cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface-Induced Dissociation of Small Carbon Cluster Negative Ions (Cn-, n = 5−12): Correlation between the Dissociation Patterns and Stability of Fragment Ion−Neutral Pairs

We report detailed study of surface-induced dissociation (SID) of small carbon cluster negative ions (Cn-, n = 5−12) in collision with Si substrates. Fragment mass spectra have been observed in the collision energy range of 0−10 eV/atom. Neutral C3 loss occurred at collision energies lower than 2 eV/ atom. In the medium energy range (2−6 eV/atom), a marked even−odd difference in the dissociation has been observed: even fragment ions were predominantly generated from incident odd clusters, whereas both even and odd fragment ions from incident even clusters. These results are qualitatively in good agreement with the formation energies of fragment ion−neutral pairs calculated using the experimentally determined binding energies of ions and neutrals. At elevated collision energies (6−10 eV /atom), further fragmentation and electron detachment from fragment ions occurred and smaller cluster ions with even n were preferentially generated.
Polyimide–silica hybrids containing novel phenylethynyl imide silanes as coupling agents for surface-treated titanium alloy

Polyimide-silica hybrids composed of an organic precursor containing a novel phenylethynyl imide silane and an inorganic precursor were evaluated as an adhesion-promoting interphase between surface-treated titanium alloy and a phenylethynyl-containing imide adhesive. The phenylethynyl groups present in the organic precursor, either as a pendent or end group, can bond chemically with a phenylethynyl-containing imide adhesive during processing, while the silane groups of the organic precursor would react chemically with the inorganic precursor. In addition, the inorganic precursor is able to react with the titanium alloy to form a stable bond with the metal oxide. Bond strength and durability were evaluated by single lap shear tests at various conditions. Lap shear specimens exhibited predominantly cohesive failure after a 3-d water boil with 92% retention of the initial room temperature strength. Morphology and chemical composition of the hybrid interphase were investigated with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Auger electron spectroscopy, which revealed development of a silicon-gradient, hybrid structure between the metal substrate and the adhesive.
Simulations of the Sun's polar magnetic fields during sunspot cycle 21

Regarding new bipolar magnetic regions as sources of flux, the evolution of the radial component of the solar photospheric magnetic field is simulated during 1976-1984, and the corresponding evolution of the line-of-sight polar fields as seen from earth is derived. The observed timing and strength of the polar-field reversal during cycle 21 can be accounted for by supergranular diffusion alone, for a diffusion coefficient of 800 sq km/sec. For an assumed 300 sq km/sec rate of diffusion, on the other hand, a poleward meridional flow with a moderately broad profile and a peak speed of 10 m/s reached at about 5 deg latitude is required to obtain agreement between the simulated and observed fields. Such a flow accelerates the transport of following-polarity flux to the polar caps, but also inhibits the diffusion of leading-polarity flux across the equator. For flows faster than about 10 m/s, the latter effect dominates, and the simulated polar fields reverse increasingly later and more weakly than the observed fields.
Cross tolerance or tachyphylaxis among various psychotomimetic agents on cats.

Abstract DOM, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine, a perception-distorting psychotomimetic agent, has been demonstrated to elicit a marked behavioral syndrome in cats. This syndrome is antagonized by a pretreatment of DOM. This tachyphylaxis has been examined to determine the ability of various other types of psychotomimetic agents to antagonize the DOM-induced syndrome. Mescaline and d-LSD but not 1-LSD could prevent the occurrence of the DOM-induced behavior. Ditran, tryptamine and d-amphetamine did not antagonize DOM. Thus it appears that the perception-distorting psychotomimetic agents exhibit either cross tachyphylaxis or cross tolerance and may share a common mechanism of action.
The effect of thermal cycling on the creep of uranium

Abstract Experiments on the creep of uranium, carried out isothermally at 500°C and with temperature cycles of up to ±40°C about this temperature, show the considerable effect that cycling has on the creep rate; for example, creep acceleration at 0·5 t.s.i. and 500°C is by a factor of at least 25 for cycles of ±40°C. The greater the amplitude of thermal cycling the greater is the creep rate for a given stress; the effect on creep rate is also greater at lower applied stresses for a given thermal cycle. A theory is developed assuming that the internal stresses set up by the differential expansions of the individual crystals are not, of themselves, sufficient to cause plastic flow. The predictions from this theory, of the magnitude of the effect, are in good agreement with the experimental results.
The Contribution of Alumina Phase Transformations to the Sintering of Pd Automotive Catalysts

High temperature aging of supported Pd/alumina causes a phase transformation of the transitional (γ, θ or δ) alumina support into alpha (α) alumina. This phase transformation is accompanied by a loss in surface area. This raises the question: how much is the drop in Pd dispersion caused by support sintering? We answer this question by a comparison of chemically similar Pd/alumina catalysts that differ only in one aspect, their physical treatment. The physical treatment is the milling of the support which is often used during wash coating of monolithic automotive catalysts. We show that milling of transitional alumina supports can accelerate their phase transformation into alpha alumina. By comparing catalysts that were milled with those that were not milled, we conclude that the sintering of the catalyst support does not contribute significantly to the sintering of the metal phase. Our results apply specifically to isothermal aging of the catalysts at 900 °C in 10% H2O in N2 for periods of up to 200 h.
Synthesis and antitubercular activity of a series of hydrazone and nitrovinyl analogs derived from heterocyclic aldehydes.

