cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why Do Different Cultures Form and Persist in a Shared Institutional Environment? Learning from a Natural Experiment at Makerere University

Culture is a central concept in the social sciences, but it is often conflated with institutions. Conceptually, I argue that culture and institutions greatly overlap but are distinct. Empirically, I study the oldest university in East Africa and a cradle of political elites, Makerere University, where halls of residence developed distinct cultures in the 1970s such that some hall cultures are activist while others are respectful to authorities even though assignment to halls has been random since 1970. I leverage this unique setting to understand how culture forms and affects the values and behaviors of young elites living in a shared institutional environment. Participant observation, interviews, and archives suggest that cultural differences arose from critical junctures that biased group/hall composition and from intergroup/interhall competition. Hall governments promote cultural and institutional persistence through the intergenerational transmission of norms and practices, thereby highlighting the role of political hierarchy in reproducing culture.
WE-AB-BRB-06: A Temperature Independent Plastic Scintillation Detector Capable of Simultaneous Dose and Temperature Measurement

Purpose: To evaluate a measurement method that renders plastic scintillation detectors temperature independent and capable of recovering dose and temperature information simultaneously. Methods: A novel approach was developed to account for the temperature dependence of plastic scintillation detectors (PSDs) without prior knowledge of the temperature. To enable this, the optical response of the scintillating element is separated into two sub-components, one being the response at a given temperature and the other accounting for the change in the optical emission spectrum with temperature. Using a previously demonstrated hyperspectral approach and following the proper calibration protocol, the contribution to scintillator emission and physical value of both dose and temperature can be obtained in real-time. To validate the method, dose and temperature were measured under cobalt irradiation in a temperature controlled water tank developed for this study. The temperature was varied from 22°C to 42°C. Depth-dose curves were also obtained during irradiations from a linear accelerator, first maintaining the water at room temperature and then warming it to 40°C and letting it cool down naturally over the course of the second measurement. Results: Dose measurements delivered with the Co-60 unit showed an average relative difference to the expected value of (1.0±0.8)%, with a maximum difference of 2.3% over the entire range of temperatures. The measured temperatures using the PSD were all within 1°C of the expected values. The difference between room temperature and warmer depth dose measurements differed by only (1.2±0.4)%. The dosimeter showed to be accurate for temporal resolution down to 0.1s. Conclusion: The proposed method was shown to reliably correct for the temperature dependence of a PSD. Additionally, it makes it possible to assess the temperature at the point of measurement. These are significant advances in PSD technology, particularly in relation to real-time in vivo dosimetry. Part of this research was supported by the Odyssey Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Epidemiology of fetal alcohol syndrome in a South African community in the Western Cape Province.

OBJECTIVES: This study determined the characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome in a South African community, and methodology was designed for the multidisciplinary study of fetal alcohol syndrome in developing societies. METHODS: An active case ascertainment, 2-tier methodology was used among 992 first-grade pupils. A case-control design, using measures of growth, development, dysmorphology, and maternal risk, delineated characteristics of children with fetal alcohol syndrome. RESULTS: A high rate of fetal alcohol syndrome was found in the schools--40.5 to 46.4 per 1000 children aged 5 to 9 years--and age-specific community rates (ages 6-7) were 39.2 to 42.9. These rates are 18 to 141 times greater than in the United States. Rural residents had significantly more fetal alcohol syndrome. After control for ethnic variation, children with fetal alcohol syndrome had traits similar to those elsewhere: poor growth and development, congruent dysmorphology, and lower intellectual functioning. CONCLUSIONS: This study documented the highest fetal alcohol syndrome rate to date in an overall community population. Fetal alcohol syndrome initiatives that incorporate innovative sampling and active case ascertainment methods can be used to obtain timely and accurate data among developing populations.
Parallelization of DOALL and DOACROSS Loops—a Survey

Abstract Since loops in programs are the major source of parallelism, considerable research has been focused on strategies for parallelizing loops. For DOALL loops, loops can be allocated to processors either statically or dynamically. When the execution times of individual iterations vary, dynamic schemes can achieve better load balance, albeit at a higher runtime scheduling cost. The inter-iteration dependencies of DOACROSS loops can be constant (regular DOACROSS loops) or variable (irregular DOACROSS loops). In our research, we have proposed and tested two loop allocation techniques for regular DOACROSS loops, known as Staggered distribution (SD) and Cyclic Staggered (CSD) distribution. This article analyzes several classes of loop allocation algorithms for parallelizing DOALL, regular, and irregular DOACROSS loops.
The chemical history of $^{14}{\rm C}$ in deep oilfields

14C is an overwhelming background in low-background underground experiments, to the point where the observation of the all-important (pp) neutrinos from the Sun can not be observed in carbon-containing experiments. This paper shows that 14C purity can be improved by four orders of magnitude by a careful selection of the gas field. Two large reduction factors are at work: the low chemical affinity of methane to single carbon, and the migration of natural gas away from nitrogen-bearing kerogen during as the oilfield matures.
Learning Episodes for Optimization

