cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
202 Post-Haemorrhagic Ventricular Dilatation and Adc Measurements in the White Matter in Preterm Born Infants at Term Equivalent Age

Objective: Post-haemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD) might cause additional white matter (WM) injury due to increased pressure on surrounding tissue. The extent of associated WM injury seems to be the main predictor for an adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. Aim: Assessing WM injury in preterm born neonates with PHVD at term-equivalent age (TEA) by measuring the ADC on diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI). Methods: In this retrospective patient-controlled study, 23 preterm infants with PHVD (median GA 27.3 weeks (range 25.6-30.6)), admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), were matched to 23 control patients for gender and GA (median GA 27.4 (range 25.3-30.9)). DW-MRI was performed in all neonates at TEA. Regions of interest were drawn manually on the ADC-map with equal size and location in the frontal, parietal and occipital WM bilaterally. Results: Results are presented in table 1. PHVD was associated with slightly higher ADC-values in the occipital WM (p< 0.05). No significant differences in ADC-values of the frontal and parietal WM were observed between both groups. Conclusion: Preterm born neonates with PHVD showed slightly higher ADC-values of the occipital white matter using DW-MRI at TEA. The lack of a more striking difference may be due to early treatment of PHVD at our NICU, initiated before the P97 +4mm line is crossed.
Struck Down in Their Prime The Truncation of Five Federal Longitudinal Qualitative Impact Evaluations

In 1980, five federal special education longitudinal qualitative impact evaluations were all prematurely terminated. Given the popularity of case studies as part of educational evaluations, the increasing acceptance of qualitative methodology, and the probable continuation of annual funding patterns that pose a threat to the completion of multiyear studies, future studies of this sort are likely to find themselves similarly at risk. What happened, why it happened, what salvage decisions were made and what could have been done may have implications for the design of RFPs and evaluation plans so that the salvageability and usability of future studies will be maximized.
Radial field Kaufman thruster

Kaufman thrustor with predominant radial field, noting electron mobility across ion extraction screen and advantages of uniform plasma distribution
Special considerations in endopyelotomy in a horseshoe kidney

We report a patient with ureteropelvic junction obstruction in a horseshoe kidney who was successfully managed with an antegrade endopyelotomy. Follow-up at 1 year confirmed a good result. Special considerations are necessary for the successful performance of an endopyelotomy in a horseshoe kidney. Recommendations will be made regarding percutaneous access and orientation of the incision as well as a review of the literature.
Metastatic nonrhabdomyosarcomatous soft-tissue sarcomas in children and adolescents: the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital experience.

Background Because the natural history of pediatric patients with metastatic nonrhabdomyosarcomatous soft-tissue sarcomas (NRSTS) had not been well described, we retrospectively reviewed our single-institution experience with these tumors. Procedure We identified 26 patients with metastatic NRSTS who were treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital from December 1971 through July 1995. We evaluated the characteristics of each patient, including age, sex, primary site, stage, type of therapy received, and outcome. Sites of metastatic disease at diagnosis and relapse were noted. Results The median age of the 26 study patients at diagnosis was 14.8 years; 54% of patients were male and 69% were white. The most common histologies were synovial sarcoma, alveolar soft-part sarcoma, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Most primary tumors (73% of cases) occurred in the trunk or extremities. Most patients presented with large (>5 cm), high-grade lesions. All 26 patients received chemotherapy, and 8 responded to an ifosfamide- or cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin–based regimen. Radiotherapy was administered to 15 patients, and 13 had a partial or complete resection of the primary tumor. Six patients underwent thoracotomy. The estimated 2-year survival for the cohort was 34.6% ± 8.9%; the 2-year progression-free survival was 15.4% ± 6.3%. The lung was the most common site of failure. Conclusions Children with metastatic NRSTS have a poor outcome, which is similar to that in adults. More effective systemic chemotherapy is needed to facilitate complete surgical resection of primary and metastatic sites. Aggressive pulmonary metastatectomy can increase disease control. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 33:76–82, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Genetic characterization of plasmids containing genes encoding enzymes of leucine biosynthesis in endosymbionts (Buchnera) of aphids.

