cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The cardiothoracic ratio in AGA and SGA very low birth weight newborn infants

Cardiothoracic (CT) ratio is a common measurement used to assess heart size in chest radiographs of pediatric patients, but no recent studies have analyzed the standards for CT ratios in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. The aim of this study was to provide improved standards for CT ratios measured from chest radiographs of VLBW (<1500?g) infants, and to compare CT ratios between small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants in this population. Among VLBW infants admitted to the Jacobi Medical Center NICU from 2002 to 2004, CT ratios were calculated from anteroposterior supine chest radiographs taken of 54 VLBW infants (18 SGA and 36 AGA group-matched on the basis of birthweight and sex) during the first 24?h of life. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to birthweight, sex, 1-min Apgar score, 5-min Apgar score, intubation status and degree of inspiration. Median GA of the SGA infants was significantly greater than the AGA infants (30 and 27 weeks, respectively; P<0.001). CT ratios among SGA infants were significantly larger than those among AGAs. Using the widest internal width of the bony thorax, the mean CT ratio among SGA and AGA infants was 0.523 and 0.479, respectively (P=0.00102). VLBW SGA infants have larger CT ratios than VLBW AGA infants, suggesting that existing standards for normal CT ratios may be inappropriate for use among SGA infants.
Computer simulations of pore growth in silicon

The dynamics of pore formation in silicon was studied by computer simulation. Porous structures were generated by a Monte Carlo algorithm that controlled the motion of an ensemble of electronic holes on a two‐dimensional square lattice. Hole motion was biased to the nearest pore tip in order to simulate local electric‐field effects corresponding to the depletion layer setup in n‐type silicon. Several morphological characteristics seen in porous silicon were seen in the simulation: highly directional pores, steady‐state pore spacing, and a smooth pore front. The pore spacing and the degree of sidebranching depended on the concentration of holes and the magnitude of the bias. The simulation trends are analogous to the pore morphologies seen in n‐type silicon.
Hyperfine Structures of Silver and Gold by the Atomic Beam Magnetic Resonance Method

An ionizer of the electron bombardment type has been applied to a beam of atoms in a magnetic resonance apparatus. The ionization efficiency for potassium atoms has been found to be 1 part in 3000. The new ionizer has made it possible to study the hyperfine structures and the $g$ factors of the ground states of silver and gold, two elements which cannot be detected by the surface ionization method commonly used heretofore. The measurements yield the following results: $|\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}({\mathrm{Ag}}^{107})|=1712.56\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04 \mathrm{M}\mathrm{c}/\mathrm{s}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{c},$ $|\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}({\mathrm{Ag}}^{109})|=1976.94\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04 \mathrm{M}\mathrm{c}/\mathrm{s}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{c},$ $\frac{{g}_{J}(\mathrm{Ag})}{{g}_{J}(\mathrm{Cs})}=0.99987\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.00010,$ $|\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}({\mathrm{Au}}^{197})|=6107.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0 \mathrm{M}\mathrm{c}/\mathrm{s}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{c},$ $\frac{{g}_{J}(\mathrm{Au})}{{g}_{J}(\mathrm{Cs})}=1.00081\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.00005.$
4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal upregulates endogenous antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in rat H9c2 myocardiac cells: protection against overt oxidative and electrophilic injury.

This study was undertaken to determine if 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) could upregulate antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in rat H9c2 myocardiac cells, and if the upregulated defenses led to cytoprotection against oxidative and electrophilic injury. Incubation of H9c2 cells with HNE at noncytotoxic concentrations resulted in significant induction of cellular catalase, glutathione (GSH), GSH S-transferase (GST), and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), as determined by enzyme activity and/or protein expression. HNE treatment caused increased mRNA expression of catalase, γ-glutamylcysteine ligase, GST-A1, and NQO1. Pretreatment of H9c2 cells with HNE led to significant protection against cytotoxicity induced by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. HNE-pretreated cells also exhibited increased resistance to injury elicited by subsequent cytotoxic concentrations of HNE. Taken together, this study demonstrates that several antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in H9c2 cells are upregulated by HNE and that the incr...
Anhydrous Tetrabutylammonium Fluoride

Tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) is prepared at low temperature by nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hexafluorobenzene with tetrabutylammonium cyanide. Adventitious water is scavenged during this synthesis by the generated hexacyanobenzene, which readily adds water under basic conditions. Contrary to expectations, TBAF is stable to Hofmann elimination in polar aprotic solvents under anhydrous conditions. Added hydroxylic solvents are shown to catalyze the decomposition of TBAF and to catalyze proton exchange with DMSO. The synthetic utility of this salt is described briefly.
Simple Model for the Recirculation Velocity of Open-Channel Embayments

