cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Rare-Earth-Element Chelation Properties of Linear Poly(ethylenimine methylenephosphonate)

Rare-earth elements (REEs) are indispensable for modern technology; consequently, effective materials for REE extraction and separation are in demand. Polymeric chelators—polymers with metal bindin...
Effects of chronic stress on reinstatement of palatable food seeking: Sex differences and relationship to trait anxiety.

Previous research in our lab has established a causal role for chronic stress exposure in subsequent increases in relapse-like behaviors in male rats with a history of palatable food self-administration. Given that many of the neurobehavioral consequences of stress are sex dependent, we aimed to determine whether sex differences exist with regard to the effects of chronic stress on relapse. Additionally, because high trait anxiety confers vulnerability to stress-related disorders, we examined whether individual differences in trait anxiety were related to differences in relapse-like behavior after chronic stress exposure. Following elevated plus maze testing for classification into high- or low-anxiety phenotypes, male and female rats responded for highly palatable food pellets. During subsequent extinction training, stress was manipulated (0 or 90 min restraint/day for 7 days). Rats were then tested for cue- and pellet priming-induced reinstatement of palatable food seeking. Results showed that female rats displayed higher levels of responding during cue-induced reinstatement tests compared to males, and that a history of chronic stress caused an attenuation of cue-induced reinstatement in female, but not male, rats. Regarding pellet priming-induced reinstatement, there was a three-way interaction such that neither stress history nor anxiety phenotype was related to reinstatement in females, but a history of stress in males caused increased and decreased responding in low- and high-anxiety rats, respectively. These results suggest that biological sex and trait anxiety level may help to explain differences in vulnerability to relapse among individuals exposed to chronic stress. Such information may be useful in designing more personalized and effective treatments for obesity and eating disorders.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Product Vibrational Spectral Analysis for the Reactions of NO2 with 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Dicyanamide (EMIM+DCA-), 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Dicyanamide (BMIM+DCA-), and 1-Allyl-3-methylimidazolium Dicyanamide (AMIM+DCA-).

Direct dynamics trajectory simulations were carried out for the NO2 oxidation of EMIM+DCA-, which were aimed at probing the nature of the primary and secondary reactions in the system. Guided by tr...
Succeeding at CEO Succession Planning: Linking Expertise, Board Attention, and Planning Activities

While formalized succession planning activities by boards can help with CEO succession outcomes and directors recognize their importance, there remains considerable variance in the degree to which ...
Hybrid Surgical Simulator: A Temporal Bone Simulator Validation Study of the Stryker Surgical Simulator (S3).

Introduction The Stryker Surgical Simulator is a hybrid, temporal bone simulator that uses both tactile and haptic feedback combined with a computer interface. We sought to validate this simulator as an otolaryngology resident training tool for performing tympanomastoidectomy. Materials and methods 15 residents and staff performed five basic cortical mastoidectomies. Staff surgeons comprised the "expert" cohort and resident surgeons comprised the "trainee" cohort. Subjective evaluation of the face validity and content validity was assessed via pre- and postquestionnaires. Objective evaluation of content validity was assessed through grading of each temporal bone dissection specimen, comparing time to task completion, and calculating the rate of injury to critical structures. Study approved by the Institutional Review Board (2013.0001). Results Post hoc questionnaires showed that both staff and residents subjectively rated the simulator favorably on face validity, content validity, and all global assessment categories, though there were no significant distinctions between groups (P > 0.05). The resident group had a significantly longer drilling time compared with the staff group throughout the series of tympanomastoidectomies (P = 0.008), and both groups showed a decrease in time to task completion with repetitive drilling. However, there were no significant differences in surgical performance as evaluated by a blinded senior neurotologist (P = 0.52). There were also no critical injuries recorded by the simulator in any of the 75 trials, preventing any evaluation on this measure. Conclusions Despite favorable subjective evaluations by both staff and residents, objective discrimination between experienced and novice participants was not achieved. This was likely in part due to inherent design flaws of the simulator. This emphasizes the potential shortcomings of surgical simulation models for highly technical procedures and points to the importance of intensive study and validation prior to incorporation of commercial training models into surgical training programs.
An Energy-Efficient Deep Convolutional Neural Network Accelerator Featuring Conditional Computing and Low External Memory Access

