cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamical Conditions in Viscometric Flows

The stress corresponding to any viscometric flow of an incompressible simple fluid is given by (8.15): $$ \mathop S\limits_ \sim \equiv \mathop T\limits_ \sim + p\mathop l\limits_ \sim = \tau \left( \kappa \right)\left( {\mathop N\limits_ \sim + {{\mathop N\limits_ \sim }^T}} \right) + {\sigma _1}\left( \kappa \right){\mathop N\limits_ \sim ^T}\mathop N\limits_ \sim + {\sigma _2}\left( \kappa \right)\mathop N\limits_ \sim {\mathop N\limits_ \sim ^T}. $$ (8.15)
Improved Data Collection from Online Sources Using Query Expansion and Active Learning

Datasets derived from searching online textual sources, such as social media sites and news article repositories are increasingly used in political science research. Common approaches for retrieving such data are mostly based on keyword queries, and lack systematic evaluation of the quality of the retrieved sample. Based on the framework proposed in Li et al. (2014) I propose a methodology that combines approaches from machine learning and natural language processing to improve the identification of relevant data in large text corpora, while minimizing the required amount of human supervision. It consists of two steps. First, a larger set of data is retrieved from the total population using keywords. In the second step, a machine learning approach is taken to separate the initial set into relevant and irrelevant tweets. Information from the labeled data is then used to suggest additional keywords to expand the initial query. I evaluate the approach in a case study, retrieving Tweets about the German refugee crisis from a large dataset of German language Tweets. The proposed approach provides increased precision and recall as well as substantive representativeness, compared to commonly applied data retrieval strategies. I additionally provide software that implements the algorithm specifically for Twitter and makes it accessible for applied researchers.
Non-Reciprocity in Structures With Nonlinear Internal Hierarchy and Asymmetry

Acoustic reciprocity is a property of linear, time invariant systems in which the locations of the source of a forcing and the received signal can be interchanged with no change in the measured response. This work investigates the breaking of acoustic reciprocity using a hierarchical structure consisting of internally-scaled masses coupled with cubically nonlinear springs. Using both direct results and variable transformations of numerical simulations, energy transmission is shown to occur in the direction of decreasing scale but not vice versa, constituting the breaking of acoustic reciprocity locally. When a linear spring connects the smallest scale of such a structure to the largest scale of another identical structure, an asymmetrical lattice is formed. Because of the scale mixing and transient resonance capture that occurs within each unit cell, it is demonstrated through further numerical experiments that energy transmission occurs primarily in the direction associated with the nonlinear coupling from the large to the small scale, thus signifying the breaking of reciprocity globally. This nonlinear hierarchical structure exhibits strong amplitude-dependency in which reciprocity-breaking is associated with specific ranges of excitation amplitudes for both impulse and harmonic forcing.
The universal topic prominence stage hypothesis and L1 transfer: A study of L2 Korean written narratives by L1 English and L1 Chinese speakers

Abstract This paper tests the universal Topic Prominence (TP) stage hypothesis and L1 transfer hypothesis by analyzing attested TP features, namely zero pronouns, bare (i.e., article-less) nouns, and post-nominal topic marking found in Korean written narratives collected from L2 Korean (TP language) speakers whose L1 is English (SP language) and Mandarin Chinese (TP language), respectively. The results showed that L2 Korean speakers used zero pronouns as frequently as L1 Korean speakers did from the early stage of their acquisition, whereas the use of the topic marking lagged behind, regardless of their L1 backgrounds. We explain the results by appealing to the universal acquisition path based on pragmatic-lexical-morphosyntactic cline: while the concept of the topic is (arguably) universal, its morphological marking is influenced by L1 as well as learning experience.
Metamorphosis in a Frog That Does Not Have a Tadpole

The evolutionary removal of the tadpole from the frog life history is a very successful strategy, particularly in the tropics. These direct developers form limbs and a frog-like head early in embryogenesis, and they have reduced or lost tadpole-specific structures, like gills, a long, coiled intestine, and tadpole teeth and jaws. Despite the apparently continuous development to the frog morphology, the direct developer, Eleutherodactylus coqui, undergoes a cryptic metamorphosis requiring thyroid hormone. As in Xenopus laevis, there is a stimulation by corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and an upregulation of thyroid hormone receptor β (thrb). In addition to changes in skin and muscle, thyroid hormone stimulates yolk utilization for froglet growth from a novel tissue, the nutritional endoderm. The activities of CRF and corticosterone (CORT) in metamorphosis may provide the basis for the multiple evolutionary origins of direct development in anuran amphibians. Potential roles for maternally supplied thyroid hormone and its receptor and for deiodinases in regulating tissue sensitivity to thyroid hormone should be the subjects of future investigations.
The Ethical Challenges of Surgical Leadership

