cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Possible role of pancreatic enzymes in the etiology of ulcerative colitis.

It is a common observation that patients with ulcerative colitis frequently exhibit remarkable clinical improvement following ileostomy. Weight gains of fifty pounds or more have been recorded. Since ileostomy diverts the fecal stream from the colon, perhaps some substance in the upper gastrointestinal tract initiates or aggravates the symptoms of this disease. Portis, Block and Necheles1 succeeded, by perfusing the colons of dogs with 1 to 2% trypsin solutions, in both acute and chronic experiments, in damaging the colonic mucosa. This was manifested by hyperemia, capillary hemorrhages, extensive hemorrhages of the mucosa, and surface necrosis of the mucosa. Ivy and Clarke2, however, did not succeed in producing any mucosal changes in six dogs by diverting the upper jejunal contents to the appendix. They state that their experiments did not rule out the possibility that the quantity or activity of the proteolytic enzymes of the upper intestine may be greater than normal in ulcerative colitis, or that the colon may be more susceptible in this disease. To investigate the first possibility, we studied the external secretion of the pancreas in a group of patients with this disease, using intravenous secretin as the stimulus. As a preliminary study, we undertook a series of experiments with dogs. Ten mongrel dogs were used. Under pentothal anesthesia a loop of colon with its intact blood supply was transposed into the duodenum distal to the ampulla of Vater with end to end anastomosis (Figure 1). This colonic segment had of necessity to be from the right side of the colon, inasmuch as the left side of the colon does not lend itself well to transposition because the blood supply to the left side in the dog cannot be interrupted without producing gangrene of the distal segment. These animals died or were sacrificed at intervals of two weeks to ten months (Table 1). In every case except one the colonic segments were intact. In one dog which lived for fourteen weeks there was moderate inflammation with small superficial ulcerations. These experiments confirm the findings of Ivy and Clarke2 that the dog's colonic mucosa can tolerate the bile and pancreatic juice normally present in the duodenum. Meyer and his collaborators3 have shown that the lysozyme content of ileostomy drainage is not abnormally high in this disease. We verified this in two patients.
Expanded Versions of the 16S and 23S Ribosomal RNA Mutation Databases (16SMDBexp and 23SMDBexp)

Expanded versions of the Ribosomal RNA Mutation Databases provide lists of mutated positions in 16S and 16S-like ribosomal RNA (16SMDBexp) and 23S and 23S-like ribosomal RNA (23SMDBexp) and the identity of each alteration. Alterations from organisms other than Escherichia coli are reported at positions according to the E.coli numbering system. Information provided for each mutation includes: (i) a brief description of the phenotype(s) associated with each mutation, (ii) whether a mutant phenotype has been detected by in vivo or in vitro methods, and (iii) relevant literature citations. The databases are available via ftp and on the World Wide Web at the following URL: http: //www.fandm.edu/Departments/Biology/Databases/RNA.h tml
Alternative pathways of sterol synthesis in yeast: Use of C27 sterol tracers to study aberrant double-bond migrations and evaluate their relative importance

Yeast produce traces of aberrant sterols by minor alternative pathways, which can become significant when normal metabolism is blocked by inhibitors or mutations. We studied sterols generated in the absence of the delta(8)-delta(7) isomerase (Erg2p) or delta(5) desaturase (Erg3p) by incubating three mutant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with 5 alpha-cholest-8-en-3beta-ol, 8-dehydrocholesterol (delta(5,8) sterol), or isodehydrocholesterol (delta(6,8) sterol), together with the corresponding 3 alpha-3H isotopomer. Nine different incubations gave altogether 16 sterol metabolites, including seven delta(22E) sterols formed by action of the yeast C-22 desaturase (Erg5p). These products were separated by silver-ion high performance liquid chromatography (Ag(+)-HPLC) and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and radio-Ag(+)-HPLC. When delta(8)-delta(7) isomerization was blocked, exogenous delta(8) sterol underwent desaturation to delta(5,8), delta(6,8), and delta(8,14) sterols. Formation of delta(5,8) sterol was strongly favored over delta(6,8) sterol, but both pathways are essentially dormant under normal conditions of sterol synthesis. The delta(5,8) sterol was metabolically almost inert except for delta(22) desaturation, whereas the delta(6,8) sterol was readily converted to delta(5,7), delta(5,7,9(11)), and delta(7,9(11)) sterols. The combined results indicate aberrant metabolic pathways similar to those in mammalian systems. However, delta(5,7) sterol undergoes only slight isomerization or desaturation in yeast, an observation that accounts for the lower levels of delta(5,8) and delta(5,7,9(11)) sterols in wild-type yeast compared to Smith-Lemli-Opitz individuals.
The Clinical Pharmacology and Use of Paroxetine, a New Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor

Major depression afflicts a significant percentage of the population, and optimum therapy is often limited by the poor tolerability and lethality in overdose of the tricyclic antidepressants. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine, sertraline, and, more recently, paroxetine are viewed as welcome additions to existing therapy. The SSRIs are as effective as the tricyclic antidepressants, but are not associated with their adverse effect profile. Paroxetine in dosages of 20-50 mg/day is as effective as the older classic antidepressants, including amitriptyline, imipramine, and doxepin. It is effective in the elderly and in patients with recurrent, resistant, or severe depression.
X-Band Silicon Power Transistor

