cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variability in reprocessing policies and procedures for flexible fiberoptic endoscopes in Massachusetts hospitals

Abstract Background: Concern is increasing regarding the risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens by means of improperly reprocessed medical devices. Methods: On-site surveys of policies and practices were performed in 18 reprocessing areas in eight randomly selected hospitals in Massachusetts to assess current practices for reprocessing of flexible fiberoptic endoscopes. Manufacturers' and internal written protocols, were reviewed, employees were interviewed, and procedures were observed. Reprocessing included high-level disinfection in 17 of 18 areas, with 16 areas using 2% glutaraldehyde; ethylene oxide gas sterilization was used in one area. Results: Considerable interhospital and intrahospital variability was found in high-level disinfection procedures, including equipment, contact time (range 10 to 45 minutes), disinfectant testing, and rinsing. Disinfection of internal channels was inadequate in three areas, recommended sterilization of biopsy forceps was not performed in five, and written protocols were unavailable in three. Ad hoc deviation from established written or verbal protocols occurred in eight areas during reprocessing of flexible fiberoptic endoscopes from patients known to have AIDS; ethylene oxide sterilization was used in seven areas and a separate device was used in one. Interviews with personnel revealed that lack of knowledge of high-level disinfection contributed to the discrepancies between policy and practice. Conclusions: We conclude that reprocessing of flexible fiberoptic endoscopes is inconsistent and potentially ineffective. Knowledge that a flexible fiberoptic endoscope was used for a patient with AIDS influences practice.
Changing one's mind

Sankara etait bien conscient de la difficulte d'etablir une verite objective. Au debut de son ouvrage, Brahmasūtrabhāsya, il affirme que la connaissance de la nature d'une chose ne depend pas des notions humaines ou d'affirmations categoriques, mais de la chose elle-meme. A la fin de sa vie Sankara est revenu a des choses plus traditionnelles comme les Upanisads et a reformule cette tradition a travers une synthese du yogā et du mīmāmsā. Il etablit un contraste entre la verite objective et les ideaux yogā et mīmāmsā de rituel et de meditation
Response of tree seedlings to acid precipitation— II. Effect of simulated acidified canopy throughfall on sugar maple seedling growth

Abstract Sugar maple seedling radicle growth in a laboratory growth apparatus was significantly reduced after exposure to simulated acidified canopy throughfall at pH 3.0 and below. Seedlings exposed to low pH were susceptible to bacterial infection; survival of seedlings transplanted to soil declined with increasing acidity of simulated canopy throughfall. Extension growth and leaf weight gain of established potted seedlings subjected to acidic throughfall was dependent on soil nutrient supplying capacity. Under nutrient-limited conditions, throughfall of pH 3.0 promoted seedling growth although causing foliar damage. At higher fertility levels, reduction in growth was found only after the pH 2.0 treatment. Evaluation of the findings in relation to natural conditions is complicated by (1) the capacity of vegetation and the forest floor to buffer the seedling environment from extreme pH changes, (2) the direct effects of acidity on pathogenic micro-organisms and the predisposition of seedlings to infection, (3) the episodic nature and varying acidity of precipitation, and (4) differential sensitivity of laboratory and field grown seedlings to acidic deposition. However, these studies indicate that sugar maple seedlings are potentially susceptible to direct and indirect effects of acid precipitation.
Conceptual model of an integrated management information system incorporating industrial engineering techniques

Abstract Operations Research (OR) is in a state of decline because of insufficient data, and management information systems are a disappointment because they have failed to achieve optimization which OR models could provide. This study proposes the conceptual design of a management information system (MIS) for a manufacturing organization which incorporates OR techniques, and consequently enables the MIS to achieve the ultimate goal of information systems development - optimization. Top-down analysis is applied to identify needed data and to determine the most useful form in which that data should be stored in the database, and is coupled with bottom-up design to ensure that meaningful information is provided so that managers can optimize their decision-making process. By incorporating the industrial engineering tools of OR the MIS contributes to this optimization.
Player performance and in game advertising retention

In game advertising or IGA is an increasingly common means of promoting brands and products. This study seeks to understand the effectiveness of in game advertising by understanding player retention of brand messages. The researchers created a controlled environment and 3D car racing game, embedding in game advertising and measuring player performance and advertising retention. The study produces a highly detailed view of the relationship of brand retention, player ability, and engagement.
Spectral hole burning and zero phonon linewidth in semiconductor nanocrystals

Spectral hole burning reveals a sharp zero-phonon line (ZPL) as well as discrete acoustic phonon sidebands in CdSe nanocrystals. The ZPL linewidth obtained from the spectral hole burning depends strongly on the measurement time scale, reflecting effects of spectral diffusion. The nonlinear optical measurement allows us to suppress effects of spectral diffusion leading to a ZPL linewidth as narrow as $6\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{eV}.$
Predictors for adverse outcome after iliac angioplasty and stenting for limb-threatening ischemia

