cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Update on phototherapeutic keratectomy.

Purpose of review To review all recent publications on the use of phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). Recent findings Recent studies confirm the beneficial outcomes of PTK in a variety of anterior corneal disorder: anterior stromal scars, dystrophies of the corneal epithelium and the anterior stroma, and elevated corneal lesions. They also try to evaluate the biomechanical properties of eyes with granular corneal dystrophy undergoing PTK, in an effort to prevent iatrogenic ectasia. The different genotypes in patients with transforming growth factor, beta-induced linked corneal dystrophies have recently been correlated to the surgical outcome after PTK. An extensive review of recurrent corneal erosion syndrome identified PTK as the most effective treatment. In the developing world, the most common indication for PTK is still bullous keratopathy, as PTK can be successfully used while waiting for penetrating keratoplasty. Summary PTK can successfully treat a variety of conditions of the anterior cornea. New studies may further expand its use.
Secondary processing of chondrules and refractory inclusions (CAIs) by gasdynamic heating

A theoretical model of aerodynamic heating of a meteoric particle upon entry into a parent body atmosphere is presented. The model includes the effects of melting, vaporization, and heat conduction into the particle interior. Properties of chondrule rims are interpreted in the context of the model. We conclude that the formation of true melt rims by atmospheric entry requires that a low-melting-temperature component be fractionated in the outer part of the chondrule prior to rim formation, and that the range of thermal alteration effects observed in UOC chondrites reflects the variety of encounter conditions and chondrite types. Further tests of the model are suggested.
Informative trends in natural resource commodity prices: A comment on slade

Abstract In a recent article, Slade attempts to reconcile the conflict between theoretical suggestions and empirical findings regarding natural resource commodity prices as indicators of scarcity. Theory shows prices net of extraction cost should rise exponentially over time but empirical studies have found declining prices. Slade postulates a more complex model and attempts to verify it empirically. This comment points out that the model has an important bias and is applied improperly to the data. Proper application and correction of the bias leads to significantly different results in the case of copper and casts doubt on all of Slade's other results.
Epidemiology of acute lung injury.

Objective: To review the epidemiology of acute lung injury (ALI) with particular emphasis on its effect on public health. Data Sources: Published studies on the definitions, incidence, and outcomes of ALI. Data Summary: ALI is a syndrome of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure that is not primarily cardiac in origin. The diagnostic criteria for the syndrome have not been well studied for their reliability or validity. The lack of a gold standard for the diagnosis of ALI is a challenge to clinical investigation. Recent data on the incidence of ALI (20-50 cases/10 5 person-years) indicate that it is more common than previous estimates for the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (3-8 cases/10 5 person-years). There is conflicting evidence as to whether the mortality rate in the broader patient population with ALI is different from the mortality rate in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Mortality attributable to and associated with ALI in the United States is comparable to HIV infection, breast cancer, and asthma. Morbidity from impaired cognitive function, functional status, and psychiatric complications has been reported in survivors of ALI. Conclusions: Recent studies of the epidemiology of ALI have reported higher incidence rates for this syndrome than previously described. The mortality and morbidity rates associated with ALI are considerable, with significant impact on public health.
Analysis of shape-memory polymer composites with embedded microvascular system for fast thermal response:

The microvascular strategy demonstrates unique advantages in shape-memory polymer applications as it can achieve both rapid thermal activation and deactivation during a typical shape-memory cycle. In addition, localized overheating can be avoided in comparison with other heating methods, such as the magnetic and electric heating. In this paper, a finite-element-based computational analysis was performed to study the rapid thermal response of shape-memory polymer composites with an embedded microvascular system. We show that the polymer shape-fixing speed, the shape fixity after a given cooling time, and the shape-recovery rate are significantly enhanced due to the rapid cooling and heating effect of internal microvasculature. The effect of the composite dimensions and microvascular channel arrangement on the activation and deactivation was studied. Typically, reducing the composite thickness and tube spacing increases the shape-recovery speed of the shape-memory polymer composite by effectively reducing t...
Lattice Discrete Particle Model for Fiber-Reinforced Concrete. I: Theory

The lattice discrete particle model (LDPM) is a mesoscale model for heterogeneous materials. Developed for concrete, it simulates material mesostructure by modeling coarse aggregate particles and their surrounding mortar as polyhedral cells. A tetrahedralization of the particle centers generates a lattice framework where each lattice member is associated with a triangular-shaped plane of contact (facet) between two cells. Compatibility equations are formulated by describing the deformation of an assemblage of particles through rigid-body kinematics. Equilibrium equations are obtained through the force and moment equilibrium of each cell. The material behavior is assumed to be governed by a vectorial constitutive law imposed at the facets. A natural extension for this discrete model is to include the effect of dispersed fibers as discrete entities within the mesostructure. The LDPM incorporates this effect by modeling individual fibers randomly placed within the framework according to a given fiber volume fraction. The number and orientation of the fibers crossing each facet is computed and the contribution of each fiber to the facet response is formulated on the basis of a previously established micromechanical model for fiber-matrix interaction. The theory for the developed model, entitled the LDPM-F, is discussed herein. A subsequent companion paper will address model calibration and validation through the numerical simulation of experimental test results.
Extendable storage framework for reliable clustered storage systems

