cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fluoroscopic Estimation of Thoracic Dimensional Changes in Healthy Dogs.

Background Current methods available for assessing alterations in lung mechanics require sophisticated equipment and are of limited availability. A method that could assess lung area change with respiration might be a clinically useful surrogate for assessing lung compliance. Objective To use fluoroscopy to determine percent change in thoracic and lung areas in healthy dogs. Animals Forty-four client-owned dogs with no evidence of respiratory disease. Methods Prospective study. Resting respiration was recorded fluoroscopically, and peak inspiratory and expiratory frames were captured for 3 typical respiratory cycles. The number of intrathoracic pixels in the entire thoracic cavity was measured for both inspiration and expiration, and the average percent change in intrathoracic area was determined for each dog. This process was repeated by a hemithorax measurement of lung area that excluded the mediastinum and cardiac silhouette. Proposed reference ranges (and 95% confidence intervals [CI]) were computed by a nonparametric percentile distribution. Results Median percent change in thoracic dimension for the total thorax measurement was 12.5% (CI, 8.9–24.0%). Median percent change for the hemithorax measurement was significantly (P < 0.001) larger (20.8%, CI, 14.3–37.6%). Both measurement techniques were correlated with body weight but not with age, sex, thoracic conformation, body condition score (BCS), or breed. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Fluoroscopy allows a noninvasive and repeatable measure of lung area changes during respiration that must be corrected for body weight. Additional studies in dogs with respiratory diseases are needed to determine its utility in detecting clinically useful alterations in lung area changes.
Estimating the Error Distribution in a Single-Index Model

This paper addresses the problem of estimating the error distribution in single-index regression models. We estimate the error distribution function with a weighted nonparametric residual empirical distribution function. Our main result is a first order uniform stochastic expansion of the estimator. This expansion makes it possible to derive asymptotically distribution free goodness-of-fit tests about the error distribution. Our approach is to regard the single-index model as a nonparametric regression model, but with estimated covariates (the estimated indices). However, the usual assumption in classical nonparametric regression, that the covariate distribution is quasi-uniform (bounded and bounded away from zero on its compact support), is not reasonable here. We handle this by introducing weights which restrict the estimation of the link function to intervals.
David Oliver: Outpatient clinics are ripe for reform

Traditional specialist outpatient clinics, on which we spend around 7% of the NHS budget, with over 60 million attendances a year and great cost in time and travel to patients, are a prime example of an area that has been relatively neglected amid calls from politicians and the media to reform services. Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, believes that the current NHS outpatient model is “obsolescent.” Speaking at the NHS Confederation conference in June, he said, “Think of it from the patients’ point of view, think of it from the clinical teams’ point of view, discuss what a redesign would look like, and everything else follows from that.”1 I’d say …
Parallel fast isogeometric L2 projection solver with GALOIS system for 3D tumor growth simulations

Abstract We present a parallel solver for isogeometric L2 projections implemented in GALOIS system. We use the solver for isogeometric finite element method simulations of tumor growth. First, we describe the dependencies between the quantities describing the melanoma tumor growth in three-dimensions. Later, we derive the system of partial differential equations modeling the tumor dynamics, including tumor cell density, tumor angiogenic factor, flux, pressure, extracellular and degraded extracellular matrices. The continuous model is coupled every ten-time steps with graph grammar model describing the vasculature network. The resulting system of PDEs is solved with our parallel solver over the shared memory Linux cluster node. We show high computational efficiency and accuracy of our model and we demonstrate its perfect parallel scalability with the number of CPU cores. We discuss the application of our solver in predictive oncology.
Nrf2 deletion results in impaired performance in memory tasks and hyperactivity in mature and aged mice.

Abstract Oxidative stress has been implicated in both the functional and cognitive decline associated with neuropsychiatric diseases and aging. A master regulator of the body's defense mechanism against oxidative stress is nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF2). Here we investigated the effects of NRF2 deletion on motor and cognitive performance in “Aged” mice (17–25 months old) as compared to “Mature” mice (3–15 months old). We observed that the Aged Nrf2−/− mice were hyperactive and exhibited impaired acquisition of an active avoidance response. Furthermore, the Mature mice also displayed a hyperactive phenotype and had impaired working memory in the probe trial of the water radial arm maze. Overall, it appears that NRF2 may be implicated in memory and activity functions and its deletion exacerbates deficits associated with aging. These observations provide a model for assessing the role of oxidative stress in age-related disorders.
NCI9782: A phase 1 study of talazoparib in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors.

