cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy in children and teenagers

Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) is a new technique that has been successfully performed in adult patients who required long-term mechanical ventilation, but it has not been used in children. The authors report their initial experience with PDT in 11 children and teenagers. The procedure is as follows. Using Seldinger's technique, the trachea is cannulated with a guide-wire. It is then progressively dilated, to an appropriately sized tract, with dilators from a commercially available kit. Then, a tracheostomy tube can be inserted into the trachea, loaded over a dilator. Eleven children, aged 10 to 20 years, underwent PDT in an average of 20 minutes. In eight cases, PDT was performed at the bedside. One intraoperative and one postoperative complication developed in the same patient; both complications were easily recognized and treated. Tracheal stenosis has not developed in eight decannulated patients at an average of 43 +/- 30 weeks after decannulation. PDT appears to be a safe, potentially cost-effective alternative to open tracheostomy in young patients.
Statistical and theoretical considerations in meta-analysis

An historical perspective of statistical methods for combining the results of independent studies is provided. The information explosion subsequent to 1950 has been a critical factor in the development of the field. An example of a meta-analysis is used to illustrate all alternative analyses that should be considered for conducting a meta-analytic study.
Spectroscopy of Mg 20 : The isobaric mass multiplet equation for the 2 + states of the A = 20 , T = 2 quintet and distant mirror nuclei

We report on the first determination of the ${2}_{1}^{+}$ energy of $^{20}\mathrm{Mg}$, the most neutron-deficient Mg isotope known to exist. The result, $E({2}_{1}^{+})=1598(10)$ keV, obtained from in-beam \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray spectroscopy following the two-neutron removal from a $^{22}\mathrm{Mg}$ secondary beam, is discussed in the framework of the isobaric mass multiplet equation (IMME). Resulting predictions for the excitation energies of the $T=2,{2}^{+}$ states in the $^{20}\mathrm{F}$ and $^{20}\mathrm{Na}$ isobars are presented. The mirror energy difference, $E({2}_{1}^{+},$$^{20}\mathrm{Mg}$$)\ensuremath{-}E({2}_{1}^{+},$$^{20}\mathrm{O}$$)=\ensuremath{-}77(10)$ keV, is compared to a recent prediction within the nuclear shell model based on the ``${\mathrm{USD}}^{m}$ - gap Z14'' modification of the universal $\mathit{sd}$ (USD) effective interaction.
Gamma-ray buildup factors for concrete slab shields under slant incidence conditions

Monte Carlo calculations have been made for the penetration of slab shields by gamma radiation of monoenergetic character. The radiation is in the form of parallel, broad beams incident on the fron...
Analysis of torque capacities in hybrid actuation for human-friendly robot design

A formidable challenge in the development of human-friendly robots is to simultaneously achieve desired levels of performance and safety. To address this issue, a hybrid actuation concept has been proposed, combining large, low impedance actuators and small, high-frequency actuators. However, the determination of design parameters remains a challenge, as stiffness and electrical motor torque capacity simultaneously affect both the control performance and the safety of the manipulator. Using analytical models of the hybrid actuation system, we propose a methodology to achieve a combination of low impedance and high control bandwidth. The optimized parameters are verified and compared with previous ones through simulation and experimentation.
Lipid Phosphorus and Nucleic Acid Phosphorus Content of Bull Semen during Aerated and Nonaerated Incubation

Summary Seventeen samples of semen from six bulls had an average lipid phosphorus (P lipid ) content of 0.068mg. per milliliter and an average nucleic acid phosphorus (P nucleic acid ) content of 0.132mg. per milliliter. Incubation of these samples as a thin layer in Erlenmeyer flasks (aerated) or in culture tubes (nonaerated) failed to decrease significantly P lipid or P nucleic acid or to increase total acid-soluble phosphorus (P tas ). Inorganic phosphorus (P i ) increased with both aerated and nonaerated incubation, as previously reported with nonaerated incubation. Although the source of the increase was not established and apparently did not orginate from P lipid or P nucleic acid , there is no conflict, at least in nonaerated incubation, with the hypothesis of ATP breakdown.
Thermodynamic Fluctuations in a Reacting System-Measurement by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

The temporal correlations of thermodynamic concentration fluctuations have been measured in a chemically reactive system at equilibrium by observing fluctuations of the fluorescence of a reaction product. The experiment yields the chemical rate constants and diffusion coefficients and shows the coupling among them. Data are reported for binding of ethidium bromide to DNA.
Determination of the Effective Scattering Mechanism Parameter of Electron Transport Theory

