cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FusionDB: conflict management system for small-science databases

In this paper, we demonstrate the FusionDB system; an extended relational database engine for managing conflicts in small-science databases. In small sciences, groups---each consists of few scientists---may share and exchange parts of their own databases among each other to foster collaboration. The goal of such sharing, especially when done at early stages of the discovery process, is not to build a warehouse or a unified schema, instead the goal is to compare and verify results, detect and assess conflicts, and possibly modify or re-design the discovery process. FusionDB is designed to meet the requirements and address the challenges of such sharing model. We will demonstrate the key functionalities of FusionDB including: (1) Detecting conflicts using a rule-based model over heterogeneous schemas, (2) Assessing conflicts and providing probabilistic estimates for values' correctness, (3) Extended querying capabilities in the presence of conflicts, and (4) Providing curation operations to help scientists resolve and investigate conflicts according to different priorities. FusionDB is realized on top of PostgreSQL DBMS.
Computerized physician order entry and medication errors: finding a balance

Koppel et al s recent report on computerized physician order entry (CPOE) evaluated its role in facilitating medication errors [1]. Such studies are important because they can inform us regarding how to improve technologies like CPOE. This evaluation is also valuable because the authors studied a vendor-built product, and vendor-developed applications are the predominant type used in the U.S. today. To date, many of the studies of CPOE have been done in organizations like Wishard Memorial and Brigham and Women s Hospital, with ‘‘home-grown’’ applications [2–4]. The performance characteristics of these home-grown applications may be different from vendor systems in domains such as medication safety. This is both because the decision support has been improved over years in these institutions, and because the software has been targeted to the workflow in the individual institution, although the extent to which these represent an issue is uncertain. A main limitation of Koppel et al s study is that it did not count errors or adverse events, but instead measured only perceptions of errors, which may or may not correlate with actual error rates. Further, it did not count the errors that were prevented. As such, it offers no insight into whether the error rate was higher or lower with CPOE. Unfortunately, however, the press interpreted the study as suggesting that CPOE increases the medication error rate. While the authors did not state this, a press release put out by JAMA did so. In their paper, Koppel et al. were critical of other studies for ‘‘focusing only on its advantages.’’ In fact, other studies that we performed at Brigham and
PROSET-a fast procedure to create non-redundant sets of protein sequences

The PROSET computer program described efficiently eliminates redundant entries from a set of proteins. It finds repeats between all the proteins of the original set, derives a block identity score between any two sequences that share at least one sufficiently long exact repeat, and discards the shorter of the two sequences if the score exceeds a user-defined threshold. The program finds application in generating control sets for statistical evaluation of sequence patterns. It may also serve to reduce the amount of redundancy in available databases.
On random sampling in uniform hypergraphs

A k-graph \documentclass{article} \usepackage{amsmath,amsfonts,mathrsfs,amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} ${\mathcal{G}}^{(k)}$ \end{document} **image** on vertex set [n] = {1,…,n} is said to be (ρ,ζ)-uniform if every S ⊆ [n] of size s = |S| > ζn spans (ρ ± ζ) \documentclass{article} \usepackage{amsmath,amsfonts,mathrsfs,amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $\binom{s}{k}$ \end{document} **image** edges. A ‘grabbing lemma’ of Mubayi and Rodl shows that this property is typically inherited locally: if \documentclass{article} \usepackage{amsmath,amsfonts,mathrsfs,amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} ${\mathcal{G}}^{(k)}$ \end{document} **image** is (ρ,ζ)-uniform, then all but exp{−s1/k/20} \documentclass{article} \usepackage{amsmath,amsfonts,mathrsfs,amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $\binom{n}{s}$ \end{document} **image** sets \documentclass{article} \usepackage{amsmath,amsfonts,mathrsfs,amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} $ S \in \binom{[n]}{s}$ \end{document} **image** span (ρ,ζ′)-uniform subhypergraphs \documentclass{article} \usepackage{amsmath,amsfonts,mathrsfs,amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document} ${\mathcal{G}}^{(k)}\lbrack S\rbrack$ \end{document} **image** , where ζ′→ 0 as ζ → 0, s ≥ s0(ζ′) and n is sufficiently large. In this article, we establish a grabbing lemma for a different concept of hypergraph uniformity, and infer the result above as a corollary. In particular, we improve, in the context above, the error exp{−s1/k/20} to exp{−cs}, for a constant c = c(k,ζ′) > 0. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 38, 422–440, 2011 © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
DEFECT METASTABILITY IN HYDROGEN PASSIVATED POLYCRYSTALLINE SILICON

A comprehensive review is presented for the defect passivation and the light-induced metastability in fine grain polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si). The passivation kinetics of grain boundary defects were examined by electron spin resonance and secondary ion mass spectrometry measurements. The spin density decreases to a residual value which strongly depends on the passivation temperature and a further low-temperature anneal reduces the spin density to NS=2.2×1016cm−3. Illumination with white light produces additional dangling bond defects which are metastable and can be removed by an anneal at moderate temperatures. The light-induced degradation decreases with repeated illumination and annealing cycles and is restored upon re-exposure to monatomic H. Our results provide the strongest evidence to date that hydrogen is responsible for the metastability in both poly-Si:H and hydrogenated amorphous silicon.
Bleb Revision for Resolution of Hypotony Maculopathy Following Primary Trabeculectomy