Objective: The role of iliac artery angioplasty and stenting (IAS) for the treatment of limb-threatening ischemia is not defined. IAS has been used primarily for patients with disabling claudication. Because poorer results have been shown in patients with critical ischemia after iliac artery angioplasty, the purpose of this study was to estimate the influence of risk factors on the outcome of iliac angioplasty and stent placement in patients with limb-threatening ischemia. Methods: During a 5-year period (from 1996 to 2001), 85 iliac angioplasty and stent placement procedures (107 stents) were performed in 31 women and 43 men with limb-threatening ischemia. Patients with claudication were specifically excluded. The criteria prepared by the Ad Hoc Committee on Reporting Standards (Society for Vascular Surgery/International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery) were followed to define the variables. The TransAtlantic InterSociety Consensus classification was used to characterize the type of iliac lesions. Both univariate (Kaplan-Meier [KM]) and multivariate analyses (Cox proportional hazards model) were used to determine the association between variables, cumulative patency, limb salvage, and survival. Results: Indications for iliac angioplasty with stenting were ischemic rest pain (56%) and tissue loss (44%). Primary stenting was performed in 36 patients (42%). Stents were placed selectively after iliac angioplasty mainly for residual stenosis or pressure gradient (43%). Overall, primary stent patency rate was 90% at 1 year, 74% at 3 years, and 69% at 5 years. Primary stent patency rate was significantly reduced in women compared with men (KM, log-rank test, P 1.6 mg/dL; KM, log-rank test, P < .001). Cox regression analysis identified female gender (relative risk, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.8 to 7.9; P = .002) and renal insufficiency (relative risk, 6.6; 95% CI, 1.6 to 14.2; P = .01) as independent predictors of decreased primary stent patency. No independent predictors for limb salvage and survival were identified. Conclusion: Women undergoing iliac angioplasty and stenting for limb-threatening ischemia have significantly reduced primary stent patency rates and may need additional procedures to obtain satisfactory clinical improvement and limb salvage. Patients with renal insufficiency and critical ischemia also have reduced primary stent patency rates after IAS. Limb salvage, as shown in this study, is not affected by previous iliac stent failure. (J Vasc Surg 2002;36:507-13.)
Pulmonary delivery of peptide YY for food intake suppression and reduced body weight gain in rats

Aims: Peptide YY (PYY) is an endogenous anorectic gut-secreted peptide that has been shown to suppress appetite in animals and humans, when given by injection. This study tested if needle-free pulmonary delivery of PYY enables food intake suppression and reduced body weight gain in rats. The PYY pharmacokinetics and effects on brain neuropeptide levels were also examined. Methods: Rats received single or once-daily 7-day pulmonary administration of saline or PYYs. Food intake and body weight gain were monitored to study the effects of different doses (0.08–0.90 mg/kg) of PYY3-36, PYY1-36 and PYY13-36. Plasma PYY pharmacokinetics were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Changes in orexigenic neuropeptide Y (NPY) and c-Fos protein levels in the hypothalamus arcuate nucleus (ARC) were measured by immunofluorescence microscopy. Results: PYY3-36 caused dose-dependent and 4- to 6-h food intake suppression following pulmonary delivery. At 0.80 mg/kg, the effect was significant with 35.1 ± 5.7 and 19.7 ± 4.2% suppression at 4 and 6 h, respectively. Repeated administration for 7 days reduced cumulative body weight gain by 39.4 ± 11.0%. PYY1-36, but not PYY13-36, was equipotent to PYY3-36 in food intake suppression. The plasma PYY concentration reached its peak at 10 min following pulmonary delivery with 12–14% of bioavailability. Increased c-Fos and reduced NPY expressions were observed in the hypothalamus ARC, consistent with the magnitude of food intake suppression by each of the PYYs. Conclusions: Pulmonary delivery of PYY enabled significant 4- to 6-h food intake suppression via 12–14% of lung absorption and hypothalamic ARC interaction, leading to reduced body weight gain in rats.
Automated keratomileusis in situ: Clinical study of 142 eyes

