cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Angiosarcoma of the bladder: a review.

Abstract Objectives. To present a new case of angiosarcoma of the bladder, review 9 other previously reported cases, and discuss the unique features of our case with regard to presentation, treatment, and clinical course of patients with this exceedingly rare tumor. The utility of multimodality therapy is emphasized. Methods. We report the latest case of angiosarcoma of the bladder. We also reviewed the world literature (MEDLINE) and discovered 9 previously reported cases of angiosarcoma of the bladder. Presentation, treatment, and clinical course were analyzed. Results. Of the 10 cases, 2 were considered to have arisen from a preexisting bladder hemangioma. Two patients had a history of prior gynecologic malignancies treated with external beam radiotherapy, with subsequent sarcoma formation within the past treatment field. Two other patients presented with skin lesions that predated the discovery of bladder lesions. Only 4 patients presented with primary bladder lesions and no preexisting disease or previous carcinogenic exposure (except for tobacco use). Hematuria was a universal presentation, and treatment was widely variant. Of the 10 patients, 8 died during a period of follow-up of 23 months. Five patients died of tumor-related causes. Mean survival of these 5 was 10.6 months. The 2 most recent patients (including ours) were alive and tumor free at 8 and 32 months, respectively. Both of these patients underwent multimodality oncologic approaches as part of their treatment regimen. Conclusions. Angiosarcoma of the bladder is exceedingly rare and usually fatal. Prognosis is poorer than that of angiosarcomas in more traditional sites. Regional lymph nodes are typically spared, but local recurrence with eventual distant metastasis is the rule. Optimal therapy has not been determined, but it most likely should involve a multimodal approach combining radical surgery with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Native-like conformations are sampled by partially folded and disordered variants of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor.

Partially folded conformational ensembles of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) are accessed by replacing Cys 5, 30, 51, and 55 by α-amino-n-butyric acid (Abu) while retaining the disulfide between Cys 14 and 38; the resultant variant is termed [14-38] A b u . Two new analogues with modifications in the β-turn, P26D27[14-38] A h u and N26G27K28[14-38] A b u , are compared to partially folded [14-38] A h u , as well as to [R] A h u , the unfolded protein with all six Cys residues replaced by Abu. Structural features of the new analogues of [14-38] A h u have been determined by circular dichroism (CD), one-dimensional 1 H NMR, and 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS) fluorescence experiments. Both analogues are more disordered than the parent [14-38] A b u , but while P26D27[14-38] A b u has a small population of native-like conformations observed by NMR, no ordered structure is detected for N26G27K28-[14-38] A b u . Trypsin inhibition assays were carried out using a modified rat trypsin, C191A/C220A, that minimizes cleavage of unfolded peptides. Both [14-38] A b u and P26D27[14-38] A b u significantly inhibit modified trypsin. N26G27K28[14-38] A b u has low but measurable inhibitor activity, while [R] A b u has no activity even when in very high molar excess relative to trypsin. ANS fluorescence is enhanced by [14-38] A b u and by both variants but not by [R] A b u . We conclude that partially folded ensembles of BPTI, even those with little or no CD- or NMR-detectable structure, contain minor populations of native-like conformations. Partially folded [14-38] A b u and both variants, as well as [R] A b u , have enhanced negative ellipticity in CD spectra acquired in the presence of the osmolyte trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). TMAO-induced structure is formed cooperatively, as indicated by thermal unfolding curves. Inhibitor activity as a function of TMAO concentration implies that the osmolyte-induced structure is native-like for [14-38] A b u and P26D27[14-38] A b u and is probably native-like for N26G27K28[14-38] A b u . [R] A b u also shows increased CD-detected structure in the presence of TMAO, but such structure is likely to be collapsed and non-native.
A review of optical properties of metal chalcogenide glasses

Chalcogenide glasses containing metal atoms (groups I, II or III of the periodic table) have optical and electronic properties which are very different from the ordinary chalcogenide glasses where the chalcogen atoms are essentially all two-fold coordinated. For large enough metal concentrations, the chalcogen atoms become tetrahedrally coordinated in the metal chalcogenide glasses. This increase in the local coordination number for the chalcogen atoms causes significant changes in various properties of the electronic defects including the presence of defects with positive effective electron-electron correlation energies and the possibility of doping these glasses.
Surface- and Structure-Dependent Catalytic Activity of Au Nanoparticles for Oxygen Reduction Reaction†

Polycrystalline Au nanoparticles (NPs) of 3, 6, and 8 nm were synthesized via solution phase reaction of HAuCl4·3H2O with tert-butylamine borane and oleylamine in tetrahydronaphthalene. The sizes of the Au NPs were tuned by varying the reaction temperatures (40−3 °C). For polycrystalline Au NPs made at room temperature or above, smaller NPs showed more positive onset potential in catalyzing oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in 0.5 M KOH media. However the most active Au NPs were the 8 nm ones that were synthesized at 3 °C. We rationalized the ORR activity of these Au NPs by the ease of oleylamine surfactant removal and the degree of disorder in the polycrystalline structure. This was further confirmed by the low activity observed from the same Au NPs passivated with hexadecanethiol, or from the Au NPs with higher degree of crystallinity made from the etching of the composite Au−Fe3O4 NPs.
Iterative statistical kernels on contemporary GPUs

