cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The cellular basis of hearing: the biophysics of hair cells

A crucial event in the hearing process is the transduction of mechanical stimuli into electrical signals by hair cells, the sensory receptors of the internal ear. Stimulation results in the rapid opening of ionic channels in the mechanically sensitive organelles of these cells, their hair bundles. These transduction channels, which are nonselectively permeable, are directly excited by hair-bundle displacement. Hair cells are selectively responsive to particular frequencies of stimulation, both due to the mechanical properties of their hair bundles and because of an ensemble of ionic channels that constitute an electrical resonator.
Optical generation of a precise microwave frequency comb by harmonic frequency locking

A semiconductor laser under negative optoelectronic feedback is applied to the generation of a microwave frequency comb through the nonlinear dynamics. The laser system is operated in a harmonic frequency-locked pulsing state, where its power spectrum is a microwave frequency comb that consists of multiples of a locking frequency. Every frequency component of the comb can be simultaneously stabilized by simply injecting an external microwave modulation at any component of the comb. This phenomenon can be viewed as a kind of microwave injection locking of the laser dynamics.
Carcinoma of the vagina following cervical cancer.

Vaginal carcinomas at Magee-Womens Hospital were reviewed for a 25-year period: 51 were cases of invasive carcinoma and 23 were of carcinoma in situ. Invasive vaginal carcinoma accounted for 2.1% of all female genital tract neoplasms. Of the 23 cases of in situ carcinoma of the vagina, 16 (70%) were synchronous with or subsequent to cervical cancer; of the 51 with invasive vaginal carcinoma, 14 (27%) had concurrent or antecedent cervical cancer. This strikingly high frequent association of vaginal cancer with cervical neoplasia emphasized the multicentric occurrence of carcinoma in the lower female genital tract. The importance of lifelong periodic clinical and cytologic examinations of all patients with or without a history of previous cervical neoplasia is stressed for the detection of early vaginal lesions.
AFFECTS OF ALCOHOLIC CONSUMPTION ON THE ACTIVITY PATTERNS OF INDIVIDUAL RHESUS MONKEYS AND THEIR BEHAVIOR IN A SOCIAL GROUP

Activity patterns of rhesus monkeys, including social roles, dominance hierarchies, and the like have previously been investigated. The present paper reports an attempt to determine: (1) the social roles, dominance hierarchy and other activities of a group of rhesus monkeysbefore inducing alcohol into their drinking patterns; (2) the behavior of each individual animalbefore alcohol is consumed; (3) the effects of alcohol on individual behaviorafter consumption, and (4) the changes, if any, in the structure and activity of the social groupafter they have consumed the alcoholic beverage. Results indicated that drinking of an alcoholic beverage by rhesus monkeys does affect both individual as well as social behaviors.
Age-related inducibility of carboxylesterases by the antiepileptic agent phenobarbital and implications in drug metabolism and lipid accumulation

Carboxylesterases (CES) constitute a class of hydrolytic enzymes that play critical roles in drug metabolism and lipid mobilization. Previous studies with a large number of human liver samples have suggested that the inducibility of carboxylesterases is inversely related with age. To directly test this possibility, neonatal (10 days of age) and adult mice were treated with the antiepileptic agent phenobarbital. The expression and hydrolytic activity were determined on six major carboxylesterases including ces1d, the ortholog of human CES1. Without exception, all carboxylesterases tested were induced to a greater extent in neonatal than adult mice. The induction was detected at mRNA, protein and catalytic levels. Ces1d was greatly induced and found to rapidly hydrolyze the antiplatelet agent clopidogrel and support the accumulation of neutral lipids. Phenobarbital represents a large number of therapeutic agents that induce drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters in a species-conserved manner. The higher inducibility of carboxylesterases in the developmental age likely represents a general phenomenon cross species including human. Consequently, individuals in the developmental age may experience greater drug-drug interactions. The greater induction of ces1d also provides a molecular explanation to the clinical observation that children on antiepileptic drugs increase plasma lipids.
C−H Activation and Functionalization of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons by Transition-Metal Boryl Complexes

Transition-metal boryl complexes of the form Cp‘Fe(CO)LBcat and (CO)5MBcat, where Cp‘ = C5H5, C5Me5, M = Mn, Re, L = CO, PMe3, and cat = 1,2-O2C6H4, were synthesized by reaction of ClBcat with [Cp‘Fe(CO)L]- or [M(CO)5]-. X-ray crystal structures of CpFe(CO)2Bcat, Cp*Fe(CO)2Bcat, and (CO)5MnBcat were obtained. Upon irradiation, these metal boryl complexes reacted with arenes and alkenes to form aryl- and vinylboronate ester products in moderate to high yields. Monosubstituted arenes with methyl, chloro, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, and dimethylamino substituents were used as substrates, and the resulting ratios of ortho- to meta- to para-substituted arene products were measured. No significant electronic effects were observed, indicating that the chemistry is not occurring through a typical electrophilic aromatic substitution pathway. Competition experiments between toluene and other substituted arenes were conducted. Reactivity differences were small, but anisole was found to have the fastest rate of reactio...
Contractarianism and Animal Rights

In this chapter, I shall argue that a strong — and perhaps the best — case for the moral claims of non-human animals can be made using the apparatus of contractarian or contractualist moral theory. The canonical version of contemporary contractarianism was supplied by John Rawls, in A Theory of Justice and subsequent writings. I am going to argue that contractarianism, of a form recognizably similar to that defended by Rawls, can be used to underwrite the moral claims of animals. In particular, it can be used to justify the claim that non-human animals possess moral rights.
Treatment of hair pulling and hair manipulation maintained by digital-tactile stimulation.