A four cell silicon bipolar power transistor exhibiting 1.0 watts cw output power with 6 dB power gain and 30% collector efficiency at 8 GHz has been developed. The transistor has 1mu m metal contacts and 0.5 mu m emitter width. Direct electron-beam slice writing was applied to define the fine geometries.
Effect of CMP slurry environments on subcritical crack growth in ultra low-k dielectric materials

The success of next generation interconnects relies to a large degree on the integration of low-k dielectric (LKD) materials capable of surviving chemical mechanical planarization (CMP). However, little is currently understood about the effect CMP slurry environments have on the reliability of these advanced dielectrics. Accordingly, the focus of this research was to characterize and model the effect of CMP solution chemistry on adhesion and subcritical debond growth in thin-film structures containing LKD materials for future generation devices.
Mini-chunk biochar supercapacitors

Biochar prepared from the pyrolysis of maple wood was studied as supercapacitor electrode materials. Three kinds of electrodes were fabricated: mini-chunk electrodes, thin-film electrodes, and large-disk-chunk electrodes. Their capacitive behaviors were studied using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The mini-chunk supercapacitor shows an electrochemical behavior similar to the supercapacitor using the thin-film electrodes. It exhibits outstanding performance characteristic of a high specific capacitance of approximately 32 F g−1 and a high stability without obvious capacitance decays upon 2,600 potential cycles. This indicates that the mini-chunk supercapacitor can be used as an mF-scale power source for electronic device applications. Moreover, the mini-chunk electrode provides a simple and fast technique to evaluate biochar materials used as potentially high-performance, low-cost, and environmental friendly supercapacitor electrodes without the need of binder and complicated fabrication procedures. However, the supercapacitor using large-disk-chunk biochar electrodes shows lower specific capacitive performance due to the high ohmic resistance stemming from long tubular structures within biochar.
Radiotherapy and breast reconstruction: complications and cosmesis with TRAM versus tissue expander/implant.

Abstract Purpose: Radiotherapy (RT) has an important role in breast cancer treatment after modified radical mastectomy. Many of these patients also undergo breast reconstruction. We reviewed our institutions' experience to determine the outcome of patients treated with breast reconstruction and RT. Methods and Materials: Between 1981 and 1999, 48 breast cancer patients underwent modified radical mastectomy, breast reconstruction, and ipsilateral breast RT during their treatment course. Reconstruction either preceded or followed RT. Autologous reconstruction with a transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous (TRAM) flap was performed in 30 patients, and 18 underwent expander and implant (E/I) reconstruction. The primary endpoint was the quality of the reconstructed, irradiated breast, as measured by analyzing the actuarial incidence of complications. The cosmetic outcome was also assessed by multidisciplinary review of the follow-up visits. Results: The median follow-up from reconstruction was 32 months. The actuarial 2-year complication rate was 53% for patients receiving E/I vs. 12% for those receiving TRAM reconstruction ( p Conclusion: The tolerance and cosmetic outcome of breast reconstruction for breast cancer patients in irradiated sites depends significantly on the type of reconstruction used.
Semi-automatic recorder for filar micrometer eyepiece and its application to track measurement

A differential transformer has been mounted on a filar micrometer eyepiece and has been coupled to a recording circuit, to make possible automatic recording of the hairline positions. The apparatus greatly reduces the time required to make measurements with a filar eyepiece; e.g., as when measuring the multiple Coulomb scattering of tracks in nuclear emulsions.
Effects of caffeine treatment on the fine structure, silica secretion, and shell morphology of the testate amoeba Assulina muscorum.

Assulina muscorum secretes morphologically altered shells when cultured in a medium with 5 mM caffeine. The siliceous scales, normally distributed in a regular overlapping pattern, are disorganized, thicker and wider than normal, and occasionally have incompletely silicified surfaces that appear irregular in profile in transmission electron microscopic ultrathin sections. The shape of the silica deposition vesicles (SDVs) in the cytoplasm is altered and they are less regularly arranged. The swollen appearances of the SDVs, and of nearby Golgi tubules, give additional evidence that caffeine affects the fine structural morphology of membranous secretory organelles and can disrupt their normal depositional activity. In addition to the greater thickness and width of the siliceous scales in caffeine-treated cells, the length and width of the shell are larger compared to controls, but the aspect ratio (length / width) is smaller. The latter is attributed to a larger increase in width relative to the increase in length of the caffeine-reated cells. Since some of the scales are deposited with the long axis laterally on the shell surface, in addition to being greater in width, this raises the interesting question of whether the morphology of the SDVs and the siliceous products influences the size and morphogenesis of the shell. Further research is needed to clarify the interaction of the SDVs with the cytoplasmic cytoskeletal system during shell morphogenesis. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Exchanging one hardship for another.

