cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Research in pediatric surgery.

Pediatric surgical research continues to expand along technical avenues while addressing issues of basic science.
Ovarian tumors associated with pregnancy termination patients

One hundred adnexal masses were discovered at the time of pregnancy termination among a total of 55,278 pregnancy terminations performed at the Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center between 1970 and 1982. Seven patients were found to be not pregnant, and 93 masses were associated with pregnancy, for an incidence of one adnexal mass for every 594 (0.17%) terminations. Benign cystic teratoma was the most common lesion found (46;50%). There were two (2.2%) ovarian malignancies, 15 masses were bilateral, 11 masses were associated with pain, and torsion of the adnexa had occurred in seven cases. The preoperative diagnosis was made more commonly in the first trimester (86%) than in the second trimester (29%). Since many ovarian tumors are small, the true incidence is unknown. In a series of 998 abortion hysterectomies, 13 ovarian tumors were found, for an incidence of 1.3%.
Proinflammatory and Vasoactive Effects of Aβ in the Cerebrovasculature

Abeta peptides are thought to be critical molecules in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and are the major protein constituents of senile plaques. In most AD cases, Abeta peptides also form some deposits in the cerebrovasculature, leading to cerebral amyloid angiopathy and hemorrhagic stroke. Regional cerebral hypoperfusion is one of the earlier clinical manifestations in both the sporadic and familial forms of AD. In addition, a variety of vascular risk factors of different etiologies (for instance, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol level, atherosclerosis, and smoking) constitute risk factors for AD as well, suggesting that functional vascular abnormalities may contribute to AD pathology. We studied the effect of Abeta on constrictor responses elicited by endothelin-1 in isolated human cerebral arteries collected following rapid autopsies. We report that freshly solubilized Abeta potentiates endothelin-1-induced vasoconstriction in isolated human middle cerebral and basilar arteries. The vasoconstriction elicited by Abeta in these large human cerebral arteries appears to be completely antagonized by NS-398, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, or by SB202190, a specific p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, suggesting that Abeta vasoactivity is mediated via the stimulation of a proinflammatory pathway. In addition, a similar proinflammatory response appears to be mediated by Abeta in isolated human brain microvessels, resulting in an increased production of prostaglandin E(2) and F(2alpha). Using a scanner laser Doppler imager, we show a progressive decline with aging in cortical perfusion level in transgenic APPsw mice (line 2576) compared with age-matched control littermates. The relation between the acute proinflammatory and vasoactive properties of Abeta and the chronic progressive hypoperfusion seen in AD (and transgenic models thereof) is yet to be elucidated.
Color-encoded fringe projection and phase shifting for 3D surface contouring

A color-encoded fringe projection and phase shifting technique is proposed for rapid 3-D surface contouring applications. A color fringe pattern whose RGB components comprise three phase-shifted fringe patterns is created by software on a computer screen and then projected to an object by a novel computer-controlled digital projection system. The image of the object is captured by a digital camera positioned at an angle different from that of the projection system. The image is then separated into its RGB components, creating three phase-shifted images of the object. These three images are used to retrieve the 3-D surface contour of the object through the use of a phase wrapping and unwrapping algorithm. Only one image of the object is required to obtain its 3-D surface contour. Thus contouring speed, limited only by the frame rate of the camera, can be dramatically increased as compared to that of the traditional phase shifting techniques. The technique is especially useful in applications where the object being contoured is going through quasi-static or dynamic changes. This paper describes the principle of the technique and presents some preliminary experimental results.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Model of the Sunspot Umbra

Equations governing the structure of the umbra of a single spot have been integrated on the spot-axis. It is shown that a consistent umbral model can be obtained only for a narrow range of the electron pressures at the spot surface. The spot center is found to be at a depth of about 400 km below the normal solar surface. The reduced energy flux observed at the surface is assumed to be due to the effect of the spot-magnetic field on subphotospheric convection and an empirical factor β is introduced to take into account the reduction in the convective energy flux. With an inferred expression for β as a function of the internal and magnetic-energy density it is shown that in a consistent model the physical variables in the spot approach their ambient values at about 2330 km below the undisturbed solar surface and at the same depth the energy flux approaches the normal solar value and the magnetic interference with convection vanishes. The present investigation is a refinement of an earlier paper by Chitre (1963).
Synthesis of 17-oxoellipticine

Abstract A synthesis of the Strychnos dinklagei alkaloid 17-oxoellipticine ( 2 ) is described that illustrates the versatility of ketolactam 3 in the construction of dissimilar dialkyl-substituted pyridocarbazoles.
The role of iron in Parkinson disease and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine toxicity.

