cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spectral properties of a spin-incoherent Luttinger Liquid

We present time-dependent density-matrix renormalization-group (DMRG) results for strongly interacting one-dimensional fermionic systems at finite temperature. When interactions are strong the characteristic spin energy can be greatly suppressed relative to the characteristic charge energy, allowing for the possibility of spin-incoherent Luttinger liquid physics when the temperature is high compared to the spin energy, but small compared to the charge energy. Using DMRG we compute the spectral properties of the $t\text{\ensuremath{-}}J$ model at arbitrary temperatures with respect to both spin and charge energies. We study the full crossover from the Luttinger liquid regime to the spin-incoherent regime, focusing on small $J/t$, where the signatures of spin-incoherent behavior are more manifest. Our method allows us to access the analytically intractable regime where temperature is on the order of the spin energy, $T\ensuremath{\sim}J$. Our results should be helpful in the interpretation of experiments that may be in the crossover regime, $T\ensuremath{\sim}J$, and apply to one-dimensional cold atomic gases where finite-temperature effects are appreciable. The technique may also be used to guide the development of analytical approximations for the crossover regime.
Regulatory cost effects in a good news environment: The intra-industry reaction to the Alaskan oil spill

Abstract The grounding of the Exxon Valdez on 24 March 1989, led to considerable public pressure for United States petroleum companies relative to environmental concerns. Previous studies (e.g., Dowdell et al., 1992, pp. 286–287; Blacconiere and Patten, 1994, pp. 360–361) suggest that this increased pressure, and potential for future regulation, would decrease market values of other firms in the industry. However, the Alaskan oil spill also triggered substantial increases in both wholesale and retail gasoline prices in the US immediately following the accident. It appears that the unexpected product price increase was interpreted as good news for the intra-industry firms. Our study examines market returns for 25 petroleum companies other than Exxon during the fifteen trading days following the accident. In contrast to previous studies of the impact of catastrophic events on intra-industry firms (Bowen et al., 1983; Hill and Schneeweis, 1983; Dowdell et al., 1992; Blacconiere and Patten, 1994), we find that portfolio cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) following the oil spill were significantly positive. However, cross-sectional analysis of individual company CARs provides evidence suggesting that the threat of increased regulatory costs did adversely affect firm values. Specifically, firms discussing Alaskan operations in their financial reports, larger firms, and firms with less extensive prior environmental disclosure had less positive market reactions.
Orientation dependence in electron capture to arbitrary projectile n states from molecular hydrogen

The dependence on the orientation of the intermolecular axis of cross sections for electron capture from molecular hydrogen by bare ions is calculated in a two-center approximation, which ignores multiple scattering between atomic centers and is compared to experiment. Electron-capture cross sections are calculated as functions of both projectile principal quantum number {ital n} and molecular orientation angles. Orientation-averaged cross sections are compared with recent measurements of O{sup 8+}+H{sub 2} at {ital E}=8, 10, 12.5, 16, and 20 MeV. Comparisons are also made between our calculations for electron capture into projectile {ital n} states by H{sup +} from H{sub 2} and the available calculation for {ital ns} states from {ital E}=50 keV to 5 MeV. The orientation-dependence differential in the molecular-orientation angle is studied in dissociative ionization and excitation of the molecular ion following single-electron capture from H{sub 2} using a two-step independent-electron model. The calculated orientation dependence is in qualitative agreement with preliminary experimental observations as a function of the orientation angle done with O{sup 8+} ions at {ital E}=10 MeV, where capture to {ital n}{gt}1 state is significant.
Oxygen for the Preterm Newborn: One Infant at a Time

The randomized trial by Wang et al1 compares short-term outcomes of infants who were 23 to 32 weeks' gestation and initially were given 1 of 2 fraction of inspired oxygen (Fio2) extremes (0.21 or 1.0) for delivery room resuscitation. “Too much” oxygen in the blood is a health hazard,2,3 and health care providers are the only known cause of neonatal hyperoxemia. Wang et al show that 100% O2 is not needed for most preterm infants during the transition period. Within 2 minutes, pulse oxygen saturation (Spo2) may reach values that are associated with high Pao24 and release “dastardly chemicals.”5 Likewise, infants can be made hyperoxemic without “pure O2.” If after the transition period … Address correspondence to Augusto Sola, MD, Mid Atlantic Neonatology Associates and Atlantic Neonatal Research Institute, Atlantic Health System, 100 Madison Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960. E-mail: augustosolaneo{at}gmail.com
Carrier localization and enhanced spontaneous emission due to plasma nanosheath formation in polar nanostructured materials