The total amount of information stored on disks has increased tremendously in recent years with data storage, sharing and backup becoming more important than ever. The demand for storage has not only changed in size, but also in speed, reliability and security. These requirements create a big challenge for storage system architects who aim for a one system fits all design. Storage policies like backup and security are typically set for an entire file system. However, this granularity is too large and can sacrifice storage efficiency and performance, particularly since different files have different storage requirements. In this work, we provide a framework for an attribute-based extendable storage system which will allow storage policy decisions to be made at file-level granularity and at all levels of the storage stack, including file system, operating system, and device managers. We propose to do this by using a file's extended attributes that will enable different tasks via plugins or functions implemented at various levels within the storage stack and provide a complete data-aware storage functionality from an application point of view. We provide examples of how our framework can be used to improve performance in a reliable clustered storage system.
Unbalanced translocation 9;16 in two children with dysmorphic features, and severe developmental delay: Evidence of cross-over within derivative chromosome 9 in patient #1

We describe 2 children with dysmorphic features, and severe developmental delay presenting with overlapping unbalanced translocations of 9q34.3 and 16p13. Patient #1: A 4 year old African-American female with normal karyotype with a pericentric inversion on one chromosome 9 known to be a benign variant. Low resolution array CGH revealed a single BAC clone loss at 9q34.3 and a single BAC clone gain at 16p13.3, confirmed by FISH. Whole genome SNP array analysis refined these findings, identifying a terminal 1.28 Mb deletion (138,879,862-140,164,310) of 9q34.3 and a terminal 1.62 Mb duplication (45,320-1,621,753) of 16p13.3. Sub-telomeric FISH showed an unbalanced cryptic translocation involving the inverted chromosome 9 and chromosome 16. FISH of the father showed a balanced t(9;16) (q34.3;p13.3) involving the non-inverted chromosome 9, and a pericentric inversion on the normal 9 homologous chromosome. The presence of two rearrangements on chromosome 9, both an unbalanced translocation and a pericentric inversion, indicates recombination between the inverted and derivative 9 homologues from her father. Patient #2: A 1 year old Iraqi-Moroccan female with normal karyotype. Array-CGH identified a 0.56 Mb deletion of 9q34.3 (139,586,637-140,147,760) and an 11.31 Mb duplication of 16p13.3p13.13 (31,010-11,313,519). Maternal FISH showed a balanced t(9;16)(q34.3;p13.13). Both patients present with similar clinical phenotype.
Mid-Management, Employee Engagement, and the Generation of Reliable Sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility

This paper explains how middle managers might enlist ethically engaged employees into the production of reliable, sustainable CSR. An accompanying model illustrates how those managers can encounter employee engagement in CSR and channel their enthusiasm effectively. It presents factors scaffolding organizational support for employee engagement and how they relate to the intensity of that engagement. It introduces the importance of employee voice and illustrates how associated signals might be captured.
Skeletal stem/osteoprogenitor cells: current concepts, alternate hypotheses, and relationship to the bone remodeling compartment.

Plastic adherent bone marrow stromal cells have become synonymous with skeletal stem cells, and perhaps rightfully so, as these cells have been extremely well characterized over the past four decades, since their original description by Friedenstein. However, although this cell population is useful as an experimental model of precursors for osteoblasts and other mesenchymal lineages, the precise role of bone marrow stromal cells in bone remodeling, fracture repair, or repair of non-skeletal tissues remains unclear. Moreover, there is a conceptual problem in terms of postulating that these cells are osteoblast precursors at sites of bone remodeling on trabecular surfaces adjacent to red marrow and yet having to posit potentially entirely different mechanisms for the origins of osteoblasts at sites of cortical bone remodeling distant from red marrow. Thus, the identification and characterization in recent years of non-adherent stem and osteoprogenitor cells in the bone marrow, of similar cells in the peripheral circulation, and of stem/osteoprogenitor cells arising either from the perivascular compartment (pericytes) or within the developing vascular wall itself, has suggested alternative candidate cell populations that may help to resolve the problem of postulating different mechanisms of remodeling in trabecular versus cortical bone. When coupled with our evolving understanding of the bone remodeling compartment (BRC), a closed cavity penetrated by capillaries which appears to be the site of remodeling in both trabecular and cortical bone, it is likely that our conceptual understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of bone remodeling will need to be modified. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 393–400, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Diversity, endemism and evolution in the Coral Triangle