In this issue, Moazam and colleagues offer a complex and nuanced study of the postsurgical consequences of kidney vending in Pakistan's Punjab region, providing a comprehensive response to highly polarized debates over the commercialization of "fresh" body parts. Proponents consider organ sales a legitimate solution to organ scarcity, defending vendors' rights to make autonomous decisions in a national or global marketplace. Opponents condemn commercialization as unjust and immoral because it preys upon poor, disenfranchised, and desperate people denied access to basic human needs. This study impressively disentangles vending's clinical, psychological, and social consequences, marking an important paradigmatic shift in biomedical, bioethical, and ethnographic understandings of body commercialization. The study is methodologically sophisticated and interdisciplinary in scope, enriching existing knowledge. As physicians, the team members possess the skill to assess clinical and psychiatric dangers; their ethnographic rigor is also exemplary. Although several important ethnographies expose the detrimental social consequences of kidney vending, a paucity of clinical data remains, especially for impoverished populations. In North American clinical circles, only one post--World War II study (that predates organ transplantation) informs discussions of the benign effects of living with one kidney. Contemporary data on postsurgical morbidity among kidney donors is also scant and often anecdotal. Generally, studies are based in transplant wards most concerned with recipients' needs, fail to track donors' postsurgical health beyond a few months, and only involve patients with access to quality health care. This project challenges the relevance of North American assumptions by expanding the field to include impoverished communities in Pakistan. Vendors' already shaky socioeconomic status and health are dangerously compromised by selling a supposed "redundant" organ. By journeying beyond the hospital and into vendors' communities, the research generates troubling findings. All vendors endure strenuous manual labor (and certainly suffer from poor nutrition, too); simple nephrological tests reveal evidence of kidney disease or failure. Such clinical dangers are compounded by anxiety, depression, self-loathing, diminished self-worth, and suicidal tendencies. Vendors are marginalized socially, too--considered "half a person" once they've lost a kidney. …
A new quality program for the petroleum industry

The contents of API Spec. Q1, Specification for Quality Programs, is highlighted. The plan under development to survey manufacturers for compliance to provisions of API Spec. Q1 and the product specifications is also discussed, along with the potential timetable for implementation. The changes described are substantial and represent a significant departure from API Production Dept. standards and the monogram program of the past. The goals of the new API quality program are quality-monogrammed products, consistent requirements, consistent application of requirements, decisions based on objective evidence, minimum time from application to decision, continuous opportunity for product-specification improvement, broadest acceptance of API standards, and a cost-effective program for industry.
Identification of a novel antiapoptotic human protein kinase C delta isoform, PKCdeltaVIII in NT2 cells.

Protein kinase C (PKC) δ plays an important role in cellular proliferation and apoptosis where it is involved in the caspase-3 mediated apoptotic pathway. Cleavage of PKCδI by caspase-3 releases a catalytically active C-terminal fragment that is sufficient to induce apoptosis. In this paper, we identified a novel human PKCδ isozyme, PKCδVIII (Genbank accession number DQ516383) in human teratocarcinoma (NT2) cells that differentiate into hNT neurons upon retinoic acid (RA) treatment. Expression of PKCδVIII was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR analysis, and we observed that after an initial peak at 24 h following RA treatment, its expression gradually declined with prolonged RA treatment. PKCδVIII is generated via the utilization of an alternative 5‘ splice site, and this results in an insertion of 31 amino acids in the caspase-3 recognition sequence DMQD. The function of PKCδVIII was examined by subcloning it into an expression vector and raising an antibody specific to PKCδVIII. Using in vivo and in vitro as...
Crystal structure and magnetic properties of a new molybdenophosphate: AgMo5P8O33

Abstract The crystal structure of AgMo5P8O33 has been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. AgMo5P8O33 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group I2 a (#15) with a = 23.050(8), b = 4.831(4), c = 22.935(9), A, β = 90.42(5)°, V = 2554(4), A3, Z = 4, R = 0.086 (Rw = 0.089) for 879 reflections with F2o > 3.0σ(F2o). The structure consists of large tunnels where the silver atoms are located. The framework is built up from MoO6 octahedra and P2O7 groups. The connectivity formula for AgMo5P8O33 is Ag(MoO 1 1 O 4 2 )(MoO 1 1 O 5 2 ) 4 (P 2 O 1 1 O 6 2 ) 4 . Powder magnetic susceptibility data confirm the presence of Mo5+ (d1) ions with spin 1 2 , and a featureless antiferromagnetic ordering appears to occur below 2.5 K. Magnetization isotherms at 1.3 and 4.2 K in magnetic fields up to 65 kG are reported. The lithium, sodium, calcium, strontium, barium, and lead analogs of AgMo5P8O33 were also prepared.
Efferent fibers of the deep cerebellar nuclei in hedgehogs.

