cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infrared Absorption in Mg 2 Ge

Optical-absorption measurements on $n$- and $p$-type ${\mathrm{Mg}}_{2}$Ge single crystals were made at wavelengths between 1.5 and 25 \ensuremath{\mu} at temperatures between 4.2 and 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The absorption edge in $p$-type crystals arises from allowed indirect transitions. The energy gap is 0.570 eV at 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and the phonon involved has an energy of 0.025 eV. At higher temperatures the temperature dependence of the energy gap is -1.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ eV/deg. At longer wavelengths $p$-type crystals exhibit absorption bands interpreted as being caused by transitions between three valence bands at the center of the Brillouin zone as in germanium. The spin-orbit splitting of these bands is 0.20 eV and the ratio of heavy-hole mass to light-hole mass is 6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1. The $n$-type samples have an absorption band at 0.58 eV (0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K) of uncertain origin, and ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{2.5}$ free-carrier absorption, indicating optical-mode scattering.
An Impartial Right: Louisiana's Infringement of a Defendant's Constitutional Right to a Bench Trial Through the State's Constitutional Provision Limiting a Defendant's Right to Waive a Jury Trial

This note argues that, implied within the Sixth Amendment’s Impartial Jury Clause, a criminal defendant enjoys the guaranteed right to waive a jury trial in favor of a bench trial. In State v. Bazile, the Louisiana Supreme Court held that the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution does not offer a criminal defendant the absolute right to a bench trial. Bazile was denied the chance to have his case heard in front of a judge because of a provision in the state’s constitution enforcing a deadline by which a criminal defendant must waive a jury trial in favor of a bench trial. However, the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized certain circumstances in which a criminal defendant would benefit from a bench trial. In U.S. v. Singer, the Court held that if a defendant is able to show a compelling reason that a trial by jury would not render an impartial trial, the denial of his proffered waiver violates his constitutional right to an impartial trial. In the present case, Bazile is charged with the murder of his wife, and he is facing the possibility of extensive imprisonment. In a trial of this notoriety, it is reasonable to expect that potential jurors would form biased opinions before hearing the facts of the case and the prosecution’s evidence. Ultimately, Bazile was decided incorrectly because a compelling reason is inherent in Bazile’s case, and he should benefit from a trial before a judge instead of a jury if it ensures an impartial trial.
Split Between the North and the South: Political Institutions During the Period of Internal Dissensions

Prior to his death, Yuan Shih-k’ai willed that Vice President Li Yuan-hung be the Acting President in accordance with Article 29 of the Constitutional Compact. The succession of Li to the Presidency had been advocated by the anti-Yuan forces, but they insisted that such a step should be based on the Provisional Constitution. It will be seen that Dr. Sun and his followers had persistently upheld the validity of the Provisional Constitution of 1912 throughout the period of internal dissensions between the North and the South. On the other hand, Premier Tuan Ch’i-jui maintained that since the Provisional Constitution had long been abrogated, it could not be legally restored simply by a government decree. After much discussion, the views of the South finally prevailed. On June 29, 1917, President Li proclaimed the formal restoration of the Provisional Constitution, the Presidential Election Law of 1913 and the first Parliament, which should be reconvened beginning with August 1,1917. Satisfied with Li’s measures, the Military Council in the South dissolved itself on July 14 and the nation was thus reunited.
Cluster-weighted modelling for time-series analysis

The need to characterize and forecast time series recurs throughout the sciences, but the complexity of the real world is poorly described by the traditional techniques of linear time-series analysis. Although newer methods can provide remarkable insights into particular domains, they still make restrictive assumptions about the data, the analyst, or the application1. Here we show that signals that are nonlinear, non-stationary, non-gaussian, and discontinuous can be described by expanding the probabilistic dependence of the future on the past around local models of their relationship. The predictors derived from this general framework have the form of the global combinations of local functions that are used in statistics2,3,4, machine learning5,6,7,8,9,10 and studies of nonlinear dynamics11,12. Our method offers forecasts of errors in prediction and model estimation, provides a transparent architecture with meaningful parameters, and has straightforward implementations for offline and online applications. We demonstrate our approach by applying it to data obtained from a pseudo-random dynamical system, from a fluctuating laser, and from a bowed violin.
Radical radiotherapy as salvage treatment for relapse of Hodgkin's disease initially treated by chemotherapy alone: Prognostic significance of the disease-free interval☆

