cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A delta -operator recursive gradient algorithm for adaptive signal processing

The authors investigate how the delta operator can be used in adaptive signal processing and its numerical advantages in identifying LDLF (lightly damped low-frequency) poles. A delta recursive gradient algorithm is developed, and its local convergence speed is analyzed. Computer simulations show drastic improvement in convergence speed over the q-operator-based algorithms for LDLF poles. >
Crooked calf syndrome, a plant‐induced congenital deformity

Inhalt Daβ es sich beim “crooked calf syndrome” um keine erbliche Krankheit handelt, konnte dadurch bewiesen werden, daβ die Nachkommen von Tieren, die diese Veranderungen trugen und die miteinander gepaart wurden, vollig normal waren. Contents The “crooked calf syndrome”, a malformation characterized by arthro-gryposis, torticollis, scoliosis and sometimes by palatoschisis is seen among cows of the western range lands of the U.S.A. Since lupins (mainly L. sericeus and L. caudatus) are present in excessive quantities in these range regions, it was assumed thst this malformation is caused by lupin-alkaloids ingested by cows during gestation. Feeding experiments with dry lupins, lupin extract and sparteine-sulfate—a lupin alkaloid—were conducted over seweral years on pregnant cattle. 29 of the 76 pregnant cows fed in different phases of gestation on dried lupins gave birth to deformed calves while 3 aborted. Feeding with sparteine-sulfate caused minor alterations in one animal. It was also possible to demonstrate that the critical phase, namely the period at whicli feeding with lupins during pregnancy causes severe alterations on the foetus, lies between the 40th and 70th day post fertilization. It was proved that the “crooked calf syndrome” is not a hereditary disease, in that when animals with characteristic- malformations were crossed with each other, the progeny were completely normal.
Glycolmethacrylate is superior to methylmethacrylate for histologic evaluation of biodegradable polymer scaffolds used for vascular tissue engineering

AbstractThe use of autologous arteries or veins is the “gold standard” for cardiovascular bypass grafting to repair congenital defects or diseased vessels. Nonetheless, a limited supply of healthy vessels for harvest necessitates the use of alternative graft materials. Biodegradable, tissue-engineering scaffolds offer much promise as a grafting material. However, to fully evaluate the efficacy of these scaffolds, multiple analyses must be performed, including histological evaluation. Routine processing and embedding in paraffin may not adequately infiltrate and support biodegradable scaffolds; therefore, alternate processing methods, such as plastic embedding, must be considered to produce high-quality histological sections. Here, we compare two methods for embedding scaffolds in plastic, using either glycolmethacrylate or methylmethacrylate. Overall, we found that glycolmethacrylate embedding and associated processing techniques were clearly superior to methylmethacrylate procedures as illustrated by int...
Outcomes analysis of 64 consecutive open pediatric renal and upper ureteral operations

Abstract Objectives. To report a recent consecutive series of children undergoing open renal and upper ureteral surgery that was analyzed for outcomes, particularly morbidity and length of stay. Methods. A total of 64 children underwent open renal or upper ureteral surgery using an upper abdominal retroperitoneal approach. Results. The mean operation time was 206 minutes, with a mean estimated blood loss of 20 mL. The mean analgesic dosage during the in-house postoperative period was 2.9 doses. The mean length of stay was 21.3 hours. A single complication occurred. One patient had a postoperative temperature of 38.6°C, which was attributed to a pulmonary causation. Conclusions. For now, open surgery remains the standard approach for pediatric renal and upper ureteral anomalies and diseases with an expected postoperative result and course similar to that of laparoscopically performed procedures.
Acoustic Wave Filters; an Extension of the Theory

Extension of theory of acoustic wave filters to high frequencies.---In the simple form of acoustic wave filter theory already published, the wave-length was assumed long in comparison with the length of a section of the conduit. Experimentally additional bands appeared at higher frequencies and these are now discussed. Advantage is taken of the recurrence at higher frequencies of the vanishing of the acoustic impedance of a section of the conduit, and approximate values of the components of this impedance are established for the neighboring region of frequencies. Formulas for low-pass and single-band-pass filters, using these values, are found to give the experimental cutoffs of the additional bands with satisfactory accuracy. By appropriate design an additional band can be made practically to disappear. Tables showing agreement of experiment with theory are given. The theory is thus extended to higher frequencies but not to those for which additional resonance frequencies of the branches occur.
Efficacy of polyglycolic acid (PGA) tubing stents in ureteroureterostomies

Polyglycolic acid (PGA) tube stented, silastic stented and non-stented anastomoses were compared in 18 ureteroureterostomies performed in 13 dogs. Urinalysis, urine culture, BUN and serum creatinine and intravenous pyelograms were done periodically from 1 day to 6 months postoperatively and ureteral dynamics were performed at 6 months. Normal intravenous pyelograms were observed following 10 of 11 PGA stented, 3 of 4 silastic stented and 2 of 3 unstented anastomoses. PGA stents prevented extravasation and dissolved within 7 days without stone formation. Urodynamic and histopathologic studies revealed no significant differences among the 3 groups. The data suggest that PGA stents are as effective as silastic stents and do not require additional procedures for removal.
An electron microscopic study of developing chick skin.

