cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microstructure of deformation bands in porous sandstones at Arches National Park, Utah

Abstract At Arches National Park it is possible to distinguish three kinds of deformation bands on the basis of their distinctive microstructure: (1) deformation bands with little or no cataclasis; (2) deformation bands with cataclasis; and (3) deformation bands with clay smearing. The micromechanics of deformation band development consist of initial dilatancy followed by grain crushing and compaction. This process may be developed to different stages according to the interplay of porosity, confining pressure, clay content and amount of strain. Low porosities and low confining pressures promote the formation of dilatant bands with no cataclasis. High porosities and high confining pressures promote compaction and cataclasis. Two generations of deformation bands were documented. The older generation has little or no cataclasis and formed in relatively undisturbed sandstone probably under conditions of low confining pressure. The younger generation exhibits cataclasis, appears to be localized in proximity to major faults and seems to have developed under conditions of high confining pressure. The temporal sequence of deformation band development can be related to the regional geology of the area; where the first generation probably formed during growth of the salt anticline, and the second generation during its collapse.
TEXT‐LEARNING CAPABILITIES OF OLDER ADULTS

Many researchers have found that older adults are unable to recall meaningful verbal information (i.e., words, sentences, and instructional text) as well as young adults. Available evidence suggests that the limited recall of older adults may in part result from the inefficient implementation of attentional and organizational processes. Educational gerontol‐ogists must investigate procedures that can increase the efficiency of older adults’ text‐learning skills. It is important that these empirical efforts be guided by models of memory (e.g., Craik's levels‐of‐processing approach) that are applicable to a population of elderly learners. These models can be used to identify text‐learning strategies that are appropriate for older adults. In general, these strategies should stimulate the construction of deep, elaborative memory traces. In particular, they should help older adults to do the following: (1) focus attention on key ideas, (2) organize information for storage and retrieval, and (3) integrate new i...
Effects of Metal Cations on the Corrosion of Iron in Acids

Abstract The corrosion of iron was studied in IN sulfuric acid, IN hydrochloric acid, and IN acetic acid containing oxidizing, reducing, or stable metal cations. Oxidizing cations (Fe+++, Ce++++, Cu++, and Cr2O7−−) increased the corrosion rate of iron in these acids. The increased rate was found to be a linear function of the cation concentration for the concentration range studied (up to 0.1 g ions/liter). For the same oxidation-equivalent concentration the corrosion rate was proportional to the valence change which the metal cations underwent during the corrosion process. Reducing cations (As+++ and Sn++) decreased considerably the corrosion of iron in acids, whereas stable cations (Fe++, Mn++, Cr+++, and Ni++) with the exception of Ni++ showed no effect. The electrochemical action of the various cations was explained on the basis of corrosion data and electrode potential measurements. 3.8.2
Systematics and biology of the endemic water scavenger beetles of Hawaii (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae, Hydrophilini)

Recent field surveys in the Hawaiian Islands have revealed an adaptive radiation of endemic water scavenger beetles (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae). Phylogenetic analysis based on 55 adult morphological characters affirms that this endemic hydrophilid fauna is a monophyletic clade that incorporates the first well-supported transformation from an aquatic to terrestrial way of life within any lineage of the subfamily Hydrophilinae. The clade is prescribed to the genus Limnoxenus Motschulsky, where described members were previously placed. Five new species are described: L. waialeale sp.n. (Kauai), L. kauaiensis sp.n. (Kauai), L. oahuensis sp.n. (Oahu), L. punctatostriatus sp.n. (Kauai) and L. namolokama sp.n. (Kauai). Lectotypes are designated for the two previously described species L. semicylindricus (Eschscholtz) and L. nesiticus (Sharp). The Hawaiian lineage is a component of a larger clade that also includes the remaining four species of Limnoxenus from Europe, South Africa, and Australia, plus the monotypic genera Limnocyclus Balfour-Browne of New Caledonia and Hydramara Knisch of South America. The majority of the Hawaiian species exhibit vestigial wings, an extremely unusual condition in aquatic beetles. No other island-endemic members of the Hydrophilinae are known to be flightless, suggesting insularity per se is not responsible for this condition. L. nesiticus of Oahu has not been collected during the past 106 years, suggesting that it has been lost to anthropogenically mediated extinction.
Thioamide hydroxypyrothiones supersede amide hydroxypyrothiones in potency against anthrax lethal factor.

