cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Propylene glycol and ethylene glycol recovery from aqueous solution via reactive distillation

Abstract Propylene glycol (PG) and ethylene glycol (EG) are recovered from aqueous solution via reaction with acetaldehyde to form acetals in a reactive distillation column. The reaction takes place over Amberlyst 15 cationic exchange resin catalyst, held in structured packing in the column reactive zone. Gycol solution is fed to the column at the top of the reactive zone and acetaldehyde is fed at the bottom of the reactive zone. The acetals produced, 2,4-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane from PG and 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane from EG, form minimum-boiling azeotropes with water and exit the top of the column along with excess acetaldehyde; residual water exits the column as the bottoms stream. In a 0.05 m OD ×6.0 m pilot-scale column, steady-state PG conversions of over 90% are obtained. Hydrolysis of both acetals is rapid and allows complete recovery of high purity PG and EG and recycle of acetaldehyde. Simulation of PG acetalization using a kinetic rate-based model in AspenPlus process simulation software gives good agreement with experimental data using an HETP of 0.6 m . The proposed recovery scheme has application for PG and EG recovery from pure polyol solutions and from mixed polyol streams such as those generated in carbohydrate hydrogenolysis.
THE PROPERTIES OF THE ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE OF STREPTOMYCIN-DEPENDENT STRAINS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI.

Abstract Enzymic and immunochemical studies indicate that the alkaline phosphatase (orthophosphoric monoester phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.1) extracted from streptomycin-dependent strains of Escherichia coli is similar to the enzyme isolated from induced cultures of E. coli .
Proving Ramsey's theorem by the cover set induction: A case and comparison study

An experiment of the cover set induction method inRRL is presented with a mechanical proof of Ramsey's theorem in graph theory. The proof is similar to the proof obtained by Kaufmann using the Boyer-Moore theorem prover. We show that this similarity is not unusual, because there is a close relationship between the Boyer-Moore logic and the algebraic specification of abstract data types on which the cover set induction method is based. (This implies that many proofs done by the Boyer-Moore theorem prover can be reproduced byRRL.) Our experiment shows thatRRL can automatically prove all the lemmas in Ramsey's theorem, while the Boyer-Moore theorem prover needs several user's hints and takes much longer (CPU time) to finish.
Community size, public attitudes, and population-policy preferences.

Relationships between community size and attitudes towards a variety of population-policy issues were investigated using data from the 1971 survey conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation. 70 questions were asked of a national probability sample of 1708 men and women 16 years of age and older. The following propositions failed to be supported by the data: those in more populous residential locations will 1) have greater concern over population-policy issues of growth size and distribution; 2) favor population choices that will limit size and growth as well as regulate population distribution to more populous areas; and 3) favor increased governmental action to limit immigration and population growth. Community size in fact is not a major factor influencing opinion or preference on questions concerning population size growth distribution or the role of the government in developing policies to deal with these issues. Additionally respondent characteristics such as income or sex and population attitudes are not as strongly associated with population-policy attitudes as are the characteristics of voting or political activism. Consequently the major contention of the analysis that policymakers have greater latitude than commonly thought in developing specific population-policy options is supported.
Inotropic Effects of Prostaglandin D2 and E1 on the Newborn Rabbit Heart

This study determines the inotropic effects of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in the isolated, arterial perfused newborn (NB) and adult (A) rabbit heart. Significant positive inotropism of PGD2 was observed at all concentrations studied (1 X 10(-17) to 1 X 10(-7) M) in the two age groups; the effect in the NB was significantly greater (p less than 0.05) than that in the A at PGD2 concentrations higher than 1 X 10(-17) M. Significant positive inotropism of PGE1 was observed at PGE1 concentrations higher than 1 X 10(-8) M in the NB, and only at 1 X 10(-6) M in the A. In the NB, the relaxation parameters [1/2 RT and the ratio of +dT/dt (max) to -dT/dt (max)] decreased to 80% of control after PGE1 infusion, but not after PGD2 infusion. In contrast, relaxation parameters in the A were not different from control. Propranolol (1 X 10(-6) M) did not alter the positive inotropic action of PGD2 and PGE1 in the NB. These data indicate that: 1) the positive inotropic effects of PGD2 and PGE1 in NB are greater than that in the A, 2) PGE1 and not PGD2, enhances myocardial relaxation only in the NB, 3) the contractile effects of PGD2 and PGE1 are not mediated by beta-receptors.
Gliomatosis peritonei as a complication of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt: Case report and review of the literature