AbstractA simple theoretical model is presented in order to predict the recirculation velocity in river embayments, also commonly referred to as eddies, gyres, cavities, and dead zones. This velocity is important as it sets the fundamental timescale of the motion in these ecologically important regions. Using only an equilibrium torque balance, basic geometrical properties, and resistance characteristics, the eddy velocity is determined as a percentage of the freestream velocity. The model is restricted to the single-gyre case, placing modest limits on the embayment aspect ratio. The result compares favorably with recent experimental, computational, and field studies of river embayments.
Data collection and analysis in the air travel planning domain

We have collected, transcribed and analyzed over 8 hours of human-human interactive problem solving dialogue in the air travel planning domain, including traveler-agent dialogues and the more constrained agent-airline dialogues. We have used this data to define and test an initial vocabulary, and to design an appropriate interface for the air travel planning domain. The initial interface design was tested via simulation, using 44 subjects solving air travel problems. Our data analysis reveals great differences between the traveler-agent interactions and the agent-airline interactions, with the traveler-simulation interactions falling somewhat in between.
Educational renewal in an alternative teacher education program: Evolution of a school-university partnership

Abstract Can the discontinuities inherent in school university partnerships become generative sources of educational change? The purpose of this study was to analyze how participants viewed an evolving collaboration and the ways in which discontinuities between school and university agendas were negotiated. Findings over the 3-year period from interview, questionnaire, and journal data indicate patterns of changing roles and relationships between and among university faculty, cooperating teachers, and student interns. The findings indicate that as participants negotiated a common agenda for teaching and curricular improvement, a spiralling process of educational renewal in schools and university emerged.
Debates about the Ontology of Art: What are We Doing Here?

Philosophers have placed some or all works of art in nearly every available ontological category, with some considering them to be physical objects, others abstract structures, imaginary entities, action types or tokens, and so on. How can we decide which among these views to accept? I argue that the rules of use for sortal terms like “painting” and “symphony” establish what ontological sorts of thing we are referring to with those terms, so that we must use a form of conceptual analysis in adjudicating these debates. This has several interesting consequences, including that revisionary answers are suspect, that adequate answers may require broadening our systems of categories, and that certain questions about the ontology of art – including the basic question “What is the ontological status of the work of art?”– are ill-formed and unanswerable.
The discriminability of aspirin in arthritic and nonarthritic rats

Abstract Aspirin, 56 mg/kg IP, was shown to be mildly, but significantly discriminable from saline in a group of 12 nonarthritic rats exposed to a 2-lever fixed ratio 10 drug discrimination protocol for 56 trials. In a concurrently-tested group of 12 rats made arthrtic by injection of Mycobacterium butyricum into a hind paw, the discrimination of aspirin from saline was enhanced. The results exemplify how drug discriminability may vary depending on the pathological state of the subjects exposed to drug-discrimination training.
Assessment of protease-binding by α2 macroglobulin in multiple sclerosis

Abstract Following reports that α 2 -macroglobulin ( α 2 M) is abnormal in multiple sclerosis (MS), we assessed the interaction of α 2 M with a model protease bovine cationic trypsin. Two parameters were investigated: (1) the binding of α 2 M to trypsin, and (2) the ability of the trypsin- α 2 M complexes to hydrolyze benzoyl arginine ethyl ester. In both respects, MS α 2 M was found to be similar to control α 2 M.
Metal-to-Multilayer-Graphene Contact—Part II: Analysis of Contact Resistance

The parasitic contact resistance between metal electrodes and multilayer graphene (MLG) is studied, and the different parameters influencing the contact resistance are investigated. A theoretical model that was developed in the companion paper is applied to typical metal–MLG structures to study the characteristics of the contact. The contributions of all of the three major components of resistance—the top and edge contacts (side and end contacts), the MLG sheet resistivity, and the metal sheet resistivity—to the total resistance are studied. The results show that the total resistance of the metal–MLG contact reduces substantially with the incorporation of edge contacts as the number of graphene layers increases. The current crowding effects are studied with and without consideration of the metal resistivity. Furthermore, the conditions where each of the three major resistance components becomes important are investigated. It is shown that the metal resistance can play an important role in determining the total resistance and current distribution in the contact. The developed model can be used in the characterization and in the design of efficient metal–MLG contact structures. It is shown that, due to the presence of edge contacts, the conventional methods of contact characterization cannot model the metal–MLG structure accurately.
The impurity of "pure" indexicals

Within the class of indexicals, a distinction is often made between “pure” or “automatic” indexicals on one hand, and demonstratives or “discretionary” indexicals on the other. The idea is supposed to be that certain indexicals refer automatically and invariably to a particular feature of the utterance context: ‘I’ refers to the speaker, ‘now’ to the time of utterance, ‘here’ to the place of utterance, etc. Against this view, I present cases where reference shifts from the speaker, time, or place of utterance to some other object, time, or place. I consider and reject the claim that these counterexamples to the automatic indexical theory all involve non-literal uses of indexicals and argue that they cannot be explained away on the grounds that they involve conversational implicature or pretense.
The Power of Protest

The campaign against nuclear weapons was not simply an ideological movement; it was a potent political force.
Binocular rivalry and visual awareness: the role of attention.

