cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Safety Profile of Lumbosacropelvic Fixation in Patients Aged 60 Years or Older: Comparison Between S2-Alar-Iliac Screws and Conventional Iliac Screws.

Study design This is a retrospective study. Objective To report the safety profile of S2-alar-iliac (S2AI) in patients over 60, comparing S2AI screws with iliac screws (ISs). Summary of background data The surgical management involving the lumbosacropelvic spine remains a challenge due to high mechanical demand and risk of pseudarthrosis. Previous articles showed lower rates of complications in patients receiving S2AI screws than ISs; however, none of them have focused on patients aged over 60 who may harbor significant comorbidities and thus require more meticulous perioperative management, given these invasive and lengthy procedures. Materials and methods Retrospective review of clinical records from 2010 to 2015 identified 60 patients undergoing lumbosacropelvic fixation (17 patients with ISs and 43 patients with S2AI screws) who satisfied the following criteria: (1) patients aged over 60 years old and (2) patients with >1-year follow-up periods. Rates of complications such as unplanned reoperation and cardiorespiratory complications were collected and statistically analyzed. Results Baseline characteristics such as age, sex, and comorbidities were similar in both groups. The S2AI group had lower rates of reoperation (18.6% vs. 47.4%; P=0.02), surgical site infection (2.3% vs. 29.4%; P=0.006), wound dehiscence (2.3% vs. 29.4%; P=0.006), and postoperative anemia (7.0% vs. 29.4%; P=0.03) and had lower total volume of estimated blood loss (EBL) (mL) (1846.4 vs. 2721.2; P=0.02) and transfused red blood cell units (7.2 vs. 4.7; P=0.04) than the IS group, while rates of L5-S1 pseudarthrosis and other cardiorespiratory complications were similar in both groups. In multivariate analysis, operative time, body mass index, and use of S2AI screws over ISs were independent predictors of EBL. Conclusions Use of S2AI screws over ISs in patients aged over 60 was associated with lower rates of reoperation, surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, and lower volume of EBL and red blood cell transfusion and is a viable surgical option.
Microneedle Penetrating Array with Axon-Sized Dimensions for Cuff-less Peripheral Nerve Interfacing

Autonomic nerves are typically only hundreds of microns in diameter near their organ targets and these carry all of the sympathetic and parasympathetic control signals. We present a cuff-less microneedle array specifically designed to potentially map small autonomic nerves. The focus of this paper is the design and fabrication of an ultra-miniaturized silicon needle array on a silicone substrate. We demonstrate arrays having 25 to 100 microneedles. Each needle has a 1-micron tip and dual-taper shaft. We demonstrate an ability to control the tip shape, angle, and shaft angle which is important for balancing sharpness and stiffness. These high-density arrays also include a special backside anchor embedded in silicone for stability in the elastic substrate, yet the array freely wraps over a 300-µm nerve. Another critical method presented here is a surgical technique for inserting and securing an array without a cuff (as small as 0.3 mm wide and 1.2 mm long) by photochemical bonding of collagen/Rose Bengal adhesive agents to epineurium. Future work will focus on device functionalization and histological characterization in a rat vagus model.
Shapes and definitions of exposure-response curves: A comment on “A matrix for bridging the epidemiology and risk assessment gap”

Abstract A proposed matrix bridging between the results supplied by epidemiologists and those demanded by risk assessors proposes that a key piece of information sought by risk assessors is the shape of the exposure-response curve (e.g., linear vs. nonlinear, threshold vs. no threshold, etc.). This comment emphasizes that there are several different exposure-response curves, having different causal interpretations and risk management implications. Risk assessors and risk management decision makers and policy maker usually need to know how changes in exposures would change disease risks (given assumptions about levels of other variables). Epidemiologists typically provide conditional expected observed values of response variables for different observed levels of exposures, i.e., regression relationships. These are two different curves and may have quite different shapes. Current widespread epidemiological practice conflates them. Being clear about what is needed for risk assessment (usually the former) and what has been produced by epidemiologists (usually the latter) can help to identify mismatches and to build more useful bridges between these communities.
Uncovering the etiology of CINAC, a complex and mysterious renal syndrome: the invaluable role of histopathology and electron microscopy

Chronic interstitial nephritis in agricultural communities (CINAC) is a progressive form of tubulointerstitial nephritis affecting agricultural workers in different parts of the world. Its underlying etiology is not known, although a study by Vervaet and coworkers in this issue of Kidney International provides strong evidence that CINAC is a lysosomal tubulopathy induced by toxin exposure. Key to this important discovery is a thorough morphologic analysis of kidney tissue, including ultrastructural as well as histopathologic examination.
Changes in Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) scores over time: A systematic review

