cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Measurement Strategies with Intra-Arterial Measurement.

Introduction: It is difficult to obtain an accurate blood pressure (BP) measurement, especially in the prehospital environment. It is not known fully how various BP measurement techniques differ from one another. Study Objective: The study hypothesized that there are differences in the accuracy of various non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurement strategies as compared to the gold standard of intra-arterial (IA) measurement. Methods: The study enrolled adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients with radial IA catheters placed to measure radial intra-arterial blood pressure (RIBP) as a part of their standard care at a large, urban, tertiary-care Level I trauma center. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was taken by three different NIBP techniques (oscillometric, auscultated, and palpated) and compared to RIBP measurements. Data were analyzed using the paired t-test with dependent samples to detect differences between RIBP measurements and each NIBP method. The primary outcome was the difference in RIBP and NIBP measurement. There was also a predetermined subgroup analysis based on gender, body mass index (BMI), primary diagnosis requiring IA line placement, and current vasoactive medication use. Results: Forty-four patients were enrolled to detect a predetermined clinically significant difference of 5mmHg in SBP. The patient population was 63.6% male and 36.4% female with an average age of 58.4 years old. The most common primary diagnoses were septic shock (47.7%), stroke (13.6%), and increased intracranial pressure (ICP; 13.6%). Most patients were receiving some form of sedation (63.4%), while 50.0% were receiving vasopressor medication and 31.8% were receiving anti-hypertensive medication. When compared to RIBP values, only the palpated SBP values had a clinically significant difference (9.88mmHg less than RIBP; P < .001). When compared to RIBP, the oscillometric and auscultated SBP readings showed statistically but not clinically significant lower values. The palpated method also showed a clinically significant lower SBP reading than the oscillometric method (5.48mmHg; P < .001) and the auscultated method (5.06mmHg; P < .001). There was no significant difference between the oscillometric and auscultated methods (0.42mmHg; P = .73). Conclusion: Overall, NIBPs significantly under-estimated RIBP measurements. Palpated BP measurements were consistently lower than RIBP, which was statistically and clinically significant. These results raise concern about the accuracy of palpated BP and its pervasive use in prehospital care. The data also suggested that auscultated and oscillometric BP may provide similar measurements.
The Corset in Our Collective Consciousness: Exotic, Erotic, or Other?

This chapter looks at clothing as a multiple signifier, with a garment never simply representing itself but also representing the culture within which it exists and the intentions of the woman wearing it. This multiple signification is determined by an interplay between what is shown, what is meant, and what is perceived—so the form of the garment interacts with the wearer and the viewer to create sociocultural meanings, and these meanings are often both intentional and incidental. Gibson begins with a look at what fashion historians say about uses of the corset. The current conversation highlights a certain subset of letters to magazines or journals, which are a combination of reader-titillation and writer-exhibitionism, but also can be read as the way in which women, who were supposed to be nonpublic, participated in the public sphere. The intended readership was male, though both men and women would have read the letters. Additionally, women felt compelled to respond to societal outcry against the corset, detailing a thoroughly unerotic use of the corset. In this subgenre of the letters, the women wrote about everyday wear, and about the support and comfort of a well-fitted corset. They were intent on setting the record straight, and a few of the letters were so detailed as to be downright boring. The intended audience was, again, male—in this case, in order to counteract the imprecations of “bad” corset use, to remove the focus from sexuality and refocus the attention on how normal corseting actually was.
Seizures and memory impairment induced by patient-derived anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibodies in mice are attenuated by anakinra, an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist

Objective Neuroinflammation associated with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis may facilitate seizures. We previously showed that intraventricular administration of cerebrospinal fluid from patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis to mice precipitates seizures, thereby confirming that antibodies are directly pathogenic. To determine whether interleukin (IL)-1-mediated inflammation exacerbates autoimmune seizures, we asked whether blocking the effects of IL-1 by anakinra, a selective IL-1 receptor antagonist, blunts antibody-induced seizures. Methods We infused C57BL/6 mice intraventricularly with purified serum IgG from patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis or monoclonal anti-NMDAR IgG; subdural electroencephalogram was continuously recorded. After a 6-day interval, mice received anakinra (25 mg/kg sc, twice daily) or vehicle for 5 days. Following a 4-day washout period, we performed behavioral tests to assess motor function, anxiety, and memory, followed by hippocampus tissue analysis to assess astrocytic (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]) and microglial (ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule [Iba]-1) activation. Results Of 31 mice infused with purified patient NMDAR-IgG (n = 17) or monoclonal NMDAR-IgG (n = 14), 81% developed seizures. Median baseline daily seizure count during exposure to antibodies was 3.9; most seizures were electrographic. Median duration of seizures during the baseline was 82.5 s. Anakinra administration attenuated daily seizure frequency by 60% (p = .02). Anakinra reduced seizure duration; however, the effect was delayed and became apparent only after the cessation of treatment (p = .04). Anakinra improved novel object recognition in mice with antibody-induced seizures (p = .03) but did not alter other behaviors. Anakinra reduced the expression of GFAP and Iba-1 in the hippocampus of mice with seizures, indicating decreased astrocytic and microglial activation. Significance Our evidence supports a role for IL-1 in the pathogenesis of seizures in anti-NMDAR encephalitis. These data are consistent with therapeutic effects of anakinra in other severe autoimmune and inflammatory seizure syndromes. Targeting inflammation via blocking IL-1 receptor-mediated signaling may be promising for developing novel treatments for refractory autoimmune seizures.
Moral rights and the meaning of torture: a response to Nigel Biggar

