cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
That Life, That Death: A Nostalgia for Nostalgia

I HAPPENED TO BE in Galveston, Texas, with an afternoon to myself before I had to drive back to Houston to catch my evening flight home. I had already been to the train museum which has, along with several engines and railroad cars, a mockup of a train station waiting room, including life-size plaster-of-Paris figures buying tickets, tending to luggage, mak ing telephone calls, and reading or sleeping on the benches. The figures seem dressed in the sort of nondescript clothes that could represent any time from 1930 to 1950, the period roughly ten years on either side of my 1939 birthday. The sight of them had already reawakened my nostal gia for the time of my childhood, the time I sometimes think I have most clearly experienced not in life but in the movies, those years the most exciting event of which was World War II. I had seen billboards in Galveston advertising an air museum, includ ing pictures of a B-17, and so I decided to have a look. The museum consists of a large hanger-like building, houses, a souvenir shop and sev eral well-preserved planes. There are also several planes outside on a flight-line, including a P-38, the only real one I've ever seen. But I couldn't find the promised Flying Fortress anywhere, inside or out. I had about de cided that it would turn out to be, as have several paintings in my life, temporarily removed for restoration. But just as I finished walking around an HU1B helicopter, I heard and then saw the "Fort." There it was, several hundred yards away, wheels down, coming in for a landing. It was painted a bright green, but other than that it was as if I were watching Command Decision or Twelve O'Clock High or The War Lover or either of the Memphis Belles, William Wyler's 1944 documentary or Michael Caton Jones's 1990 feature film. I was, in some part of my mind, relieved that both wheels were down, no props feathered, and that there were no flares announcing the presence of wounded aboard. It's a distinctive plane, the B-17, wide of wing and tall of tail. When it banks into and then levels off for its final approach, one sees mostly wing, up and down at first and then edge on. As it comes down, the
Charge transport and pressure dependence of Tc of single crystal, ferromagnetic EuB6

We present Hall Effect and resistivity data which demonstrate that EuB6 is a degenerate semiconductor transforming into a metal or semimetal below the ferromagnetic ordering temperature, Tc = 13.7K. We also report an anomalously large, positive pressure dependence of Tc, (1/Tc)(ΔTc/ΔP) {reversed tilde equals} 4 × 10-2 kbar-1. © 1980.
Chloroethane Physisorbed on Hydrogenated Si(111): A Test System for the Evaluation of Core Level XPS Assignment Rules at Si/SiO2 Interfaces

We briefly review the controversy concerning the proper methodology for the assignment of soft x-ray photoemission Si 2p core levels at Si/SiO2 interfaces. Evidence for Second nearest neighbor effects in the photoemission spectra of analogous free molecules in the gas phase are surveyed for the purpose of placing this controversy within a wider context. Physisorption experiments have been performed to inquire whether the second nearest neighbor effects found in free molecules are in any way reduced in their magnitude owing to the proximity to the highly polarizable Si surface. No evidence for such a diminution have been found.
IS THE MIND IN THE BRAIN? A REVIEW OF: OUT OF OUR HEADS: WHY YOU ARE NOT YOUR BRAIN, AND OTHER LESSONS FROM THE BIOLOGY OF CONSCIOUSNESS BY ALVA NOË (2009)

Noe's book is part of a movement in the philosophy of mind called enacted mind, or extended cognition. He argues that the mind is not the brain or part of the brain. He believes that the mind cannot be understood except in terms of the interaction of a whole organism with the external environment, especially the social environment. This view bears many resemblances to behaviorism, especially with regard to what the mind is not. Nevertheless, Noe is vague about what he believes the mind is. He speaks of the world as “showing up” and of our knowledge of our own minds as differing from our knowledge of the minds of others, but he does not say exactly where this showing up takes place and what the difference between our knowledge of our own minds and the minds of others consists of. For him, the brain, as the mechanism underlying behavior, remains an important component of mental activity; for him, brain, behavior, and world together constitute consciousness. I argue that this way of looking at consciousness retains elements of the Cartesian philosophy that Noe wants to reject and would deflect the attention of psychologists from the true causes of behavior in temporal and social histories of reinforcement.
Age and the nobel prize

Mozart was composing minuets when he was four years old and sonatas when he was seven. At eighteen Gauss invented the method of “least squares.” Alexander the Great's famous lament came at twenty-one, and Keats had written most of his sonnets before he was twenty-four. Most men do their memorable work in their thirty years' prime of life, but Titian did some of his best painting during his seventies, and at eighty-two Winston Churchill is still writing his History of the English-Speaking Peoples and throwing darts at charity fairs. And Abraham was an hundred years old when his son Isaac was born unto him. Winners of the Nobel prize have also made their contributions at different ages, with those in physics and chemistry being significantly younger than those in physiology and medicine.
A supersonic maneuver wing designed for nonlinear attached flow