Abstract Purpose: A study was performed to determine the effectiveness of radical radiation therapy (RT) in the treatment of patients with Hodgkin's disease who relapsed following initial treatment with chemotherapy alone. Methods and Materials: A retrospective review of patients treated at City of Hope National Medical Center between 1970 and 1987 revealed a total of 10 patients who received radical RT with curative intent as salvage therapy. Results: Complete remission was achieved in eight of the ten patients. Patients had an overall 5-year actual survival of 60% and 10-year actuarial survival of 38%. Relapse-free survival was 30% at 5 years and at 10 years. For the five patients with a. disease-free interval (DFI) of at least 12 months prior to radical RT, overall actual survival at 5 years was 100% and relapse-free survival was 60%. Three of the ten patients, all with a DFI > 12 months and in first relapse when undergoing radical RT, were long-term relapse-free survivors. Conclusion: Radical RT is an effective salvage regimen for select patients with advanced stage Hodgkin's disease who relapse following initial treatment with chemotherapy alone provided that relapse is limited to sites which can be encompassed by radical RT fields and the DFI is greater than 12 months. Review of other published series supports DFI > 12 months as a favorable prognostic factor. Comparison to other salvage regimens such as autologous bone marrow transplantation is limited. Reviews of other treatment modalities should perform subset analysis on patients with similar presentations to compare the relative effectiveness of various salvage approaches.
In vitro activation of mouse skin protein kinase C by fatty acids and their hydroxylated metabolites.

To understand how dietary fatty acids differentially modulate mouse skin tumorigenesis, the ability of specific fatty acids and their derivatives to activate murine epidermal protein kinase C (PKC)in vitro was investigated. Total PKC from untreated female SSIN mouse skin was partially purified and incubated with specific fatty acids at concentrations up to 300 μM in the presence of Ca2+ and phosphatidylserine. Thecis-unsaturated fatty acids tested, ranging from 16∶1 to 22∶6, stimulated PKC activity in a similar dose-dependent manner with an approximate threefold maximum increase over control. Neither the number ofcis-double bonds nor the chainlength of these fatty acids affected their relative ability to activate PKC.trans-Fatty acids, with the exception of linoelaidic acid (t,t-18∶2n−6), exhibited about half of the potency of their correspondingcis-isomers in stimulating PKC at the plateau concentration (200 μM) or lower. Substitutions close to the double bond oncis-fatty acids abolished their ability to activate PKC. The hydroxylated metabolites of arachidonic acid (20∶4n−6) and linoleic acid (c,c-18∶2n−6), i.e., the hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETE) and hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (HODE), also activated mouse skin PKCin vitro, but only about half as effectively as did the respective parent fatty acids. The results suggest that both hydroxyl substitution andtrans-configuration of HETE and HODE are responsible for their reduced ability to activate PKC. Overall the data suggests that the reduced skin tumor yield observed in mice fed diets high inc,c-18∶2n−6 is not likely to be due to differences in the ability ofc,c-18∶2n−6 or 20∶4n−6, or their matabolites, to activate PKC.
Targeted Ablation of Connexin50 in Mice Results in Microphthalmia and Zonular Pulverulent Cataracts

In the ocular lens, gap junctional communication is a key component of homeostatic mechanisms preventing cataract formation. Gap junctions in rodent lens fibers contain two known intercellular channel-forming proteins, connexin50 (Cx50) and Cx46. Since targeted ablation of Cx46 has been shown to cause senile-type nuclear opacities, it appears that Cx50 alone cannot meet homeostatic requirements. To determine if lens pathology arises from a reduction in levels of communication or the loss of a connexin-specific function, we have generated mice with a targeted deletion of the Cx50 gene. Cx50-null mice exhibited microphthalmia and nuclear cataracts. At postnatal day 14 (P14), Cx50-knockout eyes weighed 32% less than controls, whereas lens mass was reduced by 46%. Cx50-knockout lenses also developed zonular pulverulent cataracts, and lens abnormalities were detected by P7. Deletion of Cx50 did not alter the amounts or distributions of Cx46 or Cx43, a component of lens epithelial junctions. In addition, intercellular passage of tracers revealed the persistence of communication between all cell types in the Cx50-knockout lens. These results demonstrate that Cx50 is required not only for maintenance of lens transparency but also for normal eye growth. Furthermore, these data indicate that unique functional properties of both Cx46 and Cx50 are required for proper lens development.
Induction of Cholinergic Function in Cultured Sympathetic Neurons by Periosteal Cells: Cellular Mechanisms

Periosteum, the connective tissue surrounding bone, alters the transmitter properties of its sympathetic innervation during development in vivo and after transplantation. Initial noradrenergic properties are downregulated and the innervation acquires cholinergic and peptidergic properties. To elucidate the cellular mechanisms responsible, sympathetic neurons were cultured with primary periosteal cells or osteoblast cell lines. Both primary cells and an immature osteoblast cell line, MC3T3-E1, induced choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity. In contrast, lines representing marrow stromal cells or mature osteoblasts did not increase ChAT. Growth of periosteal cells with sympathetic neurons in transwell cultures that prevent direct contact between the neurons and periosteal cells or addition of periosteal cell-conditioned medium to neuron cultures induced ChAT, indicating that periosteal cells release a soluble cholinergic inducing factor. Antibodies against LIFRbeta, a receptor subunit shared by neuropoietic cytokines, prevented ChAT induction in periosteal cell/neuron cocultures, suggesting that a member of this family is responsible. ChAT activity was increased in neurons grown with periosteal cells or conditioned medium from mice lacking either leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) or LIF and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). These results provide evidence that periosteal cells influence sympathetic neuron phenotype by releasing a soluble cholinergic factor that is neither LIF nor CNTF but signals via LIFRbeta.
The dependence of K-Ar age on the mineralogy of various particle size ranges in a shale

