cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ON THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE COMPLEXITY AND CREDIBILITY OF INFERRED MODELS

Abstract The connection between the simplicity of scientific theories and the credence attributed to their predictions seems to permeate the practice of scientific discovery. When a scientist succeeds in explaining a set of nobservations using a model Mof complexity c then it is generally believed that the likelihood of finding another explanatory model with similar complexity but leading to opposite predictions decreases with increasing nand decreasing c. This paper derives formal relationships between n, c and the probability of ambiguous predictions by examining three modeling languages under binary classification tasks: perceptrons, Boolean formulae, and Boolean networks. Bounds are also derived for the probability of error associated with the policy of accepting only models of complexity not exceeding c. Human tendency to regard the simpler as the more trustworthy is given a qualified justification.
The most visited site of Brownian motion and simple random walk

Let L(t, x) be the local time at x for Brownian motion and for each t, let $$\bar V(t) = \inf \{ x\underline{\underline > } 0;L(t,x) \vee L(t, - x) = \mathop {\sup }\limits_y L(t,y)\} $$ , the absolute value of the most visited site for Brownian motion up to time t. In this paper we prove that ¯V(t) is transient and obtain upper and lower bounds for the rate of growth of ¯V(t). The main tools used are the Ray-Knight theorems and William's path decomposition of a diffusion. An invariance principle is used to get analogous results for simple random walks. We also obtain a law of the iterated logarithm for ¯V(t).
Particle evaporation effects on Z- and A-distributions in deeply inelastic collisions

Abstract The effects of sequential evaporation on the variances and covariances of the neutron, proton and mass number distributions have been investigated. It is found that for lighter systems the post-evaporative σ A 2 / σ Z 2 and ρ-values are quite insensitive to the degree of correlation of the primary distributions. Evaporation effects also tend to lead to saturation of the isobaric charge variances σ Z 2 ( A ) with energy loss independent of the pre-evaporation dependence. This latter result calls into question inferences of quantal effects.
Use of integrin-linked kinase to extend function of encapsulated pancreatic tissue

We have studied the impact of overexpression of an intracellular signaling protein, integrin-linked kinase (ILK), on the survival and function of encapsulated islet tissue used for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. The dimensions of the encapsulated tissue can impact the stresses placed on the tissue and ILK overexpression shows the ability to extend function of dissociated cells as well as intact islets. These results suggest that lost cell–extracellular matrix interactions in cell encapsulation systems can lead to decreased insulin secretion and ILK signaling is a target to overcome this phenomenon.
Surface-impedance measurements of superconducting NbN films.

The temperature and frequency dependences of the surface impedance of NbN thin films have been measured from 4.2 to 13 K and from 0.5 to 10 GHz using a stripline resonator. At 4.2 K resonant-cavity measurements of surface resistance were made at 35 and 56 GHz. From surface-reactance measurements using both cavity and stripline techniques, we obtain the penetration depth extrapolated to 0 K, \ensuremath{\lambda}(0)=3700 \AA{}. For the stripline, the film thickness was approximately 8000 \AA{}, which is about two times the measured penetration depth. The weak-coupling (full) Mattis-Bardeen theory was used to fit the temperature dependence of the surface resistance. Based on the quality of the weak-coupling fit to the data, we conclude that the strong-coupling effect is not important in the local and dirty limits. We discuss the correction due to the finite film thickness of the stripline measurements of the surface resistance.
The separation of voltage-dependent photoemfs and conductances in Rudin-Mueller membranes containing magnesium porphyrins.

Abstract It is shown that the photoemf in a pigmented membrane is specific to the magnesium-porphyrin conductance channel. A null current method was devised to measure directly the voltage dependence of the photoemf and the magnesium-porphyrin conductance. Their voltage dependence is in agreement with the hypothesis that the magnesium-porphyrin cation is the majority carrier
Tylosin and Chlortetracycline Effects During Swine Manure Digestion: Influence of Sodium Azide

The antibiotics tylosin and chlortetracycline (CTC), which are commonly used in pig production, were studied to determine their effects on swine manure digestion in the presence and absence of biocide sodium azide. CTC enhanced initial hydrolysis reactions through volatile suspended solids production, while inhibiting methane and carbon dioxide production. Tylosin did not affect methane and carbon dioxide production; however, the relative abundance of both hydrogen utilizing and acetate-only utilizing microbial populations was significantly compromised. Sodium azide in the absence of antibiotics enhanced metabolic output and initial biomass production, and this observation suggests that populations of Methanobacteriales and Methanosaetaceae spp. appeared to contain sufficient periplasmic bound reductase to effectively utilize acetate and hydrogen in the presence of sodium azide. However, the combination of sodium azide and either CTC or tylosin was a very effective metabolic inhibitor, inhibiting methane and carbon dioxide production and VSS consumption compared to their no-azide counterpart.
Global Skin-Friction Diagnostics Based on Surface Mass-Transfer Visualizations

