cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real-time medical phase recognition using long-term video understanding and progress gate method

Abstract We introduce a real-time system for recognizing five phases of the trauma resuscitation process, the initial management of injured patients in the emergency department. We used depth videos as input to preserve the privacy of the patients and providers. The depth videos were recorded using a Kinect-v2 mounted on the sidewall of the room. Our dataset consisted of 183 depth videos of trauma resuscitations. The model was trained on 150 cases with more than 30 minutes each and tested on the remaining 33 cases. We introduced a reduced long-term operation (RLO) method for extracting features from long segments of video and combined it with the regular model having short-term information only. The model with RLO outperformed the regular short-term model by 5% using the accuracy score. We also introduced a progress gate (PG) method to distinguish visually similar phases using video progress. The final system achieved 91% accuracy and significantly outperformed previous systems for phase recognition in this setting.
Antiblackness, Black Joy, and Embracing a Humanizing Critical Sociocultural Knowledge (HCSK) for Teaching: Lessons From Schooling in the Time of COVID-19

In this critical reflective analysis, we explore the nature of schooling for Black children and youth before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and envision its transformative possibilities. We draw ...
Computers and Satellites: Effective New Technologies for Distance Education.

AbstractOver the past several decades, distance education has been an effective instructional methodology for teaching learners who choose to learn at a distance from an established educational institution. While this type of instruction has traditionally utilized print media and broadcast radio or television, many institutions are now employing computers and/or satellites for delivering educational materials to distance learners. The following paper describes methods for using these new technologies in distance education and provides specific examples of their successful utilization.
Portfolio Models in Financial Management

From an applied viewpoint, the recent developments in portfolio theory on investment decisions have clarified the various aspects of the diversification strategy of an investor under the framework of a general capital market equilibrium. Four aspects of this modern trend appear to be the most important from a managerial veiwpoint: (a) capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and its integration with the theory of firm behavior, (b) characterization of the efficient set of portfolios, (c) optimal limited diversification portfolio for the small investor and (d) the robustness analysis of a portfolio strategy.
of nerve cells: A developmental study of two molecular components

Abstract 1. 1. The development of the lysosomal hydrolase N- acetyl-β- d -glucosaminidase was examined in bulk-isolated nerve cell bodies of rat cerebral cortex. Several properties of the enzyme and of two of its molecular components were compared, among them their ease of solubilization, their relative abundance, their heat lability and their behavior on density gradients of sucrose. 2. 2. Repeated freezing-thawing of neuronal particulates in 0.20 M sucrose-0.1 M KCl followed by centrifugation at moderate rather than high speeds resulted in the solubilization of upward of 50% of the glucosaminidase, irrespective of neuronal age. 3. 3. Although the solubilization of N- acetyl-β- d -glucosaminidase was dependent on the concentration (mg of protein/ml) of the suspension subjected to freezing-thawing, it was always more effective with the enzyme from the 8- and 18-day-old than with that from the 3- and 5-day-old neurons. 4. 4. Centrifugation of the solubilized neuronal N- acetyl-β- d -glucosaminidase on linear density gradients of sucrose resulted, at all ages, in the complete resolution of two activity components a heavy and a light one, H and L respectively. As routinely isolated, the ratio of component L to component H in the neurons of the cerebral cortex was always > 1.0 while, in the cerebellar neurons, values 5. 5. The qualitative and quantitative gradient profiles of N- acetyl-β- d -glucosaminidase activity were highly sensitive to pH. Thus, lowering of the pH of frozen thawed supernatants to 5.4 and below prior to density gradient centrifugation resulted in the virtual disappearance of component H, while adjustment of the pH to 5.6 resulted in L/H ratios N- acetyl-β- d -glucosaminidase activity. 6. 6. About 50% of the activity of component L was lost, irrespective of age, by heating for 20 min at 50 °C and at a pH of 4.1. The heat sensitivity of component H was no greater, except at 5 days, when about 90% of its activity was lost under the same conditions.
Relating Jupiter's auroral features to magnetospheric sources

Auroral Phenomen Other Planets Geophysical Mon © 2012. American 10.1029/2011GM The magnetospheric processes responsible for Jupiter’s auroral emissions differ from those that drive the Earth’s aurora. For example, Jupiter’s main auroral emissions are associated with the breakdown of plasma corotation in the middle magnetosphere and not, as at the Earth, with the boundary between open and closed magnetic flux. In this chapter, we review some of the main features of Jupiter’s auroral emissions and describe how they map to magnetospheric source regions or dynamic processes. Identifying the source of Jupiter’s polar auroral features has been difficult because global field models are inaccurate beyond the inner magnetosphere (<30 RJ). However, a recently developed model that relates measured magnetic flux at different radial and local time locations in the magnetosphere to equivalent magnetic flux in the ionosphere (rather than tracing field lines from a global field model) provides a more accurate way to relate the polar auroral regions to magnetospheric sources and, particularly, to identify and constrain the size and location of Jupiter’s polar cap. The results give insight into global dynamics and the open or closed nature of the Jovian magnetosphere.
IgG antibody to Giardia lamblia detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

