cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
La utopía social conservadora en Bolivia: El gobierno de Manuel Isidoro Belzu, 1848 – 1855

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Duke University Press in Hispanic American Historical Review August 2008 88(3): pp. 536-537; doi:10.1215/00182168-2008-357. Copyright ©2008 Duke University Press. Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1215/00182168-2008-357.
Natural convection effects in the continuous casting of a horizontal cylinder

Abstract The effects of natural convection along the interface between two phases in the continuous casting of a horizontal cylinder are studied. Due to natural convection, the solidification rate along the bottom of a horizontal cylinder is shown to be faster than that along the top. The solidification rate grows downstream as z 5 2 (z being the axial coordinate) due to the natural convection, and is not aximuthally uniform. This conclusion is an important extension over previous work which considered only conduction and showed a solidification rate which increased as z 5 2 .
Lower genital tract infection and endometritis: Insight into Subclinical pelvic inflammatory disease

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between lower genital tract infections and subclinical PID. Fallopian tube damage is a common complication of acute symptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), yet most women with tubal factor infertility do not have a history of acute PID. Subclinical PID is believed to be an important cause of tubal factor infertility. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among women attending a sexually transmitted diseases or ambulatory gynecology clinic. A convenience sample of 556 women with bacterial vaginosis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia, or women at risk for gonorrhea or chlamydia were enrolled. Women diagnosed with acute PID were not eligible to participate. The main outcome was subclinical PID, as defined by the presence of histologic endometritis. RESULTS: Subclinical PID was more common in women with lower genital tract infection than in uninfected women. Subclinical PID was present in 27% of women with Chlamydia trachomatis (odds ratio 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8, 6.3) and in 26% of women infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae (odds ratio 2.4; 95% CI 1.1, 5.1). Among women with bacterial vaginosis, 15% had endometritis (odds ratio 2.7; 95% CI 1.02, 7.2). CONCLUSION: Subclinical PID is common among women with lower genital tract infections. Additional prospective studies are necessary to determine the reproductive impact of these asymptomatic upper genital tract infections.
Empirical anti-Candida therapy among selected patients in the intensive care unit: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

The authors measured the cost-effectiveness of 4 empirical anti-Candida strategies, 4 culture-based anti-Candida strategies, and 1 strategy of no Candida treatment in high-risk patients in the inte...
Sex differences in left ventricular function in older persons with mild hypertension

Background Epidemiologic studies suggest that women are at increased risk of developing heart failure secondary to hypertension. Other studies have documented sex differences in left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in the presence of pressure overload states such as seen in aortic stenosis and hypertension. It is less clear if sex differences are present among older persons with mild hypertension. Methods One hundred seven healthy subjects, aged 55 to 75 years, with blood pressures ranging from 130 to 159 mm Hg systolic and/or 85 to 99 mm Hg diastolic, were examined by standard echocardiography and the newer modalities of tissue Doppler and color M-mode imaging. Results Women had a lower peak mitral annular systolic velocity (Sm), 8.9 (95% CI 8.4-9.5) cm/s versus 10.2 (95% CI 9.6-11.0) cm/s, ( P P P P = .03), and E/Em ratio increased by 11% ( P = .04) in women. No age-associated changes were seen in men. Conclusions As revealed by newer echocardiographic imaging modalities, women with mild hypertension showed greater reductions in systolic and diastolic function as they aged compared with men. Our findings are consistent with the increased risk older women have of developing heart failure because of hypertension.
Interactions of ultrahigh-energy neutrinos.

Cross sections for the charged-current interactions of ultrahigh-energy neutrinos with nucleons are evaluated in light of recent improvements in our knowledge of nucleon structure functions. For ${10}^{19}$-eV neutrinos, the cross section is an order of magnitude larger than the values traditionally used in astrophysical calculations. Some consequences for event rates from generic astrophysical neutrino sources are noted.
Perspectives in virtue epistemology: A response to Dancy and Bonjour

L'A. expose sa propre doctrine epistemologique et repond aux objections et commentaires de Dancy et Bonjour. Il explique en quoi consiste sa theorie de la survenance d'une justification epistemique, sa position vis-a-vis du coherentisme et du fondationnalisme substantiel, et ce que signifie son perspectivisme en ce qui concerne les vertus epistemiques
Two misconceptions of phylogeny and classification

A recent contribution embodies the assumptions that organisms may be excluded from relationship with others on the basis of autopomorphy, and that its position in a classification is an inherent characteristic of an organism. Both of these assumptions are fallacious.
Understanding as explanatory knowledge: The case of Bjorken scaling

