cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Issues related to the use of a Gaussian-like incident field for low-grazing-angle scattering

We study the suitability of a tapered plane-wave incident field, using both the Gaussian and the more advanced Thorsos tapers for low-grazing-angle rough-surface scattering problems as well as the problem of propagation in the presence of a rough surface. For surface scattering problems it is known that as the angle of incidence approaches grazing incidence the tapered beam waist should be made larger; several criteria relating these two parameters have been proposed for both the Gaussian and the Thorsos tapers. Our two-dimensional scattering simulations with the oceanlike Pierson–Moskowitz surfaces show that when the width of the Gaussian or the Thorsos taper is fixed, the backscatter cross section for TE polarization is characterized by a distinctive and consistent anomalous jump as grazing incidence is approached. This observation has led to a refined version of one of the above-mentioned beam waist–angle of incidence criteria and its robustness is demonstrated. The approximate (non-Maxwellian) nature of the Thorsos–Gaussian taper also becomes evident in over-surface-propagation simulations with use of the boundary integral equation method. A certain inconsistency was observed between the surface field that we obtained by first defining the Thorsos–Gaussian-tapered field on a vertical plane and then propagating it to the surface and that obtained by defining the same tapered field directly on the surface. This effect, not previously appreciated, may be of importance when the rough-surface effects are rigorously incorporated into the propagation problem. We conclude with a detailed derivation of the Thorsos taper that points out all the approximations involved in it and the resulting limitations.
Hydrogen-Antihydrogen Interactions

The interaction potential between hydrogen and antihydrogen is obtained by a variational calculation. A potential maximum is found, but its peak is below the dissociation limit. A classical calculation shows that the cross section for total annihilation decreases monotonically from $31{{a}_{0}}^{2}$ at 0.01 eV to $4{{a}_{0}}^{2}$ at 20 eV.
Size and number of nerve fibres in the central nervous system connectives of the cockroach Blaberus craniifer.

Abstract The size and number of axons in the ventral cord connectives of the cockroach Blaberus craniifer were determined from montages constructed of electron micrographs of the left connective of each of the connective pairs examined. The fibres were grouped into three main diameter categories: fine fibres from 0·2 to 1 μm, small fibres from 1 to 6 μm, and large fibres from 6 to 24 μm. In the five different left connectives examined, the fine fibres numbered from 2006 to 8535 and composed from 56·5 to 83 per cent of the total fibres. The small fibres numbered from 1269 to 2361 and composed from 16·5 to 41 per cent of the total fibre number. The large axons ranged between 29 and 220 in number which represented from 0·5 to 2·5 per cent of the fibre population.
Transesophageal Echocardiographic Assessment of Aortic Coarctation Using Color, Flow-Directed Doppler Sampling

We report the use of color, flow-directed transesophageal Doppler in the evaluation of aortic coarctation. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was used to define the aortic shelf in two adults with mild and moderate postductal coarctation, respectively. The color mosaic pattern aided in identification of the coarctation location and orifice diameter. Continuous wave and pulsed cursors were steered to provide sampling parallel to the color jet direction and gradients calculated by the modified Bernoulli formula, excluding prestenotic velocities. Measured pressure gradients were equivalent to those determined at catheterization. We conclude that color, flow-directed TEE Doppler sampling can aid in the identification and characterization of adult patients with aortic coarctation.
More Work! Less Pay! Rebellion and Repression in Italy, 1972–7

Phil Edwards (2009) More Work! Less Pay! Rebellion and Repression in Italy, 1972–7(Manchester: Manchester University Press), 322 pp., ISBN 9780719078736, £60.00, hardback From approximately 1969 to...
A dynamic model for social networks

A continuous‐time binary‐matrix‐valued Markov chain is used to model the process by which social structure effects individual behavior. The model is developed in the context of sociometric networks of interpersonal affect. By viewing the network as a time‐dependent stochastic process it is possible to construct transition intensity equations for the probability that choices between group members will change. These equations can contain parameters for structural effects. Empirical estimates of the parameters can be interpreted as measures of structural tendencies. Some elementary processes are described and the application of the model to cross‐sectional data is explained in terms of the steady state solution to the process.
An empirical study of "bogon" route advertisements

An important factor in the robustness of the interdomain routing system is whether the routers in autonomous systems (ASes) filter routes for "bogon" address space---i.e., private address space and address space that has not been allocated by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). This paper presents an empirical study of bogon route announcements, as observed at eight vantage points on the Internet. On average, we observe several bogon routes leaked every few days; a small number of ASes also temporarily leak hundreds of bogon routes. About 40% of these bogon routes are not withdrawn for at least a day. We observed 110 different ASes originating routes for bogon prefixes and a few ASes that were responsible for advertising a disproportionate number of these routes. We also find that some ASes that do filter unallocated prefixes continue to filter them for as long as five months after they have been allocated, mistakenly filtering valid routes. Both of these types of delinquencies have serious implications: the failure to filter valid prefixes can could make nefarious activities such as denial of service attacks difficult to trace; failure to update filters when new prefixes are allocated prevents legitimate routes from being globally visible.
Spin-Density-Wave Antiferromagnetism of Cr in Fe/Cr(001) Superlattices.

