cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An adaptive energy-efficient link layer protocol using stochastic learning control

We present a computationally simple stochastic learning control protocol framework for an adaptive energy efficient link layer protocol. A stochastic iterative technique is discussed that can produce soft channel state predictions and track slow/rapidly varying bursty, finite state wireless channels. No piori knowledge about the state transition probabilities is needed for this. Theoretical convergence of the proposed technique is shown. The proposed link layer protocol utilizes the channel state predictions from the stochastic learning algorithm while computing energy efficient transmission policies. This entire process is performed on-line with no pilot (training) symbols, etc., thereby improving the throughput and avoiding energy wastage due to pilot symbols. Simulation results show that up to 50% energy savings can be obtained for some channels when compared with a popular link layer protocol. Energy and delay can be trade-off efficiently using the proposed method.
The crystalline sponge method: MOF terminal ligand effects

Bromide and chloride analogs of the commonly used zinc iodide-based metal organic framework for the crystalline sponge method were synthesized and evaluated. Inclusion of (1R)-(–)-menthyl acetate into these MOFs was analysed using third-generation synchrotron radiation, and the effects and potential benefits of varying the MOF terminal ligand are discussed.
Power issues in the manufacturing and characterization of polymers and composite materials

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), although utilized for more than three decades, has been restricted so far to material characterization rather than processing. Recently the importance of power for describing viscoelasticity in prepreg process operations has been demonstrated. This present work views DMA as an integral part of the power analysis of processes. In this study, four types of prepreg were produced under the same power of impregnation utilizing epoxy resins with various PEI contents. Prepregs were tested for compressive and toughness power as well as loss power. Laminates were developed and analyzed by DMA. DMA data was treated according to the established power methodology and compared with the tack power of the original prepreg. Specific compressive power was generally found to increase with increasing storage DMA power, while specific toughness power was found to show the opposite trend. The inverse of power, defined as tolerance, was also investigated. The out-of-phase DMA tolerance was found to correlate to loss prepreg power, bringing a deeper understanding to the fundamentals of viscoelasticity formation. This analytical methodology can be applied beneficially to many topics to provide a better understanding of polymers and composites, as well as smart materials.
Role of lipoxygenase pathways in the regulation of pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and survival

Pancreatic cancer is characterized by a poor prognosis and lack of response to conventional therapy. Many studies have shown an association of pancreatic cancer development and growth with high dietary fat intake, especially intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fats. A growing body of evidence suggests that specific metabolites of arachidonic acid act as important elements in signaling pathways necessary for cancer cell transformation, growth and metastasis, via both cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways. This review summarizes the current research status on the role of LOX on pancreatic cancer cell growth and apoptosis as well as the underlying signaling pathways involved. The proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells is inhibited by LOX inhibitors and stimulated by LOX metabolites. LOX inhibition even blocks growth stimulated by exogenous growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF). Pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis (programmed cell death) is induced by blockade of either 5-LOX or 12-LOX pathways. Preliminary evidence suggests that the expression of both 5- and 12-lipoxygenases are upregulated in pancreatic cancer. The direct stimulation of pancreatic cancer cell proliferation by the metabolites of 5-LOX and 12-LOX (5-HETE and 12-HETE, respectively) is mediated by multiple signaling pathways, particularly the MEK/ERK signaling pathway but also involving intracellular tyrosine kinases. Thus, LOX pathways play an important role in pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis and these pathways are likely to be valuable targets for development of therapeutics for this devastating disease.
Intrinsic stimulating factor of metanephros

Abstract Inoculation of day-old chick liver soluble fraction or metanephros soluble fraction into eggs on the 7th day of incubation displays different results on GOT activity of mesonephros. Treatment with day-old chick liver soluble fraction stimulates GOT activity of mesonephros during its early developmental stage. Treatment with day-old chick metanephros soluble fraction stimulates GOT activity of mesonephros during its regression stage.
A review of published studies of patients' illness perceptions and medication adherence: lessons learned and future directions.

