cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The joint effects of fire and herbivory on hardwood regeneration in central Texas woodlands

Oaks (Quercus spp.) are not regenerating in forests and woodlands in central Texas and elsewhere. This has been attributed to fire suppression. However, overabundant white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can also limit oak regeneration. We hypothesized that both fire re-introduction and protection from deer would increase the number and growth of hardwood seedlings, saplings, and sprouts in a central Texas woodland co-dominated by Texas red oak (Quercus buckleyi) and Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei). We measured the separate and joint effects of prescribed fire and deer herbivory on the number, size, and growth of Ashe juniper and hardwoods, tree mortality, and canopy cover. We collected data one year before and three years after deer-fence construction and a prescribed fire. Fire stimulated re-sprouting in oak and other hardwoods, but had no detectable effect on their seedlings or saplings, even three years later. Deer exclusion increased the number of seedlings transitioning to the sapling size class. Both fire and deer exclusion together were required to increase average sprout height above the browseline. The apparent adaptations of native hardwoods to fire are the strongest evidence we have for an important role for fire pre-settlement. Our results also indicate that fire suppression in central Texas and other parts of the south-central US is causing a shift, not to more mesic-adapted species as observed in the eastern US, but to juniper (Juniperus spp.), which is at least as xeric-adapted as oak. Therefore, thinking about the “oak regeneration problem” needs to be expanded beyond “mesophication” to incorporate the shift to juniper in drier regions. It is likely that deer control is necessary to allow fire to have positive effects on the regeneration of oaks and other hardwoods in this region and wherever deer are over-abundant. Moreover, the negative effects of deer herbivory on oak growth may partially account for reported failures of single fires alone to promote hardwood regeneration elsewhere.
Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with improved plasticity and toughness by high temperature melting

Abstract Our goal was to improve the strength and toughness of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHWMPE), which is the preferred polymeric bearing material in total joint implants. Based on accelerated diffusion of UHMWPE chains at high temperatures, our hypothesis was that high temperature melting could minimize the structural defects and thus improve the toughness of consolidated UHMWPE. Melting of consolidated medical-grade UHMWPE at 280, 300, and 320 °C in inert atmosphere improved the elongation at break, work-to-failure and impact strength, presumably due to chain scissioning and structural defect elimination through self-diffusion. An important finding of this study was that the gain in plasticity and toughness did not sacrifice the wear resistance under optimized melting conditions, which may be promising for next generation high performance UHMWPE materials for joint implant bearing surfaces.
Essence, Existence, and Nominal Definition in Aristotle's Posterior Analytics II 8-10

Our aim in this paper is to clarify the various things Aristotle says about nominal definitions in Book II of the Posterior Analytics. In the early chapters of Book II Aristotle develops a series of puzzles concerning the nature of definition and its relationship to scientific demonstration. In chapters 8-10 answers to the puzzles are given in the course of a positive account of the different types of definitions and how they are related to Aristotle's theory of the syllogism and scientific demonstration. At the beginning of the constructive discussion in chapter 8, Aristotle implies that some of the views expressed in the earlier chapters were not "well said", but he does not indicate which specific views need to be rejected or modified. An adequate account of the discussion of definition in Book II would need to show how the constructive chapters are related to the earlier aporetic chapters, and also how this overall discussion fits into Aristotle's general theory of scientific knowledge and scientific investigation. Our task, as we see it, is an important preliminary to this larger project. We will concentrate on chapters 8-10, and specifically on what is said about the different kinds of definition. Questions about Aristotle's theory of science and scientific investigation will come up along the way, but they will be discussed only insofar as they are related to the different kinds of definition. We will also make a few suggestions about specific modifications and corrections introduced in chapters 8-10, but we will not attempt a general account of the relationship between these chapters and the earlier aporetic discussion. Our discussion will contain three main parts. We will first try to determine which passages in chapters 8-10 provide information about nominal definition, and then give a preliminary characterization of this kind of definition. In the next stage we will focus on questions concerning the relationship between nominal definitions and the existence of the things defined. Finally, we will examine the relationship between nominal and
Abstract P2-11-08: IHC 2+ FISH (-) breast cancer (BC): Patient characteristics and outcomes: A comparison to HER2 IHC 0, 1+ and HER2 + BC diagnosed 2000-2006