Summary Parkinson disease (PD) involves the specie c degeneration of dopaminergicneuronsoftheparscompactaofthesubstantianigra. Althoughthecause ofthedegenerationofnigrostrialdopaminergic neurons in PD is unknown, there is signie cant evidence to suggest that oxidative stress may be involved in this process. This review specie cally examines the current status of evidence suggesting iron may contribute to oxidative damage associated with PD. IUBMB Life, 48: 139‐141, 1999
Evaluation of knowledge and perception of newborn jaundice among parturient mothers in a secondary health care centre in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

Background: Newborn jaundice has remained one of the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. It is believed that delays in detection and/or inappropriate treatment may largely be responsible for this. Given that most mothers are now discharged home 24 hours after a normal delivery, the responsibility to detect jaundice in the new-born and take appropriate decision now rest with the mothers. This study therefore sought to evaluate the knowledge and perception of newborn jaundice among parturient mothers. Method: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among 255 parturient mothers at the lying-in ward of Mariere Memorial Central Hospital. A structured, pre-tested, interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain information from the mothers. SPSS version 16 was employed in the analysis of the data. Results: Of the 255 parturient mothers interviewed, only 156 (61.2%) affirmed their awareness of newborn jaundice and only these mothers were further analysed. Their mean age was 30.2±5.4 and a median parity of 2. Thirty-seven (23.7%) of the mothers had tertiary education and just about half (50.6%) of the mothers knew that newborn jaundice presents with yellowish discoloration of the body and sclera. Three (1.9%) of the mothers knew that haemolysis is an underlying cause of jaundice and four (2.6%) mothers each correctly mentioned phototherapy and exchange blood transfusion as treatment modalities. Health talk given at the antenatal clinic was the source of information by 81 (51.9%) of the mothers. Conclusion: This study showed that the knowledge of risk factors/causes, treatment and complication of newborn jaundice by mothers is unsatisfactory. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v13i3.16521 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.13(3) 2014 p.292-297
Face detection for image annotation

Abstract The problem of face detection in images – locating image areas corresponding to human faces – has received a considerable amount of attention in recent years due to numerous possible applications. In this paper, we describe a face detection system for an image annotation task that requires detection of faces at multiple scales against a complex background. The proposed system is a top-down system; it uses the presence of skin tone pixels coupled with shape and face-specific features to locate faces in images. The main distinguishing feature of the proposed system is its use of an iterative region partitioning procedure to generate candidate face regions. To date, the performance of the system has been tested with over 200 test images of varying complexity with promising results.
Social status differentiates rapid neuroendocrine responses to restraint stress.

Male Anolis carolinensis that win aggressive interactions mobilize neuroendocrine responses to social stress more rapidly than defeated lizards. We initially examined temporal patterns of neuroendocrine response to restraint stress in lizards of unknown status, and then investigated whether winning males respond more rapidly to this non-social stressor. Size-matched male pairs interacted to establish social status, and then were returned to individual home cages for 3 days. Plasma and brains were collected from non-restrained dominants and subordinates, and from a non-interacting control group. Additional groups of dominants and subordinates underwent 90 s restraint stress, with plasma and brains collected either immediately or 300 s after restraint. In lizards of unknown social status restraint stimulated rapid monoaminergic responses in nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, amygdala, and locus ceruleus, with delayed responses seen in VTA and raphe. Non-restrained dominants and subordinates had lower levels of raphe serotonergic activity and lower hippocampal dopaminergic activity 3 days after interacting, compared to controls. Dominants had higher corticosterone levels, both immediately and 300 s after restraint, than either non-restrained dominants or restrained subordinates. Restraint induced higher raphe serotonergic activity in dominants. However, subordinates also showed rapid responses to restraint; exhibiting lower hippocampal dopamine (DA) levels than non-restrained subordinates. At 300 s after the stress, amygdalar serotonin levels increased in dominants, while subordinates showed higher amygdalar DA levels. These results suggest that stressful aggressive interactions will not only alter basal neurochemical activity, but also influence neuroendocrine responses to non-social stressors according to individual social status.
Validation in the Wild

Why is successful innovation so rare? How do you predict success for a product that has never been seen before? The odds can be improved. We can ask: What should we create? The tough question is: How do we know it will succeed?
The phenomenology of evidence: Information‐source utility in decision making

This study of the utility of evidence differs from previous studies in its use of a respondent‐generated matrix of information and sources. This matrix comprised three dimensions (expertness × trustworthiness‐acquaintanceship x information type] and was used to produce Q‐statements which subjects sorted according to a most useful‐Jeast useful criterion in three hypothetical decision‐making situations. The Q‐analysis revealed several types of persons, including: types which found directive information most useful, types which preferred unknown but competent sources, and types which depended upon sources who were known and trusted regardless of the kind of information the source offered.
Monoamine oxidase activity in peripheral organs and adrenergic tissues of the rat

