cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sparsity-preserving sor algorithms for separable quadratic and linear programming

Abstract The main purpose of this work is to give explicit sparsity-preserving SOR (successive overrelaxation) algorithms for the solution of separable quadratic and linear programming problems. The principal and computationally-distinguishing feature of the present SOR algorithms is that they preserve the sparsity structure of the problem and do not require the computation of the product of the constraint matrix by its transpose as is the case in earlier SOR algorithms for linear and quadratic programming.
Research Review of Collaborative Ecosystem-Based Management in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem

The welfare of the marine environment is threatened worldwide. In order to maintain ecosystem services management must shift from single sector to ecosystem approaches. To support this transition in marine management, this article reviews collaborative ecosystem-based management in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME), through an overview and comparison of three collaborations on the United States West Coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. The achievements of these collaborations are demonstrated. Networking and extending collaboration throughout the entire region is shown to be essential for environmental conservation and sustainable development in the CCLME.
Public Opinion and the U.S. Supreme Court: FDR's Court-packing Plan

I show the intimate connection between the actions of the justices and support for the Supreme Court during one of the most critical periods of U.S. political history, the four months of 1937 during which Franklin D. Roosevelt sought legislation to “pack” the high bench with friendly personnel. Over the period from 3 February through 10 June 1937, the Gallup Poll queried national samples on 18 separate occasions about FDR's plan. These observations constitute the core of my analyses. I demonstrate the crucial influence of judicial behavior and the mass media in shaping public opinion toward the Supreme Court. This research illuminates the dynamics of public support for the justices, contributes to a clearer understanding of an important historical episode, shows the considerable impact of the mass media on public attitudes toward the Court, and adds more evidence on the role of political events in the making of public opinion.
Quality by Design Studies on Multi-response Pharmaceutical Formulation Modeling and Optimization

Formulation optimization, one of the most crucial components in quality by design, is performed to determine optimal settings of ingredients so that the desirable performance of critical pharmaceutical quality characteristics is achieved early in the design phase. Formulation optimization can be implemented by the use of a combination of scientific approaches; in particular, response surface methodology combined with design of experiments is typically utilized to fit linear or quadratic functions when estimating response surfaces. This approach may not always be suitable, though, since estimation accuracy heavily impacts the quality of the solutions. In addition, when a formulation with multiple quality characteristics is being considered, the desirability function (DF) approach is frequently incorporated into the optimization procedure. In this case, a weight-based overall DF is usually treated as an objective function to be maximized. However, this approach has several potential shortcomings. Therefore, in order to overcome the limitations of this traditional formulation optimization procedure, we propose a priority-based goal programming scheme that utilizes higher-order polynomial response surface functions and incorporates modified DF approaches to account for additional characteristics, such as the response variance and covariance. Finally, a numerical example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Future energy loads for a large-scale adoption of electric vehicles in the city of Los Angeles: Impacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

Abstract Using plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) has become an important component of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction strategy in the transportation sector. Assessing the net effect of PEVs on GHG emissions, however, is dependent on factors such as type and scale of electricity generation sources, adoption rate, and charging behavior. This study creates a comprehensive model that estimates the energy load and GHG emissions impacts for the years 2020 and 2030 for the city of Los Angeles. For 2020, model simulations show that the PEV charging loads will be modest with negligible effects on the overall system load profile. Contrary to previous study results, the average marginal carbon intensity is higher if PEV charging occurs during off-peak hours. These results suggest that current economic incentives to encourage off-peak charging result in greater GHG emissions. Model simulations for 2030 show that PEV charging loads increase significantly resulting in potential generation shortages. There are also significant grid operation challenges as the region׳s energy grid is required to ramp up and down rapidly to meet PEV loads. For 2030, the average marginal carbon intensity for off-peak charging becomes lower than peak charging mainly due to the removal of coal from the power generation portfolio.
The Density of the Class II MHC T Cell Receptor Ligand Influences IFN-γ/IL-4 Ratios in Immune Responsesin Vivo

Abstract Activation of CD4 + T cells depends on T cell receptor recognition of MHC class II/peptide and on costimulation provided by CD28/B7. It has been shown that different levels of costimulation can influence T helper cell differentiation into Th1 versus Th2 phenotypes. Similar arguments have been made for different levels of peptide/MHC density on antigen-presenting cells, but to date supportive evidence has only come from in vitro studies. Here, using transgenic mice with reduced MHC class II expression on both B cells and dendritic cells, we demonstrate that T helper cell differentiation in vivo is also influenced by the density of expression of MHC class II. Although priming and expansion of antigen-specific T cells were normal in these mice, T cell responses were dominated by the Th1-associated cytokine IFN-γ, with reduced levels of the Th2 cytokine IL-4 compared to controls. These results provide direct evidence that the efficiency of antigen presentation in vivo can determine effector cell phenotype.
Caffeine's Ergogenic Effects on Cycling: Neuromuscular and Perceptual Factors.