Background : HER2 IHC 2+ results are equivocal and lead to FISH testing. FISH(+) results lead to HER2(+) treatment often with trastuzumab. FISH(-) results lead to treatment without trastuzumab. We examined the characteristics and breast cancer-specific mortality of HER2 2+ FISH (-) BC in consecutive patients in a large health care delivery system. Methods: Using the KPNC cancer registry and electronic medical record, we identified 13,845 consecutive stage I-III BC patients diagnosed between 1/2000 and 12/2006 not treated with adjuvant trastuzumab. Patient demographics, disease stage, IHC and FISH results, and breast cancer mortality were obtained. IHC and FISH testing were performed in a single central laboratory . Results: After excluding any adjuvant trastuzumab, 10,760 (78%) patients had HER2 IHC scores of 0,1+, 1,533 (11%) were IHC2+/FISH (-), and 1,552 (11%) were IHC3+ or FISH (+). Compared to patients with IHC 0,1+ tumors, those with IHC2+FISH (-) tumors were younger (mean age 61 vs 62 years, p = 0.03) and more often node+ (36% vs 30%, p = Conclusions: In ER+ patients, those with IHC2+FISH (-) tumors have prognostic characteristics that are intermediate between those with IHC 0,1+ and IHC3+/FISH(+) tumors. Compared to IHC 0,1+ disease, they are at increased risk of BC mortality overall but not within stages. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P2-11-08.
Carcinoma of the Cervix with Patellar Metastases: Case Report

A case of a squamous-cell carcinoma of the cervix with metastases to the patella is of sufficient rarity to warrant reporting. N. V., a white woman, aged thirty-six, was first seen at the Cincinnati General Hospital on Jan. 10, 1936, complaining of vaginal bleeding which had begun the preceding month. History: No family history of cancer was obtained. The patient9s general health had always been fair and except for the usual childhood diseases her history was essentially negative. She had been operated on at another hospital in 1932, at which time a bilateral salpingectomy, appendectomy, cervical repair, and perineorrhaphy were done. The menarche had taken place at fifteen years, and periods had occurred every twenty-four days, of three to seven days9 duration. There was no history of dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, or metrorrhagia. The patient was married, and had had six children, all living, the oldest fourteen years of age, the youngest five years. There had been no miscarriages. There was no complaint of hematuria, polyuria, or nocturia. Occasional attacks of frequency had occurred for several years, which were said to last for several weeks, disappearing spontaneously. The Kahn test was negative on two occasions. Physical Examination: The patient was thin and rather poorly nourished in appearance, anemic looking, and apparently in some pain. There was no undue dyspnea. The examination was essentially negative except for the pelvic findings. The glands of Bartholin and Skene were negative. Just inside the vagina, extending in an anterior direction, was an overgrowth of tissue to the left. The cervix was almost entirely destroyed by cancer. Considerable bleeding was present. The uterus was small and, while it was in anterior position, was firmly fixed. Rectal examination showed no extension of the growth. There was good sphincter control. Diagnosis: A diagnosis of far advanced squamous-cell carcinoma with vaginal extension was made and was confirmed by the microscopic findings on biopsy.
47.2: Plastic Displays ‐ Films for OLED Displays

A plastic display will offer light weight construction, durability, and the potential for flexible product design. Key to achieving these goals is the design of the substrate. This paper will discuss the specifications of a plastic substrate for OLEDs, the development of a substrate that meets the processing requirements, and the results of device testing.
Creating learning environments that support interaction

In previous work [1], we characterized the communication climate in the traditional CS program as a defensive communication climate [2]. As a practical extension of this work, in this brief presentation we will present a few practical techniques for creating the sort of classroom environment that encourages students to participate and also supports group learning.
Visual simulation systems go beyond fantasy: The evolution of computer generated training systems has been essential in best preparing personnel for dangerous and high risk assignments

Adilemma exists in the A proper training of people in uniquely dangerous positions, such as pilots and tank operators. Surely, no organization can afford to risk lives or multi-million dollar equipment to teach the operation of such complicated machines, yet there is no substitute for on-the-job training. How then is it possible to train?
Feedback and content review in programmed instruction

Abstract One-hundred-twenty college undergraduates read a 25-frame program on heart disease, and either did or did not receive feedback after each frame response. Half of the subjects in the feedback groups were not allowed to see the program text while responding to frame questions. Subjects rated their degree of assuredness in the question alternatives selected, and all learners received an immediate posttest over the program content. Feedback facilitated posttest recall and reduced program errors. Absence of text during responding led to longer frame study times and higher posttest performance. High confidence responses yielded the greatest study time for errors and the least time for corrects, while absence of text significantly reduced error study times. These results replicate and extend a model relating feedback, confidence, and postresponse behavior.
Steady groundwater transport of highway deicing agent constituents from an infiltration basin

The highway deicing agent groundwater plume from an infiltration basin in the Plymouth-Carver Aquifer near State Route 25 in southeastern Massachusetts is modeled and measured in order to assess the impact of the basin on groundwater transport processes. The advective transport model superimposes the existing steady models of axisymmetric basin hydraulics of Zlotnik and Ledder in 1992 and the two-dimensional ambient flow of Gelhar and Wilson in 1974. The basin component incorporates a surface source of finite-radius into a Hankel transform model for unconfined aquifers, whereas the ambient component varies linearly in the horizontal and vertical directions. Contaminant streamlines describe the resulting groundwater plume, and highway deicing agent constituents provide useful tracers. A simple vertical dispersion model quantifies the spread of contaminants across the bottom of the plume. Deicing agent constituent data calibrate a 17 m basin radius, a 45 m plume width, a bottom streamline 6–10 m below the w...
Antibody of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome mediates complement-dependent cytolysis of rat Schwann cells: Susceptibility to cytolysis reflects Schwann cell phenotype