Abstract In this paper, we develop and refine the idea that understanding is a species of explanatory knowledge. Specifically, we defend the idea that S understands why p if and only if S knows that p , and, for some q , S ’ s true belief that q correctly explains p is produced/maintained by reliable explanatory evaluation. We then show how this model explains the reception of James Bjorken’s explanation of scaling by the broader physics community in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The historical episode is interesting because Bjorken’s explanation initially did not provide understanding to other physicists, but was subsequently deemed intelligible when Feynman provided a physical interpretation that led to experimental tests that vindicated Bjorken’s model. Finally, we argue that other philosophical models of scientific understanding are best construed as limiting cases of our more general model.
Scalable parallel I/O alternatives for massively parallel partitioned solver systems

With the development of high-performance computing, I/O issues have become the bottleneck for many massively parallel applications. This paper investigates scalable parallel I/O alternatives for massively parallel partitioned solver systems. Typically such systems have synchronized “loops” and will write data in a well defined block I/O format consisting of a header and data portion. Our target use for such an parallel I/O subsystem is checkpoint-restart where writing is by far the most common operation and reading typically only happens during either initialization or during a restart operation because of a system failure. We compare four parallel I/O strategies: 1 POSIX File Per Processor (1PFPP), a synchronized parallel IO library (syncIO), “Poor-Man's” Parallel I/O (PMPIO) and a new “reduced blocking” strategy (rbIO). Performance tests using real CFD solver data from PHASTA (an unstructured grid finite element Navier-Stokes solver [1]) show that the syncIO strategy can achieve a read bandwidth of 6.6GB/Sec on Blue Gene/L using 16K processors which is significantly faster than 1PFPP or PMPIO approaches. The serial “token-passing” approach of PMPIO yields a 900MB/sec write bandwidth on 16K processors using 1024 files and 1PFPP achieves 600 MB/sec on 8K processors while the “reduced-blocked” rbIO strategy achieves an actual writing performance of 2.3GB/sec and perceived/latency hiding writing performance of more than 21,000 GB/sec (i.e., 21TB/sec) on a 32,768 processor Blue Gene/L.
The eigenstructure of the equations of radiation magnetohydrodynamics.

Abstract In this paper we analyze the eigenstructure of the equations of radiation magnetohydrodynamics. We wish to develop such insights as might be useful in the construction of robust and accurate higher-order Godunov schemes for their numerical solution. It is shown that the system is a hyperbolic system. The fact that the characteristic matrix for this system splits into sub-blocks is used to advantage to derive the eigenvalues and certain general properties about the eigenvectors. It is shown that the system admits an entropy wave, a pair of slow magnetosonic waves, a pair of Alfven waves, a pair of fast magnetosonic waves, a pair of radiation energy density waves and a pair of transverse radiation flux waves. A complete and orthonormal set of right and left eigenvectors is obtained. The contribution of the MHD waves to the radiative parts of the full set of equations is explicitly derived and explained with a view to improving one’s intuitive understanding of these waves. The Cauchy problem for the equations of radiation magnetohydrodynamics under the locally frozen Eddington factor approximation is shown to be well-posed.
Recent Advances and Developments in Composite Dental Restorative Materials

Composite dental restorations represent a unique class of biomaterials with severe restrictions on biocompatibility, curing behavior, esthetics, and ultimate material properties. These materials are presently limited by shrinkage and polymerization-induced shrinkage stress, limited toughness, the presence of unreacted monomer that remains following the polymerization, and several other factors. Fortunately, these materials have been the focus of a great deal of research in recent years with the goal of improving restoration performance by changing the initiation system, monomers, and fillers and their coupling agents, and by developing novel polymerization strategies. Here, we review the general characteristics of the polymerization reaction and recent approaches that have been taken to improve composite restorative performance.
PPAR-γ: Therapeutic Potential for Multiple Sclerosis

The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in altering lipid and glucose metabolism is well established. More recent studies indicate that PPARs also play critical roles in controlling immune responses. We and others have previously demonstrated that PPAR-𝛾 agonists modulate the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). This review will discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which these agonists are believed to modulate disease. The therapeutic potential of PPAR-𝛾 agonists in the treatment of multiple sclerosis will also be considered.
Is it okay to tell? Children's judgements about information disclosure

The present research investigates how young children evaluate and reason about thedisclosureofprivateinformation.Usingstoryvignettes,childrenaged4–5and7–8 yearswereaskedtoevaluateanindividualwhopassedoninformationfromapeerrevealingthatheorshehadbrokenarule(e.g.,stolenacookie;ruletype)orlackedaskill(e.g.,couldnotride a bicycle; competence type). These negative valence stories were compared withpositivevalencestoriesinwhichthepeerhadfollowedaruleorpossessedaskill.Youngerchildren approved the sharing of positive, but not negative, information, irrespective oftype (rule vs. competence). Older children disapproved the disclosure of someone’sincompetence,whereastheyapprovedthedisclosureofaruleviolation.Childrenjustiﬁedtheir evaluations by reference to social rules in the rule-type vignettes and to anindividual’s feelings in the competence-type vignettes. The ﬁndings suggest that youngchildrenareconcernedaboutthedisclosureofnegativeinformationaboutotherpeople,butwithagetheybecomeincreasinglyconcernedaboutprotectingthesocialorderevenat the cost of individual privacy.
Equivalent-Potential Approach Using the Bethe-Salpeter and Unitarity Equations

