cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the change in buckle pattern in elastic structures.

Abstract The effect of initial imperfections on the post-buckling behavior of a class of elastic structural systems whose ideal behavior has been established previously6 is discussed. It is shown that for particular structures initial imperfections produce a markedly different behavior from that exhibited by the ideal structure. Results show that changes in buckle pattern may be attributable to the presence of such imperfections.
Paclitaxel delivery to brain tumors from hydrogels: A computational study

Malignant gliomas are aggressive forms of primary brain tumors characterized by a poor prognosis. The most successful treatment so far is the local implantation of polymer carriers (Gliadel® wafers) for the sustained release of carmustine. To improve the effectiveness of local drug treatment, new polymer carriers and pharmacological agents are currently being investigated. Of particular interest is a set of novel thermo-gelling polymers for the controlled release of hydrophobic drugs such as paclitaxel (e.g., OncoGel™). Herein, we use computational mass transport simulations to investigate the effectiveness of paclitaxel delivery from hydrogel-forming polymer carriers. We found similar (within 1-2 mm) therapeutic penetration distances of paclitaxel when released from these hydrogels as compared with carmustine released from Gliadel® wafers. Effective therapeutic concentrations were maintained for >30 days for paclitaxel when released from the hydrogel as compared with 4 days for carmustine released from Gliadel® wafers. Convection in brain tissue prevented the formation of a uniform drug concentration gradient around the implant. In addition, the surface area to volume ratio of the gel is an important factor that should be considered to maintain a controlled release of paclitaxel within the degradation lifetime of the polymer matrix.
Characterization of functional software requirements space: The law of requirements taxonomic growth

This paper reports on a large-scale empirical multiple-case study that aimed to characterize the requirements space in the domain of web-based Enterprise Systems (ES). Results from this study, among others, showed that, on the average, about 85% of all the software functionalities in the studied domain are specified using a small core set of five requirements classes even though the results of the study hint at a larger set of nine requirements classes that should be covered. The study also uncovered a law describing the growth pattern of the emerging requirements classes in software domains. According to this law, the emergence of the classes in a requirements taxonomic scheme for a particular domain, independent of the order in which specifications of requirements in that domain are analyzed, includes a rapid initial growth phase, where the majority of the requirements classes are identified, followed by a rapid slow-down phase with periods of no growth (i.e., the stabilization phase).
REVIEW: Presocratic Philosophy

A discussion of W. K. C. Guthrie, A History of Greek Philosophy, Vol. I, The Earlier Presocratics and the Pythagoreans (xv/538 pp.); Vol. 11, The Presocratic Tradition from Parmenides to Democritus (xvii/553 pp.) Cambridge University Pres F. M. Cleve, The Giants of PreSophistic Greek Philosophy, An Attempt to Reconstruct Their Thoughts, Martinus Nijhoff D. E. Gershenson and D. A. Greenberg, Anaxagoras and the Birth of Physics, Blaisdell Publishing Company G. E. R. Lloyd, Polarity and Analogy, Cambridge University Press, 1966 (v/503 pp.)
Electron capture decay in Jovian planets

Following the commonly acknowledged fact that the decay of K-40 substantially contributes to the heating of planetary interiors, an examination is made of the possibility that interior heat in the Jovian planets and stars, where interior pressures may exceed 45 Mbar, may be generated by the pressure-accelerated electron capture decay of a variety of isotopes. The isotopes considered encompass K-40, V-50, Te-123, La-138, Al-26, and Cl-36. 19 references.
Dispersion relations and finite-size effects in high-energy electroweak interactions

Abstract Dispersion relations between the forward elastic scattering amplitude and the total inclusive cross section are shown to hold for ( B + L )-violating instanton-induced interactions in the electroweak sector of the Standard Model and in the two-dimensional abelian Higgs model. The result is due to instanton-anti-instanton interactions, which are evaluated in the framework of the dilute instanton approximation. Within that framework finite instanton-size corrections are considered, and it is shown that their effect is not sufficient to suppress multiple gauge vector or Higgs scalar production below the threshold E 0 ≈ M H / α W . These processes may be sensitive to deviations from the dilute gas approximation.
Prenatal cocaine exposure decreases nigrostriatal dopamine release in vitro: effects of age and sex.