Gliomatosis peritonei, the implantation of neuroglial tissue upon the peritoneal surfaces, is a rare event most often associated with solid or immature teratomas of the ovary in young girls. The authors report a case of a 10-month-old girl with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) who presented with bilateral inguinal hernias. Herniorrhaphy was uneventful. Microscopic examination of the hernia sacs showed exuberant mesothelial hyperplasia containing multiple nests of differentiated glial tissue. Subsequent computed tomography and laparoscopy disclosed normal ovaries with no evidence of intraabdominal or pelvic abnormalities. Gliomatosis peritonei in this case was attributed to transport of glial tissue from the cerebrospinal fluid into the peritoneal cavity via the shunt. With the exclusion of an ovarian germ cell neoplasm and in the presence of a VPS, the clinical course with regard to the glial implants in these children is uneventful. If it is appreciated that gliomatosis peritonei may be a complication of a VPS, an extensive clinical evaluation generally is unnecessary.
A new radioimmunoassay to measure rat insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) in serum, wound fluid and conditioned media.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) is, like the other five IGFBPs, a critical regulator of the activity of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-II. Because of the possible role of IGFBP-4 in multiple systems including reproduction, pregnancy, bone formation and wound healing, we developed a radioimmunoassay (RIA) to measure the concentration of IGFBP-4 in the serum, extracellular fluid and conditioned media of cells of rodents so that these animal models could be better exploited. Rat IGFBP-4 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The recombinant material was used to raise a rabbit polyclonal antibody against rat IGFBP-4 and for iodination and standards. The RIA developed was sensitive to less than 1 ng/mL of rat IGFBP-4 and IGF-I did not interfere. There was no cross-reactivity with other rat IGFBPs on immuno-Western analysis of serum and wound fluid. IGFBP-4 from mouse serum did cross-react in our assay; however, serum from horse, pig or human showed no cross-reaction. Human IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 showed a very weak cross-reactivity. Serum IGFBP-4 levels showed no gender difference but did reveal a significant 66% increase in older rats. During the course of wound healing, which is IGF-I dependent, IGFBP-4 showed no changes. In conclusion an RIA for rat IGFBP-4 has been developed that specifically measures the concentration of IGFBP-4 in the sera, extracellular fluid and conditioned media of rodents. With this assay, the role of IGFBP-4 and IGFs in growth, development and the function of multiple systems can be further investigated using rodent models.
A more accurate method to estimate glomerular filtration rate from serum creatinine: A new prediction equation

The serum creatinine concentration is widely used as an index of renal function, but this measure is affected by factors other than the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This study examined an equa...
Comparison of theoretical and empirical lifetimes for minority carriers in heavily doped silicon

Abstract The minority carriers determine essential electrical characteristics of bipolar devices and bipolar-like parasitic paths in field effect devices. The electrical behavior of such devices is frequently described by detailed device models. Compared to the other input parameters for detailed device models, the minority carrier lifetimes due to traps or defects as functions of doping density have great uncertainty. Detailed device models, which include the contributions of both Auger recombination and Shockley-Read-Hall processes to this lifetime, give correct values for the d.c. common emitter gain of npn transistors with shallow, heavily doped emitters. However, those models which include commonly used empirical expressions for the above lifetime do not predict correct values for the gain. The physical significance of these device modeling results involves competition between trapping of carriers and Auger recombination when donor densities lie within the decade of 1019 cm−3. An example of the foregoing competition is given by applying detailed device models to an npn transistor with an emitter surface concentration of 2.3 × 1020 cm−3 and with an emitter-base junction depth of 1.1 μm. A major finding in this paper is that the commonly used empirical expressions for the lifetime due to defects may not give correct results when included in detailed models of shallow, heavily doped silicon emitters.
Determination of growth mechanisms of MBE grown BaF2 on Si(100) by target angle dependence of RBS yields

Abstract The angular dependence of 2.0 MeV 4He1+ Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) yields have been used to determine the growth mechanism of epitaxial BaF2 films grown on Si(100) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). RBS yields from uniformly thick layers are characterized by a (cos φ)−1 dependence, where φ is the angle between the incident beam and the target normal. Deviations from this relationship have been attributed to layers which are composed of islands, rather than films of uniform thickness. A series of BaF2 films of increasing deposition time were examined in this way. The results of this analysis show that the BaF2 at first grows in small islands which eventually coalesce into a uniform epitaxial layer.
High efficiency 80W X-Band power amplifier using coaxial waveguide spatial power combining technique