A Bethe-Salpeter potential is defined which will reproduce the absorptive part at each energy. The method is a straightforward generalization of the one originally proposed by Charap and Fubini for defining the correct nonrelativistic potential. It is, however, fully relativistic and does not seem to lead to spurious singularities. In practice, an approximate version of the potential is used---one which gives only long-range effects correctly. In addition, the absorptive part is assumed to be dominated by a few narrow resonances; a discussion is given of the differences between such an equivalent potential and a potential given by perturbation theory. The method is applied to a rough calculation of the $\ensuremath{\rho}$ meson in $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}$ scattering with the potential constructed from $\ensuremath{\rho}$, ${f}^{0}$, and $g$ meson exchange. Experimental values are taken for their masses as well as for the input $\ensuremath{\rho}$ and ${f}^{0}$ widths. The input $g$-meson width (which is least well known experimentally) is then adjusted so that the output $\ensuremath{\rho}$ has the correct mass. This leads to widths of 222 and 175 MeV for the input $g$ and output $\ensuremath{\rho}$ (compared with experimental values of 170\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}30 and 125 MeV, respectively). Finally, a purely on-shell technique is discussed which is very similar to the Bethe-Salpeter scheme but may avoid some of its difficulties.
Bildgebende Verfahren und Strahlenschutz in der Unfallchirurgie. 2. Teil

Der erste Teil dieses Themenkreises befaste sich mit den konventionellen Verfahren der Rontgendiagnostik in der Unfallchirurgie, digitaler Radiographie, Computertomographie, Arthrographie und CT-Arthrographie sowie der Angiographie (vgl. Unfallchirurg 11/96). In dem nun folgenden Beitrag wird der Einsatz der Sonographie und der MRT in der Unfallchirurgie naher beleuchtet. Aspekte des Strahlenschutzes und der Umsetzung der „Rontgenverordnung” runden den Beitrag ab.
Selective reduction of NOx with hydrocarbons over Co/MFI prepared by sublimation of CoBr2 and other methods

Abstract Co/MFI catalysts were prepared by various methods, including wet-ion exchange (WIE), either as such or in combination with impregnation (IMP), solid-state ion exchange (SSI), and sublimation (SUB) of CoCl 2 (at 700°C) or CoBr 2 (at 600°C) onto H/MFI. The catalysts were tested for the reduction of NO x with CH 4 or iso-C 4 H 10 in excess O 2 . Below 425°C the SUB catalysts show the highest NO x reduction activity with CH 4 or iso-C 4 H 10 . Above 425°C, the best performance is given by WIE. Below the temperature of maximum N 2 yield, a mixture of Fe/FER and WIE is superior to either catalyst. Addition of 10% H 2 O to the feed drastically decreases the N 2 yield in NO x reduction with CH 4 , but increases the activity with iso-C 4 H 10 under some conditions. Permanent damage of the zeolite lattice as a potential cause for the adverse effect of H 2 O in the tests with CH 4 is eliminated, as the original activity is fully restored after calcination. A 100 h test with a wet iso-C 4 H 10 feed shows excellent stability with a SUB catalyst prepared from CoBr 2 . Characterization by XRD, H 2 -TPR, and FTIR reveals that WIE contains isolated Co 2+ and (Co–OH) + ions that are only reducible at 700°C. SUB catalysts show additional TPR peaks at low temperature, including a feature at 220–250°C, ascribed to multinuclear Co oxo-ions. The formation of an NO y chemisorption complex is most rapid on these catalysts. No oxidation states between Co 0 and Co 2+ are detectable; the one-step reduction of Co 2+ to Co 0 clusters could be a cause for the unique propensity of Co/MFI to reduce NO x with CH 4 .
The impact of physical based methods screening and their delivery of better quality hits

The routine application of high-throughput screening (HTS) of compound files has shifted the bottleneck in target-based drug discovery from hit identification to hit qualification because not all hit molecules have the potential to become leads and drug candidates. Biophysical, label-free detection techniques are generic, direct and information-rich, and there is a growing interest in applying these during hit qualification. Some techniques have seen a rapid development toward enhanced sensitivity and throughput and their application to primary screening is within reach.
Worm propagation and generic attacks

The defining task of propagating malicious code is to locate new targets to attack. Viruses search for files in a computer system to which to attach, whereas worms search for new targets to which to transmit themselves. Depending on their method of transmission, malicious code writers have developed different strategies for finding new victims. Worms transmitted via email have had great success propagating themselves because they find their next targets either by raiding a user's email address book or by searching through the user's mailbox. Such addresses are almost certain to be valid, permitting the worm to hijack the user's social web and exploit trust relationships. In most cases, the worm will craft its own message to send to the target, but some will wait for the user to send a message and attach themselves to it. Network worms, those that attack network services, must determine their next victim's IP address.
Reaction pathways and intermediates in the decomposition of acetic and propionic acids on the polar surfaces of zinc oxide