Abstract The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) is an assessment tool that child-serving settings have used with children and their families to identify areas for intervention and monitor service outcomes over time. Despite its widespread application, the field knows little about how children’s CANS scores change over time in settings that provide CANS-informed services. The current study systematically reviewed changes in CANS scores over time in the existing longitudinal services research. Seven studies met inclusion criteria, and these studies assessed a total of 11 CANS domains: Problems, Risk Behaviors, Functioning, Mental Health, Traumatic Stress Symptoms, Behavioral/Emotional Needs, Acculturation, Externalizing, Child Strengths, Care Intensity, Caregiver Strengths, and Caregiver Needs and Strengths. Overall, the existing evidence on longitudinal CANS applications is limited. Scores within three CANS domains–Risk Behaviors, Functioning, and Child Strengths–improved over time in five of the seven studies. For the majority of CANS domains, however, there was little to no evidence for improvement over time following CANS-informed services. We discuss implications for practice and future research.
Chapter 11 – Vibrational Modes

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the lattice mode structure for the isolated fullerene molecules and for the corresponding molecular solid. The major experimental techniques for studying the vibrational spectra include Raman and infrared spectroscopy, inelastic neutron scattering, and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Of these techniques, the most precise values for vibrational frequencies are obtained from Raman and infrared spectroscopies. In most crystalline solids, Raman and infrared spectroscopy measurements focus primarily on first-order spectra which are confined to zone-center (q = 0) phonons. Because of the molecular nature of fullerene solids, higher-order Raman and infrared spectra also give sharp spectral features. Analysis of the second-order Raman and infrared spectra for C60 provides a good determination of the 32 silent mode frequencies and their symmetries. If large single crystals are available, then the most general technique for studying solid-state phonon dispersion relations is inelastic neutron scattering. Unfortunately, large single crystals are not yet available even for C60, so that almost all the reported inelastic neutron scattering measurements have been done on polycrystalline samples. Much of the emphasis of the inelastic neutron scattering studies thus far has been on the lowest-energy intermolecular dispersion relations, which have been studied on both single-crystal and polycrystalline samples.
Evaluation of characteristics and dosing regimens in patients with new or recurrent thrombosis on apixaban and rivaroxaban

Direct factor Xa inhibitors, such as apixaban and rivaroxaban, are widely used for treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism; however, recent cases of therapeutic failure have been reported. Potential risk factors associated with therapeutic failure such as dose deviations outside of package labeling recommendations, and the use of direct factor Xa-specific inhibitor levels to guide clinical decision making continue to be areas of further investigation. Our study aimed to describe characteristics and dosing regimens in patients on apixaban or rivaroxaban who experienced a new or recurrent thrombosis. We performed a retrospective chart review on 190 patients on either apixaban or rivaroxaban presenting to our institution with new or breakthrough thromboembolism. Evaluation of prescribed anticoagulation regimens compared to package labeling recommendations, direct factor Xa inhibitor-specific anti-Xa levels, anticoagulation interruptions, use of parenteral bridge anticoagulation, final anticoagulation regimen disposition, and thrombosis-associated mortality were recorded. In patients presenting with breakthrough thromboembolism, 78% were on a regimen that matched package labeling recommendations. Anti-Xa levels were documented in 66 patients, the majority of which fell within institutional expected ranges at time of thrombosis. Therapy interruptions immediately prior to thrombosis were observed in 22% of patients and 21% of those patients received parenteral anticoagulation during interruption. Upon discharge, 46% of patients continued the same anticoagulation regimen with no changes. The mortality rate was 6%. In patients who present with new thromboembolism on apixaban or rivaroxaban, a thorough review of risks and benefits should be conducted to mitigate future risk of recurrent thrombosis.
Self-organized criticality in a network of interacting neurons

This paper contains an analysis of a simple neural network that exhibits self-organized criticality. Such criticality follows from the combination of a simple neural network with an excitatory feedback loop that generates bistability, in combination with an anti-Hebbian synapse in its input pathway. Using the methods of statistical field theory, we show how one can formulate the stochastic dynamics of such a network as the action of a path integral, which we then investigate using renormalization group methods. The results indicate that the network exhibits hysteresis in switching back and forward between its two stable states, each of which loses its stability at a saddle?node bifurcation. The renormalization group analysis shows that the fluctuations in the neighborhood of such bifurcations have the signature of directed percolation. Thus, the network states undergo the neural analog of a phase transition in the universality class of directed percolation. The network replicates the behavior of the original sand-pile model of Bak, Tang and Wiesenfeld in that the fluctuations about the two states show power-law statistics.
A 2MASS All-Sky View of the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy: I. Morphology of the Sagittarius Core and Tidal Arms

