cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maximizing the formation of low-melting, mesogenic oligomers from the catalytic polymerization of pyrene

Abstract Experimental data has been measured for the catalytic polymerization of pyrene and used to generate a microkinetic reaction model capable of predicting reaction conditions suitable for producing low-melting mesophases. Although pyrene trimer forms 100% mesophase with a low melting point, product yield as a percentage of the feed pyrene monomer is low. Thus, the strategy is to produce a mesogenic material consisting of three pyrene oligomers: dimer, trimer, and “x-mer” (i.e., tetramer and higher oligomers). Using the microkinetic model, a wide range of operating conditions has been explored; two scenarios are worth experimental investigation to determine the extent of mesophase formation in the proposed oligomeric mixtures: (1) moderate reaction temperatures and short reaction times, which minimize the formation of high-melting x-mer and (2) moderate temperatures and long reaction times, which eliminate the need for monomer and dimer stripping to build up the molecular weight of the pyrene pitch product. Finally, NMR measurements of the pyrene pitch products indicate that the oligomers are completely cyclized, with oligomers consisting of monomer units connected by single C–C bonds being undetectable. With complete cyclization occurring, one would expect better mechanical properties in carbon products (e.g., carbon fibers) made from such a mesophase pitch.
Neural Coding of Syllable-Final Fricatives with and without Hearing Aid Amplification.

Background Cortical auditory event-related potentials are a potentially useful clinical tool to objectively assess speech outcomes with rehabilitative devices. Whether hearing aids reliably encode the spectrotemporal characteristics of fricative stimuli in different phonological contexts and whether these differences result in distinct neural responses with and without hearing aid amplification remain unclear. Purpose To determine whether the neural coding of the voiceless fricatives /s/ and /ʃ/ in the syllable-final context reliably differed without hearing aid amplification and whether hearing aid amplification altered neural coding of the fricative contrast. Research Design A repeated-measures, within subject design was used to compare the neural coding of a fricative contrast with and without hearing aid amplification. Study Sample Ten adult listeners with normal hearing participated in the study. Data Collection and Analysis Cortical auditory event-related potentials were elicited to an /ɑs/–/ɑʃ/ vowel-fricative contrast in unaided and aided listening conditions. Neural responses to the speech contrast were recorded at 64-electrode sites. Peak latencies and amplitudes of the cortical response waveforms to the fricatives were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results The P2' component of the acoustic change complex significantly differed from the syllable-final fricative contrast with and without hearing aid amplification. Hearing aid amplification differentially altered the neural coding of the contrast across frontal, temporal, and parietal electrode regions. Conclusions Hearing aid amplification altered the neural coding of syllable-final fricatives. However, the contrast remained acoustically distinct in the aided and unaided conditions, and cortical responses to the fricative significantly differed with and without the hearing aid.
Estimation and design with correlated observations

Assuming a polynomial trend with correlated errors, approximate expressions for the expectation of the ordinary least squares (OLS)—residuals—based estimators for the covariance function and the variogram are derived. An estimator for the covariance function based on the recursive residuals is presented and compared to the OLS—residuals—based estimator.
Citizen scientists record novel leaf phenology of invasive shrubs in eastern U.S. forests

Invasive shrubs are an emergent concern in deciduous forests of eastern North America. Their extended leaf phenology (ELP)—earlier leaf emergence and later leaf off compared to native shrubs and the overstory canopy—can simultaneously provide photosynthetic benefits to invasive shrubs while negatively affecting native flora and fauna through producing novel understory shade when the overstory canopy is leafless. However, phenology varies geographically, and the degree to which ELP from local-scale studies applies across the range of forests experiencing shrub invasion is unknown. In partnership with the USA National Phenology Network, we developed a citizen science campaign to record broad patterns of species-specific ELP—an otherwise prohibitively large effort. Using 1500 observations of 14 species spanning 4 years, we found that the difference in leaf phenology between native and invasive shrubs can exceed 77 days within a growing season, a gap that decreases with increasing latitude by 2.9 [1.6, 4.2] days per degree latitude in the spring, and 2.2 [0.6, 1.9] in the fall. Geographic trends in ELP provide a context for interpreting local scale phenology research while bridging inconsistent findings between existing studies and can streamline management by targeting detection and removal of invasive shrubs with leaves while natives are dormant. Furthermore, even small changes to seasonal phenology can impact forest communities, especially if there is a differential response to climate cues by nativity. After exploring broad-scale environmental variables associated with leaf phenology, we find a similar correlation with pre-growing season warmth for native and invasive shrubs, but a different relationship with dormant chill days—a variable less frequently considered for modeling spring phenology for forest productivity.
Particulate and Dissolved Organic Matter in Stormwater Runoff Influences Oxygen Demand in Urbanized Headwater Catchments