When the right eye and the left eye view dissimilar scenes, the observer does not experience a stable superimposed percept of the images presented to the two eyes, but instead perceives an alternation between the images seen by each eye. A critical question confronting this robust and intriguing phenomenon of binocular rivalry is how the visual system selects the image to be perceived (dominant). The current main-stream literature emphasizes a bottom-up explanation in which the rivalry stimulus with the higher contour strength has the advantage, and becomes dominant in rivalry. Nevertheless, some workers in the past have favored an attention-selection explanation for binocular rivalry. We investigated the role of attention in binocular rivalry by employing novel psychophysical paradigms which capitalized on several established phenomena (e.g. the Cheshire Cat effect, attention cueing, pop-out effect). Our results revealed two major aspects of attention modulation in binocular rivalry. We found that a dominant image is less likely to be suppressed when voluntary attention is directed to it. This suggests the role of voluntary attention in retaining the dominant image in visual awareness. Second, a rivalry stimulus is more likely to become dominant if accompanied by a pop-out cue (in the same eye and proximity). Since a pop-out cue attracts involuntary attention to its location/eye, this result suggests that cue-mediated involuntary attention can promote the ability of a rivalry stimulus to reach visual awareness.
Sensing neuroactive agents in Hawaiian plants

Abstract There is a world-wide interest in screening terrestrial and marine plants for components having medicinal properties or prototypes for rational drug design. Hawaiian plants represent a special rich source because many species that grow in Hawaii grow nowhere else. Conventional analytical techniques are of limited utility in this connection because the demonstration of the desired medicinal activity must precede the identification and isolation of the responsible agent. This situation is particularly apparent in the case of neuromodulatory agents whose effect may manifest itself through very diverse modes of action. In this paper, we describe a relatively uncomplicated screening system, derived from biosensor technology, which combines neural tissue as the target material with the electrochemical detection to monitor and quantify neuromodulatory activity. It will be seen that the effects of the neuroactive agents in some Hawaiian plant materials can be demonstrated and evaluated for relative potency.
Combining the advice of experts with randomized boosting for robust pattern recognition

We have developed an algorithm, called ShareBoost, for combining mulitple classifiers from multiple information sources. The algorithm offer a number of advantages, such as increased confidence in decision-making, resulting from combined complementary data, good performance against noise, and the ability to exploit interplay between sensor subspaces.We have also developed a randomized version of ShareBoost, called rShare-Boost, by casting ShareBoost within an adversarial multi-armed bandit framework. This in turn allows us to show rShareBoost is efficient and convergent. Both algorithms have shown promise in a number of applications. The hallmark of these algorithms is a set of strategies for mining and exploiting the most informative sensor sources for a given situation. These strategies are computations performed by the algorithms. In this paper, we propose to consider strategies as advice given to an algorithm by “experts” or “Oracle.” In the context of pattern recognition, there can be several pattern recognition strategies. Each strategy makes different assumptions regarding the fidelity of each sensor source and uses different data to arrive at its estimates. Each strategy may place different trust in a sensor at different times, and each may be better in different situations. In this paper, we introduce a novel algorithm for combining the advice of the experts to achieve robust pattern recognition performance. We show that with high probability the algorithm seeks out the advice of the experts from decision relevant information sources for making optimal prediction. Finally, we provide experimental results using face and infrared image data that corroborate our theoretical analysis.
What Do Nonprofit Organizations Seek? (And Why Should Policymakers Care?).

The objectives of nonprofit managers are not immediately apparent. Indeed, nonprofits may seek to maximize their level of service or their budgets, or they may have undefined or unstable objectives. This paper presents a theoretical model of managerial objectives that yields testable hypotheses, which I test using 2001 data on 190,000 American nonprofits. While there is substantial variation between different types of nonprofits, they generally approach a service maximization objective, but maintain fundraising budgets that are insufficient to meet this objective. These findings have significant implications for policy and nonprofit management. © 2005 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Optimizing communication in HPF programs on fine-grain distributed shared memory

Unlike compiler-generated message-passing code, the coherence mechanisms in shared-memory systems work equally well for regular and irregular programs. In many programs, however compile-time information about data accesses would permit data to be transferred more efficiently---if the underlying shared-memory system offered suitable primitives. This paper demonstrates that cooperation between a compiler and a memory coherence protocol can improve the performance of High Performance Fortran (HPF) programs running on fine-grain distributed shared memory system up to a factor of 2, while retaining the versatility and portability of shared memory. As a consequence, shared memory's performance becomes competitive with message passing for regular applications, while not affecting (or in some cases, even improving) its large advantage for irregular codes. This paper describes the design of our implementation and reports experimental results.
Treatment of Factor VII Deficiency with Recombinant Factor VIla

Factor VII deficiency is a relatively infrequent hereditary bleeding disorder. Recombinant factor VIla has been used to treat patients with factor VII deficiency with bleeding episodes or undergoing surgery. The drug has shown a high efficacy rate and will provide factor VH-deficient patients with a therapeutic agent that is not derived from human plasma.
Chaperonins and protein folding: unity and disunity of mechanisms.