Abstract The decomposition of acetic and propionic acids on the (0001)-Zn and (000 1 )-O polar surfaces of ZnO was investigated using temperature programmed desorption, and X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopies. On the (0001)-Zn surface the carboxylic acids adsorbed dissociatively to form the corresponding surface carboxylate species. At temperatures greater than 500 K, these surface carboxylates underwent either net dehydration to form unsaturated aldehydes (i.e. ketene and acrolein) or net total oxidation to carbon oxides and water. In contrast to the (0001)-Zn polar surface, the (000 1 )-O polar surface was found to be inactive for the decomposition of these carboxylic acids; only molecularly adsorbed species, which desorbed intact at low temperature, were observed on this surface. These results provide further evidence for the pronounced structural dependence of acid-base reactions on the polar surfaces of zinc oxide.
The Effect of Population-Level Learning on Market Entry: The American Automobile Industry

Abstract Is starting a new business more difficult in an emerging industry or in a mature industry? The density dependent model of organizational ecology maintains that the industry's age is irrelevant; the number of firms currently occupying the market niche determines the industry's competitive structure. Nevertheless, population-level learning predicts historical asymmetry in entry barriers. Over time, the average fitness of the surviving population members increases, making market entry more difficult. At the same time, surviving organizations become increasingly spread out across the resource space, providing niches that new firms can exploit. Thus, industry-level evolution systematically alters the environment that both existing organizations and new firms face. I offer a new specification for the founding rate model that synthesizes ecological and evolutionary perspectives. Tests of this model in the American automobile industry support its merit.
Synthesis of silicon and silicon nitride powders by vapour-phase reactions

The Bureau of Mines is investigating vapour-phase reactions for syntheses of high-purity, nanometre-sized silicon and Si3N4 powders suitable for industrial applications. In this study, submicrometre-sized silicon powder was formed by a vapour-phase reaction of SiCl4, NH3, and magnesium vapor at temperatures ranging from 950–1050°C. The silicon was subsequently nitrided to form Si3N4 at 1150°C.
Three partition refinement algorithms

We present improved partition refinement algorithms for three problems: lexicographic sorting, relational coarsest partition, and double lexical ordering. Our double lexical ordering algorithm uses a new, efficient method for unmerging two sorted sets.
Everlast: long-life, supercapacitor-operated wireless sensor node

This paper describes a supercapacitor-operated, solar-powered wireless sensor node called Everlast. Unlike traditional wireless sensors that store energy in batteries, Everlast's use of supercapacitors enables the system to operate for an estimated lifetime of 20 years without any maintenance. The novelty of this system lies in the feedforward, PFM (pulse frequency modulated) converter and open-circuit solar voltage method for maximum power point tracking, enabling the solar cell to efficiently charge the supercapacitor and power the node. Experimental results show that Everlast can achieve low power consumption, long operational lifetime, and high transmission rates, something that traditional sensor nodes cannot achieve simultaneously and must trade-off.
Age-dependent alterations in rat ventricular myocardium: a quantitative analysis.

Abstract A quantitative electron microscopic examination of the ventricular myocardium of the male Fischer 344 rat was undertaken to determine the extent of age-dependent changes in ultrastructure. Rats of 6, 16 and 30 months of age were examined using a non-biased stereological test system. Volume fractions of mitochondria, myofibrillar mass and lipid remained unchanged during aging. Dense body volume fraction increased four-fold over the period studied, while the sarcoplasmic reticulum volume increased only from 6 months to 16 months and did not change thereafter. Biochemical analysis of the specific activities of the two lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase demonstrated a differential response to aging, with acid phosphatase remaining constant and β-glucuronidase increasing slightly. Neither enzyme activity correlated with the pronounced change in dense body volume fraction. This study provides clear evidence that the previously observed changes in cardiac performance associated with aging are not readily explicable on the basis of a degradation of cardiac ultrastructure.
Code status discussions: agreement between internal medicine residents and hospitalized patients.

Background: Medical residents frequently participate in code status discussions, yet their competency in this role has not been evaluated. Purpose: The objective is to determine the quality of code status discussions from the perspective of both resident and patient. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of consecutive pairs of hospitalized patients and admitting residents at Mayo Clinic in March 2007. We measured perceptions of occurrence and content of code status discussions, admission volume, and demographic information. Results: Among the 41 matched pairs, residents and patients agreed that a code status conversation occurred in 63% of cases. Agreement was more likely if residents performed less than 4 admissions ( p= .02). Patients reported the inclusion of specific discussion components, such as resuscitation procedures (7%) and outcomes (0%), less frequently than residents (71% and 27%, respectively, p< .001). Conclusions: Residents and patients demonstrated poor agreement on the occurren...
Fast accurate eigenvalue methods for graded positive definite matrices