A sensitive, reproducible enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using unfixed, intact Giardia lamblia trophozoites as antigen is described. Employing this assay, we demonstrated that 81% of 59 symptomatic giardiasis patients and 12% of 17 uninfected control subjects had circulating IgG antibodies to G. lamblia. Eleven out of 15 patients tested serially had detectable antibody from 2 wk to 15 mo after therapy for acute infection. The prevalence of antibody in 197 unselected individuals in the Washington, D.C. area was 14%. Specificity of the antibodies was demonstrated by the ability of live G. lamblia trophozoites, but not Entamoeba histolytica or Trichomonas vaginalis trophozoites, to absorb the antibody activity. High titers of antibody were detected in 5 out of 7 patients with recurrent infection. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay described here may help to further characterize the antibody response to infection with G. lamblia.
The Gene History of Zebrafish tlr4a and tlr4b Is Predictive of Their Divergent Functions

Mammalian immune responses to LPS exposure are typified by the robust induction of NF-kappaB and IFN-beta responses largely mediated by TLR4 signal transduction pathways. In contrast to mammals, Tlr4 signal transduction pathways in nontetrapods are not well understood. Comprehensive syntenic and phylogenetic analyses support our hypothesis that zebrafish tlr4a and tlr4b genes are paralogous rather than orthologous to human TLR4. Furthermore, we provide evidence to support our assertion that the in vivo responsiveness of zebrafish to LPS exposure is not mediated by Tlr4a and Tlr4b paralogs because they fail to respond to LPS stimulation in vitro. Zebrafish Tlr4a and Tlr4b paralogs were also unresponsive to heat-killed Escherichia coli and Legionella pneumophila. Using chimeric molecules in which portions of the zebrafish Tlr4 proteins were fused to portions of the mouse TLR4 protein, we show that the lack of responsiveness to LPS was most likely due to the inability of the extracellular portions of zebrafish Tlr4a and Tlr4b to recognize the molecule, rather than to changes in their capacities to transduce signals through their Toll/IL-1 receptor (TIR) domains. Taken together, these findings strongly support the notion that zebrafish tlr4a and tlr4b paralogs have evolved to provide alternative ligand specificities to the Tlr immune defense system in this species. These data demonstrate that intensive examination of gene histories when describing the Tlr proteins of basally diverging vertebrates is required to obtain fuller appreciation of the evolution of their function. These studies provide the first evidence for the functional evolution of a novel Tlr.
Studies on dengue 2 virus infection in cyclophosphamide-treated rhesus monkeys

Dengue 2 virus (D2V) replication has been demonstrated in cultured primate mononuclear phagocytes, mitogen treated lymphocytes and lymphoblastoid cells. To determine which of these cell types might play an important role in sustaining infection in vivo, nine rhesus monkeys were immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide and then infected with D2V. Maintenance doese which held total white blood cell counts to <3000/mm3 ablated both primary and secondary antibody responses. Six successfully immunosuppressed animals circulated virus and infected monocytes in blood for prolonged periods. Virus was recovered from lymphatic organs and visualized in tissue mononuclear leukocytes in two subjects dying during the experimental period. The results argue against the hypothesis that lymphoblasts play an important role in dengue virus infection but are consistent with the possibility that mononuclear phagocytes are the site of viral replication in vivo.
Stack Gas Pollutant Detection Using Laser Raman Spectroscopy

An experimental system to investigate the feasibility of using laser Raman spectroscopy to detect stack gas pollutants is described. With spontaneous Raman spectroscopy, one unit is capable of measuring all gas species simultaneously and, when applied to a continuous emissions monitoring (CEM) system, could both simplify it and improve reliability. Minimum detectabilities with the use of this weak light scattering process were determined for the three primary pollutants from coal-based power plants: carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitric oxide (NO). A frequency-doubled, pulsed Nd:YAG laser was used to excite the test gas held in a sample cell. A charge-coupled device connected to a spectrometer was used as the detection system, providing complete spectral information. A set of experiments was carried out for different concentrations of the three test gas species. With a 200-s integration time, the following minimum detectability limits were obtained: 100 ppm for SO , 250 ppm for CO, and 250 ppm for NO. A mixture of all three pollutants in a base of N2 was made to simulate typical stack gas mixtures. Baseline strength and associated shot noise are more severe when gas mixtures are being analyzed. One possible explanation is the broad-band fluorescence of NO2 , perhaps produced pho2 tolytically. System modifications to improve minimum detectabilities are discussed.
A note on “estimating school district expenditure functions under conditions of closed-end matching aid”: Closed-end matching aid in the context of a two-part tariff

Abstract An alternative approach to estimating school district expenditure functions when the budget constraint is kinked is offered. Proper parameterization of the budget constraint permits one to estimate the expenditure function without using a censored sample procedure.
Reaction of indolylmagnesium bromide and chloromethylpyridines. Synthesis of skatylpyridines and piperidines