Chaperonin-facilitated folding of proteins involves two partial reactions. The first partial reaction, the formation of stable binary complexes between chaperonin-60 and non-native states of the target protein, is common to the chaperonin-facilitated folding of all target proteins investigated to date. The structural basis for this interaction is not presently understood. The second partial reaction, the dissociation of the target protein in a form committed to the native state, appears to proceed by a variety of mechanisms, dependent upon the nature of the target protein in question. Those target proteins (e.g. rubisco, rhodanese, citrate synthase) which require the presence of chaperonin-10, also appear to require the hydrolysis of ATP to bring about the dissociation of the target protein from chaperonin-60. With one exception (pre-β-lactamase) those target proteins which do not require the presence of chaperonin-10 to be released from chaperonin-60, also do not require the hydrolysis of ATP, since non-hydrolysable analogues of ATP support the release of the target protein in a state committed to the native state. The question of whether or not chaperonin-facilitated folding constitutes a catalysed event is addressed.
Thinning rate of the precorneal and prelens tear films.

RESULTS. The average thinning rate of the PLTF was greater than that of the PCTF and average initial tear film thickness of the PLTF was less than that of the PCTF. For both these reasons, the “tear thinning time” (time to reach 0 thickness) was typically shorter for the PLTF than for the PCTF. Histograms of PCTF and PLTF thinning rates showed a narrow peak corresponding to slow thinning of approximately 1 m/min, but also many examples of rapid thinning of approximately 10 m/min, with greater variability. Both the initial thickness and thinning rate of the PLTF correlated with corresponding values for the PCTF, although many more rapidly changing values were associated with the PLTF. Plots of rapid thinning of PCTF and PLTF were both linear and were not accompanied by any significant increase in thickness of corneal epithelium or contact lens, respectively. CONCLUSIONS. Tear film thinning can be analyzed in terms of flow in three spatial directions: (1) outward (evaporation), (2) inward (into the epithelium or contact lens), and (3) parallel to the tear film surface. The results indicate that the second mechanism may be unimportant. Studies have shown a range of tear film evaporation rates from 0.24 to 1.45 m/min, whereas, when the lipid layer is washed away from the tear film, the thinning rate, due to evaporation, would be approximately 7m/min. Thus, slow thinning rates may be due to tear film evaporation, whereas rapid rates (which are often greater than 7 m/min) presumably include other mechanisms such as dewetting, Marangoni flow (i.e., surface tension gradients), and pressure‐gradient flow. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005;46: 2353‐2361) DOI:10.1167/iovs.05-0094
Rolling contact fatigue tests of reactively sputtered nitride coatings of Ti, Zr, Hf, Cr, Mo, Ti-Al, Ti-Zr and Ti-Al-V on 440C stainless steel substrates

Abstract Eight different nitride coatings-TiN, ZrN, HfN, CrN, Mo 2 N, Ti 0.5 Al 0.5 N, Ti 0.5 Zr 0.5 N and (Ti-Al-V)N (from the aircraft alloy T i -6 wt .%A l -4 wt .%V-were deposited by reactive, unbalanced magnetron sputtering onto hardened (RC 60) 440C stainless steel specimens for rolling contact fatigue (RCF) tests. Four different coating thicknesses, i.e. 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 μm, of each type of coating were deposited on 440C test rods 9.5 mm in diameter and 75 mm long. The RCF tests were carried out under atmospheric conditions in a lubricated three-ball-on-one-rod test machine at two different stresses of 4.0 and 5.4 GPa. Six of the eight coatings gave significant improvements in RCF life, whereas only CrN and Ti 0.5 Al 0.5 N showed little or no improvement over that of an uncoated specimen. The best improvement was for the HfN coating 0.5 μm thick at both the hertzian stresses of 4.0 and 5.4 GPa, which gave an increase in RCF life of 13 and 12 times over that of an uncoated specimen respectively. The coating thickness is critical in improving the RCF life and, in general for these coatings, the optimum thickness is in the range 0.5−0.75 μm.
Calcium Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis

Less bone loss occurs when calcium intake is adequate. Calcium therapy can increase bone mineral density by 1.5 to 2%. Most studies revealing a reduced fracture rate with antiresorptive agents included concomitant calcium supplementation. Calcium absorption occurs predominantly in the upper small bowel under the control of 1,25 hydroxyvitamin D. Adequate vitamin D intake should be ensured, especially in winter or when minimal sun exposure occurs such as being house bound or fully clad. Because the absorption ability of the bowel becomes saturated with calcium doses greater than 500 mg, calcium supplementation should occur with doses of 500 mg or less given more frequently throughout the day. The Institute of Medicine states adequate calcium intakes are 500 to 800 mg for young children, 1300 mg for adolescents, and 1200 mg for adults 51 yr and older. Glucocorticoid therapy generally necessitates higher calcium intakes. The main dietary calcium sources are dairy products, but more foods and beverages, such as cereals, organge juice, and soy milk, are calcium fortified. Because most Americans of all ages ingest insufficient dietary calcium daily, almost everyone could use calcium supplementation. Calcium carbonate contains 40% calcium with optimal absorption occurring with food. Calcium citrate contains 21% calcium and its absorption is independent of food intake. Calcium administration should not be given at the same time as bisphosphonates, quinolones, or thyroid replacement. The most common side effect is constipation, which generally resolves with increased water, fiber, and exercise, but sometimes requires a lower calcium dose.
Phage infection, transfection and transformation of Mycobacterium avium complex and Mycobacterium paratuberculosis

SUMMARY Mycobacterium avium complex strains and Mycobacterium paratuberculosis are closely related intracellular pathogens affecting humans and animals. M. avium complex infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in AIDS patients, and M. paratuberculosis is the agent of Johne's disease in ruminants. Genetic manipulation of these micro-organisms would facilitate the understanding of their pathogenesis, the construction of attenuated vaccine strains and the development of new drugs and treatment methods. This paper describes the replication of mycobacterial shuttle phasmids and plasmids, and the expression of the firefly luciferase reporter gene in M. avium complex and M. paratuberculosis. The mycobacteriophage TM4 propagated on M. smegmatis or M. paratuberculosis plaqued at the same efficiency on these two mycobacterial hosts. Screening of M. avium complex and M. paratuberculosis clinical isolates with TM4-derived luciferase reporter phages demonstrated that the majority of these isolates were susceptible to TM4. Conditions for introduction of DNA were determined by transfection of M. paratuberculosis with TM4 DNA and applied to isolate kanamycin-resistant transformants of M. avium complex and M. paratuberculosis with Escherichia coli-Mycobacterium shuttle plasmids. Recombinant plasmids were recovered from transformants without apparent loss of DNA sequences. These results provide the basis for the genetic manipulation of these pathogenic mycobacterial species.
Trophoblast Stem Cells

Trophoblast stem cells (TSC) are the precursors of the differentiated cells of the placenta. In the mouse, TSC can be derived from outgrowths of either blastocyst polar trophectoderm (TE) or extraembryonic ectoderm (ExE), which originates from polar TE after implantation. The mouse TSC niche appears to be located within the ExE adjacent to the epiblast, on which it depends for essential growth factors, but whether this cellular architecture is the same in other species remains to be determined. Mouse TSC self-renewal can be sustained by culture on mitotically inactivated feeder cells, which provide one or more factors related to the NODAL pathway, and a medium supplemented with FGF4, heparin, and fetal bovine serum. Repression of the gene network that maintains pluripotency and emergence of the transcription factor pathways that specify a trophoblast (TR) fate enables TSC derivation in vitro and placental formation in vivo. Disrupting the pluripotent network of embryonic stem cells (ESC) causes them to default to a TR ground state. Pluripotent cells that have acquired sublethal chromosomal alterations may be sequestered into TR for similar reasons. The transition from ESC to TSC, which appears to be unidirectional, reveals important aspects of initial fate decisions in mice. TSC have yet to be derived from domestic species in which remarkable TR growth precedes embryogenesis. Recent derivation of TSC from blastocysts of the rhesus monkey suggests that isolation of the human equivalents may be possible and will reveal the extent to which mechanisms uncovered by using animal models are true in our own species.
The Teichmüller distance between finite index subgroups of {PSL_2(\mathbb{Z})}

For a given ϵ>0, we show that there exist two finite index subgroups of PSL_2(ℤ) which are (1+ϵ)-quasisymmetrically conjugated and the conjugation homeomorphism is not conformal. This implies that for any ϵ>0 there are two finite regular covers of the Modular once punctured torus T_0 (or just the Modular torus) and a (1+ϵ)-quasiconformal map between them that is not homotopic to a conformal map. As an application of the above results, we show that the orbit of the basepoint in the Teichmuller space T(S^p) of the punctured solenoid S^p under the action of the corresponding Modular group (which is the mapping class group of S^p [6], [7]) has the closure in T(S^p) strictly larger than the orbit and that the closure is necessarily uncountable.
Meteorological evaluation of a weather‐chemistry forecasting model using observations from the TEXAS AQS 2000 field experiment

