cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laryngeal manifestations of cranial nerve IX/X compression at the brainstem.

Objective We report an association between lower cranial nerve (CN IX/X) vascular compression at the brainstem with laryngeal symptoms utilizing a stepwise algorithm that systematically evaluates and eliminates all other common etiologies. Our experiences with retromastoid craniectomy with lower cranial nerve (LCN) decompression versus non-neurosurgical treatments are detailed. Study design Retrospective chart review at a tertiary care academic medical center with follow-up telephone survey. Methods Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, quality-of-life surveys, and treatment outcomes were recorded for patients with laryngeal symptoms associated with LCN compression at the brainstem. Results Forty-nine patients demonstrated LCN compression at the brainstem on imaging and presented with chief complaints of dysphonia (25 of 49, 51%), chronic cough (19 of 49, 39%), dysphoric breathing (3 of 49, 6%), and dysphagia (2 of 49, 4%). Poor initial scores were noted for Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL), Reflux Symptom Index, and Glottal Closure Index. Twenty-four patients underwent LCN decompression, of which 21 of 24 (88%) reported partial, near-complete, or complete improvement. Major perioperative complications occurred in four of 24 patients (17%). Patients who had undergone decompression were more likely to obtain complete/near-complete symptom resolution (10 of 24 patients, 42%) compared to those undergoing conservative treatments (2 of 25 patients, 8%) (P = 0.02). V-RQOL scores improved more in surgical patients [mean change score, 33.0 (standard deviation [SD], 31.2) than nonsurgical patients (mean change score 9.6, SD 20.9) (P = 0.03) (mean follow-up 3.0 years, SD 2.0). Conclusion Lower cranial nerve compression at the brainstem should be considered when all other etiologies are excluded. Retromastoid craniectomy with LCN decompression demonstrates an acceptable safety profile. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 129:2105-2111, 2019.
Insights Into ER Translocation Channel Gating. Structural Regulation of the Transition Between the Closed and Open Channel Conformations: A Dissertation

The transition between the closed and open conformations of the Sec61 complex permits nascent protein insertion into the translocation channel. A critical event in this structural transition is the opening of the lateral translocon gate that is formed by four transmembrane (TM) spans (TM2, TM3, TM7 and TM8 in Sec61p) to expose the signal sequence-binding (SSB) site. To gain mechanistic insight into lateral gate opening, mutations were introduced into a lumenal loop (L7) that connects TM7 and TM8. The sec61 L7 mutants were found to have defects in both the posttranslational and cotranslational translocation pathways due to a kinetic delay in channel gating. The translocation defect caused by L7 mutations could be suppressed by the prl class of sec61 alleles that reduce the fidelity of signal sequence recognition. The prl mutants are proposed to act by destabilizing the closed conformation of the translocation channel. Our results indicate that the equilibrium between the open and closed conformations of the protein translocation channel maintains a balance between translocation activity and signal sequence recognition fidelity. In the opening of the translocation channel, both the lateral and lumenal gate must open in a coordinated fashion for efficient protein translocation to occur. The lumenal gate is composed of a short helix of the loop preceding the second TM span, referred to as the plug helix, and six hydrophobic pore ring residues which form the constriction ring in the center of the channel. We identified three lateral gate polar residues and three hydrophobic residues from the plug domain that affect channel gating. Mutagenesis of the lateral gate polar cluster residues yields either a gain of function (prl phenotype) or a loss of function (translocation defect) phenotype. The combination of polar cluster
Voltage Regulator Thermal Matrix based Thread Allocation Optimization for a Multi-Core Processor

In this paper, the performance optimization of multi-core processors is addressed with respect to their temporal and thermal behavior. This paper uses the location of voltage regulators to monitor temperature fluctuations by determining the task allocation on the processors. The algorithm protects the processor from overheating and simultaneously ensures that the program runs at an optimal speed. The proposed technique has a comparatively fast runtime of O(logn) as compared to other task optimization algorithms. A four-threaded task delegated to an eight core processor with sixteen voltage regulators is optimized for allocation in approximately 2 milliseconds, regardless of the number of instructions in each thread. The proposed technique will efficiently delegate tasks to processors while maintaining the safe operating areas and temperature ranges in the processor.
A Matter of Morality: Evidence That Ideological Labels Generate More Polarized Judgments Than Other Social Identities

Growing political polarization in the United States has called into question the traditional view that ideological self-identification is a weak social attachment. To test this argument, I propose a new measurement of identity strength: the use of moral language. Results across two samples -- a dataset of over 40,000 tweets and an experiment -- show that ideology is more strongly associated with morality than five other social identities: partisanship, race, religion, sexual orientation, and sports affiliation. Moreover, ideological extremity is predictive of moral judgment. These findings contradict previous theories of political identification by showing that ideological labels are a polarized, relatively strong social identity.
Predicting test anxiety using the 3x2 achievement goal model

Past research has demonstrated that the reasons underlying students’ decisions to engage in academic tasks (i.e., achievement goals) are associated with the experience of test anxiety. Empirical in...
Species composition influences management outcomes following mountain pine beetle in lodgepole pine-dominated forests.