Abstract The mineralogy and K-Ar age of the whole rock and six size fractions, ranging from Whatever the cause of the low age of the IMd material, it is obvious that the whole rock age is not directly indicative of the age of sedimentation, as it is composed of a mixture of ages in the different size fractions of the shale.
Microstructures and properties of some microcellular foams

The microstructures of a variety of low-density (less than 0.1 g cm−3) polymeric foam materials are presented. Structures include the large, but well-defined, closed cells of commercially produced foams and a variety of finer, but often less well-defined, open cells of research foams produced from polymers, carbon, and silica. Other topics covered are the sizes and lowest densities of foams available, optical and X-ray opacity, and ease of handling.
Emissions Reduction and Pyrolysis Gas Destruction in an Acoustically Driven Dump Combustor

Abstract The research described here focuses on the enhancement of hazardous waste and pyrolysis gas surrogate destruction and the reduction in nitric oxide and unburned hydrocarbon emissions in an acoustically resonant dump combustor. While several prior studies have focused on flowfield interrogation and hazardous waste surrogate destruction under conditions of natural acoustic excitation, the present study focuses on the device’s behavior under externally forced acoustic excitation. The effect of external forcing on hazardous waste surrogate destruction in the device was recently found to be significant, yielding destruction rates for the surrogate SF 6 that increased by as much as four orders of magnitude with acoustic forcing at specific resonant modes [1] . The present study also indicates a significant improvement in performance with external forcing at the same acoustic modes as those explored earlier. Emissions of NO are seen to decrease by nearly 60%, unburned hydrocarbons are seen to drop by over two orders of magnitude, and waste and pyrolysis gas surrogate destruction is seen to increase by nearly three orders of magnitude, all with external forcing at a specific acoustic mode of the device. The present observations further support the idea that acoustically resonant conditions can render the dump combustor device extremely efficient as well as highly controllable as a small-scale thermal treatment system.
Constructing Communication Networks with Evolved Digital Organisms

This paper describes a study where small computer programs called digital organisms are evolved to construct communication networks in a virtual environment. Through the application of various selection pressures, we show how these organisms first evolve to build, and subsequently use, these networks for a collective communication task, specifically the efficient distribution of data among organisms. The results of our experiments demonstrate that evolutionary algorithms can discover behaviors for constructing networks that solve communication tasks, potentially leading to a new family of distributed algorithm where the underlying logical structure of the network automatically self-adapts to suit the application.
A Nurse-Managed Discharge Program for Congestive Heart Failure Patients: Outcomes and Costs:

This experimental study determined the effect of a structured nurse-managed postdischarge program for congestive heart failure (CHF) patients. The program consisted of telephone calls to participants in the experimental group 72 hours postdischarge, 72 hours later, and then every 2 weeks for 2 months. Patient self-care for CHF was evaluated. Data on unexpected office visits, emergency room visits, and readmissions due to exacerbation of CHF plus costs were collected. No significant differences were found. However, because quality of life did show improvement for the experimental group, this type of nursing intervention can improve outcomes for patients after discharge from the hospital.
Convectively Generated Potential Vorticity in Rainbands and Formation of the Secondary Eyewall in Hurricane Rita of 2005

AbstractEyewall replacements in mature tropical cyclones usually cause intensity fluctuations. One reason for eyewall replacements remaining a forecasting challenge is the lack of understanding of how secondary eyewalls form. This study uses high-resolution, full-physics-model forecast fields of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (2005) to better understand potential vorticity (PV) generation in the rainbands and the role that convectively generated PV played in the formation of a secondary eyewall in Hurricane Rita. Previous studies have focused on dynamic processes in the inner core and/or the effects of certain specified PV distributions. However, the initial development of a concentric PV ring in the rainband region has not been fully addressed. Katrina and Rita were extensively observed by three research aircraft during the Hurricane Rainband and Intensity Change Experiment (RAINEX), which was designed to study the interaction of the rainbands and the inner core. Rita developed a secondary eyewall and went ...
Abstract 3226: Targeting PI3K signaling in a xenograft model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a cancer of the head and neck and is particularly common in Southern China and parts of the developing world. NPC may be a significant world health problem since it is likely to be underreported in parts of Southeast Asia and North Africa. The nonkeratinizing forms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma are divided into two subtypes based on histology (“differentiated” WHO type II and “undifferentiated” WHO type III.) Our analysis of gene expression data from an Affymetrix study of type II and type III NPC tumor biopsies using the Connectivity Map, a bioinformatics algorithm developed at the Broad Institute, suggests that the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway may be more highly activated in NPC type III. The array data may also reflect differential sensitivity to PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway inhibitors and that the underlying genetic lesions that drive Akt activity in NPC type II and NPC type III are different. In addition, analysis using an algorithm that analyzes sets of functionally related genes, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), revealed that in NPC type III tumors, there is an increased expression of genes associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT); a developmental program characterized by loss of cell adhesion, repression of E-cadherin expression and increased cell mobility. EMT has been reported to be a feature of several metastatic cancers. We performed biochemical assays in vitro on NPC cells that supported these findings, and then developed a xenograft tumor model that replicates invasive and metastatic NPC in immunodeficient mice. This model allows us to track tumor development by bioluminescence non-invasively over time. Blocking the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway with Rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, had a significant effect on the growth of metastases. Taken together, this suggests that the activation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway and EMT in NPC type III tumors may provide a molecular basis for the distinction between NPC type II and NPC type III, and that the type III phenotype is associated with metastatic progression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. It may also provide prognostic and therapeutic implications for more efficacious treatment specifically targeting metastasis in NPC. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3226.
Pedestrian crash trends and potential countermeasures from around the world