Purpose To describe a surgical method of bleb revision for hypotony maculopathy, to evaluate its long-term efficacy, and to define the relationship between the duration of hypotony maculopathy and visual acuity (VA) outcomes. Design Noncomparative retrospective case series. Methods Medical records of 33 patients with hypotony maculopathy who underwent primary bleb revision between June 1999 and September 2012 by a single surgeon at an academic medical center were reviewed. Hypotony maculopathy was characterized by the presence of a decrease in VA, retinal striae, and macular edema in the setting of decreased intraocular pressure (IOP) after glaucoma filtering surgery. The main outcome measure was final logMAR VA after bleb revision at 6 and 12 months. Results Thirty-three eyes of 33 patients were followed for 4.68 ± 3.56 years (range 0.55–12.69 years). Mean duration of hypotony maculopathy was 4.98 ± 8.93 months. LogMAR VA improved from 0.78 ± 0.40 at baseline to 0.34 ± 0.34 ( P P s ) correlating duration of hypotony and BCVA at both 6 and 12 months was significant ( P = .015 and r s = 0.426, P = .028 and r s = 0.416, respectively). Mean IOP increased from 3.51 ± 2.27 mm Hg to 12.06 ± 4.06 mm Hg ( P Conclusion Surgical repair for hypotony maculopathy provided a significant improvement in VA at 6 and 12 months. Surgical bleb revision is associated with good long-term control of IOP and improved VA in eyes with hypotony maculopathy after previous glaucoma filtering surgery.
Research at project UHV on the performance of contaminated insulators

Abstract This paper describes an up-to-date summary of the contamination research at Project UHV. Results of flashover tests on various types of insulators are presented with discussions of test methods. Two important factors—flashover probability on multiple strings, and nonlinearity of flashover strength with insulator length—areconcentratively discussed. The latter is a particularly important problem for UHV line insulation. A practical design method for line insulation is developed on a statistical basis.
Compatibility among diversity Foundations, lessons, and directions of semantic communication

We give an overview of a theory of semantic communication proposed by Goldreich, Juba, and Sudan. The theory is intended to capture the obstacles that arise when a diverse population of independently designed devices must communicate with one another. The aim of the theory is to provide conceptual foundations for the design and evaluation of devices that are compatible with such a diverse population. Conclusions drawn from the theory (i) identify a kind of information-sensing that is inherently necessary for compatibility whenever the population is sufficiently diverse and (ii) identify tensions between the richness of diversity and the computational cost of coping with such diversity in a population. We will review how these considerations are reflected in the formulation and design of an example application, a self-patching packet network stack. In particular, this application will illustrate the utility of explicit consideration of various computational complexity measures in addressing both (i) and (ii). We will also review work aimed at identifying kinds of populations across which compatibility can be achieved efficiently.
Growth of silicon carbide films via C60 precursors

Abstract Epitaxial silicon carbide films are grown on Si(100) and Si(111) substrates at surface temperatures between 950 and 1250 K via c60 precursors. Films have been grown up to thicknesses greater than 1 μm. The growth rate of the SiC film is not limited by the surface reaction rate of C60 with silicon at these temperatures, rather by the arrival rate of the reactants Si (by diffusion) or C60. This results in rapid film growth. Films have been characterized by low energy electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, and Auger depth profiling. X-ray diffraction suggests the growth of β-SiC in the temperature range investigated. Auger depth profiling shows the film is stoichiometric. Selective crystalline silicon carbide growth is achieved on patterned silicon-silicon oxide samples.
Room-temperature catalytic decomposition of ozone

Abstract Thirty-five materials including charcoal, metals and metal oxides were tested for their room-temperature catalytic efficiency in decomposing ozone. Charcoal and nickelous oxide were found to be the best catalysts. A one-half inch thick filter bed of these materials initially removed 95 and 80 per cent, respectively, of the ozone from a 1 ft3 min−1 air stream containing 250 ppb of ozone. The catalytic efficiency of all the materials tested was found to degrade with time. Operating parameter tests with the charcoal and nickelous oxide showed that their efficiencies at a constant flow rate were nearly invariant over input ozone concentrations ranging from 45 ppb to 1.0 ppm, and that at a constant input ozone concentration, their efficiencies decreased with an increase in flow rate over the range 0.14–1.17 ft3 min−1.
Purification and properties of a DNA ligase from a soluble DNA replication complex

