cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heart rate variability and psychosocial symptoms in adolescents and young adults with cancer.

BACKGROUND Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a valid, scalable biomarker of stress. We aimed to examine associations between HRV and psychosocial outcomes in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer. METHODS This was a secondary analysis of baseline data from a randomized trial testing a resilience intervention in AYAs with cancer. Two widely used HRV metrics, the standard deviation of normal to normal beats (SDNN) and root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), were derived from electrocardiograms. Patient-reported outcome (PRO) survey measures included quality of life, anxiety, depression, distress, and resilience. Linear regression models were used to test associations between HRV and PRO scores. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to test differences in median HRV values among participant subgroups. RESULTS Among the n = 76 patients with available electrocardiograms, the mean age was 16 years (SD 3y), 63% were white, and leukemia/lymphoma was the most common diagnosis. Compared to healthy adolescents, AYAs with cancer had lower median HRV (SDNN [Females: 31.9 (12.8-50.7) vs 66.4 (46.0-86.8), p<0.01; Males: 29.9 (11.5-47.9) vs 63.2 (48.4-84.6), p<0.01]; RMSSD [Females: 28.2 (11.1-45.5) vs 69.0 (49.1-99.6), p<0.01; Males: 27.9 (8.6-48.6) vs 58.7 (44.8-88.2), p<0.01]). There was no statistically significant association between PRO measures and SDNN or RMSSD in either an unadjusted or adjusted linear regression models. CONCLUSION In this secondary analysis, we did not find an association between HRV and psychosocial PROs among AYAs with cancer. HRV measures were lower than for healthy adolescents. Larger prospective studies in AYA biopsychosocial research are needed.
The toxin and antidote puzzle: new ways to control insect pest populations through manipulating inheritance.

Insects carry out essential ecological functions, such as pollination, but also cause extensive damage to agricultural crops, and transmit human diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Advances in insect transgenesis are making it increasingly feasible to engineer genes conferring desirable phenotypes, and gene drive systems are required to spread these genes into wild populations. Medea provides one solution, being able to spread into a population from very low initial frequencies through the action of a maternally-expressed toxin linked to a zygotically-expressed antidote. Several other toxin-antidote combinations are imaginable that distort the offspring ratio in favor of a desired transgene, or drive the population towards an all-male crash. We explore two such systems – Semele, which is capable of spreading a desired transgene into an isolated population in a confined manner; and Merea, which is capable of inducing a local population crash when located on the Z chromosome of a Lepidopteron pest.
The use of expert judges in scale development: Implications for improving face validity of measures of unobservable constructs

Abstract A review of the assessment of face validity in consumer-related scale development research is reported, suggesting that concerns over the lack of consistency and guidance regarding item retention during the expert judging phase of scale development are warranted. After analyzing data from three scale development efforts, guidance regarding the application of different decision rules to use for item retention is offered. Additionally, the results suggest that research using new, changed, or previously unexamined scale items should, at a minimum, be judged for face validity.
Effects of Diabetes-Like Altered Glycemia on BBB Gating Functions: Impact on Efflux Transporters (LB600)

Altered glycemic conditions, such as those observed in diabetic patients, impair blood-brain barrier (BBB) endothelial physiology and serve as potential risk factor for the onset and progression of major CNS disorders (such as Alzheimer’s disease). In this study, we assessed the impact of diabetes-like hyper and hypoglycemic conditions on the expression and functionality of major BBB efflux transporters (P-glycoprotein and MRP4). Confluent monocultures of hCMEC/D3 endothelial cells (a well characterized human BBB endothelial cell line) were exposed to normal (5.5mM), hypo (2.2mM) - or hyper (35mM)-glycemic conditions of D-glucose for 3, 6, 12 and 24 h. Following treatment, cells were either lysed or fixed for subsequent protein expression and distribution analysis by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Further, parallel hCMEC/D3 cultures were chronically exposed to identical experimental conditions, but for a period of 3 days, and profiled for genome-wide transcriptional changes using Illumina® DNA m...
Online Information Resources for Mechanical Engineers

This chapter provides an overview of how one can navigate the maze of professional information resources available through the Internet while minimizing the frustrations and pitfalls inherent with the Web. It discusses approaches for gaining access to suites of online services and content for mechanical engineers in a variety of job environments. The chapter also provides a listing of selected online resources for mechanical engineers. The Internet has become a major avenue to find and acquire technical information. Content providers and information services have rushed to establish businesses on the Web as more and more engineers, academicians, and business people have discovered the efficiencies of working online. The chapter presents an overview of the types of resources that can be used to locate engineering information. The advent of online citations and digital articles has allowed engineers to manage their personal libraries in new, more effective ways. Keywords: engineering information; information services; internet; mechanical engineers; online information resources
Use of the carbon rod atomizer for analysis of lead in blood: three methods compared.