Abstract We previously observed that demyelination of dissociated dorsal root ganglion cultures by acute phase serum of some Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS) patients was associated with cytolysis of rat Schwann cells (SC) not committed to myelination. In this study, to determine if SC cytolysis was antibody (Ab) and complement-dependent and if SC at various stages of differentiation were uniformly susceptible, sciatic nerve SC from 1–2-day-old (SC/2d) or 6-day-old (SC/6d) Sprague Dawley rats were sensitized with IgM from GBS patients or normal controls and incubated at 37°C for 60 min with 25% guinea pig serum complement. Cytolysis was detected by vital dye exclusion. IgM Ab of 11 GBS patients induced complement-mediated cytolysis of 10.7–64.1% SC/2d (38.3 ± 18.8; mean ± SD) which was significantly higher than cytolysis of SC/6d (8.5–32%) or that by normal controls (15.0 ± 15.2 SC/2d; 8.3 ± 3.3 SC/6d mean ± SD, n = 11). Culture of SC/6d increased their cytolysis by IgM plus complement to the levels similar to that of SC/2d. FACS analysis suggested that the greater sensitivity of SC/2d to cytolysis did not reflect greater antibody binding since 2.6-fold less GBS IgM was required to initiate SC/2d lysis compared to SC/6d. This suggested that the less differentiated SC were more susceptible to complement-mediated cytolysis.
A Database of Alkaline-Earth-Coordinated Peptide Cross Sections: Insight into General Aspects of Structure

A database of 1470 collision cross sections (666 doubly- and 804 triply-charged) of alkaline-earth-coordinated tryptic peptide ions [where the cation (M2+) correspond to Mg2+, Ca2+, or Ba2+] is presented. The utility of such an extensive set of measurements is illustrated by extraction of general properties of M2+-coordinated peptide structures. Specifically, we derive sets of intrinsic size parameters (ISPs) for individual amino acid residues for M2+-coordinated peptides. Comparison of these parameters with existing ISPs for protonated peptides suggests that M2+ binding occurs primarily through interactions with specific polar aliphatic residues (Asp, Ser, and Thr) and the peptide backbone. A comparison of binding interactions for these alkaline-earth metals with interactions reported previously for alkali metals is provided. Finally, we describe a new analysis in which ISPs are used as probes for assessing peptide structure based on amino acid composition.
Fundamental frequency during phonetically governed devoicing in normal young and aged speakers

Age-related changes in the laryngeal system can be perceived as altered vocal pitch and increased pitch variability. However, reports vary as to the nature and extent of an age effect on fundamental frequency (F0) for analyses taken over long segments of connected speech. Analysis of F0 across a smaller time frame may be more informative. Young speakers show an increase in F0 associated with phonetically governed devoicing gestures that is likely mediated by increased vocal fold stiffness. Anatomic and neurophysiologic changes in the aged larynx may limit the role of increased vocal fold stiffness in the devoicing gesture. This study tests the hypothesis that aged speakers show a smaller increase in F0 in association with the devoicing gesture for production of an intervocalic voiceless obstruent than do young speakers. Normal young and aged speakers produced a short sentence containing an intervocalic voiceless obstruent. Measures of F0 were obtained for ten cycles before voice offset and ten cycles after voice onset. Young speakers showed a small increase in F0 during devoicing whereas aged speakers showed a decrease in F0 during devoicing. Aged speakers seem to rely more on vocal fold abduction rather than a combination of abduction and tensing to achieve devoicing.
First-trimester screening for trisomy 21 in pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization

CONCEIVED BY IN VITRO FERTILIZATION SRIRAM C. PERNI, ROBIN B. KALISH, GEETA SHARMA, MERUKA GUPTA, JENNIFER E. CHO, STEPHEN T. CHASEN, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Obstetrics & Gynecology, New York, NY OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to examine the effect of in vitro fertilization (IVF) on first-trimester levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (b-hCG), and nuchal translucency (NT) measurements used in aneuploidy screening. STUDY DESIGN: We compared the first-trimester maternal dried whole blood specimens for PAPP-A and b-hCG of 31 singleton pregnancies conceived by IVF with 135 pregnancies conceived spontaneously. Maternal serum biochemistry analysis was performed by NTD Laboratories and was reported as multiples of the median (MoM). NT was measured using the Fetal Medicine Foundation protocol from 11-14 weeks of gestation. Pregnancies conceived by IVF were matched with four spontaneous conception controls. Subgroups were stratified based on gestational age. Free b-hCG, PAPP-A, and NT levels were compared between the IVF and control groups using the Mann-Whitney U statistical test. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: PAPP-A levels were 6.6% lower and free b-hCG levels were 2.8% higher in pregnancies conceived by IVF compared to spontaneous conceptions, although this did not reach statistical significance. Among the patients presenting at the earliest gestational age range, median PAPP-A was significantly lower (0.82 MoM versus 1.68 MoM, P = 0.036) in the IVF pregnancies. b-hCG and NTmeasurements did not differ significantly between the two groups at any gestational age. However, there was a trend towards increased median NT measurements in IVF pregnancies from 11.5 12.5 weeks of gestation (1.55 mm versus 1.45 mm, P = 0.09) compared to the controls at the same gestational age. CONCLUSION: In singleton pregnancies conceived by IVF, PAPP-A levels appear to be lower early in gestation. Larger studies are necessary to explore the possibility of using appropriate adjustment factors to correct for IVF gestations.
Prediction of natural history of neuromuscular properties after stroke using Fugl-Meyer scores at 1 month.

Background. The link between spasticity and impaired voluntary movement after stroke remains unclear because of the lack of suitable tools characterizing properties of spastic muscles. Describing this relationship early poststroke can potentially help predict the extent and time course of recovery. Objective. To describe the time course of changes in neuromuscular properties after stroke using the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) at 1 month to predict recovery patterns over 1 year. Methods.Using a parallel cascade system identification technique, this study characterized intrinsic and reflex behaviors for different mean elbow joint angles, at specified times poststroke. Then the “growth mixture” model was used to characterize recovery patterns over 1 year. Logistic regression analyses were applied to predict these patterns. The impact of patient characteristics was also investigated. Results. In 21 stroke survivors, 14 had sustained hemorrhage and 7 had thromboses. The study observed several re...
Decrease in Water-Soluble 17β-Estradiol and Testosterone in Composted Poultry Manure with Time

Little attention has been paid to the environmental fate of the hormones 17beta-estradiol and testosterone excreted in animal waste. Land application of manure has a considerable potential to affect the environment with these endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). Composting is known to decompose organic matter to a stable, humus-like material. The goal of the present study was to quantitatively assess levels of water-soluble 17beta-estradiol and testosterone in composting chicken manure with time. Chicken layer manure was mixed with hay, straw, decomposed leaves, and starter compost, adjusted to approximately 60% moisture, and placed into a windrow. A clay-amended windrow was also prepared. Windrows were turned weekly, and temperature, oxygen, and CO(2) in the composting mass were monitored for either 133 or 139 d. Commercial enzyme immunoassay kits were used to quantitate the levels of 17beta-estradiol and testosterone in aqueous sample extracts. Water-soluble quantities of both hormones diminished during composting. The decrease in 17beta-estradiol followed first-order kinetics, with a rate constant k = -0.010/d. Testosterone levels declined at a slightly higher rate than 17beta-estradiol (i.e., k = -0.015/d). Both hormones could still be measured in aqueous extracts of compost sampled at the conclusion of composting. The decline in water-soluble 17beta-estradiol and testosterone in extracts of clay-amended compost was not statistically different from normal compost. These data suggest that composting may be an environmentally friendly technology suitable for reducing, but not eliminating, the concentrations of these endocrine disrupting hormones at concentrated animal operation facilities.
Flesh Made Word: The Obese Body as Cultural Matter

Emergent narratives regarding the obese body challenge the received discourse, which posits that body as the materialization of individual moral failings. In this essay, I assess the emergent spiritual dysfunction narrative, which I contend sites the obese body as a field for and agent of the negotiation of contemporary tensions around consumption. To that end, I assess mainstream representations of three women—Oprah Winfrey, Carnie Wilson, and Kirstie Alley—whose ongoing and highly publicized “battles” with obesity have been prominently featured in mainstream media in recent years. I argue that popular discourse around these figures locates the tensions around consumption within the dialectics of individual/community and materialism/spiritualism, navigating those tensions in such as to repair and restore broader, currently precarious neoliberal logics.
Aberration-free measurements of the visibility of isoluminant gratings