ABSTRACTCaffeine improves endurance exercise performance, but its ergogenic mechanism(s) remain unclear.PurposeThis investigation sought to examine the effects of caffeine on perceptual and physiological responses to endurance exercise.MethodsTwo experiments were performed. In study A, 14 participan
Equilibrium speciation dynamics in a model adaptive radiation of island lizards

The relative importance of equilibrium and nonequilibrium processes in shaping patterns of species richness is one of the most fundamental questions in biodiversity studies. If equilibrium processes predominate, then ecological interactions presumably limit species diversity, potentially through diversity dependence of immigration, speciation, and extinction rates. Alternatively, species richness may be limited by the rate at which diversity arises or by the amount of time available for diversification. These latter explanations constitute nonequilibrium processes and can apply only to biotas that are unsaturated or far from diversity equilibria. Recent studies have challenged whether equilibrium models apply to biotas assembled through in situ speciation, as this process may be too slow to achieve steady-state diversities. Here we demonstrate that speciation rates in replicate Caribbean lizard radiations have undergone parallel declines to equilibrium conditions on three of four major islands. Our results suggest that feedback between total island diversity and per-capita speciation rates scales inversely with island area, with proportionately greater declines occurring on smaller islands. These results are consistent with strong ecological controls on species richness and suggest that the iconic adaptive radiation of Caribbean anoles may have reached an endpoint.
Burmann-series distributions and approximation operators

Burmann series are used to give probability distributions which generalize the known class of distributions given by power series. Positive linear operators associated with Burmann-series distribution are described. Convergence of these operators to continuous real functions is studied. Examples are discussed.
WindowScape: Lessons learned from a task-centric window manager

People frequently experience difficulty switching between computer-mediated tasks. To help address this, we created WindowScape, a zooming window manager that uses implicit grouping to help users sort windows according to task. WindowScape was intended to provide a more flexible and intuitive grouping model than prior systems. We report on the design process leading up to the system, and alternative designs we explored. We describe a series of formative evaluations that resulted in significant modifications to our initial prototype, as well as a deployment study of the final version, where users lived with WindowScape on a day-to-day basis. Our results from this study reveal how users react to novel aspects of our system, including its particular uses of miniaturization and its approach to grouping. We also discuss the impact of a task-oriented approach to window management on other aspects of user behavior, and the implications of this for future system design.
Computer simulation of population dynamics of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae).

A comprehensive computer model of the life cycle of lone star tick (LST), Amblyomma americanum (L.), was developed to simulate effects of major environmental variables on population dynamics of this three-host tick in a wildlife ecosystem with whitetailed deer as principal host. The life cycle of LST was incremented in the model into weekly age classes and simulations were run with weekly time steps. The model incorporates 1) temperature-dependent development rates for eggs and engorged larvae, nymphs, and females; 2) influence of habitat type, temperature, and relative humidity on survival rates of free-living ticks; 3) effect of host density, temperature, and daylength on host-finding rates; and 4) density-dependent survival of parasitic ticks during engorgement. General validity of the model was established by comparisons between simulated and actual population densities for a series of years at three areas in eastern Oklahoma using actual weekly weather data for each year as a model input. Using historical-average weather data in the model, we generated population growth rate per generation (R), generation time (T), and equilibrium population densities and seasonal activity profiles for LST at various geographic locations. For areas within the known range of LST, R ranged from 1.13 at Baltimore, Md., to 3.27 at Jackson, Miss., while T ranged from 99 wk at San Antonio, Tex., to 110 wk at Baltimore, Md., and a feasible equilibrium population was established for each area after ca. 8 years of simulation. For each area outside the known range of LST, R was <1 and the equilibrium population was 0. We propose that this model can be used to study various integrated tick management methods and to serve as the framework for further studies on biology and ecology of LST. Furthermore, this model can be adapted to life histories of other important three-host ticks without major modification.
The Human Figure Drawing with Donor and Nondonor Siblings of Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Patients