This article challenges Nigel Biggar’s claim that there are no natural moral rights. Focusing on Biggar’s analysis of torture, I argue that he does not give adequate consideration to the possibilit...
Design of a digitally switchable multifocal microlens array for integral imaging systems

This paper presents the optical design of a digitally switchable multi-focal microlens array which can be used to extend the depth of field in integral imaging systems. The proposed switchable multi-focal microlens array consists of a customized freeform multi-focal microlens array (MLA) and a programmable spatial light modulator. By switching among the different optical powers of the switchable multi-focal MLA, an integral imaging system can render or capture a 3D scene at a large depth range around several central depth planes. We demonstrate the design considerations for a dual-focal microlens array with a primary and secondary focal lengths of 4mm and 4.06mm, respectively. We further validated the design by providing both interferometric measurements of the surface profiles and image contrast and resolution tests of a manufactured MLA prototype.
Evaluating Serverless Architecture for Big Data Enterprise Applications

In this paper, we investigate serverless computing for performing large scale data processing with cloudnative primitives.
First-Order Analytic Tableaux

We use “α”, “β” exactly as we did for propositional logic (only now construing “formula” to mean “closed formula of quantification theory”). We now add two more categories γ and δ as follows.
Small Angle X-ray Diffraction from Crystalline Polymers

An investigation of the small angle diffraction (SAXD) patterns of various polyethylene (PE) and polyoxymethylene (PON) specimens suggests that the two discrete peaks generally produced by as-crystallized material are due to the presence of two separate diffracting structures. Electron microscopy (EM) observations of a POM fracture surface also revealed two distinct physical structures which corresponded to the two SAXD peaks obtained from that specimen. The lamellae appearing on the free surfaces of unoriented melt crystallized POM and PE correspond to the second or smaller SAXD long period (l2). During annealing of POM near the melting temperature the structure corresponding to the l1 SAXD peak increased its repeat distance through a “premelting” of the lamellar surfaces. Upon cooling the “premelted” material reorganized on the lamellar surfaces in a way that frequently increases the order of the repeating structure so that a second order Bragg diffraction was observed. When this occurred, the original l2 became obscured. In some materials (nylon-11) the changes in long period may have occurred by a different mechanism. The observance of abrupt changes in the long period by an amount corresponding to the crystalline c axis repeat distance suggests that the change in long period is directly due to changes in the thickness of the crystalline portion of the lamellae.
Choosing the best operation for chronic subdural hematoma: a decision analysis.

Object Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH), a condition much more common in the elderly, presents an increasing challenge as the population ages. Treatment strategies for CSDH include bur-hole craniostomy (BHC), twist-drill craniostomy (TDC), and craniotomy. Decision analysis was used to organize existing data and develop recommendations for effective treatment. Methods A Medline search was used to identify articles about treatment of CSDH. Direct assessment by health care professionals of the relative health impact of common complications and recurrences was used to generate utility values for treatment outcomes. Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity analyses allowed comparisons across treatment strategies. A second simulation examined whether intraoperative irrigation or postoperative drainage affect the outcomes following BHC. Results On a scale from 0 to 1, the utility of BHC was found to be 0.9608, compared with 0.9202 for TDC (p = 0.001) and 0.9169 for craniotomy (p = 0.006). Sensitivity analysis conf...
Anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and hyperfine structure and Zeeman effect in ground state muonium