The prokaryotic endosymbionts (Buchnera) of aphids are known to provision their hosts with amino acids that are limiting in the aphid diet. Buchnera from the aphids Schizaphis graminum and Diuraphis noxia have plasmids containing leuABCD, genes that encode enzymes of the leucine biosynthetic pathway, as well as genes encoding proteins probably involved in plasmid replication (repA1 and repA2) and an open reading frame (ORF1) of unknown function. The newly reported plasmids closely resemble a plasmid previously described in Buchnera of the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi [Bracho AM, Martinez-Torres D, Moya A, Latorre A (1995) J Mol Evol 41:67–73]. Nucleotide sequence comparisons indicate conserved regions which may correspond to an origin of replication and two promoters, as well as inverted repeats, one of which resembles a rho-independent terminator. Phylogenetic analyses based on amino acid sequences of leu gene products and ORF1 resulted in trees identical to those obtained from endosymbiont chromosomal genes and the plasmid-borne trpEG. These results are consistent with a single evolutionary origin of the leuABCD-containing plasmid in a common ancestor of Aphididae and the lack of plasmid exchange between endosymbionts of different aphid species. Trees for ORF1 and repA (based on both nucleotides and amino acids) are used to examine the basis for leu plasmid differences between Buchnera of Thelaxes suberi and Aphididae. The most plausible explanation is that a single transfer of the leu genes to an ancestral replicon was followed by rearrangements. The related replicon in Buchnera of Pemphigidae, which lacks leuABCD, appears to represent the ancestral condition, implying that the plasmid location of the leu genes arose after the Pemphigidae diverged from other aphid families. This conclusion parallels previously published observations for the unrelated trpEG plasmid, which is present in Aphididae and absent in Pemphigidae. Recruitment of amino acid biosynthetic genes to plasmids has been ongoing in Buchnera lineages after the infection of aphid hosts.
Continuous Time Linear Quadratic Regulator With Control Constraints via Convex Duality

A continuous time infinite horizon linear quadratic regulator with input constraints is studied. Optimality conditions, both in the open loop and feedback form, and continuity and differentiability properties of the optimal value function and of the optimal feedback are shown. Arguments rely on basic ideas of convex conjugacy, and in particular, use a dual optimal control problem
The serializability of concurrent database updates

A sequence of interleaved user transactions in a database system may not be ser:ahzable, t e, equivalent to some sequential execution of the individual transactions Using a simple transaction model, it ~s shown that recognizing the transaction histories that are serlahzable is an NP-complete problem. Several efficiently recognizable subclasses of the class of senahzable histories are therefore introduced; most of these subclasses correspond to senahzabdity principles existing in the hterature and used in practice Two new principles that subsume all previously known ones are also proposed Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for a class of histories to be the output of an efficient history scheduler, these conditions imply that there can be no efficient scheduler that outputs all of senahzable histories, and also that all subclasses of senalizable histories studied above have an efficient scheduler Finally, it is shown how these results can be extended to far more general transaction models, to transactions with partly interpreted functions, and to distributed database systems
Model of synchronized population bursts in electrically coupled interneurons containing active dendritic conductances.

We constructed a computer model of 128 interneurons, each with multiple dendritic branches and an axonal segment. The model neurons were interconnected by gap junctions between dendritic compartments, as are known to occur in rat and guinea-pig hilar interneurons. The model contained no excitatory synapses. In the presence of low-frequency spontaneous action potentials, the model generated synchronized population bursts, when gap junction resistance was 50 MΩ and there were at least two gap junctions per neuron on average. Population bursts occurred only when the dendrites of model neurons were electrically excitable. Consistent with experiment, somatic hyperpolarization during the population burst uncovered partial spikes. In the model, partial spikes originated in electrically active dendrites driven by coupled dendrites. This model may account for population bursts in hilar interneurons that occur in 4-aminopyridine (4AP) together with blockers of GABAA and excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptors.
Effects of Headgroup Structure on Dephosphorylation of p-Nitrophenyl Diphenyl Phosphate by Functional Oximate Comicelles

Rate constants of reaction of n-dodecyl [2-(hydroximino)-2-phenylethyl]dimethylammonium bromide (DHDBr) with p-nitrophenyl diphenyl phosphate in comicelles with inert surfactants, at pH such that t...
Whole-Body Autoradiography of the Distribution of 125I-Thyrocalcitonin in Mice

The distribution of 125I-thyrocalcitonin in male mice was studied by whole-body autoradiography. At six minutes after injection the highest accumulation of radioactivity was seen in the renal cortex, liver, blood, thyroid gland, bile, and urine. At 20 and 60 minutes there was a rapid decline of radioactivity in the blood and liver and a decided increase in the submaxillary gland, stomach, thyroid gland, urine, and bile. No specific sites of accumulation were noted in bone. Incubation of labeled thyrocalcitonin with mouse serums for as long as 60 minutes revealed significant alteration of the chromatoelectrophoretic properties but no detectable deiodination. Rapid deiodination and degradation of the hormone in blood and other tissues restricted interpretation of the autoradiograms at later time intervals.
CHILD ABUSE AND ACCIDENTS: DIFFERENT MANIFESTATIONS OF COMMON ETIOLOGY?