Mountain pine beetle outbreaks have killed lodgepole pine on more than one million hectares of Colorado and southern Wyoming forest during the last decade and have prompted harvest operations throughout the region. In northern Colorado, lodgepole pine commonly occurs in mixed stands with subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce, and aspen. Variation in tree species composition will influence structure, fuel profiles and fire hazard as forests recover from bark beetle outbreaks, and this diversity has implications for design and implementation of fuel reduction treatments. We used stand inventory data to predict forest structure and fuel loads starting after needle fall through one century after bark beetle infestation for three lodgepole pine-dominated forest types (pine, pine with aspen, pine with fir and spruce), and compared simulated effects of no-action and fuel reduction treatments (thinning, broadcast burning). In pine stands mixed with significant density of fir and spruce, the high canopy bulk density and low canopy base height increases passive and active crown fire hazards compared to stands with few shade tolerant trees. In contrast, stands of pine mixed with aspen had lower canopy bulk density and active crown fire hazard. All three forest types had high snag and coarse woody debris loads. Thinning and broadcast burning reduced canopy fuels in all forest types for several decades, but had the largest effect in forests with abundant fir. Burning temporarily reduced fine woody fuel, and caused a longer-term reduction in coarse wood and duff. Overall, these simulations indicate that management aimed at reducing canopy fuels in beetle-killed lodgepole pine forests should prioritize stands with high densities of overstory and understory fir and spruce. Forest growth following treatment requires frequent stand manipulation (as often as every 20 years) to maintain reduced fuel loads, and since such treatments are expensive and likely not analogous to natural disturbances these activities are most appropriate where resource and infrastructure protection and human safety concerns are high.
Dynamic shearing resistance of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)

Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) is a widely used polymeric binder in polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) and solid rocket propellants. Even though used in small fractions, the elastomeric binder absorbs much of the impact energy and therefore requires careful modeling of its mechanical behavior to accurately simulate the response of PBXs when they are subjected to large strains and strain rates. While the normal response of HTPB has been characterized under uniaxial stress and uniaxial strain loading, shear strength measurements under large pressures and large shear strain rates have not been made so far. Such measurements are critical for modeling localization and failure in PBXs and accurate prediction hotspot formation. In this study, pressure-shear plate impact (PSPI) experiments have been used to measure the shearing resistance of HTPB at different pressures. The shearing resistance of HTPB is found to be strongly pressure dependent. A quasi-linear viscoelastic model with pressure-dependent shear wave speeds and shearing resistance is used to describe the experimentally observed dynamic response of HTPB. The model consists of an instantaneous elastic response and viscoelastic relaxation of the elastic response.
Racial disparities in frozen embryo transfer success

Purpose To compare pregnancy and birth outcomes after frozen embryo transfers (FETs) among White, Black, and Asian women and evaluate the effect of patient, protocol, and cycle characteristics on success. Methods A retrospective chart review identified women who underwent an autologous FET at an academic fertility center between January 2013 and March 2020. Results White, Black, and Asian women completed 1,181 (71.7%), 230 (14.0%), and 235 (14.3%) cycles, respectively. Black women were significantly less likely to achieve a positive hCG level (AOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.49-0.90), clinical pregnancy (AOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53-0.97), and live birth (AOR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47-0.89) compared to White women after adjusting for possible confounders. There were no differences in the aforementioned outcomes when looking at cycles completed by Asian versus White women. When comparing outcomes by endometrial preparation protocol, significant differences were seen amongst the three groups for live birth rates following natural cycle FETs (52.36%, 25.81%, and 44.19% for White, Black, and Asian women, respectively, p = 0.02), a difference not appreciated after programmed FETs. Conclusion Black race is associated with significantly worse pregnancy and live birth rates following FET when compared to White race. Additionally, significant differences in live birth rates among White, Black, and Asian women exist following natural cycle FET versus programmed FET. These disparities in success are not only important for patient counseling, but also when determining management strategies to improve fertility rates among minority women.
Circulatory changes produced by clamping of the thoracic aorta.