As automobile transportation continues to increase around the world, bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists, also known as vulnerable road users (VRUs), will become more susceptible to traffic crashes, especially in countries where traffic laws are poorly enforced. Many countries, however, are employing innovative strategies to ensure that road users can more safely navigate the urban landscape. While bicyclists and motorcyclists are important road users, this paper will focus on pedestrian crash problems and solutions. Pedestrians are most at risk in urban areas due in part to the large amount of pedestrian and vehicle activity in urban areas. With this in mind, designing safe, accessible, and comprehensive facilities for pedestrians is vital to reducing pedestrian crashes. This paper will provide some insight into the magnitude of the pedestrian crash problem around the world, and will offer some lessons learned from several countries, particularly in Europe and the U.S., for improving pedestrian safety. Beginning with pedestrian safety statistics at the global, regional, and national levels, this paper will address potential countermeasures and strategies for improving pedestrian safety from an international perspective.
40Ar-39Ar studies of whole rock nakhlites: Evidence for the timing of formation and aqueous alteration on Mars

20-25 mg whole rock samples of the nakhlites Lafayette and Nakhla have been analyzed via the 40Ar-39Ar technique, in part to verify their formation ages, but primarily, in an attempt to determine the timing of aqueous alteration in these martian meteorites. As in previous studies, plateaus in apparent age are observed at about 1300 Ma (1322 ± 10 for Lafayette, 1332 ± 10 and 1323 ± 11 for Nakhla), presumably corresponding to crystallization ages. The plateaus are not entirely flat, perhaps reflecting the effects of recoil during creation of 39Ar in the nuclear irradiation. The first 5-20% of the K-derived Ar released from all three samples give apparent ages <1300 Ma. Coupled with the fact that chronometric isotopic studies of nakhlites typically show some disturbance, we believe the low temperature pattern represents more recent (than 1300 Ma) formation of martian aqueous alteration products such as iddingsite. No low temperature plateaus are observed. This is consistent with petrographic evidence for multiple formation events, although the lack of low temperature plateaus is far from conclusive. On the other hand, if there was a single time of alteration, we believe that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to determine it using the K-Ar system.
Significance of Diaphragmatic Resections and Thoracic Chemoperfusion on Outcomes of Peritoneal Surface Disease Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Diaphragmatic resection (DR) during CRS/HIPEC exposes the thoracic cavity to direct contamination from the peritoneal cavity. The effect of thoracic chemoperfusion in combination with HIPEC in these patients is unknown. A prospective database of 1,077 procedures was analyzed. Type of malignancy, thoracic perfusion, resection status, comorbidities, morbidity, mortality, and overall survival were reviewed. DR was a component of 102 CRS/HIPEC procedures performed for 57 (55.9 %) appendiceal and 22 (21.6 %) colon primary lesions. DR was associated with higher volume of disease as evidenced by more organ resections (3.7 vs. 2.8, p < 0.001) and increased rates of incomplete cytoreduction (67 vs. 52 %, p = 0.004). Patients with and without DR had similar 30-day major morbidity (23.5 vs. 16.8 %, p = 0.1) and worse 90-day mortality (12.8 % vs. 6.12 %, p = 0.03), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed DR (p = 0.01) and diabetes (p = 0.005) to be associated with worse mortality. Nineteen (20 %) DR patients underwent synchronous abdominal and thoracic chemoperfusion. Intrathoracic recurrence following DR with thoracic perfusion was 17 % (3/18) vs. 2.3 % (2/85) without perfusion (p = 0.04). Median survival following complete cytoreduction was similar for patients with low-grade appendiceal (LGA) (not reached with DR and 175 months without DR, p = 0.17) and colorectal cancer (23 months with and 31 months without DR, p = 0.76). Diaphragmatic resection during CRS/HIPEC is an independent predictor of surgical mortality. Intrapleural perfusion was associated with more thoracic recurrence; however, complete cytoreduction with or without DR can achieve similar survival for patients with LGA and colorectal primary lesions. DR should be performed only if careful inspection deems all peritoneal disease resectable.
Numerical algebraic geometry and algebraic kinematics