Measurement of lead in whole blood by use of the carbon rod atomizer and atomic absorption spectrophotometry was investigated for three methods: ( a ) a simple dilution (one volume of whole blood to two volumes of surfactant solution; ( b ) direct analysis of whole blood (no sample preparation); and ( c ) a standard chelation extraction procedure in which sodium diethyldithiocarbamate and methyl isobutyl ketone (isopropylacetone) are used. Within-run precision data for normal and abovenormal pools favored the Triton dilution method, for which coefficients of variation were less than 5%. Recoveries of added lead ranged from 94-107% for all three methods. We saw no change in the standard curves for any of the procedures on addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetate to samples. The method of additions was necessary to prepare standards of a matrix composition identical to that of the unknowns.
Conversion-time curves in the diffusion-controlled free radical polymerization of styrene

Abstract In order to calculate conversion-time curve in radical polymerization, the termination rate constant for interacting polymer radicals with chain lengths n and s is written as: kt,ns = k(ζn + ζs) where k ∝ exp(−0.40/vf) (vf: free volume), and ζ = 1 at n ⩽ nc and ζ = (nc/n)1,5 at n ⩾ nc + 1 (nc: a critical chain length of polymer moving by reptation). The curves are applicable to the experimental data obtained from 20°C to 154°C in the thermal polymerization of styrene. Further, it is shown that the curves can be applied to the experimental data for polymerization in the presence of initiator.
Flexible manufacturing system structural control and the Neighborhood Policy, part 1. Correctness and scalability

Structural Control Policies (SCPs) are real-time flexible manufacturing system (FMS) operating policies that guarantee deadlock-free operation. SCPs must be correct and scalable. A correct SCP guarantees deadlock-free operation whereas a scalable (polynomial) SCP remains computationally tractable as FMS size increases. The NP-completeness of state safety (is there a sequence of state transitions leading to the empty state?) implies that a correct and scalable SCP will reject some safe states. SCP efficiency is the ratio of policy admissible space to FMS safe state space. This paper, the first of a two-part series, discusses FMS structural control and presents a correct and scalable SCP referred to as the Neighborhood Policy. SCP efficiency issues will be discussed in the second part.
On the definition of age-related norms for visual function testing

Cross-sectional psychophysical and electrophysiologic studies of aging indicate that visual function declines only slightly or not at all until age 50-60, at which time the decline in visual function rapidly accelerates. This accelerated loss of function may reflect an increased rate of natural cellular degradation, or it may reflect an increased proportion of subclinical pathology in the presumed normal older population. This paper provides a critical review of the changes in visual function that occur with age. The results of this review have implications for both the definition of age-matched control groups and for early detection of age-related pathology.
Políticas de pertenencia y relaciones coloniales: la inmigración peruana en España

This paper tries to contribute to the analysis of the immigration in Spain with a historical and global approach, with the aim to overcome the common spatial and temporal analytical frames used in this type of studies, limited to the present and the political unit of the nation-state. I try to open new perspectives to understand the process of identity formation among immigrants collectivities, with the case of the brotherhoods of el Senor de los Milagros in Madrid, founded by Peruvian immigrants in Madrid. I focus on the Peruvian immigrants’ experience, as postcolonial subjects coming back to the old metropolis, placed themselves both in the center of multiple systems of reference —facilitated by a global world— and in identity categories imposed by receiving society.
Discounting the value of safety: effects of perceived risk and effort.

Introduction Although falls from heights remain the most prevalent cause of fatalities in the construction industry, factors impacting safety-related choices associated with work at heights are not completely understood. Better tools are needed to identify and study the factors influencing safety-related choices and decision making.
Cost and outcome of intensive care

Abstract The measurement of cost and outcome from intensive therapy is difficult. Cost may vary directly with the type and severity of the patient's disease but also with the organisation of the hospital. Cost measurement may not be an accurate estimate of resource consumption because of economic rather than clinical influences. Even so the cost of intensive therapy is high, being between 3–5 times that of general ward care but represents only a part of the total costs of critical illness. Outcome measurement involves more than simple mortality rates on the intensive therapy unit; estimates of long term survival are important because there is significant mortality after discharge, especially if the patients were severely ill. An assessment of the quality of survival is also important but there are few health related utilities designed for use after intensive therapy. Functional outcome may be easier to quantify and studies suggest that the functional recovery from intensive therapy is good. However in general, it is difficult to combine estimates of cost and outcome because of methodological difficulties defining the precise scope of these two aspects of intensive therapy.
Interaction of Walker 256 mammary carcinoma and foetal rat liver in organ culture inhibits enzyme maturation.

