cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patent ductus arteriosus: From pharmacology to surgery

Abstract Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) may be found in 0.1–0.2% of term infants, but the average incidence is at least five-fold higher in premature infants, correlating inversely with birth weight and gestational age. While not all patients with a PDA require treatment, the deleterious effects of persistent left-to-right shunting across the ductus can have important short- and long-term consequences. Medical and interventional approaches to PDA closure have evolved greatly in the past decade and add to the decision-making pathways. This article summarizes the pathophysiology of PDA and characterizes the medical, surgical and endovascular treatment approaches.
Reforming the Multi-Agency System: A Path to Better Chinese GI Protection

The tradition of multi-agency administration for Chinese GI protection derives from the unique history of Chinese IP protection. While the multi-agency system played an important role in protecting Chinese GI at the beginning, the increasingly distinct weaknesses of the traditional regime call for reform. Comparing the GI systems of the US and EU, the US system provides abetter model for the Chinese GI system because it offers more effective mechanisms to protect consumers and fairer environment for foreigners to acquire GI protection. Accordingly, China should reform its multi-agency system to a system of single agency by integrating the functions of former AQSIQ and MOA in terms of GI into CTMO (SAIC).
Student Recreation on Our College Campuses

(1940). Student Recreation on Our College Campuses. The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 131-194.
Diptera: (Flies, Mosquitoes, Midges, Gnats)

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses Diptera, a true flies or two-winged flies that are a group of familiar insects that includes mosquitoes, black flies, midges, fruit flies, and house flies. The Diptera are among the most diverse insect orders, with approximately 150,000 described species. These insects are diverse not only in species richness but also in their structural variety, ecological habits, and economic importance. Diptera have been divided into two or three suborders: Nematocera and Brachycera, with the latter sometimes divided further into the Orthorrhapha and Cyclorrhapha. Although there is general agreement that the Diptera, Brachycera, Cyclorrhapha, and a few other subordinate groups are monophyletic, there is comparably general agreement that the Nematocera is a paraphyletic or grade-level grouping. The dipteran life cycle includes a series of distinct stages or instars. A typical life cycle consists of a brief egg stage, three or four instars, a pupal stage of varying length, and an adult stage that lasts from less than 2 hours to several weeks or even months. Several families of Diptera are of major economic importance and involved in the transmission of more disease pathogens to humans and other animals than any other group of arthropods. Biting flies cause annoyance that impacts tourism, recreation, land development, and industrial and agricultural production, whereas their effects on livestock can cause reduced milk, egg, and meat production.
A Specific Progesterone-binding Component of Human Breast Cyst Fluid

The steroid hormone-binding properties of human breast cyst fluid were investigated and compared to those of female serum. Breast cyst fluid exhibited a high binding affinity for progesterone and pregnenolone, but very little affinity for cortisol, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, and deoxycorticosterone. Serum exhibited a high binding affinity for progesterone, and also for cortisol, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, and deoxycorticosterone; but only little affinity for pregnenolone. It thus appears that the progesterone-binding component (or components) of breast cyst fluid is unique, since its steroid-binding properties are distinctly different from those of the progesterone-binding component of human serum, i.e. corticosteroid-binding globulin. Breast cyst fluid, in contrast to female serum, exhibited a low binding affinity for 17β-estradiol and testosterone. Column chromatography of breast cyst fluid on hydroxylapatite and DEAE-cellulose afforded considerable purification of the steroid-binding component (or components). Although the progesterone- and pregnenolone-binding component (or components) were eluted simultaneously from the chromatographic columns, identity is not presumed. According to a gel filtration study, the Stokes radius of the steroid-binding component (or components) appears to be about 38 A, corresponding to a molecular weight of about 72,000 for a globular protein. Of more general interest are the other proteins in breast cyst fluid which are present in high concentration, at least one-fourth of that of serum; the proteins of cyst fluid do not, however, resemble those of serum on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Predictions for arc polarization.

Maps for the prediction of the polarization of light echo arcs are presented. It is noted that the results can be compared with observations in order to test the light-echo model of Katz (1987) and Milgrom (1987) and to determine its parameters. As long as the model assumptions of single scattering and planar geometry remain valid, the polarization is shown to be independent of the geometrical thickness and the optical depth of the dust layer. Cases such as the light source being in the plane of scatterers and arcs consisting of nearly forward scattered light are considered.
Apoptosis initiation and angiogenesis inhibition: melanoma targets for nanosecond pulsed electric fields