With its algorithmic success in many machine learning tasks and applications, deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) have been implemented with custom hardware in a number of prior works. However, such works have not exploited conditional/approximate computing to the utmost toward eliminating redundant computations of CNNs. This article presents a DCNN accelerator featuring a novel conditional computing scheme that synergistically combines precision cascading (PC) with zero skipping (ZS). To reduce many redundant convolutions that are followed by max-pooling operations, we propose precision cascading, where the input features are divided into a number of low-precision groups and approximate convolutions with only the most significant bits (MSBs) are performed first. Based on this approximate computation, the full-precision convolution is performed only on the maximum pooling output that is found. This way, the total number of bit-wise convolutions can be reduced by $\sim 2\times $ with < 0.8% degradation in ImageNet accuracy. PC provides the added benefit of increased sparsity per low-precision group, which we exploit with ZS to eliminate the clock cycles and external memory accesses. The proposed conditional computing scheme has been implemented with custom architecture in a 40-nm prototype chip, which achieves a peak energy efficiency of 24.97 TOPS/W at 0.6-V supply and a low external memory access of 0.0018 access/MAC with VGG-16 CNN for ImageNet classification and a peak energy efficiency of 28.51 TOPS/W at 0.9-V supply with FlowNet for Flying Chair data set.
Species Abundance, Spatial and Vertical Distributions, and Eye-Size Trends of Large Heteropods (Pterotracheidae and Carinariidae) in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Heteropods are predatory planktonic gastropods that are important in pelagic ecosystems. However, distributions of large heteropod species are poorly known. Heteropod collections from two midwater sampling programs conducted after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS): the Offshore Nekton Sampling and Analysis Program (ONSAP) in 2011 and the Deep Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico (DEEPEND) in 2015-2018 were used for this study These programs collected over 3,495 heteropods in the two target families from 46 sampling stations in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The zone along the northeastern GOM continental slope had the greatest species richness and abundances. The family Pterotracheidae (Pterotrachea coronata (Forsskal 1775), Pterotrachea hippocampus(Philippi 1836) and Pterotrachea scutata (Gegenbaur 1855) was the most abundant and contained the largest specimens examined. Common carinariids included Carinaria lamarcki (Peron & Lesuer 1810) and Cardiapoda placenta (Lesson 1830). We found evidence of diel migration in P. coronata and P. scutata but not for C. lamarcki, C. placenta or P. hippocampus. We evaluated body and eye size at capture depth for each species. There was no evidence of eye size increasing relative to body size with depth among the five species and relative eye size is species-specific. However, it was observed that vertical migrators had a different eye-type than the non-migrators. We determined that pterotracheids have smaller eyes relative to their total body size than carinariids. The allometric pattern of eye growth differed in P. scutata from those of the other species which could indicate that a factor other than depth plays a part in heteropod eye development. This is the first comprehensive study of large heteropods in the northern GOM which provides an important baseline for continued study of this pelagic gastropod.
Women on the Move: The Forgotten Era of Women’s Bicycle Racing: By Roger Gilles, Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press, 2018, xx + 316 pp., £22.99 (Hardback), ISBN: 978-1-4962-0417-2

In a much-needed contribution to the study of women athletes of the Victorian Era in the United States, Roger Gilles transports his readers to the exciting world of women’s bicycle racing while sim...
What Can Network Science Tell Us About Phonology and Language Processing

Contemporary psycholinguistic models place significant emphasis on the cognitive processes involved in the acquisition, recognition, and production of language but neglect many issues related to the representation of language-related information in the mental lexicon. In contrast, a central tenet of network science is that the structure of a network influences the processes that operate in that system, making process and representation inextricably connected. Here, we consider how the structure found across phonological networks of several languages from different language families may influence language processing as we age and experience diseases that affect cognition during the typical and atypical acquisition of new words, during typical perception and production of speech in adults, and during language change over time. We conclude that the network science approach may not only provide insights into specific language processes but also provide a way to connect the work from these domains, which are becoming increasingly balkanized.
Leveraging insights from behavioral science and administrative burden in free college program design: A typology

Amid concerns over college affordability, many communities and states have enacted free college programs, and the Biden administration has brought momentum to federal free college discussions. Today, hundreds of college promise programs exist in communities across the country, including at least 20 state-sponsored free college programs. While free college policies have the potential to increase enrollment by reducing college costs, substantial variation in program design likely shapes how effective these programs are at expanding college access and reducing racial and economic disparities. This paper leverages insights from administrative burden and behavioral science to develop a typology of statewide free college programs, offering a framework for examining how policy design reduces (or increases) the burden individuals are likely to incur in receiving free college benefits. To do so, we collected data on design features of free college programs (e.g., eligibility criteria, application procedures, maintenance requirements) and created indices capturing the extent to which each program imposes administrative burden and, conversely, offers behavioral supports to help students navigate the aid process. Our findings offer insight for policymakers as they design free college programs and provide context for researchers examining the effectiveness and equity outcomes of statewide free college programs.
The intersect of gastrointestinal symptoms and malnutrition associated with anorexia nervosa and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Functional or pathophysiologic?-A systematic review.

