cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ACUTE RENAL INSUFFICIENCY (ARI) FOLLOWING OPEN HEART SURGERY (OHS)

ARI, a doubling of the basal preoperative or an absolute increase of serum creatinine to levels >1.2 mg/dl, was observed in 75 of 236 children undergoing OHS. It developed in 13 of 21 pts following OHS under profound hypothermia (Gp A) and in 62 of 215 following customary mild hypothermic OHS (Gp B). Oliguria occurred in 10 of 13 pts with ARI in Gp A and in only 25 of 62 in Gp B. Despite dialysis 17 pts with ARI (7 in Gp A; 10 in Gp B) expired from sepsis or intractible cardiac failure. Transient increases in serum creatinine occurred in those 58 pts with ARI who survived OHS, exceeding 1.6 mg/dl in only 10. Although all 58 were characterized by oliguria, or hypercalcemia or hyperkalemia and acidosis during the intra operative period renal function returned to normal in all by the 6th post operative day. The development of ARI correlated with A) intraoperative events: bypass time >90 min, post perfusion low output syndrome or hemoglobinemia >100 mg/dl and B) post operative low output syndrome from poor cardiac performance or excessive bleeding. Awareness of the frequency of and the predisposing factors for development of ARI is important in guiding post operative therapeusis.
Molecular dynamics simulations of kinetic isotope fractionation during the diffusion of ionic species in liquid water

Abstract Interpretation of isotope ratios, a powerful tool in geochemical investigations of fluid-rock systems, requires an understanding of all relevant processes that fractionate isotopes. One such process, diffusion in liquid water, has remained problematic despite its potential significance as a major cause of kinetic isotope fractionation. Recent laboratory experiments published by [Richter, F. M., Mendybaev, R. A., Christensen, J. N., Hutcheon, I. D., Williams, R. W., Sturchio, N. C., and Beloso Jr., A. D. (2006) Kinetic isotopic fractionation during diffusion of ionic species in water. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 70, 277–289.] have shown clearly for the first time that lithium and chloride isotopes are fractionated by diffusion in liquid water, whereas magnesium isotopes are not. In the present paper, we present the results of molecular dynamics simulations of lithium, chloride, and magnesium diffusion in liquid water that were designed to provide molecular-scale insight into the experimental findings of Richter et al. (2006) . Our results indicate that the self-diffusion coefficients of lithium, chloride, and magnesium isotopes follow an inverse power-law dependence on ion mass ( D i ∝ m i - β , where Di is the self-diffusion coefficient of a solute with isotopic mass mi). The power-law exponents (β) deduced for lithium, chloride, and magnesium from the diffusivity data of Richter et al. (2006) are consistent with the mass dependencies found in our simulations. Further analysis of our simulation results showed that the experimental β-values are inversely related to the residence times of water molecules in the first solvation shells of the diffusing ions, as expected from mode-coupling and renormalized kinetic theories.
Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for Pheochromocytoma

Objective To determine the safety and results of laparoscopic resection of benign pheochromocytomas. Patients and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of all patients who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy for benign pheochromocytomas at all 3 Mayo Clinic sites between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 2001. Demographics, comorbidities, clinical presentation, imaging studies, biochemical findings, operative intervention, and outcome were examined. Long-term follow-up was obtained via chart review and/or by direct telephone contact with the patient or a relative. Results Twenty-four women and 23 men with a mean age of 53.1 years (range, 16-81 years) underwent attempted laparoscopic resection of pheochromocytomas. In 5 patients, the procedure was converted to open laparotomy because of bleeding (2), inadequate exposure (2), and adhesions (1). The mean tumor size was 4.3 cm. The mean operative time (181.8 vs 140.5 minutes; P =.03), mean hospital stay (6.00 vs 2.64 days; P P Conclusions In light of surgical and anesthesia expertise, laparoscopic resection of benign pheochromocytomas is safe and effective with resultant short hospital stays. A low threshold to convert to an open procedure reduces operative times and decreases potentially serious complications. Although there have been no recurrences to date, long-term follow-up is required for all patients, especially those with hereditary forms of pheochromocytomas.
A stress based damage mechanics model to simulate fretting wear of Hertzian line contact in partial slip

Abstract In this investigation, a new model for dry fretting wear of similar materials in Hertzian contact is proposed. The wear law which is dependent on material properties, applied load and sliding distance is proposed for similar materials under dry fretting wear conditions. Based on this law, a stress based damage mechanics equation for wear is formulated and a finite element model is developed to determine wear rates and wear coefficients. The modeling approach proposed is based on wear at the level of material microstructure and thus Voronoi tessellation is used to configure the microstructure of the bodies in contact. To simulate fretting wear, fatigue crack initiation and propagation along the grain boundaries, and grain removal technique is developed. Two distinct regions – wear initiation and wear propagation are observed from the results of the simulation. The results of the simulation are compared with the Archard wear law and the calculated wear coefficients are of the same order as suggested in the literature. Wear volume measurements for partial slip regime in fretting wear are obtained using the model and the effects of coefficient of friction, hardness and Young's modulus on fretting wear is studied. It is found that the wear rate is significantly influenced by hardness and Young's modulus while the applied coefficient of friction has little to no effect on the wear rate. A regression analysis of the results and a wear map technique to predict wear rates based on material parameters is also presented.
Nonlinear saturation of the dissipative trapped-electron instability