Real-world problems often require optimizing a solution for various constraints. Application systems for many of these optimization problems already exist. These systems efficiently encode a core set of knowledge for solving problems in their domain. Where these systems fail is at dealing with the exceptions to the core knowledge. By learning to recognize these exceptions, the quality of the solutions can be further improved. In this paper we describe EASe, a method for learning these exceptions. EASe uses search on simple problems to learn episodes where improvement on a solution was possible. These are then reapplied to improve the quality of more complex solutions. We demonstrate EASe with empirical results from experiments with a set of benchmark problems from the logic synthesis domain.
Mechanical interactions regulated kinetics and morphology of composite electrodes in Li-ion batteries

Abstract Li-ion batteries are a system that features strong coupling between mechanical stresses and electrochemical reactions. Prior studies on stresses in electrodes are focused on single particles or mono-phase materials. The kinetics and morphology of composite electrodes regulated by the mechanical interactions are much less exploited. We integrate a continuum theory of coupled diffusion and large elasto-plastic deformation into a finite element program. Such a computational tool enables us to explore the intimate coupling between the lithiation kinetics and stresses in three-dimensional electrodes that are composed of multiple components. We find that Li profiles and stress states in multiple particles constrained by a matrix are significantly different from that in a free-standing configuration. The mechanical interactions regulate Li chemical potential in Si nanowires and transform the anisotropic deformation to an isotropic behavior and vice versa. The modeling is in good agreement with a recent experimental report.
5D seismic data completion and denoising using a novel class of tensor decompositions

ABSTRACTWe have developed a novel strategy for simultaneous interpolation and denoising of prestack seismic data. Most seismic surveys fail to cover all possible source-receiver combinations, leading to missing data especially in the midpoint-offset domain. This undersampling can complicate certain data processing steps such as amplitude-variation-with-offset analysis and migration. Data interpolation can mitigate the impact of missing traces. We considered the prestack data as a 5D multidimensional array or otherwise referred to as a 5D tensor. Using synthetic data sets, we first found that prestack data can be well approximated by a low-rank tensor under a recently proposed framework for tensor singular value decomposition (tSVD). Under this low-rank assumption, we proposed a complexity-penalized algorithm for the recovery of missing traces and data denoising. In this algorithm, the complexity regularization was controlled by tuning a single regularization parameter using a statistical test. We tested t...
Stationary waves on oceanic density fronts

Abstract Persistent density fronts are a well recognized feature of the upper ocean, with the Gulf Stream front representing the best known example. Their mean flows are strong, along-front baroclinic jets that have order one Rossby numbers and are thus not inherently geostrophic. Usually the fronts are shallow features with pycnocline depths only a few percent of the total water depth, the Gulf Stream being an exception. Large-scale, large-amplitude waves or meanders frequently disturb the fronts with phase speeds that are slow compared to the mean current. A simple model of such waves is developed where a shallow, upper layer is treated, uncoupled from the heavier, lower layer (barotropic model). The flow basic state is essentially that suggested by Stommel as a simple model for the Gulf Stream. The potential vorticity of the upper-layer water in the frontal zone is taken to be uniform and equal to that in the adjacent reservoir of light water from which it originated. Thus, the basic state has zero cross-stream potential vorticity gradient in both layers. Small-amplitude, free wave perturbation solutions are found with zero phase speed relative to the heavier water. Thus the frontal meanders are stationary for all permitted along-front wave numbers. The waves are frontal trapped and occur as a sequence of normal modes. The lowest mode has a wavelength maximum of about 1.5 internal Rossby radii. The wave dynamics is ageostrophic. Perturbations in layer depth and downstream velocity are nearly out of phase while cross-stream velocity is in quadrature phase, thus producing zero mean wave-induced Reynolds stress. There is then no mechanism for energy exchange between the waves and the basic state, consistent with the steady-state wave solutions found. The condition may be altered, however, by small but finite, cross-stream flow in the basic state, neglected in the present model.
410 PREGNANT COCAINE ABUSERS AND THEIR INFANTS