Abstract Background Patients who seek medical care and who are prescribed medication may choose to either accept or not accept the prescriber’s recommendations to use the prescribed medication. The Common Sense Model (CSM) is one behavioral model that can help researchers and practitioners to identify patients’ illness perceptions that drive their decisions. Objective This article reviews published research that evaluated the impact of illness representations (as defined in CSM) with medication adherence. Methods A narrative review of published research in illness representation and medication adherence was conducted. Articles were searched using MEDLINE, PreMEDLINE, evidence-based medicine reviews, and the International Pharmaceutical Abstracts databases and using the search terms medication adherence, compliance, illness perception, self-regulation theory, and common-sense model. Results Eleven published studies were identified that compared illness representation (or illness perception) and medication adherence. Each illness representation factor, with the exception of illness coherence, directly or indirectly impacted medication adherence. Illness identity, where symptoms are used to label a health condition, can impact medication adherence, even with asymptomatic conditions such as hypertension. Patient age, disease condition, and culture may impact patient response to illness perceptions. Recommendations for future research are to (1) use longitudinal studies to evaluate the cause-effect relationships between illness perceptions and medication adherence, (2) study patients’ early experiences with their illness, (3) recruit patients who are nonadherent, (4) use clinical outcome measures in addition to the self-report medication adherence measures, and (5) include patient age and culture in the model. Conclusions Although the CSM is a well-known patient behavior model, its use to explain medication adherence has been limited to cross-sectional studies across various health conditions. Further research is needed to elucidate the relationships between illness perceptions and patient medication adherence, which can help practitioners to better engage and communicate with patients.
The sexual process in several heterogamous Chlamydomonas strains in the subgenus Pleiochloris

Summary A soil sample from the Zimbabwe region of Rhodesia yielded a number of clones of Chlamydomonas. All the clonal isolates belong to the subgenus Pleiochloris, they exhibit homothallic and heterogamous sexual reproduction, but they differ in their zygote wall ornamentation. Male gametes are differentiated by successive cleavage of the protoplast to form naked biflagellated sperm. Female gametes are formed by the escape of the protoplast of a vegetative cell from its enclosing cell wall. The clones forming smooth unornamented zygotes are described as a new species Chlamydomonas zimbabwiensis. In this species the investigation of the sexual process is facilitated by three distinct strains, a homothallic strain and two subheterothallic strains. A sexual hormone has been isolated and partically characterized from sperm filtrates which cause vegetative cells to escape from their cell walls and to function as naked female gametes. Four other strains having distinct zygote wall ornamentations appear to be interfertile and respond to the sexual hormone of C. zimbabwiensis as well. Cytological preparations of these strains as well as others in the subgenus Pleiochloris demonstrate the presence of large chromosomes which permit reasonably accurate counts.
Large-degree asymptotics and exponential asymptotics for Fourier, Chebyshev and Hermite coefficients and Fourier transforms

When a function is expanded as $$f(x) \approx \sum \limits _{n=0}^{N-1}\, a_{n}\phi_{n}(x)$$ for some set of basis functions $${\phi_{j}(x)}$$ , its spectral coefficients a n generally have an asymptotic approximation, as n→∞, in the form of an inverse power series plus terms that decrease exponentially with n. If f(x) is analytic on the expansion interval, then all the coefficients of the inverse power series are zero and the problem becomes one of “beyond-all-orders” or “exponential” asymptotics. The method of steepest descent for integrals and other complex-path integration techniques can successfully connect the exponentially small behavior of the spectral coefficients to the singularities of f(x) off the expansion interval. Many examples are given in both one and two dimensions.
Femtosecond excited-state absorption dynamics and optical limiting in fullerene solutions, sol-gel glasses, and thin films

We compare detailed dynamics of the excited-state absorption for C60 in solution, thin films, and entrapped in an inorganic sol-gel glass matrix. Our results demonstrate that the microscopic morphology of the C60 molecule plays a crucial role in determining the relaxation dynamics. This is a key factor for applications in optical limiting for nanosecond pulses using reverse saturable absorption. We find that the dynamics of the C60-glass composite occur on long timescales, comparable to that in solution; thin film samples, by contrast, show rapid decay. These results demonstrate that the C60-sol-gel glass composites contain C60 in a molecular dispersion, and are suitable candidates for solid-state optical limiting. Multispectral analysis of the decay dynamics in solution allows accurate determination of both the intersystem crossing time and the relative strengths of the singlet and triplet excited-state cross sections as a function of wavelength from 450-950 nm. The triplet excited-state cross section is greater than that for the singlet excited-state over the range form 620-810 nm.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Exploring Nested Identities Voluntary Membership, Social Category Identity, and Identification in a Community Choir

Although scholars theorize that identities are layered or nested within one another, little is understood about whether, how, and what layers are expressed by individuals. Such understanding could ...
Dysfunction by design: Consequences of limitations on transferability of catch shares in the Alaska pollock fishery

Abstract The Eastern Bering Sea fishery for pollock is one of the largest fisheries in the world and has often been touted as an example of sustainable fisheries management. Yet, sustainability requires more than protection of the biological productivity of the targeted fish species. It requires preservation of the flows of net social and economic benefits of the fishery, and flexible governance and management institutions that allow for adaptation to changes in fish abundance as well as changes in consumer demand and in the prices of key inputs. From an economic perspective, the Alaska pollock fishery was unsustainable before passage of the American Fisheries Act (AFA) in 1998. The AFA permanently divided the pollock Total Allowable Catch (TAC) giving a 10% allocation to the Community Development Quota (CDQ) program and partitioning the remainder among four fishing sectors. It allowed CDQ to be leased to any sector but largely prohibited leasing or sale between other sectors. These limits on intersectoral transfers have reduced the ability of sectors to respond to changes in the abundance and distribution of pollock, implementation of management measures intended to benefit other species, and changes in the prices of input factors and products. This paper explores these consequences.
The computer boys take over: computers, programmers, and the politics of technical expertise (ensmenger, n.l.; 2010) [Book Review]