The present study examined the effects of prenatal cocaine (PCOC) exposure, age, sex, and estrous phase on the functional development of nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons. Striatal tissue was obtained from prepubescent and adult rats of both sexes after bidaily exposure to saline (1 ml/kg) or cocaine (20 mg/kg/ml saline) from embryonic days 15-21. Tissue levels, basal release, and electrically evoked (1 or 8 Hz) overflow of endogenous DA and its metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), as well as their efflux in response to superfusion with the DA transport blocker, nomifensine (10 M), were measured from superfused striatal slices. Generally, these measures were highest in tissue from males and adults. Tissue DA and DOPAC levels and the rate of DA turnover were unaffected by PCOC exposure. Slices from PCOC-exposed juvenile and adult male rats exhibited significantly reduced basal and electrically evoked DA release at both stimulation intensities, in conjunction with higher levels of presynaptic DA reuptake. Female rats were largely spared from the effects of PCOC exposure, and measures did not vary with estrous phase. These findings demon- strate that the effects of PCOC exposure on various parameters of nigrostriatal DA neuronal function are not uniform across age, sex, or phases of the estrous cycle. These novel alterations in nigrostriatal DA transmission are in need of independent replica- tion, but they may have profound implications for behavioral activities regulated by these neurons and, thus, may provide a basis for sex-selective effects of PCOC in exposed humans. Possible mechanisms of deleterious effects of PCOC exposure in select groups are discussed. Synapse 53:74 - 89, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The acquired immune deficiency syndrome: An overview for the emergency physician, part 1

The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) was recognized as a distinct entity in 1981. It began as a medical curiosity affecting only several dozen individuals in a restricted segment of the U.S. population. In the 12 years since its description, AIDS has become a pandemic affecting tens of millions with cases reported from all major countries. The illness is caused by a retrovirus, termed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is a blood-borne disease with sexual, parenteral, and perinatal modes of transmission. Infection with the virus can be determined by a number of serologic techniques as well as viral culture. The pathophysiology of illness is incompletely understood, but is in large part related to destruction of helper, CD4 lymphocytes. This results in immune dysfunction and the development of a variety of opportunistic infections and malignancies. A great deal has been learned over the last decade, with important advances in treatment. Zidovudine (AZT) remains the most important agent in slowing progression of the disease and has resulted in prolonging survival. All organ systems can be affected by HIV, and many clinical manifestations are protein. Fever, weight loss, and diarrhea are often encountered general symptoms. The skin is frequently involved, with Kaposi's Sarcoma the most common malignancy and a variety of fungi and viruses the most frequent cause of infection. The lung is involved in the majority of patients, with Pneumocystis Carinii (PCP) and mycobacteria emerging as the most important pathogens. A variety of treatments have demonstrated efficacy for PCP. The risk of PCP is related to the decay in CD4 lymphocytes so that prophylactic treatment is recommended when CD4 counts fall below 200. Mycobacterial infection with multiresistant organisms has complicated the management of these infections and poses new risks to health care workers. Part 1 of this two-part series on AIDS discusses the pathophysiology and clinical expression, epidemiology, laboratory testing, and the general clinical manifestations of AIDS, as well as dermatologic, pulmonary, and cardiac symptoms. Part 2 will discuss the gastrointestinal, neurologic, and ocular symptoms, as well as the treatment and management of the AIDS patient.
F-actin scaffold stabilizes lamellar bodies during surfactant secretion

Alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells secrete surfactant that forms a protective layer on the lung's alveolar epithelium. Vesicles called lamellar bodies (LBs) store surfactant. Failure of surfactant secretion, which causes severe lung disease, relates to the manner in which LBs undergo exocytosis during the secretion. However, the dynamics of LBs during the secretion process are not known in intact alveoli. Here, we addressed this question through real-time confocal microscopy of single AT2 cells in live alveoli of mouse lungs. Using a combination of phospholipid and aqueous fluorophores that localize to LBs, we induced surfactant secretion by transiently hyperinflating the lung, and we quantified the secretion in terms of loss of bulk LB fluorescence. In addition, we quantified inter-LB phospholipid flow through determinations of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. Furthermore, we determined the role of F-actin in surfactant secretion through expression of the fluorescent F-actin probe Lifeact. Our findings indicate that, in AT2 cells in situ, LBs are held in an F-actin scaffold. Although F-actin transiently decreases during surfactant secretion, the LBs remain stationary, forming a chain of vesicles connected by intervesicular channels that convey surfactant to the secretion site on the plasma membrane. This is the first instance of a secretory process in which the secretory vesicles are immobile, but form a conduit for the secretory material.
Pirimiphos-methyl and chlorpyrifos-methyl as controls of indigenous insect infestations in farmers' stock peanuts.

When emulsion sprays of pirimiphos-methyl or chlorpyrifos methyl were evaluated in laboratory and small bin lot studies in applications of 10, 15, and 20 ppm and compared with malathion at 50 ppm for control of indigenous populations of insects infesting Spanish-type farmers stock peanuts, they were found more efficacious than malathion.
Identification of Early Risk Factors for Developmental Delay

Statewide birth certificate and preschool exceptionality records were integrated to identify risk factors for developmental delay (DD). Epidemiological methods were used to investigate both individual-level and population-level risk for DD associated with a number of child and maternal factors. Infants born with very low birth weight were at the greatest individual-level risk for DD, whereas prematurity (gestational age less than 37 weeks) and low maternal education posed the greatest population-level risk. For comparative purposes, individual-level risk for speech disability and other developmental disabilities was also determined. The individual-level risk associated with nearly all factors was significantly greater for DD than for speech disability or other developmental disabilities. The present study suggests that information available from birth certificate records can be used to target screening and early intervention services for children at high risk with the goal of reducing the incidence of DD ...
Recent Videogame Console Technologies

Instead of faster and more exotic systems, the latest videogame console technologies focus on human-computer interfaces that target a wider audience.
Psychosocial functioning and quality of life in body dysmorphic disorder.