Objective Although multiple pathophysiologic changes develop within the gastrointestinal (GI) system in the setting of malnutrition, the etiology of the reported multitude of symptoms in those with anorexia nervosa and avoidant restrictive intake disorder, as well as their contribution toward disordered eating, remain poorly understood. This systematic review seeks to better understand how these physiologic changes of malnutrition of the esophagus, stomach, intestines, and pancreas contribute toward the reported GI symptoms, as well as better understand how celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic floor dysfunction, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome contribute toward disordered eating. Methods Studies of any design exploring the pathogenesis of complications and treatment strategies were included. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were used to structure and complete the review. Results A total of 146 articles were used for the review. The majority of studies were observational or case reports/case series. Discussion Pathophysiologic changes of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines develop with malnutrition, although these changes do not consistently correlate with expressed GI symptoms in patients with restrictive eating disorders. Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease also contribute to disordered eating through the associated somatic GI complaints, while pelvic floor dysfunction and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome contribute through both somatic symptoms and functional symptoms. Indeed, functional GI symptoms remain problematic during the course of treatment, and further research is required to better understand the extent to which these symptoms are functional in nature and remit or remain as treatment ensues.
Predictors of Interrupted Healthcare Coverage in a National Sample of US Refugees.

Many refugees that resettled into the United States (US) arrive with psychological and physical distress. Their health needs are often met with inadequate healthcare. A variety of barriers negatively affect their healthcare access. Knowledge of demographic and social predictors related to key healthcare access components among refugees is limited. This study examines potential predictors of interrupted healthcare coverage—one key component of healthcare access—among refugees living in the US. Using the 2016 Annual Survey of Refugees (ASR)nation-wide data collected from 4037 refugees, multiple logistic regression methods were utilized to identify socio-demographic predictors of interrupted healthcare coverage. Interrupted healthcare coverage was defined as one or more months in the past 12 months without coverage by Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA), Medicaid, or private health insurance. The following five socio-demographic factors were associated with a higher likelihood of interrupted healthcare coverage: Male gender, 20–49 years of age, lack of marriage, resettlement into the south or Midwest, and poor or no current English proficiency. Refugees with no job were less likely to have interrupted coverage compared to employed refugees. The increased likelihood of interrupted coverage among refugees with poor or no English proficiency supports the belief that limited English proficiency is a barrier to healthcare insurance enrollment. The increased likelihood of interrupted coverage for refugees resettled in the South is consistent with prior literature. In view of clear regional differences, further consideration of the effect of policy differences on refugees living in the US is worthwhile. The findings may help early refugee contacts risk stratify and more effectively allocate limited resources and assist policy makers as they amend and update programs linked to refugee healthcare access (e.g., RMA).
Homological Theory of Regular Local Rings

In this section we shall examine some further uses of the homological tools. After preliminaries on minimal free resolutions, we shall use the Koszul complex to prove the Hilbert syzygy theorem and the basic results of Auslander-Buchsbaum and Serre about regular local rings and polynomial rings: the characterization of regular local rings as the rings of finite global dimension, and the consequences that localizations of regular local rings are regular and that regular local rings are factorial. We also derive some important relations of depth to homology in the Auslander-Buchsbaum formula and the formula connecting the vanishing of Ext i R (M, N) with the depth of the annihilator of M on N. This “explains” in a certain sense the relations of depth and the homology of the Koszul complex that we saw in Chapter 18.
Poststent ballooning is associated with increased periprocedural stroke and death rate in carotid artery stenting.

Background Whereas carotid endarterectomy (CEA) remains the "gold standard" treatment, given its low complication rate, carotid artery stenting (CAS) has emerged as a valid alternative in patients with prohibitive surgical risks. However, the application of CAS has been scrutinized, given its increased perioperative risk in comparison to CEA. Operators follow general guidelines in intraoperative techniques in CAS. However, few of those are evidence based. We believe that a specific outcome-driven examination of the effect of pre- and poststent deployment ballooning is warranted. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of prestent ballooning (pre-SB) and poststent ballooning (post-SB) on hemodynamic depression (HD) and perioperative stroke or death. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who had CAS between 2005 and 2014 in the Vascular Quality Initiative database. Logistic regression analyses of the effect of different pre-SB and post-SB combinations on HD and the 30-day stroke and death rate were performed. We excluded patients who had no protection device, those with isolated common carotid artery lesions, and those who had no ballooning at all. The models controlled for patient age, gender, comorbidities, smoking status, symptomatic status, history of previous ipsilateral CEA, preoperative medications, and ipsilateral degree of stenosis. Results A total of 3772 patients who underwent CAS were included for analysis. Average age of patients was 69.8 ± 9.6 years, with 63% being male. The overall perioperative stroke and death rate was 3.0%. Compared with pre-SB only technique, the combined pre-SB and post-SB technique had a 2.1-fold increase in HD (odds ratio, 2.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.51-3.01; P P Conclusions Compared with pre-SB alone, the use of post-SB increases the chances of perioperative HD and stroke and death rate in patients undergoing CAS. Post-SB should be used only in those cases with severe residual stenosis.
Debating the Transformation of American Law: James Kent, Joseph Story, and the Legacy of the Revolution