The antiferromagnetic spin-density-wave (SDW) order of Cr layers in Fe/Cr(001) superlattices was investigated by neutron scattering. For Cr thickness 51-190 {Angstrom}, a transverse SDW is formed for all temperatures below Neel temperature with a single wavevector Q normal to the layers. A coherent magnetic structure forms with the nodes of the SDW near the Fe-Cr interfaces. For thinner Cr layers, the magnetic scattering can be described by commensurate antiferromagnetic order.
Insight into thyroid-stimulating autoantibody interaction with the thyrotropin receptor N-terminus based on mutagenesis and re-evaluation of ambiguity in this region of the receptor crystal structure.

Background: Thyroid-stimulating autoantibodies (TSAb) bind to the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) extracellular domain, or ectodomain (ECD), comprising a leucine-rich repeat domain (LRD) linked by a hinge region to the transmembrane domain (TMD). The LRD (residues 22–260; signal peptide 1–21) contains two disulfide-bonded loops at its N-terminus. In the crystal structure of the isolated LRD complexed with human TSAb monoclonal antibody (mAb) M22, N-terminal disulfide loop 1 (residues 22–30) could not be determined because of crystal disorder. Nevertheless, present crystal structure data are interpreted to exclude a role for the LRD N-terminal disulfide loops in the TSAb epitope(s), contradicting prior functional evidence of a role for these loops in TSAb function. Materials and Methods: To re-examine this issue we studied two cell types expressing the TSHR with the extreme N-terminal loop 1 (residues 22–30) deleted: the TSHR ECD lacking the TMD and tethered to the plasma membrane by a glycosyl-phosphatidylino...
Cross‐cultural psychiatry: Epistemology and applied science

Simons, Ronald C. and Charles C. Hughes, eds. The Culture‐Bound Syndromes: Folk Illnesses of Psychiatric and Anthropological Interest. Boston: D. Reidel, 1985. xiv + 516 pp. including glossary, references, and index. No price. Kleinman, Arthur. Social Origins of Distress and Disease: Depression, Neurasthenia, and Pain in Modern China. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1986. xii + 264 pp. including appendix, glossary, bibliography, and index. $22.00 cloth.
Glycosylation of human leukocyte interferon: Effects of tunicamycin

Antiviral activity of interferon secreted by human leukocytes into the culture fluid in the presence of tunicamycin (1–2 µg/ml) was significantly decreased, by 50–60 percent, in comparison to that produced in the absence of the antibiotic. No loss in antiviral activity occurred when tunicamycin was added to already harvested interferon preparations. Some physico-chemical and biological properties of human leukocyte interferon synthesized in the presence of tunicamycin (HL-IFT) were apparently altered by comparison with those of control preparations of human leukocyte interferon (HL-IF): HF-IFT had only one molecular weight component of 16,000 daltons in contrast to the two components of HL-IF of 16,000 and 21,000 daltons. HL-IFT also had a higher apparent hydrophobicity and was less efficiently neutralized by an antibody raised against HL-IF. However, some other properties remained unchanged: isoelectric point, pI about 6; affinity for immobilized polyriboinosinic acid and a spectrum of cross-species antiviral activity. These data support the notion that the major component of HL-IF (70 percent, 16,000 daltons) is apparently nonglycosylated whereas the minor component (30 percent, 21,000 daltons) is glycosylated via saccharide-lipid intermediates.
Retentive shear strengths of various bonding attachment bases

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine whether any of the commercially available attachment bases had significantly better retentive properties. This was determined by their shear strengths after all were bonded to bovine incisors with Auto-Tach. The mean shear strengths of sixteen bases were statistically compared to each other at 24 hours and at 30 days. In addition, the data were converted to pounds per square inch to ascertain if the size of the base significantly influenced the mean shear strength. It was concluded that (1). one of the foil mesh bases tested for shear strength was significantly superior to the two other base designs (indents with undercuts and solid bases with perforations); (2). mechanical retention of the attachment bases to the adhesive was not significantly affected after being placed in distilled water at 37 ° C. either for 24 hours or for 30 days; (3). smaller foil mesh bases could be used without sacrificing significant shear strength.
Zero Cost Test Point Insertion Technique to Reduce Test Set Size and Test Generation Time for Structured ASICs