The concept of accidents as random events is approached critically in this study comparing 44 abused children to 44 children with accidents, matched on age, race and social class. All were hospitalized and under 5 years. Using a structured, precoded maternal interview and review of medical records, data were gathered on: demographic information, family and disciplinary histories, current social situation, supports and stresses, maternal disposition and approaches towards the child, child's health, temperament and social development.
Abstract 1295: Relationship between pharmacokinetic (PK) sampling schema and reported PK variability of liposomes in patients

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Introduction: Liposomal formulations offer advantages over small molecules including increased solubility, selective targeting potential and prolonged drug exposure. Compared with conventional formulations, these agents often have greater PK and pharmacodynamic variability, which is attributed to the role of the mononuclear phagocyte system in the clearance of liposomes. Inter-patient variability in drug exposure, represented by area under the curve (AUC), of encapsulated drug can be 20- to 100-fold. However, some nanoparticle and liposomal agents report lower inter-patient PK variability. Study design and sampling schema may affect the documentation of PK variability, due to the prolonged systemic exposure of encapsulated drug. Thus, we evaluated the reported PK variability of PEGylated CKD-602 (S-CKD602) and non-liposomal CKD-602 (NL-CKD-602) using a short (0-24 h) and long (0-336 h) sampling schema. Methods: S-CKD602 and NL-CKD-602 were administered at doses ranging from 0.5 to 2.1 mg/m2 in phase I studies of patients with advanced solid tumors. Blood samples were obtained from baseline to 336 h for S-CKD602 and from baseline to 24 h for NL-CKD-602. Plasma concentration of total (lactone + hydroxy acid) encapsulated CKD-602 from S-CKD602 and total CKD-602 from NL-CKD-602 were measured by LC-MS/MS. AUC from 0 to 24 h (AUC0-24) and 0 to 336 h (AUC0-336) were calculated. The coefficient of variance % (CV%) in AUC0-24 and AUC0-336 at each dose level were calculated for S-CKD602 and NL-CKD-602. Results: ![Figure][1] Conclusion: The inter-patient variability of exposure of S-CKD602 is 2.5- to 3.4-fold greater than that of NL- CKD-602. Current PK study designs limited to 24 h underestimate the inter-patient variability of exposure of S-CKD602. PK study design of liposomal agents requires an extended PK sampling schema to accurately describe its PK disposition. A limited sampling strategy that may be applied for all nanoparticles is under development to address this issue. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1295. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1295 [1]: pending:yes
Improving the compatibility of contact conductivity detection with microchip electrophoresis using a bubble cell.

A new approach for improving the compatibility between contact conductivity detection and microchip electrophoresis was developed. Contact conductivity has traditionally been limited by the interaction of the separation voltage with the detection electrodes because the applied field creates a voltage difference between the electrodes, leading to unwanted electrochemical reactions. To minimize the voltage drop between the conductivity electrodes and therefore improve compatibility, a novel bubble cell detection zone was designed. The bubble cell permitted higher separation field strengths (600 V/cm) and reduced background noise by minimizing unwanted electrochemical reactions. The impact of the bubble cell on separation efficiency was measured by imaging fluorescein during electrophoresis. A bubble cell four times as wide as the separation channel led to a decrease of only 3% in separation efficiency at the point of detection. Increasing the bubble cell width caused larger decreases in separation efficienc...
Abnormal myocardial acoustic properties in diabetic patients and their correlation with the severity of disease.

Abstract Although patients with diabetes mellitus may be afflicted by cardiomyopathy, its prevalence and nature are controversial. Studies have shown that fibrosis alters the acoustic properties of the heart in animals and humans and that the changes are detectable by cardiac tissue characterization with ultrasound. The present study was performed to characterize myocardial acoustic properties in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes to determine whether ultrasound tissue characterization could detect changes potentially indicative of occult cardiomyopathy. The magnitude of cyclic variation of myocardial ultrasound integrated backscatter and its phase delay with respect to the onset of the cardiac cycle in the septum and posterior wall of the left ventricle were measured in 54 patients with diabetes who had no overt cardiac disease. Conventional echocardiography documented normal ventricular systolic function in 96%. As compared with results in age-matched patients without diabetes studied previously, cyclic variation of integrated backscatter was reduced (4.6 ± 0.8 vs. 3.6 ± 1.4 dB; p The primary analysis of the data focused on differences among the diabetic patients. Reduction of cyclic variation of backscatter was greatest in patients with diabetes who had neuropathy (3.2 ±1.0 dB; p Thus, abnormalities that may reflect fibrosis or other occult cardiomyopathic changes in diabetic patients without overt heart disease are readily detectable by myocardial tissue characterization with ultrasound and parallel the severity of noncardiac diabetic complications.
High Density Single Particle Tracking Using Bayesian Multi-Fluorophore Fitting through Vertices

Single particle tracking (SPT) has become a common technique for studying protein and lipid behavior in cell membranes. Using photo-stable fluorescent probes such as quantum dots, SPT is now being applied using multi-color strategies in order to look at nano-scale protein-protein interactions. However, the sparse labeling of each spectral species needed to limit the occurrence of fluorophores overlapping within the diffraction limit reduces the probability of overlap from opposing spectral species and the frequency of observed interactions.We present a single particle tracking method that allows a higher density of labels by performing a Bayesian multi-fluorophore fit to particles that are spaced closer than the diffraction limit. We call a single event of overlapping trajectories a ‘vertex.’ We use knowledge of the particles' intensities, diffusion constants positions before and after the vertex, and possibly blinking rates to improve the multi-fluorophore fits through the vertex. We examine the accuracy of the trajectories and fits as a function of label density. Furthermore, we show that under a range of frame and blinking rates, fluorescence intermittency from blinking probes can improve the accuracy of multi-fluorophore fits. We show that single particle and Bayesian multi-particle fits can be performed at more than 105 fits per second using an iterative fitting method implemented on GPU architecture.
Positron tunneling and emission from pseudomorphically grown Ni films on Cu substrates.