Purpose: To compare a modified automated lamellar keratoplasty (ALK) technique that uses two blades with the original technique, which uses one blade. Setting: Buzard Eye Institute, Las Vegas, Nevada. Methods: This study comprised 142 eyes of 85 patients who had ALK: 107 using the original one-blade technique (Group 1) and 35 eyes using the modified two-blade technique (Group 2). Mean follow-up was 11 months in Group 1 and 3 months in Group 2. Results: Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was −8.93 diopters (D) ± 2.80 (SD) in Group 1 and −8.33 ± 2.80 D in Group 2. No patient had worse than 20/80 best corrected visual acuity preoperatively. Mean spherical equivalent at 1 month was −2.06 ± 2.00 D in Group 1 and −0.79 ± 1.20 D in Group 2 (P < .05). Mean postoperative spherical equivalent at last follow-up was −0.43 ± 0.90 and −0.65 ± 1.10 D, respectively. At last follow-up, 104 eyes (97%) in Group 1 and 34 (97%) in Group 2 had a spherical equivalent between +1.00 and −3.00 D, and 90 eyes (84%) in Group 1 and 27 (77%) in Group 2 had 20/40 uncorrected visual acuity. Seven eyes (7%) in Group 1 and 1 (3%) in Group 2 lost two or more lines of best corrected visual acuity at last follow-up. Three months after ALK (for equal comparison), 25 eyes (23%) in Group 1 and 3 (8%) in Group 2 required radial keratotomy; 20 (19%) and 2 (6%), respectively, needed ALK revision; and 45 eyes (42%) and 17 (47%) needed astigmatic keratotomy. Conclusions: The results suggest that ALK is capable of impressive myopic corrections across a broad range of refractive error. The procedure is not accurate enough with a single microkeratome pass and requires enhancement procedures including recuts of the bed with the microkeratome and astigmatic and radial keratotomies. Using two blades to achieve an even cut gives better spherical equivalent and best corrected visual acuity results and lower enhancement rates.
Resident work hours.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has mandated new requirements for work hours for all US resident physicians that became effective in July 2003. Member countries of the European Union are also implementing a reduction in work hours for trainee physicians as per the European Work Time Directives. The following review provides a summary of the basis of limiting work hours for residents, steps taken towards limiting the working hours for resident doctors, and implications to residents, institutions, and states. RECENT FINDINGS Reduction of work hours for physicians in training is a much awaited and necessary change. Though the framework for such a reduction is in place in most countries, implementation of the policies has been slow thus far, mainly due to financial and manpower constraints. Setting of deadlines for compliance and legislation to penalize the defaulting institutions and programs may help to put the recommendations on work hours into practice. SUMMARY Long work hours contribute to stress, fatigue, and mood changes in trainee physicians that are potentially deleterious to the physician and patients. Recommendations have been made across the globe to reduce resident doctor work hours and legislation is in place to monitor institutional compliance with these recommendations. Once these regulations are complied with, follow-up studies will be needed to evaluate their effects on physician well-being and patient care.
The Evolution of the Natively Disordered Region in P53 Family Proteins

Protein disorder in N- and C-terminal regions is among the major structural factors that coupled to the amino acid evolution in p53. Using three independent predictors of protein disorder (Foldunfold, IUPred, and Foldindex), we found that the percentage of disordered fragments in p53 steadily increases with evolution, which is not the case for p63/p73. The increase in natively disordered segments may help p53 interact with many partners while making it less sensitive to mutational perturbations.
Engendering a Gender Discourse: A Critical Review of Gender, Bullying, and Harassment

In Gender, Bullying, and Harassment, Meyer (2009) draws attention to the critical role that gender plays in school-based harassment. She combines teacher interviews with existing literature to illustrate the need to integrate a discourse on gender into the research on and interventions into gendered harassment in schools.
Probability type inference for flexible approximate programming

In approximate computing, programs gain efficiency by allowing occasional errors. Controlling the probabilistic effects of this approximation remains a key challenge. We propose a new approach where programmers use a type system to communicate high-level constraints on the degree of approximation. A combination of type inference, code specialization, and optional dynamic tracking makes the system expressive and convenient. The core type system captures the probability that each operation exhibits an error and bounds the probability that each expression deviates from its correct value. Solver-aided type inference lets the programmer specify the correctness probability on only some variables—program outputs, for example—and automatically fills in other types to meet these specifications. An optional dynamic type helps cope with complex run-time behavior where static approaches are insufficient. Together, these features interact to yield a high degree of programmer control while offering a strong soundness guarantee. We use existing approximate-computing benchmarks to show how our language, DECAF, maintains a low annotation burden. Our constraint-based approach can encode hardware details, such as finite degrees of reliability, so we also use DECAF to examine implications for approximate hardware design. We find that multi-level architectures can offer advantages over simpler two-level machines and that solver-aided optimization improves efficiency.
A graph which embeds all small graphs on any large set of vertices

Abstract For certain cardinals λ and κ a colouring P:[λ]2→λ is constructed such that if X ϵ[λ]λ and Q:[κ]2→λ, then there is a one-to-one function i:κ→X such that P(i″A)=Q(A) for every Aϵ[κ]2. Additional results are obtained.
The Sound of Racial Feeling

Critics continue to debate the value of U.S. black music according to a flawed distinction between racial authenticity and social construction. Both sides have it half-right. Black music's value arose historically as the result of a fundamental contradiction in the logic of race tracing back to the slave era. As “Negro” in form, the music was constituted as the collective property of another property, a property-in-slaves. The incongruity produced a perception of black music as an auditory form embodied with fleshly substance, and this sense of racial feeling would live on despite its inconsistencies with modern ideas about race.
Coherent differential absorption lidar measurements of CO2.