Anthrax lethal factor (LF) is a critical virulence factor in the pathogenesis of anthrax. A structure−activity relationship (SAR) of potential lethal factor inhibitors (LFi) is presented in which the zinc-binding group (ZBG), linker, and backbone moieties for a series of hydroxypyrone-based compounds were systematically varied. It was found that hydroxypyrothione ZBGs generate more potent inhibitors than hydroxypyrone ZBGs. Furthermore, coupling the hydroxypyrothione to a backbone group via a thioamide bond improves potency when compared to an amide linker. QM/MM studies show that the thioamide bond in these inhibitors allows for the formation of two additional hydrogen bonds with the protein active site. In both types of hydroxypyrothione compounds, ligand efficiencies of 0.29−0.54 kcal mol−1 per heavy atom were achieved. The results highlight the need for a better understanding to optimize the interplay between the ZBG, linker, and backbone to get improved LFi.
Diffusion of labeled water and lipophilic solutes in the lung.

Abstract A perfused, in situ rabbit lung preparation was used to study the diffusion of tritiated water and labeled lipophilic solutes from the airways into the pulmonary vasculature. Following instillation into the airways, initial concentrations of labeled ethanol and butanol in the left atrial outflow usually exceeded those of 3 H 2 O when the lungs were perfused at 37°. In contrast, initial concentrations of [ 14 C]acetone equaled 3 H 2 O concentrations, and those of [ 14 C]antipyrine were below 3 H 2 O concentrations. Increasing the rate of perfusion increased concentrations of the labeled butanol and acetone but decreased that of antipyrine relative to 3 H 2 O. This suggests that the tissues separating the gaseous and vascular compartments of the lung are more permeable to 3 H 2 O than to antipyrine but less permeable to 3 H 2 O than to the alcohols and acetone. Cooling slowed permeation of ethanol and antipyrine relative to 3 H 2 O but seemed to slow diffusion of butanol less than that of 3 H 2 O. These differences cannot be related to movement in the aqueous phase and suggest that cooling slows solute diffusion through lipid membranes. This phenomenon appears to be related to the activation energy of each molecule between the aqueous and lipid phases rather than a phase change in the membrane. 3 H 2 O seems to diffuse through aqueous regions of the air-perfusate barrier.
Interception of two spheroidal particles in shear flow

A numerical method is developed for simulating the motion of particles with arbitrary shape in an effectively infinite or bounded viscous flow. The particle translational and angular velocities are computed directly by solving an integral equation of the second kind arising from the double-layer representation for Stokes flow, subject to a specified force and torque. The deflated integral equation is solved by the method successive substitutions using a spectral boundary-element method. In the case of force- and torque-free particles, the contribution of the particles to the effective viscosity of the suspension is expressed in terms of the distribution density of the double-layer potential over the particle surfaces. The method is applied to investigate the interception of two spheroidal particles in simple shear flow, with emphasis on the net particle displacement and shift in the phase of rotation after separation, and on the transient signature of the interception on the effective viscosity of the suspension. The net particle displacement normal to the streamlines of the shear flow is found to have both positive and negative values depending on the relative particle configuration before interception. For moderate particle separations, the phase of rotation is shifted only slightly with respect to the Jeffery orbit executed by a particle in isolation.
Fetal surgery for myelomeningocele: a critical appraisal.

This article narrates the thrilling story of how the pathogenetic understanding of myelomeningocele was fundamentally revised during the last decades and how these new insights, in particular the “two-hit hypothesis,” have prepared the terrain for human fetal surgery. Formerly, the devastating cluster of neurologic and neurogenic problems was mainly attributed to the primary malformation, that is, failure of neurulation. At present, there is solid evidence that in early gestation the nonneurulated spinal cord functions well, but suffers from progressive traumatic and degenerative damage in later gestation because it is openly exposed to the amniotic cavity. There is no doubt that the secondary, in utero acquired spinal cord destruction is mainly responsible for the disastrous and irreversible peripheral neurologic deficit present at birth, and there is no doubt either that timely prenatal protective coverage can potentially arrest these deleterious dynamics and preserve neurologic function. Also, tethering of the cord within and constant outflow of cerebrospinal fluid from the lesion are seen as the driving forces behind the Chiari II malformation and consequent ventriculomegaly. Untethering and watertight sealing of the lesion reverses hindbrain herniation and lowers the risk for a relevant hydrocephalus. This article then details how human fetal surgery started in the late 1990s and follows the evolution from the pioneer case studies via the first case series providing encouraging results to the ground breaking Management of Myelomeningocele Study Trial, published in The New England Journal of Medicine in February 2011 by Adzick et al, that has, for the first time, generated unequivocal evidence that patients with prenatal repair do significantly better than those with postnatal care only. Finally, this review looks at several other critical issues, including the hitherto immature endoscopic approach to fetal repair, some future directions of research and clinical practice, and also utters a plea for concentration of these equally rare and complex cases to a few truly qualified centers worldwide. The conclusion derived from all data existing today is that maternal–fetal surgery, although not a cure and not free of risks, represents a novel standard of care for select mothers and their fetuses suffering from one of the most ruinous nonlethal congenital malformations.
Regulation of transcription: from lambda to eukaryotes