For Corbino disk geometry, the variation of thermoelectric power $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ with magnetic-field strength $H$ is a strong function of the scattering and a weak function of the Fermi level. The zero magnetic-field thermo-electric power is a strong function of the Fermi level and a weak function of the scattering. Thus, measurements of $\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\alpha}}{\ensuremath{\alpha}(0)}$ versus $H$ and $\ensuremath{\alpha}(0)$ at a particular impurity concentration and temperature should yield a scattering parameter and a Fermi level separately. The transport equation for $\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\alpha}}{\ensuremath{\alpha}(0)}$ has been derived for the case of a simple spherically symmetric energy band, arbitrary scattering, exact statistics, and Corbino disk geometry. The thermoelectric power increased 55% as the magnetic field increased to 22 kgauss for mercuric selenide. Although there is some evidence which indicates that the simple band form does not occur in HgSe, a preliminary comparison of theory and experiment showed satisfactory agreement.
The effect of ethylene on the respiration and on the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase in swede and parsnip root tissue

Abstract It has been shown that the treatment of intact storage roots of swede and parsnip with low levels of ethylene leads to an increase in respiration and a large rise in the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL). It is shown that in disks of swede aged in the presence of ethylene there is also an increase in the extractable activity of PAL. The increase in PAL activity is very sensitive to the level of ethylene; 1 ppm of ethylene being sufficient to give a half maximal response. IAA at 10-4 M stimulates an increase in endogenous ethylene production of the disks and an increase in PAL activity, but this increase in PAL activity is small in relation to that given by saturating levels of ethylene. It is likely that the ethylene induced increase in PAL activity is due to de novo protein synthesis since it is inhibited by the presence of a range of inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis. The characteristics of the response are discussed in relation to the other known effects of ethylene.
TRANSIENT PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF NEUTRAL RED

Abstract : Although the transient photochemistry of thiazine dyes such as methylene blu e and thionine has been the subject of intensive study, the transient photochemistry of the azine dyes has received little attention. Reported here is such a study of neutral red (3-amino-6-dimethylamino-2-methylphenazine hydrochloride). Neutral red has long been used as both an acid-base indicator, and a biological stain but its transient photochemistry has been the subject of only one brief study which reported semireduced radical peaks at pH 4 and pH 11. Because both the triplet species and the semireduced radical species play critical roles in the photoredox reactions of dyes knowledge of the properties of these excited states is necessary for proper understanding of such processes. The present study establishes the major features of the acid-base behavior, the visible spectra and the decay kinetics of both the semiconducted radical species and the triplet species of neutral red.
An inverted, organic WORM device based on PEDOT:PSS with very low turn-on voltage

Abstract An organic Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) device based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as the active layer was fabricated with an inverted architecture. Insertion of an ultrathin layer of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) between the bottom electrode and the PEDOT:PSS resulted in a systematic and substantial decrease in turn-on voltage, from 7.0 V to less than 1.0 V. An optimal thickness of the PMMA layer was found to yield the lowest consistent turn-on voltage of ∼0.8 V, with 0.5 V being the lowest value of all fabricated devices. The switching mechanism was attributed to filamentary doping of the PEDOT:PSS. Insertion of the PMMA acted to protect the underlying ZnO from being etched by the acidic PEDOT:PSS as well as to improve its wetting properties. Devices were demonstrated on both ITO and aluminum bottom electrodes, with aluminum yielding the highest ON/OFF ratios in the study. Owing to their inverted architecture, the devices demonstrated good stability, and the retention time of the ON-state was determined to be greater than twenty months while stored in air for devices with ITO bottom electrodes. In addition to deposition via spin-coating, blade-coating was demonstrated as a viable processing technique for applications requiring rapid or large-area manufacturing.
Quantitative light and electron microscopic comparison of the normal and cardiomyopathic Syrian hamster heart

Abstract Hearts from control (RB) and cardiomyopathic (14.6) Syrian hamsters, 250 to 300 days of age, were analyzed by quantitative microscopic techniques. Extra-cellular space (ECS) and volume fractions occupied by various cell components were measured. In addition, the intra-cellular membrane surface areas of mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), and sarcolemma plus T-tubules were determined. Significant alterations in ECS, SR volume fraction and SR membrane surface area were observed in the myopathic hearts. All other parameters measured were not significantly changed. The possible correlation of altered morphology with biochemical changes seen in the myopathic heart is discussed.
The effects of natural language mediation on response recognition following paired-associate learning

Two groups of subjects learned a list of 12 CVC pairs, and were then tested by either recognition or recall. Analyses were made of retention as a function of mediated or rote learning under each condition. Items that were learned with mediators had a greater probability of being correct than items learned by rote under both testing procedures. There is discussion concerning the complexities of the recognition process.
Extensor muscle responses to triamcinolone