Many effective anti-cancer strategies target apoptosis and angiogenesis mechanisms. Applications of non-ionizing, nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) induce apoptosis in vitro and eliminate cancer in vivo; however in vivo mechanisms require closer analysis. These studies investigate nsPEF-induced apoptosis and anti-angiogenesis examined by fluorescent microscopy, immunoblots, and morphology. Six hours after treatment with one hundred 300 ns pulses at 40 kV/cm, cells transiently expressed active caspases indicating that caspase-mediated mechanisms. Three hours after treatment transient peaks in Histone 2AX phosphorylation coincided with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling positive cells and pyknotic nuclei, suggesting caspase-independent mechanisms on nuclei/DNA. Large DNA fragments, but not 180 bp fragmentation ladders, were observed, suggesting incomplete apoptosis. Nevertheless, tumor weight and volume decreased and tumors disappeared. One week after treatment, vessel numbers, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), CD31, CD35 and CD105 were decreased, indicating anti-angiogenesis. The nsPEFs activate multiple melanoma therapeutic targets, which is consistent with successes of nsPEF applications for tumor treatment in vivo as a new cancer therapeutic modality.
Belief Behind Bars: Religious Freedom in Prison, RLUIPA, and the Establishment Clause

The religious freedom of incarcerated persons in the Fourth Circuit was threatened in January of 2003 by Madison v. Riter, in which a Virginia district court found that the incarcerated persons provision of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 was an unconstitutional violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Fourth Circuit overruled the district court later that year. Now however, with the Sixth Circuit's decision in Cutter v. Wilkinson, finding the same provision to be an unconstitutional favoring of religion, the religious rights of incarcerated persons face an uncertain future, one that will be determined by the U.S. Supreme Court when it hears Cutter on appeal. This Article argues that the Fourth Circuit's Establishment Clause analysis in Madison II is consistent with past applications of Lemon v. Kurtzman and Supreme Court Establishment Clause doctrine, and therefore, the Court should resolve the split regarding the constitutionality of RLUIPA consistent with that opinion. RLUIPA is a reasoned and tailored attempt to balance the religious liberty of the incarcerated with the interests of prison administrators. By adopting the Fourth Circuit's Establishment Clause analysis in Madison II instead of the Sixth Circuit's incorrect application in Cutter, the Supreme Court will ensure the religious liberty of prisoners by upholding RLUIPA in a manner consistent with the Constitution.
Amino Acid Transport and Mental Retardation

Overlapping transport specificity may permit amino acid concentrations in brain to readjust to a new (lower) equilibrium in a compensatory response to increased concentrations of a "model" amino acid in serum. If this is true for analogous clinical situations, it may help explain the effects of phenylketonuria on mentation.
Weathering profiles, mass-balance analysis, and rates of solute loss: Linkages between weathering and erosion in a small, steep catchment

In a headwater catchment in the Oregon Coast Range, we find that solid-phase mass losses due to chemical weathering are equivalent in the bedrock and the soil. However, the long-term rate of mass loss per unit volume of parent rock is greater in the soil than in the rock. We attribute this finding to the effects of biotic processes in the soil and to hydrologic conditions that maximize contact time and water flux through the mineral matrix in the soil. This result stems both from earlier work in which we demonstrated that rock and soil contribute equally to the solute flux and from arguments presented here that the basin is in dynamic equilibrium with respect to erosion and uplift. The silica flux of 10.7 ± 7.1 t·km−2·yr−1 from the basin is several times larger than the flux from older soils elsewhere, but comparable to the flux from sites with similar physical erosion rates. This result argues that physical denudation or uplift rates play an important role in setting the chemical denudation rate. Physical processes appear to influence chemical-weathering rates in several ways. First, they limit chemical evolution by removing material, thus setting the residence time within the weathered rock and the soil. Second, bioturbation mixes rock fragments into the more reactive soil and maintains high soil porosity, allowing free circulation of water. Because the weathering in the soil is more intense than in the rock, we argue that the chemical denudation rate will diminish where uplift rates—and, hence, physical-denudation rates—are great enough to lead to a bedrock-dominated landscape. Chemical denudation rates will increase with physical-denudation rates, but only as long as the landscape remains mantled by soil.
Methyl 4‐Bromocrotonate

