cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An empirical study of joint production and scale economies in commercial banking

This paper utilizes the translog cost function to test the proposition that the bank productionfunction is characterized by jointness. The cross-section analysis for the years 1973 through 1978 indicates that bank production is, in fact, characterized by jointness. This result calls into question the findings and implications of studies that utilize the assumption of non-jointness in production. Since virtually all of the major bank cost studies employ the assumption of nonjointness, the second part of our analysis examines scale economies for the banking firm while allowing for jointness in production. Our estimates indicate that scale economies characterize bank production at only small bank sizes and that the cost structure of large banks is characterized by diseconomies of scale.
Tough Cookies: Leadership Lessons From 100 Years of the Girl Scouts by Kathy Cloninger With Fiona Soltes

Through the lens of her own leadership of the Girl Scouts organization, Kathy describes her vision for participants in Girl Scouting to become leaders. Cloninger, who retired from her position as c...
Supermarkets, Other Food Stores, and Obesity: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

document their effects. The purpose of this study was to examine whether characteristics of the local food environment are associated with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study of men and women participating in the third visit (1993–1995) of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study was conducted in 2004. The analyses included 10,763 ARIC participants residing in one of the 207 eligible census tracts located in the four ARIC-defined geographic areas. Names and addresses of food stores located in Mississippi, North Carolina, Maryland, and Minnesota were obtained from departments of agriculture. Multilevel modeling was used to calculate prevalence ratios of the associations between the presence of specific types of food stores and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Results: The presence of supermarkets was associated with a lower prevalence of obesity and overweight (obesity prevalence ratio [PR]0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]0.75– 0.92; overweight PR0.94, 95% CI0.90 – 0.98), and the presence of convenience stores was associated with a higher prevalence of obesity and overweight (obesity PR1.16, 95% CI1.05–1.27; overweight PR1.06, 95% CI1.02–1.10). Associations for diabetes, high serum cholesterol, and hypertension were not consistently observed. Conclusions: Results from this study suggest that characteristics of local food environments may play a
The Lorentz Correction in Barium Titanate

It is assumed, following Devonshire, that the ferroelectric behavior of BaTi${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ arises because of the Lorentz correction, leading to a vanishing term in the denominator of the expression for dielectric constant. If the polarizability varies slowly with temperature, the temperature variation of dielectric constant follows. This temperature variation is assumed to come from that part of the polarization resulting from the displacement of the Ti ion, in a field whose potential energy has fourth-power as well as second-power terms in the displacement. The main object of this paper is to compute the Lorentz correction exactly, not assuming spherical symmetry, but taking account of the precise crystal structure. When this is done, it is found that the Ti ions, and those oxygen ions which are in the same line with them, the line being parallel to the electric field, exert very strong fields on each other, the resulting local field at the Ti ion being much greater than if computed on the assumption of spherical symmetry. This enhanced field makes it clear that even a relatively small ionic polarizability for the Ti ions will be enough to lead to ferroelectricity. The polarization of the Ti ions is however an essential feature of the theory; if they are not polarized, the Lorentz correction is profoundly modified, leading almost exactly to the value given by the approximate theory assuming spherical symmetry, and not resulting in ferroelectricity. Detailed formulas are given for comparison of the present theory with Devonshire's results, so that the present methods can be incorporated in his treatment of the effect of elastic strain energy on the stability of the various phases below the Curie point.
Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder: Classroom Intervention Strategies

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common problem among school-aged children wherein a student exhibits significant difficulties with attention span, impulse control and activity level. Since children with ADHD often display these symptoms on a chronic basis resulting in impaired behavior control and academic productivity, the classroom environment must be modified to enhance their adjustment. Several contingency management procedures for teacher use are briefly discussed in this paper including token reinforcement programs, contingency contracting, response cost, time-out from positive reinforcement and home-based contingency management programs. When used in conjunction with other treatment modalities (e.g. stimulant medication, parent training in behavior modification), these classroom intervention strategies often lead to significant improvements in on-task behavior, work completion, behavioral control and accuracy on academic assignments.
Optimal Design of a Colloidal Self-Assembly Process

An optimal feedback policy is designed for a stochastic colloidal assembly process using dynamic programming. Actuator-parameterized Langevin equations describe the system dynamics of an electric-field mediated assembly process, and are used to construct a discrete-state Markov chain model for input to the Markov decision process (MDP) framework. The state of the system is based on an order parameter representing the overall system configuration, as it transitions from a fluid to a crystalline state. The MDP-based optimal control policy is computed for both the finite- and infinite-horizon cases, with design goals based on maximizing crystallinity. Simulations show that the proposed MDP-based policies are able to drive the system rapidly to the desired high-crystallinity state, or to reach a desired tradeoff between high crystallinity and low control effort.
Plane symmetric self-gravitating fluids with pressure equal to energy density

