cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Image fusion for visualization of hepatic vasculature and tumors

We have developed segmentation and simultaneous display techniques to facilitate the visualization of the three-dimensional spatial relationships between organ structures and organ vasculature. We concentrate on the visualization of the liver based on spiral computed tomography images. Surface-based 3-D rendering and maximal intensity projection algorithms are used for data visualization. To extract the liver in the serial of images accurately and efficiently, we have developed a user-friendly interactive program with a deformable-model segmentation. Surface rendering techniques are used to visualize the extracted structures, adjacent contours are aligned and fitted with a Bezier surface to yield a smooth surface. Visualization of the vascular structures, portal and hepatic veins, is achieved by applying a MIP technique to the extracted liver volume. To integrate the extracted structures they are surface-rendered and their MIP images are aligned and a color table is designed for simultaneous display of the combined liver/tumor and vasculature images. By combining the 3-D surface rendering and MIP techniques, portal veins, hepatic veins, and hepatic tumor can be inspected simultaneously and their spatial relationships can be more easily perceived. The proposed technique will be useful for visualization of both hepatic neoplasm and vasculature in surgical planning for tumor resection or living-donor liver transplantation.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An Examination of the Relationship Between Parent Language and Child Anxiety

Research suggests that parents of anxious children behave differently when interacting with their children than do parents of nonanxious children. However, the relationship between parent language use in this context and child anxiety remains unclear. The present study investigates how parent language use relates to child anxiety during parent–child interactions using a community sample recruited to participate in a study of familial anxiety. Results indicate that parent language use varies in relation to child anxiety. Further, this idiosyncratic pattern of parent linguistic activity uniquely predicts child anxiety diagnostic status. Implications of this study and future directions for research are discussed.
Paternal race is a risk factor for preterm birth

Objective The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that paternal race influences the risk for preterm birth. Study Design We conducted a population-based cohort study to examine the association of paternal race with preterm birth using the Missouri Department of Health's birth registry from 1989-1997. Birth outcomes were analyzed in 4 categories: white mother/white father, white mother/black father, black mother/white father, and black mother/ black father. Results We evaluated 527,845 birth records. The risk of preterm birth at Conclusion Paternal black race is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth in white mothers, which suggests a paternal contribution to fetal genotype that ultimately influences the risk for preterm delivery.
Dynamic frequency-switching clock system on a quad-core Itanium® processor

The 700mm2 65nm Itanium® processor codenamed Tukwila [1] integrates four cores and a system interface with six QuickPath® interconnect channels and four memory interconnect channels. The large die, shown in Fig. 3.4.6, and high level of integration coupled with process variability present clock-system design challenges in the areas of power consumption and variability compensation that we discuss in this paper. Figure 3.4.1 shows the clock system, which is a cascaded-PLL architecture with an initial filter PLL that receives a 133MHz reference clock. This maiden PLL filters reference-clock jitter and outputs a 133MHz clock to 13 downstream PLLs. Each downstream PLL has a duty-cycle corrector that monitors and corrects the end-of-route duty cycle.
Acoustic-Reflex Dynamics for Pulsed Signals

Contralateral acoustic-reflex measurements were taken for 10 normal-hearing subjects using a pulsed broadband noise as the reflex-activating signal. Acoustic impedance was measured at selected time...
Neighborhood Change and Distant Metastasis at Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

Purpose To test whether upward socioeconomic neighborhood change has an effect on probability of distant metastasis at diagnosis of breast cancer among women who live there. Methods Census tract data (N = 1,137) from Cook County. IL, from 1990 and 2000 and cancer registry data for female breast cancer cases for these census tracts from 1994–2000 (N = 21,516) were used. A multilevel model of 1990 baseline socioeconomic status (SES) of neighborhoods and degree of neighborhood change 1990–2000 (compositional characteristics) and patient's age and race/Hispanic status (individual characteristics) was constructed to predict distant metastasis (vs. local and regional stage) at diagnosis. Results While residence in a census tract with lower baseline SES in 1990 (higher concentrated disadvantage and immigration and lower concentrated affluence) and being African American were associated with increased odds of distant metastasis at diagnosis, residence in an improving census tract was also associated with increased odds of distant metastasis at diagnosis. Conclusions Paradoxically, both measures of initial neighborhood disadvantage and upward neighborhood socioeconomic change were independently associated with greater odds of distant metastasis at diagnosis of breast cancer. Neighborhood social and economic change can affect health.
Effects of garlic mustard invasion on arthropod diets as revealed through stable-isotope analyses.

