cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic pseudoaneurysm of the popliteal artery after blunt trauma

Abstract Blunt trauma to the popliteal artery usually results in acute arterial damage that requires urgent repair. Most blunt trauma to the popliteal artery is associated with skeletal injuries. We report a patient who had a chronic pseudoaneurysm of the popliteal artery 10 years after minor blunt trauma to the popliteal fossa. The cause of the pseudoaneurysm and suggestions for the early recognition of these arterial injuries are discussed. (J Vasc Surg 1989;10:187–9.)
Healthcare Information Networks: Discovery and Evaluation

Large amounts of healthcare information have been made available over the Internet by various sources. To better assess both the quality and credibility of online healthcare information, it is essential to understand the properties of such information and its sources. This paper introduces a first attempt to study healthcare information distributed on the Web. In this project, we first implement a focused crawler to collect information from a variety of different healthcare-related web sites. We explore and analyze the crawled network, where patterns that were not previously visible can be observed. Our results provide insight into how healthcare information sources are related, as well as the sort of sites that are most important based on network topology. We further introduce two case-studies on user-based evaluation of quality of search results provided by commercial search engines. We show that trustworthiness is not employed in ranking search results, so that suspicious sites may sneak into top results, potentially confusing users.
Dynamics of a space module impacting water

The dynamic response of a Water Landing Space Module (WLSM) during impact upon water was investigated. A l/5th-scale model was tested in a water tank and the results were compared with those attained using analytical techniques and computer simulations. A knowledge of the response of the WLSM during impact is necessary to identify design choices that are within the physical limitations of crew members and materials. The purpose of this research was to use simulations to establish trends that occur when the variables of entry speed, angle, and weight are varied. Results suggest which initial conditions of the full-scale WLSM keep impact accelerations under specified limits.
Diffusion in very chaotic hamiltonian systems

We study nonintegrable Hamiltonian dynamics: H(I,{theta}}) = H{sub 0}(I)+kH{sub 1}(I,{theta}) for large k; that is, far from integrability. An integral representation is given for the conditional probability P(I,{theta},t|I{sub 0},{theta}{sub 0},t{sub 0}) that the system is at I,{theta} at t, given it was at I{sub 0},{theta}{sub 0} at t{sub 0}. By discretizing time into steps of size {epsilon}, we show how to evatuate physical observables for large k, fixed {epsilon}. An explicit calculation of a diffusion coefficient in a two degree of freedom problem is reported. Passage to {epsilon} = 0, the original Hamiltonian flow, discussed.
In vivo 19F-NMR spectroscopic study of halothane uptake in rabbit brain.

Uptake of a fluorinated anesthetic, halothane, in rabbit brain and blood was studied using 19F-NMR spectroscopic techniques. Localized one-dimensional chemical shift imaging and non-localized one-pulse sequence were used to measure brain uptake kinetics in vivo. Halothane signal was found predominantly in the cerebral cortex. Uptake in the brain followed a first-order biexponential kinetics. The average half-lives were 4 min and 70 min, respectively, for the ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ phases of the uptake. Uptake in the arterial blood was also biexponential. However, equilibration of halothane in the brain considerably lagged behind that in arterial blood. This delay was ascribed to a ‘restricted diffusion’ of the anesthetic molecule into brain tissue.
Hydrodynamic instability of a suspension of spherical particles through a branching network of circular tubes

A numerical method is presented for computing the unsteady flow of a monodisperse suspension of spherical particles through a branching network of circular tubes. The particle motion and interparticle spacing in each tube are computed by integrating in time a one-dimensional convection equation using a finite-difference method. The particle fraction entering a descendent tube at a divergent bifurcation is related to the local and instantaneous flow rates through a partitioning law proposed by Klitzman and Johnson involv- ing a dimensionless exponent, q ≥ 1. When q = 1, the particle stream is divided in proportion to the flow rate; as q →∞ , the particles are channeled into the tube with the highest flow rate. The simulations reveal that when the network involves two or more generations, a supercritical Hopf bifurcation occurs at a critical value of q, yielding spontaneous, self-sustained oscillations in the segment flow rates, pressure drop across the network, and particle spacing in each tube. A phase diagram is presented to establish conditions for unsteady flow. As found recently for blood flow in a capillary network, oscillations can be induced for a given network tree order by decreasing the ratio of the tube diameter from one generation to the next or by decreasing the diameter of the terminal segments. The instability is more prominent for rigid than deformable particles, such as drops, bubbles, and cells, due to strong lubrication forces between the tightly fitting particles and tube walls. Variations in the local particle spacing, therefore, have a more significant effect on the effective viscosity of the suspension in each tube and pressure drop required to drive a specified flow rate.
LOCALITY UNCERTAINTY AND THE DIFFERENTIAL PERFORMANCE OF FOUR COMMON NICHE-BASED MODELING TECHNIQUES