Three main deep cerbellar nuclei are apparent in hedgehogs belonging to the genera Erinaceus and Hemiechinus; however, at various levels they exhibit a considerable continuity with one another. Electrolytic unilateral lesions were placed in the deep cerebellar nuclei of these hedgehogs, and additional animals were subjected to a midline incision of the cerebellum between the two fastigial nuclei. Degenerating axons were traced from the sites of lesions using the Nauta and Fink-Heimer techniques. The typical mammalian pattern is evident in the distribution of the cerebellifugal fibers of the hedgehog. Crossed and uncrossed fastigial efferent fibers are directed primarily toward vestibular nuclei and the bulbar reticular formation except for a relatively small ascending limb of the uncinate fasciculus. The brachium conjunctivum originates from the nucleus interpositus and nucleus lateralis. The efferents of these nuclei are directed rostrally to the contralateral red nucleus. Fibers passing beyond the level of the red nucleus terminate in the thalamic nuclei. Fibers from the brachium conjunctivun also supply the inferior and superior colliculi. Axons forming the descending limb of the brachium conjunctivum are divided into medial and lateral fascicles.
Evita: A Robust Event Recognizer For QA Systems

We present Evita, an application for recognizing events in natural language texts. Although developed as part of a suite of tools aimed at providing question answering systems with information about both temporal and intensional relations among events, it can be used independently as an event extraction tool. It is unique in that it is not limited to any pre-established list of relation types (events), nor is it restricted to a specific domain. Evita performs the identification and tagging of event expressions based on fairly simple strategies, informed by both linguistic-and statistically-based data. It achieves a performance ratio of 80.12% F-measure.
Optical wavelet transform classifier with positive real Fourier transform wavelets

A wavelet transform is used to transform data so as to improve discrimination between objects for classification. The wavelet transform is implemented in optics using the Fourier transform of the wavelets. Further, the wavelet chosen has a Fourier transform that is real and positive to avoid the use of holographic techniques. An optical setup is described in which an electronic analog sensor signal drives an acousto-optic cell that controls the intensity of an argon laser. A mechanical scanner writes the information as a line onto a spatial light rebroadcaster module containing an optical liquid crystal light valve. A lens system expands the line into a 2-D array. A real positive Fourier transform wavelet filter is placed in the Fourier transform plane of a 4- f correlator. An optical demonstration shows the formation of a wavelet transform and agreement with computer simulations. An approximation of the inverse wavelet transform is possible using only a real filter, and this is demonstrated in an optical experiment.
Passive optical network layout in Manhattan

In this paper, we discuss the passive optical network (PON) deployment on an arbitrary grid. We show that this problem in general is NP-hard. We propose an algorithm, which guarantees a solution of 3-approximation to the optimal deployment, and further argue that this is the best lower bound achievable in our case.
In vivo evidence for β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit upregulation in smokers as compared with nonsmokers with schizophrenia.

Background Schizophrenia is associated with very high rates of tobacco smoking. The latter may be related to an attempt to self-medicate symptoms and/or to alterations in function of high-affinity β 2 -subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (β 2 *-nAChRs). Methods Smoking and nonsmoking subjects with schizophrenia ( n = 31) and age-, smoking-, and sex-matched comparison subjects ( n = 31) participated in one [ 123 I]5-IA-85380 single photon emission computed tomography scan to quantify β 2 *-nAChR availability. Psychiatric, cognitive, nicotine craving, and mood assessments were obtained during active smoking, as well as smoking abstinence. Results There were no differences in smoking characteristics between smokers with and without schizophrenia. Subjects with schizophrenia had lower β 2 *-nAChR availability relative to comparison group, and nonsmokers had lower β 2 *-nAChR availability relative to smokers. However, there was no smoking by diagnosis interaction. Relative to nonsmokers with schizophrenia, smokers with schizophrenia had higher β 2 *-nAChR availability in limited brain regions. In smokers with schizophrenia, higher β 2 *-nAChR availability was associated with lower negative symptoms of schizophrenia and better performance on tests of executive control. Chronic exposure to antipsychotic drugs was not associated with changes in β 2 *-nAChR availability in schizophrenia. Conclusions Although subjects with schizophrenia have lower β 2 *-nAChR availability relative to comparison group, smokers with schizophrenia appear to upregulate in the cortical regions. Lower receptor availability in smokers with schizophrenia in the cortical regions is associated with a greater number of negative symptoms and worse performance on tests of executive function, suggesting smoking subjects with schizophrenia who upregulate to a lesser degree may be at risk for poorer outcomes.
Competitive Elections in Non-European Countries: the Aei "At the Polls" Series: A Review Essay

Australia at the Polls: The National Elections of 1975. Howard R. Penniman, ed. 1977. 373 pp. $5.00 paper.* The Australian National Elections of 1977. Howard R. Penniman, ed. 1979. 367 pp. $8.75 paper. Canada at the Polls: The General Election of 1974. Howard R. Penniman, ed. 1975. 310 pp. $4.50 paper. Canada at the Polls, 1979 and 1980: A Study of the General Elections. Howard R. Penniman, ed. 1981. 426 pp. $17.25 cloth, $9.25 paper.
Radiation Dose Due to Electron-Gun Metallization Systems