Cocaine (C) abuse is a major public health problem. To study the effects of C abuse on the course of pregnancy and infant development, we have been following 2 groups of pregnant women; one on C and one drug-free. The data were analyzed in 3 groups: GP1, drug-free; GP2, methadone maintenance(M) and C abuse; GP3, C used in combination with marijuana and/or alcohol. For all findings reported, p<.05. GPs 2&3 commenced prenatal care later, with less frequent clinic visits and less adequate nutrition. Beer consumption was higher in GP2; hard liquor intake in GP3. C abuse was similar in both groups, but marijuana abuse was greater in GP3. Drug abuse decreased as gestation progressed. There were no differences in the incidence of perinatal complications, 5min. Apgar score, or gestational age. However, mean birthweight, head circumference(HC), and length(L) were significantly smaller in GP2. Mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms occur red in 73% of GP2 and 25% of GP3. Neonatal course was similar in all groups. Infants with an uncomplicated course were enrolled in follow-up. At 6 mo., GP2 again demonstrated smaller weight, HC, and L, and more frequent hypertonici ty and irritabi1ity. The groups did not differ on the Bayley Scales or any other variables. In conclusion, C abusers comprise a high risk group during pregnancy, with frequent multidrug abuse and poor nutrition. The infants of mothers on both M and C appear to be at greatest risk for low weight, HC, and L from birth through 6 mo. While infants of C abusers did not differ from controls in growth and development, only further follow-up will show if any longterm effects occur.
Broadening the Paradigm of Marketing as Exchange: A Public Policy and Marketing Perspective

The academic discipline of marketing faces concerns of relevance, which scholars ignore at their peril. These concerns evolve from three sources: (1) theoretical disregard of the majority of people in favor of a narrow, affluent socioeconomic subset; (2) languages of research and practice that dehumanize people with whom marketers engage and exchange; and (3) paradigmatic constructs that eliminate systemic realities and challenges from consideration. Consequently, most theories and practices strip away people's heterogeneity in favor of simplistic ways of measuring success. In this article, the authors argue that this situation demands a new paradigm to guide public policy and marketing scholars. These new perspectives advocate the theoretical understanding of people through bioeconomic exchange and recognize that the ability to market brings societal responsibilities beyond the limited efforts to date. Furthermore, measures of success must integrate what marketing does, how it is done, and what it fails ...
Pd nanoparticle aging and its implications in the suzuki cross-coupling reaction.

Examination of the catalysts recovered in the N,N-dihexylcarbodiimide−palladium nanoparticle composite catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reactions revealed that the metal nanoparticles transformed gradually from spherical-shape to larger needle-shaped crystals. Two types of Ostwald ripening processes were observed. One involves rapid aggregation of the incipient nanoparticle catalyst (2−5 nm) into blackberry-like assemblies (100−200 nm), which is accompanied with the much slower dissolution of small crystals or amorphous nanoparticles and the formation of larger needle-shaped crystals. The observed structural changes provided new insights into the durability of the polymer nanoparticle composite catalyst.
Sleep complaints in older blacks: do demographic and health indices explain poor sleep quality and duration?

Objective:To examine the relationship between measures of sleep quality and the presence of commonly encountered comorbid and sociodemographic conditions in elderly Black subjects.Method:Analyses i...
Comment on "Derivation and Significance of Second-Order Modal Design Sensitivities"

B derivation of the "second-order modal design sensitivities" leads to results identical to the fir stand second-order terms obtained from Rayleigh's classical perturbation theory for variations in stiffness, but the second-order terms are in error for variations in mass. Rayleigh's methods are well known in the literature." His formulation is general and valid whether the eigenvalue problem is in matrix, differential, or integral equation form. Brandon's perturbation eigenvalue problem in matrix form is
Linguistic transformation and reflection in Janet Frame's living in the Maniototo

(1987). Linguistic transformation and reflection in Janet Frame's living in the Maniototo. World Literature Written in English: Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 320-326.
Philip the Chancellor on the Beginning of Time

Philip the Chancellor was the first of a new generation of medieval theologians to engage the question of whether the world could have been infinite in past duration. This paper examines Philip’s Summa de bono in order to show, first, how Philip handles the Aristotelian material that seems to prove that past time is infinite in duration, a claim that placed Aristotle in direct conflict with the religious orthodoxy of his day. Second, though Philip himself believed that past time was necessarily finite in a created world, this paper will show how his arguments for this position have weaknesses that allowed later thinkers to build upon Philip’s distinctions between time and eternity to demonstrate the conceptual possibility of a created world infinite in past duration.
A sectoral approach to promoting women's work: Lessons from India

Abstract Because government policy makers do not view women as productive workers, women are left out of sectoral economic planning. Donor agencies could help bring women into the mainstream of the planning process and the economy by commissioning studies of women's work by sectors and by supporting sector-based pilot projects that involve women. In India this has been done successfully in at least two fields: dairying and silk production. Nongovernmental agencies working with donor agencies have effectively influenced government policy. This has not, however, taken place in agriculture, where most women work.
Imaging of epidermal growth factor receptor on single breast cancer cells using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is widely used as a biomarker for pathological grading and therapeutic targeting of human cancers. This study investigates expression, spatial distribution as well as the endocytosis of EGFR in single breast cancer cells using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). By incubating anti-EGFR antibody conjugated SERS nanoprobes with an EGFR-over-expressing cancer cell line, A431, EGFR localization was measured over time and found to be located primarily at the cell surface. To further validate the constructed SERS probes, we applied this SERS probes to detect the EGFR expression on breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-435, MDA-MB-231) and their counterpart cell lines in which EGFR expression was down-regulated by breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1). The results showed that SERS method not only confirms immunoblot data measuring EGFR levels, but also adds new insights regarding EGFR localization and internalization in living cells which is impossible in immunoblot method. Thus, SERS provides a powerful new tool to measure biomarkers in living cancer cells.
Ab initio structures and energetics of selected hydrogenated silicon clusters containing six to ten silicon atoms