Treatment was provided for the hair pulling and hair manipulation of a 19-year-old woman (Kris) diagnosed with mental retardation across multiple settings in her home. Treatment probes conducted prior to our formal treatment evaluation indicated that hair pulling was suppressed when Kris wore either a 2.5-lb wrist weight or a golf glove. However, these interventions did not produce sustained reductions of hair pulling during the treatment evaluation. Therefore, a procedure involving response interruption and differential reinforcement for the absence of hair pulling and hair manipulation was implemented, which produced near-zero levels of hair pulling. The results of this intervention were socially validated and recommendations for further research are provided.
Repositioning-Dependent Fate of Duplicate Genes

Gene duplication is the main source of evolutionary novelties. However, the problem with duplicates is that the purifying selection overlooks deleterious mutations in the redundant sequence, which therefore, instead of gaining a new function, often degrades into a functionless pseudogene. This risk of functional loss instead of gain is much higher for small populations of higher organisms with a slow and complex development. We propose that it is the epigenetic tissue/stage-complementary silencing of duplicates that makes them exposable to the purifying selection, thus saving them from pseudogenization and opening the way towards new function(s). Our genome-wide analyses of gene duplicates in several eukaryotic species combined with the phylogenetic comparison of vertebrate alpha- and beta-globin gene clusters strongly support this epigenetic complementation (EC) model. The distinctive condition for a new duplicate to survive by the EC mechanism seems to be its repositioning to an ectopic site, which is accompanied by changes in the rate and direction of mutagenesis. The most distinguished in this respect is the human genome. In this review, we extend and discuss the data on the EC- and repositioning-dependent fate of gene duplicates with the special emphasis on the problem of detecting brief postduplication period of adaptive evolution driven by positive selection. Accordingly, we propose a new CpG-focused measure of selection that is insensitive to translocation-caused biases in mutagenesis.
Uncertainties of measures in speaker recognition evaluation

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Speaker Recognition Evaluations (SRE) are an ongoing series of projects conducted by NIST. In the NIST SRE, speaker detection performance is measured using a detection cost function, which is defined as a weighted sum of probabilities of type I error and type II error. The sampling variability can result in measurement uncertainties of the detection cost function. Hence, while evaluating and comparing the performances of speaker recognition systems, the uncertainties of measures must be taken into account. In this article, the uncertainties of detection cost functions in terms of standard errors (SE) and confidence intervals are computed using the nonparametric two-sample bootstrap methods based on our extensive bootstrap variability studies on large datasets conducted before. The data independence is assumed because the bootstrap results of SEs matched very well with the analytical results of SEs using the Mann-Whitney statistic for independent and identically distributed samples if the metric of area under a receiver operating characteristic curve is employed. Examples are provided.
Synthesis, structure and spectra of ammonium (2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehydeS-methylthiosemicarbazonato) dioxovanadate(V)

Crystals of ammonium (2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehydeS-methylthiosemicarbazonato)dioxovanadate(V), NH4[VO2L], were synthesized from aqueous ammonia solution of NH4VO3 and 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehydeS-methylthiosemicarbazone (H2L). They belong to the monoclinic system, space group P21/a, a=8.344(2), b=14.988(5), c=10.460(3)A, β=96.408(2)°.
Polyaniline nanofiber/gold nanoparticle nonvolatile memory

A nonvolatile plastic digital memory device based on nanofibers of the conjugated polymer polyaniline decorated with gold nanoparticles is reported. The device has a simple structure consisting of the plastic composite film sandwiched between two electrodes. An external bias is used to program the ON and OFF states of the device that are separated by a 3-orders-of-magnitude difference in conductivity. ON−OFF switching times of less than 25 ns are observed by electrical pulse measurements. The devices possess prolonged retention times of several days after they have been programmed. Write−read−erase cycles are also demonstrated. The switching mechanism is attributed to an electric-field-induced charge transfer from the polyaniline nanofibers to the gold nanoparticles. The active polymer layer is created by growing nanometer size gold particles within 30-nm-diameter polyaniline nanofibers using a redox reaction with chloroauric acid. This device combines two exciting research areasnanoparticles and conducti...
Resonance mode splitting in split-ring resonator arrays used in the microwave invisibility cloak

