cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pesticide appliers, biocides, and birth defects in rural Minnesota

Earlier studies by our group suggested the possibility that offspring of pesticide appliers might have increased risks of birth anomalies. To evaluate this hypothesis, 935 births to 34,772 state-licensed, private pesticide appliers in Minnesota occurring between 1989 and 1992 were linked to the Minnesota state birth registry containing 210,723 live births in this timeframe. The birth defect rate for all birth anomalies was significantly increased in children born to private appliers. Specific birth defect categories, circulatory/respiratory, urogenital, and musculoskeletal/integumental, showed significant increases. For the general population and for appliers, the birth anomaly rate differed by corp-growing region. Western Minnesota, a major wheat, sugar beet, and potato growing region, showed the highest rate of birth anomalies per/1000 live births: 30.0 for private appliers versus 26.9 for the general population of the same region. The lowest rates, 23.7/1000 for private appliers versus 18.3/1000 for the general population, occurred in noncorp regions. The highest frequency of use of chlorophenoxy herbicides and fungicides also occurred in western Minnesota. Births in the general population of western Minnesota showed a significant increase in birth anomalies in the same three birth anomaly categories as appliers and for central nervous system anomalies. This increase was most pronounced for infants conceived in the spring. The seasonal effect did not occur in other regions. The male/female sex ratio for the four birth anomaly categories of interest in areas of high phenoxy herbicide/fungicide use is 2.8 for appliers versus 1.5 for the general population of the same region (p = 0.05). In minimal use regions, this ratio is 2.1 for appliers versus 1.7 for the general population. The pattern of excess frequency of birth anomalies by pesticide use, season, and alteration of sex ratio suggests exposure-related effects in appliers and the general population of the crop-growing region of western Minnesota.
The uniqueness of protein sequences. Uniqueness diagrams for the Dayhoff file--1984.

Protein sequences of the Dayhoff databank of 1984 have been analyzed to evaluate the occurrences of the 400 dipeptides and 8000 tripeptides. Expected values and standard deviations for the di- and tripeptides were determined by Monte Carlo and binomial approximation. A condensed format containing this information, labeled a uniqueness diagram, is presented and made available in the form of a microfiche.
A multistage, optimal active contour model

Energy-minimizing active contour models or snakes can be used in many applications such as edge detection, motion tracking, image matching, computer vision, and three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction. We present a novel snake that is superior both in accuracy and convergence speed over previous snake algorithms. High performance is achieved by using spline representation and dividing the energy-minimization process into multiple stages. The first stage is designed to optimize the convergence speed in order to allow the snake to quickly approach the minimum-energy state. The second stage is devoted to snake refinement and to local minimization of energy, thereby driving the snake to a quasiminimum-energy state. The third stage uses the Bellman (1957) optimality principle to fine-tune the snake to the global minimum-energy state. This three-stage scheme is optimized for both accuracy and speed.
Chromatographic separation of PTAD-derivatized 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and its C-3 epimer from human serum and murine skin.

Abstract The detection of 25-hydroxyvitamin D at low levels in biological samples is facilitated by the use of chemical derivatization with 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD) in concert with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). This mode of analysis is notably hampered by chromatographic co-elution of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25OHD 3 ) and its C-3 epimer (C3epi). The objective of this work was to improve upon current LC–MS/MS methods used for the analysis of PTAD-derivatized 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 by resolving it from C3epi. Additionally, the applicability of this method in human serum and murine skin was investigated. C18 columns of increasing length and varying particle sizes were assessed for performance using a mixed standard of PTAD-derivatized 25OHD 3 and C3epi. Serum samples were processed using solid phase extraction, and skin was powdered and extracted for lipophilic compounds. The samples were derivatized with PTAD and subsequently analyzed using isotope dilution LC–MS/MS with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization operated in positive mode. Near baseline resolution of PTAD-25OHD 3 from PTAD-C3epi was achieved on a 250 mm C18 column with 3 μm sized particles. This separation allowed for detection and quantification of both metabolites in serum and skin samples. PTAD-C3epi represented a significant confounding analyte in all samples, and comprised up to 20% of the status measurement in skin. This method is a significant improvement on the chromatography of PTAD-derivatized vitamin D metabolites that could greatly influence the assessment of vitamin D status and C3epi biology in low abundance samples.
Cognitive outcome in children and adolescents following severe traumatic brain injury: Influence of psychosocial, psychiatric, and injury-related variables