The longitudinal component of the polarization field inherent in polar materials, combined with constrained carrier motion along the quantum wells, causes formation of equilibrium plasma nano-sheaths at intersections of quantum wells. The induced short range (nm) potentials of peak voltages much larger than the thermal carrier energy cause wavefunction localization, which further reduces the dimensionality of the carrier behavior. The associated energy band-bending causes enhanced carrier accumulation at quantum wedges and quantum tips formed by intersecting quantum wells. In addition, the total carrier number over the QW length increases, manifesting spontaneous intrinsic pumping due to polarization. As a result, the spontaneous emission is localized at quantum wedges, and the total emission exceeds that from a flat quantum well of similar parameters, as experimentally observed. The sheath potentials are sufficiently high for 1-D or 0-D carrier localization at quantum wedges and quantum tips.
Opinion #4: Philippe D. Vaillancourt, MDCM

Just As Valium and Prozac did years ago, OxyContin is now gaining cultural notoriety in this the decade of the zeros. It is coming of age at a time when the concept of opioid maintenance for chronic nonmalignant pain is increasingly accepted. Indeed, some would argue that its maker has promoted this very same concept through aggressive broad-spectrum marketing, thus furthering the industry's dictum of better living through chemistry. The impact of this drug on the public health is alarming, if only because of nearly 300 deaths attributed to overdose since January 2000. Much has …
Assessment of location and size of myocardial infarction with contrast-enhanced echocardiography

The ability of contrast-enhanced echocardiography to localize and quantify myocardial infarction was studied in 16 open chest dogs. Both routine and contrast-enhanced two-dimensional echocardiograms were recorded at baseline and 4 hours after occlusion of the left anterior descending (n = 11) or circumflex (n = 5) coronary artery. Ultrasound contrast was produced by injection into the aortic root of 3 ml of 0.3% hydrogen peroxide mixed with 6 ml blood. Systolic wall thickening was also measured and quantified as a marker of myocardial infarction. Dogs were sacrificed after 4 hours of coronary occlusion. The slice of the left ventricle that corresponded to the two-dimensional echocardiogram was stained with nitro-blue tetrazolium to localize the infarct. The size of the myocardial infarct was determined by planimetry. The oxygen bubbles produced by mixing hydrogen peroxide with blood produced an excellent intramyo-cardial ultrasound contrast effect. Complete data were available in 12 dogs. Contrast echocardiography accurately localized the infarction in all 11 dogs with an infarct documented by nitro-blue tetrazolium. The area of the infarct, determined by planimetry and expressed as a fraction of total myocardial area from the nitro-blue tetrazolium study, correlated well with the size of the infarct determined with contrast echocardiography (correlation coefficient [r] = 0.92, standard error of the estimate [SEE] = 0.05, probability [p] It is concluded that contrast-enhanced two-dimensional echocardiography, using a combination of hydrogen peroxide and blood to provide ultrasound contrast, accurately and reproducibly localizes and quantifies myocardial infarction.
A multi-scale model of dislocation plasticity in α-Fe: Incorporating temperature, strain rate and non-Schmid effects

Abstract In this work, we develop an atomistically informed crystal plasticity finite element (CP-FE) model for body-centered-cubic (BCC) α -Fe that incorporates non-Schmid stress dependent slip with temperature and strain rate effects. Based on recent insights obtained from atomistic simulations, we propose a new constitutive model that combines a generalized non-Schmid yield law with aspects from a line tension (LT) model for describing activation enthalpy required for the motion of dislocation kinks. Atomistic calculations are conducted to quantify the non-Schmid effects while both experimental data and atomistic simulations are used to assess the temperature and strain rate effects. The parameterized constitutive equation is implemented into a BCC CP-FE model to simulate plastic deformation of single and polycrystalline Fe which is compared with experimental data from the literature. This direct comparison demonstrates that the atomistically informed model accurately captures the effects of crystal orientation, temperature and strain rate on the flow behavior of siangle crystal Fe. Furthermore, our proposed CP-FE model exhibits temperature and strain rate dependent flow and yield surfaces in polycrystalline Fe that deviate from conventional CP-FE models based on Schmid's law.
Contrast enhancement based on a novel homogeneity measurement

Abstract Contrast enhancement is a very important issue in image processing, pattern recognition and computer vision. These are mainly: (1) indirect method of contrast enhancement and (2) direct method of contrast enhancement. The indirect method is to modify the histogram, which is not efficient and effective, since it only stretches the global distribution of the intensity. The direct method is to define a measurement of the contrast and use it to enhance the contrast. In this paper, we propose a novel homogeneity measurement and utilize it to define and enhance the contrast. The proposed approach uses both the local and global information. We have experimented the proposed algorithm on a variety of images, and the results prove that the proposed method has better performance than the existing methods, no over-enhancement/under-enhancement and more robust.
FINAL HEIGHT OF CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE (CRF)