We present the first all-sky view of the Sagittarius (Sgr) dwarf galaxy mapped by M giant star tracers detected in the complete Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS). The main body is fit with a King profile of 30 deg limiting radius, but with a break in the density profile from stars in tidal tails. We argue that much of the observed structure beyond the 224' core radius may be unbound as the satellite undergoes catastrophic disruption. A striking, >150 deg trailing tidal tail extends from the Sgr center and arcs across the South Galactic Hemisphere. A prominent leading debris arm extends from the Sgr center northward of the Galactic plane to an ~40 kpc apoGalacticon, loops towards the North Galactic Cap (NGC) and descends back towards the Galactic plane, foreshortened and covering the NGC. The Sgr tails lie along a well-defined orbital plane that shows little precession, which supports the notion of a nearly spherical Galactic potential. The Sun lies near the path of leading Sgr debris; thus, former Sgr stars may be near or in the solar neighborhood. The number of M giants in the Sgr tails is >15% that within the King limiting radius of the Sgr center. That several gigayear old M giants are so widespread along the Sgr tidal arms not only places limits on the dynamical age of these arms but poses a timing problem that bears on the recent binding energy of the Sgr core and that is naturally explained by recent and catastrophic mass loss. Sgr appears to contribute >75% of the high latitude, halo M giants; no evidence for M giant tidal debris from the Magellanic Clouds is found. Generally good correspondence is found between the M giant, all-sky map of the Sgr system and all previously published detections of potential Sgr debris with the exception of Sgr carbon stars -- which must be subluminous to resolve the discrepancy.
Steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3/AIB1) is enriched and functional in mouse and human Tregs

A subset of CD4 + lymphocytes, regulatory T cells (Tregs), are necessary for central tolerance and function as suppressors of autoimmunity against self-antigens. The SRC-3 coactivator is an oncogene in multiple cancers and is capable of potentiating numerous transcription factors in a wide variety of cell types. Src-3 knockout mice display broad lymphoproliferation and hypersensitivity to systemic inflammation. Using publicly available bioinformatics data and directed cellular approaches, we show that SRC-3 also is highly enriched in Tregs in mice and humans. Human Tregs lose phenotypic characteristics when SRC-3 is depleted or pharmacologically inhibited, including failure of induction from resting T cells and loss of the ability to suppress proliferation of stimulated T cells. These data support a model for SRC-3 as a coactivator that actively participates in protection from autoimmunity and may support immune evasion of cancers by contributing to the biology of Tregs.
Flux reconstruction using Jacobi correction functions in discontinuous spectral element method

Abstract A flux reconstruction approach is implemented in the spectral difference (SD) framework, which we refer to it as discontinuous spectral element method (DSEM), to improve the accuracy and stability of numerical simulations. A new class of correction functions is developed based on a weighted orthogonality condition, which leads to the introduction of Jacobi correction functions. Jacobi correction functions can construct the well-known DSEM and staggered-grid version of nodal discontinuous Galerkin spectral element method (DGSEM) as well as a broad range of other high-order numerical schemes with a variety of numerical characteristics, such as high numerical dissipation to suppress aliasing-driven errors, super accuracy, and solution boundedness in shock prediction. Three single-parameter families of Jacobi correction functions are recognized, and a von Neumann analysis is performed to acquire their wave propagation properties. The order of accuracy and stability criterion of a broad range of schemes are calculated, and the most super-accurate and stable numerical schemes are identified and later validated through a set of numerical experiments on a one-dimensional advection equation. The solution unboundedness issue of the high-order DSEM scheme is discussed through simulating the Burgers equation. An accuracy test performed on the Burgers equation revealed that the new staggered-grid flux reconstruction approach could acquire a higher accuracy than that of the energy stable flux reconstruction framework on a collocated grid. The two-dimensional extension of the new framework is also examined by simulation of a non-linear Euler system of equations for the isentropic vortex in free-stream flow. The staggered-grid flux reconstruction using the Jacobi correction function can precisely reconstruct the DSEM approach for non-linear two-dimensional hyperbolic equations for all polynomial orders.
When Vaccine Apathy, Not Hesitancy, Drives Vaccine Disinterest.

Even before COVID-19 vaccines were available, different interest levels in vaccination across the US were noted. Populations with less interest in vaccination were quickly considered vaccine hesitant, and public health campaigns have primarily, and understandably, focused on reaching persons anxious about vaccine safety, vaccine-related adverse effects, or both. But while vaccine anxiety is an important hurdle to overcome, the assumption that all segments of the population with low interest in vaccination are hesitant is a misconception. Vaccine apathy exists across socioeconomic groups. The size of vaccine-apathetic populations is difficult to determine for the same reasons that voting polls can be unreliable. Because antivaccine populations have high decision involvement on this issue, the peripheral messages that can persuade those who are apathetic about COVID-19 vaccines will not be effective in addressing these high-involvement negative groups. These 2 populations should not be considered concurrently when designing vaccine promotion campaigns.
Other New Membrane Processes

In conventional gas absorption, gas is dispersed in the absorbent liquid as bubbles in a vessel acting as a single stage or in a multistage column with the gas and the liquid in countercurrent flow. The dispersion of the gas increases the gas/liquid contact area and increases the mass transfer rate of the species to be absorbed in the liquid. After contacting is over, the gas bubbles coalesce as they leave the liquid phase except when foaming tendencies appear. Con-ventional gas absorption is also carried out with liquid dispersed as drops or thin films in the gas flowing countercurrently as in spray towers, packed towers, venturi scrubbers, etc. (Treybal 1980). Current gas stripping processes operate in an identical manner and in the devices used for gas absorption except that species are transferred from the liquid to the gas phase.
Quantum Mechanics of Complex Systems, II