A series of hydrazone and 3-nitrovinyl analogs of indole-3-carboxaldehydes and related compounds were synthesized and screened for antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37RV in BACTEC 12B medium using the Microplate Alamar Blue Assay (MABA). Several compounds showed inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis in primary screening assays at a concentration of 6.25 μg/mL; subsequent dose-response studies indicated that the most active compounds, 3d, 3e & 8b, had IC50 values of 5.96, 5.4 & 1.6 μg/mL, respectively. These compounds represent potential leads for the further development of novel antitubercular agents.
An analysis of pancreatic sonography in suspected pancreatic disease

To assess the value of pancreatic sonography in patients suspected of having pancreatic disease, our first 500 pancreatic examinations using gray scale imaging were reviewed in a prospective manner without clinical information. Various parameters of each examination were recorded. The pancreas was localized by its relationships to surrounding vessels and the duodenum. The ability to define the head, body, and tail of the pancreas as well as anterior--posterior size measurements were noted and recorded. A retrospective clinical pathologic follow-up was then carried out and correlated with the ultrasonic findings. Four categories of patients were identified. The features seen in pancreatic ultrasonography of the entire group, as well as those seen in the individual categories, were analyzed. This analysis indicates that pancreatic sonography can be used in patients suspected of having pancreatic disease, defining both normal and abnormal pancreas. A high index of suspicion for the type of abnormality present can be achieved.
Radioimmunoassays for the modified nucleosides N[9-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)purin-6-ylcarbamoyl]-L-threonine and 2-methylthioadenosine.

Abstract Radioimmunoassays were established for the modified nucleosides N-[9-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)purin-6-ylcarbamoyl]-L-threonine, t6A, and 2-methylthioadenosine, ms2A. The assays depended on the production of antisera specific for t6A and ms2A that have not been previously reported. The nitrocellulose membrane filtration and saturated ammonium sulfate RIA techniques were compared for efficiency. Various radioactive antigens were employed to establish which type of antigen would give the best binding. The tritium post-labeling procedure of Randerath and Randerath was used to obtain labeled nucleosides of high enough specific activity to be useful for RIAs when the labeled nucleoside was not available commerically. The specificity of the antibodies toward nucleosides and purified tRNAs is reported. Although the titer of the t6A antiserum was low, the specificity was very sharp. An interesting finding was that threonine, a major structural component of the side-chain modification of t6A, was completely infective as an inhibitor.
The SALSA spike: A novel technique using Kirschner wires to anchor tenuous midfoot and forefoot amputation flaps

Abstract Extensive tissue resection often mandates unique approaches to complete a functional reconstruction. While there are numerous options for selecting a donor site for a skin or soft tissue flap, available options for securing a local flap following midfoot amputation are quite limited. Adequate flap fixation is essential to maintain its viability, yet this may be challenging to achieve when there is a substantial residual post debridement requiring coverage and only limited remaining viable surrounding soft tissue available for anchoring. Over thinning the flap may compromise vital circulation to it from plantar (or other pertinent) artery perforators. In our experience, the adjunctive use of Kirschner wire(s) to support external soft-tissue fixation in conjunction with traditional methods has been successful in securing such tenuous fasciocutaneous flaps. To our knowledge, few alternative techniques have been described to fasten flaps in instances of compromised surrounding skin and soft tissue integrity in high-risk patients. This technique offers the surgeon a strong, inexpensive, and versatile solution for soft tissue anchoring. It allows for mechanical creep and ultimately stress relaxation at a potential wound closure site. This manuscript reviews several cases, each using this simple, novel approach to fixate an unsecured flap during the closure of an open amputation.
Urwick on the business academy