Solutions of the Cauchy problem associated with the Einstein field equations which satisfy general initial conditions are obtained under the assumptions that (1) the source of the gravitational field is a perfect fluid with pressure,p, equal to energy density,w, and (2) the space-time admits the three parameter group of motions of the Euclidean plane, that is, the space-time is plane symmetric. The results apply to the situation where the source of the gravitational field is a massless scalar field since such a source has the same stress-energy tensor as an irrotational fluid withp=w. The relation between characteristic coordinates and comoving ones is discussed and used to interpret a number of special solutions. A solution involving a shock wave is discussed.
Polarographic reduction of uranium(VI) under complexing and noncomplexing conditions nature of the uranium(V) sulphate complex

The polarographic reduction of U(VI) to U(V) in acid solution is sensitive to both type and concentration of anion present. Consequently, the reduction was studied using perchlorate as a non-complexing anion and sulphate as a complexing anion. In HC104 solution, increasing the perchlorate concentration shifts E½ to more positive potentials, which seem to correspond to junction potential effects. Increasing either HCIO4 or perchlorate concentrations increases the limiting current slightly, which can be attributed to a higher rate of disproportionation of U(V); other factors, e.g., viscosity of the solution, tend to counteract the effect of the disproportionation. In sulphate media, UO2 + is not strongly complexed, the association constant for the U(V)- sulphate complex being ca. 0.13, if UO2SO4 is the most stable uranyl sulphate complex present. The effect of acid on the stability of the latter complex confirmed its existence as an uncharged species. Limiting currents are pseudo diffusion-controlled, e.g., increasing the solution viscosity by increasing the electrolyte content decreases the current; this is due to the maximum disproportion- ation rate of U(V) having been reached at even the lowest sulphuric acid level investigated; increasing the anion concentration consequently slows down diffusion. THE polarographic behaviour of uranium and of its complexes, particularlythose of the higher oxidation states of uranium, have been extensively examined. Study of the uranium sulphate complexes has been limited to solutions containing high con- centrations of both uranium and gelatin. Consequently, the polarographic behaviour of uranyl ion at low concentration, in the absence of maximum suppressor, was investigated in complexing sulphate media and, for comparison, in noncomplexing perchlorate media. The U(VI)-U(V) wave appears over the whole acidity range investigated (ca. 0.2 to 4 M H+); due to presence of the hydrogen ion discharge wave, reduction waves for U(V) and (IV) are observed only in solutions of low acidity. These waves are ill- defined and, in sulphate media, tend to merge with the hydrogen discharge. Therefore, analysis of the data will be limited to the U(VI)-U(V) wave; this will permit com- parison of the effects over the whole range of anion and acid concentrations. Spectrophotometric studies tl,z~ have not been able to detect any perchlorate complex of U(VI), whereas at least one sulphate complex has been identified; ~1~ the latter has also been identified by extraction studies3 a~ These findings are supported by the radical difference in the polarographic results obtained in the present study, which indicate the distinctly different nature of the processes occurring in sulphate and in
Integrated diagnostic workstation.

As the current radiology practice continues to grow and the community practice becomes more dispersed, completed examinations will be routed elsewhere for reading. This newer model eliminates the work card, uses a worklist to organize activities at the reading station, and provides global access to any previous images and reports. Having all pertinent examination and image information located in one system within the Radiology Department will provide date for better management of resources, including radiologists.
White Light Optical Processing Of Speckle Interferograms

A technique of white-light color encoding of misfocused speckle interferometric fringe patterns is presented. The encoding is performed in the spatial frequency plane with color filters. This technique allows the viewing of a multiset of encoded speckle interferograms simultaneously. Thus it may provide new informational interferometric aspects of the object under stress or vibration. The effect on the speckle fringe pattern due to the spatial filtering is briefly discussed and experimental demonstrations of color encoded fringe patterns are presented. Due to the simplicity and versatility of the processing technique, we feel that the technique may develop into a practical tool for strain, stress and vibrational measurement.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Plane Stress Analysis of Phase Transformations in Brittle Materials

A numerical analysis of the Crank-Nicolson type is used to determine the temperature distribution and phase-boundary position for a slab-shaped sample that is cooled or heated through a phase transition under the assumption that heat transfer controls the kinetics of the transition, thus the phase boundary remains planar. First-order and second-order transitions (Ehrenfest) are considered, as is a mixed transformation with partially first-order and partially second-order behavior. Stress and temperature distributions are calculated for each type. Particular interest is attached to the surface stress. Results are presented using the thermal and elastic properties of quartz. The results are interpreted in reference to brittle fracture during cooling. When slow crack growth is possible, it is shown that, for a purely first-order transformation, the likelihood of fracture decreases as the cooling rate increases; for a second-order transition, fracture becomes less probable as the cooling rate decreases. For a mixed transition, an optimum cooling rate can minimize the probability of fracture.
Networked trafficking: reflections on technology and the anti-trafficking movement