The aim of the ongoing muon g-2 experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) to measure a/sub /spl mu// to 0.35 ppm represents a factor of 20 improvement over the current value obtained from the latest CERN experiment. This projected precision would allow us to determine the electroweak contribution, involving single loop Feynman diagrams of W, Z and Higgs scalar particle, to a/sub /spl mu// with an accuracy of about 20%. Coupled with improvements in the QED theoretical calculation for a/sub /spl mu// and the completion of associated experiments needed to improve the calculation of the hadronic contribution to a/sub /spl mu//, a comparison of a/sub /spl mu//(expt) and a/sub /spl mu//(theor) will provide a sensitive test of the standard model concerning renormalizability of the electroweak theory, and to search for physics beyond the standard model with high sensitivity especially for investigating lepton substructures, which would be complementary to the current and future high energy collider experiments including LHC and LEP II. A new high precision measurement of the muonium (/spl mu//sup +/e/sup -/) hyperfine structure interval /spl Delta//spl nu/ and its Zeeman effect in the ground state which gives the muon magnetic moment is being undertaken at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF). The goal of the experiment is to measure the ratio of the magnetic moments of muon and proton to a fractional accuracy of 60 parts per billion (ppb), and the muonium hyperfine structure interval in the ground state, /spl Delta//spl nu/, to 10 ppb. These measurements will improve our knowledge of /spl mu//sub /spl mu////spl mu//sub p/ and /spl Delta//spl nu/ by a factor of about 5. With the improved accuracy in /spl mu//sub /spl mu////spl mu//sub p/ to 60 ppb from LAMPF, /spl Delta//spl nu//sub expt/ and /spl Delta//spl nu//sub theor/ could be compared at about the 65 ppb level. This would be the most precise test of a two-lepton bound state system and of bound state QED in general. Alternatively, the fine structure constant a could be determined at the 30 ppb level. A precise value for /spl mu//sub /spl mu////spl mu//sub p/ is needed for the determination of the anomalous g-factor from the new Brookhaven muon g-2 experiment. New values for electric charges of positive and negative muons and the magnetic moment of the negative muon will be presented. The experiment to determine the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon is being prepared by the Muon (g-2) Collaboration. The muonium experiment is being carried out by collaborators from the Experiment 1054 at LAMPF. The status of the two experiments will be described. >
The centrifuge facility: a life sciences research laboratory for Space Station Freedom.

The paper describes the centrifugal facility that is presently being developed by NASA for studies aboard the Space Station Freedom on the role of gravity, or its absence, at varying intensities for varying periods of time and with multiple model systems. Special attention is given to the design of the centrifuge system, the habitats designed to hold plants and animals, the glovebox system designed for experimental manipulations of the specimens, and the service unit. Studies planned for the facility will include experiments in the following disciplines: cell and developmental biology, plant biology, regulatory physiology, musculoskeletal physiology, behavior and performance, neurosciences, cardiopulmonary physiology, and environmental health and radiation.
Web site engineering best practice standards (IEEE 2001)

IEEE Std. 2001-2002 Recommended Practice for the Internet - Web site engineering, Web site management, and Web site life cycle is now approved. This revision of the 1999 version incorporates recommendations on accessibility for persons with disabilities, internationalization and the concept of a site center. All of these will contribute to increased user satisfaction, and decreased site maintenance costs and liability.
Regulation of Protein Synthesis in Chick Oviduct II. MODULATION OF POLYPEPTIDE ELONGATION AND INITIATION RATES BY ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE

Abstract Administration of estradiol to immature chicks triggers the cytodifferentiation of tubular gland cells which synthesize the major egg white proteins, ovalbumin, conalbumin, ovomucoid, and lysozyme, and modulates the rate at which oviduct proteins are synthesized. Estradiol has three modulatory effects. (a) It produces a 2- to 3-fold increase in the extent of polypeptide initiation, as evidenced by the increase in polysome sizes in the absence of a significant change in the average molecular weight of the proteins being synthesized. Furthermore, the size of ovalbumin-synthesizing polysomes changes significantly after cessation of hormonal treatment. (b) There is about a 40% increase in the rate of polypeptide elongation. The rate of elongation changes more slowly than initiation and is probably rate-limiting for protein synthesis in the estrogen-stimulated chick, whereas initiation is limiting in chicks withdrawn from estrogen treatment. (c) Previous data on polysome accumulation can now be interpreted to indicate that there is a 2- to 3-fold increase in translatable mRNA concentration during hormonal treatment. The product of these three modulatory effects account for the 7-fold increase in the rate of protein synthesis previously reported. The rates of initiation and elongation of ovalbumin and conalbumin were compared after several hormonal treatments known to change their relative rates of synthesis. No differential translational effects were noted indicating that the differences in synthesis of these proteins most likely reflect differences in mRNA concentration. The measured mRNA transit times for egg white proteins at 35° are approximately: 2 min, ovalbumin; 3.6 min, ovomucoid; and 5 min, conalbumin. The ovomucoid transit time is longer than expected considering the size of this polypeptide; however it includes both the time for polypeptide synthesis and assembly of about 25 carbohydrate moieties. Estimates of the number of ovalbumin-synthesizing polysomes and rate of ovalbumin elongation allow a calculation of the amount of ovalbumin synthesized per day. The values obtained are in close agreement with the amount known to be secreted in eggs.
Clonally Diverse CTL Response to a Dominant Viral Epitope Recognizes Potential Epitope Variants