(1; R = Me) [1117-71-1] C5H7BrO2 (MW 179.02) InChI = InChI=1S/C5H7BrO2/c1-8-5(7)3-2-4-6/h2-3H,4H2,1H3 InChIKey = RWIKCBHOVNDESJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N (E)-(1) [6000-00-6] InChI = 1S/C5H7BrO2/c1-8-5(7)3-2-4-6/h2-3H,4H2,1H3/b3-2+ InChIKey = RWIKCBHOVNDESJ-NSCUHMNNSA-N (Z)-(1) [56699-18-4] InChI = 1S/C5H7BrO2/c1-8-5(7)3-2-4-6/h2-3H,4H2,1H3/b3-2- InChIKey = RWIKCBHOVNDESJ-IHWYPQMZSA-N (2; R = Et) [6065-32-3]C6H9BrO2 (MW 193.05) InChI = InChI=1S/C6H9BrO2/c1-2-9-6(8)4-3-5-7/h3-4H,2,5H2,1H3 InChIKey = FHGRPBSDPBRTLS-UHFFFAOYSA-N (E)-(2) [37746-78-4] InChI = 1S/C6H9BrO2/c1-2-9-6(8)4-3-5-7/h3-4H,2,5H2,1H3 InChIKey = FHGRPBSDPBRTLS-UHFFFAOYSA-N (Z)-(2) [119011-89-1] InChI = 1S/C6H9BrO2/c1-2-9-6(8)4-3-5-7/h3-4H,2,5H2,1H3/b4-3- InChIKey = FHGRPBSDPBRTLS-ARJAWSKDSA-N (precursor for Reformatsky reagents;1-9 alkylating agent;22-41 1,4-addition electrophile42-45) Alternate Names: methyl 4-bromo-2-butenoate; methyl γ-bromocrotonate. Physical Data: (1) bp 83–85 °C/13 mmHg; d 1.4900 g cm−3 (19 °C); nD20 1.50210. (2) bp 99.0–99.5 °C/17 mmHg; d 1.3990 g cm−3 (23 °C); nD23 1.49050. Solubility: sol most organic solvents. Form Supplied in: colorless liquid as a mixture of (E) and (Z) isomers. The methyl ester is available commercially. Analysis of Reagent Purity: NMR, GC. Preparative Methods: ethyl or methyl crotonate is treated with N-Bromosuccinimide/CCl4 and Dibenzoyl Peroxide.18b Handling, Storage, and Precautions: handle under nitrogen and in a fume hood. Store refrigerated and tightly closed. Caution: harmful material: allergenic, corrosive, lachrymator, and irritant.
Germanium charged particle telescopes with ultra-thin detector contacts

Abstract High-purity germanium charged particle telescopes, consisting of detectors with ultra-thin (∼ 1000 A) ion implanted p+- and n+- contacts and capable of stopping up to 200 MeV protons have been developed. Fixed and variable detector configurations which accommodate user needs are described. A spectrum from a 28Si (p, p′)28Si scattering experiment demosntrates the performance of such telescopes.
Producing objects, producing texts: accounts of android automata in late eighteenth-century Europe

Abstract Using the famous android automata made by the Swiss clockmakers Jaquet-Droz as an example, this essay examines the relationship between the production of automata and the production of texts about them against the background of economic and cultural conditions of artisan production and of the emerging ‘media industry’ in the public sphere of the late eighteenth century on the European continent. It explores the artisan environment in which the automata came into being and develops readings of various types of texts on the automata, including analyses of the contexts and print media of which they were a part. The essay concludes by explaining two interrelated peculiarities about eighteenth-century texts on the Jaquet-Droz automata: the fact that none of the texts displayed any interest in the metaphysical or ethical consequences of artificial or mechanical humans, and that they were, on the contrary, often simply copied from each other and thus adhered to the customs and exigencies of the emerging media industry of the time. The pre-industrial, traditional, non-mass produced construction of the automata thus coincided with the emerging contemporary mass production of texts and media, and it makes these texts and their objects bring into focus a key paradox underlying the history of modernity, the mass production of individuals and of individuality.
Theory of Structure in the Superfluid Helium Spectrum Considering Roton-Roton Resonances

Interactions between excitations in superfluid helium are investigated by Green's function techniques. In our model, a sharp peak appears in the two-excitation spectrum corresponding to a resonance of two rotons. Interaction of the resonance with the single-particle spectrum results in a hybridization and splitting of the one-particle spectrum into two distinct branches. These theoretical results are in agreement with recent neutronscattering and Raman-scattering experiments.
Support vector machine classification via parameterless robust linear programming

We show that the problem of minimizing the sum of arbitrary-norm real distances to misclassified points, from a pair of parallel bounding planes of a classification problem, divided by the margin (distance) between the two bounding planes, leads to a simple parameterless linear program. This constitutes a linear support vector machine (SVM) that simultaneously minimizes empirical error of misclassified points while maximizing the margin between the bounding planes. Nonlinear kernel SVMs can be similarly represented by a parameterless linear program in a typically higher dimensional feature space. Data Mining Institute Technical Report 03-01, March 2003. Revised March 2004.
The Challenges of Contracting and Accountability Across the Federal System: From Ambulances to Space Shuttles

This article focuses on two questions related lo government contracting and accountability. How are key components of contracting similar or different for city, state, and federal governments in the United States? To what extent do the three levels of government share the widely recognized challenges of contract design and contract management? To address these questions, we compared and contrasted six contracting cases, two each for local, state, and the federal governments. We found that for all governments in the U.S. federal system, the public management functions of contracting are remarkably similar, and that contract management and the achievement of accountability are “weak links” in the contracting process. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that contract management is more effective in local government relative to state and federal governments. Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.
Response production factors and reaction time