Almost 50 years ago Jacob and Monod described a world in which genes are regulated by repressors. In this world, each gene – the paradigmatic examples being the lac and lambda phage genes of Escherichia coli – is spontaneously ‘on’ unless turned ‘off’ by a specific repressor [1]. In the late 1960s, it seemed desperately important to isolate and determine the mode of action of repressors, and so we did, and they turned out to be proteins that bind to specific sites on DNA and block binding of RNA polymerase [2].
The InvestiGATOR: integrating today's technology with tomorrow's mind

A description is given of the InvestiGATOR, an integrated computer based instructional (CBI) delivery system for the broadly defined baseline study of signal and systems, which includes systems, communications, circuits, controls, power, signal processing, and DSP. The goal of the InvestiGATOR is to be a unifying agent and, in particular, to provide hands-on educational experience, understanding of the theory of learning, robust educational technology, and teacher and institutional acceptance. The rationale for and benefits of the InvestiGATOR are discussed, and its development is described. >
Percutaneous ultrasound-guided radiofrequency electrocautery ablation of prostate tissue in dogs.

Rationale and Objectives. We investigated the feasibility of percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) electrocautery in ablation of prostate tissue in dogs. Methods. We used six dogs in whom a specially designed needle was placed percutaneously into the prostate. RF electrocautery was applied to the needle and treatment was monitored with ultrasound. Animals were sacrificed and gross examination of the prostate and surrounding tissues was performed. Histopathologic examinations of the prostate were also performed. Results. The treatment zone appeared as an elliptical echogenic focus on ultrasound that increased in size with the application of current. Gross and histopathologic correlation demonstrated that the treatment area included a central area of char with a surrounding area of coagulation. There were no deleterious effects to surrounding tissues. Conclusion. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of percutaneous ultrasound-guided RF electrocautery ablation of canine prostate tissue.
Walking Drosophila align with the e-vector of linearly polarized light through directed modulation of angular acceleration

Understanding the mechanisms that link sensory stimuli to animal behavior is a central challenge in neuroscience. The quantitative description of behavioral responses to defined stimuli has led to a rich understanding of different behavioral strategies in many species. One important navigational cue perceived by many vertebrates and insects is the e-vector orientation of linearly polarized light. Drosophila manifests an innate orientation response to this cue (‘polarotaxis’), aligning its body axis with the e-vector field. We have established a population-based behavioral paradigm for the genetic dissection of neural circuits guiding polarotaxis to both celestial as well as reflected polarized stimuli. However, the behavioral mechanisms by which flies align with a linearly polarized stimulus remain unknown. Here, we present a detailed quantitative description of Drosophila polarotaxis, systematically measuring behavioral parameters that are modulated by the stimulus. We show that angular acceleration is modulated during alignment, and this single parameter may be sufficient for alignment. Furthermore, using monocular deprivation, we show that each eye is necessary for modulating turns in the ipsilateral direction. This analysis lays the foundation for understanding how neural circuits guide these important visual behaviors.
Current concepts of diet therapy for children with hypercholesterolemia

Abstract Substantial evidence now exists that the origins of atherosclerosis begin in childhood. Therapeutic efforts early in life may delay formation of advanced atherosclerotic lesions and enhance early opportunities for lifelong acquisition of heart healthy eating habits. Diet therapy is the cornerstone of clinical management of children with hypercholesterolemia. The National Cholesterol Education Program targets lowering elevated LDL-cholesterol as the primary aim of diet therapy. Recommended dietary modifications for children with elevated LDL-cholesterol include lowering total fat to 30% or less of calories, saturated fat to less than 10% of calories, cholesterol to less than 300 mg/d, and consuming enough calories to achieve or maintain desirable body weight. For children with severe hypercholesterolemia (persistent LDL-cholesterol >130 mg/dl), a further reduction in saturated fat and cholesterol are advised. Parents play a powerful role in promoting adoption of heart healthy eating habits at home. Feeding strategies parents can use to promote acceptance of low fat foods include increasing the availability and accessibility and exposure to these foods, modeling healthy food habits, and presenting healthy foods to their child in a relaxed non-pressured manner. Adherence to a low fat diet can safely lower LDL-cholesterol levels and provide optimal calories and nutrients to support normal growth and development in childhood and adolescence.
Note on the Dirac Character Operators

The Dirac character operators are evaluated for the classes of the symmetric group consisting of the triad, double interchange, tetrad, and pentad, and the corresponding grouptheoretical primitive characters are listed for comparison. It is also shown that the evaluation of these and similar character operators is all that is required for the solution of the standard molecular problems in the spirit of Dirac's original program which avoids appeal to formal group theory.
Microleakage of adhesive resinous materials in root canals