A wing designed using the concept of attached supercritical crossflow for supersonic maneuvering aircraft wings has been built and tested. The detailed wing shape was determined using nonlinear potential flow computational aerodynamics methods to obtain a specified target pressure distribution. The test results showed that the target pressures were essentially obtained and that the drag-due-to-lift values at maneuver lift coefficients were considerably less than those expected using linear theory design procedures. The paper provides a detailed description of the wing design and test, and an analysis of the results.
Innovation Strategy, Process and Performance in the Commercial Banking Industry

Faced with rapidly changing markets and deregulations, most commercial banks are increasingly relying on new product development for growth and profitability. However, the success of a new product may depend on choosing the right mix of new product strategy and the development process. Extant literature has examined these two key factors individually rather than investigating their interrelationships. Likewise, the focus of the literature has been on the overall financial services rather than banking services alone. This study addresses these gaps in the literature by conducting a survey of 138 product managers of the major commercial banks and proposing that a bank’s choice of new product strategy and product development process are interrelated as are the impacts of those choices on new product performance. The findings reveal that the moderately innovative products are likely to be more successful than highly innovative and low innovative products. Idea generation and screening efforts, forming a cross...
Androgens rescue avian embryonic lumbar spinal motoneurons from injury-induced but not naturally occurring cell death.

The regulation of survival of spinal motoneurons (MNs) has been shown to depend during development and after injury on a variety of neurotrophic molecules produced by skeletal muscle target tissue. Increasing evidence also suggests that other sources of trophic support prevent MNs from undergoing naturally occurring or injury-induced death. We have examined the role of endogenous and exogenous androgens on the survival of developing avian lumbar spinal MNs during their period of programmed cell death (PCD) between embryonic day (E)6 and E11 or after axotomy on E12. We found that although treatment with testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), or the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide (FL) failed to affect the number of these MNs during PCD, administration of DHT from E12 to E15 following axotomy on E12 significantly attenuated injury-induced MN death. This effect was inhibited by cotreatment with FL, whereas treatment with FL alone did not affect MN survival. Finally, we examined the spinal cord at various times during development and following axotomy on E12 for the expression of androgen receptor using the polyclonal PG-21 antibody. Our results suggest that exogenously applied androgens are capable of rescuing MNs from injury-induced cell death and that they act directly on these cells via an androgen receptor-mediated mechanism. By contrast, endogenous androgens do not appear to be involved in the regulation of normal PCD of developing avian MNs.
Minimum Cost Expediting with a General-Purpose Analog Computer

Several techniques generally referred to as Critical Path Planning systems have been developed in recent years which aid project managers in the planning and control of projects. These techniques assume linear time-cost functions for each task in the project and make use of the arrow diagram to define relationships between tasks.
Questions, questions, questions: Memories of oberursel

(1993). Questions, questions, questions: Memories of oberursel. Intelligence and National Security: Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 199-213.
On the parametrization of the Δ residue function

The complex residues at the Δ(1236) and Δ(1950) poles in the relevant partial-wave amplitudes provide information on the behaviour of the Δ Regge residue function in the resonance region u > 0. Attempts to incorporate this information in parametrizations of the residue by functions that are real on the real u-axis result in residues which have unsatisfactory behaviour in the region u < 1 GeV2. The choice of complex functions for the trajectory and residue removes this undesirable feature and provides a better representation of the residue in the resonance region, suggesting that complex parametrizations would be better suited to Regge analyses of near-backward scattering.
Transport of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in sandy soil: Impact of length scale

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of length scale (travel distance) on the retention and transport of Cryptosporidium oocysts in a sandy soil. Long columns (1 and 2 meters) and an in situ lysimeter (4 m) were used to allow investigation of larger-scale transport under controlled conditions. Significant retention of oocysts was observed, with the magnitude of removal from solution ranging between 2 to 5 logs. While the removal was greater for longer travel distances (or residence times), the increase was not log-linear. This observation indicates that oocyst transport was not consistent with standard colloid filtration theory. The observed behavior is speculated to arise, at least in part, from intrapopulation variability in oocyst properties. The results of this study indicate that while Cryptosporidium oocysts may be expected to experience significant retention and removal during transport in sandy soil, the magnitude of retention may be less than that which would be predicted by applying standard colloid filtration theory to the results of typical short-column experiments. Thus, a fraction of the oocysts may be more mobile than anticipated and thereby pose a greater than expected risk to groundwater.
Formation of thin film YBaCuO Superconductors from Cu/BaO/Y2O3 Layer Structures

Thin film superconductors of the YBaCuO family have been fabricated using layer structures of Cu/BaO/Y 2 O 3 deposited by electron-beam evaporation. Using layer thicknesses off the stoichiometric YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 , we have formed superconducting films with zero resistance above 77°K using MgO and SrTiO 3 substrates. The films were found to be composed of both the superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 phase, and the non-superconducting green Y 2 BaCuO 7 phase. Dependence of transition temperatures on the annealing temperatures and the substrates has also been studied.
Modeling the effects of anthropogenic exploitation and climate change on an endemic stag beetle, Lucanus miwai (Lucanidae), of Taiwan