L yndall Urwick was born in England in 1891. He attended Repton and New College, Oxford, and was awarded a B.A. degree in 1913 and an M.A. degree in 1919. He began his career in his family's glove manufacturing business, Fownes Brothers and Company. Following service in the First World War, he became organizing secretary for Rowntree and Company, a confectioner. He subsequently moved to the position of administrator of the Management Research Groups and then became Director of the International Management Institute in Geneva in 1929. When the Great Depression cut short the life of the Institute, Urwick returned to England and established the management consultancy Urwick, Orr and Partners. During World War II he was an advisor in organization to His Majesty's Treasury, and in 1942 he moved to the Petroleum Warfare Departmerit. From 1945 until 1965 Urwick continued his work as a management consultant and served as a visiting faculty member at such universities as Toronto, New South Wales, California, and Minnesota. He retired to Australia, where he died in 1983 at the age of 92. Urwick's books include: Factory Organization (1928), coauthored with C. Northcott, O. Sheldon, and J. Wardopper; The Meaning of Rationalization (1929); and with H. Metcalf, Dynamic Administration: The Collected Papers of Mark Parker Follett (1941). He also wrote a number of shorter works published by such groups as the British Institute of Management, the Institute of Labor Management, the Institute of Personnel Management, the American Management Association, and the Academy of Management. In the late 1920s, Urwick became a vigorous advocate for a staff college for industry. He felt that such an institution was urgently needed and should be structured along the lines of the existing staff colleges of the various branches of the military. In 1942 he was joined in his efforts by others who provided planning support and came up with sufficient money and students to give the project a reasonable chance for success. In 1948, the Administrative Staff College was opened by Clement Attlee, Prime Minister of England. It served as a model for many other similar undertakings that followed, both in Great Britain and throughout the world. During his lifetime, Urwick's membership in professional associations included The British Institute of Management (fellow), the International Academy of Management (charter fellow), the Academy of Management (fellow), and the American Management Association (life member). Among the awards he received were the Order of the British Empire and Military Cross (British Army), Gantt Medal (American Management Society and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers), and Knight, First Class, Order of Saint Olaf (Norway). Additional biographical details about Urwick can be found in the London Times (1983), the work of Trosky (1984), and the writing of Bedian (1984), from which the information presented here was extracted. Many early management texts, such as Mooney and Reiley (1939), Dennison (1931), and Sheldon (1923), can provide supporting background particulars as well.
An Analysis of Arctic Sea Ice Fluctuations, 1953–77

Abstract Arctic sea ice data from the 1953–77 period are digitized onto a set of 300 monthly grids covering the polar cap. Each grid contains 1648 ice concentration points at a spacing of 1° latitude (60 n mi). The synthesis of the regional ice data sets is described. The digitized data are used to evaluate quantitatively the normal seasonal cycle of ice extent, the 25 year extremes for winter and summer, and the longitudinal dependence of the variance and trend of ice extent. Interannual variations of ice extent exceeding 5° latitude are found at most longitudes. The time series of total Arctic ice extent shows a statistically significant positive trend and correlates negatively with recent high-latitude temperature fluctuations. Empirical orthogonal functions of longitude are used to identify the major spatial and temporal scales of ice fluctuations within the 25-year period. The dominant spatial mode is an asymmetric mode in which the North Atlantic anomaly is opposite in sign to the anomaly over the r...
PAHs in air and seawater along a North-South Atlantic transect: Trends, processes and possible sources

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were simultaneously measured in air and surface seawater between 49° N and 25° S in the open Atlantic Ocean. Elevated concentrations of PAHs (Σ10 PAHs ≈ 1.4–2.5 ng m−3 air, and 0.7–1 ng L−1 seawater) occurred in the Biscay Bay and off the northwest coast of Africa. The unexpectedly high concentrations off NW Africa were discussed assessing the possible contribution of the emerging oil industry along the African shore, the role of biomass burning and natural sources of PAHs. In the southern Atlantic, concentrations of PAHs were close to detection limits (Σ10 PAHs ≈ 0.02–0.5 ng m−3 air, and 0.06–0.5 ng L−1 seawater) and showed decreasing trends with increasing latitudes. Correlations of PAHs’ partial pressures versus inverse temperature were not significant, in contrast to results for polychlorinated biphenyls from the same transect. This could have been due to the importance of ongoing primary sources and the shorter atmospheric life-times of PAHs. Air–water fugacity...
An American tale

A History of the Ecosystem Concept in Ecology: More than the Sum of the Parts. By Frank Benjamin Golley. Yale University Press: 1993. Pp. 254. £25, $30.
Mechanisms responsible for enhanced stroke volume after exercise training in coronary heart disease

High intensity endurance exercise training increases maximal attainable O2 uptake (VO2 max) and stroke volume (SV) in patients with ischaemic heart disease. To determine the mechanisms responsible for enhanced SV after training, 18 patients, 51±3 years (mean±SE) were studied. Patients completed 12 months of endurance exercise with a peak intensity of 89.7±2% of attainable VO2 max. Attainable VO2 max increased from 23±1 to 32±2 ml/kg/min (P<0.0001). Left ventricular function was assessed using radionuclide radionuclide ventriculography. To control for afterload, haemodynamic variables were evaluated at comparable mean blood pressure (mBP). SV was increased after training both at rest (77±3 vs 81.5±5 ml; P<0.025) and during exercise (78±6 vs 93±6 ml; P<0.025) at comparable mBP. Before training, ejection fraction decreased during exercise (59±3 vs 55±3%, P<0.005) but increased after training from the resting level (59±3 vs 63±3%, P<0.025). Left ventricular end diastolic volume during exercise didnot change. Thus, the results suggest that enhanced SV during exercise is, in part, due to improved left ventricular function after exercise training.
A plastic surgeon's guide to applying smartphone technology in patient care.