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the in vitro micro-leakage resistance of adhesive resin materials to long-used zinc oxide-eugenol and epoxy resin sealers. Materials and Methods: Seven materials, five test (Real Seal, Real Seal XT, Panavia F 2.0, Infinity Syringeable, GCEM) and two controls (Tubliseal, AH Plus), were evaluated for micro-leakage resistance in a bovine incisor root model, with 12 roots per material. Teeth were root canal treated, stored in water, artificially aged by thermal-cycling, stained with silver nitrate, sectioned to yield eight measurement points per tooth (four coronal and four apical), giving 672 measurement points. Stain penetration was measured using digital positioners and a toolmakers microscope; then analyzed using descriptive statistics, two-way analysis of variance and multiple comparisons testing ( P Results: All modern adhesive resinous materials leaked significantly less than long-used zinc oxide-eugenol and epoxy resin sealers ( P Conclusion: A variety of adhesive resinous materials, endodontic sealers and crown cements, reduced micro-leakage in comparison to long and widely used zinc oxide- eugenol and epoxy sealers.
A review of particle astrophysics with ICECUBE

IceCube is a neutrino detector sensitive to energies above 10 GeV. IceCube operates by sensing the Cherenkov light from secondary particles produced in neutrino-matter interactions. One gigaton of highly transparent Antarctic ice is instrumented to achieve this goal. Designed to be modular, IceCube has been collecting data since construction began in 2005. Construction was completed in December 2010. The primary goal of IceCube is to observe astrophysical sources of neutrinos. We present here a summary of IceCube's recent results in atmospheric neutrinos, point sources, diffuse fluxes of neutrinos, cosmogenic neutrinos, a lack of correlation between neutrinos and Gamma Ray Bursts and the search for dark matter.
Upper limit to the 11.4 m flux of Saturn using VLBI.

Searches continue for non-thermal continuum1,2 and noise storm (ref. 3 and S. Ya. Braude, personal communication) radio emissions from Saturn which might be analogous to the decimetric and decametric emissions from Jupiter4,5. From wavelengths of 1 mm to 3.5 cm the measurements of Saturn can be fitted to a 140 K thermal blackbody curve. From 9 cm to longer wavelengths the equivalent blackbody temperature rises. Yerbury, Condon and Jauncey1 measure a temperature of 400±65 K at 49.5 cm and 540±110 K at 94.3 cm using the Arecibo radio telescope. Observations of thermal emission at longer wavelengths are difficult because of the large collecting areas required. Gulkis2 fits the existing emission curve with a deep, hot model atmosphere. Luthey6, however, considers the possibility of synchrotron radiation as a non-thermal explanation of the rising temperature curve at larger wavelengths. So far the observations of decametric noise storm emissions from Saturn seem to be negative3 although Braude reports possible emissions of several tens of flux units at 25, 20 and 16.7 MHz.
Safety and Efficacy of Erythropoietin in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: A Pilot Randomized Trial

Background. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a neuroprotective agent utilized in stroke patients. This pilot study represents the first randomized trial of EPO in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Methods. Adult, blunt trauma patients with evidence of TBI were randomized to EPO or placebo within 6 hours of injury. Baseline and daily serum S-100B and Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) levels were measured. Results. TBI was worse in the EPO (n = 11) group compared to placebo patients (n = 5). The use of EPO did not impact NSE (P = .89) or S100 B (P = .53) levels compared to placebo. Conclusions. At the dose used, EPO did not reduce neuronal cell death compared to placebo; however, TBI severity was worse in the EPO group while levels of NSE and S100-B were similar to the less injured placebo group making it difficult to rule out a treatment effect. A larger, balanced study is necessary to confirm a potential treatment effect.
HOW IS QUALITATIVE RESEARCH TAUGHT AT THE MASTER'S LEVEL?

This study examined how qualitative research is taught in foundation MSW courses using a content analysis of syllabi and a survey. The Council on Social Work Education required qualitative research content in 1994 and several authors advocate for greater inclusion of it. Yet no research about what qualitative content is included on syllabi is presently available. All accredited MSW programs were contacted, yielding 57 surveys and 48 syllabi. Wide variation in the numbers of course sessions, focal content, readings, and assignments was found nationally. Qualitative content was absent in 8% of syllabi, and only a single class session was the modal level of inclusion. Few syllabi included named qualitative research approaches. Further, very few assignments addressed qualitative research content. Recommendations for curriculum development are offered.
Change Detection on Periphery and Dual-Task Performance

A variation of the Wickens' Task was performed to examine the assumption that people can detect certain stimuli on their periphery without decreasing the performance of the primary task. Participants were instructed to respond to a change in a peripheral stimulus without shifting their gaze from a primary task in the center of their visual field. Our data suggests that both type and magnitude of change have a significant effect on detection rate and reaction time. The data also suggests that the performance of the primary task did not decay after the change of the stimuli occurred. Based on these findings, we argue that people can detect various types of changes without shifting gaze and without degrading task performance. Therefore, an interface particularly designed for peripheral vision is possible, and it will potentially provide benefits to both productivity and safety.
Building a Campus‐Wide Information System — Part II