The reaction of indolylmagnesium bromide with the 2-, 3-, and 4-chloromethyl-pyridines is reported. Methods are described for the preparation of 2-, 3- and 4-skatylpyridine and 2-, 3- and 4-skatylpiperidine.
Interchange and kink modes in the near‐Earth plasma sheet and their associated plasma flows

Three-dimensional (3-D) particle simulations are used to investigate the response of the near-Earth plasma sheet to the imposition of an external convection electric field for the case where magnetic flux is blocked from leaving the region. Under these conditions an interchange mode with characteristic wavelength of 1–2 RE (determined by the ion gyroradius) in the east-west direction is excited before the plasma sheet is severed by the formation of a neutral line. The nonlinear growth of the interchange mode produces a strong (10–20 mV/m), localized ( ≲ 0.5 RE) Ey field which drives earthward flows of both electrons and ions. These flows pinch off regions of southward Bz which eventually are expelled tailward in narrow fingers around the edges of the earthward flow bursts.
Comprehension Strategy Instruction for Multimodal Texts in Science

This article highlights examples from a middleschool science teacher’s instruction using multimodal texts. Its importance lies in reconciling narrowed definitions of reading (and hence reading instruction) with the need to develop students’ critical awareness as they engage with multiplesign systems, or semiotic resources, used for constructing meaning. After a brief introduction to the multimodal nature of scientific texts, the authors ground their discussion of comprehension strategy instruction in a vignette that shows the students and their teacher examining
Incidence and outcome of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in hemodialysis patients.

Incidence and outcome of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in hemodialysis patients. Background. Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia is frequently associated with metastatic complications and infective endocardi- tis (IE). The Duke criteria for the diagnosis of IE utilize echo- cardiographic techniques and are more sensitive than previous criteria. The documentation of IE in patients undergoing hemo- dialysis (HD) has become increasingly important in order to avoid the overuse of empiric vancomycin and the emergence of antibi- otic resistance. Methods. Patients who developed S. aureus bacteremia while undergoing HD at a tertiary medical center or one of four affiliated outpatient HD units were identified. Clinical outcome (death, metastatic complications, IE, and microbiologic recur- rence) was assessed during hospitalization and at three months after discharge. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardio- grams were performed and the Duke criteria were used to diagnose IE. Pulse field gel electrophoresis was performed to confirm genetic similarity of recurrent isolates. Results. Four hundred and forty-five patients underwent hemo- dialysis for 5431.8 patient-months. Sixty-two developed 65 epi- sodes of S. aureus bacteremia (1.2 episodes/100 patient-months). Complications occurred in 27 (44%) patients. Bacteremia re- curred in patients who dialyzed through polytetrafluorethylene grafts (44.4% vs. 7.1%, P 5 0.0.01), and there was a trend to increased recurrence in patients who received only vancomycin (19.5% vs. 7.1%, P 5 0.4). IE was diagnosed in 8 patients (12%), six of whom had normal transthoracic echocardiograms. Conclusions. Sensitive echocardiographic techniques and the Duke criteria for the diagnosis of IE should be used to determine the proper duration of antibiotic therapy in hemodialysis patients with S. aureus bacteremia. This diagnostic approach, coupled with early removal of hardware, may assist in improving outcomes.
Dating Violence Victimization Among High School Students in Minnesota Associations With Family Violence, Unsafe Schools, and Resources for Support

The present study examines whether being a victim of violence by an adult in the household, witnessing intra-familial physical violence, and feeling unsafe at school are associated with physical dating violence victimization. It also examines whether extracurricular activity involvement and perceived care by parents, teachers, and friends attenuate those relationships, consistent with a stress-buffering model. Participants were 75,590 ninth-and twelfth-grade students (51% female, 77% White, 24% receiving free/reduced price lunch) who completed the 2010 Minnesota Student Survey. Overall, 8.5% of students reported being victims of dating violence. Significant differences were found by gender, grade, ethnicity, and free/reduced price lunch status. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that being a victim of violence by an adult in the household, witnessing intra-familial physical violence, feeling unsafe at school, and low perceived care by parents were strongly associated with dating violence victimization. Associations of moderate strength were found for low perceived care by teachers and friends. Little to no extracurricular activity involvement was weakly associated with dating violence victimization. Attenuating effects of perceived care and extracurricular activity involvement on associations between risk factors (victimization by a family adult, witnessing intra-familial violence, feeling unsafe at school) and dating violence victimization were smaller in magnitude than main effects. Findings are thus more consistent with an additive model of risk and protective factors in relation to dating violence victimization than a stress-buffering model. Health promotion efforts should attempt to minimize family violence exposure, create safer school environments, and encourage parental involvement and support.
Preliminary evaluation and experimentation of the push-slip method for achieving micrometer and submicrometer step sizes with a miniature piezoactuated three-legged robot operating under high normal