Electron beam evaporation is often selected as a method for depositing the gate metal for metal-oxidesemiconductor (MOS) devices. X-rays generated by electron impact on the metal to be evaporated may produce damage in the gate oxide. Several experimenters have reported that radiation-hardened MOS devices metallized in electron-gun systems appear to degrade at a faster rate than devices fabricated identically except for the metallization technique used. In order to examine ways of minimizing the damage introduced by electron beam systems and to develop a basis for understanding the physical phenomena observed, the physics of the x-ray energy deposition during the metallization process was explored. Details of the calculational procedure, the data necessary to calculate the x-ray absorbed dose in the oxide layer due to the electron-gun deposition of aluminum and chromium, and the calculations are presented. The results of experimental measurements of the x-ray dose are included for comparison. The implications of the results including the differences in the radiation susceptibility of MOS devices prepared with different gate metals are discussed.
Perineal prostatic cancer seeding following radioactive seed brachytherapy.

Malignant seeding along the needle tract of a perineal prostatic biopsy is a rare complication. Seeding along the needle tract of a transperineal radioactive seed implantation is even more rare. We report a case of an unusual complication resulting from this procedure. CASE REPORT
Relativistic fermion gas interacting through a scalar field. I. Hartree approximation

A high-density fermion gas interacting through a scalar field is studied in the relativistic Hartree approximation, as a model for superhigh-density astrophysical systems. The Hartree quasiparticle states are the superposition of positive- and negative-energy states and can be constructed by a Bogoliubov-type canonical transformation. The resulting effective mass is strongly field-dependent, and approaches 0 as the density increases into the ultrarelativistic domain. The ensuing equation of state exhibits a phase transition and a bound state in the intermediate-density range, but becomes perfect-gas-like at high densities. There is no collapse, and stronger coupling enhances the perfect-gas-like behavior. An alternate picture is provided by considering the fermion gas in the background of zero-momentum bosons. Numerical comparisons with existing scalar-meson coupling data are provided, with emphasis on regions of neutron-star densities.
Strategic explanations for a diagnostic consultation system

This paper examines the problem of automatic explanation of reasoning, especially as it relates to expert systems. By explanation we mean the ability of a program to discuss what it is doing in some understandable way. We first present a general framework in which to view explanation and review some of the research done in this area. We then focus on the explanation system for NEOMYCIN, a medical consultation program. A consultation program interactively helps a user to solve a problem. Our goal is to have NEOMYCIN explain its problem-solving strategies. An explanation of strategy describes the plan the program is using to reach a solution. Such an explanation is usually concrete, referring to aspects of the current problem situation. Abstract explanations articulate a general principle, which can be applied in different situations; such explanations are useful in teaching and in explaining by analogy. We describe the aspects of NEOMYCIN that make abstract strategic explanations possible--the representation of strategic knowledge explicitly and separately from domain knowledge--and demonstrate how this representation can be used to generate explanations.
Are we making progress toward a civilized society

This paper explains, in terms of Galbraith's "conventional wisdom" and "innocent fraud" of mainstream economics, why the U.S. economy has experienced significant backsliding from the degree of progress our economic policies and institutions made toward producing a civilized economic society. It then sets out policy proposals for making progress toward a twenty-first-century "good society."
An Interview with Leonard Brody CEO and Chairman, Ipreo

(2003). An Interview with Leonard Brody CEO and Chairman, Ipreo. Journal of Global Information Technology Management: Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 65-68.
A MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF A COMMON-DRAIN AMPLIFIER USING A FERROELECTRIC TRANSISTOR

ABSTRACT This paper presents a mathematical model characterizing the behavior of a common-drain amplifier using a FeFET. The model is based on empirical data and incorporates several variables that affect the output, including frequency, load resistance, and gate-to-source voltage. Since the amplifier is the basis of many circuit configurations, a mathematical model that describes the behavior of a FeFET-based amplifier will help in the integration of FeFETs into many other circuits.
Enhancement of direct processes in heavy-ion reactions at high angular momenta

Abstract Direct processes in reactions induced by 20 Ne on 27 A1 were studied at incident energies from 4 to 10 MeV/nucleon using in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy. In addition to products from compound-nucleus reactions, several nuclei between A = 18 and 28 were identified, and it is shown that most of them are produced in direct reactions. The excitation functions for direct reactions reveal a threshold at about 100 MeV beam energy, above which the cross sections increase by an order of magnitude. A similar increase was also found in measurements with an 16 O beam of 6 to 10 MeV/nucleon on the same target. This behavior is explained as a consequence of the restriction of fusion processes due to the limitation on the angular momentum of the compound nucleus and a corresponding increase of the number of partial waves available for direct reactions.
BSG-Route: a length-matching router for general topology

Length-matching routing is a very important issue for PCB routing. Previous length-matching routers [1]--[3] all have assumptions on the routing topology whereas practical designs may be free of any topological constraint. In this paper, we propose a router that deals with general topology. Unlike previous routers, our router does not impose any restriction on the routing topology. Moreover, our router is gridless. Its performance does not depend on the routing grid size of the input while routers in [1]--[3] do. This is a big advantage because modern PCB routing configurations usually imply huge routing grids. The novelty of this work is that we view the length-matching routing problem as an area assignment problem and use a placement structure, Bounded-Sliceline Grid (BSG) [4], to help solving the problem. Experimental results show that our router can handle practical designs that previous routers can't handle. For designs that they could handle, our router runs much faster. For example, in one of our data, we obtain the result in 88 seconds while the router in [3] takes more than one day.
The NRL SOLRAD X-ray detectors: A summary of the observations and a comparison with the SMS/GOES detectors