We address a poorly understood aspect of ecological niche modeling: its sensitivity to different levels of geographic uncertainty in organism occurrence data. Our primary interest was to assess how accuracy degrades under increasing uncertainty, with performance measured indirectly through model consistency. We used Monte Carlo simulations and a similarity measure to assess model sensitivity across three variables: locality accuracy, niche modeling method, and species. Randomly generated data sets with known levels of locality uncertainty were compared to an original prediction using Fuzzy Kappa. Data sets where locality uncertainty is low were expected to produce similar distribution maps to the original. In contrast, data sets where locality uncertainty is high were expected to produce less similar maps. BIOCLIM, DOMAIN, Maxent and GARP were used to predict the distributions for 1200 simulated datasets (3 species x 4 buffer sizes x 100 randomized data sets). Thus, our experimental design produced a total of 4800 similarity measures, with each of the simulated distributions compared to the prediction of the original data set and corresponding modeling method. A general linear model (GLM) analysis was performed which enables us to simultaneously measure the effect of buffer size, modeling method, and species, as well as interactions among all variables. Our results show that modeling method has the largest effect on similarity scores and uniquely accounts for 40% of the total variance in the model. The second most important factor was buffer size, but it uniquely accounts for only 3% of the variation in the model. The newer and currently more popular methods, GARP and Maxent, were shown to produce more inconsistent predictions than the earlier and simpler methods, BIOCLIM and DOMAIN. Understanding the performance of different niche modeling methods under varying levels of geographic uncertainty is an important step toward more productive applications of historical biodiversity collections.
Inhibition of Growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis and of Cell Wall Synthesis by d-Serine

d-Serine inhibited the growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis and induced the morphological alteration of the bacilli. The growth inhibitory action of d-serine was partially reduced by an equimolecular concentration of d-alanine. The combination of glycine with d-alanine reversed the growth inhibition produced by d-serine more than did d-alanine alone. In cells cultured in the presence of d-serine, the amounts of alanine, diaminopimelic acid, and glycine inserted into the cell wall mucopeptide were reduced, and serine was increased. The intracellular accumulation of a precursor of cell wall mucopeptide was increased by d-serine, and this accumulation was reduced by d-alanine. d-Serine competed with glycine for incorporation into the cell wall mucopeptide. The incorporation of l-aspartic acid into diaminopimelic acid residues in the cell wall mucopeptide was markedly inhibited by d-serine. Three mutants resistant to d-serine were isolated by nitrosoguanidine treatment. In these mutants the effects of d-serine on the sites of cell wall mucopeptide synthesis were all reduced. Thus, d-serine inhibition of the growth is due to replacement of glycine residues of the cell wall mucopeptide with d-serine and inhibition of the cell wall synthesis by blocking the formation of d-alanine and diaminopimelic acid.
Evolutionary software repair

The tutorial summarizes recent work applying evolutionary computation methods to the problem of automatically repairing software defects.
Murine natural killer immunoreceptors use distinct proximal signaling complexes to direct cell function

Signaling pathways leading to natural killer (NK)–cell effector function are complex and incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the proximal signaling pathways downstream of the immunotyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) bearing activating receptors. We found that the adaptor molecule SH2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kD (SLP-76) is recruited to microclusters at the plasma membrane in activated NK cells and that this is required for initiation of downstream signaling and multiple NK-cell effector functions in vitro and in vivo. Surprisingly, we found that 2 types of proximal signaling complexes involving SLP-76 were formed. In addition to the canonical membrane complex formed between SLP-76 and linker for activation of T cells (LAT) family members, a novel LAT family–independent SLP-76–dependent signaling pathway was identified. The LAT family–independent pathway involved the SH2 domain of SLP-76 and adhesion and degranulation-promoting adaptor protein (ADAP). Both the LAT family–dependent and ADAP-dependent pathway contributed to interferon-gamma production and cytotoxicity; however, they were not essential for other SLP-76–dependent events, including phosphorylation of AKT and extracellular signal–related kinase and cellular proliferation. These results demonstrate that NK cells possess an unexpected bifurcation of proximal ITAM-mediated signaling, each involving SLP-76 and contributing to optimal NK-cell function.
Mid-Descending aortic traumatic aneurysms

Two patients with traumatic rupture of the mid-descending aorta successfully repaired are presented. Most clinical series of aortic tears do not include this entity. A review of the world literature reveals only 9 previous cases. In 6 of the 11 patients the diagnosis was either missed or delayed. In 4 patients the diagnosis was delayed or missed because of the absence of a superior mediastinal hematoma, and in 2 patients the diagnosis was delayed because of inadequate (single-plane) aortography. Suspicion may be lacking because of absence of the upper mediastinal hematoma considered to be the sine qua non for the diagnosis of aortic rupture. Although deceleration is considered to be the mechanism of injury in tears at the isthmus, severe hyperextension (often associated with fracture dislocation of the underlying thoracic vertebra) is considered to be the causative factor in descending aortic tears. Experience with the 2 patients presented here demonstrates that a high index of suspicion and complete two-plane aortography is required to avoid the potential for catastrophic outcome subsequent to overlooking a tear of the mid-descending aorta.
The Mechanistic Classification of Ptosis

