-scale prototypes. Many criteria have been proposed to predict the behavior of airflow in a scale model and a prototype. Because of inconsistent results of proposed similarity criteria, more validation work is needed to clarify the conflicts. Experiments to study airflow similarity in ceiling slot-ventilated agricultural enclosures using different similarity criteria were conducted on two scale models. The studies focused on the Reynolds number (Re) and inlet jet momentum ratio (Rm) as the similitude criteria for isothermal airflow. The experimental results offer better agreement using Rm as opposed to Re as the similitude criterion for isothermal airflow pattern control.
Perception of 3-D Location Based on Vision, Touch, and Extended Touch

Perception of the near environment gives rise to spatial images in working memory that continue to represent the spatial layout even after cessation of sensory input. As the observer moves, these spatial images are continuously updated. This research is concerned with (1) whether spatial images of targets are formed when they are sensed using extended touch (i.e., using a probe to extend the reach of the arm) and (2) the accuracy with which such targets are perceived. In Experiment 1, participants perceived the 3-D locations of individual targets from a fixed origin and were then tested with an updating task involving blindfolded walking followed by placement of the hand at the remembered target location. Twenty-four target locations, representing all combinations of two distances, two heights, and six azimuths, were perceived by vision or by blindfolded exploration with the bare hand, a 1-m probe, or a 2-m probe. Systematic errors in azimuth were observed for all targets, reflecting errors in representing the target locations and updating. Overall, updating after visual perception was best, but the quantitative differences between conditions were small. Experiment 2 demonstrated that auditory information signifying contact with the target was not a factor. Overall, the results indicate that 3-D spatial images can be formed of targets sensed by extended touch and that perception by extended touch, even out to 1.75 m, is surprisingly accurate.
"La manie d'ecrire": psychology, auto-observation, and case history.

This essay examines the modern psychiatric case study as a scientific method and as a genre of writing about the self. As psychological discourse became a privileged language of selfhood at the fin de siecle, the penultimate signifier of the self came to be found in the realm of sexuality, in the particular contours of an individual's sexual desire. The investigative tool used to uncover these secrets of identity was the case history. This article concerns an influential project of sexual research based on "auto-observations"-autobiographical patient narratives-conducted by Dr. Georges Saint-Paul, who published under the inverted pseudonym "Laupts." The article focuses on the central autobiography of his collection, the "roman d'un inverti," and related sexological literature to suggest how this emphasis on patient stories in psychiatric writing engendered new narrative possibilities for doctors and patients alike. Putting patient stories at the center of psychiatric investigation created a new relationship between patient and doctor, observation and diagnosis, subject and discourse. The tools of psychological observation simultaneously placed a subject's confession more firmly at the center of the investigation and made it more open to interpretation by nonspecialists. Rather than simply confirming the authority of the trained observer, the story of Laupts's enquete suggests that the method actually authorized inquiry by others.
Status Language Planning in Belarus: An Examination of Written Discourse in Public Spaces

This research examines the treatment of Belarusian and Russian on signs located in the Minsk metro and on official signs affixed to government buildings, specifically the District Administration, War Commissariat, House of Marriage, Police, Security (division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs), Notary Public, Public Prosecutor, Courts, and Tax Inspection. Such data provide valuable insights into status planning efforts on the part of government officials and illustrate changes prompted by past and current language policies. Preliminary findings suggest an overall increase in public display of Belarusian, albeit it more systematic within the metro than on official signage affixed to government buildings. Such an increase reflects a top-down effort to conform to a 1990 language policy that granted Belarusian “official” language status. The same policy in its 1995 amended form grants Russian “co-official” language status—a linguistic situation that understandably precipitates questions of consistent and equal representation of both languages in public spaces, both in terms of inclusion of Belarusian and Russian and their positioning on signs.
Self-consciousness, outcome expectancy, and persistence ☆