In this essay, we offer field notes from our ongoing ethnographic research on sex trafficking in the United States. Recent efforts to regulate websites such as Craigslist and Backpage have illuminated activist concerns regarding the role of networked technologies in the trafficking of persons and images for the purposes of sexual exploitation. We frame our understanding of trafficking and technology through a network studies approach, by describing anti-trafficking as a counter-network to the sex trafficking it seeks to address. Drawing from the work of Annelise Riles and other scholars of feminist science and technology studies, we read the anti-trafficking network through the production of expert knowledge and the crafting of anti-trafficking techniques. By exploring anti-trafficking activists’ understandings of technology, we situate the activities of anti-trafficking experts and law enforcement as efforts toward network stabilization.
Meanings of Violence: A Cross‐Cultural Perspective

Meanings of Violence: A Cross-Cultural Perspective. Goran Aijmer and Jon Abbink, eds. Oxford. Berg, 2000. vii + 220 pp., photographs, bibliography, index.
Stability of the West Antarctic ice sheet in a warming world

(equivalent to 0.28 to 0.56 mm yr −1 sea-level rise), with the rate growing over at least the past two decades 1–4 . These observations intensify concerns about the ice sheet’s stability that were first raised more than four decades ago 5
The Actin–MRTF–SRF Gene Regulatory Axis and Myofibroblast Differentiation

Cardiac fibroblasts are responsible for necrotic tissue replacement and scar formation after myocardial infarction (MI) and contribute to remodeling in response to pathological stimuli. This response to insult or injury is largely due to the phenotypic plasticity of fibroblasts. When fibroblasts encounter environmental disturbances, whether biomechanical or humoral, they often transform into smooth muscle-like, contractile cells called "myofibroblasts." The signals that control myofibroblast differentiation include the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-Smad pathway and Rho GTPase-dependent actin polymerization. Recent evidence implicates serum response factor (SRF) and the myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs) as key mediators of the contractile gene program in response to TGF-β1 or RhoA signaling. This review highlights the function of myofibroblasts in cardiac remodeling and the role of the actin-MRTF-SRF signaling axis in regulating this process.
FAILURE OF THE COEXISTENCE MODEL TO ACCOUNT FOR OBSERVED TWO-NEUTRON PICKUP CROSS SECTIONS.

We have studied the ($p,t$) reaction on $^{18}\mathrm{O}$ and $^{42}\mathrm{Ca}$ at ${E}_{p}=41.7$ MeV. The observed yields to the ${0}^{+}$, $T=0$ states in $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ and $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ are at variance with distorted-wave Born-approximation predictions using the coexistence model to describe the initial and final states of the targets. By use of wave functions which employ a more extensive set of configurations, satisfactory agreement with the observed yields is achieved for the reaction $^{18}\mathrm{O}(p,t)^{16}\mathrm{O}$.
Implications of cognitive and affective involvement for channel changing

In this study I focused on channel changing as an aspect of the selectivity dimension of audience activity, and explored the influence of cognitive involvement (attention to and mental engagement with a television program) and perceived affective reactions (positive and negative) on channel changing. Questionnaires were completed by 222 adult respondents who owned remote control devices. Pearson and partial correlations provided preliminary support for the study's hypotheses. LISREL analysis also revealed partial support. In general, the results point out that channel changing while watching a television program is both a reflection of lack of interest and an avoidance behavior. When viewers are not mentally engaged with the program, and are experiencing negative affective reactions to the content, channel changing increases. The discussion links the study's findings to selective exposure research and notes implications for media effects.
Localization of multiple human dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (DDH1 and DDH2) and chlordecone reductase (CHDR) genes in chromosome 10 by the polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization

Multiple human dihydrodiol dehydrogenases and human chlordecone reductase belong to the aldo-keto reductase superfamily. These two enzymes are involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and pesticides. Recently we have isolated three closely related genes encoding two dihydrodiol dehydrogenases (DDH1 and DDH2) and the chlordecone reductase (CHDR). Mapping of the location of the genes was performed using the polymerase chain reaction using gene-specific primers to amplify gene sequences in human/hamster hybrid DNA. All three genes were found to be located on chromosome 10. In situ hybridization using a lambda clone as the probe further confirmed regional localization at 10p14-p15. 13 refs., 2 figs.
Clinical and morphologic features of mitral valve prolapse in octogenarians

Abstract The frequency of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in women decreases progressively from the third to the ninth decade of life; in men, in contrast, its frequency remains the same from the third to the ninth decade. 1 Of 264 patients with MVP detected by M-mode echocardiography and reported by Savage and associates, 1 only 4 (1.5%) were aged 80 years or over. A previous clinicopathologic study from this laboratory by Dollar and Roberts 2 included 56 patients aged 16 to 70 years. The present study examines clinical and morphologic findings in 12 octogenarians with MVP at necropsy. Although patients aged 80 to 89 years have been included in previous necropsy studies of MVP, 3,4 a study focusing exclusively on this age group has not been reported previously.
Lost in the Fictional Woods with Umberto Eco: LA MISTERIOSA FIAMMA DELLA REGINA LOANA in the Context of Eco's oeuvre:

La misteriosa fiamma della Regina Loana, like each of Eco's previous novels, may be read as “a fictional summa” of much of the author's theoretical work. The peculiar malady of the protagonist, the loss of autobiographical memory coupled with an overactive “cultural memory,” allows Eco both to dramatize and call into question key notions of his theoretical work. This essay situates La misteriosa fiamma in the context of the author's previous work and examines the way in which Eco's most recent novel explores the themes of encyclopedic competence, rationality, hermetic drift and unlimited semiosis, high brow and low brow cultural production. Eco shows how the associative ability that allows unlimited semiosis to function may give way to hermetic drift, infinite deferral and even madness. The encyclopedia that contains the totality of human knowledge may suddenly come unbound, reflecting, in its loose pages, fragmentation, incompletion and disjunction. La misteriosa fiamma della Regina Loana serves as a val...
Starburst-driven galactic superwinds

I provide an observational review of the properties of starburst-driven galactic superwinds, focusing mainly on recent results pertinent to the transport of metals and energy into the IGM. Absorption-line studies are providing rich kinematic information on both neutral and ionized gas in superwinds, with observed mass flow rates similar to the star formation rate and outflow velocities comparable to or greater than the escape velocity. FUSE observations of the Ovi doublet provide previously unattainable information regarding outflow velocities and radiative cooling rates in hot gas at T \sim 3\times 10^{5} K. Emission from gas at temperatures of 10^{4} K and \sim 5 \times 10^{6} K is now being studied with unprecedented spatial resolution using HST and Chandra, tracing the complex interaction of the still-invisible wind of SN-ejecta with the ambient ISM entrained into these outflows. I discuss the implications of these observations for our understanding of starburst-driven outflows.
The use of psychopharmacologic agents in retarded children with behavior disorders.

Abstract During the past two years, a number of psychotropic agents have been evaluated. This report summarizes our experience with fluphenazine, meprobamatepromazine combination, deanol, mephnoxalone, and chlordiazepoxide. With the exception of mephnoxalone, a double-blind method was employed in the evaluation of each drug. It was found that deanol, chlordiazepoxide, and mephnoxalone were not effective in favorably modifying behavior in retarded children. There was suggestive evidence that a combination of meprobamate and promazine modified behavior so that the child could be more easily managed in the institutional setting. It was felt, however, that hyperactivity, aggressiveness, and destructive behavior were decreased because of the side effects of lethargy and drowsiness caused in the patient. There was suggestive evidence that fluphenazine resulted in improved behavior without producing signs of toxicity.
Inflammation in the Uvula Mucosa of Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This study was conducted to determine whether inflammation is present in the uvula mucosa of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Uvulas were obtained by uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in 21 patients with moderate OSA (mean apnea/hypopnea index and standard error of the mean: 32 +/- 4) and by autopsy in 5 individuals not known to have OSA. Using point counting in five randomly selected high-power microscopic fields (X100), the authors found that the number of leukocytes in the lamina propria of the uvula mucosa was significantly higher in patients with OSA than in the controls (179 +/- 12 cells vs. 71 +/- 4 cells, respectively; P < .05). This was due to a significant increase in the number of plasma cells in patients with OSA as compared with controls (89 +/- 15 cells vs. 21 +/- 5 cells, respectively; P < .05). The thickness of the lamina propria (an index of interstitial edema) was also significantly increased in patients with OSA compared with controls (0.99 +/- 0.12 mm vs. 0.27 +/- 0.02 mm, respectively; P < 0.05). The authors conclude that inflammation, characterized by plasma cell infiltration and interstitial edema, is present in the uvula mucosa of patients with moderate OSA. They also suggest that soft palate inflammation contributes to upper airway occlusion observed during sleep in these patients.
Perspectives on Pollution Abatement and Competitiveness: Theory, Data, and Analyses

AbstractThe implementation of environmental regulations has raised concerns about the effect of pollution abatement on the competitiveness of firms, industries, and nations. These concerns have led...
Protein fractionation, nucleic acids, and enzymatic activity of cytoplasmic extracts from the intestinal mucosa of sheep

Abstract A method was designed to separate and study the cytoplasmic proteins of the intestinal mucosa of sheep. Specimens of mucosa from healthy sheep were extracted and analyzed for protein and nucleic acid content, and for selected enzyme activities. The proteins of this extract were separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Samples of ulcerated mucosa were also extracted and analyzed for protein and nucleic acid content. Extracts from healthy mucosa contained more protein (71 ± 7 versus 52 ± 8 mg/ml) and less nucleic acid (8.5 ± 3 versus 14 ± 3 mg/ml) than extracts from ulcerated mucosa. The enzyme assay on healthy extracts showed that protease, amylase, alkaline phosphatase, transaminase, and lactase activity were present. Fractionation of the extracted proteins on DEAE-cellulose, using a Tris-HCl buffer (0.05 m , pH 9.0) and a sodium chloride gradient of 0.0–0.04 m , yielded 10 major protein fractions, of which 6 were eluted at less than 0.1 m NaCl. This system is useful for investigating changes in cytoplasmic proteins caused by drugs and diseases affecting the intestinal mucosa.
Novel quasi-electrostatic air filter: A single-particle study