Specialized Documents. Earlier, we gave some examples of how information providers offer online usage statistics. Some CWISs post such usage statistics online for readers to peruse. In particular, this allows campus information providers to see which documents are the most popular. Some sites merely provide a summary report. Other sites augment reports with a folder offering direct links to the ten most popular titles in the CWIS. Still other sites may offer on‐line graphs showing usage. In most cases, these usage statistics are updated daily or weekly; some WorldWideWeb services report utilization up to the minute. Online usage logs should not include any information that shows specific activity by fully qualified domain name of the client, so as to protect user privacy.
l-Octopamine in Citrus: Isolation and Identification

l-Octopamine, [l-p-hydroxy-α-(aminomethyl)benzyl alcohol], has been isolated and identified from extracts of juice and leaves of the Meyer lemon. Identification was by chromatography, optical rotat...
Calculation of total energies in multicomponent oxides

Abstract The accuracy of different total-energy methods to compute the properties of multicomponent oxides is studied. These materials have typically large unit cells and consequently, computer-running time considerations become important. We show that while highly sophisticated quantum-mechanics techniques such as pseudopotentials or the full-potential linearized-augmented-plane-wave method can be used to accurately compute materials properties, they may require prohibitively long computer runs in oxides. On the other hand, simple potential models, or even fast quantum-mechanics methods such as the spherical self-consistent atomic deformation or the linear muffin-tin orbital method (in the atomic sphere approximation), are not always reliable to study oxides. Charge transfer, breathing of the oxygen ions, and nonspherical charge relaxations are some of the factors that can make any of these schemes fail. However, it is not necessary to always use sophisticated techniques. We show that the self-consistent tight-binding formalism can be used as an interpolation tool to extend the results of accurate calculations for a few compounds in a system to the rest of them. This opens new possibilities for the use of ab initio methods to study technologically-relevant materials properties, such as the temperature behavior of oxides, since formation energies of many different compounds at 0 K are a crucial input to these models.
Attributes of Independent Project Reviews in NASA

Abstract:In some costly failures of projects within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NASA has been criticized for their improper use or lack of independent reviews in projects. To begin to understand some prospective success characteristics of project reviews within NASA and potentially across engineering management, a qualitative case study methodology was used with four NASA projects to identify key attributes of independent project reviews. These attributes were identified in relation to categories of reviewer, reviewee, and the review type. Within each of these categories, attributes were identified and characterized as size, competence, independence, authority, culture, and formality.
Directing Supervisory Control Towards Real HVAC System Integration

Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems comprise a significant portion of U. S. energy consumption. A supervisory control approach allows for the reduction of HVAC energy used. The authors previously developed and discussed the Master Controller (MC) method as a type of supervisory control that minimizes HVAC energy consumption for a given system. This paper provides two advancements towards the application of the MC method in a real system. First, airflow constraints are incorporated into the MC algorithm. Second, an approach is developed for incorporating transient system loads that are calculated via commercial software. The constrained MC method is shown to produce energy savings of approximately 40% compared to a traditional Variable Air Volume (VAV) method and VAV method with chiller control for reducing HVAC energy consumption for an example system.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Back‐Channel Negotiation: International Bargaining in the Shadows

Back-channel negotiations (BCNs) are officially sanctioned negotiations conducted in secret between the parties to a dispute. These extraordinary negotiations operate in parallel with, or replace, acknowledged front channels of negotiation. Back channels are like the black markets of negotiation; they are separate tables where bargaining takes place in the shadows. When front-channel negotiations fail, they are sometimes eclipsed by successful BCNs even though the same principals, conflicts, and sociopolitical contexts are involved. This article asks: Why do decision makers deploy back channels? What is the impact of BCN on international peace processes? The Palestinian–Israeli peace process, in which both back and front channels have been used consistently, provides the basis for comparing channels and offering initial answers to these questions. The author concludes that while BCN can facilitate breakthrough agreements, it can also damage a peace process by helping to reinforce some of the uncertainties that gave rise to the use of back channels in the first place.
Differential regulation of threonine and tyrosine phosphorylations on protein kinase Cδ by G-protein-mediated pathways in platelets