Psychosocial functioning and quality of life in body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) have received only limited investigation. We examined these domains in 176 subjects with current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), BDD using reliable measures, several of which have not been used previously in BDD studies. Scores were compared to published norms. On the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, mental health–related quality of life scores for BDD subjects were approximately 1.8 SD units poorer than US population norms and 0.4 SD units poorer than norms for depression. On the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form, BDD subjects had a mean converted score of 49.9% ± 16.4%, which was 2.1 SD units poorer than the normative community sample score of 78.1% ± 13.7%. On the Social Adjustment Scale—Self-Report, BDD subjects had a mean Overall Adjustment total score of 2.37 ± 0.52, which was 2.4 SD units poorer than the published norm of 1.59 ± 0.33. Scores on the Range of Impaired Functioning Tool reflected functional impairment in all domains. More severe BDD symptoms were significantly associated with poorer functioning and quality of life on all measures. On all but one measure, functioning and quality of life for subjects who were not currently receiving mental health treatment did not significantly differ from those who were receiving treatment. These findings indicate that individuals with BDD, regardless of treatment status, have markedly poor functioning and quality of life. In addition, they suggest that treatment should aim at improving functioning and quality of life in addition to relieving symptoms.
I. Erythrocyte membrane stabilization by tranquilizers and antihistamines

Abstract 1. Human erythrocytes are protected or stabilized against hypotonic and mechanical hemolysis in the presence of low concentrations of many phenothiazines, reserpine, and haloperidol. At high concentrations all these surfactants cause lysis. 2. The erythrocyte stabilization by these compounds is long-lasting and depends on the concentration of erythrocytes. 3. The stabilizing potency correlates aproximately with the clinical potency of the phenothiazine. 4. Adsorption studies indicate that at maximal stabilization there is about 65 A 2 of erythrocyte membrane associated with one molecule of promethazine, 100 A 2 for chlorpromazine HCl, 140 A 2 for trifluoperazine diHCl, and 180 A 2 for fluphenazine diHCl. Since the area of the phenothiazine ring is about 50 A 2 , these values represent 90 to 25 per cent involvement of the membrane, if no adsorption to hemoglobin occurs. 5. The membrane stabilization is rapidly reversible. Lowering the extracellular drug concentration or photo-oxidizing the adsorbed drug causes the membrane to return to its original condition of fragility. 6. The prevention of hemolysis is also associated with the prevention of K + release; this distinguishes membrane stabilization from pro-lysis wherein K + is released. 7. Replacing isotonic sucrose by isotonic NaCl potentiates the lytic effect of phenothiazines. 8. The decrease in osmotic fragility (which corresponds to between one third and one half an atmosphere of pressure) may be explained possibly by an expansion of the cell membrane.
Neo-satisficing Control for Cooperative Systems: A Non Heuristic Alternative to Optimization-Based Multiagent Control

Classical optimization-based solution concepts do not easily accommodate sophisticated social relationships such as cooperation, compromise, and negotiation. Satisficing decision theory, which seeks to define solutions that are "good enough," is potentially more amenable to such social behavior. The concept of satisficing introduced by Simon, however, relies on heuristic criteria to define "good enough" solutions that do not systematically extend to the multiple agent case. This paper presents an alternative notion, termed "neo-satisficing," that is explicitly designed to accommodate socially conciliatory behavior. The essential feature of this approach is that it replaces a single utility with a pair of utilities: one as a measure of the effectiveness of the outcomes, and the other as a measure of their efficiency. Each decision maker uses its utilities to define a non-singleton satisficing set of outcomes that are "good enough" according to well-defined and systematic criteria. The agents may then combine these satisficing sets to define a satisficing compromise set of outcomes, thereby leading to principled negotiation protocols.
A flawed study should not define a new standard of care.

Targeted intraoperative radiation therapy (TARGIT) puts forward the tantalizing prospect of marked simplification of breast radiation therapy to a single treatment delivered with an easily shielded low-energy (50-kV) x-ray device at the time of breast surgery. Based upon the results of the TARGIT-A trial, on July 25, 2014, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom gave preliminary recommendation for the use of TARGIT within the UK National Health Service (1). This endorsement and the growth in the use of this modality appear to be occurring without the full knowledge and recognition of the methodologic flaws of the TARGIT-A trial. These flaws are sufficiently profound as to undermine confidence in both the efficacy and the safety of TARGIT and should provide pause to any clinician considering its application. The prospective TARGIT-A trial used a noninferiority design to randomly assign patients to TARGITorwhole breast external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). For 67%of the study participants, the randomization and treatment occurred at the lumpectomy (classified as “pre-pathology”). The patientswith high-risk features went on to receive EBRT after TARGIT. These features were defined as margin <1 mm, extensive ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive lobular carcinoma, or “individual centers could specify more than these core factors” (2) at their discretion. For 33% of the study participants, the definitive pathology was already available from a prior lumpectomy. This “post-pathology” stratum of patients was predetermined as being at low risk and, if randomized to
New Nonstoichionietric lllolybdate, Tungstate, and Vanadate Catalysts with the Scheelite-Type Structure