Increasing inputs of organic matter (OM) are driving declining dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in coastal ecosystems worldwide. The quantity, source, and composition of OM transported to coastal ecosystems via stormwater runoff have been altered by land use changes associated with urbanization and subsequent hydrologic flows that accompany urban stormwater management. To elucidate the role of stormwater in the decline of coastal DO, rain event sampling of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in samples collected from the outfall of stormwater ponds and wetlands, as well as samples of largely untreated runoff carried by stormwater ditches, was conducted across a range of urban and suburban development densities. Sampling also included measurements of particulate and dissolved carbon and nitrogen, carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, and chlorophyll-a. Results suggest stormwater may be a significant source of labile OM to receiving waters, especially during the first flush of runoff, even though BOD concentrations vary both among and within sites in response to rain events. BOD variability was best predicted by particulate OM (POM) and chlorophyll-a, rather than the larger pool of dissolved OM. These findings demonstrate the importance of managing episodic stormwater discharge, especially POM, from urbanized areas to mitigate DO impairment in larger downstream systems.
Emergency Nurse Perceptions of Pain and Opioids in the Emergency Department.

Abstract The opioid crisis is a national health emergency with immense morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic cost. Emergency department (ED) pain management is tightly linked to the issue of opioid use disorder (OUD), because opioid exposure is necessary for development of OUD. Emergency nurses are on the frontlines of this complex problem, yet little, if any, attention has been paid to the role they play in the prevention and management of either pain or OUD in this unique and important setting. A framework that conceptualizes and optimizes emergency nurses as change agents in the opioid epidemic is urgently needed. While ED pain management and OUD prevention is dependent on the entire care team, this innovative study qualitatively characterizes emergency nurse perceptions of pain management, OUD prevention, and their potential role in each. Content analysis produced 14 categories that were clustered into two themes, “nurses influence ED pain management” and “adjustments in ED pain management”, and an overarching message that “pain management depends on the care team.” By generating a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the role played by emergency nurses, our findings provide essential insights into potential interventions and frameworks.
Marine resource management and fisheries governance in Belize exhibit a polycentric, decentralized, and nested institutional structure

Abstract Overfishing is one of the most severe anthropogenic threats to the world's oceans, marked by widespread degradation of marine food webs and disruption of ecosystem functioning. Global fisheries can be categorized as common-pool resource (CPR) systems because restricting marine resource extraction is extremely challenging, and over-extraction contributes to an overall decline in availability to others. Because of these challenges, establishing effective institutions for the sustainable management of natural resource systems is essential. Community-based fisheries management offers a potential solution to overcome the challenges associated with fisheries as CPRs by including fishers in the management of their fisheries through collective action. The purpose of this study was to examine the institutional robustness (e.g. presence of nested and decentralized enterprises as indicators of resilience to shocks) of over 40 years of fisheries management in Belize. I used a mixed methods approach combining review of secondary literature, semi-structured interviews with key informants across the governmental, non-governmental, and fishers' sectors, and participant observation. The results of this study suggest that Belize has the institutions in place to overcome collective action problems and be a long-enduring CPR system. These conclusions have implications for the enforcement of Belize's new Fisheries Resource Bill (as of late 2019), and in other small-scale fisheries across the globe.
Teens at the Margin: Artificially Intelligent Technology for Promoting Adolescent Online Safety

We aim to develop future Artificial Intelligent (AI) systems for online safety of adolescents as marginalized group that consider the privacy needs of adolescents and support their interactions with others online. To do this, adolescent online safety researchers and practitioners must shift towards solutions that are more teen-centric by designing privacy-preserving solutions that provide accurate and customized services to teens and their parents. In this paper, we discuss ethical, privacy, and system use challenges related to improving AI/ML adolescent online safety solutions. Our goal is to exchange our experiences and challenges designing and developing AI technologies for at-risk youth and to contribute on developing potential tools to support designing AI/ML systems for/with marginalized people.
Serpientes registradas en el municipio de Plato, Magdalena, Colombia

Through sampling and sporadic records obtained between June 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021, a preliminary list of snakes is presented for the Municipality of Plato, Magdalena. A total of 64 individuals were recorded, belonging to 25 species and 6 families, Colubridae being the most representative (16 spp.), And Tantilla semicincta and Lygophis lineatus the most abundant species. 36% of the species are affected by vehicle run over or death by human actions. Finally, these results show an important wealth on this faunistic group for the municipality, with this information it is expected to promote new studies, where the scientific community and residents are articulated in favor of the conservation of snakes.
The scheme machine: A case study in progress in design derivation at system levels