The book describes the origins of computer programming and the competing interests that shaped its practice. It is about the growth of a practice - of programming or of software engineering - and about differing views of it as a craft, a profession, or a technology, and about the periodic crises that seemed to characterize the activity and its products. It is also about the masculinization of an activity in which women initially had a large role. One of the strengths of the book is its showing how what we may take as "obvious," such as the basic character of computer science as an academic discipline, emerges from multiple claims to define the field. Indeed, it was not obvious at the start that there should be such a field - new technologies often don't give rise to new disciplines. Academics who worked in computing wanted an intellectual foundation for programming, employers wanted educational standards, and computing workers wanted their activity to have professional standards. The major academic computing organization, the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), also had non-academic members, but when it developed the first computer science curriculum standard, it was heavily theoretical and mathematical, and in the view of many in computing occupations, gave too little attention to practical data processing. The book is not primarily about academic computer science, though in its discussion of the ways in which women became excluded from the programming profession, it might have added something on university departments.
Antegrade collagen injection for stress incontinence after radical prostatectomy: Technique and early results

This article describes the technique and early results of antegrade collagen injection into the bladder neck and proximal urethra of men with stress incontinence postprostatectomy. Twenty men underwent collagen injection under general anesthesia. Follow-up ranges from 5 to 15 months, with a mean of 9.5 months. A mean of 14.5 cc of collagen was injected (range 5-25 cc). According to a subjective self-grading system, preoperative and postoperative urodynamics, and pad usage before and after treatment, significant improvement was seen in 14 patients (70%), and subjective cure was reported by 5 (25%). Six patients (30%) had no subjective or objective improvement after the injection. The antegrade collagen injection technique is a promising and simple method of correcting postprostatectomy stress urinary incontinence. Further study and longer follow-up is necessary to determine its precise role in the treatment of men with this problem.
Correlation of Behaviors with Microbiological Changes in Vaginal Flora

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is characterized by dramatic changes in the vaginal ecosystem. Women without evidence of vaginal infection may exhibit transient changes in their flora. We prospectively followed up women by using diaries and self-obtained vaginal smears to correlate behaviors with changes in flora. The majority of women (38/51, 78%) had significant, although transient, changes. Behaviors associated with unstable flora were a history of BV, a greater number of partners, and more frequent episodes of receptive oral sex. Only the latter remained significantly associated in the multivariate analysis. Variables that were associated with day-to-day variability in the flora included use of vaginal medication, menses, greater number of partners, spermicide use, more frequent vaginal intercourse, and less frequent use of condoms. Only a minority of women (11/51, 22%) maintained a "normal" lactobacillus-predominant flora. Factors associated with instability of the flora are similar to those epidemiologically associated with BV.
Noninvasive lower eyelid blepharoplasty : a new technique using nonablative radiofrequency on periorbital skin

Background. Laxity and rhytids of the lower eyelids are common cosmetic concerns. Historically, correction has either been surgical through either transcutaneous or transconjunctival blepharoplasty or ablative through laser resurfacing or chemical peeling. Therapeutic options usually require significant postoperative healing and have the potential risk of scarring ectropion or pigmentary loss. Objective. To report the use of a new technique that uses nonablative radiofrequency (NARF) to tighten noninvasively and nonsurgically the flaccid skin of the lower eyelids by treating the periorbital area to produce cosmetic improvement. Methods. Nine patients with skin flaccidity of the lower eyelids had a single treatment session with NARF in a small area of skin in the periorbital region, specifically the zygomatic and/or temporal areas. All patients were treated with topical anesthesia only. The treatment lasted approximately 10 minutes. No postoperative care was required. Results. All of the nine patients in the study achieved cosmetic improvement of the eyelids ostensibly through skin contraction. All patients were able to return to their normal routines immediately. Although the results were gradual, patient satisfaction was remarkable. No complications were seen in this study. Conclusion. This new procedure using NARF was successful in providing a safe, noninvasive, cosmetic improvement in these patients with excessive skin laxity of the lower eyelids. Postoperative morbidity, including down time and complications, was not seen.
Observation of the Parametric Two-Ion Decay Instability with Thomson Scattering

We present the first direct experimental observation of the parametric two-ion decay instability of ion-acoustic waves driven by a high intensity (5 x 10(15) W cm(-2)) laser beam in a laser produced high-Z plasma. Using two separate Thomson scattering diagnostics simultaneously, we directly measure the scattering from thermal ion-acoustic fluctuations, the primary ion waves that are driven to large amplitudes by the high intensity beam, and the two-ion decay products. The decay products are shown to be present only where the interaction takes place and their k spectrum is broad.
Supportive housing for families in child welfare: Client characteristics and their outcomes at discharge