Very often in physics and chemistry we are interested in the motion of some variable which is described by quantum mechanics and is strongly coupled to an “environment,” that is, one or (more likely) many other variables whose behavior is of no particular interest to us in its own right, but only because of the effect it may exert on the motion of the “system,” that is, the variable of primary interest. Some familiar examples of such “systems,” with the “environment” indicated in parentheses, are an electron participating in a chemical reaction (the vibronic modes), a paraelectric defect in a solid, such as OH- in KCl, (phonons), a μ-meson in a metal (conduction electrons) and the \(\rm{K_O-\bar K_O}\) system (surrounding matter). All these are old problems. A class of problem which is of rather more recent interest is when the “system” variable is in some sense macroscopic: examples include charge density waves (normal electrons), the magnetization of small ferromagnetic particles (magnons, phonons), the early Universe (preexisting mesons) and, par excellence, the phase of the Cooper pairs in devices incorporating one or more Josephson junctions (normal electrons, phonons, radiation field, nuclear spins …). The last example has been studied intensively both experimentally and theoretically over the last few years and provides probably the best test-bed for ideas in this area. One further example which is of great current interest is the quantum tunnelling motion of a pair of deuterium nuclei in a matrix of a metal such as Pd or Ti; in this case the “environment” is the conduction electrons, the nuclei of the metal and any “third-party” deuterons which may be present.
News from Online

A collection of respiration-related online resources is presented. Web sites cover a variety of topics, from gas laws to hemoglobin to mitochondria. A discussion of how to incorporate the resources into your classes and links to the resources are included.
Millimeter-wave CMOS Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits development and its potential applications

The continued maturation of silicon-based (CMOS/SiGe) technology made it possible to design Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits (RFIC) to operate beyond radio frequency (RF), such as millimeter-wave frequencies, motivated primarily by the need for smaller area, faster speeds, and lower power consumption. This paper will present the state-of-the-art research and developments of various millimeter-wave CMOS/SiGe integrated circuits including 60GHz single-chip radio transceiver application. This represents a unique opportunity to develop low power multi-gigabit radio for communication, sensing, and also for a variety of other applications including: portable consumer electronic devices, secure body area networks and biomedical imaging. Further research efforts are focused on developing CMOS-based ultra-compact ultra-low-power wireless radio node for Body/Personal Area Networks, next generation microelectronic circuits to improve overall performance including linearity, efficiency, which could further leverage the reduction of power consumption and support even higher data rate through more complex modulation scheme.
Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Imaging Mass Spectrometry (IMS) is a powerful analytical technology that provides both molecular and spatial information from a single sample. This chapter provides a brief history of Imaging Mass Spectrometry, including early work with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and laser desorption/ionization (LDI) techniques. A more in-depth account of recent applications utilizing matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry for high-molecular weight imaging is presented.
Mobile GIS in Geologic Mapping Exercises

We have been developing and teaching the components of mobile GIS in Field Methods courses and will be incorporating them into Structural Geology exercises. Since the bedrock in east central Indiana is topographically invariant, non-inclined, and often not exposed, we have developed a new introductory GIS project that simulates structural features. It utilizes inclined, one-foot square planes that are placed upon a series of pedestals stationed in an open area, each accompanied by a petrographic hand sample and an age label. An introductory one-hour session is held in the field to teach acquiring GIS data. Then the students independently acquire geologic data such as GPS-located “outcrop” locations, rock descriptions, and strike/dip, and enter the geologic data on a base map using Mobile GIS software (ArcPad). In a two-hour follow-up class students learn to add their field data to a map in the PC-based GIS program ArcMap. Strike/dip symbols are computer-generated and displayed at the GPS coordinates taken...
Superoxide dismutase as a longitudinal biomarker of lung function in asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease related to oxidative stress. Previously, we reported that superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) is lower in asthma as compared to healthy controls and related to airflow obstruction and reactivity. In this study, we hypothesized that serum SOD would be informative for progression of asthma over time. To test this, asthmatic adults (n=47) [age:40+3, mean%FEV1:77+5, FEV1/FVC: 0.69+0.1, gender: M/F=17/30, severe asthma n=12] were evaluated longitudinally over 4 years. SOD levels at the start of the study were significantly lower in Asthmatics as compared to Control subjects (p
Induced Ge spin polarization at the Fe ∕ Ge interface

We report direct experimental evidence showing induced magnetic moments on Ge at the interface in an $\mathrm{Fe}∕\mathrm{Ge}$ system. Details of the x-ray magnetic circular dichroism and resonant magnetic scattering at the Ge $L$ edge demonstrate the presence of spin-polarized $s$ states at the Fermi level, as well as $d$-character moments at higher energy, which are both oriented antiparallel to the moment of the Fe layer. Use of the sum rules enables extraction of the $L∕S$ ratio, which is zero for the $s$ part and $\ensuremath{\sim}0.5$ for the $d$ component. These results are consistent with layer-resolved electronic structure calculations, which estimate that the $s$ and $d$ components of the Ge moment are antiparallel to the $\mathrm{Fe}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}3d$ moment and have a magnitude of $\ensuremath{\sim}0.01\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$.
The standard double bubble is the unique stable double bubble in