The relationship between reaction time and the force production characteristics of discrete responses was examined. Subjects produced isometric responses that varied with respect to peak force and time to peak force. Peak force varied from 5% to 90% of the subject’s maximum force capabilities at three different time to peak force values (100, 200, and 400 msec). The findings suggest that reaction time is independent of response duration and decreases at a negatively accelerating rate with increments of rate of force production.
v- and t-SNAREs in neuronal exocytosis : a need for additional components to define sites of release

Synaptic vesicle recycling is a specialized form of membrane recycling which takes place in all cells between early endosomes and the plasmalemma. Synaptic vesicles exocytosis is highly regulated and occurs only at presynaptic active zones. In contrast, exocytosis of endosome-derived vesicles of the housekeeping recycling pathway takes place constitutively and throughout the cell surface. Since v- and t-SNAREs play a key role in membrane interactions leading to fusion, unique v- and t-SNAREs may be implicated in synaptic vesicle exocytosis. It was found, however, that the same v-SNAREs of the synaptobrevin family are found both on synaptic vesicles and on endosome-derived vesicles which undergo constitutive fusion. Likewise, t-SNAREs which act as plasmalemmal receptors for synaptic vesicles are not restricted to synaptic active zones. Thus, v- and t-SNAREs interactions may define which organelles can fuse with the plasmalemma, but require additional components to define properties of the exocytotic reaction which are specific for distinct classes of secretory organelles.
Streamwise vortices and transition to turbulence

A series of experiments was conducted to determine the conditions under which streamwise vortices can cause transition to turbulence in shear flows. A specially designed obstacle was used to produce a single vortex in a water-table flow, and the design of this obstacle is discussed. Laser-Doppler velocimetry measurements of the streamwise and crossflow velocity fields were made in transitional and non-transitional flows, and flow visualization was also used. It was found that strong vortices (vortices with large circulation) lead to turbulence while weaker vortices do not. Determination of a critical value of vortex strength for transition, however, was complicated by ambiguities in calculating the vortex circulation. The profiles of streamwise velocity were found to be inflexional for both transitional and non-transitional flows. Transition in single-vortex and multi-vortex flows was compared, and no qualitative differences were observed, suggesting no significant vortex interactions affecting transition.
Dual functional BAFF receptor aptamers inhibit ligand-induced proliferation and deliver siRNAs to NHL cells

The B-cell–activating factor (BAFF)-receptor (BAFF-R) is restrictedly expressed on B-cells and is often overexpressed in B-cell malignancies, such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. On binding to its ligand BAFF, proliferation and cell survival are increased, enabling cancer cells to proliferate faster than normal B-cells. Nucleic acid aptamers can bind to target ligands with high specificity and affinity and may offer therapeutic advantages over antibody-based approaches. In this study, we isolated several 2′-F–modified RNA aptamers targeting the B-cell–specific BAFF-R with nanomolar affinity using in vitro SELEX technology. The aptamers efficiently bound to BAFF-R on the surface of B-cells, blocked BAFF-mediated B-cell proliferation and were internalized into B-cells. Furthermore, chimeric molecules between the BAFF-R aptamer and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were specifically delivered to BAFF-R expressing cells with a similar efficiency as the aptamer alone. We demonstrate that a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) siRNA delivered by the BAFF-R aptamer was processed by Dicer and efficiently reduced levels of target mRNA and protein in Jeko-1 and Z138 human B-cell lines. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the dual-functional BAFF-R aptamer–siRNA conjugates are able to deliver siRNAs and block ligand mediated processes, suggesting it might be a promising combinatorial therapeutic agent for B-cell malignancies.
Femtomolar sensitivity using a channel-etched thin film waveguide fluoroimmunosensor

A dual channel, evanescent fluoroimmunoassay format is used to detect femtomolar analyte concentrations (i.e. less than 1 part per trillion [w/w]) on an etched channel siliconoxynitride thin film integrated optical waveguide. Two assays are used to demonstrate the dose-response behaviour of the sensor: (1) a direct assay of a fluorescently-labeled protein ligand binding to an immobilized protein receptor, and (2) an indirect sandwich assay of a non-fluorescent protein ligand binding to an immobilized protein receptor, as detected by the binding of a fluorescently-labeled secondary receptor protein. A red-emitting cyanine dye (Cy-5), which minimized background fluorescence and scatter losses of the waveguide, was used in both assays. To our knowledge, this is the first report of femtomolar sensitivity in an immunosensing instrument.
Patient Perceptions of Voice Therapy Adherence

Patient perspectives of behavioral voice therapy, including perspectives of treatment adherence, have not been formally documented. Because treatment adherence is, to a large extent, determined by patient beliefs, assessment of patient perspectives is integral to the study of adherence. Fifteen patients who had undergone at least two sessions of direct voice therapy for a variety of voice disorders/complaints were interviewed about their perspectives on voice therapy, with a particular focus on adherence. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for content according to qualitative methods. Three common content themes emerged from the transcripts: Voice Therapy is Hard, Make it Happen, and The Match Matters. Findings were compared with reports of patient experiences in other behavioral interventions, such as diet and exercise, and related to existing theoretical models of behavior change and therapeutic process. This study yields information toward the development of scales to measure adherence-related constructs and strategies to improve treatment adherence in voice therapy.
Modeling and interpretation of tweed microstructures in face-centered-cubic solids.