Loss of biodiversity is a worldwide phenomenon and conservation of endemic species is becoming a pressing issue. However, species differ in life history characteristics, causing the best strategy for conservation to vary among species. Lucanus miwai is an endemic stag beetle of Taiwan, but the natural history and the conservation status of L. miwai have not been fully studied. Lucanus miwai adults live in forest-edge grassland habitats and are experiencing threats from anthropogenic exploitation. Additionally, climate change may threaten its long-term survival because of its specific habitat preference. Results from this study clearly indicate the need for more studies on the natural history of L. miwai and demonstrate that contemporary intensity of anthropogenic exploitation can have a negative effect on population size of this species. Future habitat loss because of global climate change, in addition, can be another major factor leading to population decline. Moreover, increasing demands on L. miwai because of population decline may lead to population extinction. In addition to protecting adult males from being collected, conservation strategies should also focus on discovering habitats utilized by individuals from different life stages, investigating the connectivity between populations, and maintaining the long-term availability of suitable habitats for L. miwai.
Effects of parathyroid hormone on alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization of cultured chick embryo tibiae.

The objectives of this study were (a) to determine if decreased bone alkaline phosphatase (AlPase) activity, resulting either from exposure to parathyroid hormone (PTH) or from direct inhibition of AlPase with levamisole, was concomitant with net changes in bone Ca and P content; and (b) to determine the duration of the effect of PTH on bone AlPase activity after the hormone was removed. Tibiae from 7-day chick embryos were incubated in chemically defined medium for 3–4 days. The Ca and P content of bones incubated for 72 h in this system increased from 2-to 9-fold. Addition of PTH (1 U/ml) to the medium resulted in a 60% decrease in bone AlPase activity, and this decrease was accompanied by a marked inhibition of Ca and P accumulation in bone. When levamisole, a specific inhibitor of AlPase activity, was added to the medium, a similar inhibition of bone mineral accumulation resulted. A 24-h incubation in medium containing PTH (1 U/ml) resulted in a 30% decrease in bone AlPase activity. Following the 24-h exposure to PTH, incubation was continued in medium containing no hormone. After 72 h in hormone-free medium, bones that had been exposed to PTH earlier contained more AlPase activity than paired control bones never exposed to PTH. The PTH-treated bones also recovered their ability to accumulate Ca and P. The results of this study show that: (a) decreased bone AlPase activity resulting from either exposure to PTH or direct inhibition by levamisole is associated with a marked decrease in mineral accumulation in bone; (b) exposure to PTH followed by removal of the hormone leads to recovery and even an increase in bone AlPase activity; and (c) following removal of PTH from the culture system, tibiae recover their ability to accumulate Ca and P. These results suggest that one of the ways PTH may alter mineral accretion is through its effects on bone AlPase activity.
Magnetic behavior of the hydrides of Th7Fe3, Th7Co3 and Th7Ni3☆

Abstract Th7Fe3, Th7Co3 and Th7Ni3 exhibit Pauli paramagnetism and are superconductors with transition temperatures at about 2 K. Hydrogenation of the iron compound converts it into a ferromagnet with a Curie temperature of about 325 K and a magnetization of 1.4μB per iron atom. During hydrogenation vacancies are introduced into the d band by electron capture by hydrogen, and these vacancies give rise to ferromagnetism. Hydrogenation of Th7Co3 and Th7Ni3 produces a rise and a drop in susceptibility respectively, but no ferromagnetism. The behavior of Th7Co3 hydride indicates a barely filled d band or perhaps one with few vacancies. Th7Ni3 is unlike LaNi5, the magnetism of which is dominated by surface-precipitated nickel; oxidation of Th7Ni3 is slight and it contains only very small amounts of surface nickel. The fall in susceptibility is a bulk effect and probably arises from the fact that the Fermi level in the hydride falls at a low point on the density of states curve.
New Kalman filter and smoother consistency tests

Abstract We derive three new tests that can be applied to a Kalman filter to check for inconsistencies. The Filter Residual Test can detect observations that are outliers but would be missed by a basic residual test because the uncertainty of the expected observation is large relative to the uncertainty of the observation. The Smoother Residual Test uses the output from a Modified Bryson–Frazier (MBF) smoother to detect observations that are outliers. The Smoother State Test compares the state estimates from the filter and MBF smoother to detect model inconsistencies, in particular insufficient process noise.
Investigations of the nonlocal exchange energy model on a single body of ferromagnetic material

In this paper we do computations on a single spherical body of uniaxial ferro-magnetic material in a varying applied magnetic field. Our computations are based on a relaxed model with a nonlocal exchange energy. The model is based on Young-measures, but we will make use of recent calculations which indicate that our computations can be based on only the first and second moments. We extend the result of a single uniaxial sphere in a uniform applied magnetic field parallel to the easy direction of magnetization to uniform applied magnetic fields that are skew to the easy direction of magnetization. We show that when the exchange energy is zero, we duplicate the wide range of measured-value minimizers of De Simone's model. As the exchange energy grows, our model stabilizes at the saturated solutions of the Stoner-Wohlfarth model where the measured-valued minimizers are eliminated.
Nanodiamod lateral device field emission diode fabricated by electron beam lithography

