cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning Representations that Support Robust Transfer of Predictors.

Ensuring generalization to unseen environments remains a challenge. Domain shift can lead to substantially degraded performance unless shifts are well-exercised within the available training environments. We introduce a simple robust estimation criterion -- transfer risk -- that is specifically geared towards optimizing transfer to new environments. Effectively, the criterion amounts to finding a representation that minimizes the risk of applying any optimal predictor trained on one environment to another. The transfer risk essentially decomposes into two terms, a direct transfer term and a weighted gradient-matching term arising from the optimality of per-environment predictors. Although inspired by IRM, we show that transfer risk serves as a better out-of-distribution generalization criterion, both theoretically and empirically. We further demonstrate the impact of optimizing such transfer risk on two controlled settings, each representing a different pattern of environment shift, as well as on two real-world datasets. Experimentally, the approach outperforms baselines across various out-of-distribution generalization tasks. Code is available at \url{this https URL}.
What is the Story of Aviation Today

General concept of aviation; its size, growth potentials, and its relationship to other forms of transportation.
Nanodevices for Single Molecule Studies

During the last two decades, biotechnology research has resulted in progress in fields as diverse as the life sciences, agriculture and healthcare. While existing technology enables the analysis of a variety of biological systems, new tools are needed for increasing the efficiency of current methods, and for developing new ones altogether. Interest has grown in single molecule analysis for these reasons. The ability to detect single molecules provides a number of advantages in biomolecular analysis [1–10]. One benefit is an increase of quantification accuracy, as analysis occurs at the ultimate resolution limit. Single molecule techniques also consume less reagent than conventional techniques, and reduce analysis times. Mass production of micro-total-analysis-systems with the ability to analyze single molecules could increase the scope of otherwise prohibitively expensive and protracted processes, such as genomic sequencing and drug discovery. In addition to increasing the efficiency of existing technologies, single molecule analysis grants access to information that is otherwise unobtainable. The characteristics of biomolecular reactions are of interest in this regard. Molecular biologists have used conventional methods to study the ensemble characteristics of many systems. While this approach yields important information regarding the average behavior of a system, it tells little about the specific behavior of single molecules. This includes the time evolution and statistical distribution of parameters obscured by traditional techniques. A variety of nanofabricated structures have emerged as potential tools for single molecule analysis. Several nanostructures have been developed for enhanced optical detection, including quantum dots [11–13], metallic nanobarcodes [14], and nanometric slits [15]. Two optical structures in particular have demonstrated their utility for single molecule analysis – fluidic channels with submicrometer and nanometer dimensions, and optical nanostructures known as zero mode waveguides. Fluidic channels provide controlled transport of analytes through a subfemtoliter focal volume, while zero mode waveguides have
Joint Management of Surface and Ground Water Supplies

A management model is developed to determine optimal water allocation policies for hydraulically connected time-variant surface and ground water supplies in a hypothetical system. The system involves a multipurpose reservoir, a hydraulically connected stream and aquifer, agricultural plots, water supply and observation wells, and an artificial recharge zone. The model minimizes deviations from a set of rule curves defined for storage in the reservoir and along the stream course, so as to consider possibilities for storage of excess water in wet periods and its distribution in subsequent dry periods. The hypothetical system is divided into components which are subsequently integrated using numerically generated response functions that relate the systemis behavior to various system excitations. The management model is formulated and solved for monthly time steps, which include both dry and wet conditions, to determine reservoir release, pumpage rate from supply wells, artificial recharge rate, water diversion from reservoir and stream to the demand area, and storage both in the reservoir and along the stream course at an optimal level in each time step over a six-month planning horizon. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis of the management plan with respect to potential use of ground water supplies is performed to analyze the latter's impact on operating policies.
Decision-Based Questionnaire Systems

In this paper, we develop a decision-based questionnaire system. Toward this end, we use evolutionary computation techniques. Initially, we work on a first order aggregation model and performed its learning using genetic algorithms, in which these preferences will be represented by a weighting vector associated with the variables involved in the aggregation process. In this model tree nodes represent aggregators, terminals or leaves correspond to variables, and weight values are added to the children branches for each aggregator. The parameters characterizing this multi-aggregation model are aggregators, weights and their combination in form of a tree structure. In this case, the learning process has to find the optimal combination of these parameters based on training data. In this learning process, the evolution principle remains the same as in a conventional GP but the DNA encoding needs to be defined according to the considered problem
Refrigeration anesthesia: With special reference to treatment of a severely damaged extremity complicated by visceral injury