Background: The vast array of information technology available to plastic surgeons continues to expand. With the recent introduction of smartphone application (“app”) technology to the market, the potential for incorporating both social media and app technology into daily practice exists. Objectives: The authors describe and evaluate the smartphone applications most pertinent to plastic surgery. Methods: Smartphone apps from all available markets were analyzed for various factors, including popularity among general consumers, ease of use, and functionality. Using various advertising guidelines from plastic surgery societies as well as the US Food and Drug Administration, each app's content was further analyzed within the context of ethical obligations. Results: The apps with the highest number of ratings were those offering the option to upload photos and morph each photo according to the user's own preference. The title of apps also appears to play a role in popularity. A majority of apps demonstrated the same features available on websites. Conclusions: The applicability of social media marketing via smartphone apps has the potential to change future patient-surgeon interactions by offering more personalized and user-friendly encounters. The role of smartphone apps is important to the future of plastic surgery as long as plastic surgeons maintain an active role in the development of these apps to ensure their value.
Dehydrogenative coupling as an efficient route to ferrocene functionalized siloxanes

Abstract Ferrocene grafted siloxanes were prepared in high yields (∼79–97%) via Rh-catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of a series of monomeric, polymeric, and cyclic hydrosiloxanes with ferrocenemethanol. Wilkinson’s catalyst was the most efficient of those surveyed (Karstedt’s catalyst, H 2 PtCl 6 , Co 2 (CO) 8 , 10% Pd/C, 10% Pt/C, 5% Rh/C) with respect to yield and selectivity. Benzene and toluene were better solvents than tetrahydrofuran and methylene chloride.
Unusual ion pairs and their relationship to acid ionization

Osmotic and activity coefficients, determined from isopiestic measurements, are presented for aqueous solutions of eight tetramethylguanidinium salts. It is proposed that both hydronium and tetramethylguanidinium ions are capable of forming stable ion pairs with many anions by means of bridged hydrogens forming six-membered rings and that these ion pairs are stable in rather dilute aqueous solutions.
The Bayesian information criterion: background, derivation, and applications

The Bayesian information criterion BIC is one of the most widely known and pervasively used tools in statistical model selection. Its popularity is derived from its computational simplicity and effective performance in many modeling frameworks, including Bayesian applications where prior distributions may be elusive. The criterion was derived by Schwarz Ann Stat 1978, 6:461-464 to serve as an asymptotic approximation to a transformation of the Bayesian posterior probability of a candidate model. This article reviews the conceptual and theoretical foundations for BIC, and also discusses its properties and applications. WIREs Comput Stat 2012, 4:199-203. doi: 10.1002/wics.199
Multiple crowns fabricated for an existing removable partial denture.

Abstract A technique has been described for the fabrication of multiple crowns beneath an existing removable partial denture.
Promoting family-centered, interprofessional health education through the use of solution focused learning.

(2004). Promoting family-centered, interprofessional health education through the use of solution focused learning. Journal of Interprofessional Care: Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 317-320.
Dutch Disease in the Labor Market: Women, Services, and Industrialization

The light manufacturing export industries have been the gateway to sustained growth in many newly-industrializing countries. Women have played an important role in those industries. This paper presents a theory linking women's work and industrialization. The theory fits the observation that in low-growth developing countries, women mostly work in household services while in higher-growth developing countries, women work in manufacturing. In the model, the existence of a services equilibrium or an industrialization equilibrium, or multiple equilibria depends on an economy's endowment of land relative to labor.
Practitioner Review: Dysphoria and its regulation in child and adolescent depression

Background By emphasizing the importance of emotions, the ‘affect revolution’ in how human behavior is conceptualized has inspired a new generation of studies on dysphoric experience and its regulation in clinical depression, and novel efforts to characterize the precursors of affective disorders in juveniles at familial risk for depression. Method We review clinical, behavioral, and functional neuroimaging studies of dysphoric experience and its regulation in depressed children and adolescents, and in juvenile offspring of parents with histories of clinical depression. We discuss the implication of the literature in the context of maternal depression. Results Findings confirm the high rate of clinically significant dysphoria in depressed children and adolescents and reveal notable affective lability in daily life as a function of context and activity. Findings also show that depressed youngsters have problems in attenuating dysphoria. Similarly, never-depressed offspring at familial risk for depression display problems in mood repair and impaired mood repair mechanisms. Brain neuroimaging findings indicate that, overall, depressed, and high-risk youngsters differ from never depressed controls in neural functioning (activation, connectivity) both at rest and in response to emotion triggers. Conclusion The evaluation of depressed youngsters should include questions about reactivity of dysphoric mood to the changing contexts of daily life and about how they manage (respond to) their own sadness and distress. The resultant information may help the clinician to restructure a young patient's day for the better and identify helpful mood repair responses. Evidence of impaired mood repair mechanisms in youngsters at high-risk for depression suggests the need for early intervention. But interventions must consider that many depressed and high-risk children have depressed mothers, who may be constrained in their ability to help offspring's emotion regulation efforts. To optimize treatment response of offspring, mothers of depressed children should therefore be routinely screened for depression and treated, as warranted.
Internet Based Lab Framework Development for Distance Learning in Robotics and Mechatronics Education