The structures and energies of eight fully saturated polycyclic polysilanes Si H , Si H , Si H , Si H , Si H , 68 6 10 7 8 7 10 8 12 . Si H , Si H , and Si H were investigated using ab initio molecular orbital calculations. Structures and vibrational 91 4 10 14 10 16 . . frequencies were computed at the HFr3-21G d level. A complete basis set extrapolation method CBS-4 was used to calculate the energies of the structures. Heats of formation were evaluated based on homodesmotic reactions involving disilane, trisilane, and isotetrasilane. The calculations predict a negative free energy of reaction for cluster formation from . silane with H as a by-product for conditions typically used in chemical vapor deposition of silicon from silane. q 1999 2
Lanthanide-induced proton, carbon, and phosphorus NMR shifts for a series of organophosphorus compounds☆

Abstract The lanthanide-induced proton, carbon-13, and phorphorus-31 NMR shifts for with Eu(DPM) 3 , Eu(FOD) 3 , Pr(DPM) 3 and Pr(FOD) 3 are reported. Proton shifts are dominated by the pseudo-contact effect for all ligands. Carbon shifts are dominated by the pseudo-contact effect with contact interactions found for the phosphine and phosphoryl compounds. Large 31 P contact shifts are found for the phosphoryl compounds and triethyl phosphine where direct phosphoryl-oxygen or phosphorus complexation occurs. Proton and 13 C results with europium and praseodymium reagents show evidence of different complexation mechanisms with triethyl phosphite. Large pseudo-contact phosphorus-31 shifts for triethyl phosphite indicate little or no direct phosphorus-lanthanide interaction.
On serrated yielding and negative strain-rate sensitivity

Abstract Negative strain-rate sensitivity is shown to be a common feature in a variety of materials provided test conditions are chosen such that serrated yielding (the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect) occurs. An instability is shown to exist in the dislocation velocity ( v )- stress (τ) relation, which leads to negative values of ∂ log τ ∂ log v during serrated flow. This effect is rationalized in terms of the interaction of mobile dislocations with solute atmospheres.
Preventing local anesthesia toxicity.

In “Preventing Local Anesthesia Toxicity: A Case Report,” Dr. Paul A. Moore provides guidelines for using local anesthesia in pediatric patients. A pediatric patient’s rare reaction to amide local anesthesia calls for a review of the prevention and treatment of toxic reactions.
Seasonality and depth distribution of a mesopelagic foraminifer, Hastigerinella digitata, in Monterey Bay, California

We investigated the habitat depth and population dynamics of mesopelagic foraminifera in Monterey Bay, California, using 12 yr of video surveys and specimens from live collections. The water column over Monterey Canyon continuously supports two distinct species of mesopelagic foraminifera, Hastigerinella digitata and a previously unknown species referred to as Hastigerina sp., with H. digitata dominating the planktonic foraminiferal assemblage at mesopelagic depths. H. digitata populations live within a narrow depth horizon that lies above the core of the regional oxygen minimum zone at a depth of 280–358 m and O2 concentrations of 1–1.3 mL L−1. Our observations provide a modern calibration for understanding fossil digitate planktonic foraminifera. We observed numerous copepods in various stages of ingestion on the spines of H. digitata and a conspicuous lack of detritus attached to the spine network, providing support for the hypothesis that H. digitata is an obligate carnivore. H. digitata populations did not show the strong two-phase seasonality that characterizes the population dynamics of many mesopelagic species that live above the Monterey Canyon, although H. digitata was generally more abundant in cooler waters on seasonal and interannual timescales.
Computation of the fractal dimension of topographic surfaces using the triangular prism surface area method

Abstract A new method is proposed to calculate the fractional (fractal) dimension of topographic surfaces. The method uses a three-dimensional geometric equivalent of the “walking dividers” method in two dimensions. that is it takes elevation values at the corners of squares, interpolates a center value, divides the square into four triangles, and then computes the surface areas of the tops of the prisms which result from raising the triangles to their given elevations. By repeating this calculation for different size squares, the relationship between the total area of the topographic surface and the spacing of the squares is established, and used to estimate the fractal dimension. A computer program in the C programming language is presented to read digital terrain matrices and compute the fractal dimension of the surface using the method. Some test data sets are provided along with their computed fractal dimensions. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of the method are discussed.
Nitrogen equality is not a myth