The Naval Research Laboratory flew solar X-ray ionization chamber detectors on a series of Solar Radiation (SOLRAD) satellites from 1960 through 1979. The flare responses of the SOLRAD 11 detectors are compared with those of the similar NOAA SMS/GOES detectors during two periods of common observations. The nominal GOES fluxes exceed those of SOLRAD 11 by a factor of ≈ 1.5–2 in the 0.5–4 A band, but fall below those of SOLRAD by a factor of ≈ 2–4 in the 1–8 A band. Significant passband differences account for these relationships between the detector responses. Since the X-ray detectors are standardized among the various SOLRAD satellites, and all detectors are closely matched among the various SMS/GOES satellites, these conversion factors allow the SOLRAD flare observations to serve as proxies for GOES X-ray observations prior to the GOES era. We summarize the detector characteristics and data sources of the 0.5–3 A and 1–8 A detectors for the SOLRAD series.
A molecular switch for the neuron-glia developmental decision

The genetic analysis of nervous system development has revealed a· wealth of information about the molecular mechanisms that generate neural precursors and neuronal cell type diversity (Shankland and Macagno, 1992). Until recently, however, relatively little has been known about the genetic control of gliogenesis, in part because of the comparative lack of early markers specific for glial cells or their immediate precursors' in organisms amenable to genetic analysis, such as Drosophila. One general rule that has emerged from lineage analysis of neurogenesis is that neurons and glia share a common precursor. This has been demonstrated in both the CNS and the PNS of both vertebrates and invertebrates (for reviews, see Anderson, 1989; McConnell, 1991; Doe and Technau, 1993; Jan and Jan, 1994).
Diagnostic accuracy of left ventricular function for identifying sepsis among emergency department patients with nontraumatic symptomatic undifferentiated hypotension.

The hypothesis of this study states that in emergency department (ED) patients with non-traumatic symptomatic hypotension, the presence of hyperdynamic left ventricular function (LVF) is specific for sepsis as the etiology of shock. We performed a secondary analysis of patients with non-traumatic symptomatic hypotension enrolled in a randomized, clinical diagnostic trial. The study was done in an urban tertiary ED with a census over 100,000 visits per year. Inclusion criteria were non-trauma ED patients aged >17 years, initial vital signs consistent with shock (systolic blood pressure 1.0), and agreement of two independent observers for one sign and symptom of circulatory shock. All patients underwent focused ED echocardiography (echo) during initial resuscitation. Echos were reviewed post-hoc by a blinded physician and categorized by qualitative LVF as hyperdynamic (ejection fraction [EF] >55%), normal to moderate impairment (EF 30%-55%), and severe impairment (EF <30%). Main outcome was the criterion standard diagnosis of septic shock. Analyses include the diagnostic performance of LVF, Cohen's kappa for interobserver agreement of LVF, and logistic regression for independent predictors of sepsis. There were 103 echos that were adequate for analysis. The mean age was 57+/-16.7 years, 59% were male, and the mean initial systolic blood pressure was 83+/-11.3 mm Hg. A final diagnosis of septic shock was made in 38% (39/103) of patients. Seventeen of 103 (17%) patients had hyperdynamic LVF with an interobserver agreement of kappa=0.8. The sensitivity and specificity of hyperdynamic LVF for predicting sepsis were 33% (95% CI 19%-50%) and 94% (85%-98%), respectively. Hyperdynamic LVF had a positive likelihood ratio of 5.3 for the diagnosis of sepsis and was a strong independent predictor of sepsis as the final diagnosis with an odds ratio of 5.5 (95% CI 1.1-45). Among ED patients with non-traumatic undifferentiated symptomatic hypotension, the presence of hyperdynamic LVF on focused echo is highly specific for sepsis as the etiology of shock.
A Review of “Religion and Popular Culture: Rescripting the Sacred”

Religion and Popular Culture: Rescripting the Sacred challenges its readers to reconsider the interrelationships of theology, faith, religious practice, and popular culture in the contemporary Unit...
Ion-releasing state of a secondary membrane transporter.