Using molecular-dynamics simulations and an interatomic potential that had been designed to be unstable to /11-bar0/ shears, we studied the mechanisms of tweed formation in face-centered-cubic (fcc) crystals. We found that tweed is most probably a premartensitic phenomenon that nucleates homogeneously in strongly anharmonic solids. Yet tetragonal strain fields will enhance the formation of tweed in the crystal. Unlike the case of body-centered-cubic (bcc) crystals, we did not find any particular feature in the interatomic potential that is common to all materials showing a tweed instability. Finally, we showed that solitons with hyperbolic-tangent strain fields are the kind of elastic shear waves that propagate in such anharmonic solids.
Seed-transmissable expression of mammalian metallothionein in transgenic tobacco

A binary plasmid was constructed to contain the mouse metallothionein c-DNA, the constitutive 35S promoter from cauliflower mosaic virus, the polyadenylation signal from the pea rbcS-E9 gene and several selectable markers. The plasmid was transferred to Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the leaf disc method was used to transform tobacco. Callus and shoots were regenerated in the presence of kanamycin and transformed plants were obtained. Southern, Northern and Western blot analysis demonstrated integration and expression of the metallothionein gene in transformed callus and transgenic plants. The gene is transmitted to and expressed in seed derived progeny as a dominant Mendelian trait.
Comparison of 45Ca2+ uptake activity by microsomes from control and stimulated mouse pancreatic acini

Abstract The ability of microsomal preparations to transport 45Ca2+ was studied in preparations of control and secretagogue-stimulated pancreatic acini. ATP-dependent 45Ca2+ uptake activity was present in the pancreatic post-mitochondrial supernatant and microsomes but little activity was present in the postmicrosomal supernatant. Treatment of acini with the secretagogues cholecystokinin (CCK) and carbamylcholine (CCh) prior to cell fractionation increased the subsequently measured microsomal 45Ca2+ uptake. The effect of CCK was maximal after 10 min stimulation and at a not. The effect of CCK was maximal after 10 min stimulation and at a concentration of 1 nM; these conditions are comparable to the effects of CCK on 45Ca2+ fluxes in intact acini. The increased microsomal 45Ca2+ uptake induced by CCK was due to an increase in the maximal rate of 45Ca2+ uptake as there was no effect on the Km for Ca2+ (1 μM). It is concluded that secretagogues increase the ATP-dependent uptake of 45Ca2+ by an isolated pancreatic microsomal component under the same conditions that also stimulate both digestive enzyme secretion and bi-directional Ca2+ movements.
Estimating Nonresponse and Response Bias: Resident and Nonresident Parents' Reports about Child Support

Although researchers are aware that nonresponse and response bias may compromise the accuracy of estimates from survey data, it is difficult to obtain estimates of these biases. In this article, we estimate nonresponse and response bias for a particular case—child support awards and payments. The sample of divorced resident and nonresident parents was drawn from Wisconsin court records and subsequently interviewed by telephone in 1987. The court records provide the criterion to use in estimating nonresponse and response bias. The analysis shows that those not interviewed are less likely to have awards or to pay support than participants, and the average award and average amount paid are lower for them than for survey participants. Both resident mothers and nonresident fathers overreport the amount of support owed and paid, but the bias is larger for fathers. Nonparticipation bias is greater for measures of paying support than for measures of owing support. Response bias contributes more to total nonsampli...
A newly designed directionally controlled guidewire

A directionally controlled, 1:1 torque ratio flexible. 035 guidewire has been developed for angioplasty procedures being done in the peripheral, renal, subclavian, and visceral circulation. A torque-controlling device is incorporated with the wire in order to negotiate the stenotic or ulcerative atherosclerotic site without damage to the intimal plaque. The increased selectivity of the wire has also found application in subselective examinations within the peripheral, visceral, and extracranial circulation. Four designed configurations are described1 .
Application of neural network to restoration of signals degraded by a stochastic, shift-variant impulse response function and additive noise

An artificial neural network is adopted for estimating discrete (sampled in time and quantized in amplitude) signals degraded by a stochastic, shift-variant impulse response (blur) function in the presence of noise. The signal restoration problem is formulated as a combinatorial optimization problem wherein a nonlinear cost function, termed stochastic constrained restoration error energy, is to be minimized. By matching the cost function with the energy function of the associated neural network, the interconnection strengths and bias inputs of the neural network are related to the degraded signal, blur statistics, and constraint parameters. The solution which minimizes the energy function of the neural network is thus obtained iteratively by the simulated annealing algorithm. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm which has, in addition, the capability of imposing level constraints on the original signal.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Promises and Pitfalls of Language Sample Analysis as an Assessment Tool for Linguistic Minority Children.