Using a variety of sources, including recently discovered letters and notes in James Kent's law library, this essay will demonstrate that although Kent and Joseph Story agreed about the desirability of a strong Congress, an independent federal judiciary, and the need to control juries, they disagreed about the shape of each of these institutions. Together, these disagreements reveal not only the dynamism of American law in the early Republic - a conclusion consistent with Morton J. Horwitz's interpretation in his Transformation of American Law I - but also illuminate the indeterminacy of federal authority and the judicial power - findings that fit more comfortably with the premises and methods of Horwitz's Transformation of American Law II. In addition, their disagreements illustrate the quest for authoritative reasoning that defined post-revolutionary American legal culture and the intertextuality of its formative literature.
Threats of Force: International Law and Strategy

Dr Francis Grimal, Routledge 2012, ISBN-13: 978-0415609852, Price £70.40 hb Dr Grimal’s monograph on the law of armed conflict relating to threats of force, is a significant contribution to the literature. It ventures along one of the most perilous corridors of uncertainty in modern international law, and attempts with commendable courage to set the legal issues in the context of modern international relations. As Professor Breau writes in her Foreword, the existing literature concentrates overwhelmingly on the actual use of force, and there is little academic analysis of the meaning and significance of the threat of force in terms of the reference in article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, to the duty of all members to ‘refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state’.
Exogenous tat Protein Activates Human Endothelial Cells

tat protein, a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gene product that functions as a transactivator for HIV replication, is known to be secreted extracellularly by infected cells. To determine the potential role of tat in the dissemination of HIV into extravascular tissue, this protein was examined for its ability to activate human endothelial cells. The results show that tat does indeed stimulate endothelial cells. This is evidenced by their expression of the endothelial- leukocyte adhesion molecules, E-selectin, critical for the initial binding of leukocytes to the blood vessel wall, and their increased synthesis of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a cytokine known to enhance endothelial cell permeability. Furthermore, tat acts synergistically with low concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha to enhance IL-6 secretion. These data suggest that extracellular tat protein secreted or released into the microenvironment may contribute significantly to the determination of specific sites of leukocyte binding to blood vessels, to transmigration into tissue, and to eventual dissemination of HIV-infected cells or free virions into tissue.
A Markov computer simulation model of the economics of neuromuscular blockade in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Management of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in the intensive care unit (ICU) is clinically challenging and costly. Neuromuscular blocking agents may facilitate mechanical ventilation and improve oxygenation, but may result in prolonged recovery of neuromuscular function and acute quadriplegic myopathy syndrome (AQMS). The goal of this study was to address a hypothetical question via computer modeling: Would a reduction in intubation time of 6 hours and/or a reduction in the incidence of AQMS from 25% to 21%, provide enough benefit to justify a drug with an additional expenditure of $267 (the difference in acquisition cost between a generic and brand name neuromuscular blocker)? The base case was a 55 year-old man in the ICU with ARDS who receives neuromuscular blockade for 3.5 days. A Markov model was designed with hypothetical patients in 1 of 6 mutually exclusive health states: ICU-intubated, ICU-extubated, hospital ward, long-term care, home, or death, over a period of 6 months. The net monetary benefit was computed. Our computer simulation modeling predicted the mean cost for ARDS patients receiving standard care for 6 months to be $62,238 (5% – 95% percentiles $42,259 – $83,766), with an overall 6-month mortality of 39%. Assuming a ceiling ratio of $35,000, even if a drug (that cost $267 more) hypothetically reduced AQMS from 25% to 21% and decreased intubation time by 6 hours, the net monetary benefit would only equal $137. ARDS patients receiving a neuromuscular blocker have a high mortality, and unpredictable outcome, which results in large variability in costs per case. If a patient dies, there is no benefit to any drug that reduces ventilation time or AQMS incidence. A prospective, randomized pharmacoeconomic study of neuromuscular blockers in the ICU to asses AQMS or intubation times is impractical because of the highly variable clinical course of patients with ARDS.
Publishing in Scientific and Engineering Contexts: A Course for Graduate Students Tutorial