Let $H = DAD$ where $A$ is a positive definite matrix and $D$ is diagonal and nonsingular. We show that if the condition number of $A$ is much less than that of $D$ then we can use algorithms based on the Cholesky factorization of $H$ to compute the eigenvalues of $H$ to high relative accuracy more efficiently than by Jacobi's method. The new methods are generally slower than tridiagonalization methods (which do not deliver the eigenvalues to maximal relative accuracy) but can be up to 4 times faster when the condition number of $D$ is very large.
A survey of solidification and casting literature up to MID 1969

Abstract A literature survey in the field of solidification and casting is available on request. The sources used and the limitations set by the reviewers are given here along with a general list of pertinent books, handbooks, conferences, review articles and journals. Any topic may be followed in greater depth through currently available systems, both by feeding forward from key references and by feeding backward to earlier sources.
GRADS: a new graphical display system for visualizing multiple criteria solutions

Abstract The qualtiy of the display mechanism used by multiple criteria techniques to present solutions can significantly effect the decision-maker's decision process. An effective display mechanism can improve the quality of the decisions made. A new graphical display system, called GRADS, is presented which allows a decision maker to display and to explore the trade-offs between multiple criteria solutions from a given finite set of alternative solutions.
Recent progress in the biology and treatment of Wilms' tumor.

The survival rate of patients with Wilms’ tumor has rapidly improved in the last few decades. As we enter into the new millennium, overall survival for all Wilms’ tumor patients exceeds 80%. Two large cooperative groups prospectively studied children with nephroblastoma: the National Wilms’ Tumor Study Group, and the International Society of Paediatric Oncology. This review details the recent progress in understanding the biology of Wilms’ tumor. Advances in clinical management of children with nephroblastoma are also outlined.
Decay of μ − Mesons Bound in the K Shell of Light Nuclei

For ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ mesons bound in the $K$ shell of light nuclei of atomic number $Z$, we calculate the decay electron spectrum accurately up to the first power in $Z$, both for point and extended nuclei. The decay rate is evaluated accurately up to the second power for point nuclei. Our results for the spectrum show the Doppler smearing of its upper end as obtained previously, and demonstrate the small effect of the nuclear extension. The decay rate is obtained as a monotonically decreasing function of $Z$, and we cannot explain recent experiments which show a maximum of the decay rate around $Z\ensuremath{\sim}26$. We also find that the decay rate in second order decreases much more slowly with $Z$ than what would be obtained from a phase space consideration alone.
The Effect of Positional Changes during Heavy Weight Lifting on Intraocular Pressure

Purpose: To measure intraocular pressure (IOP) as a function of positional changes of the head during heavy weight lifting. Methods: The subjects of this study were 30 healthy adult males in their twenties to forties. This study investigated their ophthalmic examinations, BMI (body mass index), and 1RM (one repetition maximum) according to the three bench press positions. The baseline IOP was measured in each position before starting exercise. IOP was measured during pre-exercise and then lift down, lift up when exerting 80% of 1RM in three bench press positions. Results: Before exercising, the IOP was higher in the lowered head position in the decline bench press (18.202.89 mmHg) than in the incline bench press (14.382.32 mmHg) (p1.85 mmHg greater than upon lift up, and mean IOP increased by 2.611.63 mmHg (p2.79 mmHg, measured during lift down in the decline bench press configuration. The BMI and the IOP before exercise showed significant correlation (p
First Report of Colletotrichum boninense, C. capsici, and a Glomerella sp. as Causes of Postharvest Anthracnose of Passion Fruit in Florida

Anthracnose is an important foliar and fruit disease of passion fruit, Passiflora spp. (3). In 2008, postharvest anthracnose on purple and yellow passion fruits (P. edulis Sims and P. edulis f. flavicarpa O. Degner, respectively) from a commercial planting in Miami-Dade County, FL was examined. Lesions began as light brown areas that became papery, covered much of the fruit surface, and developed pink-to-dark sporulation. Single-conidium isolates from lesions were examined morphologically and with internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. Four taxa were identified: Colletotrichum boninense (GenBank No. GU045516) with felted cream-to-orange colonies and cylindrical conidia; C. capsici (synonym C. truncatum [2]) (GU045515) with sparse, white mycelia, setose acervuli, and falcate conidia; C. gloeosporioides with fluffy white-to-gray colonies and straight, cylindrical conidia; and a Glomerella sp. (GU045517) with darkly pigmented perithecia. In two experiments, four mature, yellow passion fruit were wounde...
The impact of children's hospital designation on outcomes in children with malrotation.