We prove that the only equilibrium double bubble in R 2 which is stable for fixed areas is the standard double bubble. This uniqueness result also holds for small stable double bubbles in surfaces, where it is new even for perimeter-minimizing double bubbles.
Non-Disjunction as Proof of the Chromosome Theory of Heredity (Concluded)

Page 107, line 11, for "cream" read "cream a "; for "whiting" read "dark and whiting"; and for "fawn" read "cream b ". Page 129, table 63, column 3, total, for "176" read "178". Page 130, table 66, pedigree 1155, under v, for "36" read "16
The Induction of Fos-Like Proteins in the Suprachiasmatic Nuclei and Intergeniculate Leaflet by Light Pulses in Degus (Octodon degus) and Rats

In nocturnal rodents, exposure to light results in an increase in Fos expression in two regions that receive direct retinal input: the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus and the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) of the thalamus. The induction of Fos within the SCN of nocturnal rodents is phase dependent, with light presented during the subjective night increasing Fos expression and light presented during the subjective day having little effect. By contrast, Fos expression increases in the IGL when light is presented during the subjective day or night. It is unclear whether Fos is part of the pathway mediating light-induced phase shifts in diurnal rodents. In the present study, the ability of light to induce immunostaining for Fos in the SCN and IGL was compared in diurnal rodents, Octodon degus (degus), and nocturnal rats. Degus and rats were either maintained in constant darkness or exposed to a 1-h light pulse at circadian time (CT) 4 or 16. Degus exhibit robust phase shifts at each of those circadian hours, whereas rats demonstrate phase shifts only at CT 16. In degus, exposure to a 1-h light pulse at CT 16 resulted in an increase in the number of Fos-immunopositive (Fos+) cells in the ventrolateral SCN. By contrast, a 1-h light pulse at CT 4 resulted in a decrease in the number of Fos+ cells in the dorsomedial portion of the SCN. In rats, a light pulse presented at CT 16 resulted in an increase in Fos+ cells throughout the SCN, and a pulse at CT 4 had no effect on Fos staining. Both degus and rats showed increases in Fos expression in the IGL after light exposure at CTs 4 and 16. The authors conclude that light pulses presented at times that produce phase shifts in activity rhythms also alter Fos expression in the SCN and IGL of degus. Although these effects of light exposure on Fos expression are not identical in diurnal and nocturnal rodents, it is likely that Fos and other immediate early genes are part of the pathway mediating the effects of light in both diurnal and nocturnal rodents.
Solar cells on the basis of thin polycrystalline CdSe films: investigations of MIS and pn heterostructures

CdSe-based thin film solar cells have been fabricated and characterised in detail applying MIS and pn heterostructures. Encouraging photovoltaic parameters have already been achieved. Further basic investigations into the mechanisms of defect formation during CdSe film deposition and barrier formation would be needed to be able to assess the potential efficiency of CdSe-based thin film solar cells.
Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions in a nonhuman primate. I. Basic features and relations to other emissions

Otoacoustic emissions in both ears of a rhesus monkey exhibiting stable spontaneous emissions (SOEs) were monitored over a 1-year period. The amplitudes and frequencies of both SOEs and stimulus-frequency emissions (SFEs) were routinely recorded, while transiently evoked (EOE) and distortion-product emissions (DPEs), at the frequency 2f1-f2, were occasionally examined. Between evaluation sessions, both the frequencies and amplitudes of SFEs remained relatively stable in both ears, while the frequencies and amplitudes of SOEs were less constant. Isosuppression contours for SOEs, plotted as a function of frequency and level of tonal maskers, revealed sharp tuning consistent with normal frequency selectivity. Detailed analyses of long-term measurements showed that SOEs occurred most frequently at the peaks of the SFE response. A regular frequency spacing between neighboring amplitude maxima and minima of the SFEs was consistent with the notion that this particular emitted response may result from a periodic disruption of the orderly pattern of sensory cells along the organ of Corti. Intramuscular administration of aspirin abolished SOE and SFE responses, while DPEs remained relatively unchanged suggesting the involvement of separate mechanisms in the generation of different emissions.
On the convergence to equilibrium of Brownian motion on compact simple Lie groups

Let M =G/H be an irreducible homogeneous compact manifold of dimension n equipped with its canonical Riemannian metric. Let γ be the lowest nonzero eigenvalue of the Laplace operator. Let μ be the normalized Haar measure and μt be the heat diffusion measure, i.e., the law of Brownian motion started at a fixed origin in M. We show that the total variation distance between μt and μ is not small for t ≪λ−1 logn.This is sharp, up to a factor of two, in the case of compact irreducible simply connected symmetric spaces.
Animal models for percutaneous penetration: assessing contamination of the experimental system