WHEN tumour tissue is implanted subcutaneously into an animal the enzymatic composition of the host liver changes so as to resemble that of well differentiated hepatomas1–4. When a tumour is implanted into a suckling rat (14–20 d old) the appearance of liver enzymes that occurs normally at that stage of development is severely inhibited4 by as yet unknown mechanisms. We have investigated whether possible endocrine modification of the host by the implanted tumour is an obligatory step in the enzymatic modification of the host liver. We used cultured foetal liver, a system in which several enzymes have been reported to arise spontaneously5–7. Our results show that tumours can exert a direct effect on enzyme maturation of foetal liver in organ culture that is quantitatively comparable with the effect observed in vivo; they do not rule out a possible glandular involvement of the tumour-bearing host in vivo.
Microstructure to Macro-Scale Using Gradient Plasticity with Temperature and Rate Dependent Length Scale

Abstract Gradient plasticity theory formulates a constitutive framework on the continuum level that bridges the gap between the micromechanical plasticity and classical continuum plasticity by incorporating the material length scale. A micromechanical-based model of variable material intrinsic length scale is developed in the present work which allows for variations in temperature and strain rate and its dependence on the grain size and accumulated plastic strain. The material constants of the proposed model are calibrated using the size e_ect encounter in nanohardness experiments. In this regard, two di_erent physically based models for Temperature and Rate Indentation Size E_ects (TRISE) are also developed in this work for single and polycrystalline metals by considering di_erent expressions of the geometrical necessary dislocation (GND) density. The results of indentation experiments performed on various single- and polycrystalline materials are then used here to implement the aforementioned framework in order to predict simultaneously the TRISE and variable length scale at di_erent temperatures, strain rates and various grain sizes.
Entekhabi receives the Macelwane Medal

The James B. Macelwane Medal, given for significant contributions to the geophysical sciences to young scientists of outstanding ability, was awarded to Dara Entekhabi. Entekhabi was presented with the medal at the AGU Spring Meeting Honors Ceremony May 22, 1996, in Baltimore. The award citation and Entekhabi's response are given here.
AN UNUSUAL NEW SPECIES OF MUNDOCHTHONIUS FROM A CAVE IN COLORADO, WITH COMMENTS ON MUNDOCHTHONIUS MONTANUS (PSEUDOSCORPIONES, CHTHONIIDAE)

Abstract Mundochthonius singularis, a troglomorphic species from Fly Cave in Fremont County, Colorado, is described. This is the first cavernicolous pseudoscorpion to be reported from the state. It is compared with M. montanus, the local epigean species, for which an emended description is given.
Instability of pyruvate-C14 in aqueous solution as detected by enzymic assay

Abstract Determination of the radiopurity of pyruvate-C14 by techniques for quantitative precipitation as the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone and for quantitative enzymic conversion to nonprecipitable lactate-C14 are described. An hitherto undescribed marked decomposition of pyruvate-C14 in aqueous solution containing essentially only pyruvate or pyruvic acid was noted. The decomposition was probably radiation-induced and was retarded at 25°, but not at −15° by addition of benzene. Additions of HCl, NaCl, or ethylenediaminetetraacetate also gave considerable protection.
Human rhinovirus 3C protease inhibitors: recent developments

As members of the picornavirus family, human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are the major cause of the common cold in humans. In recent years, considerable efforts have been made in the development of anti-HRV compounds targeting rhinovirus enzymes including the viral proteases essential for viral replication. This article summarises the most recent approaches in designing novel HRV 3C protease inhibitors for the treatment of rhinovirus infections.
Comparative analysis of in vivo and in vitro AAV vector transduction in the neonatal mouse retina: Effects of serotype and site of administration

The specificity of retinal cells transduced by AAV serotype 1, 2 or 5 vectors was determined in vivo versus in vitro in the normal P7 mouse in order to develop a rapid and accurate way to anticipate the behavior of AAV vectors in the retina. In vivo results confirm that AAV1 transduces retinal pigment epithelial cells, while AAV2 and AAV5 transduce both RPE and photoreceptor cells by subretinal injection. AAV2 was the only serotype to efficiently transduce inner retinal cells by intravitreal injection. Parallel analysis employing in vitro retinal organ culture showed qualitatively similar AAV-mediated GFP expression as seen in vivo suggesting that organ culture substitute is a useful method to screen new vector transduction patterns, particular in retinal cells in neonatal mice.
DISCRETE AND CONTINUOUS MODELS

M. E. Van Valkenburg writes in the foreword to Steiglitz’s Introduction to Discrete Systems,1 that “Given the widespread availability of computers, there seems little doubt that the teaching of electrical engineering should undergo an evolution ... In the emerging pedagogical approach, equations should be written in discrete form as difference equations, instead of in continuous form as differential equations. Indeed, equations should seldom be used, since principles should be stated directly in algorithmic form.” Approaches having this character are increasingly being proposed not only in electrical engineering but in other fields where continuous mathematical methods have been traditional, and not only are pedagogical changes being suggested. Digital computing and discrete models are influencing our conception of real world systems and the role classical mathematical methods are to play in modelling them.
Risk Factors for Treatment Failure in Smokers: Relationship to Alcohol Use and to Lifetime History of an Alcohol Use Disorder