We present a study of OpenCL implementations of three important kernels that occur frequently in iterative statistical applications: multi-dimensional scaling MDS, PageRank and K-means clustering. We evaluated their performance on NVIDIA Tesla and Fermi GPGPU cards using dedicated hardware, and in the case of Fermi, also on the Amazon EC2 cloud-computing environment. We explored the optimisation of these kernels by four main techniques: 1 caching invariant data in GPU memory across iterations; 2 selectively placing data in different memory levels; 3 rearranging data in memory; 4 dividing the work between the GPU and the CPU. We also implemented a novel algorithm for MDS and a novel data layout scheme for PageRank. Our optimisations resulted in performance improvements of up to 5× to 6×, compared to naive OpenCL implementations and up to 100× improvement over single-core CPU. We believe that these categories of optimisations are also applicable to other similar kernels.
Process improvement in the operating room using Toyota (Lean) methods

Abstract Healthcare is in need of fundamental change if we are going to make significant improvements in outcomes while limiting costs. Lean methods, initially developed in the manufacturing industry, have been shown to deliver real improvements in quality, productivity, and safety while using fewer resources in healthcare service settings. These tools, management practices and philosophies have been successfully adapted in operative services at SC. They can transform your system and culture through engagement of front line staff into a continuously improving service with real and sustainable enhancements in clinical outcomes.
Steady mechanics of layered, multi-band belt drives used in continuously variable transmissions (CVT)

The steady mechanics of multi-layered metal belts used in metal-pushing continuously variable transmissions (CVT) are examined where the thin individual bands are modeled as axially moving strings. For each band, the main characteristics of classic flat belt models, such as band inertia, tension/speed constitutive law and elastic extension, are retained. Relative speeds between the layered bands and between the innermost band and the pulleys transfer the driving torque via friction between the contacting surfaces. The friction, tension and speed distributions in the individual bands are obtained by a boundary value problem (BVP) solver-based method. Load sharing among the multiple bands is investigated. This model is useful for belt fatigue life analysis and to guide the design of such multi-layered belts, given that one of the main failure modes of metal-pushing CVT is premature breakage of one or more of the layered steel bands.
Toward a definition of fault analysis for Petri nets models

We introduce a particular kind of Petri net, restricted Petri nets (RPN), along with a set of definitions and theoretical results which enable RPN to be use in fault detection processes. A fault for an arbitrary system is interpreted in terms of a faulty transition in an RPN. This paper focuses on the detection of permanent faults in a transition which occur because of the absence of some input arcs (or output arcs) from its fault-free structure.
Integrated-Circuit Pulse Trigger for Electrofishing

Abstract A triggering circuit is described for direct-current fish shockers employing thyristors. Pulse rate can be switched from one to 200 pulses/second in over 200 discrete steps while duty cycle can be varied continuously from 8 to 92%. Adjustments of rate and duty cycle are wholly independent of one another.
Inheritance of female mating propensities for yellow locus genotypes in Drosophila melanogaster

Females from different wild-type laboratory populations of Drosophila melanogaster differ genotypically in their degree of mating discrimination against mutant yellow males. The chromosomal organization of this difference was examined in two wild-type laboratory strains by experimental observation of the mating propensities of hybrid females in a mass-mating, multiple choice situation. The results indicate that the strain difference is polygenic in origin, involving loci on both the X-chromosome and autosomes. Reciprocal crosses revealed no maternal/cytoplasmic effects. The mating scores of parental, F1 and backcross females fit well to a model of additive chromosomal effects, with X-linked loci being recessive, and autosomal loci overdominant, for increased mating with yellow males. However, interactions, arising most probably from recombination, led to increased mating with yellow on the part of F2 females. In addition to the difference in female discrimination against yellow males, male/female interaction was found for the mating speed of flies from the two strains. These results are discussed in the light of previous studies of mating preferences in D. melanogaster. It is suggested that genetic variation in female mating preferences may be an important source of variation in the reported mating success of mutant yellow males.
Glu-857 Moderates K+-dependent Stimulation and SCH 28080-dependent Inhibition of the Gastric H,K-ATPase