URGICAL excision of the anomalous segment of aorta for treatment of eongenital coarctation of that vessel was reported in 1945 by Crafoord and Nylin’ and Gross and Hufnagel.’ Clamps were applied to the aorta above and below the usual site of coarctation at the liganzentunz arterioszcnz. The proximal clamp was applied just distal to the left subelavian artery so that circulation t#o the head and upper extremities was unimpaired. Blood flow dkM to the clamps was maintained through collateral channels around the obstmetion. After the constricted segment of aorta had been excised, continuity of the vessel was re-established by end-to-end anastomosis. In the first human being operated upon by Gross, immediately after the clamps were released, the heart went into uncontrollable dilatation and the patient died2p ‘3 4 Gross thought that the failure was caused by inadequate return of blood to the heart after the clamps were released. In his subsequent operations the clamps were released slowly over a period of minutes with the patient in the Trendelenburg positiqn. The rate of blood infusion was increased during the period of unclamping. After these precautions were adopted, no further deaths were reIjorted. Concerning the cause of heart failure; Gross sa.id,4 “From some of our experimental work, and from a disastrous outcome in one ease, it is evident that a quick Ternoval of the last aortic clamp may impose a momentary but serious burden on the cardio-vascnlar apparatus. The sudden opening np of an enormous vascular bed in the lower part of the body makes great demands upon the heart. The cause of death in the first patient has been loosely described as ‘cardiac collapse’ since the exact mechanism of failure is not known. Presumably, it was a form of ‘shock’ because blood flowed rapidly into Dhe depleted system in the lower two-thirds of the body, pooled there; and did not return quickly enough to supply the heart with a circulating medium.” Crafoord had not observed such cardiac failure despite experience with the aortic occlusion maneuver both during excision of coarctation and during division of patent ductus arteriosus.5 In view of the added strain imposed upon the heart by such obstruction, and the abnormal conditions which must prevail immediately after release of the clamps, the following .esperiments were carried out in an effort to determine whether the failure could be explained by existing concepts or whether factors hitherto undescribed played a part,.
EFFECTS OF MODE TRUNCATION AND DISSIPATION ON PREDICTIONS OF HIGHER ORDER STATISTICS

We investigate the effects mode truncation and dissipation characteristics have on predictions of wave shape statistics such as skewness and asymmetry. We demonstrate the effect of mode truncation by calculating wave shape statistics for data from a laboratory experiment using an increasing number of frequency components each calculation. We find that the values of skewness and asymmetry converge to a maximum as more components are retained, with the maximum values attained when components out to the Nyquist frequency are kept. We run a lowest order Boussinesq shoaling model and a nonlinear dispersive shoaling model with the data, retaining more components with each simulation. Both models show the same convergence characteristics as the data as the number of retained frequency components increases. The lowest order Boussinesq model, despite its shallow water formalism, yields skewness and asymmetry values closer to those of the data than those of the dispersive model. This is likely due to the phase mismatches in the dispersive model, which become large in deep water and thus violate the slowly-varying amplitude assumption. We also investigate the effect of spectral dissipation on these predictions. We run the lowest order Boussinesq shoaling model with different proportions of frequency-dependent dissipation and calculate wave shape statistics. We find that the distribution must take into account some aspect of (ff variation in the dissipation for reliable wave shape statistics.
Risikobewertung und -kommunikation in einem Großunternehmen

Hintergrund Neben der klassischen Gefahrdungsbeurteilung von Risiken an Arbeitsplatzen werden die Arbeitsmediziner auch mit komplexeren Fragestellungen zur Bewertung und Einschatzung verschiedener Risiken konfrontiert.
A Computational Model of Attentional Requirements in Sequence Learning

This paper presents a computational model of attentional requirements in sequence learning. Cohen, et al. proposed two fundamental operations in sequence learning. An associative mechanism mediates learning of patterns with unique associations (1-5-4-2-3). These associations do not require attention to be learned. Such an associative mechanism is poorly suited for learning sequences with repeated elements and ambiguous associations (3-1-2-1-3-2). These sequences must be parsed and organized in a hierarchical manner. This hierarchical organization requires attention. The simulations reported in this paper were run on an associative model of sequence learning developed by Jordan (1986). The simulations modeled closely the keypressing task used by Cohen, Ivry and Keele (1990). The simulations replicate the empirical findings, and suggest that imposing hierarchical organization on sequences with ambiguous associations significantly improves the model's ability to learn those sequences. Implications for the analysis of fundamental computations underlying a system of skilled movement are discussed.
CD44 differentially activates mouse NK T cells and conventional T cells

NK T (NKT) cells are an important component of the innate immune system and recognize the MHC class I-like CD1d molecule. NKT cells possess significant immunoregulatory activity due to their rapid secretion of large quantities of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines following CD1d-dependent stimulation. Because the innate immune system is programmed to respond to a multitude of diverse stimuli and must be able to quickly differentiate between pathogenic and endogenous signals, we hypothesized that, apart from stimulation via the TCR (e.g., CD1d-dependent activation), there must be multiple activation pathways that can be triggered through other cell surface receptors on NKT cells. Therefore, we analyzed the ability of CD44, a structurally diverse cell surface receptor expressed on most cells, to stimulate murine NKT cells, compared with conventional T cells. Stimulation of CD44 through Ab cross-linking or binding to its natural ligands hyaluronan and osteopontin induced NKT cells to secrete cytokines, up-regulate activation markers, undergo morphological changes, and resist activation-induced cell death, whereas conventional T cells only exhibited changes in morphology and protection from activation-induced cell death. This CD44-specific stimulation of NKT cells correlated with their ability to bind hyaluronan. Thus, fundamental differences in CD44 function between these lymphocyte subsets suggest an important biological role for CD44 in the innate immune response.
Multi-objective mobile agent routing in wireless sensor networks

