cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systematic ultrasound identification of the dorsal scapular and long thoracic nerves during interscalene block.

Background and Objectives The use of ultrasound for in-plane interscalene block shifts needle insertion to a more posterior approach through the middle scalene muscle, when compared with classic nerve stimulator techniques. Branches from the brachial plexus, including the dorsal scapular and long thoracic nerves, are often anatomically located within the middle scalene muscle. The aim of this study was to use ultrasound to identify and characterize the frequency and position of the dorsal scapular and long thoracic nerves located in the middle scalene muscle. Methods We recruited 50 subjects who presented for shoulder surgery. Before block placement, ultrasound was used to evaluate the area posterior to the brachial plexus for visible segments of the long thoracic and dorsal scapular nerves. If nerves were identified, a stimulating Tuohy needle was advanced in close proximity. Current was then applied through the needle, and motor response confirmed the visualized nerve as being either the dorsal scapular nerve or long thoracic nerve. Results Ninety percent of the subjects had a nerve visible under ultrasound assessment within or superficial to the middle scalene muscle. The nerves were located at similar depth as the perceived C6 nerve root, at 1.1 ± 0.4 cm from skin and 0.7 ± 0.4 cm posterior from the brachial plexus. Stimulation revealed that the nerve identified on ultrasound was the dorsal scapular nerve (77%) or the long thoracic nerve (23%). Conclusions This descriptive study revealed that the dorsal scapular and long thoracic nerves routinely could be identified with ultrasound.
Symptomatic coronary artery disease in patients aged 21 to 30 years

One hundred one young people (88 men, 13 women) aged 30 years or younger with arteriographically proved obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) were identified and reviewed for risk factor prevalence. The men were compared with an age and date-of-catheterization matched control group who were arteriographically normal. Significant risk factors were cigarette smoking (p = 0.001), familial CAD (p = 0.002) and familial CAD manifested by age 50 years or younger (p = 0.005). Serum cholesterol values were significantly higher in the CAD group (p = 0.0001), but in most (54%) were still less than 250 mg/dl. Arteriography showed a spectrum of CAD: 1-vessel in 57, 2-vessel in 21 and 3-vessel in 22. One patient had significant left main CAD. Follow-up was obtained for all of the 94 American subjects. One-year mortality was 3% and 5-year mortality was 20%. The causes of death were predominantly cardiac: myocardial infarction in 10 patients, congestive heart failure in 2 and sudden death in 6; 3 patients died of noncardiac causes.
A self-monitoring water bottle for tracking liquid intake

This paper presents the key concepts, system architecture, implementation details, and performance of an accelerometer-equipped bottle for monitoring and tracking liquid intake. The key system component is an elastic band, equipped with sensor and other electronics, which can be attached to a regular water bottle in order to track the bottle's usage movements. The software running on the band captures and detects acceleration signatures that the bottle experiences specifically during drinking events. Detecting such drinking events can lead to higher level monitoring such as tracking the consumed liquid volume. A Bluetooth based wireless link out of the electronic band is used for sending the detected drinking events to a smartphone or to a notebook computer for higher level tracking and data management. Different machine learning methods were adopted and experimented with for both drinking event detection and intake volume estimation. Through experiments on nine healthy subjects, the system is shown to be able to achieve up to 99% accuracy in drinking event detection, and up to 75% accuracy for intake volume estimation.
Kinetics of nascent soot oxidation by molecular oxygen in a flow reactor

Abstract Oxidation kinetics of soot is typically measured with well aged soot as substrates. Recent studies show that nascent soot can have structures and surface composition drastically different from mature, graphitized soot. In the present study, the kinetics of nascent soot oxidation by molecular oxygen was observed at temperatures of 950, 1000 and 1050 K for molecular oxygen concentrations ranging from 1000 to 7800 ppm at ambient pressure in a coupled burner-stabilized stagnation flame burner and laminar aerosol flow reactor. The reactant particles, 10–20 nm in diameter, were freshly synthesized from premixed flames of ethylene, n-heptane, and toluene and introduced into the flow reactor continuously. The kinetics of particle oxidation was measured through electric mobility measurement of particle size distributions before and after oxidation. It was found that the specific oxidation rate is has a first-order dependency on gas-phase O2 concentration over the range of O2 concentration studied. The rate measured is an order of magnitude larger than that predicted by the classical Nagle Strickland-Constable (NSC) correlation. The result suggests that the surface of nascent soot is considerably more reactive towards oxidation than graphite or graphitized soot.
A duct-streaming formula for neutrons in mazes

Abstract A semiempirical formula D(x) D(0) ∼ φ(x) φ(0) = R(x) = [1 − (1 + αx −2 ) −1 2 ] exp (− βx) is proposed, where D(x) is the thermal-neutron dose and φ(x) is the thermal-neutron flux at “reduced centerline length” x = ƒ 0 z d z[S(z)] −1 2 with z being the actual centerline length measured from the mouth of a maze or from a bend and S(z) the cross-sectional area. The formula fits well to the experimental results of the authors, Price et al., and Maerker and Muckenthaler with suitable choice of the values of the parameters α and β.
Fast prediction of the power-swing curve across transmission lines during wide area disturbances