Based on feedback from graduate students, from science and engineering faculty who teach graduate students, and from surveys about the skills graduate students need, the authors have designed and taught a graduate-level course in academic publishing. This article describes the need for the course and the theory behind its design, outlines the course content, and presents assessment data from the first three course iterations. The findings indicate that this course has increased students' awareness of the role of rhetorical and discourse knowledge as well as their level of confidence in their ability to write and publish professional work. Further, findings from interviews with faculty advisors yield insight into the benefits of the course for students, advisors, disciplinary programs, and cross-curricular initiatives
Effects of glass mechanical properties on polishing

Our goal is to better understand the effects of glass mechanical properties, such as hardness, Young's modulus and fracture toughness, on the material removal rate during polishing. We have focused on eleven types of commercial Ohara optical glasses that cover the entire spectrum of the glass table. Conventional polishing experiments were performed to study the correlation between the process parameters (i.e., polishing pad, nominal load and slurry particle size) to the material removal rate and surface roughness. The results demonstrate how a material figure of merit affects the glass material removal rate. We review past results acquired at the Center for Optics Manufacturing as well as the work of others. The data presented demonstrate the controllability of the polishing process based on the known mechanical properties of any glass material.
Stromal cells from TNF-transgenic mouse inflamed lymph nodes differentially affect B cell subset maintenance and activation in vitro (IRC11P.429)

Inflamed lymph nodes undergo major structural remodeling, associated with proliferation and functional alterations of stromal cell components. In recent years, critical roles for stromal cells have emerged in determining these architectural changes, as well as affecting the trafficking and localization of immune cell populations and the outcome of immune responses. We have shown that in the TNF-transgenic (TNF-tg) mouse model of arthritis, development of chronic inflammatory joint disease is associated with dramatic changes in the organization of draining lymph nodes and in the phenotypic and functional features of resident B cells, with characteristic expansion of a unique CD23+, CD21/35-high, CD1d-high B cell population (B-in cells). These changes in turn profoundly affect lymphatic drainage function, contributing to pathogenesis. In the studies presented here, we show that in vitro co-culture of B cells on stromal cells from TNF-tg, but not non-inflamed wild-type lymph nodes results in maintenance of the B-in phenotype, elevated surface CD23 expression, and changes in proliferative and functional responses to activation stimuli. Altogether, these results are consistent with a direct role of lymph node stroma in the B cell alterations associated with TNF-tg pathogenesis, and more broadly demonstrate that chronic inflammation-induced changes to stromal cells significantly affect the functional properties of resident B lymphocyte populations.
Fine‐needle aspiration biopsy of the central nervous system performed freehand under computed tomography guidance without stereotactic instrumentation

BACKGROUND Biopsy of the central nervous system (CNS) has been reported previously using relatively large-caliber (12–17-gauge) biopsy instruments with or without stereotactic guidance. In this series, fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) were performed using a smaller diameter needle to evaluate mass lesions of the CNS. METHODS One hundred thirty FNABs were performed freehand under computed tomography (CT) guidance without stereotactic instrumentation guidance using a 22-gauge needle. RESULTS A definitive diagnosis was rendered in 97 of 130 FNABs (75%), including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (n = 33 biopsies); anaplastic astrocytoma (n = 14 biopsies); metastatic carcinoma (n = 13 biopsies); low-grade astrocytoma (LGA) (n = 10 biopsies); lymphoma (n = 7 biopsies); oligodendroglioma (n = 5 biopsies); reactive gliosis (n = 2 biopsies); and abscess (n = 13 biopsies), with the infectious agent identified in 7 of 13 biopsies. Immunohistochemistry was employed in 51 biopsies to assist in determining either the cell type or the infectious agent. Indefinite diagnoses were rendered in 33 patients (25%), including LGA versus gliosis (n = 8 patients), necrosis and/or inflammation (n = 3 patients), nondiagnostic material (n = 17 patients), suspicious for lymphoma (n = 2 patients), suspicious for GBM (n = 2 patients), and high-grade neoplasm not otherwise classified (n = 1 patient). There was no morbidity or mortality attributed to the procedure. CONCLUSIONS FNAB of CNS mass lesions established a diagnosis based on cytologic interpretation in 75% of biopsies without morbidity or mortality. Because morbidity and mortality rates in CT-guided biopsies utilizing stereotactic techniques with large-caliber needles have been reported as high as 14% and 4.7%, respectively, freehand FNAB under CT guidance may be a preferred initial method for evaluating mass lesions of the CNS. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2003;99:277–84. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11720
The 45-kilodalton protein of cytomegalovirus (Colburn) B-capsids is an amino-terminal extension form of the assembly protein.