Abstract The rabbit H,K-ATPase α- and β-subunits were transiently expressed in HEK293 T cells. The co-expression of the H,K-ATPase α- and β-subunits was essential for the functional H,K-ATPase. The K+-stimulated H,K-ATPase activity of 0.82 ± 0.2 μmol/mg/h saturated with aK 0.5 (KCl) of 0.6 ± 0.1 mm, whereas the 2-methyl-8-(phenylmethoxy)imidazo[1,2a]pyridine-3-acetonitrile (SCH 28080)-inhibited ATPase of 0.62 ± 0.07 μmol/mg/h saturated with a K i (SCH 28080) of 1.0 ± 0.3 μm. Site mutations were introduced at theN,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-reactive residue, Glu-857, to evaluate the role of this residue in ATPase function. Variations in the side chain size and charge of this residue did not inhibit the specific activity of the H,K-ATPase, but reversal of the side chain charge by substitution of Lys or Arg for Glu produced a reciprocal change in the sensitivity of the H,K-ATPase to K+ and SCH 28080. The K 0.5 for K+stimulated ATPase was decreased to 0.2 ± .05 and 0.2 ± .03 mm, respectively, in Lys-857 and Arg-857 site mutants, whereas the K i for SCH 28080-dependent inhibition was increased to 6.5 ± 1.4 and 5.9 ± 1.5 μm, respectively. The H,K-ATPase kinetics were unaffected by the introduction of Ala at this site, but Leu produced a modest reciprocal effect. These data indicate that Glu-857 is not an essential residue for cation-dependent activity but that the residue influences the kinetics of both K+ and SCH 28080-mediated functions. This finding suggests a possible role of this residue in the conformational equilibrium of the H,K-ATPase.
Reading Regulators' Minds: Highlights of the Annual SEC Conference

Auditor independence and international accounting were the hot topics at the latest SEC conference, where everyone got a peek at what's on the standard setters' minds. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Prior botulinum toxin injection may compromise outcome of pneumatic dilatation in achalasia

Prior botulinum toxin injection may compromise outcome of pneumatic dilatation in achalasia
“Sometimes One Does That With Blinders On”: Revisioning Care for Violent Girls

When girls use violence to discharge their rage, the first response by law enforcement and treatment providers is to stop the behaviors through control of the offender. This article examines extant juvenile justice and child welfare policies and practices that function as social control and surveillance mechanisms of girls who violate behavioral expectations and/or social norms through violent behaviors. Case studies reveal tensions between punishment and mental health and underscore compounded psychological trauma, when girls’ behaviors are considered within a psychodynamic theoretical framework that explains cognitive impairment and other traumagenic effects that challenge providers’ expectations of girls’ normative behaviors. Dynamics of vicarious trauma among staff suggest the perilous impacts of trauma upon the quality and duration of attachments that troubled workers are able to form and maintain with their clients. Instead of a policy framework of social control and top-down silos of prescriptive s...
A comparison of mandibular angle fracture plating techniques

Abstract Objective The purpose of this investigation was to compare the conventional technique of mandibular angle fracture plating with two biomechanically dissimilar techniques in their abilities to resist vertical loads similar to masticatory forces. Study design Three groups of five synthetic hemimandibles with simulated fracture repairs were compared for their capabilities to resist vertical deformation. The conventional group was stabilized with a thin tension band system at the superior border and thick stabilization plate system at the inferior border. The nontraditional group was stabilized with a thick tension band system at the superior border and thin stabilization plate system at the inferior border. The two miniplate group was stabilized with a thin tension band system at the superior border and thin stabilization plate at the inferior border. A cantilever beam design was used. Testing was performed with an Instron 8511.20 (Instron Corp., Canton, Mass.) mechanical testing device. The three groups were compared with a two way analysis of variance. Results The forces resisted by the conventional group (167.6±18.2 N), the nontraditional group (156.3±33.9 N), and two miniplate group (154.0±18.4 N) were not statistically different (F=0.44, p >0.66). All failures occurred at the tension bands secured with monocortical screws. Conclusions Under the conditions described in this in vitro investigation, plate thickness or pattern made no difference. All failures in this experiment occurred with monocortical screws in the superior border tension band system.
Boson-mediated interactions between static sources

The techniques are now available for doing accurate computations of static potentials arising from the exchange of virtual mesons. Such computations must take account of the fact that different approximation methods must be used in the regions where R is large and where R is small. In the asymptotic region, the distorted-field approximation provides an appropriate starting-point, but it must be improved before trustworthy results are obtained for all but the largest values of R. In the region of small R, accurate strong-coupling methods are based on the use of states with coherent meson pairs. For small R, it is also important to take account of the possibility of meson emission or near-emission.
Effects of Chloride Salt, Method of Manufacturing and Frozen Storage on Sensory Properties of Restructured Pork Roasts

Pork shoulders were used to make two replications of restructured roast by the following methods: (1) grinder with 3-hole “kidney shaped” plate and a conventional knife with four full-length arms; (2) grinder with 3-hole “kidney shaped” plate and a special knife with two half-length arms and; (3) Comitrol machine with a 6.35 mm headsize. Sodium chloride was replaced with an equivalent ionic strength of potassium chloride in one-half of the roasts made by each method. Frozen storage period (1 or 4 wk) did not (P7>0.05) affect sensory properties of cooked roasts. However, roasts made with potassium chloride had more off-flavor than roasts made with sodium chloride (P<0.05). Roasts made by the Comitrol method had more off-flavor and less whole muscle-like mouthfeel than those made by the grind-mix method using a knife with two half-length arms (P<0.05).
Intrinisic second-phase particles in powder-processed MoSi2