Abstract Background The benefit of Ladd's procedure for malrotation at a Children's Hospital (CH) has not previously been established. Our aim was to characterize the potential variations in management and outcomes between CH and Non-Children's Hospitals (NCH) in the treatment of malrotation with Ladd's procedure. Methods There were 2827 children identified with malrotation and complete information from the Kids' Inpatient Database (2003, 2006, 2009). Outcomes were compared between CH and NCH and evaluated with logistic and linear regressions. Additional propensity score matching was used to balance covariates between CH and NCH. Results There were 2261 (80.0%) children with malrotation undergoing Ladd's procedures treated at CH; 566 (20.0%) were treated at NCH. In multivariate analysis, CH was associated with a 39% lower odds of resection ( p =0.004), with no differences observed for mortality, morbidity and LOS. Comparison of a propensity score matched cohort confirmed these findings, as well as demonstrated no significant differences in associated costs. Conclusions The majority of pediatric intestinal malrotation is managed at CH. While measured outcomes of mortality, morbidity, LOS, and costs were not different at NCH, CH was less likely to perform intestinal resection during Ladd's procedure.
Welfare Costs and Interregional Income Transfers Due to Regulation of Dairy Markets

The U.S. dairy industry is claimed to be unique in that it is subject to more regulation than any other agricultural industry (Hallberg and Fallert, p. 3). Whether the dairy industry is subject to more or less regulation than any other particular agricultural industry is not important. For our purposes, it is sufficient only to agree that the dairy industry is highly regulated. It is the purpose of this paper to formulate a model and estimate the interregional transfers and welfare losses created by the current regulatory structure imposed on U.S. dairy markets. Given the degree of dairy market regulation, it would be useful to summarize the regulation that is unique to dairying. Sanitary grading was established by regulation to differentiate raw milk by its quality or condition of production. Grade A milk is produced under the strictest sanitary conditions and is eligible for fluid, or beverage, consumption. Grade B milk is produced under less strict sanitary conditions and is eligible only to be incorporated into manufactured dairy products such as cheese and butter.
Antisense inhibition of apoB synthesis with mipomersen reduces plasma apoC-III and apoC-III-containing lipoproteins

Mipomersen, an antisense oligonucleotide that reduces hepatic production of apoB, has been shown in phase 2 studies to decrease plasma apoB, LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides. ApoC-III inhibits VLDL and LDL clearance, and it stimulates inflammatory responses in vascular cells. Concentrations of VLDL or LDL with apoC-III independently predict cardiovascular disease. We performed an exploratory posthoc analysis on a subset of hypercholesterolemic subjects obtained from a randomized controlled dose-ranging phase 2 study of mipomersen receiving 100, 200, or 300 mg/wk, or placebo for 13 wk (n = 8 each). ApoC-III-containing lipoproteins were isolated by immuno-affinity chromatography and ultracentrifugation. Mipomersen 200 and 300 mg/wk reduced total apoC-III from baseline by 6 mg/dl (38-42%) compared with placebo group (P < 0.01), and it reduced apoC-III in both apoB lipoproteins and HDL. Mipomersen 100, 200, and 300 mg doses reduced apoB concentration of LDL with apoC-III (27%, 38%, and 46%; P < 0.05). Mipomersen reduced apoC-III concentration in HDL. The drug had no effect on apoE concentration in total plasma and in apoB lipoproteins. In summary, antisense inhibition of apoB synthesis reduced plasma concentrations of apoC-III and apoC-III-containing lipoproteins. Lower concentrations of apoC-III and LDL with apoC-III are associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in epidemiologic studies independent of traditional risk factors.
Theoretical analysis of a directional stability-based clustering algorithm for vanets

Clustering has the potential to reduce redundant messaging in MANETs and provide an efficient hierarchical network structure. However, it takes time to form and maintain a cluster structure which also requires additional control overhead. In this paper, we aim to analyze a distributed DIrectional Stability-based Clustering Algorithm (DISCA) designed for VANETs, which takes direction, mobility features, and leadership duration into consideration. We provide insights on the theoretical analysis of DISCA and show that the overhead incurred by DISCA is bound by a constant per node per time step, avoiding expensive reclustering chain reactions.
Nasal fluid release of eotaxin-3 and eotaxin-2 in persistent sinonasal eosinophilic inflammation

Background The aim of the present study was to measure eotaxin-3 (CCL26) and eotaxin-2 (CCL24) in nasal lavage fluid of patients with different forms of chronic sinonasal eosinophilic inflammation to evaluate their role in the pathophysiology of nasal hypereosinophilia. Methods The study was an analytic cross-section study, level of evidence 3b. Patients (n = 80) with nasal hypereosinophilia were randomly recruited and grouped in the following categories: persistent allergic rhinitis (AR) (n = 25), nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome (NARES) (n = 30), and chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps (CRSwNP) (n = 25). Non-rhinitic volunteers (n = 20) were recruited as controls. CCL24 and CCL26 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Quantikine Human Immunoassays (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN) in nasal lavage fluids. Differential cell counts were performed by microscopic cytological examination of nasal tissue scraped from the inferior turbinate. Results Mean CCL26 levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in AR and in NARES (132.0 pg/mL and 187.63 pg/mL, respectively) than in the control group (13.5 pg/mL); in patients with CRSwNP, CCL26 values were increased compared to controls even though the difference was not statistically significant (58.9 pg/mL vs 16.5 pg/mL). Mean CCL24 levels measured in AR, NARES, and CRSwNP were significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared to controls (96.7 pg/mL, 135.4 pg/mL, and 107.0 pg/mL, respectively, vs 32.2 pg/mL). Moreover, we observed a significant correlation between CCL24 and CCL26 levels, evaluating them intraindividually by Spearman's rank correlation test. Finally, a significant correlation was found between CCL24 and CCL26 levels and the percentage of eosinophilic infiltration of nasal mucosa. Conclusion Our data suggest that CCL26 and CCL24 are likely involved in the pathogenesis of chronic nasal hypereosinophilia, with a complex cooperation and different involvement of the various members of eotaxin family. Further studies are necessary to better understand the actual physiopathologic mechanism, possible clinical relevance, and therapeutic implications.
The Comparative Toxicity of Ethylene Dibromide When Fed as Fumigated Grain and When Administered in Single Daily Doses