Changes that take place in the skin of the chick embryo from day 6 to day 18 of development have been studied by histochemical techniques and electron microscopy. On day 6, the embryo is covered by an epithelium that consists of one layer of columnar basal cells and one layer of flattened superficial cells. As the embryo develops, the superficial cells give rise to a bilayered periderm, the cells of which contain characteristic mesh-like granules and large accumulations of glycogen. The granules, which may be several microns in diameter, seem to be formed of interlaced strands composed of particles with a diameter of 60–80 A. By day 17 or 18, the periderm disintegrates and is sloughed off. The columnar basal cells of the covering epithelium give rise to the epidermis. By day 17 of development multigranular bodies and keratohyalin granules are present in the epidermal cells. The multigranular bodies (diameter 1000–5000 A), which contain small laminated granules, are characteristic components of chick epidermis. The keratohyalin granules are small (diameter μ ) and are composed of filaments and an amorphous matrix. By day 17, the first layers of the stratum corneum are formed and the epidermis has acquired its adult structure. A lamella that consists of 20 or more orthogonally arranged plies of collagenous fibers is formed in the dermis by day 17 of development.
The therapeutic potential of lactoferrin

Lactoferrin (Lf), a natural defence iron-binding protein, is present in exocrine secretions that are commonly exposed to normal flora: milk, tears, nasal exudate, saliva, bronchial mucus, gastrointestinal fluids, cervicovaginal mucus and seminal fluid. Additionally, Lf is produced in polymorphonuclear leukocytes and is deposited by these circulating cells in septic sites. A principal function of Lf is that of scavenging non-protein-bound iron in body fluids and inflamed areas so as to suppress free radical-mediated damage and decrease accessibility of the metal to invading bacterial, fungal and neoplastic cells. Adequate sources of bovine and recombinant human Lf are now available for development of commercial applications. Among the latter are use of Lf in food preservation, fish farming, infant milk formula and oral hygiene. Other readily accessible body compartments for Lf administration include skin, throat and small intestine. Further research is needed for possible medicinal use in colon and systemi...
Expiration rate drives human airway design.

Abstract Analyses of human airway architecture based on calculations of airflow resistance or energy dissipation suggest that the branching pattern is not optimized for minimizing energy loss by flow dissipation during respiration. Airway flow dissipates only a few percent of the total body work during normal breathing, so branching patterns deviate from minimum energy loss to also optimize other physiological needs. Studies of airway performance often record some measure of expiration, such as FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s), because airway constriction during expiration limits the rate of rapid respiration. We posit that lung structure is optimized for the rate of expiration as well as minimum energy loss. By increasing the daughter-to-parent airway diameter ratio (h) from 0.794 (corresponding to the energy minimum for symmetrically branching airways) to 0.85 (the observed value in humans) luminal pressures at airway generations 4–15 were substantially increased during exercise (a 4.5 and 15 cmH2O increase during moderate and heavy exercise, respectively). Values of h somewhat larger than 0.794 help airways remain open during expiration by increasing both viscous pressure drop and convective acceleration pressure drop. Asymmetric bifurcations also exhibit higher proximal airway pressures than symmetric ones, but the improvement was not large.
Neuroligin expressed in nonneuronal cells triggers presynaptic development in contacting axons

Most neurons form synapses exclusively with other neurons, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms mediating synaptogenesis in the central nervous system. Using an in vitro system, we demonstrate that neuroligin-1 and -2, postsynaptically localized proteins, can trigger the de novo formation of presynaptic structure. Nonneuronal cells engineered to express neuroligins induce morphological and functional presynaptic differentiation in contacting axons. This activity can be inhibited by addition of a soluble version of beta-neurexin, a receptor for neuroligin. Furthermore, addition of soluble beta-neurexin to a coculture of defined pre- and postsynaptic CNS neurons inhibits synaptic vesicle clustering in axons contacting target neurons. Our results suggest that neuroligins are part of the machinery employed during the formation and remodeling of CNS synapses.
Selection bias in "Prognostic impact of staged versus 'one-time' multivessel percutaneous intervention in acute myocardial infarction".

Kornowski et al. ([1][1]) should be commended for attempting to validate the current guidelines regarding staged versus “one-time” stenting in the setting of an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Their recent article in the Journal was a prespecified secondary analysis of the
BMI : a poor surrogate for diet and exercise in assessing risk of death

The surprising finding by Flegal et al. that overweight (25BMI<30) Americans live longer than those of 'normal' weight (18.5<BMI<25)1 calls for a reassessment of the premise underlying the results and interpretation of the data presented. In a much quoted article, 'Actual Causes of Death,' Mokdad et al.2 estimated that 'poor diet and physical inactivity' account for 400 000 US deaths (16.6%) annually. Their article states, 'Overweight would account for the major impact of poor diet and physical inactivity on mortality.3 Diet may have a minor additional effect on mortality mainly from lack of certain essential nutrients'.4, 5 This commentary will dispute the equating of overweight and obesity with poor diet and physical inactivity – the basis of the recent finding that overweight people live longer than normal weight people.
Quantum chemical calculations on structural models of the catalytic site of chymotrypsin: comparison of calculated results with experimental data from NMR spectroscopy.