Although bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has become standard therapy for many life-threatening childhood disorders, there is little research on the psychological impact of BMT on family members. We recently found in a cohort of donor and nondonor siblings that donors had significantly more anxiety, lower self-esteem, and more adaptive skills than nondonors; nondonors showed significantly more school problems. In our investigation, we used the Human Figure Drawing (HFD) (Koppitz, 1968) to measure the siblings' emotional distress toward BMT. In this paper, we report the quantitative and qualitative findings from the HFDs (n = 42, ages 6 to 18 years) including data from case vignettes of four siblings. Among the siblings, feelings of isolation, anger, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem emerged as major themes. These findings indicate the importance of attending to siblings' needs throughout the transplantation process. Siblings should be seen as an integral part of the family system and as important ...
Understanding Perceptions of Hypnotically Recovered Memories in a Civil Sexual Abuse Case

Perceptions of hypnosis and hypnotically recovered testimony were examined in a civil sexual abuse case. Participants read one of eight trial transcript summaries varying in expert witness testimony and victim testimony regarding the use of hypnosis in recovering a repressed memory of sexual abuse. Results indicated liability was influenced by hypnosis. The defendant was found less liable when testimony included hypnosis to recover memories compared to memories recovered without hypnosis. Expert testimony predicted perceptions of the victim and determinations of liability. Results demonstrate juror skepticism regarding the use of hypnosis in the context of recovered memories of sexual abuse.
Environmental Magnetism: Principles and Applications of Enviromagnetics

As the authors state in their preface to Environmental Magnetism: Principles and Applications of Enviromagnetics, this is a quite new science. It began from disparate beginnings involving interdisciplinary approaches to studying young sediment records to tease out a history of past but geologically recent global change. Today the subject has blossomed into an important, vibrant field that envelops many aspects of the geosciences and beyond. It is a true delight to review this book, and not just because Subir Banerjee has done such an outstanding job of providing in the forward, as he states, “a welcoming invitation for the reader to the contents of the book and its special character.” It is indeed of special character, written by two highly accomplished scholars who have devoted a considerable amount of their research attention to linking the magnetic record of geologic materials to Earth processes. The first book on this subject, Environmental Magnetism by R.Thompson and F. Oldfield,was published in 1986 and provided the community with a compilation of several applications oriented toward environmental studies using rock and paleomagnetic approaches. Evans and Heller's volume is quite different.
Sampling and quantitation of lipids in aerosols from the remote marine atmosphere

Abstract A procedure is described for the determination of organic compounds in aerosols and rain from the remote marine atmosphere. Five classes of naturally occuring lipids (n-alkanes, was esters, fatty alcohols, sterols, and fatty acids) were quantified in the samples. Air samples (4000–10 000 m 3 ) were collected on glass-fiber filters under authomatic control. Rain samples (1–5 l) were collected on an event basis. Filter and rain samples were extracted with dichloromethane and the extracts were fractionated into discrete chemical classes by adsorption chromatography with silica gel. The fractions were derivatized (if necessary) and quantified by high-resolution glass-capillary gas chromatography (HRGC) and HRGC/mass spectrometry. A second filter extraction was required for quantitation of fatty acid salts. On-column injection of the fractions provided identification and quantification of a wide range of homologs within each compound class: C 15 –C 44 for n-alkanes, C 36 –C 62 for was esters, and C 13 –C 36 for fatty alcohols and fatty acids. Internal standards were used to quantify recoveries and concentratins. Mean recoveries relative to the internal standares were 96.5% for C 15 –C 36 n-alkanes, 96.4% for C 20 –C 30 n-fatty acids, 92.5% for C 14 –C 30 n-fatty alcohols and 93.3% for cholesterol. The procedural blanks for the remote marine aerosol samples allow detection limits of 0.1–1.0 pg m −3 for most compounds. These values are lower than any other method used at coastal marine, rural or suburban sampling locations.
Ethanol teratogenesis in the C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and A/J inbred mouse strains

Research has shown variations in susceptibility to alcohol-related birth defects in humans. Genetic differences are one reason for this variability. This study compared three inbred mouse strains to determine whether they differ in their susceptibilities to ethanol teratogenesis because previous studies have generated conflicting data. Pregnant C57BL/6J (B6), DBA/2J (D2), and A/J (A) dams were intubated intragastrically with either an acute dose of ethanol (5.8 g/kg) or an isocaloric amount of maltose-dextrine on day 9 of pregnancy. Litters were removed on day 18 of pregnancy and examined for gross, soft-tissue, and skeletal malformations. Results showed that ethanol-exposed B6 litters had a higher percentage of digit (19%), kidney (24%), and skeletal (32%, mostly vertebral) malformations than their maltose-exposed controls (7% or below). Prenatal exposure to ethanol increased skeletal (68%, both rib and vertebral) malformations for A litters when compared to their maltose-exposed controls (4%), but did not increase digit or kidney malformations. Ethanol-exposed D2 litters did not differ from maltose-exposed controls. Maternal blood ethanol levels did not differ among the B6, D2, and A strains. These results provide additional evidence suggesting a genetic component to ethanol teratogenesis.
Estimating relative parental investment in sons versus daughters