Abstract Housing problems present barriers to family unity and reunification among families in the child welfare system, yet few programs address both child welfare and housing needs. To date, the field lacks data for understanding families with dual vulnerabilities in these arenas and the programs that support them. This study aimed to address that gap by reporting the characteristics and outcomes of 1720 families referred to a Supportive Housing for Families (SHF) program over a 10-year period. This report describes client characteristics, progress, and outcomes at discharge. Positive shifts in employment and housing were evident across the entire sample. Clients who completed the program successfully had longer stays, were more likely to have a history of permanent housing and employment, and had higher initial and exit scores on a measure of environment of care. Higher client–staff involvement and service utilization were associated significantly with positive discharge, but not with procurement of permanent housing. This report provides initial endorsement for the SHF model and makes suggestions for program practice, future research, and policy. More research is critical if we are to understand the optimal mechanisms of support and change that lead to child safety and family self-sufficiency.
PPARα-Dependent Activation of Cell Cycle Control and DNA Repair Genes in Hepatic Nonparenchymal Cells

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) mediates the diverse biological effects of peroxisome proliferator (PP) chemicals, including fatty acid catabolism, hepatomegaly, hepatocyte proliferation, and hepatocarcinogenesis in rodents. However, transgenic mice expressing a constitutively active PPARα in hepatocytes (VP16PPARα) do not develop hepatocellular carcinomas in spite of hepatocyte proliferation and hepatomegaly; this suggests that activation of genes in nonparenchymal cells may have a critical role in PP-induced carcinogenesis. VP16PPARα mice exhibited massive peroxisome proliferation and hepatomegaly as well as increased mortality upon Wy-14,643 treatment. Several genes involved in cell cycle or DNA damage repair, such as Chek1, Prkdc, Mcm, and Rad51, were significantly induced to a similar extent between wild-type and VP16PPARα mice after Wy-14,643 administration. This induction was completely abolished in Pparα-null mice, suggesting a PPARα-dependent pathway. These data revealed a DNA damage response signaling network as an early event upon PP treatment and provide novel putative mechanisms for PP-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Bloch representation of x for a finite crystal

Abstract It is proven, contrary to a recently published claim, that the eigenvalues and eigenstates of an electron in a finite, 1-D, periodic potential and a constant electric field are given by a secular equation that does couple band indices. Implications for Wannier-Stark ladders are pointed out.
New Approaches for Field Analyses of Cotton Quality by Means of Near-IR Spectroscopy Supported by Chemometrics

There is a strong economic interest in routine measurements of cotton quality as production processes and final products depend on it. An important cotton property is “micronaire,” a parameter that is indicative of the fibers' maturity and its fineness. Currently, micronaire is normally measured in laboratories with equipment that prohibits routine field analyses. The goal of this study is a proof-of-principle demonstrating that cotton quality as determined via fiber micronaire is correlated to fiber properties and that these properties can be determined by near-infrared (NIR) reflection spectroscopy using portable instrumentation in conjunction with Principal Component Regression for micronaire prediction. A set of 191 cotton samples was acquired from over 100 different upland cotton varieties, and initial spectroscopic studies confirmed the feasibility of NIR spectroscopy to measure cotton micronaire in the laboratory with portable NIR instrumentation. Sample reproducibility was an issue which has been ...
Implementation of a protocol to reduce occurrence of retained sponges after vaginal delivery.

ABSTRACTBackground: Retained sponges (gossypiboma) following vaginal delivery are an uncommon occurrence. Although significant morbidity from such an event is unlikely, there are many reported adverse effects, including symptoms of malodorous discharge, loss of confidence in providers and the medical system, and legal claims. Objective: To report a protocol intended to reduce the occurrence of retained sponges following vaginal delivery. Methods: After identification of limitations with existing delivery room protocols, we developed a sponge count protocol to reduce occurrence of retained vaginal sponges. We report our experience at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, a large tertiary care military treatment facility with our efforts to implement a sponge count protocol to reduce retained sponges following vaginal delivery. Conclusions: With appropriate pre-implementation training, protocols which incorporate post-delivery vaginal sweep and sponge counts are well accepted by the health care team and can be i...
Comparison of Extraction Techniques, Including Supercritical Fluid, High-Pressure Solvent, and Soxhlet, for Organophosphorus Hydraulic Fluids from Soil