Hybrid density functional quantum mechanical calculations were used to study the strength of the hydrogen bond between His57 Nδ1 and Asp102 Oδ1 in chymotrypsin and how it changes along the reaction coordinate. Comparison of experimental shifts with the results of chemical shift calculations on a variety of small molecules, including species containing very strong hydrogen bonds, has validated the overall approach and provided the means for calibrating and correcting the calculated values. Models of the active site of chymotrypsin in its resting state and tetrahedral intermediate state were derived from high-resolution X-ray structures. The distance between His57 Nδ1 and Asp102 Oδ1 in each model was varied between 2.77 A (weak hydrogen bond) and 2.50 A (extremely strong hydrogen bond), and the one-dimensional potential energy surface of the hydrogen-bonded proton (or deuteron/triton) was determined. The zero-point energy, probability distribution, and chemical shift were determined for each distance. Calcu...
Mudrock‐dominated fills formed in avulsion splay channels: examples from the Willwood Formation, Wyoming

Mudrock-dominated channel fills are common features of the fluvial Palaeogene Willwood Formation of Wyoming. These fills are small, on average 30 m wide and 3 m deep, and they vary from simple plugs to more lithologically complex fills with internal scour surfaces. Some fills preserve plant material, and others show pedogenic modification. All fills are located within metre-thick intervals of weakly pedogenically modified mudstones that surround ribbon sandstones. The intervals have previously been attributed to channel avulsion; the fine-grained channel fills are interpreted as crevassesplay feeder channels within these avulsion deposits.Variation in fill type, particularly the presence of pedogenic features, appears to be related to floodplain drainage. Possible factors that influenced drainage were basin position of the fills and Palaeogene climate fluctuations, although the role of either is not unequivocal. In general, channel fills with sombre colours and preserved plant detritus, indicating poorly drained conditions, dominate locations that were proximal to the Palaeogene basin axes. Fills that contain root traces, red and yellow-brown matrix colours and mottling, which indicate pedogenic modification and episodic subaerial exposure of the sediment, dominate locations that were more distal to the Palaeogene basin axes. Eocene climate fluctuations, particularly episodes of global warming, may have been a secondary control on the kind of fill that developed. Mudrock-dominated channel fills have not been described previously from ancient avulsion deposits. Their common presence in the Willwood Formation suggests that they are a typical component of avulsion belts and that similar channel fills in other stratigraphic units should be considered with regard to channel avulsion. The variety of fills observed in the Willwood Formation indicates that avulsion belt channels can experience very different fill histories. The descriptive details of fills provided here should help in their recognition elsewhere. In addition, the nature of the channel fill provides important information on ancient drainage conditions in the avulsion belt. Pedogenically modified channel fills have been recognized only rarely from the stratigraphic record. Their presence throughout the Willwood Formation suggests that they should exist in other alluvial successions and may have been overlooked previously. They indicate that periods of sediment exposure alternated with episodic influxes of water and sediment in an active avulsion
RECOVERY OF A HOT SPRING COMMUNITY FROM A CATASTROPHE

The algal mats of a number of hot springs in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park were destroyed by a brief violent hailstorm on August 30, 1967. The rate of recovery of the algal mat at Mushroom Spring was studied by quantitative methods. In the temperature range of 65-71 C a unicellular cyanophycean alga is the sole photosynthetic component. The doubling times during the recovery period for three stations were: Station I (71 C), 17 days; station II (68 C), 10.5 days; station III (65 C), 10 days. The algal mat had returned to apparently normal size by 152 days after the catastrophe. The significance of these observations for the conservation of hot spring communities is discussed.
Social Movement Radicalization: the Case of the People's Democracy in Northern Ireland*

Most of existing literature assumes that social movement organizations will inevitably become more ideologically and tactically conservative over time. This paper presents a couterargument to this ...
Phosphohistidine is found in basic nuclear proteins of Physarum polycephalum

Abstract Nuclear extracts of the true slime mold, Physarum polycephalum, show protein histidine kinase activity towards exogenous histones [(1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 16106–16113]. Physarum microplasmodia were labeled with [32P]phosphate in vivo and two basic proteins containing alkali-stable phosphate were detected. The labeled proteins comigrated with Physarum histones H1 (approximately) and H2A and phosphoamino acid analysis showed that each protein contained [32P]phosphohistidine. The H2A-like protein was also labeled in isolated nuclei incubated with [35S]thio-ATP. We conclude that some Physarum nuclear proteins contain phosphohistidine.
A RIE process for submicron, silicon electromechanical structures