The Scheme Machine is one of several design projects of the Digital Design Derivation group at Indiana University. It differs from the other projects in its focus on issues of system design and its connection to surrounding research in programming language semantics, compiler construction, and programming methodology underway at Indiana and elsewhere. The genesis of the project dates to the early 1980's, when digital design derivation research branched from the surrounding research effort in programming languages. Both branches have continued to develop in parallel, with this particular project serving as a bridge. However, by 1990 there remained little real interaction between the branches and recently we have undertaken to reintegrate them. On the software side, researchers have refined a mathematically rigorous (but not mechanized) treatment starting with the fully abstract semantic definition of Scheme and resulting in an efficient implementation consisting of a compiler and virtual machine model, the latter typically realized with a general purpose microprocessor. The derivation includes a number of sophisticated factorizations and representations and is also deep example of the underlying engineering methodology. The hardware research has created a mechanized algebra supporting the tedious and massive transformations often seen at lower levels of design. This work has progressed to the point that large scale devices, such as processors, can be derived from first-order finite state machine specifications. This is roughly where the language oriented research stops; thus, together, the two efforts establish a thread from the highest levels of abstract specification to detailed digital implementation. The Scheme Machine project challenges hardware derivation research in several ways, although the individual components of the system are of a similar scale to those we have worked with before. The machine has a custom dual-ported memory to support garbage collection. It consists of four tightly coupled processes--processor, collector, allocator, memory--with a very non-trivial synchronization relationship. Finally, there are deep issues of representation for the run-time objects of a symbolic processing language. The research centers on verification through integrated formal reasoning systems, but is also involved with modeling and prototyping environments. Since the derivation algebra is basd on an executable modeling language, there is opportunity to incorporate design animation in the design process. We are looking for ways to move smoothly and incrementally from executable specifications into hardware realization. For example, we can run the garbage collector specification, a Scheme program, directly against the physical memory prototype, and similarly, the instruction processor model against the heap implementation.
Tolerance of unusually low mixed venous oxygen saturation: Adaptations in the chronic low cardiac output syndrome

Introduction of a reliable method for continuous monitoring of mixed venous oxygen saturation has focused attention on the therapeutic and prognostic implications of this value. It is generally agreed that mixed venous oxygen saturation in the 40 to 60 percent range is associated with substantial patient morbidity and mortality if not rapidly corrected. However, several patients with chronic low cardiac output syndrome who have had mixed venous oxygen saturation of less than 40 percent for prolonged periods of time and who have not had decompensation were observed. Three representative patients with these findings are described and mechanisms put forth that may account for the observed relations between mixed venous oxygen saturation and mortality in these and other patients.
Co-sputtered Cd/sub 2/SnO/sub 4/ films as front contacts for CdTe solar cells

Cd/sub 2/SnO/sub 4/ thin films were investigated from a materials point of view as well as from an application point of view through their incorporation into CdTe based solar cells. Cd/sub 2/SnO/sub 4/ was deposited by co-sputtering from CdO and SnO/sub 2/ targets. The lowest resistivity achieved was 2.01/spl times/10/sup -4/ /spl Omega/-cm with a mobility of 29.2 cm/sup 2//V/s and a carrier concentration of 8.47 /spl times/ 10/sup 20/ cm/sup -3/. For this same sample the average transmission was over 90% over the visible and near IR spectrum (400-900nm). When Cd/sub 2/SnO/sub 4/ were used as part of the front contact in thin film CdTe solar cells V/sub oc/'s over 840 mV, J/sub sc/'s over 23 mA/cm/sup 2/, and ff's over 68.0% were obtained with the best to-date efficiency being 14.0%.
Postperfusion syndrome. A review and report of 21 cases.

Abstract Twenty-one cases of postperfusion syndrome are described; the illness consists of fever, splenomegaly, and atypical lymphocytes in the peripheral blood after cardiopulmonary bypass, and, occasionally, after other operative procedures in which large quantities of blood are transfused. Infrequently, the heterophil agglutination titer will be positive, as noted in cases reviewed from the literature. The illness, which is benign in its course, closely resembles infectious mononucleosis, although other agents may be responsible. Differentiation from other postoperative complications and possible etiology and pathogenesis are discussed.
The current state of the art in large CCD mosaic cameras, and a new strategy for wide field, high resolution optical imaging

We review the state-of-the-art in large area mosaic CCD camera designs and discuss the technical challenges and future evolution of these instruments. Many of these mosaic cameras are being used as wide-field optical imagers, and toward this end we present a new approach for achieving enhanced resolution (FWHM ≈ O”.12) deep images over large fields of view (l°×l°) using an array of modest telescopes (D ∼ 1.5-1.8m) equipped with mosaics of independently-addressable orthogoral transfer CCD (OTCCD) arrays.
Deposition of various radioactive elements on the surface of a platinum anode—II: On the activation energy of the anodic deposition of radioactive elements

The kinetics of the anodic deposition of 144Ce was studied as a function of the anode voltage and the temperature. The extent of deposition was investigated at fixed anode voltage at various temperatures and the value of the activation energy was determined for a given voltage from the temperature dependence of the rate constants. The voltage dependence of the activation energies was found from measurements at different voltages.
Rotation otolith tilt-translation reinterpretation (ROTTR) hypothesis: a new hypothesis to explain neurovestibular spaceflight adaptation.