SUMMARY We have used both quantitative and qualitative procedures to assess the validity of percutaneous penetration data obtained from the guinea-pig in vivo. Our results indicate that, under certain, not unusual, experimental conditions the results may be misleading and should be viewed with caution. Contamination of the experimental system, either by simple desquamation from the site of application, or trauma to the site such as rubbing or scratching, may greatly influence the results. We conclude that simple control experiments similar to those described should be conducted when using in vivo animal models for studies on percutaneous penetration, and particularly where the subject is not totally immobilized.
Helium conservation and supply and demand projections in the USA

Abstract Simulataneous equation models are constructed to explain the interdependent relationships among the supply and demand as well as the stock of helium storage under the conservation programme and the natural gas reserve policies. Two-stage least squares techniques are employed for coefficient and elasticity estimation from data collected between 1955 and 1977. Long-run projections for helium supply and demand are presented. Policy issues on helium conservation and intergeneration welfare analysis are also discussed and suggestions on future helium utilization made. Since gas price deregulation will be up for review again in the USA, this paper may have some important implications for natural gas pricing policy in dealing with multiple products.
TH‐C‐BRC‐05: 4DCBCT Reconstruction Using a PCA Based DVF Motion Model

Purpose: To develop a 4D cone beam CT (4DCBCT) reconstruction algorithm that produces a time series of images with high spatial and temporal resolution, minimal artifact, and no time averaging of data as compared to standard 4DCBCT reconstruction techniques. Methods: Our algorithm works to constrain a motion model by using it to deform a static prior CTimage at multiple time steps. It then adjusts the motion model parameters until digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) taken through the deformed prior optimally match the projections of the raw 4DCBCT data‐set. Once the motion model parameters have been optimized the motion model can be used to animate the static CT, in essence producing a 3D video that serves as the reconstructed 4DCBCT. Our motion model uses principal components analysis (PCA) of a DVF training set to generate eigenvectors characterizing de‐correlated modes of anatomic motion. It produces new DVFs by computing weighted sums of the eigenvectors. Each eigenvector weight, or principal coefficient, varies in time uniquely according to a parameterized version of the patient breathing trace. Results: Our current focus is on proof of concept testing using numerically generated data. We plan to test the algorithm on simulated data with different degrees of motion complexity. In addition, we will test the effect on eigenvector quality of different DVF training set acquisition methods. Early results indicate that when supplied with an ideal DVF training set the model can reproduce simple motion to a high degree of accuracy. Conclusions: Our current task is to test our algorithm's reconstruction quality with numerically simulated data of varying complexity. Beyond that we plan to test on phantom and patient data. If our reconstruction algorithm is successful it will produce 4DCBCTs with high spatial and temporal resolution, low artifact, and no time averaging. This work supported by NIH P01 CA116602.
Overt expression of experimenter expectancies, interaction with subject expectancies, and performance on a psychomotor task

Abstract Subsequent to success or failure experience, 48 subjects attempted a psychomotor task in order to escape or avoid an aversive stimulus (tone). Their attempts at solving the task over 24 trials were made in the presence of subject-experimenters each of whom had expectancies instilled regarding the solution to the task. The job of the subject-experimenters was to “offer information” on every third trials as the subjects attempted to solve the task. It was hypothesized that the expectancies of the subject-experimenters would be communicated to the subjects via periodic comments, that these expectancies would differentially affect the subjects' performance on the task, and that prior experience on a similar task would differentially affect subjects' performances on the task. The results demonstrated that the expectancies instilled in the subject-experimenters were communicated and influenced the performances of subjects as predicted. It appears that consistency with respect to the expectancies communicated played a major role in producing significant effects. Prior experience failed to produce significant differences on task performance, a finding conflicting with that of D.S. Hiroto ( Journal of Experimental Psychology , 1974 , 102 , 187–193). The results are discussed from the perspective of using the overt, explicit communication of expectancies as a means for exploring the illusive phenomenon of the experimenter expectancy effect.
Finite Element Analysis and Design of a Horizontal Tank on Saddle Supports

The objective of this paper is to design and analyze a horizontal tank on saddle supports. The horizontal vessel is to store various chemicals used in today’s industry. The over all dimensions of the horizontal vessel are determined from the capacity of the stored chemicals. These dimensions are first determined. The design function is performed using the ASME Code Sec VIII Div 1. The horizontal tank design is broken up into (a) shell design, (b) two elliptical heads and (c) two saddle supports. The designed dimensions are used to recalculate the stresses for the horizontal vessel. The dimensioned horizontal vessel with saddle supports and the saddle support structure is modeled using STAAD III finite element software. The stresses from the finite element software are compared with the stresses obtained from calculated stresses by ASME Code Sec VIII Div 1 and L. P. Zick’s analysis printed in 1951. The difference in the stress value is explained. This paper’s main objective is to compare the code design to the finite element analysis. The design is found to be safe for the specific configuration considered.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Lady, Girl, Female, or Woman: Sexism and Cognitive Busyness Predict Use of Gender-Biased Nouns