Abstract Triamcinolone acetonide (20 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally on each of 4 days to female rats and several mechanical and electrical properties of extensor muscle were analyzed. After 1 day of treatment, the duration of the twitch was increased but neither the twitch nor the tetanic tension was affected by the drug. After 4 days of treatment both twitch and tetanic tensions showed a slight increase. Contraction time, half-relaxation time, and twitch duration were normal after 4 days of treatment. The resting membrane potential was significantly decreased during treatment. The passive properties of the muscle membrane were unaffected. The overshoot, amplitudes, and rate of depolarization of indirectly elicited action potentials were all decreased on Day 1 of triamcinolone acetonide treatment but these parameters returned to normal by Day 4. The arithmetic mean frequency and the log frequency of miniature endplate potentials increased during treatment but the increase was not significant until Day 4. The average miniature endplate potential amplitude significantly increased during treament, but the modal and median amplitudes were unaffected. In high Mg 2+ solutions (15 m m ) quantal content remained essentially the same as control, and the quantal size decreased. In curarized preparations (400 ng/ml) both quantal content and size were the same in controls and treated rats.
Experimental results for baseline speech recognition performance using input acquired from a linear microphone array

In this paper, baseline speech recognition performance is determined both for a single remote microphone and for a signal derived from a delay-and-sum beamformer using an eight-microphone linear array. An HMM-based, connected-speech, 38-word vocabulary (alphabet, digits, 'space', 'period'), talker-independent speech recognition system is used for testing performance. Normal performance, with no language model, i.e., raw word-level performance, is currently about 81% for a set of talkers not in the training set and about 91% for training set data. The system has been trained and tested using a close-talking head-mounted microphone. Since a meaningful comparison requires using the same speech, the existing speech database was appropriately pre-filtered, played out through a transducer (speaker) in the room environment, picked-up by the microphone array, and re-stored as a digital file. The resulting file was post-processed and used as input to the recognizer; the recognition performance indicates the effect of the input device. The baseline experiment showed that both a single remote microphone and the beamformed signal reduced performance by 12% in a room with no other talkers. For the array tested, the error is generally attributable to reverberation off the floor and ceiling.
TOROIDAL SHELLS UNDER INTERNAL PRESSURE IN THE TRANSITION RANGE.

Toroidal shell stresses and displacements under internal pressure in transition range found by bending and membrane theories
Exploring cross-layer power management for PGAS applications on the SCC platform

High-performance parallel computing architectures are increasingly based on multi-core processors. While current commercially available processors are at 8 and 16 cores, technological and power constraints are limiting the performance growth of the cores and are resulting in architectures with much higher core counts, such as the experimental many-core Intel Single-chip Cloud Computer (SCC) platform. These trends are presenting new sets of challenges to HPC applications including programming complexity and the need for extreme energy efficiency.In this paper, we first investigate the power behavior of scientific Partitioned Global Address Space (PGAS) application kernels on the SCC platform, and explore opportunities and challenges for power management within the PGAS framework. Results obtained via empirical evaluation of Unified Parallel C (UPC) applications on the SCC platform under different constraints, show that, for specific operations, the potential for energy savings in PGAS is large; and power/performance trade-offs can be effectively managed using a cross-layer approach. We investigate cross-layer power management using PGAS language extensions and runtime mechanisms that manipulate power/performance tradeoffs. Specifically, we present the design, implementation and evaluation of such a middleware for application-aware cross-layer power management of UPC applications on the SCC platform. Finally, based on our observations, we provide a set of insights that can be used to support similar power management for PGAS applications on other many-core platforms.
Contagious yawning and the frontal lobe: an fMRI study.

We conducted a slow event-related fMRI experiment with naive subjects' passively viewing yawn and various other control videos along with correlative behavioral testing. Specifically associated with the viewing of the contagious yawn was an area of activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest a role for the prefrontal cortex in the processing of contagious yawning, while demonstrating a unique automaticity in the processing of contagious motor programs which take place independently of mirror neuron networks.
AN ALMOST COMPLETE JUVENILE SPECIMEN OF THE CHELONIID TURTLE CTENOCHELYS STENOPORUS (HAY, 1905) FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS NIOBRARA FORMATION OF KANSAS, USA

Abstract: A new, unusually well-preserved juvenile specimen of Ctenochelys stenoporus from the Niobrara Formation is described. The skull has come apart at its sutures and all bones of the braincase and ear region are preserved three-dimensionally. This allows a detailed reconstruction of the important brain structures of a basal juvenile cheloniid turtle. It is compared with adult Ctenochelys specimens, and the major ontogenetic changes in the skull and postcranial skeleton are described. Furthermore, the specimen is compared with other fossil and extant cheloniids with well-known braincases and the differences between basal and advanced cheloniids turtles are specified.
Parent and peer predictors of physical dating violence perpetration in early adolescence: tests of moderation and gender differences.

