cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preventing the Dirac disaster: Wavelet based density estimation

This paper addresses the problem of choosing the optimal number of basis functions in constructing wavelet series density estimators. It is well known thatprojection estimators tend to overfit the density if the number of basis functions in the orthogonal expansion is too large. In extreme cases the estimator is close to the Dirac function concentrated at the observations. We propose a roughness measure of wavelet estimators and establish a data driven method for determining the number of levels to be included in the estimate. Our method exploits the idea of using the Fisher information functional as a roughness measure. The method is demonstrated on simulated data.
A critical review of local anesthetic sensitivity.

With their ability to block pain signals to the brain, local anesthetics (LAs) have made possible many surgical procedures and interventions once though impossible. LAs are generally safe and well tolerated when used correctly by trained professionals. However, adverse reactions do occur, and may generate a referral to an Allergist for evaluation of LA allergy. LA structure, classification, and metabolism will be briefly reviewed. A critical analysis of the studies and case reports involving LA allergy found via PubMed search for “local anesthetic allergy” and “local anesthetic hypersensitivity” will be discussed. In addition, the clinical evaluation of a patient with concern for a LA allergy will be examined.
Multichannel dissociative recombination theory

A theoretical multichannel treatment of dissociative recombination is presented, with application to $e$+N${\mathrm{O}}^{+}$ recombination. The conventional "indirect" and "direct" dissociative recombinations are treated together on the same footing. The physically meaningful eigenchannel parameters in the multichannel theory, for the NO system, are here determined by fitting to a wealth of spectroscopic data. The results are then compared with some previous theoretical predictions as well as recent experimental data, and a possible reconcilement is suggested for the discrepancy in the ($e+\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}^{+}$) recombination rates given by afterglow and stored-ion measurements.
A microwave inverse Cherenkov accelerator (MICA)

By “inverting” the stimulated Cherenkov effect to stimulated Cherenkov absorption, it is possible to build an electron accelerator device driven by high power microwaves that propagate in a slow-wave TM mode (axial E-field). In this paper, we have solved for the wave dispersion in the structure, found the field distributions, and then used the Lorentz force equations to obtain the motion of a group of electrons distributed in radius and velocity. We find the radial forces are focusing. Electrons in a well-defined filament (r < 0.5 mm) remain collimated and do not strike the dielectric. By using the 15 MW of rf power available at 2.865 GHz, we can accelerate an electron beam (∼6 MeV, few ps pulses) to energy ∼16 MeV. This results in a relatively compact structure that has the advantage of a smooth-bore design and no need of magnetic focusing. The techniques for improving the dielectric breakdown the surface should permit axial fields in the range of 100–200 kV/cm.
The Meadox Unicusp Pericardial Bioprosthetic Heart Valve: New Concept

Abstract To obtain a valve with better hemodynamic performance and longer durability than the currently available bioprostheses, a single-cusp pericardial xenograft has been developed. This valve has been tested extensively both in vitro, in a pulse duplicator and in a fatigue-testing system, and in vivo, in a series of dogs and sheep. Hemodynamic studies showed improved hemodynamic performance compared with other biological and mechanical valves. Effective orifice areas were larger and performance indexes higher, especially in the small sizes. Accelerated fatigue testing showed durability significantly superior to that of other biological devices. Animal experiments have established that the single cusp remains pliable even after more than two years of insertion. There is a low incidence of calcification and good preservation of the collagen matrix. This preliminary experience demonstrates that the unicusp pericardial xenograft has superior hemodynamics, increased resistance to fatigue-induced lesions, and a low incidence of calcification. These results might indicate an extended in vivo durability for this device.
Some Factors Affecting Meat Yield from Young Ducks

Abstract White Pekin ducks were grown using standard management procedures. Ten ducklings were processed and frozen at each of the following ages: 28, 35, 41, 46, 48, 50, 53, 55, 57, 63 and 68 days. Necks and giblets were discarded. The percentage dressed duck, without neck and giblets, in breast meat, leg meat, total wing, and skin and fat was determined on all ducks. The percentage of breast meat increased from 4.79% to 15.93% for ducks 28 and 63 days of age, respectively. Leg meat decreased from 17.97% to 12.28% for the same ages of ducks. The percentage of skin and fat reached a minimum with 53 day old ducks. A second experiment was conducted with six age groups, six ducks each, from 28 to 51 days of age. Percentages of breast meat were almost identical in the two studies. Studies were also conducted to determine the effect of injecting a tripolyphosphate solution as 3% of body weight on yield of cooked duck meat. Injected birds yielded a higher percentage of meat and a lower percentage of skin. The skin of injected birds was crisper than skin of roasted controls.
Some data-driven modeling approaches for detecting changes in nonlinear dampers