Abstract In the care of the usual types of severe injuries to the extremities one is able to proceed with definitive therapy following the treatment of shock which is frequently present. There are, however, some cases of injuries to the extremity complicated by visceral damage. Before the advent of refrigeration anesthesia, the surgeon was left in a quandary trying to decide what should be done first. It is generally agreed that visceral damage must receive immediate treatment and when an attempt is made to carry out major amputations at the same time, the outcome is usually fatal. In the opinion of the author, the use of refrigeration anesthesia seems to make it possible to delay the treatment of the extremity without harmful effect to the patient. When the decision is reached regarding the necessity of sacrificing the extremity a tourniquet must be applied and amputation must be done above this level, thus several inches more of the extremity must be lost. The tourniquet appears necessary due to the rather considerable oozing that one sees in severely macerated extremities with comminuted fractures even after the major vessels have been ligated. It is rather difficult to reach a definite decision to amputate and then continue to wait. However, in the case presented, packing the injured leg in ice and waiting thirty-nine hours appears to have been of definite aid to the patient. Dissection of the amputated specimens have shown some soft clot formation. One naturally wonders if this type of anesthesia might not be used also for short reconstructive surgeries of the extremities when other anesthesias are contraindicated.
Parasympathetlc Neurohumors; Posslble Precursors and Effect on Behavior1

Publisher Summary Schizophrenias occurs as a group of diseases of varying biochemical etiologies and, therefore, any correlation of improvement or deepening of the schizophrenic state should be vigorously explored to ascertain the possibility that biochemical subclasses of the schizophrenias may be definitely established. The diagnosis is based on the patient's history, chronicity of the disorder, behavior, motor patterns, and verbal exhaust. Various model hypotheses are explored, elaborated, and used without attempt to document these hypotheses in all instances by laboratory data in the experimental animal. Various unknown parasympathetic neurohumors may be more important in human physiology than the two esters that are thought to occur in mammalian tissue, namely acetyl and propionylcholine. Structure-activity-relationships (SAR) analysis indicates that an asymmetric α-carbon atom may occur in the acid fragment and that a β-substituent (possibly hydroxy) on a choline-like compound might be present to provide an asymmetric α-carbon. The neurotransmitters may of course be represented by a family of compounds rather than by a single compound. The compound should have greater muscarinic effect than acetylcholine that should occur with a β-carbon substitution.
Using Conceptual Graphs to Capture Semantics of Agent Communication

Agent communication languages such as KQML and the FIPA ACL serve as metalanguages to define software agent message-passing protocols. These metalanguages are incompatible with each other, preventing intercommunication between agents employing different agent communication languages. The primary hindrance to agent intercommunication is the different underlying semantics of the message passing protocols. Conceptual graphs provide a mechanism to bridge this agent communication barrier by representing the semantics of message-passing protocols in the formal representation of conceptual graphs. Semantic content of the KQML tell performative is contrasted with that of the FIPA ACL inform performative and represented in conceptual graphs. The intent is that software agents conversant in CGIF may intelligently translate messages between agents employing different agent communication languages.
Macroeconomic Policy Research: Discussion

I am pleased to participate in this invited paper session and strongly endorse what I perceive to be the premise underlying the session; namely, that we as a profession need to focus more of our teaching, research, and extension resources on the "macroeconomics of agriculture." This point was eloquently made by Ed Schuh at these very meetings some fifteen years ago. Schuh's point was that our sectoral heritage and research emphasis "has caused neglect of the linkages of agriculture with the rest of the economy," and that "if there has been one major failing over the years, it has been this failure to grasp fully the macroeconomics of agriculture (p. 810). While the profession has made some strides in macroeconomic policy research as it applies to agriculture over the last fifteen years, the task is a never-ending one, and the field does not suffer from overcrowding. The title of this session is "Improving Macroeconomic Policy Considerations in Agricultural Research and Education." With this in mind, let me make some remarks about the paper I am supposed to discuss, one or two remarks about the paper I was not asked to discuss, and finally present a few thoughts on the topic addressed by this session.
An evaluation of the use of the transdermal contraceptive patch in adolescents

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of using the new transdermal contraceptive patch in adolescents. Methods A 3-month longitudinal trial using the Ortho Evra™ transdermal contraceptive patch in 50 adolescent girls. All healthy girls aged 15–18 years were invited to participate from two San Francisco Bay Area teen clinics. Participants were followed after 1 month and 3 months of treatment. Data were collected on patch detachments, perceived advantages and disadvantages, side effects, and compliance. Data were analyzed using Student's t -test (SPSS). Results Forty participants (80%) completed 1 month of treatment and 31 (62%) completed all 3 months of the study. There were no pregnancies during treatment. At the 3-month follow-up, 87.1% of participants reported perfect compliance. Ease of use, the fact that it does not require daily attention, and the ease of concealment were among the main reported advantages. Roughly 77% of participants who completed the study were planning to continue using the patch. The 35.5% rate of complete or partial detachment of at least one patch was considerably higher than reported in previous studies of adults. As in adults, the most commonly reported complaints were application site reactions and breast discomfort. Conclusions This evaluation found an overall positive impression of the new transdermal contraceptive patch, with good rates of short-term compliance and few side effects among adolescents. However, the high degree of detachment unique to this sample of adolescents is concerning and requires further evaluation.
Small-parameter expansions of linear Boltzmann collision operators