Abstract The fundamental physiological concept that elemental nitrogen is inert in the mammalian body and that consequently the amount of nitrogen expired in the steady state equals the amount inspired has recently been questioned. If expired nitrogen exceeds the amount inspired, as has been claimed, the concentration of nitrogen in the mixed venous blood in the pulmonary artery must be higher than that in arterial blood. We therefore analyzed pulmonary arterial and arterial blood simultaneously in unanesthetized dogs. We studied two dogs who had been trained to stand quietly in a sling. They were judged to be in the steady state when their rectal temperature and heart rate remained constant over a twenty minute period. Eleven pairs of blood were analyzed when the dogs were fasting and fourteen pairs one or two hours after the dogs ate meals high in protein. Our analyses were precise to within 0.6 μl/ml and we found no evidence of a difference in N 2 content between mixed venous and arterial blood. The mean N 2 concentrations ± the standard error of the mean were 9.09 ± 0.19 for mixed venous blood and 9.21 ± 0.19 for arterial blood. We therefore conclude that the classical concept of nitrogen equality is a sound one and that pulmonary function tests based on it are valid.
Structural integrity of copper-nickel to steel using metal inert gas welding

Metal inert gas (MIG) welding may be used as a technique to attach copper-nickel panels to steel substrates to minimize the corrosion and biofouling of offshore structures and ship hulls. A series of plug welds must be located on each panel in order to eliminate bowing when the panels are subjected to compressive loadings. Laboratory tests on MIG plug-welded specimens have shown that the fatigue life of the plug welds is the same as the fatigue life of the copper-nickel cladding without the plug welds. The possible increase in fatigue life attributed to the lack of bowing of the sheets is offset by the stress concentration created by the weld. SEM examination of the failed weld site showed that fracture was predominantly intergranular in the regions adjacent to the weld, while regions remote from the weld exhibited fatigue striations.
Synthesis of Hybrid Bacterial Plasmids Containing Highly Repeated Satellite DNA

Hybrid plasmid molecules containing tandemly repeated Drosophila satellite DNA were constructed using a modification of the (dA)-(dT) homopolymer procedure of Lobban and Kaiser (1973). Recombinant plasmids recovered after transformation of recA bacteria contained 10% of the amount of satellite DNA present in the transforming molecules. The cloned plasmids were not homogenous in size. Recombinant plasmids isolated from a single colony contained populations of circular molecules which varied both in the length of the satellite region and in the poly(dA)-(dt) regions linking satellite and vector. While subcloning reduced the heterogeneity of these plasmid populations, continued cell growth caused further variations in the size of the repeated regions. Two different simple sequence satellites of Drosophila melanogaster (1.672 and 1.705 g/cm3) were unstable in both recA and recBC hosts and in both pSC101 and pCR1 vectors. We propose that this recA-independent instability of tandemly repeated sequences is due to unequal intramolecular recombination events in replicating DNA molecules, a mechanism analogous to sister chromatid exchange in eucaryotes.
System identification and modeling of viscoelastic behavior from capillary melt rheological data

An investigation was conducted to identify and characterize the relaxation spectrum of polymer melts from transient capillary rheological data. System identification techniques using an iterative prediction-error minimization (PEM) method were applied to isolate the viscoelastic melt response from the apparatus dynamics. Parameters for linear time invariant (LTI) models of varying complexity were estimated using capillary rheology data across a range of temperatures and shear rates using the principle of time-temperature superposition. Melt capillary rheology data for polystyrene was found to exhibit viscoleastic behavior. Subsequently, three viscoelastic constitutive models were then implemented and their model coefficients directly fit using optimization techniques. The implemented methods provided useful relaxation behavior from melt capillary rheology data while also explaining much of the residual error in the purely viscous response as traditionally fit to the Cross-WLF model. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2824–2838, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Tradeoffs in coordination and performance in medium access scheduling

While ease of use and compatibility drive the requirements of commercial networks, airborne tactical networks require both reliability and efficient use of the limited spectrum resources. Scheduled medium access may be capable of meeting the reliability and efficiency needs of such networks, however most scheduling techniques suffer from significantly higher coordination and computational overheads. In this paper, we examine the problem of generating and propagating schedules for TDMA systems for airborne tactical networks and consider methods for reducing overhead. We examine optimal and suboptimal scheduling algorithms for schedule generation as well as various techniques to improve performance. We also explore the tradeoff between coordination overhead and performance of the network.
Laparoscopic single port surgery in children using Triport: our early experience