This paper presents a fast prediction algorithm for the power-swing angle curve across a transmission line in a multi-machine power system following a major system disturbance. The methodology views the multi-machine power system from the transmission line perspective and exploits the principles of equivalent machines at each end of the transmission line as developed for the extended equal area criteria. The algorithm expands the swing center voltage concept to obtain a closed-form relation for the power-angle difference between the equivalent machines at each end of the transmission line. A curve fitting process is invoked to find the swing-curve from pairs of the power-angle estimates and the line sample power measurements. The results are compared with the time domain integral solution of the equivalent system swing equation using the center of inertia angle of the equivalent two-machine system in the post-disturbance period.
Observation and measurement of grain rotation and plastic strain in nanostructured metal thin films

Abstract The deformation behavior of nanostructured gold thin films, with grain diameters of 10 nm and film thicknesses of 10–20 nm, has been studied by means of in situ high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Grain rotation was observed by measuring the changes in the angular relationships between the lattice fringes of different grains during deformation at low strain rates. The strain tensor was calculated by measuring the relative displacements of three material points, and using an analysis similar to that for strain gage rosettes. Relative grain rotations of up to 15 degrees, along with effective plastic strains on the order of 30%, were measured. No evidence of dislocation activity was detected during or after straining. Identical experiments on coarser-grained silver thin films, with grain diameters around 110 nm, yielded clear evidence of dislocation activity. These results indicate that grain rotation and grain boundary sliding can make significant contributions to the deformation of nanostructured thin films at low homologous temperatures.
Single bath electrodeposition of CuInSe/sub 2/ and Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/ for thin film photovoltaic cells

In this paper, an electrodeposition (ED) process for growth of CuInSe/sub 2/ and Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/ films from single baths is presented. The use of buffered baths and careful selection of bath concentrations allows good control of the composition of the deposited films. Prior to cell processing, CuInSe/sub 2/ and Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/ films require recrystallization by annealing in H/sub 2/Se/Ar. Promising results have been obtained for ED CuInSe/sub 2/- and ED Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/-based devices. Optimization of the selenization treatment and a better understanding of the bath chemistry and film growth mechanism are expected to lead to significant improvements in cell performance.
Designing for dialogue in place of teacher talk and student silence

Research in classrooms reveals that the institution of school is not an empty slate, but rather is characterized by peculiar patterns of interaction which tend to be short exchanges directed by the teacher. Language teachers who wish children to learn language by participating in extended meaningful conversation, then, must consciously resist institutionally defined ‘teacher talk’. In this paper we examine a case of extended conversation in a dual-language kindergarten for clues as to how the teacher and children were able to negotiate alternative ways of engaging each other in a conversation. The purpose of the paper is to reveal both challenges and approaches for teachers to design real-life conversations in a traditional school where rigid ‘teacher talk’ dominates the classroom discourse.
Ber-EP4-positive phenotype differentiates actinic keratosis from superficial basal cell carcinoma.

Background. Well-defined histopathologic criteria exist to distinguish actinic keratosis (AK) from superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC). A similar morphology of downwardly budding dysplastic keratinocytes may occur in both entities, creating potential for errors in diagnosis. A marker that could reliably distinguish these two lesions would overcome this difficulty in diagnosis. Objective. To investigate whether Ber-EP4 staining is useful in distinguishing AK from superficial BCC, and to determine whether AK exhibits a cellular phenotype that is more consistent with BCC or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods. We subjected tissue sections from superficial BCC, AK, and squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (SIN) demonstrating epidermal budding to immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibody Ber-EP4. Results. Abnormal keratinocytes in all specimens of superficial BCC (5 of 5) were Ber-EP4 positive; all AK (10 of 10) and SIN (8 of 8) were Ber-EP4 negative. Conclusion. Ber-EP4 staining reliably distinguishes AK from superficial BCC. The lack of Ber-EP4 staining of AK supports the currently accepted pathogenetic dogma that SIN and SCC arise from AK, but BCC does not.
A Sampling Approach to Modeling and Control of a Large-Size Robot Population

Motivated by the close relation between estimation and control problems, we explore the possibility to utilize stochastic sampling for computing the optimal control for a large-size robot population. We assume that the individual robot state is composed of discrete and continuous components, while the population is controlled in a probability space. Utilizing a stochastic process, we can compute the state probability density function evolution, as well as use the stochastic process samples to evaluate the Hamiltonian defining the optimal control. The proposed method is illustrated by an example of centralized optimal control for a large-size robot population.© 2010 ASME
L-Selectin Is Down-regulated in Umbilical Cord Blood Granulocytes and Monocytes of Newborn Infants with Acute Bacterial Infection