The theoretical foundations are formulated for extraction of skin-friction fields from surface mass-transfer visualizations with pressure-sensitive paint and sublimating coatings. The asymptotic form of the mass transport equation at a wall is expressed as the optical flow equation in the image plane. Then, a relative skin-friction field is obtained by solving the optical flow equation as an inverse problem via the variational method. For steady-state visualizations with pressure-sensitive paint and sublimating coatings, a relative skin-friction field can be obtained from a single normalized intensity image. Further, a superposition procedure of a snapshot solution and a variation solution associated with the unsteady effect is proposed to reconstruct an unsteady skin-friction field from a time sequence of pressure-sensitive paint visualization images. The capability of the proposed method is examined by applying it to pressure-sensitive paint visualizations in impinging nitrogen jets. This method is also...
Reply to comments of Olch and Kagan

Olch and Kagan, with their comments on our paper, continue to assert that treating the entire target volume to the prescribed dose should be the aim even if additional normal tissue is treated in the process. It is our contention, with proper input from our clinician colleagues, that the selection of a dose rate to deliver the prescribed dose should result in the delivery of highly homogeneous dose throughout the target volume, adequately cover the target volume, and minimize irradiation of tissues surrounding the target volume. We do feel strongly that the consideration of all three factors is important for the best management of a patient’s treatment.
Evaluation of non-selective refocusing pulses for 7 T MRI

Abstract There is a continuing need for improved RF pulses that achieve proper refocusing in the context of ultra-high field (⩾7 T) human MRI. Simple block or sinc pulses are highly susceptible to RF field inhomogeneities, and adiabatic pulses are generally considered too SAR intensive for practical use at 7 T. The performance of the array of pulses falling between these extremes, however, has not been systematically evaluated. The aim of this work was to compare the performances of 21 non-selective refocusing pulses spanning a range of durations and SAR levels. The evaluation was based upon simulations and both phantom and in vivo human brain experiments conducted at 7 T. Tested refocusing designs included block, composite block, BIR-4, hyperbolic secant, and numerically optimized composite waveforms. These pulses were divided into three SAR classes and two duration categories, and, based on signal gain in a 3-D spin echo sequence, practical recommendations on usage are made within each category. All evaluated pulses were found to produce greater volume-averaged signals relative to a 180° block pulse. Although signal gains often come with the price of increased SAR or duration, some pulses were found to result in significant signal enhancement while also adhering to practical constraints. This work demonstrates the signal gains and losses realizable with single-channel refocusing pulse designs and should assist in the selection of suitable refocusing pulses for practical 3-D spin-echo imaging at 7 T. It further establishes a reference against which future pulses and multi-channel designs can be compared.
Observation of one-dimensional ESR line shapes in spin-12 systems☆

Non-Lorentzian ESR line shapes are reported in the spin-12 linear chain compounds bis-(N-methylsalicylaldiminato)-copper and dichlorobis (pyridine)-copper. These results show that spin-12 chains have diffusive spin dynamics, and thus resolve recent questions which have been raised in this regard.
Noncompensatory Dyadic Choices

Whereas literature in marketing shows that individuals often use noncompensatory decision rules, existing research on dyadic choice is based on compensatory models. In this paper we present a dyadic consider-then-choose model that investigates both compensatory and noncompensatory aspects of the joint decision process. The intersection of individual consideration sets at the dyad level gives rise to dyadic decision processes (DDPs) where dyad members are in concordance or discordance about alternatives to consider. We empirically investigate the implications of different DDPs on outcomes such as decision efficiency and dyadic welfare. The methodological approach merges choice experiments with Bayesian statistical models to uncover nuances of the dyadic choice process. Data were collected using a multiphase nationwide study of 265 husband-and-wife dyads. Results across three categories indicate that both concordant and discordant dyads exist. Among concordant dyads, the noncompensatory dyads make quicker decisions that result in higher dyadic welfare. Among discordant dyads, those that restrict their consideration set make quicker decisions that result in higher welfare than those that expand their consideration set. These findings have important implications for buyers looking to maximize dyadic welfare when making joint choices and for sellers making pricing and new product design decisions.
MO-B-I-617-01: MR Accreditation Program Quality Control — Beyond Just the Scans and Measurements