The NanoWalker is a miniature autonomous wireless robot under development. The robot is designed to accomplish complex tasks at the molecular and atomic scales. One concern is the total mass of the robot. With all the components including the mechanical structure and the complex electronic system necessary to embed the required functionality of throughput for such tasks, the mass of such a robot is estimated to be in the range of 100-200 grams depending on tradeoffs in the final design. With such a mass and limitations on the maximum voltage and current outputs that can be generated in a small form factor to deflect the piezo-ceramic legs with high-precision, a preliminary evaluation and experimentation phase of the motion behavior is essential prior to completing the final desing. It is shown both theoretically and experimentally that adequate motions are possible under such high normal forces. This was achieved through a new walking strategy referred to here as the push-slip method. The method uses the high normal forces combined with the resulting coefficient of friction between the termination of each leg and the walking surface to create initial opposite forces to the bending forces of each leg. These opposite forces, bounded by the maximum static force of friction, can be used for pushing or slipping through additional torque if the bending forces are applied reciprocal or in the direction of intended motions respectively. With the right parameters combined with tight and proper synchronizations of the legs, very effective motions can be achieved.
Peptides derived from two dynamically disordered proteins self-assemble into amyloid-like fibrils.

Short peptides derived from p14ARF and Hdm2 (14 and 15 amino acids in length, respectively), two cancer associated proteins, have been found to co-assemble into amyloid-like structures. Larger protein domains containing these peptide segments interact in cells and also undergo a disorder-to-order transition upon binding in vitro. In contrast to the association of β-strand assemblies with amyloid diseases, the system described herein utilizes the formation of binary, extended β-strands as a novel mechanism of biomolecular assembly. The β-strand-containing fibrils formed from these peptides may allow the directed assembly of decorated fibrils with applications as biological nanostructures.
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND DAYLENGTH ON PEROXIDASE AND MALATE (NAD) DEHYDROGENASE ISOZYME COMPOSITION IN TOBACCO LEAF EXTRACTS

A B S T R A C T Tobacco plants were grown in controlled-environment chambers with night/day temperatures of 10/15 C, 20/25 C, and 30/35 C, and with light durations of 6 hr, 12 hr, and 18 hr. Peroxidases and malate (NAD) dehydrogenases were extracted from green leaf tissue and analyzed for isozyme patterns by disc electrophoresis. A total of 18 anodic peroxidase bands were distinguishable-each alteration in a single environmental variable producing a different isozyme profile. Malate (NAD) dehydrogenase isozyme profiles resulting from each environmental condition exhibited at least four major components, but differences in daylength and temperature conditions changed the relative banding intensities and shifted migration rates of some bands. The physiological implications of these findings are discussed.
Receptor and effector interactions of Gs Functional studies with antibodies to the αs carboxyl-terminal decapeptide

Abstract Antibodies generated to a synthetic decapeptide, RMHLRQYELL, representing the carboxyl-terminus of G s -α have been characterized in immunoblots and functional studies. This antibody, designated RM, reacts exclusively with a doublet of proteins of 52 and 45 kDa in immunoblots of bovine brain and wild-type S49 murine lymphoma cell membranes. No such reactivity is seen in membranes from cyc − S49 cells, which lack G s . RM blocks receptor-mediated activation of G s and adenylyl cyclase in membranes from wild-type S49 cells. RM could also immunoprecipitate adenylyl cyclase activity in detergent extracts from GTP[γ]S- or fluoride-preactivated bovine brain membranes; thus binding of α s to effector and carboxyl-terminal antibody was mutually compatible. Such experiments provide an approach for the elucidation of functionally relevant interactions of G-proteins with receptors and electors in the membrane.
In vitro stimulation of prolactin release by vasoactive intestinal peptide

The effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on anterior pituitary hormone release was examined in a variety of in vitro preparations. Synthetic VIP was capable of stimulating increased prolactin (PRL) release from male rat hemipituitaries in doses as low as 10-9M only when the enzyme inhibitor bacitracin was present in the incubation medium. Natural porcine VIP was similarly capable of stimulating PRL release, but only at higher doses (10-6M). Additionally, synthetic VIP was capable of stimulating PRL release from dispersed anterior pituitary cells harvested from adult male and lactating female rats and from an enriched population of lactotrophs obtained by unit gravity sedimentation of similar dispersed cells from infantile female rats. No effect of VIP on luteinizing hormone, growth hormone or thyroid stimulating hormone release was seen. These findings taken in concert with the presence of VIP in the hypothalamus, pituitary and hypophyseal portal plasma of the rat suggest a physiological role for VIP in the control of PRL secretion.
Chromatography of β-carbolines