Since structured application specific integrated chip (ASIC) products require very short turn around time, long automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) run time is undesirable. Large structured ASICs often require a large number of test patterns to achieve the desired fault coverage. This paper presents the first test point insertion technique for structured ASICs that can reduce test set sizes and ATPG run time. Only unused flip-flops in the structured ASIC design are used to implement test points, so the proposed technique does not incur any hardware overhead. Since test points are inserted during a post-layout step, considering both timing and layout information, hence test points can be inserted without changing the existing layout or routing. Novel gain functions are defined that specifically quantify the reduction in test volume and test time to select the best signal lines for inserting test points. The gain function described in this paper is also applicable to regular cell based ASICs. The proposed test point insertion technique can be used in conjunction with any compression technique (Jas et al., 2003) to further reduce the test volume. Experimental results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness and scalability of the proposed technique. Using less than 1% of extra flip-flops and very little run time for test point insertion, test generation time was reduced by up 42.9% and test data volume by up to 25.9% while also achieving a near 100% fault efficiency for very large industrial (400K-5M signal lines) designs
Variability in expression of common fragile sites: in search of a new criterion.

Fragile sites are nonrandom, heritable sites on chromosomes that can be induced to form gaps, breaks, and rearrangements under specific conditions. There is currently no established criterion to define a common fragile site. We applied seven published criteria to our data from three groups of subjects: (1) three pairs of like-sexed twins, (2) four unaffected von HippelLindau (VHL) family members, and (3) six patients affected with VHL disease. Substantial differences were present in the numbers of sites considered positive by these criteria. While some of this variability can be attributed to technical factors, our data illustrate the problems in comparing results from different studies to assess the significance of fragile sites. A recently published criterion is based upon the Poisson distribution. We found this criterion to be flawed in its presentation, and furthermore, the Poisson distribution did not provide an adequate approximation to our data. We propose here an alternative approach based upon the negative binomial distribution.
In Her Hands: the education of Jewish girls in Tsarist Russia

Eliyana R. Adler's In Her Hands is the first comprehensive work on Jewish women's education in the Russian Empire. Jewish education of men has been described in the historical literature far better...
Organisational identity and the business environment: the strategic connection

In fast changing business environments, the domains in which organisations function often transform causing competitive strategies to become obsolete and requiring that the organisations’ missions evolve. Strategies and missions consequently are shifting and ephemeral bases for defining organisations and their relevant business environments. A potentially more enduring and evocative basis for defining organisations and their relevant business environment is their identity. The articles in this special issue focus on the development, composition and evolution of organisations’ identities, the interaction of their identities with changing business environments, and the correspondence of these dynamics with business strategies and organisational capabilities.
Evaluating new methodologies for estimating performance on two-lane highways

This paper examines two new methodologies for field estimation of percent time spent following (PTSF) on two-lane highways. Using speed and time headway data, the two methodologies estimate the percentage of vehicles trapped in platoons, unable to pass slow-moving vehicles. A total of 236 h of field data, including individual speeds and headways, were collected at three study sites in the state of Montana. The study examined the sensitivity of PTSF estimates to some important platooning variables. The study also included a comparison of PTSF estimates from the new methods versus those found using the current United States National Research Council Highway capacity manual (HCM) analytical procedures. Study results showed that the two new methodologies were successful in capturing the effect of platooning variables on PTSF estimates and outperformed the HCM procedures in this regard. Further, the results strongly attest to the promise of the proposed methods in advancing the current analytical procedures fo...
Mean platelet volume as a marker of increased cardiovascular risk in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD); Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH); Mean plateletvolume (MPV); Inflammation; Steatosis; Ballooning; Fibrosis; Cardiovascular RiskNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the most common cause ofchronic liver disease in western countries (1). NAFLD is frequently associated with obesity,diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and increased cardiovascular risk. Moreover, patients withthe aggressive form of NAFLD, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH, may be at higher riskof atherosclerosis than patients with simple steatosis due to increased oxidative stress andsystemic inflammation (2–4). Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a marker of platelet activationand a validated predictor of cardiovascular risk (5). Larger platelets are enzymatically moreactive than small platelets, produce more thromboxane A2, and have an increased propensityto thrombosis (6).The aim of this study was two-fold: first to assess MPV levels in patients with biopsyproven NAFLD, and second to determine the relation between histological features ofNASH and MPV. Our cohort consisted of 100 consecutive patients undergoing liver biopsyfor clinical suspicion of NAFLD. Patients were divided into 3 groups: NASH (n=52), simplesteatosis (n=25), and normal biopsy (n=21). We measured MPV in blood samples collectedat the time of liver biopsy. The mean age was 49.8(± 10.6) years and the mean body massindex was 31.4 (± 4.8) kg/m
P.1.16 Sarcospan amelioration of muscular dystrophy restores laminin binding and is dependent on α7β1 integrin and utrophin