Language sample analysis (LSA) is often viewed as a nonbiased procedure for identifying language delay among linguistic minorty children. This article offers a critical discussion of LSA’s use as a...
On-Site Treatment of PIP Joint Dislocations.

An athlete, in obvious distress, runs off the field during a game and seeks your help. "Doc, my finger, I jammed it, pull it out! Now, Doc! Come on, hurry up, I've got to get back."
Hydraulic Fracture Imaging From the Los Alamos Hot Dry Rock Experiment

The waveform correlation analysis and grid search method have been developed to determine the precise hypocenter locations for a cluster of 157 microearthquakes induced by hydraulic fracturing at Los Alamos Hot Dry Rock (HDR) geothermal site. Among the 157 events, 147 microearthquakes occurred in a tight cluster of dimension of 40 m, roughly defining a vertical hydraulic fracture zone. The length, height, and width of the hydraulic fracture zone are measured to be 40, 35, and 5 m, respectively. The orientation of the fracture zone is estimated about N40{degrees}W. Analysis of temporal-spatial pattern of the induced microseismicity indicates that the fracture zone grows significantly in a two-hour period and it grows toward to the northwest along the fracture zone strike with a growth rate of 0.1-0.2 m per minute. An empirical Green`s function (EGF) method has been used to retrieve relative source time functions (RSTF) and to estimate source parameters for larger induced earthquakes. The RSTFs reveal the source complexity and rupture directivity of induced seismic events. The rupture directivity indicates that the rupture propagates to the northwest, which is consistent with the growth direction of the hydraulic fracture zone determined with seismicity temporal-spatial distribution. The source duration of themore » induced events ranges from 2-8 ms and source radii are estimated to be 4-12 m. Values of stress drops are from 1-19 bars. Significant variation of stress drops reflects that the stress field heterogeneity within a hydraulic fracture zone extends down to a few meters.« less
Effects of surface modification of indium tin oxide electrodes on the performance of molecular multilayer organic photovoltaic devices

We investigate the effects of surface modification of indium tin oxide (ITO) on the performance of organic multilayer molecular photovoltaic devices based on pentacene/C60 bi-layer heterojunctions. Values of the open-circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current density (Jsc), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (η) are found invariant of the work function and surface hydrophobicity of ITO. Insensitivity of these parameters to variations of work function in the range of 4.50 to 5.40 eV achieved through the use of surface modifiers are correlated with an invariance of the barrier height (∼0.6 eV) due to Fermi level pinning at the ITO/pentacene interface. Energy barrier heights are extracted independently from the analysis of the electrical characteristics of single-layer diodes based on modified ITO and pentacene using an equivalent circuit model.
Failure in Carbon/Polyimide Laminates under Biaxial Compression:

The failure mechanisms of a woven 2-D carbon/polyimide (C/P) laminate have been determined under in-plane uniaxial and biaxial compressive loads, and the associated failure envelopes that account for the effect of loading directions were obtained. The overall failure was primarily in the form of axial interply delaminations aligned with the principal axis of loading, with only a few isolated events of kinking in the bundles. While the biaxial strength varied significantly with the ratio of in-plane stresses, R, there was no variation in the local failure mechanisms. Accordingly, it was found that the composite fails upon achieving a maximum strain along the primary axis of loading.
On linear periodic controllers

A necessary and sufficient condition for existence of a linear periodic controller which is advantageous in problems of robust, strong and simultaneous stabilization is formulated.
Exploring the impact of infection-induced immunity on the transmission of Schistosoma japonicum in hilly and mountainous environments in China

Abstract Schistosomiasis has long been a threat to villagers in hilly and mountainous areas of southwestern China where the intermediate snail host is abundant. In recent years our group has focused on the development and parameterization of a community-level mathematical model of S. japonicum transmission that accounts for the role of environmental determinants of transmission intensity in Sichuan Province. To date the model has not incorporated acquired immunity. A review of previous epidemiologic data from our study area in Sichuan suggested modeling of acquired immunity as a function of history of infection. To explore the potential impacts on the dynamics of transmission, a mathematical representation of acquired immunity was incorporated, and parameterized based on this epidemiological evidence. It is shown through simulation that the effect of immunity is to reduce the rate of worm development and thereby lower the endemic level significantly. The effect was more striking at increasing levels of a village tm)s basic reproductive number. Further, residual immunity modestly alters the threshold of external parasite input necessary to trigger re-emergence of transmission and its subsequent rate of development. Despite limitations in our quantitative knowledge of the immunity function, these findings, along with the uncertainties in transmission dynamics at low infection levels, underscore the need for improved diagnostic methods for disease control, especially in potentially re-emergent settings.
Inversion For Non-smooth Models With Physical Bounds