The commonly used classifications for ptosis do not have a unifying concept, and this may contribute to confusion rather than clarification. Based on the mechanisms that cause ptosis, all cases can be classified into one or more of the following categories: (1) neurogenic; (2) myogenic; (3) aponeurotic; and (4) mechanical. While none of these mechanisms is original, this paper presents them together for the first time as an inclusive and helpful classification of ptosis. Before placing a patient in one or more of the four categories, a thorough history must be taken, an examination must be done, and appropriate laboratory tests must be performed. The thought processes then necessary to classify the ptosis should clarify not only the site of the defect but also the prognosis and range of procedures that may be used to correct the ptosis.
Reaction products from a discharge of N2 and H2S: the microwave spectrum of two conformers of sulfur diimide (HNSNH)

Abstract The rotational spectra of two conformations of sulfur diimide (HNSNH) are reported. The HNSNH species are produced in a low-pressure microwave discharge of N 2 and H 2 S. The microwave spectrum of the normal isotopic form, HNSNH, and dideutro form, DNSND, of the cis,trans and cis,cis forms have been observed. The electric dipole moment components of both forms have been determined. The molecular structures were determined from the experimental rotational constants and from geometry optimized ab initio calculations with 4-31G Gaussian basis sets and CEP-31G basis sets including polarization. The experimentally and theoretically derived molecular properties are found to be in good agreement.
How much theophylline is enough

Theophylline not only is a bronchodilator but also has other effects (inhibition of mediator release, enhancement of mucociliary clearance, enhancement of diaphragmatic contractility) that are potentially beneficial to asthmatic patients. Recent studies suggest that theophylline pharmacodynamics vary among asthmatic patients. However, on average, most of the total bronchodilatory response occurs at serum theophylline concentrations of 0 to 10 mg/liter. Additional (but less) bronchodilatation occurs at serum theophylline levels between 10 and 20 mg/liter. Pharmacodynamic relationships are not well established for other therapeutic effects of theophylline, such as attenuation of pharmacologically induced bronchoconstriction. An important feature of oral controlled-release theophylline therapy is timing of drug administration. Because airway reactivity increases and airway caliber decreases at night, it has been suggested that the greatest benefit is derived from theophylline when peak serum concentration is reached during the night or the early morning.
Statistical Approaches to Structural Change in Regional Interindustry Models

The conventional approach to assessing structural change in regional input – output tables is to measure the impact of coefficient change on the estimation of outputs and multipliers. The methods developed and tested in this paper focus exclusively on the coefficients. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses can be used to identify and measure various types of changes ranging from coefficient instability to changes in interindustry relationships as a system. A distinction is made between structural changes in input relationships and those in output relationships. The methods are tested by using Washington State data for the years 1963 and 1967. The results are compared with previous analyses of change in these data.
Elastic and Inelastic Scattering of 18-Mev Alpha Particles from Neon, Argon, and Xenon

The scattering of 18-Mev alpha particles from neon, argon, and xenon was studied with a multiplate reaction chamber. The scattered particles were defined within an rms angular width of 0.45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} by a system of slit pairs, spaced every 2\textonehalf{}\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} from 10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 170\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The elastic scattering from neon and argon show the pronounced maxima and minima characteristic of diffraction scattering but are equidistant in $\ensuremath{\varphi}$, not $sin(\frac{\ensuremath{\varphi}}{2})$. The ratio to Rutherford scattering varies as much as 25-fold between successive maxima and minima in the case of neon, the well-defined structure indicating a small mean free path for absorption of alpha particles in the nucleus. Nuclear interaction radii calculated by the formula $2kR\ensuremath{\Delta}[sin(\frac{\ensuremath{\varphi}}{2})]=\ensuremath{\pi}$ were found to be 6.36\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm for neon and 6.95\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm for argon. Xenon, investigated chiefly for control purposes, showed no definite deviation from Rutherford scattering up to 50\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. Groups corresponding to the excitation of the 1.63-, 4.25-, 4.97-, 5.81(5.63)-, and 7.2-Mev levels of ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{20}$ and the 1.46-Mev level of ${\mathrm{A}}^{40}$ were observed. No excited states were observed in xenon. Notably absent was excitation of the 6.74-Mev ${(0}^{+}$) level in ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{20}$. As predicted by direct-interaction theories, the cross sections for inelastic scattering leading to the first excited ${(2}^{+}$) states of neon and argon could be approximated by the squares of spherical Bessel functions of the second order with interaction radii of 6.71\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm for neon and 6.60\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm for argon. These cross sections do not tend toward small values in the forward direction, which is interpreted as evidence for distortion of the incident and scattered waves. No fit was possible for any of the other excited states.
CALIPSO-Derived Three-Dimensional Structure of Aerosol over the Atlantic Basin and Adjacent Continents