Abstract Monoamine oxidase activity in vitro was studied in the heart, kidneys, submaxillary glands, and superior cervical ganglia of control rats by the method of Lovenberg and co-workers ( J. Pharmacol . 1962). Comparison of monoamine oxidase activity in the absence and presence of exogenous aldehyde dehydrogenase revealed nearly saturating amounts of aldehyde dehydrogenase in the liver, submaxillary glands, lungs, spleen, and stomach (fundus, body, pyloric antrum). In the absence of exogenous aldehyde dehydrogenase, the uterus, ventricles, right atrium, left atrium, and proximal and distal small intestine showed activities of 24, 46, 58, 49, 65, and 68 per cent activity respectively. The activity in the superior cervical ganglia, stellate ganglia, thoracic chains, and retinas was 8.5, 11.0, 27, and 38 per cent. In the presence of exogenous aldehyde dehydrogenase, the greatest monoamine oxidase activity, based on the protein content, was noted in the superior cervical ganglia. On the wet weight basis, ganglionic monoamine oxidase activity was greater than that of all other tissues investigated except the liver. In the absence of exogenous aldehyde dehydrogenase, the reaction velocity of monoamine oxidase in ventricles, atria and pooled adrenergic tissue was linear for 30 min at the optimum substrate concentration. In the presence of exogenous aldehyde dehydrogenase, the monoamine oxidase reaction rates of the ventricles, atria, and adrenergic tissue were linear for up to 40 min at optimum substrate concentrations. Substrate inhibition became apparent at the highest substrate concentration used (11.67 mole/ml), and unsaturation of the enzyme was noted at the lowest substrate concentration (0.233 mole/ml). In homogenates of the ventricles, atria, and pooled adrenergic tissue, monoamine oxidase activity was inhibited by relatively small increases in enzyme concentration (tissue homogenate). This inhibition was not overcome by a tenfold increase in substrate concentration nor by the doubling of NAD and exogenous aldehyde dehydrogenase. Centrifugation at 50,000 g for 25 min localized the inhibitory component(s) in the pellet. The supernatant was devoid of monoamine oxidase activity.
66-year-old woman with painless vesicular lesions.

A 66-year-old woman presented to the internal medicine clinic with a 1-month history of painless vesicular lesions on her hands. A tense blister was first noted on the lateral aspect of her right index finger. This lesion lasted for about 7 days and then spontaneously resolved. Subsequently, 2 similar lesions appeared on her left index finger. She denied lesions elsewhere on her body, including palmar surfaces, soles, and mucosal areas. She denied trauma to the lesions of concern. She denied fevers, chills, night sweats, abdominal pain, arthralgias, joint swelling, rash, pruritus, photosensitivity, neurologic symptoms, and constitutional symptoms. On detailed questioning, she acknowledged that her urine appeared red-tinged with her first morning void. Her medical history was notable for depression, impaired fasting glucose, osteopenia, and hypertension. She had no known history of rheumatologic conditions, liver disease, or diabetes. Her medications, all long-term, included mirtazapine, metoprolol, a multivitamin, calcium, and aspirin. She did not smoke or drink alcohol, had no history of intravenous drug use, and was in a monogamous relationship with her husband. Family history was remarkable for similar symptoms in her mother and sister. Her occupation involved office work, and she denied activities involving constant rubbing. Her hobbies included gardening.
Evaluating Holocene climate change in northern Norway using sediment records from two contrasting lake systems

We analyzed Holocene sedimentary records from two lakes in the Lofoten Islands, northern Norway to evaluate environmental changes during the Holocene related to northern North Atlantic climate dynamics. The lakes are located in different geomorphological settings, and thus provide a contrast in their response to regional climate change. Environmental changes at both lakes were interpreted based on magnetic susceptibility, organic-matter flux, C/N, δ13Corg, Ti concentrations, and mass accumulation rates. Chronologies were established using 16 AMS radiocarbon dates, and average deposition rates in both environments are higher than 0.2 mm/year throughout the Holocene. At Vikjordvatnet, sedimentary geochemical properties define three distinct phases of sedimentation related to changes in aquatic productivity and gradual landscape development. Following deglaciation, during the early Holocene (11.6–7.2 ka), aquatic productivity increased and the landscape stabilized as regional temperatures increased in response to higher summer insolation and increasing inflow of warm Atlantic water into the Norwegian Sea. Centennial-scale intervals of decreased organic-matter flux, from 10.9 to 10.2 ka and 9.2 to 8.0 ka, record episodes of instability during the early Holocene. These may represent regional cooling events related to freshwater forcing and a slowdown of the northward transport of warm water into the North Atlantic. During the mid-Holocene (7.2–4.8 ka) organic-matter properties show less variability and the timing of this phase corresponds with the regional Holocene thermal maximum. The late Holocene sediments (4.8 ka–present) record a transition to colder climate conditions. The record from Fiskebolvatnet captures periodic changes in clastic input related to runoff and exhibits high-frequency variations over the last 9.5 ka. The most significant change in sedimentation was during the late Holocene (4.3 ka–present) when the frequency and magnitude of runoff events show an abrupt transition to wetter conditions. The timing of this shift corresponds to other regional reconstructions that indicate wetter and colder conditions during the late Holocene.
Pulmonary artery medial hypertrophy in cocaine users without foreign particle microembolization