Abstract MoSi 2 has been produced by hot pressing of commercial and in-house powders and also by arc melting of pure molybdenum and silicon. It is shown that the “glassy” phase observed in powder-processed MoSi 2 consists of amorphous SiO 2 and that formation of this phase is intrinsic to powder processing. In addition, the Mo 5 Si 3 phase, which is often present in MoSi 2 , is found to be a carbon-stabilized form of approximate composition CMo 5 Si 3 .
Isotopic comparison of lead in tektites with lead in earth materials

Abstract Lead samples from moldavites and from Ries glass are isotopically similar, except that the Ries glass tends to be slightly enriched in the radiogenic lead isotopes relative to moldavites. The lead in these materials is similar to the lead found in oceanic sediments and falls on the growth curves typical of most terrestrial rock and ore lead samples. This is true of lead in other tektite groups, with one exception. Lead from Ivory Coast tektites does not fall on the growth trend of modern terrestrial lead. Lead samples from Bosumtwi Crater dark glass and from the gray phyllite (country rock) at Bosumtwi Crater are similarly displaced from the typical growth trend. These features may be explained in terms of lead isotopic development over long periods of time in environments which differ somewhat from the normal in terms of relative U, Th, and Pb abundances, which suggests that the tektites as well as the impact glass were derived from the Precambrian rocks at Bosumtwi Crater. High U Pb ratios ( U 238 Pb 204 > 20 ) were found in all tektites analysed, indicating enrichment of U relative to Pb either at the time of tektite formation or within a time period not exceeding a few hundred million years prior to tektite formation. Lower U Pb ratios were found in the impact glasses. Lead samples from a bediasite and a Georgia tektite are the same, isotopically, and similar to lead from other tektite groups (except the Ivory Coast tektites).
The Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Kollidon VA64 Dissociate its Protective Effects from Membrane Resealing after Controlled Cortical Impact in Mice

Membrane-resealing agents such as poloxamer P188 improve the outcome in experimental brain injury paradigms; however, whether membrane resealing is a key mechanism for protection has not been shown in vivo. We previously reported that Kollidon VA64, a polymeric membrane-resealing agent, reduces cell membrane permeability and improves brain edema, brain tissue damage, and functional outcome after controlled cortical impact in mice, without rescuing resealed cells from death. To reconcile these disparate findings, we used a dual-pulse labeling protocol to determine membrane-resealing kinetics by VA64/P188 in vivo. Membrane resealing after controlled cortical impact in mice by intravenous or intracerebroventricular VA64 and poloxamer P188 was transient, with most cells becoming repermeabilized within 2 hours, even with multiple-dose paradigms that maintained high VA64 blood levels. Moreover, VA64 reduced cytotoxic brain edema in a water intoxication model devoid of plasmalemma permeability (P<0.05 versus P188, VA30, mannitol, and vehicle). We conclude that VA64 reduces cytotoxic and traumatic brain edema independent of membrane resealing. The results suggest that classic membrane-resealing agents such as poloxamer P188, and the newly discovered VA64, exert protective effects in central nervous system injury paradigms by mechanisms other than or in addition to maintaining permeable cell membranes sealed.
Job scheduling to minimize expected weighted flowtime on uniform processors

Abstract We consider a sequencing problem in which there are n jobs to be processed nonpreemptively on m nonidentical processors. The processing time of the j- th processor is exponentially distributed with rate μ j , where μ 1 ⩾μ 2 ⩾⋯⩾μ m . Job i incurs a holding cost at rate c i per unit time while still in the system, where c 1 ⩾c 2 ⩾⋯⩾c n . We show that to minimize total expected holding costs (weighted flowtime), it is optimal to take the fastest (lowest indexed) available processor, say processor j , and assign job k to it if k>(Σ i j − 1 μ i )/μ j −j ⩾ k−1 . After each assignment the jobs are renumbered (so that job k+1 becomes job k , etc.), and the procedure is repeated with the next fastest available processor, etc. Note that the policy does not depend on the values of the holding costs c i . This result is a generalization of the result of Agrawala et al. (1984) for minimizing expected flowtime, i.e., minimizing total holding cost when the holding costs of all the jobs are the same. We give a simpler proof of the more general result.
Spectroscopic investigations of CdS at high pressure.