A differential absorption lidar has been built to measure CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. The transmitter is a pulsed single-frequency Ho:Tm:YLF laser at a 2.05-μm wavelength. A coherent heterodyne receiver was used to achieve sensitive detection, with the additional capability for wind profiling by a Doppler technique. Signal processing includes an algorithm for power measurement of a heterodyne signal. Results show a precision of the CO2 concentration measurement of 1%–2% 1σ standard deviation over column lengths ranging from 1.2 to 2.8 km by an average of 1000 pulse pairs. A preliminary assessment of instrument sensitivity was made with an 8-h-long measurement set, along with correlative measurements with an in situ sensor, to determine that a CO2 trend could be detected.
Electronic structure and properties of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8, the third high-Tc superconductor

Abstract Results of a highly precise local density determination of the electronic structure (energy bands, densities of states, Fermi surface and charge densities) of the new high-Tc superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 are presented. The calculations employed the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) method and the subcell structure parameters given by the work of Hazen et al. and Sunshine et al. As in the case of the other Cu-O superconductors, we find a relatively simple band structure at EF and strongly anisotropic highly 2D properties. The Sr and Ca atoms are highly ionic, with the Ca2+ ions serving to insulate the Cu-O planes. The Bi-O planes contribute substantially to N(EF), the density of states at EF, and to the transport properties whereas neither the Sr or Ca do. The N(EF) contribution from the Cu-O planes (∼1.0 states/eV-Cu atom) is lower (per Cu atom) than that found previously for the La-Sr-Cu-O and Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductors. The highly 2D Fermi surface shows regions of strong Cu-O and Bi-O hybridization from which highly anisotropic superconducting energy gaps are predicted. Here, too, an electron-phonon calculation of Tc (using the crude rigid ion approximation) is found to be inadequate. As in the case of YBa2Cu3O7-δ, strongly localized states at EF (arising from Bi-O and Cu-O) may be responsible for charge transfer excitations (excitons) which cause the high Tc.
The Drosophila segmentation gene runt has an extended cis-regulatory region that is required for vital expression at other stages of development

The Drosophila runt gene functions in several developmental pathways during embryogenesis. This gene was initially characterized due to the pivotal role that it plays in the genetic regulatory network that establishes the segmented body pattern. Recently it was found that this X-chromosome-linked gene is one of several dosage-sensitive, X-linked components that is involved in activating the Sex-lethal gene in blastoderm stage female embryos. Finally, this gene is also extensively re-expressed in later stages of embryogenesis in the developing nervous system where it plays an important role in the development of specific neural lineages. We have initiated an analysis of the runt cis-regulatory region in order to investigate runt's roles in these (and other) developmental pathways. Analysis of both the function and the expression patterns of runt genes with truncated cis-regulatory regions indicates that there are multiple elements that make quantitative contributions to runt regulation during segmentation. We find that sequences that are more than 8.5 kb upstream of the runt promoter are necessary for normal expression during the post-blastoderm stages of embryogenesis. Genetic experiments indicate that the post-blastoderm expression of runt is vital to the organism.
Why don't we believe non-native speakers? The influence of accent on credibility

Abstract Non-native speech is harder to understand than native speech. We demonstrate that this “processing difficulty” causes non-native speakers to sound less credible. People judged trivia statements such as “Ants don't sleep” as less true when spoken by a non-native than a native speaker. When people were made aware of the source of their difficulty they were able to correct when the accent was mild but not when it was heavy. This effect was not due to stereotypes of prejudice against foreigners because it occurred even though speakers were merely reciting statements provided by a native speaker. Such reduction of credibility may have an insidious impact on millions of people, who routinely communicate in a language which is not their native tongue.
Spatial frequency analysis of block letters does not predict experimental confusions

To test the generality of spatial frequency channels models of vision, matrices of similarities between spatial frequency compositions of letters of the alphabet were generated mathematically. Methods and assumptions were chosen to reflect probable neural underpinnings of spatial frequency analysis mechanisms. These similarity matrices were tested against experimentally produced confusion matrices. The similarity matrices predicted subjects’ confusions poorly: the best predictions were made, not by any of the spatial frequency similarities, but by similarities between the original letter stimuli input to the spatial frequency analysis programs. Previously reported feature analytic models seem to better describe the confusion patterns.
Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and retinoic acid modulation of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs): IGFBP-2, -3, and -4 gene expression and protein secretion in a breast cancer cell line.

Retinoic acid (RA) blocks insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) stimulation of proliferation in the MCF-7 breast carcinoma cell line, and this is associated with the appearance of 42- to 46-kilodalton (kDa) IGF-binding proteins(s) (IGFBPs) in the conditioned medium (CM), in addition to the approximately 34- and 27-kDa IGFBPs present in the CM of unstimulated cells. Using immunological, biochemical, and molecular biological criteria, we have identified the 27-kDa band as IGFBP-4, the 34-kDa band as IGFBP-2, and the 42- to 46-kDa band as IGFBP-3. IGF-I alone stimulated MCF-7 cell proliferation, and this was associated with a large increase in IGFBP-2 in the CM. RA alone resulted in increased IGFBP-4 levels and the appearance of IGFBP-3 in the CM. The combination of RA and IGF-I, which resulted in decreased cellular proliferation, was associated with the appearance of IGFBP-3 in the CM at levels far exceeding those seen with RA alone. The effect of IGF-I on IGFBP-2 levels and the synergistic action of IGF-I a...
Chemical separation of helper cell function and delayed hypersensitivity responses