Normally, the nervous system must process ambiguous graviceptor (e.g., otolith) cues to estimate tilt and translation. The neural processes that help perform these estimation processes must adapt upon exposure to weightlessness and readapt upon return to Earth. In this paper we present a review of evidence supporting a new hypothesis that explains some aspects of these adaptive processes. This hypothesis, which we label the rotation otolith tilt-translation reinterpretation (ROTTR) hypothesis, suggests that the neural processes resulting in spaceflight adaptation include deterioration in the ability of the nervous system to use rotational cues to help accurately estimate the relative orientation of gravity ("tilt"). Changes in the ability to estimate gravity then also influence the ability of the nervous system to estimate linear acceleration ("translation"). We explicitly hypothesize that such changes in the ability to estimate "tilt" and "translation" will be measurable upon return to Earth and will, at least partially, explain the disorientation experienced when astronauts return to Earth. In this paper, we present the details and implications of ROTTR, review data related to ROTTR, and discuss the relationship of ROTTR to the influential otolith tilt-translation reinterpretation (OTTR) hypothesis as well as discuss the distinct differences between ROTTR and OTTR.
Serotonin Syndrome with Escitolapram and Concomitant Use of Cocaine: A Case Report

Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by excessive serotonergic activity in the central nervous system. It is characterized by mental status changes (eg, confusion, agitation, lethargy, coma), autonomic instability (eg, hyperthermia, tachycardia, diaphoresis, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils), and neuromuscular hyperactivity (eg, myoclonus, hyperreflexia, rigidity, trismus). Serotonin syndrome classically occurs in patients receiving two or more serotonergic drugs, but it can occur with monotherapy. We report a case of a 20-year-old man who developed serotonin syndrome resulting from overdose of Escitolapram with concomitant use of cocaine. It is a very important area in medicine as serotonin syndrome should be suspected especially in drug abusers who are being treated with psychotropic agents for mental illnesses.
The moderating role of emotional differentiation on satiation

Abstract People tend to like experiences less the more they repeat them, a process commonly referred to as satiation. Despite an increasing interest in satiation among consumer researchers, we still know very little about the role that emotions play in the process. Through a series of three experiments, we show paradoxically that when individuals differentiate between the positive and negative emotions that arise during repeated consumption, they satiate at a slower rate. We show that a cognitive re-appraisal process drives this emotional differentiation effect, whereby, when individuals focus on negative emotions they exhibit increased enjoyment of repeated consumption sequences. We demonstrate these effects for both trait and state emotional differentiation and across both continued and repeated consumption contexts. Theoretical implications of these findings for satiation, emotional differentiation, and emotion regulation literatures are then discussed.
Differential effects of pharmacologic agents on EAC3 rosette formation by lymphocytes from normal and asthmatic subjects

Abstract We studied the effect of isoproterenol hydrochloride (I) and theophylline (Th) on EAC3 rosette formation by lymphocytes from 30 normal adult subjects, 35 asthmatic subjects, 11 subjects who were age and sex matched with the asthma group, and 10 subjects with allergic rhinitis. Baseline EAC3 rosette numbers were similar for all groups (normal adults, 13.2%; normal children, 15.1%; rhinitis, 14.4%; asthma, 14.6%). Incubation with I and Th in the presence of fetal calf serum caused enchancement of EAC3 rosette formation by lymphocytes from normal adults (mean increase, 52% with I and 53% with Th), from normal age- and sex-matched controls (mean increase, 45% with I and 40% with Th), from subjects with allergic rhinitis (mean increase, 50% with I and 52% with Th), but not by lymphocytes from asthmatic subjects (mean increase, 0% with I and 2% with Th). These results were not affected by bronchodilator therapy. Similar results were obtained with cholera toxin, prostaglandin E 1 and adrenaline, suggesting that the defect in lymphocytes from asthmatic patients resides at the level of 3′, 5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production or at the level of cAMP-triggered events. Lymphocyte fractionation experiments into T cell-rich, B cell-rich, and null cell populations revealed that the null cell population was a target for the I-mediated enhancement of EAC3 rosette formation. Null cells from normal subjects, but not from asthmatic subjects, exhibited an increase in the number of EAC3 rosettes formed following incubation with I. This enhancement required protein synthesis as it was prevented by the addition of puromycin hydrochloride. The resistance of peripheral blood lymphocytes from asthmatics to the enhancing effect of I and Th on EAC3 rosette formation may be used to study the biochemical defect in asthma and should be assessed for possible use in the detection of the latent asthmatic.
Membrane fluidity changes in embryogenic and non‐embryogenic cultures of Asclepias and Daucus in response to auxin removal