A reduction in the DCO has been reported among "free-base" cocaine smokers. We reviewed the pulmonary histopathology in 20 deaths due to cocaine intoxication for either parenchymal or vascular abnormalities which might explain this physiologic finding. Pulmonary artery medical hypertrophy in the absence of foreign particle microembolization was present in four of 20 cases (20 percent). Hemosiderin-laden macrophages were found in seven of 20 cases (35 percent). These abnormalities were not seen in a matched control group. We conclude that in the absence of foreign particle microembolization, pulmonary artery medial hypertrophy occurs among cocaine users, although the mechanism of these vascular changes is unknown. In addition, occult alveolar hemorrhage occurs more frequently among cocaine users than is clinically recognized.
Teaching graphical interface programming in Java with the game of wari

This poster gives an overview of a programming project that can be used in a course on object-orientation and graphical interface programming in Java.
Art and Soul: Reflections on an Artistic Psychology

(1998). Art and Soul: Reflections on an Artistic Psychology. Art Therapy: Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 272-273.
Slowing down and capture of negative muons by hydrogen: Classical-trajectory Monte Carlo calculation

The classical-trajectory Monte Carlo method has been used to determine ionization and capture cross sections and stopping powers for collisions of negative muons with hydrogen atoms. The calculations were done for muon energies from about 3 eV to 150 keV. The uncertainty in the results is thought to be about 30%. Most muons are found to be captured in collisions at energies below the ionization potential of the target atom.
Structure and process in thinking about classroom management: An exploratory study of prospective teachers

Abstract Current research on teaching centers on teachers' thinking. What teachers know and, especially, how they reflect on their practice are considered central to understanding teaching. Part of the research on teachers' knowledge concerns cognitive structure (schemata), how teachers organize their knowledge; it is thought that complex, highly structured schemata are related to skillful teaching performance. While it is sensible to assume that schemata and reflection, structure and process, are linked, no data exist to support that assumption. In the present study, cognitive structure and reflection data were collected from 15 prospective teachers. The strength of the correlation between those variables was .48 (p = .05). Implications for theory, research, and practice are discussed.
A posteriori error estimators for a two-level finite element method for the Navier-Stokes equations

Two- and multilevel truncated Newton finite element discretizations are presently a very promising approach for approximating the (nonlinear) Navier-Stokes equations describing the equilibrium flow of a viscous, incompressible fluid. Their combination with mesh adaptivity is considered in this article. Specifically, locally calculable a posteriori error estimators are derived, with full mathematical support, for the basic two-level discretization of the Navier-Stokes equations. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Observation of a trapping transition in the diffusion of a thick needle through fixed point scatterers.

The long-time correlation functions of an infinitesimally thin needle moving through stationary point scatterers—a so-called Lorentz model—exhibits surprisingly long-time tails. These long-time tails are now seen to persist in a two-dimensional model even when the needle has a finite thickness. If the needles are too thick, then the needles are effectively trapped at all nontrivial densities of the scatterers. At needle widths approximately equal to or smaller than σ = e/20 where e is the average spacing between scatterers, the needle diffuses and exhibits the crossover transition from the expected Enskog behavior to the enhanced translation diffusion seen earlier by Hofling, Frey and Franosch [Phys. Rev. Lett. 2008, 101, 120605]. At this needle width, an increase in its center-of-mass diffusion with respect to increasing density is seen after a crossover density of n* ≈ 5 is reached. (The reduced density n* is defined as n* = nL2 where n is the number density of particles and L is the needle length.) The...
Role of cytochrome P450 2C8 and 2J2 genotypes in calcineurin inhibitor-induced chronic kidney disease.

ObjectivesThe calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) cyclosporine A (CsA) and tacrolimus (Tac) help prevent allograft rejection but are associated with nephrotoxicity. Cytochrome P450 2C8 (CYP2C8) and CYP2J2 are polymorphic enzymes expressed in the kidney that metabolize arachidonic acid (AA) to epoxyeicosat
Residence times in reservoirs under non-steady-state conditions: application to atmospheric SO 2 and aerosol sulfate†