Abstract A DNA ligase has been purified from a subnuclear soluble replication complex isolated from adenovirus type 2-infected human KB cells. DNA ligase activity could not be demonstrated using an exogenous template until the complex was dissociated, suggesting that the ligase activity may be a component of the complex. The purified enzyme was free of endonuclease, exonuclease, 5′-nucleotidase, and phosphatase activites, and had a molecular weight of 105 000, as estimated by sedimentation in a glycerol gradient. The ligase requires ATP and a divalent cation for activity. The optimum of the reaction is at pH 7.8 in 50–100 mM Tris-HCl buffer and 10–20 mM MgCl2. Monovalent salts greatly stimulate ligase activity and the optimum was found at 150 mM. The reaction is very sensitive to high temperature; maximum activity was observed at 25–30°C. ATP is the sole required cofactor and NAD, dATP and GTP could not replace the requirement for ATP. The K m for ATP is 60 μM. The K m for DNA is 250 μg/ml or 1.6 nmol of terminal phosphate/ml and thus the enzyme shows relatively weak affinity for exogenous DNA. The maximum conversion of 32P into a phosphatase-resistant form is approximately 1.3% of the total, whereas T4 ligase, under the same conditions, can convert more than 25% of phosphate into a resistant form.
Alternative techniques for treating benign esophageal strictures

Benign esophageal strictures are most commonly caused by a complex process involving inflammation, fibrous formation, and collagen deposition into the mucosa and submucosa of the esophagus. Most benign esophageal strictures can be successfully treated with endoscopic guided dilation involving either balloon dilators or polyvinyl wire-guided dilators. This article will review the role of standard and adjunctive therapies for benign esophageal strictures.
A Laboratory Model for the General Ocean Circulation

A laboratory model for the study of a barotropic general ocean circulation has been constructed following the strict geometrical constraints of the $\beta $-plane approximation. Fluid is confined by plastic blocks to the volume defined by the intersection of two spherical surfaces, of common centre and slightly different radii with a circular cylinder whose axis intersects the centre of the spheres. The entire system is rotated and an interior circulation is provided by relative rotation of one of the bounding blocks. Uniform density of the rigidly enclosed fluid ensures the irrelevance of laboratory gravity and the absence of centrifugal effects on the flow. Fluid flow is observed with an electrochemical technique. Lines of coloured fluid which move with the local velocity are produced and photographed; velocities are inferred to 5% accuracy. Rossby numbers from 1.3 $\times $ 10$^{-4}$ to 7.7 and Ekman numbers from 3.1 $\times $ 10$^{-4}$ to 3.1 $\times $ 10$^{-2}$ have been achieved. The apparatus can be oriented at an arbitrary mean latitude. The phenomena characteristic of linear subtropical gyres have been observed: a meridional Sverdrup flow, its associated zonal flow and a western boundary current. The existence, structure, and parameter dependencies of these features are in good agreement with the predictions of a general linear boundary layer analysis which has been developed for a thin barotropic ocean. The Sverdrup vorticity balance and the width and structure of the bottom frictional western boundary current have been established within the experimental uncertainties. In the nonlinear regime the position of the centre of the gyre has been measured as it migrates north-westward; a poleward eastern boundary current appears. These results agree with theoretical estimates for the onset of nonlinear behaviour. A long period time dependent flow is observed for high Rossby number. Quantitative studies have been made on an equatorial undercurrent which moves in a direction opposite to the surface forcing velocity. For low Rossby numbers this flow reverses with change in direction of the forcing velocity. In the nonlinear regime, the westward flowing undercurrent developed a streakiness and disappeared; whereas the eastward flowing current remained defined and measurable.
Improved health outcomes in urban slums through infrastructure upgrading

The world is rapidly urbanizing with over half the population now living in urban areas. As the urban population grows, so does the proportion of these persons living in slums where conditions are deplorable. These conditions concentrate health hazards leading to higher rates of morbidity and mortality. This growing problem creates a unique challenge for policymakers and public health practitioners. While the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aim to address these conditions and standards for water and sanitation as well as pertinent health outcomes, little evidence on interventions exists to guide policymakers. Upgrades in slum household water and sanitation systems have not yet been rigorously evaluated to demonstrate whether there is a direct link to improved health outcomes. This study aims to show that slum upgrading as carried out in Ahmedabad, India, led to a significant decline in waterborne illness incidence. We employ a quasi-experimental regression model using health insurance claims (for 2001-2008) as a proxy for passive surveillance of disease incidence. We found that slum upgrading reduced a claimant's likelihood of claiming for waterborne illness from 32% to 14% and from 25% to 10% excluding mosquito-related illnesses. This study shows that upgrades in slum household infrastructure can lead to improved health outcomes and help achieve the MDGs. It also provides guidance on how upgrading in this context using microfinance and a public-private partnership can provide an avenue to affect positive change.
Rapid eye movement analyzer.

Abstract While there have been several efforts to develop rapid eye movement (REM) detection systems, a REM analyzer designed in our laboratory provides REM integrals for cumulative periods in addition to the detection of REM. Detector criteria and circuit operation are fairly straightforward. The on-line REM analyzer includes measurements of the REM integral of individual REMs and the summated integral for a series of REMs, as well as the REM interval. It is expected that use of this analyzer will assist the investigator in delineating the roles of the phasic and tonic components during REM sleep.
Locoregional failure rates in patients with involved axillary nodes after mastectomy and systemic therapy

Published series vary substantially in describing the incidence of locoregional failure after mastectomy among patients with involved axillary lymph nodes who receive systemic therapy. There are few data on such risks with regards to particular patient subsets (such as those defined by combinations of tumor size and nodal status). This article reviews the available data on these subjects as well as problems in their interpretation and clinical use.
Drug testing in the workplace: the allure of management technologies