The photoluminescence spectrum and absorption spectrum as well as resonant Raman scattering tuned by pressure in heavily doped CdS have been studied. The pressure coefficients of shallow levels (${I}_{2}$ and ${I}_{1}$) and deep levels (${G}_{5}$ and R) are measured. A new optical-absorption method under pressure was developed and the shift of band gap with pressure of CdS in the direct-band-gap wurtzite phase and indirect-band-gap rock-salt phase was measured. From the experimental results of resonant Raman scattering tuned by pressure we conclude that at about 27 kbar CdS undergoes a complete phase transition from the wurtzite phase to the rock-salt phase. After the phase transition there is no two-phase mixture, and the material still has semiconductor characteristics.
ADRENAL SONOGRAPHY AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CLASSICAL AND NONCLASSICAL 21-HYDROXYLASE DEFICIENCY CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA

Adrenal sonogram and computed tomography (CT) studies were carried out as a part of the diagnostic workup either for evaluation of the cause of elevated androgen levels or to look for autonomously functioning adenomatous adrenal lesions in patients with proven classical or nonclassical steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OH def) congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Sonograms revealed unequivocally hyperplastic adrenal glands in 2 neonates with female pseudohermaphroditism due to classical CAH and in 1 inadequately treated 9-year-old child with classical CAH.
Parental validation and support in the development of adolescent daughters

An individuation process involving validation and a valuing process involving support act as mediating Processes between parent development and adolescent development.
Smoking typewriters: the Sixties underground press and the rise of alternative media in America

by John McMillian, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011, 304 pp., $27.95 (hardcover), ISBN 978-0195319927 In Steal This Book (1971), Abbie Hoffman put underground newspapers front and center as th...
Sequence of a rat TIS11 cDNA, an immediate early gene induced by growth factors and phorbol esters.

Abstract We report here the nucleotide sequence of a rat TIS 11 cDNA, an immediate early gene, induced by nerve growth factor and epidermal growth factor, by 12- O -tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate, and other stimuli in PC 12 pheochromocytoma cells. The deduced protein consists of 320 amino acid residues with two tandem repeats of a putative Zn 2+ -finger motif.
Oligonucleotide adsorption to artificial surfaces

A necessary step in the development of a candidate drug involves characterization of the drug's interactions with the natural and synthetic surfaces it encounters. In this preliminary study, the time-, solvent-, surface-, and cation-dependency of oligodeoxynucleotide (ON) adsorption was examined by measuring loss of a radiolabeled phosphodiester ON from either cell growth media or distilled, deionized water (with or without different added cations) as a function of time and surface. As expected, ON adsorption was dependent on all the factors examined. Either silica coating of surfaces or the addition of cations, EDTA or heat-inactivated serum, may be useful techniques for reducing ON adsorptive losses.
Chronic exercise training alters kinetic properties of rat skeletal muscle and myocardial lactate dehydrogenase

Abstract 10 weeks of treadmill running dramatically altered the kinetic properties of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) in skeletal muscle and myocardium in the rat. These changes, including V max , K m and optimal concentrations for pymvate and lactate, indicate that exercise training induces the formation of H-isozyme in skeletal muscle and M-isozyme in the heart and represent metabolic adaptations of these tissues to chronic aerobic exercise.
Capacity Value of PV Generation and Its Impact on Power System Planning: A Case Study in Northwest of China

Conventional effective using hours and capacity analysis of power plants can not clearly describe the peak-shaving potential of PV generation for its intermittency. This paper presents the capacity value of PV generation in Province A of northwest of China based on the output power at maximum load intervals. The statistical results show that the capacity credit of PV generation in Province A is less than 2% with a 90% probability. This low capacity credit is attributed to the characteristics of the output of PV station and the load in Province A. This capacity credit should be considered for power system planning. The practical planning of the power system to accommodate the PV generation is considered based on peak-valley-load difference analysis. The study results demonstrate that other effective peaking-shaving power supplies are needed in Province A. Also, future plan of flexible conventional power supplies to balance the fluctuation of PV generation have to be adopted since the maximum peak-valley-load difference rate in Province A keeps constant for PV power penetration within 10% and increases linear with penetration over 10%.
Apical Polarity Protein PrkCi Is Necessary for Maintenance of Spinal Cord Precursors in Zebrafish

During development, neural precursors divide to produce new precursors and cells that differentiate as neurons and glia. In Drosophila, apicobasal polarity and orientation of the mitotic spindle play important roles in specifying the progeny of neural precursors for different fates. We examined orientation of zebrafish spinal cord precursors using time-lapse imaging and tested the function of protein kinase C, iota (PrkCi), a member of the Par complex of proteins necessary for apicobasal polarity in the nervous system. We found that nearly all precursors divide within the plane of the neuroepithelium of wild-type embryos even when they must produce cells that have different fates. In the absence of PrkCi function, neural precursor divisions become oblique during late embryogenesis and excess oligodendrocytes form concomitant with loss of dividing cells. We conclude that PrkCi function and planar divisions are necessary for asymmetric, self-renewing division of spinal cord precursors.
Efficient approach to embed binary trees in 3-D rectangular arrays