The efficiencies of three extraction techniques for removal of nonpesticidal organophosphates from soil were determined. Traditional Soxhlet extraction was compared to supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and a low solvent volume flow through technique referred to here as high-pressure solvent extraction (HPSE). SFE, optimized by varying parameters of temperature, pressure, and methanol polarity modifier, showed at least 90% efficiency in the extraction of OPs from both spiked and native soils. HPSE experiments showed efficient and consistent recoveries over a range of temperatures up to 200 °C and pressures up to 170 atm. Recovery of TCP from spiked soils with HPSE depends on the system variables of temperature and pressure, which dictate density and flow rate. HPSE provided extraction efficiencies comparable to those obtained with Soxhlet extraction and SFE but with substantial savings of time and cost.
An Agent-based Simulation Tool for Evaluating Pooled Queue Performance at Marine Container Terminals

Truck queuing at marine container terminal gates is one of the main sources of delay at terminals and is an area of concern because delays increase the logistical cost of transporting a container. Previous studies on terminal gates focused on the performance of strategies such as the appointment system and extended gate hours. However, no study has yet evaluated the performance of pooling trucks into a single queue at the gates. Previous studies on pooling offered mixed opinions on whether pooling was beneficial, but none of those studies attempted to model the movements of the entities in the queue. In a human system (no vehicles), the movements are not as important because the time to move up one space in the queue is negligible; however, because of the size and weight of the trucks at the gates, the time to move is significant and should be considered. A study was conducted with agent-based simulation to model the terminal gate system with two queuing strategies, a pooled queue and nonpooled queues, be...
Best-known autocorrelation peak sidelobe levels for binary codes of length 71 to 105

Best-known binary code autocorrelation peak sidelobe levels (PSLs) are updated for lengths 71 to 105. For lengths 71 to 82, codes with PSL 4 are found, establishing 4 as almost certainly the optimal value for these lengths. PSL-5 codes are produced for all lengths from 83 to 105, in many cases improving on best-known values.
Improving College Access: A Review of Research on the Role of High School Counselors:

High school counselors potentially hold a key position to help increase the number of U.S. students receiving post-secondary degrees, particularly to address inequalities that prevent certain students from successfully transitioning to college. Using the model of student success (Perna & Thomas, 2008), this study reviewed the literature to understand how various contexts (social, school, family, student) shape high school counselor interactions with students as they work to improve post-secondary outcomes of college access and enrollment.
Yes, But . . . : Questioning the Conventional Wisdom About Economic Development

This article explores various aspects of the conventional wisdom regarding local economic development policy and policy making. Much widely accepted knowledge about why and how local governments approach economic development is based on a fairly narrow array of methodological approaches. And the conclusions often suffer from the limitations inherent in their respective methodologies. This may mean that what we think we know about local economic development might be reasonably accurate, but it does not quite reflect actual local dynamics. Yes, the conventional wisdom is true, but. . . . Using data from a large survey database of Canadian and U.S. cities along with findings from nine case studies in medium-size and smaller cities in both nations, the authors challenge a number of accepted truths and present an alternative civic culture framework for better understanding economic development policy making. This article questions various aspects of the conventional wisdom regarding local economic development policy and policy making. Much widely accepted knowledge about why and how local governments approach economic development is based on research employing a fairly narrow array of methodologies. And the findings and conclusions of that research often suffer from the limitations inherent in their respective methodologies. For example, survey research is a common approach to studying local economic development. However, findings from such research are limited because of the disconnect between the standardized information that can be sought and provided on surveys and the often complex exigencies of the real world. Case studies have provided the depth lacking in survey research but are limited by the typical focus on large cities and the inherent constraints of sample size. Thus, what is known about local economic development may be reasonably true but does not quite reflect the real dynamics of decision making. Yes, the conventional wisdom is true, but . . . What is known about economic development is reexamined here using data from a large survey of Canadian and U.S. cities along with findings from nine case studies in medium-size and smaller
Verbally coerced sex: does she have to say 'no'?

The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of a sexual encounter that involved verbal sexual coercion (VCS). The study assessed how respondents perceived a hypothetical heterosexual sexual exchange in which the female resists the male’s advances without saying ‘no’. In addition, the effects of two situational factors − the woman’s reputation and the status of the relationship between the woman and the perpetrator − on perceptions of the sexual exchange were measured. Finally, the study examined the effect of gender on perceptions of the sexual exchange. Results revealed that the exchange was viewed as verbally coercive, and that the relationship status of the woman to the perpetrator as well as the gender of the participant significantly affected perceptions of VCS.
Faith and Fantasy: the Texts of the Jews

In the mystery plays, in the Miracles of the Virgin, and in the work of Chaucer, Marlowe, and Shakespeare, Jews are seen in light of Christian teachings which depicted them as corporeal, often depraved, beings unwilling to accept the spiritual truths embodied in Christ. This paper analyzes the lamentations/kinot written by Hebrew liturgical poets to mourn the Jewish victims of the crusaders who, on their way to fight the Muslim infidels, decided to rid themselves of the Jewish infidels in their midst. When the images that the Jews used to describe themselves and their enemies in these poems are juxtaposed alongside the images of the Jews in one salient example of anti-Semitism in early English literature, Chaucer's Prioress's Tale, a picture of the theological and spiritual battle between medieval Jews and Christians, underlying the literary works produced by poets of both faiths, emerges. In addition, an analysis of these Kinot introduces a voice long ignored in English studies, that of the Jews, who were not merely convenient images of the adversary, but living beings who had their own understanding of themselves, far different from that of their Christian neighbors, and of the faith for which they were willing to renounce their lives.
Pion photoproduction resonance couplings in the second resonance region.