In recent years, the American College of Radiology (ACR) MR Accreditation Program (MRAP) has been adopted by more than 3000 facilities. Those sites agree to follow a quality control program set up and monitored by the medical physicist or MR scientist. They also agree to undergo initial and annual equipment evaluations by the medical physicist / MR scientist. There are several published documents, including the ACR Phantom Test Guidance and the 2001 ACR MR QC Manual, which describe required phantom tests and performance criteria. While helpful in assisting sites with the submission of phantom images for accreditation, these documents allow great discretion to the medical physicist in setting up the QC program without providing similar guidance in troubleshooting problems for a wide variety of scanners. A consulting medical physicist may see a wide variety of scanners, each for a short period of time, and needs to be able to provide the site with useful recommendations beyond the pass/fail status of the phantom tests. The physicist must gather this information from existing QC data and tests performed with the ACR and other readily‐available phantoms. This lecture will describe additional information which can be gathered from those data to produce recommendations for improving MR image quality. Educational Objectives: 1. Understand basic MR QC tests using the ACR and on‐site phantoms and how the results of those tests can be combined and analyzed to troubleshoot problems. 2. Understand how QC test availability and results may vary depending on scanner manufacturer. 3. Understand how technologist QC data may be analyzed to troubleshoot QC problems.
Learning SAS by Example: A Programmer's Guide

(2008). Learning SAS by Example: A Programmer's Guide. Technometrics: Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 91-92.
Electrical coupling between smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells in pig coronary arteries

The control of smooth muscle cells by endothelial cells has been well established by the identification of vasoactive factors released by the endothelial cells. In contrast, the possibility that smooth muscle cells influence the endothelial cells has been considered rarely. Some results suggest possible electrical communication between the smooth muscle and the endothelial cells but proof is lacking. We therefore tested for electrotonic conduction of signals from smooth muscle cells to endothelial cells. The endothelium was removed from half of a strip of porcine coronary artery. In a partitioned chamber, rectangular hyperpolarization or depolarization was applied to the de-endothelialized region by field stimulation. The resulting membrane potential changes in the smooth muscle cells spread electrotonically along the media into the area with intact endothelium. We recorded from endothelial cells to determine whether this electrical signal spreads into endothelial cells. Hyperpolarization or depolarization initiated in smooth muscle cells was recorded consistently in endothelial cells. This demonstrates a functional electrotonic propagation from smooth muscle to endothelial cells.
HIV facial lipoatrophy: causes and treatment options.

Background. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated facial lipoatrophy is becoming epidemic and may seriously affect quality of life. Objective. To review the possible causes and treatment options for HIV facial lipoatrophy. Methods. This article is based on a review of the medical literature and the author's clinical experience in treating HIV facial lipoatrophy. Conclusion. Although absorbable injectable fillers and implants are helpful in treating HIV facial lipoatrophy, they are limited by cost and the short duration of correction. Newer forms of longer-lasting fillers (poly-l-lactic acid [Sculptra]) and permanent injectable fillers (liquid injectable silicone) are proving useful for treatment of this condition.
DNA repair: big engine finds small breaks.

When a break occurs in the DNA double helix, it must be dealt with rapidly. The structure of one of the cellular machines responsible is now revealed, offering insights into its impressive speed and flexibility.
Will the new target-specific oral anticoagulants improve the treatment of venous thromboembolism?

Will the new target-specific oral anticoagulants improve the treatment of venous thromboembolism? -
Unsteady Flow Evolution and Combustion Dynamics of Homogeneous Solid Propellant in a Rocket Motor

A time-resolved numerical analysis of combustion dynamics of double-base homogenous solid propellant in a rocket motor is performed by means of a Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) technique. The physiochemical processes occurring in the flame zone and their influence on the unsteady flow evolution in the chamber are investigated in depth. A five-step reduced reaction mechanism is used to obtain the two-stage flame structure consisting of a primary flame, a dark zone, and a secondary flame in the gas phase. It is observed that, for homogeneous solid propellant combustion, the chemical time scale is much greater than the smallest turbulence time scale, rendering a highly stretched and thickened flame. The chemical reactions proceed at a slower rate than turbulent mixing, and propellant combustion may be locally treated as a well-stirred reactor. The flowfield in the chamber consists of three regions of evolution: the upstream laminar regime, the central transitional section, and the fully developed turbulent regime further downstream. A theoretical formulation exploring the chamber flow and flame dynamics is established to study the intriguing phenomenon of combustion instability. The work done by Reynolds stresses, vorticity-flame interactions, and coupling between the velocity field and entropy fluctuations may cause resonance effects and excite pressure oscillations leading to self-sustained unsteady motions within the chamber.
Hyperspectral imaging for early detection of oxygenation and perfusion changes in irradiated skin

Studies examining acute oxygenation and perfusion changes in irradiated skin are limited. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI), a method of wide-field, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, provides noninvasive, quantified measurements of cutaneous oxygenation and perfusion. This study examines whether HSI can assess acute changes in oxygenation and perfusion following irradiation. Skin on both flanks of nude mice (n = 20) was exposed to 50 Gy of beta radiation from a strontium-90 source. Hyperspectral images were obtained before irradiation and on selected days for three weeks. Skin reaction assessment was performed concurrently with HSI. Desquamative injury formed in all irradiated areas. Skin reactions were first seen on day 7, with peak formation on day 14, and resolution beginning by day 21. HSI demonstrated increased tissue oxygenation on day 1 before cutaneous changes were observed (p<0.001). Further increases over baseline were seen on day 14, but returned to baseline levels by day 21. For perfusion, similar increases were seen on days 1 and 14. Unlike tissue oxygenation, perfusion was decreased below baseline on day 21 (p<0.002). HSI allows for complete visualization and quantification of tissue oxygenation and perfusion changes in irradiated skin, and may also allow prediction of acute skin reactions based on early changes seen after irradiation.
Embryonic development of the heart: II. Formation of the epicardium