Abstract Nitrogen incorporated nanodiamond film is known to aid in promoting enhanced electron emission via the induced graphitic behavior both in the bulk material and also the surface of the film. Since electron emission current is inversely proportional to the cathode to anode inter-electrode distance; it is necessary to implement electron beam lithography (EBL) to obtain a small emission gap. To achieve high resolution from EBL, a thinner nanodiamond film is required. In this work, we fabricated lateral field emitters on a 0.65 µm nanodiamond film. The nanodiamond film was deposited onto a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate in CH 4 /H 2 /N 2 plasma ambient by microwave chemical vapor deposition. The SOI was prepared for diamond nucleation using mechanical abrasion and ultrasonication in nanodiamond powder. Electron beam lithography (EBL) was used to delineate a 10 emitter tipped diode with a 2 µm anode-to- anode emission gap.
On the Rate Distortion Function of a Memoryless Gaussian Vector Source Whose Components Have Fixed Variances

Consider a memoryless Gaussian vector source and assume that the variances of the components of its i.i.d. vectors are known and that no further information on their covariance structure is available. We study the dependence of the rate distortion function of such a source on the covariance structure of its i.i.d. vectors. In particular we give a lower bound of the rate distortion function, expressed only in terms of the known variances, and we show that it is tighter than the Shannon lower bound over a certain distortion region.
DOES PULMONARY HEMORRHAGE CONTRIBUTE TO EXCESS MORTALITY IN EXTREMELY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (ELBW) NEONATES RECEIVING SURFACTANT THERAPY? 1240

DOES PULMONARY HEMORRHAGE CONTRIBUTE TO EXCESS MORTALITY IN EXTREMELY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (ELBW) NEONATES RECEIVING SURFACTANT THERAPY? 1240
Fatal hydrops fetalis caused by anti-D in a mother with partial D.

Abstract Background Rare cases of hemolytic disease of the newborn occur in women with genetic variants of the D antigen. A partial D variant might be suspected when typing for the D antigen shows weaker-than-normal reactions (weak D). Historically, patients with a weak D phenotype have not been considered candidates for Rh immune globulin prophylaxis. Case A gravida 2, para 1 woman with A-positive blood type, delivered an infant who died from severe hemolytic disease of the newborn 6 days after birth. Anti-D, undetectable at the first prenatal visit, was identified (titer 1:64) at delivery. The mother's red cells were partial DVI phenotype. Conclusion Although severe hemolytic disease in patients with partial D is rare, this neonatal death illustrates the need for a change in management of women with weak D.
Cosmic Rays from Super-novae

With the facts mentioned as a beginning it has become customary to reason approximately as follows. Since none of the objects of our Milky Way seem to produce any cosmic rays, these rays probably are not emitted from any of the extragalactic nebulae either, as the spirals among these nebulae are in most respects similar to our own Milky Way. One arrives therefore at one of two hypotheses, either that cosmic rays originate in intergalactic space or that they are survivors from a time when physical conditions in the universe were entirely different from what they are now (Lemattre). On closer scrutiny both hypotheses prove to be very unsatisfactory. On both views one is forced to assume entirely fantastic processes as regards the mode of creation of the rays. Furthermore, on neither of the two hypotheses can it easily be understood why the ratio of the intensity of cosmic rays to the intensity of visible light from extragalactic space is so much greater than unity, whereas the same ratio for our own galaxy is certainly smaller than one (probably less than 0.005) [1]. In the following we make an entirely new proposal, which, we think, removes some of the major difficulties concerning the origin of cosmic rays.
Solubilization, Partial Purification and Radioassay for the Intrinsic Factor Receptor from the Ileal Mucosa