The use of positrons to probe thin-film pseudomorphism is presented. The first use of reemitted-positron spectroscopy to determine critical thicknesses, volume expansions, and residual lattice strains for epitaxial Ni films on Cu(100), (110), and (111) substrates is explored. The effects of the substrate surface orientation and annealing of the film are systematically investigated. The positron deformation potential of Ni, which calibrates the spectroscopy, is separately determined by thermal expansion and by pseudomorphic expansion. The two results agree but are inconsistent with theory.
A Quantum-Mechanical QSAR Model to Predict the Refractive Index of Polymer Matrices

Refractive index (RI) is an important optical property for polymer matrices, especially when the color or tint of the cured material is of interest. This is certainly the case for dental restorative applications. In this work, results are presented for a quantitative -structure activity relationship derived from relevant semiempirical quantum mechanical information. This model predicts the RI for a wide variety of polymer matrices using representative structures of polymers, including resin components of several currently used dental restorative materials. The AM1 semiempirical method was used for calculations due to its speed and general reliability. Several structural subunits of the polymer chains were used for the QSAR analysis, but dimer moieties produced the best results for some 60 polymers. The final QSAR model was composed of a multilinear equation that featured the highest occupied molecular orbital - the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap and a polarizability index as the two descriptors best able to account for the variation in the data. The final model had R 2 =0.963, R 2 cv =0.959, F=740, and s 2 =0.0002. Other quality indicators for the correlation and the individual descriptors were within acceptable limits. The presence of electronically related descriptors is encouraging, as these are conceptually tied to the phenomenon of RI. The difference between a theoretically predicted value for poly(propylene oxide) and its monomer was 0.04, as compared to 0.09 from experimental data.
Adaptive Channel Width for MASNET Routeless Routing Protocol

In this paper, we seek the improvement of a newly developed Static Channel Width Routeless Routing (SCWRR) protocol which uses a self-determined Geographical Forwarding MASNET. Even though our previously obtained results are very competitive with peer protocols, we will strive to explore all venues in order to enhance protocol efficiency, one of such venues is to vary the source-destination channel width. The adaptive channel width simulation results show an enhancement in the power budget of about 10% over the static approach. Such enhancement may prove to be critical in some sensor network applications, making our protocol more amenable in the MASNET domain.
Career patterns of healthcare executives.

This research examines the job and career changes of healthcare executives and managers working in different segments of the healthcare industry in the western United States. The results suggest that the job and career patterns in the healthcare delivery sector are undergoing significant transformation. One third of the respondents report that at least one of their last four job changes was involuntary or unplanned. One half of those attempted to make a career change. This study identifies four different executive and management career patterns. The most common was one of multiple career changes. The second pattern was that of a single career change, followed by a 'traditional' career in which one did not seek a career change. The final pattern was characterized as a movement back and forth between two different segments of the healthcare industry. Age, gender, marital status and education were not associated with any specific career pattern. The need to achieve results early in the respondent's career ha...
Never Innocent: Breasted Experiences in Women's Bodily Narratives of Puberty

In this article I focus on the social construction of the female breast as a central aspect of body politics, emphasizing how the breasted female body becomes invested with certain properties and is inserted into regimes of truth, knowledge and power. I share data from an oral history project of women's experience of menarche or first menstrual period and explore how cultural scripts associated with developing female breasts are negotiated and lived by women through processes of compliance and resistance. I suggest that in western societies, the ambivalence women remember feeling about their developing breasts is a result of the simultaneous experience of breasts as signifying both disempowerment and sexual authority.
Meteoritic spherules in the soil surrounding terrestrial impact craters.