This paper describes the resonance splitting phenomena in fragments of the microwave cloak metamaterial composed of split-ring resonators. Splitting of elementary resonances was observed within the bands exceeding 1 GHz that could obstruct spatial distribution of the effective parameters in the cloak prescribed by the transformation optics relations. At some split frequencies, however, groups of resonators demonstrated coherent responses, which could be possibly used for supporting the cloak performance.
Association of Syringoma and Intradermal Nevus

A 73-year-old man presented with a skin-colored, asymptomatic, 3-mm papule on the right infraorbital region of the face. The duration of the lesion was not known. A clinical diagnosis of papilloma was made. The patient did not have any other skin lesions. Past and family history were noncontributory. A simple excision of the lesion was performed. Histologic examination of the papule revealed two lesions next to each other: the first one consisted of an intradermal nevus, the second, of a typical syringoma (Fig. 1).
Trauma history and personal narratives: Some clues to coping among survivors of child abuse

Abstract Narrative features of the life stories of child abuse survivors and nonvictimized respondents were compared. Particular emphasis was placed on relatively “objective” features, given that the content of the narrative typically precluded blind coding. The research focused on both the relative emphasis on the past versus present and future and on the self versus others in respondents' stories. The narratives of child abuse survivors differed from the comparison group on both of these features; their stories focused more on the past and de-emphasized the central role of the self. Greater emphasis on others was the best predictor of poor present coping among child abuse survivors. The narratives of a second sample of respondents who reported having experienced traumatic parental divorce were studied for comparison purposes. Despite some similarities in narrative construction, the increased emphasis on others, with its maladaptive associations, was unique to child abuse survivors.
On polynomials with integer coefficients

Let f(x1, x2,…, xn) be a polynomial with rational integral coefficients. Let d(f) be the greatest common divisor of all integers of the form f(z1, z2,…, zn) where z1, z2,…, zn ∈ Z. More generally if Ai = {sai + bi}s∈Z, ai, bi ∈ Z, is an arithmetic progression for i = 1, 2,…, n we set A=A1×A2×…×An and call d(A, f) the greatest common divisor of all integers of the form f(z1, z2,…, zn) where zi ∈ Ai, i = 1, 2,…, n. A rather simple expression for d(A, f) is derived in terms of the coefficients of f, and we show that d(A, f) = d(f) when a1a2…an is relatively prime to f(b1, b2,…, bn). When f is primitive it is shown that d(A, f) divides IIi=tnaimi·mi! where mi is the degree of f in xi, i = 1, 2,…, n.
The Dream of a Social Science: Supreme Court Forecasting, Legal Culture, and the Public Sphere

The first Monday in October marks a ritual that has become as sacred in the United States as circumcision is in Judaism or sainthood and sacrament in Catholicism, as hajj is for Islam or the singing of “God Save the Queen” in Britain. First Monday in October is also the title of a popular 1981 Hollywood film starring Jill Clayburgh and Walter Matthau, in which the first woman appointed to the Court, a staunch conservative, spars with the Court's reigning liberal. Through several vapid comedic encounters they develop affection and collegial respect for each other.Susan S. Silbey thanks Tom Burke, Keith Bybee, Howard Gillman, Doug Goodman, and Jessica Silbey for their very helpful comments on earlier drafts.
Progressive damage arrest mechanism in tailored laminated plates with a cutout

This study addresses the effectiveness of a simple stiffness tailoring concept to delay damage initiation, control damage progression, and improve residual strength in tensile-loaded composite plates with a central circular cutout. The tailoring concept is to simply reposit all axially oriented (0°) material into regions near the edge of the plate away from the cutout. This tailoring is done in a way so as not to affect the weight of the plate. This accomplishes several beneficial changes in the way that the plate resists loading with no increases in material cost or weight. Lowering the axial stiffness of the laminate surrounding the cutout lowers the stress concentration. Increasing the axial stiffness near edges of the plate attracts loading away from the vicinity of the cutout to further lower stresses in the critical cutout region. This study focuses on in-plane response including damage progression and residual strength as a function of the degree of tailoring and cutout size. Strength and stiffness properties typical of IM7/8551-7 preperg material were assumed and a modified version of the Hashin failure criteria was used to identify the local damage. Results show that tailoring can significantly increase the damage initiation load and the residual strength. In some cases, observed evidence shows that tailoring performs as a damage arrest mechanism.
Making the connection? Attitudes about women in politics and voting for women candidates

Research on women candidates in the USA often considers the role that attitudes toward women in politics can play in shaping the electoral success of these candidates. However, besides anecdotal information about reactions to individual candidates, we lack systematic data that allow us to examine whether there is a link between the attitudes voters have about women in politics and their vote choice decisions when they are faced with a woman candidate. Relying on data from a two-wave panel survey of 3150 US adults in 2010, we test whether the political attitudes people hold are related to their voting decisions in mixed-sex (woman vs. man) races for the House of Representatives. We consider the role of attitudes alongside traditional political forces such as political party and incumbency and examine whether the party of the woman candidate is relevant. In all, we find that some attitudes about women in politics are related to voting for women candidates, but the relationships are not a central influence.
Investigation of suramin-albumin binding by electrospray mass spectrometry.