Fisher proposed that natural selection would adjust the population sex ratio so that parental expenditure on sons equals expenditure on daughters. Thus if two daughters can be produced for every son, the Fisherian equilibrium is ⅓ sons and ⅔ daughters. The relative cost of a son versus a daughter is necessarily manifested in the trade-off between family size and sex ratio, and we offer a method to estimate this trade-off from data on family compositions. Simulation studies indicate that the method works well in some cases but not others. Application of the method to data on a polychaete suggests that sons are much costlier than daughters; the observed sex ratio in fact significantly favored daughters, but not to the extreme predicted by our measure of differential cost.
Appendiceal infection by Entamoeba histolytica and Strongyloides stercoralis presenting like acute appendicitis.

A 58-year-old male from Puerto Rico who was taking orally administered cortisone analogs for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presented with fever, absolute eosinophilia, right lower quadrant pain, and rebound tenderness associated withStrongyloides stercoralis infection of the appendix. A 37-year-old alcoholic male developed fever, right lower quadrant abdominal pain, and rebound tenderness because of infection of the appendix withEntamoeba histolytica. These are the seventh reported case of isolated amebic appendicitis and the ninth reported case of appendiceal involvement withStrongyloides. In all these cases the diagnosis was made only after surgery. Patients with unexplained right lower quadrant pain, particularly if immunosuppressed or with an appropriate travel history, should have stool examinations for ova and parasites. Early diagnosis and treatment may prevent life-threatening complications such as perforation and peritonitis.
A novel organotypic culture model of the postnatal mouse retina allows the study of glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity.

Abstract A novel organotypic culture method of mouse retina explants is being introduced and characterized to evaluate its usefulness in studying glutamate excitotoxicity. Retinal whole-mounts were dissected from eyes of C57BL/6 mice aged P10–14 and transferred to poly- d -lysine/laminin coated round coverslips. After 7 days in vitro, retina explants were treated with varying concentrations of l -glutamate and cell death was accessed with TUNEL histochemistry. Neurofilament-68 kDa immunoreactivity was used to identify retinal ganglion cells (RGC) with immunohistochemistry. Additional cell markers were used to further characterize the cytoarchitecture of the organotypic retina cultures. Retina explants attached very well to the coated coverslips allowing for experimental manipulation and pharmacological access to the tissue. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining of vertical cryostat sections of retina explants demonstrated well preserved intact cytoarchitecture under organotypic culture conditions and PKCα, Calbindin, GABA, Rhodopsin, GFAP and neurofilament immunoreactivities identifying rod bipolar, horizontal, amacrine, photoreceptor, glial, and retinal ganglion cells, respectively, were not different from freshly isolated mouse retina. Dose dependent glutamate toxicity and accompanying RGC apoptotic cell death were determined by TUNEL histochemistry. In contrast to previously published methods using slice or floating whole-mount cultures, the ex vivo culture system presented here combines accessibility to experimental manipulation, and adherence of whole-mount cultures to a substrate with a significant preservation of retinal cell types, numbers and morphology. The described retina explant culture on glass coverslips allows for effective pharmacological manipulation including the study of neuronal cell death and RGC physiology.
The National Cancer Data Base report on completeness of American Joint Committee on Cancer staging in United States cancer facilities

BACKGROUND American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging is increasingly accepted as a prognostic standard for cancer management. The Commission on Cancer requires approved cancer programs to use AJCC staging for all cancers. Previous studies document increasing use of AJCC staging by hospitals with cancer programs. This review examines programmatic and clinical factors affecting AJCC staging completeness. METHODS The data are registry records submitted to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) for cases diagnosed during 1993 or, for comparison, 1988. RESULTS The mean facility staging rate was 87% in 1993, up from 65% in 1988. Approximately 64% of facilities staged greater than 90% of their stageable cases; 3% staged less than 5%. Even facilities with “complete” staging implementation were unable to stage substantial portions of some sites. Accessibility of tumor and overall prognosis affected the choice between pathologic and clinical staging. Staging completeness and the mix of pathologic and clinical staging also differed by state of the reporting facility. CONCLUSIONS AJCC staging use is high among common tumors for which treatment is dependent upon stage of disease. However, if accurate staging is not expected to affect the treatment or outcome of the case or the overall outcome is poor, staging is less frequently recorded. Cancer 1996;78:1498-504.
Target search of burglars: A revised economic model