A reactive ion etching (RIE) process is used for the fabrication of submicron, movable single-crystal silicon (SCS) mechanical structures and capacitor actuators. The process is called SCREAM for single crystal reactive etching and metallization process. The RIE process gives excellent control of lateral dimensions (0.2 mu m approximately 2 mu m) while maintaining a large vertical depth (1 mu m approximately 4 mu m) for the formation of high aspect ratio, freely suspended SCS structures. The silicon etch processes are independent of crystal orientation and produce controllable vertical profiles. The process also incorporates process steps to form vertical, 4 mu m deep, aluminum, capacitor actuators. Using SCREAM, the authors have designed, fabricated and tested two-dimensional x-y microstages and circular SCS structures. For the x-y stage they measured a maximum displacement of +or-6 mu m in x and y with 40 V DC applied to either x or y, or both x and y actuators. The process technology offers the capability to use a structural stiffness as low as 10-2 N m-1.
How the work of adhesion affects the mechanical properties of silica-filled polymer composites

An equation correlating work of adhesion (W a) with Young's modulus and tensile strength of silica-filled polymer composites is derived. It shows that the logarithms of Young's modulus and tensile strength are inversely proportional to W a. Fourier transform infrared (FT. i.r.) results of the composites show that the silica interphase thickness increases with increased W a h values (the hydrogen bond component of W a). The logarithmic correlation between interphase thickness and W a is similar to that found for both Young's modulus and tensile strength. These similarities suggest that W a can be used to quantify interfacial bonding. Our study further shows that the composite with the lowest W a value follows the Guth-Smallwood equation for predicting Young's modulus. However, as the interphase layer becomes thicker (increased W a value), Young's modulus increases more than predicted from the Guth-Smallwood equation. Thus, an extension of the Guth-Smallwood equation is introduced to account for the effect of W a on the Young's modulus value.
Adrenal steroid-induced changes in ß-adrenergic receptor binding in rat hippocampus

Abstract Bilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of the dorsal noradrenergic bundle have been shown to increase [3H]dihydroalprenolol (DHA) binding in the rat hippocampus. The effect of adrenalectomy on this increase in receptor binding was examined. Groups of rats received stereotaxically placed 6-OHDA injections aimed at the dorsal bundle (DB) or vehicle injections (control). Half of each group subsequently received bilateral adrenolectomies (ADX) and the other half received sham operations, yielding four groups: control, DB, ADX, and DB + ADX. The DB lesions produced a 41% increase in maximum binding in close agreement with a previous report. No statistically significant change in [3H]DHA receptor binding was observed following adrenalectomy treatment alone. By contrast, the DB + ADX group showed a significant increase in maximum [3H]DHA receptor binding compared to the DB group. This adrenalectomy-induced increase was reversed after 1 week of corticosterone treatment (1.0 mg/kg/12 h, s.c.). These results suggest and interaction between noradrenergic mechanism and corticosterone in the hippocampus.
Geotechnical Issues in Deep and Ultra Deep Waters

The oil industrys success in finding hydrocarbons in deep water has led to a number of important economic and technical challenges involving, among others, new drilling procedures, new structural c...
Mechanical and Physical Properties Of Suiting Fabrics That Affect Seam Head Size In Enclosed Seams

Bending of fabric is a low-stress mode of fabric deformation that makes apparel construction possible and is influenced by fiber, yarn, and fabric properties. Gar ment sections are sewn on designated stitching lines, but for enclosed seams, where all fabric layers bend in one direction, a seam head forms between the line of stitching and the fold of fabric and distortion occurs. This research investi gated the effects of flexural rigidity, fiber content, thickness, and grain on seam head size in woven suiting fabrics. Seam heads were measured by photographing the cross sections of the enclosed seams. Flexural rigidity had a correlation coef ficient of 0.940 to seam head size. Fiber and thickness had statistically significant effects, and there was a significant interaction between fiber and grain on seam head size. Thickness, fiber, and grain are easily assessed and can be used to predict fabric behavior in enclosed seams.
Extinction Responding as a Function of the Schedule of Secondary Reinforcement during Extinction