Abstract Phases of the formula A1−xфxMO4 with the scheelite-type structure are described where ф represents a vacancy at the A cation site and M is Mo6+, W6+, and/or V5+. Many different univalent, divalent, and trivalent A cations were used in this study. The phases with no defects, i.e., x = 0, were known except for those of the type A1+.5A3+.5MO4 where A1+ is Ag or Tl and M is Mo6+ or W6+. Phases with x > 0 are generally new and were prepared for catalytic studies. An excellent correlation between catalytic properties and defect concentration has been observed.
Associative encoding of words in sentences by adults and children

In Experiment I 72 adult Ss were presented a series of sentences followed by a recognition test consisting of single words. Natural language associates of critical words in the sentences were falsely recognized more frequently than were unrelated words. This effect occurred whether or not Ss had been informed as to which were the critical words in the sentences, and whether or not the associates fit sensibly into the sentences. In Experiment II children in grades 1, 3, and 5 also showed the above false recognition effect, with a consistent but nonsignificant increase in this respect with age.
Effects of Religious Orientation and Gender on Cardiovascular Reactivity Among Older Adults

Recent attention has focused on the relationship between religiosity and health. Although many pathways have been proposed to account for this relationship, little empirical research has investigated specific pathways in relation to specific physiological functions. This study assessed the roles that religious orientation and gender play in moderating psychophysiological reactivity to laboratory stressors among older adults. Those participants characterized by an intrinsic religious orientation (IO) demonstrated less reactivity than did those characterized by an extrinsic religious orientation. Gender did not influence reactivity. There was some evidence that the effect of religious orientation is more pronounced for interpersonal than cognitive-type stressors, although the strongest findings were evident when stressors were aggregated. The magnitude of these effects suggests that they are of practical significance. Given these results and the known relationship between reactivity and hypertension, it is ...
Lightweight online power monitoring and control for mobile applications

Limited battery power has long been a challenge for mobile applications. As a result, the work in power monitoring and management has attracted great interests. In this paper, we propose a model to estimate power consumption of mobile applications at run-time, based on application-specific per-action power profiling. In addition, we have developed on-line optimization techniques which help maximize users' experience while conserving power. Our power model is lightweight and flexible, in that it can be used by any mobile applications as a plugin, and it can support user-defined optimization mechanisms. This approach has been evaluated using a case study, a mobile application for field studies, and the experimental results show that our model accurately captures power consumption of the application, and the model can be used to optimize the power consumption based on users' needs.
735-3 A Study of 1044 Consecutive Patients with Patent Foramen Ovale: Association with Cryptogenic Cerebrovascular Events in Adults

The natural history of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in association with cerebrovascular (CV) events has not been described. With the development of devices for non-surgical closure of atrial septal defect, it is possible that the risk of PFO closure may be minimal. However, the potential benefit of PFO closure remains unknown and difficult to assess due lack of adequate data. To determine the prevalence of PFO and its association with cryptogenic (CRYP) and non-cryptogenic (NON) stroke, we examined the database of 37,940 consecutive pts who underwent echocardiography between 1984 to 1994, to identify pts diagnosed with PFO (n = 1044) and designed an age-matched nested case-control study with 2088 pts to determine the association of CV events to PFO. All CV events were confirmed by review of medical records. NON stroke was defined: cardiogenic, atherosclerotic, lacunar, arteritis, aneurysm, hematoma. CRYP stroke was diagnosed by exclusion when the event could not be ascribed to causes in the NON group. Results The age distribution is given below: Age PFO Stroke (PFO group) Stroke (Control group) (yrs) NON CRYP NON CRYP 0-1 520(26%) 1 0 0 0 1-18 88(2%) 0 0 1 0 18-50 127(1%) 9 13 1 0 g 50 309(1%) 23 5 28 5 A greater number of adults with CV events were identified in the PFO group (50) vs control group (34). p l 0.07. The proportion of adults with cryptogenic stroke was significantly higher in the PFO group (18/50,36%) vs control group (5/34, 15%), p l 0.04. Conclusions 1. The prevalence of PFO decreases from the neonate to the adult. 2. There is a high prevalence of cryptogenic stroke among adults with PFO who have suffered a cerebrovascular event. 3. These results provide a baseline for designing future prospective studies of PFO and CV events, and randomized trials to determine the impact of PFO closure.
The Visual Status of Diabetic Patients After Renal Transplantation