Not a week goes by without news reports of organizational events that evolve into crises. These affect all sectors of the international and national economy, including commerce, business, athletics, education, and health care. Some events are unexpected and unavoidable. Some are the result of ethical breeches. The challenge to the surgical leader, or for that matter a leader in any profession or business, is to respond to unexpected events in an ethically responsible manner and to take steps to avoid such occurrences resulting from moral deviance by building a strong ethical organization and applying the principles of ethical leadership.
Utility of Level III Axillary Node Dissection in Melanoma Patients with Palpable Axillary Lymph Node Disease

The Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial II results suggest that future radical axillary lymphadenectomy (ALND) will be performed for bulkier metastatic disease. The utility of level III lymph node (LN) dissection in melanoma patients with palpable metastatic axillary disease was assessed. We performed a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent ALND (levels I–III) for metastatic melanoma from 2005 to 2017. We assessed the frequency of level III positive nodes in patients undergoing radical axillary lymphadenectomy (ALND) for metastatic melanoma as well as the prognostic role and factors predictive of level III LN positivity. A total of 190 patients underwent ALND during the study period. Of these, 85 patients had palpable axillary disease, of which 71 had separate level III pathologic assessment. Level III LNs were positive in 16.9% of patients with palpable disease versus 0% with positive sentinel LN. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) for patients with palpable disease was 82.9%, 58.9%, and 39.0%, respectively. Median disease-free survival was 26.8 months, and the axillary recurrence rate was 8.2%. High level I/II LN ratio, BRAF mutation, and total LN examined were significant predictors of level III positivity (all p ≤ 0.05). Patients with positive level III LN had significantly worse OS (median 18.6 months vs. not reached, p = 0.001). No preoperative factors were predictive of level III LN positivity. Level III axillary disease is not uncommon in melanoma patients with clinically palpable nodal disease and provides useful prognostic information for OS. We recommend that full level I–III ALND be considered in this patient cohort.
Public Policy and Equal Access to Home Dialysis.

The variation in home dialysis use at the local, regional, and even country levels has been widely recognized and attributed to differences in patient factors, clinician attributes, health care organizational access, and government policies ([1][1]). The use of home dialysis in the United States,
Epidemiology of Glenohumeral Instability Related to Sporting Activities Using the FEDS (Frequency, Etiology, Direction, and Severity) Classification System: A Multicenter Analysis.

Background:Glenohumeral instability is common in athletes. There are an estimated 0.12 episodes of instability per 1000 sporting exposures. Instability can lead to time away from sport and an incre...
Consistency of quantitative electroencephalography features in a large clinical data set

Objective Despite their increasing use and public health importance, little is known about the consistency and variability of the quantitative features of baseline electroencephalography (EEG) measurements in healthy individuals and populations. This study aims to investigate population consistency of EEG features. Approach We propose a non-parametric method of evaluating consistency of commonly used EEG features based on counts of non-significant statistical tests using a large data set. We first replicate stationarity results of absolute band powers using coefficients of variation. We then determine feature stationarity, intra-subject consistency, inter-subject consistency, and intra- versus inter-subject consistency across different epoch lengths for 30 features. Main results We find in general that features with normalizing constants are more stationary. We also find entropy, median, skew, and kurtosis of EEG to behave as baseline EEG metrics. However, other spectral and signal shape features have stronger intra-subject consistency and thus are better for distinguishing individuals. Significance These results provide data-driven non-parametric methods of identifying EEG features and their spatial characteristics ideal for various EEG applications, and determining future EEG feature consistencies using an existing EEG data set.
The impact of cooperative group studies on childhood cancer: Improving outcomes and quality and international collaboration.

Abstract The advances in pediatric cancer far exceed those achieved in adults. The success in improving survival and minimizing late effects has been due to several reasons but work of the pediatric cancer cooperative groups is a primary. These cooperative groups are multidisciplinary with medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, scientists and most importantly the patients and families. Studies have expanded from regional to national and now international studies which continue to target problems pertinent to improving the outcome for children with cancer. In this article we review the history of the cooperative groups, a selection of seminal studies pertaining to solid tumors, future challenges and collaborations.
U.S. Art Teacher Education in the Age of the Anthropocene

In the midst of the profound geological and ecological change of the Anthropocene, scholars in the field of art education have proposed modes of art education responsive to ecological concerns. Thi...
Surgeons, plague, and leadership: A historical mantle to carry forward.

Abstract COVID-19 has sickened millions, killed hundreds of thousands, and disrupted daily life for citizens around the world. Utterly devastating, COVID-19 is but the most recent pandemic to sweep the globe. Throughout history, surgeons like Guy de Chauliac, James Lind, John Hunter, John Snow, and Walter Reed have led scientific campaigns to understand, prevent, and treat epidemics like the bubonic plague, scurvy, syphilis, cholera, and yellow fever. We as a surgical community should herald their examples and re-focus our efforts to pioneer investigations into the coronavirus, helping elucidate the biology, understand its social effects, and provide effective treatment regimens for the disease.
Pushing the Limits of Increased Casino Advantage on Slots: An Examination of Performance Effects and Customer Reactions:

This field study examined performance data from reel slot games located in two casinos. The paired design incorporated games that appeared identical to the players but featured substantially differ...
Aerodynamic and Acoustic Voice Measures Before and After an Acute Public Speaking Stressor.