ABSTRACT: The leukocyte glycoprotein l-selectin mediates an early step in the recruitment of leukocytes to sites of inflammation. l-Selectin surface expression is rapidly down-regulated by inflammatory signals in vitro. In a prospective study, we found l-selectin expression on umbilical cord blood granulocytes and monocytes to be significantly decreased in newborn infants with acute bacterial infection compared with controls (p < 0.01). A significantly reduced l-selectin expression of both granulocytes and monocytes was also found to be associated with an increased neutrophil immature/total ratio (p < 0.01) but not with other laboratory markers of neonatal sepsis. There was no apparent impact of prematurity, low birth weight, gestational hypertension, or gestational diabetes on l-selectin expression. Although the mode of delivery did not affect granulocyte l-selectin expression, umbilical cord blood monocytes showed an increased l-selectin expression after emergency cesarean delivery compared with samples obtained after elective cesarean or vaginal delivery (p < 0.01). We conclude that acute systemic inflammation results in down-regulation of granulocyte and monocyte l-selectin expression in vivo similar to that observed in vitro.
Matched Asymptotic Expansions, Patched Conics, and the Computation of Interplanetary Trajectories

Abstract Heliocentric ellipses, corrected for the influences of planetary attraction, are matched in the vicinity of a planet with local hyperbolas. It is found that the attraction of the destination planet alone causes a displacement of the arrival asymptote and a time-of-arrival correction which consists of two parts: a “gross” time bias and a “local” time bias, the latter depending only on the eccentricity of the arrival hyperbola. Similar corrections, including velocity corrections, are due to the planet of departure. The advantages of trajectories are pointed out.
MATRIX EFFECTS ON SPIN-LATTICE RELAXATION IN THE TRIPLET STATE OF TRYPTOPHAN

Spin−lattice relaxation (SLR) of the photoexcited triplet state of tryptophan both as the free amino acid (Trp) and also incorporated at a buried site of ribonuclease T1 from Aspergillus oryzae (RNase T1) is investigated in the ethylene glycol (EG)−water mixed solvent system. Global analysis of microwave-induced delayed phosphorescence (MIDP) transients measured at 1.2 K is employed to obtain the triplet state kinetic parameters over a range of solvent composition between 10 and 90 vol % EG. These parameters are used to calculate the phosphorescence decay profile of the triplet states that contribute to the MIDP. The experimental phosphorescence profile is fitted at each solvent composition as the sum of the calculated nonexponential decay and a simple exponential decay with lifetime equal to the average tryptophan lifetime. The phosphorescence is modeled to originate from two distinct populations characterized by either slow SLR or rapid SLR relative to the triplet state lifetime. Only the former contrib...
Feature Extraction in Two-Dimensional Short-Axis Echocardiographic Images

An automatic method for identification of the center point of the left ventricle of the myocardium during systole in two-dimensional short-axis echocardiographic images is described. This method, based on the use of large matched filters, identifies a single fixed center point during systole by locating three key features: the epicardial border along the posterior wall, the epicardial border along the anterior wall, and the endocardial border along the anterior wall. Thus it provides a first step toward the long-term goal of automatic recognition of all the endocardial and epicardial borders. An index (or normalized output value) associated with the filter used to approximate the epicardial boundary along the posterior wall provides an indication of the quality of the image and a reliability measurement of the estimate. When this method was tested on 207 image sequences, 18 images were identified by this index (applied to the end diastolic frame) as unsuitable for processing. In the remaining 189 image sequences, 173 of the automatically defined center points were judged to be in good agreement with estimates made on the end diastolic frame by an independent expert observer. Thus only 16 automatically defined centers were judged to be in poor agreement. Comparisons of the computer and expert-observer estimates were also made for the three key border locations.
The Management of Hypertension in Pregnancy

Hypertensive pregnancy disorders complicate 6% to 8% of pregnancies and cause significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The goal of treatment is to prevent significant cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events in the mother without compromising fetal well-being. Current guidelines differentiate between the treatment of women with acute hypertensive syndromes of pregnancy and women with preexisting chronic hypertension in pregnancy. This review will address the management of hypertension in pregnancy, review the various pharmacologic therapies, and discuss the future directions in this field.
The agglutination and growth inhibition of bacteria by lysine polypeptides.