ANALYSES of lunar material returned by the Apollo missions1 will raise many questions regarding the formation of splatter particles distributed about the lunar surface by meteoritic impacts, and we report here some results of our searches for and studies of microscopic (10–300 µm) meteoritic particles in the soil surrounding five terrestrial meteorite craters: Sikhote-Alin, Canyon Diablo, Odessa, Boxhole and Henbury. Our aim was to search for particles that had their origin in the cratering process and to investigate their chemical and physical properties. Because of the difficulties of identifying small particles in soil samples, we have limited our attention so far to the magnetic component. Thus our results bear only on the problem of the formation of impact particles from iron rather than from stony meteorites and that contain at least some material from the parent meteorite. We do not report here any information relevant to the problem of the nonmeteoritic impact products or those produced by impacts of chondritic meteorites. It should be noted that virtually all recognized impact craters on the Earth are produced by iron meteorites, a fact that apparently can be ascribed to the greater erosion rate for chondrites, both in interplanetary space and in the terrestrial atmosphere. The lunar surface is expected to show a greater percentage of chondritic craters than is found on Earth.
Pancreatic cancer stimulates pancreatic stellate cell proliferation and TIMP-1 production through the MAP kinase pathway

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is characterized by an intense desmoplastic reaction that surrounds the tumor. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are thought to be responsible for production of this extracellular matrix. When activated, PSCs have a myofibroblast phenotype and produce not only components of the extracellular matrix including collagen, fibronectin, and laminin, but also matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Since PSCs are found in the stroma surrounding human pancreatic adenocarcinoma, we postulate that pancreatic cancer could impact PSC proliferation and TIMP-1 production. Rat PSCs were isolated and cultured. Isolated PSCs were exposed to PANC-1 conditioned medium (CM) and proliferation, activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway, and TIMP-1 gene induction were determined. Exposure to PANC-1 CM increased PSC DNA synthesis, cell number, and TIMP-1 mRNA (real-time PCR) as well as activating the extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2. Inhibition of ERK 1/2 phosphorylation (U0126) prevented the increases in growth and TIMP-1 expression. PANC-1 CM stimulates PSC proliferation and TIMP-1 through the MAP kinase (ERK 1/2) pathway.
A Picture of Multiple-Meson Production

High-energy hadron-hadron collisions are viewed as proceeding by a strong short-range "quark-quark" interaction, generating a "spark" in the form of a self-interacting meson field, which yields observable mesons only after the incident particles have passed. This picture leads to the possibility of rare events with high multiplicity. There is a definite contradiction to Gottfried's recent model of multiple production in nuclei, but little practical distinction for beams below 1 TeV.
A FAMILIAL, PLASMA-ASSOCIATED DEFECT OF PHAGOCYTOSIS: A New Cause of Recurrent Bacterial Infections

Abstract A patient is described with a familial disorder of phagocytosis due to a plasma-associated defect rather than a primary defect of polymorphonuclear-leucocyte function. Leucocytes from the patient, incubated in her own plasma, showed greatly diminished ability to ingest yeast, rice-starch, or Staphylococcus aureus, but ingested the same particles normally in the presence of heterologous plasma. Normal leucocytes showed impaired phagocytosis when incubated in plasma from the patient. A similar deficiency of opsonisation was found in plasma from the patient's mother and several other relatives. A primary defect in complement function seems unlikely. Infusion of fresh or fresh-frozen plasma corrected the impairment in opsonisation and was regularly followed by clinical improvement. This appears to represent the first instance of a heritable dysfunction of a plasma-mediated factor that is involved in normal leucocyte function.
Novel ring cavity resonators incorporating total internal reflection mirrors and semiconductor optical amplifiers

We report fabrication and measurements on novel ring resonators with the multimode interference couplers, total internal reflection mirrors and semiconductor optical amplifiers. Free spectral range and on-off ratio are 244 GHz and 13 dB respectively
No Downturn Here: Tracking E-Business Programs in Higher Education.

As the fortunes of e-businesses fluctuate, what is the state of e-business educational offerings? The present study attempted to explore this question by investigating the number and nature of e-business programs available in colleges and universities. Results were compared to previously published findings on e-business education. Data were collected from program web sites. Master's and bachelor's degree programs based in North America and elsewhere in the world were examined. Despite the “dot-bomb” economy, the present data suggested large increases in all foreign and North American bachelor's programs between the start of the fall semester of 2000 and November 2001. The number of North American master's programs appeared to increase dramatically during the year 2000 and at a lesser rate afterward. Findings also suggested that bachelor's and foreign master's programs involved more technical e-business courses than the North American master's programs. The educational and economic factors possibly underlying these trends are discussed.
NEW HORIZONS IN OUR KNOWLEDGE OF DIABETES MELLITUS

A summary is given of the latest advances in our knowledge of the fundamental processes in diabetes, including the nature of insulin and the regulation of its production, the role of glucagon in diabetes, and the problem of the associated vascular disorders. Intensified research is needed in the areas of more specific criteria for diagnosis, etiology and pathogenesis, and the precise mode of insulin action at the molecular level; also, the basis for the acceleration of arteriosclerosis in diabetes, and the possible relationship between microangiopathy and the abnormal nutritional metabolism. Successful implantation of functioning human islet tissue is another goal.
Highly stereoselective asymmetric synthesis of (R)-(−)-mevalolactone

Abstract An asymmetric synthesis of ( R )-(−)-mevalolactone in over 87% enantiomeric purity is described.
Fine, Einstein, and ensembles