Various identification methods are compared for full-scale nonlinear viscous dampers, including a parametric approach using a simplified design model (SDM), the non-parametric Restoring Force Method (RFM), and the non-parametric Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach. Advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed for monitoring purposes. In the comparison, it is shown that the RFM is superior to other methods in regard to the following aspects: (1) no assumption is needed on the nature of the monitored systems; (2) the method is applicable to a wide range of nonlinear system types; (3) the same identification model can be used for the unknown system changes, including the change of system type as well as the change of system parameter values; and (4) physical interpretation of system changes are possible, using the identified values of the series expansion coefficients. A set of experiments was also conducted using magneto-rheological (MR) dampers to validate the feasibility of system change detection. For small changes in the magnetic field strength, the corresponding changes in the dynamic characteristics of the MR damper were detected, using the identified RFM coefficients.
Responses of small mammals to coarse woody debris in a southeastern pine forest

The importance of coarse woody debris (CWD) to small mammals in a managed pine forest in South Carolina was tested experimentally during summer and autumn 1990 and winter and spring 1991–1994. Abundance and demographics of small mammals were compared between plots with abundant CWD created by a tornado (unsalvaged plots) and plots where tornado-created CWD had been removed (salvaged plots). Species composition was similar between unsalvaged and salvaged plots, but more small mammals were captured on unsalvaged plots. Cotton mice ( Peromyscus gossypinus ) were the most abundant species captured in all plots and were significantly more abundant in unsalvaged plots in every trapping period. Adult female P. gossypinus in unsalvaged plots had greater survival and were more likely to be in reproductive condition than adult females in salvaged plots. Southern short-tailed shrews ( Blarina carolinensis ) and cotton rats ( Sigmodon hispidas ) tended to be more abundant in unsalvaged plots. Fox squirrels ( Sciurus niger ), the second most abundant species in salvaged plots, were never captured on unsalvaged plots. Large amounts of CWD improve habitat quality of pine forests for P. gossypinus , and CWD is probably an important habitat component for other species.
Tallgrass prairie pollen assemblages in mid-continental North America

The mid-continent of North America has experienced dramatic and abrupt climate change during the Holocene, but the response of grassland vegetation to past climate change has been difficult to quantify. To improve interpretation of tallgrass prairie vegetation from pollen assemblages, we acquired and analysed a surface sample set collected from 25 small ponds (less than 10 ha surface area) in the largest contiguous remnant of tallgrass prairie in the USA. We compared these tallgrass prairie assemblages to 476 modern pollen samples classified as “prairie” in the North American Surface Sample database. We then compared the surface pollen assemblages with fossil pollen assemblages from sediment cores at two sites in Kansas—Cheyenne Bottoms and Muscotah Marsh—using the modern analog technique. Pollen assemblages in the Flint Hills surface samples were very similar to each other, with an average squared chord distance of 0.19. They were different than other modern grassland pollen assemblages mainly due to higher percentages of pollen from six woody taxa: Carya, Cornus, Juniperus, Juglans, Maclura, and Platanus. Arboreal pollen percentages ranged from 17 to 62 % and did not correlate with woody cover among sites. Cheyenne Bottoms was open grassland for the past 25,000 years, but it did not have many tallgrass prairie analogs. Muscotah Marsh did not have many grassland analogs over the past 30,000 years, possibly due to its position on the prairie-forest border or its surrounding wetland vegetation.
Relationship of the diameter and tensile strength of nylon sutures to the USP specification and the effect of preconditioning

Nylon monofilament sutures were tested in a straight pull as well as a conventional knot pull tensile test. In each test, sutures were evaluated following storage under prevailing atmospheric conditions or saturation in whole human blood. Blood saturation decreased the ultimate tensile strength by as much as 20%. The present investigation of sutures that were stored under prevailing atmospheric conditions substantiated the proposal previously made for polypropylene monofilaments--that 60% of the ultimate tensile strength could be established as a fundamental USP criterion for Class I monofilament sutures.
Identification, Characterization, and Chromosomal Localization of the Human Homolog (hES) of ES/130

The chicken extracellular matrix glycoprotein ES/130 is necessary for epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in the developing hear and is also expressed in noncardiac chicken tissues such as limb and notochord. We have identified hES, the human homology of chicken ES/130. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis (FISH) localizes hES to human chromosome 20p11.2-p12. FISH analyses of individuals with 20p12 deletions and affected by Alagille syndrome exclude hES as a candidate gene for this disorder. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction studies reveal that hES is expressed in both fetal and adult human tissues and that hES expression in the left ventricle is increased in the failing adult heart. Further studies will evaluate how hES mutations may relate to congenital human cardiac and skeletal anomalies as well as cardiac remodeling in the adult. 16 refs., 2 figs.
Genetic and demographic responses of mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) populations exposed to mercury for multiple generations