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive muscle wasting disorder caused by loss of the predominant adhesion complex at the muscle membrane, the dystrophin–glycoprotein complex. Over-expression of compensatory adhesion complexes, α 7 β 1 integrin or the utrophin–glycoprotein complex, rescues dystrophic pathology in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The utrophin–glycoprotein complex is normally localized to the neuromuscular junction and is comprised of utrophin, dystroglycan, and the sarcoglycan–sarcospan subcomplex. We have recently demonstrated that sarcospan amelioration of mdx muscular dystrophy increases protein abundance of the utrophin–glycoprotein complex and α 7 β 1 integrin around the extra-synaptic membrane; however, the mechanism of sarcospan-mediated rescue is unknown. Here, we show that the rescue effect is dependent on both α 7 integrin and utrophin, which in turn determine muscle cell binding to laminin in the extracellular matrix. Since sarcospan over-expression stabilizes the utrophin–glycoprotein complex and α 7 β 1 integrin at the sarcolemma, we investigated the possibility that sarcospan acts synergistically between both complexes. We biochemically isolated a macromolecular complex containing α 7 β 1 integrin and the utrophin–glycoprotein complex. Using several double- and triple-knockout mice, we discovered that integrin and sarcospan synergistically contribute to utrophin-glycoprotein complex function by promoting interactions between α - and β -dystroglycan, thereby disturbing laminin connections. Our data highlights the importance of both α 7 β 1 integrin and utrophin for sarcospan rescue of mdx dystrophic pathology.
Lead shielding thickness for dose reduction of 7- to 28-MeV electrons

The relative percent dose reduction by lead of 7- to 18-MeV electrons with a Siemens betatron and of 19- to 28-MeV electrons with a Sagittaire linear accelerator has been measured with a thin-wall buildup chamber for 6.3 X 6.3- and 10.5 X 10.5-cm field sizes at the chamber position for the normal treatment source-to-skin distance (SSD) of each machine. The thickness of lead necessary to attenuate the open beam by 95-98% was then determined of 7- to 28-MeV electrons. The required thickness of lead to attenuate 95% of the 7- to 28-MeV electron beam ranged from 2.3 to 18 mm for the 6.3 X 6.3-cm field and from 2.4 to 23 mm for the 10.5 X 10.5-cm field, respectively. For 98% attenuation, thicknesses from 2.6 to 25.0 mm for the 6.3 X 6.3-cm field and from 2.8 to 27.5 mm of lead for the 10.5 X 10.5-cm field were necessary.
Intentional Context in Situated Natural Language Learning

Natural language interfaces designed for situationally embedded domains (e.g. cars, videogames) must incorporate knowledge about the users' context to address the many ambiguities of situated language use. We introduce a model of situated language acquisition that operates in two phases. First, intentional context is represented and inferred from user actions using probabilistic context free grammars. Then, utterances are mapped onto this representation in a noisy channel framework. The acquisition model is trained on unconstrained speech collected from subjects playing an interactive game, and tested on an understanding task.
A finite element analysis procedure using simple quadrilateral plate/shell elements

Abstract The objective of this paper is to develop a four-noded quadrilateral composite laminated plate/shell element and describe its applications to various sample problems. This element is based on isoparametric principles with modifications which relax excessive constraints. The modifications include reduced/selective order integration for shear terms, enforcement of curvature compatibility, and the augmentation of transverse shear flexibility to account for a deficiency in the bending strain energy. This paper compares the present element with another two simple elements with numerical tests and points out that the present element is superior and is very useful for the linear and nonlinear analysis of both thin and thick laminated plates and shells.
Protein Phosphatase 2A Activates the HIV-2 Promoter through Enhancer Elements That Include the pets Site*

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) gene expression is regulated by upstream promoter elements, including the peri-Ets (pets) site, which mediate enhancer stimulation following treatment with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). We previously showed that the oncoprotein DEK binds to the pets site in a site-specific manner. In this report, we show that binding to the HIV-2 pets site is modulated by treatment of U937 monocytic cells with TPA, an activator of protein kinase C. TPA treatment resulted in a reduction in the levels of DEK and the formation of a faster migrating pets complex in gel shift assays. We show further that the actions of TPA on pets binding can be duplicated by phosphatase treatment of nuclear proteins and is blocked with okadaic acid, a protein phospatase-2A (PP2A) inhibitor. Finally, we demonstrate that ectopic expression of the catalytic domain of PP2A can activate the HIV-2 enhancer/promoter alone or in synergy with TPA, an effect mediated in part through the pets site. These results suggest that, through an interaction with the protein kinase C pathway, PP2A is strongly involved in regulating HIV-2 enhancer-mediated transcription. This is a consequence of its effects on DEK expression and binding to the pets site, as well as its effects on other promoter elements. These findings have implications not only for HIV-2 transcription but also for multiple cellular processes involving DEK or PP2A.
The Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect from Quasar Feedback