Suramin, an organic polyanion with six sulphonic groups, is under clinical trials as an agent against hormone-refractory prostate cancer. The drug binds strongly to serum albumin. The objectives were to use electrospray to measure the molecular masses of the intact complexes of albumin and suramin to determine the number of suramin molecules bound under different molar ratios, and to investigate the binding of suramin in human serum. With albumin in excess (2:1 to 25:1 ratio), only 1 and 2 bound suramins were found; with suramin excess (2:1 to 1000:1) up to 20 bound suramin molecules/albumin were found. Up to 5 bound suramins were found in human serum with 4:1 suramin:albumin ratio, which corresponds to recommended therapeutic doses (200–300 μg/mL). At 8:1 ratio, which would be toxic, complexes with up to ten bound suramin molecules were found, and unreacted albumin diminished. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
When Goliaths Clash: Managing Executive Conflict to Build a More Dynamic Organization

The book review is for “When Goliaths Clash: Managing Executive Conflict to Build a More Dynamic Organization,” by Howard M. Guttman.
Thermodynamic Parameters for the Solvation of Monatomic Ions in Water

The estimation of solvation parameters for monatomic ions is reviewed and new values for the Gibbs energy, enthalpy, and entropy of solvation are given on the basis of the most recent thermodynamic...
Howard waitzkin's medicine and public health at the end of empire

I first heard Howard Waitzkin’s thesis that “US capitalism as we have known it has ended, and em-pire in its previous form has ended” at the Interna-tional Association of Health Policy in Europe (IAPHE) conference in Ankara, Turkey on Sunday, October 2, 2011. I must admit I was skeptical of these ideas. Certainly, only the previous year the Obama administration had stepped in to massively subsidize the US financial sector and take over two major US automobile manufacturers; this clearly had nothing to do with the declared rules of a capitalist economy. However, public subsidization of private enterprises has been common throughout US history. True, there was evidence that the US empire has been weakened, yet were we not still involved in a massive war on terror that seemed to have no discernible end? Was it really time to speak of an end of capitalism and empire?
Mono-substituted vit. B12 amides. I. A microbiological study.

SummaryThe methylamide, ethylamide, and anilide of the monocarboxylic acid of Vit. B12 were inactive as B12-antagonists despite their previous designation as “anti-Vit. B12'substances. They satisfied the B12 requirement of E. gracilis and L. leichmannii, but not that of E. coli and O. malhamensis. Combinations of sub-optimal levels of methionine plus methylamide, or ethylamide, gave greater growth of E. coli than this level of methionine alone. Addition of amide to Vit. B12 neither inhibited nor enhanced growth over that with B12 alone.
A 30-MHz Fifth-Order Elliptic Low-Pass CMOS Filter With 65-dB Spurious-Free Dynamic Range

A fifth-order 30-MHz integrated low-pass filter with 65-dB spurious-free dynamic range is presented. The topology is based on an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA)-C ladder configuration implementing an elliptic transfer function. High linearity and low noise are achieved by using polysilicon resistors and efficient highly linear transconductors based on a proposed nonlinear source degeneration technique. The linearity of a typical source degenerated structure is improved by more than 10 dB while the small-signal transconductance is reduced by less than 1 dB; the additional power needed by the auxiliary circuitry is less than 10% that of the OTA's power, and the noise level increases by no more than 1 dB. Experimental results of a prototype fabricated in a standard 0.35-mum CMOS technology are presented and compared with previously reported solutions. The overall filter's power consumption is 85 mW with a 3.3-V power supply
A comparison of cisplatin/paclitaxel and carboplatin/paclitaxel in stage IVB, recurrent or persistent cervical cancer.

Abstract Objective. Cisplatin-based combination therapy produces higher response rates and improved survival, in comparison to single-agent cisplatin in the treatment of cervical cancer. Cisplatin and paclitaxel (PT) requires a prolonged infusion and is less convenient and more toxic than the combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel (CT) leading to more widespread use of CT. The objective of this study was to compare response rate and survival in patients with cervical cancer treated with PT or CT. Methods. A retrospective search of databases at the University of Oklahoma, Washington University–Barnes Jewish Christian Hospitals, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Alabama at Birmingham identified patients with stage IVB, recurrent or persistent cervical cancer who were treated with PT or CT. Results. A total of 62 patients were identified. 14 were treated with PT and 48 with CT. There were no statistical differences between the groups in terms of demographics, prior radiation therapy, or median number of cycles. There was a trend toward a larger number of patients in the CT arm having received prior cisplatin/radiation ( p =0.07). Objective responses occurred in 29% of patients receiving PT vs. 53% of patients receiving CT. With a median follow-up of 9 months, survival was not different with a median survival of 14 and 11 months, respectively. Conclusions. In this retrospective evaluation, CT compares favorably with PT and demonstrates a superior overall response rate. Because of its ease of administration and improved toxicity profile, CT should be considered in the treatment of advanced, recurrent or progressive cervical cancer.
Danish guidelines on environmental low frequency noise, infrasound and vibration