Phosphorylation of activation loop threonine (Thr(505)) and regulatory domain tyrosine (Tyr(311)) residues are key regulators of PKC (protein kinase C) delta function in platelets. In the present study, we show that G(q) and G(12/13) pathways regulate the Thr(505) and Tyr(311) phosphorylation on PKCdelta in an interdependent manner. DiC8 (1,2-dioctanoylglycerol), a synthetic analogue of DAG (diacylglycerol), caused Thr(505), but not Tyr(311), phosphorylation on PKCdelta, whereas selective activation of G(12/13) pathways by the YFLLRNP peptide failed to cause phosphorylation of either residue. However, simultaneous activation by DiC8 and YFLLRNP resulted in Thr(505) and Tyr(311) phosphorylation on PKCdelta. In addition, we found that the activation of SFKs (Src family tyrosine kinases) is essential for G(12/13)-mediated Tyr(311) phosphorylation of PKCdelta. These results were confirmed using G(q)-deficient mouse platelets. Finally, we investigated whether Thr(505) phosphorylation is required for Tyr(311) phosphorylation. A T505A PKCdelta mutant failed to be phosphorylated at Tyr(311), even upon stimulation of both G(q) and G(12/13) pathways. We conclude that (i) PKCdelta binding to DAG, downstream of G(q) pathways, and its translocation results in Thr(505) phosphorylation, (ii) G(12/13) pathways activate SFKs required for the phosphorylation of Tyr(311) on Thr(505)-phosphorylated PKCdelta, and (iii) Thr(505) phosphorylation is a prerequisite for Tyr(311) phosphorylation on PKCdelta.
Abdominoscrotal Hydrocele : A Rare Cause of a Cystic Abdominal Mass in Children

Abdominoscrotal hydrocele is a rare cause of cystic lower abdominal masses in children. A timely diagnosis is important because early surgical treatment is curative. Graded compression during the ultrasound evaluation might better demonstrate the communication between the abdominal and scrotal components of the fluid collection, thereby avoiding the use of ionizing radiation and/or the sedation required with alternative imaging modalities.
Recreating the World: Tipi Ornaments by Cheyenne and Arapaho Women

Until recently, studies of Plains Indian arts and culture primarily focused on the roles of men and their achievements. While slowly changing, the emphasis on men's activities among scholars and co...
Market Structure, Product Differentiation, and Industrial Research

Research and firm size within industries, 640. — Research elasticities and average firm size, 644. — Market structure and the level of research, 645. — The role of technical entry barriers, 652. — Conclusions, 656.
Programming languages for programmable networks

Today's computer networks perform a bewildering array of tasks, from routing and access control, to traffic monitoring and load balancing. To support wireless users accessing services hosted in the cloud, enterprise and data-center networks are under increasing pressure to support client mobility, virtual-machine migration, resource isolation between cloud services, and energy-efficient operation. Yet, network administrators must configure the network through closed and proprietary interfaces to heterogeneous devices, such as routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, network address translators, and intrusion detection systems. Not surprisingly, configuring these complex networks is expensive and error-prone, and innovation in network management proceeds at a snail's pace.During the past several years, the networking industry and research community have pushed for greater openness in networking software, and a clearer separation between networking devices and the software that controls them. This broad trend is known as Software Defined Networking (SDN). A hallmark of SDN is having an open interface for controller software running on a commodity computer to install packet-processing rules in the underlying switches. In particular, the OpenFlow protocol (see www.openflow.org) has significant momentum. Many commercial switches support OpenFlow, and a number of campus, data-center, and backbone networks have deployed the new technology.With the emergence of open interfaces to network devices, the time is ripe to rethink the design of network software, to put networking on a stronger foundation and foster innovation in networked services. The programming languages community can play a vital role in this transformation, by creating languages, compilers, run-time systems, and testing and verification techniques that raise the level of abstraction for programming the network. In this talk, we give an overview of Software Defined Networking, and survey the early programming-languages research in this area. We also outline exciting opportunities for interdisciplinary research at the intersection of programming languages and computer networks.
Improvements in polysilicon etch bias and transistor gate control with module level APC methodologies

The targeting of transistor gate length is a primary driver of device performance. The targeting of the physical gate critical dimension (CD) greatly impacts the electrical gate dimension. Traditionally, continual monitoring and manual offsets to compensate for lithographic and etch equipment variability have been used to control gate CDs. This paper discusses how advanced process control techniques were applied to the 0.13-/spl mu/m polysilicon (poly) patterning process. Both scanner and etch equipment were controlled using a combination of feedforward and feedback loops. As a result, significant engineering labor was saved, and gate CD 3 sigma results improved 12%, correlating to improved device performance and enhanced yield.
Relating Preschool Quality to Children’s Literacy Development