Purpose The goal of this study was to determine if differences in stress system activation lead to changes in speaking fundamental frequency, average oral airflow, and estimated subglottal pressure...
Analysis of lymphatic protein flux data: II. Effect of capillary heteroporosity on estimates of reflection coefficients and PS products

Abstract In the first paper in this series we presented a direct method for estimating the capillary membrane reflection coefficient (σ) and permeability-surface area product ( PS ) for the plasma proteins using various lymph protein flux states. Basically, the method consisted of measuring lymph protein concentration and flow at two or more different flux states and solving the Kedem and Katchalsky equation for σ and PS for each pair of flux states. The present paper applies this method to data generated with a two-pore computer model where the pores have unequal reflection coefficients. The estimates of σ and PS for the model data display the same changes with venous pressure as those for experimental data. It is seen that the values of σ and PS calculated assuming a membrane is homoporous will most often significantly underestimate the true values of σ and PS if the membrane is heteroporous. Furthermore, it is shown that the capillary membrane cannot be characterized by a single value of σ since the reflection coefficient which describes protein movement σ f changes with filtration rate and is not generally equal to the reflection coefficient which describes fluid movement ( σ d ) across the capillary membrane.
A Review of “Indexing and Retrieval of Non-Text Information”

This book, a collection of papers written by doctoral students and researchers, explores different aspects of indexing and retrieval of non-text information online. This topic is very timely, as mo...
Copyright for Engineered DNA: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

The rapidly emerging field of synthetic biology has tremendous potential to address some of the most compelling challenges facing our planet, by providing clean renewable energy, nutritionally-enhanced and environmentally friendly agricultural products, and revolutionary new life-saving cures. However, leaders in the synthetic biology movement have voiced concern that biotechnology's current patent-centric approach to intellectual property is in many ways ill-suited to meet the challenge of synthetic biology, threatening to impede follow-on innovation and open access technology. For years, copyright and patent protection for computer software have existed side-by-side, the two forms of intellectual property complementing one another. Numerous academic commentators have rejected the notion of copyright for engineered genetic sequences (the primary output of synthetic biology), based in large part upon a misinterpretation of copyright law and/or a failure to appreciate the profound advances in synthetic biology that have occurred in recent years. This article makes a case for extending copyright protection to engineered DNA, based in large part upon the striking analogy between engineered genetic sequences and computer programs, made more compelling by the growing convergence of software engineering and synthetic biology. The major doctrinal leap occurred 30 years ago when Congress and the courts sanctioned the use of copyright to protect computer programs. A further extension to engineered DNA would represent a comparatively modest incremental expansion, and would be comfortably supported by current copyright doctrine without any need to amend the Copyright Act (although certain clarifying and limiting amendments would be desirable). The article critiques, and to a large extent refutes, a variety of doctrinal and policy arguments that have been raised by commentators against extending copyright protection to engineered DNA, and concludes by outlining a number of positive policy objectives that could be addressed with you when you such an extension of copyright law.
Uniform and non-uniform second-best input taxes

We investigate second-best, input-based taxes foragricultural nonpoint pollution control when marketprices are endogenous and production isheterogeneous. Theoretically, we derive the optimalforms of taxes which take account of heterogeneity(non-uniform taxes) and a tax which does not (auniform tax). Empirically, we use a multi-factor,market-equilibrium simulation model to determineoptimal tax rates and associated equity effects,particularly differences in landowner gains/lossesacross a heterogeneous region. When market prices areendogenous, second-best tax policies result inpecuniary externalities that affect existingenvironmental externalities. In particular, thepecuniary externalities amplify the effect of producerheterogeneity on determination of sub-regionaldifferences in tax rates and returns to land,particularly for the uniform policy. With endogenousprices, the uniform tax rate is considerably higherthan any of the non-uniform rates and, ironically, thenon-uniform taxes result in less dispersion oflandowner gains across sub-regions than the uniformtax.
Measuring and Predicting Gamma Radiation from Radioactive Glass-Filled Canisters

Measurement and prediction of outside surface exposure rates and measurement of gamma photon spectra from radioactive sources are described. The sources were 30-cm-diam canisters filled with borosilicate glass to a height of {approximately} 100 cm. Each canister contained up to 237 kCi of {sup 137}Cs and 159 kCi of {sup 90}Sr. Exposure rates on the outside surfaces ranged from 26000 to 320000 R/h chiefly from decay of {sup 137}Cs.
Commentary: Is CIT Today's Lobotomy?