[1] Meteorological forecasts for the period of 25–30 August 2000 from a coupled weather-chemistry model are evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively using the observations from different instruments that were deployed in metropolitan Houston during the Texas Air-Quality Study 2000 field experiment. The qualitative comparison is carried out with respect to the meteorological processes associated with the influence of the large-scale flow on the sea breeze that are essential to the development of the surface ozone exceedances over Houston, while the quantitative comparison is focused on the errors and uncertainties of the forecasts. The qualitative comparison is performed with respect to a conceptual model for the influence of the large-scale flow on the sea breeze. The comparison shows that although the overall forecasted influence of the large-scale flow on the sea breeze compares qualitatively well to the observations, quantitative differences do exist between the forecasted and observed wind speed and direction, as well as with temperature and moisture. It is found that the forecasted low-level winds have a systematic easterly bias and the forecasted low-level temperature has a cold bias. The errors in the forecasted low-level moisture appear relatively small, but with a cold bias they lead to higher relative humidity in the forecast than in reality. There is great sensitivity of the model forecasted low-level winds to different initial conditions. The quantitative comparison also indicates that the model's effective horizontal resolution corresponding to 1.67-km grid spacing is actually about 10 km.
Mycobacterium avium complex in patients with HIV infection in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy

Summary Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection is a common complication of late-stage HIV-1 infection. Since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the rate of MAC infection has declined substantially, but patients with low CD4 cell counts remain at risk. Among patients in the Johns Hopkins cohort with advanced HIV disease, the proportion developing MAC has fallen from 16% before 1996 to 4% after 1996, with a current rate of less than 1% per year. Factors associated with developing MAC include younger age, no use of HAART, and enrolment before 1996. Prophylaxis with azithromycin or clarithromycin is recommended for all patients with CD4 counts less than 50 cells/mL. Optimum treatment for disseminated MAC includes clarithromycin and ethambutol, and another investigation suggests that the addition of rifabutin might reduce mortality. Both prophylaxis and treatment of disseminated MAC can be discontinued in patients who have responded to HAART, and specific guidelines for withdrawing treatment have been published. Although HAART has altered the frequency and outcome of MAC infection, it remains an important complication of AIDS.
Past pregnancy is associated with axillary node involvement in women with breast cancer

In 186 women with breast cancer, there was a progressive increase in the proportion of axillary nodal involvement as the number of pregnancies increased from zero to two or more (P = 0.026). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that this effect was independent of the known relationship of age and tumor size to nodal involvement. Race and history of breast feeding had no influence on nodal involvement.
Effects of extruded soybeans and forage source on fermentation by rumen microorganisms in continuous culture.

Abstract Continuous culture fermenters were used to evaluate effects of extrusion of whole soybeans and changes in forage composition of diets on microbial fermentation. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial design with soybeans (raw or extruded) and dietary treatment (ratio of alfalfa hay to corn silage; 82:18, 61:39, 43:57, and 27:73 of dietary forage) as main effects. Soybeans constituted 9.6, 14.4, 19.2, and 23.9% of DM for each of the respective dietary treatments. True digestion of DM, ADF, and NDF was unaffected by processing of soybeans or dietary treatment, but true digestion of OM decreased as concentration of corn silage and soybeans increased. Total VFA concentration was unaffected by source of soybeans or dietary treatments; however, molar concentration of butyrate decreased in fermenters supplied with diets containing extruded soybeans. Degradation of CP was not influenced by soybean source but decreased as the concentration of corn silage and soybeans increased. Bacterial N output decreased, and dietary N flow from the fermenters increased, as concentration of corn silage and soybeans increased. Changes in the ratio of alfalfa hay to corn silage and alteration of dietary soybean concentration affected true OM digestion and dietary CP degradation, but extrusion of whole soybeans had little effect on fermentation.
A violation of the Weigert-Meyer law – an ectopic ureter arising from the lower renal pole:

Ectopic ureters are a found in one of every 2000–4000 people. This abnormality can present with urinary tract infections, haematuria, and occasionally incontinence. Ectopic ureters traditionally fo...
Success Rates for Students Taking Compressed and Regular Length Developmental Courses in the Community College

In recent years, developmental education in the community colleges has received much attention. However, there has been little research examining the relationship between course length and course success in developmental education. Using historical enrollment data from a large, suburban community college in southern California, this study examines the relationship between course length and course success in developmental education when social and academic background characteristics are controlled. The study hypothesized that there would be no significant or practical difference in success rates for students taking compressed (i.e., courses less than eight weeks in length) or regular length developmental English, reading, or math courses when social or academic characteristics are controlled. Results demonstrate that developmental course length was associated with statistically and practically significant differences in course success observed across all categories of age, gender, and ethnicity. Students e...
Blastocyst Fluid Formation

All mammalian blastocysts undergo some expansion prior to implantation, but the amount varies between species. Blastocysts of the human, mouse, and rat display minimal volume changes, while those of the rabbit and pig undergo enormous increases. Figure 1 presents growth curves for preimplantation rabbit blastocysts. The blastocoelic cavity increases from about 70 nl on Day 4 postcoitus (p.c.) to almost 80 μl on Day 7 p.c., the day of implantation. This increase in size stems largely from fluid accumulation, although cell multiplication also occurs (Daniel, 1964). Because the blastocyst consists almost entirely of a single-cell-thick epithelium, the trophectoderm. it is ideally suited for the study of developmental aspects of epithelial solute and water movements.
The effect of eating on thallium myocardial imaging.