Preschool classrooms were investigated to determine the extent to which quality is related to children’s literacy development. The study included 24 classrooms of 428 prekindergarten children in a large, urban Midwestern school district. Results suggest that global classroom quality and literacy environment quality are strongly related. Literacy environment quality and children’s literacy abilities are also related. Differences in classroom quality were found to have an impact on children’s literacy scores—the higher the quality, the higher the scores. This article also describes lessons learned from the investigation and provides suggestions for teachers and administrators for improving quality to enhance literacy development.
Effects of surgery, general anesthesia, and perioperative epidural analgesia on the immune function of patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract Study Objective To assess preoperative and postoperative immune function in patients undergoing surgical resection of non-small cell lung cancer during general anesthesia and postoperative epidural analgesia. Design Observational single-center study. Setting University-affiliated academic center. Patients 24 adult, ASA physical status 3 and 4 patients with stage 1, 2, or 3 non-small cell lung cancer. No study patient received preoperative chemotherapy or radiation. Interventions Patients underwent t horacotomy with general anesthesia and postoperative epidural analgesia. Measurements Bispectral index monitoring, sevoflurane requirements, and intraoperative transfusions were recorded. Total fentanyl consumption and pain (verbal numeric rating scale) were recorded 24 hours after surgery. Preoperative and 24-hour postoperative natural killer cell percentage and function and percentages of natural killer T cells, T helper cells (CD4+), and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8+) were measured. Plasma concentrations of the T H 1 cytokine interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma and the T H 2 cytokines interleukin-4 were measured at the same time points. Results The percentage (preoperative, 13.07 ± 9.81% vs postoperative, 9.6 ± 6.57%, P P H 1/T H 2 ratio also remained unchanged. Conclusions Innate immunity is depressed in patients with non-small cell lung cancer after surgical resection, and immunity is not preserved by the use of postoperative epidural analgesia.
Human Development and Culture

This chapter discusses advances in both concepts and methods directed toward the integration of culture and human development. In extending prior syntheses of emergent convergences across varying disciplinary perspectives that emphasize culture and human development, we bring to the fore parallels between sociohistoric-cultural perspectives and relational development science perspectives. We begin with a brief summary of how three subfields of psychology (i.e., cultural, cross-cultural, and developmental) began to converge in significant ways over the past three decades in order to provide a context within which the current conceptual, theoretical, and methodological advances toward the integration of culture and human development can be understood. This is followed by the main focus of the chapter–a discussion of both conceptual issues and methodological advances that have been made in the integration of culture and human development. In particular, we call attention to four key advances: (1) the relation of person and culture as embodied or mutually constitutive, (2) the integration of meaning-making as part of context, (3) action and epigenesis as the source and process of developmental change, and (4) the simultaneous focus on both idiographic and nomothetic levels of analysis. Finally, to highlight the significant progress that has been made in application of these advances in theory and methods, we provide brief overviews of two specific topics of research in the field of human development where the integration of cultural and developmental science perspectives appears to be most promising. These two topics are the emerging field of cultural neuroscience, and integrative research on socialization and ethnic identity development. Keywords: action; cultural and developmental science perspectives; culture as meaning making; embodiment; epigenesist; integration of culture and human development; mutually constituted person and culture as mutually constitutive; methods
Treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis: challenges and update.

Purpose of reviewTo update the current understanding of the risk factors for poor outcomes in juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitis. In addition, current therapies, both traditional and biological, are reviewed.Recent findingsMale sex, independent of age or antinuclear antibody status, is as
In defense of the frontal lobe hypothesis of cognitive aging

Over the past decade a number of reviewers have argued that the pattern of spared and impaired cognitive functions observed in the cognitive aging literature can be understood within the context of a neuropsychologically constrained model that proposes that the prefrontal cortex is more vulnerable to the effects of normal aging than other cortical regions (Dempster, 1992; Hartley, 1993; Moscovitch & Winocur, 1992; West, 1996). While this model has served as a valuable heuristic in my own thinking about cognitive aging, the current review of Greenwood and theoretical work emerging from other laboratories argues that the “frontal lobe hypothesis” (FLH) no longer provides a useful or accurate framework within which to understand brain behavior relationships in cognitive aging. While I agree with several of the ideas developed in the review of Greenwood (this issue) I believe the continued utility of the FLH can be demonstrated by considering two questions: (1) What does the FLH predict about cognitive aging and is there support for these predictions? and (2) Has the time come to move beyond a general specification of the FLH? In answering these questions I will provide one or two findings from the empirical literature. These are intended to be illustrative, not exhaustive.
Interdigitating dendritic reticulum cell tumor of lymph nodes: case report with differential diagnostic considerations.

A 66-yr-old man with a history of interdigitating reticulum cell tumor (IDRCT) presented with an enlarging right cervical lymph node suspicious of recurrent disease. He reported no fevers or night sweats and was otherwise asymptomatic at the time of the fine-needle aspiration (FNA). FNA of the lymph node showed a spindle cell lesion with plump, at times deeply convoluted, large nuclei, coarsely granular chromatin, with one or two distinct nucleoli, intimately associated with mature-appearing lymphocytes. A cell block was made and immunohistochemistry was carried out. Immunopositivity for vimentin, S-100, and CD68 and immunonegativity for CD21 and AE1/AE3 were noted. This case report is the first to illustrate the FNA cytomorphology of IDRCT and to discuss the cytologic differential diagnosis of this rare tumor type in lymph nodes.
An Integrated Kinematic-Kinetostatic Approach to Optimal Design of Planar Mechanisms Using Fuzzy Theories