In a recent paper by D. R. Bellwood and C. P. Meyer ('Searching for heat in a marine biodiversity hotspot', Journal of Biogeogra- phy, 2009, 36, 569-576), the authors had two evident objectives: (1) to disprove the theory that the geographical origins of reef organisms could be determined by locating concentrations of endemic species, and (2) to emphasize that the high diversity of the Coral Triangle was due to an accumulation of species from outside that area. With regard to the first point, no such theory had previously been proposed to my knowledge. Second, the accumulation theory was promoted without consideration of the facts supporting the centre of origin hypothesis, except to dismiss it by saying that it had its origin in pre-continental drift ideas. This short response outlines the properties and evidence for the operation of centres of origin in this region.
Uronate oxidation by phytopathogenic pseudomonads.

THE pathway by which D-galacturonic and D-glucuronic acids are utilized by phytopathogenic Pseudomonas species is apparently quite different from the uronic isomerase–keturonic reductase system found in three genera of the Enterobacteriaceae1–5. In this new pathway of uronic acid catabolism, mucic acid has been isolated and identified as the initial product following the enzymatic oxidation of D-galacturonic acid; glucaric acid is presumably formed from D-glucuronic acid.
Tuned negative capacitance circuitry for CMOS amplifier bandwidth extension

A brief treatment of negative capacitance circuitry for bandwidth extension of high gain CMOS amplifiers is provided. Process variation could cause instability or loss of bandwidth if not tuned. Sensitivity of the negative capacitance circuitry is explored and tuning precision is calculated. An implementation of negative capacitance circuitry with tuning is provided.
Giant magnetostriction materials

Abstract One of the significant technical developments in magnetism of the early 1970's was the discovery of a new class of rare earth intermetallic compounds, the RFe 2 Laves phases, which were found to exhibit room temperature magnetostrictive strains approaching 2 × 10 −3 , an order of magnitude larger than any previously known. Since that time both the fundamental and technical properties of these materials have been of intense interest, and they remain the subject of active research even today. The large strains available are useful in such applications as production of high amplitude, low frequency sound waves in water, certain types of strain gages, vibration compensation and compensation for temperature induced strains in large laser mirrors. Because the performance of these materials depends critically on such fundamental properties as the magnetic anisotropy, magnetization and grain orientation of the material, there has been a very strong interplay between fundamental studies and applications. In this article we briefly review the fundamental magnetic and magnetostrictive properties of the RFe 2 Laves phases, focusing especially on the complex behavior of the anisotropy and the success of crystal field theory in explaining it. We also present neutron measurements of magnetic excitation spectra and explain how they provide an understanding of the remarkable success of mean field theory for these systems.
Effect of Posterior Horn Medial Meniscus Root Tear on In Vivo Knee Kinematics.

Background:Medial meniscus root tear (MMRT) is a recently recognized yet frequently missed meniscal tear pattern that biomechanically creates an environment approaching meniscal deficiency.Hypothesis/Purpose:The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of MMRT on tibiofemoral kinematics and arthrokinematics during daily activities by comparing the injured knees of subjects with isolated MMRT to their uninjured contralateral knees. The hypothesis was that the injured knee will demonstrate significantly more lateral tibial translation and adduction than the uninjured knee, and that the medial compartment will exhibit significantly different arthrokinematics than the lateral compartment in the affected limb.Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Seven subjects with isolated MMRT were recruited and volumetric, density-based 3-dimensional models of their distal femurs and proximal tibia were created from computed tomography scans. High-speed, biplane radiographs were obtained of...
Field-induced avoided crossing and new transition channels in atomic and molecular gases irradiated by lasers

We show that the presence of an oscillating electromagnetic field can induce a new avoided crossing between true crossing electronic energy surfaces of molecules without actual absorption or emission of photons. This avoided-crossing energy gap and the field-dressed energies and states are functions of the field intensity, frequency, and polarization. Thus the elastic and inelastic probabilities across these energy regions can be controlled by tuning these field parameters. This mechanism can be used to enhance or suppress field-free transitions by orders of magnitude. More importantly, the field can open up new inelastic channels so that the field-induced transitions, free of any competing field-free transitions, can be readily detected. We apply these new effects to molecular dissociation and predissociation and to atomic (ionic) and molecular collisions. The field-induced probabilities of these processes are studied as functions of the (quasi) molecular electronic energies, relative velocity or vibrational energies, laser field frequency and intensity. It is shown that far-away nonresonant states can contribute significantly to the field-induced avoided crossing and transitions. We give approximate but accurate formulas which enable rapid calculation of all these effects. Our method of solution of the charge-field interaction includes the stationary perturbation theory in the weak-field limit. Our modified Landau-Zener formulas of transition probability include the time-dependent perturbation results, the adiabatic limit, and the field-free limit. Improvements over earlier methods of solving the adiabatic eigenvalue problem are given, especially for charge systems with definite "parities." It is shown that the radiative-induced predissociation of ${\mathrm{I}}_{2}$ in the B ${0}^{+}u(^{3}\ensuremath{\Pi})$ state into the repulsive $1u(^{1}\ensuremath{\Pi})$ state can broaden its vibrational spectrum and quench its fluorescence. The same mechanism can be used to increase the enrichment of laser isotope separation of ${\mathrm{Br}}_{2}$ involving the same states. Formulas f\'or field-induced predissociation rate per second without or with tunneling are given. In these cases, the small laser-induced coupling controls the large internal energy flow as fluorescence or as kinetic energy. In other situations such as dissociation and collisions, the laser field is also a means of switching on the exchange of electronic or vibronic energies internally and/or externally as kinetic energy. All these are achieved at no expense of photon energy since no actual photo-absorption or -emission is involved in these nonresonant processes.
Wing kinematics of avian flight across speeds