Little is known about the impact of alcohol involvement on smoking cessation relapse or possible mechanisms for these associations. We addressed these issues using data from a randomized clinical trial of two types of framed messages (gain vs. loss) in conjunction with open label sustained-release (SR) bupropion (Toll et al., 2007) (N = 249). Participants were categorized according to whether or not they were diagnosed with a lifetime alcohol use disorder (AUD; i.e., current or past alcohol abuse or past alcohol dependence) and according to three levels of alcohol use: abstinence, moderate, or hazardous use. Alcohol use categories were established for drinking at baseline, during the 6-week treatment period and through 12 weeks post-quit. There were few significant differences by baseline alcohol use level or AUD history for a series of predictors of smoking cessation failure (e.g., depressive symptoms). During treatment and follow-up, the probability of any smoking on heavy drinking days was significantly higher than the probability of smoking on moderate drinking or abstinent days. AUD history did not predict smoking cessation relapse in any analysis, nor were any alcohol usexAUD history interactions significant. Moderate alcohol users and, to a lesser extent, abstainers from alcohol at baseline were less likely than hazardous drinkers to have relapsed at 12 weeks post-quit. Based on these findings, it appears that risk of any smoking and of relapse was associated primarily with heavy drinking days and a hazardous pattern of use respectively, rather than with moderate drinking.
The Relationship of Opioid Treatment in Chronic Pain Conditions: Implications on Brain Reward Response

An area of scientific understanding that remains unexplained is the effect of chronic pain conditions on the brain reward response to opioids. Substance misuse remains one of the most baffling areas of scientific evaluation, identification, and intervention given that very little is known about the mechanisms differentiating inevitable physiologic responses to opioids and dysfunctional or abnormal responses to long-term opioid administration. The effects of opioids on the brain reward system in persons with chronic pain is of significance to clinicians. Given the paucity of information available on opioid therapeutic use versus misuse in this population, however, the clinician is left to develop subjective conclusions about differentiation. Inevitable opiate effects include the linked concepts of tolerance to opioids, development of withdrawal phenomena, hyperalgesia, and pharmacologic resistance to the antinociceptive properties of opioids. This article evaluates current knowledge regarding relationships...
Stressor-specific alterations in corticosterone and immune responses in mice.

Different stressors likely elicit different physiological and behavioral responses. Previously reported differences in the effects of stressors on immune function may reflect qualitatively different physiological responses to stressors; alternatively, both large and subtle differences in testing protocols and methods among laboratories may make direct comparisons among studies difficult. Here we examine the effects of chronic stressors on plasma corticosterone concentrations, leukocyte redistribution, and skin delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and the effects of acute stressors on plasma corticosterone and leukocyte redistribution. The effects of several commonly used laboratory stressors including restraint, forced swim, isolation, and low ambient temperatures (4°C) were examined. Exposure to each stressor elevated corticosterone concentrations, with restraint (a putative psychological stressor) evoking a significantly higher glucocorticoid response than other stressors. Chronic restraint and forced swim enhanced the DTH response compared to the handled, low temperature, or isolation conditions. Restraint, low temperature, and isolation significantly increased trafficking of lymphocytes and monocytes compared to forced swim or handling. Generally, acute restraint, low temperature, isolation, and handling increased trafficking of lymphocytes and monocytes. Considered together, our results suggest that the different stressors commonly used in psychoneuroimmunology research may not activate the physiological stress response to the same extent. The variation observed in the measured immune responses may reflect differential glucocorticoid activation, differential metabolic adjustments, or both processes in response to specific stressors.
Effects of geometric structural nonlinearity on flutter and limit cycle oscillations of high-aspect-ratio wings

In this paper structural equations of motion based on nonlinear beam theory and the ONERA aerodynamic stall model are used to study the effects of geometric structural nonlinearity on flutter and limit cycle oscillations (LCO) of high-aspect-ratio wings. For example, the effects of large static pre-flutter deformations in the vertical or torsional direction are considered. In particular, static deformations in the vertical and torsional directions caused by a static angle of attack, gravity and/or manufactured curvature generally decrease system stiffness and flutter stability. The structural nonlinearity also leads to a sensitivity to initial conditions as well as any parameter that influences the static equilibrium condition. A dynamic perturbation equation about a nonlinear static equilibrium is derived which is used to determine the small perturbation flutter boundary. The effects of the geometric structural nonlinearity of the beam theory on both the perturbation flutter boundary and the nonlinear response are significant. Onset of a limit cycle oscillation is dependent upon the delicate between stall aerodynamics and structural nonlinear forces. LCO above and below the perturbation flutter boundary generally occurs over a limited range of flow velocity. LCO can occur below the perturbation flutter velocity due to large initial disturbances.
Motor-function and exercise capacity in children with major anatomical congenital anomalies: an evaluation at 5 years of age.