Abstract When the enamel-like top layer of the desert soil is compromised, natural and man-made forces result in airborne dust particulate. This is of specific concern in Pu contaminated soil excavation. Conventional water-spraying techniques are effective in preventing large airborne dust particles but are ineffective for dust particles on the order of a few micrometers in diameter and smaller. One means of extracting these fine radio-nuclide particulate from the air is with a quasi-electrostatic air filter which charges, traps, transports, and collects them with the aid of electrostatic and quasi-electrostatic fields. Human intervention is virtually eliminated. The air filter is divided into four sections: the charging region, the electrostatic trapping region, the transport region, and the collection region. This work focuses on the first three regions of the air filter. The charging region employs a photo-ionization mechanism to ionize the sand particle just below the breakdown of air. Large electrostatic fields precipitate the charged micron particles from the air flow in the charging region and direct them into the transport region. The dynamic fields in this region guide the particulate to a collection region. Combining a finite element method with an analytical theory to characterize the fields in the air filter, single-particle dynamics in the charging, electrostatic and the transport regions of the air filter are examined. Design constraints and limitations are studied. Air flow velocities and air viscosity contributions are incorporated into the simulation. Normalized expressions allow for a host of upscale and downscale designs.
Prostigmin on the Ovaries and Uteri of Albino Rats.

SummaryProstigmin was given to young rats in daily amounts of 0.04 to 0.1 mg. The ovaries were slightly increased in weight. The uteri if mature as the result of age or estrogens showed increase in weight following injections of prostigmin and these changes were present after desiccation. Estrous cycles showed no significant change from normal. Cellular elements of inflammatory cells were more abundant in the submucosa after prostigmin. On the whole, pathological changes were not marked; therefore, from the pathological viewpoint effects of prostigmin are minor as far as changes in the ovaries and uterus are concerned.
Wnt signaling establishes anteroposterior neuronal polarity and requires retromer in C. elegans

Secreted Wnt proteins influence neural connectivity by regulating axon guidance, dendritic morphogenesis and synapse formation. We report a new role for Wnt and Frizzled proteins in establishing the anteroposterior polarity of the mechanosensory neurons ALM and PLM in C. elegans. Disruption of Wnt signaling leads to a complete inversion of ALM and PLM polarity: the anterior process adopts the length, branching pattern and synaptic properties of the wild-type posterior process, and vice versa. Different but overlapping sets of Wnt proteins regulate neuronal polarity in different body regions. Wnts act directly on PLM via the Frizzled LIN-17. In addition, we show that they are needed for axon branching and anteriorly directed axon growth. We also find that the retromer, a conserved protein complex that mediates transcytosis and endosome-to-Golgi protein trafficking, plays a key role in Wnt signaling. Deletion mutations of retromer subunits cause ALM and PLM polarity, and other Wnt-related defects. We show that retromer protein VPS-35 is required in Wnt-expressing cells and propose that retromer activity is needed to generate a fully active Wnt signal.
A quantitative analysis of dental attrition rates in the Santa Barbara Channel area

The dentitions of individuals from archaeological sites located along the Santa Barbara Channel were analysed using quantitative methods which allow the accurate assessment of attrition rates. Comparisons of molar wear gradients indicate that attrition rates have decreased significantly through time in the Santa Barbara Channel area.
Influence of Interchain Interactions on the Absorption and Luminescence of Conjugated Oligomers and Polymers: A Quantum-Chemical Characterization

Correlated quantum-chemical calculations are used to investigate the influence of interchain interactions on the absorption and emission of pi-conjugated chains. The results are discussed in relati ...
A stochastic compartment model representation of chronic disease dependence: techniques for evaluating parameters of partially unobserved age inhomogeneous stochastic processes.