Genetic and demographic responses of mosquitofish were examined after multiple generations of exposure to mercury. Previous studies of acute lethal exposures of mosquitofish to either mercury or arsenic demonstrated a consistent correlation between time to death and genotype at the glucosephosphate isomerase-2 (Gpi-2) locus. A mesocosm study involving mosquitofish populations exposed to mercury for 111 d showed significant female sexual selection and fecundity selection at the Gpi-2 locus. Here the mesocosm study was extended to populations exposed to mercury for several (approx. four) generations. After 2 years, control and mercury-exposed populations met Hardy–Weinberg expectations and showed no evidence of genetic bottlenecks. The mean number of heterozygous loci did not differ significantly between the mercury-exposed and control populations. Significant differences in allele frequencies at the Gpi-2 locus were observed between the mercury-exposed and control populations. Relative to the initial and control allele frequencies, the Gpi-2100 allele frequency was lower, the Gpi-266 allele frequency increased, but the Gpi-238 allele frequency did not change in mercury-exposed populations. No significant differences were found in standard length, weight, sex ratio, or age class ratio between the control and mercury-exposed populations. Allele frequency changes at the Gpi-2 locus suggest population-level response to chronic mercury exposure. Changes in allele frequency may be useful as indicators of population response to contaminants, provided that the population in question is well understood.
Muscle Abnormalities in Acute Psychoses

SERUM creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and aldolase activities are increased in many acutely psychotic patients of a variety of diagnostic types. 1-3 CPK exists in three molecular forms (isoenzymes). Type I is found almost exclusively in the brain, type II in cardiac muscle, and type III in skeletal and cardiac muscle. 4 Much smaller amounts are present in many tissues. 5 Only the type III isoenzyme of CPK was found in the sera of psychotic patients. 1,2 A number of possible causes of an increased activity in serum of type III CPK have been evaluated: orally or intramuscularly administered psychotropic medications 2,6 ; physical activity 2,7 ; severe emotional distress not part of a psychotic process 2 weight loss 2,8 ; hypersecretion of steroids 2 or epinephrine 8 ; and muscle tension. 7 These have been considered to be not responsible for the increased serum enzyme activity in most acutely psychotic patients. Increased activity of serum
Circadian Rhythms of Liver Enzymes and Their Relationship to Enzyme Induction

Tyrosine alpha ketoglutarate transaminase, which is rapidly induced by various agents, shows circadian rhythmicity in the intact rat. This rhythmicity is only slightly altered after adrenalectomy, indicating that adrenal hormones do not play a major role in the metabolic control of the activity of tyrosine alpha ketoglutarate transaminase. On the other hand, phenylalaninepyruvate transaminase, which is not inducible over the same time period, does not show circadian variation. The results suggest that the sensitivity of an enzyme's regulating system to inducing agents may be related to the inherent circadian rhythm of the enzyme.
Hybrid ray trace and diffraction propagation code for analysis of optical systems

The Control Optics Modelling Package (COMP), is an optical modelling computer program capable of performing ray trace, differential ray trace and diffraction analyses for any optical design. COMP is particularly useful for optical systems that move, whether through interaction with dynamically or thermally varying structures, or optics that are actively controlled to perform particular tasks, such as steering mirrors or segmented mirrors.
Pull-off behavior of epoxy bonded to silicone duplex coatings

Abstract Flat-head studs, 7.2 mm diameter, were epoxied to 0.1–0.9 mm thick silicone layers attached to a rigid substrate. Pull-off tests were performed at nominally 1.5 N/s to establish critical pull-off forces and detachment modes at the epoxy–silicone interface. Most tests were performed on a two-layer coating consisting of a silicone top coat and a stiffer silicone bond coat. A few tests were performed with a single layer of transparent silicone on a glass substrate, which allowed video analysis of the interface during pull-off. Critical pull-off force, P c , decreased as the thickness of the coated layers increased. The thickness dependence of P c was shown to be in good agreement with a model presented by Kendall for pulling a rigid cylinder from a elastomeric glue layer, but modified to account for a two-layer elastomeric coating; P c varied as t *1/2 , where t * is an effective thickness, which depends on the bulk moduli of the coatings as well as their thicknesses. The observed pull-off mode was peeling, which occurred by nucleation, growth and coalescence of multiple voids initiated inside the contact area.
Pairing interaction in the two-dimensional Hubbard model studied with a dynamic cluster quantum Monte Carlo approximation

A dynamic cluster quantum Monte Carlo approximation is used to study the effective pairing interaction of a two-dimensional Hubbard model with a near neighbor hopping $t$ and an onsite Coulomb interaction $U$. The effective pairing interaction is characterized in terms of the momentum and frequency dependence of the eigenfunction of the leading eigenvalue of the irreducible particle-particle vertex. The momentum dependence of this eigenfunction is found to vary as $(\mathrm{cos}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{k}_{x}--\mathrm{cos}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{k}_{y})$ over most of the Brillouin zone and its frequency dependence is determined by the $S=1$ particle-hole continuum which for large $U$ varies as several times $J$. This implies that the effective pairing interaction is attractive for singlets formed between near-neighbor sites and retarded on a time scale set by ${(2J)}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The strength of the pairing interaction measured by the size of the $d$-wave eigenvalue peaks for $U$ of order of the bandwidth $8t$. It is found to increase as the system is underdoped.
On the timing of hydrolysis / reoxidation in the osmium-catalyzed asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins using potassium ferricyanide as the reoxidant