Abstract Studies were performed to investigate the effects of the immunosuppressive chemical TCDD. Fetal and neonatal rats were exposed to TCDD through maternal dosing (5 μg/Kg) at Day 18 of gestation and on Days 0, 7, and 14 of postnatal life. Another group of neonatal rats were exposed to TCDD through maternal dosing on Days 0, 7, and 14 of postnatal life only. Parameters of cell-mediated and humoral immune function were investgiated. TCDD suppressed delayed hypersensitivity responses and responses to the mitogens Con A and PHA without affecting humoral immune function. Suppression of T-cell function was selective in that helper function was not suppressed. Transfer of primed T-lymphocytes from TCDD treated and non-treated animals into neonatally thymectomized animals confirmed this. Results indicate that delayed hypersensitivity function and helper function reside in distinct T-cell subsets.
The stoichiometry of organotin trihalides in solution

Abstract The formation of Lewis acid-base adducts of the organotin trihalides, CH 3 SnCl 3 , C 4 H 9 SnCl 3 , and C 6 H 5 SnCl 3 , with acetonitrile, DMA, triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO), and triethylphosphine oxide (TEPO) were studied by calorimetry and NMR spectroscopy. Schematic mapping of the calorimetry results for the TPPO adducts in benzene showed that the data are best fit by the assumption of simultaneous formation of 1 1 and 1 2 adducts. For the C 6 H 5 SnCl 3 -TPPO system K 1 = 4.3 X 10 4 , K 2 = 55, Δ H 1 = −13.3 kcal/mol, and Δ H 2 = −10.8 kcal/mol. These equilibrium constants correspond to 93% 1 1 adduct and 1 2 adduct at equilibrium after the acid and base are mixed in equimolar (0.1 M ) concentrations. Thus, for this system and all others studied the 1 1 adduct predominates. Equilibrium constants for the formation of the 1 1 adducts were determined by 119 Sn or 31 P NMR spectroscopy from the shifts obtained in a series of equimolar mixtures of acid and base. These constants vary from approximately 1 for the acetonitile adducts to greater than 10 5 for TEPO and reveal the expected basicity order TEPO > TPPO > DMA > acetonitile.
The lachlan belt of eastern Australia and Circum-Pacific tectonic evolution

Abstract There is considerable evidence that the Pacific Ocean basin has had a remarkable permanency at least throughout the Phanerozoic. The orogenic systems that have evolved around its margins are accretionary continental margin orogens and show little or no evidence of continental collisions in their evolutionary history. This is in dramatic contrast to the Circum-Atlantic and Tethyan realms which have experienced repeated openings and closures of, or successive transfer of continental fragments across, ocean areas that were relatively never large. In other words, the Wilson Cycle has dominated tectonic evolution of Atlantic and Tethyan realms, but has not been important in the Circum-Pacific. The northeastern margin of the Pacific Ocean is the North American Cordillera which is a “classic” continental margin-accretionary system dominated by a well-developed complex miogeoclinal terrace, significant fringing or “exotic” arc-trench systems and other “oceanic” accretions progressively consolidated into North America from mid-Paleozoic times, but mainly from mid-Meso-zoic times to the present. The northwestern margin of the Pacific Ocean is the collage of Asia which was produced by Tethyan tectonics, not Pacific tectonics — i.e., the progressive transfer of Gondwanaland fragments across Tethys to Baltica-Siberia. Only since the early Mesozoic have minor Pacific accretions, such as Japan, produced the present margin. The southeastern, southern, and southwestern margins of the Pacific Ocean are South America, Antarctica, and Australia, respectively. Through Paleozoic-early Mesozoic times they were joined and a very enigmatic Pacific margin orogenic system extended for 20,000 km from northwestern South America to northeastern Australia. The Lachlan Fold Belt in particular, and the Tasman belt in general, are important windows into that enigma. Lack of a well-developed through-going miogeocline is notable, and late Precambrian but mostly extensive lower Paleozoic, fairly deep-marine turbiditic and occasionally submarine volcanic facies are common along the margin, often directly juxtaposed against the cratonic interior. The tectonic evolution is dominated by prolonged histories of first late Precambrian to Late Cambrian then Early Silurian-Early Mesozoic convergent to transpressive and accretionary tectonics, often accompanied by extraordinary magmatism, which progressively consolidated a considerable “oceanic” to “quasi-continental” real estate into the Gondwanaland craton. Since the fragmentation of Gondwanaland in the mid-Mesozoic only the Andean margin has continued convergent consolidation. Large-scale tectogenesis and consolidation in the Circum-Pacific seem to correspond to periods when the “absolute motions” of the main continental blocks caused their margins to advance over the adjacent Pacific Ocean floor crust.
A stable range for quadratic forms over commutative rings