Abstract An important problem in the study of irreversible processes is the approximation of the linear Boltzmann operator by the Fokker-Planck operator or, when this is insufficient, by still further terms. The first attempt at a solution of this problem was the Kramers-Moyal expansion. Van Kampen and Siegel have reformulated this expansion with the aim of systematizing terms according to order of magnitude. Very few studies have been made of this problem in the multi-dimensional case, particularly collision processes. The present paper derives a new and greatly simplified formula for the coefficients of the Kramers-Moyal series in collision processes. This is applied to Siegel's order-of-magnitude rearrangement (“CD expansion”), which is found to have the required property at least in the case of power-law molecular interactions. Finally, we present a new stochastic model, related to the theory of collision processes, for the sake of its mathematical interest and simplicity.
Forward-adaptive quantization with optimal overhead cost for image and video coding with applications to MPEG video coders

We address the problem of optimal forward-adaptive quantization in the video and image coding framework. In this framework, as is consistent with that of most practical coders like MPEG, the encoder has the capability of changing the quantizer periodically (e.g. at a macroblock interval in MPEG). In this paper, we formulate an optimal strategy, based on dynamic programming, for updating the quantizer choice for coding an image or video signal. While in some coding environments the overhead needed to specify the quantizer used by each block is equal for every choice of quantizer, in other situations (e.g. MPEG) the overhead cost is higher if the quantizer changes from one block to the next. We concentrate on the latter case which will be more likely encountered in situations where the overhead represents a significant fraction of the overall rate, as can be the case if a low bit rate is used (e.g. error frames in a typical motion-compensated video coder). We provide empirical evidence of the performance gain that can be obtained when applying our optimal algorithm to typical motion-compensated prediction error frames in MPEG, showing how the popular Viterbi algorithm can be used to find the optimal solution.
Bis(Vinylbenzyl) ether: Facile synthesis and crosslinking reactions

The thermal cure and the radical polymerization of bis(vinylbenzyl)ether (BVE) were studied. Thermal curing gave quantitatively highly crosslinked products. The rapid and complete radical polymerization of the monomer with AIBN suggested use of this material as a crosslinking agent for vinyl polymerization. In fact, thermal bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene with ca. mol% BVE gave strong materials which were insoluble and unswellable in typical solvents for these polymers.
On the Geometry of Covariance Matrices

We introduce and compare certain distance measures between covariance matrices. These originate in information theory, quantum mechanics and optimal transport. More specifically, we show that the Bures/Hellinger distance between covariance matrices coincides with the Wasserstein-2 distance between the corresponding Gaussian distributions. We also note that this Bures/Hellinger/Wasserstein distance can be expressed as the solution to a linear matrix inequality (LMI). A consequence of this fact is that the computational cost in covariance approximation problems scales nicely with the size of the matrices involved. We discuss the relevance of this metric in spectral-line detection and spectral morphing.
What do we Mean When we Say "Professionalism?": A Language Usage Analysis for Public Administration

This paper analyzes use of the term "professionalism" in public administration by language usage analysis—an interpretive methodology. It begins by arguing against static interpretation of professionalism implied by the sociological model. It then explores various meanings of professionalism by using a series of antinomies: professional-laity, professional-amateur, achievement-ascription, and professionals as a new class in opposition to other classes. Each antinomy reveals meanings of professionalism that public administrators should avoid or embrace in their quest to make public administration a widely recognized profession. Concluding remarks suggest a particular definition of professionalism appropriate to public administration.
Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of uracil phosphoribosyltransferase of Toxoplasma gondii

Recombinant uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRT) enzyme of Toxoplasma gondii was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified from the cell-free extract by a combination of chromatographic steps. The recombinant protein was enzymatically active when tested in an in vitro UPRT assay. The purified protein was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapor-diffusion technique with ammonium phosphate as precipitant. The crystallized protein also exhibited UPRT activity. Crystals diffract to 2.4 A resolution and belong to space group P3121 or P3221 with unit-cell dimensions a = b = 119.9, c = 70.8 A and two molecules per asymmetric unit.
Hierarchical Spatio-Temporal Mapping of Disease Rates

Abstract Maps of regional morbidity and mortality rates are useful tools in determining spatial patterns of disease. Combined with sociodemographic census information, they also permit assessment of environmental justice; that is, whether certain subgroups suffer disproportionately from certain diseases or other adverse effects of harmful environmental exposures. Bayes and empirical Bayes methods have proven useful in smoothing crude maps of disease risk, eliminating the instability of estimates in low-population areas while maintaining geographic resolution. In this article we extend existing hierarchical spatial models to account for temporal effects and spatio-temporal interactions. Fitting the resulting highly parameterized models requires careful implementation of Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods, as well as novel techniques for model evaluation and selection. We illustrate our approach using a dataset of county-specific lung cancer rates in the state of Ohio during the period 1968–1988.
Immunological studies in mice following in utero exposure to NiCl2.