In this article, the basic constructs of algebraic kinematics (links, joints, and mechanism spaces) are introduced. This provides a common schema for many kinds of problems that are of interest in kinematic studies. Once the problems are cast in this algebraic framework, they can be attacked by tools from algebraic geometry. In particular, we review the techniques of numerical algebraic geometry, which are primarily based on homotopy methods. We include a review of the main developments of recent years and outline some of the frontiers where further research is occurring. While numerical algebraic geometry applies broadly to any system of polynomial equations, algebraic kinematics provides a body of interesting examples for testing algorithms and for inspiring new avenues of work.
Reflecting on the 5th National Occupational Injury Research Symposium and looking forward.

For 2-1/2 days in October, 2011, more than 200 researchers convened at the 5th National Occupational Injury Research Symposium (NOIRS) to celebrate advances and successes in the field, to learn from each other about recent and ongoing occupational injury research, and to network and establish new professional relationships to advance occupational injury research in the future. This special issue highlights some of the research presented at that meeting. There has been considerable progress in research and worker safety since the first NOIRS in 1997, with demonstrated reductions in worker deaths and injury, an increased depth and breadth of research, and the development and validation of prevention strategies. Despite this progress, occupational injuries continue to exert too high a toll on workers, employers and society, and there are numerous challenges that need to be addressed to continue advancements in worker safety.
Finite element simulation of pet stretch/blowmolding process

Finite element simulation of the stretch blow-molding process to make a PET bottle has been carried out using ABAQUS. The simulation is one of the research efforts to obtain information to optimize various process parameters. A constitutive behavior of PET obtained from the literature has been used for this effort. Successful simulation results have been obtained for combinations of process parameters including variations of histories of plunger movement and gas pressure. Having a plunger in the process significantly contributes to the uniform distribution of side wall thickness of the bottle. Also, the analysis of the simulation results demonstrates how effectively the FEM simulations might be utilized in order to optimize the process.
Ultrastructural and molecular delineation of the Chytridiaceae (Chytridiales)

The Chytridiomycota is in need of taxonomic revision, especially the largest order, the Chytridiales. We analyzed 25 isolates in, or allied to, the Chytridium clade of this order. Isolates were selected based on one or more of the following criteria: (i) having a large subunit molecular sequence similar to that of the type of the genus Chytriomyces, (ii) having specific zoospore morphology, and (iii) currently classified as a species in the genus Chytriomyces. We examined ultrastructural characters and partial sequences of large subunit and small subunit rDNA and generated a phylogenetic hypothesis using maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses. The sequence analyses strongly supported the Chytridiaceae, Phlyctochytrium, and Chytriomyces angularis clades, and each clade had a specific zoospore type. Developmental morphology of the thallus did not mirror the DNA-based phylogeny. Based on the results of phylogenetic analyses of sequences and ultrastructural characters, we emend the Chytridiaceae by including...
First-principles simulations of dislocation cores

Abstract In order to understand the “chemistry of deformation” an adequate description of the strain field near the center of dislocations (the core) is required. We review the development and current status of ab initio methods that have been used to model the core structures of dislocation in elemental refractory metals and intermetallic alloys. Methods employing flexible boundary conditions or dislocation dipoles allow for the direct simulation of dislocations while methods based on the Peierls–Nabarro approximation use the generalized stacking-fault energy to model the restoring force across the lattice discontinuity produced by the dislocation. This energy function can be derived from first-principles reference calculations. In this work we emphasis methods and their application to materials where plastic deformation is complex and Schmids law is violated.
Image diagnosis: Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

A 68-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department with left facial weakness (Figure 1). She reported upper and lower motor facial weakness. She was diagnosed with left-sided Bell's palsy and treated with steroids. She returned two days later with chief complaint of left ear pain and swelling. She denied having fever or hearing loss. Ramsay Hunt syndrome (Herpes zoster oticus) by strict definition is a peripheral facial nerve palsy accompanied by an erythematous vesicular rash on the ear (zoster oticus) or in the mouth. The triad of ipsilateral facial paralysis, ear pain, and vesicles in the auditory canal and auricle is typically present (Figure 2).1 Various clinical presentations of facial paralysis and rash such as such tinnitus, hearing loss, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, and nystagmus can be present. This has been attributed to close proximity of the geniculation ganglion to the vestibulocochlear nerve within the bony facial canal. In a prospective study of patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, 14% developed vesicles after the onset of facial weakness. Thus, Ramsay Hunt syndrome may initially be indistinguishable from Bell's palsy.2 The facial paralysis seen in Ramsay Hunt syndrome is typically more severe than Bell's palsy, attributed to herpes simplex virus with a decreased probability of complete recovery.3 Retrospective studies have shown earlier administration of steroids along with antivirals within 3 days of symptom onset have 75% rate of full recovery versus only 30% if combined therapy is started 7 days after onset of symptoms. The typical combined therapy involves a 7- to 10-day course of famciclovir (500 mg, 3 times daily) or acyclovir (800 mg, 5 times daily), along with oral prednisone (60 mg daily for 3 to 5 days).4 Figure 1 (left) Left upper and lower motor facial paralysis. Figure 2 (above) Cutaneous erythematous vesicular eruption and swelling of ipsilateral left ear.
Reactive angioendotheliomatosis and sarcoidosis.