Abstract Human disease states are commonly viewed in one of two ways. First, there is the clinical definition of disease as the presence or absence of a pathological condition. Second, there is the biologist's representation of disease as a point in a multivariate space of continuous physiological variables associated with suboptimal performance and survival. We present a model to represent dependency between multiple disease processes. The model is consistent with both concepts of disease and is designed to be estimated in the usual context of chronic disease information, i.e., a general lack of information about the time of disease incidence and progression. Consideration is made of the effects of individuals' differential susceptibility to disease and how these effects distinguish the disease incidence functions estimated at the individual level from those estimated for a population.
Lung Transplantation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

In 1970, a report in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated that single lung transplantation for advanced pulmonary emphysema was technically possible but raised serious questions as to whether the procedure was physiologically feasible. 112 In two patients with advanced pulmonary emphysema, the authors observed hyperinflation of the native emphysematous lung with concomitant reduced volume and ventilation to the transplant lung despite persistence of high pulmonary blood flow. The authors concluded that "patients with emphysema may be poor candidates for lung transplantation." 112 Fourteen years later, after successful single lung transplantation for pulmonary fibrosis, 118 thoracic surgeons revisited the question of lung transplantation for pulmonary emphysema. 28,64,80 Physicians now understand that the two earliest transplant recipients for emphysema died because of diffuse pneumonitis in the transplanted lung, and that gross ventilation–perfusion imbalances after single lung transplantation for such patients are not physiologically inevitable nor insurmountable. Nevertheless, as discussed in this article, many of the concerns raised in 1970 are still relevant, especially hyperinflation of the native lung after surgery and ventilation–perfusion imbalance that may occur when the transplanted lung develops pneumonia or chronic rejection. Several excellent general reviews of lung transplantation have been published recently in which the surgical techniques and postoperative management are discussed in detail. 7,119 This article focuses specifically on lung transplantation for advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The discussion is divided into five broad categories: 1Optimal candidate selection 2Physiology of the transplanted lung 3Benefits and risks and of lung transplantation 4Single lung versus bilateral lung transplantation 5Relationship between lung transplantation and lung volume reduction surgery
Ground Response Tracking for Improved Landmine Detection in Ground Penetrating Radar Data

Recent advances in ground penetrating radar (GPR) fabrication and signal processing have made high fidelity detection of buried anti-tank landmines a practical possibility under field scenarios. However, detection of subsurface landmines at a low false alarm rate (FAR) requires the effective removal of the response from the air/ground interface (ground-bounce response). This in turn requires accurate and automatic tracking of the time of arrival of the air/ground interface in time-domain GPR data. Such tracking of the ground bounce response can be difficult to perform under certain conditions including the presence of surface-laid landmines, surface vegetation, snow drifts, and multiple subsurface structures like buried roadbeds. In this work, we will explore the application of a low- latency Kalman filter applied to ground bounce tracking in GPR data and resulting performance improvements for pre-screening algorithms under extreme weather conditions.
Comparison of tissue plasminogen activator–antibiotic locks with heparin–antibiotic locks in children with catheter-related bacteraemia

BACKGROUND An accepted pathogenesis of catheter-related bacteraemia (CRB) is the seeding of microorganisms from the intraluminal biofilm of central venous catheters. Antibiotic locks (ABL) are solutions containing high concentrations of antimicrobials with or without anticoagulants that aim to destroy the biofilm. METHODS In this study, two different ABL solutions, tissue plasminogen activator (TPA)-based and heparin-based ABL, used in conjunction with systemic antibiotics, were prospectively compared in the treatment of CRB. RESULTS A total of 42 children on chronic haemodialysis with 11,016 catheter-days were observed for signs and symptoms of CRB over a period of 10 months. Twenty-four CRBs were diagnosed in 18 children (2.2 CRB/1000 catheter-days) and were treated with the protocol. Symptoms of CRB resolved in 83% within 48 h of treatment. None of the infected catheters required early emergent exchange or removal for poorly controlled CRB. Six children had recurrence of CRB within 6 weeks, of which four required catheter exchange. There was no specific microorganism or type of CRB that predisposed to higher recurrence rates. The mean infection-free survival of the catheters following TPA-ABL treatment was shorter than that following heparin-ABL treatment, but was not statistically significant by the log-rank test (126.8 +/- 81.6 days versus 154.5 +/- 70.4 days). CONCLUSION Both TPA-ABL and heparin-ABL used in conjunction with systemic antibiotics can effectively clear CRB without significant late recurrence at 6 weeks. Early use of ABL for management of CRB can potentially decrease the need for catheter removal, thus salvaging vascular access sites.
Watershed conservation and preservation: Environmental engagement as helping behavior $

When will a community’s residents take action against urban sprawl that threatens the watershed where they live? Drawing on theoretical and empirical studies of helping behavior, we predicted that individuals will be most likely to respond to environmental challenges when they are aware of the environmental threat, believe the danger posed by the threat to be great, and feel responsible for addressing environmental problems. We tested this awareness–appraisal–responsibility (AAR) model by surveying watershed residents’ awareness of watershed features, appraisal of watershed quality, sense of responsibility for protecting the watershed, and behavioral and contribution intentions. Structural equation modeling supported the model by confirming that resident’s awareness and appraisal of their local watershed are related to their pro-environment behavioral and contribution intentions, but also their perception of responsibility for protecting the watershed. Mediational analyses confirmed that these relationships are likely sequentially ordered, with awareness leading to appraisal to responsibility and then behavioral and contribution intentions. The discussion considers the implications of these findings for interventions designed to increase environmental engagement. r 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Wealth Creation and Destruction from Brooke Group's Tobacco Litigation Strategy