__Background:__ Children with major anatomical congenital anomalies (CA) often need prolonged hospitalization with surgical interventions in the neonatal period and thereafter. Better intensive care treatment has reduced mortality rates, but at the cost of more morbidity. __Aim:__ To study motor-function and exercise capacity in five-year-old children born with CA, and to determine whether motor-function and exercise capacity differ according to primary diagnosis. __Study design:__ Descriptive study. __Subjects:__ One-hundred-and-two children with the following CA: congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) n=24, esophageal atresia (EA) n=29, small intestinal anomalies (SIA) n=25, and abdominal wall defects (AWD) n=24. __Outcome measures:__ Overall and subtest percentile scores of the Movement-Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) were used to measure motor skills. Endurance time on the Bruce treadmill test was used to determine maximal exercise capacity. __Results:__ Motor-function: Seventy-three children (71.6%) had an overall percentile score within the normal range, 18 (17.6%) were classified as borderline, and 11 (10.8%) had a motor problem. This distribution was different from that in the reference population (Chi square: p=0.001). Most problems were encountered in children with CDH and EA (p=0.001 and 0.013, respectively). Ball skills and balance were most affected. __Exercise capacity:__ Mean standard deviation score (SDS) endurance time=-. 0.5 (SD: 1.3); p=0.001; due to poor exercise performance in CDH and EA patients. __Conclusions:__ Children with major anatomical CA and especially those with CDH and EA are at risk for delayed motor-function and disturbed exercise capacity.
Evaluation of C–H⋯O Hydrogen Bonds in Native and Misfolded Proteins

Non-traditional C-H cdots, three dots, centered Y hydrogen bonds, in which a carbon atom acts as the hydrogen donor and an electronegative atom Y (Y=N, O or S) acts as the acceptor, have been reported in proteins, but their importance in protein structures is not well established. Here, we present the results of three computational tests that examine the significance of C-H cdots, three dots, centered Y bonds involving the C(alpha) in proteins. First, we compared the number of C(alpha)-H cdots, three dots, centered Y bonds in native structures with two sets of compact, energy-minimized decoy structures. The decoy structures contain about as many C(alpha)-H cdots, three dots, centered Y bonds as the native structures, indicating that the constraints of chain connectivity and compactness can lead to incidental formation of C(alpha)-H cdots, three dots, centered Y bonds. Secondly, we examined whether short C(alpha)-H cdots, three dots, centered Y bonds have a tendency to be linear, as is expected for a cohesive hydrogen-bonding interaction. The native structures do show this trend, but so does one of the decoy sets, suggesting that this criterion is also not sufficient to indicate a stabilizing interaction. Finally, we examined the preference for C(alpha)-H cdots, three dots, centered Y bond donors to be near to strong hydrogen bond acceptors. In the native proteins, the alpha protons attract strong acceptors like oxygen atoms more than weak acceptors. In contrast, hydrogen bond donors in the decoy structures do not distinguish between strong and weak acceptors. Thus, any individual C(alpha)-H cdots, three dots, centered Y bond may be fortuitous and occur due to the polypeptide connectivity and compactness. Taken collectively, however, C(alpha)-H cdots, three dots, centered Y bonds provide a weakly cohesive force that stabilizes proteins.
The epidemiology of coronary heart disease: a review.

This review presents the trend of mortality from coronary heart disease in the U. S. and other countries. Data on morbidity (prevalence and incidence rates) in different populations are also reviewed and correlated with a series of associated risk factors (serum cholesterol and blood pressure obesity smoking triglyceride and carbohydrate metabolism physical activity social and psychological influences genetic factors and multiple risk factors). Prevention of coronary heart disease is discussed. Overall the data presented (much from the Framingham study) strongly suggest that environmental influences (vs. genetic predisposition) are largely responsible for making coronary heart disease a major public health problem in many countries. Suggestions for better study methodology are made and include using methods which will make it possible to be certain that the observed differences and similarities between study populations are real and assessing the relative contributions of risk factors which may account for these findings. Also needed is more sensitive early disease detection methods and for precise definitions of risk factors. Susceptibility studies should be emphasized with familial interrelationships noted to separate genetic predisposition from environmental factors. In the U. S. prevalence rises with age and incidence of coronary disease is 1% in men and .2% among women in the U. S.
A note on data corruption and monetary-fiscal policy regimes

It is shown that statistical tests of the effectiveness of alternative monetary fiscal policies may be inconclusive because the policies themselves may influence the observed time-series in such a way as to cause regression coefficients to differ from their true values. It is established that simple rules such as a constant rate of monetary growth have no “corrupting” effect on the data, but this is not true for sophisticated policies designed to go beyond naive model relationships.
Negative magnetoresistance in amorphous 3D superconducting films at high (up to 30 T) magnetic fields

The superconducting transition in amorphous Mo3Si and Nb3Ge films (as tracked by the resistivity-vs-magnetic field measurements) is followed by a resistivitydecrease at further increase of the fieldH up to 30 T. The high-field resistivity increases on cooling and flattens out at low temperatures. This behavior is attributed to the destructive influence of both magnetic field and temperature on the interference effects. A possible relation between the negative magnetoresistance and the superconductivity is discussed.
Influence of polarity on GaN thermal stability

Abstract A comparative study of the stability of Ga- and N-polar GaN films was made in different gas ambients (N 2 , H 2 , NH 3 , HCl). The Ga-polar films were observed to undergo a dissociative sublimation, while the N-polar films formed condensed Ga in addition to the gaseous species. The difference in polarity affects the morphology and bonding on the surface, and thus, stability of the atoms bonded to the surface.
Some remarks on a question of Strassen