Abstract A study investigated persistence as a function of two variables: the disposition to be self-attentive (called private self-consciousness) and outcome feedback on a prior task that was described as closely related to the target task. More specifically, subjects first completed a concealed-figures test and were told that their performances were either very good or very poor. The second test, which ostensibly measured the same abilities, was an insolvable design problem that is commonly used to measure persistence. Feedback concerning prior outcomes had a direct influence on expectancies for the second task, but persistence on that task was a joint function of feedback and self-consciousness. That is, favorable feedback led to greater persistence than did unfavorable feedback, but only among subjects high in self-consciousness. This finding replicates and extends the results of several previous studies. Discussion centers on the relationship between the present research and an earlier experiment which yielded apparently different results.
Transdermal Scopolamine Patch with Odansetron for the Control of Nausea after Uterine Artery Embolization Compared with Odansetron Alone: Results of a Randomized Placebo–Controlled Trial

Purpose To determine whether the transdermal scopolamine patch in combination with odansetron is more effective than odansetron alone at reducing the nausea that occurs after uterine artery embolization (UAE). Materials and Methods Patients undergoing UAE at a single university medical center were randomly assigned to receive either a scopolamine patch (containing 1.5 mg of scopolamine) or a placebo. All participants and study personnel were blinded as to group assignment. The primary outcome was the degree of nausea in the first 24 hours after UAE as measured on a visual analog scale from 0 to 10. Nausea and pain at 24 and 72 hours after UAE and medication use were recorded. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were also analyzed. Results A total of 74 patients were enrolled; 37 were randomly assigned to receive scopolamine, and 37 received placebo. Although the overall level of nausea after UAE was low (mean score of 2.6 out of 10), there was a lower level of nausea with those treated with scopolamine compared with placebo during the first 24 hours after embolization; the difference was statistically significant (1.8 vs 3.4, P = .03). Adverse events were more common with the patch, with two patients experiencing episodes of profound disorientation and 71% reporting substantial dry mouth. The only predictor of greater nausea was the increasing severity of pain. Conclusions The scopolamine patch provides a moderate reduction in the nausea associated with UAE but is associated with infrequent but notable episodes of patient disorientation.
Fragmentation of Glass Bottles by Impact

Three sizes of water-filled generic soft-drink containers were impacted against a blunt steel rod striking the middle sidewall. The fracture origins of the containers were in hinge breaks. The containers showed a linear relation between the number of mature primary cracks and the energy of impact.
IS GORAMPA'S "FREEDOM FROM CONCEPTUAL PROLIFERATIONS" DIALETHEIST?

����� ��� This essay presents a critique of dialetheist readings of Madhyamaka based on the philosophy of the fifteenth-century Tibetan scholar, Gorampa Sonam Senge (Go rams pa bSod nams Seng ge) (1429–1489). In brief, dialetheism is the acceptance that in a logical system there can be at least some cases in which a statement and its negation are true; that is, it involves the acceptance of true contradictions. Jay Garfield and Graham Priest’s “Nāgārjuna and the Limits of Thought” attempts to reconcile apparent contradictions in Nāgārjuna’s Madhyamaka writings by appealing to dialetheism. 1 Tom Tillemans’ response to that article, “How do Mādhyamikas Think?” advocates an interpretation of Nāgārjuna that relies on a weaker form of dialetheism. 2 In articulating his response, Tillemans references Gorampa’s reading of the four fold negation of the tetralemma (catuṣkoṭi), presented in Gorampa’s Distinguishing the Views (lta ba’i shan ’byed). While Tillemans’ own position regarding the resolution of apparent contradictions in Madhyamaka thought is compelling, Gorampa’s position is more complex and subtle than Tillemans indicates. The present essay draws on arguments that Gorampa puts forth in his Synopsis of Madhyamaka (dbu ma’i spyi don) (hereafter Synopsis). While the Synopsis is the most extensive Madhyamaka commentary in Gorampa’s corpus, and is widely studied by Tibetan monastic scholars within Gorampa’s own Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, this text has received surprisingly little attention from Western scholars of Tibetan Madhyamaka. By referring to some important arguments about contradiction that Gorampa outlines in the Synopsis, I aim to build on Tillemans’ work and present some of the subtleties of Gorampa’s position in order to bring his views into larger conversations surrounding dialetheism and Buddhist philosophy. Contradictions in Madhyamaka
Two molecular weight species of murine gamma interferon