2548Background: Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzymes are involved in DNA repair and activated by DNA strand breaks. DNA damage from carboplatin is associated with activation of PARP. Preclini...
Stem Cell- and Biomaterial-Based Neural Repair for Enhancing Spinal Axonal Regeneration

Axonal damage in spinal cord injury (SCI) results in functional impairment and neurological disorders. Stem cell transplantation has been studied for the therapy of SCI because of their proliferation and differentiation capacity. Stem cell transplantation is potentially able to replace the neuron and glia loss in damaged neural tissue to restore the functional connection of neural tract. The extracellular matrix and several neurotrophic factors produced by stem cells can improve axonal growth. The stem cells-derived oligodendrocytes promote myelin formation for the remaining and newly grown neural axons. Biomaterials have offered an effective carrier means for stem cell transplantation following SCI. Various complications and pathophysiological concerns that arise during axonal regeneration following SCI may be overcome by the co-transplantation of biomaterial scaffolds fabricated from natural and synthetic polymers. Biomaterial scaffolds may effectively ameliorate cell death following transplantation and preventing scar formation. In this chapter, we review the advance in the research of stem cell transplantation including embryonic stem cells, neural stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and mesenchymal stem cells in neural repair and regeneration.
Hysteresis and Allostery in Human UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase Require a Flexible Protein Core.

Human UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (hUGDH) oxidizes UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronic acid, an essential substrate in the phase II metabolism of drugs. The activity of hUGDH is regulated by the conformation of a buried allosteric switch (T131 loop/α6 helix). Substrate binding induces the allosteric switch to slowly isomerize from an inactive E* conformation to the active E state, which can be observed as enzyme hysteresis. When the feedback inhibitor UDP-xylose binds, the allosteric switch and surrounding residues in the protein core repack, converting the hexamer into an inactive, horseshoe-shaped complex (EΩ). This allosteric transition is facilitated by large cavities and declivities in the protein core that provide the space required to accommodate the alternate packing arrangements. Here, we have used the A104L substitution to fill a cavity in the E state and sterically prevent repacking of the core into the EΩ state. Steady state analysis shows that hUGDHA104L binds UDP-xylose with lower affinity and that ...
CHAPTER 109 – Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Structure and Mechanisms

The protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) family of enzymes dephosphorylate target signaling proteins and are involved in the diverse regulation of numerous cell functions. PTPs comprise a large gene-family (112 genes) with the minimal catalytic motif CX 5 R, where C is the cysteine nucleophile that attacks the phosphate group, R is the arginine residue that binds phosphate and stabilizes the transition state, and X represents any amino acid. A large subgroup of the PTPs are capable of efficient hydrolysis of both phosphotyrosine and phosphothreonine/serine residues and are often referred to as dual-specificity PTPs. Members of the PTP family can be soluble or membrane-associated proteins, as in the receptor-like PTPs. The common feature of these phosphatases appears to be the basic catalytic mechanism involving the formation of a phospho-cysteinyl enzyme intermediate, using the conserved cysteine, arginine, and general acid/base aspartate residue. The catalytic domain of PTPs consists of an α/β fold composed of a highly twisted core of β-strands flanked by α-helices. Domains outside of the catalytic fold serve as regulatory and/or targeting modules. The structure, substrate recognition, catalytic mechanism, and modes of regulation are discussed in this chapter.
Effective Analgesia with Bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Catheters for a Patient with Traumatic Rib and Spine Fractures.

Pain management in trauma patients with acute rib and spine fractures presents a challenge for the anesthesiologist and achieving adequate analgesia is important in preventing pulmonary complications. Unfortunately, neuraxial techniques are often challenging or contraindicated due to spine fractures or coagulopathy. Erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks provide an alternative regional anesthetic technique to manage pain. We describe a case of bilateral ESP catheters placed intraoperatively after spinal instrumentation in a patient with bilateral rib and spine fractures sustained in a tractor rollover crash. Prior to surgery, the patient had inadequate pain control and poor respiratory function despite multimodal analgesia. With the addition of bilateral ESP catheters, the patient’s pain control improved and he was weaned from respiratory support. ESP blocks have been shown to provide effective analgesia in patients with rib fractures; however, the utilization of these blocks has not been described in patients with spine fractures undergoing spinal instrumentation. Thus, ESP blocks provide a simple alternative to providing surgical and trauma analgesia when neuraxial techniques are contraindicated. The success of bilateral ESP catheters in our patient indicates a further area for application of ESP blocks in patients undergoing spine surgery with acute traumatic spine fractures.
Breast Cancer and Dietary Intake of Endocrine Disruptors: a Review of Recent Literature