It is well known that CRF retards body growth and skeletal maturation. However, neither the relationship between growth retardation and attainment of adult height has been ascertained nor it is known at what age children with CRF cease to grow. The present study is based upon evaluation of 34 children followed 3-9 yrs after onset on CRF up to the time of epiphyseal union of the hand and wrist bones and minimal (< 1 cm/yr) or no growth since at least 1 year. 23 pts had congenital (A) and 11 acquired(B) nephropathies. Final height was attained at the average age of 18.3 yrs in males and 16.9 yrs in females. Mean final height was well below the 50th centile in both groups with no statistical difference between males and females. 7 pts(30%) in group A but only 1 in group B reached a final height < 3rd centile. There was no difference among the two groups regarding medical treatment, dietary intake and duration of dialysis, but age at first symptoms and age at onset of CRF differed significantly. It is suggested that primary renal disease and duration of CRF are major factors causing reduction of adult height in children with CRF.
IIPS: Infrastructure IP for Secure SoC Design

Security is becoming an increasingly important parameter in current system-on-chip (SoC) design due to diverse hardware security attacks that can affect manufacturers, system designers or end users. To effectively address the security issues, design-time considerations, e.g. incorporation of design-for-security (DfS) features, are becoming essential. However, DfS measures for diverse security threats require specific design modifications to achieve target security level, which significantly increases design effort thus time-to-market, and usually incurs considerable design overhead. In addition, the general heterogeneous architecture of current SoCs makes many core-level DfS mechanisms unusable at SoC level. In this paper, we propose a centralized on-chip infrastructure IP for SoC security (IIPS), which alleviates the SoC designers from separately addressing different security issues through design modifications in multiple cores. It also provides ease of integration and functional scalability. We consider a specific implementation of IIPS that provides protection against: (1) scan-based attack for information leakage through low-overhead authentication; (2) counterfeiting attacks through integration of a Physical Unclonable Function (PUF); and (3) hardware Trojan attacks through a test infrastructure for trust validation. To make the IP amenable for plug-and-play during SoC design, working protocols of the security functions are designed to comply with IEEE 1500 Standard for Embedded Core Test (SECT). Since IIPS resides outside the functional modules, it does not incur functional performance or power overhead. Simulations and experiments on example SoC designs validate the effectiveness of IIPS in providing protections against diverse attacks at a low hardware overhead.
Discrete Choice Elasticities for Elderly and Disabled Travelers Between Fixed-Route Transit and Paratransit

In the current practice of mode-choice modeling, models typically focus on the more traditional choices, such as those between automobile, transit, and nonmotorized transportation. For most travelers these are, indeed, the most relevant modes. However, for some segments of the population, particularly the elderly, the choice is more limited. This study investigates the factors that affect the elderly and disabled travelers' choice between public transit and paratransit. Data collected from the public transit service, Sacramento Regional Transit, and the paratransit service, Paratransit, Inc., in Sacramento, California, were used to develop a mode-choice model and to calculate elasticities of significant factors. Age was found to have an elastic effect, whereas the difference in fare had an inelastic effect.
Explicit formulas for wavelet-homogenized coefficients of elliptic operators

Abstract Wavelet-based homogenization provides a method for constructing a coarse-grid discretization of a variable–coefficient differential operator that implicitly accounts for the influence of the fine scale medium parameters on the coarse scale of the solution. The method is applied to discretizations of operators of the form d d x μ ( x ) d d x in one dimension and μ ( x ) Δ in one and more dimensions. The resulting homogenized matrices are shown to correspond to differential operators of the same (or closely related) form. In dimension one, results are obtained for periodic two-phase and for arbitrary coefficients μ ( x ) . For periodic two-phase coefficients, the homogenized coefficients may be computed exactly as the harmonic mean of the function μ. For non-periodic coefficients, the “mass-lumping” approximation results in an explicit formula for the homogenized coefficients. In higher dimensions, results are obtained for operators of the form μ ( x ) Δ , where μ ( x ) may or may not be periodic; explicit formulae for the homogenized coefficients are also derived. Numerical examples in 1D and 2D are also presented.
Temperature dependence of ultrasonic propagation speed and attenuation in canine tissue.

Previously reported data on the temperature dependence of propagation speed in tissues generally span only temperature ranges up to 60°C. However, with the emerging use of thermal ablative therapies, information on variation in this parameter over higher temperature ranges is needed. Measurements of the ultrasonic propagation speed and attenuation in tissue in vitro at discrete temperatures ranging from 25 to 95°C was performed for canine liver, muscle, kidney and prostate using 3 and 5 MHz center frequencies. The objective was to produce information for calibrating temperature-monitoring algorithms during ablative therapy. Resulting curves of the propagation speed vs. temperature for these tissues can be divided into three regions. In the 25–40°C range, the speed of sound increases rapidly with temperature. It increases moderately with temperature in the 40–70°C range, and it then decreases with increasing temperature from 70–95°C. Attenuation coefficient behavior with temperature is different for the va...
Hepatotoxicity of non-narcotic analgesics