RNA viruses undergo rapid sequence variation as the result of error-prone RNA replication mechanisms. When viable mutations arise in RNA regions encoding B or T cell epitopes, mutant viruses that can evade immune detection may be selected. In the carefully studied CTL response to the Gag p11C(C-M) epitope in SIVmac-infected Mamu-A*01+ rhesus monkeys, it has been shown that CTL recognition of that epitope can occur even in the face of accruing mutations. To explore the underlying mechanism for this breadth of recognition, we have constructed Mamu-A*01 tetramers which discriminate T cells specific for epitope variants. Using these reagents we have defined discrete subsets of p11C(C-M)-specific T cells that cross-react with cells presenting variant peptides. We have found that individual Mamu-A*01+ monkeys differ functionally in their ability to recognize epitope variants despite consistently strong recognition of the p11C(C-M) epitope. This functional difference is accounted for by the relative number of variant-specific T cells and by differences in the functionally relevant TCR repertoire of the infected monkeys. We have also found that monkeys immunized with DNA vaccine constructs encoding only the wild-type epitope sequence develop p11C(C-M)-specific CTL cross-reactive with variant peptides. Thus, cross-reactive CTL do not merely arise secondary to the emergence and immune presentation of viral CTL escape mutants but rather arise de novo following priming with a dominant epitope peptide sequence. Taken together, our results support the concept that the CTL response to a dominant viral epitope, although highly focused, can be clonally diverse and recognize potential epitope variants.
The Macroeconomic Framework

This chapter focuses on the macroeconomic framework, which guides the analyses of the book. We shall begin with an overview that describes how the major components of the framework relate to one another. The constraints (or “conservation laws”) that are imposed by the pool of fluid capital will then be discussed, followed by discussions of the determination of asset values and aggregate demand and aggregate supply. The chapter concludes with a description of the conditions, which define macroeconomic equilibrium.
The dermatology hospitalist: creating value by rapid clinical pathologic correlation in a patient-centered care model

Background The active and continuous presence of dermatologists in hospitals has undergone continued involution over the past two decades. Our patient-centered, value-based dermatology hospitalist model describes an efficient system for the integration of the dermatologist in the hospital treatment team. Methods We describe five difficult inpatient cases to illustrate the value of dermatology intervention and clinical pathologic correlation in facilitating timely diagnosis and treatment. Results Prompt specialty evaluation and clinicopathologic correlation by hospital dermatologists led to decreased morbidity and the avoidance of delay in initiating definitive treatment. Conclusions Efficient evaluation and clinicopathologic correlation by dermatology hospitalists are essential to hospitals that provide comprehensive care. This value-based model has the potential to produce better patient outcomes and greater satisfaction in both patients and other health care providers.
MHC Drives TCR Repertoire Shaping, but not Maturation, in Recent Thymic Emigrants

After developing in the thymus, recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) enter the lymphoid periphery and undergo a maturation process as they transition into the mature naive (MN) T cell compartment. This maturation presumably shapes RTEs into a pool of T cells best fit to function robustly in the periphery without causing autoimmunity; however, the mechanism and consequences of this maturation process remain unknown. Using a transgenic mouse system that specifically labels RTEs, we tested the influence of MHC molecules, key drivers of intrathymic T cell selection and naive peripheral T cell homeostasis, in shaping the RTE pool in the lymphoid periphery. We found that the TCRs expressed by RTEs are skewed to longer CDR3 regions compared with those of MN T cells, suggesting that MHC does streamline the TCR repertoire of T cells as they transition from the RTE to the MN T cell stage. This conclusion is borne out in studies in which the representation of individual TCRs was followed as a function of time since thymic egress. Surprisingly, we found that MHC is dispensable for the phenotypic and functional maturation of RTEs.
Exact solution of a lattice band problem related to an exactly soluble many-body problem: The missing-states problem.

We introduce and solve a lattice version of an easily soluble one-dimensional continuum quantum system with a periodic potential. The relationship of the one problem to the other is identical to the relationship of the one-dimensional quantum many-body lattice gas recently introduced by Shastry (Phys. Rev. Lett. 60, 639 (1988)) and by Haldane (Phys. Rev. Lett. 60, 635 (1988)) to the one-dimensional quantum many-body continuum gas earlier solved by Sutherland. Thus it is hoped that by understanding the ''missing'' states in this simple case, we might better understand the missing states in the more complicated many-body case, which in many instances comprise all the states. The results are not encouraging.
EFFECTS OF BENZOTHIADIAZINE DRUGS ON CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM.

Abstract The administration of chlorothiazide both to man and to rats results in hyperglycemia following a glucose load. Its administration to rats causes a decreased rate of glucose utilization by their adipose tissue in vitro. Chlorothiazide added directly to the incubating medium also decreases the rate of glucose utilization of rat adipose tissue. These effects of chlorothiazide are most likely due to both a direct action of the drug on tissue glucose metabolism and an indirect effect which is the result of chlorothiazide causing a decrease in the level of serum insulin-like activity which in turn diminishes the activity of insulin-dependent enzymes involved in glucose metabolism.
A High Resolution Three-Axis Fiber Magnetometer

A vector magnetometer is typically configured as a three-axis device to measure the field along three orthogonal directions. Magnetostrictive fiber optic magnetometers [1] operate as a vector device, sensing the component of magnetic field along a particular direction. Previously we demonstrated a low resolution (10-2 Gauss/√Hz) three-axis magnetometer for heading sensor applications [2]. In this work, we designed and tested a three- axis fiber-optic magnetic sensor with a resolution of 10-5 GaussWHz below 1 Hz. An important application of this device is the remote sensing of ambient low-frequency magnetic noise. We present the low-frequency resolution and demonstrate the low crosstalk and high directionality of such a device, as well as its temperature stability between 0° and 55° C.
Effect of mild hypothermia on the thrombolytic efficacy of 120 kHz ultrasound enhanced thrombolysis in an in-vitro human clot model.