In women, breast cancer is the second most common cause of death. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can interfere with hormone signaling, possibly linking to cancer. Among these, estrogen-mimicking endocrine disruptors (EEDs) infiltrate the human diet and are known to bind to estrogen receptors. We reviewed recent literature (n = 13 papers) examining associations between dietary intake of EEDs and breast cancer incidence. Collectively, this sample of investigations suggest a positive correlation, including bisphenol A (BPA) (0.4–4.2 μg/kg-bw/day), phytoestrogens (sum of genistein and daidzein; 1000–3000 μg/kg-bw/day), and pesticides, specifically dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) (0.03 μg/kg-bw/day) and atrazine (0.033–0.0123 μg/kg-bw/day collectively). Evidence for linkages between breast cancer and exposure to additional EDCs/EEDs from dietary intake was weaker, e.g., phthalates and parabens whose exposure routes were dominated by inhalation and dermal absorption. Body burdens with EEDs potentially causing physiological disruption were demonstrated for BPA (50 μg/kg adipose tissue/day), phytoestrogens (300 μg/kg adipose tissue/day), and DDT (250 μg/kg adipose tissue/day) and atrazine (25,000 μg/kg adipose tissue/day). Opportunities for reducing unwanted dietary exposures to estrogen mimics were evaluated.
Three-Level Meta-Analysis of Single-Case Data Regarding the Effects of Peer Tutoring on Academic and Social-Behavioral Outcomes for At-Risk Students and Students With Disabilities:

Meta-analysis of single-case experimental designs may further knowledge about evidence-based practices for students needing remedial or special education. To contribute to evidence-based practice, ...
A spatial simulation approach to hydroacoustic survey design: A case study for Atlantic menhaden

Abstract Patchily distributed pelagic fish species present a challenge to classical approaches to hydroacoustic survey designs. We propose a spatial simulation approach to designing acoustic surveys and provide a case study in the northern resident stock of Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus during winter. The structure and abundance of this stock is poorly characterized due to a paucity of fishery-independent surveys and the geographically limited range of the reduction fishery. In order to develop new fishery-independent information for this stock, we conducted a simulation study to estimate the accuracy and precision of an offshore hydroacoustic survey. We simulated a spatial super-population based on fishery-dependent data, and randomly re-sampled the population with various types of hydroacoustic survey equipment. Our results suggest that a combination of down-viewing echosounder and omni-directional sonar can generate biomass estimates with a coefficient of variation around 25%. The use of down-viewing echosounder alone, however, generated biomass estimates with poor precision. Our approach accounts for the patchy spatial distributions of the survey populations, which leads to more realistic estimates of precision than classical approaches implicitly assuming independence. The approach also evaluates several types of hydro-acoustic survey equipment in deriving absolute biomass estimates, and the survey, once implemented, may contribute to improved spatially explicit management of the stock.
Seeds of memory, Memory of Seeds

Abstract: This interview approaches the work and career of the anthropologist Virginia Nazarea, and her work with the interconnectivity of memory, identity and food. The anthropological research exposes the relation between people's perception of their environment and biodiversity, and how personal identities come from such context. Keywords: memory. agriculture. biodiversity. conservation of knowledge. Resumo: Esta entrevista aborda o trabalho e carreira da antropologa Virginia Nazarea, e seu trabalho com a interconectividade de memoria, identidade e alimentos. A pesquisa antropologica expoe a relacao entre a percepcao das pessoas quanto ao seu ambiente e a biodiversidade, e como identidades pessoais surgem desse contexto. Palavras chave: memoria. agricultura. biodiversidade. conservacao de conhecimento.
OCRNN: An orthogonal constrained recurrent neural network for sleep analysis based on EEG data

Abstract This paper introduced an end-to-end mixed deep learning model for automatic sleep analysis based on the EEG signal. Unlike some existing machine learning models for EEG analysis, we did not rely on any hand-crafted feature engineering and elaborate pipeline design. Furthermore, apart from some existing deep learning frameworks based on some off-the-self existing modules, we introduced the orthogonal constrained recurrent neural network (OCRNN) as the downstream module after the spatial-temporal expansion and representation provided by the one dimensional convolutional neural networks. We evaluated our model using the EEG-based sleep datasets for sleep stage scoring. We compared the performances of four types of RNN frameworks, where three of them are OCRNNs. The results show that OCRNN can achieve competitive better F1 score, accuracy and AUC score compared to the previous baseline results. Moreover, our model (orRNN and pdRNN) can achieve the above results with less number of parameters and less number of training epochs, which demonstrate its potential usage to launch approximate real-time medical diagnosis.
A Bidirectional Alignment Control Approach for Planar LED-based Free-Space Optical Communication Systems