Discusses US use of drug testing in the workplace, screening employees for smoking, AIDS, genetic traits and reproductive hazards. Attributes this to the costs employers face in insurance, litigation and compensation. Points out that the purpose of drug testing is to circumvent management responsibility for: accidents in the workplace, stress, bad management practices, and disregarding health and safety initiatives. Acknowledges that the tests are harmful and indefensible. Reports that 81 per cent of members of the American Management Association in 1996 conducted drug testing. Claims that screening is the alternative to monitoring – that is screening out individuals who are seen as high risk in some way – yet that misses the point – the focus should be on making hazardous working conditions safe. Indicates that companies may use drug testing as a means of deterring drug users from gravitating towards their organization. Mentions that workplace‐induced stress can lead to substance abuse and that, therefor...
Calculation of barriers to proton transfer using a variety of electron correlation methods

The usefulness of various combinations of MCSCF and CI methods in computing correlated proton transfer potentials is investigated for the systems, HF, H7N, H3O, and H5O. MCSCF calculations can accurately determine proton transfer barriers, provided the correlation is limited to the proton transfer process. The proper correlated space can be obtained more easily if the canonical occupied MOs are first subjected to a localization. Various means are tested of including additional electron correlation into the MCSCF methods. CIS and CISD calculations are performed following MCSCF expansion of the wave function using various different MCSCF reference wave functions. The MCSCF + CISD results are excellent, being fairly independent of choice of virtual Mos, although it is important that the occupied orbitals be balanced between the donor and acceptor. Localizing the occupied MOS prior to the MCSCF part of the calculation again results in a further improvement. These results are compared to CI computations using the canonical orbitals (and which are not preceded by MCSCF preparation of the wave function) and to Moller–Plesset results. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Cusp and W peak analysis in electron capture to the continuum of bare H and He projectiles from hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon gases

Abstract The ECC cusp and W peak shapes for continuum electron capture by ∼ MeV/u H+ and He2+ from hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon gas molecules are analyzed with the general parametric expression of Meckbach, Nemirovsky and Ganbotti (i) to look for trends in the coefficients of these parameters, (ii) as a way of generating computed cusp shapes to reduce statistical fluctuations in cusp difference spectra, and (iii) to provide information on the deconvoluted d 2 σ d v dθ values for cusp and W peaks in hydrocarbon gases.
Case report: ‘Anoddia’

We report a case of a choledochocoele with absence of the main biliary-pancreatic orifice, treated by endoscopic choledochoduodenostomy.
Influence of seafloor topography on the depositional behavior of bi-disperse turbidity currents: a three-dimensional, depth-resolved numerical investigation

We discuss the results of direct numerical simulations of bi-disperse turbidity currents interacting with a flat bottom wall and a Gaussian bump, respectively, with a focus on the final deposit profiles of the coarse and fine particles. We identify regions of reduced and enhanced deposition, as a result of the presence of the bump. Coarse particles are predominantly deposited towards the sides of the bump, as a result of the bi-section and lateral deflection of the current by the bump. In contrast, for fine particles the influence of the bump is felt more in its far wake. We furthermore employ Lagrangian markers in order to track the coarse and fine particles in the current, and to investigate their deposit locations as function of their location of origin. By comparing the final deposit maps, we observe that the bump has the strongest influence on those particles originating in the central lock sections.
Electroreduction of O2 on uniform arrays of Pt and PtCo nanoparticles

Abstract The fabrication of uniform arrays of Pt and PtCo nanoparticles with controlled size and interparticle distance is reported. These particle arrays are ideal model catalysts for exploring particle size and other structural effects on reactivity without the complications from particle aggregation and particle surface protecting molecular layer. Electroreduction of O 2 on these particle arrays was used to elucidate their applications as electrocatalysts. The cyclic voltammetric results on Pt particles show that with increasing interparticle spacing, the O 2 reduction peak shifts to negative potentials and the current density increases significantly. Meanwhile, the voltammogram transforms from a peak to a mixed peak-sigmoidal shape. These voltammetric changes is attributed to the O 2 mass transport pattern change. No apparent advantage of using PtCo was observed as the cyclic voltammogram of O 2 reduction on PtCo is very similar to that obtained on Pt.
Elimination forest guided 2D sparse LU factorization

Sparse LU factorization with partial pivoting is important for many scientific applications and delivering high performance for this problem is difficult on distributed memory machines. Our previous work has developed an approach called $S^*$ that incorporates static symbolic factorization, supernode partitioning and graph scheduling. This paper studies the properties of elimination forests and uses them to guide supernode partitioning/amalgamation and execution scheduling. The new design with 2D mapping effectively identifies dense structures without introducing too many zeros in the BLAS computation and exploits asynchronous parallelism with low buffer space cost. The implementation of this code, called $S^+$, uses supernodal matrix multiplication which retains the BLAS-3 level efficiency and avoids unnecessary arithmetic operations. The experiments show that $S^+$ improves our previous code substantially and can achieve up to 11.04GFLOPS on 128 Cray T3E 450MHz nodes, which is the highest performance reported in the literature.
Minimal detectable change of knee extension force measurements obtained by handheld dynamometry from older patients in 2 settings.