Abstract Hydrolysis is shown to precede reoxidation in the catalytic cycle for the asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins using potassium ferricyanide as the stoichiometric reoxidant, thereby accounting for the observed absence of a non-enantioselective “second cycle.”
Low molecular weight forms of type A botulinum toxin. II. Action of pepsin on intact and dissociated toxin

Purified type A botulinum toxin (molecular weight about 900,000) was found to be irreversibly dissociated at pH 9.2 with little loss in specific toxicity and with the formation of a principal component with a sedimentation constant of 7 S. No reaggregation of 7 S toxin was observed upon readjustment of the pH to 3.8. The toxin in its intact form was highly resistant to proteolysis by pepsin. In contrast, the dissociated or 7 S toxin underwent extensive degradation by pepsin with retention of a considerable amount of its toxicity. The molecular size range of the toxic fragments formed by peptic cleavage has not as yet been determined. The diffusibility of significant quantities of these toxic fragments through cellulose dialyzing membranes was observed in several experiments but was undetected in others.
Partial tear of the quadriceps tendon in a child

We present a case of partial rupture of the quadriceps tendon in an 8-year-old girl. This is one of the youngest patients reported with a quadriceps tendon rupture, an entity seen predominantly in middle-aged people. The strength of the muscle tendon unit in a child makes tendon injuries extremely unusual as compared to apophyseal avulsions. The MR imaging findings of this unusual pediatric injury are illustrated.
Improving the Library Internet Connection

The impact of the Internet and access to such limitless information has challenged the way that patrons search for information. Efforts to close the gap between library science and computer science are ongoing. An important component of that is to make the necessary changes in the organization of how information is communicated to the community that the library serves. It is necessary to look at how patrons search for information, and how the library facilitates that quest and educates patrons in the use of resources that they didn't know existed.
Elastic-plastic problem for a plate with a part-through crack under extension and bending

In this paper a flat plate containing a relatively long and deep part-through crack and subjected to uniform membrane and bending loads is considered. It is assumed that the net ligament and the plate wall in some neighborhood of the crack are fully yielded. In analyzing the problem Reissner's Theory of plate bending is used. The plastic deformations are taken into account by using a plastic strip model. First some elastic results regarding the interaction of two collinear cracks are obtained. The crack opening displacement at various locations in the plate is then calculated for various crack sizes and stress ratios.
Female mice heterozygous for creatine transporter deficiency show moderate cognitive deficits

Creatine transporter (CrT) deficiency (CTD) is an X-linked disorder characterized by intellectual disability and speech delay. There have been reports that show female carriers have clinical symptoms. We have created CrT knockout (CrT−/y) mice in which males show severe cognitive deficits as a model of this disorder. The purpose of this study was to examine if the female carrier mice show cognitive deficits. Reductions in Cr levels as well as CrT transcript were observed in the brains of the female CrT+/− mice. CrT+/− mice show hyperactivity and increased latency to find the cued platform in the Morris water maze (MWM). CrT+/− female mice showed deficits in MWM hidden platform acquisition but not during reversal testing. Memory deficits on probe trials were observed during both phases. Novel object recognition memory and contextual fear memory were not affected in female CrT+/− mice. Female CrT+/− mice show moderate cognitive deficits, which is consistent with some of the human data. Female CrT+/− mice could prove to be beneficial in further understanding CTD and testing therapeutic approaches.
Effect of stress on the carrier generation rate in gold-doped silicon

Abstract The thermal generation rate of charge carriers in a depletion region in gold-doped silicon was measured as a function of strain applied in the [110] direction over a range of temperatures. Thermal generation rate was also measured as a function of [100] strain at a single temperature. Relaxation to equilibrium of a deeply depleted metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor was used to measure generation rate. The generation rate was observed to increase nearly 100 per cent from zero applied strain to an applied strain of 5 × 10−3, at −20°C. Experimental results were explained using a model based on Shockley-Read statistics and results from deformation-potential theory. Agreement between theory and experiment was obtained under the condition that the gold impurity energy level split with applied strain and the the center of gravity of the two levels shifted upward with a hydrostatic coefficient. The increase in generation rate was in excess of that caused by band extrema shifts only.
Characterization of two copper-binding components of the fungus, Dactylium dendroides.