Achieving and maintaining line-of-sight (LOS) is essential for free-space optical (FSO) communication systems due to the high directionality of the optical signals. We consider the problem of achieving LOS in a planar setting, where each of the two parties (called agents) makes a move only based on its own light intensity measurement. The problem is formulated as a discrete time dynamical system, where each agent seeks to maximize its own reward function that depends on the states of both agents, who make their moves in parallel. In particular, the reward function corresponds to the light intensity measurements made by each agent. While the two reward functions are non-conflicting (i.e., the optimization of one reward function helps the optimization of the other), the constraints of no information exchange between the agents, no access to states, and parallel (non-sequential) actions pose significant challenges. A novel iterative optimization algorithm meeting all of these constraints is proposed. We show that the proposed algorithm brings the system to a neighborhood of the LOS in a finite number of steps, when the reward functions are of the Gaussian form as supported by the experimental data. The effectiveness of the approach is evaluated in simulation by comparison with extremum-seeking control, where it shows an order of magnitude better performance in terms of the convergence speed.
Collaborative climate mitigation and adaptation planning with university, community, and municipal partners: a case study in Anchorage, Alaska

Cities around the world are creating formal planning documents proposing local actions to mitigate and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Despite a growing number of examples of such plans ...
'I'm praying for a miracle': characteristics of spiritual statements in paediatric intensive care unit care conferences.

Context Supporting spiritual needs is a well-established aspect of palliative care, but no data exist regarding how physicians engage with patients and families around spirituality during care conferences in paediatric intensive care units (PICU). Objectives To assess the frequency and characteristics of family and physician spiritual statements in PICU care conferences. Methods We performed qualitative analysis of 71 transcripts from PICU conferences, audio-recorded at an urban, quaternary medical centre. Transcripts were derived from a single-centre, cross-sectional, qualitative study. Results We identified spiritual language in 46% (33/71) of PICU care conferences. Spiritual statements were divided relatively evenly between family member (51%, 67/131) and physician statements (49%, 64/131). Physician responses to families’ spiritual statements were coded as supportive (46%, 31/67), deferred (30%, 20/67), indifferent (24%, 16/67) or exploratory (0/67). Conclusions In this single-centre PICU, spiritual statements were present 46% of the time during high stakes decision-making conferences, but there was little evidence of spiritual care best practices, such as offering chaplain support and performing open-ended spiritual assessments. PICU clinicians should expect spiritual statements in care conferences and be prepared to respond.
Semester-long inclusivity project: Using our voices at community engagement

This semester-long assignment is suited for any course that highlights cultural differences, diversity and equity, social advocacy, social justice, intercultural communication, and intercultural aw...
A Robust and Cost-Effective SGOC Method for Testing Rice Iron Concentration in Biofortified Breeding

Iron is an important micro-nutrient to human health.Malnutrition of iron is a serious problem associated with resource poor population of many developing countries.Development and consumption of iron-rich rice varieties are considered one of the ways to solve the problem.To facilitate large-scale screening of breeding materials for iron concentration in the rice iron-biofortified breeding program of China,we developed a new method "surging and grind-milling of orthophenanthroline colorimetry testing"(SGOC).Based on the testing results of 3 sets of 84 diverse rice genotypes that differ greatly in grain iron concentration,the correlation coefficient was as high as 0.87 between the SGOC method and the standard ICP-MS testing method.The per sample cost of the SGOC method was about 0.1$,or 50 times less the ICP-MS method,indicating that the SGOC method is a robust,fast and cost-effective,particularly useful for preliminary screening of the iron concentration of large numbers of early generation breeding materials.Our results demonstrated that milling and polishing with iron-made equipment tended to significantly increase the iron concentration of processed rice,which was also eliminated in the SGOC method.Finally,our results on the 59 BC progeny indicate that introgression of genes/QTLs for high iron concentration from high iron rice germsperm into elite local rice varieties is an efficient way to develop high yielding rice varieties with significantly improved rice iron concentration in future rice biofortified breeding.
Can proteomics-based approaches further help COVID-19 prevention and therapy?

The first patient with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Since then, more than 149.471 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide, with over 3.15 million deaths. The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection or COVID-19 has made researchers focus on developing an effective vaccine to prevent the disease. One hundred and eighty-four vaccine candidates in pre-clinical development have been tested on different animal models of SARS-CoV-2 infection (Source WHO; Draft landscape and tracker of COVID-19 candidate vaccines (who.int)). An additional 63 vaccines are currently in clinical development. Thus, more than 200 vaccine candidates have been developed within almost a year of the first reported case of COVID-19, and of these, 10 vaccines have been approved for human use (Table 1). The first human trial of a COVID-19 vaccine started on 6 March 2020, and the rapid pace of vaccine development would not have been feasible without a combined proteomics and genomics approach against SARS-CoV-2. Table 1. Different vaccines approved for human use to prevent COVID-19
Modeling acid gas competitive facilitated transport on a spinning disk liquid membrane