Previous studies of childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) have emphasized injury-related variables rather than psychiatric or psychosocial factors as correlates of cognitive outcomes. We addressed this concern by recruiting a consecutive series (N = 24) of children age 5 through 14 years who suffered a severe TBI, a matched group who sustained a mild TBI, and a second matched group who sustained an orthopedic injury. Standardized intellectual, memory, psychiatric, family functioning, family psychiatric history, neurological, and neuroimaging assessments were conducted at an average of 2 years following injury. Severe TBI, when compared to mild TBI and orthopedic injury, was associated with significant decrements in intellectual and memory function. A principal components analysis of independent variables that showed significant (p < .05) bivariate correlations with the outcome measures yielded a neuropsychiatric factor encompassing severity of TBI indices and postinjury psychiatric disorders and a psychosocial disadvantage factor. Both factors were independently and significantly related to intellectual and memory function outcome. Postinjury psychiatric disorders added significantly to severity indices and family functioning and family psychiatric history added significantly to socioeconomic status in explaining several specific cognitive outcomes. These results may help to define subgroups of children who will require more intensive services following their injuries.
Effects of War Trauma on Cambodian Refugee Adolescents' Functional Health and Mental Health Status

ABSTRACT Objective To measure the effect of war trauma on the functional health and mental health status of Cambodian adolescents living in a refugee camp on the Thai-Cambodian border. Method A multistage probability sample identified 1,000 households in the camp known as Site Two. Interviews were conducted in each household with randomly selected adults 18 years of age and older. All adolescents aged 12 and 13 years old, along with one parent, were interviewed. One hundred eighty-two adolescents (94 girls, 88 boys) and their parents participated. Culturally sensitive instruments were used, including Cambodian versions of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Youth Self-Report (YSR). Results Parents and adolescents reported the latter having experienced high levels of cumulative trauma, especially lack of food, water, and shelter. Mean Total Problem scores were in ranges similar to those of adolescents receiving clinical care in the United States, Netherlands, and Israel. Nearly 54% (53.8%) had Total Problem scores in the clinical range by parent report on the CBCL and 26.4% by adolescent report on the YSR. The most commonly reported symptoms were somatic complaints, social withdrawal, attention problems, anxiety, and depression. The dose-effect relationship between cumulative trauma and symptoms was strong for parent reporting on the CBCL; the subscales on both the YSR and CBCL for Anxious/Depressed and Attention Problems revealed dose-effect associations. Dose-effect relationship between cumulative trauma and symptoms was strong for parent reporting on the CBCL; the subscales on both the YSR and CBCL for Anxious/Depressed and Attention Problems revealed dose-effect associations. Dose-effect relationships between cumulative trauma and social functioning or health status were lacking. Conclusions The high levels of emotional distress in this population of Cambodian adolescents and corresponding dose-effect relationships reveal the important negative psychosocial impact of violence on Cambodian adolescents. Lack of findings related to physical health status and the presence of positive social functioning of many youths should not deter health care providers and public health officials from diagnosing and treating underlying high levels of psychological distress. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry , 1997, 36(8):1098–1106.
Critical speeds for a flexible spinning disk

Abstract A flexible uniform elastic disk is clamped at its inner radius and rotates at constant speed. It is shown that certain critical speeds exist at which the spinning disk is unable to support arbitrary spatially fixed transverse loads. These critical speeds are in the range of rotational speeds relevant in certain floppy disk magnetic recording applications. It is then shown that the inclusion of an elastic foundation parameter into the governing equations can raise the critical speeds of rotation. In the case of the floppy disk this corresponds to the use of a baseplate located in close proximity to the spinning disk. The results presented are the effect of the foundation stiffness parameter and clamping radius ratio on the critical speeds. Also included, for the magnetic recording application, is the effect of the baseplate position on the critical speeds.
Cloning and expression of a Xenopus embryonic gap junction protein

Gap junctions in the early amphibian embryo may play a fundamental role in the regulation of differentiation by mediating the cell-to-cell transfer of chemical signals. A complementary DNA encoding a gap junction present in Xenopus oocytes and early embryos has now been cloned and sequenced. This protein sequence is homologous to the well-characterized gap junction structural proteins rat connexin32 and connexin43. RNA blot analysis of total Xenopus oocyte RNA showed hybridization to a single 1.6-kilobase band. This messenger RNA is abundant in oocytes, decreases to levels below the sensitivity of our assay by stage 15 (18 hours), and is not detectable in RNA from a number of adult organs. To confirm that the oocyte cDNA encodes a gap junction channel, the protein was over expressed in Xenopus oocytes by injection of RNA synthesized in vitro. Pairs of RNA-injected oocytes formed many more time- and voltage-sensitive cell-cell channels than water-injected pairs.
Reverse phase protein array profiling reveals distinct proteomic signatures associated with chronic myeloid leukemia progression and with chronic phase in the CD34-positive compartment