A number of Internet-based educational tools have been developed to support mechanical education with Internet-based technologies. However, many of these tools have limitations as mostly just visual assistant tools for understanding engineering lectures. This paper describes lab framework development integrated with Internet-based robotics and mechatronics for mechanical education. The development efforts include advanced course and laboratory activities integrated with sensor networks and Internet-based technologies. The instructional materials for Internet-based robotics and automation education utilize Robotics and Mechatronics lab as the experiments of choice. The new Internet-based techniques allow the remotely situated students to program, control, and monitor the mechanical operations through the Internet. The architecture of the Internet-based lab focusing on remote data acquisition and measurement, as well as industrial control and automation applications, is illustrated. Implementation of a remote robotic vision feedback control lab is also described.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Calcified scleral plaques imaged on orbital computed tomography

Abstract Purpose: To identify calcified scleral plaques on orbital computed tomography. Methods: We identified all orbital computed tomographic scans at one center from January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1994. Orbital computed tomographic scans of 145 patients were reviewed to determine the presence or absence of the typical appearance of calcified scleral plaques on film. Results: Of the 145 scans reviewed, nine (6.2%) demonstrated calcified scleral plaques. Seven (22.6%) of 31 scans obtained on patients older than 70 years demonstrated calcified scleral plaques. Conclusions: Calcified plaques of the sclera commonly appear on orbital computed tomographic scans, especially in elderly patients. This entity should be included in the differential diagnosis of ocular calcifications. Familiarity with the computed tomographic findings of calcified scleral plaques may help ophthalmologists and radiologists distinguish them from intrascleral metallic foreign bodies.
A novel S-adenosyl-L-methionine:arsenic(III) methyltransferase from rat liver cytosol

S-Adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet):arsenic(III) methyltransferase, purified from liver cytosol of adult male Fischer 344 rats, catalyzes transfer of a methyl group from AdoMet to trivalent arsenicals producing methylated and dimethylated arsenicals. The kinetics of production of methylated arsenicals in reaction mixtures containing enzyme, AdoMet, dithiothreitol, glutathione (GSH), and arsenite are consistent with a scheme in which monomethylated arsenical produced from arsenite is the substrate for a second methylation reaction that yields dimethylated arsenical. The mRNA for this protein predicts a 369-amino acid residue protein (molecular mass 41056) that contains common methyltransferase sequence motifs. Its sequence is similar to Cyt19, a putative methyltransferase, expressed in human and mouse tissues. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction detects S-adenosyl-l-methionine:arsenic(III) methyltransferase mRNA in rat tissues and in HepG2 cells, a human cell line that methylates arsenite and methylarsonous acid. S-Adenosyl-l-methionine:arsenic(III) methyltransferase mRNA is not detected in UROtsa cells, an immortalized human urothelial cell line that does not methylate arsenite. Because methylation of arsenic is a critical feature of its metabolism, characterization of this enzyme will improve our understanding of this metalloid's metabolism and its actions as a toxin and a carcinogen.
On Prototypes and Paradigm Shifts

I agree with the editors of this informative series of articles (Haig & Borsboom, 2008) that the number of articles appearing in recent years questioning basic assumptions about psychosocial measur...
Hydrogen in aluminum

Abstract The introduction of solute hydrogen in high purity aluminum has been studied using a variety of experimental techniques. Very large hydrogen concentrations were introduced by electrochemical charging and by chemical charging. Length change and lattice parameter measurements showed that the hydrogen was trapped at vacancies which entered in a ratio close to C v / C H =1. Small angle X-ray scattering showed that the hydrogen-vacancy complexes clustered into platelets lying on the {111}.
Evaluation of Coincident Passive Microwave Rainfall Estimates Using TRMM PR and Ground Measurements as References

Abstract This study compares instantaneous rainfall estimates provided by the current generation of retrieval algorithms for passive microwave sensors using retrievals from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar (PR) and merged surface radar and gauge measurements over the continental United States as references. The goal is to quantitatively assess surface rain retrievals from cross-track scanning microwave humidity sounders relative to those from conically scanning microwave imagers. The passive microwave sensors included in the study are three operational sounders—the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B) instruments on the NOAA-15, -16, and -17 satellites—and five imagers: the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI), the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) instrument on the Aqua satellite, and the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) instruments on the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F-13, -14, and -15 satellites. The ...
Pre-operative ordering of minimally invasive surgical tools: A fuzzy inference system approach