Laparoscopy has become the gold standard technique for appendectomy and cholecystectomy. With the emergence of newer laparoscopic instruments which are roticulating and provide 7 degrees of freedom it is now possible to perform these operations through a single umbilical incision rather than the standard 3-4 incisions and thus lead to more desirable cosmetic results and less postoperative pain. The newer reticulating telescopes provide excellent exposure of the operating field and allow the operations to proceed routinely. Recently, ports [Triports (Olympus surgery)/SILS ports] especially designed for single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) have been developed. We herein describe our experience with laparoscopic single port appendectomies and cholecystectomies in children using the Triport. This is a retrospective cohort study of children who underwent single incision laparoscopic surgery between May 2009 and August 2010 at Texas Children's Hospital and Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston Texas by a single surgeon. Charts were reviewed for demographics, type of procedure, operative time, early or late complications, outcome and cosmetic results. Fifty-four patients underwent SILS. A total of 50 appendectomies (early or perforated) and 4 cholecystectomies were performed using this new minimally invasive approach. The average operative time for SILS/LESS appendectomy was 54 min with a range between 25 and 205 min, while operative time for SILS cholecystectomy was 156 min with a range of 75-196 min. Only small percentage (4%) of appendectomies (mostly complicated) were converted to standard laparoscopy, but none were converted to open procedure. All patients were followed up in the clinic after 3-4 weeks. No complications were noted and all patients had excellent cosmetic results. Parents were extremely satisfied with the cosmetic results. SILS/LESS is a safe, minimally invasive approach for appendectomy and cholecystectomy in children. This new approach is performed in an acceptable operative time with good outcomes and great cosmetic result.
Redevelopment of Kennaugh's target characteristic polarization state theory using the polarization transformation ration formalism for the coherent case

The Kennaugh target characteristic polarization theory for the monostatic reciprocal coherent case is developed in greater detail. Emphasis is on the transformation of the scattering matrix under the change of polarization basis via the unitary transformation matrix formulated in terms of the polarization ratio rho . Six characteristic polarization state are determined, and displayed on the Poincare sphere and on power and phase plots. Several simple target cases for demonstrating the applicability of this useful concept to radar target classification, imaging, and identification are considered. >
Insertions in the gG Gene of Pseudorabies Virus Reduce Expression of the Upstream Us3 Protein and Inhibit Cell-to-Cell Spread of Virus Infection

The alphaherpesvirus Us4 gene encodes glycoprotein G (gG), which is conserved in most viruses of the alphaherpesvirus subfamily. In the swine pathogen pseudorabies virus (PRV), mutant viruses with internal deletions and insertions in the gG gene have shown no discernible phenotypes. We report that insertions in the gG locus of the attenuated PRV strain Bartha show reduced virulence in vivo and are defective in their ability to spread from cell to cell in a cell-type-specific manner. Similar insertions in the gG locus of the wild-type PRV strain Becker had no effect on the ability of virus infection to spread between cells. Insertions in the gG locus of the virulent NIA-3 strain gave results similar to those found with the Bartha strain. To examine the role of gG in cell-to-cell spread, a nonsense mutation in the gG signal sequence was constructed and crossed into the Bartha strain. This mutant, PRV157, failed to express gG yet had cell-to-cell spread properties indistinguishable from those of the parental Bartha strain. These data indicated that, while insertions in the gG locus result in decreased cell-to-cell spread, the phenotype was not due to loss of gG expression as first predicted. Analysis of gene expression upstream and downstream of gG revealed that expression of the upstream Us3 protein is reduced by insertion of lacZ or egfp at the gG locus. By contrast, expression of the gene immediately downstream of gG, Us6, which encodes glycoprotein gD, was not affected by insertions in gG. These data indicate that DNA insertions in gG have polar effects and suggest that the serine/threonine kinase encoded by the Us3 gene, and not gG, functions in the spread of viral infection between cells.
Quadrangular Le Fort I osteotomy: surgical technique and review of 54 patients:

Technical aspects and indications for the quadrangular Le Fort I osteotomy are described. The records of 54 consecutive patients who underwent this procedure for primary correction are reviewed in general terms, and those of 3 patients with significant follow-up are presented in some detail. The procedure gave predictable results, provided acceptable midfacial aesthetic improvement, and was surgically reproducible with few complications. Low surgical and postoperative morbidity was documented. This procedure was used in a similar patient population as the quadrangular Le Fort II osteotomy, and the rationale for choosing between these two procedures is discussed.
Tensile deformation and fracture behavior of an oxide dispersion strengthened copper alloy

Abstract Dispersion strengthened copper has recently emerged as a potentially viable and attractive engineering material for applications requiring high strength, high thermal and electrical conductivities and resistance to softening at elevated temperatures. In this paper, the microstructure, tensile deformation and fracture behavior of an oxide dispersion strengthened copper alloy is examined. The strength of the dispersion strengthened microstructure decreases with an increase in temperature with a concomitant improvement in ductility. The alloy microstructure maintains a high value of yield strength/ultimate tensile strength ratio. The factors contributing to increased strength and the mechanisms governing quasi-static fracture characteristics are examined in light of intrinsic microstructural effects and deformation characteristics of the matrix.
Health Literacy in High-Risk Youth: A Descriptive Study of Children in Residential Care