A macromolecule which binds intrinsic factor saturated with vitamin B12 has been solubilized from the guinea-pig ileum by homogenization followed by mechanical disruption without organic solvents or detergents. This intrinsic factor 'receptor' was further purified by precipitation with 30% saturated ammonium sulphate, centrifugation at 105000 g, and filtration through Sephadex G-200. Failure to precipitate the receptor following centrifugation at 105000 g for 3 h and filtration of the receptor with the included volumes through Sepharose 4B and 6B was evidence that it was solubilized. The purification of the receptor was monitored by a radiometric assay where the intrinsic factor-[57Co]vitamin-B12 complex coupled to the solubilized receptor precipitated at 15% sodium sulphate while intrinsic factor-[57Co]B12 alone remained soluble at this salt concentration. This radioassay also permitted the in vitro study of the interaction of the solubilized receptor and intrinsic factor saturated with [57Co]B12. The receptor did not bind intrinsic factor-[57Co]B12 below pH 5 while binding was observed to pH 9.0. Binding was equivalent at 37 degrees C and 25 degrees C, but was markedly reduced at 4 degrees C and 56 degrees C and was destroyed at 100 degrees C. The receptor resisted 60 min of digestion by trypsin, chymotrypsin, pronase and subtilisin. After 180 min digestion, pronase and subtilisin inactivated 90% and 41% of the receptor respectively, whereas trypsin and chymotrypsin inactivated only 21% and 23%. Trisodium EDTA inhibited the binding of intrinsic factor-[57Co]B12 to the receptor and this inhibition could be reversed by the addition of excess Ca2+. Mg2+ and Mn2+ were less effective than Ca2+ for the activity of the receptor. Kinetic analysis of the reaction indicated a maximum velocity of 0.083 nmole IF bound B12/min with a Km of 1.36 x 10(-10) M. The solubilized receptor had a greater affinity for intrinsic factor bound to vitamin B12 than for intrinsic factor free of vitamin B12. The solubilization of this intrinsic factor receptor without chemicals suggests that it is not an integral component of the microvillus membranes hydrophobically bonded to the lipid matrix, but rather a peripheral protein weakly associated with the membrane by non-covalent interaction.
The Growth and Development of Ephestia Kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera) and Tri-Bolium Confusum Duval (Coleoptera) under Controlled Conditions of Temperature and Relative Humidity.

The confused flour beetle ( Tribolium confusum Duval) and the Mediterranean flour moth ( Ephestia kuehniella Zeller) have long been recorded as serious pests of stored grain products (Riley 1889, Chittenden 1896). In recent years they have served as very valuable material for laboratory experiments on insect nutrition (Chapman 1924, Richardson 1926). In spite of the economic and scientific importance of these two insects the writer could find little detailed information on their growth and development under carefully controlled conditions of temperature and relative humidity, on a normal whole wheat diet.
Effect of reproductive toxicants on lipovitellin in female blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus

Abstract Changes in the concentration of lipovitellin, a lipoprotein that is the major protein in mature oocytes of crustaceans, were determined during ovarian development in female blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus. To test the effects of reproductive toxins on vitellogenesis, crabs were fed food containing cadmium or injected with the juvenile hormone antagonist, precocene II. Monoclonal antibodies prepared against one of the lipovitellin peptides (peptide A—107 kDa) were used in an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay to determine lipovitellin concentrations. Recently molted female crabs fed food containing cadmium (0.02 mg/g) for 18 days had oocytes with the same lipovitellin concentration as controls, but after 24 days the oocytes in cadmium treated crabs had significantly lower lipoprotein contents than controls (30 ± 4 ng/oocyte—cadmium treated; 45 ± 4 ng/oocyte—control). Precocene II-treated crabs had significantiy lower lipovitellin concentrations after 18 and 24 days. Diameters of oocytes were the same in both treated and control crabs. The results suggest that some pollutants may affect reproduction by acting during secondary vitellogenesis i.e., period when there is a large increase in lipovitellin synthesis. Since lipovitellins serve many of the nutritional needs of recently emerged crab embryos, poor larval survival may occur as a result of lower lipovitellin content.
Strength of tissue attachment to mesh after ventral hernia repair with synthetic composite mesh in a porcine model.

A prospective animal study involving 12 female swine aimed to measure the strength of tissue attachment to composite mesh at various time points after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in a porcine model. Each animal had two 10 × 16-cm sheets of polypropylene/expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) composite mesh laparoscopically affixed to the abdominal wall with a helical tacking device. No transfascial sutures were used. The animals were euthanized 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks after surgery, and abdominal walls were resected en bloc with the patches. Each patch was cut into 2 × 7-cm strips, and each strip was independently analyzed. The strength of the tissue attachment to the mesh was measured using a servohydraulic tensile testing frame. The abdominal wall was peeled from the mesh, and the transverse, or “lap-shear” force was recorded. Data are reported as mean force in pounds. The mean lap-shear force was 0.83 ± 0.06 lbs at 2 weeks, 1.06 ± 0.07 lbs at 4 weeks, 0.88 ± 0.08 lbs at 6 weeks, and 1.13 ± 0.07 lbs at 12 weeks. The mean force was higher at 12 weeks than at 2 weeks (p < 0.05). No other periods were significantly different from any other. The findings demonstrate that the majority of tissue ingrowth and strength has occurred by 2 weeks after laparoscopic placement of a composite hernia prosthesis. Strength very gradually increases until 12 weeks after surgery. This has clinical implications for human ventral hernia repair. Further study is needed to evaluate the necessity of transfascial sutures for securing polypropylene-based prostheses to the abdominal wall during ventral hernia repair.
Early results of right ventricular-pulmonary artery conduits in patients under 1 year of age