We developed a new apparatus and psychophysical technique to extend isoluminant contrast-sensitivity measurements to high spatial frequencies. The apparatus consists of two identical laser interferometers that are designed to produce phase-locked two-color interference fringes on the retina without the influence of diffraction and most aberrations in the eye. However, even with interferometry, transverse chromatic aberration of the eye can produce a wavelength-dependent phase shift in the interference fringes, which can be exaggerated by head movements. To reduce the effect of head movements, isoluminant red and green interference fringes of equal spatial frequency and orientation were drifted slowly in opposite directions to guarantee a purely isochromatic (in phase) and a purely isoluminant (out of phase) stimulus during each cycle of stimulus presentation. With this technique we found that observers could resolve red and green stripes at spatial frequencies higher than 20 cycles per degree (c/deg) (20–27 c/deg), substantially higher than has previously been reported. This places a lower bound on the sampling density of neurons that mediate color vision. At all spatial frequencies, even those above the isoluminant resolution limit, a relative phase of the red and the green components could be found that obliterated the appearance of luminance modulation at the fringe frequency. Above the resolution limit, red–green-isoluminant interference fringes are seen as spatial noise, which may be chromatic aliasing caused by spatial sampling at some stage in the chromatic pathway.
Challenges in automated detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) is a precursor to invasive cervical cancer, which annually accounts for about 3700 deaths in the United States and about 274,000 worldwide. Early detection of CIN is important to reduce the fatalities due to cervical cancer. While the Pap smear is the most common screening procedure for CIN, it has been proven to have a low sensitivity, requiring multiple tests to confirm an abnormality and making its implementation impractical in resource-poor regions. Colposcopy and cervicography are two diagnostic procedures available to trained physicians for non-invasive detection of CIN. However, many regions suffer from lack of skilled personnel who can precisely diagnose the bio-markers due to CIN. Automatic detection of CIN deals with the precise, objective and non-invasive identification and isolation of these bio-markers, such as the Acetowhite (AW) region, mosaicism and punctations, due to CIN. In this paper, we study and compare three different approaches, based on Mathematical Morphology (MM), Deterministic Annealing (DA) and Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM), respectively, to segment the AW region of the cervix. The techniques are compared with respect to their complexity and execution times. The paper also presents an adaptive approach to detect and remove Specular Reflections (SR). Finally, algorithms based on MM and matched filtering are presented for the precise segmentation of mosaicism and punctations from AW regions containing the respective abnormalities.
Measurement of residual stress in single crystal silicon wafers

The presence of residual stresses in silicon single crystals greatly affects the performance and reliability of the integrated circuits. Residual stresses are developed in silicon wafers during growth of boules as well as in the thermal processing. These stresses can be determined in wafers by analysis of the out-of-plane deformation under transversally axisymmetrically loading. The out-of plane deformation can be used in a model of a modified circular plate theory undergoing large deflections. Shadow Moire interferometry has been used to measure the surface shape contour pattern of a silicon wafer. The phase of the wavefront from the interferogram was obtained. A study of phase stepping and unwrapping technique was used to obtain the out-of-plane displacement of the wafer. A model of thin plates undergoing large deflection is used to extract the radial and tangential residual stresses.
Cardiology's workforce shortage: implications for patient care and research.

The common wisdom at the end of the 20th century was that the United States was training too many specialists, including cardiologists.1 By 2001, however, there was increasing evidence that the supply of cardiologists was not meeting the growing demand. That year, as president-elect of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), I appointed a task force to evaluate cardiology workforce. The task force undertook a 2-year process of literature review, hypothesis generation, research design, data acquisition, and analysis. This intense effort included a Bethesda Conference at which consensus was achieved on a report that will be published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology . Based on various types of information and data, the ACC task force concluded that the United States is facing a shortage of cardiologists. This will reduce access to specialty care of proven benefit and will undermine our nation’s vital cardiovascular research effort. The Bethesda Conference report includes 8 working group documents that recommend several short- and intermediate-term strategies to help narrow the growing demand-supply gap for cardiologists (see Table 1). Some recommendations can be implemented at a local practice or institution level. Others will require a series of complex and coordinated actions at a national level. Hopefully, the report will catalyze actions by academic medical centers, regulatory organizations, federal policymakers, professional societies, and others that influence the output of cardiovascular specialists. View this table: TABLE 1. Working Groups of the ACC Task Force on Workforce Several things continue to drive demand for cardiologists. Elsewhere, I have argued that various scientific, social, and demographic “demand catalysts” outweigh factors that might decrease demand for cardiologists during the next decade2 (see Table 2). Although the relative influence of each demand factor will change over time, one thing is certain: the cardiovascular disease burden in the United States …
The Block Diagonally-Relaxed Orthogonal Projection Algorithm for Compressed Sensing Based Tomography

In this paper, we propose a block diagonally-relaxed orthogonal projection algorithm incorporated into the total variation minimization for computed tomography image reconstruction in the compressed sensing framework and derive its convergence. A numerical experiment is performed to illustrate the convergence of the new algorithm.
Improvement of elastographic displacement estimation using a two-step cross-correlation method.