Although previous studies have demonstrated that children in out-of-home care present with elevated levels of mental and physical health, educational, and behavioral problems, little is known about youth's ability to manage health care needs or access health information and support. This study evaluates the health literacy skills of 229 youth served in a residential setting. Results revealed that the majority of youth demonstrated some level of risk, and anywhere from one-quarter to one-third demonstrated significant health literacy deficits suggesting a need for additional research and treatment intervention. Implications, study limitations, and recommendations for practice and future research are discussed.
The biomass of the deep-sea benthopelagic plankton

Abstract Deep-sea benthopelagic plankton samples were collected with a specially designed opening-closing net system 10 to 100 m above the bottom in five different oceanic regions at depths from 1000 to 4700 m. Benthopelagic plankton biomasses decrease exponentially with depth. At 1000 m the biomass is about 1% that of the surface zooplankton, at 5000 m about 0.1%. Effects of differences in surface primary productivity on deep-sea plankton biomass are much less than the effect of depth and are detectable only in a few comparisons of extreme oceanic regions. The biomass at 10 m above the bottom is greater than that at 100 m above the bottom (in a three-sample comparison), which could be a consequence of an enriched near-bottom environment. The deep-sea plankton biomass in the Red Sea is anomalously low. This may be due to increased decomposition rates in the warm (22°C) deep Red Sea water, which prevent much detritus from reaching the deep sea. A model of organic carbon utilization in the benthic boundary layer (bottom 100 m), incorporating results from deep-sea sediment trap and respiration studies, indicates that the benthopelagic plankton use only a small amount of the organic carbon flux. A large fraction of the flux is unaccounted for by present estimates of benthic and benthopelagic respiration.
Weak Limits of Zeros of Orthogonal Polynomials

Letμ be a positive unit Borel measure with infinite support on the interval [−1, 1]. LetP n(x, μ) denote the monic orthogonal polynomial of degreen associated withμ, and letv n(μ) denote the unit measure with mass 1/n at each zero ofP n(x, μ). A carrier is a Borel subset of the support ofμ having unitμ-measure, and a measurev is carrier related toμ when it has the same carriers asμ. We demonstrate that for each carrierB of positive capacity there is a measurev, which is carrier related toμ, such that the equilibrium measure of the carrierB is the weak limit of the sequence {v n(v)} =1/∞ .
Probabilistic Design and Analysis for Robust Design of Advanced Thermoelectric Conversion Systems

Recent research investigated the impacts of single- and multi-variable stochasticity on optimum thermoelectric (TE) system design for automotive and industrial energy recovery because many critical design and environmental parameters used in design optimization can be randomly variable. Analysis tools and techniques have been developed to investigate a variety of stochastic behaviors in critical input parameters, including Gaussian, Log-Normal, Weibull, Gamma, or any type of user-defined probability distribution. Recent accomplishments discussed herein show that: 1) Gaussian input probability distributions can create non-Gaussian outcome distributions for optimum TE areas, required cold-side mass flow rates, and expected power generation; 2) optimum deterministically-derived designs (TE areas and cold-side mass flow rates) should be significantly modified in response to stochastically variable inputs; and 3) outcome parameter standard deviations can be significant and magnified relative to input parameter standard deviations. Multiple variable stochastic inputs tend to significantly increase the output design parameter variability (i.e., standard deviations). Interactive effects of multiple stochastic input parameters have demonstrated that reductions of optimum TE areas by 9–10% relative to deterministic optimum values was warranted in key stochastic analysis cases. Reductions in required cold-side mass flow rates may also be justified. Optimum system power output also was characterized by relatively high variability (i.e., standard deviation) resulting from stochastic input effects on the TE design optimization process. This is an important consideration when integrating the overall power system design with power management electronics and energy storage subsystems.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
A framework for whole-cell mathematical modeling

The default framework for modeling biochemical processes is that of a constant-volume reactor operating under steady-state conditions. This is satisfactory for many applications, but not for modeling growth and division of cells. In this study, a whole-cell modeling framework is developed that assumes expanding volumes and a cell-division cycle. A spherical newborn cell is designed to grow in volume during the growth phase of the cycle. After 80% of the cycle period, the cell begins to divide by constricting about its equator, ultimately affording two spherical cells with total volume equal to twice that of the original. The cell is partitioned into two regions or volumes, namely the cytoplasm (Vcyt) and membrane (Vmem), with molecular components present in each. Both volumes change during the cell cycle; Vcyt changes in response to osmotic pressure changes as nutrients enter the cell from the environment, while Vmem changes in response to this osmotic pressure effect such that membrane thickness remains invariant. The two volumes change at different rates; in most cases, this imposes periodic or oscillatory behavior on all components within the cell. Since the framework itself rather than a particular set of reactions and components is responsible for this behavior, it should be possible to model various biochemical processes within it, affording stable periodic solutions without requiring that the biochemical process itself generates oscillations as an inherent feature. Given that these processes naturally occur in growing and dividing cells, it is reasonable to conclude that the dynamics of component concentrations will be more realistic than when modeled within constant-volume and/or steady-state frameworks. This approach is illustrated using a symbolic whole cell model.
Splicing of Intron-containing tRNATrp by the ArchaeonHaloferax volcanii Occurs Independent of Mature tRNA Structure