Strassen's original functional law of the iterated logarithm for partial sums and Brownian motion examined convergence and clustering in the sup-norm. Here we address what happens if we use the much larger H-norm. We provide the answer to a query which appeared at the end of Strassen's original paper, and also present several contrasting results which are shown to be essentially best possible.
Effect of planting date, starter fertilizer, and fungicide interaction on cotton

Abstract It is widely believed that starter fertilizer applications and fungicide treatments, either separate or in combination, can lead to increased plant stands and yields in cool, wet growing seasons. Over a three year period, tests were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of these treatments on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Two methods of starter application and two fungicide treatments were evaluated over two planting dates. Seedling stand counts and lint yield were measured. Our results show that on a North Carolina coastal plain soil there were no interactions between the treatments. A placement of starter fertilizer 5 cm to the side and 5 cm below the seed showed to have more consistent results in increasing plant stand and yield over a banded application. Fungicide treatments were not effective in increasing plant stands and increased yield in only one year over the untreated check. Yield was positively influenced by earlier planting dates and stand was found to increase in one year with an ear...
Improved visibility representation of plane graphs

In a visibility representation (VR for short) of a plane graph G, each vertex of G is represented by a horizontal line segment such that the line segments representing any two adjacent vertices of G are joined by a vertical line segment. Rosenstiehl and Tarjan [Discrete Comput. Geom. 1 (1986) 343-353] and Tamassia and Tollis [Discrete Comput. Geom. 1 (1986) 321-341] independently gave linear time VR algorithms for 2-connected plane graph. Using this approach, the height of the VR is bounded by (n - 1), the width is bounded by (2n - 5). After that, some work has been done to find a more compact VR. Kant and He [Theoret. Comput. Sci. 172 (1997) 175-193] proved that a 4-connected plane graph has a VR with width bounded by (n - 1). Kant [Internat. J. Comput. Geom. Appl. 7 (1997) 197-210] reduced the width bound to ⌊3n-6/2⌋ for general plane graphs. Recently, using a sophisticated greedy algorithm, Lin et al. reduced the width bound to ⌊22n-42/15⌋ [Proc. STACS'03, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 2607, Springer, Berlin, 2003, pp. 14-25].In this paper, we prove that any plane graph G has a VR with width at most ⌊13n-24/9⌋, which can be constructed by using the simple standard VR algorithm in [P. Rosenstiehl, R.E. Tarjan, Discrete Comput. Geom. 1 (1986) 343-353; R. Tamassia, I.G. Tollis, Discrete Comput. Geom. 1 (1986) 321-341].
A reappraisal of the order Corallinales (Rhodophyceae)

Articulated and non-articulated coralline algae were brought together in the family Corallinaceae in essentially its present-day circumscription by Decaisne in 1842. Since that time, this family ha...
The Effects of Pre-First-Grade Programs on Student Reading and Mathematics Achievement.

Pre-first programs and grade retentions have been ways that school personnel have attempted to address the problem of school failure. However, the benefits of these practices on student achievement have not been consistently supported in the research literature. This study investigated both the short- and long-term effects of pre-first programs on students' academic achievement in reading and mathematics, using three comparison groups. No significant differences were found in six of the eight analyses conducted, indicating few, if any, positive effects from the pre-first program. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Elimination of preoperative mechanical bowel preparation in patients undergoing cystectomy and urinary diversion.

Abstract Introduction The utility of a preoperative mechanical bowel preparation prior to bowel surgery has recently been questioned. The purpose of this study is to compare the perioperative outcomes between patients undergoing cystectomy with urinary diversion with or without preoperative mechanical bowel preparation. Methods Seventy patients underwent radical cystectomy and urinary diversion between May 2008 and August 2009 for bladder cancer. The first cohort of patients (n = 37) underwent cystectomy and diversion during the period May 2008–December 2008 and underwent a preoperative mechanical bowel preparation including a clear liquid diet, magnesium citrate solution, and an enema before surgery. The second cohort of patients underwent surgery during the period of January 2009–August 2009 (n=33). These patients were given a regular diet before surgery and did not undergo a mechanical bowel preparation except for the enema before surgery was performed to decrease rectal/colonic distention. Outcome measures included gastrointestinal and overall complications, and perioperative outcomes including recovery of bowel function. Results There were no differences with regard to recovery of bowel function, time to discharge, or overall complication rates between the 2 groups. More specifically, the rate of GI complications was not different in prepped patients vs. nonprepped patients (22% vs. 15%; P = 0.494). There were no occurrences of bowel anastomotic leak, fistula, abscess, peritonitis, or surgical site infection in either group. One perioperative death occurred in the nonprepped group secondary to cardiovascular complications. Conclusions Preoperative mechanical bowel preparation prior to radical cystectomy with urinary diversion does not demonstrate any significant advantage in perioperative outcomes, including gastrointestinal complications. Further studies aimed at measuring patient satisfaction and larger randomized trials will be beneficial in evaluating the role of mechanical bowel preparation prior to urinary diversion.
Simultaneous upper and lower urinary tract injury from external trauma