The mature heart may be thought of as consisting of three layers, endocardium, myocardium, and an outer investing tissue called the epicardium. During early formation of the tubular heart of chick embryos, at about the 8-somite stage, two tissue layers become clearly discernible with the light microscope: the endocardium and the developing myocardial wall. The outer epicardial layer does not appear until later in development. It is generally accepted that embryonic heart wall or 'epimyocardium' is composed of muscle and undifferentiated cells. As its name implies, the epimyocardium is thought to give rise to myocardium and epicardium. Kurkiewicz (1909) suggested that the epicardium was not an epimyocardial derivative but rather is formed from cells originating in the sinus venosus region, which migrate over the surface of the heart. Nevertheless, it has become generally accepted that the outer cell layer of the embryonic heart wall differentiates in situ to give rise to the definitive visceral epicardium (Patten, 1953). For reviews, see Romanoff (1960) and DeHaan (1965). An earlier light and electron microscopic study of cardiogenesis in the chick demonstrated (Manasek, 1968) that by stage 12 - (15-somites) the heart wall was composed only of cells that contained myofibrils, and that no epicardial cells were present. It was suggested that the heart wall could not give rise to epicardium unless dedifferentiation occurred, thus supporting Kurkiewicz's (1909) observations. These findings also contradict Bruno's (1918) observations which suggested that epicardial differentiation began at the 13-somite stage. In the present study, the early epicardium was examined in greater detail, and its relationship to the developing myocardial wall was investigated. Techniques of light and electron microscopy were utilized to elucidate both the cytology of the developing epicardial cells and the histogenesis of this tissue.
DejaView: a personal virtual computer recorder

As users interact with the world and their peers through their computers, it is becoming important to archive and later search the information that they have viewed. We present DejaView, a personal virtual computer recorder that provides a complete record of a desktop computing experience that a user can playback, browse, search, and revive seamlessly. DejaView records visual output, checkpoints corresponding application and file system state, and captures displayed text with contextual information to index the record. A user can then browse and search the record for any visual information that has been displayed on the desktop, and revive and interact with the desktop computing state corresponding to any point in the record. DejaView combines display, operating system, and file system virtualization to provide its functionality transparently without any modifications to applications, window systems, or operating system kernels. We have implemented DejaView and evaluated its performance on real-world desktop applications. Our results demonstrate that DejaView can provide continuous low-overhead recording without any user noticeable performance degradation, and allows browsing, search and playback of records fast enough for interactive use.
A novel information theoretic method for detecting gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in complex diseases

Gene-gene and gene-environment interactions play important roles in the etiology of complex multi-factorial diseases. With the advancements in genotyping technology, large genetic association studies based on hundreds of thousands of single-nucleotide polymorphisms are a popular option for the study of complex diseases. In this paper we use information theoretic concepts to develop a novel method for detecting statistical gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in complex disease models. We explore the effectiveness of our method with extensive simulations using different gene-gene interaction models and the rheumatoid arthritis dataset from genetic analysis workshop-15. The performance of the method was compared to the well known multi-factor dimensionality reduction (MDR) and generalized MDR (GMDR) methods. We demonstrate that our method is capable of analyzing a diverse range of epidemiological data sets containing evidences for gene-gene interactions.
Effects of Recent Land-Use Practices on Soil Nutrients and Succession under Tropical Wet Forest in Costa Rica