The cross-correlation algorithm used to compute the local strain components for elastographic imaging requires a minimum radio-frequency data segment length of around 10 wavelengths to obtain accurate and precise strain estimates with a reasonable signal-to-noise ratio. Shorter radio-frequency data segments generally introduce increased estimation errors as the information content in the data segment reduces. However, shorter data segments and increased overlaps are essential to improve the axial resolution in the strain image. In this paper, we propose a two-step cross-correlation technique that enables the use of window lengths on the order of a single wavelength to provide displacement and strain estimates with similar noise properties as those obtained with a 10 wavelength window. The first processing step utilizes a window length on the order of 10 wavelengths to obtain coarse displacement estimates between the pre- and postcompression radio frequency data frames. This coarse displacement is then interpolated and utilized as the initial guess-estimate for the second cross-correlation processing step using the smaller window. This step utilizes a single wavelength window to improve the axial resolution in strain estimation, without significantly compromising the noise properties of the image. Simulation and experimental results show that the signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratio estimates improve significantly at the smaller window lengths with the two-step processing when compared with the use of a similar sized window in the currently utilized single window method.
Effects of pulsatile administration of growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone on short term linear growth in children with GH deficiency

To assess the efficacy of GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) in the treatment of GH deficiency, we measured the effects of pulsatile iv GHRH administration on GH secretion, plasma levels of somatomedin-C (SmC), and short term linear growth (as determined by lower leg measurements) in seven GHdeficient children in a placebo-controlled study. Either GHRH, at a dose of 1 μg/kg (seven patients), or 0.9% saline (NS; four of these patients) was given iv every 3 h for 9–12 days; all patients also received GH for a similar period. Lower leg length was measured every 3 weeks before and after each treatment. GHRH was more effective than placebo in accelerating linear growth (P < 0.05). The responses, however, were heterogeneous; four of the children responded with accelerated growth, and three did not. Two of the children who failed to grow had no increase in plasma GH or SmC during GHRH administration, and one had an attenuated GH response. The four children who grew had induction of pulsatile GH secretion [mean peak GH,...
Quantum modeling of lanthanide complexes on parallel supercomputers

Lanthanide chemistry is of growing importance in a variety of catalytic and advanced materials applications. The paper describes preliminary efforts towards the quantum modeling of lanthanide complexes. Previous work on atomic systems is extended to molecular complexes. The efficiency of improved methods (effective core potentials) and parallel algorithms are investigated for addressing the chemistry of these neglected, but increasingly important elements. >
Surface reconstruction with triangular B-splines

This paper presents a modeling technique for reconstructing a triangular B-spline surface from a set of scanned 3D points. Unlike existing surface reconstruction methods based on tensor-product B-splines which primarily generate a network of patches and then enforce certain continuity (usually, G/sup 1/ or C/sup 1/) between adjacent patches, our algorithm can avoid the complicated procedures of surface trimming and patching. In our framework, the user simply specifies the degree n of the triangular B-spline surface and fitting error tolerance /spl epsi/. The surface reconstruction procedure generates a single triangular B-spline patch that has C/sup n-1/ continuity over smooth regions and C/sup 0/ on sharp features. More importantly, all the knots and control points are determined by minimizing a linear combination of interpolation and fairness functionals. Examples are presented which demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique for real data sets.
Changes in Student Attitudes Towards 6 Dimensions of Digital Engagement in a Program of Game Design Learning

This paper reports findings from the 2009/2010 pilot school year of Globaloria-WV. The project being piloted in WV schools as a state-wide network of game design learning and social media engagement among youth. Middle, high school and community college students enroll in a blended learning game design elective course offered daily, for 1 or 2 semesters, credit and a grade. N=386 middle and high school students for Pilot Year 3 (2009/2010 school year). Overall, pre and post program survey results partially support our hypothesis that student attitudes towards the range of practices in several categories of participant engagement are positively influenced by their experience in the program. Especially for practices representing the more Constructionist engagement categories, our pre and post-program self-report survey analysis using t-test statistics indicates increases in student motivation towards, and understanding of these practices as a result of participation. That is, their post-program motivation was greater than their pre-program motivation, indicating a measure of success in the program at meeting the stated learning objectives. For three other less-Constructionist but active technology-use categories (e.g., information seeking), the results were more varied with regard to statistically significant increases. Ceiling effects may have played a role in this; pre-survey means were higher for such practices than the more Constructionist ones. The motivational findings on their own appear to indicate the appeal of the workshop style of learning among a large enough group of participants to see statistical effects of change.
Optimal digestion theory does not predict the effect of pathogens on intestinal plasticity

One prediction of optimal digestion theory is that organisms will increase the relative length of their digestive tracts when food resources become limited. We used theory of optimal digestion to test whether tadpoles can adjust the relative length of their intestines when challenged with the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). The degree of tadpole mouthpart damage, a symptom of Bd infections that reduces food consumption, was associated positively with the length of tadpole intestines relative to their body size, consistent with optimal digestion theory. After controlling for mouthpart damage, tadpoles exposed to Bd had shorter intestines relative to their body size, opposite to the predictions of optimal digestion theory. One explanation of why tadpoles with higher Bd loads have shorter relative intestinal lengths is that they divert energy from maintaining intestinal and overall growth towards anti-parasite defences.
Self-esteem mediates narcissism and aggression among women, but not men: A comparison of two theoretical models of narcissism among college students