This study examined parenting and peer predictors of physical dating violence perpetration during early adolescence and tested moderation among these predictors and gender. Participants were 2,824 ethnically diverse sixth-grade students with a recent boyfriend/girlfriend who was part of a multisite, longitudinal investigation of the development and prevention of violence among middle school students. Those students who reported having a boyfriend/girlfriend reported significantly more drug use and delinquent activity and were more likely to be male. Twenty-nine percent of youth with a boyfriend/girlfriend reported perpetrating physical aggression against their boyfriend/girlfriend. Parenting and peer variables were significant predictors of physical dating violence. However, gender moderated the association between parenting practices and physical dating violence, with parental monitoring inversely linked to dating violence for boys and parent support for nonaggression inversely linked to dating violence ...
Host Fishes and Conservation Status of Alasmidonta marginata (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in Minnesota

We examined laboratory host suitability and assessed the distribution and status of Alasmidonta marginata (Elktoe) in Minnesota. Of the 85 fish species tested, glochidia metamorphosed on 27 species in 6 families (Cyprinidae, Catostomidae, Fundulidae, Poeciliidae, Gasterosteidae, and Cottidae). All catostomid species facilitated metamorphosis, and overall, Catostomidae produced more juvenile mussels per fish. This result, in combination with a previous finding of naturally infested fish, suggests that catostomids are an important host for A. marginata in nature. From extensive surveys, we found extant populations of A. marginata in the St. Croix River, Upper Mississippi River, and Minnesota River systems. Alasmidonta marginata is apparently extirpated or its range has decreased in several interior Minnesota watersheds and the Mississippi River main stem. Barrier waterfalls and habitat degradation have influenced A. marginata's historic and recent distribution more so than the range of its hosts. Further study of naturally occurring and laboratory hosts for A. marginata and other Alasmidonta species is needed in order to improve conservation efforts and elucidate phylogenetic relationships for this group of mussels.
ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES AFFECTING SMALL-SCALE DISTRIBUTIONS OF FIVE ROTIFER SPECIES IN LANCASTER LAKE, MICHIGAN.

The small-scale distributions of the rotifers Polyarthra vulgaris, Synchaeta stylata, Conochilus unicornis, Hexarthra mira, and Asplanchna priodonta were investigated in Lancaster Lake, Cheboygan County, Michigan, July 21, 1974. Measurements were taken for 13 depths (at 1-m intervals) and at 4 times of the day (1:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 7:00 PM). In addition, the abundances of 6 crustacean, 2 planktonic dipteran, and 10 algal species, as well as temperature, light, oxygen, chlorophyll a, alkalinity, pH and free carbon dioxide were measured. Whereas abiotic factors appeared to control large scale occupation of the lake, and excluded most species from the deeper portions of the hypolimnion, small-scale distributional variation of the rotifers depended upon biotic interactions, particularly with the crustacean zooplankton.
VORTEX-INDUCED VIBRATION OF MARINE CABLES: EXPERIMENTS USING FORCE FEEDBACK

The problem of vortex-induced vibrations in flexibly mounted cylinders and marine cables is addressed using a new laboratory apparatus, which combines force-feedback with on-line numerical simulation of a modeled structure. We establish correlation with published single-mode, free vibration data, and give results for a dynamic model having the principal characteristics of inclined cables, i.e. pairs of weakly coupled modes and crossover avoidance. While the fluid lift properties of the single-mode and multiple-mode systems are qualitatively similar, the spectra differ in several fundamental ways, suggesting distinct wake interaction processes.
Effect of hyperthermia in combination with vitamin E and cyclic AMP on neuroblastoma cells in culture.

Abstract The effect of heat in combination with DL-alpha-tocopheryl (vitamin E) succinate and adenosine 3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) stimulating agents on mouse neuroblastoma cells (NBP 2 ) in culture on the criterion of growth inhibition (due to cell death and inhibition of cell division) was studied. Heat (41°−40°) alone inhibited growth; however, the extent of growth inhibition was dependent upon the temperature and the time of heat treatment. Heat (41°−40°) in combination with vitamin E succinate (5 μg/ml) produced an additive effect on the criterion of growth inhibition. Vitamin C (100 μg/ml) failed to modify the effect of heat. Prostaglandin A 2 , a stimulator of adenylate cyclase, and 4 - (3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolindinone (R020-1724), an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, are known to induce irreversible differentiation in mouse neuroblastoma cells in culture. These agents, in combination with heat (40°) produced a synergistic effect on the criterion of growth inhibition. These data suggest that the addition of vitamin E and cAMP stimulating agents may increase the effectiveness of hyperthermia protocol.
Ischemic Stroke Injury Is Reduced in Mice Lacking a Functional NADPH Oxidase

Background and Purpose Free radicals account for a significant proportion of the brain damage that occurs during ischemic stroke. Using mutant mice (X-CGD) with a dysfunctional phagocytic NADPH oxi...
Security printing of covert quick response codes using upconverting nanoparticle inks