Birthed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1988, Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) have had remarkable growth spurts with few, if any, developmental milestones to document their progress. Compton and colleagues investigated the evidence basis for CIT and found very little. They perhaps found even more than there actually is. There are contributions to CIT outcomes that are rooted in local variations in mental health services and regional culture. These are considered in this commentary, using Memphis as the example. None of us should be surprised that reform is evidence-absent. The mental illness delivery system and the criminal justice system have been instituting reform, and these reforms have had reverberating changes between the two systems, with little or no data to support the changes, for centuries. That there would be unexpected consequences should be obvious. But apparently not so evident that we don't continue to take one blind step after another. Is CIT on firm footing, or just another fool's journey?
A Golden Cantor Set

(1998). A Golden Cantor Set. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 105, No. 8, pp. 718-725.
Corporate Responsiveness to Community Stakeholders: Effects of Contextual and Organizational Characteristics

Corporate community responsiveness relates to business activities that are integral parts of a firm’s operations and are designed to benefit the firm through benefiting the local communities. Using...
Asymptotic Theory of Diffusion-Flame Extinction with Radiant Loss from the Flame Zone

Abstract Laminar diffusion flames in counterfiow configurations such as stagnation-point boundary layers are analyzed by methods of matched asymptotic expansions with large parameters being the temperature sensitivities of the rates of chemical heat generation and radiant heat loss. Formulas are derived defining critical conditions for flame extinction, including influences of radiant loss.
Differential gene expression during early murine yolk sac development

The visceral yolk sac (VYS), composed of extraembryonic mesoderm and visceral endoderm, is the initial site of blood cell development and serves important nutritive and absorptive functions. In the mouse, the visceral endoderm becomes a morphologically distinct tissue at the time of implantation (E4.5), while the extraembryonic mesoderm arises during gastrulation (E6.5–8.5). To isolate genes differentially expressed in the developing yolk sac, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods were used to construct cDNA from late primitive streak to neural plate stage (E7.5) murine VYS mesoderm and VYS endoderm tissues. Differential screening led to the identification of six VYS mesoderm-enriched clones: ribosomal protein L13a, the heat shock proteins hsc 70 and hsp 86, guanine-nucleotide binding protein-related gene, cellular nucleic acid binding protein, and a-enolase. One VYS endoderm-specific cDNA was identified as apolipoprotein C2. In situ hybridization studies confirmed the differential expression of these genes in E7.5 yolk sac tissues. These results indicate that representative cDNA populations can be obtained from small numbers of cells and that PCR methodologies permit the study of gene expression during early mammalian postimplantation development. While all of the mesoderm-enriched genes were ubiquitously expressed in the embryo proper, apolipoprotein C2 expression was confined to the visceral endoderm. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that at E7.5, the yolk sac endoderm provides differentiated liver-like functions, while the newly developing extraembryonic mesoderm is still a largely undifferentiated tissue. © 1995 wiley-Liss, Inc.
Changes in 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate binding following partial hepatectomy.

Abstract Hepatic parenchymal cells possess two receptors for 1,4,5-trisphosphate, one isolated with the plasma membrane fraction and another isolated with the nuclear fraction. Their interaction with antibodies generated against the receptor in the cerebellum indicates that these two receptor proteins are different. The potential involvement of the nuclear receptor in rapid cell proliferation was tested by measuring [ 3 H]-IP 3 binding, following partial hepatectomy. In nuclear fractions isolated 18 hours after the operation, a 33 % decline in binding sites was detected. In nuclear fractions isolated 30 hours after the operation, a 60% decline in the binding sites was detected, but the K d remained unchanged. A 70% decrease in binding sites was also detected in the plasma membrane fraction. These results show that partial hepatectomy is associated with a parallel loss of receptor sites in the nuclear and plasma membrane fractions.
Probing the origins of catalytic discrimination between phosphate and sulfate monoester hydrolysis: comparative analysis of alkaline phosphatase and protein tyrosine phosphatases.

Catalytic promiscuity, the ability of enzymes to catalyze multiple reactions, provides an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the origins of catalysis and substrate specificity. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) catalyzes both phosphate and sulfate monoester hydrolysis reactions with a ∼1010-fold preference for phosphate monoester hydrolysis, despite the similarity between these reactions. The preponderance of formal positive charge in the AP active site, particularly from three divalent metal ions, was proposed to be responsible for this preference by providing stronger electrostatic interactions with the more negatively charged phosphoryl group versus the sulfuryl group. To test whether positively charged metal ions are required to achieve a high preference for the phosphate monoester hydrolysis reaction, the catalytic preference of three protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), which do not contain metal ions, were measured. Their preferences ranged from 5 × 106 to 7 × 107, lower than that for AP but st...
User interface system based on active objects