Abstract Chromatography of a series of seventy-three β-carbolines was carried out on both paper and thin-layer plates in acidic, basic, and neutral solvents. The best solvent for the separation is the neutral and polar solvent such as chloroform-methanol on thin-layer chromatography with Silica Gel G. In general, tetrahydro-β-carbolines are more sensitive to xanthydrol than to Ehrlich's reagent. The former reagent is also more specific for tetrahydro compounds. Both the aromatic and tetrahydro compounds with no substituents on position I give an orange color reaction with 1% ninhydrin in n-butanol after heating. The fluorescent characteristics of U.V. light are useful in differentiating the aromatic from the tetrahydro derivatives. The aromatic compounds are mode fluorescent than the tetrahydro compounds. The 6-hydroxylated and methoxylated compounds usually have a pink fluorescence whereas the 7-hydroxylated and methoxylated compounds tend to have a blue fluorescence. Acidic diazo reagent and α-nitro-β-napthol, which are commonly used for detecting 6-hydroxylated and 5-hydroxylated indoles respectively, are found not to be specific for the 7-hydroxylated and 6-hydroxylated β-carbolines.
Water Budget of a Mesoscale Convective System in the Tropics

Abstract A squall-line cloud cluster observed in the Global Atmospheric Research Program's Atlantic Tropical Experiment (GATE) is studied as an example of a mesoscale convective system in the tropics. The system is divided into convective and stratiform regions. Composite wind, vertical motion, humidity, radar and satellite data fields have been derived for the system and are used to calculate the components of the water budgets of each region. Particular attention is devoted to understanding the sources of condensate for the stratiform region. The mesoscale updraft in the stratiform cloud accounts for 25–40% of the condensate making up the stratiform cloud, while the remaining 60–75% is supplied by horizontal transfer to the stratiform region of condensate generated in the cumulonimbus towers of the convective region.
A WEIGHTED APGAR SCORE FOR LOW-BIRTHWEIGHT INFANTS

The Apgar score is a simple arithmetic sum of the five areas of neonatal functioning (heart rate, respirations, tone, irritability, and color). However, some of these functions may have more prognostic significance than others and should therefore have greater weight in deriving a prognostic summary score. In order to investigate the relative significance of the five Apgar constituents, we retrospectively reviewed the delivery records of the preterm infants from our Newborn Follow-Up Program. We then employed linear regression methods to assess the extent to which the Apgar scores and their constituents could predict outcome as measured by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. We first evaluated the prognostic significance of the traditional one- and five-minute Apgar scores. Each of these scores accounted for less than 1% of the variation in the Bayley Mental Index at 6 months corrected age; the two summary scores together accounted for about 1.5%. In contrast, the five-minute hear-trate constituent score, taken alone, accounted for 14% of the variation of the Bayley Index. The addition of other Apgar constituents to the regression model increased the proportion of the variance that appeared to be accounted for. Preliminary cross-validation analyses suggest that somewhat less of the variance will be accounted for in separate samples--but still considerably more than that accounted for by the traditional summary scores. We conclude that the traditional Apgar score may mean less than the array of its constituents.
OptionStream: An automated system for tracking derivative effects on equity prices

We present the design and development of a flow-based software system that became necessary for the study of a class of options-based price-estimators in the financial markets. Because a combination of factors-cost, reliability, uniformity and convention-made it virtually impossible to obtain historical options data, we developed a data-flow system to capture, process and analyze streaming data over a period of over a year. The system utilizes distributed processing nodes with checkpointing to process input data streams and reliably compute a variety of estimator updates for studying relationships between equity prices and the functions of corresponding option-related variables. The flow-based architecture is designed to support the high-volume data characteristics of the options market, along with the severely taxing computational requirements of hypothetical option-pricing so that experimental investigation of novel estimators becomes possible with current and historical data. Features such as high-volume stream-processing, intermediate checkpointing and load distribution make the design viable for more general streaming data processing applications. .
The effectiveness of interventions on incubation of AIDS as measured by secular increases within a population

Methods are developed to estimate and test for the impact of intervention use on a population's survival function (time to AIDS). Each participant's history is divided into J + 1 components: omega 0 occurring before the intervention is available and omega 1 to omega J occurring later, as the intervention becomes successively more available. Distribution free truncated Kaplan-Meier models based on time since exposure fit separately to the risk sets/outcomes in omega 0 to omega J directly show the changing patterns of survival. Multivariate proportional hazards models can be used to adjust for covariates. Application of these methods indicates that availability of proven anti-AIDS interventions may have delayed time to AIDS by 8 months in an educated HIV-1 infected homosexual cohort with good access to medical care.
Effect of serotonin on blood flow to the choroid plexus.

The choroid plexus contains a very high density of serotonin receptors and serotonin has been reported to influence the rate of formation of cerebrospinal fluid. The goal of this study was to examine effects of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) on blood flow to the choroid plexus. Blood flow to the choroid plexus was measured in anesthetized cynomolgus monkeys and dogs using radioactive microspheres. Under control conditions, blood flow to choroid plexus was approximately 4 times greater than blood flow to the cerebrum in monkeys and approximately 7 times greater than blood flow to the cerebrum in dogs. Infusion of serotonin (40 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) into the left atrium increased blood flow to choroid plexus by 101 +/- 26% (mean +/- S.E.M.) in monkeys and by 201 +/- 45% in dogs. Serotonin did not affect cerebral blood flow. These findings suggest that serotonin may play an important role in regulation of blood flow to the choroid plexus.
Critical evaluation of deafness.