This article investigates home attributes that attract residential burglars in choosing a target. These attributes are the location of the home, its physical appearance, demographic characteristics of the residents, and the security precautions present. The theoretical foundation of the empirical model is the criminal utility maximization behavior that considers costs and benefits as formulated by Becker. However, this article introduces to the model the spatial dimension of the burglar's search for a target. The incidence of burglary is the dependent variable and is measured in a dichotomy scale. The empirical analysis utilizes a survey database of burgled and non-burgled homes that was conducted by the researchers. A logit model is used for the investigation, and the effects of the explanatory variables are calculated as probabilities. The database is unique in the wealth of attributes of individual homes that are relevant to burglars' decision process.
Customer Experience with Rent-to-Own Transactions

Abstract The authors examine the characteristics and experiences of rent-to-own customers using a nationwide survey of 532 customers and 11,575 noncustomers. The authors find that most customers have low incomes and education levels, but most have a motor vehicle and some type of credit card or bank account; most customers use rent-to-own transactions to purchase merchandise, not merely as short-term rentals; and most customers are satisfied with the transactions and are treated well if they are late making a payment, though some experience abusive collection practices. The authors discuss the implications of the findings for public policy.
The pathway of protein folding

The first results of characterizing intermediates in protein folding reactions reveal both unexpected and puzzling behavior.
Vesicular autoantigens of Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), is an autoimmune disorder resulting from the destruction of pancreatic beta-cells and insulin deficiency. In the last 10 years significant progress has been made in this field, primarily because of the identification of predisposing genes, the extensive investigation of animal models, and the characterization of major autoantigens. This review draws attention to how the study of beta-cell autoantigens may contribute insight into the pathogenesis of IDDM and provides an update on the cell biology of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and islet cell autoantigen 512, two major targets of autoimmunity in Type 1 diabetes on which I have focused my efforts. For reasons of space I have mostly considered here studies on GAD which have been published since 1994.
Some Aspects of Biology of the American Sand Lance, Ammodytes americanus

Abstract The length-weight relationship for Ammodytes americanus sampled from the New England coast was determined and compared to the relationships for five other sand lance species available from the literature. Postspawning A. americanus females weighed up to 45% less than prespawning females of the same length. The relationship between fecundity (F, number of eggs/female) and fork length (L, cm) is log10F = 3.857 log10L - 0.484. Ovarian egg diameters were unimodal which suggests once-a-year spawning for this species.
Temporal stability of soil moisture profile

The temporal stability of soil moisture profile across the 610 km2 Little Washita River Experimental Watershed (LWREW), located in southwestern Oklahoma, is investigated. Experimental data were acquired by time-domain reflectometry (TDR) probes. TDR data were routinely collected at eight locations during the months of June and July in 1997 and in July 2003, coincident with large-scale hydrological remote sensing experiments. Analyses were performed to determine if a subset of the TDR sites could be used to represent watershed averages (i.e. sensor network averages) of soil water content at various levels in the soil profile, as well as in the total profile. The results show that two of the eight TDR sites were temporally stable. One site consistently underestimated and the other consistently overestimated watershed average soil water content at all levels in the soil profile. Because the offset between these under- and over-estimates and the watershed mean are known, these sites can be used to determine the watershed mean values of soil water content at all levels in the profile, as well as to provide ranges of soil water content within the watershed. Identification of these temporally stable sites within the LWERW will assist in the validation of coarse spatial resolution surface soil moisture products derived from remote sensing experiments, as well as providing data sets for watershed hydrologic modeling of subsurface soil water contents.
Modeling of efficient mode-matching and thermal-lensing effect on a laser-beam coupling into a mode-cleaner cavity

We describe the spatial mode-matching of a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser to a ring mode-cleaner cavity with an efficiency as high as 99.8%. Spatial-mode coupling including thermal-lensing effects in the cavity are analyzed.
Efficient RFID-based mobile object localization

Location-awareness of mobile objects is the key to numerous emerging ubiquitous computing applications. We show that RFID technology can be leveraged to achieve mobile object localization in an inexpensive, power efficient, scalable, widely applicable, flexible, and user-friendly manner. We outline the challenges that can adversely affect RFID-based localization techniques, and propose solutions to mitigate them. We present several algorithms for RFID-based mobile object localization that compare favorably or exceed previous methods in terms of accuracy, speed, reliability, scalability, and cost.
Characterization of fast photoelectron packets in weak and strong laser fields in ultrafast electron microscopy