BACKGROUND: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal stem cell malignancy whose pathogenesis is driven by constitutive activation of the breakpoint cluster region–v-abl Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1 (BCR-ABL1) kinase. Although BCR-ABL1 activation is present in all patients with CML, patients can present in 3 different phases characterized by an increasingly worse prognosis and diminished responsiveness to tyrosine kinase inhibitors: chronic phase, accelerated phase, or blastic phase. The biologic basis for progression from chronic phase to blastic phase and for regulating the homeostasis of tyrosine kinase inhibitor-resistant CML stem cells is not entirely understood. METHODS: To shed some light into these aspects of CML biology, the authors used reverse phase protein arrays probed with 112 individual monoclonal antibodies to compare protein expression patterns in 40 samples of leukemia-enriched fractions from patients with CML (25 in chronic phase, 5 in accelerated phase, and 10 in phase). RESULTS: An analysis of variance (significance cutoff, P < .01) unveiled a set of proteins that were overexpressed in blastic phase, including heat-shock protein 90 (hsp90); retinoblastoma (Rb); apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF); serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A); B-cell leukemia 2 (Bcl-2); X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (Xiap); human homolog of Drosophila Mad (mothers against decapentaplegic) and related Caenorhabditis elegans gene Sma, family member 1 (Smad1); single-stranded DNA binding protein 2 alpha (SSBP2α); poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP); GRB2-associated binding protein 2 (Gab2); and tripartite motif containing 24 (Trim24). It is noteworthy that several of these proteins also were overexpressed in the CD34-positive compartment, which putatively contains the CML stem cell population. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study indicated that reverse phase protein array analysis can unveil differentially expressed proteins in advanced phase CML that can be exploited therapeutically with targeted approaches. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
The thermal conductivity of ZTA graphite

Abstract Measurements of the thermal conductivity of ZTA graphite from −100°C to 2700°C are reported. Three different methods were used to cover the temperature range: a transient technique, a series comparison method, and a radial heat flow method. From room temperature to 2700°C, the thermal conductivity perpendicular to the applied fabrication force (i.e. parallel to the grain) is given by k = 460/ T (° K ) + 0.28 W/cm° K In the direction parallel to the applied force the thermal conductivity results are more difficult to deduce since use of the radial heat flow method introduced a two-dimensional heat flow problem with nonlinear boundary conditions, also an inherent variation in the measured values of the thermal conductivity had to be considered. These problems are discussed. The results as a whole are discussed in terms of some current ideas on heat conduction in single crystal graphite. Measurements of thermal expansion and dimensional changes which occur during the course of these measurements are described and analyzed.
Insulin-induced hypoglycemia in conscious dogs: effect of maintaining carotid arterial glucose levels on the adrenocorticotropin, epinephrine, and vasopressin responses.

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of central hypoglycemia in the regulation of the ACTH, vasopressin, and epinephrine responses to insulin administration. In each of six conscious dogs with carotid loops, saline or glucose was infused into both carotid arteries following the injection of 0.025,0.10, or 0.50 U insulin/kg. Intracarotid glucose infusion prevented a fall in superior vena caval glucose concentrations, despite peripheral hypoglycemia as measured by inferior vena caval (IVC) glucose concentrations. Intracarotid glucose infusions attenuated the ACTH and epinephrine responses to hypoglycemia. The logarithm of the peak plasma ACTH concentrations was related to the logarithm of the nadir in the IVC glucose concentrations during both intracarotid saline and glucose infusions, but intracarotid glucose infusions reduced the magnitude of the peak ACTH response for a given nadir in glucose by an average of 65%. The ACTH responses over the 40- to 60-min experimental periods for moderate ...
Temporal stability in hybridization between Bufo microscaphus and Bufo woodhousii (Anura: Bufonidae): Behavior and morphology

I analyzed temporal variation in hybridization between the southwestern toad (Bufo microscaphus) and Woodhouse's toad (Bufo woodhousii) along the Virgin River in southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona. Bufo woodhousii is largely restricted to the floodplain of the Virgin River from southern Nevada to the vicinity of St. George, Utah. By contrast, B. microscaphus is confined primarily to the tributaries of the Virgin River, only occupying the Virgin River proper exclusive of B. woodhousii along its upper reaches east of La Verkin Creek. As in all other zones of sympatry for these bufonids, behavior and morphology provide clear evidence of hybridization at a number of sites along the Virgin River. Analysis of morphology and behavior indicates that the distribution of these taxa and their hybrids is largely unchanged relative to that documented forty years ago by Blair (1955). Comparisons of morphological hybrid index scores reveal slight shifts in relative numbers of parental taxa at only one site. Hybridization between these anurans has been relatively stable geographically, and may be related to the nature of the riparian habitat available for breeding.
Cytotoxicity of commonly used nitroxide radical spin probes.