Abstract Synthetic lysine polypeptides were shown to agglutinate cells of different species of bacteria at concentrations ranging from 5 to 50 μg. of polypeptide/ml. Bacterial respiration was also inhibited by the polypeptides. The lysine polypeptides caused a reversible inhibition of bacterial growth; as little as 4 μg. of polypeptide/ml. inhibited E. coli growth for as long as 68 hr. The addition of from 1 to 10 μg. of ribonucleic or desoxyribonucleic acid or a synthetic l -glutamic acid polypeptide/ml. reversed the growth inhibition. A mechanism involving combination of the basic lysine polypeptides with acidic bacterial cell surfaces is proposed to explain some of these results.
Discovery of a main-belt asteroid resembling ordinary chondrite meteorites

Although ordinary chondrite material dominates meteorite falls, the identification of a main-belt asteroid source has remained elusive. From a new survey of more than 80 small main-belt asteroids comes the discovery of one having a visible and near-infrared reflectance spectrum similar to L6 and LL6 ordinary chondrite meteorites. Asteroid 3628 Božněmcova has an estimated diameter of 7 kilometers and is located in the vicinity of the 3:1 Jovian resonance, a predicted meteorite source region. Although the discovery of a spectral match may indicate the existence of ordinary chondrite material within the main asteroid belt, the paucity of such detections remains an unresolved problem.
Automatic Testing Tool for OSCAR Using System-level Virtualization

To ensure quality, software development has to include testing mechanisms. OSCAR today supports several Linux distributions and several architectures. In such a context, the release cycle suffers of a important overhead created by the testing and stabilization phase. To address this issue, an approach is to implement a tool for automatic testing. This paper presents such a tool which is based on the OSCAR command line interface. This tool, based on system- level virtualization techniques, creates a virtual cluster to perform the test. This approach has the benefit of not corrupting the system of the physical machine and guarantee that the environment used for testing has not been corrupted before testing.
The relationship between microstructure and magnetic properties in L1/sub 0/ ordered Fe-Pd ferromagnets

Electron microscopy has been used to study the microstructural basis for enhanced coercivities in thermomechanically processed FePd ferromagnets exhibiting a fine recrystallized grain structure. The increase in magnetic hardness is attributed to a change in the domain processes which control magnetization reversal compared to those operating in the well-known polytwinned microstructures characteristic of these alloys. >
Bayesian estimation, simulation and uncertainty analysis: the cost-effectiveness of ganciclovir prophylaxis in liver transplantation.

This paper demonstrates the usefulness of combining simulation with Bayesian estimation methods in analysis of cost-effectiveness data collected alongside a clinical trial. Specifically, we use Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) to estimate a system of generalized linear models relating costs and outcomes to a disease process affected by treatment under alternative therapies. The MCMC draws are used as parameters in simulations which yield inference about the relative cost-effectiveness of the novel therapy under a variety of scenarios. Total parametric uncertainty is assessed directly by examining the joint distribution of simulated average incremental cost and effectiveness. The approach allows flexibility in assessing treatment in various counterfactual premises and quantifies the global effect of parametric uncertainty on a decision-maker's confidence in adopting one therapy over the other.
Error in the propagation of error formula

Domaine de validite de l'approximation par des series de Taylor des formules relatives a la propagation des erreurs, et conseils pratiques pour etendre ce domaine. Exemple de la constante d'equilibre de la reaction de formation de l'ammoniac (Hougen et al., 1959)
Interactive transfer function modification for volume rendering using pre-shaded sample runs

This paper describes a software-based method for interactive transfer function modification. Our approach exploits the fact that, in general, a user will rarely want to modify the viewpoint and the transfer functions at the same time. In that spirit, we optimize the latter by first fixing the viewpoint and then storing a list of pre-shaded, but uncolored, samples along each ray. Then, each time the RGBA transfer function is modified, the algorithm traverses the sample lists, colors the samples, and composites them along each ray until full opacity is reached. Since neither the expensive sample interpolation nor the shading are no longer necessary, we can obtain near-interactive framerates for a variety of datasets.
Erosive adenomatosis of the nipple treated with cryosurgery

15. Parrish JA, Fitzpatrick TB, Shea C, Pathak MA. Photochemotherapy of vitiligo. Arch Dermatol 1976; 112:1531-4. 16. Wildfang IL, Jacobsen FK, Thestrup-Pedersen K. PUVA treatment of vitiligo: a retrospective study of 59 patients. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 1992;72:305-6. 17. Halder RM, Battle EF, Smith EM. Cutaneous malignancies in patients treated with psoralen photochemotherapy (PUVA) for vitiligo. Arch Dermatol 1995;131:734-5. 18. Rhodes AR, Harrist TJ, Momtaz TK. The PUVA-induced pigmented macule: a lentiginous proliferation of large, sometimes cytologically atypical melanocytes. J Am Acad Dermatol 1983;9:47-58. European PUVA study. J Am Acad Dermatol 1987;16: 108-16. 12. Torinuki W, Tagami H. Incidence of skin cancer in Japanese psoriatic patients treated with either methoxsalen phototherapy, Goeckerman regimen, or both therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol 1988;18:1278-81. 13. Forman AB, Roenigk HH Jr, Caro WA, Magid ML. Long-term follow-up of skin cancer in the PUVA-48 cooperative study. Arch Dermatol 1989;125:515-9. 14. Tanew A, Honigsmann H, Ortel B, Zussner C, Wolff K. Nonmelanoma skin tumors in long-term photochemotherapy treatment of psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol 1986;15:960-5.
Trenching observed during sidewall formation in GaAs self-aligned refractory gate FETs

GaAs removal of /spl sim/21 nm in the form of a trench has been observed as a result of sidewall etching in a W-based refractory gate sidewall process used for self-aligned GaAs FETs. This unintentional material removal is of increasing concern as the active channel of the FET becomes shallower. Virtual elimination of trenching is achieved by changing the sidewall dielectric from SiO/sub 2/ to Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/.
Using soluble polymers to enforce catalyst-phase-selective solubility and as antileaching agents to facilitate homogeneous catalysis.