Background and purpose The measurement properties of handheld dynamometry (HHD) have been studied extensively, but information about the responsiveness of the procedure is scant. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to determine the responsiveness (minimal detectable change [MDC]) for measurements of knee extension force obtained by HHD from older adult patients in 2 different settings. Methods This study involved the retrospective retrieval of knee extension force data of the left and right sides from 2 sources (acute rehabilitation [n = 53] and home care [n = 46]). The standard deviation of the forces and the weighted mean intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) from 3 previous studies (ICC = 0.90) were then used to calculate the MDC95%. Results The MDC95% ranged from 46.0 to 79.0 N. It was lower for patients measured in a home care setting than for those measured in an acute rehabilitation setting. Discussion and conclusions By describing the MDC for knee extension force obtained by HHD from older adults in 2 settings, this study provides an indication of the changes in force that would have to be surpassed to conclude that a real change in knee extension strength was observed. The MDCs reported have a role in the interpretation of repeated measurements and in setting goals for changes in knee extension force.
Psychotic symptoms, a disturbance in the sleep mechanism.

1. The close similarity between the mental content of dreams and of psychoses has been reiterated. 2. Reference has been made to the narcolepsy-cataplexy syndrome and such related phenomena as sleep paralysis, somnambulism, and sleep hallucinosis, in which dissociation of the motor and the mental components of sleep occurs. 3. The concept is presented that the mental components of sleep, functioning as in dream content, may be similiarly dissociated in a more chronic form and be manifest as some of the bizarre mental content of psychoses. This concept is outlined in the accompanying table.
Protein phosphorylation in synaptic membranes regulated by adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate: regional and subcellular distribution of the endogenous substrates.

— The aim of these studies is the determination of the topographic distribution of the endogenous substrates in synaptic membrane preparations susceptible to phosphorylation in reactions modulated by adenosine 3′:5′-monophosphate or Ca2+. To this end we have investigated the distribution of these phosphosubstrates in different cellular and synaptic subfractions obtained from rat cortex and corpus striatum, in other rat brain regions and in bovine retina, as well as membrane fractions from liver and testis. The results obtained indicate that two cAMP-dependent protein substrates B (p80, i.e. apparent MR= 80,000) and C (p75) are, as originally suggested by Greencard and collaborators confined to nerve tissue; they are located at least in part in the postsynaptic density, as is an additional protein D (p66). This localization appears to be shared by a cAMP-dependent, and a cAMP-independent entity, designated E (p54) and p48, respectively. In contrast, at least one prominent protein substrate requiring cAMP for its phosphorylation, component F (p50), appears to be associated predominantly with the postsynaptic membrane. At least two of these cAMP-dependent (B and C), as well as two Ca2+ -dependent (p63 and p59), phosphoproteins appear to be associated with the presynaptic membrane.
Estrous cycle stage-dependent effects of neuropeptide-Y on luteinizing hormone (LH)-releasing hormone-stimulated LH and follicle-stimulating hormone secretion from anterior pituitary fragments in vitro.

We recently demonstrated that neuropeptide Y (NPY) potentiates LH-releasing hormone (LHRH)-stimulated LH secretion in vivo, and that these actions of NPY are exerted only under the endocrine conditions leading to preovulatory LH surges, viz. the proestrous or estrogen- and progesterone-primed ovariectomized animal. The present experiments tested the hypothesis that NPY's facilitatory actions are exerted directly at the level of the anterior pituitary gland and depend on in vivo exposure of gonadotropes to the preovulatory endocrine milieu. Animals were killed at 1600 h on either metestrus or proestrus. Anterior pituitary glands (APs) were rapidly removed, cut into eighths, and placed into perifusion chambers. APs were perifused with medium 199 for a total of 8 h, and perfusate samples were collected every 5 min. After 30 min of equilibration, APs received hourly pulses of LHRH alone (10(-8) M), NPY alone (10(-6) M), or LHRH plus NPY. Basal runs consisted of perifusion with medium 199 for 8 h with no peptide treatments. Calculations of total hourly LH and FSH responses revealed that whereas LHRH significantly stimulated gonadotropin secretion from both metestrous and proestrous pituitaries, NPY significantly enhanced LHRH-stimulated LH and FSH secretion only from proestrous pituitaries, i.e. from tissue exposed to the endogenous endocrine milieu under which preovulatory gonadotropin surges are generated. NPY had no facilitatory effect on LHRH-induced gonadotropin secretion from metestrous APs. These results are consistent with our previous in vivo findings and demonstrate that the facilitatory actions of NPY on LHRH-stimulated gonadotropin secretion in vitro are limited to the endocrine conditions under which preovulatory gonadotropin surges are generated.
A finite element model of remote palpation of breast lesions using radiation force: factors affecting tissue displacement.