Einstein insisted that the only acceptable interpretation of the quantum theory was an ensemble interpretation, that this way of understanding the quantum formalism eliminated all the problems associated with interpreting the theory as a complete description of individual systems. But he never developed his ensemble interpretation in any detail or explained how it was supposed to resolve the difficulties with the individual interpretation. We offer a reconstruction of Einstein's position that is consonant with his other beliefs and examine the “prism” reconstruction recently proposed by Arthur Fine. We show the plausibility of our reading, as an interpretation of Einstein, and criticize Fine's proposal, as an alternative interpretation and as an attempt to understand quantum theory. As we reconstruct it, Einstein's position is, nevertheless, problematic. We therefore conclude with a plausible, if unoriginal, suggestion as to the reason he failed to develop his remarks on ensembles more fully.
Second window of protection against infarction in conscious rabbits: real or artifactual.

To date, most studies of the second window of protection against infarction (SWOP) have evaluated infarct size by staining with triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) soon after reperfusion. However, early TTC staining has been found to be an unreliable indicator of the ultimate infarct size following some interventions. Therefore, we tested whether SWOP could induce a sustained limitation of infarct size. Instrumented, conscious rabbits underwent 30 min of coronary occlusion. Infarct size was determined by either TTC staining after 3 h of reperfusion or conventional histology after 72 h of reperfusion. In the TTC study, 43.5+/-3.1% of the risk zone infarcted in the control group. Four cycles of 5 min ischemia/10 min reperfusion 24 h prior to 30 min ischemia significantly reduced infarct size measured by TTC to 32.5+/-2.3% (P<0.05 v control). In the histological study 57.8+/-3.6% of the risk zone infarcted in the control group. However, ischemic preconditioning 24 h prior to the 30 min ischemia did not protect the heart (59.3+/-4.4% infarction). Thus the infarct-limiting effect of SWOP evaluated with early TTC staining could not be demonstrated when infarction was assessed by histology after 3 days of reperfusion. These data suggest that SWOP may not have a sustained anti-infarct effect, but rather may simply delay the progression to infarction.
Transgenic tobacco plants expressing PicW gene from Picea wilsonii exhibit enhanced freezing tolerance

A cold-induced gene of 669 bp in length without introns, PicW, was cloned from Picea. wilsonii, a cold tolerant conifer species. Sequence analysis showed that it was a member of the dehydrin family because of its conserved amino acid constitution and protein secondary structure. The protein was rich in hydrophilic amino acids such as alanine, lysine, glutamic acid, glutamine and threonine, but devoid of two hydrophobic amino acids, cysteine and tryptophan. The PicW gene contained five repeated motifs homologous to the core K-segment in dehydrins. Protein secondary structure prediction showed that PicW comprised 29 % α-helix, mostly in the K-homologous segment, and random coils. The PicW gene was cloned into the expression vector PEZR(K)-LC under the 35S promoter and transformed into tobacco plants. After treatment at −5 °C for 3 h, all of the tobacco plants were wilting. However, the transgenic plants showed better growth performance than wild-type plants. Further tests of physiological indexes including relative electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content, proline and soluble sugar content also revealed significant differences between the wild-type and transgenic tobacco plants. It was concluded that the PicW gene could be an important gene resource for freezing-tolerant plant breeding.
Conceptual Designs of a High Q, 3.4 GHz Thin Film Quartz Resonator

Theoretical analyses and designs of high Q, quartz thin film resonators are presented. The resonators operate at an ultra-high frequency (UHF) of 3.4 GHz for application to high frequency timing devices such as cesium chip-scale atomic clocks. The frequency spectra for the 3.4 GHz thin film quartz resonators which serve as a design aid in selecting the resonator dimensions/configurations for the simple electrode, and ring electrode mesa designs are presented here for the first time. The thin film aluminum electrodes are found to play a major role in the resonators because the electrodes are as much as one third the thickness and mass of the active areas of the plate resonator. Hence, in addition to the material properties of quartz, the elastic, viscoelastic and thermal properties of the electrodes are included in the models. The frequency-temperature behavior is obtained for the best resonator designs. In order to improve the frequency-temperature behavior of the resonators, new quartz cuts are proposed to compensate for the thermal stresses caused by the aluminum electrodes and the mounting supports. Frequency response analyses are performed to determine the Q, motional resistance, capacitance ratio, and other figures of merit. The resonators have Q's of about 3800, resistance of about 1300 to 1400 ohms, and capacitance ratios of 1100 to 2800.
Data-Efficient Quickest Change Detection

In the classical problem of quickest change detection, a decision maker observes a sequence of random variables. At some point in time, the distribution of the random variables changes abruptly. The objective is to detect this change in distribution with minimum possible delay, subject to a constraint on the false alarm rate. In many applications of quickest change detection, e.g., where the changes are infrequent, it is of interest to control the cost of observations or the cost of data acquired before the change point. To this end, in this survey paper, data-efficient versions of the classical quickest change detection problems are studied, and a summary of existing results on these problems is provided. Some extensions to distributed sensor networks are also discussed. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljastats.v5i4.7790
An expert system to assist production planning