Resonance couplings for the resonant states ${\mathit{P}}_{33}$(1232), ${\mathit{P}}_{11}$(1440), ${\mathit{D}}_{13}$(1520), and ${\mathit{S}}_{11}$(1535) are extracted from a recent multipole analysis of pion photoproduction data. We calculate photoproduction residues at the resonance pole in the complex plane for these amplitudes, in addition to the resonance widths at the on-shell resonance energies.
Treatment of refractory generalized status epilepticus with continuous infusion of midazolam

The optimal therapeutic approach for the patient with refractory generalized status epilepticus remains to be defined. We describe four patients with refractory generalized status epilepticus who were successfully treated with intravenous midazolam. Each patient had prolonged convulsive status epilepticus unresponsive to standard doses of intravenous benzodiazepines, phenytoin, and phenobarbital. The patients subsequently received midazolam administered as an intravenous bolus (200 μg/Kg) followed by a continuous infusion (0.75 to 11 μg/kg/min) lasting 8 hours to 10 days. Clinical examination and scalp electroencephalographic monitoring documented the cessation of seizure activity within minutes of the loading dose in all patients. No significant adverse effects occurred during midazolam treatment. The one patient with prolonged midazolam infusion required fluid boluses and pressors for moderate hypotension, and the remainder of the patients safely tolerated midazolam despite preexistent hemodynamic instability. All patients recovered and maintained good seizure control. Intravenous midazolam appears to be an effective treatment for refractory generalized status epilepticus, and may represent a substantial improvement over current therapeutic approaches such as pentobarbital anesthesia.
Food hypersensitivity by inhalation.

Though not widely recognized, food hypersensitivity by inhalation can cause major morbidity in affected individuals. The exposure is usually more obvious and often substantial in occupational environments but frequently occurs in non-occupational settings, such as homes, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, and commercial flights. The exposure can be trivial, as in mere smelling or being in the vicinity of the food. The clinical manifestations can vary from a benign respiratory or cutaneous reaction to a systemic one that can be life-threatening. In addition to strict avoidance, such highly-sensitive subjects should carry self-injectable epinephrine and wear MedicAlert® identification. Asthma is a strong predisposing factor and should be well-controlled. It is of great significance that food inhalation can cause de novo sensitization.
Control of outer vestibule dynamics and current magnitude in the Kv2.1 potassium channel

In Kv2.1 potassium channels, changes in external [K+] modulate current magnitude as a result of a K+-dependent interconversion between two outer vestibule conformations. Previous evidence indicated that outer vestibule conformation (and thus current magnitude) is regulated by the occupancy of a selectivity filter binding site by K+. In this paper, we used the change in current magnitude as an assay to study how the interconversion between outer vestibule conformations is controlled. With 100 mM internal K+, rapid elevation of external [K+] from 0 to 10 mM while channels were activated produced no change in current magnitude (outer vestibule conformation did not change). When channels were subsequently closed and reopened in the presence of elevated [K+], current magnitude was increased (outer vestibule conformation had changed). When channels were activated in the presence of low internal [K+], or when K+ flow into conducting channels was transiently interrupted by an internal channel blocker, increasing external [K+] during activation did increase current magnitude (channel conformation did change). These data indicate that, when channels are in the activated state under physiological conditions, the outer vestibule conformation remains fixed despite changes in external [K+]. In contrast, when channel occupancy is lowered, (by channel closing, an internal blocker or low internal [K+]), the outer vestibule can interconvert between the two conformations. We discuss evidence that the ability of the outer vestibule conformation to change is regulated by the occupancy of a nonselectivity filter site by K+. Independent of the outer vestibule-based potentiation mechanism, Kv2.1 was remarkably insensitive to K+-dependent processes that influence current magnitude (current magnitude changed by <7% at membrane potentials between −20 and 30 mV). Replacement of two outer vestibule lysines in Kv2.1 by smaller neutral amino acids made current magnitude dramatically more sensitive to the reduction in K+ driving force (current magnitude changed by as much as 40%). When combined, these outer vestibule properties (fixed conformation during activation and the presence of lysines) all but prevent variation in Kv2.1 current magnitude when [K+] changes during activation. Moreover, the insensitivity of Kv2.1 current magnitude to changes in K+ driving force promotes a more uniform modulation of current over a wide range of membrane potentials by the K+-dependent regulation of outer vestibule conformation.
An Experimental Investigation of Source Confusion in Televised Messages: News Versus Advertisements