The definitions of the residence times describing the rate of removal of materials from natural reservoirs, i.e., the mean age, the mean transit time, and the turn-over time, have been extended to encompass time-dependent rates of introduction and removal. This treatment leads to two sets of such residence times, pertinent either to material present in the reservoir at a given observation time or to material that entered the reservoir at a given time of introduction. Whereas the former quantities reflect the time dependence of both the rates of introduction and removal processes, the latter quantities are properties only of the rates of removal processes. Relationships are examined among the several residence times, as well as to the burden of material in the reservoir attributable to a given rate of introduction. Additionally the several definitions are extended to encompass secondary materials, i.e., materials formed in situ as a consequence of reactions of materials directly introduced. The above framework is applied to a consideration of the residence times and burdens of atmospheric SO 2 and sulfate aerosol, for assumed time-dependent rates of SO 2 -to-sulfate conversion and dry deposition. It is found that even for such rates exhibiting strong diurnal modulation, as expected from considerations of photochemical reaction rates and atmospheric stability, the turn-over times and atmospheric burdens of SO 2 and sulfate exhibit relatively little diurnal modulation, unless the fraction of SO 2 removed per day substantially exceeds 50%, a circumstance that is at variance with the present understanding of the fate of this material in the atmosphere. These considerations suggest that it may be adequate for many purposes to model the evolution of atmospheric sulfur compounds according to diurnal average rate coefficients. Regarding secondary materials one further useful quantity is the relative burden, or the ratio of the amounts of secondary to primary materials present in the reservoir. This quantity is directly comparable to ratio of the observed concentrations of these materials and thus serves as an additional condition that must be satisfied by models describing their transformation and removal. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1979.tb00935.x
Real time parallel processing of video images on symmetric hypernets

An algorithm for parallel processing of video image signals in real time on symmetric hypernets is presented. The basic model consists of 16 processors in a (2,2,1) network, and is suitable for processing black and white TV video signals in a 3*3 convolution. It can be easily extended to 64 or more processors as per requirement to make it suitable for color TV in 9*9, 18*18, or 64*64 convolution, depending upon the refinement and sophistication needed in the processing of video signals and cost considerations. >
Estimating body mass in New World “monkeys” (Platyrrhini, Primates), with a consideration of the Miocene platyrrhine, Chilecebus carrascoensis

Well-constrained estimates of adult body mass for species of fossil platyrrhines (New World ‘‘monkeys’’) are essential for resolving numerous paleobiological questions. However, no consensus exists as to which craniodental measures best correlate with body mass among extant taxa in this clade. In this analysis, we analyze 80 craniodental variables and generate predictive equations applicable to fossil taxa, including the early platyrrhine Chilecebus carrascoensis. We find mandibular length to be the best craniodental predictor of body mass. There is no significant difference in predictive value between osteological and dental measures. Variables associated with the mandible and lower dentition do significantly outperform the cranium and upper dentition. Additionally, we demonstrate that modern platyrrhines differ, morphometrically, from early fossil forms. Chilecebus possesses unusual cranial proportions in several key features, as well as proportionally narrow upper incisors and wide upper cheek teeth. These variables yield widely divergent body mass estimates for Chilecebus, implying that the correlations observed in a crown group cannot be assumed a priori for early diverging fossils. Variables allometrically consistent with those in extant forms yield a body mass estimate of slightly less than 600 grams for Chilecebus, nearly a factor of two smaller than prior preliminary estimates. Scaled to body mass, the brain of Chilecebus is markedly smaller than those of modern anthropoids, despite its lowered body mass estimate advocated here. This finding, in conjunction with a similar pattern exhibited by fossil catarrhines, suggests that increased encephalization arose independently in the two extant subgroups of anthropoids (platyrrhines and catarrhines).
Pulse Wave Velocity in the Main Pulmonary Artery of the Dog

Apparent phase velocities in the main pulmonary artery were calculated from simultaneous measurements of pressure at two sites in 11 anesthetized, open-chest dogs, at heart rates ranging from 24 to 240 beat/min. The distribution of apparent phase velocity with harmonic frequency was similar to that reported previously for input impedance and frequency. Phase velocity in the absence of reflections, estimated by averaging apparent phase velocities at frequencies from 9 to 23 cycle/sec, averaged 275 cm/sec in the control state and 417 cm/sec during the infusion of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin). The elastic modulus of the pulmonary arterial wall implied by these velocities was calculated to be approximately 1.2 x 106 dyne/cm2 in the controls and 2.7 x 106 dyne/cm2 during serotonin. These results are consistent with previous observations on normal pulmonary vascular input impedance in the dog under these conditions, and with the relationships predicted by the Womersley equations, and suggest that the effects...
Effects of Intestinal Modification by Antibiotics and Antibacterials on Utilization of Methionine Sources by Broiler Chickens