Objective: With a limited number of access ports, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) often requires the complete removal of one tool and reinsertion of another in order to provide surgeons with the full functionality necessary to complete a procedure. Materials and Methods: Endoscope video from 14 MIS procedures performed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center was used to collect usage statistics for various surgical instruments. This usage data was normalized and input to a fuzzy inference system (FIS) with four membership functions (MFs) to provide a crisp rating value for each instrument. Input membership functions included: number of uses (''Use''), total time used (''Time''), number of changes (''Change'') and time per use (''Ave-Time''). Tools were arranged in a simulated cartridge system based on a ''Usefulness'' output membership function in such a way as to allow easy selection of the next instrument necessary to complete the procedure. Performance was measured by comparing the amount of cartridge indexing needed to complete a procedure using the FIS-generated arrangement against a set of random tool arrangements. Results: The 14 FIS-generated tool arrangements considered in this investigation performed better than 64.11% of randomly generated tool arrangements and as well or better than 80.48% of tool arrangements. Using the FIS in conjunction with a multifunction laparoscopic tool, it is projected that an average cycle savings of 17.75% and 17.39% can be achieved over the mean and median of the random tool arrangements, respectively. Conclusions: For a given set of tools, the FIS used in this investigation provides an efficient method of arranging tools for MIS that performs at least as well or better than simply placing the tool tips into the chambers in a random configuration. This leads to a decrease in operating room time and corresponding decreases in both patient trauma from insertion and removal of tools and monetary cost, which is directly related to the amount of time spent changing instruments.
Edge reclamation in position-sensitive photomultiplier tubes

We have investigated the performance of a position-sensitive, gamma-ray detector based on a CsI(Na) scintillator coupled to a Hamamatsu R3292 Position-Sensitive Photomultiplier Tube (PSPMT). The R3292 has an active area 10.0 cm in diameter (quoted). Utilization of the full active area of the photocathode is a goal that has been previously unrealized due to edge effects. Initial measurements with a 0.75 cm thick CsI(Na) crystal indicate that the performance (position resolution linearity) starts to degrade as one reaches a radius of only 3.5 cm, reducing the active area by 60%. Measuring the anode wires we have found that this fall off is not solely due to crystal edge effects, but rather is inherent to the tube crystal system. In this paper we describe the results of our measurements and how good performance can be maintained across a full 10cm of the tube face through the use of a few additional electronics channels.
Revenue management for outpatient appointments: joint capacity control and overbooking with class-dependent no-shows

Outpatient appointment scheduling balances efficiency with access to healthcare services, yet appointment no-shows, cancellations, and delay are significant barriers to effective healthcare delivery. Patients with longer appointment delay often waste appointments more frequently, prompting a need for greater flexibility in appointment allocation. We present a joint capacity control and overbooking model where a clinic maximizes profits by controlling bookings from two sequential patient classes with different no-show rates. When booking advance requests, the clinic must balance high no-show probability with the probability of subsequent requests at lower waste rates. We show the optimal policy is computationally intensive to derive; therefore, we develop bounds and approximations which we compare via numerical study with the optimal policy as well as policies from practice and previous literature. We find the optimal policy increases profits 17.8% over first-come-first-serve allocation. We develop a simple policy which performs 0.3% below optimal on average. While pure open access can achieve optimality, it performs 23.0% below optimal on average.
Organismal regulation of XBP‐1‐mediated unfolded protein response during development and immune activation

The increased demand on protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) during bacterial infection activates the unfolded protein response (UPR). OCTR-1—a G protein-coupled catecholamine receptor expressed in neurons—suppresses innate immunity by downregulating a non-canonical UPR pathway and the p38 MAPK pathway. Here, we show that OCTR-1 also regulates the canonical UPR pathway, which is controlled by XBP-1, at the organismal level. Importantly, XBP-1 is not under OCTR-1 control during development, only at the adult stage. Our results indicate that the nervous system temporally controls the UPR pathway to maintain ER homeostasis during development and immune activation.
Systematic Continuum Errors in the Lyα Forest and the Measured Temperature–Density Relation

Continuum fitting uncertainties are a major source of error in estimates of the temperature-density relation (usually parameterized as a power-law, T Δγ – 1) of the intergalactic medium through the flux probability distribution function (PDF) of the Lyα forest. Using a simple order-of-magnitude calculation, we show that few percent-level systematic errors in the placement of the quasar continuum due to, e.g., a uniform low-absorption Gunn-Peterson component could lead to errors in γ of the order of unity. This is quantified further using a simple semi-analytic model of the Lyα forest flux PDF. We find that under(over)estimates in the continuum level can lead to a lower (higher) measured value of γ. By fitting models to mock data realizations generated with current observational errors, we find that continuum errors can cause a systematic bias in the estimated temperature-density relation of δ(γ) –0.1, while the error is increased to σγ 0.2 compared to σγ 0.1 in the absence of continuum errors.
A spreadsheet approach to information visualization