Abstract Since nitroxide radical spin probes are used frequently to test biophysical properties of cells, their use should be restricted to conditions that do not perturb normal cell growth and viability. Eight commonly used nitroxide radical spin probes have been tested for their effects on the survival of CHO cells. These include water-soluble spin probes Tempol, Tempamine, CTPO, CTPC and 4-maleimido-Tempo, and lipid soluble spin probes 5-Doxyl-, 12-Doxyl-, and 16-Doxylstearates. With the exception of 4-maleimido-Tempo, none of the water soluble spin labels inhibited cell survival at concentrations as high as 1 mM. At concentrations of 75 μM and higher, 4-maleimido-Tempo inhibited cell survival in a dose dependent manner. At concentrations commonly used for spin labeling of cells (30–50 μM) none of the lipid soluble spin probes tested was cytotoxic. At 100 μM only 5-Doxylstearate inhibited cell survival, whereas 12-Doxylstearate and 16-Doxylstearate had no effect.
Using verbs to automatically determine text descriptors

Abstract This paper describes a method of automatic indexing which may also be viewed as a simulation of how a person classifies documents. In this method, the sentences of a passage are isolated and converted into an intermediate predicate formalism. The verb, which names the predicate, is assigned a priority. Predicate priorities, derived primarily from the verb priorities, are used as distance indices in converting the predicates from an entire passage to a graph structure. Elementary notions from graph theory are applied to determine the descriptors of the passage. The method is illustrated with a story that has been processed automatically.
Effect of suspended solids concentration and filament type on the toxicity of chlorine and hydrogen peroxide to bulking activated sludge

Toxic inhibition of three communities of filamentous microorganisms by chlorine and hydrogen peroxide was investigated in relation to the total suspended solids concentration of bulking acitvated sludges. The filament communities studied were dominated by type 1701, Sphaerotilus natans, and the combination of type 021N and Thiothrix spp., respectively. Activity of filamentous and gross biomass was assessed separately using the malachite green-INT (MINT) test. The effectiveness of toxicants was characterized in terms of the concentration required to inhibit 50% of microbial dehydrogenase activity (IC50). IC50s were found to be proportional to total suspended solids concentration. Values for filamentous biomass were generally lower than those for gross biomass. Relative sensitivity (ratio of gross IC50 to filamentous IC50) did not vary significantly over the practical range of total suspended solids concentraton. This parameter was unaffected by the nature of the toxicant in S. natans and type 021N/Thiothrix dominated sludges, but was toxicant specific in type 1701 dominated sludge. Overall, S. natans and type 1701 were the least sensitive of the filament types studied. Bulking caused by these organisms has been successfully cured by toxicant addition in numerous past instances. It is therefore expected that type 021N, Thiothrix, and most other types of filamentous bulking can also be controlled by this technique.
Parental perceptions of the role of media and technology in their young children’s lives

The purpose of this study was to survey parental media attitudes and perceptions of their children’s knowledge and engagement with various media technologies, as well as to explore the children’s actual knowledge and experience with these tools. A total of 101 US parents of young children (ages 2–7 years) and 39 children (ages 3–6 years) participated. Results revealed heavy media consumption both among parents and children, and a large number of children, including the youngest, had private access. Less than half of the parents could accurately identify their children’s technological proficiency, and despite heavy usage, many children misidentified various media tools. Overall, parents showed positive attitudes toward media, to the extent that they believed media exposure to be vital to children’s development, and many disagreed with recommendations from expert sources regarding age-appropriate screen time. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Mechanical hyperalgesia correlates with insulin deficiency in normoglycemic streptozotocin-treated rats

The triggers and pathogenesis of peripheral diabetic neuropathy are poorly understood, and this study evaluated the role of insulinopenia in nociceptive abnormalities in the streptozotocin (STZ) rat model of diabetes to test the hypothesis that, in addition to hyperglycemia, impairment of insulin signaling may be involved in progression of neuropathy. We measured blood glucose, plasma insulin, and sciatic nerve glucose and sorbitol levels, and withdrawal thresholds for hind limb pressure pain and heat pain in STZ-injected rats that developed hyperglycemia or remained normoglycemic. The pressure pain threshold did not change in vehicle-injected controls, but during the 2 weeks after STZ, it decreased by 25-40% in STZ-hyperglycemic and STZ-normoglycemic animals (P<0.05). Mean heat pain threshold did not change in STZ-normoglycemic rats, but increased by about 1.5 degrees C in STZ-hyperglycemic rats (P<0.05). These pain thresholds did not correlate with blood or nerve glucose or sorbitol levels, but both correlated with plasma insulin level in STZ-normoglycemic rats, and low-dose insulin replacement normalized the pressure threshold without affecting blood glucose level. Thus, at least one of early signs of diabetic neuropathy in STZ-treated rats, mechanical hyperalgesia, can be triggered by moderate insulinopenia, irrespective of glycemic status of the animals.
CO2 as a separation switch for ionic liquid/organic mixtures