To determine if eating between initial and delayed thallium images alters the appearance of the delayed thallium scan, a prospective study was performed; 184 subjects sent for routine thallium imaging were randomized into two groups, (1) those who ate a meal high in carbohydrates between initial and delayed thallium myocardial images (n=106), and (2) those who fasted (n = 78). The 021 Tl images were interpreted in blinded fashion for global myocardial and pulmonary clearance of 201 Tl and for the presence of transient or persistent 201 Tl myocardial defects. The eating group had a significantly lower incidence of transient myocardial defects compared to the noneating group (7 percent vs 18 percent, respectively; p 201 Tl images causes increased 201 Tl myocardial clearance rates and may alter 201 Tl myocardial redistribution over time.
Mouse chromosome 11 harbors genetic determinants of hippocampal strain-specific nicotinic receptor expression.

Differences between isogenic mouse strains in cellular expression of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha4 (nAChRα4) by the dorsal hippocampus are well known. To investigate further the genetic basis of these variations, expression of the nAChRα4 subunit was measured in congenic mouse lines derived from two strains exhibiting notable divergence in the expression of this subunit: C3H and C57BL/6. Congenic lines carrying reciprocally introgressed regions (quantitative trait loci; QTL) from chromosomes 4, 5, and 12 each retained the phenotype most closely associated with the parental strain. However, in congenic lines harboring the reciprocal transfer of a chromosome 11 QTL, a characteristic difference in the ratio of interneurons versus astrocytes expressing nAChRα4 in the CA1 region is reversed relative to the parental strain. These finding suggest that this chromosomal segment harbors genes that regulate strain distinct hippocampal morphology that is revealed by nAChRα4 expression.
Performance implications of the PowerPC architecture's hashed page table utilization in Windows NT

Windows NT/sup TM/ is a portable operating system, and as such has an abstracted view of the underlying processor architecture. One of the most processor-specific portions of an operating system is the management of virtual memory, and NT is no different in this respect. NT abstracts the processor-specific address translation mechanism and manages it as a translation lookaside buffer (TLB). This paper examines the performance ramifications of this abstraction when using the hashed page table (HTAB) on the PowerPC/sup TM1/ architecture.
X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopic (XPS) Studies on the Chemical Nature of Metal Ions Adsorbed on Clays and Minerals

Adsorption of selected metal ions including Pb(II) and Co(II) on mineral and clay substrates has been carried out. The chemical nature of the adsorbed metal ion has been examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The interpretation of the XPS results indicates that lead (II) is oxidized to lead (IV) on β- and δ-MnO2, and Co(II) is present as Co(II) on illite. The oxidizing agent for Pb(II) is believed to be O2 or MnO2 and a reaction process consistent with the XPS results has been proposed.
Quality improvement methods as applied to a multicenter effectiveness trial--STAR*D.

Abstract In multicenter clinical trials, important aspects of trial performance (e.g., the number of participants who enter the trial within the required time frame, the number of participants who remain in the trial, and/or the completeness of the outcome data collected) directly affect the extent to which the study can achieve its aims. Obtaining the maximum amount of data from the maximum number of participants at each step in the trial increases the likelihood of identifying real differences in outcome. These aspects of trial performance can, therefore, be considered intermediate performance goals of the study since success in achieving each of them is directly related to success in achieving study aims. A quality improvement system was introduced to improve efficiency and performance in the multicenter Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial. Four intermediate performance goals were targeted for quality improvement efforts: (1) initial enrollment of subjects, (2) collection of entry/exit primary outcome data, (3) retention of subjects to enter subsequent “levels” of the trial, and (4) collection of blood samples for genetics studies. The identification of numerical targets for these goals provides a basis for monitoring performance and for implementing attempts to improve performance, since success in achieving each goal is directly related to success in achieving the study aims. This paper describes the background, rationale, development, and potential utility of implementing a quality improvement system to improve the performance and efficiency of the trial.
Potentiation of Epinephrine-induced mesenteric vasoconstriction with β-blockade

Reduction of splanchnic blood flow and the subsequent lowering of portal venous pressure are important adjuncts in the nonsurgical treatment of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage from varices. At present, the most widely utilized therapy is intra-arterial infusion of vasopressin; however, as vasopressin becomes increasingly limited in supply this treatment may soon be unavailable to the clinician. Epinephrine is an alternate mesenteric vasoconstrictor which has received successful though limited use in control of gastrointestinal hemorrhage [7]. This report investigates the enhancement of epinephrine-induced splanchnic vasoconstriction with P-blockade by propranolol. The effect of intra-arterial infusion of epinephrine after p-blockade on superior mesenteric artery flow and jejunal submucosal perfusion was studied.
The social validation and training of conversational skills.