An approach for data fusion in wireless sensor networks involves the use of mobile agents that selectively visit the sensors and incrementally fuse the data, thereby eliminating the unnecessary transmission of irrelevant or non-critical data. The order of sensors visited along the route determines the quality of the fused data and the communication cost. We model the mobile agent routing problem as a multi-objective optimization problem, maximizing the total detected signal energy while minimizing the energy consumption and path loss. Simulation results show that this problem can be solved successfully using evolutionary multi-objective algorithms such as EMOCA and NSGA-II. This approach also enables choosing between two alternative routing algorithms, to determine which one results in higher detection accuracy.
A comparison of the computational efficiency of three inverse scattering methods

This paper presented three inverse scattering methods. Based on the provided data, it is clear that the distorted Born iterative method provides the most accurate reconstructions. However, the cost of such accuracy is computation time. Because this is a direct implementation of the method, one expects reduced times from a more clever design. While both the linear sampling method and diffraction tomography introduced significant errors into their reconstructions, diffraction tomography seems to be a better inversion method. Superior scalability and information about the electrical properties of scatterers makes tomographic reconstructions more useful than linear sampling method images. These results are consistent with the full analysis in Hesford (2004), as well as with those presented in Brandfass et al. (2001). In general, the linear sampling method is not capable of providing better images than diffraction tomography.
Cold-Induced Thermoregulation and Biological Aging

Florez-Duquet, Maria, and Roger B. McDonald. Cold-Induced Thermoregulation and Biological Aging. Physiol. Rev. 78: 339–358, 1998. — Aging is associated with diminished cold-induced thermoregulation...
Myth, menace or medical blessing?

Some day in the near future, when children have to see a paediatrician to get their immunizations they may encounter a much less painful procedure than today's children do. Instead of the dreaded needle and syringe, the doctor will hold a gene gun to the child's arm and, with a blast of helium, painlessly shoot tiny gold particles into the skin. These particles are coated with plasmid DNA containing the nucleotide sequences for viral or bacterial surface proteins. Upon their introduction into host cells, the protein is produced which triggers an immune response as it would normally in the case of an infection. As a result, the child will be protected from further attacks by the respective virus or bacterium, as in the case of any vaccination. This procedure is painless, bloodless, clean and—as far as we know today—completely safe. However, such a scenario is likely to send cold chills down the backs of most European parents who, in general, tend to be more reluctant in their acceptance of DNA‐based technologies than North Americans, who seem to be less concerned about the idea of ‘genetic immunization’ or ‘gene vaccines’. Oddly, the idea of a ‘gene transfer’ raises irrational fear in many people who do not realize that we are under constant attack by viruses, bacteria and parasites, which—as part of the infectious process—force their genes into our cells and use them as factories to produce their progeny. In the face of all the criticism and opposition that other ‘gene‐based’ products and therapies have spawned in Europe, it may appear premature to believe that genetic vaccines will soon become acceptable to the public. Indeed, there are some risks involved with genetic vaccines, comparable to those that an infection might have. Some researchers are concerned that vaccine sequences might be integrated into …
Impact of deep plowing on groundwater recharge in a semiarid region: case study, High Plains, Texas.

(20,000 km 2 area) in a bench terrace system in the semiarid High Plains in Texas (USA). Deep plowing was followed by conventional tillage. Boreholes were drilled in deep plowed cropland (three boreholes) and also beneath conventionally tilled cropland (four) and natural ecosystems (three) to provide baseline controls. Soil samples were analyzed for water content, chloride concentrations, and matric potentials to quantify subsurface water movement. Bulges of chloride that accumulated beneath natural ecosystems during the past 9,000–14,000 years (Holocene period) provided a marker to quantify timeintegrated response of subsurface drainage to hydrologic forcing in deep-plowed cropland. Displacement of chloride bulges to depths of 10.7, 12.3, and 13.7 m beneath deep-plowed cropland indicate minimum drainage rates of 58, 60, and 81 mm/a, whereas drainage beneath conventionally tilled cropland ranged from 0 (nonterraced) to 9 and 14 mm/a (bench terraced). Deep plowing slightly increased crop yield during wet years by reducing waterlogging. If deep plowing were applied to 10% of the Pullman soils, it could increase regional volumetric recharge by 0.1 km 3 /a, which is similar to the current regional
Determination of self- and H2-broadening and shift coefficients in the 2-0 band of 12C16O using a multispectrum fitting procedure