Objectives: Management strategies for the repair of many complex heart defects require the implantation of a valved conduit between the right ventricle (RV) and the pulmonary artery (PA), often using aortic or pulmonary homograft valves. Their limited availability, however, has led to the development and use of new conduits. We retrospectively compared our experience with small homografts in patients of less than 1 year of age with the TissueMede bioprosthetic valved conduit. Methods: From March 1994 to November 1997 29 patients in their first year of life underwent conduit implantation for complex heart defects. These were retrospectively reviewed in order to determine the incidence of death or conduit stenosis. Seventeen patients received homografts and 12 TissueMede conduits. Results: Diagnoses and operative details including conduit size were similar in the two groups and in all cases complete repair of the underlying defect was carried out. Early post-operative mortality was 4/17 (23.5%) in the homograft group and 3/12 (25%) in the TissueMede group. Echo Doppler evaluation within 1 month of operation showed no right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction in any of the survivors. In the TissueMede group 8/9 (77%) survivors have gone on to develop significant RVOT obstruction within 12 months of operation. There have been three late deaths in this group all related to severe RVOT obstruction. Two patients died during an attempt at balloon dilatation and one patient died of progressive right heart failure. Five patients had successful replacement of the TissueMede conduit. One child remains well with no evidence of RVOT obstruction. At operation to replace conduit, or at autopsy, the stenoses were related to the deposition of fibrous tissue at the anastomotic suture lines. In the homograft group none of the survivors developed RVOT obstruction during the first 12 months post-operatively. There was one late death (non-cardiac in origin) and one child is awaiting conduit replacement 40 months after initial implantation for obstruction. Conclusions: The homograft is a satisfactory conduit for re-establishment of RV‐PA continuity in infancy. Further work needs to be undertaken in order to elucidate the mechanisms of early graft failure in bioprosthetic conduits if these are to be a suitable alternative for RV outflow reconstruction in infants. q 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Speech and gesture interfaces for squad-level human-robot teaming

As the military increasingly adopts semi-autonomous unmanned systems for military operations, utilizing redundant and intuitive interfaces for communication between Soldiers and robots is vital to mission success. Currently, Soldiers use a common lexicon to verbally and visually communicate maneuvers between teammates. In order for robots to be seamlessly integrated within mixed-initiative teams, they must be able to understand this lexicon. Recent innovations in gaming platforms have led to advancements in speech and gesture recognition technologies, but the reliability of these technologies for enabling communication in human robot teaming is unclear. The purpose for the present study is to investigate the performance of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) speech and gesture recognition tools in classifying a Squad Level Vocabulary (SLV) for a spatial navigation reconnaissance and surveillance task. The SLV for this study was based on findings from a survey conducted with Soldiers at Fort Benning, GA. The items of the survey focused on the communication between the Soldier and the robot, specifically in regards to verbally instructing them to execute reconnaissance and surveillance tasks. Resulting commands, identified from the survey, were then converted to equivalent arm and hand gestures, leveraging existing visual signals (e.g. U.S. Army Field Manual for Visual Signaling). A study was then run to test the ability of commercially available automated speech recognition technologies and a gesture recognition glove to classify these commands in a simulated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance task. This paper presents classification accuracy of these devices for both speech and gesture modalities independently.
Targeting microglia-mediated neurotoxicity: the potential of NOX2 inhibitors.

Microglia are key sentinels of central nervous system health, and their dysfunction has been widely implicated in the progressive nature of neurodegenerative diseases. While microglia can produce a host of factors that are toxic to neighboring neurons, NOX2 has been implicated as a common and essential mechanism of microglia-mediated neurotoxicity. Accumulating evidence indicates that activation of the NOX2 enzyme complex in microglia is neurotoxic, both through the production of extracellular reactive oxygen species that damage neighboring neurons as well as the initiation of redox signaling in microglia that amplifies the pro-inflammatory response. More specifically, evidence supports that NOX2 redox signaling enhances microglial sensitivity to pro-inflammatory stimuli, and amplifies the production of neurotoxic cytokines, to promote chronic and neurotoxic microglial activation. Here, we describe the evidence denoting the role of NOX2 in microglia-mediated neurotoxicity with an emphasis on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, describe available inhibitors that have been tested, and detail evidence of the neuroprotective and therapeutic potential of targeting this enzyme complex to regulate microglia.
Cortical-hippocampal interactions and cognitive mapping: A hypothesis based on reintegration of the parietal and inferotemporal pathways for visual processing

Spatial navigation and the firing of hippocampal place cells can be driven as much by what an animal knows about its spatial world as by what it immediately experiences at a given location. If presented first with a set of spatially orienting cues, which are then removed during a test, navigation to a place of reward is accurate and place cells still fire in their correct locations despite the absence of the controlling cues (O’Keefe & Speakman, 1987). Similarly, as reported here, place fields are disrupted in a familiar room in darkness if the animal is not shown its starting location, but remain intact in darkness if the starting location is known to the animal. A minimal computational model is presented to account for these results. The hypothesis proposes that conditional associations between places and movements are established during learning about an environment. Given a known starting location, these compound movement/place representations can be used to recall a sequence of target locations on the basis of the corresponding movement sequences alone. Recordings of posterior parietal neurons in rats performing a radial maze task reveal that this cortical region contains cells that are selective for specific combinations of environmental spatial features and motion states. The proposed model suggests how these compound movement/place representations could be combined with hippocampal spatial representations to account for the “blind” navigation phenomena described above. The model may also help us to understand the reasons for segregation of mammalian visual information processing into parietal and inf erotemporal streams as described by Ungerleider and Mishkin (1982).
Heart-lung transplantation in situs inversus