Significant differences in membrane fluidities, expressed as fluorescence anisotropies, are demonstrated between embryogenic (E) and non-embryogenic (NE) cell lines when cells in suspension culture are removed from auxin. Cells of an E and NE cell line of Asclepias tuberosa were grown for 21 days either with or without 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), cultures were sampled at various intervals and protoplast membrane (hydrophobic interiors) was labeled with 1, 6 diphenyl-1, 3, 5-hexatriene (DPH). No differences between cultures with and without 2,4-D were detected in the NE line. In contrast the E line rapidly developed differences in membrane fluidity over time. Such clear differences in the responses of E and NE lines in membrane fluidity indicated that this parameter could be a good predictor and marker for embryogenesis. Eight suspension cell lines of Asclepias and 2 of Daucus carota were tested. After 2 days on medium without auxin, every E cell line exhibited a positive change in anisotropy and became embryogenic, whereas NE cell lines exhibited much lower positive changes or even negative changes in anisotropy and never underwent embryogenesis. Such changes have been consistent in all cell lines tested and represent a marker for embryogenicity in suspension cell lines before morphological change becomes apparent after removal from auxin. Basic molecular membrane changes in embryogenesis are likely to be common among different culture systems and understanding them could be a major step in removing barriers to regenerating plants from cultured material.
Mevalonate biosynthesis in rat liver.

Mevalonate synthesis in rat liver can occur not only from HMG-CoA utilizing particle-bound HMG-CoA reductase, but from malonyl-CoA utilizing soluble enzymes. From a strictly quantitative standpoint, synthesis from malonyl-CoA appears to be of minor importance. The possible regulatory significance of two parallel routes to mevalonate is discussed.
Bisphenol A exposure, effects, and policy: A wildlife perspective

Thousands of anthropogenic chemicals are present in the environment, and mounting evidence indicates that some have endocrine-disrupting effects in a variety of organisms. Of particular concern are chemicals that act as agonists or antagonists on vertebrate estrogen or androgen receptors. One such compound is bisphenol A (BPA), which appears to be both an estrogen receptor agonist and an androgen receptor antagonist. Used in the manufacture of plastic resins, BPA is found at low levels in surface-water, sediments, soils, and biota. Although it degrades quickly, it is pseudo-persistent in the environment because of continual inputs. Due to its environmental ubiquity, organisms may be exposed to BPA chronically or during sensitive life stages. While the impacts of BPA-related endocrine disruption in humans have been extensively studied, the endocrinal and systemic effects in wildlife are less well known. This article reviews the current state of knowledge of BPA inputs to the environment, routes of exposure, and effects on wildlife. We then critically examine the regulatory structure governing the environmental endpoints of BPA in the United States, European Union, and Canada, and discuss major challenges to the effective regulation of BPA. We conclude with a survey of treatment and mitigation options.
Localization of COX-1 and COX-2 in the intracranial dura mater of the rat

Primary headaches such as migraine can be aborted by systemic administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), potentially through the non-selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) activity in the intracranial meninges. In this study we have used single and double labeling immunohistochemistry to examine the distribution of the COX-1 and COX-2 isoforms in the intracranial dura mater of the rat and identify cell types that express them. COX-1 immunoreactivity was found in medium and small dural blood vessels and was co-expressed with the endothelial cell markers vimentin and the endothelial isoform of nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS). COX-1 was also found to be present in most dural mast cells. COX-2 was mainly expressed in ED2-positive resident dural macrophages. Constitutive COX-2 expression was also found in some axonal profiles, many of which were co-labeled with the nociceptor peptide marker CGRP. The findings suggest that NSAIDs may abort headache, at least in part, by inhibiting either neuronal or non-neuronal COX activity in the dura mater.
Temporal sequence of neurotransmitter expression by developing neurons of fetal monkey visual cortex.

Abstract The developing fetal monkey visual cortex was studied immunocytochemically from 110–155 days post-conception in order to localize cell populations immunoreactive (ir) for γ-aminobutyric acid, Substance P, cholecystokinin-octapeptide, somatostatin, neuropeptide Y, and proenkephalin A peptide (BAM-18). The area 17/18 border and all cortical laminae identified in the adult visual cortex were discernible from the youngest age examined. All ir-cell populations studied were present at each fetal age. However, despite a relatively adult-like cytoarchitecture, all ir-cell populations studied displayed patterns of immunostaining which were unlike those described in adult visual cortex, and showed significant changes in laminar distribution, morphology, and numbers over the time course of gestation examined. Despite the differences in the patterns of immunostaining between the fetal and adult visual cortex, ir-cell populations intrinsic to the developing visual cortex exhibited adult-like combinations of co-localized transmitters and peptides. The developing monkey cortex also contains ir-cell populations, particularly BAM-18-ir cells, which have not been detected immunocytochemically in the adult monkey cortex. Differences between the fetal and the adult ir-cell populations might be accounted for by cell death, morphological transformation, secondary migration or changes in gene expression for neurotransmitters and neuropeptides.
Differences in wound healing between ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty and suction-assisted lipoplasty in inverted T-pattern breast reduction surgery and chest wall contouring.