The early detection of breast cancer reduces patient mortality. The most common method of breast cancer detection is palpation. However, lesions that lie deep within the breast are difficult to palpate when they are small. Thus, a method of remote palpation, which may allow the detection of small lesions lying deep within the breast, is currently under investigation. In this method, acoustic radiation force is used to apply localized forces within tissue (to tissue volumes on the order of 2 mm 3 ) and the resulting tissue displacements are mapped using ultrasonic correlation based methods. A volume of tissue that is stiffer than the surrounding medium (i.e., a lesion) distributes the force throughout the tissue beneath it, resulting in larger regions of displacement, and smaller maximum displacements. The resulting displacement maps may be used to image tissue stiffness. A finite-element-model (FEM) of acoustic remote palpation is presented in this paper. Using this model, a parametric analysis of the affect of varying tissue and acoustic beam characteristics on radiation force induced tissue displacements is performed. The results are used to evaluate the potential of acoustic remote palpation to provide useful diagnostic information in a clinical setting. The potential for using a single diagnostic transducer to both generate radiation force and track the resulting displacements is investigated.
Relationships among the bdellovibrios revealed by partial sequences of 16S ribosomal RNA

Members of the genusBdellovibrio possess the unifying phenotypic trait of attacking and preying upon other Gram-negative bacteria. It has been suggested that this common lifestyle arose by convergent evolution. Physiological and G + C studies have led to the notion that bdellovibrios are a heterogeneous group of loosely related bacteria. We have inferred the phylogenetic relatedness of 12 strains ofBdellovibrio through the analysis of partial 16S ribosomal RNA sequences. Similarity and degree of homology were assessed, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed by the distance matrix method. One branch of the two-branched tree consisted ofB. bacteriovorus and related strains (W, 6-5-S, 109, 109D, 109J, 114, HI Ox9-2, and HI Ox9-3). The other branch was itself branched, withB. starrii, B. stolpii, and marine strain BM4 in separate sub-branches. AllBdellovibrio strains in turn clustered with representatives of the delta division of theProteobacteria. The results indicate that there are at least two subdivisions of the genusBdellovibrio and that present-day bdellovibrios arose from a common ancestor. The placement of the genusBdellovibrio within the delta division of theProteobacteria was confirmed.
Applications of spatio-temporal data mining to north platter river reservoirs

We propose a spatio-temporal data mining method based on support vector machines regression and spatio-temporal feature reduction by principal component analysis. We apply the spatio-temporal data mining method to derive an automated controller for the reservoirs of the North Platte River. The automated controller opens and closes dams to efficiently and accurately control the reservoirs' water levels.
Integration of biomass pretreatment with fast pyrolysis: an evaluation of electron beam (EB) irradiation and hot-water extraction (HWE).

Abstract Integration of biomass pretreatment with pyrolysis offers an opportunity to improve end-product quality and conversion efficiency. In this study, sugar maple (Acer saccharum) was subjected to both hot-water extraction (HWE) at 160 °C (at residence times of 0.5 h, 1.0 h, and 2.0 h) and electron beam (EB) irradiation at a dose of 1000 kGy. Pyrolysis studies were then conducted on all the treated samples at 550 °C using a bench scale pyroprobe-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The HWE samples were selected for further evaluation in catalytic pyrolysis using HZSM-5 catalysts for the production of aromatic hydrocarbons. Analysis of the hot-water treated sample at 160 °C for 2 h showed that HWE increased the volatile mater and decreased the fixed carbon and ash contents; also the glucan content increased by 24% and the xylan decreased by 54%. Derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) analysis indicated that EB irradiation reduced the crystallinity of the sugar based polymers while HWE solubilized the hemicellulose fraction. The pyrolysis results showed that EB irradiation increased the formation of furanic aldehydes (furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF)) and decreased hydroxyacetaldehyde (HAA) and levoglucosan (LG). By contrast, HWE increased the yield of LG, HAA, 5-HMF and furfural; but, decreased the yields of acetic acid (HAc), hydroxyacetone, and other ketones. For the HWE-2 h sample, LG formation increased from 4.45 wt.% to 11.57 wt.% and HAc decreased from 4.87 wt.% to 2.40 wt.%. Catalytic pyrolysis of HWE samples with HZSM-5 zeolite showed that the carbon yields of monoaromatic hydrocarbons increased. HWE treatment at 160 °C for 2 h increased the yield of benzene by 46%, toluene by 35% and xylene by 26%. Pyrolysis-TGA also indicated that HWE decreased the formation of char/coke. Overall, the reduction in the formation of acids and ketones caused by HWE suggest that it could be used to improve bio-oil quality in non-catalytic pyrolysis whilst the increase in the yield of monoaromatic hydrocarbons indicate that HWE could be used to enhance the carbon efficiency in catalytic pyrolysis.
Surfactant enhanced remediation of soil columns contaminated by residual tetrachloroethylene