The development of ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM) and variants thereof (e.g., photon-induced near-field electron microscopy, PINEM) has made it possible to image atomic-scale dynamics on the femtosecond timescale. Accessing the femtosecond regime with UEM currently relies on the generation of photoelectrons with an ultrafast laser pulse and operation in a stroboscopic pump-probe fashion. With this approach, temporal resolution is limited mainly by the durations of the pump laser pulse and probe electron packet. The ability to accurately determine the duration of the electron packets, and thus the instrument response function, is critically important for interpretation of dynamics occurring near the temporal resolution limit, in addition to quantifying the effects of the imaging mode. Here, we describe a technique for in situ characterization of ultrashort electron packets that makes use of coupling with photons in the evanescent near-field of the specimen. We show that within the weakly-interacting (i.e., low laser fluence) regime, the zero-loss peak temporal cross-section is precisely the convolution of electron packet and photon pulse profiles. Beyond this regime, we outline the effects of non-linear processes and show that temporal cross-sections of high-order peaks explicitly reveal the electron packet profile, while use of the zero-loss peak becomes increasingly unreliable.
Cross-Linked Matrix Tissue Sealant Protects Against Mortality and Hemorrhage in an Acute Renal Injury Model in Heparinized Rats

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy of a cross-linked matrix tissue sealant compared with oxidized cellulose and electrocautery in an acute renal injury model.Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats underwent partial nephrectomy after intravenous heparin anticoagulation. The cut surface received 1 of 4 therapies, namely no treatment, cross-linked matrix tissue sealant, electrocautery or Surgicel (Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, New Jersey) oxidized cellulose. Blood pressure was continually monitored, survival time was determined and total blood loss was quantified in each animal.Results: Animals that received no treatment, electrocautery or oxidized cellulose died within 13 minutes of injury with a decline in blood pressure to 0 mm. Hg. In cross-linked matrix treated rats hemostasis was immediate, resulting in no blood loss after cross-linked matrix application. Mean arterial pressure ± SEM was maintained at 136 ± 6 mm. Hg. All cross-linked matrix treated animals survived.Conclusions: Cross-linked mat...
Emergency conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass during attempted off-pump revascularization results in increased morbidity and mortality.

Objective We sought to evaluate outcomes and predictors of emergency conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass during attempted off-pump coronary bypass surgery. Methods From January 1999 through July 2002, 1678 consecutive isolated coronary artery bypass operations were performed at Lenox Hill Hospital, with the intention to treat all patients with off-pump coronary bypass surgery. Fifty (2.97%) patients required urgent conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass. All the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were collected and analyzed in accordance with the New York State Cardiac Surgery Reporting System. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine predictors for conversion. Results In-hospital mortality and major morbidity were significantly lower in the nonconverted group compared with the converted patients (mortality: 1.47% [n = 24] vs 12% [n = 6], P = .001; stroke: 1.1% [n = 18] vs 6% [n = 3], P = .02; renal failure: 1.23% [n = 20] vs 6% [n = 3], P = .02; deep sternal wound infection: 1.54% [n = 25] vs 8% [n = 4], P = .009; respiratory failure: 3.75% [n = 61] vs 28% [n = 14], P Conclusions Because emergency conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass during attempted off-pump coronary bypass surgery results in significantly higher morbidity and mortality, studies comparing off-pump coronary bypass surgery with conventional coronary artery surgery should include converted patients in the off-pump group. In our experience, emergency conversion is an unpredictable event. The incidence of conversion decreases with increasing experience of surgeons in performing off-pump coronary surgery and use of a cardiac positioning device.
Selective, high-energy beta scintillation sensor for real-time, in situ characterization of uranium-238 and strontium-90

A novel scintillating-fiber sensor for detecting high-energy beta particles has been designed and built at the Pacific Northwest Laboratory to characterize238U and90Sr in surface soils. High-energy betas generate unique signals as they pass through multiple layers of scintillating fibers that make up the active region of the detector. Lower-energy beta particles, gamma rays, and cosmic-ray-generated particles comprise the majority of the background interferences. The resulting signals produced by these latter phenomena are effectively discriminated against due to the combination of the sensor's multi-layer configuration and its interlayer coincidence/anti-coincidence circuitry.
The correlation of neoplastic vulnerability with central neuroepithelial cytogeny and glioma differentiation