In Denmark a set of guidelines for measurement and assessment of environmental low frequency noise, infrasound and vibration was published in 1997 as "Information from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency no. 9/1997" (Miljostyrelsen). Recommended measurement methods are specified, and recommended limit values for noise and vibration are given. In this paper a brief description of the measurement methods is given, the recommended limit values are shown, and the background for the measurement and assessment methods is discussed. This paper is an extended summary of "Information from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency No.9/1997" (in Danish)
Longitudinal Evaluation of an Educational Intervention for Preventing Tick Bites in an Area with Endemic Lyme Disease in Baltimore County, Maryland

The authors attempted to determine whether a targeted educational intervention in an area with endemic Lyme disease could increase knowledge, positive attitudes, and reported behaviors related to tick bite prevention and consequently decrease tick bites, as measured by a biomarker of tick bites. Between April and September of 1999, 317 subjects in Baltimore County, Maryland, were randomized to receive either tick-related or general health-related educational materials bimonthly through the mail. At each of three clinic visits, participants completed a self-administered questionnaire and provided a serum sample. Anti-recombinant tick calreticulin antibody (ARTCA), measured in ng/ micro l, was used as a biomarker of tick bites. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to determine 1) whether the educational intervention was associated with a change in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) and 2) whether change in KAB predicted change in ARTCA levels. Proportions of desired responses increased significantly among intervention subjects versus the comparison group on KAB measures related to examining the body for ticks and insect repellent use. Levels of ARTCA were low among all study subjects. Only six of 37 models exhibited a significant relation between change in a KAB variable and change in ARTCA levels over time. The behavioral intervention was associated with an increase in the KAB measures in the intervention group, but this change was not associated with change in ARTCA levels.
Plastic restoration for loss of all fingers of both hands

Abstract The loss of all the distal portion of the fingers on both hands with the forming of a pannus of skin over the stumps furnished the interesting clinical condition reported in this paper. The partial restoration of four digits on one hand and one on the other, allowing independent use of each hand with an increase of function, was obtained by plastic operations.
The Relevance of Cultural Identity: Relying upon Foundations of Race and Gender as Laypeople Plan a Newscast:

This study placed eighteen groups of African-, European-, and Latin-Americans (divided by race and gender) into the role of news producers; each peer group was charged with planning a hypothetical TV newscast from a list of realistic stories. The study investigates the relevance of cultural identity as these groups went about their task, and found clear differences in the extent to which cultural identity was articulated, the type of identity considered (race, gender, religion), whether the focus was on the ingroup or outgroup, and whether the references were affirmatively or negatively valenced. The study also compares the content different cultural groups included in the newscasts. Assuming that a context can function actively to “weave together” (rather than the more passive conceptualization of context as that which surrounds), this research concludes that discourses of separateness, of narrowly defined identity, and of inequality were common; the context enacted by participants revealed a strained, u...
Fluorescent pets and martyr mice: GM animals, art, and visual rhetoric

As imagery from the new genetics enters our culture, artists have increasingly responded to the ethical and representational concerns posed by genetic engineering. In this paper, the author examines a variety of artistic images of genetically modified fish, rabbits, and rodents, arguing that technical communicators should be aware of these visuals. Indeed, their creators' effort to communicate this science to the public has important overlaps with our own work.
Regulation of sugar and ethanol metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

This review briefly surveys the literature on the nature, regulation, genetics, and molecular biology of the major energy-yielding pathways in yeasts, with emphasis on Sacchuromyces cerevisiae. Whi...
Optimisers for the Brascamp-Lieb inequality

We find all optimisers for the Brascamp-Lieb inequality, thus completing the problem which was settled in special cases by Barthe; Carlen, Lieb and Loss; and Bennett, Carbery, Christ and Tao. Our approach to the solution is based on the heat flow methods introduced by the second and third sets of authors above. We present the heat flow method in the form which is most appropriate for our study and also expand the structural theory for the Brascamp-Lieb inequality as necessary for the description of the optimisers.
Subchondral fractures in osteonecrosis of the femoral head: comparison of radiography, CT, and MR imaging.

OBJECTIVE. Our objective was to compare the sensitivity of unenhanced radiography, CT, and MR imaging in revealing subchondral fractures.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Forty-five subjects with stage I and stage II osteonecrosis of the femoral head were included in the study as part of a multicenter clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein as an adjuvant treatment to core decompression. Patients were evaluated with radiography, CT, and MR imaging 6 and 12 months after surgery.RESULTS. At 6 months, 18 fractures were shown on CT scans, but only 12 were detected on radiographs and six, on MR images. At 12 months, 20 subchondral fractures were detected on CT scans, but only 17 were seen on radiographs and 11, on MR images. Compared with CT, MR imaging has a sensitivity and specificity of 38% and 100%, and unenhanced radiography has a sensitivity and specificity of 71% and 97%, respectively. On T2-weighted MR images, the subchondral fractures were visualized as crescen...
The management of a patient with a cervical disc herniation: a case report.