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical aspects of profound hearing loss (PHL) and their significance for defining deafness. Methods: The audiological data were reviewed from 3660 patients who were evaluated in the Otolaryngology Clinic at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, LA, over a 5-year period. The medical charts from the patients were also reviewed for the information of medical diagnosis, surgical records and radiological findings. Results: There were 34 patients identified with bilateral PHL or deaf, 177 patients with unilateral PHL and 123 patients with borderline PHL. Congenital hearing loss and unknown-cause hearing loss in this series were predominant with 267 cases (79.9%). A surgical management was indicated in 39 cases (11.7%) including middle ear infection, ossicular chain abnormalities and auditory nerve/brainstem tumors. Conclusion: This study suggests that audiometrically PHL should be thoroughly evaluated to detect reversible or remediable conditions by surgical and medical approaches. The diagnosis of deafness should be confirmed by an integration of the audiological data and medical documents including surgical and radiological findings. Aural rehabilitation program should be designed for deaf patients with varied etiology and degree of residual peripheral hearing sensitivity following medical clearance.
Working for Influence: Effect of Network Density and Modularity on Diffusion in Networks

The problem of finding the most influential individuals, or the largest spreaders, in networks has been shown to be NP-complete even for simple spreading models, though approximable by a simple greedy algorithm. Yet, even the greedy algorithm relies on stochastic simulations that can be quite time consuming and intractable for large networks. Recently developed heuristics are fast and work well in practice but are limited to certain network models, spreading goals, or sampled networks. In this work, instead of devising a new spread optimization method, we re-examine the problem by analyzing the global structural properties of the underlying network as indicators of spread trends. Specifically, our investigations use density of a network as an indicator of: (a) when it is necessary to employ a sophisticated yet computationally expensive method? or (b) when even a random set of spread initiators perform as well as the best in expectation for maximizing the spread in the network? and (c) why certain heuristics like high degree as indicator of high spread work for certain networks and not for others. We show that for network densities above and below a certain threshold, the difference between the best and expected spread is negligible. In between the two extremes, the networks exhibit marked differences between the best and expected spread. This region, rich with non-trivial and complicated structures, requires further work to devise efficient techniques for finding best spreaders.
Extended-cavity operation of rare-earth-doped glass waveguide lasers

Channel waveguides fabricated in Nd-doped glass were used as gain elements for extended-cavity lasers. End-fire pumping was performed with a Ti: sapphire laser operating at 807 nm. The 4-nm FWHM output spectrum was centered near 1057 nm. Slope efficiencies were typically 4–11%, with thresholds near 20 mW Active mode locking and Q switching were separately performed; mode-locked pulse widths were roughly 80 ps FWHM. Q-switched peak power was 1.2 W. The cw output narrowed to 7 GHz and tuned over a range of 24 nm when a grating provided feedback; single-frequency operation resulted when a high-reflectivity etalon was added.
Sacral resection for recurrent rectal cancer: analysis of morbidity and treatment results.

Composite sacropelvic resection for locally advanced recurrent rectal cancer is a high-risk procedure that benefits select patients. We reviewed our recent institutional experience to evaluate case selection, morbidity, and outcomes. Between 1987 and 2004, 29 patients underwent composite resection for recurrent locoregional rectal cancer (17 females; median age, 60 years). Clinicopathologic indicators were evaluated as indicators of survival by log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model. Of 29 total patients, 27 (93 percent) received radiotherapy with their previous surgery (n = 10; 34 percent) or before sacrectomy (n = 17; 59 percent), and 12 (41 percent) received intraoperative therapy. Sacral resections were performed at S2/S3 (55 percent) or S4/S5 (45 percent) using anterior (41 percent) or combined anterior-posterior approach (59 percent), with adherence to (62 percent) or cortical invasion in (38 percent) the sacrum. A majority of those who had undergone previous abdominoperineal resection had total exenteration (9/13), whereas most patients who had undergone a previous sphincter-preserving procedure had abdominoperineal resection (12/16) and none had exenteration. Pedicle flaps (omental, 11; abdominal rectus, 7) often were used. A median of five (range, 1–33) units of blood was given intraoperatively. Transfusions were associated with previous abdominoperineal resection (P < 0.03), correlating strongly with postoperative morbidity (P < 0.02). There were 33 complications in 17 (59 percent) patients, most commonly perineal wound breakdown (9 (31 percent)) and pelvic abscess (5 (17 percent)). Median hospital stay was 18 (range, 7–56) days, significantly longer in patients with previous abdominoperineal resection (P < 0.02) or postoperative morbidity (P < 0.03). The only postoperative death was from pelvic sepsis. Resection was complete (R0) in 18 patients (62 percent), with microscopically positive margins (R1) in 10 (34 percent) and grossly positive margins (R2) in 1 (3 percent). Two-year and five-year recurrence rates were 47 and 85 percent, respectively; disease-specific survival was 63 and 20 percent, respectively. Less transfusion (P = 0.03), R0 resection (P = 0.005), lack of anterior organ involvement (P = 0.02), and absence of cortical bone invasion (P < 0.001) were associated with better survival on univariate analysis; original colorectal cancer stage was not. Sacrectomy for rectal cancer is a high-risk procedure that can achieve clear resection margins with low mortality in select patients. This procedure has a low cure rate but may provide local disease control with acceptable morbidity.
Lepton non-conservation and solar neutrinos