Reconstruction was accomplished in 2 heart-lung recipients with situs inversus resulting in a left-sided systemic venous atrium. We created a large common atrium that was closed on the left side, leaving an atrial cuff on the inferior right quadrant. To this we anastomosed the donor right atrium, which had been opened laterally between the cavae. This resulted in some clockwise rotation of the ventricles and anterior positioning of the apex. The right pulmonary veins passed superior to the atrial anastomosis and posterior to the donor right atrium. Cardiopulmonary function was excellent in both cases.
CD14-dependent alterations in c-Jun expression and phosphorylation in the liver after injury

Abstract CD14-mediated activation of proinflammatory genes may contribute to the pathogenesis of some distant organs after burn injury. The regulation of CD14 and its role in the immediate-early response of c-Jun in the liver after burn injury were investigated in this study. The identification of the differentially displayed CD14 mRNA in the lungs after 18% total body surface area burn was confirmed by a RT-PCR analysis demonstrating a rapid and transient induction of CD14 mRNA in the liver and lungs of mice after injury. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a peak induction of CD14 reactivity in cells appearing to be Kupffer cells at day 1 after injury. In addition, an augmented and delayed induction of c-Jun mRNA was observed in the liver of CD14 knock-out (KO) mice compared to wild type (WT) controls. Furthermore, Western blot analysis revealed that the induction of phosphorylated (serine 63 or serine 73) c-Jun was decreased in CD14 KO mice 1 day after injury compared to WT controls (Figure below). This study provides evidence that injury elicits CD14 induction as well as hyperphosphorylation of the c-Jun N-terminus activation domain. It also suggests that CD14 is involved in modulating the transactivation potential of c-Jun, which may be associated with the hepatic pathogenesis after injury. Download high-res image (91KB) Download full-size image
Novel, near-infrared spectroscopic, label-free, techniques to assess bone abnormalities such as Paget's disease, osteoporosis and bone fractures

Near- infrared (NIR) light with wavelengths from 650 nm to 950 nm (known as the first NIR window) has conventionally been used as a non-invasive technique that can reach deeper penetration depths through media than light at shorter wavelengths. Recently, several novel, NIR, label-free, techniques have been developed to assess Paget’s disease of bone, osteoporosis and bone microfractures. We designed a Bone Optical Analyzer (BOA) which utilizes the first window to measure changes of Hb and HbO2. Paget’s disease is marked by an increase in vascularization in bones, and this device can enable easy diagnosis and more frequent monitoring of the patient’s condition, without exposing him to a high cumulative dose of radiation. We have also used inverse imaging algorithms to reconstruct 2D and 3D maps of the bone’s structure. This device could be used to assess diseases such as osteoporosis. Using 800 nm femtosecond excitation with two-photon (2P) microscopy, we acquired 2PM images of the periosteum and spatial frequency spectra (based on emission of collagen) from the periosteal regions. This technique can provide information on the structure of the periosteum and can detect abnormalities which may be an indication of disease. Most recently, we showed that longer NIR wavelengths in the second and third NIR windows (1100 nm-1350 nm, 1600 nm-1870 nm), could be used to image bone microfractures. Use of NIR light could allow for repeated studies in patients with diseases such as Paget’s and osteoporosis quickly and non-invasively, and could impact the current management for these diseases.
Probing the structure of colloidal doublets by electrophoretic rotation

A doublet formed by the coagulation of two colloidal spheres rotates toward alignment with an applied electric field. The rotation rate is proportional to the difference in the zeta potentials of the two spheres and a geometric coefficient N. This coefficient can be calculated from the electrohydrodynamic equations and depends on the kinematic boundary condition imposed on the spheres. If the doublet rotates as a single rigid body, so that the surfaces of the two spheres do not move relative to one another, then the value of N is a factor of 2 or 3 smaller than if the two spheres are free to rotate relative to one another. Thus, one can evaluate the rigidity of the doublet by determining the value of N experimentally. We have tracked the motion of individual doublets formed from micrometer-size polystyrene latex spheres differing in zeta potential and determined the value of N for different solution conditions. The influence of Brownian motion was taken into account when interpreting the rotational trajec...
Three-body recombination for protons moving in a strong magnetic field