Abstract Two copper-binding components of the fungus, Dactylium dendroides, have been isolated and characterized. Cells grown in culture media containing from 10 n m to 1 m m copper synthesize a copper-binding protein (Mr, ~7.5 × 103) which contains 2 g atoms of copper/mol when saturated. The levels of saturation in vivo are 20 and 100% at 10 n m and 100 μ m medium copper, respectively. The amount of this protein present in the cells is independent of medium copper concentration. This protein appears to be cytosolic. The purity of this copper-binding protein has been established by column chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, amino acid analysis, and peptide mapping. The cysteine content of 4.5% is similar to that of copper-binding proteins from rat and human liver, but lower than that found in chelatins or copper thioneins from rat liver and yeast. The copper-saturated protein exhibits no visible absorption or electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum, and a featureless near-ultraviolet absorption spectrum with a shoulder at ca. 260 nm. These properties are suggestive of mercaptide sulfur coordination. The cytosol of cells grown in 1 m m medium copper is blue, apparently due to the binding of copper to a second proteinacious ligand. This Cu-peptide complex(es) has an apparent molecular weight of 1350 as determined by gel permeation chromatography and contains 1 g atom of copper/mol. This metal is not removed by EDTA but is removed by treatment with Chelex 100 or diethyldithiocarbamic acid. Up to two additional copper atoms may be loosely bound, but these can be removed by gel permeation chromatography. The peptide contains no cysteine, histidine, or aromatic amino acids, nor does it contain any carbohydrate. The complex exhibits a visible absorption maximum at 740 nm (ϵ = 60). The principal spin Hamiltonian parameters (g∥ = 2.345 and A¦ = 145 G) together with the visible absorption spectrum indicate that the ligands binding to the copper are fairly ionic (N and/or O) and that the ligand field is close to square planar. When isolated from cells grown at 0.1 μ m medium copper, the ligand contains only trace amounts of metal. The absence of cysteine and carbohydrate makes this ligand a new type of metal binding species unlike the thioneins, chelatins, or bleomycin. The possible biological function of this ligand is discussed as are the differences between the copper-binding protein described and metal-binding species in other organisms.
Fatigue of Silane Bonded Epoxy/Glass Interfaces

Fatigue (slow) crack growth in silane bonded epoxy/glass interfaces was studied under static and cyclic loading at 23°C, 95% RH using the double cleavage drilled compression test. Crack growth rates under cyclic loading were significantly greater than under static loading, in contrast to crack growth results in monolithic glass. In addition, cyclic crack growth rate data after aging up to 94°C in distilled water were not significantly different from unaged samples; however, after aging at 98°C in distilled water and 70°C in a KOH aqueous solution of pH 10, crack growth became cohesive and fractal in nature. These results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms for fatigue crack growth at silane bonded epoxy/glass interfaces.
Blood Pressure of Japanese and Bobwhite Quail

Abstract INTRODUCTION NORMAL blood pressure and heart rate values have been reported for several species of domesticated birds used as laboratory animals in biomedical research. These studies have also included the effect of age, sex, anesthesia and drugs (see Sturkie, 1965). The author could not find, in the literature, information on the blood pressure and heart rate of the Japanese or the Bobwhite quail. The object of this experiment was to determine the blood pressure and heart rate of the Japanese and of the bobwhite quail as influenced by sex. PROCEDURE Arterial blood pressures were determined on adult male and female Japanese quail (3 to 5 months of age) and Bobwhite quail (10 months of age) by direct cannulation of the carotid artery using polyethylene tubing PE50 (ID .584 × OD .965 mm.) connected to a Statham pressure transducer (Model P23AC) and recorded on either a Grass Model 5 Polygraph or . . .
Scanning electron microscopy of the haustorium-host interface regions in wheat infected with Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici

Abstract Cryofracturing and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the invagination of host cytoplasm and plasma membrane around haustoria of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, confirming observations from transmission electron microscopy and light microscopy of other rust infections.
A gender‐dependent analysis of Cushing's disease in childhood: pre‐ and postoperative follow‐up

SummaryObjective To analyse gender differences in the clinical presentation and recovery of paediatric patients with Cushing's disease (CD) after transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). Indeed, gender differences between paediatric patients with CD during presentation, after TSS and postoperative recovery have not been adequately studied. Design Data were obtained and retrospectively analysed from clinical reports and biochemical tests at the time of presentation, 5–9 days after TSS and at the 6 and 12 months postoperative follow-up visits to determine hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPAA) recovery. Patients Data from 102 paediatric patients (48 females, 54 males, mean age 12·9 ± 3·0) with CD who underwent TSS at the National Institute of Health (NIH) Clinical Center between 1997 and 2011. Results There was equal distribution of paediatric CD between males and females (53% vs 47%; n = 102, P = 0·484). Males were more likely than females to present with higher mean BMI Z-scores (2·2 ± 0·7 vs 1·9 ± 0·6, P = 0·0079), lower mean height Z-scores (−1·2 ± 1·3 vs −0·7 ± 1·1, P = 0·0467) and higher median plasma ACTH (12·2 vs 8·5 pmol/l; P = 0·0495). Females did not present more frequently with any single sign or symptom. No significant differences were found between males and females for CD cure rates 5–9 days after TSS (87·0% males vs 87·5% females, P = 1·0), long-term cure rates (86·5% vs 93·7%; n = 69; P = 0·4374) and HPAA recovery time (11·2 ± 2·5 vs 11·7 ± 2·5 months; n = 47; P = 0·1992). Conclusions Paediatric CD is found to have equal distribution between males and females, but male patients present with elevated BMI and potentially shorter height and higher plasma ACTH. There is no significant difference in the cure rate or HPAA recovery time after TSS between males and females.
Freakish Variations on a “Grand Cadence” Prototype in Haydn's String Quartets