Abstract This analysis is presented to evaluate the feasibility of using a thin alkaline liquid film (dynamic membrane) generated on a spinning disk to separate hydrogen sulfide from carbon dioxide. The analysis accounts for the dynamics of liquid flow, dissolved gas transport, and the reaction in the spinning alkaline film. Simulations show that gas permeation is achievable with practical disk radii, and that the liquid may be recirculated without a separate regeneration process. The flowing liquid film functions as a membrane rather than as a scrubbing medium that must be stripped for recycling. In very thin films, insufficient time is available for transferring carbon dioxide to facilitate its transport via reversible conversion to the bicarbonate ion. The transport of hydrogen sulfide, however, which instantaneously undergoes acid dissociation to the bisulfide ion, is not subject to this limitation. Consequently, both high fluxes and high CO2/H2S permselectivities are predicted in very thin films.
Onboard Multi-Scale Tile Classification for Satellites and Other Spacecraft

As space-based sensors for Earth observation continue to increase in resolution, extreme computational capability is required to process, compress, and interpret the exorbitant volumes of data collected. Historically, computation has been performed on ground systems. However, this research proposes and benchmarks a flexible onboard tile-classification system for high-resolution Earth observation on satellites and spacecraft. Modern computer-vision techniques for classification and segmentation have progressed to orbital platforms. However, for many applications, the granularity of data analysis has tradeoffs: classification of the entire image is too coarse to yield useful scientific products, and segmentation at the pixel-level is too computationally expensive. Tile classification serves as a middle ground between these two paradigms that can be applied to high-resolution imagery. Transfer learning is conducted on large and small variants of MobileNetV2 deep-learning models using Earth-observation imagery at different ground-resolved distances (GRDs). A case study then compares the inference accuracy for fine-tuned models tested on different GRDs. This process demonstrates the effectiveness of applying one model to a variety of image scales. The inference performance for these models is evaluated in terms of execution time, parallel performance, memory use, and energy consumption. This research showcases increased capacity for onboard remote sensing with tile classification that can foster more versatile space situational awareness.
Stabilization of loop-free redundant routing

Consider a network of processes that exchange messages via FIFO communication channels. Each process chooses a subset of its neighboring processes to be its successors. Furthermore, there is a distinguished process, called root, that may be reached from any other process by following the successor relation at each hop. Thus, under the successor relation, the processes are arranged as a directed acyclic graph that converges on the root process, i.e., a converging DAG (c-DAG). We present a network where each process may dynamically change its choice of successors, and during this change, the following two nice properties are satisfied. First, if the initial state of the network forms a c-DAG, then a c-DAG is preserved at all times. Second, if the protocol is started from an arbitrary state (i.e., where each variable has an arbitrary value), then a c-DAG is automatically restored.
Monitoring process-induced focus errors using high-resolution flatness metrology

Reducing focus errors during optical lithography patterning is crucial for minimizing defects and for achieving the desired critical dimension uniformity (CDU). Factors that contribute to lithography defocus originate from both within and outside the exposure tools. Wafer geometry and topography have been shown to be a major contributor to the focus budget, but decoupling wafer issues from scanner tooling / chuck signatures is far from trivial. In this paper we will review how the use of flatness metrology in a 22nm manufacturing environment improved our ability to measure focus errors as well as enabled the decoupling of error between tooling and wafer sources. We will also review several examples of experimental datasets demonstrating how this wafer shape measurement technique has provided unique insight to the nature of topography based focus error, as well as provide a valuable learning mechanism for driving improvement in process cycles of learning.
ASSESSMENT OF CARDIOMYOCYTE DNA SYNTHESIS DURING HYPERTROPHY IN ADULT MICE

The ability of cardiomyocytes to synthesize DNA in response to experimentally induced cardiac hypertrophy was assessed in adult mice. Isoproterenol delivered by osmotic minipump implantation in adu...
Ideophones in KiVunjo-Chaga

Analysis of ideophones from an extensive data set in KiVunjo-Chaga, a Bantu language, indicates that they cannot be adequately defined solely by phonological, morphological, and syntactic characteristics. Ideophones can be viewed as a subcategory of adverbs, but they are sensitive to semantic and cultural functions.
RTS: a system to simulate the real time cost behaviour of parallel computations

In this paper, we present a software tool, RTS (real time simulator), that analyses the time cost behaviour of parallel computations through simulation. It is assumed in RTS that the computer system which supports the executions of parallel computations has a limited number of processors all processors have the same speed and they communicate with each other through a shared memory. In RTS, the time cost of a parallel computation is defined as a function of the input, the algorithm, the data structure, the processor speed, the number of processors, the processor power allocation, the communication and the execution environment. How RTS models the time cost is first discussed in the paper. In the model, a locking technique is used to manipulate the access to the shared memory, processing power is equally allocated among all the operations that are currently being performed in parallel in the computer system, and the number of operations in the execution environment of a parallel computation changes from time to time. How RTS works and how the simulation is used to do time cost analysis are also discussed.
The 2011 judicial elections in Bolivia