Abstract Background: Inverted T-pattern breast reduction does not directly address axillary or lateral chest wall fullness. Lipoplasty of this tissue has been advocated by some surgeons to reduce additional scarring. Objective: A prospective study was designed to examine the differences in wound healing of the breast reduction skin flaps when ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL) and suction-assisted lipoplasty (SAL) were each used as an adjunct to inverted T-pattern breast reduction surgery. Methods: The prospective study involved 15 consecutive nonsmoking female patients undergoing a standard inferior pedicle, central mound breast reduction and contouring of the lateral chest wall. Contouring of the left lateral chest wall and axilla was done with UAL and contouring of the right lateral chest wall with SAL. Lipoplasty was not used elsewhere in the breast tissue. The height and length of skin ischemia or necrosis at the inverted T incision was measured at postoperative day 2 or 3. Patients were placed on dressing changes and followed frequently until fully healed. Results: The amount of breast tissue removed and the amount of UAL/SAL axillary aspirate were not significantly different from side to side (for the mean UAL side, tissue 828 ± 190 g and aspirate 195 ± 102 mL; for the mean SAL side, tissue 780 ± 187 g and aspirate 194 ± 94 mL; P > .05). The mean area of lateral skin flap ischemia at the inverted T incision was significantly less on the UAL side than on the SAL side (UAL, 47 ± 128 mm 2 ; SAL, 361 ± 500 mm 2 ; P = 0.02). The time to complete skin wound healing of the lateral flap was significantly less in the UAL-treated flaps than in the SAL-treated flaps (UAL, 9.6 ± 8.6 days; SAL, 22.1 ± 22 days; P = .02). The study was terminated once these resounding differences in lateral skin flap necrosis and time of wound healing became obvious. Conclusions: UAL offers significant benefits in comparison with SAL as an adjunct to standard breast reduction surgery for contouring of lateral chest wall fullness.
Transitive maps from posets to Dynkin diagrams

Abstract Let G be a group with a BN-pair and Γ its Dynkin diagram. Let P be a partially ordered set and λ:P→2Γ be a map from P into the induced subgraphs of Γ. We say that the map λ is transitive if for any a,b,c∈P with a
Robust stabilization for continuous-time systems with slowly time-varying uncertain real parameters

The authors construct a class of parameter-dependent Lyapunov functions to guarantee robust stability in the presence of time-varying rate restricted plant uncertainty. Extensions to a class of time-varying nonlinear uncertainty that generalize the multivariable Popov criterion are also considered. These results are then used for controller synthesis to address the problem of robust stabilization in the presence of slowly time-varying real parameters.
Lazy, adaptive rid-list intersection, and its application to index anding

RID-List (row id list) intersection is a common strategy in query processing, used in star joins, column stores, and even search engines. To apply a conjunction of predicates on a table, a query process ordoes index lookups to form sorted RID-lists (or bitmap) of the rows matching each predicate, then intersects the RID-lists via an AND-tree, and finally fetches the corresponding rows to apply any residual predicates and aggregates. This process can be expensive when the RID-lists are large. Furthermore, the performance is sensitive to the order in which RID lists are intersected together, and to treating the right predicates as residuals. If the optimizer chooses a wrong order or a wrong residual, due to a poor cardinality estimate, the resulting plan can run orders of magnitude slower than expected. We present a new algorithm for RID-list intersection that is both more efficient and more robust than this standard algorithm. First, we avoid forming the RID-lists up front, and instead form this lazily as part of the intersection. This reduces the associated IO and sort cost significantly, especially when the data distribution is skewed. It also ameliorates the problem of wrong residual table selection. Second, we do not intersect the RID-lists via an AND-tree, because this is vulnerable to cardinality mis-estimations. Instead, we use an adaptive set intersection algorithm that performs well even when the cardinality estimates are wrong. We present detailed experiments of this algorithm on data with varying distributions to validate its efficiency and predictability.
Erythrocyte membrane alterations in experimental biliary obstruction