Two studies investigated whether modern sexism predicts men’s use of gender-biased terms for women. When established norms suggest a preference for neutral terms (e.g., woman, female), men lower in sexism should avoid potentially biased terms (e.g., lady, girl). Adhering to such an established norm, however, may require conscious effort. In Study 1, men lower in modern sexism used fewer gender-biased terms in a written format than did men higher in modern sexism. Study 2 replicated this result using an oral format but only when men were not cognitively busy with another task. Cognitive busyness apparently interfered with low modern sexists’ efforts to use more neutral terms. Implications for other forms of gender-biased language, as well as for long-term change in the use of gender-biased language, are discussed.
Organic, inorganic, and caloric composition of eggs, pentaculae, and adults of the brooding sea cucumber Cucumaria curata cowles (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea)

Abstract Levels (percentage composition) of water, ash, carbohydrate, lipid, protein, and calories were determined for eggs, pentaculae, and adults of the sea cucumber Cucumaria curata Cowles. Component contents (μg/individual) were calculated for eggs and pentaculae. During the 28 days of development to hatching, the large yolky eggs gain water and ash, the total dry weight increasing from 169 to 190 μg/egg during embryogenesis. There were no statistically significant changes in lipid, protein, and caloric contents during embryogenesis, but carbohydrate decreased by 0.82 μg/egg. The decrease in carbohydrate is sufficient to account for estimated embryonic energy requirements. Based on the utilization of carbohydrate, embryos of C. curata show a nutritional pattern similar to that of the planktonic embryos of sea urchins and different from that of embryos developing from terrestrial eggs, freshwater eggs, and planktonic and demersal marine eggs. Although broods varied widely in egg number and mean egg dry weight, C. curata gives eggs which contain a constant proportion of organic components. Levels of ash, water, and protein in the adults exceeded those in the pentacula, and lipid comprises a much smaller proportion of the adult body than it did of the pentacula.
The Boulevard Ain't Safe for Your Kids . . .1: Youth Gang Membership and Violent Victimization

Youth gang membership has been linked to a variety of social ailments: delinquency, stigma, and, more recently, violent victimization. This essay examines the research on youth gang membership and violent victimization. Three main questions are examined: (a) What is known about the linkages between gang membership and violent victimization? (b) What use does this knowledge provide for prevention and intervention efforts? (c) Where do we go from here? In other words, what do we not know about the gang membership—violent victimization link?
Chemical, Mechanical, and Tribological Properties of Pulsed‐Laser‐Deposited Titanium Carbide and Vanadium Carbide

The chemical, mechanical, and tribological properties of pulsed-laser-deposited TiC and VC films are reported in this paper. Films were deposited by ablating carbide targets using a KrF ({lambda} = 248 nm) laser. Chemical analysis of the films by XPS revealed oxygen was the major impurity; the lowest oxygen concentration obtained in a film was 5 atom%. Oxygen was located primarily on the carbon sublattice of the TiC structure. The films were always substoichiometric, as expected, and the carbon in the films was identified primarily as carbidic carbon. Nanoindentation hardness tests gave values of 39 GPa for TiC and 26 GPa for VC. The friction coefficient for the TiC films was 0.22, while the VC film exhibited rapid material transfer from the steel ball to the substrate resulting in steel-on-steel tribological behavior.
Structure and evolution of mammalian tRNA genes: sequence of a mouse tRNAiMet gene, the 5′-flanking region of which is homologous to a human gene

From a recombinant lambda phage, we have determined a 317-bp sequence containing a mouse tRNAiMet gene. The coding region is precisely homologous to mammalian tRNAiMet if post-transcriptional modifications (including addition of the 3'-terminal CCA) are not considered. The gene does not contain introns and has a typical RNA polymerase III termination site in the 3'-flanking region. It is transcribed by RNA polymerase III in the HeLa cell S-100 system in vitro. Notably, the 5'-flanking region of the mouse tRNAiMet gene shares a "patchwork" pattern of homology with one of the human tRNAiMet genes of Santos and Zasloff [Cell 23 (1981) 699-710]. The 5'-flanking regions of the two genes contain strings of nucleotides, 6 to 32 bp in length, the homology of which is 76-100%. These are separated by short strings of unrelated nucleotides. This is one of the first examples of tRNA genes containing homologous 5'-flanking regions isolated from distantly related mammals. We also report a novel method for constructing deletion mutants of sequences cloned in M13 vectors.
Images to syntax: a neuropropositional model of language