It is shown that trapping-electron--induced scattering can be dominant over nonlinear ion Landau damping in the saturation of short-wavelength, dispersive, trapped-electron instabilities in tokamaks. Trapped-electron-induced scattering transfers the wave energy to shorter wavelengths, where it can be dissipated by ion viscosity.
The Impact of Training in Mainstreaming on Teacher Attitudes, Management Techniques, and the Behaviour of Disabled Students

Abstract Of the growing number of training programs in mainstreaming competencies reported, only a few have used naturalistic observations to evaluate the impact of these interventions. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a preparation program in mainstreaming for regular teachers on attitudes, management styles and mainstreamed pupil behaviour. Thirty prospective teachers, including 15 trained in special education (the experimental group) and 15 controls were each observed interacting with a mainstreamed and matched comparison pupil. Findings revealed that (a) training was effective in modifying attitudes toward mainstreaming by experimental teachers; (b) mainstreamed pupils in control teacher classrooms displayed significantly less appropriate classroom behaviours than their comparison peers; and (c) experimental and control teachers did not differ significantly in the management techniques employed. Both groups, however, reacted differently toward mainstreamed pupils t...
Structural and biochemical insights into 2'-O-methylation at the 3'-terminal nucleotide of RNA by Hen1.

Small RNAs of ≈20–30 nt have diverse and important biological roles in eukaryotic organisms. After being generated by Dicer or Piwi proteins, all small RNAs in plants and a subset of small RNAs in animals are further modified at their 3′-terminal nucleotides via 2′-O-methylation, carried out by the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase (MTase) Hen1. Methylation at the 3′ terminus is vital for biological functions of these small RNAs. Here, we report four crystal structures of the MTase domain of a bacterial homolog of Hen1 from Clostridium thermocellum and Anabaena variabilis, which are enzymatically indistinguishable from the eukaryotic Hen1 in their ability to methylate small single-stranded RNAs. The structures reveal that, in addition to the core fold of the MTase domain shared by other RNA and DNA MTases, the MTase domain of Hen1 possesses a motif and a domain that are highly conserved and are unique to Hen1. The unique motif and domain are likely to be involved in RNA substrate recognition and catalysis. The structures allowed us to construct a docking model of an RNA substrate bound to the MTase domain of bacterial Hen1, which is likely similar to that of the eukaryotic counterpart. The model, supported by mutational studies, provides insight into RNA substrate specificity and catalytic mechanism of Hen1.
Role of the wings in the absorption of radiant energy by a butterfly

Abstract 1. 1. Measurements were made of the thoracic temperature of Danaus plexippus exposed to artificial radiation of an intensity comparable to sunlight. 2. 2. Butterflies with wings ablated warmed more slowly and attained a slightly lower equilibrium temperature (mean difference, 2·1°C) than did intact animals, the equilibrium temperature of which averaged 8·7°C above ambient temperature. 3. 3. The amount of water in the wings is small (mean = 17 mg), and the rate of circulation of the hemolymph, as indicated by the dispersal of vital dyes injected into the thorax, is slow. Therefore, circulation of the hemolymph does not provide a mechanism for a significant exchange of heat between the body and the wings of these butterflies. 4. 4. Dead animals with wings severed attained a temperature equilibrium 2·2°C greater than that of live butterflies with wings severed.
National Unified Operational Prediction capability Common Model Architecture

NUOPC is a joint effort between NOAA, DOD, and their research partners to improve collaboration and accelerate operational numerical weather prediction. This partnership is focused on leveraging agency resources and existing ensemble systems into a National Unified Ensemble. The multi-model ensemble was implemented in 2011 and brings additional skill to forecasts at ranges of 8 days and beyond. With the exchange of over 70 variables for forecasts out to 16 days with model runs twice a day and fields exchanged on a one degree grid, much coordination is required to meet the operational requirements of the data exchange. Another effort by the NUOPC partners is the creation of a Common Model Architecture for use in the Operational Prediction Centers. An interagency working group developed the original strategy over a series of meetings from 2007 to 2009. Their final report was approved and published in 2009 and established a well-developed plan to implement this strategy across the partners. This effort created agreed to interoperability standards which can be applied to individual model components and allow for relative ease of swapping other components for testing, demonstration and use.
Physical simulation of long distance and directional wireless channels

In order to accurately test directional or multiplexed systems in a lab environment, a testbed should simulate both directional wireless channels and propagation delay. Using one or more RF lenses, one can test a radio system that uses switched or adaptively steerable antennas: one side is switched by an ldquoenvironmentrdquo controller, the other by the the discovery and tracking loop of the radio system. True path delay testing can be done by using analog RF-to-optical converters and miles of low-cost, low-loss fiber optics. Apart from verifying latency, this test can also determine if there are issues with ACK or other timeouts: information unavailable by simply attenuating a link to simulate distance.
Asymmetric peptide nanoarray surfaces for studies of single cell polarization.