Notwithstanding the virtues of ensemble balance, decorum, and registral restraint with which the eighteenth-century string quartet is associated, Haydn's works in this medium sometimes call on the first violin to ascend to a musical stratosphere (above a2, an otherwise normal ceiling), often in connection with whimsical variants of a standard formula that has been identified by Robert O. Gjerdingen as a galant-style “grand cadence.” In Haydn's apparent adaptations of the schema, its elements are sometimes subjected to comical exaggerations that have the effect of undermining rather than reinforcing the points of rhetorical climax and structural closure to which they are connected. The overdrawn climaxes and register-crossing leaps typically involved may be heard as object lessons in the dangers of hyperbole—of trying so hard as to become inappropriately absorbed in the exertion itself—and perhaps as part of the composer's effort to define boundaries of taste and propriety by the very act of overreaching a...
Documents journey through time: weeding a history

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer a reflective analysis of project planning for the legal disposition of a large Federal Documents Collection in an off‐site storage facility.Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a case study.Findings – This paper examines specific steps in a project plan for relocation and disposition of Federal Documents received under the Federal Depository Library Program.Originality/value – The paper contributes to the discussion of library space needs, the disposition of tangible resources in an increasingly electronic age and the challenges libraries face in managing collections.
When Compliance Is an Issue—How to Enhance Statin Adherence and Address Adverse Effects

Cardiovascular disease is prevalent and costly. Interventions and therapies that reduce morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease could have an enormous impact on clinical and economic outcomes. Statins reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease-related morbidity and mortality; however, adherence to statins is less than optimal. It is important for clinicians as well as health plan managers to be aware of the patient- and insurance plan-specific factors that have been shown to influence adherence. Perceived statin-related side effects may also decrease adherence. Statin-related myalgia may be difficult to distinguish from myalgia caused by other conditions, and statin therapy may be discontinued unnecessarily in patients who would otherwise benefit. It is imperative that clinicians work closely with patients to improve adherence to statin therapy and be knowledgable in managing potential statin-related side effects.
Usefulness of coronary computed tomographic angiography to assess suitability for revascularization in patients with significant coronary artery disease and angina pectoris.

Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) accurately excludes the presence of coronary stenoses in selected patient populations. However, it remains unclear whether coronary CTA has the potential to replace invasive coronary angiography as a tool to assess a patient's suitability for revascularization as determined by the characterization of lesion morphology in patients with significant coronary artery disease. Coronary CTA (64-slice computed tomography) was performed before invasive coronary angiography in 29 patients. We evaluated the accuracy of CTA for the detection of complex lesion morphology, including the presence of severe calcium, total occlusions, and ostial or bifurcation location, and compared the results with those of invasive angiography. On CTA, 10 of 69 lesions (15%) were not evaluable for any feature of complex lesion morphology. Of the evaluable lesions, CTA detected ≥1 feature of complexity in 58% of lesions, corresponding to a sensitivity of 88% (23 of 26) and a specificity of 83% (24 of 29). For those single features, the sensitivity of CTA was 100% for the presence of severe calcium, 93% for total occlusions, and 60% and 80% for the detection of ostial and bifurcation lesions, respectively. The specificity was high for total occlusions (97%), ostial lesions (97%), and bifurcations (100%). It was moderate (85%) for severe calcium. Severe calcium precluded the evaluation of other features of complex lesion morphology in 6 lesions (11%). In conclusion, invasive selective coronary angiography remains the cornerstone to assess a patient's suitability for revascularization given the high proportion of unevaluable segments and segments with severe calcium that precluded adequate revascularization planning on CTA.
Computer-assisted stereotaxic surgery

A set of software image processing tools is being developed to assist in stereotaxic implantation and biopsy procedures. They allow merging of computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and anatomic atlas images into a single database; reformatting of the merged image into arbitrary planes; and interactive display of these reformatted images in the operating room environment. The hardware, software and present research are briefly discussed. >
Mediation of group cognition

The term "community-based learning" can refer to a variety of forms of learning. One can, for instance, insist on an individualistic notion of learning and argue that individual learning can be enhanced by factors that may influence it from a supportive community environment. At the other theoretical extreme, one can propose a social conception of learning and claim that most important knowledge building takes place at the community level, while individual learning is a secondary matter of internalization, acculturation or increased participation in community. Here, we will stake out a middle ground: that community-based learning should be analyzed at the intermediate level of small groups of individuals within the community. We point out that small groups typically mediate the relationship of communities to their members and we propose a consideration of small group cognition as an alternative methodological focus to either cognition in the head of individuals or the cultural knowledge of a whole community. This approach has practical implications for CSCL and CSCW: collaboration is taken to be a potential emergent phenomenon of small group interaction, and the computer support of collaboration is analyzed as an enabling technology whose design and use forms and transforms the nature of the interactions.
Effects of V/III Ratios for InP Nanowires Grown on Si Substrates