Intranuclear B-capsids from cytomegalovirus (strain Colburn)-infected cells contain an abundant 37-kDa assembly protein, thought to be involved in capsid formation, and three minor protein constituents (i.e., 45, 39, and 38 kDa) that are immunologically and structurally related to the assembly protein. In the experiments reported here, antisera produced against synthetic peptides were used in conjunction with chemical protein cleavage to examine the structural relationship of these proteins in more detail. Results of these experiments verify that the carboxyl end of the 39-kDa assembly protein precursor is lost during maturation and suggest that the 38-kDa protein may be a processing intermediate. It is shown that the 45-kDa protein is coterminal with the mature assembly protein at its carboxyl end but differs by a predicted 115-amino-acid extension at its amino terminus. In addition, evidence is presented that the 45-kDa protein has a 48-kDa precursor and a 47-kDa putative processing intermediate which have the same carboxy-terminal sequences and undergo the same maturational events as those of the assembly protein. A working model considering the structural relationship of these proteins is presented.
Life History and Laboratory Rearing of Corimelaena incognita (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Thyreocoridae), with Descriptions of Immature Stages

The life history of Corimelaena incognita (McAtee & Malloch) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Thyreocoridae) was studied in southern New Mexico from August 2005 through November 2007, and the immature stages were described. The bug also was reared from egg to adult under controlled laboratory conditions. Adults of this bivoltine species overwintered in leaf litter, emerged in early February, and began feeding on dried fruits of Leucophyllum frutescens (Berlandier) from the previous year, the only host plant observed for this bug; they and their offspring, collectively, fed on the current year's fruit throughout the season until early December. Eggs were found from early April through late September and laid singly, usually glued beneath the bracts of developing fruits. Nymphs were found from late April through late November. This species was reared in the laboratory on fruits of L. frutescens at 25 ± 0.01°C under a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) h. The incubation period averaged 8.33 d. The five stadia averaged 7.27, 4.10, 4.51, 4.90, and 8.54 d, respectively. Instars can be distinguished by differences in morphological features including, among others, body size and punctation.
α‐(N,N‐Dimethylamino)Phenylacetonitrile

α-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenylacetonitrile product: α-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenylacetonitrile Keywords: addition, to CO; replacement reactions, miscellaneous; hydrogen cyanide
Feasibility of Using Traditional Kiln Charcoals in Low-Cost Water Treatment: Role of Pyrolysis Conditions on 2,4-D Herbicide Adsorption

Abstract Prior research has established that pyrolysis temperature during charcoal production is the primary variable influencing adsorption capacity. The first objective of this work was to monitor thermal conditions during charcoal production within three common traditional kiln models. Then, a programmable laboratory furnace pyrolyzer was used to generate chars from eucalyptus, pine, and longan woods and bamboo under a similar range of thermal conditions as identified in the field study. Using chars produced from the furnace, the second objective of this study was to investigate the influence of biomass feedstock and grain size, peak pyrolysis temperature, and duration of thermal treatment on 2,4-D herbicide sorption capacity. A third objective was to determine if chars produced in the laboratory furnace using thermal profiles similar to those observed in the horizontal drum kiln would exhibit similar adsorbent characteristics to kiln charcoals. Field observations revealed significant variability in te...
Reduction of cyclosporine dosage with ketoconazole in a patient with birdshot retinochoroidopathy

Purpose: To report the successful reduction of cyclosporine dosage with adjunctive ketoconazole in a patient with birdshot retinochoriodopathy. Method: Case report. Results: A 55-year-old woman treated with cyclosporine for birdshot retinochoroidopathy had ketoconazole (200 mg/day) added to her medical regimen. Her cyclosporine dosage was reduced to 40 mg per day from 200 mg per day, an 80% reduction. No toxic effect was observed during 12 months of follow-up nor was there progression of the birdshot retinochoroidopathy. Conclusion: Cyclosporine dosage may be reduced considerably in patients with uveitis who use adjunctive ketoconazole. The regimen appears to be safe and efficacious.
A Methodology for Determining the Mineral Content and Particle Size Distribution of Airborne Coal Mine Dust

Abstract Exposure to airborne dust in coal mines has caused respiratory disease in coal miners. The causal agent in these diseases remains unknown, although the minerals found in and around the coal seam have been implicated. Toxicological studies designed to establish the effect of different mineral combinations and concentrations are lacking because the mineral content of coal mine dust has not been defined. This paper reports the initial results of a study done to characterize the mineral content of the coal mine dust found in a mine in the Upper Freeport seam in Northern West Virginia. Coal mine dust samples were collected using 4-stage cassette impactors at nine locations in the mine. The samples were analyzed by an x-ray microdiffraction film technique supplemented by energy dispersive scanning electron microscopy. Primary size modes of about 17 to 20 micrometers from the samples collected at the haulageway and the returnside of the continuous miner were found. From the returnside of the roof bolter...
Synthesis of Zeolite Nanocrystals at Room Temperature