To test whether wing shape affects the kinematics of wing motion during bird flight, we recorded high-speed video (250 Hz) of four species flying in a variable-speed wind tunnel. The birds flew at intervals of 2 m s-', ranging from 1 m s -1 up to their respective maximum flight speed, which varied from 14 to 17 m s -1 depending on the species. Kinematic data obtained from two synchronized, high-speed video cameras were analyzed using 3D reconstruction. Three species with relatively pointed, high-aspect ratio wings changed wingbeat styles according to flight speed (budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus; cockatiel, Nymphicus hollandicus; ringed turtle dove, Streptopelia risoria). These species used a wing-tip reversal upstroke, characterized by supination of the distal wing at mid-upstroke, at equivalent airspeeds < 7 to 9 m s -1 . In faster flight, they used a swept-wing upstroke, without distal wing supination. At mid-upstroke at any speed, wingspan in these species was greater than wrist span. In contrast, at all steady flight speeds, the black-billed magpie Pica hudsonia with relatively broad, low-aspect ratio wings, used a flexed-wing, feathered upstroke in which wrist spans were equal to or greater than wingspans. Our results demonstrate that wing kinematics vary gradually as a function of flight speed, and that the patterns of variation are strongly influenced by external wing shape.
K-12 Voucher Programs and Education Policy

Since the 1983 report, A Nation at Risk, the performance of public schools has been increasingly scrutinized, and a variety of reforms designed to increase student achievement enacted. Among the reforms discussed, much attention has focused on increasing choice and competition in education. While the effectiveness of market oriented reforms have been widely debated, little research has been completed that examines policy maker attitudes toward market reform of education. This study used a researcher designed survey to examine policy maker attitudes toward education and education reform in general, as well as the issue of vouchers more specifically. Findings suggest that policy makers generally accept the market arguments used by voucher supporters, but are also sympathetic to equity concerns and funding issues raised by voucher opponents. Additionally, while more policy makers responding to this survey supported some type of voucher program than opposed vouchers, when viewed in the broader context of reform options, vouchers did not rate highly.
Non-coding transcription SETs up regulation

An abundance of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) present in most species from yeast to human are involved in transcriptional regulation, dosage compensation and imprinting. This underscores the importance of lncRNA as functional RNA despite the fact that they do not produce proteins. Two recent papers in Cell have demonstrated that transcription of the non-conserved lncRNAs, but not the RNAs themselves, is necessary to introduce co-transcriptional regulatory histone marks to regulate gene expression.
Axonemal dyneins winch the cilium

In this issue, Ishikawa and colleagues provide direct evidence to support the 'winch' hypothesis for the dynein motor mechanism, in which the AAA domain motor unit is displaced parallel to the doublet microtubule long axis rather than undergoing a rotary motion.
Autocorrelation Function of Sequential M-Bit Words Taken from an N-Bit Shift Register (PN) Sequence

A closed-form expression is obtained for the autocorrelation function of sequential M-bit, base α digital words formed by serial bits of a single binary PN sequence of length L = 2N − 1. Plots are presented for several values of M and N, showing detailed behavior and limiting curves for the binary case (α= 2).
Multiphase similarity solutions of integrable evolution equations

Abstract We introduce a new class of solutions to integrable nonlinear evolution equations which are thought to have a deep connection with the n-point correlation functions of exactly solvable models in statistical mechanics.
Microporosity development in shallow marine sediments from the Nankai Trough