We report the production of symmetric and asymmetric cell adhesive peptide nanoarrays for the study of single cell polarization. Dip pen nanolithography is used to pattern nanometer-sized spots of hydroquinone terminated alkanethiol on gold substrates. After electrochemical activation of the surface, the corresponding quinone can then undergo a reversible chemoselective reaction with an oxyamine terminated ligand. Substrates presenting both symmetric and asymmetric nanoarrays of immobilized linear Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptides and cyclic (RGD) peptides are used to examine the effect of the spatial distribution of cell adhesive ligands on the polarization of adhered Swiss Albino 3T3 fibroblasts by determining the directional vector between the nucleus centroid, centrosome centroid, and Golgi center. This methodology is extended to investigate the effect of spatial arrangement of immobilized ligands, affinity of ligands, and nanospot size on polarity and focal adhesion formation within the adherent cells on th...
The effects of interface design and age on children's information processing of Web sites

Children increasingly utilize the Internet as a primary medium, a source of consumer information, and an important source of entertainment. This article investigates the influence of Web site design on children's information processing performance. A model is advanced that integrates theories from a variety of disciplines, including developmental psychology, human computer interaction (HCI), and consumer behavior. This study found that age moderates the relationship between Web site design and spatial (search) and learning (recall) performance. Younger children, between the ages of 7 and 9, recalled more content when using a map (as compared to a content list) and when learning cues were employed. Older children, between the ages of 10 and 12, performed equally as well with either a map or a content list, and with or without learning cues. Implications for business, education, and public policy are discussed and guidelines are provided for designing more child-friendly Web sites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spectra of coronae

Abstract We introduce a new invariant, the coronal of a graph, and use it to compute the spectrum of the corona G ∘ H of two graphs G and H. In particular, we show that this spectrum is completely determined by the spectra of G and H and the coronal of H. Previous work has computed the spectrum of a corona only in the case that H is regular. We then explicitly compute the coronals for several families of graphs, including regular graphs, complete n-partite graphs, and paths. Finally, we use the corona construction to generate many infinite families of pairs of cospectral graphs.
Water-equivalent path length calibration of a prototype proton CT scanner.

Purpose: The authors present a calibration method for a prototype protoncomputed tomography (pCT) scanner. The accuracy of these measurements depends upon careful calibration of the energy detector used to measure the residual energy of the protons that passed through the object. Methods: A prototype pCT scanner with a cesium iodide (CsI(Tl)) crystal calorimeter was calibrated by measuring the calorimeter response for protons of 200 and 100 MeV initial energies undergoing degradation in polystyrene plates of known thickness and relative stopping power (RSP) with respect to water. Calibration curves for the two proton energies were obtained by fitting a second-degree polynomial to the water-equivalent path length versus calorimeter response data. Using the 100 MeV calibration curve, the RSP values for a variety of tissue-equivalent materials were measured and compared to values obtained from a standard depth-dose range shift measurement using a water-tank. A cylindrical water phantom was scanned with 200 MeV protons and its RSP distribution was reconstructed using the 200 MeV calibration. Results: It is shown that this calibration method produces measured RSP values of various tissue-equivalent materials that agree to within 0.5% of values obtained using an established water-tank method. The mean RSP value of the water phantom reconstruction was found to be 0.995 ± 0.006. Conclusions: The method presented provides a simple and reliable procedure for calibration of a pCT scanner.
Information system concepts for quality measurement.

Background Health care information systems in use today frequently fall short of what is needed to meet the demands for data and reporting on performance. Many observers believe substantial improvements in information systems will be necessary if the potential of a national quality measurement and reporting system (NQMRS) is to be realized. A shared vision will facilitate progress in improving information systems. Objectives To articulate a set of guiding principles and operational steps for the development of functional information systems in health care. Research design Experience in building such systems for one health care delivery system was used to develop an approach. This was discussed with Strategic Framework Board members and integrated with other considerations for going from a local system to one that could accumulate information for national purposes. Findings The key elements of a functional information system include provisions that (1) data should be collected once, (2) aggregation of data for higher-level reports should be anticipated, (3) issues related to privacy and confidentiality must be addressed, and (4) measurement systems should include an audit standard. A seven-step process for developing a functional information system is outlined. Conclusions A shared national measurement framework is essential because the data systems that health care delivery organizations use are not static. A long-term vision can guide the growth of a data system over time. An NQMRS can be the vehicle that provides the needed vision.
Multiple-partition token ring network