Abstract Previous research has linked narcissism, self-esteem, and aggression. Two theoretical models have been advanced to explain these relationships: the psychodynamic mask model and the threatened egotism model, each with empirical support. Past research has found gender differences in narcissism, self-esteem, and aggression; however, little extant research into relationships between these variables has explored the role of gender. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of self-esteem between narcissism and aggression (physical aggression and verbal aggression) among U.S. college students and to explore whether these relationships varied between men and women. Results found support for the psychodynamic mask model, but only among women.
The use of image guided laser interstitial thermotherapy to supplement spine stereotactic radiosurgery to manage metastatic epidural spinal cord compression: Proof of concept and dosimetric analysis

Spine stereotactic radiosurgery (SSRS) is a form of stereotactic body radiation therapy by which advanced treatment delivery techniques (eg, intensity modulated radiotherapy) are combined with image guidance and rigid immobilization to deliver a high dose of conformal radiation to the target while minimizing dose to nearby critical structures such as the spinal cord. For well-selected patients, SSRS offers durable local control1 and pain relief.2 However, patients with epidural disease continue to pose a clinical treatment challenge. Patterns of failure analyses have shown a predilection for failure in the epidural space.3 Given that the spinal cord dose restrictions take precedence over tumor coverage, cases with epidural extension generally have suboptimal dose delivery to the gross tumor volume (GTV). Improved local control with single-fraction SSRS has correlated with dosimetric factors such as the
Resource distribution in neonatology: beyond the Pareto principle

The field of neonatology grew up with an abiding philosophy of rescue. The first two decades of our published literature are replete with evaluations of technology to provide cardiorespiratory support to the most vulnerable of infants, and our community is rightly proud of its accomplishments in lowering the threshold of viability while making some gains in rates of associated morbidities. However, the enormous effect sizes seen in that era—for therapies such as surfactant, inhaled nitric oxide for term respiratory failure or antenatal corticosteroids—are now much less frequently demonstrated. That presents us with an opportunity to identify additional, new priorities. Late in the 19th century, economist Vilfredo Pareto identified the concept that wealth is distributed according to a power law, in which most resources are concentrated among a small number of individuals. In neonatology, the same principle has applied to our research priorities: the large majority of effort, federal funding, advocacy and publication have been targeted to the sickest, smallest infants. In the USA, 1.9% of the 2013 annual birth cohort was delivered before 32 weeks, while 9.5% was delivered between 32 and 36 weeks.1 In contrast, a PubMed search yields 540 citations with reference to moderate and late prematurity in their titles when compared with 6068 referring to the extremely or very-preterm population.i Thus, it might be argued that 17% of premature infants have commanded 92% of our scholarly attention. For many years, this state of affairs was supportable by our belief that these high-volume infants did not contribute markedly to the aggregate burden of …
The Cinnabar Moth, Tyria jacobaeae for Control of Tansy Ragwort

The cinnabar moth. Tyria jacobaceae (L.), is making promising progress in the control of tansy ragwort, Senecio jacobaea near Fort Bragg, California. Although the insect is established in other areas of California and Oregon, the densities of populations have not yet reached the level required for control of the plant. In California, biological development of the insect is synchronized with the development of the plant, and parasites, predators, and disease have had little effect on the population at Fort Bragg.
Is a Marketing Man Just a Marketing Man

Journal of Marketing, Vol. 28 (April, 1964), pp. 8-9. WHEN a person is asked to identify himself in the marketing field, it is difficult to find an adequate designation. One can always say, "I am a marketing man." But this might imply that one sells fruits and vegetables at some busy intersection. It is no more dignified or professional than to refer to a physician as a "medicine man" or a lawyer as a "law man." Fortunate in this respect are those people associated with fields of knowledge which end in "y"-such as botany, psychology, or agronomy. By simply dropping the "y" and adding "ist," these names are turned into botanist, psychologist, and agronomist. The "ist" suffix is defined as "one who holds to certain principles or doctrines."
Employer attitudes about criminal histories.