In information visualization, as the volume and complexity of the data increases, researchers require more powerful visualization tools that enable them to more effectively explore multidimensional datasets. In this paper, we discuss the general utility of a novelvisualizationspreadsheetframework. Justasa numerical spreadsheetenablesexplorationof numbers,a visualizationspreadsheet enables exploration of visual forms of information. We show that the spreadsheetapproachfacilitates certain information visualization tasks that are more difficult using other approaches. Unlike traditional spreadsheets,which store only simple data elementsand formulasineachcell,avisualizationspreadsheetcellcanholdanentire complex data set, selection criteria, viewing specifications,and other information needed for a full-fledged information visualization. Similarly, inter-cell operations are far more complex, stretching beyond simple arithmetic and string operations to encompassa range of domain-specific operators. We have built two prototype systems that illustrate some of these research issues. The underlying approachin our work allows domain experts to definenew data types and data operations, and enables visualization experts to incorporate new visualizations, viewing parameters, and view operations.
Methods of calculating selected geometrical effects in the design of ICRH antennas

Abstract This paper discusses the effects of realistic antenna geometry on the design and performance of ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) antennas and presents methods to calculate these effects and to modify performance predictions that are based on idealized antenna geometry. It emphasizes the engineering aspects of antenna design, such as the electrical characterization of the antenna for inclusion into the power distribution network, as well as detailed analysis of the Faraday shield structure. The analysis of the Faraday shield includes the calculation of the shield's power transmission and dissipation properties (rf load), its effect on the strap phase velocity and characteristic impedance, and the rf heat distribution for the purpose of thermal analysis. The finite antenna length and its interaction with the recessed cavity and reduced phase velocity are presented in terms of an effective antenna length. Calculation of interstrap coupling with slotted septa separating the straps is presented, including a discussion of the basic trade-offs between directionality, loading, and circuit stability in the case of directional phased arrays for fast wave current drive at ICRH frequencies.
The Value of Financial Statement Verification in Debt Financing: Evidence from Private U.S. Firms

I examine how verification of financial statements influences debt pricing. I use a large proprietary database of privately held U.S. firms, an important business sector in which the information environment is opaque and financial statement audits are not mandated. I find that audited firms have a significantly lower cost of debt and that lenders place more weight on audited financial information in setting the interest rate. Further, I provide evidence of a mechanism for this increased financial statement usefulness: accruals from audited financial statements are better predictors of future cash flows. Collectively, I provide novel evidence that audited financial statements are more informative and that this significantly influences lenders’ decisions.
Primary health care: perspective of the faculty of a department of medicine.

• All full-time faculty in one department of medicine, 66 (85%) of whom are subspecialists, were surveyed to determine standards for provision and attitudes toward the teaching and practice of primary health care (PHC). A 40-item questionnaire on specific attributes of PHC provision was given to 70 eligible faculty members; 66 (94%) responded. Of 17 standards, nine were supported by 50 (75%) or more of the faculty and eight by from 24 (44%) to 48 (73%) faculty members. However, 51 faculty members (77%) indicated some discomfort with primary responsibility for the complete, ongoing care of their patients. Most frequent reasons for this discomfort were clinic inefficiency (31 votes [47%]) and competing commitments (29 votes [44%]). Few faculty indicated they did not enjoy PHC (eight [12%] of the faculty) or considered PHC inappropriate for academic physicians (ten [15%] of the faculty). These results indicate the complexity of faculty attitudes toward PHC and point to a need for departments of medicine to examine their teaching and practice of PHC. ( Arch Intern Med 1982;142:325-329)
Particulate Removal in Microelectronics Manufacturing

The ever-decreasing dimensions of microelectronic components emphasize the need for better cleaning solvents, equipment, and procedures. The fundamentals of particle adhesion to surfaces are discussed, and it is shown that solvents such as mixtures of ethanol or i-propanol with fluorocarbons such as trichloro-trifluoroethane significantly diminish particle-surface adhesion enough to allow removal of particles to the micron-level when used with intense agitation.
Acute toxicity and risk of infection during total skin electron beam therapy for mycosis fungoides

Background Detailed rates of acute toxicity and skin infection during total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) for mycosis fungoides have not been reported in a large, modern series. Objective We sought to demonstrate the rates of acute toxicity and skin infection during TSEBT. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 89 consecutive courses of TSEBT. In all, 82 courses were prescribed a dose of 30 to 36 Gy and were included in the toxicity analysis. We recorded the types and grades of acute treatment toxicities and the incidence of infection during TSEBT for comparison with the previously documented baseline incidence of infection in mycosis fungoides. Results The most common toxicities included erythema/desquamation (76%), blisters (52%), hyperpigmentation (50%), and skin pain (48%). The worst reported toxicity grade per patient was grade 1 in 21%, grade 2 in 67%, and grade 3 in 10%, with no grade 4 or 5 toxicities. According to the previously reported rate, a total of 2.4 infections were expected for our cohort at baseline. The number with skin infection was 26 (32%) (relative risk 10.8, P Limitations This was a retrospective study design. Conclusion The risk of cutaneous infection is significant during TSEBT.
Long-term results of selective partial cystectomy for invasive urothelial bladder carcinoma.