AbstractAccurate modeling of the impact of aerosols on climate requires a detailed understanding of the vertical distribution of aerosols. The Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) provides continuous high-resolution vertical profiles of aerosol properties on a near-global scale. Here the CALIPSO Vertical Feature Mask is used to document the three-dimensional (3D) frequency-of-occurrence distribution of aerosols over a broad region of the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The 3D distributions illustrate the seasonal cycle in the zonal and meridional variability of the vertical profiles of mineral dust, biomass-burning smoke, polluted dust (external mixture of dust and smoke), and polluted continental aerosol, and also of their emissions sources and transport pathways. Four aerosol domains stand out in the product: dust over North Africa and the Middle East and smoke over southern Africa and South America. The transport pathways of African dust and smo...
Unsteady 2-D Compressible Flow in Unbounded Domain

An unsteady isentropic flow model is presented to calculate the two-dimensional flow field in an arbitrarily closed region or in an open fluid domain. In the open domain, a unique boundary condition is implemented to simulate the infinite character of the open space. The characteristics-like method presented herein is shown to be robust over the entire subsonic flow range and, with the implementation of the infinite boundary, provides numerical results in agreement with analytic solutions and experimental data.
Stochastic Performance Prediction for Iterative Algorithms in Distributed Environments

The parallelization of iterative algorithms is an important issue for efficient solution of large numerical problems. Several theoretical results concerning sufficient conditions for, and speed of, convergence of parallel iterative algorithms are available. However, those results usually do not take into account the processor workloads and network communications at the application level. The approach in this paper develops a Markov chain based on random variables which describe aspects of the multiuser, distributed-memory environment and the phases of the algorithm. The performance characterization addresses stochastic characteristics of the algorithmic execution time such as mean values and standard deviations. We present simulation results as well as experimental results over different time periods. The results provide information about the impact of distributed environment and implementation style on long-run, expected execution time characteristics.
The nearest point problem in a polyhedral set and its extensions

In this paper we investigate the relationship between the nearest point problem in a polyhedral cone and the nearest point problem in a polyhedral set, and use this relationship to devise an effective method for solving the latter using an existing algorithm for the former. We then show that this approach can be employed to minimize any strictly convex quadratic function over a polyhedral set. Through a computational experiment we evaluate the effectiveness of this approach and show that for a collection of randomly generated instances this approach is more effective than other existing methods for solving these problems.
What do senior internal medicine residents do in their continuity clinics

Objective: To describe the activities of second- and third-year internal medicine residents during their outpatient continuity clinics.
Pathophysiology and management of thrombocytopenia in bone marrow failure: possible clinical applications of TPO receptor agonists in aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes

Aplastic anemia is a bone marrow failure syndrome that causes pancytopenia and can lead to life-threatening complications. Bone marrow transplantation remains the standard of care for younger patients and those with a good performance status but many patients may not have a suitable donor. Immunosuppressive therapy is able to resolve cytopenias in a majority of patients with aplastic anemia but relapses are not uncommon and some patients remain refractory to this approach. Patients may require frequent blood and platelet transfusion support which is expensive and inconvenient. Life-threatening bleeding complications still occur despite prophylactic platelet transfusion. Thrombopoietin (TPO) mimetics, such as romiplostim and eltrombopag, were developed to treat patients with refractory immune thrombocytopenia but are now being investigated for the treatment of bone marrow failure syndromes. TPO is the main regulator for platelet production and its receptor (c-Mpl) is present on megakaryocytes and hematopoietic stem cells. Trilineage hematopoietic responses were observed in a recent clinical trial using eltrombopag in patients with severe aplastic anemia refractory to immunosuppression suggesting that these agents can provide a new therapeutic option for enhancing blood production. In this review, we discuss these recent results and ongoing investigation of TPO mimetics for aplastic anemia and other bone marrow failure states like myelodysplastic syndromes. Clonal evolution or progression to acute myeloid leukemia remains a concern when using these drugs in bone marrow failure and patients should only be treated in the setting of a clinical trial.
IN THE WAKE OF THE KARATEPE DISCOVERIES