The observed relationship between X-ray luminosity and temperature of the diffuse intercluster medium clearly shows the effect of nongravitational heating on the formation of galaxy clusters. Quasar feedback into the intergalactic medium can potentially be an important source of heating and can have significant impact on structure formation. This feedback process is a source of thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich distortions of the cosmic microwave background. Using a simple one-dimensional Sedov-Taylor model of energy outflow, we calculate the angular power spectrum of the temperature distortion, which has an amplitude on the order of 1 μK. This signal will be at the noise limit of upcoming arcminute-scale microwave background experiments, including the Atacama Cosmology Telescope and the South Pole Telescope, but will be directly detectable with deep exposures by the Atacama Large Millimeter Array or by stacking many microwave images.
Computers in pre-college education: Oregon moves forward

The computers in education field is making rapid progress. We can see this progress in the quality and number of data processing programs at the associates degree and data processing school levels, and in the bachelor's, master's, and doctorate programs at colleges and universities. We can also see large numbers of secondary schools beginning to acquire computing facilities. But we have a long way to go! To put our current progress in perspective we need merely ask: “What percentage of students in the United States made direct instructional use of computers during the past week, how extensive was this usage, and how effectively did it contribute to the student's education?”
Bio-inspired WSN architecture: event detection and loacalization in a fault tolerant WSN

One can think of human body as a sensory network. In particular, skin has several neurons that provide the sense of touch with different sensitivities, and neurons for communicating the sensory signals to the brain. Even though skin might occasionally experience some lacerations, it performs remarkably well (fault tolerant) with the failure of some sensors. One of the challenges in collaborative wireless sensor networks (WSN) is fault tolerant detection and localization of targets. In this paper we present a biologically inspired architecture model for WSN. Diagnosis of sensors in WSN model presented here is derived from the concept of the immune system. We present an architecture for WSN for detection and localization of multiple targets inspired by human nervous system. We show that the advantages of such bio-inspired networks are reduced data for communication, self-diagnosis to detect faulty sensors in real-time and the ability to localize events. We present the results of our algorithms on simulation data.
WAVELENGTH PROBING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY

In swept-source optical coherence tomography (SSOCT), the swept-source stimulates system by a series of wavelengths in time sequence; a photo detector then collects all reflected/backscattered light from testing sample as the components of Fourier series. Due to the nature of the SSOCT, the processing in spectral domain can merge multiple swept-sources with different central wavelengths, which greatly increases the resolution of the OCT imaging. In the wavelength probing OCT, a standard broadband SSOCT system is used to extract the internal structure of the sample, and another narrow band light can be used to probe the spectral feature of the sample at the probing wavelength.
Scaling of interdomain spacing of diblock copolymers in a selective diluent

Interdomain spacing, d, of microphase-separated poly(styrene-b-dimethylsiloxane) in high-pressure carbon dioxide (CO2) was found to follow a modified power law scaling, d/ξ ∼ , where ξ is a swelling asymmetry factor and φdiblock is the volume fraction polymer. This interdomain spacing was measured in situ both isothermally and at constant φdiblock using small-angle neutron scattering. The use of high-pressure CO2 as the diluent enabled precise control of sorbed solvent volume fraction in highly concentrated systems at elevated temperatures. Data measured at constant φdiblock are in agreement with theoretical predictions and experimental data for dilution by traditional liquid solvents and follow the scaling law d ∼ . In the highly concentrated regime, the isothermal dependence on φdiblock cannot be described by the simple power law scaling previously suggested for liquid diluents, d ∼ . By accounting for solvent selectivity using ξ, however, d-spacing as a function of φdiblock for a system exhibiting lame...
Behavioral aspects of the use of medical markers in clinical trials.

Abstract Nonadherence by trial participants to the study drug regimen threatens the satisfactory conduct of the best designed clinical trial. Reduced adherence confounds the interpretation of the study's results and may leave the study's primary question unanswered. Recent reports from multicenter clinical trials have reported adherence rates of 60%–90%. This presentation examines the use of a drug marker in counseling to improve participant adherence to a medication regimen. Potential benefits and problems are identified, and several recomendations are offered. Increasingly, behavioral counseling has been used by clinic staff members to improve the medication adherence of trial participants. Behavioral counseling is a databased counseling process emphasizing patient collaboration with the clinician in idenfying, diagnosing, and intervening in medication adherence problems. A valid, accurate drug marker would have direct application in both identifying and intervening on a medication adherence problem. However, a marker would not contribute substantially to the clinician's ability to diagnose accurately the nature of the medication aherence problem. A major concern is the manner in which the clinician introduces the drug marker into the counseling process. The use of data from a drug marker can have a strong positive or negative effect on the medication adherence problem. It also can significantly influence the continuing relationship between the clinician and the participant. Examples are presented. It is strongly recommended that the clinician identify the specific goals for the marker's use prior to the introduction of data from a medical marker into the participant counseling process. Further, the manner in which the marker is introduced into the interview with the participant must be considered carefully. It is recommended that special training be required of clinical staff for the use of data from drug markers for both monitoring and counseling for medication adherence.
Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with COPD