Abstract I characterized microporosity by performing low pressure nitrogen adsorption measurements on 13 shallow marine mudstone samples from the Nankai Trough offshore Japan. The samples were from two reference Sites on the incoming Philippine Sea Plate, and one Site above the accretionary prism. I determined pore size distributions using the Barrett–Joyner–Hallenda (BJH) model, and merged these with existing mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) measurements to construct a full distribution covering micro- to macropores. I found that overall pore sizes decrease with consolidation, and that microporosity content (pores + , Ca 2 + , Sr, Si) show inconsistent relationships with microporosity development and cannot confirm or deny the role of ash alteration in this process. The strongest correlation observed at the three Sites was between microporosity volume and clay mineral fraction. This suggests that microporosity content is determined mainly by detrital clay abundance and development of clay as an ash alteration product, with some contribution from amorphous silica cement precipitated in the zones of anomalous high porosity.
Ligand Electronic Effects on Late Transition Metal Polymerization Catalysts

A series of bis-(aryl)-α-diimine ligands were synthesized bearing a range of electron-donating and -withdrawing substituents to systematically investigate the ligand electronic effects on late transition metal olefin polymerization catalysts. Their palladium(II) complexes were prepared and characterized. Electronic perturbations were verified by analysis of the 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts of the corresponding methyl chloride complexes and the CO stretching frequencies of the corresponding cationic carbonyl complexes, which were found to correlate strongly with the Hammet substituent constant (σp) of the substituent on the ligand. The palladium(II) complexes of the functionalized α-diimine ligands were employed in the polymerization of ethylene and the copolymerization of ethylene with methyl acrylate. For ethylene homopolymerization, higher molecular weight was obtained with catalysts bearing more strongly electron-donating ligands. It was observed for the first time that the ligand electronic structur...
Degree Graphs of Simple Groups

Let G be a finite group and let cd(G) be the set of irreducible character degrees of G. The degree graph ∆(G) is the graph whose set of vertices is the set of primes that divide degrees in cd(G), with an edge between p and q if pq divides a for some degree a ∈ cd(G). We compile here the graphs ∆(G) for all finite simple groups G.
Are magnetic storms hazardous to your health

In recent years, solid scientific evidence has been obtained indicating that certain species of migratory birds, fish and insects can sense the Earth's magnetic field and use this information for orientation and navigation [e.g., Beason and Nichols, 1984; Kirschvink, 1994]. The primary field-sensing units (magnetosomes) in brain cells may be quite sensitive: some bees have been found to respond to magnetic field intensity changes of only a few tens of nanotesla. Studies claiming that natural, solar variability-driven time variations, of the Earth's magnetic field can affect living organisms are on less solid ground. This subject is now loosely called biogeomagnetics; it does not include the politically sensitive topic of power-line and domestic ELF (extreme low frequency) field effects. Scores of biomedical scientists and clinicians throughout the world are involved in this research and have become steadfast users of solar-terrestrial data. In recent years, the Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP) of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) has been asked repeatedly to include biogeomagnetics among its international projects, but has refused. A commissioned report on this topic to SCOSTEP is available on request from Juan Roederer.
A Game of Inches: The Stories Behind the Innovations that Shaped Baseball, The Game on the Field – By Peter Morris

If you are a baseball fan, did you know the rule for nine‐inning games was adopted in 1857? Or that a pitcher was originally called a “feeder” because his job was to feed the ball so that the batte...
Insulin-Like Growth Factors and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins in Porcine Serum and Milk throughout Lactation

ABSTRACT: IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGF binding proteins (IGFBP) were characterized in porcine serum, colostrum, and milk on d 1–28 postpartum. IGF-I and -II were measured by heterologous RIA. Scrum IGFBP were characterized by Western ligand blotting and milk IGF binding activity by [125I]-IGF binding assay. IGF-II accounted for 70–85% of serum IGF and rose 2-fold between d 1 and d 28. Serum IGF-I was unaffected by duration of lactation. Milk IGF-II concentrations were higher than IGF-I concentrations on d 1–7 postpartum. After d 10, milk IGF-I and IGF-II contents were not significantly different. Serum contained IGFBP with M, of 43, 39, 34, 28, and 24 kD. Over the course of lactation, the 43− and 39-kD bands increased, the 24-kD band decreased, and the 34− and 28-kD bands were unchanged. Milk IGF binding activity increased between d 1 (28%) and d 3 (44%), then declined until d 28 (7%). Serum and milk were separated by isoelectric focusing into 20 fractions, across a gradient from pH 3 to 10, that were screened for IGFBP by Western ligand blotting. Milk contained six IGFBP of similar Mr as serum IGFBP; however, the relative amounts of the IGFBP and their apparent isoelectric points differed. In conclusion, porcine milk contains both IGF-I and -II, with IGF-II predominating. Several IGFBP with similar Mr as those found in serum are present in milk. IGF peptide concentrations were highest in prepartum secretions and colostrum, whereas IGF binding activity peaked on d 4 of lactation.
Defying gravity? raising consciousness through collective research

I never thought of research as a tool to talk back to the community. I always thought of it as analyzing (sometimes over‐analyzing) history (Tiffany Threatts, Fed‐Up‐Honeys research team member) (C...
A language modeling approach to information retrieval