Recent studies of secondary reinforcement (Myers, 1958) emphasize the importance of schedule variables, with regard to "pairing" of conditioned and unconditioned reinforcers and to the administration of conditioned reinforcers during extinction. The usual account of these effects associates the conditioned reinforcing potential of a previously neutral stimulus with its acquired discriminative function for subsequent responses and assumes that the effect of such a stimulus during extinction exhibits the depletion of its acquired reinforcing potential (Skinner, 1738; Schoenfeld, et al., 1950; Dinsmoor, 1950; Notterman, 1950; Wyckoff, 1959). Although this account does not necessarily imply that higher frequencies of secondary reinforcement during extinction should lead to greater resistance to extinction, it has been so interpreted in some quarters, and recently several alternative or supplementary hypotheses have been offered (e.g., Bitterman, et al., 1753; Melching, 1954; Marx, 1958). Comparison of data in this area is impeded by the variety of organisms, reinforcers, and experimental situations employed. Thus, the experiments of Bitterman, et al., ( 1953), Melching ( 1754), and Marx (1958) appear to yield conflicting results regarding the relations berween secondary reinforcement frequency during extinction and resistance to extinction. Further, typical procedures have involved training with one or more schedules of "pairing" followed by extinction with, at most, two schedules of secondary reinforcement for each uaining schedule. In these cases predictions of the direction of a difference in extinction responding are based on only two data points. The present experiment was designed to obtain extinction data from human Ss under three schedules of secondary reinforcement following a common training procedure, and in a situation relevant to the hypotheses of Bitterman, Melching, and others, as well as to the account of secondary reinforcement in terms of discriminative effects.
Stress granules, P-bodies and cancer

Cancer cells are exposed to adverse conditions in the tumor microenvironment, and utilize post-transcriptional control mechanisms to re-program gene expression in ways that enhance cell survival. Stress granules and processing bodies are RNA-containing granules that contribute to this process by modulating cellular signaling pathways, metabolic machinery, and stress response programs. This review examines evidence implicating RNA granules in the pathogenesis of cancer and discusses their potential as targets for anticancer therapies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Translation and Cancer.
A thermally activated model for room temperature creep in nanocrystalline Au films at intermediate stresses

Uniaxial tension creep experiments conducted on free-standing nanocrystalline Au films with 40 nm grain size showed high initial primary creep rates of 3.3 × 10−8–2.7 × 10−7 s−1, reaching steady-state creep rates of 5.5 × 10−9–1.1 × 10−8 s−1 after 5–6 h. The isochronous creep curves pointed to the need for a nonlinear creep model based on the kinetics of thermal activation, which captured well the effect of applied stress amplitude. The implications of this model on the long term stability of nanocrystalline films were explored numerically for periodic stress profiles.
Proof of a fuzzy regular language theorem by using level sets ― A note

Fuzzy languages and level sets are defined and illustrated by examples. Properties of level sets are presented. A fuzzy regular language theorem may be proved through the use of the properties of level sets. Level sets offer what appears to be a useful tool in theorem proving in fuzzy languages, pictorial databases, natural language translation and processing, and many others. Through the use of level sets, results obtained in formal languages may be used in fuzzy languages and related areas.
Experimental and Numerical Study of Microwave Thawing Heat Transfer for Food Materials

A combined experimental and numerical study of microwave thawing of a food analog material is reported. The objective of this study is to determine thawing histories and temperature profiles for cylindrically shaped samples. Microwave thawing experiments of samples with different aspect ratios were performed to collect time-temperature data for various power levels. These measured thawing times were utilized in a comparative analysis with the numerical predictions. The heat transfer phenomena due to the interaction between phase change and heat generation was analyzed. A two-dimensional mathematical model was developed to deal with the complicated thawing process, which includes the frozen, mushy, and thawed phases, and the evaporation of water. The present study is anticipated to form a fundamental understanding of the interactions between microwave irradiation and phase-change heat transfer.
Predicted and Observed Activity Patterns in Campus Settings

In this study a time-sharing computer was used to obtain student predictions of the behavioral activities of others in familiar campus settings. Results were then compared with actual on-site observations of the same activities. Students accurately predicted the relative frequencies of different activities but overestimated absolute frequencies. Since predictions and observations were linearly related, however, it is possible to secure accurate behavioral information without incurring the procedural costs associated with direct observation.
Dehydrodolichyl diphosphate synthetase from rat seminiferous tubules

Abstract Homogenates of seminiferous tubules from rat testes catalyzed the incorporation of label from [14C]isopentenyl diphosphate into a variety of polyprenyl products. Long chain polyprenyl mono- and diphosphates were formed as major products when undesirable side reactions were minimized. The long chain polyprenyl diphosphate synthetase was measured as a sum of the mono- and diphosphate derivatives formed and was dependent on the addition of t,t-farnesyl diphosphate, isopentenyl diphosphate, and divalent cation. The highest activity was associated with the membranous fractions, whereas activity was negligible in the cytosolic fraction. The products of this prenyl transferase were labile to acid and yielded petroleum ether soluble products which indicated that the α-isoprene unit was unsaturated. Hydrolysis of either the polyprenyl mono-or diphosphates with a testicular phosphatase in the absence of NaF yielded C75, C80, C85, and C90 polyprenols. The chain lengths of the products of the synthetase suggest that this enzyme is responsible for the de novo biosynthesis of dehydrodolichyl diphosphates which are precursors of the dolichyl derivatives found in testes.
Cell-to-Cell and Long-Distance Transport of Viruses in Plants.