Using a classical Monte Carlo method, we have computed the three-body recombination (two free electrons and a proton scattering into one free electron and a hydrogen atom: e+e+p{yields} H+e) in strong magnetic fields. The proton is allowed its full motion whereas the motion of the electron is given by the guiding center approximation. We investigate recombination for temperatures and fields similar to those used in recent experiments that generated anti-hydrogen. When the proton has the same temperature as the electrons, the recombination rate for the more elaborate equations of motion is roughly 60% larger than for the B{yields}{infinity} approximation. The recombination rate decreases as the proton speed approaches the electron thermal speed; the variation of this rate has implications for the directionality of the anti-atoms formed in recent experiments. We report on several properties of the atoms formed by three-body recombination in strong magnetic fields.
Electron-spin-reversal phenomenon in optically pumped rubidium

We have studied the optical pumping of mixtures of Rb vapor and N{sub 2} buffer gas by laser light tuned to the D{sub 1} transition having a spectral width of {approx}500 MHz. The Rb densities are of the order of 10{sup 13} cm{sup -3}, while the buffer-gas pressures range from 0.1 to 10 torr. As the frequency of the right-hand circularly polarized laser is varied across the D{sub 1} absorption profile, the electron spin polarization of the Rb is found to take on negative values for small negative values of pump detuning from the absorption profile center. This occurs for N{sub 2} pressures below {approx}1 torr; at 10 torr the electron spins consistently point in the same direction as the angular momentum of the pump light. The spin-reversal effect can be understood in terms of populations of the F=2 ({sup 85}Rb) and F=1 ({sup 87}Rb) states caused by small unpolarized fractions in the pump beam and its elimination in terms of pressure broadening caused by the N{sub 2} buffer gas. We speculate that this effect could be used for fast Rb spin modulation.
The Effect of Teacher Approval/ Disapproval Ratios on Student Music Selection and Concert Attentiveness:

An application of learning theory to the study of music teacher behavior was made in order to obtain evidence regarding student music selection behavior and concert attentiveness as influenced by r...
Development of a community pharmacy disaster preparedness manual

Abstract Objective To share an independent pharmacy's experience creating a practical manual for disaster preparedness that incorporates applicable pharmacy regulations, provides a plan to prepare a community pharmacy for disasters, and addresses the pharmacy's duty to the community during disasters. Data sources A literature search was performed to determine if such a manual or a guide had been published previously. The search returned examples of expectations of hospitals during disasters, but few results were specific to community pharmacy. An Internet search for pharmacy contingency planning returned only a few checklists and descriptive reports of pharmacist involvement in past disasters. Data extraction and synthesis Public resources available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Public Health, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Community Pharmacists Association, and American Pharmacists Association were explored. The Iowa State Board of Pharmacy also was contacted. Information was compiled to create a useful guide that addressed disaster planning, risk assessment, and public need during a disaster and that prioritized the needs of the pharmacy and community. Conclusion Every community pharmacy should have a detailed disaster preparedness manual that is readily accessible and easy to follow. The manual created for Valley Drug focused on continuing pharmacy operations while minimizing disruptions in patient care during a disaster. Our manual included only necessary information required to prepare for, operate during, or recover from a disaster.
Postmenopausal estrogen therapy and selected (less-often-considered) disease outcomes.

OBJECTIVE To review the association between postmenopausal estrogen therapy and chronic conditions not usually considered in risk-benefit reviews. DESIGN Ten-year literature review (1989-1998) of case series and epidemiologic studies with risk estimates and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, the most extensively studied conditions, show no consistent association with hormone therapy. Two studies of systemic lupus erythematosus show a nearly three-fold increased risk apparent after 2 or more years of hormone therapy. Single studies suggest an increased risk of pancreatitis, asthma, and Raynaud's syndrome. Evidence for a reduced risk of diabetes mellitus is not compelling. Cataracts and migraine are either increased or decreased by hormone therapy. Among the associations considered here, only an increased risk of gallbladder disease and venous thromboembolic disease have been confirmed in clinical trials of hormone replacement therapy. CONCLUSIONS Further studies are needed.
Rushdie's pickle and the new Indian historical novel: Sealy, Singh, Tharoor, and national metaphor

(1996). Rushdie's pickle and the new Indian historical novel: Sealy, Singh, Tharoor, and national metaphor. World Literature Written in English: Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 28-48.
PATTERNS OF VICTIMIZATION FEAR OF CRIME, AND CRIME PRECAUTIONS IN NON-METROPOLITAN NEW MEXICO

Abstract As society becomes increasingly urbanized, the continued importance of rural-urban distinctions in understanding crime has become subject to debate. The effects of rural and urban residence on victimization rates, fear of victimization, and crime prevention practices are studied using data from a sample survey of eastern New Mexico residents. Urban residents were found to be more fearful of victimization, particularly in the community (as opposed to at home) and at night. Urban residents were also more likely to have taken behavioral but not household precautions in the recent past. Even controlling for demographic variables, urban location and, unexpectedly, education were consistently related to victimization. The general conclusion is that the rural-urban distinction appears to be meaningful in understanding victimization rates, fear of crime, and precautions taken against crime in eastern New Mexico.