An active-object user interface system (AOUIS) is a user interface system implemented as an active object system (AOS). An AOS is a transition-based object-oriented system suitable for the design of various concurrent systems. In an AOUIS, user interface objects, which are sometimes called "widgets", are represented as active user interface objects (AUIOs). The behavior of an AUIO is defined by the transition rules, the equational assignment statements, and the event routines provided in its class definition. Furthermore, an AUIO can be constructed from its component AUIOs through structural composition as if it were a hardware object. Thus, AUIOs are better encapsulated and provide more flexible communication protocols than ordinary user interface objects. In addition, declarative descriptions of multiple views can be provided for each AUIO.
Alignment and orientation of diatomic molecules induced by polarized electron impact

We report measurements of linear and circular fluorescence polarizations for molecular transitions in H2, D2, and N2 induced by spin-polarized electron impact. Circular polarizations resulting from some Fulcher-� transitions in H2 and D2 are found to be significant, while the null results from nitrogen's second positive system are consistent with an earlier measurement by the Munster group. We compare this nitrogen data to that from our previous study of nitrogen's first negative system. Emphasis is placed on understanding the mechanisms that cause the values of circular polarization from N2 to be relatively small compared to those observed from H2 and D2 molecules.
Vibrotactile pattern perception: extraordinary observers

Two sighted peopled showed a remarkable ability to perceive vibrotactile patterns generated by the Optacon, a reading aid for the blind. These individuals were able to read at very high rates, 70 to 100 words per minute, through their fingertips. Additional testing showed them to be much better than other people at discriminating and recognizing vibrotactile patterns.
Alcohol effects on motor vehicle crash injury.

CONTEXT: Although alcohol is frequently present in injured patients, whether it exacerbates injury and whether tolerance to alcohol changes such a relationship is less clear. Most clinical studies do not consider other important predictors of injury, making interpretation of their findings problematic. OBJECTIVE: To examine alcohol's role in injuries, taking into account other important factors, and to examine the effect of tolerance, if any. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: University hospital and community hospital emergency departments and morgue. PATIENTS: 1362 Motor Vehicle Crash patients age >/=18, treated and released, admitted, and deceased. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Excess injury measured by Injury Severity Scale (ISS) 90, Weighted Revised Trauma Score (WRTS), and G-Score. RESULTS: Using regression analysis, the best predictors of injury severity were vehicle crush (TAD), safety belt use, and their interaction, and age. Alcohol use further predicted injury. Using the final regression model, the effect of alcohol was to increase ISS90, on average, by about 30% (from a predicted ISS90 of 5.1 to 6.8, all else being equal). The adjusted odds ratio for serious injury (ISS90>15), was 1.59 for a patient with a positive blood alcohol concentration (alc+) compared to a alc- patient. This potentiating effect is seen even for patients with low levels of alcohol (
A correlative electron microscopic study of basket cells and large gabaergic neurons in the monkey sensory-motor cortex

Large basket cells were identified in Golgi and horseradish peroxidase labeled material from the sensory-motor cortex of adult monkeys. Their morphology was correlated at the light and electron microscopic level with large comparable cells stained immunocytochemically for glutamate decarboxylase. In Golgi-impregnated material these cells have a very large cell body and dendrites that extend through several layers of the cortex with a predominant vertical orientation. The axon is only stained for a few micrometers. The same cells studied electron microscopically in serial sections after gold-toning show very distinctive ultrastructural characteristics: the cell bodies contain a large number of organelles, the nuclei are rounded with homogeneously dispersed chromatin and synapsing onto the somata are many axon terminals, both symmetrical and asymmetrical but the symmetrical type forms 70-80% of the total; dendrites also receive a large number of both symmetrical and asymmetrical synaptic contacts. All the axons of basket cells become myelinated and the Golgi labeling of the initial segments is interrupted at the commencement of the first myelin internode. The axon initial segments receive several symmetrical synaptic contacts in the proximal one-third of their length. The axonal arborization of a basket cell retrogradely labeled in the somatosensory cortex after intracortical injection of horseradish peroxidase was analyzed in detail. The mainly horizontal axonal collaterals of this cell are myelinated for most of their trajectory and have a preferred orientation in the anteroposterior dimension. These axonal collaterals, although very long (more than 1.8 mm), at intervals give rise to a small number of short unmyelinated terminal branches that bear a series of boutons terminaux forming a multi-terminal ending. The multi-terminal endings surround somata and proximal dendrites of pyramidal and non-pyramidal cells. Dense pericellular terminations (baskets or nests) like those drawn by Ramon y Cajal and Marin-Padilla are not formed by the axon of a single basket cell. Thus, basket formations are presumably formed by converging axons from several basket cells. Immunocytochemical material was stained for glutamate decarboxylase, the enzyme involved in the synthesis of gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA). This shows that large glutamate decarboxylase-positive neurons of the same size as those positively identified as basket cells in the Golgi and horseradish peroxidase material have virtually the same morphological characteristics, at both the light and electron microscope levels, as the basket cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Short communication: Analysis of self-describing gridded geoscience data with netCDF Operators (NCO)