In today's world, there is no shortage of information. However, for a specific information need, only a small subset of all of the available information will be useful. The field of information retrieval (IR) is the study of methods to provide users with that small subset of information relevant to their needs and to do so in a timely fashion. Information sources can take many forms, but this thesis will focus on text based information systems and investigate problems germane to the retrieval of written natural language documents. Central to these problems is the notion of "topic." In other words, what are documents about? However, topics depend on the semantics of documents and retrieval systems are not endowed with knowledge of the semantics of natural language. The approach taken in this thesis will be to make use of probabilistic language models to investigate text based information retrieval and related problems. One such problem is the prediction of topic shifts in text, the topic segmentation problem. It will be shown that probabilistic methods can be used to predict topic changes in the context of the task of new event detection. Two complementary sets of features are studied individually and then combined into a single language model. The language modeling approach allows this problem to be approached in a principled way without complex semantic modeling. Next, the problem of document retrieval in response to a user query will be investigated. Models of document indexing and document retrieval have been extensively studied over the past three decades. The integration of these two classes of models has been the goal of several researchers but it is a very difficult problem. Much of the reason for this is that the indexing component requires inferences as to the semantics of documents. Instead, an approach to retrieval based on probabilistic language modeling will be presented. Models are estimated for each document individually. The approach to modeling is non-parametric and integrates the entire retrieval process into a single model. One advantage of this approach is that collection statistics, which are used heuristically for the assignment of concept probabilities in other probabilistic models, are used directly in the estimation of language model probabilities in this approach. The language modeling approach has been implemented and tested empirically and performs very well on standard test collections and query sets. In order to improve retrieval effectiveness, IR systems use additional techniques such as relevance feedback, unsupervised query expansion and structured queries. These and other techniques are discussed in terms of the language modeling approach and empirical results are given for several of the techniques developed. These results provide further proof of concept for the use of language models for retrieval tasks.
Axotomy Mimicked by Localized Colchicine Application

Comparable depression of synaptic transmission in the avian ciliary ganglion resulted from either section or localized colchicine treatment of the ciliary nerves. Both colchicine treatment and axotomny produced similar changes in RNA distribution in the cell bodies as well. Colchicine did not directly affect transmission, and action potential propagation along the ciliary nerves was normal. Interference with axoplasmic transport of material in both cases is postulated to signal the observed chromatolytic changes.
Zur Chemie des Schwefeltrioxyds. VI. Die Darstellung von Trisulfurylfluorid, S3O8F2, und seine Bildung bei der Umsetzung von Kaliumborfluorid mit Schwefeltrioxyd

Trisulfurylfluorid, S3O8F2, bildet sich sowohl bei der thermischen Zersetzung von KBF4 · 4 SO3 als auch bei der Umsetzung von KBF4 mit flussigem SO3 bei Temperaturen von ∼70°. Zur praparativen Darstellung von S3O8F2 eignet sich die Umsetzung von BF3 mit flussigem SO3. Beim Aufnehmen der Reaktionslosung mit 70proz. H2SO4 scheidet sich das S3O8F2 als schwere Flussigkeit von der Dichte D25 = 1,86 und dem Siedepunkt Kp = 120° (zers.) ab. Die auser dem S3O8F2 bei der thermischen Zersetzung von KBF4 · 4 SO3 entstehenden Produkte, die sich aus Bor, Fluor und SO3 aufbauen, werden orientierend beschrieben. Die Erfahrungen dieser und fruherer Untersuchungen werden zur Aufstellung einer neuen Konstitutionsformel fur das KBF4 · 4 SO3 ausgewertet.
Analysis of Prognostic Factors for Patients with Chordoma with Use of the California Cancer Registry

Background: Chordoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of the spine. It is extremely rare and has been studied primarily in single-institution case series. Using data from a large, population-based cancer registry, we designed the present study to examine the outcome for patients with chordoma and to determine relevant prognostic factors. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the California Cancer Registry database was performed to identify patients with a diagnosis of chordoma in the years 1989 to 2007. Comparisons examined differences in demographics, disease characteristics, treatment, and survival. Survival analyses were performed with use of the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Four hundred and nine patients with chordoma were identified; 257 (62.8%) were male and 152 (37.2%) were female. With regard to racial or ethnic distribution, 266 patients (65%) were white; ninety-three (22.7%), Hispanic; forty-three (10.5%), Asian or other; and seven (1.7%), black. The site of presentation was the head in 202 patients (49.4%), spine in 106 patients (25.9%), and pelvis and/or sacrum in 101 patients (24.7%). Hispanic race (p = 0.0002), younger age (less than forty years; p < 0.0001), and female sex (p = 0.009) were associated with cranial presentation, whereas older age (forty years or older; p < 0.0001) was associated with pelvic presentation. After adjustment for clinically relevant factors, a significantly decreased risk of death for chordoma-specific survival was seen for Hispanic race (hazard ratio = 0.51, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.28 to 0.93; p = 0.03), high socioeconomic status (hazard ratio = 0.8, 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; p = 0.01), and local excision and/or debulking (hazard ratio = 0.38, 95% CI, 0.18 to 0.81; p = 0.01). Large tumor size was independently associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio = 2.05, 95% CI, 1.01 to 4.20; p = 0.048). Conclusions: In this study, the survival of patients with chordoma was significantly better for those who were Hispanic and had a small tumor, high socioeconomic status, and surgical intervention. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Prediction of MCI to AD conversion, via MRI, CSF biomarkers, and pattern classification.