The central role of the liver in drug metabolism sets the stage for drug-related hepatotoxicity. The incidence of hepatotoxicity associated with non-narcotic analgesics is low, but their widespread use both prescription and over-the-counter-makes analgesic-associated hepatotoxicity a clinically and economically important problem. Hepatotoxicity is considered a class characteristic of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), despite the fact that they are a widely diverse group of chemicals. In fact, there are many differences in the incidence, histologic pattern, and mechanisms of hepatotoxicity between, as well as within, chemical classes. Most NSAID reactions are hepatocellular and occur because of individual patient susceptibility (idiosyncrasy). Aspirin, however, is a dose-related intrinsic hepatotoxin. Acetaminophen is also an intrinsic hepatotoxin but rarely demonstrates hepatotoxicity at therapeutic doses. It does cause hepatotoxicity with massive overdoses and with therapeutic doses in susceptible patients such as chronic users of alcohol. No hepatotoxicity has been reported to date with tramadol, another non-narcotic analgesic.
Processive Replication of Single DNA Molecules in a Nanopore Catalyzed by phi29 DNA Polymerase

Coupling nucleic acid processing enzymes to nanoscale pores allows controlled movement of individual DNA or RNA strands that is reported as an ionic current/time series. Hundreds of individual enzyme complexes can be examined in single-file order at high bandwidth and spatial resolution. The bacteriophage phi29 DNA polymerase (phi29 DNAP) is an attractive candidate for this technology, due to its remarkable processivity and high affinity for DNA substrates. Here we show that phi29 DNAP-DNA complexes are stable when captured in an electric field across the α-hemolysin nanopore. DNA substrates were activated for replication at the nanopore orifice by exploiting the 3'-5' exonuclease activity of wild-type phi29 DNAP to excise a 3'-H terminal residue, yielding a primer strand 3'-OH. In the presence of deoxynucleoside triphosphates, DNA synthesis was initiated, allowing real-time detection of numerous sequential nucleotide additions that was limited only by DNA template length. Translocation of phi29 DNAP along DNA substrates was observed in real time at Angstrom-scale precision as the template strand was drawn through the nanopore lumen during replication.
Sustainable virtual communities: suggestions from the colonial model

While virtual community research has contributed to the understanding of the virtual community sustainability, a need for a systematic model exists. In this paper, we propose a model of sustainable virtual communities based on the sustainability properties of animal colonies in nature. The premise of our model is that if we manage to replicate the sustainability properties of colonial systems in virtual communities, they can become longer lasting. We also present the results of an exploratory case study. The study shows that colonial properties form a construct that predicts member perceptions of their community being sustainable. While our primary objective is the conceptual introduction of the colonial principles of sustainability, the case study provides some early indications that these principles may help design systems that can bind virtual communities more permanently.
Raman efficiencies of natural rocks and minerals: Performance of a remote Raman system for planetary exploration at a distance of 10 meters

Abstract Raman spectroscopy is a powerful technique for materials analysis, and we are developing and analyzing a remote Raman system for use on a planetary lander or rover. We have acquired data at a distance of 10 m from a variety of geologic materials using different instrument designs. We have employed a pulsed laser with both an ungated detector and a gated detector. A gated detector can reduce long-lived fluorescence while still collecting all Raman signal. In order to design a flight instrument, we need to quantify how natural surfaces will respond to laser stimulus. We define remote Raman efficiency of natural surfaces as the ratio of radiant exitance leaving a natural surface to the irradiance of the incident laser. The radiant exitance of a natural surface is the product of the sample radiance, the projected solid angle, and the full-width-half-maximum of the Raman signal. We have determined the remote Raman efficiency for a variety of rocks and minerals. The best efficiencies are achieved for large, clear, single crystals that produce the most radiant exitance, while darker fine-grained mineral mixtures produce lower efficiencies. By implementing a pulsed laser, gated detector system we have improved the signal detection and have generally decreased the integration time necessary to detect Raman signal from natural surfaces.
Phosphorylation-dependent Inhibition of Protein Phosphatase-1 by G-substrate A PURKINJE CELL SUBSTRATE OF THE CYCLIC GMP-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE

Abstract G-substrate, a specific substrate of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase, has previously been localized to the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. We report here the isolation from mouse brain of a cDNA encoding G-substrate. This cDNA was used to localize G-substrate mRNA expression, as well as to produce recombinant protein for the characterization of G-substrate phosphatase inhibitory activity. Brain and eye were the only tissues in which a G-substrate transcript was detected. Within the brain, G-substrate transcripts were restricted almost entirely to the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, although transcripts were also detected at low levels in the paraventricular region of the hypothalamus and the pons/medulla. Like the native protein, the recombinant protein was preferentially phosphorylated by cGMP-dependent protein kinase (K m = 0.2 μm) over cAMP-dependent protein kinase (K m = 2.0 μm). Phospho-G-substrate inhibited the catalytic subunit of native protein phosphatase-1 with an IC50 of 131 ± 27 nm. Dephospho-G-substrate was not found to be inhibitory. Both dephospho- and phospho-G-substrate were weak inhibitors of native protein phosphatase-2A1, which dephosphorylated G-substrate 20 times faster than the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase-1. G-substrate potentiated the action of cAMP-dependent protein kinase on a cAMP-regulated luciferase reporter construct, consistent with an inhibition of cellular phosphatases in vivo. These results provide the first demonstration that G-substrate inhibits protein phosphatase-1 and suggest a novel mechanism by which cGMP-dependent protein kinase I can regulate the activity of the type 1 protein phosphatases.
On Free Sabinin Algebras

Sabinin algebras are algebraic objects that capture the local structure of analytic loops in the same way in which Lie algebras capture the local structure of Lie groups. They were introduced by Sabinin and Mibeev [13]. In 1962, Shirshov [20] suggested a scheme for choosing bases of a free Lie algebra that generalizes the Hall and Lyndon–Shirshov bases. In this article, we generalize the Shirshov scheme for the case of Sabinin algebras.
Epidemiology and natural history of primary biliary cirrhosis in a U.S. community

Abstract Background & Aims: The epidemiology of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) has not been studied systematically in the United States. We report the incidence and prevalence of this condition in the general population. We also examined the validity of the Mayo natural history model for PBC among these unselected patients from the community. Methods: The Rochester Epidemiology Project entails a computerized index of diagnoses from the health care encounters of residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota. For potential cases identified using this database, the complete (inpatient and outpatient) medical records were reviewed to verify the diagnosis and extract information necessary for the application of the Mayo model. We estimated the incidence and prevalence of PBC in this population and compared the actual survival of patients with PBC in the community with the survival predicted for PBC patients by the Mayo natural history model. Results: The age-adjusted (to 1990 U.S. whites) incidence of PBC per 100,000 person-years for years 1975–1995 was 4.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1–5.9) for women, 0.7 (95% CI, 0.1–1.3) for men, and 2.7 (95% CI, 1.9–3.5) overall. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence per 100,000 persons as of 1995 was 65.4 (95% CI, 43.0–87.9) for women, 12.1 (95% CI, 1.1–23.1) for men, and 40.2 (95% CI, 27.2–53.1) overall. The Mayo natural history model accurately predicted the actual survival of these patients. Conclusions: This first description of the epidemiology of PBC in the United States indicates that its incidence and prevalence in this country are among the highest reported. Outcomes among these unselected patients from a community population further validated the Mayo natural history model of PBC. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2000;119:1631-1636
Further Results on the Stagnation Point Boundary Layer with Hydrogen Injection

The results of an earlier paper on the behavior of the boundary layer at an axisymmetric stagnation with hydrogen injection into a hot external airstream are extended to span the entire range from essentially frozen to essentially equilibrium flow. This extension is made possible by the employment of finite difference methods; the accurate treatment of the boundary conditions at 'infinity,' the differencing technique employed and the formulation resulting in block tri-diagonal matrices are slight variants in the present work.
Inducing Safer Electrosurgical Handpiece Storage

Background Improper storage of the electrosurgical handpiece has been identified as an operating room hazard. Objective: To test among representative surgical personnel two different methods of improving safety performance: a demonstration/lecture session, and improved equipment arrangement on the operating field. Methods: A field experiment occurred in the classroom and in the operating room. Subjects were recruited from a surgical department in a single institution. After videotaping baseline behavior, interventions were made in education and subsequently in apparatus layout. Videotaping and behavioral coding were repeated after each intervention. Written tests preceded and followed the training lecture. Results: Results varied among team members and different aspects of the equipment. The surgeons knew the manufacturers’ designated safe practice, but they did not routinely follow it, even after additional instructions and redesign of the equipment setup. Other team members responded to the interventions and changed their storage-related behavior. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a need for effective means to help surgical teams maintain a safe environment while using hazardous technologies. Key Words: Electrosurgery, Operating Room, Safety, Medical Device, Medical Education, Surgical Team
Design of flapping mechanisms based on transverse bending phenomena in insects

In this paper, we investigate designs of flapping mechanisms that allow high amplitude and high frequency of flapping. The mechanism utilizes springs and passive flapping, a concept motivated from the study of wing motion of insects and hummingbirds. The mechanisms simulate transverse bending effect of insect wings to achieve high flapping amplitudes. Different configurations of flapping mechanism are studied using dynamic simulations and quasi-steady aerodynamics. Apart from high amplitude, the results show that higher lift can be generated using these designs
Problems of Distortion in Doctor-Patient Communications:

Physicians too often fail to recognize that what they tell patients is sometimes not understood by patients. The conditions which interfere with adequate understanding include the anxiety of the patient about what is being told to him as well as his intelligence, experience and opportunities to question his medical informant. Factors affecting the physician's ability to communicate clearly relate primarily to the clarity and simplicity of his language, his own anxiety about what he is telling the patient and his providing opportunities for the patient to feed back to him indications of comprehension. The ethical implications of distorted communication between doctors and patients are of great importance. With increasingly complex mutilating and debilitating procedures available to physicians, the patient's capacity to understand what is explained to him is crucial to his ability to give informed consent. By studying actual transcripts of conversations between varieties of physicians and patients, one can ...
Retrospective Analyses of Methacholine Inhalation Challenges

We retrospectively analyzed 198 methacholine inhalation challenges (MICs) of symptomatic patients with normal results of lung examinations, spirometry, and chest radiographs. During MIC, five parameters (FEV1, FEF25-75%, FVC, sCaw, TGV) were measured. Using established changes in these parameters at ≤8 mg/ml methacholine, there were 175 positive tests (no false positives) and 23 negative tests (15 true negatives, 5 false negatives, and 3 unavailable for follow-up). The MIC sensitivity determined by FEV1 responses was significantly lower than the sensitivity using responses in either three (FEV1, FEF25-75%, and FVC; p
Learning probabilistic models of cis-regulatory modules that represent logical and spatial aspects

Motivation: The process of transcription is controlled by systems of factors which bind in specific arrangements, called cis-regulatory modules (CRMs), in promoter regions. We present a discriminative learning algorithm which simultaneously learns the DNA binding site motifs as well as the logical structure and spatial aspects of CRMs. Results: Our results on yeast datasets show better predictive accuracy than a current state-of-the-art approach on the same datasets. Our results on yeast, fly and human datasets show that the inclusion of logical and spatial aspects improves the predictive accuracy of our learned models. Availability: Source code is available at http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~noto/crm Contact: noto@cs.wisc.edu
A Weight-Preserving Bijection Between Schroder Paths and Schroder Permutations

In 1993 Bonin, Shapiro, and Simion showed that the Schroder numbers count certain kinds of lattice paths; these paths are now called Schroder paths. In 1995 West showed that the Schroder numbers also count permutations which avoid the patterns 4231 and 4132. Using some technical machinery, Barcucci, Del Lungo, Pergola, and Pinzani showed in 1999 that a certain q-analog of the Schroder numbers, called the Schroder polynomial, is the generating function for a statistic called the area statistic on Schroder paths and is also the generating function for the inversion number on permutations which avoid 4231 and 4132. In this paper we give a constructive bijection from Schroder paths to permutations which avoid 4231 and 4132 that takes the area statistic on Schroder paths to the inversion number on permutations which avoid 4231 and 4132.
DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGY, ENTRY MODE, AND PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE OF CHOICE AND CONSTRAINTS

Despite theoretical arguments matching type of diversification strategy with mode of entry, the exact form of relationships between strategy, mode of entry, and performance remains enigmatic. Our analysis, based on two samples, demonstrates that matches between strategy and mode did improve performance in one time period, but not a second. In addition, the results show that exclusive reliance on a single mode (internal development or acquisition) can restrict performance. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rural primary care providers' perceptions of their role in the breast cancer care continuum.

Context: Rural women in the United States experience disparity in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment when compared to their urban counterparts. Given the 11% chance of lifetime occurrence of breast cancer for women overall, the continuum of breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery are of legitimate concern to rural women and their primary care providers. Purpose: This analysis describes rural primary care providers’ perceptions of the full spectrum of breast cancer screening, treatment, and follow-up care for women patients, and it describes the providers’ desired role in the cancer care continuum. Method: Focus group interviews were conducted with primary care providers in 3 federally qualified community health centers serving a lower income, rural population. Focus group participants (N = 26) consisted of 11 physicians, 14 nurse practitioners, and 1 licensed clinical psychologist. Data were generated from audiotaped interviews transcribed verbatim and investigator field notes. Data were analyzed using constant comparison and findings were reviewed with a group of rural health professionals to judge the fit of findings with the emerging coding scheme. Findings: Provider relationships were characterized as being with women with cancer and comprised an active behind-the-scenes role in supporting their patients through treatment decisions and processes. Three themes emerged from the interview data: Knowing the Patient; Walking Through Treatment With the Patient; and Sending Them Off or Losing the Patient to the System. Conclusions: These findings should be a part of professional education for rural practitioners, and mechanisms to support this role should be implemented in practice settings.
Proximal traits and mechanisms for biasing paternity in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