Counterfeiting costs governments and private industries billions of dollars annually due to loss of value in currency and other printed items. This research involves using lanthanide doped β-NaYF(4) nanoparticles for security printing applications. Inks comprised of Yb(3+)/Er(3+) and Yb(3+)/Tm(3+) doped β-NaYF(4) nanoparticles with oleic acid as the capping agent in toluene and methyl benzoate with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as the binding agent were used to print quick response (QR) codes. The QR codes were made using an AutoCAD file and printed with Optomec direct-write aerosol jetting(®). The printed QR codes are invisible under ambient lighting conditions, but are readable using a near-IR laser, and were successfully scanned using a smart phone. This research demonstrates that QR codes, which have been used primarily for information sharing applications, can also be used for security purposes. Higher levels of security were achieved by printing both green and blue upconverting inks, based on combinations of Er(3+)/Yb(3+) and Tm(3+)/Yb(3+), respectively, in a single QR code. The near-infrared (NIR)-to-visible upconversion luminescence properties of the two-ink QR codes were analyzed, including the influence of NIR excitation power density on perceived color, in term of the CIE 1931 chromaticity index. It was also shown that this security ink can be optimized for line width, thickness and stability on different substrates.
Detection and genotype of high-risk human papillomavirus in fine-needle aspirates of patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma is helpful in determining tumor origin.

Objectives: Recent studies have shown that human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with a certain subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)—namely, those arising in the oropharynx. The objective of this study is to determine the efficacy, detection, and genotype of high-risk (HR) HPV using the Roche cobas 4800 system (Roche Molecular System, Pleasanton, CA). Methods: Forty-two fine-needle aspirate (FNA) specimens from 37 patients with cervical (n = 36) or mediastinal (n = 5) lymphadenopathy or a left parapharyngeal mass (n =1) were included in this prospective study. HR-HPV testing was performed on residual FNA material after direct smear preparation and, if positive, was further delineated into HPV 16/18 genotypes using the Roche cobas 4800 system. Follow-up included review of histologic material and/or electronic health records. Results: Among those HNSCCs that were positive for HR-HPV, 18 (100%) of 18 originated from the oropharynx, whereas only two (13%) of 15 HR-HPV–negative HNSCCs originated from the oropharynx ( χ 2 test, P < .05). p16 immunohistochemical assay and HPV 16 in situ hybridization on corresponding histologic specimens were concordant with cytologic HR-HPV results. Conclusions: HR-HPV detection and genotyping can be performed on lymph node FNAs with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma using the Roche cobas 4800 system. The presence of HR-HPV and/or HPV 16 is a reliable indicator of the metastatic squamous cell carcinoma originating from the oropharynx.
A test for rare male mating advantage at an "enzyme locus" in Drosophila.

Matings betweenDrosophila pseudoobscura strains differeing at the amylase (Amy) locus were observed in Elens-Wattiaux chambers. Males homozygous for eitherAmy1.00 orAmy0.84 alleles in the CH gene arrangement enjoyed a mating advantage when moderately rare, but none when quite rare. The minority male advantage for strains differing at theAmy locus, and other loci linked to it, was comparable in size to that observed between strains carrying the ST or CH gene arrangements, and either alike or different at theAmy locus. Although some features of our results are puzzling, there is evidence that theAmy locus and others for which it serves as a marker have effects on mating behavior which include some degree of rare male mating advantage.
Local Cohomology of Frobenius Images over Graded Affine Algebras

Abstract We study the problem of bounding the exponent needed to annihilate H0m(R/I[q]), where R is a characteristic p ring. The main result is for the case where R is a finitely generated graded algebra over a field, and it has applications in tight closure theory.
A CS/SE approach to a real-time embedded systems software development course

This paper describes an approach to a course in real-time embedded systems that focuses on software development issues. The course attempts to integrate topics from traditional computer science, infuse software engineering principles, and give some exposure to hardware concerns. Another important component of the course is experience with developing software for multiple platforms.
Nuclear acoustic resonance dispersion in metals

Abstract Redfield's hypothesis of spin temperature in the rotating frame is used to calculate the form of the NAR dispersion in metals exhibiting the Alpher-Rubin spin phonon coupling mechanism.
Westergaard, Jevons and an Early Contribution to Constrained Optimization

Two or three correspondents, especially Herr Harald Westergaard of Copenhagen, have pointed out that a little manipulation of the symbols, in accordance with the simple rules of the differential calculus, would often give results which I have laboriously argued out. The whole question is one of maxima and minima, the mathematical conditions of which are familiar to mathematicians. (W. S. Jevons, The Theory of Political Economy (TPE2), 1879, p. xiii).
Further Studies of the Agent in Intestines of Normal Mice Which Induces Encephalomyelitis

ConclusionsCertain additional characteristics have been described of the active agent which is present in the intestines of normal mice and which can induce encephalomyelitis indistinguishable from that of the spontaneous Theiler's disease. Among other findings, it was ascertained that, irrespective of whether mothers harbor virus (by means of artificial, cerebral inoculation or naturally in their intestinal contents), the incitant is not detectable in the intestines of their young from the fetal stage to 12 days of age, but it is demonstrable at the age of 20 days or older. Moreover, at 30 days of age, practically every mouse that has come under observation has yielded specifically active intestinal contents. By some mechanism not as yet understood, old mice harbor less of the agent than do young adults. Finally, in the latter age-group, while the mice carry regularly the active substance in their intestines, it is not at all recoverable from their brains.
A role for reactive oxygen species in the resolution of persistent genomic instability after exposure to radiation