The netCDF Operator (NCO) software facilitates manipulation and analysis of gridded geoscience data stored in the self-describing netCDF format. NCO is optimized to efficiently analyze large multi-dimensional data sets spanning many files. Researchers and data centers often use NCO to analyze and serve observed and modeled geoscience data including satellite observations and weather, air quality, and climate forecasts. NCO's functionality includes shared memory threading, a message-passing interface, network transparency, and an interpreted language parser. NCO treats data files as a high level data type whose contents may be simultaneously manipulated by a single command. Institutions and data portals often use NCO for middleware to hyperslab and aggregate data set requests, while scientific researchers use NCO to perform three general functions: arithmetic operations, data permutation and compression, and metadata editing. We describe NCO's design philosophy and primary features, illustrate techniques to solve common geoscience and environmental data analysis problems, and suggest ways to design gridded data sets that can ease their subsequent analysis.
Efficacy of continuous local anesthetic infusion for postoperative pain after radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Abstract Objectives To determine whether a subfascial continuous infusion of local anesthetic in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy would result in a reduction in postoperative opioid requirements and an improvement in pain scores. Methods This was a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial in patients undergoing elective radical retropubic prostatectomy. A small catheter was placed subfascially at the end of surgery and attached to an elastomeric pump that administered either 0.5% bupivacaine or normal saline into the wound at a rate of 2 mL/hr until discharge on postoperative day 3. The outcomes assessed included the dosage of hydromorphone used by a patient-controlled analgesic system, a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain at rest and with activity, a VAS of nausea, and length of hospital stay. Results A total of 100 patients were successfully randomized, with all patients completing the protocol. No differences were found between the groups with regard to VAS pain at rest, VAS pain with activity, intravenous or oral analgesic consumption, or VAS nausea scores. Conclusions Continuous subfascial infusion of local anesthetic did not result in a postoperative reduction in opioid requirements or an improvement in pain scores in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy.
Prioritizing risks via several expert perspectives with application to runway safety

Factor hierarchies have been widely used in the literature to represent the view of an expert of what factors most contribute to reliability or safety. The methods for rating and aggregating the influences across a set of expert-elicited factors to risk or reliability are well known as multiple criteria decision analysis. This paper describes a method for distinguishing levels of risk across a set of locations via the use of multiple factor hierarchies. The method avoids averaging across experts and is thus useful for situations where experts disagree and where an absence of expert consensus on the causative or contributing factors is important information for risk management. A case study demonstrates using seven expert perspectives on the airport-specific factors that can contribute to runway incursions. The results are described for eighty towered airports in the US. The expert perspectives include differing relative emphases across the following set of factors: airport geometry, operations, weather, geography, and days since last safety review. Future work is suggested to include human factors issues as pilot-and-controller communications styles at airports.
Thromboxane A2 generation by the larval cestode, Taenia taeniaeformis.

Abstract The larval stage of the tapeworm, Taenia taeniaeformis, was incubated in different concentrations of arachidonic acid. At various times after incubation, aliquots were removed for bioassay on either 38 μM aspirin or non-aspirin-treated equine platelets and by radioimmunoassay for the thromboxane A2 breakdown product, thromboxane B2 (TXB2). Platelet agonist activity was detected as early as 30 sec after addition of the arachidonic acid. In aspirin-treated platelets, this agonist activity peaked at 1 to 4 min and thereafter decayed rapidly with a time course that was both worm and arachidonic acid dependent. When assayed on non-aspirin-treated platelets the agonist activity was again detectable as early as 30 sec after addition of arachidonic acid, peaked at 1 to 3 min and then decayed very slowly over a 30-min period of incubation. It was found that levels of TXB2 were detected which increased over time concomitant with the decay of the platelet agonist activity. The most consistent detection of TXB2 generation was at 30 min with a mean of 49.6 pg and a range of 22.1 to 84.8 pg for four experiments. This report presents the first evidence for arachidonic acid utilization by a cestode or trematode and could in part provide an explanation for the marked cellular inflammation noted around dead or dying parasites.
Casein kinase II of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two distinct regulatory subunits, beta and beta'.