Geological processes produce structures at multiple scales. A discontinuity in the subsurface can occur due to layering, tectonic activities such as faulting, folding and fractures. Traditional approaches to invert geophysical data employ smoothness constraints. Such methods produce smooth models and thefore sharp contrasts in the medium such as lithological boundaries are not easily discernible. The methods that are able to produce non-smooth models, can help interpret the geological discontinuity. In this paper we examine various approaches to obtain non-smooth models from a finite set of noisy data. Broadly they can be categorized into approaches: (1) imposing non-smooth regularization in the inverse problem and (2) solve the inverse problem in a domain that provides multi-scale resolution, such as wavelet domain. In addition to applying non-smooth constraints, we further constrain the inverse problem to obtain models within prescribed physical bounds. The optimization with non-smooth regularization and physical bounds is solved using an interior point method. We demonstrate the applicability and usefulness of these methods with realistic synthetic examples and provide a field example from crosswell radar data.
An analysis of social skills generalization in two natural settings.

The interactional behavior of two groups of elderly mentally retarded residents of a community facility was measured in two generalization situations before, during, and after one group received social skills training. The training group received social skills training within a game format, whereas the contrast group simply played a game with no emphasis on interactional behavior. Results suggested that generalization to natural interactional situations may be delayed following training and that it is more likely in some situations (i.e., with trained peers) than others (i.e., in the presence of untrained peers).
Molecular Weight of Human Gamma Interferon is Similar to that of Other Human Interferons

The molecular weight (as determined by molecular sieve chromatography) of human gamma interferon, formerly referred to as immune or type II interferon, is between 40,000 and 70,000. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, gamma interferon activity was recovered mainly from two regions of the gels corresponding to molecular weights of 20,000 and 25,000. The results suggest that in native form human gamma interferon may be aggregated.
University Education Courses and the Professional Preparation of Teachers: A Descriptive Analysis.

Abstract This paper reports the findings of a qualitative case study that explored the role methods courses played in the education of preservice teachers at a large southeastern state university in the U.S.A. The paper portrays three distinct roles: the relevant role, the liberalizing role, and the critical role. The final section of the paper explores the implications of the study's findings for research and program development.
Claudin profiling in the mouse during postnatal intestinal development and along the gastrointestinal tract reveals complex expression patterns

Members of the claudin protein family are key regulators of tight junction selectivity and are implicated in influencing development and cellular differentiation in the intestine and other tissues. The goal of the present study was to profile claudin gene expression and protein location during postnatal development of the mouse jejunum and in the adult mouse gut from duodenum to distal colon as a first step in understanding both normal claudin function and the pathologic implications of altered expression patterns. The relative expression of claudins 1-19 and other tight and adherens junction genes was determined by quantitative RT-PCR from six regions of normal mouse intestine and colon. Immunofluorescent localization was performed for claudins 1-5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 18. Transcripts for claudins 1-5, 7-13, 17, and 18 were all detected in adult intestine, although their relative abundance differed up to 1000-fold within individual segments. In contrast to the unchanging expression and localization of ZO-1, occludin, and JAM, most claudins were expressed in decreasing or increasing gradients or in more complex patterns along the longitudinal axis of the intestine and the crypt to villus/surface differentiation axis. During neonatal development at days 1, 14, 28, and 90 several claudins showed striking increases or decreases in transcript expression as well as changes in tissue localization along the crypt-villus axis. Claudin-19 was only detected at days 1 and 14. This database provides a resource for investigating regional and developmental differences in permselectivity, crypt to villus/surface differentiation and neoplastic changes along the gut and during postnatal development.
Handling High Power Electron Beams

In recent years accelerators have been designed and built which produce beams of extremely high power, current, and charge-per-pulse. The handling of these beams presents a number of difficult problems. Among these problems are: removal of large heat flux, fatigue failure of components due to pulsed nature of the beam, radiation damage of materials, corrosion, residual radioactivity, and chemical effects such as radiolysis of water and production of noxious gases. Consideration of these problems strongly influences the overall design of beam handling systems, as well as the designs of specific components. Examples of the problems encountered and the solutions adopted in various electron accelerator labatories will be discussed.
Garbage collection-aware utility accrual scheduling

The convenience and robustness of automatic memory management have long been exploited by modern systems that use type-safe programming languages such as Java. The timeliness requirements of real-time systems, however, impose specific demands on the operational parameters of the garbage collector. The memory requirements of real-time tasks must be accommodated with a predictable impact on the time-line and under the purview of the scheduler. Utility Accrual is a method of dynamic overload scheduling that is designed to respond to overload conditions by producing a schedule that heuristically maximizes a pre-defined metric of utility. Traditionally, UA schedulers have focused primarily on CPU overload. We explore memory overload conditions in which the memory demands exceed the system's available memory bandwidth. This paper presents a utility accrual algorithm for uniprocessor CPU and garbage collection scheduling that addresses such memory overload conditions. By tightly linking CPU and memory allocation, the scheduler can appropriately respond to overload along both dimensions. This scheduler is the first of its kind to enable the use of automatic memory management in a utility accrual system. Experimental results based on actual Java application profiles indicate the benefits of our model when compared to memory-unaware scheduling.
An effielent seintillation radioassay system and sensitive protein assay for submilligram quantities of subcellular membranes