We examine value creation and destruction in the tobacco industry due to the radical litigation strategy pursued by Brooke Group and its CEO, Bennett LeBow. Brooke Group has a tiny market share, low margins, high leverage, and a high concentration of managment ownership. Beginning in 1996 the firm reached settlements in lawsuits brought against all cigarette companies by class action plaintiffs and U.S. state governmetns. Brooke Group's actions, which included promises to cooperate in litigation against its rivals, spurred other companies to reach settlements on less favorable terms. The settlements eventurally led to massive wealth destruction within the tobacco industry but impressive returns for sharehoders of Brooke Group.
Divergent patterns of abundance and age-class structure of headwater stream tadpoles in burned and unburned watersheds

Wildfire is a potential threat to many species with narrow environmental tolerances like the Rocky Mountain tailed frog (Ascaphus montanusMittleman and Myers, 1949), which inhabits a region where the frequency and intensity of wildfires are expected to increase. We compared pre- and post-fire counts of tadpoles in eight streams in northwestern Montana to determine the effects of wildfire on A. montanus. All streams were initially sampled in 2001, 2 years before four of them burned in a large wildfire, and were resampled during the 2 years following the fire. Counts of tadpoles were similar in the two groups of streams before the fire. After the fire, tadpoles were almost twice as abundant in unburned streams than in burned streams. The fire seemed to have the greatest negative effect on abundance of age-1 tadpoles, which was reflected in the greater variation in same-stream age-class structure compared with those in unburned streams. Despite the apparent effect on tadpoles, we do not expect the wildfire to be an extirpation threat to populations in the streams that we sampled. Studies spanning a chronosequence of fires, as well as in other areas, are needed to assess the ef- fects of fires on streams with A. montanus and to determine the severity and persistence of these effects. Resume ´ : Les feux de brousse sont une menace potentielle ade nombreuses especes atolerance environnementale etroite et en particulier ala grenouille aqueue des Rocheuses (Ascaphus montanusMittleman et Myers, 1949) qui habite une re ´- gion oules feux de brousse risquent d'augmenter en frequence et en intensiteal'avenir. Nous avons compareles de ´- nombrements de tetards avant et apres un feu dans huit cours d'eau du nord-ouest du Montana afin de determiner les effets des feux de brousse sur A. montanus. Tous les cours d'eau ont eteechantillonnes en 2001, 2 ans avant que quatre d'entre eux aient eteaffectes par un important feu de brousse, et ils ont tous eteechantillonnesanouveau 2 ans apresl e feu. Les denombrements de tetards etaient semblables dans les deux groupes de cours d'eau avant le feu. Apres le feu, les tetards etaient presque deux fois plus nombreux dans les cours d'eau non affectes par le feu que dans les cours d'eau af- fectes. Malgrecet effet apparent sur les tetards, nous ne comptons pas que les feux de brousse constituent une menace d'elimination des populations dans les cours d'eau que nous avons echantillonnes. Il faudrait mener des etudes couvrant une chronosequence de feux et faire des recherches dans d'autres regions afin d'evaluer les effets sur les cours d'eau a ` A. montanus et pour determiner la severiteet la persistance des effets. (Traduit par la Redaction)
Bayesian detection of acoustic muzzle blasts

Acoustic detection of gunshots has many security and military applications. Most gunfire produces both an acoustic muzzle-blast signal as well as a high-frequency shockwave. However some guns do not propel bullets with the speed required to cause shockwaves, and the use of a silencer can significantly reduce the energy of muzzle blasts; thus, although most existing commercial and military gunshot detection systems are based on shockwave detection, reliable detection across a wide range of applications requires the development of techniques which incorporate both muzzle-blast and shockwave phenomenologies. The detection of muzzle blasts is often difficult due to the presence of non-stationary background signals. Previous approaches to muzzle blast detection have applied pattern recognition techniques without specifically considering the non-stationary nature of the background signals and thus these techniques may perform poorly under realistic operating conditions. This research focuses on time domain modeling of the non-stationary background using Bayesian auto-regressive models. Bayesian parameter estimation can provide a principled approach to non-stationary modeling while also eliminating the stability concerns associated with standard adaptive procedures. Our proposed approach is tested on a synthetic dataset derived from recordings of actual background signals and a database of isolated gunfire. Detection results are compared to a standard adaptive approach, the least-mean squares (LMS) algorithm, across several signal to background ratios in both indoor and outdoor conditions.
Estradiol Solubility in Aqueous Systems: Effect of Ionic Concentrations, pH, and Organic Solvents