The idea that viruses move through plants in two distinct modes was accurately concluded by G. Samuel in a 1934 paper describing the transport of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) through solanaceous hosts: “lt is considered that these facts favour the theory of a slow cell to cell movement of the virus via the plasmodesmen, combined with a rapid distribution through the plant via the phloem” (Samuel, 1934). It is now firmly established that plant viruses move from cell to cell and over long distances by exploiting and modifying preexisting pathways for macromolecular movement within cells, between cells, and between organs. In this review, we focus on the roles of vira1 and host components in the movement of viruses through these pathways. Exhaustive coverage of all aspects of movement is not possible, but the reader is referred to several excellent reviews that emphasize various facets of shortand long-range virus transport (Atabekov and Taliansky, 1990; Maule, 1991; Deom et al., 1992; Citovsky, 1993; Leisner and Turgeon, 1993; Lucas and Gilbertson, 1994; Lucas, 1995).
Intensive Case Management for Victims of Stalking: A Pilot Test Evaluation

This mixed-method study evaluated the early development and pilot testing of Project IMPACT, an intensive case-management intervention for victims of stalking that incorporates victim-centered crisis intervention, advocacy, and multiagency service coordination. The sample includes all 36 clients who participated in the project, as well as the victim advocates who provided them with services. Results show that most clients noted an improved sense of well-being and safety; yet, numerous clients still experienced residual symptoms of trauma and had unsatisfactory interactions with the criminal and civil justice systems. Recommendations are made to further refine, develop, and evaluate the intervention. [Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 4:323‐341 (2004)]
Multivariate Control Charts for Individual Observations

When p correlated process characteristics are being measured simultaneously, often individual observations are initially collected. The process data are monitored and special causes of variation are identified in order to establish control and to obtain..
International Leverage on Soviet Domestic Change

Conventional wisdom holds that the success of Gorbachev's domestic reforms would probably enhance Western security, but that there is nothing the West can do to make this outcome more likely. This conventional wisdom is right on the first count, but wrong on the second. The author supports his conclusion by three bodies of evidence: the effect of the international environment on the domestic politics of great powers in general over the past century; the history of the Soviet Union in particular; and the current constellation of political forces in Gorbachev's Russia.
Predictive model for intra-operative blood loss at initial excision and grafting in adult burn patients

METHODS: Operative records of patients from March 2003 to December 2005, between the ages of 18 and 55 were reviewed. Patients who received intraoperative transfusion of at least one unit PRBC were selected. Using multivariate linear regression analysis a predictive model was established based on the burn excision size, sex and pre-operative hematocrit. Subsequently, patients from May 2005December 2005 who received intraoperative transfusion of at least one unit PRBC were used to validate the model. Coagulopathic patients (INR 1.5) were excluded.
A Low-Power Imager and Compression Algorithms for a Brain-Machine Visual Prosthesis for the Blind

We present a synchronous time-based dual-threshold imager that experimentally achieves 95.5 dB dynamic range, while consuming 1.79 nJ/pixel/frame, making it one of the most wide-dynamic-range energy-efficient imagers reported. The imager has 150×256 pixels, with a pixel pitch of 12.5μm × 12.5μm and a fill factor of 42.7%. The imager is intended for use in a brain-machine visual prosthesis for the blind where energy efficiency and power are of paramount importance. Such prostheses will also need to convey visual information to patients with relatively few electrodes and in a manner that minimizes electrode interactions, just as cochlear implants have accomplished for deaf subjects. To achieve these goals, we present a strategy that compresses visual information into the basis coefficients of a few image kernels that encode enough information to provide reasonably good image reconstruction with 60 electrodes. The strategy also uses time-multiplexed stimulation of electrodes to minimize channel interactions like the continuous interleaved sampling (CIS) strategy used in cochlear implants. Some of the image kernels that we employ are similar to the receptive fields observed in biology and may thus be natural to learn, just as cochlear-implant subjects have learned to reconstruct sound from a few filter basis coefficients.
Canonical forms on discrete linear periodically time-varying systems and a control application

Canonical forms for discrete linear N-periodically time-varying (LP) completely reachable systems x(k)=A/sub k/x(k)+B/sub k/u(k) and y(k)=C/sub k/x(k)+D/sub k/u(k) that generalize the linear time-invariant (LTI) case are presented. The derivation is first accomplished through an LTI-quadruple equivalent to a 4N-tuple (A/sub k/, B/sub k/, C/sub k/, D/sub k/), for k=0, 1, . . ., N-1. This LTI system is revealed to be a subcomponent in a decomposition of a given discrete LP system represented by the 4N-tuple. An application of the canonical forms is demonstrated for a control problem, the eigenvalue assignment of the monodromy matrix. >
Exploiting ontology graph for predicting sparsely annotated gene function.