A novel technique to separate ionic liquids from organic compounds is introduced which uses carbon dioxide to induce the formation of an ionic liquid-rich phase and an organic-rich liquid phase in mixtures of methanol and 3-butyl-1-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C4mim][PF6]). If the temperature is above the critical temperature of CO2 then the methanol-rich phase can become completely miscible with the CO2-rich phase, and this new phase is completely ionic liquid-free. Since CO2 is nonpolar, it is not equipped to solvate ions. As the CO2 dissolves in the methanol/[C4mim][PF6] mixture, the solvent power of the CO2-expanded liquid is significantly reduced, inducing the formation of the second liquid phase that is rich in ionic liquid. This presents a new way to recover products from ionic liquid mixtures and purify organic phases that have been contaminated with ionic liquid. Moreover, these results have important implications for reactions done in CO2/ionic liquid biphasic mixtures.
Attitudes toward genetic testing in patients with colorectal cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine risk perceptions and interest in genetic testing among African American and White patients with colorectal cancer. Description of study: In this cross-sectional study, 98 patients with colorectal cancer participated in a brief structured telephone interview. Information was collected on knowledge and risk perceptions regarding colorectal cancer genetics, health behaviors, knowledge about the availability of genetic testing, and interest in genetic testing for colorectal cancer susceptibility. Results: Sixty-one percent of the participants were worried about their relatives' risk of colorectal cancer, and 64% were concerned about being a colorectal cancer susceptibility gene carrier. Although 81% of the participants reported that they had never heard about a genetic test for colorectal cancer susceptibility, 72% stated that they would want to take the test if it were available. Predictors of intention to have a genetic test were younger age, less advanced stage of disease, and more frequent thoughts about colorectal cancer being hereditary. Clinical implications: These results suggest that the demand for genetic testing may be great, despite a general lack of knowledge about colorectal cancer genetics and the potential risks and limitations of testing. Education and counseling about cancer genetics and genetic testing may clarify misconceptions about hereditary colorectal cancer and help patients with colorectal cancer and their family members make informed decisions about whether to undergo testing.
Improved confidence set estimators of a multivariate normal mean and generalizations

LetX be the observed vector of thep-variate (p≧3) normal distribution with mean θ and covariance matrix equal to the identity matrix. Denotey +=max{0,y} for any real numbery. We consider the confidence set estimator of θ of the formC δa,φ={θ:|θ−δa,φ(X)}≦c}, whereδ a,φ=[1−aφ({X})/{X}2]+X is the positive part of the Baranchik (1970,Ann. Math. Statist.,41, 642–645) estimator. We provide conditions on ϕ(•) anda which guarantee thatC δa.φ has higher coverage probability than the usual one, {θ:|θ−X|≦c}. This dominance result will be shown to hold for spherically symmetric distributions, which include the normal distribution,t-distribution and double exponential distribution. The latter result generalizes that of Hwang and Chen (1983,Technical Report, Dept. of Math., Cornell University).
Synthesis of organs: In vitro or in vivo?

In an article in a recent issue of PNAS, Schechner and colleagues (1) combine in vitro and in vivo approaches. The authors report a significant improvement in methodology that may turn out to be of great value in a frustrating area of clinical research: the treatment of the elderly patient who suffers from pressure (bed) sores. These chronically open wounds, or skin ulcers, typically result from lack of appropriate vascular supply to the skin. If prolonged enough, the lack of blood supply leads to necrosis of the skin and impairment of the mechanism for wound closure. The authors report new methodology for the enrichment of vascular structures in host skin by implanting a skin substitute.
Specializing for predicting obesity and its co-morbidities

We present specializing, a method for combining classifiers for multi-class classification. Specializing trains one specialist classifier per class and utilizes each specialist to distinguish that class from all others in a one-versus-all manner. It then supplements the specialist classifiers with a catch-all classifier that performs multi-class classification across all classes. We refer to the resulting combined classifier as a specializing classifier. We develop specializing to classify 16 diseases based on discharge summaries. For each discharge summary, we aim to predict whether each disease is present, absent, or questionable in the patient, or unmentioned in the discharge summary. We treat the classification of each disease as an independent multi-class classification task. For each disease, we develop one specialist classifier for each of the present, absent, questionable, and unmentioned classes; we supplement these specialist classifiers with a catch-all classifier that encompasses all of the classes for that disease. We evaluate specializing on each of the 16 diseases and show that it improves significantly over voting and stacking when used for multi-class classification on our data.
Value sets of Dickson polynomials over finite fields

Abstract Let Fq denote the finite field of order q where q is a prime power. If a ∈ Fq and d ≥ 1 is an integer, define the Dickson polynomial g d (x, a) = ∑ t=0 [ d 2 ] ( d (d−t) )( t d−t )(−a t x d−2t . Let {gd(x, a) | x ∈ Fq} denote the image or value set of the polynomial gd(x, a). In this paper we determine the cardinality of the value set for the Dickson polynomial gd(x, a) over the finite field Fq.
An experimental study of two-dimensional atmospheric gas dispersion near two objects