As the commercially available microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) amplifiers improve in output power and bandwidth a compact platform to combine a large number of these MMICs, becomes very desirable. A reduced size version of a coaxial waveguide combiner structure using an antipodal finline antenna array is investigated. The reduced size coaxial waveguide combiner structure is used to demonstrate an 80 Watt power amplifier at X-Band by combining 16, 6 Watt MMIC devices and the scalability of the overall combiner platform. Around 30% efficiency has been achieved for most of the band.
Pre-treatment FDG-PET predicts the site of in-field progression following concurrent chemoradiotherapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract Purpose Locoregional progression following definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is common. In this study, we explore the utility of pre-treatment PET for predicting sites of disease progression following CRT. Methods We identified patients treated at our institution with definitive, concurrent CRT for stage III NSCLC in the years 2007–2010 who underwent staging FDG-PET/CT. Using a semiautomatic gradient-based tool, visible thoracic hypermetabolic lesions were contoured on each patient's pre-treatment PET. Post-treatment imaging was reviewed to identify specific locations of disease progression. Patients' maximum SUV (SUVmax_pat) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV_pat) were evaluated as predictors of clinical outcomes using logrank testing. Competing risks analysis was performed to examine the relationship between lesion (tumor or lymph node) MTV (MTV_les) and the risk of local disease progression. Patient death and progression in other sites were treated as competing risks. Results 28 patients with 82 hypermetabolic lesions (27 pulmonary tumors, 55 lymph nodes) met inclusion criteria. Median follow-up was 39.0 months for living patients. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 12.4 months, and median overall survival (OS) was 31.8 months. Low MTV_pat was associated with improved PFS (median 14.3 months for MTV 60cc, p =0.039). MTV_les was strongly associated with the risk of local disease progression. The 2-year cumulative incidence rate (CIR) for progression in lesions larger than 25cc was 45%, compared to 5% for lesions under 25cc ( p Conclusion Pre-treatment PET can be used to identify specific lesions at high risk for treatment failure following definitive CRT for locally advanced NSCLC. Selective treatment intensification to high-risk lesions should be studied as a strategy to improve clinical outcomes in this patient population.
JAFROC analysis revisited: figure-of-merit considerations for human observer studies

ABSTRACT Jackknife alternative free-response receiver operating characteristic (JAFROC) is a method for measuring human observer performance in localization tasks. JAFROC is be ing increasingly used to evaluate imaging modalities because it has been shown to have greater statistical power than conventional receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, which neglects location information. JAFROC neglects the no n-lesion localization marks ("false positives") on abnormal images. JAFROC1 is an alternative method that includes these marks. Both methods are lesion-centric in the sense that they assign equal importance to all lesions; an image with many lesions would tend to dominate the performance metric, and clinically less significant lesions are treated identically as more significant ones. In this paper weighted JAFROC and JAFROC1 analyses are described that treat each abnorm al image (not each lesion) as a unit of measurement and account for different lesion clinical significances (weights). Lesion-centric and weighted methods were tested using a simulator that includes multiple-reader multiple-case multiple-modality location level correlations. For comparison, ROC analysis was also tested where the rating of the highest rated mark on an image was assumed to be its "ROC" rating. The testing involved random numbers of lesions per image, random weights, case-mixes (ratio of normal to abnormal images) and different correlation structures. We found that for either JAFROC or JAFROC1, both lesion-centric and weighted analyses had correct NH behavior and comparable statistical powers. For either lesion-centric or weighted analyses JAFROC1 yielded the highest power, followed by JAFROC and ROC yielded the least power, confirming a recent study using a less flexible single-reader dual-modality simulator. Provided the number of normal cases is not too small, JAFROC1 is the preferred method fo r analyzing human observer free- response data. For either JAFROC or JAFROC1 weighted analysis is preferable. Keywords: Free-response, imaging system assessment, JAFROC, JAFROC1, simulators, lesion localization, lesion-centric analysis, weighted analysis
Light Induced Fragmentation of Polyfunctional Carboxylated Compounds on Hydrated Metal Oxide Particles: From Simple Organic Acids to Peptides

Light induced reactions of carboxylic, hydroxycarboxylic, and aminocarboxylic acids, carboxylated aromatics, and α-amino acids and peptides adsorbed on hydrated anatase (TiO2), goethite (α-FeOOH), and hematite (α-Fe2O3) have been studied at low temperature (77−200 K), by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and at 295 K, by means of transient absorption spectroscopy. In the room-temperature solution, the photocatalytic decomposition of carboxylated molecules, in the absence of synergistic adsorption by hydroxyl groups (e.g., in serine), is inefficient due to weak surface binding. The yield of radical formation increases significantly at low temperature, as the carboxylated molecules adsorb on the surface. The main photodegradation path is decarboxylation initiated by charge transfer from the metal oxide to the adsorbate. Below 120 K, for carboxylic acids and nonaromatic amino acids and peptides, the decarboxylation is the only reaction pathway, yielding the corresponding C-centered...
Chemotherapy-induced parkinsonism responsive to levodopa: An underrecognized entity

Parkinsonism is a rare neurological complication of cancer treatment. Although individual case reports of this syndrome have been reported, the clinical features and prevalence of this syndrome are unknown. We present 3 patients, encountered over 6 months at one institution, who developed parkinsonism after treatment with various chemotherapeutic agents. Parkinsonism was severe in 2 patients, affecting postural reflexes, speech, and swallowing. All 3 patients responded dramatically to treatment with levodopa, and parkinsonism spontaneously improved or remitted over months. This unusual complication of cancer therapy is treatable and may be underappreciated.
Interpolator for a Computer Numerical Control System