Objective To more fully define the influence of COPD in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods One hundred ninety-one patients with COPD underwent CABG from March 1, 1995, to June 21, 1996. There were 129 male and 62 female patients. The mean age was 69 years (45 to 86 years). Patients with COPD were defined according to the Summit Database definition: requires therapy for the treatment of chronic pulmonary compromise or has an FEV1 Results Hospital mortality was 7%. Hospital morbidity was 50%. Statistically significant (p Conclusions Hospital mortality in most patients with mild-to-moderate COPD undergoing CABG is similar to those without COPD. In the minority of patients with severe COPD who are receiving steroids and > 75 years, the hospital mortality is exceptionally high. These findings support CABG in patients with mild-to-moderate COPD. Nonsurgical therapy should be considered for elderly COPD patients with severe disease taking steroids.
NMDA receptor mediates chronic visceral pain induced by neonatal noxious somatic stimulation

NMDA receptors (NMDAR) are important in the development and maintenance of central sensitization. Our objective was to investigate the role of spinal neurons and NMDAR in the maintenance of chronic visceral pain. Neonatal rats were injected with acidic saline adjusted to pH 4.0 in the gastrocnemius muscle every other day for 12 days. In adult rats, NR1 and NR2B subunits were examined in the lumbo-sacral (LS) spinal cord. A baseline, visceromotor response (VMR) to graded colorectal distension (CRD) was recorded before and after administration of the NMDA antagonist, CGS-19755. Extracellular recordings were performed from CRD-sensitive LS spinal neurons and pelvic nerve afferents (PNA) before and after CGS-19755. Rats that received pH 4.0 saline injections demonstrated a significant increase in the expression NR2B subunits and VMR response to CRD>20 mmHg. CGS-19755 (i.v. or i.t.) had no effect in naive rats, but significantly decreased the response to CRD in pH 4.0 saline injected rats. CGS-19755 had no effect on the spontaneous firing of SL-A, but decreased that of SL-S. Similarly, CGS-19755 attenuates the responses of SL-S neurons to CRD, but had no effect on SL-A neurons or on the response characteristics of PNA fibers. Neonatal noxious somatic stimulation results in chronic visceral hyperalgesia and sensitizes a specific subpopulation of CRD-sensitive spinal neurons. The sensitization of these SL-S spinal neurons is attenuated by the NMDAR antagonist. The results of this study suggest that spinal NMDARs play an important role in the development of hyperalgesia early in life.
Chromatin reconstituted from tandemly repeated cloned DNA fragments and core histones: A model system for study of higher order structure

We describe a model system for study of chromatin structure at levels above that of the nucleosome. A series of fragments with lengths ranging from 172 to 207 bp tandemly repeated three to greater than 50 times was prepared; each repeat contains the region important in forming a positioned core particle on a sea urchin 5S rRNA gene upon in vitro association with histones. The tandemly repeated sequences can be studied as linear DNA fragments or as relaxed or supercoiled circular molecules. A number of criteria indicate that nucleosomes position correctly on all the tandemly repeated elements. Measurement of the change in linking number per core particle led to a value of -1.0. Both length and repeat number dependent changes in conformation of the nucleoproteins are observed. We discuss the possibility that some ordered higher level chromatin structure can form with DNA and core histones alone.
High-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of hypusine and deoxyhypusine

A selective and sensitive reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of the amino acid hypusine which occurs ubiquitously in mammalian cells and for the simultaneous measurement of its immediate precursor deoxyhypusine. These amino acids, after their ion-exchange separation from the bulk of other amino acids in protein hydrolysates, are derivatized with o-phthalaldehyde and the fluorescent derivatives are separated by reverse-phase liquid chromatography. The sensitivity of this method allows detection of less than 5 pmol of each of these unusual amino acids. The method is applied to the determination of hypusine and deoxyhypusine in acid hydrolysates of cultured cells and tissues.
Time focusing of pulsed-source crystal analyzer spectrometers. Part I: general analysis