To determine the effect of renal transplantation on visual status, we studied 134 eyes of 67 diabetic patients prospectively for one to seven years, with a mean of three years, after surgery. The best-corrected visual acuity and retinopathy status were determined at the time of surgery and annually thereafter. Useful visual acuity (greater than or equal to 6/15 [20/5o]) was present in 49% (66) of the eyes at the time of the baseline examination and in 51% (69) at the final determination. Of the 134 eyes 40% (54) were legally blind (less than or equal to 6/60 [20/200]) before surgery. Sixty-eight percent (91) of the eyes showed no significant visual change during the period of follow-up, 15% (20) showed significant improvement, and 17% (23) deteriorated significantly after surgery. With regard to the retinovitreous findings, 13% (12) of the eyes had non-proliferative retinopathy, 20% (26 had active proliferative retinopathy, and 67% (90) had inactive or involutional retinopathy. The results of this study showed stable or improved visual function in 83% (111) of the eyes after renal transplantation. Transplantation before dialysis becomes necessary may ben an important consideration in an attempt to reduce the high incidence of visual impairment in diabetic patients with renal failure.
Effects of cadmium on growth, metamorphosis and gonadal sex differentiation in tadpoles of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis

Abstract Xenopus laevis larvae were exposed to cadmium (Cd) at 0, 1, 8, 85 or 860 μg L −1 in FETAX medium from 0 to 86 d postfertilization. Premetamorphic tadpoles were sampled on day 31; pre and prometamorphic tadpoles on day 49; and frogs (NF stage 66) between days 50 and 86. Survival, snout-vent length (SVL), tail length, total length, hindlimb length (HLL), initiation of metamorphic climax, size at and completion of metamorphosis, and gonadal condition and sex ratio (assessed histologically) were determined. Survival was unaffected by Cd until day 49, but increased mortality was observed after day 49 at 860 μg Cd L −1 . On day 31, when tadpoles were in early premetamorphosis, inhibitory effects on tadpole growth were observed only at 860 μg Cd L −1 . On day 49, when most tadpoles where in late premetamorphosis/early prometamorphosis, reductions in SVL, HLL and total length were observed at 8 and 860 but not 85 μg L −1 , thus creating a U-shaped size distribution at 0–85 μg Cd L −1 . However, this U-shaped size pattern was not evident in postmetamorphic individuals. In fact, frog size at completion of metamorphosis was slightly smaller at 85 μg Cd L −1 relative to control animals. These observations confirmed a recent report of a Cd concentration-dependent bimodal growth pattern in late-premetamorphic Xenopus tadpoles, but also showed that growth responses to varying Cd concentrations change with development. The fraction of animals initiating or completing metamorphosis during days 50–86 was reduced in a Cd concentration-dependent manner. Testicular histology and population sex ratios were unaffected by Cd suggesting that, unlike mammals, Cd is not strongly estrogenic in Xenopus tadpoles.
Inferences about the meanings of nouns: The relationship between perception and syntax

Abstract This experiment assessed the role of count/mass syntax in the acquisition of object words and substance words by 2- and 2 1 2 -year-olds. Unfamiliar objects were labelled with mass nouns and unfamiliar substances were labelled with count nouns. It was found that there was a subgroup of 2-year-olds who did not yet produce count/mass syntax and were not sensitive to it in the word-learning task, but who nonetheless distinguished objects from substances. From this result it was argued that children do not learn to make the distinction between objects and substances through the count/mass distinction, in contrast to claims by Quine (1969). The other 2-year-olds and the 2 1 2 -year-olds were affected by the syntactic information, especially on the substance trials. That is, when a substance was labelled by a new noun, the subcategorization of the noun influenced children's willingness to construe the referent as a token of a kind of pile (e.g., a puddle), rather than as a portion of a substance (e.g., some mud). It is argued that these children use syntactic information as well as perceptual information to form a construal of the referents of new words. It is also argued that the weight given to the syntactic information varies as a function of the ontological and quantificational properties of the referent.
Plication of the small intestine

Abstract 1. 1. A serious complication of peritonitis from ruptured appendix has been described, photographed, and adequately treated through extension of the use of plication as previously described. 2. 2. Other use of plication has been demonstrated. 3. 3. The value of plication in eliminating certain mortality and morbidity has been shown. 4. 4. The end result of the most extensive plication has been illustrated and described.
Classical and minimum entropy generation analyses for steady state conduction with temperature dependent thermal conductivity and asymmetric thermal boundary conditions: Regular and functionally graded materials

Abstract Minimum entropy generation (MEG) temperature profiles are derived for steady conduction in a plane wall, a hollow cylinder and a hollow sphere and compared with the classical results. Cases of constant thermal conductivity, temperature dependent and location dependent thermal conductivities for each geometry are analyzed. Results are presented for the classical and the minimum entropy temperature profiles illustrating the effect of thermal asymmetry and variable thermal conductivity in each geometry. These results show that the difference between the classical and the MEG temperature profiles is largest when there is a strong thermal asymmetry. For all three geometries, the effect of temperature dependent thermal conductivity on the classical temperatures is moderate but its effect on the MEG temperatures is only small. Both the classical and minimum entropy generation rates, for each geometry, are found to be strong functions of thermal asymmetry and thermal conductivity variation parameter. Comparison of results for a hollow cylinder and a hollow sphere reveals that rate of entropy generation in a hollow sphere is much higher than in a hollow cylinder for the same thermal asymmetry and radius ratio.
Streamside trees that do not use stream water