A software interpolator which is comprised of linear and circular interpolations is compared with its hardware counterpart and with other circular interpolation methods. The software interpolator and the feed-rate control are contained in the numerical control (NC) program of a computer numerical control (CNC) system and enable a contouring control of the machine tool in any required feed-rate.
Dark and bright photovoltaic spatial solitons

Dark (bright) planar spatial solitons are predicted for photovoltaic photorefractive materials when the diffraction of an optical beam is exactly compensated by nonlinear self-defocusing (focusing) due to the photovoltaic field and electro-optic effect. These solitons may have steady-state irradiances of microwatts to milliwatts per square centimeter and widths as small as 10 [mu]m in lithium niobate. Optical control is provided by incoherent illumination, and the nonlinear index of a dark soliton may be used to trap a bright soliton by rotating the plane of polarization of the soliton field.
Characteristic MRI findings in neonatal nonketotic hyperglycinemia due to sequence changes in GLDC gene encoding the enzyme glycine decarboxylase

Neonatal metabolic encephalopathy may be related to electrolyte imbalances, endocrine dysfunction, or inborn errors of metabolism. The metabolic encephalopathies are always a diagnostic challenge to the neonatologist and pediatricians. This is more so because the signs and symptoms of are nonspecific and are often similar to those with other neonatal emergencies. Clinical suspicion of neonatal encephalopathy should be considered in any infant exhibiting an abnormal level of consciousness, seizures, tone and reflex abnormalities, apnea, aspiration, and feeding difficulties. A definitive diagnosis is frequently not possible during the neonatal care unit or emergency department. But the proper initial management based on the probable diagnosis can be life-saving or reduce neurologic sequelae. In the case of inborn errors of metabolism, imaging may play a vital role either in limiting the differential diagnosis or yet times pointing towards the specific diagnosis or error of metabolism. We report DWI-ADC changes on MRI in the acute stages of neonatal nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) due to sequence changes in GLDC gene.
Two-Step Co-Sintering Method to Fabricate Anode-Supported Ba 3 Ca 1.18 Nb 1.82 O 9-δ Proton-Conducting Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract Anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) based on complex-perovskite structured Ba 3 Ca 1.18 Nb 1.82 O 9−δ (BCN18) proton-conducting electrolyte membranes have been successfully fabricated by a novel two-step co-sintering method. BCN18 has been reported to have excellent chemical stability against H 2 O and CO 2 , but is relatively difficult to densify. In this study, dense BCN18 electrolyte membranes with fine grain size have been obtained by a novel two-step co-sintering method at a relatively low sintering temperature of 1,300 °C, compared to the typical high sintering temperature of 1,550 °C. Furthermore, the Ni–BaZr 0.1 Ce 0.7 Y 0.1 Yb 0.1 O 3−δ anode obtained by the novel two-step co-sintering method was composed of small particles with high porosity which is advantageous for electrode performance. Single fuel cells using BCN18 as the electrolyte, Ni–BaZr 0.1 Ce 0.7 Y 0.1 Yb 0.1 O 3−δ as anode and Ba 0.9 Co 0.7 Fe 0.2 Nb 0.1 O 3−δ as cathode demonstrated a power density of 106 mW cm −2 at 750 °C, the best fuel cell performance ever reported for the BCN18 electrolyte. These results suggest that the two-step co-sintering method is a promising method to optimize the microstructure, and combined with proper electrodes, enhanced performance of anode-supported SOFCs using BCN18 proton-conducting electrolyte can be obtained.
Prescribing of analgesics in trauma patients.

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether initial orders of pain medications by physicians for trauma patients were in accordance with published guidelines.DesignConcurrent, nonrandomized investigation conducted over 4 months.Materials and MethodsAll adult trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit with
Quantitative Assessment of the Canine Pupillary Light Reflex

Purpose To develop instrumentation and methods for thorough quantitative assessment of the pupillary light reflex (PLR) in dogs under varying stimulus conditions. Methods The PLR was recorded in normal Dachshunds using a custom system allowing full user control over stimulus intensity, color, and duration. Chemical restraint protocols were compared to determine which protocol provided for optimal baseline stability of pupil size and appropriate eye positioning. A series of white light stimuli of increasing intensity was used to elicit pupil constriction. Pupil images were concurrently recorded using continuous infrared illumination and an infrared-sensitive camera. The PLR was also recorded in response to blue and red stimuli. Results With injectable chemical restraint alone, spontaneous fluctuations in pupil size occurred independent of light stimulation, and spontaneous eye movements made it difficult to fully visualize the pupil. Combined injectable chemical and inhalation restraint provided a steady baseline pupil size throughout PLR assessment and allowed for stable positioning of the eye using a conjunctival stay suture. Robust PLRs were elicited with all light colors. PLR constriction amplitude increased with increasing flash intensity and ranged from 5% to 70%. Conclusions A recording system and protocol have been developed to reliably quantify the canine PLR. The techniques and instrumentation will be useful for objective quantitative assessment of the PLR in dogs and other species in research applications and may be useful in clinical veterinary ophthalmology and neurology if PLR abnormalities detected with these procedures can be associated with specific diseases.
Lichen Biotic Inventory of Turnipseed Preserve, North Carolina, USA