The enforced phase-selective solubility of polyisobutylene (PIB)-bound RhII catalysts in biphasic heptane/acetonitrile mixtures can be used not only to recycle these catalysts but also to minimize bimolecular reactions with ethyl diazoacetate. When cyclopropanation and OH insertion reactions are carried out with PIB-bound RhII catalysts either with or without addition of an unfunctionalized hydrocarbon polymer cosolvent, dimer by-product formation is suppressed even without slow syringe pump addition of the ethyl diazoacetate. This suppression of by-product formation is shown to be due to increased phase segregation of the soluble polymer-bound catalyst and the ethyl diazoacetate reactant. These studies also reveal that added hydrocarbon polymer cosolvents can function as antileaching agents, decreasing the already small amount of a soluble polymer-bound species that leaches into a polar phase in a biphasic mixture during a liquid/liquid separation step.
RIFFA: A Reusable Integration Framework for FPGA Accelerators

We present RIFFA, a reusable integration framework for FPGA accelerators. RIFFA provides communication and synchronization for FPGA accelerated software using a standard interface. Our goal is to expand the use of FPGAs as an acceleration platform by releasing, as open source, a no cost framework that easily integrates software on traditional CPUs with FPGA based IP cores, over PCIe, with minimal custom configuration. RIFFA requires no specialized hardware or fee licensed IP cores. It can be deployed on common Linux workstations with a PCIe bus and has been tested on two different Linux distributions using Xilinx FPGAs.
LOGICAL FORMS IN THE CORE LANGUAGE ENGINE

This paper describes a 'Logical Form' target language for representing the literal meaning of English sentences, and an intermediate level of representation ('Quasi Logical Form') which engenders a natural separation between the compositional semantics and the processes of scoping and reference resolution. The approach has been implemented in the SRI Core Language Engine which handles the English constructions discussed in the paper.
Muscle oxygen transport and utilization in heart failure: implications for exercise (in)tolerance.

The defining characteristic of chronic heart failure (CHF) is an exercise intolerance that is inextricably linked to structural and functional aberrations in the O2 transport pathway. CHF reduces m...
REDEMPTION IN THE PRESENCE OF WIDESPREAD CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS

Criminal background checks have now become ubiquitous because of advances in information technology and growing concerns about employer liability. Also, a large number of individual criminal records have accumulated and have been computerized in state repositories and commercial databases. As a result, many ex-offenders seeking employment could be haunted by a stale record. Recidivism probability declines with time “clean,” so some point in time is reached when a person with a criminal record, who remained free of further contact with the criminal justice system, is of no greater risk than a counterpart of the same age—an indication of redemption from the mark of crime. Very little information exists on this measure of time until redemption and on how its value varies with the crime type and the offender's age at the time of the earlier event. Using data from a state criminal-history repository, we estimate the declining hazard of rearrest with time clean. We first estimate a point of redemption as the time when the hazard intersects the age–crime curve, which represents the arrest risk for the general population of the same age. We also estimate another similar redemption point when the declining hazard comes “sufficiently close” to the hazard of those who have never been arrested. We estimate both measures of redemption as a function of the age and the crime type of the earlier arrest. These findings aid in the development of guidelines for the users of background checking and in developing regulations to enhance employment opportunities for ex-offenders.
Redundant causation from a sufficient cause perspective

Sufficient causes of disease are redundant when an individual acquires the components of two or more sufficient causes. In this circumstance, the individual still would have become diseased even if one of the sufficient causes had not been acquired. In the context of a study, when any individuals acquire components of more than one sufficient cause over the observation period, the etiologic effect of the exposure (defined as the absolute or relative difference between the proportion of the exposed who develop the disease by the end of the study period and the proportion of those individuals who would have developed the disease at the moment they did even in the absence of the exposure) may be underestimated. Even in the absence of confounding and bias, the observed effect estimate represents only a subset of the etiologic effect. This underestimation occurs regardless of the measure of effect used.
Compensation of input current distortion in three-phase buck rectifiers