Abstract Self- and hydrogen-broadening coefficients and pressure-shift coefficients for the first overtone band transitions of 12 C 16 O at room temperature have been determined through analysis of nine high-resolution (0.0055 cm −1 ) absorption spectra. These spectra were recorded using the 1-m Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) at the McMath-Pierce facility of the National Solar Observatory on Kitt Peak, Arizona. Because of the short path length of the sample cell (10.0 cm ) , the volume mixing ratios of CO in hydrogen were relatively high, ∼18–22%, to achieve measurable absorption. These large volume-mixing ratios necessitated the simultaneous determination of the CO self-broadening and self-shift coefficients along with the hydrogen-broadening and hydrogen-induced shift coefficients. We have determined these coefficients at room temperature, along with line positions and absolute intensities, for the P(27) through R(27) 12 C 16 O 2-0 transitions by fitting the entire spectral interval from 4130 to 4345 cm −1 in all nine spectra simultaneously using our multispectrum nonlinear least-squares procedure. Our intensity measurements are consistently low (1–6%) compared with the HITRAN values but the majority of the intensities are within 4% of the HITRAN values. The values of self-broadening coefficients vary from 0.0452 to 0.0862 cm −1 atm −1 at 296 K and those of hydrogen-broadening coefficient range between 0.0475 and 0.0795 cm −1 atm −1 at 296 K . All of our measured self- and hydrogen-shift coefficients are negative and range from −0.002 to −0.008 cm −1 atm −1 . With the pressure and path length used in our study we did not find evidence of significant line mixing in either the self- or hydrogen-broadened spectra. This study represents the first high-resolution experimental determination of hydrogen-induced pressure broadening and pressure-shift coefficients in the 2-0 band of 12 C 16 O at room temperature.
Reconstitution of RNase P activity from inactive RNA and protein

Abstract RNase P preparations from Escherichia coli can be separated into RNA and protein by chromatography, in buffers containing 7 M urea, on Sephadex G-200, DEAE-Sephadex, or CM-Sephadex columns. Neither RNA nor protein components alone exhibits any RNase activity. RNase P activity can be reconstituted by mixing separated RNA and protein components in buffer containing 7M urea followed by dialysis of this mixture to remove the urea. Of several purified RNAs tried, only M2 RNA, the RNA species found in purified RNase P, is active in the reconstitution experiments.
Influences of Stock and Scion on Alkaloid Synthesis and Transformation

It is desirable and necessary to reexamine the influences of stock and scion on alkaloid synthesis and transformation using plants which behave differently with respect to alkaloid formation (4). Experiments were conducted in the greenhouse for 3 years in an attempt to separate the effects of root, or stock, from those of the top, or scion, on alkaloid synthesis and transformation. Some of the grafting combinations reported in this paper resembled those prepared previously by Dawson (2), but plants with various degrees of ability in alkaloid synthesis were included in this study.
Incorporating vessel taper and compliance properties in Navier-Stokes based blood flow models.

A popular and useful technique used to model blood flow in cardiovascular simulations is to divide each blood vessel into a series of segments, each with its own lumped resistance, intertance, and compliance parameters. The values of these parameters are usually obtained through a simplification of the Navier-Stokes equations for fluid flow. However, the simplification often ignores the nonlinear and convective terms of the equations, resulting in errors in the parameter values, especially in the value found for resistance per unit length. We report a new method for the calculation of vessel resistance per unit length which takes into account the effects of vessel taper and wall compliance. It is shown that these effects can be addressed by the addition of two time-varying terms to the calculation of resistance per unit length. One term, due to vessel taper, is proportional to volumetric flow rateQ. The other term, due to vessel compliance, is proportional to ∂p/∂t. These variables are readily available in computer simulations of blood flow in lumped parameter systems. Using data for the descending aorta, the new parameter values, when averaged over a cardiac cycle, compare favorably with results in the literature.
Low-Cost Chemical Sensors Based on Shrink Polymer Microfluidics

A low-cost chemical sensor based on shrink polymer was presented in this paper. Graphene nanoplatelets were self-assembled on the inner surface of microchannel formed by shrink polymer. The low-cost sensor system can give stable and precise results by only consuming 1 μL reagent, demonstrating great advantage over planar sensor. With assistance of self-assembly and shrink polymer, the sensor can be realized in a simple low-cost way.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Dependability modeling for multiprocessors

A tutorial on dependability and performance-related dependability models for multiprocessors is presented. Multiprocessors are classified as having shared-memory or distributed-memory architectures, and some fundamental dependability modeling concepts. Reliability models based on four types of reliability evaluation techniques (terminal, multiterminal, task-based, and network reliability) are examined. The status of research efforts on performance-related dependability is discussed, and the models' effectiveness is illustrated with a few numerical examples. A brief survey of software packages for dependability computation in included. >
Effect of Beta-2-Thienylalanine on Developing Mouse Tooth Germs In Vitro