Angioendotheliomatosis is an uncommon condition that manifests with both cutaneous and systemic clinical signs and symptoms. It is characterized histologically by the proliferation of endothelial cells within vascular lumina resulting in the obliteration of the involved vessels secondary to intravascular thrombi. Cases have been classically divided into the benign or reactive variants and a malignant variant. The reactive variant is considerably more rare and has mainly been described in patients with systemic infections including subacute bacterial endocarditis. In this report we present a case of reactive angioendotheliomatosis in a patient with sarcoidosis.
A functional comparison of the hyolingual complex in pygmy and dwarf sperm whales (Kogia breviceps and K. sima), and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

The function of the hyolingual complex in three odontocete species was investigated to compare adaptations of divergent feeding strategies, suction and ram feeding. Pygmy and dwarf sperm whales, members of the genus Kogia (or kogiids), are known to be strong suction feeders. We tested the hypotheses that kogiids would have a larger, more robust hyolingual complex, and that hyolingual muscles would have a greater maximum theoretical muscle tension compared with ram-based feeders such as bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). A robustness index and surface area was calculated for bony hyoid elements in kogiids and bottlenose dolphins. The anatomy, muscle architecture, pinnation, two-dimensional angle of attachment and maximum theoretical muscle tension were measured in each hyolingual muscle. A functional model incorporating vector analyses of hyolingual musculature was created for kogiids and bottlenose dolphins to assess differences in function of their hyolingual complexes. Kogiid hyoid surface areas were significantly greater (P = 0.01) than in bottlenose dolphins. Most maximum theoretical muscle tensions of hyolingual complexes were not significantly different within or between species. The data suggest that associated orofacial and tongue morphology, particularly the relationship of hyoid shape and tongue retractor muscles, greatly influences suction capability in odontocetes. Kogiids demonstrated adaptations that occlude lateral gape, including a novel vertical ridge on each side of the mandible, and a shortened mandible that is capable of a large gape, and gape angle. These adaptations presumably assist in maintaining negative intraoral pressure generated by the depression and retraction of the relatively short and wide kogiid tongue. The tongues of kogiids should be capable of generating greater intraoral volume changes compared with the long, narrow tongue of bottlenose dolphins.
Electronic and elastic properties of edge dislocations in Si.

{ital Ab} {ital initio}, tight-binding, and classical calculations have been done for ({ital a}/2){l_angle}110{r_angle} edge dislocation dipoles in Si at separations of 7.5--22.9 A in unit cells comprising 32--288 atoms. These calculations show states associated with the cores relatively deep in the band gap ({similar_to}0.2 eV) despite the absence of dangling bonds. The shifts in the electronic states depend significantly on separation {ital d} and are correlated with a concentration of strain in the cores as the dislocations become more isolated. The strain energies exhibit a logarithmic dependence on {ital d} consistent with linear elasticity for all system sizes.
Locked generation in a relativistic TWT near the region of cyclotron suppression of parasitic feedback

This paper describes the results of particle-in-cell simulations demonstrating locked generation in a relativistic TWT when operating near the region of cyclotron absorption, thereby suppressing parasitic feedback.
Splenic autotransplant and residual partial spleen: prevention of septicemia.

Postsplenectomy septicemia carries an ominous prognosis. Accompanying disseminated intravascular coagulation and adrenal hemorrhage result in a high mortality, despite aggressive treatment by antibiotics. The efficacy of prevention by in situ partial spleen and splenic auto-transplant were evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats. All totally splenectomized rats died following intravenous challenge of liv pneumococcus. Both partial spleens and autotransplants gave substantial protection. The rats which succumbed to pneumococcal sepsis demonstrated massive fibrin thrombi in renal glomeruli and frank adrenal hemorrhage, strikingly similar to clinical observations.
3-O-phosphate ester conjugates of 17-β-O-{1-[2-carboxy-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3-carboxamido)anilido]ethyl}1,3,5(10)-estratriene as novel bone-targeting agents.