The consequences for experiments involving solar neutrinos of a small amount of lepton non-conservation are examined following the discussion of Gribov and Pontecorvo.
A device for measuring the pattern of food and water intake in small laboratory animals

Abstract An easily constructed device was developed to measure accurately the pattern of food and water intake in small laboratory animals. This apparatus can be used to measure continuously many of the parameters of eating and drinking in experimental animals such as the total amount of food and water consumed per day, the frequency of meals and drinks, the duration of each meal and drink, and the total eating and drinking times. These data are important variables in dental caries or nutritional experiments utilizing laboratory animals.
Metal-metal bonding in La4Re6O19 and rutilerelated dioxides

Abstract Extended Huckel calculations have been used to rationalize the existence of a Re-Re double bond across the edge-shared octahedra in La 4 Re 6 O 19 . By analogy, double bonds are probably also present in the distorted rutiles; MoO 2 , WO 2 , and α-ReO 2 . Quantitative energy diagrams are not given, but it is shown qualitatively that the molecular levels of primarily metal-metal bonding character are very sensitive to the separation of the bridging oxygens, as well as to the metal-metal distance.
Three-dimensional orientation from texture using Gabor wavelets

We present a method for measuring the three-dimensional orientation of planar surfaces. We derive a model relating the spatially varying instantaneous frequency of the image texture to the instantaneous frequency of the surface texture, to the orientation of the surface, and to the parameters of the imaging system. We measure the localized frequency at each image point with Gabor wavelets and use it to solve for the surface orientation according to the model. The method does not require the extraction of discrete texture elements. The algorithm has a mean error of about 5 degrees in the measured slant and tilt on a test set of 12 real-world surfaces.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An Improved Cloning Vector for Construction of Gene Replacements in Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive, facultative intracellular bacterium implicated in severe food-borne illness (listeriosis) in humans. The construction of well-defined gene replacements in the genome of L. monocytogenes has been instrumental to several genetic studies of the virulence and other attributes of the organism. Construction of such mutations by currently available procedures, however, tends to be labor intensive, and gene replacement mutants are sometimes difficult to recover due to lack of direct selection for the construct. In this study we describe the construction and use of plasmid vector pGF-EM, which can be conjugatively transferred from Escherichia coli S17-1 to L. monocytogenes and which provides the genetic means for direct selection of gene replacements.
The CMS pixel system

The CMS hybrid pixel detector is located at the core of the CMS tracker and will contribute significantly to track and vertex reconstruction. The detector is subdivided into a three-layer barrel, and two end-cap disks on either side of the interaction region. The system operating in the 25-ns beam crossing time of the LHC must be radiation hard, low mass, and robust. The construction of the barrel modules and the forward disks has started after extensive R&D. The status of the project is reported.
Ultrafine particles generated from coloring with scented markers in the presence of ozone

High concentrations of ultrafine particles (UFPs) have been previously reported during school art activities. This is possibly due to secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) formed from reactions between ozone and volatile organic compounds emitted from art products. Four brands of markers, three scented and one unscented, were tested inside a stainless steel chamber at eight different ozone concentrations between 0 and 300 ppb. Out of the 32 tested markers, only the lemon- and orange-scented markers from one brand reacted with ozone to form UFPs. Limonene, pinene, and several other terpenes were identified as ingredients of ink in SOA-forming markers. Coloring with one lemon-scented marker for 1 min without ozone generated on average approximately 26 ± 4 ppb of limonene inside the chamber. At 150 ppb ozone, using one lemon marker for 1 min formed on average 7.7 × 10(10) particles. The particle size distribution indicated an initial mode of 15 nm which grew to 40 nm. At 50 ppb ozone and below, no significant SOA formation occurred. The number of particles formed is moderately correlated with the mass of ink used (R(2) = 0.68). Based on these data, scented markers are not likely a strong source of SOA under normal indoor ozone levels.
Innovations in virtual team training using the CASE method

This paper investigates innovation in the use of the CASE teaching method in virtual team environment. Literature review reported mixed results. Challenges with teaching this method include difficulties with (a) developing shared context to support case discussion, (b) maintaining participants' interest in case discussion, (c) guiding the team learning process, (d) building up team momentum, and (e) ensuring team actually learns as they solve case issues, include (a) no observable degradation found in case-based virtual team learning, (b) team members developed more complete and thoughtful arguments, (c) virtual teams generated more ideas, and (d) more diverse opinions were developed and shared. Proposed improvements included (a) development of richer case information, (b) development and discussion of cases from different cultural and social perspectives, (d) integration of learners to remote live cases, and (e) development of asynchronous case learning process. We recommend additional applied research areas for virtual team collaboration training using the CASE teaching method.
Demonstration of dynorphin A 1-8 immunoreactive axons contacting spinal cord projection neurons in a rat model of peripheral inflammation and hyperalgesia.