Abstract A study was conducted to determine if the response to different sources of Met was influenced by the presence or absence of antibiotics and antibacterials that might alter intestinal microflora. A Met-deficient diet (0.33% by analysis), based on corn and soybean meal, was fed with or without a mixture providing 200 g/ton of bacitracin methylene disalicylate, 200 g/ton of chlortetracycline, 100 g/ton of penicillin, and 100 g/ton of sulfaquinoxaline. Diets were fortified with DL-Met or the liquid form of 2-hydroxy-4-methylbutanoic acid (HMB) to provide supplemental levels of Met ranging from 0.0 to 0.20% in increments of 0.04%, based on 99% activity for DLDL-Met and 88% activity for HMB. The experimental treatments consisted of a 2 × 2 × 6 factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 diet types (medicated and unmedicated), 2 Met sources (DL-Met and HMB) at 6 levels of supplementation for a total of 24 dietary treatments. Each of these was fed to 6 replicate pens of 5 male chicks from 0 to 21 d, stratified across tiers in the battery. Feeding the medicated diets resulted in a significant reduction in intestinal bacterial as measured by total aerobic plate count of ileal contents, with significant improvements in BW and feed conversion. However, there were no significant interactions between the medications and the response to the 2 sources of Met. There was no difference in BW or feed conversion related to the 2 different sources of Met when fed to provide equimolar amounts of Met activity. Chicks responded to increasing levels of Met, but there was no interaction between source and level of Met for BW or feed conversion. Peak response appeared to occur at approximately 0.08% supplemental (0.41% total) Met, somewhat below current NRC recommendations. It does not appear that a difference in antibiotic content of test diets is responsible for the discrepancy in reported responses to the 2 sources of Met.
Kinetically stable glassy phase formation in neodymium nickelate thin films as evidenced by Hall effect and electrical resistivity measurements

In this study, we are reporting the time- and temperature-dependence of the electrical resistivity and temperature-dependence of the Hall voltage in neodymium nickelate thin films. The films were deposited on a lanthanum aluminate substrate [LaAlO3 (001)] by a pulsed laser deposition technique, with thicknesses ranging from 0.6 to 120 nm. Time-dependent electrical transport measurements indicated the formation of a kinetically stable metallic glassy phase rather than a stable insulating phase on cooling below the transition temperature, TM-I. Comparisons of the low-temperature behavior with that of common insulators further supported this claim. Hall effect measurements on the 1.2-nm sample showed a local maximum in the carrier concentration just below the TM-I on both the heating and cooling cycles. This again confirmed the proposed low-temperature structure, in that, for the 1.2-nm sample, there was a minimal degree of supercooling before transitioning to a kinetically stable glassy phase.
2k nonvolatile shadow RAM and 256k EEPROM SONOS nonvolatile memory development

This paper describes SONOS nonvolatile memory development at Sandia National Laboratories. A 256 kbit EEPROM nonvolatile memory and a 2 kbit nonvolatile shadow RAM are under development using an n-channel CMOS/SONOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor/silicon oxide nitride oxide semiconductor) memory technology. The technology has 1.2 /spl mu/m minimum features in a twin well design using shallow trench isolation.
A hypotensive episode predictor for intensive care based on heart rate and blood pressure time series

In the intensive care unit (ICU), prompt therapeutic intervention to hypotensive episodes (HEs) is a critical task. Advance alerts that can prospectively identify patients at risk of developing an HE in the next few hours would be of considerable clinical value. In this study, we developed an automated, artificial neural network HE predictor based on heart rate and blood pressure time series from the MIMIC II database. The gap between prediction time and the onset of the 30-minute target window was varied from 1 to 4 hours. A 30-minute observation window preceding the prediction time provided input information to the predictor. While individual gap sizes were evaluated independently, weighted posterior probabilities based on different gap sizes were also investigated. The results showed that prediction performance degraded as gap size increased and the weighting scheme induced negligible performance improvement. Despite low positive predictive values, the best mean area under ROC curve was 0.934.
Fluid mechanics of the flow-excited Helmholtz resonator

A flow-excited Helmholtz resonator was investigated experimentally and theoretically. The analysis was focused on a simplified momentum balance integrated over the region of the orifice. The resulting expressions were used to guide an experimental programme designed to obtain measurements of the resonator pressure under flow excitation, as well as the dynamics of the shear layer in the orifice using particle image velocimetry (PIV). The pressure measurements indicated a number of distinctive features as the flow speed varied. The PIV results provided a detailed representation of the shear layer vorticity field, as well as the equivalent hydrodynamic forcing of the resonator. The forcing magnitude was found to be roughly constant over a range of flow speeds. A model was proposed that provides a prediction of the resonator pressure fluctuations based on the thickness of the approach boundary layer, the free stream speed and the acoustic properties of the resonator. The model was shown to provide an accurate representation of the resonating frequency as well as the magnitude of the resonance to within a few decibels.
Optimization of the Cutoff Value for a Commercial Anti-Dengue Virus IgG Immunoassay