Abstract We have investigated the requirements for mature tRNA structure in the in vivo splicing of theHaloferax volcanii, intron-containing tRNATrp RNA. A partial tRNATrp gene, which contained only the anticodon stem-loop region of the mature tRNA, was fused to a carrier yeast tRNA gene for expression in H. volcanii. Transcripts from this hybrid gene were found to be processed by endonuclease and ligase at the tRNATrp exon-intron boundaries. These results verify that the substrate recognition properties of the halobacterial endonuclease observed in vitro reflect the properties of this enzymein vivo, namely that mature tRNA structure is not essential for recognition by the endonuclease. The independence of these reactions on mature tRNA provides further support for a relationship between archaeal tRNA and rRNA intron-processing systems and highlight a difference in the substrate recognition properties between the archaeal and eucaryal processing systems. The significance of these differences is discussed in light of the observation that the tRNA endonucleases of these organisms are related.
Multiple risk behaviors among youth living with human immunodeficiency virus in five U.S. cities.

Abstract Purpose To describe multiple risk behaviors (substance use, sexual risk, and medication adherence) in a multi-site sample of youth living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in five U.S. cites. Methods Youth (N=352) were recruited from four Adolescent Trials Network (ATN) sites (Philadelphia, Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore, and Los Angeles) and one non-ATN site in Detroit and screened for multiple problem behaviors for an intervention study. A substance abuse problem was determined with the CRAFFT, a six-item adolescent screener. Single items were used to screen for current sexual risk and for an HIV medication adherence problem. Of the youth, 239 (68%) had at least one of the three risk behavior problems based on the screener. A total of 186 (52.8%) completed longer, in-depth questionnaires for each problem behavior. Results Of the 352 youth screened, 60% had problem level substance use and 42% had a sexual risk problem. Of the 165 (47%) who were prescribed medications, 91 (55%) reported an adherence problem. A total of 112 (32%) reported no problem behavior, 123 (35%) reported 1 problem behavior, 95 (27%) reported 2 problem behaviors, and 20 (6%) reported 3 problem behaviors. Males were more likely to have a substance use problem. Younger youth living with HIV and those perinatally infected were more likely to have an adherence problem. Among the 186 (52.8%) completing longer measures, those with a substance abuse problem had higher substance use on a timeline follow-back procedure than those without. Participants who screened positive for a sexual risk problem reported more unprotected sex on an in-depth interview than those without. Those who screened positive for an adherence problem had higher viral loads than those without an adherence problem. Conclusions Results suggest high rates of problem behaviors among youth living with HIV, particularly in older youth. Younger and perinatally infected youth may require specialized adherence interventions. Associations between the screener and more in-depth assessment measures suggest potential clinical utility of screening youth for high-risk behaviors.
The pyridine nucleotide content of isolated chloroplasts.

Abstract A procedure for measurement of the pyridine nucleotide content of the isolated chloroplast has been described. A maximal value of one molecule of oxidized pyridine nucleotide per 2500 molecules of chlorophyll is reported.
Crystal Structure of a Group I Ribozyme Domain: Principles of RNA Packing

Group I self-splicing introns catalyze their own excision from precursor RNAs by way of a two-step transesterification reaction. The catalytic core of these ribozymes is formed by two structural domains. The 2.8-angstrom crystal structure of one of these, the P4-P6 domain of the Tetrahymena thermophila intron, is described. In the 160-nucleotide domain, a sharp bend allows stacked helices of the conserved core to pack alongside helices of an adjacent region. Two specific long-range interactions clamp the two halves of the domain together: a two-Mg2+-coordinated adenosine-rich corkscrew plugs into the minor groove of a helix, and a GAAA hairpin loop binds to a conserved 11-nucleotide internal loop. Metal- and ribose-mediated backbone contacts further stabilize the close side-by-side helical packing. The structure indicates the extent of RNA packing required for the function of large ribozymes, the spliceosome, and the ribosome.
Behavior modification of speech characteristics in a chronically depressed man

The verbal behavior of a chronically depressed male patient exhibited a very slow rate and one of the goals of the therapy was to increase his rate of speaking. A method for the reliable counting of verbal rate was described. It was possible to produce relatively quick changes in the person's verbal behavior.