Among recent epigraphic finds, none has been cleared by scholarly examination with greater dispatch and a greater measure of unanimity than the Phoenician inscriptions of Azitawaddu, "king of the Danunites". Only a few months after a fragmentary version of the royal epigraph, inscribed on a statue, had become available, it was deciphered and translated independently by scholars in various lands. And when shortly afterwards a complete version of the epigraph, incised on the wall of a gateway, came to hand, this too was followed in a matter of months by a series of publications offering more or less detailed treatments of the monumental discovery 1. There can be no doubt that this remarkable rapidity in laying bare a new Semitic text of great antiquity and of considerable length was greatly enhanced by the lucid style of the inscription as well as by the excellent legibility of the middle columns of the statue version and of all of the gate version. Unquestionably, too, it is owing to both the facility of the text and its good state of preservation that, except for specific peculiarities, those who studied the inscription have been at one as to its reading and interpretation. The most striking example of those peculiarities is the sentence pattern yqtl 'nk, which is used in the gate inscription in six or seven instances. Apart from initial attempts to account for this peculiar pattern by grammatical ignorance of the Phoenician scribe or by treating 'nk as a proper
Characterization of fine aerosol and its inorganic components at two rural locations in New York State.

Samples of PM2.5 were collected to measure the concentrations of its chemical constituents at two rural locations, Potsdam and Stockton, NY from November 2002 to August 2005. These samples were collected on multiple filters at both sites, every third day for a 24-h interval with a speciation network sampler. The Teflo® filters were analyzed for PM2.5 mass by gravimetry, and elemental composition by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Nylasorb® filters and Teflo® filters were leached with water and analyzed for anions and cations, respectively, by ion chromatography (IC). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mass and its inorganic component measurements were statistically characterized, and the temporal behavior of these species were assessed. Over the entire study period, PM2.5 mass concentrations were lower at Potsdam (8.35 μg/m3) than at Stockton (10.24 μg/m3). At both locations, organic matter (OM) was the highest contributor to mass. Sulfate was the second highest contributor to mass at 27.0% at Potsdam, and 28.7% at Stockton. Nitrate contributions to mass of 8.9 and 9.5% at Potsdam and Stockton, respectively, were the third highest. At both locations, fine PM mass exhibited an annual cycle with a pronounced summer peak and indications of another peak during the winter, consistent with an overall increase in the rate of secondary aerosol formation during the summer, and increased partitioning of ammonium nitrate to the particle phase and condensation of other semi-volatiles during the winter, respectively. An ion-balance analysis indicated that at both locations, during the summers as well as in the winters, the aerosol was acidic. Lognormal frequency distribution fits to the measured mass concentrations on a seasonal basis indicated the overall increase in particle phase secondary aerosol (sulfate and SOA) concentrations during the summers compared to the winters at both locations.
The use of stable isotopes and spectroscopy to investigate the energy transducing function of cytochrome c oxidase.

Abstract We have used EPR and FTIR spectroscopy in combination with 17 O and 15 N stable isotopes to investigate the mechanism of cytochrome c oxidase (CcO). A high-spin state of heme a 3 was found in high yield by EPR, achieved upon turning over the enzyme until it was anaerobic, and shown to be a mixture of heme with a coordinated oxygen-based ligand and five-coordinate heme. Allowing the enzyme to consume 17 O 2 for a few milliseconds before freezing, we also showed that the product H 2 17 O exits toward the external side of the enzyme, binding to the nonredox active Mg/Mn site en route. Specific 15 N labeling of histidine, in comparison with global 15 N labeling and unlabeled samples, allowed us to more definitively assign heme and histidine peaks in the electrochemically induced FTIR difference spectrum. Additionally, the assignment of heme bands affords a reliable method of spectrum normalization between samples, providing a more accurate comparison of the spectral features of bovine with bacterial cytochrome oxidase and revealing multiple differences between the two species.
Machine-component cell formation in group technology : a neural network approach

SUMMARY This paper presents a neural network clustering method for the part-machine grouping problem in group technology. Among the several neural networks, a Carpenter-Grossberg network is selected due to the fact that this clustering method utilizes binary-valued inputs and it can be trained without supervision. It is shown that this adaptive leader algorithm offers the capability of handling large, industry-size data sets due to the computational efficiency. The algorithm was tested on three data sets from prior literature, and solutions obtained were found to result in block diagonal forms. Some solutions were also found to be identical to solutions presented by others. Experiments on larger data sets, involving 10000 parts by 100 machine types, revealed that the method results in the identification of clusters with fast execution times. If a block diagonal structure existed in the input data, it was identified to a good degree of perfection. It was also found to be efficient with some imperfections i...
A fixed-rate bit stuffing approach for high efficiency k-constrained codes