A commercial anti-dengue virus (anti-DENV) indirect IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serological diagnosis was evaluated for its utility in determining previous DENV exposure in U.S. travelers. The Boston Area Travel Medicine Network clinics used Focus Diagnostics anti-DENV IgG ELISA to measure anti-DENV IgG antibodies in 591 pretravel specimens from U.S. residents who had traveled to countries where dengue is endemic. When using the manufacturer's index cutoff value for this ELISA, false-positive results were observed that overestimated the perceived past DENV exposure in U.S. travelers. Validation of 121 of these anti-DENV IgG results by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) was used for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve optimization of the index cutoff value from 1 to 3.0, improving the specificity of the anti-DENV IgG ELISA from 24% to 95.7%. Additionally, previous vaccination with yellow fever virus contributed to 52.8% of the false-positive rate in the anti-DENV IgG ELISA results. Optimization of the cutoff value of the anti-DENV IgG ELISA provided better interpretation and confidence in the results and eliminated the need for confirmation by PRNT. The travel history of U.S. travelers was also useful for categorizing these travelers into groups for analysis of previous DENV exposure.
The Church of Alexandria and the City's Economic Life in the Sixth Century

ONE of the most remarkable phenomena of the late Roman empire was the extension of the functions of the bishop beyond the purely religious aspects of his office. Among other features of his extensive extra-religious functions, the Byzantine bishop sometimes played a prominent role in the economic life of the community. The patriarch of Alexandria, in particular, was placed in a peculiar position which especially permitted him to develop such a role. The present article is designed to illustrate that aspect of his activities with material drawn largely from the Greek hagiographical literature of the sixth and early seventh centuries, in particular, Leontius' biography of St John the Compassionate.' It is based on material indexed some years ago as a project sponsored by the American Council of Learned Societies. From the reign of Constantine and the Peace of the Church the emperors continued to confer increased powers upon the bishop. In the sixth century, Justinian, having once established throughout the empire the so-called caesaropapism which reduced the bishops to the status of magistrates, was quite willing still further to enhance their functions. Indeed, he invested the episcopacy with more extensive powers than had any sovereign before him.2 So much did the secular business of a Byzantine bishop's life expand that it came to occupy the greater proportion of his time.' 'As the empire decreased,' Otto of Freising had the perspicacity to observe much later, 'the church adapted itself to the intermission and began to appear in great authority.'4 Nowhere was this more true in the sixth and seventh centuries than in the case of the isolated and, in fact, derelict bishopric of Rome. The Church of Alexandria also offers an interesting example. On the periphery of imperial influence, it was able to assume a measure of autonomy and independence. Jean Maspero5 has presented a vivid picture of the semi-independent position of the Egyptian patriarch. The fact that Egyptian national consciousness found in the church a means of venting its resentment against the empire, and some compensation for its alien domination, centered tremendous prestige in the person of the ecclesiastical autocrat enthroned in the ancient chair of the Evangelist
Linking Ecological Principles to Tools and Strategies in an EBIPM Program

I n ecosystems that are heavily invaded, it is common for the level of degradation to become so intense that the native plant seedbank is reduced. In these cases, active restoration that includes revegetation efforts and stress manipulations through herbicide use, tillage, periodic ooding, prescribed burning, or timely strategic grazing are often neces- sary to recover certain ecosystem functions. In wildlands and rangelands, herbicides and grazing are generally the most wide- ly used techniques for the control of invasive and weedy plants. Unlike cropland environments where all plants, except the crop, are considered to be weeds, in wildlands and rangelands there is often only one or a few invasive plants that are the target of control measures. These plants are generally grow- ing in association with several desirable species. Selectivity is then critical when developing an effective weed management program. Both strategic grazing and herbicides can be ap- plied selectively to alter the trajectory of a plant community to a more desired and functional state. DOI: 10.2458/azu_rangelands_v34i6_ditomaso
A slow slip event in the south central Alaska Subduction Zone and related seismicity anomaly

[1] We detected a slow slip event in the south central Alaska Subduction Zone by analyzing continuous GPS data from the Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) network. The slow slip event started in early 2010 at a depth of 35 km beneath the Cook Inlet, near the down-dip end of the locked zone, and is ongoing as of November 2011 with an accumulated magnitude ofMw 6.9. Analysis of the earthquake catalog in the same area using the stochastic Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequence model (ETAS) shows a small but detectable seismicity increase during the slow slip event. We also find a change in seismicity rate around 1998, that may suggest an earlier slow slip event in the same region. Slow slip events in Alaska appear more widespread than previously thought but have remained undetected due to their long durations, the time intervals between them, and the limited time records from the continuous GPS.
Home, Uprooted: Oral Histories of India's Partition

In Home, Uprooted, Devika Chawla combines personal/familial experiences with oral histories from refugees of the India–Pakistan Partition to offer compelling accounts of how people perform “home” a...
The Impact of Clientele Changes: Evidence from Stock Splits *

We examine the trades of individual and professional investors around stock splits and find that splits bring about a significant shift in investor clientele. We find that a higher fraction of post-split trades are made by less sophisticated investors, as individual investors increase and professional investors reduce their aggregate buying activity following stock splits. This behavior supports the common practitioners’ belief that stock splits help attract new investors and improve stock liquidity. The shift in clientele also influences return properties, price discovery, and asset prices: stocks exhibit stronger serial correlation after splits; stocks co-move more with the market index; and the
Assessment of lactose level in the mid- to late-nursery phase on performance of weanling pigs.