The effects of a variety of agricultural land uses were studied using soil nutrients, forest structure, and species assemblages as indicators. We compared soil properties and successional forests between abandoned cacao (Theobroma cacao) and abandoned palm (Bactris gasipaes) orchards, abandoned pasture, and mature forest. These sites co-occupy an alluvial terrace soil (Andic Dystropept) at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. The agricultural sites were originally cleared of most or all forest vegetation approximately 30 years ago and went into succession approximately 7 years ago. Forest structure, species composition, soil nitrogen and phosphorus pools, and nitrogen-mineralization and nitrification rates were measured for each site. The abandoned palm orchard had lower basal area and stem density than other secondary forests of the same age. It also had significantly smaller nitrate (NaOH-extractable) and organic phosphorus pools and significantly lower net rates of nitrogen-mineralization and nitrification. It is evident that preserving tree cover does not necessarily maintain soil fertility. We found species richness and diversity in the secondary forests to be positively correlated with basal area at the time of abandonment. Los efectos de diversos de usos agricolas de la tierra, fueron estudiados considerando los nutrientes del suelo, la estructura del bosque y las agrupaciones de especies como indicadores. Comparamos las propiedades del suelo y los bosques sucesionales entre huertos abandonados de cacao (Theobroma cacao) y de palma (Bactris gasipaes), pasturas abandonadas y bosques maduros. Estos sitios comparten una terraza de suelo aluvial (Andic Dystropept) en la Estacion Biologica de La Selva, en Costa Rica. Los sitios bajo agricultura fueron originalmente clareados de la mayoria o toda la vegetacion boscosa, aproximadamente 30 anos atras y comenzaron el proceso sucesional aproximadamente 7 anos atras. Para cada sitio se determino la estructura del bosque, la composicion de especies, el contenido de nitrogeno y fosforo del suelo, la tasa de mineralizacion del nitrogeno y ta tasa de nitrificacion. El huerto abandonado de palmas tuvo un area basal y densidad de vastagos mas baja que otros bosques secundarios de la misma edad. Tambien presento un contenido significativamente menor de nitrato y de fosforo organico (posible de extraer con NaOH) y tasas netas significativamente menores de mineralizacion de nitrogeno y nitrificacion. Resulta evidente que la preservacion de la cobertura de arboles, no mantiene necesariamente la fertilidad del suelo. Encontramos que la riqueza de especies y diversidad en los bosques secundarios estuvo positivamente correlacionada con el area basal al momento del abandono.
High Performance MPI on IBM 12x InfiniBand Architecture

InfiniBand is becoming increasingly popular in the area of cluster computing due to its open standard and high performance. I/O interfaces like PCI-express and GX+ are being introduced as next generation technologies to drive InfiniBand with very high throughput. HCAs with throughput of 8x on PCI-express have become available. Recently, support for HCAs with 12x throughput on GX+ has been announced. In this paper, we design a message passing interface (MPI) on IBM 12x dual-port HCAs, which consist of multiple send/recv engines per port. We propose and study the impact of various communication scheduling policies (binding, striping and round robin). Based on this study, we present a new policy, EPC (enhanced point-to-point and collective), which incorporates different kinds of communication patterns; point-to-point (blocking, non-blocking) and collective communication, for data transfer. We implement our design and evaluate it with micro-benchmarks, collective communication and NAS parallel benchmarks. Using EPC on a 12x InfiniBand cluster with one HCA and one port, we can improve the performance by 41% with pingpong latency test and 63-65% with the unidirectional and bi-directional bandwidth tests, compared with the default single-rail MPI implementation. Our evaluation on NAS parallel benchmarks shows an improvement of 7-13% in execution time for integer sort and Fourier transform.
Inclinations of Nonhandicapped Children To Help Their Handicapped Peers

Inclinations of nonhandicapped children to help their handicapped peers are examined. Ninety-eight boys and girls in either kindergarten, first, second, or third grade viewed videotapes of pairs of children (Down's syndrome/orthopedically handicapped, orthopedically handicapped/nonhandicapped, nonhandicapped/Down's syndrome) in need of help with completing a puzzle. Subjects were asked which child they would help first and why, and how much help they would give each child. Results indicated that, overall, the orthopedically handicapped children were selected first more often than either the Down's-syndrome or the nonhandicapped children. The reasons given by the younger and older subjects for their choices were different. Implications of prosocial behaviors in an integrated setting are discussed.
Social visualization: exploring text, audio, and video interaction

In this workshop, we address the importance and uses of social visualizations. In particular, we explore visualizations of text, audio, and visual interaction data to uncover social connections and interaction patterns in online and physical spaces. We stress the need to move beyond typical visualizations to date and explore new design approaches for creating social visualizations. Finally, we address the need for comparing and evaluating the effectiveness of social visualizations and the approaches used to create them.
Sustaining Fisheries Yields Over Evolutionary Time Scales

Fishery management plans ignore the potential for evolutionary change in harvestable biomass. We subjected populations of an exploited fish (Menidia menidia) to large, small, or random size-selective harvest of adults over four generations. Harvested biomass evolved rapidly in directions counter to the size-dependent force of fishing mortality. Large-harvested populations initially produced the highest catch but quickly evolved a lower yield than controls. Small-harvested populations did the reverse. These shifts were caused by selection of genotypes with slower or faster rates of growth. Management tools that preserve natural genetic variation are necessary for long-term sustainable yield.
Automated locality optimization based on the reuse distance of string operations

String operations such as memcpy, memset and memcmp account for a nontrivial amount of Google datacenter resources. String operations hurt processor cache efficiency when the data accessed is not reused shortly thereafter. Such cache pollution can be avoided by using nontemporal memory access to bypass L2/L3 caches. As reuse distance varies greatly across different memcpy static call contexts in the same program, an efficient solution needs to be call context sensitive. We propose a novel solution to this problem using the page protection mechanism to measure reuse distance and the GCC feedback directed optimization mechanism to generate nontemporal memory access instructions at the appropriate static code contexts. First, the compiler inserts instrumentation for calls to string operations. Then a run time library measures reuse distance using the page protection mechanism during a representative profiling run. The compiler finally generates calls to specialized string operations that use nontemporal operations for the arguments with large reuse distance. We present a full implementation and initial results including speedup on large datacenter applications.
Mechanical Synchrony: Role of Surgical Ventricular Restoration in Correcting LV Dyssynchrony During Chamber Rebuilding