The complete binary tree has long been known to support important applications. This paper presents an efficient embedding of a complete binary tree in a 3-D rectangular array. The array hosting the binary tree is called the host, and the binary tree is referred to as the guest. The scheme is modular and high level trees are made of low level trees inductively. It is shown that all PEs (except one) of the host array may be utilised in embedding a k-level complete binary tree. The dilation (maximum length of an edge in the guest graph in terms of the number of edges in the host graph) is kept as low as possible by using building blocks, which allow tree embedding, with dilation of two at most occurring between leaf nodes and their parents where the message traffic is minimum. Upperbounds on propagation delay are reduced from O(2/sup k/2/) to O(2/sup k/3/) as a result of the use of the third dimension. Results are compared with those dealing with 2-D layouts. As discussed, these bounds are the best known to date for structures with practically implementable dimensionality.
Propellant combustion product analyses on an M16 rifle and a 105 mm caliber gun

Abstract Some of the propellant combustion products (particulates and gases) that are formed on firing an M16 rifle and 105mm caliber gun have been subjected to qualitative, and to a more limited extent, quantitative chemical analyses. For both weapons, large numbers of trace gas species, 90 to 70 respectively, were identified in the combustion effluents from the small large bore weapons. Quantifiable data were obtained for 15 of these species in terms of mass of compound formed per unit mass of propellant burned. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, 11 and 4 respectively, were identified and quantified in the combustion products from the small and large bore weapons. Metal particulates (5) in the respirable range in the combustion products from the M16 rifle were analyzed and quantified. Many of the chemical species identified in the study have known toxicological properties. Although the data base is limited, it appears that within the confines of the different propellants’ stoichiometries, the amounts of...
Development of an atom-interferometer gravity gradiometer for gravity measurement from space

Recent progress in cold atom interferometry has lead to a new method of sensitive inertial sensing. Significant performance enhancement of cold atom interferometer-based sensors is anticipated when operated in the microgravity environment in space. Based on cold atom interferometer techniques, we are developing a quantum gravity gradiometer for satellite-based global gravity field mapping. As a first step, we have built a laboratory-based gradiometer employing component technologies suitable for a future flight instrument. This paper describes the implementation of the laboratory instrument and its initial results.
Quasi-epitaxial growth of organic multiple quantum well structures by organic molecular beam deposition

Multiple quantum well structures consisting of alternating layers of two crystalline organic semiconductors, namely, 3,4,9,10 perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) and 3,4,7,8 naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTCDA), have been grown by organic molecular beam deposition. The individual layer thicknesses in the multilayer samples were varied from 10 to 200 A. X‐ray diffraction and birefringence data show that there is a strong structural ordering in all layers, as well as across large spatial distances along the sample surface. Thus, the growth is ‘‘quasi‐epitaxial’’ even though the PTCDA and NTCDA crystal structures are incommensurate. From the optical absorption spectra, it was found that the lowest energy PTCDA singlet exciton line shifts to higher energy with decreasing layer thickness. Comparison of these results with a quantum mechanical model based on exciton confinement in the PTCDA layers is proposed to describe the energy shift.
Civil commotion and riot insurance in fascist Europe, 1922–1941

Insurance for damage caused by public unrest became popular in post-1918 Central Europe and proved to be a profitable business, but one that became increasingly problematic because of the role of fascist regimes in promoting civil commotion. This article addresses some of the experiences of insurance companies, especially the Munich Reinsurance Company, when trying to manage policies covering political unrest and riot in Italy, Germany and Spain between 1922 and 1941. In the case of Italy in 1922, the new fascist regime forced the insurers to pay for damages caused by the Squadri. In Germany, the insurers were forced to assume a fictitious liability for damages done to the Jews in the Pogrom of November 1938. In Spain, Franco forced the insurance companies to treat Civil War damages as a civil commotion and make payouts despite their strenuous objections. These experiences demonstrated that civil commotion insurance was most safely marketed in democracies that provided enough unrest but also law and order to make it worthwhile.
Midinfrared resonant magnetic nanostructures exhibiting a negative permeability.

In 1968, Veselago proposed the concept of a negative refractive index or left-handed material (LHM) [1] with both a negative permittivity" and a negative permeability � . Many interesting properties are associated with negative materials including a negative index of refraction, backward phase propagation, a reversed Doppler effect, and backward emission of Cherenkov radiation. Recently, interest in LHMs has increased substantially with the theoretical prediction that a planar slab of LHM functions as a perfect lens without any diffractive loss of resolution [1,2] and with the first demonstrations of LHMs in the rf and THz electromagnetic regions [3‐6]. While metals provide a negative permittivity at frequencies below the plasma frequency, naturally occurring materials with negative permeability are not available. Composite electromagnetic materials with resonant structures with sizes much less than the wavelength can act as an effective homogeneous media with a negative permeability. Pendry et al. proposed a split ring structure that responds to the magnetic field of incident radiation [7]. The split ring structure (SRS) can be viewed as an equivalent inductor-capacitor (LC) tank circuit. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the magnetic field generated by the current induced in the ring opposes the external magnetic field. At frequencies in the vicinity of the resonance, a negative effective permeability can be realized. While most experimental work has been done at microwave and, more recently, THz frequencies, extending the phenomena to infrared (IR) and visible frequencies will greatly increase the range of applications. Based on the previous modeling work [7] and on the fabrication difficulties associated with scaling the SRS to higher frequency, there has been general pessimism about the prospects of extending these properties to optical frequencies in metallic structures. In this Letter, we describe the fabrication, characterization, and modeling of arrays of a new nanostructure design with resonances in the mid-IR region and properties that demonstrate strong magnetic activity indicative of negative permeability. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental work on negative permeability reported in the IR. Importantly, the scaling of these results to even higher frequency is investigated, and a structure exhibiting negative permeability in the technologically important near-IR range 1:3 � m is proposed. The structure (Fig. 1, top) consists of an array of gold ‘‘staples’’ each with two outwardly splayed footings, separated from a thick continuous gold film by a ZnS dielectric layer. Each staple is a LC circuit with the structure part of the inductor associated with the upper loop of the staple and with two capacitors formed between the gold staple footings—the dielectric layer and the bottom gold layer. As a result of the thick Au film, light can only be reflected from or absorbed within the structure; there is no transmission in the IR. For analysis, it is simpler to view this structure in transmission as the staple and its image mir
Treatment outcomes in the management of inverted papilloma: an analysis of 160 cases.