Abstract Using a double-labeling technique, we evaluated the input of afferents immunoreactive for dynorphin peptide onto a population of lumbar spinal neurons contributing to the spinoparabrachial tract in rats with 1 inflamed hind paw. We found that the frequency and distribution with which dynorphin immunoreactive varicosities were in apposition to projection neurons varied according to neuron location. In particular, neurons in the superficial dorsal horn and neck of the dorsal horn receive a high degree of dynorphin input. We also determined that unilateral peripheral inflammation is associated with both an increase in the number of projection neurons receiving detectable DYN input and in the frequency of this input onto a given neuron, with the largest increase seen in the superficial dorsal horn. Since almost all superficial dorsal horn neurons contributing to the spinoparabrachial tract respond either exclusively or maximally to noxious stimulation, our data supports dynorphin's involvement in nociception.
First passage times and option pricing under a mixed-exponential jump diffusion model (abstract only)

This paper aims at extending the analytical tractability of the Black- Scholes model to alternative models with arbitrary jump size distributions. More precisely, we propose a jump diffusion model for asset prices whose jump sizes have a mixed-exponential distribution, which is a weighted average of exponential distributions but with possibly negative weights. The new model extends existing models, such as hyper-exponential and double-exponential jump diffusion models, as the mixed-exponential distribution can approximate any distribution as closely as possible, including the normal distribution and various heavy-tailed distributions. The mixedexponential jump diffusion model can lead to analytical solutions for Laplace transforms of prices and sensitivity parameters for pathdependent options such as lookback and barrier options. The Laplace transforms can be inverted via the Euler inversion algorithm. Numerical experiments indicate that the formulae are easy to implement and accurate. The analytical solutions are made possible mainly because we solve a high-order integro-differential equation related to first passage times explicitly. A calibratrion example for SPY options shows that the model can provide a reasonable fit even for options with very short maturiy, such as one day. This is a joint work with Ning Cai at Hong Kong Univ. of Science and Technology.
Mechanisms of improvement of water and sodium excretion by immersion in decompensated cirrhotic patients

Abstract Mechanisms of improvement of water and sodium excretion by immersion in decompensated cirrhotic patients. Eight patients with alcoholic liver disease, ascites, and edema were found to have impaired water (36 ± 6% in 5 hr) and sodium (3.9 ± 1.1 mEq/5 hr) excretion during a 20 ml/kg water load. These patients were submitted to a 5-hr head-out water immersion (HWI) with hemodynamic monitoring (Swan-Ganz). HWI increased cardiac index (3.3 to 4.2 liters/min/m 2 ), right atrial pressure (RAP, 3.9 to 9.0 mm Hg), and wedge capillary pulmonary pressure (9.8 to 15.4 mm Hg) (all P Na ) and the increase in RAP (r = 0.77, P Na also correlated inversely with NE levels (r = 0.56, P Na correlate most closely with the changes in RAP. Mecanismes de l'amelioration de l'excretion de l'eau et du sodium par immersion chez des cirrothiques decompenses. Huit malades atteints d'une hepatopathie alcoolique, avec ascite et oedemes avaient une alteration de l'excretion de l'eau (36 ± 6% en 5 heures) et du sodium (3,9 ± 1,1 mEq/5 heures) pendant une charge hydrique de 20 ml/kg. Ces malades ont ete soumis a une immersion dans l'eau tete sortie pendant 5 heures (HWI) avec une surveillance hemodynamique (Swan-Ganz). HWI a augmente l'index cardiaque (3,3 a 4,2 litres/mn/m 2 ), la pression auriculaire droite (RAP, 3,9 a 9,0 mm Hg), et la pression parietale capillaire pulmonaire (9,8 ± 15,4 mm Hg) (pour tous P Na ) et l'augmentation de RAP (r = 0,77, P Na etait egalement inversement correlee avec les niveaux de NE (r = 0,56, P Na est tres correlee avec les modifications de RAP.
Effects of Assets and Deficits on the Social Control of At-Risk Behavior among Youth A Structural Equations Approach

The authors tested control theory using protective effects of personal and social assets and risk effects of personal deficits on deviant behaviors of drug use, delinquency, truancy, and weapons po...
An efficient heuristic for state encoding minimizing the BDD representations of the transistion relations of finite state machines

An efficient representation of the (smoothed) transition relation of a synchronous finite state machine (FSM) speeds up the traversal based symbolic verification and the functional simulation of the FSM. When using reduced ordered binary decision diagrams (BDDs), dynamic reordering algorithms are applied in order to keep the sizes of the BDDs tractable. However when FSMs are represented by BDDs, the state encoding can be used as an additional optimization criterion. In this paper, we present a new algorithm for state encoding of FSMs that minimizes the BDD representations of the corresponding (smoothed) transition relations. Experimental results show the approach to be very efficient.