Please cite this article in press as: Drisco doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2012.04.006 On October 16, 2011 Bolivian citizens cast ballots for 56 judges of the national Bolivian high courts. This is the second national election under the new Bolivian constitution, which was ratified by public referendum in January 2009. The candidates who received a simple majority of the valid votes cast assumed responsibilities as national magistrates for the Bolivian Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia), the Plurinational Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional Plurinacional), the Bolivian Judicial Council (Consejo de la Magistratura; the high administrative body of the national judiciary), and the Bolivian Agricultural Court (Tribunal Agroambiental). This election is notable for several reasons. First, it marked the first time that the Bolivian public directly elected its judges. Additionally, this election marked the first instance of popular election for national high courts in recent world history. Beyond this novelty, this electoral process is consequential for its possible effects on Bolivian judicial independence and the questions it raises about the future of Bolivian democracy. This research note describes this election in comparative historical terms, reviews the development of the electoral law and process, and summarizes the outcome of the elections.
A Continuous-Time Examination of End-of-Life Parts Acquisition With Limited Customer Information

Manufacturers often encounter difficulties in supplying an adequate number of spare parts for a product that is in its post-production phase. Current solution methods for optimal spare part order amounts use assumptions that require knowledge of the number of products in operation at any time t. In the business situation presented here, the manufacturer only has knowledge of the part and product failure rates and a probability distribution on the number of products still in operation; unless the manufacturer and customer have a close working relationship, it is likely that this information is all that the manufacturer will have available in a typical business environment. We model time-discounted revenues and costs as a function of the spare parts order amount. We consider two different versions of the problem—incremental replenishment and no replenishment—that operate by determining the rate of change of the total profit with respect to the order amount q.
Ionic Mobilities in Solid Helium

In his pioneering work in the area of ion motion in solid helium Sha1’nikov1 demonstrated that ions could be used to probe excitations in solid helium if the crystals were of sufficiently high quality. We have measured the mobilities of ionic carriers in solid 4He using a space-charge-limited current technique. Here we wish to report the results of these measurements, (the details of which are reported elsewhere),2,3 and the conclusions drawn from these data concerning both the nature of the carriers and the fundamental nature of the transport process involved, and we also report on the use of positive ions to monitor the equilibrium vacancy concentration.
Cu-In-Ga metal precursors sputter deposited from a single ternary target for Cu(lnGa)(SeS) 2 film formation

Precursor films used for the growth of Cu(InGa)Se 2 were sputter deposited from a single Cu-In-Ga compound target to determine if better control of composition and improved reproducibility compared to precursors deposited from separate sputter targets could be obtained. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize changes in phase and morphology of the ternary sputter target, precursor films, and reacted films over a series of deposition runs and compared with films deposited from two targets. The surface morphology and composition of the target and precursor films were characterized over a range of sputtering conditions and compared to the bulk target composition over time. The precursor films contain Cu 9 (In 1−x Ga x ) 4 and In phases with In-rich nodules. The target has a Cu-rich surface composition compared to the bulk that indicates preferential sputtering of In. Cu(InGa)(SeS) 2 films were formed by a three-step H 2 Se/Ar/H 2 S reaction process. The composition of reacted films using ternary target precursors is comparable to the bulk target composition and good reproducibility is demonstrated. Finally, solar cells fabricated using the reacted films gave a maximum efficiency of 13.4%.
Use of fatty acid profiles to identify food-borne bacterial pathogens and aerobic endospore-forming bacilli.

Capillary gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection was used to determine the cellular fatty acid profiles of various food-borne microbial pathogens and to compare the fatty acid profiles of spores and vegetative cells of the same endospore-forming bacilli. Fifteen bacteria, representing eight genera (Staphylococcus, Listeria, Bacillus, Yersinia, Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia, and Vibrio) and 11 species were used to compare the extracted fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). Endospore-forming bacilli were processed to obtain pure spores and whole cell FAMEs for GC analysis. A data set for each bacterial agent was prepared using fatty acid profiles from five replicates prepared on different days. The results showed that these fatty acid intensity profiles were unique for each of the 11 species and that they could be used as a fingerprint for the organisms. The cellular fatty acid profiles for Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus show that there are two branched chain fatty acids, iso 17:1 ω...
Molecular Layer Deposition of Functional Thin Films for Advanced Lithographic Patterning

Photoresist materials comprise one of the main challenges faced by lithography to meet the requirements of electronic device size scaling. Here we report for the first time the use of molecular layer deposition (MLD) to produce photoresist materials with controllable placement of functional moieties. Polyurea resists films are deposited by MLD using urea coupling reactions between 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate (PDIC) and ethylenediamine (ED) or 2,2′-(propane-2,2-diylbis(oxy))diethanamine (PDDE) monomers in a layer-by-layer fashion with a linear growth rate, allowing acid-labile groups to be incorporated into the film at well-controlled positions. The films are deposited with stoichiometric compositions and have highly uniform surface morphology as investigated using atomic force microscopy. We show that acid treatment can cleave the backbone of the polyurea film at positions where the acid-labile groups are embedded. We further show that after soaking the polyurea film with photoacid generator (PAG), it acts...
Unraveling Quantum Dissipation in the Frequency Domain