Abstract This paper outlines the derivation of an expression for the resolution of a crystal analyzer spectrometer and gives explicit conditions for geometric focusing. The development preserves full 3-dimensional generality so as to guide the choice of geometric parameters in the design of instruments.
The effect of coronary collateral circulation on experimental aorto-coronary bypass☆

Abstract The relationship between collateral coronary flow and aorto-coronary bypass graft hemodynamics was investigated in two groups of dogs. In animals without significant collateral channels, occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery did not alter flow or peripheral coronary pressure in a bypass graft to the acutely ligated circumflex coronary artery. Six weeks after circumflex constriction, abundant collateral vessels were demonstrated in the second group and were associated with an elevation of peripheral circumflex pressure and a reduction of graft flow. Occlusion of the left anterior descending in these animals significantly increased graft flow and reduced peripheral circumflex pressure. Conversely, after occlusion of the graft, left anterior descending peripheral pressure decreased and flow increased. These data document an initial decrease in flow through an aorto-coronary graft in the presence of extensive coronary collaterals, but demonstrate a reduction in collateral flow after graft insertion.
Coeducation and Sex Roles

In order to test conflicting hypotheses about the effects of coeducational versus single-sex schooling, 538 first-term Australian university students who had attended single sex or coeducational hi...
Open-ended waveguide radiation characteristics – full-wave simulation versus analytical solutions

Flush mounted aperture antennas are widely used and are often approximated by an aperture in an infinite conducting surface. The equivalent circuit parameters for the canonical problem of a rectangular waveguide radiating into a half-space (i.e., an infinite conducting flange) is equivalent to that for the parallel plate guide but using the guide wavelength. In 1951 Marcuvitz obtained an approximate solution by the variational method assuming a constant aperture field [1]. Since then this canonical problem has received much attention with solutions obtained by various rigorous, approximate and numerical methods. Here we select some of the published results for comparison to numerical results obtained by the Method of Moments (MoM) using FEKO and the Finite Element Method (FEM) using Ansoft's HFSS. The analytic results are based on the correlation matrix (CM) [2], transverse operator (TO) [3] and an integral equation method (KP) [4]. Although rigorous, these methods can be complicated and assume an infinite, zero-thickness conducting flange. To address realistic and possibly conformal antenna installations a numerical model is typically more accurate and more useful for antenna design. To this end FEKO is used to simulate a rectangular waveguide in a finite size flat plate for a single incident TE 10 mode. HFSS is used to simulate the waveguide with an infinite conducting flange. The results are used to estimate how large a waveguide flange is required to approximate the HFSS and previously published results for an infinite flange.
Viruses Detected Among Sporadic Cases of Parotitis, United States, 2009–2011

Background. Sporadic cases of parotitis are generally assumed to be mumps, which often requires a resourceintensive public health response. This project surveyed the frequency of viruses detected among such cases. Methods. During 2009–2011, 8 jurisdictions throughout the United States investigated sporadic cases of parotitis. Epidemiologic information, serum, and buccal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected. Polymerase chain reaction methods were used to detect a panel of viruses. Anti–mumps virus immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were detected using a variety of methods. Results. Of 101 specimens, 38 were positive for a single virus: Epstein-Barr virus (23), human herpesvirus (HHV)-6B (10), human parainfluenza virus (HPIV)-2 (3), HPIV-3 (1), and human bocavirus (1). Mumps virus, enteroviruses (including human parechovirus), HHV-6A, HPIV-1, and adenoviruses were not detected. Early specimen collection did not improve viral detection rate. Mumps IgM was detected in 17% of available specimens. Patients in whom a virus was detected were younger, but no difference was seen by sex or vaccination profile. No seasonal patterns were identified. Conclusions. Considering the timing of specimen collection, serology results, patient vaccination status, and time of year may be helpful in assessing the likelihood that a sporadic case of parotitis without laboratory confirmation is mumps.
What can Learning Science Contribute to our Understanding of the Effectiveness of Problem-Based Learning Groups?

Recent education reforms informed by learning science support the effectiveness of collaborative learning strategies such as problem-based learning groups. However, the efficacy of these methods depends on the authenticity of the problem context and the quality of the dialog established. Communication within groups must be dialogic, and students must address problems using relevant concepts and deep principles. Although dialogic communication is rare and difficult to facilitate, if it is achieved, students will construct useful knowledge that can be applied beyond the classroom.
“Green Pastures of Plenty from Dry Desert Ground”: Nature, Labor, and the Growth and Structure of a California Grape Company

This article examines the growth and change of a southern California table grape firm, the George F. Johnston Company. Combining business, labor, and environmental history, it traces the company’s expansion from a semi-arid region just east of Los Angeles to the fully arid deserts of the Coachella and Imperial Valleys of California. The Johnston Company moved south and east into this more hostile environment to produce grapes out of the traditional season, beating the competition to market. In the process, it produced a racially stratified workforce and contributed to an ecological catastrophe. The Johnston case suggests that agricultural production pits capitalists in a triangular struggle over the moment of the harvest with nature and labor. This struggle is intensified by competitive dynamics that drive firms to expand or shift the timing of the productive process.
The Subjective Masculinity Stress Scale: Scale Development and Psychometric Properties