Objective The objective of this study is to compare the surgical options for treatment of inverted papilloma to determine the appropriate indications for conservative and aggressive management. Study Design and Setting A retrospective review of 160 patients with a diagnosis of inverted papilloma treated by the two senior authors (w.l. and h.f.b.) between 1973 and 2001. Results The study group consisted of 124 male and 36 female patients with an average age of 56 years. The follow-up period ranged from 10 months to 16 years (mean, 5.2 years). Seventy-eight patients (49%) had undergone prior surgery. Lateral rhinotomy was performed in 112 patients (70%), with a recurrence rate of 18%. Conservative removal was performed in 41 patients (26%), including 30 (19%) endoscopic approaches, with a recurrence rate of 12%. The remaining patients underwent midfacial degloving, osteoplastic approach, or craniofacial resection. The rate of malignant transformation was 7%. Conclusion We present the largest personal series of cases of inverted papilloma to date. Our data suggest that conservative approaches, especially endoscopic removal, can be performed on selected lesions with recurrence rates that are comparable to those of more aggressive techniques. Those inverted papillomas that recur after treatment may represent a subset of lesions with an inherent aggressiveness, for which optimal treatment has yet to be determined.
Using a PDP-11/10 to teach content and history in computer organization courses

This paper describes our use of a 1970's era PDP-11/10 to support an hour long module which we have incorporated into our computer organization course for the past few semesters. The module is designed to reinforce standard concepts such as number systems and two-pass assemblers while at the same time exposing the students to some historical issues. After providing some background information about the PDP-11/10 we explain the motivation for our approach. Then we describe a fifteen minute instructional video which we have produced on the topic of developing programs on the PDP/11-10. The video is available from the authors either on VHS tape or as a QuickTime file, thereby allowing instructors at other schools to try our approach by showing the video to their students.
Multi-layer deposition of conformal, transparent, conducting oxide films for device applications

Abstract Conformal, high conductivity thin films of indium tin oxide (ITO) have been deposited utilizing a relatively low temperature, ambient, multi-layer dip coating process. Using standard alcohol solutions of indium chloride and stannic chloride to form ultra-thin layers, consecutive multi-layer deposition of ITO onto telecommunications grade glass fibers (as a model system) showed excellent control over grain morphology in the film as determined by electron microscopy, and a linear relationship between thickness and overall fiber conductivity. Ray tracing coupled with a transfer matrix formalism was used to numerically simulate the effects of film thickness on the optical waveguiding nature of the conducting layer. The simulations, carried out for a generic film morphology, show that a significant fraction of the optical energy coupled into the fiber face, is transmitted into the film at the thicknesses studied. These results were then used to estimate an upper limit of optical power transmission provided for the generic system. From this a comparison between the optical performance of sputter deposited and multi-layer conducting oxide films in a device configuration could be made. Organic photovoltaic devices, using both sputter deposited and multi-layer conductors on optical grade fibers, were fabricated and tested. Both compared favorably to the numerical simulations, suggesting that the overall, long range performance between the multi-layer deposited and sputtered films are comparable as cathodes for such conformal devices.
Results of expandable metal stents for malignant esophageal obstruction in 100 patients: short-term and long-term follow-up.