Tooth germs grown on Eagle's medium solidified with agar will differentiate in vitro. Normal development was suppressed by beta-2-thienylalanine (1 or 2 millimols per liter), but it proceeded when phenylalanine and beta-2-thienylalanine were present in equimolar concentrations. This effect may have been due to interference with protein metabolism in the dermal papillar cells.
Parametric Evaluation of a Dense-Medium Process Using an Enhanced Gravity Separator

Dense-medium separators have proven to be the most efficient processes for removing the undesirable gangue material from run-of-mine coal. A test program has been conducted to evaluate the parametric effects on a magnetite-based dense-medium application in an enhanced gravity separator (EGS), which mechanically generates an enhanced gravity field. Optimization using empirical models developed utilizing data obtained from a statistically designed test program revealed that a complex manipulation of the medium density, bowl speed, and underflow tailings rate is needed to achieve maximum mass recovery over a range of clean coal ash contents. Subsequent experimental results validated the optimum performances predicted from the empirical models. Organic efficiency values greater than 95% were obtained over a wide range of product ash contents for the treatment of a 1000×45 micron coal sample.
Book-to-market ratios as predictors of market returns

Abstract The book-to-market ratio of the Dow Jones Industrial Average predicts market returns and small firm excess returns over the period 1926–1994. The DJIA book-to-market ratio contains information about future returns that is not captured by other variables such as interest yield spreads and dividend yields. The DJIA book-to-market ratio's predictive ability is specific to the pre-1960 sample. In contrast, the S&P book-to-market ratio provides some predictive ability in the post-1960 period, although this relation is dramatically weaker than the Dow Jones pre-1960 findings. The predictive ability of book-to-market ratios appears to stem from the relation between book value and future earnings.
Hyporheic exchange and streambed filtration of suspended particles

[1] Fine particles are necessary for watershed biogeochemical cycling and stream metabolic processes but pose a risk to water quality if present in excess or if carrying sorbed contaminants. Despite having low settling velocities, these particles can leave suspension during downstream transport by a series of processes such as hyporheic filtration, flocculation, and biofilm entrapment. The objective of this study is to evaluate the retention of clay particles within a stream reach due to streambed filtration. To this end, we quantify hyporheic exchange through coupled formulations of turbulent surface water flow in the overlying stream and saturated groundwater flow in the streambed. Particle filtration models are informed by flow-through column experiments conducted with repacked streambed material. Results of our model simulations of hyporheic exchange demonstrate that streambed particle filtration depends on overlying streamflow and, to a lesser extent, on hyporheic zone substrate. Retention of suspended particles within the streambed sediments more than doubles between high and drought flows and varies by less than 45% across substrate grain size classes.
Our approach to management of patients with pulmonary vein stenosis following AF ablation.

Our Approach to Management of Patients With Pulmonary Vein Stenosis. Despite advances in the approach to pulmonary vein isolation, pulmonary vein stenosis remains an important morbid complication affecting approximately 1.3% of procedures. Patients with symptomatic pulmonary vein stenosis are typically referred for intervention with either balloon angioplasty or stenting. A significant portion of patients with severe pulmonary vein stenosis are asymptomatic and are identified only if routine screening is preformed following ablation. Based on available evidence, CT scanning 3 months postablation appears to be an effective and reliable screening tool that can be used to identify asymptomatic patients with significant stenosis. The best clinical management for asymptomatic patients with severe stenosis is poorly defined. We typically refer these patients for pulmonary vein intervention; however, the patient's age, comorbidities, functional capacity, as well as the size of the pulmonary vein affected, all need to be carefully considered with the patient before proceeding. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 364-367, March 2011)
Virtual Government–Citizen Relations Informational, Transactional, or Collaborative?

Public administration theory and practice suggest that e-government, citizen participation, and government–citizen collaboration are contributing to a movement toward New Public Service—as opposed to Old Public Administration and New Public Management. We explore this by focusing on the relationship between the Washington, D.C., police and local residents via online discussion groups. We ask, How do police interact with citizens virtually? How are these interactions structured? and Are they informational, transactional, or collaborative? Using descriptive data and thread analysis, and drawing distinctions between districts, we conclude that the bulk of activity is informational, a fair amount of activity is transactional, and less activity is collaborative. Thus, the relationship most closely approximates Old Public Administration, rather than New Public Management or New Public Service. The evidence offers some cause for hope for the future of police–community relations in virtual space and ideas for fut...
Effect of processing and microstructure on René 95