This article describes the development and psychometric properties of the Subjective Masculinity Stress Scale (SMSS), which assesses the stress associated with men’s subjective experiences of what it means to be male. Two hundred twenty men from the United States completed the sentence, “As a ma n... ” 10 times, after which they indicated the frequency with which each of the 10 experiences was stressful. Evidence for the internal consistency and test–retest reliability as well as the convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity of the SMSS was provided. In terms of incremental validity, a multiple regression analysis revealed that after controlling for three other masculinity measures and a generic measure of stress, the SMSS remained significantly and positively related to psychological distress. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.
Pet studies of auditory and phonological processing: Effects of stimulus characteristics and task demands

Positron emission tomography (PET) was used to investigate the functional anatomy of auditory and phonological processing. Stimulus sets were designed to determine areas of the brain significantly activated during speech and nonspeech acoustic processing for stimuli with or without rapidly changing acoustic cues. Performance of auditory target detection tasks using these stimulus sets produced increased activation in superior temporal, frontal opercular, and medial frontal (SMA) cortices, relative to a visual fixation control task. While the medial frontal and superior temporal changes are best explained by motor and sensory components of the task, respectively, the frontal opercular changes were dependent upon the task performed upon the auditory input (mere presentation of the stimuli did not result in significant activation). On the left, the frontal opercular increases were larger when subjects performed an auditory detection task upon stimuli that incorporated rapid temporal changes (words, syllables, and tone sequences) than steady-state vowels. A converging study involving performance of orthographic (ascending letter) and phonological (long vowel sound) word discrimination tasks supports anatomical and behavioral evidence suggesting the left frontal opercular region is important for certain types of auditory/temporal analysis, as well as high-level articulatory coding. In addition to the activation increases associated with performance of auditory target detection tasks, decreases in activation were observed bilaterally along the intraparietal sulcus and superior parietal cortex, in the Rolandic sulcus, and the posterior cingulate; these decreases may reflect an attentional shift away from areas involved in the fixation task during the performance of a difficult auditory task. These results demonstrate that focusing more closely on basic neural processing differences (such as temporal integration rates) may lead to a better understanding of the specific neural processes that underlie complex phonological tasks.
First Results from the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph: Optical Spectra of Gliese 229B

We report the firstHubble Space TelescopeSpace Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) CCD spectroscopy of the bona fide brown dwarf Gliese 229B. The optical spectrum shows absorptions of Csi at 8944 Aand water vapor bands at 9300-9600 A ˚. Strong CaH, FeH, TiO, and VO bands observed in late M dwarfs are absent from the spectrum of Gliese 229B. The formation of dust grains may explain the absence of strong atomic lines and molecular bands of these refractory elements. The broad spectral coverage obtained helps resolve current spec- ulations about the presence of dust clouds in the atmosphere of cool brown dwarfs. We find the slope of the STIS/CCD spectrum and the lack of flux detected shortward of 8000 Astrongly supports the presence of dust hazes suspended in the photosphere of Gl 229B rather than a complete settling of the grains to regions below the photosphere. Subject headings: binaries: general — stars: individual (Gl 229B) — stars: low-mass, brown dwarfs
Female juvenile arsonists: An exploratory look at characteristics and solo and group arson offences

Purpose: This study is an examination of a sample of 114 female juveniles charged with arson in a large juvenile justice system. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the limited descriptive literature about female juvenile arsonists. Methods: Female juvenile arsonists who had been charged with an arson were explored regarding their experiences of family disorganization, abuse and neglect, school issues, substance abuse, mental health, and crime characteristics. Group and solo arson offending was explored in depth. Subjects were from a large US southern state and included all the girls charged with arson over a 5-year period from 2001 to 2005. Results: The female juvenile arsonists were often from profoundly unstable homes, experienced difficulty with school attendance and behaviour, had little or no contact with at least one parent, and were in a crisis at the time of the arson offence. Arson crimes committed by juvenile female offenders were most often at school and were a result of an accidental or impulsive act. Solo female juvenile arsonists had more instability in their homes, poorer school enrollment, increased experiences of limited contact with a parent, often felt upset, angry, and expressed suicidal thoughts when compared to group female juvenile arson offenders. Conclusions: Female juveniles who commit arson alone present very different risk factors and immediate problems than those who commit arson in a group; they likely need very different treatment. Juvenile arson crimes should be seen as warning signal given out by youth in distress.