To further clarify the erythrocyte abnormalities reported in patients with biliary atresia, a study was performed utilizing the bile duct ligated rabbit as a model. Hematologic parameters, membrane and plasma lipid determinations and P32 phospholipid kinetic studies were performed serially at intervals post ligation. Osmotic fragility studies show progressively increasing red cell sensitivity to osmotic lysis following ligation. Morphologically, a striking increase in “burr cells” is noted within 24–48 hrs. Elevation of erythrocyte membrane and plasma lecithin levels are noted by 3–4 days post ligation reaching maximal values near 40% of total membrane phopholipid by one week. Injection of P32 at varying intervals from 2–16 days post ligation show the specific activity of phopholipid phosphorus in both red cells and plasma to be higher in the bile duct ligated animals than in controls. Rise in plasma P32 activity preceeds that of red cell and is maximal at 24 hrs. Red cell labelling shows a progressive rise over a 3–4 day period. Despite the quantitation difference of specific activity in experimental and control groups, the ratio of red cell specific activity: plasma specific activity is similar in both groups. These results suggest that the qualitative and quantitative alterations of erythrocyte phospholipid are directly related to the plasma phospholipid alterations.
Disordered one-dimensional conductors at finite temperature

Abstract Inelastic scattering processes at nonzero temperatures produce a broadening, h/τin, of electronic energies which essentially is equivalent to the imaginary component of the energy one must introduce in order to evaluate the Kubo formula for the d.c. conductivity of a dirty metal. We1) have developed a fast algorithm for evaluating the conductivity of a linear chain, and have used it to study the dependence of the conductivity on the magnitude of the imaginary part of the electron energy. Results for the Anderson model with different degrees of disorder and at different energies can all be scaled onto the same curve, which is of the form expected from the usual theory of localized states. A cross-over is evident between two limiting regimes: in one the damping caused by the complex energy is dominant; in the other, localization of the eigenstates dominates. The universal curve obtained make it possible to connect tight binding model results with the conductivity calculated for an electron in a white noise potential. This curve describes models in which the scattering potentials have finite variance. Similar, but not identical, results are obtained for tight binding chains with a Cauchy distribution of site energies.
Longitudinal stability and change in consumption among female twins: Contributions of genetics

Problem alcohol use among women is increasingly recognized as an important public health and mental health issue. Younger women appear to be at increased risk for heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems compared to women from earlier cohorts. Understanding the sources for inter- and intra-individual differences in alcohol consumption is an important first step in addressing these trends. We studied the sources underlying variation in alcohol consumption in a sample of 2,163 female twins born in Virginia between 1934 and 1970. Measures of past-year alcohol consumption quantity and frequency were obtained on two occasions across a 5-year interval. Quantity and frequency of consumption declined over age, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Intra-individual correlations over the interval were substantial for frequency of drinking (r = .62) and quantity consumed per drinking occasion (r = .56) but lower for quantity consumed weekly (r = .22). There was significant intrapair resemblance for all measures, with the drinking behavior of identical twin pairs being more similar than that of fraternal pairs. Twin analyses of patterns of change in consumption over a 5-year interval revealed little within-pair similarity in rate of change, with correlations ranging from .06 to .18, suggesting that among young adult to middle-aged women, determinants of changing alcohol consumption are largely individual-specific. There was some evidence for significant age interactions, with the role of individual-specific sources increasing over age.
Constraints to Welfare Gains under Extended Jurisdiction Fisheries Management

The recent extension of the U.S. fishery conservation zone to 200 miles and the adoption of economic objectives for fisheries management in this zone make the consideration of welfare gains an important current issue. The economic objectives contained in the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (FCMA) are especially noteworthy. It has been well established in both theory and practice that economic gains will not necessarily result from fishery management geared to the traditional biological objectives such as maximum sustainable physical yield (MSY). The maximization of social welfare requires the explicit consideration of economic values generated by fisheries, the private and social costs of exploiting and managing the fisheries, and the probable distribution of income resulting from fishery regulations. In addition, theoretical economic analyses must be tailored to statutory requirements and political necessities before economically sensible fisheries management will be achieved. To assure that this administrative and political process results in the realization of potential economic gains will be a long-term task for fisheries economists and administrators.
Portraying epistemology: School science in historical context

Current debates over the nature of science in the school curriculum have centered on where the boundary between “traditional” science and other forms of knowledge should be drawn. What has been missing from these discussions, however, is a careful examination of how what lies within the boundary of “traditional” school science itself has been determined. Given the diversity of scientific practices and the inherent limitations of space in the curriculum, the portrayal of traditional science (its epistemology in particular) should be understood to be only a selective representation of the real-world practices of science. Such representations are inevitably shaped by not just what scientists do, but also by the social and political context in which they are developed. Taking a historical perspective, the curricular ideas of John Dewey and Joseph Schwab are used to illustrate the subtle ways in which epistemological portrayals have been influenced by this sociohistorical context and the consequences those portrayals have had with respect to the public's relationship with institutional science in the United States at two key points during the twentieth century. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed87:64–79, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/sce.1055
Size Shifts in Measurements of Droplets with the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer and the Aerosizer