Purpose: To present the management of a patient with a cervical disc herniation and illustrate the efficacy of cervical traction as a main form of treatment for cervical disc herniation in conjunction with a home exercise program. Background: A 71-year-old white female diagnosed with cervical disc herniation at the levels of C5-6 and C6-7 presented to physical therapy with neck pain radiating into the left upper extremity down to the 5th digit of the left hand. Treatment: The patient reported to outpatient physical therapy for cervical disc herniation and radiculopathy. After initial evaluation she received intermittent cervical traction and was given a home exercise program consisting of cervical lateral flexion stretch, unilateral wall stretch for pectoralis muscles and to continue with her over the door cervical traction. Conclusion: Cervical traction and a good home exercise program have been shown to reduce cervical disc herniation and its subsequent symptoms.
Snow and Ice Hydrology Workshop: Colorado State University, August 18”22, 1969

The major objective of the workshop was to improve communications among those from various professional backgrounds and geographical regions having a common interest in the hydrology of snow and ice. During the workshop, the state of the art of snow and ice hydrology was explored and an attempt was made to identify and define some of the major problems and possible solutions. Major workshop sessions were devoted to: (1) distribution and measurement of the snow cover; (2) physics of metamorphism and melt; (3) snow and ice management of water yields; (4) standardization of snow observations; (5) measurement of snowfall and its redistribution; and (6) research cooperation and improvement of communications among those working in the field of snow and ice.
In-process control of surface roughness with tool wear via ultrasonic sensing

This paper presents in-process monitoring and control of surface roughness during machining processes via ultrasonic sensing. A newly developed system is utilized to measure the reflected intensity of ultrasonic beams from the surface and in-process measurement capability is evaluated under machine vibration and tool wear. The experimental results show that the system is able to detect the changes in surface roughness caused by tool wear and can possibly be used to monitor tool wear. Finally, in-process control of surface roughness using the ultrasonic system is demonstrated by adapting the system to a CNC machining center and performing geometric control. The results show it is possible to maintain surface roughness within 10% of the target value for tool wear up to 0.3 mm.
Experience with hemihyperplasia and Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome surveillance protocol

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and isolated hemihyperplasia (IHH) are two well known overgrowth conditions that are associated with cancer predisposition. Multiple surveillance protocols have been proposed to detect the most commonly reported tumor types Wilms tumor and hepatoblastoma. We reviewed the history of our patients who were part of this monitoring protocol. Information from 63 cases was collected retrospectively while another 63 control samples for AFP measurement were obtained prospectively. Twenty-five (40%) patients had an ultrasound abnormality, the most frequent being nephromegaly/size discrepancy. Two patients had well documented cases of tumors/tumor precursor (2/63:3.2%) detected by ultrasound images. Three hundred thirty-six separate AFP values were available with values above 50,000 ng/ml seen in three patients older than 2 months, one with hepatoblastoma and two other with hemangiomas/hemangioendotheliomas. There was no clear difference in the range of AFP values between previously reported controls, our own normal population and affected patients. In conclusion, ultrasound surveillance detected renal and liver pathology including benign and malignant lesions. The known variability of AFP in normal neonates and patients with BWS makes interpretation difficult in early infancy. Very high AFP values did seem to be correlated with risk for identifiable liver lesions. Determination of the natural changes in AFP levels over time will allow more appropriate comparison.
Age-related differences in the lifestyle regularity of seniors experiencing bereavement, care-giving, insomnia, and advancement into old-old age.

Compared to younger adults, seniors (≥60 yrs) often adopt a highly regular lifestyle, perhaps as an adaptive response to age‐related changes in their sleep and circadian rhythms. At baseline, diary measures of lifestyle regularity (SRM‐5) were obtained from 104 seniors of three separate groups. Thirty‐three subjects were challenged by spousal bereavement or the need to care for a spouse at home with dementia (Challenged); 33 were suffering from formally diagnosed (DSM‐IV) insomnia (Insomnia); and 38 were healthy, well‐functioning older seniors in the second half of their eighth decade of life or later (Healthy Older). The objective of this study was to determine whether lifestyle regularity increased as a function of age within each of these three senior groups. Overall, age was significantly correlated with SRM‐5 (r=0.41, p<0.001), with the SRM score increasing by 0.67 units/decade. The same was true for the Challenged and Insomnia groups, which also showed a significant correlation between SRM and age (...
Vision-based interfaces for mobility

Vision-based user interfaces are a feasible and advantageous modality for wearable computers. To substantiate this claim, we present a robust real-time hand gesture recognition system that is capable of being the sole input provider for a demonstration application. It achieves usability and interactivity even when both the head-worn camera and the object of interest are in motion. We describe a set of general gesture-based interaction styles and explore their characteristics in terms of task suitability and the computer vision algorithms required for their recognition. Preliminary evaluation of our prototype system leads to the conclusion that vision-based interfaces have achieved the maturity necessary to help overcome some limitations of more traditional mobile user interfaces.
Management of severe hypertension with intravenous injections of diazoxide