We report the effects of V/III ratio on the structural and optical properties for InP nanowires (NWs) grown on Si substrates. Non-tapered NWs with a sharp photoluminescence peak and intense emission are achieved.
Improvements in biomaterial matrices for neural precursor cell transplantation

Progress is being made in developing neuroprotective strategies for traumatic brain injuries; however, there will never be a therapy that will fully preserve neurons that are injured from moderate to severe head injuries. Therefore, to restore neurological function, regenerative strategies will be required. Given the limited regenerative capacity of the resident neural precursors of the CNS, many investigators have evaluated the regenerative potential of transplanted precursors. Unfortunately, these precursors do not thrive when engrafted without a biomaterial scaffold. In this article we review the types of natural and synthetic materials that are being used in brain tissue engineering applications for traumatic brain injury and stroke. We also analyze modifications of the scaffolds including immobilizing drugs, growth factors and extracellular matrix molecules to improve CNS regeneration and functional recovery. We conclude with a discussion of some of the challenges that remain to be solved towards repairing and regenerating the brain.
Antimicrobial Activity of Oregano Oil on Iceberg Lettuce with Different Attachment Conditions

: In this study, the antimicrobial activity of oregano oil was investigated under different attachment conditions of Salmonella spp. to iceberg lettuce. Inoculated lettuce was either not dried or dried for 30 min, 60 min, or 120 min, under either static air or moving air. Washing iceberg lettuce with 500 ppm oregano oil for 1, 5, and 10 min reduced the population of Salmonella spp. by (respectively) 1.3, 1.65, and 2.28 log cfu/g following the most challenging inoculation conditions, an inoculum drying period of 2 h under moving air. Across all inoculation conditions, increasing the treatment time significantly increased the reductions in the populations of Salmonella spp. (P 0.05). The results obtained in this study suggest that oregano oil can effectively reduce populations of Salmonella attached to lettuce leaf surfaces. Practical Application: The use of essential oils as an antimicrobial treatment can help to ensure the safety of leafy green products. As used in this study, oregano oil effectively reduced Salmonella spp., even after the pathogen had dried onto the lettuce leaves. Treatments that incorporate oregano oil therefore hold promise as a biocide treatment for process and packaged lettuce.
Testing the limits of the phonetic mnemonic system

Three experiments tested the efficacy of the phonetic mnemonic system under varying conditions of application. The first study attempted unsuccessfully to replicate and extend the work of Morris and Greer (1984), who had shown training in the phonetic mnemonic method to facilitate memorization of a serial list of two-digit numbers. In the present study, subjects trained in the phonetic mnemonic method failed to learn lists of two-, four-, and six-digit numbers better than control subjects. The second experiment partially replicated the first, the differences being that training in the phonetic mnemonic method was strengthened, and time allotted for number recall was extended. Under these circumstances the phonetic mnemonic group recalled the two-, four-, and six-digit numbers significantly better than the control groups, a finding conforming with Morris and Greer's (1984) results. The third experiment partially replicated the second, everything being the same except that, in this case, subjects constructed their own key words representing each number, instead of these words being supplied by the experimenter. Under these conditions, subjects trained in the phonetic mnemonic method recalled significantly fewer numbers than control subjects. Language: en
Reproductive effort in Adélie penguins

We estimated reproductive effort (energy expenditures for reproduction, as opposed to maintenance) in Adelie penguins breeding at Palmer Station, Antarctica. Data on body composition changes and metabolic rate were obtained using isotopic methods. Adelie breeding behavior consists of an initial courtship stage (during which both sexes fast), incubation, the ‘guard’ stage (when chicks are 1 to 18–28 days old), and the ‘creche’ stage (from the end of guarding until chicks are 28–45 days old). Both males and females lost considerable mass during the initial stages of the reproductive season, but males fasted longer and lost more mass. Mass losses of both sexes consisted of 66% depot fat and 34% lean tissue. Mass and body composition remained constant once birds resumed feeding. The metabolic expenditure for the foraging necessary to accumulate the mass lost while fasting — one component of reproductive effort —was about 63 MJ in males and 39 MJ in females. Field metabolic rates (FMR) were low during courtship and while incubating, increasing more than 2-fold when birds resumed foraging. Although mean FMR increased between incubation and the creche stage, differences between stages were small and not significant. We used FMR data and an energy balance model to estimate the cost of feeding chicks. Results suggest a maintenance FMR of about 2.7 × basal metabolism (BMR), increasing to 3.4–3.6 × BMR during the creche stage. The reproductive effort (as metabolic expenditures) associated with feeding chicks is 31 MJ (males) to 36 MJ (females). Cumulative reproductive effort is 94 MJ in males and 75 MJ in females, or 5.3–6.2% of the annual energy budget. The reproductive effort devoted to chick care does not appear to be constrained by physiological or time limitations. Instead, selection to reduce the risk of predation may prevent the evolution of increased parental care.
Migration in South America: an overview of the austral system