A LONG-STANDING axiom is that plant distribution is strongly influenced by soil moisture content1,2. While it has been shown that plant taxa inhabiting streamside communities receive or use more water3, it is assumed that this water is obtained from the stream adjacent to where they are found growing. Here we show, using hydrogen isotope ratio analyses at natural abundance levels, that mature streamside trees growing in or directly next to a perennial stream used little or none of the surface stream water. The deuterium to hydrogen content of both source and xylem waters indicated that mature trees were using waters from deeper strata. Although adult trees may have roots distributed continuously throughout a soil profile, it seemed that the most active sites of water absorbtion were limited to deeper soil layers. In contrast, small streamside individuals appeared to use stream water, whereas small non-streamside individuals used recent precipitation as their primary water source. Our analyses provide both a relatively non-destructive method for assessing water sources of plants and a means of assessing potential competitive interactions among cooccurring taxa. In addition, the method may aid in resolving the role of water in determining plant distributions in areas characterized by sharp soil moisture gradients.
Diffusion MRI in the early diagnosis of malignant glioma

A subset of patients with malignant glioma comes to medical attention before their masses show rim enhancement and central necrosis. Tumors in those cases are frequently located in eloquent areas of the brain. Tissue diagnosis is limited to stereotactic biopsy providing limited material for accurate grading. We conducted this study to determine whether imaging characteristics of early stages of malignant gliomas could aid in timely definitive diagnosis. We retrospectively analyzed patients with newly diagnosed malignant glioma seen at the Yale Brain Tumor Center between 2002 and 2005. Patients with typical radiographic presentation were excluded. Of 89 patients, eight meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. In five patients, patchy or small nodular enhancing lesions without central necrosis were present within the tumor mass. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) showed areas of increased signal intensity in all cases. Apparent diffusion coefficient maps (ADC) revealed low-signal intensity in corresponding areas. At the time of imaging, biopsy was performed in seven patients but diagnosis of malignant glioma could only be established prior to further tumor growth in four cases. The diagnosis in the early stages of malignant glioma can be challenging in a subset of cases. Information obtained through DWI should be incorporated in the clinical decision-making process. Mass lesions displaying decreased water diffusion indicating high cellularity, are suggestive of a high-grade glioma. Biopsies are recommended. However, even when biopsies are inconclusive, a strong suspicion of malignant glioma should be considered.
Representation theory of finite abelian groups applied to a linear diatomic crystal

After a brief review of matrix representations of finite abellan groups, projection operators are defined and used to compute symmetry coordinates for systems of coupled harmonic oscillators. The Lagrangian for such systems is discussed in the event that the displacements along the symmetry coordinates are complex. Lastly, the natural frequencies of a linear, dlatomic crystal are deter- mined through application of the Born cyclic condition and the determination of the symmetry coordinates.
Microstructure actuation and gas sensing by the Knudsen thermal force

The generation of forces and moments on structures immersed in rarefied non-isothermal gas flows has received limited practical implementation since first being discovered over a century ago. The formation of significant thermal stresses requires both large thermal gradients and characteristic dimensions which are comparable to the gas molecular mean free path. For macroscopic geometries, this necessitates impractically high temperatures and very low pressures. At the microscale, however, these conditions are easily achieved, allowing the effects to be exploited, namely, for gas-property sensing and microstructure actuation. In this letter, we introduce and experimentally evaluate performance of a microelectromechanical in-plane Knudsen radiometric actuator, a self-contained device having Knudsen thermal force generation, sensing, and tuning mechanisms integrated onto the same platform. Sensitivity to ambient pressure, temperature gradient, as well as gas composition is demonstrated. Results are presented in terms of a non-dimensional force coefficient, allowing measurements to be directly compared to the previous experimental and computational data on out-of-plane cantilevered configurations.
Efficient burst scheduling algorithms in optical burst-switched networks using geometric techniques

Optical burst switching (OBS) is a promising paradigm for the next-generation Internet. In OBS, a key problem is to schedule bursts on wavelength channels, whose bandwidth may become fragmented with the so-called void (or idle) intervals, using both fast and bandwidth efficient algorithms so as to reduce burst loss. To date, two well-known scheduling algorithms, called Horizon and LAUC-VF, have been proposed in the literature, which trade off bandwidth efficiency for fast running time and vice versa, respectively. In this paper, we propose a set of novel burst scheduling algorithms for OBS networks with and without fiber delay lines (FDLs) utilizing the techniques from computational geometry. In networks without FDLs, our proposed minimum-starting-void (Min-SV) algorithm can schedule a burst in O(logm) time, where m is the total number of void intervals, as long as there is a suitable void interval. Simulation results suggest that our algorithm achieves a loss rate which is at least as low as LAUC-VF, but can run much faster. In fact, its speed can be almost the same as Horizon (which has a much higher loss rate). In networks with FDLs, our proposed batching FDL algorithm considers a batch of FDLs to find a suitable FDL to delay a burst which would otherwise be discarded due to contention, instead of considering the FDLs one by one. The average running time of this algorithm is therefore significantly reduced from that of the existing burst scheduling algorithms. Our algorithms can also be used as algorithmic tools to speed up the scheduling time of many other void-filling scheduling algorithms.
The photosensitive retinal pigments of fishes from relatively turbid coastal waters.