Abstract The effect that NiCl 2 has on the development of immune function in mice was examined in the offspring of dams implanted with mini-osmotic pumps during pregnancy. Time bred C57BL/6J mice were implanted subcutaneously on day 5 of gestation with mini pumps which delivered a total dose of from 9.1 to 73.2 μg/g NiCl 2 . The pumps delivered NiCl 2 to the dams through day 19 of gestation. At 8–10 weeks of age the offspring of NiCl 2 -dosed dams were evaluated for immune function. No consistent significant alterations were observed between control and treated offspring for the following: lymphoid organ or body weights; the lymphoproliferative response to B or T lymphocyte mitogens; the lymphoproliferative response to allogeneic spleen cells in the mixed lymphocyte reaction; the development of syngeneic tumors; or the primary antibody response to sheep red blood cells. Natural killer (NK) cell activity was reduced in offspring exposed to NiCl 2 in utero; however, the biological relevance of these reductions is questionable because of the failure to demonstrate an increased susceptibility to the B16-F10 syngeneic tumor. The results indicate that under the conditions and doses employed it appears that NiCl 2 does not adversely affect the developing immune system of the mouse.
HOW PISTACHIOS MAY FAVORABLY INFLUENCE AN INDIVIDUAL'S METABOLIC PROFILE AND RISK FOR CHRONIC DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH INFLAMMATION

HOW PISTACHIOS MAY FAVORABLY INFLUENCE AN INDIVIDUAL’S METABOLIC PROFILE AND RISK FOR CHRONIC DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH INFLAMMATION In the United States there is an increasing trend in chronic health conditions such as Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Hypertension (HTN) and Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD). One way of determining an individual’s risk for developing these diseases is by evaluating their metabolic profile. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a term used to describe an unhealthy metabolic profile such as, elevated waist circumference, elevated triglycerides, high blood pressure and glucose intolerance. Studies have shown that nuts, such as pistachios, walnuts and almonds, can help reduce the risk of developing CVD and HTN due to their favorable fatty acid profile and nutrient dense composition. This parallel, controlled, randomized study evaluated the effects of daily consumption of 3 oz of pistachios over an 8-week period on 12 subjects with MetS. No significant changes were detected in the variables assessed, Fasting Plasma Glucose, Total Cholesterol, Very Low Density Lipoprotein, Low Density Lipoprotein, Blood pressure, hs-CRP and High Density Lipoprotein. It is important to note that no negative changes were observed. This study supports previous research on pistachios and the claim that: although they are energy dense pistachios can be incorporated into the diet of a high risk subject such as an individual with MetS, without any harmful side effects such as elevated TC and LDL. Mary Perez August 2010 HOW PISTACHIOS MAY FAVORABLY INFLUENCE AN INDIVIDUAL’S METABOLIC PROFILE AND RISK FOR CHRONIC DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH INFLAMMATION
Critical issues in making small-depth mechanical property measurements by nanoindentation with continuous stiffness measurement

Experiments were performed on a (100) copper single crystal to examine the influences that small displacement oscillations used in continuous stiffness measurement techniques have on hardness and elastic-modulus measurements in nanoindentation experiments. For the commonly used 2-nm oscillation, significant errors were observed in the measured properties, especially the hardness, at penetration depths as large as 100 nm. The errors originate from the large amount of dynamic unloading that occurs in materials like copper that have high contact stiffness resulting from their high modulus-to-hardness ratios. A simple model for the loading and unloading behavior of an elastic–plastic material is presented that quantitatively describes the errors and can be used to partially correct for them. By correcting the data in accordance with model and performing measurements at smaller displacement oscillation amplitudes, the errors can be reduced. The observations have important implications for the interpretation of the indentation size effect.
Acceleration of iterative algorithms for Euler equations of gasdynamics