Abstract A simple combination of commercially available vials has been devised to reduce both the system volume (2–4 ml) and the consumption of scintillation chemicals for radioassay. Counting efficiency is improved by adding a transparent liquid between the vials. The estimation of protein in the samples either before or after admixture with scintillation fluid is possible with a simple application of the trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid method, following removal of nonprotein trinitrophenylated material by a butanol extraction.
Enhancement of chronic cyclosporine nephrotoxicity by sodium depletion in an experimental mouse model

Summary: The major adverse reaction to cyclosporine A (CsA) is chronic nephrotoxicity. to elucidate the pathogenesis of CsA nephrotoxicity and the potential role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in mediating this toxicity, a reliable mouse model would enable us to take advantage of various probes, and gene knockout animals available in this species, but not in the rat, would be extremely useful. Using the manoeuvre of sodium depletion and activation of RAS, an experimental model in the mouse has been developed to reproduce structural and functional characteristics of chronic CsA nephrotoxicity in humans. Mice were treated with CsA subcutaneously at dosages of 10 mg/kg per day and 30 mg/kg per day or olive oil as a placebo on a low sodium diet (LS) (0.01% sodium) for 28 days. Comparisons were made with mice treated with CsA at 100 mg/kg per day on a normal sodium diet (NS; 0.4% sodium) for 56 days. Cyclosporine A treatment induced significant increases in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and a decrease in creatinine clearance in mice on LS (P<0.05 vs placebo). Sodium-depleted animals on CsA 30mg/kg per day treatment developed significant histological lesions in the kidneys consisting of tubulointerstitial fibrosis, arteriolopathy, nephrocalcinosis, and tubular injury after 28 days (P<0.001 vs placebo). By contrast, CsA treatment in mice on NS did not induce functional and structural abnormalities in the kidneys even up to 56 days at a higher dose. This mouse model can be useful to gain further insights into the pathogenetic mechanisms of chronic CsA nephropathy.
Speech recognition use in healthcare applications

Speech recognition technology is regarded as a key enabler for increasing the usability of applications deployed on mobile devices -- devices which are becoming increasingly prevalent in modern hospital-based healthcare. Although the use of speech recognition is not new to the hospital-based healthcare domain, its use with mobile devices has thus far been limited. This paper presents the results of a literature review we conducted in order to observe the manner in which speech recognition technology has been used in hospital-based healthcare and to gain an understanding of how this technology is being evaluated, in terms of its dependability and reliability, in healthcare settings. Our intent is that this review will help identify scope for future uses of speech recognition technologies in the healthcare domain, as well as to identify implications for the meaningful evaluation of such technologies given the specific context of use.
"Wide-field" photography of nailfold capillary bed and a scale of plexus visualization scores (PVS).

Abstract A technique is described for photographing the nailfold capillary bed over a wide area, and a scale for estimating the extent of the visible subpapillary plexus is then demonstrated using photographs taken with this new technique.
Evaluating assessments of novice programming environments

Educators have developed a myriad of tools to help novices learn to program. Unfortunately, too little is known about the educational impact of these environments, or even how to assess this impact. In this paper we summarize a representative collection of the assessments of novice programming environments, present a rubric for evaluating the quality of such assessments, and demonstrate the application of our rubric to the summarized works. The intent is that such an evaluative framework will help inform future efforts in assessing novice programming environments.
Constraints, psychological investment, and hunting participation: Development and testing of a model

Abstract This study sought to gain a better understanding of hunting participation through the development and testing of a conceptual model. The model examined participation (retention) in the context of rifle deer hunting in Colorado by state residents and nonresidents. Participation was hypothesized to be directly associated with people's level of investment, level of constraints, past experience, and behavioral intention. The proposed model was loosely based on the theory of reasoned action. Beliefs about the potentially negative impacts of new hunting regulations, and attitude toward rifle deer hunting in Colorado were the other components included in the model. Results indicated that for both Colorado residents and nonresidents, past experience was found to increase the probability of participation in rifle deer hunting in 1993. In addition, as perception of constraints increased, the probability of participation for both residents and nonresidents decreased. For nonresidents, increased level of inv...
Blowup Solutions of Some Nonlinear Elliptic Equations Involving Exponential Nonlinearities

In conformal geometry and several fields of physics, the blowup analysis of the equation Δu + V(x)e u = 0 in $$B_{1} \subset \mathbb{R}^2$$ has led to interesting results. In 1999 Li [11] gave a uniform asymptotic estimate of a sequence of blowup solutions near an isolated blowup point. In this paper we improve Li’s result to the sharp form by the moving sphere method.