Binary sequences where successive ones are separated by at most k consecutive zeros, are said to be k-constrained. We introduce a new fixed-rate algorithm for efficiently encoding and decoding k-constrained sequences. Our approach is based on bit stuffing proposed by Bender and Wolf. Bit stuffing is a simple algorithm that can produce near-optimal codes for a wide range of constraints. While bit stuffing achieves rates very close to the noiseless capacity, encoding is variable-rate, which severely limits its practical use. In this paper, we present a fixed-rate version of the bit stuff algorithm. High encoding efficiency is achieved by iterative pre-processing of the fixed-length input data to conform it to bit insertion. The encoder then inserts bits to produce a fixed-length output word. Rate computations for the proposed encoding algorithm are discussed, and upper and lower bounds are derived for the asymptotic (in input block length) encoding rate. It is seen that encoding rates very close to the average bit stuff rate are possible with long, fixed-length, input and output blocks. Upper and lower bounds on the asymptotic encoding rate are listed for values of k = 1 to 15
Thomas mann and the business ethic

Son of a North German businessman, Thomas Mann chose as theme for his early narrative work the conflict between the standards and values of business and those of the artist-writer.Buddenbrooks andTonio Kroger exhibit the tension of values in opposite ways. InThe Magic Mountain, Mann expands his canvas to include military as well as business values in their relation to the creative potential in a young engineer who exiles himself to an Alpine tuberculosis sanatorium to enjoy a unique educational experience. Mann believed that the businessman, like the artist, had a light and dark side, committed by the Protestant ethic, yet bound to entrepreneurial standards of utility and profit. On that account, the businessman, like the creative artist, may experience a certain alientation from ‘Life’.
Treatment Retention Predictors of Drug Court Participants in a Rural State

Factors distinguishing clients who complete drug court treatment from those who do not complete drug court have been documented, but differences between urban and rural drug court participants have not been examined. The present study focuses on examining mental health, drug use, criminal activity, and education/employment as factors that are associated with treatment retention, which is measured by graduation from a rural and urban drug court. Study findings indicate that for the urban drug court, marital status, employment, drug use, and criminal activity predicted graduation. For the rural drug court, however, graduation was only predicted by age and juvenile incarceration. Findings from this study suggest there are different factors associated with drug court retention/graduation between urban and rural drug court settings. It is suggested that drug court administrators and other could use this information to better assess potential participants and to target services.
Filters and templates: stonefly (Plecoptera) richness in Ouachita Mountains streams, U.S.A.

SUMMARY 1. We collected adult stoneflies periodically over a 1-year period at 38 sites in two headwater catchments in the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas, U.S.A. The 43 species collected were a subset of the Ozark-Ouachita fauna and the much larger fauna of the eastern U.S.A. We estimated 78–91% species coverage in the two catchments using jackknife extrapolation of species richness from our survey. 2. Many streams, especially small ones, lacked surface water for months, but others, both small and large, flowed permanently. 3. Using published regional presence–absence and coarse ecological data in a discriminant function analysis (DFA), we identified stream size (negative) and regional frequency of occurrence (positive) as predictors of presence in these headwater catchments. For the combined catchments, the extrapolated richness (51 spp.) was similar to an estimate (48 spp.) based on predicted absences from DFA and the Ouachita provincial total of known stonefly species (57 spp.). 4. Local species richness (1–27 spp. per site) was correlated strongly with stream size (catchment area) but was independent of stream drying. Generic richness was correlated negatively with stream drying and positively, but less strongly, with stream size. 5. Regionally endemic stoneflies dominated in drying streams, and widely distributed species dominated in more permanent streams. The composition of stonefly assemblages was associated with regional factors (species pools, regional abundance, evolution of tolerant endemic species, regional climate) and local factors (drying, stream size).
Managing multiple medical image file formats and conventions

The management of medical images and their metadata is complicated by the continued use of different file formats (e.g., DICOM, ANALYZE, MINC) as well as the use of different conventions within the same standard (e.g., different DICOM metadata values assigned by different scanners). The conversion between image file formats often involves a complicated and non-unique value mapping that is usually influenced by the specific needs of users who interpret the meaning of each metadata value. We developed a general translation engine that (1) decodes common medical image file formats and organizes their metadata into trees, (2) determines the source that produced the image data using values in the metadata trees, (3) regroups image data from the same source, (4) maps values from a source metadata tree to a designated target metadata tree, and (5) encodes the image data from the target metadata tree into its corresponding file format. We also developed a graphical user interface that allows users to construct a visual representation of the mappings. The resulting application (the Debabeler) is a flexible tool for inspecting the contents of medical image files and defining user-specific translations between image file formats and conventions.
The Evolution of Epitype

The epitype of a single gene or entire genome is determined by cis-linked differences in chromatin structure. I explore the hypothesis that "epitype and associated phenotypes evolve by gene duplication, divergence, and subfunctionalization" parallel to models for the evolution of genotype. This hypothesis is dissected by considering the relationship between epigenetic control and phenotype, the phylogenetic evidence that epitype evolves from ancestral genes following gene duplication, and the possible evolutionary rates of change for different epitypes. Initial supporting arguments for this hypothesis are discussed based on conserved patterns of nucleosome phasing, DNA methylation, and histone variant H2AZ deposition that appear to contribute to the inheritance of epitype in plants and animals. However, patterns of histone modification in recent segmental chromosome duplications are not well conserved. A continued experimental examination of the link between gene phylogeny and epitype and the evolution of epigenetically determined phenotypes is needed to further explore this hypothesis.
Pulmonary vascular pressure profile in adult ferrets: measurements in vivo and in isolated lungs.