Objectives We reviewed our experience with partial cystectomy to assess local control and survival rates, and to identify pathologic predictors for recurrence. Methods From 1995 to 2005, 25 patients with urothelial carcinoma underwent partial cystectomy with curative intent. As protocol, patients with primary solitary muscle-invasive bladder tumors underwent preoperative localized radiotherapy, administration of a single dose of intravesical chemotherapy at the time of partial cystectomy, and postoperative intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy. We reviewed clinical and pathologic data to identify variables associated with disease recurrence. Results We analyzed data from 25 patient records meeting review criteria (72% male, mean age 65.1 ± 9.8 years). At time of transurethral resection of a bladder tumor (TURBT), all had a solitary primary T2 (68%) or T1HG (32%) lesion with no evidence of carcinoma in situ. At follow-up (mean 45.3 ± 30.7 months), 5-year recurrence-free, disease-specific, and overall survival rates were 64%, 84%, and 70%, respectively. At a mean of 18.0 ± 15.6 months, 8% of patients experienced intravesical non–muscle-invasive tumor recurrences and were treated with TURBT and intravesical chemotherapy. Twenty percent recurred with locally advanced tumors or visceral metastasis and were treated with systemic chemotherapy, local resection or cystectomy, or both. On univariate analysis, only tumor size at time of partial cystectomy (P = .03) was significantly associated with tumor recurrence. Conclusions Partial cystectomy offers adequate control of localized invasive urothelial carcinoma in carefully selected patients with solitary primary tumors. Lifelong follow-up with cystoscopy and abdominal imaging is recommended to detect recurrence.
Energy reduction for STT-RAM using early write termination

The emerging Spin Torque Transfer memory (STT-RAM) is a promising candidate for future on-chip caches due to STT-RAM's high density, low leakage, long endurance and high access speed. However, one of the major challenges of STT-RAM is its high write current, which is disadvantageous when used as an on-chip cache since the dynamic power generated is too high. In this paper, we propose Early Write Termination (EWT), a novel technique to significantly reduce write energy with no performance penalty. EWT can be implemented with low complexity and low energy overhead. Our evaluation shows that up to 80% of write energy reduction can be achieved through EWT, resulting 33% less total energy consumption, and 34% reduction in ED2. These results indicate that EWT is an effective and practical scheme to improve the energy efficiency of a STT-RAM cache.
Use of turkey meal as partial and total replacement of fish meal in practical diets for sunshine bass (Morone chrysops × Morone saxatilis) grown in tanks

Economical, nutritious diets for hybrid striped bass (HSTB) are required for the continued expansion and sustainability of this industry. Turkey meal (TM) is a by-product of the US turkey industry and is a potentially-valuable local, alternative protein source for use in aquaculture diets because of its excellent nutritional composition and quality. TM may substitute for more expensive fish meal (FM)-based diets; however, there are no published data with regard to using this ingredient in sunshine bass diets. Therefore, a 16-week feeding trial was conducted with juvenile (36 g) sunshine bass (Morone chrysops · Morone saxatilis) to evaluate growth, feed conversion and body composition when fed diets with decreasing levels of FM (300, 200, 100 and 0 g kg )1 ) and increasing levels of turkey meal (0, 97, 175 and 264 g kg )1 ). Four practical diets were formulated to contain 400 g kg )1 protein and similar energy levels. Twenty fish were stocked into each of the 12, 1200-L circular tanks and were fed twice daily ad libitum. At the conclusion of the feeding trial, there were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in final mean weight, percentage weight gain, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio among treatments, which averaged 363.7 g, 904.3%, 2.02% day )1 and 1.73, respectively. Percentage survival of fish fed diet 4 (0 g kg )1 FM and 264 g kg )1 TM) was significantly (P > 0.05) lower (survival ¼ 88.3%) than fish fed diet 3 (100 g kg )1 FM and 175 g kg )1 TM; survival ¼ 95%), but not different from fish fed diet 1 (survival ¼ 92.5%) and fish fed diet 2 (survival ¼ 93.3%). Fillet weight and amount of abdominal fat were not significantly different among all treatments and averaged 258 and 58 g kg )1 , respectively. Fish fed diet 1 (300 g kg )1 FM, 0 g kg )1 TM) and diet 2 (200 g kg )1 FM and 970 g kg )1 TM) had a significantly (P 0.05) compared to fish fed diet 3 (3.14). Lipid in the fillet of fish fed diet 2 (197 g kg )1 ) was significantly (P 0.05) compared to fish fed diet 3. Fillet moisture, protein and ash were similar among fish fed all diets and averaged 748, 798 g kg )1 and 51.0 g kg )1 (dry-matter basis), respectively. The amino acid composition of fillets was similar among all treatments with a few slight significant differences. Results from the present study indicate that tankgrown sunshine bass can be fed a diet containing 264 g kg )1 TM with 0 g kg )1 FM, compared to diets containing up to 300 g kg )1 FM, without adverse effects on weight gain,