Zeolite A nanoparticles were synthesized under room-temperature conditions from a very reactive organic-template-free gel system. The optimization of the syntheses parameters, namely, the composition of the initial system and the careful choice of the reactants, allowed the crystallization to be accomplished within 3 days. At this stage the individual zeolite crystals were in the range of 100−300 nm without well-developed crystal faces. The prolongation of the synthesis time up to 10 days led to formation of larger well-faceted cubic crystals averaging about 400−500 nm in size. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) study revealed that a thin layer of amorphous material covers the zeolite particles acting as a binder between individual zeolite crystals. The postsynthesis treatment of the product in NH3 media under ultrasonic radiation disintegrated the loosely attached zeolite particles and decreased the fraction of zeolite A particles with low colloidal stability. The employed appro...
An Inverted File Processor for Information Retrieval

Response time in large, inverted file document retrieval systems is determined primarily by the time required to access files of document identifiers on disk and perform the processing associated with a Boolean search request. This paper describes a specialized computer system capable of performing these functions in hardware. Using this equipment, a complicated sample search involving 70 terms and over 67 000 document references can be performed from 13 to 60 times faster than with a conventional machine. Alternatively, many small searches can be processed concurrently with little effect upon system performance. Similar configurations can be applied to standard merging and sorting problems.
At war in Iraq and Afghanistan: children in US military families.

In late 2001, the lives of United States military troops and their families drastically changed as almost overnight thousands of troops were deployed to Afghanistan and then Iraq. Although the effect of combat deployments on soldiers has been described previously, little is known about the impact of these deployments on the health and mental health of military families and their children, especially within the context of the current involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq. We will briefly review the available literature relating to the health and mental health of military troops, and their families and children. We will describe the reasons that the impact may be greater on children in the Reserves and National Guard. Finally, we will describe gaps in our current knowledge regarding these issues. Many military personnel have been sent to combat zones in support of these wars. Currently, 140 000 troops are stationed in Iraq and 23 000 in Afghanistan, and recently the US Army has projected that the troop levels in Iraq will remain unchanged through 2010. A striking difference about this conflict is that almost 40% of these deployed soldiers are activated Reserve and Guard troops. Traditionally, members of the National Guard serve the emergency needs of states, while the Reserve mandate has been to fill in active-duty troops when they were deployed. These roles have been expanded in the face of current combat requirements. Little is known about how combat deployments in support of this war are affecting military troops and their families, especially children, and whether or not the impact may be greater on Reservists (we will use this term to include members of the National Guard as well) and their families. According to the most recent Department of Defense Statistics, over 2700 troops have been killed, and almost 20 000 have been significantly injured. Almost 17% of
Changes in leucine-specific sRNA after infection of E. coli by phages T2 and T4.

Normal development of T2 and T4 in E. coli can occur without major alterations of the leucyl-specific sRNA contingent of the bacterium. The minor changes observed are apparently bacterial strain-specific. They show no temporal relation to the shift from early to late function in normal phage development.
Compressibility and free convection

The basic equations of laminar compressible flow and heat transfer are applied to the free convection boundary layer along an isothermal plate. Solutions which include the effect of all the parameters involved are given. It is found that in the complete approach, the profiles can not be expressed in terms of one similarity variable and one parameter. The profiles, in dimensionless form, are dependent upon the coordinate along the wall, by means of a compressibility variable suitably defined. In addition to the Prandtl number, two parameters influence the profiles, namely the wall — ambient relative temperature difference and the ratio of specific heats. The effect of the compressibility variable is to increase the heat transfer rate at the wall, for small values of the relative temperature difference, and to decrease it for the large values. The skin friction, however, is always reduced. It is concluded, nevertheless, that as long as the compressibility parameter and the relative temperature difference are not of the same order of magnitude, all such compressibility effects may be neglected. The previous approaches to the free convection problem are shown to be special cases of the general formulation given.
Construction of a three-dimensional iso-density map of the low-density lipoprotein particle from human serum

Summary A three-dimensional iso-density map of negatively stained low density lipoprotein (LDL) from human serum has been constructed. Iso-density data were collected from electron micrographs of LDL by scanning at one-micron intervals with a Tech/Ops Isodensitracer. Isodensity contour data were plotted directly on X-Y coordinates. A direct 50-fold enlargement of the particle was achieved with a significant reduction in the signal to noise ratio when compared to conventional enlargement methods. The best three-dimensional distribution of the isodensity data was that of a pentagonal-dodecahedron with isodensity maxima at the vertices. Based on this and other studies (1) these maxima were thought to represent protein subunits.
Log-periodic time-to-failure analysis

We propose that heterogeneous systems fail by exhibiting a critical behavior, characterized by the presence of log- periodic patterns. This prediction has been tested extensively during our continuing collaboration with the French Aerospace company Aerospatial on gas pressure tanks embarked on the European Ariane rockets. Our theory was applied to about 50 pressure-tanks and the results indicate that a precision of a few percent in the determination of the stress at rupture. This non-destructive evaluation technique is now used routinely in the qualifying procedure of the industrial fabrication process. We provide an introduction to the underlying theory, the physical mechanisms, as well as to generalization to other systems.
Minimum detectable phase shift in spectrum-analysis techniques of optical interferometric vibration detection.