Abstract Two hundred seventy-four doses of diazoxide were rapidly administered intravenously to 101 severely hypertensive patients, 82 of whom had been unsuccessfully treated with a variety of other antihypertensive agents. Prompt hypotensive responses occurred after 215 doses administered to 83 patients; for those patients, the average diastolic blood pressure was 137 mm. Hg before the injections of diazoxide and 86 mm. Hg within five minutes after the injection. The duration of the hypotensive response to a single injection exceeded three hours for 80 per cent of the effective doses, and it was longer than six hours after 55 per cent of the doses. Although 66 of the 101 patients were azotemic at the time of their hypertensive crises, only 14 had appreciable increases in the concentration of blood urea after injections of diazoxide. Adverse effects were infrequent, transient and of little consequence in this series of patients. Nevertheless, diazoxide should not be used when sudden great reductions in blood pressure might be detrimental.
The behavior of the volatility implicit in the prices of stock index options

Abstract We examine stock-market volatility around the quarterly expirations of stock index futures contracts and nonquarterly expirations of stock index options, using estimates of the volatility implicit in the option prices. The option prices reflect increases in the volatility of the underlying stock indexes around both quarterly and nonquarterly expiration dates. Analysis of the residual returns on index options provides evidence consistent with an unexpected increase in market volatility around expiration dates.
Spacecraft Adaptive Attitude and Power Tracking with Variable Speed Control Moment Gyroscopes

Control laws for an integrated powerlattitude control system (IPACS) for a satellite using variable-speed single-gimbal control moment gyroscopes (VSCMGs) are introduced. Whereas the wheel spin rates of the conventional CMGs are constant, the VSCMGs are allowed to have variable speeds. Therefore, VSCMGs have extra degrees of freedom and can be used to achieve additional objectives, such as energy storage, as well as attitude control. We use VSCMGs in conjunction with an IPACS system. The gimbal rates of the VSCMGs are used to provide the reference-tracking torques, whereas the wheel accelerations are used for both attitude and power reference tracking. The latter objective is achieved by storing or releasing the kinetic energy in the wheels. The control algorithms perform both the attitude and power tracking goals simultaneously. A model-based control and an indirect adaptive control for a spacecraft with uncertain inertia properties are developed. Moreover, control laws for equalization of the wheel speeds are also proposed. Wheel speed equalization distributes evenly the kinetic energy among the wheels, minimizing the possibility of wheel speed saturation and the occurrence of zero-speed singularities. Finally, a numerical example for a satellite in a low Earth, near-polar orbit is provided to test the proposed IPACS algorithm.
Variation in pathogenicity and host range of Bipolaris sp. causing leaf blight disease on the invasive grass Microstegium vimineum.

Abstract Microstegium vimineum is a widespread invasive grass that poses significant threats to forests and disturbed areas throughout the United States. Often, the large-scale, rapid spread of Microstegium prohibits management by traditional methods. Control of Microstegium may be possible through the use of a pathogen (referred to here as Bipolaris Mv) that causes leaf blight on Microstegium. Members of the fungal genus Bipolaris are known pathogens of many plants, including important agronomic crops. However, little is known about the biology and host range of Bipolaris Mv. We used a series of growth chamber and light bank experiments to determine the variation in Bipolaris Mv from different geographic origins and its ability to cause foliar lesions and chlorosis on Microstegium. We used petri plate and soil infestation assays to determine the effects of Bipolaris Mv on Microstegium emergence from seed, biomass, and root necrosis. Finally, we tested the host range of these fungi on economically and eco...
Using microscopy to assess chorion structural integrity and parasitoid oviposition sites on stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) eggs.

Previous efficacy studies found that many insecticides used by growers could be having an adverse effect on egg parasitoids ( Telenomus podisi ) developing in the eggs of the brown stink bug ( Euschistus servus ), while unhatched stink bugs experienced lower levels of mortality. One plausible explanation for this was that insecticides might enter parasitized eggs more readily via oviposition wounds. Parasitized E. servus eggs, as well as nonparasitized stink bug ( Acrosternum hilare , E. servus , Murgantia histrionica , and Podisus maculiventris ) eggs, were examined using electron microscopy. Egg response to perforation by a tungsten probe served as a control. Microscopy images depicted the chorion surface as characterized by a matrix of ridges and micropylar processes in a ring around the margin of the operculum. Observations of oviposition sites showed a “scab” formed where the ovipositor penetrated the chorion, and at sites penetrated by the probe. These formations appeared to be the result of fluids from inside the egg leaking out, drying, and hardening after oviposition or probe perforation, suggesting that the response was not due to substances secreted by the parasitoid. Further, no open wounds or holes were seen to increase the possibility of insecticides entering parasitized eggs.
KrF amplifier design issues and application to inertial confinement fusion system design