A new integrated approach to the design of high speed planar mechanisms is presented. The resulting nonlinear programming formulation combines both the kinematic and kinetostatic synthesis aspects of mechanism design. The multiobjective optimization techniques presented in this work facilitate the design of a linkage to meet several kinematic and dynamic design criteria. The method can be used for motion, path, and function generation problems. The nonlinear programming formulation also permits an imposition of constraints to eliminate solutions which possess undesirable kinematic and motion characteristics. To model the vague and imprecise information in the problem formulation, the tools of fuzzy set theory have been used. A novel method of solving the resulting fuzzy multiobjective problem using mathematical programming techniques is presented. The outlined procedure is expected to be useful in situations where doubt arises about the exactness of permissible values, degree of credibility, and correctness of statements and judgements.
Meeting educational and outcome assessment requirements of Criteria 2000

The ABET Board of Director has adopted an Engineering Accreditation Commission recommendation that a new accreditation criteria called "Criteria 2000" be circulated for a two-year comment period beginning January, 1996. It is hoped that the Criteria 2000, as appropriately amended, will be adopted and in place before the next millennium begins. Criteria two and three of section II represent a dramatic shift in emphasis relative to historic ABET criteria. Criterion two includes the requirement for detailed published educational objectives consistent with the mission of the institution. Criterion three requires an assessment process with documentation of results that drives ongoing development/improvement in the program. This paper describes the process followed by the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas to involve large numbers of faculty in the development of detailed educational objectives. Examples of objectives in several areas are given. Outcomes for these objectives and measurements used to determine the extent to which objectives are met are also discussed.
Is Minority Status a More Consistent Predictor of Disability Than Socioeconomic Status

Applying the social and capabilities models of disability and using individuals as the unit of analysis, the authors examined the consistency of socioeconomic status and membership in a minority group as covariates of four dimensions of disability. Using the responses of 260,062 individuals to the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the authors examined three binary variables identifying individuals who required assistive devices or experienced at least 1 day of limited activity because of physical, emotional, or mental problems or because of only physical problems. Among 55,026 respondents who experienced at least 1 day of limited activity, the authors examined variation in the number of disability days. After health needs, lifestyle risks, demographic attributes, and access to care were controlled, the results indicated that socioeconomic status is a more consistent predictor of disability than membership in a minority group.
Branch points of area-minimizing projective planes and a question of Courant

Minimal surfaces in a Riemannian manifold \(M^n\) are surfaces which are stationary for area: the first variation of area vanishes. In this paper, we treat two topics on branch points of minimal surfaces. In the first, we show that a minimal surface \(f:\mathbb RP^2\rightarrow M^3\) which has the smallest area, among those mappings from the projective plane which are not homotopic to a constant mapping, is an immersion. That is, \(f\) is free of branch points, including especially false branch points. As a major step toward treating minimal surfaces of the type of the projective plane, we extend the fundamental theorem of branched immersions to the nonorientable case. In the second topic, we resolve, in the negative, a question on the directions of curves of self-intersection at a true branch point, which was posed by Courant (Dirichlet’s principle, conformal mapping and minimal surfaces. Wiley, New York, 1950).
Principals' Roles in the Development of US Programs of School, Family, and Community Partnerships.

Abstract This longitudinal study of 320 US schools explored the importance of the principal to the development of programs of school, family, and community partnerships. Schools rated the degree of support from the principal for school-wide efforts of family and community involvement and provided data on principal turnover. Analyses also explored other essential elements of partnership program success including teamwork and external support variables. The regression analyses indicated significant and positive relationships between principal support and partnership program quality in 2002. Principal turnover failed to predict variation in program quality. The results suggest the importance of engaging the principal in partnership efforts; developing strong support for partnerships among parents, teachers, and community members; and continually expanding and evaluating the work of the partnership team to promote student success and development.
Quality improvement of LPC-processed noisy speech by using spectral subtraction

Numerous noise-suppression techniques have been developed for operating at the front end of low-bit-rate digital voice terminals. Some of these techniques have been evaluated by standardized intelligibility tests such as the diagnostic rhyme test (DRT). It is well known that the use of a noise suppressor seldom improves the DRT score even though listeners have had the impression that speech quality was enhanced. Unfortunately, noise suppressors have only occasionally been evaluated by standardized quality tests. The authors supplement quality test data for reference purposes. They use the diagnostic acceptability measure (DAM) to evaluate speech quality of the latest 2400-b/s linear-predictive coder (LPC) with a noise suppressor at the front end. They used a spectral subtraction technique for noise suppression. Ten different sets of noisy speech recorded at actual military platforms (such as a helicopter, tank, turboprop, helicopter carrier, or jeep) were input sources. The magnitude of the DAM improvement is substantial: as much as six points on the average, which is large enough to upgrade speech quality somewhat. >