Describes the approach and implementation of the Production Planning Consultant system (PPC). PPC is an expert system designed to support production planning for a semiconductor device line. Its purpose is not to generate an initial plan, but to deal with modifications to the plan. The planner's revision process consists of three subtasks; PPC supports each subtask by providing a bidirectional update propagation mechanism, a monitoring mechanism, and an inference engine. One of the characteristics of PPC is that it cooperates with the planner in revising a plan to make it satisfactory. An example of PPC execution is provided. >
Amphibian molecular ecology and how it has informed conservation

Molecular ecology has become one of the key tools in the modern conservationist's kit. Here we review three areas where molecular ecology has been applied to amphibian conservation: genes on landscapes, within-population processes, and genes that matter. We summarize relevant analytical methods, recent important studies from the amphibian literature, and conservation implications for each section. Finally, we include five in-depth examples of how molecular ecology has been successfully applied to specific amphibian systems.
Extension of the Scharfetter&#8212;Gummel algorithm to the energy balance equation

The formula developed by Scharfetter and Gummel for the expression of current density widely used in numerical modeling of semiconductor devices is extended to the formulation of the flux of energy flow occurring in the energy balance equation. Recent interest in hot-carrier transport necessitates the solution of the energy balance equation in addition to the Poisson and the current continuity equations.
Creditor Control Rights and Firm Investment Policy

We present novel empirical evidence that conflicts of interest between creditors and their borrowers have a significant impact on firm investment policy. We examine a large sample of private credit agreements between banks and public firms and find that 32% of the agreements contain an explicit restriction on the firm's capital expenditures. Creditors are more likely to impose a capital expenditure restriction as a borrower's credit quality deteriorates, and the use of a restriction appears at least as sensitive to borrower credit quality as other contractual terms, such as interest rates, collateral requirements, or the use of financial covenants. We find that capital expenditure restrictions cause a reduction in firm investment and that firms obtaining contracts with a new restriction experience subsequent increases in their market value and operating performance.
Design and evaluation of novel fast forming pilocarpine-loaded ocular hydrogels for sustained pharmacological response

Fast forming hydrogels prepared by crosslinking a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based copolymer containing multiple thiol (SH) groups were evaluated for the controlled ocular delivery of pilocarpine and subsequent pupillary constriction. Physical properties of the hydrogels were characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), rheometry, and swelling kinetics. Pilocarpine loading efficiency and release properties were measured in simulated tear fluid. The hydrogel formulations exhibited high drug loading efficiency (approximately 74%). Pilocarpine release was found to be biphasic with release half times of approximately 2 and 94 h, respectively, and 85-100% of the drug was released over 8-days. Pilocarpine-loaded (2% w/v) hydrogels were evaluated in a rabbit model and compared to a similar dose of drug in aqueous solution. The hydrogels were retained in the eye for the entire period of the study with no observed irritation. Pilocarpine-loaded hydrogels sustained pupillary constriction for 24 h after administration as compared to 3 h for the solution, an 8-fold increase in the duration of action. A strong correlation between pilocarpine release and pupillary response was observed. In conclusion, the current studies demonstrate that in situ forming PEG hydrogels possess the viscoelastic, retention, and sustained delivery properties required for an efficient ocular drug delivery system.
Field Evaluation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonization in Bacillus thuringiensis Toxin-Expressing (Bt) and Non-Bt Maize

The cultivation of genetically engineered Bacillus thuringiensis toxin-expressing (Bt) maize continues to increase worldwide, yet the effects of Bt crops on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soil are poorly understood. In this field experiment, we investigated the impact of seven different genotypes of Bt maize and five corresponding non-Bt parental cultivars on AMF and evaluated plant growth responses at three different physiological time points. Plants were harvested 60 days (active growth), 90 days (tasseling and starting to produce ears), and 130 days (maturity) after sowing, and data on plant growth responses and percent AMF colonization of roots at each harvest were collected. Spore abundance and diversity were also evaluated at the beginning and end of the field season to determine whether the cultivation of Bt maize had a negative effect on AMF propagules in the soil. Plant growth and AMF colonization did not differ between Bt and non-Bt maize at any harvest period, but AMF colonization was positively correlated with leaf chlorophyll content at the 130-day harvest. Cultivation of Bt maize had no effect on spore abundance and diversity in Bt versus non-Bt plots over one field season. Plot had the most significant effect on total spore counts, indicating spatial heterogeneity in the field. Although previous greenhouse studies demonstrated that AMF colonization was lower in some Bt maize lines, our field study did not yield the same results, suggesting that the cultivation of Bt maize may not have an impact on AMF in the soil ecosystem under field conditions.
A Limiting Approach for the Evaluation of Geometric Mean Transmittance in a Multidimensional Absorbing and Isotropically Scattering Medium