MRI patterns were examined together with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in serial scans of ADNI participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The SPARE-AD score, summarizing brain atrophy patterns, was tested as predictor of short-term conversion to AD. MCI individuals that converted to AD (MCI-C) had mostly positive baseline SPARE-AD and atrophy in temporal lobe grey (GM) and white (WM) matter, posterior cingulate/precuneous, insula. MCI-C had mostly AD-like baseline CSF biomarkers. MCI non-converters (MCI-NC) had mixed baseline SPARE-AD and CSF values, suggesting that some MCI-NC subjects may later convert. Those MCI-NC with most negative baseline SPARE-AD scores (normal brain structure) had significantly higher baseline MMSE scores (28.67) than others, and relatively low annual rate of MMSE decrease (−0.25). MCI-NC with mid-level baseline SPARE-AD displayed faster annual rates of SPARE-AD increase (indicating progressing atrophy). SPARE-AD and CSF combination improved prediction over individual values. In summary, both SPARE-AD and CSF biomarkers showed high baseline sensitivity, however, many MCI-NC had abnormal baseline SPARE-AD and CSF biomarkers. Longer follow-up will elucidate the specificity of baseline measurements.
Patron-Client Politics and Political Change in Southeast Asia

The analysis presented here is an effort to elaborate the patron-client model of association, developed largely by anthropologists, and to demonstrate its applicability to political action in Southeast Asia. Inasmuch as patron-client structures are not unique to Southeast Asia but are much in evidence, particularly in Latin America, in Africa, and in less developed portions of Europe, the analysis may possibly have more general value for understanding politics in preindustrial societies. After defining the nature of patron-client ties and distinguishing them from other social ties, the paper discriminates among patron-client ties to establish the most important dimensions of variation, examines both the survival and transformations in patron-client links in Southeast Asia since colonialism and the impact of major social changes such as the growth of markets, the expanded role of the state, and the creation of local regimes. Finally, the paper shows how patron-client bonds interact with electoral politics to create distributive pressures which, in turn, often lead to inflationary fiscal policies and vulnerability of regimes to losses of revenue.
Health care allocation and selective neglect in rural Peru.

This study of health care allocation to children in northern Puno, Peru, utilizes quantitative and qualitative data to explore differential resource allocation to children in rural Andean households. As part of a broader ethnographic study of health in two communities, quantitative data on reported health status, symptoms, and treatments (both lay and specialist) were collected for 23 children under the age of 7 over a one year period. Additional data were collected from local health post records. Data were analyzed by gender, and by three age groups (birth to 1 year, 1-3 years, 4-6 years) to determine if differences existed in the allocation of health care. The data suggest a pattern of discrimination against females and younger children, especially infants under age one, despite the fact that these groups were reported to be sicker. Differences were especially significant in the allocation of biomedical treatments, the most costly in terms of parental time, effort, and money. Ethnographic data on child illness, gender, and developmental concepts help to explain why children of different genders and ages may be treated differently in the rural andes. They provide a context in which to interpret health care allocation data, and, in the absence of a population-based study, reinforce findings based on the limited study sample. Female children are valued less because of their future social and economic potential. Females are also regarded to be less vulnerable to illness than male children, meaning that less elaborate measures are necessary to protect their health. Young children are thought to have a loose body-soul connection, making them more vulnerable to illness, and are though to be less human than older individuals. The folk illnesses urana (fright) and larpa explain child deaths in culturally acceptable ways, and the types of funerals given to children of different ages indicate that the death of young children is not considered unusual. Health care allocation and ethnographic data suggest that selective neglect (passive infanticide) may be occurring in rural Peru, possibly as a means of regulating family size and sex ratio. It is important to go beyond placing blame on individual parents or on culture, however, to address the underlying causes of differential health care allocation, such as poor socioeconomic conditions, lack of access to contraceptives, and female subordination.
Efficient Spatial Allocation of Irrigation Water