Abstract Introduction Ischemic stroke causes substantial death and disability. Currently, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is the only FDA approved therapy. However, there are dangerous side effects and therapy must start within 3 h of onset. Therefore, there is interest in adjunctive therapies such as ultrasound enhanced thrombolysis (UET) and hypothermia. Recently, transcranial ultrasound during rt-PA therapy was shown to improve vessel recanalization. Also hypothermia (32–34 °C) was shown to be safe and possibly improve outcome. This suggests combining UET and hypothermia to treat ischemic stroke. Little is known about the effects of hypothermia on UET, and in-vitro rt-PA efficacy is reduced for T Materials and methods Whole blood was drawn from volunteers. Clots were made, incubated at 37 °C and aged for 2 days for maximal lytic resistance. Clots were exposed to human fresh-frozen plasma (control), hFFP and rt-PA ([rt-PA] = 3.2 μg/ml), hFFP and 120 kHz ultrasound (US), and hFFP, rt-PA and ultrasound (UET) at 33 °C and 37 °C. Clot percent mass loss (Δ m ) was measured to determine thrombolytic efficacy. Data were analyzed using mixed-model analysis of variance. Results and conclusions US and rt-PA independently increased Δm (3.5 ± 1.0% and 5.1 ± 0.9% respectively; p p = 0.026) The effect of temperature on Δ m (− 1.6 ± 0.7%) was not significant ( p = 0.09). Hypothermia did not reduce UET efficacy in this in-vitro model.
Feature processing in the perception and production of speech

IT has long been argued that the perception and production of human speech are mediated by a common mechanism1–3; nonetheless, convincing evidence has not yet been obtained in favour of this view4. We discuss here, however, a series of experiments in perceptuo-motor adaptation that provide fairly direct evidence favouring the existence of such a mechanism. Our findings indicate that this mechanism processes information about individual phonetic features of consonants5–7, rather than processing these consonants as integral units.
Use of Rib-Based Distraction in the Treatment of Early-Onset Scoliosis Associated With Neurofibromatosis Type 1 in the Young Child

Abstract Study Design This study was an institutional review board–approved retrospective review of a prospectively collected multicenter database for rib-based distraction systems used in the treatment of young children with early-onset scoliosis associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of rib-based distraction and associated complications in managing scoliosis in the growing child with NF-1. Summary of Background Data Patients with NF-1 commonly have scoliosis with curves that can be dysplastic and progressive and respond poorly to bracing. Rib-based distraction systems have recently been described in the management of these complex patients. The efficacy and complication rate using these systems have not previously been reported. Methods Twelve children with NF-1 and scoliosis who were treated with rib-based distraction systems were identified from a prospectively collected multicenter registry. Preoperative and postoperative Cobb angle and T1–S1 spine height were measured from posteroanterior radiographs. The number of lengthenings, age at implantation, years of follow-up, and complications were also acquired from the registry or patient charts. Results Mean age at implantation of the Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib device was 6.34 years. Mean preoperative Cobb angle was 66.3°. Average follow-up was 5.2 years. Mean postoperative Cobb angle was 60.8° after an average of 7.75 lengthening procedures (range, 2–16 procedures). T1–S1 height increased in all patients. There were 17 complications in 8 patients (device migration in 6, wound dehiscence in 3, rod breakage in 2, medical issues in 5, and 1 revision for progression of curve). Of the 17 complications, 10 were grade I, 1 was grade II, and 6 were grade IIA; there were no grade III complications. Conclusions The use of rib-based distraction is an effective and relatively safe method of stabilizing curve progression through growth in severe dysplastic scoliosis associated with NF-1.
Activated Metals IV. The Preparation of Highly Reactive Aluminum Metal and the Direct Synthesis of Phenyl-aluminum Halides

Abstract Highly activated aluminum powder has been prepared. Phenylaluminum halides were synthesized directly from aryl halides (X [dbnd] Cl, Br, I) and the activated aluminum metal in high yields in organic solvents at moderate temperatures.
HDTV compression with vector quantization of transform coefficients