Etablissement d'expressions integrales des limites inferieures et superieures de la moyenne geometrique en facteur de transmission d'un milieu absorbant et diffusant isotrope. Evaluation analytique en forme dose de ces integrales pour quelques configurations choisies
Clay Mineralogy of Some Silty Soils of the Inner Coastal Plains of Mississippi

The chemical and mineralogical properties of six soils previously believed to be developed from coastal plain sediments were found to be significantly influenced by thin loess overlays and admixtures. The study included two profiles each of the Atwood, Lucedale and Savannah series. Atwood formed pri- marily in deep loess over coastal plain sediments, Lucedale showed definite loess influence to a depth of 10 in. and possible mixing to a greater depth, whereas the Savannah indicated the presence of slight loess to a depth of 20 in. Both the Atwood and Lucedale soils are well drained, whereas Savannah is moderately well drained and contains a fragipan. The mineralogy of the coarse clay (2-4).2 pin) appeared to be the most diagnostic feature indicating gen- etic differences among the soils. Montmorillonite in this clay fraction was most abundant in Atwood, diminished in Lucedale and occurred only in trace amounts in Savannah. In both the Atwood and Luce- dale soils very little montmorillonite was found at depths of 35 in. where coastal plain influence apparently predominates. Conversely, aluminous vermiculite-chlorite intergrade minerals were least abundant, in Atwood, increased in Lucedale and occurred in greatest amounts in Savannah. Accompanying these changes in mineralogy were corresponding changes in the chemical properties. Although no consistent differences in Ca and Mg content were found between the Atwood and Lucedale soils, both Atwood and Lucedale were much higher in exchangeable Ca and Mg than Savannah. Soil pH and base saturation increased in the order Savannah, Lucedale and Atwood.
Robotic-assisted Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in a patient with situs inversus

We report the case of a morbidly obese patient with situs inversus who presented for robotic-assisted Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. To do the procedure, the ports were reversed and the first assistant stood on the opposite side of the table. With these minor modifications to technique, the surgery was successfully performed without confusion over the patient's anatomy. There were no intraoperative complications. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and he was discharged on postoperative day 3. We believe this is the first reported robotic-assisted Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in a patient with situs inversus.
A Framework for Public Health Action: The Health Impact Pyramid

A 5-tier pyramid best describes the impact of different types of public health interventions and provides a framework to improve health. At the base of this pyramid, indicating interventions with the greatest potential impact, are efforts to address socioeconomic determinants of health. In ascending order are interventions that change the context to make individuals' default decisions healthy, clinical interventions that require limited contact but confer long-term protection, ongoing direct clinical care, and health education and counseling.Interventions focusing on lower levels of the pyramid tend to be more effective because they reach broader segments of society and require less individual effort. Implementing interventions at each of the levels can achieve the maximum possible sustained public health benefit.
A Comparison of Aboveground and Belowground Populations of Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes in Chicago, Illinois, and New York City, New York, using Microsatellites

Aboveground and belowground populations of the mosquito Culex pipiens L. are traditionally classified as form pipiens and form molestus, respectively, and gene flow between forms is thought to be limited. Relatively few f. molestus populations have been found in the United States, which has hindered their study in North America. In this study, we used microsatellites to characterize a newly discovered population of f. molestus in Chicago, IL, and compared levels of genetic diversity and differentiation in aboveground and belowground populations from Chicago and New York City, NY. Levels of genetic diversity, as measured by expected heterozygosity and allelic richness, were markedly lower in both f. molestus populations. Allele frequencies were distinctly different between the two f. molestus populations, and some alleles were present in one belowground population and not the other. Pairwise FST values between populations indicated that f. molestus populations were highly divergent from each other, as well as from their associated aboveground populations. Cluster analysis suggested the most likely number of groups was three, with the four f. pipiens populations in one cluster, and each of the f. molestus populations in its own cluster. Admixture analysis detected a low number of hybrids, 8%, between forms. We also tested the efficacy of two assays purported to distinguish between the forms, the CQ11 assay and a restriction fragment-length polymorphism assay of the COI gene, and found neither assay reliable in this regard. Our findings support the hypothesis that f. molestus populations in Chicago and New York City arose from local aboveground populations.
Using existing digital tools for efficient metabolic pathway simulations.

The complexity of full-cell metabolic and regu- latory pathways currently hinders high accuracy biological simulations with traditional Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) solver-based methodologies. In this paper event-driven simulators used to tackle problems of similar complexity in Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) digital designs are employed to trade-off complexity for accuracy. An event-driven model for typical enzymatically catalyzed reactions is proposed and compared with standard ODE solutions on single reactions and a biologically relevant portion of a metabolic pathway. The system shows good stability and controlled error propagation, and allows reduction of computational effort in systems where few concentrations are actively changing at any given time, as well as integration of other models such as on/off gene activation, stochastic and discrete behavior.