Observations of the size of liquid droplets using the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) and the Aerosizer indicated that the measured size was significantly different from the aerodynamic diameter as calculated by measuring droplet settling velocity. The size shifts appeared to be caused by droplet distortion in the detector flow field for the Aerosizer. However, for the APS, droplet sizing was further affected by droplet impaction on the upstream side of the focusing nozzle. It is suggested that liquid accumulated in and constricted the nozzle, resulting in a particle velocity increase at the sensor. The size shift can occur with the deposition of < 0.5 μ L liquid onto the nozzle; the size shift can occur in 1–10 minutes even at concentrations of 1000 particles/L; and the size shift can disappear after cessation of liquid aerosol sampling. CFD calculations provided information about the amount of velocity increase at the APS sensor for a selected constriction. Both solid and liquid particles are affected ...
As easy to memorize as they are to classify: the 5-4 categories and the category advantage.

Recently, it has been suggested that some categories commonly used in category learning research are eliciting primarily item-level memorization strategies. A new measure of generalization, the category advantage, was introduced and used to test performance on the popular “5–4” categories. To estimate a category advantage, performance on a standard category learning task is compared with performance in an identification task, where participants learn a unique response to each stimulus. Once corrected for differences in chance expectancy, the advantage shown for the category learning task represents the degree to which participants capitalize on the natural similarity structure of the categories. In Experiment 1, the category advantage measure was validated on structured and unstructured categories. In Experiments 2 and 3, the 5–4 categories failed to produce a category advantage when tested with either of two stimulus types, suggesting that these categories elicit predominantly memorization.
Analyzing User Requests for Anime Recommendations

Anime is increasingly becoming recognized as an important commercial product and cultural artifact. However, little is known regarding users' information needs and behavior related to anime. This study specifically attempts to improve our understanding of how people seek anime recommendations. We analyzed 546 user questions in natural language, collected from a Korean Q&A website Naver Knowledge-iN, where users are asking for anime recommendations. The findings suggest the importance of establishing robust metadata for the seven commonly used features for anime recommenders (i.e., title, genre, artistic style, story, character description, series title, and mood) in digital libraries, as well as allowing users to specify known anime and series titles as examples for seeking similar items, or examples of the kinds of items to be excluded.
Genetic predisposition to hypertension and stress-induced alterations in heart rate

Basal heart rates, obtained in the home cage, and heart rates obtained during restraint stress were compared in Dahl hypertension-sensitive (DS) and Dahl hypertension-resistant (DR) rats. Normotensive DS rats fed a low salt diet had lower basal heart rates than DR rats fed a low salt diet. DS rats made hypertensive by 3 weeks exposure to excess salt ingestion did not exhibit changes in basal heart rate. DR rats fed the high salt diet did not exhibit any elevations in either basal heart rate or blood pressure. Despite the lower basal rates of DS vis-a-vis DR rats, upon exposure to restraint, DS rats exhibited significantly greater increments in heart rate than diet matched DR rats throughout the 30-min restraint period. This difference is similar in direction to that observed in other experimental models of genetic hypertension and also similar to that observed when humans with a family history of hypertension are compared to controls. Hence, these results support the hypothesis that, despite different physiological and biochemical characteristics, a relatively high stress-induced increase in heart rate is a general distinguishing characteristic of organisms at high risk for hypertension.
Gender difference: Hype or fact?

Summary The number of trials looking at the gender effecton anesthetic agents is very limited. What evidence exists is not clear, but the general pattern suggests a difference in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics between men and women for certain drugs. These differences may not be predictable within the same group of drugs, such as benzodiazepines; the gender effect may vary and sometimes may be completely opposite. Important gender factors, such as menopause, pregnancy, and use of oral contraceptives, may affect the pharmacokinetics and dynamics of drugs significantly. Difference in body weight and composition alone result in significant pharmacokinetic differences in volume of distribution, initial plasma concentration, organ blood flow, rate of redistribution, and rate of filtration by the kidney. The intrinsic activity of the cytochrome system appears to be affected by gender: The activity of CYP3A4 is 1.4 times greater in women than men, with the resultant increased metabolism of certain drugs in women. One possible explanation for this increased intrinsic activity in women may be the interaction of the sex steroids with the cytochrome systems. Increased sensitivity to drugs may result from interaction of the sex steroids with receptors such as the μ-opioid receptors. The sex hormones may affect other intrinsic substances such as beta-endorphins. For example, beta-endorphin levels are increase in pregnancy and along with progesterone are thought to result in the decreased MAC associated with pregnancy. Clearly, further studies are needed to identify which drugs are affected by gender as well as the causes for these differences. Last, how big these differences are and to what degree they are clinically significant must be determined.