Three reliably measured components of conversation—questioning, providing positive feedback, and proportion of time spent talking—were identified and validated as to their social importance. The social validity of the three conversational behaviors was established with five female university students and five female junior-high students. Each was videotaped in conversations with previously unknown adults. The conversational ability of each girl was evaluated by a group of 13 adult judges who viewed each tape and rated each conversant “poor” to “excellent” on a seven-point rating scale. The average ratings of the girls correlated at r = 0.85 with the specified behavioral measures. These procedures were replicated with additional subjects and judges and yielded a correlation of r = 0.84. The high correlations between ratings and the objective measures suggested that the specified conversational behaviors were socially important aspects of conversational ability. Employing a multiple-baseline design across the behaviors of asking questions and providing positive feedback, an attempt was made to train four girls who used these behaviors minimally to engage in the behaviors in conversations with adults. Adult judges were again employed to rate randomly selected samples of the girls' skills in pre- and posttraining conversations. The average ratings of the girls before training were lower than both the university girls and the junior high-school girls. After training, the girls' conversational abilities were rated substantially higher than those of their junior high-school peers. These rating data validated the benefits of the training and the social importance of the behavioral components of questions and feedback in conversation. The authors suggest that it may be necessary for traditional behavior analysis measurement systems to be supplemented by social-validation procedures in order to establish the relationship between “objectively” measured behaviors and complex classes of behavior of interest to society.
Fast detection of material deformation through structural dissimilarity

Designing materials that are resistant to extreme temperatures and brittleness relies on assessing structural dynamics of samples. Algorithms are critically important to characterize material deformation under stress conditions. Here, we report on our design of coarse-grain parallel algorithms for image quality assessment based on structural information and on crack detection of gigabyte-scale experimental datasets. We show how key steps can be decomposed into distinct processing flows, one based on structural similarity (SSIM) quality measure, and another on spectral content. These algorithms act upon image blocks that fit into memory, and can execute independently. We discuss the scientific relevance of the problem, key developments, and decomposition of complementary tasks into separate executions. We show how to apply SSIM to detect material degradation, and illustrate how this metric can be allied to spectral analysis for structure probing, while using tiled multi-resolution pyramids stored in HDF5 chunked multi-dimensional arrays. Results show that the proposed experimental data representation supports an average compression rate of 10X, and data compression scales linearly with the data size. We also illustrate how to correlate SSIM to crack formation, and how to use our numerical schemes to enable fast detection of deformation from 3D datasets evolving in time.
Combustion Trajectory Visualization Model for Study of Conventional and Advanced Direct Injection Combustion Modes

Many of the approaches to diagnostics of in-cylinder spatially resolved quantities (such as equivalence ratio, temperature, speciation, etc.) require either optical engines or computational fluid dynamics. These approaches are expensive (time or money) and will likely never be practical for on-board use in the future. The market trend towards real-time control and consumer grade in-cylinder pressure transducers suggest that relatively simple modeling techniques based on cylinder pressure and other standard engine sensors are well situated to be a part of the future engine control schemes. This work expands previous efforts to calculate combustion trajectories (path through equivalence ratio vs. temperature plane) based on cylinder pressure measurements in near real-time.This work incorporates the current state-of-the-art diesel fuel spray mixing models (Kattke and Musculus entrainment waves) and adds features to accounting for changing cylinder pressure, adaptive time step based on sampling rate of cylinder pressure, and optimizing spray axial resolution for reduced calculation time. Based on the predicted local fuel concentration, flame temperature and relating calculated heat release rates to the amount of fuel burned in each portion of the spray the combustion processes can be tracked to give a cumulative history of the ignition, subsequent mixing and heating/cooling that gives a picture of what combustion looks like on the equivalence ratio vs. temperature plane.Various engine operating conditions are explored including conventional diesel operation with and without EGR as well as highly dilute late injection low temperature combustion at different injection pressures. The results obtained in this work give encouragement that this type of approach may enable future engine control using these detailed yet computationally simple approaches.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Communication Complexity Lower Bounds in Distributed Message-Passing

Most theoretical models of distributed systems neglect the cost of local computation, and charge only for communication between the participants in the computation. For example, in shared memory models, we charge only for steps where processes interact with the shared memory, and in message-passing systems we charge only for messages sent between network nodes.