Abstract A token ring local area network capable of operating in multiple parallel segments which are interconnected via a central switch (called a bridge) is the focus of this study. It is shown that while it is beneficial to operate the network as a single token ring at light loads, the single ring mode also has a limited channel capacity, and that it is preferable to operate the ring in multiple positions for heavier loads. Specifically, it is shown that, if the switch processing delay is insignificant compared to the mean packet transmission time, then it is preferable to operate the network either as a single large ring or as a star network. The effect of various parameters on the system performance are explored by considering the two-partition case. An approximate analytical model is employed for this study, and results are verified via simulation.
Characterization of a soft elastomeric capacitive strain sensor for fatigue crack monitoring

Fatigue cracks have been one of the major factors for the deterioration of steel bridges. In order to maintain structural integrity, monitoring fatigue crack activities such as crack initiation and propagation is critical to prevent catastrophic failure of steel bridges due to the accumulation of fatigue damage. Measuring the strain change under cracking is an effective way of monitoring fatigue cracks. However, traditional strain sensors such as metal foil gauges are not able to capture crack development due to their small size, limited measurement range, and high failure rate under harsh environmental conditions. Recently, a newly developed soft elastomeric capacitive sensor has great promise to overcome these limitations. In this paper, crack detection capability of the capacitive sensor is demonstrated through Finite Element (FE) analysis. A nonlinear FE model of a standard ASTM compact tension specimen is created which is calibrated to experimental data to simulate its response under fatigue loading, with the goal to 1) depict the strain distribution of the specimen under the large area covered by the capacitive sensor due to cracking; 2) characterize the relationship between capacitance change and crack width; 3) quantify the minimum required resolution of data acquisition system for detecting the fatigue cracks. The minimum resolution serves as a basis for the development of a dedicated wireless data acquisition system for the capacitive strain sensor.
Effect of meperidine on oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and respiratory gas exchange in postanesthesia shivering.

Meperidine has been used to suppress postanesthesia shivering. However, its efficacy to date has only been assessed by observation of visible shivering. We measured the effect of meperidine on oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2) and pulmonary gas exchange in 14 otherwise hea
Olefin hydrogenation catalyzed by supported and unsupported mixed metals

Abstract The results of a series of measurements are reported on the hydrogenation activity of the catalyst system: palladium-gold. Two types of catalysts are employed, one in the form of metal microspheres containing different compositions of the two metals as alloys, the other in the form of the mixed metals dispersed on an alphaalumina support. The alloy-microsphere system exhibits a pronounced increase in specific activity for cyclopentane hydrogenation at 500 °K resulting from the addition of gold to palladium with a maximum near 50 at.% gold. On the other hand the supported mixed-metal system exhibits an entirely different pattern in specific activity for benzene hydrogenation at 473 °K. It is concluded that although X-ray data and electron microprobe analysis indicate alloy formation for the supported catalyst, the surface phase of the crystallites is not in composition equilibrium with the bulk in spite of the fact that the Pd-Au system exhibits complete miscibility over the entire range of compositions.
A greedy heuristic for a minimum-weight forest problem

Given an undirected edge-weighted graph and a natural number m, we consider the problem of finding a minimum-weight spanning forest such that each of its trees spans at least m vertices. For m >= 4, the problem is shown to the NP-hard. We describe a simple 2-approximate greedy heuristic that runs within the time needed to compute a minimum spanning tree. If the edge weights satisfy the triangle inequality, any such a 2-approximate solution, in linear time, can be converted into a 4-approximate solution for the problem of covering the graph with minimum-weight vertex disjoint cycles of size at least m.
Cloning and transcriptional analysis of Crepis alpina fatty acid desaturases affecting the biosynthesis of crepenynic acid

Crepis alpina acetylenase is a variant FAD2 desaturase that catalyses the insertion of a triple bond at the Δ 12 position of linoleic acid, forming crepenynic acid in developing seeds. Seeds contain a high level of crepenynic acid but other tissues contain none. Using reverse transcriptase-coupled PCR (RT-PCR), acetylenase transcripts were identified in non-seed C. alpina tissues, which were highest in flower heads. To understand why functional expression of the acetylenase is limited to seeds, genes that affect acetylenase activity by providing substrate (FAD2) or electrons (cytochrome b 5 ), or that compete for substrate (FAD3), were cloned. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the availability of a preferred cytochrome b 5 isoform is not a limiting factor. Developing seeds co-express acetylenase and FAD2 isoform 2 (FAD2-2) at high levels. Flower heads co-express FAD2-3 and FAD3 at high levels, and FAD2-2 and acetylenase at moderate levels. FAD2-3 was not expressed in developing seed. Real-time RT-PCR absolute transcript quantitation showed 10 4 -fold higher acetylenase expression in developing seeds than in flower heads. Collectively, the results show that both the acetylenase expression level and the co-expression of other desaturases may contribute to the tissue specificity of crepenynate production. Helianthus annuus contains a Δ 12 acetylenase in a polyacetylene biosynthetic pathway, so does not accumulate crepenynate. Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed relatively strong acetylenase expression in young sunflowers. Acetylenase transcription is observed in both species without accumulation of the enzymatic product, crepenynate. Functional expression of acetylenase appears to be affected by competition and collaboration with other enzymes.
Compensating for intraoperative soft-tissue deformations using incomplete surface data and finite elements