An overlap time for two commutating switches is necessary to prevent current interruption in a three-phase buck rectifier, but it may cause input current distortion. In this paper, a modified pulse-based compensation method is proposed to compensate for the overlap time. In addition to the traditional method which places the overlap time based on the voltage polarity, this new method first minimizes the overlap time to reduce its effect and then compensates the pulse width according to the sampled voltage and current. It is verified by experiments that the proposed method has better performance than the traditional method, especially when the line-to-line voltage crosses zero. Another distortion comes from the irregular pulse distribution when two sectors change in a 12-sector space vector PWM. This paper proposes two compensation methods for that scenario as well, compensating the duty cycle and increasing switching frequency near the boundaries of two sectors. It is shown through experiments that both methods can reduce the input current distortion in the buck rectifier.
A breadth-first survey of eye-tracking applications

Eye-tracking applications are surveyed in a breadth-first manner, reporting on work from the following domains: neuroscience, psychology, industrial engineering and human factors, marketing/advertising, and computer science. Following a review of traditionally diagnostic uses, emphasis is placed on interactive applications, differentiating between selective and gaze-contingent approaches.
The effect of intentional weight loss on all-cause mortality in older adults: results of a randomized controlled weight-loss trial–

Background: Despite the reported benefits, weight loss is not always advised for older adults because some observational studies have associated weight loss with increased mortality. However, the distinction between intentional and unintentional weight loss is difficult to make in an observational context, so the effect of intentional weight loss on mortality may be clarified in the setting of a randomized controlled trial. Objective: The objective was to determine the effect of intentional weight loss on all-cause mortality by using follow-up data from a randomized trial completed in 1995 that included a weight-loss arm. Design: The Trial of Nonpharmacologic Intervention in the Elderly (TONE) used a 2 × 2 factorial design to determine the effect of dietary weight loss, sodium restriction, or both on blood pressure control in 585 overweight or obese older adults being treated for hypertension (mean ± SD age: 66 ± 4 y; 53% female). All-cause mortality was ascertained by using the Social Security Index and National Death Index through 2006. Results: The mortality rate of those who were randomly assigned to the weight-loss intervention (n = 291; mean weight loss: 4.4 kg) did not differ significantly from that of those who were not randomly assigned to this group (n = 294; mean weight loss: 0.8 kg). The adjusted HR was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.55, 1.22). Conclusions: Intentional dietary weight loss was not significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality over 12 y of follow-up in older overweight or obese adults. Additional studies are needed to confirm and extend our findings to older age groups. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00000535.
Permeability of peach leaf cuticles to boron

Abstract Isolated leaf cuticles and intact plants of one‐year‐old potted ‘Red Haven’ trees grown in the greenhouse were used to study the permeability of leaf cuticles to boron (B). The isolated leaf cuticles were prepared enzymatically. Flux was determined using a transport cell. Permeability coefficient (P) was calculated and used as the parameter of cuticle permeability to B. For intact plant studies, enriched‐10B boric acid solution was evenly spread onto the abaxial or the adaxial side of a leaf. The trees were sacrificed three days after the treatment and selected plant parts were analyzed with ICP‐AES and ICP‐MS spectrometers. The 10B content was used as the parameter of B permeability in vivo. The permeability coefficient of peach leaf adaxial cuticle was in the order of 10‐7 cm/sec. There were no difference in the permeability coefficients among B concentration and surtactant treatments. The pH had variable effect on B absorption through the cuticle of the adaxial side of the leaf. For the in viv...
Magnetic resonance imaging of the wrist: bone and cartilage injury.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is particularly useful for imaging the wrist due to its superior soft tissue contrast and ability to detect subtle bone marrow changes and occult fractures. A high field (1.5T or greater) strength, dedicated wrist coil, and high in-plane and through-plane resolution must be utilized to successfully visualize the relatively thin cartilage of the wrist. MRI can be used to detect occult carpal bone fractures, identify complications following scaphoid fractures, and assess for avascular necrosis in the setting in Kienbock's and Preiser's disease. MRI is useful to identify secondary soft tissue and chondral pathology in impaction/impingement syndromes. The use of an intermediate-echo time fast spin echo sequence allows for accurate assessment of articular cartilage, allowing evaluation of chondral wear in the setting of primary osteoarthritis and posttraumatic degenerative arthrosis. MRI is the most sensitive imaging modality for the detection of early inflammatory arthropathies and can detect synovitis, bone marrow edema, and early erosions in the setting of negative radiographs.
ECONOMIC DYNAMISM AND THE CHALLENGE TO COMMUNITY

The bourgeoisie, wherever it has got the upper hand, has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic relations. It has pitilessly torn assunder the motley feudal ties that bound man to his “natural superiors,” and has left remaining no other nexus between man and man than naked self‐interest, than callous “cash payment.” It has drowned the most heavenly ecstasies of religious fervour, of chivalrous enthusiasm, of philistine sentimentalism, in the icy water of egotistical calculation (Marx, 1848: 475).
The Chemistry of Boron and Titanium Diboride Formation: Decomposition of TiCl4 and BCl3 in Hydrogen and Helium