We have determined the vascular pressure profile in lungs of adult ferrets utilizing an anaesthetized open chested preparation and have compared the pressure profile in vivo with that in isolated, perfused lungs. Ten adult ferrets, mean body weight 980 ± 108 g, were studied. For in vivo measurements, five ferrets were anaesthetized, mechanically ventilated and the left chest wall resected. Pressures were measured in the pulmonary artery, left atrium and by micropuncture, in 20–50 μm diameter subpleural arterioles and venules. During micropuncture, ventilation was stopped for 1–2 min and the lungs kept distended at an airway pressure of 6 cmH2O. Left atrial pressure was raised to ˜ 8 cmH2O with saline infusion so that lungs were in Zone 3. Cardiac output was measured by thermodilution. Lungs of five other ferrets were isolated and perfused with a steady flow roller pump. In these lungs blood flow was adjusted so that pulmonary artery pressure was similar to that in anaesthetized ferrets, with airway and left atrial pressures at 6 and 8 cmH2O respectively (Zone 3). Blood haematocrit (35 ± 7%) was similar in the two groups. In lungs of anaesthetized ferrets total arteriovenous pressure drop was 12.l ± 1.9 cmH2O, with cardiac output being 210 ± 80 ml kg body weight-1 min-1. Fractional resistance in arteries was 37%, 37% in microvessels and 26% in veins. In isolated ferret lungs, though blood flow was only 48 ± 10 ml kg body wt-1 min-1 for the same total arteriovenous pressure drop as in vivo, the longitudinal distribution of vascular resistance was similar to that in live ferrets. We conclude that in the ferret, the contribution of arteries, microvessels and veins to total vascular resistance is similar in isolated lungs and lungs in vivo.
Theoretical basis for sampling statistics useful for detecting and isolating rare cells using flow cytometry and cell sorting

This paper describes new approaches to calculating the number of cells that need to be processed using flow cytometry (FCM) techniques and the subsequent time required in order to isolate a specific number of cells having selected characteristics. The methods proposed use probabilistic assumptions about the contents of the sample to be sorted, logarithmic/exponential transformations to avert the computer ‘‘underflow’’ and ‘‘overflow’’ limitations of brute force calculations for the parameters of the binomial distribution imposed by existing computer hardware, and an established mathematical procedure for calculating error bounds for the normal approximation to the binomial distribution. Estimates are derived for the total number of cells in the FCM sample volume that must be available for processing and, for given FCM cell sorting decision speeds, the total elapsed times necessary to conduct particular experiments. The proposed approach obviates the need to resort to calculation expediencies such as the theoretically limited Poisson approximation for what can be considered a Bernoulli process mathematically characterized by the binomial distribution. Tables and graphs illustrate the projected times required to complete FCM experiments as a function of ‘‘effective’’ cell sorting decision speeds. Results from this paper also demonstrate that, as the ‘‘effective’’ cell sorting decision speed increases, there may not be a corresponding linear decrease in the time required to sort a given number of cells with selected statistical properties. The focus of this paper is on the use of innovative mathematical techniques for the design of experiments involving rare cell sorting.However,thesesamecomputationalapproaches may also prove useful for the high-speed enrichment sorting of non-rare cell subpopulations. Cytometry 27:233‐238,1997. r1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Needles in a haystack: finding recurrent genomic changes in breast cancer

Significant advances over the past decade have enabled scientists to obtain increasingly detailed molecular profiles of breast cancer. The recent analysis by The Cancer Genome Atlas published in the September 2012 issue of Nature is the most comprehensive description of breast cancer 'omics' to date. This study is impressive in its scope and scale, with the findings reconfirming the heterogeneity of breast cancer and highlighting the future challenges in translating these findings for clinical benefit.
A Fast Real-Time Auditory-Nerve Model

We present the details of a real-time design and implementation of an auditory-nerve (AN) model on Motorola's DSP56367, a 150 MIPS audio digital signal processor (DSP). Sensory processing is highly nonlinear and time variant and so are the computational models that are derived to simulate these processes. Complex signal processing models have been derived to predict essential AN properties. However, their use is limited due to large processing time requirements. Our DSP solution makes fast real-time AN simulations possible and thus allows an experimentalist to change model parameters on the fly. This can speed up testing of several sound coding/decoding strategies hypothesized to occur in the human brain.
Generation of correlated photons via four-wave mixing in optical fibers

Summary form only given. Correlated and entangled single photon states have made possible many fundamental studies in quantum optics such as the Bell-type test of hidden variables and non-locality, explorations of quantum interference properties, and investigations of quantum information processing and quantum communications technologies such as quantum cryptography, quantum computing, and quantum teleportation. These correlated single photon states are traditionally generated via a spontaneous parametric down-conversion process using a /spl chi//sup (2)/ material. We propose and analyze the generation of entangled single photons using /spl chi//sup (2)/ parametric processes in optical fibers. Such processes provide a simple and inexpensive correlated photon source readily compatible with commercial communications technologies. It further affords high efficiency for coupling into single mode fibers for applications in quantum cryptography.
Component-based integration of chemistry and optimization software.