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in amplifying the radiation-induced damage to macromolecules as well as in downstream early responses leading to DNA repair or cell death and in delayed responses leading to tissue damage and/or tumorigenesis. We found in immortalized normal human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC-3KT) following exposure to 1 Gy low (X-rays) or high (Fe ions) LET radiation that ROS levels persist elevated for up to eight population doublings (2 weeks) in the progeny of cells that repaired the radiation-induced damage and survived. To evaluate the function of persistently elevated ROS levels, we interrogated cells over the same period for genomic instability, proliferation and senescence biomarkers and evaluated whether ROS are functionally related to any of these phenotypes. We found that increased ROS production overlapped temporally with the persistence of reporters for genomic instability, increased micronucleus frequency and the presence of γH2AX-53BP1 positive ionizing radiation-induced foci. Although low LET radiation at high doses and high LET radiation induced a senescence-like phenotype dependent on ATM and p38 MAPK activity, this pathway was not a causative factor in ROS generation and did not affect cell proliferation rates at day 7 post-irradiation. On the contrary, when this pathway was inhibited, ROS levels increased further and micronucleus formation frequency was reduced. Because these results suggest a positive effect for increased ROS levels in the resolution of persistent micronucleus formation, their role was further confirmed by exposure to exogenous hydrogen peroxide, which resulted in a reduced micronucleus frequency. These results implicate ROS as an effector in the resolution of genomic instability and suggest that the senescence phenotype induced by high LET radiation or high low LET radiation dose promotes genomic instability by interfering with the cellular mechanism regulating ROS levels or the DNA repair machinery.
Appraisal of the selectivity index in a cohort of patients treated with laser surgery for twin–twin transfusion syndrome

Objective The selectivity index (SI) has been proposed as a measure of technical success in laser surgery for twin–twin transfusion syndrome. Surgeries with an index >–0.25 have been considered highly selective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of this index in our patient population. Study Design The SI was assessed in 314 consecutive laser surgeries and correlated with perinatal survival. Results A total of 310 patients (98.7%) underwent a completely selective procedure. The SI was 0.8 in the selective laser photocoagulation of communicating vessels group vs 0.3 in the nonselective laser photocoagulation of communicating vessels group ( P = .001). In the selective group perinatal survival of at least 1 twin (92.6% vs 50%) and survival of the donor (75.4% vs 0%) was significantly better ( P = .05). Conclusion The SI as originally proposed is misleading and of limited use as it does not differentiate selective from nonselective procedures. We propose instead using a ratio of selective/nonselective procedures, and selectively coagulated/total number of coagulated vessels to appraise center-specific and patient-specific surgical performance of laser surgery for twin–twin transfusion syndrome.
The effect of monovalent ions on polyphosphate binding to Escherichia coli exopolyphosphatase.

The thermodynamic driving force for the interaction of Escherichia coli exopolyphosphatase (PPX) with polyphosphate was investigated by varying salt choice and concentration. This interaction was found to be cation concentration independent but weakly dependent on the concentration of certain anions. Both of these traits are very uncommon for nonspecific protein-polyelectrolyte interactions. Interpretation of these results based on theory indicated that binding was not entropy driven due to release of polyelectrolyte-condensed counterions, as is the case for nearly all protein-polyelectrolyte interactions. The thermodynamics of the PPX-polyphosphate interaction showed similarity only to the interaction of polynucleotides with single stranded binding proteins.
A calculus for ethics: A theory of the structure of value. Part I

This is the first of two articles dealing with a theory of values based upon a stochastic model of a system. Value is associated with the state of a system. The value of the state is defined as the sum of values of future states multiplied respectively by the probability of reaching them. The value of a thing is defined as the partial derivative of the state value function, and from this definition a method is derived for computing cost of things and effectiveness of processes which obtain them. Value postulates are developed for immortal and mortal systems, and various means of resolving conflicts in decision among values are considered. The process of concrescence is suggested as a synthesis of conflicting values which is logically similar to the scientific method.
Electrochemical Reaction Dynamics - A Review

Abstract We review here the status of research on the dynamics of electrochemical reactions. The electrodissolution of metals, cathodic deposition, and electrocatalytic reactions are discussed. We treat dynamic behavior such as periodic oscillations, bifurcations, chaos, and spatial patterns and also the status of mechanisms and mathematical models, which explain the dynamics.
Primary antiphospholipid syndrome in a child with lower extremity arterial thrombosis

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by venous and arterial thrombosis, fetal loss, or thrombocytopenia in association with antiphospholipid antibodies and no associated disease process. The authors report a case of lower extremity thrombosis in a 12 year old who had primary antiphospholipid syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first report of peripheral arterial thrombosis in primary antiphospholipid syndrome in the pediatric population.
Effects of ‘resin-compatible’ cavity varnishes on composite resin microhardness