Abstract A series of 3- O -phosphorylated analogs ( 4 – 10 ) of a novel bone-targeting estradiol analog ( 3 ) were synthesized after a thorough study of the reaction of 3 with a selection of phosphoryl chlorides under a variety of reaction conditions. Evaluation of these novel phosphate analogs for affinity for hydroxyapatite revealed that they bind with equal or higher affinity when compared to the bone tissue accumulator, tetracycline.
Erythromycin prior to endoscopy in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding: a meta-analysis.

Abstract Objective. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a medical emergency requiring urgent endoscopy and diagnosis. However, adequate visualization is a necessity. Studies have been performed evaluating the efficacy of erythromycin infusion prior to endoscopy to improve visibility and therapeutic potential of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with varied results. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed comparing the efficacy of erythromycin infusion prior to endoscopy in acute UGIB. Materials and methods. Multiple databases were searched. Meta-analysis for the effect of erythromycin prior to endoscopy in UGIB was analyzed by calculating pooled estimates of visualization of gastric mucosa, need for second endoscopy, and units of blood transfused using odds ratio (OR) and weighted mean difference (WMD). Results. Four studies (N = 269) met the inclusion criteria. Erythromycin prior to endoscopy in UGIB demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in visualization of the gastric mucosa (OR 4.8...
Selective control of excitation pathways of upconverted fluorescent states using a broadband laser and a spectral mask

We present a new technique to study materials’ response to broadband, optical excitation using upconversion through excited state absorption. We use the broadband spectrum from an ultrafast laser coupled to a spectral shaper to manipulate our excitation bandwidth and selectively control which transitions occur in the ground state and excited state absorptions. By analyzing the effects of spectral shaping of the excitation laser on the emission yield of fluorescent light, we can test models of the electron population densities and transition probabilities to recover electron energy-level-specific information about the system being studied. Here, we apply this technique to Y2O3:Er3+.
Climate: Cold winters from warm oceans

Winters are colder in northeastern North America and Asia than in other regions at the same latitude. Previous explanations may be incomplete, having overlooked the radiation of atmospheric wave energy. See Letter p.621 It is well known that the northeastern reaches of Asia and North America are far colder in the winter than western areas at similar latitudes. The generally accepted explanation is that the weather systems are influenced by elevated terrain and by the movement of prevailing atmospheric circulation over warm ocean currents. Yohai Kaspi and Tapio Schneider now show that oceans are indeed an important underlying cause for the temperature difference, but they identify a surprising mechanism for the phenomenon. Climate modelling suggests that paradoxically, the relative coldness of North America, not the warmth of Europe, arises because of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Warm Gulf Stream waters adjacent to the North American coast — and similarly warm ocean waters on Asia's Pacific coast — generate atmospheric waves that draw cold northern air to continental areas westward of the currents.
Retention of Jet-Injected Marks on Juvenile Coho and Sockeye Salmon

Abstract Juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch and sockeye salmon O. nerka were marked by jet injection to determine mark retention of three substances: Alcian Blue dye, black india ink, and acrylic paint (red, fluorescent yellow, and fluorescent orange). Fish were marked on the caudal fin and then held for 40 weeks in flow-through freshwater tanks. Coho and sockeye salmon both retained Alcian Blue and fluorescent orange marks best. The highest mark retention after 40 weeks was 73% for Alcian Blue marks on sockeye salmon. Overall mark retention was greater for orange-, yellow-, and black-marked coho salmon than for similarly marked sockeye salmon. Differences in growth rate—sockeye salmon grew about 7 mm more than coho salmon—probably contributed to the differences in mark retention between species. All colors appear suitable for short-term ( 6 weeks) marks, we recommend Alcian Blue dye or fluorescent orange or yellow acrylic paint for coho salmon and Alcian Blue dye fo...
American Politicians Confront the Court: Opposition Politics and Changing Responses to Judicial Power. By Stephen M. Engel. New York: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2011. 408 pp. $32.99 paper.