Abstract. Turnipseed Preserve in eastern Wake County, North Carolina was surveyed of its lichen diversity in 2009–2011. Specimens were collected from a variety of forest and rock outcrop habitats in this Outer Piedmont / Fall Line transitional zone. From 477 collections, 165 determined species representing 77 genera of lichens, including one lichenicolous fungus and one allied fungus, are reported as a checklist. Thirteen new state records were found, including: 1) three recently-described species: Acarospora janae, Lecanora appalachensis and L. nothocaesiella, and 2) Lichenotheliaceae, a family newly reported for North Carolina represented by the lichenicolous fungus Lichenostigma cosmopolites and the “border-line lichen” Lichenothelia sp. Turnipseed's lichen biota was compared to those of other surveyed areas in North Carolina and South Carolina via Jaccard analysis, detecting a distance decay of similarity. Suggestions for further research are offered.
Prescription Drug Abuse among U.S. Adolescents: What Nurses Should Know

The nonmedical use of prescription medication (NUPM) by adolescents continues to increase in the United States (McCabe et al., 2007a; Johnston et al., 2006; Johnston et al., 2005; SAMSHA, 2007), an...
Role of Esophageal Stents in the Nutrition Support of Patients With Esophageal Malignancy

Endoluminal stents are commonly used for palliative treatment of dysphagia in patients with advanced esophageal malignancies. The most frequently used esophageal stents are self-expanding metal stents. Removable self-expanding plastic stents have recently been used in the management of esophageal cancer patients treated with curative intent. Esophageal stents effectively alleviate dysphagia in most patients, and stent placement is associated with a low rate of complications. This article reviews the use of self-expanding esophageal stents in patients with esophageal cancer. Nutrition considerations following stent placement are addressed.
On serializability of distributed nested transactions

A model of nested transactions in distributed database systems is presented. The modeling approach is based on conflict serializability extended to accommodate multilevel transactions. Based on these definitions, serialization graph testing for nested transactions is discussed. Three concurrency control algorithms and proofs of their correctness are presented. The algorithms are an adaptation of serialization graph testing, an adaptation of the timestamp ordering protocol, and a variation of an optimistic protocol presented by H.T. Kung and J.T. Robinson (1981). >
Model reference adaptive control of multivariable plants with unknown interactor matrix

A stable model reference adaptive control (MRAC) scheme is presented for multivariable plants with unknown interactor matrix. A new parametrization of the controller structure is developed by using the knowledge of only the upper bound on the maximum degree of the interactive matrix of the plant transfer matrix. A modified estimation error is introduced in the adaptive law for updating the controller parameters. By estimating a set of extra parameters and projecting some of the estimated parameters onto a certain region in the parameter space, the MRAC scheme guarantees that all signals in the adaptive system are uniformly bounded and the tracking error goes to zero asymptotically with time. A complete stability analysis is given based on a unified theoretical framework. >
Composition and Age Structure of a Degraded Tallgrass Oak Savanna in Central Iowa

Abstract Prior to European settlement, scattered, fire-tolerant trees, a dense herbaceous understory, and dynamic disturbance patterns, including fire and drought, characterized oak savannas. In the Midwest, only 0.02% remains, mostly as degraded, isolated fragments, and few studies have examined the post-settlement development of these oak savanna stands. In order to successfully restore and maintain oak savannas on today's landscape, we need to understand their functioning as controlled by biophysical conditions and disturbance patterns, which necessitates reliable identification of sites that previously supported savanna habitat. A common assumption is that the distribution of large open-grown trees reflects pre-European settlement structure; conversely, these trees may be the product of post-European settlement activities. We examined these alternatives by studying the composition and age structure of a remnant woodland site in central Iowa having structural characteristics indicative of past tallgras...
Serum Levels of the Interleukin-1 Receptor Family Member ST2 Predict Mortality and Clinical Outcome in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background— Mechanically overloaded cardiomyocytes secrete a soluble interleukin-1 receptor family member called ST2. Serum levels of ST2 are associated with prognosis in nonischemic heart failure, but the predictive value of ST2 in patients with acute myocardial infarction is unknown. Methods and Results— ST2 levels were measured in serum from 810 patients with acute myocardial infarction in the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 14 (362 patients) and Enoxaparin and TNK-tPA With or Without GPIIb/IIIa Inhibitor as Reperfusion Strategy in STEMI (ENTIRE)-TIMI 23 (448 patients) clinical trials. Baseline levels of ST2 were significantly higher in those patients who died (0.379 versus 0.233 ng/mL, P=0.0001) or developed new congestive heart failure (0.287 versus 0.233 ng/mL, P=0.009) by 30 days. In an analysis of outcomes at 30 days by ST2 quartiles, both death (P=0.001) and the combined death/heart failure end point (P=0.001) showed a significant graded association with levels of ST2; furthermore, i...
Changing Patterns of Family Farming and Pluriactivity