Abstract Although the use of cavity varnishes with composite resins has traditionally been discouraged, several "resin-compatible" varnishes are currently available. This in vitro study evaluated the effects of resin-compatible cavity varnishes on a hybrid composite resin. The results of the study indicate that these varnishes soften the composite resin in contact with varnished dentin.
Interior Systems, Inc.: The Decision to Adopt EVA®

The purpose of the Interior Systems case is to introduce and critique the use of residual income measures for decision making, performance evaluation, and incentive compensation. In this case we focus on Stern Stewart's proprietary measure of residual income, Economic Value Added (EVA®). The case uses the setting of a multidivisional company that is struggling with the decision of what measure to use in performance evaluation. The company recognizes that the choice of performance measures is likely to affect managers' motivations and in turn decision making. The problem the company faces is which measure to use, especially in light of the differing key success drivers of the different divisions. The case has been used successfully at the undergraduate level, in M.B.A. programs, and in executive education programs.
Passive Management of Deployable Cordage During and After MSL Touchdown

NASA's next generation Mars rover will land unlike any previous mission. A rocket powered descent stage will lower the rover on three bridles as it flies toward the ground. An electrical umbilical cable will be deployed as well to keep the descent stage and rover in communication. Once on the ground, the rover will cut all soft-good lines, allowing the descent stage to fly clear of the rover. The management of these cables from the moment of rover touchdown until the descent stage has flown clear required a great deal of attention. Slack from these soft- goods could not accumulate on the rover deck and the lines had to avoid both the rover and descent stage during flyaway. The bridles were managed by two systems. One kept tension on all together from within the descent stage. The other, on the rover deck, was able to individually tension each of the bridles. The umbilical management system relied on a single tensioning mechanism within the descent stage. This mechanism was specifically sized such that it simultaneously moved the umbilical away from the rover and descent stage during fly-away. It also had to be sized to manage transient slack at touchdown. As a result, the effects of peak retraction force on these performance characteristics were quantified. Additionally, the umbilical had to be designed to survive the loads associated with deployment and slack management. Finally, a model was developed to characterize the profile of the umbilical during the descent stage fly-away event to understand potential rover deck recontact locations. Those pieces of deck hardware that had the potential to be impacted by the umbilical were identified and recommendations were made as to how to avoid snagging the umbilical.
Plight of the surgeon general.

On 10 July 2007, three former U.S. surgeons general sat before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and detailed a rising tide of political interference in the conduct of the office in which they had served. Richard Carmona, who resigned the position last year, told of being blocked from speaking out on issues such as stem cell research and emergency contraception, and of instructions to reference President Bush three times on every page of any speech he gave. David Satcher of the Clinton Administration recounted interference with his report on sexuality and public health, in part because of the Monica Lewinsky affair. And C. Everett Koop described attempts of the Reagan political staff to thwart his AIDS campaign.
Testing a Network by Inferring Representative State Machines from Network Traces

This paper describes an innovative approach to network testing based on automatically generating and analyzing state machine models of network behavior. The models are generated by the network test tool AGATE (Automatic Generator of Automata for TEsting), which is also described in this paper. The proposed test approach mimics experimental method, requiring repeated cycles of observing the network, modeling the network, making predictions about network behavior, and evaluating predictions. This paper focusses on the modeling step, in which the test tool AGATE automatically generates representative state machines from observed network traces. The generated state machines closely approximate the behavior of components of the network under test. Faults in the system may be immediately apparent from the state machines, but more importantly the state machines can be used for formal analysis. We propose this as a cost-effective alternative to manually defining a state machine before beginning tests.
Mindfulness meditation for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults: A randomized controlled pilot study

AbstractThe objectives of this pilot study were to assess the feasibility of recruitment and adherence to an eight-session mindfulness meditation program for community-dwelling older adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and to develop initial estimates of treatment effects. It was designed as a
Drug-based therapies for vascular disease in Marfan syndrome: from mouse models to human patients

Marfan syndrome is a congenital disorder of the connective tissue with a long history of clinical and basic science breakthroughs that have forged our understanding of vascular-disease pathogenesis. The biomedical importance of Marfan syndrome was recently underscored by the discovery that the underlying genetic lesion impairs both tissue integrity and transforming growth factor-beta regulation of cell behavior. This discovery has led to the successful implementation of the first pharmacological intervention in a connective-tissue disorder otherwise incurable by either gene-based or stem cell-based therapeutic strategies. More generally, information gathered from the study of Marfan syndrome pathogenesis has the potential to improve the clinical management of common acquired disorders of connective-tissue degeneration.
Combining near-infrared tomography and magnetic resonance imaging to study in vivo breast tissue: implementation of a Laplacian-type regularization to incorporate magnetic resonance structure