An experiment involving a total of 1,320 crossbred pigs was conducted at 3 universities to assess the effects of various levels of lactose in diets during phase 3 (wk 3 and 4 postweaning) of a 4-phase starter program. Pigs were weaned at 15 to 20 d (6.2- kg initial BW) and allotted to 5 treatments. All pigs were fed a complex phase 1 diet (20% lactose) the first week postweaning followed by a complex phase 2 diet (15% lactose) the second week postweaning. Phase 3 diets containing 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, or 10.0% lactose were fed for wk 3 and 4, and then a common, corn-soybean meal diet was fed for an additional 1 to 2 wk (phase 4). The source of lactose was Dairylac 80, which contains 80% lactose. The phase 1, 2, and 3 diets were prepared at one site. Pigs were weighed, and feed intake was determined at weekly intervals. There were 8 replica- tions at each station for a total of 24 replications per treatment with 5 or 23 pigs per pen. As expected, ADG, ADFI, and G:F were not affected (P = 0.10) during the initial 2-wk period when all pigs received the same diet. During wk 3 and 4 (phase 3) when the 5 levels of lactose were fed, ADG and ADFI increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing levels of lactose, but G:F was not af- fected (P = 0.10). Although the quadratic component was not significant, ADG and ADFI reached a numeri- cal plateau at the 7.5% inclusion level of lactose during phase 3. Compared with pigs fed the diet without lac- tose, the 7.5% level of lactose resulted in 350 g of addi- tional BW gain coupled with 420 g of additional feed consumed per pig during phase 3, and most of the addi- tional BW gain (294 g) was maintained through the end of the 5- to 6-wk study. These results suggest that pigs respond to dietary lactose during the mid to latter phase of the nursery period and that the response was obtained under different management and facility con- ditions.
Algorithm to predict dry-band arcing in fiber-optic cables

Utilities frequently use ADSS (all dielectric self-supporting) fiber-optic cables installed on transmission lines 3-6 m below the high voltage conductors. Dry-band arcing occurs on the fiber-optic cables when the cables are polluted and wet. This has been assumed to cause cable failures. An equivalent circuit has been developed to represent the polluted fiber-optic cable in the high voltage environment. The objective of this paper is to present a novel numerical method that can be used to predict dry-band arcing in fiber-optic cables. KCL (Kirchoff's current law) is used to derive node point equations for the equivalent circuit. Forward elimination and backward substitution of node voltage is used to solve the equations. The effect of pollution, tower arrangement, and conductor sag is analyzed. The numerical method has speed advantages over circuit simulation methods. This method includes conductor sag, nonuniform pollution, and variable capacitance. This algorithm can be used to predict dry band arcing in fiber-optic cables.
Within-Plant Distribution and Diversity of Mites Associated with the Invasive Plant Schinus terebinthifolius (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) in Florida

Abstract The exotic Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, is an invasive plant that readily displaces native vegetation and develops monospecific stands in central and south Florida’s native ecosystems. Despite prior arthropod surveys of S. terebinthifolius in its adventive range, little is known concerning the acarofauna associated with the weed in Florida. Leaves of S. terebinthifolius also vary in the presence and development of domatia, which are small morphological structures that may benefit mites. We assessed the development of new mite associations with S. terebinthifolius in Florida and quantified within-plant distribution of these arthropods. Mites inhabited over one-third of the sampled leaves with greatest species diversity in the Prostigmata, followed by Mesostigmata, Astigmata, and Cryptostigmata, respectively. Fungivorous mites (dominated by Lorryia formosa) were the most common feeding guild, predatory mites were the most diverse, and herbivorous mites were rarely encounter...
Description of a case of daily fever, developmental abnormalities, and a heterozygous M694I MEFV mutation

As a referral center for children with unexplained autoinflammatory disease, the NIH sees a spectrum of patients with previously unrecognized clinical syndromes. Here we present one such case.
Scalable, self-healing, and real-time network services for directed diffusion

Directed diffusion is a data-centric publish-subscribe routing protocol for sensor networks. We have proposed three network services which increase the capabilities of directed diffusion. Our protocols build on the inherent strengths of diffusion and lessen its weaknesses. The system architecture emphasizes efficient communication, local route repair, and real-time response. Our suite of network services significantly improves the performance of directed diffusion by addressing the fundamental challenges of sensor networks: energy-efficiency, dynamic environments, and scalability. Our design increases the efficiency of flooding, improves packet delivery rates in the presence of node failure, and decreases the number of packets that miss their deadlines. We evaluate the performance of our improved diffusion in terms of routing overhead, delivery effectiveness, and deadline achievement. Our results demonstrate the benefits of the network services in all three respects. We increase the efficiency of flooding by 48%, improve packet delivery rates in the presence of node failure by up to 28%, and decrease the number of packets that miss their deadlines by 30-60%.