Image-guided liver surgery requires the ability to identify and compensate for soft tissue deformation in the organ. The predeformed state is represented as a complete three-dimensional surface of the organ, while the intraoperative data is a range scan point cloud acquired from the exposed liver surface. The first step is to rigidly align the coordinate systems of the intraoperative and preoperative data. Most traditional rigid registration methods minimize an error metric over the entire data set. In this paper, a new deformation-identifying rigid registration (DIRR) is reported that identifies and aligns minimally deformed regions of the data using a modified closest point distance cost function. Once a rigid alignment has been established, deformation is accounted for using a linearly elastic finite element model (FEM) and implemented using an incremental framework to resolve geometric nonlinearities. Boundary conditions for the incremental formulation are generated from intraoperatively acquired range scan surfaces of the exposed liver surface. A series of phantom experiments is presented to assess the fidelity of the DIRR and the combined DIRR/FEM approaches separately. The DIRR approach identified deforming regions in 90% of cases under conditions of realistic surgical exposure. With respect to the DIRR/FEM algorithm, subsurface target errors were correctly located to within 4 mm in phantom experiments.
SYNTACTIC CONSTRAINTS AND EFFICIENT PARSABILITY

A central goal of linguistic theory is to explain why natural languages are the way they are. It has often been supposed that computational considerations ought to play a role in this characterization, but rigorous arguments along these lines have been difficult to come by. In this paper we show how a key "axiom" of certain theories of grammar, Subjacency, can be explained by appealing to general restrictions on on-line parsing plus natural constraints on the rule-writing vocabulary of grammars. The explanation avoids the problems with Marcus' [1980] attempt to account for the same constraint. The argument is robust with respect to machine implementation, and thus avoids the problems that often arise when making detailed claims about parsing efficiency. It has the added virtue of unifying in the functional domain of parsing certain grammatically disparate phenomena, as well as making a strong claim about the way in which the grammar is actually embedded into an on-line sentence processor.
Minimum Hellinger Distance Estimation for Multivariate Location and Covariance

Abstract The Hellinger distance between a nonparametric density estimator and a model family is minimized to produce estimates of location and covariance in multivariate data. With suitable restrictions on the density estimators and the model family, these minimum Hellinger distance estimators (MHDE's) are shown to be affine invariant, consistent, and asymptotically normal. The robustness of the MHDE as measured by the breakdown point compares favorably against the previously studied M-estimators. Monte Carlo results suggest that the MHDE's are an attractive robust alternative to the usual sample means and covariance matrix.
A finite dimensional parameterization of linear time varying systems

In this paper we obtain a finite dimensional parameterization of linear time varying systems in discrete time. Subsequently we study the question of realization and analyze the stability properties of these systems. Our interest in the above finite dimensional parameterization problem stems from an interest to develop a robust stabilization theory via an adaptive control. The finite dimensionality of the space enables us to describe and analyze a structured family of time varying systems. In this paper, this program is initiated.
A Tale of Two Collectives: Sulphur versus Nitrogen Oxides Emission Reduction in Europe

A theoretical model of emission reductions is specified that accounts for voluntary and non-voluntary behaviour regarding the adherence to the Helsinki and Sofia Protocols, which mandated emission reductions for sulphur (S) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), respectively. From this model, we derive an econometric specification for the demand for emission reductions that adjusts for the spatial dispersion of the pollutant. When tested for 25 European nations, the model performs well for sulphur cutbacks. Less satisfying results are obtained for NOx, because the model’s assumption of a unitary actor at the national level is less descriptive. Collective action considerations indicate that sulphur emissions are easier to control than those of NOx.
Formation of Specific Monosynaptic Connections between Muscle Spindle Afferents and Motoneurons in the Mouse