An imaging system that simultaneously performs near infrared (NIR) tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to study breast tissue phantoms and a healthy woman in vivo. An NIR image reconstruction that exploits the combined data set is presented that implements the MR structure as a soft-constraint in the NIR property estimation. The algorithm incorporates the MR spatially segmented regions into a regularization matrix that links locations with similar MR properties, and applies a Laplacian-type filter to minimize variation within each region. When prior knowledge of the structure of phantoms is used to guide NIR property estimation, root mean square (rms) image error decreases from 26 to 58%. For a representative in vivo case, images of hemoglobin concentration, oxygen saturation, water fraction, scattering power, and scattering amplitude are derived and the properties of adipose and fibroglandular breast tissue types, identified from MRI, are quantified. Fibroglandular tissue is observed to have more than four times as much water content as adipose tissue, almost twice as much blood volume, and slightly reduced oxygen saturation. This approach is expected to improve recovery of abnormalities within the breast, as the inclusion of structural information increases the accuracy of recovery of embedded heterogeneities, at least in phantom studies.
The search for the new: Frenzied, faddish, or fundamental?

Abstract Seeking “new frontiers” and “role identifications” is taken to be more reflective of the orientations of the seekers than of fundamental newness. While a search for the new can and will be productive if the searchers are well grounded, much remains to be accomplished under commitments which long have been acknowledged by those more fully trained and experienced in school psychology.
The effect of temperature on leaf emergence rates of sunflower genotypes

Abstract A major component in a crop growth model is leaf area development, which has a major influence on photosynthesis and transpiration. The knowledge about the response of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) development to temperature is incomplete, especially the effects of unusually low and high temperatures. A series of experiments was conducted to quantify the relationships between temperature and development of leaf area in four sunflower hybrids. Plants were grown in the greenhouse until six leaves had appeared and then taken to growth chambers, where rates of leaf appearance were measured under nine temperature regimes that ranged from constant 34°C to 12/5°C (10/14 h). Leaf appearance rate increased with temperature up to 27°C. Combining the data from all the hybrids, the base temperature for leaf appearance was 4°C, which is below previous reported values. Thermal time in degree-days (°Cd) per leaf was between 20 and 25. Contrasting results were obtained in a second experiment where temperature treatments started from sowing and were changed when the sixth leaf appeared. The discrepancies suggest that temperature soon after emergence will affect the subsequent rate of leaf appearance. The relation obtained under controlled conditions was in agreement with data from field experiments at several locations. The information presented will be useful in modelling the appearance of leaves of sunflower in response to environmental conditions.
COMPARISON OF TEMPORAL TRENDS IN AMBIENT AND COMPLIANCE TRACE ELEMENT AND PCB DATA IN POOL 2 OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, USA, 1985-1995

), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Water-column, bed-sediment, and fish-tissue (fillets) data collected by five government agencies comprised the ambient data set; effluent data from five registered facilities comprised the compliance data set. The nonparametric Mann-Kendall trend test indicated that 33% of temporal trends in all data were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Possible reasons for this were low sample sizes, and a high percentage of samples below the analytical detection limit. Trends in compliance data were more distinct; most trace elements decreased significantly, probably due to improvements in wastewater treatment. Seven trace elements (Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ni, and Zn) had statistically significant decreases in wastewater and portions of either or both ambient water and bed sediment. No trends were found in fish tissue. Inconsistency in trends between ambient and compliance data were often found for individual constituents, making overall similarity between the data sets difficult to determine. Logistical differences in monitoring programs, such as varying field and laboratory methods among agencies, made it difficult to assess ambient temporal trends.
N-smarts: networked suite of mobile atmospheric real-time sensors

By attaching sensors to GPS-enabled cell phones, we can gather the raw data necessary to begin understand how urban air pollution impacts both individuals and communities. In this paper we introduce a hardware and software platform for exploring algorithms and data gathered from pollution sensors integrated into cell phones, and discuss our main research agenda going forward.
JOURNAL of FOOD PROCESSING and PRESERVATION SEP 2000 Vol‐24.4. DEVELOPMENT of A PROCESS FOR DETECTING NONTHERMAL EFFECTS of MICROWAVE ENERGY ON MICROORGANISMS AT LOW TEMPERATURE1

We developed an experimental process capable of isolating thermal and nonthermal effects of microwave energy relative to the destruction of microorganisms at low temperature. The concept combines instantaneous energy input to the food system by microwaves with rapid removal of thermal energy. The process used a double tube heat exchanger inside a continuous microwave dryer. The outer tube was transparent to microwaves, whereas the inner tube was stainless steel and was used for cooling the system. The microwave energy, 5-6 kW power, was absorbed by the process fluid in the annulus. The cooling water flowing in the inner tube removed the thermal energy from the process fluid to control temperature at or below 45C. The process was at turbulent flow to assure a uniform temperature and dwell time. There were no detected nonthermal effects from microwave energy for yeast, Pediococcus sp., Escherichia coli, Listeria innocua, or Enterobacter aerogenes in various test fluids, such as water, liquid egg, beer, apple juice, apple cider, and tomato juice.