The study reported here employed a mixed factorial design to experimentally investigate the effects of message format on memory for the source of information. Political messages were presented in 3 types of formats: conventional political ads, news-like political ads, and news stories. Memory for the source of information was measured directly after exposure and a week later. The results of the experiment suggest that format and time had a significant effect on memory for the source. Subjects identified the source of information with -about the same level of accuracy across formats right after exposure. A week later, subjects were significantly more inept at attributing information contained in news-like ads to its source than doing so for conventional ads and news stories. At that point, information presented in news-like ads was incorrectly attributed to news about 70% of the time.
EFFICIENT INVARIANT IMAGE REGISTRATION UTILIZING PRE-SHIFTED LOGARITHMIC SPIRAL

Image registration is an essential step in many image processing applications that need visual information from multiple images for comparison, integration or analysis. Recently researchers have introduced image registration techniques using the log-polar transform (LPT) for its rotation and scale invariant properties. However, there are two major problems with the LPT based image registration method: inefficient sampling point distribution and high computational cost in the matching procedure. Motivated by the success of LPT based approach, we propose a novel pre-shifted logarithmic spiral (PSLS) approach that distributes the sampling point more efficiently, robust to translation, scale, and rotation. By pre-shifting the sampling point by π/nθ radian, the total number of samples in the angular direction can be reduced by half. This yields great reduction in computational load in the matching process. Translation between the registered images is recovered with the new search scheme using Gabor feature extraction to accelerate the localization procedure. Experiments on real images demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed approach for registering images that are subjected to scale, rotation and translation.
Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) Report

The NCI has put forth an effort to restructure the Clinical Trials Cooperative Group Program based upon the recommendations from several internal advisory committees and a separate report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) entitled, “A National Cancer Clinical Trials System for the 21st Century: Reinvigorating the NCI Cooperative Group Program.” Information on this NCI effort and the IOM report can be obtained from the website http://transformingtrials.cancer. gov. Four major goals highlighted by the IOM Report include the following: 1) improve the speed and efficiency of the design, launch, and conduct of clinical trials; 2) incorporate innovative science and trial design into cancer clinical trials; 3) improve prioritization, selection, support, and completion of clinical trials; and 4) incentivize the participation of patients and physicians in clinical trials. The GOG has prepared a White Paper in response to the NCI's efforts to reorganize ten (10) Cooperative Groups into four (4) adult cancer Cooperative Groups and one pediatric cancer Cooperative Group. The GOG response has emphasized the unique infrastructure of the GOG that has resulted in the accrual of thousands of patients to clinical trials that have not only defined most of the current standards of care in gynecologic cancer, but, more importantly, have resulted in significant improvement in the outcome in patients affected by gynecologic cancer. The GOG will continue to work with the NCI and other Cooperative Groups to best respond to the efforts to restructure the Cooperative Group enterprise without significant compromise to its infrastructure or productivity.
Osteon interfacial strength and histomorphometry of equine cortical bone

Abstract The interfacial strength of secondary osteons from the diaphysis of the Thoroughbred equine third metacarpal was evaluated using the fiber pushout test. The pushout was performed on 300–500 μm sections of 4×4×15 mm bone blocks machined from four anatomic regions of the cortex. Pushout strength was evaluated from proximal to distal location within the diaphysis on four osteon types classified under polarized light on adjacent histologic sections from each block. The shear strength of the interfaces were estimated from shear lag theory. Differences were found in the interfacial strength of osteons based on appearance under polarized light with bright field having the highest interfacial strength (40.3 MPa). The lowest strength was found in the dark field osteons (22.8 MPa). The dorsal region had the highest shear strength and toughness compared to all other regions. The cement line and interlamellar interfaces are similar in strength, but exhibit regional dependence—specifically, the palmar region strength is less (17.5 MPa) than the osteon interlamellar interfaces (30.4 MPa) and osteon type dependent (alternating significantly weaker than other types). Histomorphometry revealed significant regional differences ( p 0.0001 ) in osteon area fraction among the four osteon types as well as differences in the osteon diameter ( p = 0.01 ), with dorsal regions having larger osteons (170 μm) than the palmar region (151 μm). Fatigue life and fracture toughness of Haversian bone are reported in the literature to be regionally dependent and are known to be associated with osteon pullout—an osteon interfacial phenomenon. Therefore, the results presented in this study are important to further the understanding of the mechanisms of fragility and damage accumulation in cortical bone.
Validation of MRI-Based Contact Modeling for Analysis of In Vivo Radiocarpal Mechanics