A commutative ring A has quadratic stable range 1 (qsr(A) = 1) if each primitive binary quadratic form over A represents a unit. It is shown that qsr(A) = 1 implies that every primitive quadratic form over A represents a unit, A has stable range 1 and finitely generated constant rank projectives over A are free. A classification of quadratic forms is provided over Bezout domains with characteristic other than 2, quadratic stable range 1, and a strong approximation property for a certain subset of their maximum spectrum. These domains include rings of holomorphic functions on connected noncompact Riemann surfaces. Examples of localizations of rings of algebraic integers are provided to show that the classical concept of stable range does not behave well in either direction under finite integral extensions and that qsr(A) = 1 does not descend from such extensions.
A Genetic Study of Schizophrenia Pedigrees

A large subsample of Franz Kallmann’s pedigree data for schizophrenia is evaluated for demographic parameters prior to genetic analyses. The lognormal distribution is selected to represent the age of
The microstructure of injection-molded semicrystalline polymers: A review

The microstructure of semicrystalline polymers solidified with and without concurrent applied strain is reviewed. Fluid flow in the filling and packing stages of injection-molding are discussed. Observations of the microstructures of a number of polymers under various conditions are described. In general, the microstructure is extremely inhomogeneous and anisotropic; a skin layer is highly oriented (or, in some cases, finely granular), whereas the core is composed of larger, isotropic spherulites. The principles governing the formation of such microstructures are given. Relations between microstructure and macroscopic properties are briefly described.
Lentiviral gene delivery to CNS by spinal intrathecal administration to neonatal mice

Background Direct injection of lentivectors into the central nervous system (CNS) mostly results in localized parenchymal transgene expression. Intrathecal gene delivery into the spinal canal may produce a wider dissemination of the transgene and allow diffusion of secreted transgenic proteins throughout the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Herein, we analyze the distribution and expression of LacZ and SEAP transgenes following the intrathecal delivery of lentivectors into the spinal canal. Methods Four weeks after intrathecal injection into the spinal canal of newborn mice, the expression of the LacZ gene was assessed by histochemical staining and by in situ polymer chain reaction (PCR). Following the spinal infusion of a lentivector carrying the SEAP gene, levels of enzymatically active SEAP were measured in the CSF, blood serum, and in brain extracts. Results Intrathecal spinal canal delivery of lentivectors to newborn mice resulted in patchy, widely scattered areas of β-gal expression mostly in the meninges. The transduction of the meningeal cells was confirmed by in situ PCR. Following the spinal infusion of a lentivector carrying the SEAP gene, sustained presence of the reporter protein was detected in the CSF, as well as in blood serum, and brain extracts. Conclusions These findings indicate that intrathecal injections of lentivectors can provide significant levels of transgene expression in the meninges. Unlike intracerebral injections of lentivectors, intrathecal gene delivery through the spinal canal appears to produce a wider diffusion of the transgene. This approach is less invasive and may be useful to address those neurological diseases that benefit from the ectopic expression of soluble factors impermeable to the blood-brain barrier. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Collapsing unicolored graphs

Abstract A graph is said to be unicolored if it is colored by nonnegative integers so that adjacent points have colors that differ in absolute value by one. A unicolored graph is collapsible if it has a 1-factor that does not contain a 1-factor of any bicolored cycle. We show that a regular CW complex K cell collapses to a subcomplex O if and only if its relative unicolored incidence graph collapses. We consider the 1-factors and the bicolored cycles of unicolored incidence graphs and their relationship to the relative homology and homotopy properties of the pair of cell complexes.
Modeling and simulating optical MEMS using Chatoyant

The use of MEMS technology has enabled the fabrication of micro-optical and micro-electro-mechanical systems on a common substrate. This has led to new challenges in computer aided design of optical micro-electro-mechanical systems. We have extended our opto-electronic system DAD tool, Chatoyant, to attempt to meet the needs to optical MEMS designers. This paper present new component models and analysis techniques which extend our tool to support optical MEMS design. We demonstrate these extensions with the analysis of a micro-optical high speed FT engine and a 1 by 2 optical MEM interferometer switch.
Total projection probabilities on non-orthogonal states: Calculation of electronic populations in molecules

Abstract It is often desirable to expand a quantum state in terms of a non-orthogonal basis set. Here we use projection operators to obtain rigorous formulas for the total projected probability of the quantum state on each basis state. The derivation of the general expression for N basis states is outlined and a closed form expression for the case of N =2 is given. The formalism is applied to the problem of atomic electronic populations in molecules. Mulliken used an approximation to the above to study the populations in H 2 O and CO. We reexamine Mulliken's data with the projection operator formalism and find that our results differ significantly from his and that negative populations (often encountered in Mulliken's formalism) are eliminated. We discuss the extension of our formalism to the characterization of vibrational states in polyatomic molecules.
Discrete Simulation in Nonlinear Dynamics with Applications

Contemporary science teaches us that: (a) All things change with time. (b) All material bodies consist of atoms and/or molecules.
Residues in Egg Yolks and Raw and Cooked Tissues from Laying Hens Administered Selected Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Insecticides