The crystal structure of Na+-coupled galactose symporter (vSGLT) reports the transporter in its substrate-bound state, with a Na+ ion modeled in a binding site corresponding to that of a homologous protein, leucine transporter (LeuT). In repeated molecular dynamics simulations, however, we find the Na+ ion instable, invariably and spontaneously diffusing out of the transporter through a pathway lined by D189, which appears to facilitate the diffusion of the ion toward the cytoplasm. Further analysis of the trajectories and close structural examination, in particular, comparison of the Na+-binding sites of vSGLT and LeuT, strongly indicates that the crystal structure of vSGLT actually represents an ion-releasing state of the transporter. The observed dynamics of the Na+ ion, in contrast to the substrate, also suggests that the cytoplasmic release of the Na+ ion precedes that of the substrate, thus shedding light on a key step in the transport cycle of this secondary transporter.
Foreword to the Special Section on Granular Computing

The papers in this special section focus on granular computing, defined by Lotfi A. Zadeh as "information granulation involves partitioning a class of objects (points) into granules, with a granule being a clump of objects (points) which are drawn together by indistinguishability, similarity, or functionality."
The number of convex polyominos with given perimeter

Abstract An elementary proof is given for the number of convex polyominos of perimeter 2 m +4.
Making a Case for Systematic Integration of Theory-Based Tobacco Education Into Graduate Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Curriculum

Tobacco use and dependence is a serious public health issue that disproportionately affects the mentally ill client population. Mental health professionals, including psychiatric/mental health advanced practice nurses (PMHAPNs), are disinclined to integrate tobacco cessation interventions into their practice, due in part, to a general lack of tobacco-related knowledge (C. Essenmacher, C. Karvonen-Gutierrez, J. Lynch-Sauer, & S. A., Duffy, 2008; A. J. Molina, T. Fernandez, D. Fernandez, M. Delgado, S. de Abajo, & V. Martin, 2012; L. Sarna, L. L. Danao, S. Chan, S. Shin, L. Baldago, E. Endo, & M. E. Wewers, 2006); D. Sharp, S. Blaakman, R. Cole, & J. Evinger, 2009). This paper provides an in-depth literature review of tobacco education in nursing curricula and proposes the systematic integration of theory-based tobacco content into psychiatric/mental health graduate nursing programs.
A decade beyond medical school: A longitudinal study of physicians' attitudes toward death and terminally-ill patients

Physicians were surveyed soon after graduation from medical school in 1976 to determine their attitudes toward death and terminally-ill patients and their families. A follow-up survey of the 1093 respondents was made in 1986 to ascertain if changes had occurred in their attitudes. Eight of the eleven Likert-type items showed statistically significant differences over time and by attitudes toward terminally-ill patients and their families. These data present evidence to suggest that physicians in 1986 were more open in telling dying patients their prognosis than in 1976.
Cucumber Mosaic Virus Is Restricted from Entering Minor Veins in Transgenic Tobacco Exhibiting Replicase-Mediated Resistance

Transgenic tobacco plants expressing an altered form of the 2a replicase gene from cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) strain Fny exhibited a suppression of viral replication and restricted viral movement when inoculated mechanically or by insect vectors. Resistant plants could be infected, however, through a graft-union with an infected nontransformed plant. The infectious entity moved quickly through intergrafts of resistant tissue, indicating that it could move without replicating in the vascular system. Viral replication continued to be suppressed in systemically infected transgenic portions of grafted plants, as demonstrated by the synthesis of lower levels of viral RNA than in systemically infected nontransformed portions of the same grafted plants. Cell-to-cell spread within this tissue also occurred much more slowly than in nontransformed tobacco. Young inoculated levels of transgenic-resistant plants exhibited limited cell-to-cell virus movement, revealed as chlorotic lesions, but no long-distance virus movement occurred. The results of in situ hybridization studies on these lesions indicated that CMV RNA does not traffic from bundle-sheath cells to vascular parenchyma or companion cells in chlorotic lesions on the inoculated leaves of transgenic-resistant tobacco plants. The inhibition of long-distance movement was a consequence of restricted entry of the infectious entity into the vascular system.
Concepts of nematode-fungus associations in plant disease complexes: a review.

Abstract Plant parasitic nematodes interact with fungi in a variety of ways to cause plant disease complexes. Even some nonplant parasitic nematodes are able to carry fungal spores internally which not only increases their mobility, but also protects them from fungicides. Plant parasitic nematodes frequently wound plants in the process of penetration and feeding. These wounds become subject to infection by fungal pathogens that require aid in penetrating their host. Other nematodes modify plant tissue in such a way that it becomes a better substrate for the fungus and thus increases their growth and reproduction to the detriment of the host. Quantitative and qualitative changes in root exudate which are induced by certain nematodes stimulate the germination, growth, and reproduction of fungal propagules in the rhizosphere. These exudates may also indirectly inhibit components of the rhizosphere microflora (e.g., actinomycetes) which are antagonistic to some plant pathogens. Depending on the species of nematode and fungus, concomitant infections may stimulate nematode reproduction (Pratylenchus-Verticillium) or inhibit reproduction (Heterodera-Fusarium).
Midazolam amnesia and dual-process models of the word-frequency mirror effect