Austral migrants are species that breed in temperate areas of South America and migrate north, towards or into Amazonia, for the southern winter. Migrations among these species are the most extensive of Southern Hemisphere migrations, and the austral system represents a third major migration system, in the sense that the term has been applied to Northern Hemisphere temperate-tropical migration. The geography of South America greatly influences the austral system. Lack of east-west geographical barriers and the shape of the continent promote a pattern of partially overlapping breeding and wintering ranges. The suboscine family Tyrannidae, the tyrant-flycatchers, is the largest group of austral migrants, with other major families including Emberizidae, Anatidae, Furnariidae, Accipitridae and Hirundinidae. Tyrant-flycatchers constitute more than one-half of the passerine austral migrants and roughly one-third of total austral migrants, a taxonomic domination seen in no other global migration system. Parallels exist, however, between austral migration and the Nearctic and Palearctic systems. Many of the same families, including Hirundinidae, Anatidae and Charadriidae, exhibit similarly high degrees of migratory behavi-our in each system. Passerine migration in the austral system is similar in numbers to that of the Nearctic-Neotropical system, but species migrate shorter distances and breed in more open and scrubby habitats. Possible differences in year-round resource availability between South American and North American temperate forests, in addition to differing availability of these habitats, may contribute to the low numbers of forest-dwelling austral migrants.
Transesophageal magnetic resonance imaging of the aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta in patients with aortic atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVES We sought to determine the feasibility and potential of transesophageal magnetic resonance imaging (TEMRI) for quantifying atherosclerotic plaque burden in the aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta in comparison with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). BACKGROUND Improved morphologic assessment of atherosclerotic plaque features in vivo is of interest because of the potential for improved understanding of the pathophysiology of plaque vulnerability to rupture and progression to clinical events. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is well suited for atherosclerotic plaque imaging. Performing MRI using a radio frequency (RF) receiver probe placed near the region of interest improves the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). METHODS High-resolution images of the thoracic aortic wall were obtained by TEMRI in 22 subjects (8 normals, 14 with aortic atherosclerosis). In nine subjects, we compared aortic wall thickness and circumferential extent of atherosclerotic plaque measured by TEMRI versus TEE using a Bland-Altman analysis. Additional studies were performed in a human cadaver with pathology as an independent gold standard for assessment of atherosclerosis. RESULTS In clinical and experimental studies, we found similar measurements for aortic plaque thickness but a relative underestimation of circumferential extent of atherosclerosis by TEE (p 5 0.001), due in large part to the lower SNR in the near field. CONCLUSIONS Using TEMRI allows for quantitative assessment of thoracic aortic atherosclerotic plaque burden. This technique provides good SNR in the near field, which makes it a promising approach for detailed characterization of aortic plaque burden. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2001;37: 2031‐5) © 2001 by the American College of Cardiology
MRI Based Fat Segmentation at 7T with Confidence Image

Small animal MRI at 7T provides tool for adiposity research. Separation of fat from surrounding tissues is the key to quantitative analysis in this field. The application of fat segmentation in small animals is a recent extension of the field and it is not known which specific biological questions related to fat deposition will be relevant. Thus it is impossible to predict what accuracy and what spatial resolution will be required in all or even many cases. Herein we describe fat segmentation based on optimizing a variety of factors relevant to small animal imaging at 7T. In contrast to most previously described MRI methods based on signal intensity of MR T1 weighted image, we chose to use parametric images based on T2 relaxation time and on a pixel by pixel basis initially. The innovation in our method is to separate the fat by the confidence distribution of regions on a scale dictated by practical aspects of MRI at 7T. In this paper, we describe how we arrived at our recommended procedure (really a collection of procedures) and key aspects of the important post-processing steps in our method. A software tool was created to help fat separation even when the anatomical information makes it difficult to distinguish between fat or nonfat. Further more our software allows the operator to make adjustments to many of the key steps for comparison purposes and to quantitatively assess the difference these changes make.
Pleiotropy and Life History Evolution in Drosophila melanogaster: Uncoupling Life Span and Early Fecundity

Populations of Drosophila melanogaster that have been artificially selected for late age of reproduction evolve longer life spans and, in some cases, reduced early fecundity. The negative correlation is widely interpreted as evidence of antagonistic pleiotropy. Here, we show that the correlation breaks down in recombinant genomes. A major quantitative trait locus that increases adult life span by 20% has no detectable effect on early fecundity. Several recombinant genotypes are superflies, exhibiting both elevated early fecundity and long life. The genetic correlation of early fecundity and life span is not different from zero, while the midlife fecundity correlation is positive and statistically significant, suggesting age-specific adaptation. The results are not consistent with a dominant role for negative pleiotropy, but can be understood in terms of a mixture of pleiotropic and recombining nonpleiotropic elements. Life span and early fecundity can be genetically uncoupled.