Los Alamos National Laboratory has assembled an array of experimental and theoretical tools to optimize amplifier design for future single-pulse KrF lasers. The next opportunity to exercise these tools is with the design of the second-generation NIKE system under construction at the Naval Research Laboratory with the collaboration of Los Alamos National Laboratory. Major issues include laser physics (energy extraction in large modules with amplified spontaneous emission) and diode performance and efficiency. Low cost is increasingly important for larger future KrF single-pulse systems (low cost and high efficiency is important for larger repetitively pulsed applications such as electric power production). In this article, we present our approach to amplifier scaling and discuss the more important design considerations for large single-pulse KrF amplifiers. We point out where improvements in the fundamental database for KrF amplifiers could lead to increased confidence in performance predictions for large amplifiers and address the currently unresolved issues of anomalous absorption near line center and the possibility of diode instabilities for lowimpedance designs. Los Alamos has applied these amplifier design tools to the conceptual design of a 100-kJ Laser Target Test Facility and a 3-MJ Laboratory Microfusion Facility.
Interdecadal Change of the Structure of the ENSO Mode and Its Impact on the ENSO Frequency

Abstract In the late 1970s, the ENSO cycle exhibited frequency change. The oscillation period increased from 2–4 yr (high frequency) during 1962–75 to 4–6 yr (low frequency) during 1980–93. Observations suggest that this frequency change was accompanied by a significant change in the structure of the coupled ENSO mode. In comparison with the high-frequency regime, the structure of the coupled mode in the low-frequency regime shows three distinctive features during the warm phase of ENSO: the eastward shift of the westerly anomalies, the meridional expansion of the westerly anomalies, and the weaker intensity of the easterly anomalies in the eastern Pacific. To test the robustness of the relationship between the oscillation period and the structure of the coupled mode, the authors designed empirical atmospheric models based on observations and coupled them with the ocean model of Zebiak and Cane. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the ENSO period is sensitive to changes in the wind anomaly pattern in a...
Divergent patterns of endogenous small RNA populations from seed and vegetative tissues of Glycine max

Background Small non-coding RNAs (smRNAs) are known to have major roles in gene regulation in eukaryotes. In plants, knowledge of the biogenesis and mechanisms of action of smRNA classes including microRNAs (miRNAs), short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and trans-acting siRNAs (tasiRNAs) has been gained mostly through studies with Arabidopsis. In recent years, high throughput sequencing of smRNA populations has enabled extension of knowledge from model systems to plants with larger, more complex genomes. Soybean (Glycine max) now has many genomics resources available including a complete genome sequence and predicted gene models. Relatively little is known, however, about the full complement of its endogenous smRNAs populations and the silenced genes.
Inverse reconstruction of epicardial and endocardial potentials: The use of temporal information

The purpose of this paper is to describe new directions in electrocardiographic imaging that are currently being pursued in our laboratory. The focus is on inverse reconstruction of cardiac potentials. Specifically, two on-going efforts are discussed: 1. The use of temporal information in the regularization scheme; and 2. Simulations of the properties of endocardial potentials and of potentials measured by a probe located in the blood cavity.
Two Programs Are Better Than One: Coordinating Efforts Between Academic Support and Legal Writing Departments

In most law schools, legal writing faculty are uniquely positioned to assess which students are struggling with law school. While most law schools have Academic Support Programs in place to assist struggling students, these programs may be ignoring a source of information that could be instrumental in identifying at risk students. This article addresses ways in which ASP and legal writing faculty can work together to the benefit of both programs.
Applying Fiduciary Duties in the Managed Care Context

In this Article we describe a process, based on fiduciary duty principles, for resolving potential conflicts of interest arising in managed care and for addressing the mutual antagonism between physicians and attorneys. One current topic of legal debate is whether courts should analyze managed care issues under the rubric of tort or contract law. Although both tort and contract are, to some extent, necessary components of a legal regime in managed care, they are not sufficient either individually or in tandem to resolve the types of conflicts and disputes presented in managed care. As an alternative, we propose a regime rooted in the concept of fiduciary duty. Fiduciary relationships are particularly important in medical care where the parties are unable to foresee the conditions under which one act produces better results than another, and where the parties lack adequate information to assess the quality of care. The underlying justification for using the fiduciary duty model is that a patient's trust in his or her physician is the foundation of a morally acceptable health care system. Patients expect and trust that physicians have control over the resources needed for their care. Many aspects of this relationship of trust-including methods of balancing social and economic concerns and the aspects of a physician's relationship to the managed care plan that must be disclosed to patients-are subjects of intense dispute. The basic need for trust, though, is incontrovertible. Absent trust, managed care cannot survive. A fiduciary model offers a framework that preserves patient trust while recognizing that changes in the marketplace, including economic incentives to limit the use of health care resources, are unavoidable, at least in the short-term. We conclude with a discussion of law and medicine at the Millennium, focusing on why the fiduciary approach can help resolve the tensions unsettling health care delivery.