Measurements of the decomposition of mixtures of boron trichloride (BCl 3 ), titanium tetrachloride (TiCl 4 ), and hydrogen at elevated temperatures are presented. The decomposition of BCl 3 with hydrogen appears to drive the chemistry in this system. The species depositing boron on the surface contains at least 2 chlorine atoms. Once deposited, the surface chlorine is removed by reaction with hydrogen to form HCl and, presumably, surface B-H bonds.
Prestige as a factor influencing the validity of decisions in intercollegiate debate

This study examines the variable “prestige” as it affects decisions in intercollegiate debate. Operationally defining prestige as a function of participation in the National Debate Tournament, the study reports models for predicting the results of intercollegiate debates on the basis of the prestige rating for the schools and judge involved.
Ductile phase toughened ceramics by partial reduction reactions in the Ni-Al-O system: Mechanical properties and effect of dopants

Partial reduction reactions in the Ni-Al-O system, starting with the spinel compound NiAl{sub 2}O{sub 4}, are used to form metal-ceramic microstructures in situ. Two different morphologies of nearly pure Ni particles, equiaxed and rod-like, form within a ceramic matrix depending on the choice of processing parameters. Electron microscopy studies were performed for microstructural characterization, phase identification and chemical analysis. The fracture toughness of the Ni-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} mixture was significantly improved with respect to that of the original spinel phase. It is shown that cracking at the original spinel grain boundaries, likely due to the large volume changes associated with the reduction reaction, can be avoided by the addition of small amounts of ZrO{sub 2}. It is seen that ZrO{sub 2} also acts as a nucleation site for the precipitating metal and hence allows morphology control in microstructures obtained by partial reduction reactions.
Use of Variable Incidence Angle for Glide Slope Control of Autonomous Parafoils

Strictly speaking, most autonomous parafoil and payload systems possess only lateral control, achieved by right and left parafoil brake deflection. An innovative technique to achieve direct longitudinal control through incidence angle changes is reported. Addition of this extra control channel requires simple rigging changes and an additional servoactuator. The ability of incidence angle to alter the glide slope of a parafoil and payload aircraft is demonstrated through a flight-test program with a microparafoil system. Results from the flight-test program are synthesized and integrated into a six degree-of-freedom simulation. The simulation model is subsequently used to assess the utility of glide slope control to improve autonomous flight control system performance. Through Monte Carlo simulation, impact point statistics with and without glide slope control indicate that dramatic improvements in impact point statistics are possible using direct glide slope control.
Sustainability Of Substantially Equal Periodic Payments In Early Retirement Under Section 72(t)

Early distributions from tax-deferred retirement plans are allowed without penalty but must continue under for the longer of five years or until the retiree’s age 59½. Early distributions under IRS Section 72(t) potentially have life altering consequences and thus require analysis of sustainability distributions through the 72(t) period.
Archaeology: Sources of Chaco wood

Tree rings can pinpoint the source of wood as well as how old it is. This method has now been used to identify the sources of timber used by the Native Americans who constructed the pre-Columbian 'great houses' of Chaco Canyon.
Active and Passive Localization: Similarities and Differences

This paper compares Cramer-Rao bounds for active and passive localization of a target using an array of receiving sensors. It considers the effect on localization accuracy of uncertainties in array geometry and demonstrates that they are similar in active and passive systems. It further demonstrates that signal timing inaccuracies can seriously degrade the performance of the active system, in extreme cases reducing it to a level comparable with that of the passive system.
Measles antibodies in multiple sclerosis.

SummaryExamination of the sera of patients with multiple sclerosis by neutralization and complement-fixation tests revealed slightly higher antibody titers to measles virus than control subjects. The cerebral spinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis showed measurable antibody titers to measles virus in over 75% of the cases tested, whereas control subjects have shown no evidence of antibodies. The finding of elevated measles antibodies in the serum and spinal fluid of patients with MS does not imply or indicate a direct relationship but warrants continuing investigation.
Systematics of Spiny Pocket Mice (Genus Heteromys) of the Desmarestianus Species Group from México and Northern Central America

Nongeographic and geographic variation is assessed in the desmarestianus species group of the genus Heteromys (exclusive of H. gaumeri ). Concordant results of cranial, external, and bacular variation reveal that the desmarestianus -group is represented in northern Middle America by two species, H. desmarestianus and H. goldmani . H. longicaudatus and H. lepturus are indistinguishable from H. desmarestianus . H. temporalis is arranged as a subspecies of H. desmarestianus .
Multicomponent Double Diels‐Alder/Nazarov Tandem Cyclization of Symmetric Cross‐conjugated Diynones to Generate [6‐5‐6] Tricyclic Products

The construction of complex polycyclic terpenoid products in an efficient and step-economical manner using multicomponent and tandem processes is highly valuable. Herein, we report a tandem cyclization sequence that initiates with a multicomponent double Diels-Alder reaction of cross-conjugated diynones, followed by a Nazarov cyclization to efficiently produce [6-5-6] tricyclic products with excellent regio- and diastereoselectivity. This methodology generates five new carbon-carbon bonds, three rings, quaternary or vicinal quaternary carbons, and stereogenic centers in a one-pot reaction.
Experimental study on disturbing effect of pulsed laser against array CCD imaging systems