Motivation: Systematically predicting gene (or protein) function based on molecular interaction networks has become an important tool in refining and enhancing the existing annotation catalogs, such as the Gene Ontology (GO) database. However, functional labels with only a few (<10) annotated genes, which constitute about half of the GO terms in yeast, mouse and human, pose a unique challenge in that any prediction algorithm that independently considers each label faces a paucity of information and thus is prone to capture non-generalizable patterns in the data, resulting in poor predictive performance. There exist a variety of algorithms for function prediction, but none properly address this ‘overfitting’ issue of sparsely annotated functions, or do so in a manner scalable to tens of thousands of functions in the human catalog. Results: We propose a novel function prediction algorithm, clusDCA, which transfers information between similar functional labels to alleviate the overfitting problem for sparsely annotated functions. Our method is scalable to datasets with a large number of annotations. In a cross-validation experiment in yeast, mouse and human, our method greatly outperformed previous state-of-the-art function prediction algorithms in predicting sparsely annotated functions, without sacrificing the performance on labels with sufficient information. Furthermore, we show that our method can accurately predict genes that will be assigned a functional label that has no known annotations, based only on the ontology graph structure and genes associated with other labels, which further suggests that our method effectively utilizes the similarity between gene functions. Availability and implementation: https://github.com/wangshenguiuc/clusDCA. Contact: ude.sionilli@gnepnaij Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Performing the Event of Understanding in Hermeneutic Conversations With Narrative Texts

The purpose of this article is to understand and explore the transformational potential of engaging with narrative texts in the context of research interviewing. Drawing from the hermeneutic philosophies of Heidegger, Gadamer, and Ricoeur, the process of understanding is described and framed within a specific kind of dialogue with the world: the hermeneutical. What this kind of dialogue might look like in practice is explored using examples of participant responses to texts in the context of interviews on parental involvement. The implications for research are then discussed.
Liposomal or Nanoparticle α-TEA Reduced 66cl-4 Murine Mammary Cancer Burden and Metastasis

Efficacy of alpha-TEA formulated in liposome or biodegradable poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticle was evaluated in a BALB/c clone 66cl-4 mammary cancer mouse model using oral delivery. alpha-TEA-loaded liposome or nanoparticle at 5 mg, but not 2.5 mg/day, significantly reduced tumor burden (p < 0.001). Both formulations at 5 mg significantly reduced visible lung metastases and lymph node and lung micrometastatic tumor foci. Surprisingly, nanoparticle control mice exhibited significantly reduced tumor burden, lymph node, and lung micrometastatic tumor foci. Both formulations at 5 mg significantly enhanced tumor apoptosis. In summary, liposomes and nanoparticles are effective means for administering the lipophilic anticancer drug alpha-TEA.
The aging musculoskeletal system and obesity-related considerations with exercise

Advancing age and adiposity contribute to musculoskeletal degenerative diseases and the development of sarcopenic obesity. The etiology of muscle loss is multifactorial, and includes inflammation, oxidative stress and hormonal changes, and is worsened by activity avoidance due to fear of pain. The risk for mobility disability and functional impairment rises with severity of obesity in the older adult. Performance measures of walking distance, walking speed, chair rise, stair climb, body transfers and ability to navigate obstacles on a course are adversely affected in this population, and this reflects decline in daily physical functioning. Exercise training is an ideal intervention to counteract the effects of aging and obesity. The 18 randomized controlled trials of exercise studies with or without diet components reviewed here indicate that 3-18 month programs that included aerobic and strengthening exercise (2-3 days per week) with caloric restriction (typically 750 kcal deficit/day), induced the greatest change in functional performance measures compared with exercise or diet alone. Importantly, resistance exercise attenuates muscle mass loss with the interventions. These interventions can also combat factors that invoke sarcopenia, including inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance. Therefore, regular multimodal exercise coupled with diet appears to be very effective for counteracting sarocpenic obesity and improving mobility and function in the older, obese adult.
Impact of Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Kidney Disease, and Anemia on Survival in the Medicare Population

Abstract Background Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a common clinical problem in the elderly, yet few studies have focused on this population. In addition, information on mortality rates conferred by chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anemia in elderly patients with CHF is lacking. Methods and results A cohort of 1,136,201 patients in the 5% Medicare database, excluding those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), was identified for a 2-year period (1996–1997). Subgroups with CHF, CKD, and anemia were identified. The effect of each disease as an independent predictor of mortality was examined in a comorbidity-adjusted Cox model, with patients followed for 2 years and censored for death or ESRD. In the study population, 61% were women; 89% were white and 7% were black. Mean ±SD age was 76.5 ± 6.9 years. The annual mortality rate for patients with no CHF, CKD, or anemia was 4%. Anemia was associated with an annual mortality of 8%, which was the same as CKD (8%). The annual mortality for CHF was 13%. The highest annual mortality was found in patients with all 3 comorbid conditions; mortality in these patients was 23%. Conclusions Elderly CHF patients are at high risk of death; this risk is magnified in the presence of CKD and anemia.
Intravascular shunts in complex lower limb trauma.