This study examined the effects of ionic strengths of NaCl (0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 M), pH (3, 7, and 11), and organic solvents (dichloromethane, diethyl ether, and methanol) on the extraction of estradiol at concentrations of 5.0 pg/mL in human serum. Methanol extracted almost 100% of the estradiol at a 5.0 pg/mL concentration, while ether and dichloromethane extracted only 73% or 70%, respectively, of the estradiol. The methanol extracted material was subjected to reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using 60% methanol and was found to elute at the same position as estradiol standard. These results suggest that methanol extraction of estradiol may prove useful in situations where estradiol occurs at concentration levels of ≥5.0 pg/mL, concentrations of great clinical significance in the detection and treatment of breast cancer.
The Alpha Catalytic Subunit of Protein Kinase CK2 Is Required for Mouse Embryonic Development

Protein kinase CK2 (formerly casein kinase II) is a highly conserved and ubiquitous serine/threonine kinase that is composed of two catalytic subunits (CK2alpha and/or CK2alpha') and two CK2beta regulatory subunits. CK2 has many substrates in cells, and key roles in yeast cell physiology have been uncovered by introducing subunit mutations. Gene-targeting experiments have demonstrated that in mice, the CK2beta gene is required for early embryonic development, while the CK2alpha' subunit appears to be essential only for normal spermatogenesis. We have used homologous recombination to disrupt the CK2alpha gene in the mouse germ line. Embryos lacking CK2alpha have a marked reduction in CK2 activity in spite of the presence of the CK2alpha' subunit. CK2alpha(-/-) embryos die in mid-gestation, with abnormalities including open neural tubes and reductions in the branchial arches. Defects in the formation of the heart lead to hydrops fetalis and are likely the cause of embryonic lethality. Thus, CK2alpha appears to play an essential and uncompensated role in mammalian development.
Evaluation of the Contribution of Organic Solvent Species Toward Signal Enhancement in the Premixed Oxygen-Hydrogen Flame

Studies conducted in premixed oxygen-hydrogen, oxygen-acetylene, and nitrous oxide-acetylene flames utilizing a relatively small drop size aerosol generated with high frequency ultrasonic nebulization indicate that under the proper conditions emission signal enhancements observed with methanol can be attributed primarily to both increased rate of nebulization and the presence of additional reducing species. However, under the fuel-rich conditions commonly employed for analysis, solvent-supplied reducing species were found to be of primary significance only in the case of the premixed oxygen-hydrogen flame.
Noninvasive Screening for Coronary Artery Disease With Computed Tomography Is Useful

The introduction of new ideas and concepts that lead to change in practice has always caused some degree of controversy, especially in medicine. At first glance, the concept of noninvasive imaging for calcium as a screen to identify patients at high risk for future coronary events would seem the most intense; however, one must only reflect on past controversies to gain an appropriate perspective. The controversy over radical mastectomy versus segmental resection or lumpectomy with radiation therapy has raged for the past 50 years, and only recently have data from the 20-year follow-up of a randomized trial comparing these forms of treatment been put forward.1,2 The process of establishing the chest roentgenogram as a standard diagnostic method in the diagnosis of respiratory disease spanned 30 years and was opposed by many of the leading physicians of the day, including Osler,3 who believed a good clinical examination was superior. In 1915, Crane4 stated that the chest roentgenogram that “claims a delicacy, rapidity and precision outranking the stethoscope and the percussion finger must expect to run a gauntlet of merciless criticism.” The chest roentgenogram largely came into general use in the 1930s, when it was recognized that &15% of the deaths in the United States were due to tuberculosis, and a massive screening process was instituted after World War II.5 Establishment of the chest roentgenogram as a diagnostic tool was based largely on the belief in technology and innovation; to date, however, no prospective randomized studies have been conducted to determine whether the chest roentgenogram has indeed affected the outcome of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases. Thankfully, the coronary artery calcium (CAC) examination has been placed under intense scrutiny, and although the construct and ethics of a prospective randomized study have yet to be decided, it is appropriate to …
Direct comparison of silicon and silicon carbide power transistors in high-frequency hard-switched applications

RECENT progress in wide bandgap power (WBG) switches shows great potential. Silicon carbide (SiC) is a promising material for power devices with breakdown voltages of several hundred volts up to 10 kV. SiC Schottky power diodes have achieved widespread commercial acceptance. Recently, much progress has been made on active SiC switches, including JFETs, thyristors, BJTs, IGBTs, and MOSFETs. Many a great promise has been made, and wondrous claims abound, but the question remains: will they live up to the hype? We explore this question for the class of high-frequency, hard-switched converters with input voltages of up to 600 VDC and power throughputs in the kilowatt range. Experimental evidence shows that both superior efficiency and higher power density may be obtained via the use of SiC MOSFETs. A direct comparison is made using silicon power devices (IGBTs and MOSFETs) and SiC MOSFETs in a 200 kHz, 6 kW, 600 V hard-switched converter. The losses are measured and conduction and switching losses of the active devices are estimated. Total losses can be reduced by a factor of 2–5 by substitution of SiC MOSFETs for Si active power devices.