The vulnerability of neuroepithelial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) to neoplastic transformation results from the interaction of several factors: the existence of a reserve population of stem cells, the capability of differentiated cells to reenter the kinetic cycle, the number of replicating cells at risk at a particular time, the length of time during which a particular cell population remains in the cycle, the state of differentiation and the further differentiation potential of that population, and the steps of differentiation that are achieved in successive cell generations. This concept explains many aspects of CNS tumor incidence and the relationship of central neuroepithelial embryonal tumors to tumors of adult cell type. The incidence of different types of central neuroepithelial tumors can be correlated with the width of the window of neoplastic vulnerability. Examples illustrating the existence of only a narrow window include such rare tumors as medulloepitheliomas, cerebral neuroblastomas, gangliogliomas and ependymoblastomas. By contrast, cerebellar medulloblastomas, astrocytomas, mixed astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, and glioblastomas exemplify instances in which a relatively wider window of vulnerability exists in the light of cellular neuro-ontogeny and of the capacity of glial cells for postnatal replication. The relationship that may occasionally be established between the development of a glioma and the production of cellular gliosis such as may follow brain injury or accompany multiple sclerosis can also be viewed in the light of that concept. Increasing awareness is needed concerning the development of postradiation gliomas, in particular after the apparently successful treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia.
Moving Partitions Past: Aamir Mufti's Enlightenment in the Colony

I begin with an apology. It is reasonable to expect a reviewer to fulfill at least two requirements with respect to the work under review. First, he should have some independent knowledge of the to...
Slow Enlargement of Choroidal Nevi: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study

Purpose Choroidal nevi are generally considered to be stable lesions, and growth of a choroidal nevus is usually believed to be a sign of malignant transformation. We performed this study to determine whether choroidal nevi enlarge over a long period of follow-up without undergoing malignant transformation. Design Retrospective observational case series. Participants A total of 278 patients with 284 nevi who had at least 7 years of photographic follow-up without clinical signs of transformation into melanoma were included in the study. Methods Data on demographic and clinical information were extracted from patients' charts. Detailed fundus drawings and color fundus photographs were reviewed and compared for evidence of enlargement. Main Outcome Measures Nevus enlargement without clinical evidence of transformation into melanoma. Results Of the 278 patients, 69% were female and more than 99% were White with a median age at presentation of 57 years (range, 4–87 years). The largest nevus basal diameter was a median of 5 mm (range, 0.5–14 mm), and the median thickness was 1.5 mm (range, 0.1–3.6 mm). Only 14 nevi (5%) had subretinal fluid outside the nevus, and 6% showed overlying orange pigment. Overlying retinal pigment epithelial alterations included drusen (61%), atrophy (6%), hyperplasia (10%), and fibrous metaplasia (6%). Of 284 nevi, 31% showed slight enlargement over a mean follow-up of 15 years. The median increase in diameter was 1 mm (mean, 0.9 mm; range, 0.2–3.0 mm), and the median rate of enlargement was 0.06 mm/yr (mean, 0.06 mm/yr; range, 0.01–0.36 mm/yr). None of the lesions that enlarged developed new risk factors that are generally associated with malignant transformation. Frequency of enlargement was 54% in patients aged less than 40 years and 19% in patients aged more than 60 years. On multivariate analysis, younger patient age was the only factor predictive of nevus enlargement ( P Conclusions With long-term follow up, 31% of choroidal nevi showed slight enlargement without clinical evidence of transformation into melanoma. The frequency of enlargement was inversely related to patient age. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Genetic control of front-leg weakness in Duroc swine. II. Correlated responses in growth rate, backfat and reproduction from five generations of divergent selection☆

Abstract Correlated responses resulting from 5 generations of divergent selection for front-leg structure were investigated. Duroc pigs of similar age and management status were scored for front-leg structure and divided into 3 lines. The high line consisted of pigs with no front-leg weakness, the control line had intermediate front-leg weakness and the low line had increased front-leg weakness. Selection for front-leg structure was within line and replicate (2 replicates) based on front-leg structure scores at 100 kg. Performance traits for which correlated responses were examined included ultrasonically measured backfat (BF), average daily gain from weaning to 100 kg. (ADG) and days to 104 kg (DAYS). The litter reproduction traits included total number born, number born alive, litter birth weight, number weaned and litter weight at weaning. Also measured were age at first breeding and at conception and days from first breeding to conception. Sire reproductive performance was also measured. No significant correlated responses were detected in ADG or DAYS in either high- or low-line pigs. High-line pigs, however, became significantly fatter than low-line pigs during the experiment. Correlated responses in reproduction were slight with low-line gilts having lower pregnancy rates compared with those of high-line females, and the farrowing rate of females mated to low-line boars was less than that of high-line boars. Overall performance of control-line individuals was generally superior to either high- or low-line pigs. These results suggest, in general, that culling for leg weakness will make some improvement in reproduction productivity while slightly decreasing market performance.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PREVENTION STRATEGIES AMONG OLDER POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Women may choose to initiate, reinitiate, or discontinue hormone replacement therapy (HRT) at any time beyond the perimenopausal period. HRT, exercise, and nutrition are reviewed in terms of their potential benefits as primary and secondary preventive therapies against coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, breast and genital cancers, and the maintenance of cognitive function among older postmenopausal women. Lifestyle alternatives involving nutrition and exercise that offer many of the same benefits as HRT are discussed. Since both pharmacologic and lifestyle interventions offer significant benefit for primary and secondary prevention of disease and disability, each should be offered to women for consideration as they enter the perimenopausal period. Additionally, each can be recommended for initiation even at much older ages and subsequent to adverse health occurrences, such as the experience of breast or genital cancer or a cardiac event. Each should be sustained over the long term. The decision whether to discontinue these interventions among the most elderly will be influenced by other quality of life considerations.
Bacteriophage Mu: a transposing replicon.