Cardiac failure is frequently complicated by intra and or interventricular conduction delay that results in dyssynchronized cardiac contraction and relaxation. In contrast to an electrical intervention by biventricular pacing, this study tests the capacity of geometric rebuilding by surgical ventricular restoration (SVR) to restore a more synchronous contractile pattern through mechanical reconstruction without exogenous pacing input. Thirty patients (58 +/- 8 years) undergoing SVR at the Cardiothoracic Center of Monaco were prospectively evaluated with a protocol which uses simultaneous measurements of ventricular volumes and pressure to construct pressure/volume (P/V) and pressure/length (P/L) loops. Mean QRS duration was within normal limits (100 +/- 17 ms) preoperatively. Preoperative LV contraction was highly asynchronous. Endocardial time motion was either early or delayed at the end-systolic phase, yielding P/L loops with abnormal in size, shape, and orientation. Postoperatively, SVR resulted in leftward shifting of P/V loops and increased area; endocardial time motion and P/L loops almost normalized. The hemodynamic consequences of SVR included improved ejection fraction; reduced end-diastolic and end-systolic volume index; more rapid peak filling rate; peak ejection rate and mechanical efficiency resulting in mechanical intraventricular resynchronization that improves LV performance.
Middle-school teachers’ understanding and teaching of the engineering design process: a look at subject matter and pedagogical content knowledge

This paper reports on research investigating six middle school teachers without engineering degrees as they taught an engineering unit on the engineering design process. Videotaped classroom sessions and teacher interviews were analyzed to understand the subject matter and pedagogical content knowledge the teachers used and developed as they introduced the eight steps of the engineering design process (from content standards for the state of Massachusetts, USA). The teachers demonstrated wide-ranging knowledge of the engineering design process, and this paper describes two of the steps the teachers showed a more sophisticated understanding—constructing a prototype and redesigning. Examples from the teachers illustrate strengths that can be built upon as well as some areas for further development.
Cerebral Venous Infarction: A Potentially Avoidable Complication of Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery

Object Despite numerous reports on the morbidity and mortality of deep brain stimulation (DBS), cerebral venous infarction has rarely been reported. We present four cases of venous infarct secondary to DBS surgery. Methods The diagnosis of venous infarction was based on 1) delayed onset of new neurologic deficits on postoperative day 1 or 2; 2) significant edema surrounding the superficial aspect of the implanted lead, with or without subcortical hemorrhage on CT scan. Results Four cases (0.8% per lead, 1.3% per patient) of symptomatic cerebral venous infarction were identified out of 500 DBS lead implantation procedures between July 2002 and August 2009. All four patients had Parkinson's disease. Their DBS leads were implanted in the subthalamic nucleus (n = 2), and the globus pallidus internus (n = 2). Retrospective review of the targeting confirmed that the planned trajectory passed within 3 mm of a cortical vein in two cases for which contrast-enhanced preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was available. In the other two cases, contrasted targeting images were not obtained preoperatively. Conclusion Cerebral venous infarction is a potentially avoidable, but serious complication. To minimize its incidence, we propose the use of high-resolution, contrast-enhanced, T1-weighted MR images to delineate cerebral venous anatomy, along with careful stereotactic planning of the lead trajectory to avoid injury to venous structures.
Distribution of the Transcription Factors Sox9, AP-2, and [Delta]EF1 in Adult Murine Articular and Meniscal Cartilage and Growth Plate

The control of extracellular matrix (ECM) production is important for the development, maintenance, and repair of cartilage tissues. Matrix molecule synthesis is generally regulated by the rate of gene transcription determined by DNA transcription factors. We have shown that transcription factors Sox9, AP-2, and [delta]EF1 are able to alter the rate of CD-RAP transcription in vitro: Sox9 upregulates, AP-2 exhibits biphasic effects, and [delta]EF1 represses expression of the CD-RAP gene. To correlate these in vitro activities in vivo, transcription factors were co-immunolocalized with ECM proteins in three different cartilage tissues in which the rates of biosynthesis are quite different: articular, meniscal, and growth plate. Immunoreactivities of type II collagen and CD-RAP were higher in growth plate than in either the articular or meniscal cartilages and correlated positively with Sox9 protein. Sox9 staining decreased with hypertrophy and was low in articular and meniscal cartilages. In contrast, AP-2 and [delta]EF1 were low in proliferating chondrocytes but high in lower growth plate, articular, and meniscal cartilages. This increase was also accompanied by intense nuclear staining. These immunohistochemical results are the first to localize both [delta]EF1 and AP-2 to adult articular, meniscal, and growth plate cartilages and provide in vivo correlation of previous molecular biological studies.
Intrabasinal tectonic control on fluvial sandstone bodies in the Cloverly Formation (Early Cretaceous), west-central Wyoming, USA