American Politicians Confront the Court: Opposition Politics and Changing Responses to Judicial Power. By Stephen M. Engel. New York: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2011. 408 pp. $32.99 paper.In his engrossing study of the interactions of elected officials and the Supreme Court, Stephen Engel finds scholarly literature inadequate to explain a history in which anti-judicial hostilities recur while judicial authority appears to have become more secure over time. Scholars who simply trace anti-Court sentiment to the justices' unelected status cannot account for the leavening over time of politicians' anti-judicial responses. By contrast, studies that focus on the development of a norm of judicial supremacy cannot explain the continued efforts of politicians to draftbills that undercut judicial authority. Engel has a greater appreciation for scholars who maintain that judicial power serves to entrench partisan policy aims. Yet these studies fail to consider how politicians' preferences for judicial power have changed over the past 200 plus years and mistakenly treat elected branch hostility toward the judiciary as an aberration.Engel's central claim is that "anti-judicial animus reflects politicians' changing ideas about the threat posed by formed, stable, and permanent opposition" (8). He grounds his perspective on the relationship between politicians and the Court in the shiftin American political culture from the idiom of civic republicanism, which emphasized a uniform notion of the common good and equated stable opposition with civic instability, to the idiom of liberal pluralism, which regards partisan competition as a sign of a healthy body politic. This developmental theory posits that political efforts to control judicial power will not so much decline as change over time.From the Founding era through the midnineteenth century, when Americans embraced the idiom of civic republicanism, politicians accepted the notion of a fixed Constitution, the meaning of which was discoverable through textual analysis. Politicians thus viewed political parties and stable opposition as threats to a regime unified around a proper understanding of that foundational document. "Carrying this idea into the realm of judicial behavior, if judges offered a vision that challenged the commitments underlying the presidential administration and/or the ruling party in Congress, they would be seen to represent not simply an alternative vision of the good but a fundamental threat to civic stability" (58). Under these circumstances, anti-judicial action took the form of blunt instruments that sought to undermine the legitimacy of the Court.The Civil War marked a turning point in constitutional development. …
Decreased HDL2 and HDL3 cholesterol, Apo A-I and Apo A-II, and increased risk of myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUNDA large and consistent body of evidence supports the judgment that elevation of total plasma blood cholesterol is a cause of myocardial infarction (MI) and that high levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol have a positive relation and high levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol an inverse relation with MI. At present, however, the roles, if any, of the major subfractions of HDL, namely, HDL2 and HDL3, have not been clarified. In addition, the relation of plasma apolipoprotein concentrations to MI and whether they provide predictive information over and above their lipoprotein cholesterol associations is unknown.METHODS AND RESULTSWe evaluated these questions in a case-control study of patients hospitalized with a first MI and neighborhood controls of the same age and sex. Cases had significantly lower levels of total HDL (p less than 0.0001) as well as HDL2 (p less than 0.0001) and HDL3 (p less than 0.0001) cholesterol. These differences persisted after controlling for ...
Enhanced external counterpulsation in the management of patients with cardiovascular disease

Studies over the past several decades support the hypothesis that enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) can provide long-term benefits in patients with angina secondary to chronic coronary disease. Numerous non-sham controlled trials have recently been substantiated by a multicenter, randomized trial. Although the mechanism by which this mechanical treatment effects an alteration in cellular processes within the myocardium remains unclear, recent scientific investigations suggest that shear stress induced by chronic exposure to EECP might result in the release of a variety of growth factors and the subsequent stimulation of angiogenesis in the coronary beds. Ongoing clinical trials in patients with significant left ventricular dysfunction, an international registry, and additional clinical trials may help to elucidate further the role of this novel and unique therapy in our clinical armamentarium.
Performance-index functions as a simulation design tool to improve the large-signal time-domain response of switch-mode converters

Performance-index functions are proposed as quantitative measures of the quality of the large-signal time-domain response of regulated energy-storage dc-to-dc converters. By using a particular performance-index function as a simulation design guide, improved transient response of a regulated converter has been obtained, substantiating the utility of performance-index functions.
Choosing the optimal spatial domain measure of enhancement for mammogram images

Medical imaging systems often require image enhancement, such as improving the image contrast, to provide medical professionals with the best visual image quality. This helps in anomaly detection and diagnosis. Most enhancement algorithms are iterative processes that require many parameters be selected. Poor or nonoptimal parameter selection can have a negative effect on the enhancement process. In this paper, a quantitative metric for measuring the image quality is used to select the optimal operating parameters for the enhancement algorithms. A variety of measures evaluating the quality of an image enhancement will be presented along with each measure's basis for analysis, namely, on image content and image attributes. We also provide guidelines for systematically choosing the proper measure of image quality for medical images.
Immunologic cross-reaction between enterobacterial common antigen and rat tissue

Livers, sera, and erythrocytes of MAXX, BN, and Wistar rats were examined for an antigen (CRA) that cross-reacts with enterobacterial common antigen (ECA). Extracts of these tissues were tested for their capacity to reduce anti-ECA titers. By this parameter, CRA was present in certain, although not all, extracts of rat tissue. None of the extracts modified red blood cells (RBC) for agglutination by anti-ECA antisera, nor did MAXX liver extracts engender anti-ECA activity in rabbits. It was speculated that a repressor is present in rat tissue that affects both antigenicity and immunogenicity of CRA. To test this concept, extracts of mixtures of enterobacterial suspensions and liver homogenates were prepared. ECA in the presence of tissue did not modify RBC for anti-ECA activity as did ECA alone, nor did enterobacteria-liver extracts significantly reduce anti-ECA titers. Administration of ethanol-soluble fractions of enterobacteria-liver mixtures to rabbits did not elicit an anti-ECA antibody response as did ECA alone. The finding of CRA in certain rat tissues, sera, and erythrocytes may account, in part, for rats being refractory to immunization with ECA. It is proposed that repressors may mask or abrogate the expression of CRA in animal tissue.