Two-dimensional gas dispersion in the atmosphere was investigated experimentally using an atmospheric boundary-layer wind tunnel. Argon gas, which is one and one half times heavier than air, was injected two-dimensionally and uniformly near two square objects at the rates of 3.55 and 4.93 m3/min per lateral meter from the bottom of the wind tunnel floor through a porous metal plate. The gas injection source was located at one object distance upstream of the first square object. Gas concentrations and velocities of the flow field were measured using an aspirating hot-film probe and a low velocity flow analyzer, respectively. The gas was dispersed no higher than approximately 2.0 object heights near the objects, and dispersed no higher than 3.5 object heights at the location of downwind distances of nine object lengths for the injection rates tested. The gas concentrations between the injection source and the first object were about 4 to 5 times higher than the gas concentrations of the other locations. The gas concentrations were 2 to 3% in the recirculation zone between the two objects, and were less than 2% behind the second object. The air-gas mixtures in the recirculation zone between the two objects and within the wake recirculation bubble behind the second object were well mixed and no gravitational settlement was detected in those regions. However, as the mixture moved down-stream, the gravitational settlement occurred beyond the wake recirculation bubble. This paper demonstrates that it is possible to model a two-dimensional heavy gas release in the atmosphere using wind-tunnel simulation with properly matched similitude parameters.
The course of lichen sclerosus diagnosed prior to puberty.

Abstract Study Objective To help determine the long-term course of girls diagnosed with lichen sclerosus before puberty. Design Retrospective chart review and follow-up interview. Setting Washington University pediatric gynecology and dermatology clinics. Participants Premenarchal girls diagnosed with lichen sclerosus from 1989-2010. Interventions Telephone interview. Main Outcome Measures Resolution of symptoms, specifically pain and/or pruritus. Results Follow-up was available for 36 premenarchal girls. The mean age at lichen sclerosus (LS) diagnosis was 7 years (range: 3-14 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 5.3 years (range: 2 months-15 years). Treatment with topical steroids (primarily 0.05% clobetasol propionate ointment) resulted in improvement in symptoms within an average of 14 weeks (range: 2 weeks-2 years) in 33 girls. Eighty-three percent of patients (n = 30) experienced remission after initial treatment. Sixteen patients reported relapses requiring an average of 3.1 years of intermittent maintenance therapy. The mean length of remission to date was 3.6 years (range 1 months-10 years). 72% of patients reported remission at the time of the phone interview. Of note, 7 out of 9 patients in our study who continue to report symptoms are still premenarchal. One postmenarchal patient was asymptomatic but had signs of LS on physical exam. Conclusion The prognosis and long term course of LS diagnosed prior to puberty is unclear. Although remission may occur prior to menarche in some cases, once children reach menarche with active disease, complete remission may be less likely. Treatment duration of LS in our study had a wide range, but 3 months appears to be adequate for most patients to obtain remission.
Chemical and Dielectric Manipulation of the Plasmonic Band Gap of Metallodielectric Arrays

The propagation characteristics of surface plasmons (SPs) on metallodielectric 1-D arrays are studied as a function of dielectric environment. Metallodielectric gratings are immersed in solvent media and, alternatively, functionalized with alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). While the two approaches induce shifts of the SP to lower energies and reduce the group velocity, the plasmonic band gap decreases with increasing refractive index but increases with SAM functionalization. This is the first reported study of chemically controlled manipulation of a plasmonic band gap.
Plane strain visioplasticity for dynamic and quasi-static deformation processes

On developpe la methode de visioplasticite pour permettre de determiner, a partir d'un enregistrement du champ des deformations, l'histoire complete des contraintes d'un processus quelconque de deformation plastique
Making constraint solvers more usable: overconstraint problem

Abstract The richness and expressive power of geometric constraints causes unintended ambiguities and inconsistencies during their solution or realization. For example, geometric constraint problems may turn out to be overconstrained requiring the user to delete one or more of the input constraints, and the solutions must then be dynamically updated. Without proper guidance by the constraint solver, the user must have profound insight into the mathematical nature of constraint systems and understand the internals of the solver algorithm. But a general user is most likely unfamiliar with those problems, so that the required interaction with the constraint solver may well be beyond the user's ability. In this paper, we present strategies and techniques to empower the user to deal effectively with the overconstraint problem while not requiring him or her to become an expert in the mathematics of constraint solving. We formulate this problem as a series of formal requirements that gel with other essentials of constraint solvers. We then give algorithmic solutions that are both general and efficient (running time typically linear in the number of relevant constraints).
Analyzing the information economy: tools and techniques