Rural pluriactivity has a long tradition in coastal and hilly areas of Norway. The last decade has shown a new increase in farm household pluriactivity as female spouses increase their off-farm employment. Family farming concepts or agricultural household definitions that emphasize income from agriculture exclude a growing proportion of the rural population. The paper shows that the farm is important for rural settlement of pluriactive families, and this fact is used to argue that family farming definitions relevant for rural policy should put less weight on major labour or income source and perhaps greater weight on the family transfer of farm holdings. Farming families are increasingly dual-income families, and male and female spouses may have different interests and priorities when it comes to family consumption and to investment in human capital versus farm development.
Ecología de Aedes aegypti y Aedes albopictus en América y transmisión enfermedades

The recent range expansion of the mosquito Aedes albopictus has been associated in some areas by declines in abundance or local elimination of Aedes aegypti , but the two species still coexist in large regions of the Americas. We offer a summary of the possible mechanisms responsible for the abundance and displacement pattern observed and of their significance in terms of disease transmission. Among these mechanisms we may mention the competition for limiting resources, the differences in the ability to withstand starvation, the apparent competition through differential effects of the parasite Ascogregarina taiwanensis, and the inhibition of Ae. aegypti egg development by Ae. albopictus larvae. Habitat segregation has been proposed as a mechanism promoting the coexistence of the two species through avoidance of direct competition. Aedes aegypti predominates in urban areas, Ae. albopictus in rural ones, and both species coexist in the suburbs. There is also evidence that in certain areas, habitat segregation in terms of distance from the coast can influence the distribution of both species. Another possible cause of the rapid disappearance of Ae. aegypti is reproductive interference between the species. According to this hypothesis, asymmetric effects of interspecific mating favor Ae. albopictus . This type of reproductive interference can result in the elimination of sympatric populations of the affected species and can be one of the major causes for the swiftness with which Ae. aegypti disappeared from some places in the Americas following invasions by Ae. albopictus .
Stepparents' and nonresidential parents' relational satisfaction as a function of coparental communication in stepfamilies

Using interdependence theory, this study tested a series of actor–partner interdependence models of coparental communication and relational satisfaction among stepparents and nonresidential parents in stepfamilies. Participants included 40 residential stepparent/nonresidential parent dyads (N = 80). Results revealed significant actor and partner effects for stepparents' and nonresidential parents' reports of supportive and antagonistic coparental communication and relational satisfaction. A second set of models examined stepparents' and nonresidential parents' coparental communication with the residential parent and revealed that nonresidential parents' supportive and antagonistic coparental communication predicted their own satisfaction with the stepparent, as well as the stepparent’s satisfaction with them (i.e., a partner effect). Importantly, the findings demonstrate the interdependence of coparenting relationships in stepfamilies, as nonresidential parents' coparental communication with their ex-spou...
Comparative Aspects of the Endotoxin‐ and Cytokine‐Induced Endocrine Cascade Influencing Neuroendocrine Control of Growth and Reproduction in Farm Animals

Disease in animals is a well-known inhibitor of growth and reproduction. Earlier studies were initiated to determine the effects of endotoxin on pituitary hormone secretion. These studies found that in sheep, growth hormone (GH) concentration was elevated, whereas insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was inhibited, as was luteinizing hormone (LH). Examination of the site of action of endotoxin in sheep determined that somatotropes expressed the endotoxin receptor (CD14) and that both endotoxin and interleukin-I beta activated GH secretion directly from the pituitary. In the face of elevated GH, there is a reduction of IGF-I in all species examined. As GH cannot activate IGF-I release during disease, there appears to be a downregulation of GH signalling at the liver, perhaps related to altered nitration of Janus kinase (JAK). In contrast to GH downregulation, LH release is inhibited at the level of the hypothalamus. New insights have been gained in determining the mechanisms by which disease perturbs growth and reproduction, particularly with regard to nitration of critical control pathways, with this perhaps serving as a novel mechanism central to lipopolysaccharide suppression of all signalling pathways. This pathway-based analysis is critical to the developing novel strategies to reverse the detrimental effect of disease on animal production.
Passive velocity field control (PVFC). Part I. Geometry and robustness

Passive velocity field control is a control methodology for fully actuated mechanical systems, in which the motion task is specified behaviorally in terms of a velocity field, and the closed-loop system is passive with respect to a supply rate given by the environment power input. The control law is derived geometrically and the geometric and robustness properties of the closed-loop system are analyzed. It is shown that the closed-loop unforced trajectories are geodesics of a closed-loop connection which is compatible with an inertia metric, and that the velocity of the system converges exponentially to a scaled multiple of the desired velocity field. The robustness property of the system exhibits some strong directional preference. In particular, disturbances that push in the direction of the desired momentum do not adversely affect the performance. Moreover, robustness property also improves with more energy in the system.
Multicarrier modulation for advanced messaging systems