ABSTRACTWe present a video coding scheme that uses vector quantization (VQ) in conjunction with the discretecosine transform (DCI') for compression of high definition television (HDTV) signals. Motion compensatedfield prediction is applied with a group-of-fields structure where the first field in a group is compressed byinirafield coding and consecutive fields in the group are coded with motion compensation. Instead of using achannel buffer to regulate the transmission rate of the bit stream, we set a target bit rate for each field and dynamically allocate bits in the field to code it efficiently. The motion compensated field difference (MCFD) is coded by an algorithm similar to that used in intrafield coding. An MCFD field (or original video signal in theintrafield mode) is first partitioned into non-overlapping 8x8 image blocks. Each block is transformed into a block of DCT coefficients, which are then partitioned into a set of low dimensional vectors. Vector quantization is used to code the vectors of DCT coefficients. Furthermore, in the intrafield mode, a second stage of vectorquantization in the spatial domain can be used to code the error image that results from the DCT coding in thefirst stage. Under the fixed bit rate constraint for a field, a greedy algorithm with a perceptual distortion cii-tenon is applied to select the DCT vectors and residual vectors to be coded. Simulation results demonstrated
Vulnerability in old age: The issue of dependency in American society

Abstract The American focus on the importance of self-sufficiency and independence stands in contrast to the economic trends of recent decades that have led to an increased number of adults standing outside the productive core of economic activity. This “burden of dependency” has been manufactured by public policies designed to reconstitute the labor force and redistribute the burden of unemployment largely through the growth in retirement. Recently the success of income maintenance programs developed to improve the financial accessibility of retirement for older workers has begun to undercut the legitimacy of their status as dependents. This article examines that role of dependency, and argues that the social processes that produce dependency among our elders are not substantively different from the processes that affect younger age groups. Consequently the questions of distributive justice that are involved in the dependency of the elderly are questions that relate to members of all age groups who occupy positions of disadvantage in the economic structure.
Assessing conservation trade-offs: identifying the effects of flooding rice fields for waterbirds on non-target bird species

Abstract I examined how winter flooding of post-harvest rice fields—a management practice used to benefit waterbirds—affects field use by other birds. In addition to waterbirds previously studied, I recorded 56 bird species in rice fields. Of these, five were more abundant in flooded fields, ten were more abundant in unflooded fields, no difference was detected for 19, and the remainder were too rare to draw any conclusions. Species that were more common in unflooded fields were all carnivorous or granivorous in winter, whereas species that were more common in flooded fields were mostly insectivores commonly associated with aquatic habitats. The net effects of the responses by individual species were fewer raptor species in flooded fields, but no difference in the species richness of other landbirds. Winter flooding potentially has negative effects for some birds, but has no discernible effects on most species studied and may benefit some passerines.
Pulsed eldor measurement of nitrogen T1 in spin labels

Abstract A 180° pulse is delivered to one hyperfine line of a nitroxide spin label, and the arrival and disappearance of saturation at another hyperfine line is monitored with a second microwave field. Electron and nitrogen nuclear relaxation times are found to be in poor agreement ,vith the electron-nuclear dipolar (END) mechanism.
Comments on: Iwasaki et al. Fragment c gamma receptor gene polymorphisms and breast cancer risk in case–control studies in Japanese, Japanese Brazilians, and non-Japanese Brazilians

I read with interest the recent article ‘‘Fragment c gamma receptor gene polymorphisms and breast cancer risk in case–control studies in Japanese, Japanese Brazilians, and non-Japanese Brazilians’’ by Motoki Iwasaki et al. published online in your Journal [1]. In a large study, these authors found no significant association between breast cancer and the functional single nucleotide polymorphisms in FccRIIa and FccRIIIa loci and, therefore, concluded ‘‘ADCC (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity) might not play a major role in the etiology of breast cancer.’’ I would like to suggest that this conclusion is premature. IgG antibody-mediated ADCC is triggered upon ligation of FccR to the Fc of IgG molecules. It follows that genetic variation in FccR and Fc could contribute to the interindividual differences in the magnitude of ADCC, resulting in differential effect of this major host immunosurveillance mechanism on the breast cancer risk. The Fc region of immunoglobulin c chains is encoded by highly polymorphic genes, called GM allotypes [2, 3]. It is likely that particular FccR alleles do contribute to ADCC—and are risk factors for breast cancer—but only in the presence of certain Fc (GM) alleles. There is growing body of evidence that such epistatic interactions—modification of the action of a gene by one or more other genes—play a significant role in human diseases. Determinants expressed on Fc and FccR are probably some of the most likely ligand-receptor candidate pairs for gene–gene interactions in the human genome. Therefore, simultaneous examination of FccR and Fc (GM) alleles in a large study population is warranted before concluding whether or not FccR alleles contribute to ADCC and are risk factors for the development of breast cancer.
A high-resolution integrated map of copy number polymorphisms within and between breeds of the modern domesticated dog