Typical scientific software designs make rigid assumptions regarding programming language and data structures, frustrating software interoperability and scientific collaboration. Component-based software engineering is an emerging approach to managing the increasing complexity of scientific software. Component technology facilitates code interoperability and reuse. Through the adoption of methodology and tools developed by the Common Component Architecture Forum, we have developed a component architecture for molecular structure optimization. Using the NWChem and Massively Parallel Quantum Chemistry packages, we have produced chemistry components that provide capacity for energy and energy derivative evaluation. We have constructed geometry optimization applications by integrating the Toolkit for Advanced Optimization, Portable Extensible Toolkit for Scientific Computation, and Global Arrays packages, which provide optimization and linear algebra capabilities. We present a brief overview of the component development process and a description of abstract interfaces for chemical optimizations. The components conforming to these abstract interfaces allow the construction of applications using different chemistry and mathematics packages interchangeably. Initial numerical results for the component software demonstrate good performance, and highlight potential research enabled by this platform. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 14: 1717–1725, 2004
On Explanatory Relata in Singular Causal Explanation

Explanation is usually taken to be a relation between certain entities. The aim of this paper is to discuss what entities are suitable as explanatory relata of singular causal explanations, i.e., explanations concerning singular causality relating particular events or other appropriate entities. I outline three different positions. The purely causal approach stipulates that the same entities that are related in the singular causal relation are also linked by the explanatory relation. This position, however, has a problem to distinguish between causation and explanation, two distinct relations allegedly obtaining between the same entities. The linguistic approach states that explanatory relata are linguistic entities of some sort, e.g., statements, propositions, etc. There are various versions of this position. I deal with two of them and try to show that they are unsatisfactory because they transform explanation into some other type of relation. On the first version, explanation is very close to interpretation or clarification of intension and on the second version it seems to be indistinguishable from an evidential relation or justification. I consider these transformations in understanding explanation unnecessary, and consequently reject linguistic views of explanatory relata. The most promising proposal concerning explanatory relata seems to be the mixed view, according to which propositions explain events or other fitting extra-linguistic entities.
Optimal sampling for hemicubes

The hemicube estimates of form factors are based on a finite set of sample directions. We obtain several optimal arrangements of sample directions, which minimize the variance of these estimates. They are based on changing the size or shape of the pixels or the shape of the hemicube, or using non-uniform pixel grids. The best reduces the variance by 43%. The variance calculation is based on the assumption that the errors in the estimate are caused by the projections of single polygon edges, and that the positions and orientations of these edges are random. This replaces the infinite dimensional space of possible environments by the two dimensional space of great circles on the unit sphere, making the numerical variance minimization possible. >
Effect of temperature on dissociation of adult mouse liver with sodium tetraphenylboron (TPB).

Summary1. Dissociation of adult mouse liver in vitro was found to proceed more rapidly at 38° than at 4°C. The number of cells recovered either in the presence or the absence of TPB was increased. The physiological condition of the cells recovered by dissociation at 38°C was superior. 2. At 38°C, the concentration of TPB required for dissociation correlates well with the concentrations where it complexes K+. 3. A procedure has been developed which results in the recovery of about 80% of the total population of parenchymal cells as a suspension of single intact cells.
The polypeptide P16 is a carboxy-terminal cleavage product of rat growth hormone in anterior pituitary and GH3 pituitary tumor cells.

P16 is a small polypeptide originally found in GH3 rat pituitary tumor cells whose expression is tightly linked to the expression of rat GH (rGH) at a genetic level. It is estimated to be 3–5 kilodaltons smaller than rGH and exhibits the same complex response to T3, dexamethasone, and insulin in GH3 cells as does rGH. P16 was also found in high but variable abundance in anterior but not posterior pituitary. To approach the question of whether it arises from a unique gene or derives instead from the rGH gene by a posttranscriptional mechanism, we have measured its structural relatedness to rGH by peptide mapping techniques. From partial peptide maps of rGH and P16 by V8 protease, it appeared that the two proteins were related by loss of a common, small peptide. Both proteins also contained many tryptic peptides in common. Cleavage by W-chlorosuccinimide at tryptophan residues showed that rGH and P16 both contained the same N-terminal peptide but differed in their C-termini. Hence, P16 differs from rGH by l...