of the grid size). The solution is considered converged when the maximum absolute residual is one order of magnitude smaller than the truncation error. The convergence history for the stream-function vorticity formulation is similar. The residual of the linear Poisson equation for the stream function is always of machine accuracy and the residual of the vorticity transport equation reduces quadratically; convergence is obtained after six iterations. For the biharmonic equation, convergence takes six iterations and is also quadratic. The solutions in terms of the wall skin-friction distribution are presented in Fig. 2. The results for the three formulations are in excellent agreement and correlate well with the skin-friction distribution presented by Briley. 8 Next, the model problem of a separated flow in a symmetrical diffuser, introduced by Inoue, 9 is examined. The diffuser problem is solved using the stream-function vorticity and the biharmonic formulation. The inlet and outlet boundary of the diffuser are at x = - 1.0 and x = 3.0, respectively. The shape factor of the diffuser wall A = -0.089. The centerline is located at.y = 1.0 and the Reynolds number based on this reference length and the free-stream velocity is R = 6250. The inflow conditions provide the initial conditions for the entire flowfield. Convergence is quadratic and machine zero is reached in 6-7 iterations. The solutions in terms of the wall skin-friction distribution are shown in Fig. 3. The results for the two formulations are in excellent agreement and correlate well with Inoue's results, except for the outflow conditions. In Fig. 3 the solution for the higher Reynolds number, R - 12500, with a larger separation region is also presented. The biharmonic equation is the most efficient of the three formulations in terms of CPU time and storage requirements. The biharmonic program is more than two-times faster and requires more than a factor two less memory than the streamfunction vorticity program. The primitive variable method is the slowest among the three formulations and it puts severe demands on the computer storage requirements. In this case the bandwidth is 0(67V) and this coupled with the increase in the number of variables results in more than a four-fold increase in storage and CPU time as compared to the biharmonic program. Conclusions Three formulations of the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically using Newton's method and a direct solution routine for banded matrices. The fully implicit solution techniques use second-order central differencing for all the terms and are shown to be reliable and to provide quadratic convergence. The biharmonic formulation is most efficient in terms of CPU time and memory without loss of accuracy. Finally, while it is well known that iterative methods (line overrelaxation or ADI) for biharmonic equations have very slow rates of convergence, the present study, using direct solvers, indicates that the biharmonic formulation is the most recommended.
Ethical dilemmas in the care of minors in the emergency department

Minors may give consent for their own medical care in several situations: as emancipated minors, when they present with conditions covered by minor treatment statutes, and when they are designated as "mature" minors. Definitions vary from state to state. Minors are more likely to seek health care when they are assured of confidentiality. Confidentiality is breached only when it is determined that there is a threat to the life of the minor or another person. A psychosocial assessment should be performed as part of the emergency department evaluation of most adolescent minors. The emergency physician should help facilitate the involvement of a parent or other support person in the health issues of adolescent minors whenever possible, especially with younger adolescents.
The energetics of ligand-linked subunit assembly in hemoglobin require a third allosteric structure.

Abstract For partially ligated cyanomet hemoglobins, Smith and Ackers(Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 71 (1985) 4312) determined the free energies of dimer-tetramer assembly for all of the partially ligated species using a combination of kinetic and equilibrium methods. They found a third apparent cooperative free energy level in addition to those of deoxy- and cyanomethermoglobin. Using cryogenic methods, Perrella et al. (Biophys. Chem. 35 (1990) 97) confirmed the existence of the third cooperative free energy level but found a different energy level assignment for one of the species. These combined studies have yielded a solid data base for considering mechanistic issues. The number of cooperative free energies ΔG c can, in principle, be different from the number of molecular forms which have unique free energies of heme-heme interaction, since ΔG c can be an average over conforimational subspecies. Furthermore, since the ΔG c values are determined from free energies of dimer-tetramer assembly, it is necessary to evaluate possible contributions from dimeric properties, and from quaternary constraint (or enhancement) effects associated with subunit assembly. In this paper we analyze the observed distributions of apparent ΔG c , values among the various ligation states in terms of mechanisms based on two interconvertible molecular forms (R and T) under the most general conditions in which (i) dimers may be cooperative, (ii) ligand affinities of α-subunits may be different within tetramers and dimers, and the same for β-subunit affinities, and (iii) dimers need not be halves of R-state tetramers. It is found that the experimental distributions are inconsistent with even the most general model of the two-state class; thus, at least three molecular forms of tetramer are required, each with an individually different value of cooperative free energy (heme-heme interaction). This result implies the existence of at least three corresponding molecular structures; while a degeneracy of multiple structures into only a few dominant free energy levels is frequently to be expected, the reverse situation is extremely unlikely.
The Structure of the Equilibrium Points of Heals Process12