The word-frequency mirror effect (Glanzer & Adams, 1985) is the finding that subjects are more accurate on low frequency words than high frequency words for old and new items in recognition memory. Recently, several theorists (Guttentag & Carroll, 1997; Joordens & Hockley, 2000; Reder et al., 2000) have proposed dual-process accounts of the word-frequency mirror effect. These accounts hypothesize that the low frequency advantage on old items arises from increased recollection of these items, while the low frequency advantage on new items arises from reduced familiarity of these items. We tested these views using midazolam amnesia. Midazolam is a safe, fast-acting benzodiazepine that produces a dense anterograde amnesia. Based on the hypothesis that midazolam amnesia should have larger effects on recollection than familiarity, we predicted that: (1) old high frequency words should have an advantage over old low frequency words in a midazolam condition (i.e., the traditional effect should reverse); and (2) the traditional advantage of new low frequency words over new high frequency words should replicate in a midazolam condition. Both predictions of the dual-process approach were confirmed. Additional analyses demonstrated that a single-process signal detection model could not account for the current results and that midazolam amnesia produces a larger effect on recollection processes than on familiarity processes.
Onslow and Beethoven's late quartets

(1985). Onslow and Beethoven's late quartets. Journal of Musicological Research: Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 273-296.
Numerical study of 1-D, 3-vector component, thermally-conductive MHD solar wind

In the present study, transient, 1-dimensional, 3-vector component MHD equations are used to simulate steady and unsteady, thermally conductive MHD solar wind expansions between the solar surface and 1 AU (astronomical unit). A variant of SIMPLE numerical method was used to integrate the equations. Steady state solar wind properties exhibit qualitatively similar behavior with the known Weber-Davies Solutions. Generation of Alfven shock, in addition to the slow and fast MHD shocks, was attempted by the boundary perturbations at the solar surface. Property changes through the disturbance were positively correlated with the fast and slow MHD shocks. Alfven shock was, however, not present in the present simulations.
Mortality in deer

SUMMARY Mortality in deer can occur from various causes predominantly associated directly or indirectly with man. Deliberate culling by shooting is of course the principal cause but a considerable number of deer are killed by illegal activities of poachers in various parts of the country. At present high prices for venison and low fines imposed by the Courts encourage their activities. Mechanical injuries from car accidents and fencing wire are common factors and the weather, particularly in the North of Scotland, can take a heavy toll especially of the old and the very young. Disease per se is probably of little significance in well-managed populations. An excellent host-parasite relationship seems to exist in many instances, but liver fluke and lungworm are important causes of death particularly in Roe in certain areas. Deer are, on the whole, remarkably free from clinical diseases compared with domesticated stock but with the advent of ‘deer farming’, certain infections such as Tuberculosis and Brucellosis are worthy of further study. Deaths from poisoning rarely occur although certain plants such as laurel can be toxic to Fallow deer; yew appears to be eaten with impunity. Percentage mortality in the different species is virtually impossible to ascertain at present, as the numbers of deer are not known in most areas. Moreover, dead deer are rarely found; so far the only accurate figures available have been obtained from deer parks. It would probably be true to say that the vast majority of free-living deer in Britain rarely live out their allotted span of life as judged by the age to which deer can survive in certain parks in the absence of the usual causes of mortality in the wild.
Performance evaluation of spectral deconvolution analysis tool (SDAT) software used for nuclear explosion radionuclide measurements

The Spectral Deconvolution Analysis Tool (SDAT) software was developed to improve counting statistics and detection limits for nuclear explosion radionuclide measurements. SDAT utilizes spectral deconvolution spectroscopy techniques and can analyze both β-γ coincidence spectra for radioxenon isotopes and high-resolution HPGe spectra from aerosol monitors. Spectral deconvolution spectroscopy is an analysis method that utilizes the entire signal deposited in a gamma-ray detector rather than the small portion of the signal that is present in one gamma-ray peak. This method shows promise to improve detection limits over classical gamma-ray spectroscopy analytical techniques; however, this hypothesis has not been tested. To address this issue, we performed three tests to compare the detection ability and variance of SDAT results to those of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software which utilizes a standard peak search algorithm.
Portable labs in a box for embedded system education

The rapid growth of embedded systems results in a great demand of professionals for embedded software design and development. However, embedded system education is not well represented in the current Computer Science (CS) academic programs. Existing embedded systems curricula heavily rely on a significant investment in lab resources and a high knowledge base requirement for instructors (e.g., faculty whose expertise is not specifically in this area). To overcome these difficulties, we have developed an online embedded system courseware with hands-on labs in an inexpensive and portable development box. The portable and modular design of this courseware provides a "ready-to-be-adopted" model and will save resources and time in broadening embedded system education.
Complex Histories and Complex Presentations: Implementation of a Manually-Guided Group Treatment for Traumatized Adolescents

It is consistently recognized that children and adolescents who have repeatedly experienced or witnessed violence are at significant risk for a multitude of lasting difficulties across many domains of functioning. Adolescents in residential settings often have extensive trauma histories and experience profound behavioral, emotional, and interpersonal difficulties. Unfortunately, there are few structured trauma-informed treatments that have been implemented in residential settings, and even fewer that have been evaluated. This article describes the core components of Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS), a manually-guided trauma-informed group treatment, and provides clinical examples within residential facilities for adolescents with emotional and behavioral difficulties and extensive victimization histories. Preliminary data on self-reported emotional, behavioral, and posttraumatic stress symptoms are presented.