OBJECTIVE Although the individual placement and support (IPS) approach has demonstrated superior competitive employment outcomes for people with severe mental illness, practitioners report that job obtainment for people with criminal convictions is particularly challenging. The current study examined employer hiring decisions and attitudes regarding job applicants with felonies. The main purpose of the study was to identify the percentage of employers who had knowingly hired applicants with felonies, and if the hiring patterns differed by employer type. METHOD Twelve employment specialists from nine states interviewed 128 employers about their past hiring practices. Two IPS trainers coordinated the project with the specialists. RESULTS Survey findings did not support common assumptions held by employment specialists about employer attitudes. Sixty-three percent of employers surveyed said that they had knowingly hired at least one person with a felony conviction. Further, few businesses had written policies that would prohibit the hiring of people with felony convictions. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Employers' reported reasons for having hired individuals with felony convictions provide a framework to help jobseekers improve their prospects for favorable hiring decisions. Employers suggested that relationships with employment specialists can also facilitate the hiring of applicants with felonies.
Antiviral Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Induction and Vaccination

In developing vaccines to counteract viral infections, it is important to produce reagents that engender the type of immune response best suited to provide protection and avoid immunopathology. Recovery from infection is the principal role of T cell immunity, and cells that recognize virus-infected cells (cytotoxic T lymphocytes) and kill them--often before new virus is replicated--represent a crucial component of the recovery process. The cytotoxic T lymphocytes are particularly important in situations where the load of infection is high. In this review the cells and mediators, as well as the viral and host cell antigens involved in antiviral induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the importance of the intracellular pathway of processing taken by viral antigens and the outcome in terms of the recognition of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The new types of vaccines--especially subunits, antiidiotypes, and recombinant viral vectors--are discussed in terms of their likely effectiveness at inducing cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
Estival Diapause of the Alfalfa Weevil in Wisconsin

As measured by respiration (<0.45 µliter 02/mg wet weight per hour), the potential imaginal estival-diapause period of Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) extended from May to October. Current-year adults entered diapause after a 3- to 4-week feeding period. Males entered diapause in an immature state. Sperm-cyst development began in mid-August, concurrently with increasing respiration. No observable changes in the female gonads occurred until late September. The diapause-free period (October-May) is interrupted in Wisconsin by cold winters, thus resulting in abbreviated reproduction. Some females lived over 3 years and underwent 3 successive estival diapauses. Resorption of eggs and sperm and hypertrophy of the fat-body occurred in rediapaused adults. A small percentage of both overwintered and current-year females failed to diapause and oviposited during the summer months.
Micromachined Frequency-Output Force Probes

This letter presents a new class of microelectromechanical systems-based frequency output force and displacement probes with sub-nanometer displacement resolution. The force probe is a single layer monolithic crystalline silicon micro-structure comprised of a thermal-piezoresistive resonator embedded within a micro-cantilever. Deflection of the cantilever due to the applied force mechanically distorts the resonator modulating its resonance frequency. Such devices can be used as atomic force microscope probes or high-resolution surface profilometers with fully electrical operation eliminating the bulky and complex optical detectors typically used in such systems. A prototype sensor, operating at 7.5MHz, shows a displacement sensitivity of 2.5 Hz/nm. With a typical Allen deviation of 0.1-0.2 ppm for similar resonators operated as self-sustained oscillators, frequency resolution in the order of 1 Hz is expected to be achievable. This translates to 0.4 nm of displacement and 11 nN of force resolution for such sensors.
Innate lymphoid cells as regulators of immunity, inflammation and tissue homeostasis

Research over the last 7 years has led to the formal identification of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), increased the understanding of their tissue distribution and has established essential functions of ILCs in diverse physiological processes. These include resistance to pathogens, the regulation of autoimmune inflammation, tissue remodeling, cancer and metabolic homeostasis. Notably, many ILC functions appear to be regulated by mechanisms distinct from those of other innate and adaptive immune cells. In this Review, we focus on how group 2 ILC (ILC2) and group 3 ILC (ILC3) responses are regulated and how these cells interact with other immune and non-immune cells to mediate their functions. We highlight experimental evidence from mouse models and patient-based studies that have elucidated the effects of ILCs on the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and the consequences for health and disease.
Conspiracy Theory: “Britannia’s Distant Shore”

Chapter 1 addresses a multidisciplinary resistance to reading Wheatley and Milton together. Sifting through literary histories of Milton in early America and postcolonial studies of Wheatley in the context of transatlantic culture and African American literature, it discovers a deep-seated unease about bringing British (and especially Miltonic) literary tradition to bear on early American studies in general and African American or transatlantic cultural studies in particular. In response, the Chapter brings together a mix of revisionist history, protofeminism, early African American studies, intertextuality, pre-nineteenth-century cultural history, and Milton studies in order to lay a working foundation for understanding the epochal nature of Wheatley’s poetic achievement in Revolution-era Anglo-America.
Isaac Rosenfeld’s Passage

Every age has its theme words, its verbal icons and semantic beacons that footnote its history, highlight its conflicts, and trace, however hazily, the stream of its consciousness. In the 1940s, words that gained favor among a small but influential group of intellectuals were “crisis,” “transition,” and “alienation,” this last of which was virtually a cult term among those homeless radicals who saw “life without dogma and without hope” as their fate and, making a virtue of necessity, their refuge as well.