For the planning problem of maximizing a given social welfare function subject to technology, resource-availability, and non-negativity constraints, Heal [3, 4, 5, 6] proposed and analysed a decentralized process in which the central planning board changes the allocation of the productive factors among firms according to the information concerning the marginal productivities provided by the firms. He showed that this process has the following properties: (i) if the starting resource allocation is feasible, then all the ensuing resource allocations are also feasible; (ii) the process converges to a critical point, i.e. a point which satisfies the first-order conditions for the original planning problem; (iii) the value of the social welfare function increases monotonically during the whole process until an equilibrium point is reached; (iv) the process works even if increasing returns to scale exist.3 Heal's process is the only process within our,present knowledge that can cope with possible increasing returns to scale, and in that sense it constitutes a valuable addition to our common assets. But there remain some unresolved problems concerning this process. I. The system of differential equations defining Heal's process has rather complex discontinuities and it is not yet known whether it has a solution. II. An equilibrium point of this process is only known to be a critical point and may not give even a local maximum if increasing returns to scale exist.4 The purpose of the present paper is to consider these two problems. We will analyse the simplest version of Heal's process in which only one good is produced from one primary resource. The analysis and the results can be easily extended to more general versions in which multiple goods are produced from multiple primary resources and intermediate goods. In Section 2, below, we will give a brief sketch of the formal model. In Section 3 we will show that the system of differential equations defining Heal's process has at least one solution starting from any feasible initial allocation. In Section 4 we will relate the stability properties of the equilibrium points to their optimality properties in a manner analogous to the classical result of Lagrange and Dirichlet concerning conservative mechanical systems.5 In Section 5 we will consider the likelihood of convergence to a local sub-optimum point.
Stent remodeling technique for coiling of ruptured wide-neck cerebral aneurysms: case report.

Objective To describe a novel stent remodeling technique for the coiling of ruptured wide-neck cerebral aneurysms. Clinical presentation A 46-year-old man presented with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (Hunt and Hess grade IV), intracerebral hemorrhage, and hydrocephalus. Cerebral angiography revealed a wide-neck small anterior communicating artery aneurysm. Conventional coiling was not successful because of coil instability and compromise of the dominant anterior cerebral artery. Technique A 6-French shuttle sheath (Cook Medical, Indianapolis, IN) was advanced from a right femoral approach into the right common carotid artery. To protect the parent vessel during coiling without compromising blood flow, a Prowler Select Plus catheter (Cordis Corporation, Bridgewater, NJ) was navigated across the aneurysm neck. Subsequently, an Enterprise stent (22-mm length; Cordis Corporation) was partially deployed across the aneurysm's wide neck. It was very important to watch the distal markers of the stent and lock the stent delivery wire to the Prowler Select Plus with a hemostatic valve once the stent was halfway deployed. This maneuver was essential to prevent further deployment of the stent. The SL-10 microcatheter and Synchro 14 wire (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) were carefully navigated to the aneurysm passing through the partially deployed stent. Coils were then delivered to the aneurysm using the stent as a scaffold. After coiling, the SL-10 microcatheter was removed and the stent was recaptured into the Prowler Select Plus catheter. During the recapture, there was initial resistance. This was easily overcome after deploying the stent a little more before resheathing. During the procedure, the patient received 2000 U of heparin after the first coil was detached in the aneurysm. Conclusion The stent remodeling technique is a novel endovascular technique that can be used to treat ruptured wide-neck aneurysms and maintain patency of parent vessels, avoiding the use of antiplatelet therapy in acute subarachnoid hemorrhage.
RFLP-based genetic map of rye (Secale cereale L.) chromosome 1R.

A map of chromosome 1R of rye was constructed using 16 molecular and biochemical loci. From long arm to short arm, known-function loci were placed in the order: XAdh — XLee — Glu-R1[Sec-3] — XPpdk-1R — XEm-1R-1 — XEm-1R-2 — Centromere — XNor-R1 —Gpi-R1 — XGli-R1 [Sec-1a] along with six anonymous genomic and cDNA clones from wheat. The map, which spans 106 cM with 12 loci clustered in a 15-cM region around the centromere, shows reasonably good agreement with previously published maps for the centromeric region, whereas the XNor-R1 — Gpi-R1 region gives a much larger distance than previously reported.
Abbreviated Scenario Thinking

Scenario development is a time- and resource-intensive process, one that not all companies are positioned to undertake at any given point in time. As such, this article will propose an Abbreviated Scenario Thinking process that uses published scenarios from government and industry sources to allow companies to make strategic decisions based on the results. Scenarios are narratives that describe the possible futures in which one must compete 5, 10, or 20 years from now. They allow people to test possible actions by playing them out in three or four different ways. Scenarios are based on plausible consequences of events, environmental forces, and players as they occur in time, and create patterns of the future that can have substantively different effects on strategic decisions. Thus, scenarios are important to executives and managers in the 21st century as they develop competitive strategies. By employing Abbreviated Scenario Thinking, executives utilize published global scenarios to analyze the driving forces that affect their organizations, asking “What If?” as an entry point to scenario planning. This can produce benefits even before any formal scenarios are written.
Feedback moduiaticn of gilcose-induced insulin secretion by arachidonic acid meiabol: Possible molecular mechanisms and relevance to diabetes mellitus