We present a quantum Monte Carlo method for solving the evolution of an open quantum system. In our approach, the density operator evolution is unraveled in the frequency domain. Significant advantages of this approach arise when the frequency of each dissipative event conveys information about the state of the system.
Removal of the Inferior Half of the Superficial Lobe Is Sufficient to Treat Pleomorphic Adenoma in the Tail of the Parotid Gland

In the first half of the 20th century, benign parotid neoplasms were enucleated, irradiated, or both. Complications were common, and recurrence rates for benign pleomorphic adenomas were high (20%-45%), probably because of spillage of tumor cells into the wound. A major advance occurred when Janes (1940) and Bailey (1941) described a supraneural approach to treatment of parotid neoplasms. The facial nerve runs through the parotid gland. It enters posteriorly as a main trunk, and branches within the gland. The cervical and marginal mandibular branches of the lower division are the lowest branches of the facial nerve in the neck. Although the branches share some redundancy, the nerve does not cross over itself. Dissection along one branch will not reveal a branch deeper to it. This branching pattern divides the gland into a deeper or medial portion, now often called the deep lobe, and a much larger, more superficial portion (superficial lobe). There is no true anatomic compartmental separation of the superficial and deep parotid lobes. Rather, the facial nerve constitutes the surgical division. The radiologic demarcation between deep and superficial lobes is an imaginary line from the stylomastoid foramen to the retromandibular vein or the lateral ascending ramus of the mandible. Inperformingasupraneural approach or superficial parotidectomy totreatabenignparotidneoplasm, instead of just shelling out the tumor, thesurgeonidentified the facialnerve andremovedthetumoralongwiththe rest of the parotid tissue lateral to the facial nerve. In this way, a cuff of normal tissue surrounded theneoplasm, and the capsule of the neoplasm was notviolated,minimizingspillageoftumor cells into the wound. In the ensuingyears,superficialparotidectomy wasfurtherrefined,resultinginrecurrence rates of 0% to 3%. A major morbidity of the superficial parotidectomy is postoperative facial nerve dysfunction. Intraoperative traction on the nerve and skeletonizationoften result in temporary paresis or paralysis. Functional sequelae are more common when the upper branches of the nerve are affected resulting in corneal exposure and the potential for keratitis and otherophthalmologicproblems.Since many pleomorphic adenomas occur in the tail of the parotid gland, inferior to the inferior division of the facial nerve, some surgeons began dissectingonly the trunkandinferiordivisionofthenerve,andremovingonly the parotid tissue inferior to the inferior division (subtotal superficial parotidectomy). As long as this preserved a cuff of normal tissue around the neoplasm, it was thought that no greater recurrence rate could be expected, and the upper division of the facial nerve would be protected.
Forbidden pitch or duty-free: revealing the causes of across-pitch imaging differences

As resist image responses vary with duty ratio, the identification of a particularly challenging instance leads to its classification as a “forbidden pitch.” The increased application of various RET methods has often resulted in the misuse of this label for anything unexplained by linear effects. This paper attempts to dispel the myths regarding the imaging variations that occur with pitch. Furthermore, by describing the basis of these behaviors, insight is provided for the appropriate design of mask, illumination, OPC, and exposure parameters to best accommodate a broad range of duty ratio values.
Acute cell viability and nitric oxide release in lateral menisci following closed-joint knee injury in a lapine model of post-traumatic osteoarthritis

Background: Traumatic impaction is known to cause acute cell death and macroscopic damage to cartilage and menisci in vitro. The purpose of this study was to investigate cell viability and macroscopic damage of the medial and lateral menisci using an in situ model of traumatic loading. Furthermore, the release of nitric oxide from meniscus, synovium, cartilage, and subchondral bone was also documented. Methods: The left limbs of five rabbits were subjected to tibiofemoral impaction resulting in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture and meniscal damage. Meniscal tear morphology was assessed immediately after trauma and cell viability of the lateral and medial menisci was assessed 24 hrs post-injury. Nitric oxide (NO) released from joint tissues to the media was assayed at 12 and 24 hrs post injury. Results: ACL and meniscal tearing resulted from the traumatic closed joint impact. A significant decrease in cell viability was observed in the lateral menisci following traumatic impaction compared to the medial menisci and control limbs. While NO release was greater in the impacted joints, this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate acute meniscal viability following an in situ traumatic loading event that results in rupture of the ACL. The change in cell viability of the lateral menisci may play a role in the advancement of joint degeneration following traumatic knee joint injury.
Another look at semantic priming without awareness