The ability of aqueous surfactant solutions to recover tetrachloroethylene (PCE) entrapped in Ottawa sand was evaluated in four column experiments. Residual PCE was emplaced by injecting t4C-labeled PCE into water-saturated soil columns and displacing the free product with water. Miscible displacement experiments were conducted before and after PCE entrapment to determine the influence of residual PCE on column dispersivities. The first two column studies involved the injection of a 4% solution of polyoxyethy!ene (POE) (20) sorbitan monooleate, resulting in the removal of 90% and 97% of the residual PCE from 20- 30- and 40- 120-mesh Ottawa sand, respectively. Although micellar solubilization of PCE was the primary mode of recovery in these experiments, ~his process was shown to be rate-limited based on: (a) the disparity between initial steady-state concentrations of PCE in the column effluent and equilibrium vah, es measured in batch experiments; and (b) the increase in effluent concentrations of PCE following periods of flow interruption. In the latter two experiments, surfactant solutions containing mixtures of sodium sulfosuccinates removed > 99% of the residual PCE from soil columns packed with 40-270-mesh Ottawa sand. Approximately 80% of the PCE was mobilized as a separate organic liquid after flushing with < 100 mL of these surfactant solutions. This study demonstrates the capacity of surfactant flushing to enhance the recovery of residual PCE from Ottawa sand and indicates that ultra-low inter- facial tensions (< 0.0Ol dyn cm -I) are not required to achieve significant PCE mobilization when buoyancy forces are important. The potential for displacement of dense nonaqueous- phase liquids as a separate organic phase should, therefore, be evaluated during the selection of surfactant formulations for aquifer remediation.
Reconceptualizing Rhetorical Activism in Contemporary Feminist Contexts

ABSTRACT Feminist activism has long incorporated the rhetorical strategies of public protest and confrontation. However, feminist thought has also produced forms of activism that both include and move beyond these traditional rhetorical options. This essay explores the rhetorical exigencies of contemporary feminist activism, and then examines examples of rhetorical activism that play an integral part in contemporary feminism, such as creating grassroot models of leadership, using strategic humor, building feminist identity, sharing stories, and challenging stereotypes. This activism contributes not only to our understanding of the rhetoric of contemporary feminism, but also extends the rhetorical theories of social movements and counterpublics to include alternative kinds of activist options.
The decays of 70,72Ga to levels of 70,72Ge and the neutron capture cross sections of 69,71Ga

The decays of 21-min (70)Ga and 14-h (72)Ga have been studied from neutron-irradiated Ga. Several discrepancies in previous studies are resolved and inconsistencies in the previous (72)Ge data set are addressed. New values are proposed for the energies and β-decay branchings of the (72)Ge levels. Energies and intensities of the (70)Ga γ rays are also discussed. A new measurement and critical discussion of the (72)Ga half-life is offered. Measurements of the (69)Ga and (71)Ga thermal neutron capture cross sections and resonance integrals are also reported.
Organizing the neglected worker: the Women's Trade Union League in New York and Boston, 1930–1950

From 1930 to 1950, the New York and Boston Women's Trade Union League (WTUL) chapters focused on organizing poorly paid female service employees, many of them African American or Hispanic, whom the AFL and CIO largely neglected. Scholars who studied the WTUL generally confined their work to the period before 1920. Drawing on new primary sources, this article challenges previous characterizations of the WTUL as moribund after 1920, revealing the WTUL's vitality and innovative organizing methods. The WTUL maintained that New Deal protective legislation would prove largely unenforceable if workers remained unorganized. The article examines how the WTUL combined energetic organizing and legislative lobbying on behalf of laundry workers, domestic servants, cafeteria workers, hotel chambermaids, textile workers, and teachers, considered among the most difficult workers to organize.
Molecular mechanisms of life- and health-span extension: role of calorie restriction and exercise intervention.

The aging process results in a gradual and progressive structural deterioration of biomolecular and cellular compartments and is associated with many pathological conditions, including cardiovascul...
On the relation between motor imagery and visual imagery

Jeannerod's target article describes support, through empirical and neurological findings, for the intriguing idea of motor imagery, a form of representation hypothesized to have levels of functional equivalence with motor preparation, while being consciously accessible. Jeannerod suggests that the subjectively accessible content of motor imagery allows it to be distinguished from motor preparation, which is unconscious. Motor imagery is distinguished from visual imagery in terms of content. Motor images are kinesthetic in nature; they are parametrized by variables such as force and time and they are potentially governed by kinematic rules. Jeannerod acknowledges, however, that motor and visual imagery may not easily be separated, because actions take place in a spatial environment. I agree; in fact, I suggest here that visualization may generally be concomitant with, and may even subjectively dominate, motor imagery.
Rotationally resolved infrared–vacuum ultraviolet–pulsed field ionization–photoelectron depletion method for infrared spectroscopic studies of neutral molecules

Abstract The comparison of rotationally resolved infrared–vacuum ultraviolet–pulsed field ionization–photoelectron (IR–VUV–PFI–PE) depletion and IR–VUV–photoion measurements of C 2 H 4 has illustrated the difference of these two methods and the rotational nature of the IR–VUV–PFI–PE depletion method. The IR–VUV–photoion spectra of trans -2-butene in the region 2910–3000 cm −1 observed at different delays between the IR and VUV lasers are also presented to show that the IR–VUV–PI method is potentially useful for the study of intramolecular vibrational redistributions (IVRs). For short IVR lifetimes of vibrationally excited polyatomic neutrals, the IR–VUV–PFI–PE depletion method can serve as an alternative of the IR–VUV–PI scheme for rotationally resolved IR spectroscopy measurements.
Gender differences in prediabetes and insulin resistance among 1356 obese children in Northern California.