Depuis 10 ans l'importance economique de l'information a cru de telle maniere que cette derniere est maintenant consideree comme un produit. Pour connaitre la taille de l'economie de l'information des mesures quantitatives du role de l'information dans l'economie doivent etre entreprises et les liens existants entre les secteurs de l'information et le reste de l'economie doivent etre precises. Cet article s'appuie sur les deux principales etudes entreprises par Porat et Machlup sur le sujet et developpe les points suivants: le flux circulaire de l'activite economique, les tendances a long terme de la structure economique, les activites economiques: production et biens intermediaires, definition et taille du secteur information, tableaux a double entree des secteurs de l'information et des differents secteurs de l'economie. La methodologie et les outils utilises par Porat et par Machlup pour estimer la valeur economique de l'information presentent un interet certain mais les limites en sont soulignees. (INTD)
Hail in Northeast Italy: Climatology and Bivariate Analysis with the Sounding-Derived Indices

AbstractIn this work the hailpad data collected during the April–September period of the years 1992–2009 by a network of approximately 360 stations on the plain of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region (northeast Italy) were analyzed. The frequency distribution of the hail cases is studied for the different years, for the yearday, and for the time of day, considering four 6-h-long periods of the day. Hail is found to be more frequent during the 1100–2300 UTC time interval and in the months of June and July even though during the 18 years analyzed there does not seem to be a defined trend in hail probability. The spatial distribution shows a maximum of probability along the foothills in particular in the northwest. In the middle of this area there is also the Udine–Campoformido radiosounding station, which performed four soundings per day. Each case (6-h-long period) is then associated with the 52 indices derived from the sounding launched at the beginning of that period. These sounding-derived indices are not ...
CO2-EOR and storage design optimization

Abstract A partnership between oilfield operators and the federal government in the coupled CO 2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and storage projects may bring long-term benefits for both. This paper describes the field-scale design optimization of coupled CO 2 -EOR and storage operations from the viewpoint of oilfield operators. We introduce two categories of EOR-storage design optimization problems: the fixed storage requirement and integrated asset optimization. The first problem follows an environmental-driven objective by giving priority to the storage element of CO 2 -EOR and storage; the second prioritizes the oil recovery to the storage and adjusts the storage volume commitment based on the economic benefits. Each problem is elaborated through a set of common but specific technical and economic assumptions, which are mainly based on the USA circumstances. The results quantitatively describe the relations between the design parameters, reservoir properties, asset size, and the economic parameters. With appropriate economic conditions and fiscal incentives, specifically in the form of storage tax credit, coupled CO 2 -EOR and storage could be attractive for both the oilfield operators and the government. In addition, CO 2 -EOR and storage is not the ultimate solution to the industrial-scale CO 2 storage requirements. A medium-size industrial capture and storage for 25 years through EOR requires an asset size greater than the current field-scale EOR operations in the USA. Finally, the reservoir properties significantly affect the economic benefits for both the oilfield operators and the government. The proposed workflow may serve as a screening tool to rank the EOR-storage candidates and prioritize the most promising prospects for both the oilfield operators and the government.
Ability of Different Polymers to Inhibit the Crystallization of Amorphous Felodipine in the Presence of Moisture

Purpose To investigate the ability of various polymers to inhibit the crystallization of amorphous felodipine from amorphous molecular dispersions in the presence of absorbed moisture.
Transverse momentum spectra of J/ψ in heavy-ion collisions

Abstract We investigate J / ψ transverse-momentum ( p t ) distributions and their centrality dependence in heavy-ion collisions at SPS and RHIC within the framework of a two-component model, which includes (i) primordial production coupled with various phases of dissociation, (ii) statistical coalescence of c and c ¯ quarks at the hadronization transition. The suppression of the direct component (i) is calculated by solving a transport equation for J / ψ , χ c and ψ ′ in an expanding fireball using momentum dependent dissociation rates in the Quark–Gluon Plasma (QGP). The coalescence component is inferred from a kinetic rate equation with a momentum dependence following from a blast wave approach. At SPS energies, where the direct component dominates, the interplay of Cronin effect and QGP suppression results in fair agreement with NA50 p t spectra. At RHIC energies, the p t spectra in central Au + Au collisions are characterized by a transition from regeneration at low p t to direct production above. At lower centralities, the latter dominates at all p t .
Prediction of superconductor behaviour when subjected to a local thermal disturbance

Abstract The stability of a one-dimensional composite superconductor subjected to a thermal disturbance is studied by considering, in addition to the amount of disturbance energy, the effect of the disturbance temperature profile. An analysis is conducted for the stationary thermal condition, and the result is compared with the transient solution in terms of characteristic functionals. It is shown that a map involving two characteristic functionals can precisely characterize the recovery-quenching behaviour of the superconductor.
A economia política da reforma macroeconômica no Brasil, 1995-2002

This article examines the successes and limits of the macroeconomic and fiscal reforms under the Fernando Henrique Cardoso Administration in Brazil. The author begins by studying factors that contributed to macroeconomic difficulties prior to 1995, then proceeds to examine how the Real Plan enabled the Cardoso Administration to control interference by State Governors in the national economy. The article then describes how former President Cardoso's policies generated the current ''fiscal straitjacket'' in Brazil, and concludes by discussing how the Cardoso government's legacy may continue to constrain action by future Brazilian Administrations.
Decreased CD47 expression during spontaneous apoptosis targets neutrophils for phagocytosis by monocyte-derived macrophages