The minimum detectable phase shift indicated in recent experimental reports of new linear spectrum-analysis techniques of optical interferometric vibration detection is established as the direct consequence of the 1/f noise voltage in the system components. The dynamic range and inaccuracy predicted by the simple theoretical model presented is in good agreement with experimental measurements. The conclusions of the analysis are compared with experimental reports of heterodyne shot-noise-limited optical systems. With this effective tool the generic class of spectrum-analysis techniques can be analyzed and relatively weighed to assess the effect of noise. This analysis is applicable to optical interferometry in general, although the experiments specifically involved fiber-optic modulators.
Personal Computers and Relational Databases in an Eye Clinic and Eye Pathology Laboratory

Abstract The authors have implemented a sophisticated relational database program on a Macintosh personal computer to assist in organizing and retrieving patient information and clinical diagnoses. The program uses available software and is inexpensive, versatile, and easy to use-particular features of Macintosh computers. Routines are incorporated to encourage accurate data entry when multiple users will input and access the database. This system allows for customized built-in coding schemes, and data transfer can be formatted to interface with IBM compatibles and mainframe computer systems. The authors also review a basic approach to developing a personal database system.
DNA synthesis and applications to molecular biology.

Methodes de synthese chimique; synthese de genes; applications ou clonage moleculaire; diagnostic medical; elements de regulation de la transcription et de la traduction synthetiques; mutagenese dirigee
Nucleation and kinetics of thermodynamic melting: A molecular dynamics study of grain-boundary induced melting in silicon

Abstract A molecular dynamics study of a silicon bicrystal illustrates that thermodynamic melting is rapidly nucleated at, and grows from a grain boundary. No premelting or disordering below the thermodynamic melting temperature is found. These observations are entirely consistent with experiment.
What is the role of vitrectomy for macular edema from branch retinal vein occlusion

I N THE ARTICLE BY YAMAMOTO AND ASSOCIATES,1 treatment for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion is discussed. The treatment of macular edema from a variety of retinal vascular etiologies such as venous occlusive disease, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, and idiopathic macular edema following cataract surgery has been changing rapidly over the past several years. At the recent meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists in San Diego the use of intravitreal triamcinolone was reported in 18 studies ranging from treatment of macular edema arising from retinal vascular diseases, the treatment of serous detachment from choroidal neovascularization, and the use of triamcinolone to help identify the internal limiting membrane during vitrectomy. The 2004 ARVO Meeting had 94 abstracts concerning the use of triamcinolone. Intravitreal triamcinolone is the epitome of immediate gratification for treatment of macular edema from venous occlusive disease and diabetic macular edema. Eyes often show improved visual acuity and dramatic improvements in retinal thickness measured by optical coherence tomography within several days of injection. Unfortunately, the beneficial effects of intravitreal triamcinolone on visual acuity and macular thickness often regress as the triamcinolone is absorbed from the vitreous over several months. Clearly, longerterm treatments of macular edema are needed. Studies over the past 5 years have suggested a possible role of vitrectomy for the treatment of macular edema from branch retinal vein occlusion, central retinal vein occlusion, and diabetic macular edema. The article by Yamamoto and associates is an important report defining a possible role of vitrectomy as a primary treatment for macular edema resulting from branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). The standard treatment for the past 20 years for macular edema arising from branch retinal vein occlusion has been focal laser photocoagulation.
Multidisciplinary pain center follow-up study: Evaluation with a no-treatment control group

Abstract The long-term efficacy of a multidisciplinary pain management center was evaluated by comparing 20 treated patients with 20 no-treatment control patients who met the program's entrance criteria, wanted to participate, but could not because they did not have insurance coverage. At 1–5 years follow-up, 60% of the treated patients met all of the criteria for success established by Roberts and Reinhardt, while none of the untreated patients did so. Treated patients reported less interference with activities, more uptime, lower pain levels, less depression, and fewer hospitalizations than untreated patients. Also, more treated patients reported being employed, while fewer used either narcotic or psychotropic medications at follow-up compared to untreated patients. Pretreatment-to-follow-up changes are reported for both the treated and untreated groups.