Abstract Recent evidence suggests that glucose stimulation of insulin release may trigger a classic negative feedback loop involving local release of an inhibitor of beta cell function. one or more metabolite of arachidonic acid could comprise such a putative system. Several metabolic events triggered by glucose-induced stimulus-secretion coupling (such as calcium influx, membrane turnover, augmented reduced pyridine nucleotide or glutathione levels, and alterations in toxic oxygen radical availability) would be expected to alter arachiclonic acid release and subsequent metabolism via the lipoxygenase or cyclo-oxygenase pathways. At least one arachichidonate derivative (prostaglandin E) inhibits insulin secretion, and several inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis augment glucose-induced insulin release in normal subjects and type II diabetics. Development of more selective inhibitors of arachidonate metabolism could represent a new approach to therapeutic manipulation of beta cell function.
The effect of side-chain, para-aminobenzoyl region, and B-ring modifications on dihydrofolate reductase binding, influx via the reduced folate carrier, and cytotoxicity of the potent nonpolyglutamatable antifolate Nα-(4-amino-4-deoxypteroyl)-Nδ-hemiphthaloyl-l-ornithine

N a -(4-Amino-4-deoxypteroyl)- N d -hemiphthaloyl- L -ornithine (PT523) is an unusually tight-binding dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitor and is efficiently taken up into cells via the reduced folate carrier (RFC). Unlike classical DHFR inhibitors with a glutamate side chain, such as methotrexate and aminopterin, PT523 cannot form polyglutamates. Thus, it resembles lipophilic antifolates such as trimetrexate in not requiring metabolic activation by folylpolyglutamate synthetase in order to produce its antifolate effect. However, in contrast to trimetrexate, PT523 retains growth inhibitory activity in cells with the multidrug resistance phenotype. As part of the preclinical development of this drug, we have performed systematic modification of several regions of the PT523 molecule, with the aim of defining the optimal structural features for DHFR binding, influx into cells via the RFC, and the ability to inhibit cell growth. The following structure-activity correlations have emerged from this ongoing investigation, and are discussed: (1) the hemiphthaloylornithine side chain has the optimal length; (2) the preferred location of the aromatic carboxyl group is the ortho position; and (3) replacement of the phenyl ring of the para -aminobenzoic acid moiety by naphthalene, of nitrogen at the 10-position of the bridge by carbon, and of nitrogen at the 5- and/or 8-position of the B-ring by carbon are all well tolerated. Several of the second generation analogs of PT523 are more potent DHFR inhibitors and better RFC substrates than PT523 itself, and are more potent inhibitors of tumor cell growth in culture. © 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Chinese managers' perceptions of their ability to deliver service quality

This paper reports upon the application of SERVQUAL in accessing the perceptions held by Chinese managers with respect to their ability to deliver service quality and to examine the generalisability of the SERVQUAL model in measuring the antecedents of service quality. A self-administered questionnaire was used to survey 86 Chinese managers enrolled in the Beijing International MBA programme. A descriptive statistics analysis was used, including one-way Analyses of Variance (ANOVAs), to evaluate managers' perceptions of customer expectations and the existence of performance standards linked to customer expectations. The results of the factor analysis measuring the antecedents to service delivery indicated that the original SERVQUAL constructs did not work as prescribed. The surrogates for the antecedents generated as a result of factor analysis were used in regression analysis to assess the relationship between the antecedents and both overall performance and customer satisfaction. Both regression analyses were significant. Two dimensions – role clarity of employees and the existence of internal processes – accounted for 17.7% of the variance associated with performance. The same two dimensions plus teamwork accounted for 22.4% of the variation in perceived customer satisfaction.
Mixed convection heat transfer in a passive solar building

Abstract Convective heat transfer through apertures such as doorways can be an important process by which thermal energy is transferred from one zone to another zone of a building. In this article, interzonal natural and forced convection in a two- and a three-zone, full-scale building are examined. Aperture velocity and temperature distributions are measured and the experimental interzonal mass flow rate and heat transfer are determined. A model based on zone temperature distributions is derived to predict the interzonal mass flow rate and heat transfer. The measured and predicted interzonal flow rate and heat transfer are compared and found to be in good agreement.
The Blame-X syndrome: problems and lessons in nosology, spectrum, and etiology.