Abstract The subunit composition of casein kinase II (CKII) from S. cerevisiae has been difficult to define, particularly with respect to the existence and number of regulatory (β) subunits. A single, integral β subunit, a loosely associated β subunit, two distinct β subunits, and a complete absence of β subunits have all been proposed. Our laboratory reported yeast CKII to be composed of four polypeptides of 42, 41, 35, and 32 kDa (R. Padmanabha and C. V. C. Glover, 1987, J. Biol. Chem. 262, 1829-1835). The 42-35-kDa polypeptides were identified as distinct catalytic subunits, α and α′, on the basis of N-terminal sequencing and subsequent molecular cloning. The 41- and 32-kDa polypeptides were found to undergo autophosphorylation, a characteristic of the β subunit in other species, but antibodies raised against the β subunit of Drosophila CKII crossreacted only with the 41-kDa polypeptide. In order to clarify the subunit composition of yeast CKII, particularly with regard to the 32-kDa polypeptide, we have purified the enzyme to homogeneity using a modified procedure. Based on the results of autophosphorylation studies, Western blotting, peptide mapping of the 41- and 32-kDa polypeptides, and sequencing of subunit-specific peptides, we demonstrate that the 32-kDa polypeptide is an additional β subunit (β′) distinct from the 41-kDa β subunit. This represents the first demonstration of β subunit heterogeneity in purified CKII from any species.
Importance of low salinity areas for juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, in river-dominated estuaries of southeastern United States

Early juveniles represent a critical stage for population dynamics of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. Periodic high predation pressure on small juveniles emphasizes the importance of suitable habitat for refuge. Seagrass beds are an important nursery habitat in some areas, providing refuge from predation as well as possible greater growth rates. However, seagrass beds and certain other subtidal structural habitats, such as subtidal oyster beds, are largely absent from many estuaries along the southeast Atlantic coast from southern North Carolina to southern Georgia. Understanding limitation of blue crab populations in these areas requires knowledge of alternative juvenile habitats. On smaller spatial scales, marsh channels and woody debris may provide refuge and foraging habitat. However, low salinity regions of these estuaries may also provide critical nursery habitat over broader spatial scales. We examined juvenile blue crab use of low salinity areas through a combination of monthly monitoring of distribution patterns across a salinity gradient in two estuaries, examination of growth and survival within single-crab enclosures at sites of varying salinity, and examination of predation pressure from oligohaline to river mouth locations using tethering studies and sampling of predator abundances. Juveniles 24 mm CW) were uncorrelated with salinity or were more common at higher salinity sites. Lower salinity sites were associated with greater survivorship, more rapid molting, and greater crab dry weight compared to higher salinity areas. Tethering indicated a trend towards lower predation mortality at lower salinity areas and abundances of larger conspecifics, a potential predator, were positively associated with increasing salinity in these estuaries. These results suggest that lower salinity regions of the small, river-dominated estuaries of southeastern United States may be utilized as important nursery areas, may be associated with increased growth and reduced predation, and may represent a vital habitat for maintenance of local blue crab populations.
Negligence in securing informed consent and medical malpractice

KIE: The doctrine of informed consent requires that the patient must act voluntarily and in the light of adequate information in order to give legally valid consent to medical care. Different models have been developed by various courts to determine whether the informational requirement, what the physician must disclose to the patient about the potential risks of the proposed treatment, has been met under the tort theory of negligence. To prevail, the patient plaintiff must show that a particular jurisdiction's disclosure standard has been breached, that harm has resulted, and that the defendant physician's negligent failure to discuss certain risks was causally responsible for the patient's failure to withhold consent. Perry discusses possible problems of redundancy or inconsistency concerning the relationship between different models for disclosure and causality, and notes that these problems may have serious implications for patient autonomy.
Characterization of Nonpolar Organic Fine Particulate Matter in Houston, Texas Special Issue ofAerosol Science and Technologyon Findings from the Fine Particulate Matter Supersites Program

Fine particle samples were collected in Houston, TX every second day during the summer of 2000 as part of the EPA-sponsored Houston Fine Particulate Matter Supersite program. Nonpolar compounds including n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and petroleum biomarkers were quantified to determine the molecular composition of the organic fraction of ambient fine particles. The results show that n-alkanes dominate other nonpolar compound classes, with Carbon Preference Index (CPI) values ranging from 1.47 to 1.94. Although plant wax alkanes contribute to ambient concentrations of fine particles, the presence of petroleum biomarkers suggests n-alkanes mainly come from anthropogenic sources, and specific species concentrations are used to separate sites by the degree to which motor vehicle and petroleum combustion emissions impact local air quality. Concentrations of PAH indicate that combustion sources in the industrial zone of Houston contribute to ambient fine particle concentrations. Additional...
Modes in the size distributions of atmospheric inorganic aerosol