In the presence of conveyance losses, the efficient quantity of water applied falls with distance from the water source, but the amount of water "sent" (including conveyance losses) actually increases with distance from the source, except toward the tail end of the inigation system. This implies that if marginal cost pricing were implemented, farmers at the middle and lower reaches of the system would have to pay more money for less water received. The model is illustrated and alternative financing schemes compared for an empirically derived demand function for imgation water. Despite massive public investments in irrigation infrastructure, ex post evaluations of irrigation projects in developed and developing countries indicate that actual benefits are substantially below projected levels. Considerable evidence suggests that these low benefits are largely the result of poor on-farm water use efficiencies and rent-seeking activities that result from water charges that are low and often unrelated to water use (Chaudhry, Repetto, Bowen and Young). For example, farmers near the system headworks are said to consume a disproportionate share of irrigation water, while tail farmers are left with scanty and unreliable residual supplies (Reidinger, Wade). Many governments, faced with increasing political pressure to conserve water and reduce fiscal deficits are considering higher water charges to decrease waste and increase cost recovery from project beneficiaries. There is also increased awareness that low water charges and loosely enforced water rationing guidelines lead to environmental damages and excessive mining of groundwater resources. In general, the problems of water allocation and low user charges contribute to derivative problems in achieving efficiency, equity, fiscal stability, and environmental sustainability.
Hebrew-only language policy in religious education

This article ethnographically analyzes the everyday negotiations of a language policy at a private religious educational institution whose explicit educative mission is the transmission of religious beliefs, values, and practices. Specifically, it explores a Hebrew-only language policy at a Jewish day school located in New York City, and focuses on two interrelated questions: (1) how do students and teachers enact and challenge the Hebrew-only policy in daily classroom practices; and (2) how does this policy become a cultural practice in the classroom, and to what effect? My analysis highlights the paradoxical nature of religious language policy in education. Specifically, it shows that the students and teachers widely embrace the Hebrew-only policy, agreeing that Hebrew language education is critical to the educative mission of instilling Jewish identity. However, in practice, the policy presents challenges to teachers and students due to varied Hebrew proficiency among students and their teachers, and the complex reality of teaching and learning a language that is not widely known or used in the community. This tension between ideology and enactment produces a unique set of cultural practices in the school that results in questionable language learning achievements, but that paradoxically reinforces the underlying goals of the policy: a reaffirmation and strengthening of the students’ sense of religious identification. The article concludes with a discussion about the complexity of defining and implementing religious language educational policy.
Chemical ionization mass spectrometry of quaternary amines

Chemical ionization mass spectra of eleven biomedically significant quaternary amimes are reported. The samples are converted to volatile compounds by known thermal decompositions. Chemical ionization of the compounds gives simple, easily identifiable spectra which are useful for the analysis of the original samples.
Shape-Controlled Vapor-Transport Growth of Tellurium Nanowires

A vapor transport method is employed to synthesize single crystalline tellurium nanowires with tailorable size using tellurium powder in an inert atmosphere. The average nanowire diameter is tunable between 50 and 3000 nm with an associated length of 1 to 22 μm. Growth temperature and time are used to specifically control the behavior of supersaturation, leading to nucleation and morphological control in this vapor−solid growth regime. Analysis of the resulting nanowire product provides insight into the dominant reaction kinetics involved in these growths and suggests routes by which to control growth product. This methodology provides a practical approach to synthesizing high-quality tellurium nanowires of various sizes and their incorporation into two-dimensional mesh-like structures through controlled nucleation and growth dynamics.
Ultra-high Speed Imaging of Laser-Induced Spallation

In this work real-time images of the initiation and arrest of a laser-induced substrate spallation event have been captured over its ~40 ns duration using ultra-high speed photography. A modified version of the laser spallation technique is presented, introducing additional optical components allowing for control of the laser loading fluence (energy/unit area) without changing the emitted loading pulse energy, spot size, and profile. Spallation experiments were conducted on (100) silicon wafer substrates, 500 μm thick, coated with a 100 nm thick Al thin film at three fluence levels, 0.124, 0.174 and 0.336 J/mm2. The capabilities of the modified laser spallation technique capture spallation area evolution and spallation front velocity results over time are reported for the fluence levels examined. Following the spallation event, stress wave reflections and residual thin film stresses drive additional film delamination and substrate failure. Comparisons are made between the real-time spallation images and postmortem static images highlighting the effects of stress wave reflections.
Anomalous Origin of Left Pulmonary Artery From Left Subclavian Artery

An infant boy was born at 40 weeks and 3 days of gestation with prenatal diagnoses of a congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation and left ventricular hypoplasia. Preoperative angiography showed right aortic arch, large right-sided patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), left pulmonary artery discontinuous from the main pulmonary artery, left PDA, and a collateral artery from the descending thoracic aorta to the left lower lung (Fig 1; arrow indicates left lung collateral artery). The patient was taken to the operating room for aortic arch reconstruction, unifocalization of the left pulmonary artery, and bilateral PDA ligation. Upon inspection there was a right aortic arch with discontinuous left pulmonary artery originating from the