This paper proposes the use of multicarrier modulation (MCM) based on IFFT/FFT (Fourier transform) transmitter and receiver pair as a method of implementation for advanced messaging systems. This includes one-way paging, and two-way messaging systems. The proposed MCM system provides immunity against multipath fading distortion. It also provides immunity against intersymbol interference (ISI) caused by long delays spreads that usually occur in simulcast systems. In addition, the MCM system achieves a high quality transmission with good spectral efficiency, better than current messaging systems.
When and How Goals Are Contagious in Social Interaction

Goal contagion occurs when a perceiver interacts with a partner whose behavior implies he/she is pursuing a particular goal and the perceiver accurately infers and subsequently pursues the partner's goal. Goal contagion was assessed in conversations between unacquainted individuals. In 2 experiments, the ways in which goal specificity, inference accuracy, and goal pursuit efficiency play a role in goal contagion were examined. In Experiment 1, goal contagion increased as perceivers accurately inferred a partner's goal, but only for an abstract information-seeking goal. In a moderated mediation analysis, Experiment 2 demonstrated that goal pursuit efficiency fostered inference accuracy, which in turn encouraged goal contagion; the magnitude of this indirect effect was strongest for an abstract information-seeking goal.
Time series model based region growing method for image segmentation in remote sensing images

Time series models have been very useful in describing the texture and contextual information of an image. In remote sensing image segmentation, different pattern classes (segments) may differ significantly in texture and thus time series models can be useful for image segmentation of remote sensing images. In this paper, our earlier work of using ARMA model based region growing method for extracting lake region in a remote sensing image (Chen and Ho, 2003) is extended to a general image segmentation procedure using time series based region growing for remote sensing images with some algorithm changes in improving the texture classification results as well as computer calculation efficiency. A first-order autoregressive image model and a second-order autoregressive moving-average image model are implemented for comparison. One advantage of region growing is that only a small number of seed pixels, based perhaps on reliable ground truth, are needed to represent each pattern class. This is different from typical supervised classification which requires a large number of training samples. As the regions grow some pixels near the border of two adjacent segments may be assigned to two (or more) different segments. A statistical hypothesis testing is performed on such pixels so that each pixel will be given a unique assignment. The procedure is applied to the LANDSAT 5 data base in the area of Italy's MULARGIAS lake region with encouraging preliminary results in segmenting bodies of water and vegetation. In addition, we have tested with good results on USC natural scene data, such as grass, brick, brickwall, plasticbubble, sand... etc
Periodic Jitter Amplitude Calibration with Walking Strobe

Jitter insertion is a feature an automatic test equipment (ATE) provides for high speed SerDes device jitter tolerance testing. The amplitude of inserted periodic jitter (PJ) and its frequency are programmable. This article focuses on a technique developed to measure and calibrate the PJ amplitude of the ATE jitter insertion circuit. It uses a measurement tool called the walking strobe to systematically capture the jittered waveform and reconstruct it such that the jitter amplitude measurement consists of a series of edge time measurements. The method is accurate, fast, and low cost. This paper will also present experimental results.
MRI diagnosis of suspected atlanto-occipital dissociation in childhood.

Objective. To demonstrate the utility of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of complete and partial ligamentous injuries in patients with suspected atlanto-occipital dissociation (AOD). Materials and methods. Five patients with suspected AOD had MR imaging performed within an average of 4 days after injury. MR scans were reviewed with specific analysis of craniocervical ligamentous structures. Charts were reviewed to obtain clinical information regarding presentation, treatment, hospital course, and outcome. Results. Two patients demonstrated MR evidence of complete AOD. One had disruption of all visualized major ligamentous structures at the craniocervical junction with anterolisthesis and evidence of cord damage. The second had injuries to the tectorial membrane, superior band of the cruciform ligament, apical ligament, and interspinous ligament at C 1–2. The remaining three patients sustained incomplete severance of the ligamentous structures at the craniocervical junction. All patients demonstrated subtle radiographic findings suggestive of AOD, including soft tissue swelling at the craniocervical junction without fracture. The two patients with complete AOD died. The three patients with partial AOD were treated with stabilization. On follow-up, these three children were asymptomatic following their craniocervical injury. Conclusion. MR imaging of acute AOD provides accurate identification of the craniocervical ligaments injured, classification of full versus partial ligamentous disruption, and analysis of accompanying spinal cord injury. This information is important for early appropriate neurosurgical management and preservation of neurologic function in survivors.
Pediatric Renal Tumors: Practical Updates for the Pathologist