Abstract CERTAIN grains treated with a fumigant containing ethylene dibromide (EDB) have been shown to be toxic to laying hens. These include grain sorghums (Bondi et al., 1955), oats (Bierer and Vickers, 1959) and both corn and oats (Caylor and Laurent, 1960). In previous trials at this station Fuller and Morris (1962) determined the toxicity of EDB quantitatively by administering it directly into the crop of hens in graded levels. A reduction in egg size was observed when hens received 0.5 mg./day over a 12-week period. Rate of lay was reduced significantly by 8 mg. EDB/hen per day but not by 4 mg./day. Ethylene dichloride and carbon tetrachloride had no noticeable toxic effects at any of the levels tested. The purpose of this experiment was to determine, the relative toxicity of EDB when administered as residual fumigant in oats and when administered in single daily doses directly into the crop of…
Protein docking using surface matching and supervised machine learning

Computational prediction of protein complex structures through docking offers a means to gain a mechanistic understanding of protein interactions that mediate biological processes. This is particularly important as the number of experimentally determined structures of isolated proteins exceeds the number of structures of complexes. A comprehensive docking procedure is described in which efficient sampling of conformations is achieved by matching surface normal vectors, fast filtering for shape complementarity, clustering by RMSD, and scoring the docked conformations using a supervised machine learning approach. Contacting residue pair frequencies, residue propensities, evolutionary conservation, and shape complementarity score for each docking conformation are used as input data to a Random Forest classifier. The performance of the Random Forest approach for selecting correctly docked conformations was assessed by cross-validation using a nonredundant benchmark set of X-ray structures for 93 heterodimer and 733 homodimer complexes. The single highest rank docking solution was the correct (near-native) structure for slightly more than one third of the complexes. Furthermore, the fraction of highly ranked correct structures was significantly higher than the overall fraction of correct structures, for almost all complexes. A detailed analysis of the difficult to predict complexes revealed that the majority of the homodimer cases were explained by incorrect oligomeric state annotation. Evolutionary conservation and shape complementarity score as well as both underrepresented and overrepresented residue types and residue pairs were found to make the largest contributions to the overall prediction accuracy. Finally, the method was also applied to docking unbound subunit structures from a previously published benchmark set. Proteins 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On the stability of two-dimensional stagnation flow

The paper examines the stability of the uniform flow which approaches a two-dimensional stagnation region formed when a cylinder or a two-dimensional blunt body of finite curvature is immersed in a crossflow. It is shown that such a flow is unstable with respect to three-dimensional disturbances. This conclusion is reached on the basis of a mathematical analysis of a simplified form of the disturbance equation for the stream-wise component of the vorticity vector. The ultimate, or stable, flow pattern is governed by a singular Sturm–Liouville problem whose solution possesses a single eigenvalue. The resulting flow is one in which a regularly distributed system of counter-rotating vortices is super-imposed on the basic, Hiemenz-like pattern of streamlines. The spacing of the vortices is a unique function of the characteristics of the flow, and a theoretical estimate for it agrees well with experimental results. The analysis is extended heuristically to include the effect of free-stream turbulence on the spacing.The problem is similar to the classical Gortler–Hammerlin study of the stability of stagnation flow against an infinite flat plate, which revealed the existence of a spectrum of eigenvalues for the disturbance equation. The present analysis yields the same result when an infinite radius of curvature is assumed for the blunt body.
Long-Baseline Deep Ocean Acoustic Tracking and Telemetry System

A portable, long-baseline acoustic tracking system incorporating an acoustic data telemetry link has been developed for deep ocean applications. The system is capable of tracking a surface ship and a submerged object with respect to a bottom-mounted transponder array to an accuracy of better than 10 m. Position updates of the ship and object along with data from the object are obtained every 15 to 20 s. The acoustic communication range of the system is 10 km, which permits tracking of the surface ship in an area of approximately 150 square kilometers in water with a depth of 6 km. This paper describes the general characteristics of the system, including the components, tracking and surveying methods, tracking accuracy, and the results of field tests.
Visual attention in a visual-haptic, cross-modal matching task in children and adults