Abstract INTRODUCTION THE persistence of insecticide residues in animal products such as meat, milk and eggs, is of considerable importance. The slow depletion from animal tissues and the toxicity of many insecticides are two areas of research endeavor that have commanded considerable attention in recent years. Insecticide residues appear in animal tissues through exposure of animals to contaminated environments or through the consumption of feed contaminated with residues. Insecticide residues found in animal tissues appear in highest concentration in the adipose tissue. Presumably due to a smaller percentage of body fat, a higher concentration of insecticide residues on a fat basis has been reported to occur in adipose tissue of chickens than in the adipose tissue of cattle, hogs, or lambs (Gannon et al., 1959; and Terriere et al., 1959). Although there have been numerous reports concerned with insecticide residue contents of chicken tissues and eggs, more information is needed in . . .
Polyacrylamide in agriculture and environmental land management

Anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) has been sold since 1995 to reduce irrigation‐induced erosion and enhance infiltration. Its soil stabilizing and flocculating properties improve runoff water quality by reducing sediments, N, dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) and total P, chemical oxygen demand (COD), pesticides, weed seeds, and microorganisms in runoff. PAM used for erosion control is a large (12–15 Mg mol −1 ) water‐soluble (non‐cross‐linked) anionic molecule, containing by PAM or can be slightly reduced. Typical seasonal application totals in furrow irrigation vary from 3 to 7 kg ha −1 . Research has shown little or no consistent adverse effect on soil microbial populations. Some evidence exists for PAM‐related yield increases where infiltration was crop‐limiting, especially in field portions having irregular slopes, where erosion prevention eliminated deep furrow cutting that deprives shallow roots of adequate water delivery. Modified water management with PAM shows great promise for water conservation. High effectiveness and low cost of PAM for erosion control and infiltration management, coupled with easier implementation than traditional conservation measures, has resulted in rapid adoption. About 800,000 ha of US irrigated land use PAM for erosion and/or infiltration management. In recent years, PAM has been deployed for uses beyond agricultural erosion control, including construction site erosion control, use in storm water runoff ponds to accelerate water clarification, soil stabilization and dust prevention in helicopter‐landing zones, and various other high‐traffic military situations. Among the newest topics being researched is the use of PAM to reduce ditch, canal, and pond seepage, using specific application protocols that take advantage of its increase of water viscosity at higher concentrations.
Multi-player alpha-beta pruning

Korf, R.E., Multi-player alpha-beta pruning (Research Note), Artificial Intelligence 48 (1991) 99-111. We consider the generalization of minimax search with alpha-beta pruning to non-cooperative, perfect-information games with more than two players. The minimax algorithm was generalized in [2] to the maxn algorithm applied to vectors of n-tuples representing the evaluations for each of the players. If we assume an upper bound on the sum of the evaluations for each player, and a lower bound on each individual evaluation, then shallow alpha-beta pruning is possible, but not deep pruning. In the best case, the asymptotic branching factor is reduced to (1 + 4bv'~b-"s~-3)/2. In the average case, however, pruning does not reduce the asymptotic branching factor. Thus, alpha-beta pruning is found to be effective only in the special case of two-player games. In addition, we show that it is an optimal directional algorithm for two players.
Benign Esophageal Tumors

Benign esophageal and paraesophageal masses and cysts are a rare but important group of pathologies. Although often asymptomatic, these lesions can cause a variety of symptoms and, in some cases, demonstrate variable biological behavior. Contemporary categorization relies heavily on endoscopic ultrasound and other imaging modalities and immunohistochemical analysis when appropriate. Minimally invasive options including endoscopic, laparoscopic, and thoracoscopic methods are increasingly used for symptomatic or indeterminate lesions.
Developing Evaluation Capacity in Extension 4-H Field Faculty: A Framework for Success

Developing evaluation capacity in organizations is a complex and multifaceted task. This article outlines a framework for building evaluation capacity. The framework is based on four strategic methods for teaching evaluation: (a) using logic models for sound program plan- ning, (b) providing one-on-one help, (c) facilitating small-team collaborative evaluations, and (d) conducting large-scale multisite evaluations. The article also reports the results of using the framework successfully with Extension 4-H field educators. 4-H educators who were trained using this method significantly increased their evaluation knowledge and skill and reported feeling more positively about evaluation. In addition, the results show that the 4-H organization as a whole has developed a more positive evaluation culture. This framework for teaching evalu- ation has potential value for all organizations interested in developing evaluation capacity in regional educators as well as developing a positive culture of evaluation within the organization.
Suitability of minidisc (MD) recordingsfor voice perturbation analysis