Structural variation contributes to the rich genetic and phenotypic diversity of the modern domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, although compared to other organisms, catalogs of canine copy number variants (CNVs) are poorly defined. To this end, we developed a customized high-density tiling array across the canine genome and used it to discover CNVs in nine genetically diverse dogs and a gray wolf. In total, we identified 403 CNVs that overlap 401 genes, which are enriched for defense/immunity, oxidoreductase, protease, receptor, signaling molecule and transporter genes. Furthermore, we performed detailed comparisons between CNVs located within versus outside of segmental duplications (SDs) and find that CNVs in SDs are enriched for gene content and complexity. Finally, we compiled all known dog CNV regions and genotyped them with a custom aCGH chip in 61 dogs from 12 diverse breeds. These data allowed us to perform the first population genetics analysis of canine structural variation and identify CNVs that potentially contribute to breed specific traits. Our comprehensive analysis of canine CNVs will be an important resource in genetically dissecting canine phenotypic and behavioral variation.
The Growth–Temperature Relation of Juvenile Lake Whitefish

Abstract The lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis supports major commercial fisheries in Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan, where it is managed on a sustained-yield basis; it also supports a recreational hook-and-line fishery in some Great Lakes embayments and nearshore areas. To better understand habitat use by juvenile lake whitefish in the Great Lakes, we acclimated groups of test fish in the laboratory to 5, 10, 15, 18, 21, and 24°C and fed them to excess twice daily for 55 d. The test fish increased in length and weight at all of the test temperatures and at the end of the study were heaviest and longest at 18.1°C. A curve fitted to the specific growth rate data indicated that the optimum temperature for growth was 18.5°C and, thus, that the fundamental thermal niche for juvenile lake whitefish is 15.5–19.5°C. Our results support the limited, published information on thermal ecology of wild, free-ranging juvenile lake whitefish in the Great Lakes.
Effect of Scuba Divers on Fish Density and Target Strength Estimates from Stationary Dual-Beam Hydroacoustics

Abstract The effect of the presence of scuba divers conducting visual point count surveys on the abundance and size distribution of fishes estimated with dual-beam hydroacoustics was examined at a petroleum platform in the northern Gulf of Mexico during November 1991 and February, March, and June 1992. Mean density of fishes declined 41–77% for all sampling periods when scuba divers were present. Target strengths also dropped significantly for all sampling periods when scuba divers were present. Our results show that fishes at petroleum platforms avoid scuba divers. Therefore, visual surveys of fish at petroleum platforms and other similar environments should be supplemented with hydroacoustic assessments.
Student Anxiety Toward Level II Fieldwork

The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) purports to measure two types of anxiety: state anxiety, fluctuating and transitory; and trait anxiety, a relatively stable proneness to apprehension. As part of a battery of measures comparing a new occupational therapy curriculum with an old curriculum being discontinued, the STAI was administered to separate groups of students from each curriculum completing their programs concurrently. The primary purpose of the anxiety study was to test the hypothesis that students with an early introduction to Level I fieldwork (the new curriculum) would have significantly less state anxiety in anticipation of Level II fieldwork than students with a later introduction to Level I fieldwork (the old curriculum). Statistical analysis failed to support the hypothesis. Also discussed are: the significant reduction in anticipated anxiety when students report for fieldwork, and the validity and reliability of the STAI.
Betaxolol, a selective β1-adrenergic receptor antagonist, diminishes anxiety-like behavior during early withdrawal from chronic cocaine administration in rats

Background Anxiety has been indicated as one of the main symptoms of the cocaine withdrawal syndrome in human addicts and severe anxiety during withdrawal may potentially contribute to relapse. As alterations in noradrenergic transmission in limbic areas underlie withdrawal symptomatology for many drugs of abuse, the present study sought to determine the effect of cocaine withdrawal on β-adrenergic receptor (β1 and β2) expression in the amygdala.
Effects of antenatal thyrotropin-releasing hormone, antenatal corticosteroids, and postnatal ventilation on surfactant mobilization in premature rabbits.

Objective: The effects of antenatal hormones on postnatal surfactant mobilization were evaluated in preterm rabbits. Study Design: Pregnant rabbits were treated with vehicle, betamethasone, or thyrotropin-releasing hormone for 2 days before cesarean section at 29 days' gestation (term 31 days). Newborns were mechanically ventilated or allowed to spontaneously breathe, and groups were compared by analysis of variance. Results: Neither antenatal corticosteroids nor thyrotropin-releasing hormone increased radiolabeled precursor incorporation, alveolar wash or total lung saturated phosphatidylcholine pools, lung clearance of radiolabeled rabbit surfactant, or estimated net secretion of saturated phosphatidylcholine. However, saturated phosphatidylcholine pools in alveolar wash increased 2.7-fold during the first 24 hours in spontaneously breathing rabbits versus 2.1-fold in mechanically ventilated thyrotropin-releasing hormone—treated and control rabbits ( p Conclusion: Mechanical ventilation may have hindered the mobilization of surfactant saturated phosphatidylcholine pools to the alveolar space after birth in preterm rabbits, but maternal hormonal therapies did not appear to influence this adaptive process or change surfactant metabolism.
Bioinorganic chemistry: Redox control of oxoiron( IV )