In adult vertebrates, sensory neurons innervating stretch-sensitive muscle spindles make monosynaptic excitatory connections with specific subsets of motoneurons in the spinal cord. Spindle afferents (Ia fibers) make the strongest connections with motoneurons supplying the same (homonymous) muscle but make few or no connections with motoneurons supplying antagonistic or functionally unrelated muscles. In lower vertebrates these connections are specific from the time they first are formed, but there is comparatively little information about how these reflex connections form in mammals. We therefore studied the pattern of these synaptic connections during postnatal development in mice. Intracellular recordings were made from identified hindlimb motoneurons in an isolated spinal cord preparation, and monosynaptic inputs from Ia fibers in identified hindlimb muscle nerves were measured at different times during the first postnatal week. The pattern of connections was specific throughout this period. Ia fibers made strong connections with homonymous motoneurons but only weak connections with antagonistic motoneurons at every time point examined, from P0 through P7. Even when muscle nerves were stimulated at only 0.1 Hz, the pattern of connections was still highly specific, arguing against a special subpopulation of labile inappropriate connections. The absence of appreciable rearrangements in the pattern of these connections during the first postnatal week is, therefore, analogous to the situation in lower vertebrates, suggesting that mechanisms responsible for establishing this specificity have been conserved during evolution.
Significance of Lesions With Decreased Diffusion on MRI in Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage

See related article, page 67. The study by Garg et al1 reports the frequency of decreased diffusion using diffusion-weighted imaging and an apparent diffusion coefficient map in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) undergoing MRI. Only areas of decreased diffusion that were not contiguous with the hematoma were analyzed. A total of 36 (38%) of 95 patients with ICH had evidence of decreased diffusion on MRI scans performed at a median time interval ranging from 1.6 to 2.3 days after symptom onset. Prabhakaran et al2 similarly reported diffusion-weighted abnormalities in 23% of the 118 patients with spontaneous ICH who underwent MRI scans within 28 days of admission. Because these patients did not have MRI scans before onset of ICH and minor neurological deterioration is not always detected, the characteristics of MRI changes are the only proof of temporal correlation with occurrence of ICH. However, the exact time interval between ICH onset and the development of new diffusion changes cannot be accurately determined. Garg et al1 also found that evidence of decreased diffusion was associated with a 5× higher odds of death or dependency at 3 …
Quantitative deficits of preschool children at risk for mathematical learning disability.

The study tested the hypothesis that acuity of the potentially inherent approximate number system (ANS) contributes to risk of mathematical learning disability (MLD). Sixty-eight (35 boys) preschoolers at risk for school failure were assessed on a battery of quantitative tasks, and on intelligence, executive control, preliteracy skills, and parental education. Mathematics achievement scores at the end of one year of preschool indicated that 34 of these children were at high risk for MLD. Relative to the 34 typically achieving children, the at risk children were less accurate on the ANS task, and a one standard deviation deficit on this task resulted in a 2.4 fold increase in the odds of MLD status. The at risk children also had a poor understanding of ordinal relations, and had slower learning of Arabic numerals, number words, and their cardinal values. Poor performance on these tasks resulted in 3.6 to 4.5 fold increases in the odds of MLD status. The results provide some support for the ANS hypothesis but also suggest these deficits are not the primary source of poor mathematics learning.
Enzyme composite nanofibers as novel transdermal delivery coating

The outermost layer of skin represents an effective, but fragile barrier to the hostile microbial world. Transdermal, and transcutaneous delivery have been constrained by the well accepted paradigm of size limitation for skin penetration. This study utilized the electrospinning method to create nanofiber membranes of horseraddish peroxidase (HRP) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The coating was deposited onto 600 mum silicon needles. The highly hydrophilic coating hydrated, and microneedles physically disrupted the barrier of stratum conreum of the full thickness human skin tissue model. The large protein was delivered across the tissue and retained enzymatic activity through the process of electrospinning. The device delivered approximately 50% of the total load within the first 24 hours. The extraction of enzyme from tissue presented a close comparison between arrays located within a short distance on the collector. The experiment confirmed the relation of surface area and amount of coating to be approximately 0.2% of total coating per each 2x2 array.
A reconfigurable cube-connected cycles architecture for wafer scale integration

Proposes a novel reconfigurable architecture for the cube-connected cycles (CCC) implemented by wafer scale integration (WSI) technology. This design is aimed at maintaining the full rigid structure of the CCC in the presence of manufacturing defects. The spare PEs (processing elements), which are added to every building block of the system, can be shared by the PEs in immediate nearby blocks or be used to substitute defective PEs in distant blocks. As a result, the design utilizes spares more effectively than earlier designs in which spares in a block can be used solely by PEs within the same block, resulting in far better yield improvement. >
Perceptions of racism and illusions of equity