Abstract Symptoms of a functional somatic syndrome have been noted in individual persons and groups for more than a century. Often associated with war, the syndrome has received diverse names and many proposed but unproved etiologies, including exposure to trauma, stress, chronic infection, psychosomatic, chemical, or environmental causes. In recent years, when attributed to agent X, the syndrome could be called the Blame-X syndrome. The clinical, legal, and other problems associated with the syndrome are a reflection of nosologic difficulties in identifying and choosing titles for apparently "new" ailments. The difficulties arise from the complex overlap of symptoms, diseases, and laboratory abnormalities found with modern technology, and from the frequent abandonment of pathophysiologic demands for appropriate correlation of symptoms and objective abnormalities. An important principle in naming apparently new ailments is to avoid etiologic titles until the etiologic agent has been suitably demonstrated. A premature causal name can impair a patient's recovery from the syndrome, and impede research that might find the true cause.
Asymptotic expansions for transient electromagnetic fields

Asymptotic expansions may be derived for transient electromagnetic (EM) fields. The expansions are valid when σμ0l2/t is less than about 0.1. Here l, σ, μ0, and t are the respective lengths, conductivities, permeabilities of free space and time. Cases for which asymptotic expansions are presented include (1) layered grounds, (2) axisymmetric structure, and (3) two‐dimensional (2-D) structures. In all cases the transient voltage eventually approaches that of the host medium alone, the ratio of anomalous response to the half‐space response being proportional to 1/tν. Here v is equal to 0.5 for layered structures and 1.0 for 2-D or 3-D structures.
Requirement for cell-to-cell contact for the immunosuppressive activity of human alveolar macrophages.

The ability of alveolar macrophages (AM) obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of healthy volunteers to suppress T lymphocyte responses to the mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in vitro was investigated. AM but not monocytes (MN) inhibited responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to PHA as measured by incorporation of [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) expression. Supernatants of AM generated for various periods and with various concentrations of cells did not, however, inhibit PBMC responses to PHA. To examine the role of cell contact in the inhibitory activity of AM, AM or MN were added to PBMC in 6-well plates either directly (in co-culture) or separated by a 0.45-µm filter. MN did not inhibit PBMC blastogenic responses under either condition. AM at a 1:2 ratio with PBMC inhibited blastogenesis by 75 ± 11% (mean ± SD, n = 3, P < 0.01) when cultured directly with PBMC but had no inhibitory effect on blastogenesis when physically separated from target PBMC. AM in co-culture with P...
Bremsstrahlung spectra from thick-target electron beams with noncollisional energy losses

A generalization of the Brown's (1971) formulation of the relationship between bremsstrahlung spectrum and mean electron spectrum (electrons in the range 10-100 keV) is presented with an objective of demonstrating the information content of bremsstrahlung spectra from a thick target. It is shown that the observed photon spectrum can be inverted to yield an integral functional of the electron spectrum and the effective energy loss rate. Furthermore, if observational or theoretical electron injection spectrum is known, an effective 'phenomenological' energy loss function can be obtained.
Measurement of the A1Π−X1σ+ electronic transition moment of SiO using a shock tube

Abstract The reflected-shock-heated gas in a shock tube was used to measure the electronic transition moment, R 2 e , for the A 1 π − X 1 σ + band system of SiO. The absorption spectra of several different gas mixtures were recorded using an optical multichannel analyzer in the 220–310 nm wavelength range. Synthetic spectra were compared with experimental spectra to determine the R 2 e as a function of internuclear distance, r . Best agreement was achieved if the theoretical values of Langhoff and Arnold are multiplied by a constant value of 1.3, or if they are shifted by 0.25 Bohr toward larger r . However, both our results and the theoretical values are in disagreement with two recent laser-induced fluorescence determinations. We find a transition moment that decreases with increasing r , having a value R 2 e = 1.3 ± 0.17 atomic units at the equilibrium internuclear distance of 3.0 Bohr.
Tricompartmental knee replacement: A comparison of orthopaedic surgeons' self reported performance rates with surgical indications, contraindications, and expected outcomes

The chance of a person with osteoarthritis of the knee receiving a knee replacement is highly variable. To understand better the reasons for this variation, all practicing orthopaedists in Indiana were surveyed about their management of severe knee osteoarthritis and their perception of tricompartmental knee replacement as a therapeutic option. Their perceptions of indications and outcomes of knee replacement were compared with the self reported annual number of patients for whom they performed (or referred to other surgeons for) tricompartmental knee replacements. A completed survey was returned by 220 (79%) of the 280 orthopaedists surveyed; analyses were limited to the 188 respondents who had cared for at least one patient with osteoarthritis of the knee in the prior 2 weeks (mean = 13). These surgeons reported performing (or referring patients for) a mean of 31 knee replacements in the prior year (SD 45, median 21, range 0–480 knee replacements). There was strong agreement (>95%) among respondents for seven (21%) of 33 surgical indications and contraindications, and more general agreement (>60%) for 21 (64%). In the live factors (15%) for which there was disagreement, there was no consistent relationship between opinions and self reported knee replacement performance rate. Surgeons reporting more knee replacements had significantly higher estimates of pain relief and functional improvement following surgery, and lower esti-