Digitonin extracts have been prepared from the retinae of a dozen species of marine and euryhaline teleost fishes from turbid water habitats. Spectrophotometric analysis of the extracts shows that the photosensitive retinal pigments of these species have maximum absorption above 500 m~. In nine species there are retinenex pigments with Xmsx between 504 and 512 m/~. In the marine but euryhaline mullet, Mugil cephalus, there is a porphyropsin with hmsx 520 m#. A mixture of rhodopsin and porphyropsin in an extract of a marine puffer, Sphoeroides annula~us, was disclosed by partial bleaching with colored light. In addition, one other species has a 508 m~ pigment, of which the nature of the chromophore was not determined. The habitats in which these fishes live are relatively turbid, with the water greenish or yellowish in color. The spectral transmission of such waters is probably maximal between 520 and 570 m/~. It is suggested that the fishes have become adapted to these conditions by small but significant shifts in spectral absorption of their retinal pigments. These pigments are decidedly more effective than rhodopsin in absorption of wavelengths above 500 m/~. This offers a possible interpretation of the confusing array of retinal pigments described from marine and euryhaline fishes. In the older view of visual pigment distribution in the vertebrates (Wald, 1953) there was an elegant simplicity in the nature and arrangement of the chemical constituents. In particular, proteins in the rods were believed to combine with retinenel in terrestrial vertebrates and marine fishes to form rhodopsins CA.,~ 500 4- 2 m~). These rod proteins were thought to be very similar in different species; in fresh water fishes they were believed to combine with retinene2 to produce porphyropsins CAm~ 522 4- 2 m~). Recent experiments have shown that the "rhodopsins" of different species have Xm,~ ranging at least from 478 m~ (Munz, 1958) to 524 m# (Crescitelli, 1956). "Porphyropsins" also are not limited to a single spectral position
DEVELOPMENT AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF CYSTOISOSPORA CANIS NEMESÉRI, 1959 (SYN. ISOSPORA CANIS) MONOZOIC CYSTS IN TWO NONCANINE CELL LINES

Cystoisospora canis is a coccidial parasite of the intestinal tract that can cause severe disease in dogs. Clinical signs include watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss. Extraintestinal stages of Cystoisospora spp. have been demonstrated in the mesenteric lymph nodes of paratenic hosts. Information on the biology of extraintestinal stages of canine Cystoisospora species is limited. The current study examined the development of C. canis in 2 noncanine cell lines and the ultrastructure of the monozoic cysts that formed. Monolayers of bovine turbinate cells and African green monkey kidney cells were grown on coverslips and inoculated with excysted C. canis sporozoites. Coverslips were collected on various days and fixed and stained for light microscopy (LM) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A single, centrally located, slightly crescent-shaped sporozoite surrounded by a thick cyst wall within a parasitophorous vacuole was observed with the use of LM and TEM. No division and no multinucleated stages were observed with either LM or TEM. With TEM, typical organelles of sporozoites were observed, such as rhoptries, dense granules, a crystalloid body, polysaccharide granules, and a conoid. The structure and ultrastructure of C. canis monozoic cysts produced in vitro are similar to extraintestinal cysts of other Cystoisospora species in experimentally infected animals and those of Cystoisospora belli observed in immunocompromised humans. This is the first study that fully demonstrates in vitro the development of what structurally resemble extraintestinal cysts of a Cystoisospora spp.
Maternal-Fetal Oxygen Transfer in Lower Vertebrates

There exists a difference in oxygen affinity between fetal and maternal bloods in almost all vertebrates examined and this difference in affinities probably facilitates oxygen transfer to the fetus. It is likely that the high oxygen affinity of fetal blood represents a biochemical pre-adaptation from an ancestral oviparous embryo for oxygen uptake in a relatively hypoxic environment. In most cases, the maternal-fetal difference in blood oxygen affinities is due to the characteristics of the fetal red cell and not due to any changes in the adult red cell during pregnancy. These characteristics are based on the presence of a unique fetal hemoglobin with an intrinsically high affinity for oxygen or on the absence of high red cell concentrations of organic phosphates—allosteric modulators of hemoglobin function. However, in several species of snake, representing different families, it appears that pregnancy is associated with apronounced decrease in the oxygen affinity of the adult red cell. This suggests that the blood of the pregnant female is better able to unload oxygen to the fetus than could the blood of thenonpregnant adult. The maternal-fetal difference in blood oxygen affinities in these species isprobably due to the characteristics of the fetal red cell as well as to the change in the affinity of the adult cell during pregnancy. Nonetheless, although the magnitude of the pregnancy-associated change in oxygen affinity of the adult cell in these snakes suggests that it is physiologically significant, the actual significance remains to be determined.
Experimental induction and termination of non-reciprocal reproductive incompatibilities in a parahaploid mite