This paper argues that language acquisition can be explained through the interactions of neural networks that represent images and words. Language development, according to the hypothesis to be presented, is largely a learning process in which grammatical rules are derived from the universal capability for recognizing, through spatial and temporal attributes of neural connectivity, case roles and propositions in perceived and imagined mental images. Neural patterns representing sounds and words are associated with image objects, and more abstract part-of-speech patterns form expectations that lead to syntactic rules. A conceptual model of the image-syntactic hypothesis is outlined in a series of steps to describe the transition from mental images to syntactic constructions.
Some factors involved in the comparison of response systems: acquisition, extinction, and transfer of head-poke and lever-press Sidman avoidance

Head poking, a suggested natural escape reaction to shock for the rat, was compared to lever pressing in a Sidman avoidance study. Both responses could be emitted at any time, but only one was effective in a given session. Acquisition and extinction of the two responses were compared under both signalled and unsignalled avoidance. Then, a test for transfer was conducted in which acquisition conditions were re-instated, but the effectiveness of the responses was reversed. Three differences between responses were noted: (a) head poking was superior in reducing shock rates under signalled conditions; (b) head poking was more resistant to extinction, especially under signalled conditions; (c) under unsignalled conditions, animals were unable to learn to head poke if they had previously learned to lever press. Findings a and c were pursued in later experiments. Finding a depended on the location of the warning signal with respect to the response system. When the lever press required approach to the warning signal, the head poke was superior. But when the head poke required approach to the warning signal, the two responses were equally effective. Finding c depended on the absence of feedback for head poke during transfer. Two conclusions are offered: first, the two responses appear to obey the same laws when their topographical differences are taken into account. Second, response feedback appears to be more critical in transfer than in original acquisition.
Definition of ANCF Finite Elements

Since the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) was introduced, a large number of fully parametrized and gradient deficient finite elements were developed. Some of the finite elements (FE) proposed do not fall into the ANCF category, and for this reason, this technical brief describes the general requirements for ANCF finite elements. As discussed in this paper, some of the conventional isoparametric finite elements can describe arbitrary rigid body displacements and can be used with a nonincremental solution procedure. Nonetheless, these isoparametric elements, particularly the ones that employ position coordinates only, are of the C0 type and do not ensure the continuity of the position vector gradients. It is also shown that the position vector gradient continuity conditions can be described using homogeneous algebraic equations, and such conditions are different from those conditions that govern the displacement vector gradients. The use of the displacement vector gradients as nodal coordinates does not allow for an isoparametric representation that accounts for both the initial geometry and displacements using one kinematic description, can make the element assembly more difficult, and can complicate imposing linear algebraic constraint equations at a preprocessing stage. Understanding the ANCF geometric description will allow for the development of new mechanics-based computer-aided design (CAD)/analysis systems as briefly discussed in this paper.
Condensation heat transfer and pressure drop of R134a in annular helicoidal pipe at different orientations

Abstract Experimental investigations were conducted to determine the condensation heat transfer and pressure drop of refrigerant R134a in annular helicoidal pipe at three inclination angles. The experiments were performed with the Reynolds number of R134a ranging from 60 to 200, and that of cooling water from 3600 to 22 000; temperatures of R134a at 30 °C and 35 °C, and cooling water at 16 °C, 20 °C and 24 °C. The experimental results indicated that the refrigerant Nusselt number was larger at lower refrigerant saturation temperature, and would increase with the increase of mass flow rates of refrigerant and cooling water. It was found that the refrigerant heat transfer coefficient of annular helicoidal pipe could be two times larger than that of equivalent plain straight pipe when the refrigerant Reynolds number was larger than 140. Comparison with identical helicoidal pipe with opposite flow channel arrangement revealed that the refrigerant heat transfer rate was larger when the refrigerant was flowing in the annular section at the cooling water Reynolds number larger than 4000, but the pressure drop was always larger in this flow channel arrangement.
An Evaluation of GuttaFlow and Gutta-Percha in the Filling of Lateral Grooves and Depressions

The purpose of this study was to compare the flow of GuttaFlow (Coltene/Whaledent Inc, Cuyahoga Falls, OH) and gutta-percha into lateral grooves and depressions in the apical 7 mm of the root canal system. A maxillary canine was used to fabricate a split-tooth model with depressions and lateral grooves placed in the canal walls at 1 mm, 3 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm from the working length. The model was obturated with GuttaFlow or gutta-percha and Roth's 801 sealer (Roth International, Chicago, IL). Obturations with gutta-percha were performed by using warm vertical compaction with the System B plugger (Analytic Endodontics, Orange, CA) advanced to 5 mm, 4 mm, or 3 mm from the working length. All obturations with GuttaFlow showed extrusion of material beyond the apex. GuttaFlow completely obturated the grooves and depressions at all levels from the working length, and, at the 1-mm level, GuttaFlow flowed significantly better into grooves. GuttaFlow flowed better than gutta-percha into depressions at the 1-mm level when the System B plugger was inserted to 5 mm and 4 mm from the working length, but no significant differences were seen when the System B plugger was inserted to 3 mm from the working length. Gutta-percha flowed significantly better into grooves and depressions at the 1-mm level when the System B plugger was inserted 3 mm from the working length compared with 5 mm and 4 mm from working length.