Temporal and spatial changes in alluvial sand-body geometry and palaeodispersal patterns of the lower part of the Cloverly Formation (Early Cretaceous) in west-central Wyoming suggest differential uplift within the developing medial to distal foreland basin and existence of subtle structurally controlled topography nearly 60 Myr before classic Laramide uplift in the Wyoming foreland province. This intraforeland structural topography exerted a significant control on dispersal and deposition of widespread gravels of Neocomian-Aptian age. Surface studies have established the presence of two conglomeratic sandstones in the Cloverly Formation in the western Wind River Basin. Both conglomeratic sandstones are chert arenites, but the lower conglomeratic sandstone is characterized by dark chert pebbles derived from western and southwestern extrabasinal sources and was deposited by braided rivers, whereas the upper conglomeratic sandstone is characterized by intraformational clasts derived locally from adjacent floodplains and deposited by NE-flowing rivers of moderate sinuosity which carried a higher proportion of suspended load in stable bank-confined channels. Surface and subsurface mapping of sandstone-body geometry in the lower dark chert-pebble conglomeratic sandstone, together with palaeocurrent analysis of trough cross-bedding, reveal a major NE-flowing trunk river system in the area. Lithological correlation of surface sections to adjacent well logs, together with regional format correlation of fine-grained intervals in well logs up to 120 km E of the outcrop belt, enable detailed mapping of the trunk system. The trunk system was approximately 5–10 km wide, and may have been confined by subtle structural topography developed by recurrent differential uplift along NE-trending fractures in Archaean basement rocks. The fractures are along strike with diabase dike swarms and faults mapped in Archaean basement rocks of the Laramide Wind River uplift. The lower chert-pebble sandstone is absent for a lateral distance of at least 30 km between these lineaments, including an area of at least 1000 km2, indicating the existence of a low NE-SW-trending interfluve perpendicular to the axis of the modern Wind River Range. Early Cretaceous development of structural topography and partitioning of the medial to distal foreland basin of west-central Wyoming were most likely controlled by tectonic reactivation and differential uplift along fractures in Archaean basement rocks in response to early thrust loading and intraplate stresses during initial subsidence of the foreland basin.
Use of Three-Dimensional Reflectivity Structure for Automated Detection and Removal of Nonprecipitating Echoes in Radar Data

This study aims at assessing the potential of anomalous propagation conditions to occur, reviews past attempts to mitigate ground clutter contamination of radar data resulting from anomalous signal propagation, and presents a new algorithm for radar data quality control. Based on a 16-yr record of operational sounding data, the likelihood of atmospheric conditions to occur across the United States that potentially lead to anomalous propagation of radar signals is estimated. Anomalous signal propagation may lead to a significant contamination of radar data from ground echoes normally not seen by the radar, which could result in serious rainfall overestimates, if not recognized and treated appropriately. Many different approaches have been proposed to eliminate the problem of regular ground clutter close to the radar and temporary clutter resulting from anomalous signal propagation. None of the reported approaches, however, satisfactorily succeeds in the case of anomalous propagation ground returns embedded in precipitation echoes, a problem that remains a challenge today for radar data quality control. Taking strengths and weaknesses of past approaches into consideration, a new automated procedure has been developed that makes use of the three-dimensional reflectivity structure. In particular, the vertical extent of radar echoes, their spatial variability, and vertical gradient of intensity are evaluated by means of a decision tree. The new algorithm appears to work equally well in situations where anomalous propagation ground returns are either separated from or embedded within precipitation echoes. Moreover, sea clutter echoes are identified as not raining and successfully removed.
Lipid Synthesis Within the Normal and Atheromatous Arterial Wall

The question arose as to the nature of metabolic changes in the arterial wall and the extent to which an increased concentration of lipids during enhanced metabolic activity is attributable to incorporation of lipid from the circulation, local synthesis within the wall, or both.
Studying G protein-coupled receptors: immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, phosphorylation, surface labeling, and cross-linking protocols

Primary cilia are signaling organelles that have been shown to coordinate cellular responses to extracellular cues during physiological processes ranging from organ patterning to cell cycle regulation. A variety of receptors, including G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), downstream effectors (adenylyl cyclases), and second messengers, such as calcium, accumulate in the ciliary compartment. Isolation of GPCRs is essential for studying posttranslational modifications, intracellular trafficking, and protein-protein interactions that are important in downstream signaling. However, the presence of multiple hydrophobic transmembrane domains, and the inherent conformational flexibility of GPCRs make their extraction from membranes and solubilization particularly challenging. Here, we describe detailed methods for immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation of GPCRs from whole cell extracts. These methods are applicable for studying other multipass transmembrane proteins (such as adenylyl cyclases). We also describe methods for determining GPCR phosphorylation, surface labeling by biotinylation, and cross-linking to detect transient interactions with other proteins. These methods are amenable for studying both ciliary and nonciliary GPCRs in the context of cellular signaling pathways.
An Essay Examining the Murder of Luis Ramírez and the Emergence of Hate Crimes Against Latino Immigrants in the United States