The oxygen-evolving centre in the protein complex photosystem II involves Ca2+ within a high-valent oxomanganese cluster, but the role of Ca2+ has yet to be clarified. Interestingly, the electron-transfer behaviour of a non-haem oxoiron(IV) complex has now been found to be significantly altered by Lewis acid metal-ion binding to the oxo atom.
THE FIRST SPARK SPECTRUM OF PLATINUM

In 1929, Dr J. J. Livingood and myself attempted unsuccessfully to analyse the first spark spectrum of platinum. That failure was chiefly due to the lack of adequate observations in the Schumann region. The spectrum should, of course, be similar to Ni II and Pd II, both of which were previously analysed in the laboratory, but in the third long period the excitation energies have increased to such a point that the chief lines of the transition MATHS FORMULA are mainly below λ2000. Their observation requires a vacuum spectrograph, which we did not have at that time. Observations Down to the limit of transmission of air, the spectra of the arc and spark were photographed with the 21 ft. grating, and the wave-lengths were measured against iron standards. It was found necessary to use graphite electrodes for the arc, because of the fact that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to run an arc between pure platinum rods. One is much more apt to get a glow discharge in which the cathode is hot, the anode cold and the spectrum that of air. In the Schumann region also, arc-spark observations were the chief source of the data. A modification of the method described by Selwyn (1929) was used, and excellent spectra were obtained down to the fluorite limit at λ1240. The modification ensures an image of the source at the slit and makes the elimination of oxygen from the flowing nitrogen much more complete. The arc in pure nitrogen runs at 10-15 V higher potential than it does in air, and produces the second spark spectrum of some elements with considerable intensity. A diagram of the attachment is shown in fig. 1. The spectrograph is of conventional type employing a glass grating of 2 m. radius and 30,000 lines per inch. The spectrum can be photographed from λ500 to λ 2250. Hilger Schumann plates and Ilford Q, plates were used, the latter being practically perfect for the longer wave-lengths.
A cloud computing based system for cyber security management

The exponential increase of cyber security has led to an ever-increasing accumulation of big network data for cyber security applications. The big data analysis for cyber security management presents challenges in data capturing, storing and processing. To address these challenges, in this paper we develop a cloud computing based system for cyber security management to fasten the analysis process of big network data. Our developed system is built on the MapReduce framework and consists of end-user devices, cloud infrastructure and a monitoring centre. To make our proposed system efficient, we introduce two key function modules of our system: data storage module and task scheduling module. We conduct the system implementation using Apache Hadoop, and our implemented system consists of data collection, data normalisation, data computation and data visualisation. Using ranking and aggregation as primitives for performing cyber security management, we conducted extensive experiments to show the effectiveness ...
Strengthening invariants for efficient computation

Abstract This paper presents program analyses and transformations for strengthening invariants for the purpose of efficient computation. Finding the stronger invariants corresponds to discovering a general class of auxiliary information for any incremental computation problem. Combining the techniques with previous techniques for caching intermediate results, we obtain a systematic approach that transforms non-incremental programs into efficient incremental programs that use and maintain useful auxiliary information as well as useful intermediate results. The use of auxiliary information allows us to achieve a greater degree of incrementality than otherwise possible. Applications of the approach include strength reduction in optimizing compilers and finite differencing in transformational programming.
55Mn nuclear resonance modes in RbMnF3

Abstract The observation of two 55 Mn NMR modes in antiferromagnetic RbMnF 3 is reported. The resonances have been tracked over a frequency range in excess of 400 MHz. The resonances are predicted to good accuracy by a coupled mode theory.
Management of endometrial adenocarcinoma with cervical involvement.

Abstract Seventy-seven patients with endometrial cancer with cervical involvement were treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1968 to 1982. Fractional curettage specimens showed that 25 patients (32%) had involvement of cervical stroma and 52 (68%) had only detached fragments of carcinoma present in endocervical curettings. Six patients treated for palliation only are excluded from analysis of treatment and survival. Our preferred treatment during the time interval studied consisted of preoperative whole pelvic radiotherapy followed by modified radical hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with postoperative intravaginal brachytherapy. This regimen was well tolerated by the 37 patients so treated. The remaining patients were treated with a variety of regimens, most commonly radiotherapy and simple hysterectomy (25 patients). With a mean follow-up among survivors of 97 months, disease-free survival is 72%. Mean time to relapse was 19 months, with 90% of relapses occurring within 40 months. Initial sites of relapse included abdomen, 9 (12.6%); lungs, 8 (11.3%); brain, 2 (2.8%); lateral pelvis, 2 (2.8%); and bone, 1 (1.4%). Clinicopathologic variables significantly related to risk of relapse included presence of extrauterine disease at surgery ( P = 0.0001), extent of cervical involvement as determined prior to hysterectomy ( P = 0.001), depth of myometrial invasion ( P = 0.005), and papillary serous histology ( P = 0.0002). Treatment of endometrial cancer with cervical involvement with combinations of radiotherapy and surgery is well tolerated and results in an excellent long-term disease-free survival and a low rate of pelvic relapse.