Abstract We found simultaneous upper and lower urinary tract injury to be rare, beingpresent in 10 of 2,310 patients (0.4 %). Multiple associated injuries were present in all patients (average 4.4 per patient). In 3 patients both upper and lower urinary tract injuries were minor, and 1 patient died of associated injuries. In 4 patients one of the urinary injuries was significant and the other minor, and 2 of these patients died. In 3 patients both urinary injuries were significant, and all 3 died of associated injuries. A comprehensive urologic evaluation was required in all 10 patients because of their severe associated multiple injuries.
Thermodynamic Description of the Mg-Mn, Al-Mn and Mg-Al-Mn Systems Using the Modified Quasichemical Model for the Liquid Phases

A self-consistent thermodynamic model of the Mg-Mn, Al-Mn and Mg-Al-Mn systems has been developed. The major difference between this work and the already existing assessments of these systems is the application of the modified quasichemical model for the liquid phase in each system while most of the existing descriptions use the random mixing model. In the absence of key data for the Mg-Mn system, the calculated thermodynamic properties from the model have been found comparable to other similar systems and the estimated critical temperature of the Mg-Mn liquid miscibility gap using the available empirical equation has been found to be in acceptable agreement with the calculated value. A comparison between the current work and the most recent work on the Al-Mn system that uses the same model for the liquid phase reveals that better agreement with the experimental data with less number of model parameters has been achieved in the current work. Kohler symmetric extrapolation model with only one ternary interaction parameter has been used to calculate the ternary Mg-Al-Mn system. The thermodynamic description of the Mg-Al-Mn system has been verified by extensive comparison with the available experimental data from numerous independent experiments. The model can satisfactorily reproduce all the invariant points and the key phase diagram and thermodynamic features of the ternary as well as the constituent binary systems.
Trifluorophosphine substitution of group VII pentacarbonylhydrido compounds

Abstract Trifluorophosphine substitutes carbon monoxide in pentacarbonylhydridorhenium, yielding each possible composition and all geometric isomers. Each octahedral isomer has been observed and identified by mass spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The substitution reaction occurs under either UV or thermal-pressure conditions. The substitution compositions and geometric isomers for each are separated by GLC at 20-30°C. Isomer rearrangement without disproportionation occurs at higher column temperatures. This HRe(PF 3 ) x (CO) 5−x system contrasts with the analogous manganese system in the isomer separation characteristics, since the isomers in the latter are inseparable by the same techniques. Isomer rearrangement via an intermolecular hydrogen exchange mechanism is proposed for both systems, at very different rates, based on deuteration experiments. NMR data of initial substitution compositions of the manganese and rhenium systems are given.
Some recent improvements in meshfree methods for incompressible finite elasticity boundary value problems with contact

Two major difficulties are encountered in the meshfree solution of incompressible boundary value problems. The first is due to the employment of higher-order quadrature rules that leads to an over-constrained discrete system in incompressible problems. The second is associated with the treatment of essential boundary conditions and contact conditions owing to the loss of Kronecker delta properties in the meshfree shape functions. This paper discusses some recent enhancements in meshfree methods for incompressible boundary value problems, carries out numerical convergence analysis, and compares accuracy and efficiency improvement of these methods. Presented methods are a pressure projection method to remedy the over-constrained discrete system, and a mixed transformation method and a boundary singular kernel method for imposition of essential boundary conditions and contact constraints. Several linear and nonlinear problems were analyzed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new approaches.
Atmospheric rf plasma coating of indium and tin oxide films

ABSTRACT Indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films on soda-lime-silicate (SLS) and silica glasses were fabricated usingan RF plasma mist deposition process. SEM analysis showed that the ITO films consisted of uniformparticle size with a size ranging from 50 to 200 nm. XRD revealed that 1n203 phase is present in the filmwhen In : Sn ratio is 5 : 5 and higher. The resistivity of the ITO films was between 1-10 ohm-cm. Thestructural change near the surface of the glass was investigated by DRIFT (Diffuse reflectance infraredFourier transform) spectroscopy. The infrared results indicated that the structure near the surface wassignificantly changed with higher indium concentration. The coating materials create non-bridging oxygennear the surfaces. The effects of deposition time and substrate temperature were also studied.Key words: ITO, indium, tin, plasma, coating, glass, infrared, FTIR, surface. 2. INTRODUCTION Deposition techniques for transparent, conducting indium tin oxide (ITO) films include reactiveevaporation, chemical vapor deposition, spray pyrolysis, and RF magnetron sputtering.14 In this paper,we report an atmospheric deposition technique, an RF aerosol plasma deposition, to prepare the ITO filmson glasses. Applications of such coatings are conductive filters for use as shields against low frequencyinterference, flat panel liquid crystal displays, anti-static packaging, heat reflector, resistive heaters to
Alignment of synaptic vesicle macromolecules with the macromolecules in active zone material that direct vesicle docking.