Abstract Ambient aerosol in the size range 0.075–16 μm was sampled with Berner cascade impactors during the summer and fall intensive sampling periods of the Southern California Air Quality Study (SCAQS) of 1987. Deposits on the greased Tedlar stage substrates were extracted with deionized water and analyzed for inorganic anions and cations by ion chromatography. Stage mass data were inverted by a modified version of the Twomey nonlinear iterative algorithm and modes in the inverted size distributions were fitted with lognormal functions. Nine hundred size distributions of ionic species were obtained. Three modes, two submicron and one coarse, were sufficient to fit all of the size distributions. The smallest mode, at 0.2±0.1 μm, aerodynamic diameter, is probably a condensation mode containing gas phase reaction products. A larger mode, at 0.7±0.2 μm, is identified as a droplet mode. Evidence was obtained that the droplet mode grew out of the condensation mode by the addition of water and sulfate. During SCAQS, most of the inorganic particle mass was in the droplet mode except during a period of exceptionally low relative humidity. Nitrate was internally mixed with sulfate in the droplet mode. Since most of the aerosol fine mass is included in the ions analyzed, the observed condensation and droplet modes characterize the overall size distribution in the 0.1–1 μm range, previously described by Whitby as a single accumulation mode.
PREDICTIVE VALIDITY OF GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATION SCORES AND UNDERGRADUATE GRADES FOR LENGTH OF TIME TO COMPLETION OF DEGREE

Summary.-This study was intended to investigate the predictive relationship between GRE scores, cumulative undergraduate grade point average, and the length of time (in semesters) from the initiation of graduate study until final completion of a master's degree. Students' records were evaluated for 291 graduate students in psychology who completed master's degrees during a six-year period. Higher cumulative undergraduate grade point averages were sigdicantly correlated with fewer semesters required for completion of a degree for the entire sample. No values of chi squared for the contrasts between program areas were significant, indicating that the correlations obtained can be considered estimates of the same population values. Several studies have investigated the predictive validity of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) for students' performance in master's programs in psychology and education. In most studies, students' cumulative graduate grade point average has been the criterion measure examined (Hartnett & Wdhngham, 1980). A more limited number of studies have examined the relationship between GRE scores and other measures of students' performance; other criterion measures investigated include grades in specific graduate courses (House, Johnson, & Tolone, 1987), students' performance on comprehensive examinations (Omizo & Michael, 1979), and faculty ratings of interpersonal skills (Federici & Schuerger, 1974). Finally, neither GRE-Verbal nor GRE-Quantitative scores were significantly correlated with time to completion of the master's degree in psychology at a Canadian university (Boud
In vivo measurement of the complex shear modulus of rat mammary tumors using shear wave imaging techniques

This paper summarizes dynamic measurements of shear modulus constants acquired for spontaneously growing rat mammary tumors. Measurements are compared with histology to determine tumor types. We also report on 3D shear-wave velocity fields acquired from an inhomogeneous hydrogel phantom with known mechanical properties. Phantom measurements enable us to interpret the effects of tissue structure and geometry on viscoelastic parameter estimates, and demonstrate that reproducible measurements are possible in vivo. Viscoelastic properties describe the mechano-environment of cells undergoing malignant transformation and tumor growth.
The microbiologic ecology of the turkey poult jejunum

Abstract Microbial succession in the jejunum of the commercial turkey poult was elucidated from poults at three different ranches and from successive flocks on a fourth ranch. The microbial ecology of the jejunum appears to consist of Gram-positive organisms in the first few days. The bacterial ecology then primarily becomes a Gram-negative flora. After 3 weeks of age, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus spp. and Campylobacter jejuni dominate the jejunum and this observations is not affected by the time of year of sample collections. It is speculated that this progression and colonization of a dominant jejunal flora is a natural way for poults to prevent pathogenic bacteria from gaining a foothold.
Mild serotonin syndrome associated with concurrent linezolid and fluoxetine.

Purpose. A case of serotonin syndrome that developed during concurrent linezolid and fluoxetine is presented. Summary. A 23-year-old white male patient was originally admitted to receive intravenous chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia. He had a history of intravenous amphetamine abuse, hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis C virus infection, depression, and bipolar disorder. The patient’s routine medications before admission included methadone, fluoxetine, voriconazole, transdermal nicotine patch, lorazepam, and quetiapine. The patient developed persistent neutropenia and complications from chemotherapy, including mild mucositis. Despite treatment with levofloxacin, acyclovir, and voriconazole, the patient developed high fevers. Levofloxacin was discontinued and aztreonam and vancomycin were started. After a blood culture revealed that the bacteria were likely vancomycin resistant, vancomycin was discontinued and linezolid was initiated. Nine hours later, the patient began complaining of severe pain in his abdomen. After a total of four doses of linezolid, the patient reported further discomfort. Two days after linezolid initiation, a health care team member identified the interaction between fluoxetine and linezolid as the cause of the patient’s symptoms, and linezolid was discontinued. All symptoms resolved within 48 hours. While resolution generally occurs within 24–48 hours after discontinuing the offending agent, the time to resolution may be delayed if the agent has a long half-life or active metabolites, in which case admission to an intensive care unit is recommended. Cyproheptadine and chlorpromazine may also be used to treat symptoms. Conclusion. Serotonin syndrome developed in a patient taking concurrent linezolid and fluoxetine.