Abstract Concanavalin A (Con A) affinity chromatography was used to concentrate and partially purify a murine gamma interferon (MuIFNγ) from large volumes of crude MuIFNγ (specific activity (SA), 10 4 units/mg of protein) produced by mitogen-induced T lymphocytes. Elution of the MuIFNγ from the immobilized Con A with α-methyl- d -mannoside resulted in a 13-fold purification. Further purification of the Con A-bound MuIFNγ was accomplished by gel filtration chromatography (SA 10 6.7 units/mg of protein) which also demonstrated the molecular weight (MW) to be 38,000 ± 3000. Molecular weight determinations by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, under both reducing and non-reducing conditions, revealed that the Con A-bound MuIFNγ may exist as a dimer, consisting of monomers of 20,500 MW. Specific rabbit antiserum raised against the Con A-bound MuIFNγ neutralized the antiviral activities of crude, Con A-bound and unbound MuIFNγ fractions, as well as the 20,500 MW MuIFNγ.
Surface microcracking induced by weathering of polycarbonate sheet

Polycarbonate sheet subjected to outdoor weathering for relatively short periods develops a network of surface microcracks on the side exposed to solar radiation. Artificial weathering and SEM microscopy were used to illustrate the process of microcrack formation. Microcracking occurs under the influence of light radiation in conjunction with cycling of either temperature and moisture or temperature alone. The use of radiation by itself, or even relatively severe cycling of temperature and humidity without radiation, does not induce microcracking. According to the proposed mechanism, the resin of the exposed surface undergoes, with weathering, a gradual reduction in strength owing to a lowering of its molecular weight as a result of photochemical degradation. Cyclic variation of temperature and humidity in natural and artificial weathering imposes on the surface material a type of stress fatigue. Such stress fatigue is caused by the non-uniform dimensional changes that result from thermal and moisture content gradients between the surface and the bulk of the resin and from inhomogeneities and defects. When the fatigue limit of the surface material at a microsite becomes lower than the physically induced stresses, the resin cracks.
Multiple roles of women and role strains

Women are likely to experience multiple roles, often several at the same time, for which different sets of responsibilities are designated. Expectations that others have of us in any one of our roles may differ from our own, and conflict with our goals as individuals. The multiplicity and overlapping of roles often provoke conflict and stress. Depending on a number of variables, growth of the individual is either impeded or promoted. Vignettes of women experiencing overlapping roles, at various stages of the life cycle, are cited to illustrate the complexities of the issues and coping styles.
The Dirichlet problem for nonlinear second order elliptic equations. III: Functions of the eigenvalues of the Hessian

On etudie le probleme de Dirichlet dans un domaine borne Ω de R n a frontiere lisse ∂Ω:F(D 2 u)=ψ dans Ω, u=φ sur ∂Ω
Reorienting development administration

Development By People: Citizen Construction of a Just World. By Guy Gran. New York: Praeger, UK distributor Holt‐Saunders, 1983. Pp.xxiv + 480. £34.50 and £9.95.ISBN 0 03 063294 3 and 063296 X. No Shortcuts to Progress: African Development Management in Perspective. By Goran Hyden. London: Heinemann, 1983. Pp.xv + 223. £12.50 and £4.95. ISBN 0 435 96303 1 and 96302 3. Development Projects as Policy Experiments: An Adaptive Approach to Development Administration. By Dennis A. Rondinelli, London: Methuen, 1983. £10.95 and £4.95. Pp.ix + 167. ISBN 0 416 73630 0 and 73640 8. The Challenge of Integrated Rural Development in India: A Policy and Management Perspective. By Gerald E. Sussman. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, UK distributor Bowker, 1983. Pp.xvi + 178. £22. ISBN 0 86531 922 7.
Dissociative excitation of water by metastable argon