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to address an under‐represented aspect of the literature on gender and work – how Black and White women managers perceive the influence of racism in the workplace.Design/methodology/approach – Data were gathered using a survey instrument and compared using χ2 analyses. Theoretical constructs of aversive racism, White racial identity, and White privilege frame the discourse and the proposed model.Findings – Compared to their White counterparts, more Black respondents perceived racism in their workplaces, were supportive of affirmation action, and saw racial as well as gender disparities in work effort required for success. In contrast, many White participants did not perceive workplace racism, saw little need for affirmative action initiatives, and seemed to hold an illusion of equity regarding work effort.Research limitations/implications – One is a small response percentage for Black participants. Two, members of the organizations selected may not be representative ...
Tell Me—Show Me: Using Combined Focus Group and Photovoice Methods to Gain Understanding of Health Issues in Rural Guatemala:

As health researchers, our training is more literary than visual. We are only beginning to learn about the value of photography as a qualitative data collection method. In this article we describe a project utilizing focus groups and photovoice, sequentially, to gather information about health-related conditions in rural Guatemala. In the first phase, the perceptions of a group of comadronas (birth attendants) were elicited using traditional focus group methodology. In the second phase, conducted several months later, the photovoice method was utilized. During this phase, the same participants viewed and responded to photographs taken during the intervening period by some of the phase-one participants. The findings from this two-phase approach support those from other studies that suggest that photovoice provides more in-depth data and the potential for bringing out additional information that might not emerge during traditional interviews or focus group discussions.
Quantified color Doppler sonography of tumor vascularity in an animal model.

Abstract This study was designed to evaluate the accuracy of a system to quantitate tumor vascularity with amplitude (power) color Doppler sonography two- and three-dimensionally. The vascularity of 20 transplanted murine tumors was determined with quantitated amplitude color Doppler sonography both two- and three-dimensionally and compared to tumor vascularity estimated by histologic examination. Serial examinations were performed 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after the injection of the exotoxin CM-101 and saline solution to assess changes in tumor vascularity. Three-dimensional amplitude color Doppler sonography best depicted the overall vascularity of tumor when compared to histologic estimation of vessel density. However, neither two- nor three-dimensional amplitude color power angiography correlated well to the microvessel count, probably a reflection of the difference in the method for vessel quantification using sonographic versus histologic techniques. Three-dimensional amplitude Doppler sonography correlated better with counts of large vessels (> 100 microm) as opposed to small vessels (> 15 microm). Time-activity curves showed no difference in tumor flow at the times measured in the experimental group injected with CM-101 or when compared to saline solutions in either the peripheral or central portions of the tumor. This three-dimensional amplitude color Doppler sonographic system affords global quantification of tumor vascularity and flow that may, in turn, be useful in determining the probability of malignancy (by determination of branching patterns and vessel regularity) or tumor response or both to treatment.
Spatially-Correlated Jamming in Gaussian Multiple Access and Broadcast Channels

The effect of jamming on multiuser transmission in MIMO Gaussian multiple access and broadcast channels is analyzed. A malicious jammer seeks to impair communication in a multiuser channel by injecting a spatially-correlated Gaussian interference signal. Full channel state information (CSI) is assumed, but the jammer has no knowledge of the users' signals. In the broadcast channel, a worst-case throughput (sum rate) is obtained as the Nash equilibrium of a certain strictly competitive game; in the multiple access channel, a general weighted sum-rate is similarly considered. Certain properties of the Nash equilibria of each game are developed.
Organ size control: lessons from Drosophila

Of fundamental interest to biologists is how organs achieve a reproducible size during development. Studies of the developing Drosophila wing have provided many key insights that will help give a conceptual understanding of the process beyond the fly. In the wing, there is evidence for both "top-down" mechanisms, in which signals emanating from small subsets of cells direct global proliferation, and "bottom-up" mechanisms, in which the final size is an emergent property of local cell-cell interactions. Mechanical forces also appear to have an important role along with the Hippo pathway, which may integrate multiple types of inputs to regulate the extent of growth.
Changes in Nucleic Acid Contents in Rice Plants Inoculated with Pyricularia oryzae

RNA contents were reduced in rice leaves after infection by Pyricularia oryzea, Decrease was greater with race IE-2 than with IC-22. No clear cut differences were found between healthy resistant and susceptible plants but differences between susceptible healthy after inoculation plants were significant. A significant increae in DNA contents was observed after inoculation with either race of P.oryzae.
The Scary World in Your Living Room and Neighborhood: Using Local Broadcast News, Neighborhood Crime Rates, and Personal Experience to Test Agenda Setting and Cultivation

This study tested 2 important theories in the history of mass communication research, agenda setting and cultivation, by comparing the effects of watching local television news with direct experience measures of crime on issue salience and fear of victimization. Direct experience was measured in 2 ways: (a) personal crime victimization or victimization of a close friend or family member, and (b) neighborhood crime rates. Using a random digit dial telephone survey of residents of the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, researchers found that local news exposure accounted for an agenda-setting effect but did not cultivate fear of being a victim of crime. By contrast, direct experience had no agenda-setting effect but did predict fear.
Post‐natal depression: the relevance of sociological approaches