-Visual fixation patterns were analyzed to gain insight into developmental changes in attention allocation in a cross-modal task. Two patterns that have been associated with increased task difficulty, gaze aversion and fixation duration, were recorded using an eye-tracker. In this exploratory study, 37 elementary age children (M age 7-10 yr.) and 23 undergraduates engaged in visual-only and haptic-visual shape-matching tasks. Theoretical assumptions underlying this study are that children have greater limitations on attention capacity compared to adults, and that a task presented in the cross-modal condition would pose special demands on this capacity. A 2 × 2 (uni- or cross-modal × age group) repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze both gaze aversion and average fixation duration. Children averted gaze significantly more during the cross-modal condition, supporting the idea that children use gaze aversion as an attention-shifting mechanism. Mean fixation duration increased for both groups in the cross-modal condition. Due to the small number and limited age range of the children as well as the limited number of task items, interpretations are made with caution. Language: en
Mountain chickadees from different elevations sing different songs: acoustic adaptation, temporal drift or signal of local adaptation?

Song in songbirds is widely thought to function in mate choice and male–male competition. Song is also phenotypically plastic and typically learned from local adults; therefore, it varies across geographical space and can serve as a cue for an individual's location of origin, with females commonly preferring males from their respective location. Geographical variation in song dialect may reflect acoustic adaptation to different environments and/or serve as a signal of local adaptation. In montane environments, environmental differences can occur over an elevation gradient, favouring local adaptations across small spatial scales. We tested whether food caching mountain chickadees, known to exhibit elevation-related differences in food caching intensity, spatial memory and the hippocampus, also sing different dialects despite continuous distribution and close proximity. Male songs were collected from high and low elevations at two different mountains (separated by 35 km) to test whether song differs between elevations and/or between adjacent populations at each mountain. Song structure varied significantly between high and low elevation adjacent populations from the same mountain and between populations from different mountains at the same elevations, despite a continuous distribution across each mountain slope. These results suggest that elevation-related differences in song structure in chickadees might serve as a signal for local adaptation.
A general method for the fabrication of graphene-nanoparticle hybrid material.

We describe a simple and general approach to conjugate nanoparticles on pristine graphene. The method takes advantage of the high reactivity of perfluorophenyl nitrene towards the CC bonds in graphene, where perfluorophenyl azide-functionalized nanoparticles are conjugated to pristine graphene through the [2+1] cycloaddition reaction by a fast photoactivation.
Determinants of Melody Span in a Developmentally Disabled Musical Savant

Sensitivity to various constraints present in simple strings of notes was investigated in a 7-year-old musical savant using a short-term memory task. Analysis of the subject's renditions of strings suggested particular attention was paid to the general complexity, key signature, and repeated configurations within a string. Implications of these results for concepts of savant behavior are discussed.
Teaching vacuum technology using spreadsheet calculations

Vacuum technology is an important part of nano-fabrication. Automated control systems for vacuum equipment have made operation easy and safe but have also isolated the user from the need to understand the physics of vacuum systems. In spite of this, many equipment and process decisions revolve around choices made concerning the vacuum components of a processing tool. Students can use a spreadsheet to calculate the pump down pressure characteristic in a chamber for various non ideal conditions and combinations of single and multiple stage pumps. The calculations can be compared to characteristics of real pump/chamber systems that are available in the user's laboratory. This develops a much deeper understanding of the design and operation of modern vacuum systems. The calculations are also a good way to introduce or review numerical techniques.
Measurement of the pubic portion of the levator ani muscle in women with unilateral defects in 3-D models from MR images

Objective: Develop a method to quantify the cross-sectional area of the pubic portion of the levator ani muscle, validate the method in women with unilateral muscle defects, and report preliminary findings in those women. Method: Multi-planar proton density magnetic resonance images of 12 women with a unilateral defect in the pubic portion of their levator ani were selected from a larger study of levator ani muscle anatomy in women with and without genital prolapse. Three-dimensional bilateral models of the levator ani were reconstructed (using 3-D Slicer, version 2.1b1) and divided into iliococcygeal and pubic portions. Muscle cross-sectional areas were calculated at four equally spaced locations perpendicular to a line drawn from the pubic origin to the visceral insertion using the I-DEASR® computer modeling software. Results: The cross-sectional area of the muscle on the side with the defect was smaller than the normal side at all the four locations. The average bilateral difference was up to 81% at location 1 (nearest pubic origin). Almost all of the volume difference (13.7%, P =0.0004) was attributable to a reduction in the pubic portion (24.6%, P <0.0001), not the iliococcygeal portion ( P =0.64), of the muscle. Conclusions: A method was developed to quantify cross-sectional area of the pubic portion of the levator ani perpendicular to the intact muscle direction. Significant bilateral cross-sectional area differences were found between intact and defective muscles in women with a unilateral defect.