Background. Expandable metal stents palliate malignant dysphagia in most cases, but early complications and outcomes in long-term survivors have not been well described. This report summarizes our experience with expandable metal stents for malignant dysphagia. Methods. Over a 48-month period, 127 stents were placed in 100 patients with dysphagia from esophageal cancer (93%) or lung cancer. Most had undergone prior treatment. Dysphagia scores, duration of palliation, complications, and reintervention were evaluated. Results. Immediate improvement in dysphagia was observed in 85% of patients with no procedure-related deaths. Dysphagia score decreased from 3.3 before stent to 2.3 (p < 0.005). Average interval to reintervention was 80 days. In 40 patients surviving more than 120 days, 31 (78%) required reintervention. Major complications occurred in 3 patients receiving poststent chemoradiation (tracheoesophageal fistula, T1 vertebral body abscess, mediastinal abscess). Other complications included unsatisfactory deployment requiring immediate removal (3 patients), migration (11 patients), pain requiring removal (2 patients), food impaction (10 patients), and tumor ingrowth (37 patients). Conclusions. Expandable metal stents offer excellent short-term palliation of malignant dysphagia. In long-term survivors, recurrent dysphagia requiring reintervention is common. In a small subset of patients receiving chemoradiation after stent placement, major complications were observed.
The association between tinnitus and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Purpose Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects nearly 10% of the population, a prevalence comparable with that of tinnitus. Similarities between the way PTSD and tinnitus influence auditory b...
Almost ‘like family’: Emergency nurses and ‘frequent flyers’

Objective Heavy users (HUs) of emergency services ("repeaters" or "frequent flyers") are often regarded by emergency nurses as "problem patients." Yet, these patients also solicit deeper clinician involvement because of their familiarity and their often intractable medical and social problems. The primary objective of this study was to contribute to improved understanding of the phenomenon of heavy ED use by describing the context within which such use occurs and its meanings to patients and to clinicians. Methods Observational and narrative data were collected during ethnographic fielwork in two inner-city trauma center emergency departments. Data were interpreted using interpretive phenomenological strategies. Findings Relationships between ED clinicians and HU patients in the study hospitals were characterized by complexity and ambivalence, but thematic analysis of interviews revealed commonalities. Recognition practices , discussed in this article, were central to both centers. Discussion Frustration with a system that focuses on control but often leaves ED clinicians feeling like failures as they try to pick up the pieces for failing or absent families, communities, and social programs can contribute to stigmatization of HU patients, missed clinical diagnoses, and reduced nurse morale. Acknowledging the reasonable limits of control, and engaging in simple recognition and inclusion practices, may be more meaningful in furthering changes in HU patient behavior than biomedically oriented interventions.
Investigation of an Approach to Balance Wear Resistance and Mechanical Properties of Crosslinked UHMWPE

In order to produce ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with increased wear resistance for bearing applications, yet minimize degradation in stiffness and oxidation resistance, the authors have proposed irradiation crosslinking of the polymer at moderate radiation doses. It was theorized that this would minimize or eliminate the need for a subsequent stabilization of free radicals, and thus retain a significant proportion of the original stiffness of the crystalline polymer. In this study, four groups of UHMWPE were investigated: (a) non-crosslinked, (b) crosslinked with 50 kGy electron-beam irradiation, thermally stabilized, (c) crosslinked, non-stabilized, and (d) crosslinked, non-stabilized, and exposed to accelerated oxidation to simulate prolonged exposure. Crosslinking and subsequent thermal stabilization significantly reduced the elastic modulus of UHMWPE, while omission of the stabilization step yielded a more moderate reduction in elastic modulus. It was shown that thermal stabilization reduced crystallinity more so than did omission of stabilization. Accelerated aging did not further decrease the storage modulus of UHMWPE over that of non-stabilized, non-aged polymer. Crosslinking showed a significant increase in wear resistance, while aging of the non-stabilized polymer showed no adverse effects on wear. These results suggest the potential for the use of moderate UHMWPE crosslinking without stabilization for industrial and some biomedical applications.
Acceleration of mesoderm development and expansion of hematopoietic progenitors in differentiating ES cells by the mouse Mix-like homeodomain transcription factor

The cellular and molecular events underlying the formation and differentiation of mesoderm to derivatives such as blood are critical to our understanding of the development and function of many tissues and organ systems. How different mesodermal populations are set aside to form specific lineages is not well understood. Although previous genetic studies in the mouse embryo have pointed to a critical role for the homeobox gene Mix-like (mMix) in gastrulation, its function in mesoderm development remains unclear. Hematopoietic defects have been identified in differentiating embryonic stem cells in which mMix was genetically inactivated. Here we show that conditional induction of mMix in embryonic stem cell–derived embryoid bodies results in the early activation of mesodermal markers prior to expression of Brachyury/T and acceleration of the mesodermal developmental program. Strikingly, increased numbers of mesodermal, hemangioblastic, and hematopoietic progenitors form in response to premature activation of mMix. Differentiation to primitive (embryonic) and definitive (adult type) blood cells proceeds normally and without an apparent bias in the representation of different hematopoietic cell fates. Therefore, the mouse Mix gene functions early in the recruitment and/or expansion of mesodermal progenitors to the hemangioblastic and hematopoietic lineages.
An extensometer for axial strain measurement at high temperature

Most existing strain measuring instruments, important for the investigation of the mechanical behavior of metals at high temperature, have temperature, strain range, and size limitations. In this short note the authors give the design and construction of an extensometer with sufficient dynamic range and good stability over long periods of time, for measuring the longitudinal strain of plane specimens from 0.001 to 0.1 at temperatures up to 800 C.