In order to study the disturbing effect of pulsed laser against an array CCD,experiment of CCD imaging system disturbed by repeated pulse laser was carried out at short-distance. Crosstalk effect of the CCD was observed and recorded at an energy density of 2. 97 mJ /cm2 received by the CCD detector. When the electric shutter of the CCD vidicon was turned on,the images of excursion laser spots were found in the vertical direction of the laser radiation windows except for laser beam spot image. Operation principle of the electric shutter and the transfer mechanism of the CCD were analyzed.Phenomena of laser spot excursion were explained. Experimental results indicate that CCD images can be disturbed by the spot excursion caused by repeated pulse laser. The result lays the academic foundation and elementary experiment for CCD disturbed by repeated pulsed laser.
The role of transrectal aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of prostatic cancer.

AbstractWe reviewed our experience with transrectal aspiration biopsy during an 18-month period. This procedure was the sole technique used in 75 men and prostatic cancer was diagnosed in 19. Two of these patients were not treated because a core biopsy performed at another hospital was negative for carcinoma. Aspiration and transperineal core biopsies were performed in 62 other cases. The sensitivity of aspiration to diagnose prostatic cancer was 98 per cent (45 of 46 biopsies) compared to only 81 per cent (37 of 46) for the core biopsy method. No patient suffered a complication following the aspiration biopsy.These data further support the value of transrectal aspiration biopsy as a sensitive, easy to perform method for sampling an abnormal prostate. More widespread use of this technique in the United States should be encouraged.
Computation of Flowfields for Hypersonic Flight at High Altitudes

Numerical simulation of flows in the transitional regime between continuum and free-molecular flow is becoming increasingly important. Transportation between space orbits of different altitudes as well as atmospheric reentry demands numerical simulation methods in the transitional regime of the Earth’s upper atmosphere. With the commitment to build a permanently manned station in space, it is clear that there will be an increased interest1 in near-Earth missions. Some of the space vehicles under consideration will perform maneuvers at sufficiently high altitudes to make rarefaction effects important. Of particular interest are the aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicles (AOTV), high lift-to-drag vehicles that perform maneuvers such as synergetic plane changes (utilizing both aerodynamic and propulsive forces), and transatmospheric vehicles (TAV) that experience hypervelocity flight up to orbital speeds at the outer fringes of the atmosphere.
‘Ask for the Old Paths’: Johnson and the Nonjurors

Following the recent disputes concerning Johnson’s politics, one hesitates to use the words Nonjuror and Samuel Johnson in the same sentence. My aim in this essay, however, is not to determine whether Johnson was himself a Nonjuror, but rather to try to determine what Johnson knew and thought about one particular theological debate among the Nonjurors. That debate is the usages controversy, a dispute about some proposed modifications to the Anglican liturgy that began among the Nonjurors in 1716 and ultimately precipitated a pamphlet war and schism among them. As we shall see, there are reasons for believing that Johnson was interested in and knowledgeable about this debate. What is more, the usages controversy offers a window onto some larger tensions in Johnson’s own religious and political thinking.
Optimization of diffusion furnace loading based on substrate and recipe selection

Traditional furnace batching in semiconductor manufacturing considers trade offs between wait-to-batch time and processing time to determine cycle reductions afforded by batching. An interesting aspect of this problem is the creation of potential batching opportunities through the appropriate insertion of substrates at the start of the line. In this paper we present a Mixed Integer Programming model as a decision support tool to provide substrate selection recommendations based on wafer start requirements with the objective of maximizing batching opportunities in the diffusion furnace, with consequent reductions in the furnace loading. Our MIP model takes into account the exclusivity requirements and aid the substrate material and recipe selection process for weekly starts in the Fab. We have achieved a 10% improvement in the overall furnace loading.
Foreclosure, Inequality, and the Difference That Place Makes†

While the Great Recession and the associated rise in foreclosures significantly impacted households across the United States, default rates in rural areas and rural-urban foreclosure differences have failed to attract substantial research attention. To expand the scale and scope of the foreclosure literature, this article examines place-based differences in estimated foreclosure rates across U.S. counties, which are classified as urban, suburban, micropolitan, or rural. Defaults are considered both overall and for each county classification, and are related to income distribution and inequality, homeownership, adjudication of default, place-based factors including amenity scores and proximity to urban areas, and geographic region. The article finds a complex relationship among these variables, with inequality itself negatively associated with default rates and lower-middle−income households positively related to foreclosure. Further, while proximity to urban areas is positively related to foreclosure rates among nonurban counties, natural amenities are related to lower default rates in these areas. The article concludes by considering policy implications, and recommends expanding foreclosure mitigation and prevention strategies to nonurban places.