This essay discusses the brutal killing of Luis Ramirez, the state court trial that failed to produce a homicide conviction against the defendants, and the federal civil rights case brought against two of the assailants. Other recent hate crimes again Latinos and the trends such crimes contribute to are examined in the context of federal hate crime laws and the appropriateness of using such laws to address hate crimes perpetrated against Latino immigrants.
Firm-Specific Human Capital and the Theory of the Firm

This paper focuses on contracting problems in firms caused by asset specificity and investment incentives, particularly the problems that arise when employees make investments in ?firm specific human capital.? In such cases, employee investments will also be seriously at risk in the enterprise. Under the nexus of contracts theory of corporations, corporation law is viewed as providing a standardized solution to a central contracting problem, namely the agency problem between shareholders (who are assumed to be the ?owners? of the firm) and their hired managers. All other relationships are seen as governed by ordinary, negotiated contracts. But where employees make important specific investments, it is no longer appropriate to assume that shareholders are, and should be, the hiring party, or the "owners." A broader view of what a firm is, and what corporation law accomplishes, is needed, one that permits exploration of why one set of participants in the firm might end up with certain control rights rather than some other set. For a firm in which such firm-specific employee investments are important, one would expect, for example, to find institutional arrangements that are central to the nature of the firm and that encourage continuity in the relationships between employees and the firm, as well as give employees the means to protect their stakes. Such institutions might include unions, severance pay, and social norms of lifetime employment, together with internal job ladders, career paths, seniority rules, and direct and formal control rights. The paper then reviews several new theories that view the firm alternately as a system of incentives, or as a nexus of specific investments. In other words, they conceptualize the firm as a mechanism for governing the relationships among all the participants (those who contribute labor as well as those who contribute capital), not just the relationship between shareholders and managers.
The Role of the Actin Cytoskeleton in Mechanosensation

Cells are capable of sensing mechanical stimuli and translating them into biochemical signals. This ability allows cells to adapt to their physical surroundings by remodeling their cytoskeleton, activating various signaling pathways, and changing their gene expression. These phenomena involve two essential processes – mechanosensing and mechanotransduction. In these processes, force or deformation needs to be transmitted from the outside environment to the proteins and organelles inside the cell. The actin cytoskeleton composed of actin filaments, myosin motors, and actin crosslinking proteins plays a critical role in force propagation and in response to deformations. Cellular adaptation to these deformations is often associated with feedback loops, and proteins in the actin cytoskeleton accumulate and function cooperatively in response to mechanical stimuli. Mutations in these proteins cause failure in cellular mechanosensing, which eventually leads to cellular errors associated with disease progression.
Group Lending under Costly Group Formation

The success of joint liability programs depends on nature and composition of borrowing groups. Group formation is a costly process and in our model these costs vary with the social identity of group partners. We show that risk heterogeneity in a borrowing group may arise due to the social identity of the agents. The presence of caste and gender bias may not resolve the adverse selection and moral hazard problems created by information asymmetry between the borrowers and the lender. We also find that with costly group formation and state verification,individual liability lending may be better than joint liability lending.Thus ignoring social identity and group formation costs can lead to the failure of a joint liability program. Finally,the paper also suggests that targeting different social groups requires the use of a menu of joint liability costs.
Yield and Value of Flue-Cured Tobacco Treated with Carbofuran and Certain Foliar Insecticides for Tobacco Budworm Control

Carbofuran was evaluated for control of Heliothis virescens (F.) and its effects on yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco in South Carolina. Pretransplant broadcast and posttransplant sidedress treatments gave a range of control from inadequate to excellent. In all experiments, carbofuran aided in control of tobacco budworms, but yield data from carbofuran-treated tobacco was not consistent. When compared to untreated tobacco, yields from carbofuran treatments ranged from a reduction of ca. 31b/acre to an increase of ca. 500 lb/acre. In all experiments, yields from carbofuran-treated tobacco were less than from tobacco treated with foliar applications of insecticides for tobacco budworm control. Although insect damage was sometimes apparent when carbofuran alone was used, a carbofuran combination treatment plus a nematicide such as Mocap® or Telone® increased yields, and the increases were comparable to combination treatments of standard nematicides plus foliar insecticides. Tobacco quality was good for carbofuran-treated tobacco and flowering dates were about the same as for standard nematicides plus foliar insecticides for tobacco budworm control.