A comprehensive understanding of sexual selection requires knowledge of the traits and mechanisms responsible for increasing a male’s paternity share (proportion of progeny sired) relative to that of other males mating with the same female. In this study we manipulated by starvation the expression of traits that might influence male paternity share in Tribolium castaneum. We then conducted experiments to examine how male starvation affects male performance during sequential episodes of sexual selection from mating to progeny production, and investigated female control over specific stages by using live vs dead females. Comparison of starved vs fed males revealed that T. castaneum females have control over spermatophore transfer during mating, as live females rejected inseminations by starved (“low quality”) males. None of the measured male copulatory behaviors (leg-rubbing frequency, asymmetry, and percent of time spent rubbing) affected the probability of successful insemination, but the last two were positively associated with male paternity share. Spermatophore positioning within the female reproductive tract was not affected by male treatment (starved/fed), by female treatment (live/dead), or by male copulatory behaviors. Starvation, however, had a dramatic effect on male reproductive physiology, decreasing both accessory gland size and total number of sperms transferred (but not sperm viability in seminal vesicles). In addition, females who mated to starved males stored fewer sperms in their spermathecae, which, together with decreased ejaculate size, may explain the reduced paternity share of starved males compared to fed males. This study elucidates some cryptic mechanisms influencing male reproductive success and aids our understanding of trait evolution through sexual selection.
Cultivation of Plasmodium spp.

Cultivation of both human and non-human species of Plasmodium spp., the causal agent of malaria, has been a major research success, leading to a greater understanding of the parasite. Efforts at cultivating the organisms in vitro are complicated by the parasites' alternating between a human host and an arthropod vector, each having its own set of physiological, metabolic, and nutritional parameters. Life cycle stages of the four species that infect humans have been established in vitro. Of these four, P. falciparum remains the only species for which all stages have been cultured in vitro; different degrees of success have been achieved with the other human Plasmodium spp. The life cycle includes the exoerythrocytic stage (within liver cells), the erythrocytic stage (within erythrocytes or precursor reticulocytes), and the sporogonic stage (within the vector). Culture media generally consist of a basic tissue culture medium (e.g., minimal essential medium or RPMI 1640) to which serum and erythrocytes are added. Most of the efforts have been directed toward the stage found in the erythrocyte. This stage has been cultivated in petri plates or other growth vessels in a candle jar to generate elevated CO2 levels or in a more controlled CO2 atmosphere. Later developments have employed continuous-flow systems to reduce the labor-intensive nature of medium changing. The exoerythrocytic and sporogonic life cycle stages have also been cultivated in vitro. A number of avian, rodent, and simian malarial parasites have also been established in vitro. Although cultivation is of great help in understanding the biology of Plasmodium, it does not lend itself to use for diagnostic purposes.
Quality Assurance and Program Evaluation

Some commonforces have led to increased attention to quality assurance andprogram evaluation in the United States. However, these two types of public accountability have developed relatively independently, resulting in somewhat different but related approaches to examining health care. The similarities and differences between qualityof-care assurance and program evaluation are discussed as related to their definitions and approaches to data collection and utilization. Pressures to integrate quality assurance and program evaluation and evidence of a convergence in the two types of assessment activities are also presented. The article concludes with a discussion of thefuture role of the states and localities in assuming responsibilityfor these two types of accountability.
Contribution of Declining Anadromous Fishes to the Reproductive Investment of a Common Piscivorous Seabird, the Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

— 696 — The Auk, Vol. 127, Number 3, pages 696−703. ISSN 0004-8038, electronic ISSN 1938-4254.  2010 by The American Ornithologists’ Union. All rights reserved. Please direct all requests for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Press’s Rights and Permissions website, http://www.ucpressjournals. com/reprintInfo.asp. DOI: 10.1525/auk.2010.09200 Andrew w. Jones,1 Christopher M. dAlton,2 edwArd s. stowe, And dAvid M. post
Concurrent esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula and Hirschsprung disease

We describe two cases of concomitant Hirschsprung disease and esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula in the newborn, both of which were successfully diagnosed and managed in the neonatal period. This is the first report in the English literature to identify the coexistence of these distinct congenital malformations.
A Continuum Model for Single Crystal Cyclic Plasticity

A constitutive model was developed to bridge the cyclic plasticity behavior of single crystals and the corresponding characteristic dislocation structures. Yield and flow were built on the individual slip systems. The Armstrong-Frederick kinematic hardening rule was invoked to capture the Bauschinger effect. A material memory parameter was introduced to consider the amplitude dependence of cyclic hardening. Latent hardening considering the interactions among the slip systems was used to describe the anisotropic cyclic behavior. The experimental results of copper single crystals were used to validate the model developed. It was found that the model was able to adequately describe the well-known three distinctive regions in the cyclic stress-strain curve of the FCC single crystal oriented for single slip and the associated dislocation substructures. The model was capable of capturing the enhanced hardening observed in copper single crystals in multi-slip orientations. For a given loading history, the model can predict not only the saturated stress-strain response but also the detailed evolution of the transient cyclic behavior. The characteristic dislocation structures can be featured with the slip evolution.
Fertilization and Implantation