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the relationship between rearing temperatures, the presence or absence of Wolbachia endosymbionts, and non-reciprocal reproductive incompatibility in inbred lines of the parahaploid phytoseiid mite Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Heat-treated females crossed with infected males reared at room temperature produced few eggs and high proportions of shriveled eggs. No female progeny were produced. The reciprocal cross was normal. A second experiment showed that the incompatible cross from the first experiment could be made compatible if the infected line was heat-treated and those males crossed with the original heat-treated females. Furthermore, a new incompatibility was induced in a formerly compatible cross when the newly heat-treated females were crossed with males from their base colony. Heat-treatment was correlated with the loss of Wolbachia in both experiments. Wolbachia may thus affect non-reciprocal reproductive incompatibility in M. occidentalis, and may produce a unique incompatibility phenotype in this parahaploid species, including both reduced numbers of male progeny and a lack of female progeny.
A fuzzy approach to hand-written rotation-invariant character recognition

A novel approach based on fuzzy set theory is developed for recognizing handwritten rotated characters. This fuzzy approach consists of four steps: (1) generating crisp sets for reference characters rotated through different degrees; (2) fuzzifying these crisp sets; (3) determining the degrees of a given character to the fuzzy sets; and (4) classifying the given character based on an average rule or a maximum rule. Simulation results show that the fuzzy approach correctly classified 94% to 100% of a small test set of characters. >
Parenting quality, adversity, and conduct problems in adolescence: Testing process-oriented models of resilience

Structural equation modeling was used (a) to determine the extent to which parent-related and non-parent-related adversity were associated with increases in conduct problems between childhood and adolescence and (b) to evaluate the possible preventive, compensatory, and moderating effects of parenting quality in this regard. Subjects were 180 boys and girls from the Project Competence longitudinal study of adversity, competence, and resilience (Garmezy & Tellegen, 1984). Conduct problems, parenting quality, and socioeconomic status were assessed when subjects were in the third through sixth grades, and adversity and conduct problems were assessed again 7 years later. Results were consistent with the view that parentrelated adversity experienced between the two assessment times was associated with a small increase in conduct problems. Adversity involving siblings, extended family, and friends was not associated with changes in conduct. Effective parenting was associated with less parent-related adversity during adolescence. Effective parenting, however, did not directly compensate for the negative effects of adversity; nor did it moderate the effects of adversity. Structural equation modeling was helpful in testing for several of these effects simultaneously. Short-term longitudinal studies with baseline measures, more frequent assessments, and adequate sample size are necessary to clarify the processes suggested by these results.
Global Environment and Human Development

Most review essays appearing in Contem porary Sociology compare monographs that approach shared topics in different ways. The United Nations Development Pro gramme's (UNDP) Human Development Reports (HDR) reviewed here are something different, but merit serious sociological attention nonetheless. While the reports are similar in the abstract?taking as an over arching theme the likely negative conse quences of environmental degradation on human social and economic well-being?the substantive topics they address are quite dif ferent (water scarcity and climate change). Additionally, the information the reports contain is not the principal effort of a lead author or small research team (although both reports claim both), but of literally doz ens of individuals and organizations from around the world who contributed back
3D volume assessment techniques and computer-aided design and manufacturing for preoperative fabrication of implants in head and neck reconstruction

Cases in subdisciplines of craniomaxillofacial surgery--corrective jaw surgery, maxillofacial trauma, temporomandibular joint/skull base, jaw reconstruction, and postablative reconstruction-illustrate the ease of use, cost effectiveness, and superior results that can be achieved when using computer-assisted design and 3D volumetric analysis in preoperative surgical planning. This article discusses the materials and methods needed to plan cases, illustrates implementation of guides and implants, and describes postoperative analysis in relation to the virtually planned surgery.
Delayed formation of pulmonary artery stump thrombus: a case report and review of the literature

Pulmonary artery stump thrombosis is a recognized complication after pneumonectomy. However, to our knowledge, there is only one case report of delayed development of this complication. We report the case of a 68 year-old man who presented with chest pain nearly ten years after undergoing a right pneumonectomy for lung cancer. Workup identified a pulmonary artery stump thrombosis. Due to the acute onset of his symptoms, the patient was anticoagulated, and his chest pain resolved. While the literature suggests that anticoagulation is not generally required for stump thromboses, we highlight features of this case that may indicate an increased risk of clinically important sequelae. Taking previous reports into account, we argue that a specific subset of patients with stump thrombosis may benefit from systemic anticoagulation.