Abstract The reaction Ar(2P2,0) + H2O → Ar + H + OH(A2Σ+)was studied in crossed molecular beams by observing the luminescence from OH(A2Σ+). No significant dependence of the spectrum on collision energy was found over the 22–52 meV region. Spectral simulation was used to obtain the OH(A) vibrational distribution and rotational temperature, assuming a Boltzmann rotational distribution. Since predissociation is known to strongly affect the rovibrational distribution, the individual rotational state lifetimes were included in the simulation program and were used to obtain the average vibrational state lifetimes. Excellent agreement with experiment was obtained for vibrational population ratios N0/N1/N2 of 1.00/ 0.40/0.013 and a rotational temperature of 4000 K. Correction for the different average vibrational lifetimes gave formation rate ratios P0/P 1/P2 of 1.00/0.49/0.25. The differences between these results and those from flowing afterglow studies on the same system are discussed. Three reaction mechanisms are considered, and the vibrational prior distributions are calculated from a simple density-of-states model. Only fair agreement with experiment is obtained. The best agreement for the mechanisms giving OH(A) in two 2-body dissociation steps is obtained by assuming 1.0 eV of internal energy remains in the second step. The OH(A) vibrational population distribution of the present work is similar to that found in the photolysis of H2O at 122 nm, where there is 1.10 eV of excess internal energy.
Integrated Environmental Control Modeling of Coal-Fired Power Systems

Abstract The capability to estimate the performance and costs of advanced environmental control systems for coal-fired power plants is critical to a variety of planning and analysis requirements faced by utilities, regulators, researchers, and analysts in the public and private sectors. This paper describes a computer model developed for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to provide an up-to-date capability for analyzing a variety of pre-combustion, combustion, and post-combustion options in an integrated framework. A unique feature of the model allows performance and costs of integrated environmental control concepts to be modeled probabilistically as a means of characterizing uncertainties and risks. Examples are presented of model applications, comparing conventional and advanced emission control designs. The magnitude of technological risks associated with advanced technologies now under development are seen to vary markedly across applications. In general, however, integrated environmental control c...
Dendrimer-enabled DNA delivery and transformation of Chlamydia pneumoniae.

Abstract The chlamydiae are important human pathogens. Lack of a genetic manipulation system has impeded understanding of the molecular bases of virulence for these bacteria. We developed a dendrimer-enabled system for transformation of chlamydiae and used it to characterize the effects of inserting the C . trachomatis plasmid into C . pneumoniae , which lacks any plasmids. The plasmid was cloned into modified yeast vector pEG(KG) and the clone complexed to polyamidoamine dendrimers, producing 50–100nm spherical particles. HEp-2 cell cultures were infected with C . pneumoniae strain AR-39. Twenty-four hours later, medium was replaced for 3hours with dendrimer-plasmid complexes, then removed and the medium replaced. Cultures were harvested at various times post-transformation. Real-time PCR and RT-PCR of nucleic acids from transformed cultures demonstrated plasmid replication and gene expression. The cloned plasmid was replicated and expressed in transformants over 5 passages. This system will allow study of chlamydial gene function, allowing development of novel dendrimer-based therapies. From the Clinical Editor This team of investigators developed a dendrimer-enabled system for transformation of chlamydiae and successfully utilized it to characterize the effects of inserting the C. trachomatis plasmid into C. pneumonia . This system will allow study of chlamydial gene function, allowing development of novel dendrimer-based therapies.
Mechanical Properties of Kevlar® KM2 Single Fiber

Kevlar® KM2 fiber is a transversely isotropic material. Its tensile stress-strain response in the axial direction is linear and elastic until failure. However, the overall deformation in the transverse directions is nonlinear and nonelastic, although it can be treated linearly and elastically in infinitesimal strain range. For a linear, elastic, and transversely isotropic material, five material constants are needed to describe its stress-strain response. In this paper, stress-strain behavior obtained from experiments on a single Kevlar KM2 fiber are presented and discussed. The effects of loading rate and the influence of axial loading on transverse and transverse loading on axial stress-strain responses are also discussed.