Knowledge of fertilization and implantation is essential for understanding both normal reproduction and the pathological basis of infertility. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss our current understanding of normal fertilization and implantation. A healthy spermatozoon is essential for reproduction and must undergo a variety of changes in order to fertilize an oocyte. Spermatogenesis occurs in the seminiferous tubules of the testes and is controlled by the affect of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on testicular Sertoli and Leydig cells. Mature spermatozoa are then transported through the epididymis, combined with seminal vesicle and prostatic secretions, and ultimately transported into the vaginal vault with ejaculation. Through a calcium-mediated process called capacitation, the spermatozoon develop hypermotile flagella and an activated acrosome, eventually resulting in penetration of an oocyte. Normal oogenesis and folliculogenesis are crucial in order to produce a healthy oocyte for fertilization. Following menarche, release of FSH and LH stimulates development of antral follicles, completion of meiosis, and subsequent ovulation of a dominant follicle. An activated spermatozoon binds to the outer layer of the oocyte, the zona pellucid, and fertilization by a single spermatozoa ensues. With completion of a second meiotic division, and genomic union of the sperm and oocyte, a zygote forms. Approximately day 6 or 7 post-ovulation, the trophoectoderm of the blastocyst implants into the endometrial epithelium. Many factors are required for successful implantation. In addition to proper trophoblast development and invasion, endometrial receptivity has been shown to be crucial for normal implantation, and disruption of it a major cause of abnormal placentation and infertility. Due to the complexity of fertilization and implantation, it is not surprising that two of the most common mechanisms of infertility are failure of fertilization and failure of implantation.
Different Aspects of Psychological Ill Health in a National Sample of Swedish Parents after Successful Paediatric Stem Cell Transplantation.

Background Paediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) may have great psychological impact on parents during the intense treatment period as well as many years after a successful transplantation. Since different psychological disorders require different interventions, a differentiation of general distress into specific types of psychological ill health is essential. The aim of this descriptive study was to distinguish anxiety, depression, and burnout, and investigate occurrence and co-occurrence of these in a national Swedish sample of parents of children who had undergone HSCT and survived. Procedure Established self-report instruments (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, posttraumatic stress checklist, and Shirom–Melamed Burnout Questionnaire) were used to assess parents’ subjective suffering. Inclusion criteria: the child had to be alive; ≤18 years of age; >6 months since HSCT. Results Four hundred twenty-one eligible parents (220 mothers and 201 fathers) were identified, of whom 284 choose to participate (response rate 67%). In total, 134 parents (87 mothers, 47 fathers) reported clinically relevant levels of one or more of the assessed types of psychological ill health, representing 48% of the responding participants and 32% of the entire national population of parents of children who had undergone HSCT and survived. Anxiety and/or burnout were reported most frequently. A majority reported more than one type of psychological ill health. Depression only was rare. Conclusions The findings underscore the importance of recognizing—in research as well as in clinical practice—that different types of psychological ill health may affect parents after successful HSCT. When parents present with psychological suffering, a referral for qualified assessment is warranted to obtain the proper treatment.
Can the Individual Protect Himself Against Propaganda Not in His Interest

concepts, the Commission endorsed the principle of having full-time members of the research council visit administrative centers of the South Pacific, in order to consult with local administrative and research specialists and discover local needs. Moreover, the Commission approved a regional analysis to be made of the preservation and transportation of food from areas of plenty to those of scarcity. In addition they authorized: (1) a review of the existing air and sea transport services as a means for attaining greater regional efficiency; (2) the interchange of epidemilogical information; (3) establishment of contact with those private and public agencies doing experimental work in agriculture or industry; (4) the preparation of a master file of those individuals and organizations interested in research in the South Pacific region; and (5) that the Research Council investigate the possibilities of improving tropical pasture land by the scientific selection of adaptive fodder grasses and measures for the control of weeds.
Treatment of Urinary Incontinence in Women Using an Intra Vaginal Tarsette

AbstractA new mushroom-shaped vaginal incontinence device called a tarsette is described. The device provides broad surface compression on the anterior vaginal wall with direct compression on the urethra. The manner in which it is made and inserted is discussed along with our initial experience with 15 patients.
Aimé Mpane and the Shadow of History in Contemporary Congolese Art

Aime Mpane (°1968) has emerged as one of the leading contemporary Congolese artists in the past decade and half. His work reflects on the fragility of life in the Democratic Republic of Congo and e...