Synaptic vesicles dock at active zones on the presynaptic plasma membrane of a neuron’s axon terminals as a precondition for fusing with the membrane and releasing their neurotransmitter to mediate synaptic impulse transmission. Typically, docked vesicles are next to aggregates of plasma membrane-bound macromolecules called active zone material (AZM). Electron tomography on tissue sections from fixed and stained axon terminals of active and resting frog neuromuscular junctions has led to the conclusion that undocked vesicles are directed to and held at the docking sites by the successive formation of stable connections between vesicle membrane proteins and proteins in different classes of AZM macromolecules. Using the same nanometer scale 3D imaging technology on appropriately stained frog neuromuscular junctions, we found that ∼10% of a vesicle’s luminal volume is occupied by a radial assembly of elongate macromolecules attached by narrow projections, nubs, to the vesicle membrane at ∼25 sites. The assembly’s chiral, bilateral shape is nearly the same vesicle to vesicle, and nubs, at their sites of connection to the vesicle membrane, are linked to macromolecules that span the membrane. For docked vesicles, the orientation of the assembly’s shape relative to the AZM and the presynaptic membrane is the same vesicle to vesicle, whereas for undocked vesicles it is not. The connection sites of most nubs on the membrane of docked vesicles are paired with the connection sites of the different classes of AZM macromolecules that regulate docking, and the membrane spanning macromolecules linked to these nubs are also attached to the AZM macromolecules. We conclude that the luminal assembly of macromolecules anchors in a particular arrangement vesicle membrane macromolecules, which contain the proteins that connect the vesicles to AZM macromolecules during docking. Undocked vesicles must move in a way that aligns this arrangement with the AZM macromolecules for docking to proceed.
The diagnosis and treatment of transvestites and transsexuals

Transvestism and transsexualism are defined. The incidence of both as well as male versus female ratios are discussed. Etiology of each is considered. Psychotherapists can be used for proper diagnosis and couseling and, on occasion, for therapy for transvestites. Methods for this therapy are suggested. The need for establishing rapport is emphasized, and items to cover in a sex history are enumerated. Reality factors in sex changes are items that the therapist must grapple with. Factors that delineate differential diagnosis of transvestism and transsexualism are pointed out. Prevention of transsexualism in younger children is discussed.
Condition specific antepartum testing : systemic lupus erythematosus and associated serologic abnormalities

Antepartum fetal surveillance is well established in the optimal management of any pregnancy complicated by maternal systemic lupus erythematosus and/or its associated serologic abnormalities. Our experience in antepartum surveillance of the "lupus pregnancy" from 1980 to 1988 is reviewed. An overall perinatal mortality rate of 6.06% compares favorably to the total intrauterine death rate range usually reported for this disease.
Advanced Liquid Cooling Technology Evaluation for High Power CPUs and GPUs

Increasing thermal design power (TDP) trends with shrinking form factor requirements creates the need for advanced cooling technology development. This investigation proposes multiple innovative water cooler technologies to achieve higher thermal performance liquid-cooling (LC) solutions addressing the limitations of air-cooling (AC). High performance water cooler design options will also meet the miniaturization trends of computing market by providing scalable solution to address smaller board real-estate. This investigation serves multi-fold advantages: 1) introduces four water cooler technologies employing different fin base plate designs, diamond fins, micro-fins, skived micro-fins, and twisted diamond fins, along with an optimized flow distribution path design accompanying each cooler, 2) provides scalable thermal solutions, 3) addresses particle clogging via fin base plate as well as flow distribution path optimization, 4) addresses galvanic corrosion by eliminating the use of two dissimilar metals and introducing acrylic housing, 5) introduces acrylic housing for weight management. Results show that twisted diamond fin, micro-fin and skived micro-fin coolers provide up to 5°C performance improvement resulting in lower pressure drop across water cooler compared to diamond fin cooler and about 37°C improvement compared to air-cooled active heatsink solution.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Interactions of pluronic block copolymers with brain microvessel endothelial cells: evidence of two potential pathways for drug absorption.

Pluronic block copolymers have been previously reported to increase the delivery of agents to the brain [Kabanov et al. (1992) J. Controlled Release 22, 141−158]. In the present study, primary cultured bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells (BBMEC) were used as an in vitro model of the blood−brain barrier to examine the membrane interactions of Pluronic P85 (P85) and potential mechanisms for drug absorption. At concentrations below the critical micelle concentration (cmc), P85 enhanced the accumulation of the fluorescent probe rhodamine 123 (R123) in BBMEC through inhibition of P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated drug efflux. The effects of P85 on the cellular accumulation of R123 were also observed in KBv cells (P-gp positive) but not in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (P-gp negative). In contrast to the effects with P85 below the cmc, the enhanced absorption of R123 observed with Pluronic micelles was transient and not dependent on P-gp. A transient increase in R123 accumulation was observed in bo...