Abstract Aims While it has been shown that there are gender differences in prediabetes and insulin resistance among adults, less is known about whether these differences exist in children. Obese children have elevated risk for developing metabolic dysfunction, and this analysis was conducted to compare obese boys and girls. Methods Biomarkers of prediabetes (IFG and HbA1c) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), were examined for 1356 obese children (2–19 years) who presented to a pediatric weight management clinic between 2008 and 2012. Gender differences were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression. Results Boys were more likely than girls to have IFG (adjusted OR: 1.68; CI: 1.06–2.65), but less likely to have elevated HOMA-IR (adjusted OR 0.71; CI: 0.52 –0.97). The female predominance of insulin resistance was present at younger ages than the male predominance of IFG. There were no gender differences with respect to HbA1c. Elevated HbA1c identified 20.7% of the sample as prediabetic whereas IFG identified 7.8%. Conclusions Similar to findings in adults, obese children appear to exhibit more impaired fasting glucose among boys and a higher predominance of insulin resistance among girls. However, HbA1c identified a larger proportion of these high-risk, obese youth as prediabetic than IFG.
Some catalytic and structural aspects of reactivation of denatured citrate synthase

Abstract Crystalline pig heart citrate synthase, denatured in 6.0 M guanidine hydrochloride, was renatured in vitro by dilution. The initial presence of substrate or high ionic strength increased the rate and final extent of refolding. The rate of reactivation was inversely related to concentration of denatured citrate synthase. Citrate synthase undergoes reversible structural transitions as measured by changes in tryptophan fluorescence.
Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy for lower pole nephrolithiasis

A controversy has arisen as to whether the initial form of therapy for lower pole nephrolithiasis should be extracorporeal Shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) or percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). We reviewed our results with 968 single lower pole stones treated by SWL and reviewed publications comparing SWL and PCNL for lower pole nephrolithiasis. In our cases, the stone-free rate was 71.2%, the rate of repeat treatment and post-treatment secondary procedures was 6.4%, the complication rate was 0.5%, and the hospital stay was less than 24 hours in 99.3% of patients. In published series of PCNL for lower pole nephrolithiasis, the stone-$ free rate was 70.5% to 100%, repeat treatment rates were 4% to 62.5%, the complication rates were 13% to 38%, and the hospital stay was 3.1 to 6.1 days. The rates of recurrent stone disease with PCNL were 11% to 22%, similar to the rates after SWL. The percentage of renal urolithiasis patients with lower pole calculi since we started our unit in late 1986 has remained essential...
Sensing via optical interference

Chemical and biological sensing are problems of tremendous contemporary technological importance in multiple regulatory and human health contexts, including environmental monitoring, water quality assurance, workplace air quality assessment, food quality control, many aspects of biodiagnostics, and, of course, homeland security. Frequently, what is needed, or at least wanted, are sensors that are simultaneously cheap, fast, reliable, selective, sensitive, robust, and easy to use. Unfortunately, these are often conflicting requirements. Over the past few years, however, a number of promising ideas based on optical interference effects have emerged. Each is based to some extent on advances in the design and fabrication of functional materials. Generally, the advances are of two kinds: chemo- and bio-selective recognition and binding, and efficient methods for micropatterning or microstructuring.
Construction of a high-resolution physical map of the chromosome 10q22-q23 dilated cardiomyopathy locus and analysis of candidate genes.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and a leading cause of cardiac transplantation worldwide. Multiple loci and three genes encoding cardiac actin, desmin, and lamin A/C have been described for autosomal dominant DCM. Using recombination analysis, we have narrowed the 10q21-q23 locus to a region of approximately 4.1 cM. In addition, we have constructed a BAC contig, composed of 199 clones, which was used to develop a high-resolution physical map that contains the DCM critical region (approximately 3.9 Mb long). Seven genes, including ANX11, PPIF, DLG5, RPC155, RPS24, SFTPA1, and KCNMA1, have been mapped to the region of interest. RPC155, RPS24, SFTPA1, and KCNMA1 were excluded from further analysis based on their known functions and tissue-specific expression patterns. Mutational analysis of ANX11, DLG5, and PPIF revealed no disease-associated mutations. Multiple ESTs have also been mapped to the critical region.
Effects of constituent particle clusters on fatigue behavior of 2024-T3 aluminum alloy

Abstract Fatigue tests of 2024-T3 aluminum sheet were run to determine the effects of constituent particles and particle clusters on fatigue life for all three metallurgical planes. In addition, a model to account for crack coalescence within particle clusters was developed to determine if particle clusters can be more damaging than single particles as crack nucleation sites. On the LS and ST planes, cracks formed primarily at single particles or holes, indicating that coalescence was not an issue. On the LT plane, coalescence was observed when the particle clusters were aligned with the crack growth direction, and the life was reduced about 30%. The crack coalescence and growth model showed that varying the initial separation between two particles (potential cracks) causes at most about a 15–20% change in fatigue life over a separation range of 5 μm to 1200 μm for a pair of 50 μm 2 particles.