Abstract Background Neutrophils (PMN) are the primary leukocyte responders during acute inflammation. After migrating into the tissues, PMN undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis) and are subsequently removed via phagocytosis by resident macrophages during the resolution phase. Efficient phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils is necessary for successful resolution. CD47 plays a critical role in mediating the phagocytic response, although its role in the phagocytosis of apoptotic PMN is incompletely understood. Aims In the present study we tested the hypotheses that CD47 modulates the targeting of apoptotic PMN for phagocytosis, and that this process is altered in neonatal PMN. Study design Adult and neonatal PMN were examined for their expression of CD47. To investigate CD47-mediated functions, apoptotic adult and neonatal PMN were co-cultured with monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) and the phagocytic index was determined using a flow cytometry-based assay. Results We observed lower basal surface CD47 levels on neonatal vs. adult PMN. In both groups, spontaneous apoptosis led to decreased surface and total cellular CD47 expression. Adult and neonatal MDM ingested apoptotic neonatal target PMN more avidly than apoptotic adult target PMN. Masking of surface CD47 on PMN with a monoclonal antibody enhanced MDM phagocytic activity. Conclusions Our results suggest that age-dependent expression of CD47 on PMN may account for differences in their ingestion by macrophages and in the resolution of inflammation.
Within-Level Group Factorial Invariance With Multilevel Data: Multilevel Factor Mixture and Multilevel MIMIC Models

This study suggests 2 approaches to factorial invariance testing with multilevel data when the groups are at the within level: multilevel factor mixture model for known classes (ML FMM) and multilevel multiple indicators multiple causes model (ML MIMIC). The adequacy of the proposed approaches was investigated using Monte Carlo simulations. Additionally, the performance of different types of model selection criteria for determining factorial invariance or detecting item noninvariance was examined. Generally, both ML FMM and ML MIMIC demonstrated acceptable performance with high true positive and low false positive rates, but the performance depended on the fit statistics used for model selection under different simulation conditions.
The Household Response to the Mexican Peso Crisis.

Household expenditure surveys are used to examine the effects of the Mexican peso crisis on household consumption and employment. The crisis is seen to have caused income and consumption to decline for all groups of society, although the relative impact differed by the education, industry and residence of the household head. The main smoothing mechanism was a change in the composition of consumption. Households are shown to have increased their expenditure share on certain food items even more than Engel’s law would predict, reducing their expenditure on luxury goods in order to do so. Labour supply is not found to have responded strongly to the crisis.
Linking strategy to value

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide business executives with a practical and systematic way of preparing for board member questions on the shareholder value of proposed strategic initiatives.Design/methodology/approach – The authors observe that previous work has shown how shareholder value is derived from revenue growth, margin improvement, and asset efficiency. While such general value levers are useful they do not guide any particular organization regarding the critical decisions on where and how to compete. They also observe that strategic plans show how strategic initiatives support the overall corporate vision, but apart from ad hoc business cases, do not systematically link to shareholder value. By depicting shareholder value as a vertical tree, and strategic plans as a horizontal tree, the authors are able to construct a systematic mechanism for explicitly linking strategy to value.Findings – The approach enables mapping strategic initiatives to their contribution to shareholder valu...
Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy

Nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy is a rare, recently described fibrotic skin condition that primarily affects patients with a history of renal disease.We report 2 cases of nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy and review clinical and histopathologic features with differential diagnosis and more.Case #1 was a 64-year-old black male with chronic renal insufficiency which progressed to end stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis. After two days, he developed blisters on both his hands. By a month, his blister lesions resolved leaving scaly skin with some skin thickening and tightening in the hands and forearms. Over the course of one month, skin over above-mentioned areas began to harden and stiffen. His fingers began to coalesce and contract resulting in fixation of hand grip. He also developed flexing contracts at the elbows bilaterally. Skin biopsy revealed the diagnosis of nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy with giant cells reaction. Case #2 was a 44-year-old black male with a hx of nephropathy. He eventually developed end stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis. One month after, he was found to have thickened, sclerotic appearing skin involving the upper back, hands, and forearms with flexing contracts of the all the small joints. Histopathology was most consistent with nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy.
A Diffusion Model for a System Subject to Continuous Wear

A model for a system whose state changes continuously with time is introduced. It is assumed that the system is modeled by Brownian motion with negative drift and an absorbing barrier at the origin. A repairman arrives according to a Poisson process and increases the state of the system by a random amount if the state is below a threshold α. Explicit expressions are deduced for the distribution function of X(t), the state of the system at time 1, if X(t) ≤ α and for the Laplace transform of the density of X( t). The stationary case is examined in detail.