Post-natal depression is much discussed yet definitions and approaches are not homogenous, neither in terms of the cause of post-partum mental ill health, its treatment or how further research in the area should proceed This paper seeks to examine post-natal ‘upsets’ and to consider the different explanations that have been and could be made of post-partum mental ill health The paper reviews the dominant biomedical and psychological approaches, evaluating their ability to explain post-natal mental illness The writer believes biological and psychological approaches are in the ascendance but seeks to demonstrate that they do not present a full picture Sociological approaches drawing upon stress, labelling and feminist models are examined, exploring new ways of looking at post-natal illness The paper concludes that biological and psychological approaches do not provide complete explanations and a multidisciplinary approach is needed Most significantly the woman's own perception of post-natal ill health is largely absent from the literature The need for an approach using ethnographic methods is highlighted
Mammalian Adaptation in the PB2 Gene of Avian H5N1 Influenza Virus

The substitution of glutamic acid (E) for lysine (K) at position 627 of the PB2 protein of avian H5N1 viruses has been identified as a virulence and host range determinant for infection of mammals. Here, we report that the E-to-K host-adaptive mutation in the PB2 gene appeared from day 4 and 5 along the respiratory tracts of mice and was complete by day 6 postinoculation. This mutation correlated with efficient replication of the virus in mice.
omega-Conotoxin block of N-type calcium channels in frog and rat sympathetic neurons

Block of N-type Ca channels by omega-conotoxin GVIA (CgTx) was studied in freshly dissociated bullfrog and rat sympathetic neurons. With 2-5 mM Ba as charge carrier, CgTx blocked almost all of the high-threshold Ca channel current recorded in the presence of nimodipine (3 microM) to block L-type Ca channels. Toxin block reversed slowly (time constant approximately 1 hr) in frog cells and even more slowly in rat cells. CgTx block was faster and more potent in rat cells than frog cells. The rate of block was proportional to CgTx concentration, consistent with 1:1 binding of CgTx to channels. When the external Ba concentration was increased, the development of block was slower, consistent with competition between CgTx and Ba for a binding site. The recovery from block was somewhat faster in higher external Ba. Some cells had significant current remaining in saturating concentrations of nimodipine and CgTx, especially with high Ba concentrations in the external solution. The current resistant to nimodipine and CgTx was activated at lower depolarizations than the CgTx-sensitive current and had faster activation and inactivation kinetics, but unlike low-threshold T-type current, the resistant current had rapidly decaying tail currents.
Are the Deep Chlorophyll Maxima in Alpine Lakes Primarily Inducedby Nutrient Availability, not UV Avoidance?

Abstract Alpine lakes are often highly transparent to ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths, which has led to the suggestion that a deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) results in these systems from UV avoidance by phytoplankton. However, an alternative explanation is that the formation of the DCM is primarily driven by greater nutrient availability below the thermocline in these oligotrophic systems. We investigated the location of the chlorophyll maximum over spatial and temporal scales in a set of high-elevation lakes in the Beartooth Mountains (Montana/Wyoming). The position of the DCM was compared to a suite of physical and chemical variables across systems. Chlorophyll was strongly correlated to a suite of nitrogen variables, whereas correlations with UV parameters were not consistently observed. We also conducted an experiment with the natural phytoplankton assemblage from the DCM in Beartooth Lake; both UV exposure and nutrient additions were tested in a factorial design. The UV-exposed treatment and the control...
God’s Time and General Relativity

Afinal issue now needs to be engaged: Given our commitment to theism, do we have some idea of what measured time coincides with God’s metaphysical time, or in other words, what clock time is the true time? The answer to this question will take us from Special into General Relativity, as we seek to gain a cosmic perspective on time.
Induction of linear and circular vection in real and virtual worlds

Vection is the illusion of self-motion, usually induced by a visual stimulus. It is important in virtual reality because inducing it in motion simulations can lead to improved experiences. We examine linear and circular vection in commodity level head-mounted displays. We compare the experience of circular vection induced through a real world stimulus, an optokinetic drum, with that experienced through a virtual stimulus. With virtual stimuli, we also compare circular vection with linear horizontal and linear vertical vection. Finally, we examine circular and linear vection in more naturalistic virtual environments. Linear vection was induced more rapidly than any other type, but circular vection occurs more rapidly with a real world stimulus than a virtual one. Our results have practical application and can inform virtual reality design that uses head-mounted display technology and wishes to establish vection. Circular vection can be induced easily and rapidly through visual mechanisms that have been known since Mach [1]. We have an optokinetic drum that is capable of inducing compelling circular vection that works in almost all people we have tested in it. The goal of this project is thus twofold: (1) to see how well and how reliably vection can be induced in virtual reality with commodity-level HMDs as compared to real-world stimuli, and (2) to see if compelling vection could be comparably induced when the stimuli are complex naturalistic scenes, not abstract optic flow patterns.