Rene 95 is a high-strength, wrought nickel-base superalloy used primarily for compressor and turbine disks in advanced aircraft engines. A special thermomechanical processing sequence is described which imparts in Rene 95 a duplex microstructure, consisting of large warm-worked grains surrounded by a fine-grain “necklace”. Compared with the 100 pct fine-grain material usually produced by conventional processing, the duplex material is shown to have superior high-temperature properties, especially in rupture life/ ductility, notched sustained-peak LCF and residual cyclic life. This study demonstrates the inferior 538 to 649°C (1000 to 1200°F) mechanical properties associated with the finegrain material are attributable to oxidation of surface carbides, which allows crack initiation, followed by rapid crack propagation. This environmental effect nucleated failure mechanism was identified in 649°C (1200°F) stress rupture tests and is verified by improved rupture life and ductility of the fine-grain material tested in vacuum or by periodic surface removal during testing in air. In contrast to the fine-grain structure, the duplex structure offers greater resistance to crack propagation by virtue of its large warm worked grains and hence exhibits superior rupture ductility.
Services provided for the mentally retarded by school clinicians: A preliminary survey

Abstract Fifty public school speech and hearing clinicians were sent questionnaires designed to provide information regarding the extent of their involvement with children enrolled in classes for the educable mentally retarded (EMR). Seventy per cent of the questionnaires were completed and returned. The results indicated that an average of 4.5 per cent of the clinicians' caseloads consisted of EMR children. In addition, it was found that only two of the respondents used diagnostic language tests in their evaluations of the communication abilities of EMR children.
Different on the inside: extreme swimbladder sexual dimorphism in the South Asian torrent minnows

The swimbladder plays an important role in buoyancy regulation but is typically reduced or even absent in benthic freshwater fishes that inhabit fast flowing water. Here, we document, for the first time, a remarkable example of swimbladder sexual dimorphism in the highly rheophilic South Asian torrent minnows (Psilorhynchus). The male swimbladder is not only much larger than that of the female (up to five times the diameter and up to 98 times the volume in some cases), but is also structurally more complex, with multiple internal septa dividing it into smaller chambers. Males also exhibit a strange organ of unknown function or homology in association with the swimbladder that is absent in females. Extreme sexual dimorphism of non-gonadal internal organs is rare among vertebrates and the swimbladder sexual dimorphisms that we describe for Psilorhynchus are unique among fishes.
Prevention and Screening of Gastrointestinal Cancers

Objectives This article reviews the current recommendations and data supporting various screening and prevention strategies for colorectal cancer (CRC) in average and high-risk individuals. Data Sources Published research reports, epidemiologic data, and published guidelines from professional organizations. Conclusion Properly applied screening tools can potentially decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with CRC. Implications for Nursing Practice Nurses need to be aware of current recommendations for the early detection of CRC so they can provide patients with an accurate assessment of risk for developing CRC and education about the appropriate CRC screening guidelines.
XeCl laser power enhancement with an external ultraviolet laser

Enhancements in the output energy of an XeCl laser of more than 50 percent have been observed by injecting 2-43 mJ of 308 nm laser radiation into the resonator 10-150 ns prior to the emergence of the final XeCl pulse. This effect is a strong function of the time delay ( \Deltat ) between the two lasers and is most pronounced when the injected (external) pulse precedes the XeCl laser pulse by 45 ns. For |\Deltat| \lsim 100 ns, the external radiation appears to be simply "seeding" the XeCl laser cavity which allows the second laser to reach threshold earlier and thereby improve its extraction efficiency. For 100 \lsim |\Deltat| \lsim 150 ns, the enhancement may to arise from the depletion of the number density of an impurity molecule which absorbs strongly at 308 nm.
The Seasonality of National Park Use

ABSTRACT Data on monthly visits to three national parks and one island resort are tested for seasonal cycles. The harmonic analyses substantiate the yearly cycle with a peak in summer and define other significant cycles. The analyses also indicate changes in seasonality over the years, between parks and between uses.
Dominant role of the 2D Van Hove singularity on the Fermi surface and generalized susceptibility of the quasi-2D superconductor La2−xMxCuO4 (M = Sr, Ba, …)

The dominant role of the 2D van Hove saddle point singularity on the Fermi surface (FS) and generalized susceptibility, χ(q), in the quasi-2D superconductor La2-xMxCuO4 is shown for varying compositions x of divalent additions M=Sr, Ba …. Dramatic topological changes in the FS with x indicate that composition can play the role of pressure in the classic work of Lifshitz. Very close correlations of large peaks in χ(q) with Fermi surface nesting features are found, along the Γ-X and Γ-N directions in the Brillouin zone, for varying x. The peak at X and N for x=0 which apparently drives, via a soft phonon mode, the transition from the bct to the orthorhombic phase is shifted to smaller q values. These results are consistent with the semiconducting behavior of La2CuO4 and superconductivity when stabilized with x>0 additions. Finally, orbital frequencies (areas) and masses are given which show the range required for de Haas-van Alphen or other experiments.
Education and Development BIFURCATIONS IN DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS

The concept of bifurcation in a dynamical system is illustrated through several examples. The elementary catastrophes are equilibrium sets of specific kinds of dynamical systems. The framework of bifurcating dynamical systems is put forward as an alternative to catastrophe theory models. Dynamical systems models require explicit accounting of all their underlying hypotheses. They offer unambiguous answers in return. The fuzzy transition from hypotheses to results so characteristic of the catastrophe theory literature is absent. The method is illustrated using a stock-market model.
Precocious Puberty in Girls and the Risk of a Central Nervous System Abnormality: The Elusive Search for Diagnostic Certainty

The classic approach to the work-up of central precocious puberty (CPP) has been to recommend a brain imaging study to exclude an anatomic cause for the early onset of puberty, such as a tumor (most commonly a glioma or an astrocytoma), a hamartoma, or a subarachnoid cyst. Given the relative infrequency of CPP in boys and the relatively high reported incidence of abnormal findings,1 few would argue with ordering a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography scan as part of the evaluation for boys. The situation for early-maturing girls is much less clear. Many authors have advocated brain imaging for all girls meeting the criteria for CPP (age of onset 90%, depending on the study), the study would be normal.2 Others have recommended imaging in girls with CPP mainly “if there is a hint of intracranial pathology”.3 In practice, each clinician develops his or her own criteria for deciding when to order an MRI, so there is no consensus as to whether a healthy 6- to 8-year-old girl with breast development but no central nervous system (CNS) signs or symptoms needs brain imaging. In the past 2 decades, as clinicians have seen an increasing number of girls with onset of breast development before 8 years of age, this question takes on a greater urgency. The data of Herman-Giddens and the Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) group, collected in 1992–1993 and published in 1997, indicate that by 8 years of age, close to 25% of black and 8% of white girls will have some breast tissue.4 The data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, collected between 1988 and 1994, give …
EFFECT OF SOAKING TEMPERATURE ON COOKING AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF BEANS

California small white beans were soaked at different temperatures, in 10°C increments, from 20° C to 90°C, until maximum imbibition was achieved. Losses of total solids, N compounds, total sugars, oligosaccharides, Ca, Mg, and three water-soluble vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin and niacin) were measured and found to be very small at soaking temperatures up to 50°C. An increase in those losses of from three- to fourfold was found when the soaking temperature was raised to 60° C or above. Cooking rates followed a bell-shaped pattern with the peak, longest cooking time, being for beans soaked at 70°C and shortest cooking time for beans soaked at 90° C. Cooking rates corresponded closely to the amount of organic phosphate left in the beans after soaking at the different temperatures.
ESTIMATES OF AVERAGE MASS TRANSFER RATES USING AN APPROXIMATE HYDRODYNAMIC GREEN'S FUNCTION.

Abstract Weak turbulent mixing processes increase the effective exchange rate of a passive additive between a small element of fluid and its surroundings. An approximate mean Green's function, controlled by molecular and turbulent diffusion, is used to estimate this exchange rate at high Schmidt numbers for a fully-developed turbulent flow near a rigid interface. The calculations show that turbulent mixing decreases the magnitude of the diffusive and retarding contributions to the turbulent flux and that this leads to a net decrease in the mass transfer rate.
Associations Between School Meals Offered Through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program and Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Ethnically Diverse, Low-Income Children

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence in support of the health benefits associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, national data indicate that FV consumption among school-aged children is below recommended levels, particularly among low-income children. School meals offered through the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program can provide an important contribution to child FV intake. This study examines the proportion of fruits and vegetables consumed from school meals programs among ethnically diverse, low socioeconomic status children. METHODS: Participants (n = 103) included fourth to sixth grade boys and girls from 4 urban elementary schools in St. Paul, Minnesota serving primarily low-income populations. Research staff interviewed children during school hours and recorded dietary intake via 24-hour recall. Analysis included descriptive statistics using cross tabulations and means. RESULTS: Average reported mean (SD) daily FV intake was 3.6 (2.5) servings, with 80% of children consuming fewer than 5 daily servings of FV. On average, children consumed over half of their daily FV intake within school. Children with low FV intake (<5 FV servings daily) consumed a higher proportion of their daily intake at school than children with higher FV intake (≥5 FV servings daily) (39% vs 59%; p = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Child FV intake is below recommended levels. School meals provide an important contribution to the daily FV intake among ethnically diverse, low socioeconomic status children, particularly among those with the lowest FV intake. School meals programs promoting FV intake within the school environment may provide an opportunity to encourage increased FV consumption.
Optical SAR processor and target recognition system

One of the most successful optical signal processing applications has been optical architectures for converting synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data into images of the radar reflectivity of the ground. Pattern recognition using optical correlator technology has also been extremely successful, and generalized multiple filter techniques have allowed the implementation of invariant target recognition systems. A simple non-linearity in the form of an optically addressed spatial light modulator to remove random phase terms has enabled the cascading of these two architectures. Experimental verification of this cascaded non-linear optical processor using SAR data from the Shuttle Imaging Radar-A mission is presented. SAR images are formed and used as the input to an optical matched-spatial-filter correlator that successfully recognized ground features.