In a recent study, McCauley, Parmelee, Sperber, and Carr (1980) reported results indicating that semantic priming had been produced by visual stimuli that were backward masked at durations too brief for greater than chance report. The conclusions drawn from such an experiment are critically dependent upon whether or not the primes were actually masked below the thresh-old for identification during priming trials. The three experiments reported here provide evidence that this requirement was not met. Rather, McCauley et al.’s (1980) methodology allowed for an uncontrolled increase in light adaptation during the actual testing of prime efficacy in the priming session. This increase in light adaptation reduced the effectiveness of the backward mask and resulted in an increase in prime visibility during priming trials. Thus, semantic priming probably occurred under conditions in which commensurate visual information was actually available.
⁎3513 DIAGNOSTIC BENEFIT OF METHYLENE-BLUE DIRECTED BIOPSY COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL BIOPSY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF INTESTINAL METAPLASIA AND DYSPLASIA IN BARRETt'S ESOPHAGUS.

Benefit of methylene-blue directed bx (MBDB) in pts with Barrett's esophagus (BE) is still unclear. Aim: To deterimine if MBDB provides a diagnostic advantage over conventional biopsy (CB) in pts with BE. Methods: 32 male pts with evidence of columnar-lined esophagus (CLE) were randomized to MBDB or CB; pts were crossover to the other method 4-8 wks later. 13 pts had long CLE (≥3cm) and 19 pts had short CLE (
Structure and properties of amorphous diamond-like carbon films produced by ion beam assisted plasma deposition

The microstructure and tribological properties of carbon film produced by ion beam assisted plasma deposition in a plasma source ion implantation (PSII) chamber with energies varied from 0 to 30 keV are examined. The process is illustrated schematically, and Raman spectra as well as TEM images and corre-sponding diffraction patterns of carbon films are shown.
Gestational exposure to diazepam increases sensitivity to convulsants that act at the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex.

Experiments examining seizure sensitivity were conducted on adult male offspring exposed to diazepam at 1.0 or 2.5 mg/kg per day in utero over gestational days 14-20. Threshold dosages to facial clonus, myoclonic jerk, clonic seizure, and extensor tonus were determined via i.v. infusion of bicuculline, methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (DMCM), picrotoxin, pentylenetetrazol, caffeine and strychnine. Relative to uninjected and vehicle-exposed adult male offspring, prenatal diazepam administration reduced the threshold for bicuculline- and DMCM-induced facial clonus and myoclonic jerk by 40-50%. The threshold dosages to facial clonus, myoclonic jerk and clonic seizure from picrotoxin infusion were similarly reduced in animals exposed to diazepam in utero. In contrast, seizure thresholds to pentylenetetrazol, caffeine and strychnine were not affected by early developmental exposure to diazepam. In parallel biochemical studies, an increased sensitivity to the antagonistic effects of bicuculline methiodide on gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA)-stimulated chloride influx was observed in cortical synaptoneurosomes from adult male progeny of diazepam-treated dams. The results are interpreted to reflect a long-lasting alteration in the function of the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex by prenatal diazepam exposure that is manifest at the behavioral and neurochemical level in a pharmacologic specific manner.
Critical performance behaviors of radiology residents: evaluation of two category systems.

Previous research has suggested that certain behavioral aspects of job performance are critical for successful performance in a diagnostic radiology residency. We report two studies conducted to determine the long-term stability of critical performance behaviors for radiology residents and refine their definitions.A trained psychology graduate student conducted critical incident interviews with 20 senior faculty in diagnostic radiology. From these interviews, the faculty generated 120 descriptions of exemplary or poor resident performance. These descriptors were then independently sorted by two radiologists into the previously defined categories of behaviors to evaluate consistency of the behaviors. As a second study, the 120 descriptors were sorted into an expanded behavioral definition system and the reproducibility, using the expanded system, was compared with the original results.The interrater reliability for placing the current incidents in the originally described behavioral categories was good (Co...
Coronal Element Comparison Observed by SOHO SUMER in the Quiet Southeast and Northwest Limb Regions at 1.04 R☉ above the Solar Disk

The composition in an isothermal region at 1.04 R☉ above a diffuse, quiet coronal region on the northwest limb is studied and compared with a similar region above the southeast limb analyzed by Warren in 1999. Elemental abundances relative to H in the corona are measured and normalized to the abundance ratios in the photosphere. The enrichment factors of the low first ionization potential elements are comparable above both limbs, but are significantly smaller than the factor of 4 in SUMER spectra obtained 2 years earlier at solar minimum in a diffuse, quiet equatorial region.