Abstract Vascular injuries of the lower limb in the presence of extensive soft tissue loss, fractures, or other life-threatening injuries are associated with a high amputation rate. Five patients underwent temporary intravascular shunting during the period of treatment of such injuries. Rapid reperfusion of the limb via such shunts permitted more comprehensive evaluation and management of the lower limb and other associated injuries than would have been possible in the presence of prolonged ischemia. (J VASC SURG 1986;4:582-7.)
Experiences of Self-Esteem in Outpatients Diagnosed With Psychosis : A Phenomenological Study

The aim of the article is explore the meaning of self-esteem for individuals with psychotic disorders. To understand how individuals with psychosis experience self-esteem, eight participants (four females and four males) were interviewed using a semistructured open-ended format with scripted questions. Individuals with psychotic disorders maintained a sense of self by pursuing social and interpersonal activities that sustained and enhanced their self-esteem. Neither the positive symptoms nor the negative symptoms commonly associated with psychotic disorders appeared to diminish self-esteem. Also, participants did not describe their sense of self-esteem as being contingent on, or as a direct function of, having a psychotic disorder. For the individuals in this pilot study, self-esteem did not appear to be affected by having a psychotic disorder or by the stigma associated with having been given such a diagnosis. Individuals were able to engage in and maintain social and interpersonal relationships that con...
DNA barcodes and molecular diagnostics to distinguish an introduced and native Laricobius (Coleoptera: Derodontidae) species in eastern North America

Molecular diagnostics based on DNA barcodes can be powerful identification tools in the absence of distinctive morphological characters for distinguishing between closely related species. A specific example is distinguishing the endemic species Laricobius rubidus from Laricobius nigrinus, a biological control agent of hemlock woolly adelgid introduced into the eastern United States. This is especially important because their larvae are morphologically similar and are often collected together in stands where pines and hemlock grow together. Diagnostic nucleotide differences to distinguish species were determined using 157 L. nigrinus and 205 L. rubidus cytochrome oxidase I (COI) barcode DNA sequences. Two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were developed: PCR followed by restriction length polymorphism (RFLP) and real-time PCR (qPCR) based on hydrolysis probes. The qPCR assay had limited success when applied to L. nigrinus originating from inland vs. coastal populations in the western United States. PCR–RFLP was successful, regardless of sample origin. These two species-specific assays provide a choice of diagnostic tools to best match the available lab equipment and management objectives for those using L. nigrinus as a biological control agent.
Performance evaluation of a multimedia local ATM network (MLAN) protocol

The authors present the performance evaluation of a multimedia local ATM network (MLAN) protocol for a bidirectional broadcast bus system topology, which was designed earlier and presented in MILCOM '92. The main feature of the MLAN protocol is its ability to handle multiclass, multirate and multigrade traffic efficiently. A new polling inactive customer only (PICO) reservation technique used in this protocol exploits the characteristics of multimedia traffic to minimize the overhead due to the channel access process, which could be zero when all the terminals on the bus are active. The MLAN protocol performance has been determined by computer simulation using a multimedia traffic model. The traffic model contained four classes of traffic, each class with multiple rates and/or bursty arrivals. Throughput of 94, 91 and 88 were obtained for one composition of traffic for bus lengths of 1, 2 and 3 Km, respectively, at bus speed of 150 Mbps. Based on these results, the protocol is seen to be well suited for a multimedia ATM LAN at 50 to 150 Mbps signal rates and 1-3 Km bus lengths. >
An Action Research Project on Preparing Teachers to Meet the Needs of Underserved Student Populations

The focus of this action research study was on the initial stage in reforming our teacher preparation programs. We designed, conducted, evaluated, and revised the components of our teacher preparation programs that were aimed at providing preservice teachers with the confidence and knowledge needed to meet the needs of youth populations underserved in science education. The conceptual framework of this study predicted that providing preservice teachers with experiences in teaching science to at-risk youth in a nonformal educational setting and that exploring these experiences in a seminar setting will increase the teachers’ confidence and knowledge in regard to teaching science to children from underserved populations. The community-based experience allowed for an experience in which 20 preservice teachers taught in a situation in which at-risk youth were the majority, thus spotlighting their needs in a manner traditionally not experienced by these prospective teachers. A two-phase methodological design (J. Creswell, 1994) was utilized to answer the questions: (a) Did the plan lead to the desired outcomes? and (b) What strategies fostered or hindered progress toward the desired outcomes? The findings of this study were utilized to develop our next action step in preparing teachers to foster science literacy for All Americans.
A parallel two-level hybrid method for diagonal dominant tridiagonal systems

A new method, namely the Parallel Two-Level Hybrid (PTH) method, is developed to solve tridiagonal systems on parallel computers. PTH is designed based on Parallel Diagonal Dominant (PDD) algorithm. Like PDD, PTH is highly scalable. It provides accurate solutions when PDD may not be applicable and maintains a near PDD performance when the underlying machine ensemble size is large. By controlling its two-level partition, PTH can deliver optimal performance for different machine ensemble and problem sizes. Theoretical analyses and numerical experiments indicate that PTH is significantly better than existing methods for many scientific and engineering applications.