Summary A new digital recording format, Minidisc (MD), shows promise for high-quality voice recordings. It is available in a portable size and uses magneto-optical recording techniques on a miniature compact disc. The disc can be recorded an unlimited number of times with essentially the same playback life span; however, the digital recording technique uses a data compression algorithm that may interfere with acoustic voice perturbation analysis. This study investigated what effects this compression may have and whether the MD format is viable for use in this application. The MD format was evaluated by traditional synthetic test signals used onrecording devices. In addition, human phonation recorded on Digital Audio Tape (DAT) was used as the input to the MD. The output of the MD was then compared to the original DAT recording. The two signals were analyzed for long- and short-term perturbation measures, and their waveforms were visually inspected. The results indicated that the MD format performed as well as the DAT format in all areas of standard tests, with the exception of signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. S/N ratio for the MD was approximately 10 dB less than for the DAT under normal operating conditions; however, in comparing perturbation measures on normal human vowels, there were no significant differences between the two formats, i.e., no distortions in voice perturbation were introduced by the MD record/playback process.
Reusing database queries in analogical domains

The authors develop an approach which reuses queries from a well known domain called the base domain in an unfamiliar one called the target domain. The objective is to model the behavior of naive users who often adapt queries from documentation examples to the problem at hand. They rely on a weak form of derivational analogy-traces of a planner operating in the base domain are used to derive a target domain query's implementation in SQL from its specification. The very simple planner used builds in the base domain plans that result in particularly simple, prototypical queries. Queries are specified in a high level subset of a natural language. >
Cross-Language functional testing for middleware

Middleware is at the heart of any distributed application and its correctness therefore requires rigorous testing. Since middleware technologies typically support heterogeneous environments, its API is available for different programming languages. Functional tests written to test the functionality of a middleware platform therefore have to be re-written for all those programming languages. The framework introduced in this paper shows how functional tests written in Java can automatically be translated to other programming languages such as C++. This is achieved by using the XML-based programming language XMLVM. XMLVM can automatically be created from Java class files. The cross-language translations are accomplished by using XSL-transformations of XMLVM programs.
Global Environmental Governance

Governance for the Environment: New Perspectives. Edited by Delmas Magali A, Young Oran R.. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. 288 pp., $35.00 paperback (ISBN 978-0521743006). International Politics and the Environment. By Mitchell Ronald B.. London: Sage Publications Ltd, 2010. 234 pp., $51.00 paperback (ISBN 978-1412919753). Managers of Global Change: The Influence of International Environmental Bureaucracies. Edited by Biermann Frank, Siebenhuner Bernd. Cambridge: The MIT Press, 2009. 367 pp., $28.00 paperback (ISBN 978-0262012744). These three volumes are complementary in many ways, particularly with regard to scale of analysis: the Cambridge publication by Delmas and Young adopts the widest lens—a global governance perspective; the Sage book by Mitchell provides an interstate, policy stages framework; and the MIT offering by Biermann and Siebenhuner directs our attention to new empirical data regarding the bureaucracies of nine intergovernmental environmental organizations. The Delmas and Young contribution, Governance for the Environment: New Perspectives , points out that the need for environmental governance is increasing even as confidence in the global capacity to address this need is declining. After a general discussion of the concepts and literatures associated with “governance for sustainable development” by the editors, three chapters outline what the economics, political science, and the management literatures offer in terms of addressing the “governance deficit” and achieving sustainable development. Chapters 5–7 then respond to the decentralizing tendencies associated with neoliberalism and globalizations and discuss the increasingly important roles played by transnational nonstate and market-oriented actors in environmental governance. These chapters make clear that environmental governance must be designed to coincide with specific issue areas and empirical contexts. Public actors, business firms, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) all have roles to play in achieving effective global governance. These chapters are the most cutting-edge aspect of the work. Much of contemporary conversation regarding global environment governance is about context-specific, nonstate-driven, consensual and voluntary alternatives to hierarchical and regulatory-oriented governance, including discussions of network governance and “new instruments” of environmental governance such as codes of conduct, certification schemes, eco-taxes, tradable permits, voluntary agreements, and eco-labels (see, for example, Jordan, Wurzel, and Zito 2003; Jordan and Schout 2006). This volume explains that inadequate environmental governance is a consequence of governments’ as well as market failures. Hybrid arrangements in which several forms of governance …
A Cysteine Protease Inhibitor Protects Dogs from Cardiac Damage during Infection by Trypanosoma cruzi

Cruzain is an essential cysteine protease of Trypanosoma cruzi and a therapeutic target for Chagas' disease. Eight dogs were infected with T. cruzi; three were treated with an inhibitor of cruzain, K777, for 14 days. Treatment with K777 abrogated myocardial damage by T. cruzi, as documented by histopathological lesion scores and serum troponin I levels.
Fixed Length Word Suffix for Factored Statistical Machine Translation

Factored Statistical Machine Translation extends the Phrase Based SMT model by allowing each word to be a vector of factors. Experiments have shown effectiveness of many factors, including the Part of Speech tags in improving the grammaticality of the output. However, high quality part of speech taggers are not available in open domain for many languages. In this paper we used fixed length word suffix as a new factor in the Factored SMT, and were able to achieve significant improvements in three set of experiments: large NIST Arabic to English system, medium WMT Spanish to English system, and small TRANSTAC English to Iraqi system.