Abstract Mu DNA replication has been carried out in vitro on cellophane discs in the presence of dBUTP. If the DNA is sheared to 80 kb pieces, the Mu replicas band anomalously in CsCI gradients between hybrid and light DNA density positions. The intermediate density DNA comprises semiconservatively replicated Mu sequences, flanked by unreplicated light DNA. This and previous data are consistent with replication occurring within Mu boundaries. Both the synthesis of Mu sequences and the intermediate density DNA are abolished by protein synthesis inhibition in vivo just prior to lysis on cellophane discs. These observations indicate that at least some steps in bona fide Mu transposition-replication are being observed in vitro.
The aftermath of childhood trauma on late life mental and physical health: A review of the literature.

This article is an examination of the empirical literature published in peer-reviewed journals, which investigated samples of adults aged 50 and older, who had experienced trauma, in childhood with follow-up of the impact on later life mental and physical health. Articles were identified through searches of EBSCO host databases, such as PubMed, SocioIndex, and PsychoLit. Search terms such as childhood trauma and cumulative trauma were paired with the term older adults in varying combinations. The collective findings of 23 studies published between 1996 and 2001 suggested that trauma first documented as occurring in childhood is associated with later life mental and physical health. Methodological limitations and future directions as well as recommendations for practice, policy, and research with older adults and trauma are delineated. Language: en
Individual and social components of wood ant response to conifer sawfly defence (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Diprionidae)

Although wood ants frequently encounter defended prey, there has been little study of how anti-predator traits aVect worker behaviour patterns. Interactions between western thatching ants, Formica obscuripes Forel, and chemically defended conifer sawfly larvae were observed in a laboratory setting. Individual ant responses to sawflies were strongly aVected by prey defence status and predator approach behaviour. Solitary workers that initially examined (antennated, mandibulated) sawflies were more likely to abandon larvae than were workers that attacked immediately. Ants were more likely to persist in prey encounters when sawflies were experimentally depleted of chemical defence. Attacking workers attracted recruits more rapidly than did ants that examined prey. Prey discovery resulted in a decline in honey water attendance at food stations as additional workers engaged in prey retrieval, but did not aVect overall foraging rate. Survival of fully defended larvae was significantly greater than that of depleted prey. Sawfly defences appear most eVective in the early stages of encounters with ants. A generalist diet and the opportunistic nature of prey exploitation have probably precluded the evolution of refined wood ant responses to sawfly defences. ? 1996 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Super heavy 6.0 mils Cu wire ball bonding

The quest to replace wire material from gold (Au) to Copper (Cu) in wire bonding interconnect has been in the industry since few decades. As the Cu wire bonding manufacturing process matures, the idea of substituting Al wedge bond with Cu ball bond is mooted. Such substitution could potentially reap benefits of lower machine cost of ownership and better utilization of silicon real estate. It also comes with better conductivity, slower intermetallic growth and possibly cheaper material price. However, the associated challenges such as hardness and oxidation could be overwhelming and requires a careful assessment. The objective of this study is to provide insight of the 6.0 mils Cu wire bonding process. 6.0 mils Cu wire is the key candidate in this Al - Cu wire substitution idea. Bonding interaction of Cu wire, chip & lead are studied experimentally.
Contesting (Simonton's) Blind Variation, Selective Retention Theory of Creativity

Over the 50 years since Donald Campbell advanced his Darwinian theory of creative thought, now better known as the blind variation, selective retention (BVSR) theory of creativity, a considerable literature has evolved, involving both support and opposition to the theory. The most prolific support of BVSR theory is due to Dean Keith Simonton. In response to a detailed exposition by Simonton of BVSR theory, a set of cognitive-historical case studies to refute it was presented by Dasgupta; this, in turn, had elicited a response from Simonton. Very recently, Simonton presented an updated version of the theory, which will be called here Simonton's BVSR theory. This article offers two detailed cognitive-historical case studies of actual episodes of technological creativity to challenge and contest BVSR theory as a general theory of creativity.