Arthritis is a pervasive problem and over 15% of the total population of the United States has been doctor-diagnosed with arthritis. Even more Americans have symptoms. Clearly, understanding the pathogenesis of arthritis, developing effective treatments and/or finding ways to prevent it are all important goals.© 2007 ASME
Modification of Porous Alumina Membranes Using Al2O3 Atomic Layer Controlled Deposition

Al2O3 films were deposited with atomic layer control inside the pores of Anodisc alumina membranes. To achieve this controlled deposition on a high aspect ratio structure, a binary reaction for Al2O3 chemical vapor deposition (2Al(CH3)3 + 3H2O → Al2O3 + 6CH4) was separated into two half-reactions: (A) AlOH* + Al(CH3)3 → Al-O-Al(CH3)2* + CH4 and (B) AlCH3* + H2O → AlOH* + CH4, where the asterisks designate the surface species. The trimethylaluminum [Al(CH3)3] (TMA) and H2O reactants were employed alternately in an ABAB... binary reaction sequence to deposit the Al2O3 film. Because each half-reaction is self-limiting, atomic layer controlled Al2O3 deposition was achieved on the surface of the high aspect ratio pores. To determine the necessary reaction conditions, surface species during each half-reaction were periodically monitored using in situ transmission FTIR spectroscopy. Ex situ gas flux and permporometry measurements were also performed to determine the effect of the binary reaction sequence on the...
Comparative Studies of SCC in Two Austenitic Stainless Steels and Alloy 600 on Exposure to Lithiated Water at 350°C ✫

Abstract Slow strain rate test on tensile specimens with hump were conducted on 304 (UNS S30400) and 316 (UNS S31600) stainless steels with different heat treatments in lithiated hydrogenated water...
–SH and S–S involvement in Chlamydomonas mating

Reagents that block or cross-link sulfhydryl (–SH) groups and those that reduce disulfide (S–S) bonds have been tested for their effects on mating in Chlamydomonas reinhardii. Wild-type (wt) gametes of mating type + (mt+) and mt−, and a fusion-defective mt− mutant, gam-11, were studied. Differential sensitivities of mt+ vs mt− and of wt mt− vs gam-11 mt− were analyzed. Concentrations of reagents that did not disrupt flagellar agglutination, the first stage of the mating reaction, were generally used. Pretreatment of mt+ gametes with the membrane permeable –SH reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT) inhibits flagellar sexual signaling at concentrations that do not inhibit any part of the mating reaction of mt− gametes. Wt mt− is more sensitive than wt mt+ to inhibition by low concentrations of p-chloromercuribenzoate sulfonate (pCMBS), an organic mercurial. The membrane-impermeable reducing agent, reduced glutathione (GSH), also preferentially inhibits wt mt−. Gam-11 mt−, a fusion-defective mutant, which has been used to study the sensitivity of the adhesion of the plasma membrane-associated mating structures, is less sensitive to GSH and pCMBS inhibition that is wt mt−. DDT and pCMBS cause an increase in mating structure adhesion in pretreated gam-11. The differential inhibition of pair and group formation during gam-11 × wt mt+ matings has suggested a possible mechanism for mating structure adhesion.
Neodymium isotopes in the Colorado Front Range and crust–mantle evolution in the Proterozoic

Initial 143Nd/144Nd determined for major rock types of the basement underlying the Rocky Mountains in Colorado indicate that this segment of continental crust was formed from a homogeneous and previously depleted source material in the upper mantle 1,800 Myr ago and contains no identifiable component of older crust. Subsequent magmatic events at 1,670, 1,400 and 1,000 Myr represent mainly intracrustal differentiation with small or no further additions to the crust from the mantle. These results imply that a major increase in the mass of the North American continent occurred over a narrow time interval 1,800 Myr ago. From the isotopic data an empirical model is constructed that may provide accurate crust-formation ages f or rocks of all ages. Preliminary results suggest that existing estimates of crustal age distributions may require substantial revision.
A hybrid visual estimation method for the collection of ground truth fractional coverage data in a humid tropical environment

Abstract A substantial body of research exists exploring the spectral unmixing of remotely sensed image data. Specifically, we refer to the attempts and successes to model the percent vegetation cover (2-dimensional horizontal density) within a pixel, known as fractional coverage (fc). With this paper, we present a hybrid visual estimation method for fc field data collection in the complex landscapes found in humid tropical environments. The method includes a scalable theoretical model of fc, integrates the visual estimation technique with hemispherical photography collection, and is conducted over a systematic ground collection area. We present results from a case study conducted in the humid tropical region of Ecuador. Specifically, we report on the relationship between fc data modeled using a linear NDVI transformation and observed fc data collected using our hybrid visual estimation method. Our study found a significant, positive linear relationship (β = 0.795, r2 > 0.84, and p