Pediatric renal tumors were targeted by the National Wilms Tumor Study Group for 4 decades with extraordinary success. Within this historic context, this review provides a summary of the new Children's Oncology Group renal tumor protocols that will be opening in the very near future, focusing on their pathologic requirements. All renal tumors must first be registered on the Renal Tumor Classification and Banking Protocol, followed by registration on 1 of 4 primary therapeutic protocols based on histology, stage, and molecular analysis. This requires prompt submission of samples for molecular analysis and central pathologic review. Changes in staging criteria include classification of all tumor spillage as stage III, and requirement of regional lymph node evaluation for eligibility for stage I Wilms tumors (WTs) weighing less than 550 g in infants younger than 24 months and for stage I clear cell sarcoma. Patients with unilateral favorable histology WT with loss of heterozygosity for chromosomes 1p and 16q will receive more aggressive chemotherapy at each stage. Patients with bilateral WT and patients with diffuse hyperplastic perilobar nephroblastomatosis will be eligible for a novel therapeutic protocol requiring pathologic classification based on response of tumor to previous therapy. Stage I anaplastic WT will be targeted with more aggressive chemotherapy than in the past. For the first time, pediatric renal cell carcinoma will be eligible for a cooperative group protocol. All rhabdoid tumors outside the central nervous system will be eligible for a single protocol. In conclusion, these new protocols bring considerable change in their overall organization, in eligibility, and in therapy.
Interference of Pheidole megacephala (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with biological control of Coccus viridis (Homoptera: Coccidae) in coffee.

Benefits of trophobiosis between Pheidole megacephala (F.) and Coccus viridis (Green) were studied in exclusion experiments in coffee. Treatments consisted of trees with ants and no scale natural enemies, no ants and no natural enemies, natural enemies and no ants, and ants and natural enemies. Ant foraging activity and scale populations were monitored weekly. There were no significant differences in green scale populations between ant-infested and ant-free trees when natural enemies were excluded. This demonstrated that scale survival was not due to sanitational benefits from the removal of honeydew by ants. Scale populations on ant-free trees with natural enemies were significantly different from those on ant-infested trees with natural enemies after 119 d. Ants had a positive influence on green scale survival by interfering with or preying on natural enemies. Ant foraging activity, and scale, coccinellid, and parasitoid densities were monitored on ant-infested and ant-free trees in a second experiment using different ant exclusion techniques. The results were a significant positive interaction between ants and scales and a significant negative interaction between ants and coccinellid larvae. There were no significant interactions between ants and adult coccinellids or parasitoids. Green scales declined after 50 d and were not present after 70 d on trees from which ants were excluded, but scales remained on ant-infested trees. This decline followed increases in four species of larval coccinellids. It was concluded that ants were necessary for the survival of C. viridis in coffee. In the absence of ants, natural enemies, primarily larval coccinellids, eliminated C. viridis from trees.
Holographic fabrication of 3D photonic crystal templates with 4, 5, and 6-fold rotational symmetry using a single beam and single exposure

A method of fabricating large-volume three-dimensional (3D) photonic crystal and quasicrystal templates using holographic lithography is presented. Fabrication is accomplished using a single-beam and single exposure by a reflective optical element (ROE). The ROE is 3D printed support structure which holds reflecting surfaces composed of silicon or gallium arsenide. Large-volume 3D photonic crystal and quasicrystal templates with 4-fold, 5-fold, and 6-fold symmetry were fabricated and found to be in good agreement with simulation. Although the reflective surfaces were setup away from the Brewster's angle, the interference among the reflected s and p-polarizations still generated bicontinuous structures, demonstrating the flexibility of the ROE. The ROE, being a compact and inexpensive alternative to diffractive optical elements and top-cut prisms, facilitates the large-scale integration of holographically fabricated photonic structures into on-chip applications.
Four newly recorded species of Orchidaceae from Hunan: Research on investigation and protection of orchidaceae in Hunan

Four new records of Orchidaceae from Hunan are reported,Apostasia ramifera S. C. Chen et K. Y. Lang、Eria sinica(Lindl.) Lindl.、Gastrodia albidoides Y. H. Tan T. C. Hsu were collected from The Jiulongjiang National Forest Park in Rucheng County and Galeola faberi Roife was collected from Daweishan National Forest Park in Liuyang County. Apostasia is a new genus in Hunan province. The voucher specimens are preserved in CSFI. The distribution area of the four species of Orchidaceae newly discovered in Hunan are all have a larger span,it has a important value on the fl oristic studies of Orchidaceae. Orchidaceae is the essence of the forest,with a rich species diversity. But many species only have a tiny population,needing high requirementsin on the ecological environment. The Orchidaceae basically were raised in a primeval forest or on the rock suiface which were undisturbed. It is particularly important to protect the habitat of Orchidaceae. In this paper,we discussed the investigation and protection of orchidaceae in Hunan.
Defining the Obvious: Maybe It Is Not So Easy.

The clinical course of patients with chronic heart failure (HF) is usually stable…until it is not. This, of course, is a fanciful way of saying that the natural history of chronic HF varies considerably among patients and that it often changes abruptly over time. There has been increasing interest