Abstract Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard) is an invasive plant species which displaces native communities by lowering levels of mycorrhizal fungi essential to native plant nutrient acquisition. Consequently, the diets of arthropods using these native plants as a primary food source may be altered. To assess the magnitude of this disruption, stable-isotope analyses of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen were used to trophically differentiate the diets of arthropods in Garlic Mustard-invaded areas. In invaded areas, arthropods were depleted in δ13C and enriched in δ15N relative to arthropods in uninvaded areas, suggesting a change in trophic position among generalist predators. Slight trophic repositioning was observed in all 4 isotopes, indicating interactions of 3 primary predators throughout the study area. Most observable shifts are likely due to predators either altering prey source or traveling further to acquire nutrients.
Spatial memory-based behaviors for locating sources of odor plumes

Many animals must locate odorant point sources during key behaviors such as reproduction, foraging and habitat selection. Cues from such sources are typically distributed as air- or water-borne chemical plumes, characterized by high intermittency due to environmental turbulence and episodically rapid changes in position and orientation during wind or current shifts. Well-known examples of such behaviors include male moths, which have physiological and behavioral specializations for locating the sources of pheromone plumes emitted by females. Male moths and many other plume-following organisms exhibit “counter-turning” behavior, in which they execute a pre-planned sequence of cross-stream movements spanning all or part of an odorant plume, combined with upstream movements towards the source. Despite its ubiquity and ecological importance, theoretical investigation of counter-turning has so far been limited to a small subset of plausible behavioral algorithms based largely on classical biased random walk gradient-climbing or oscillator models. We derive a model of plume-tracking behavior that assumes a simple spatially-explicit memory of previous encounters with odorant, an explicit statistical model of uncertainty about the plume’s position and extent, and the ability to improve estimates of plume characteristics over sequential encounters using Bayesian updating. The model implements spatial memory and effective cognitive strategies with minimal neural processing. We show that laboratory flight tracks of Manduca sexta moths are consistent with predictions of our spatial memory-based model. We assess plume-following performance of the spatial memory-based algorithm in terms of success and efficiency metrics, and in the context of “contests” in which the winner is the first among multiple simulated moths to locate the source. Even rudimentary spatial memory can greatly enhance plume-following. In particular, spatial memory can maintain source-seeking success even when plumes are so intermittent that no pheromone is detected in most cross-wind transits. Performance metrics reflect trade-offs between “risk-averse” strategies (wide cross-wind movements, slow upwind advances) that reliably but slowly locate odor sources, and “risk-tolerant” strategies (narrow cross-wind movements, fast upwind advances) that often fail to locate a source but are fast when successful. Success in contests of risk-averse vs. risk-tolerant behaviors varies strongly with the number of competitors, suggesting empirically testable predictions for diverse plume-following taxa. More generally, spatial memory-based models provide tractable, explicit theoretical linkages between sensory biomechanics, neurophysiology and behavior, and ecological and evolutionary dynamics operating at much larger spatio-temporal scales.
Intermediate hydrocarbon species for the CO2-CH4 reaction on supported Ni catalysts

By using pulse surface reaction rate analysis (PSRA), the detailed structure of the intermediate hydrocarbon species was revealed by measuring the dynamic behavior of both CO and H2 produced from the CO2-CH4 reaction on supported Ni catalysts. It was found that the number of hydrogen atoms involved in the intermediate was different from one catalyst support to another: 2.7 for MgO, 2.5 for ZnO, 2.4 for Al2O3,1.9 for TiO2, and 1.0 for SiO2.
Quadrupole moments and band-mixing in tungsten nuclei

The dynamic deformation model has been used to examine collective features of tungsten isotopes. The magnitudes and signs of calculated {ital Q} values as well as the ratios {ital Q}(2{sub {gamma}}{sup +})/{ital Q}(2{sub {ital g}}{sup +}) agree well with recent experimental results. The amount of {ital K}=0 component in the 2{sub {gamma}}{sup +} state is found to be about 10%, but the {ital K}=2 component in 2{sub {beta}}{sup +} state ranges from 9 to 47 % for the tungsten isotopes {ital A}=180--186. A significant {ital K}=0, {ital K}=2, and {ital K}=4 mixing occurs for {ital I}{ge}4 states. Results are supported by published data and also by the {ital X}({ital E}0/{ital E}2) value for the 792 keV transition between 2{sub {gamma}}{sup +} and 2{sub {ital g}}{sup +} states in {sup 18}W.
The Early Development of Precocity

The time is ripe for extending our interest in gifted children downward to infancy and preschool. Existing research is reviewed, and a plea made for extending work in the following areas: (1) identification and description, (2) prediction from early behavior to (similar or dissimilar) later attainments, (3) studies of the origins of commitment and high achievement motivation, (4) naturalistic and experimental studies of the nurturance of exceptional abilities. Gifted babies and toddlers are compelling both in their own right and for what they can tell us about the emergence of individual differences.
An antiserum to the sea urchin 20 S egg dynein reacts with embryonic ciliary dynein but it does not react with the mitotic apparatus.

Abstract Unfertilized sea urchin eggs contain one or more dynein-like enzymes which may be able to serve as microtubule translocators during embryonic development. There are at least two interesting possibilities for the function of the egg dynein: the enzyme may be involved in cytoplasmic microtubule movement such as mitotic spindle anaphase motion; or the enzyme may be a stored precursor for the dynein that functions in embryonic cilia, which are expressed and highly motile at the blastula stage of development. In order to determine directly the distribution and possible function of one of the previously described egg dyneins, the latent-activity 20 S egg dynein ( Asai and Wilson, 1985 ), an antiserum was produced which was highly reactive with the important high Mr polypeptides of 20 S dynein. This antiserum reacted in “Western” immunoblots and in dot-blotting experiments with egg dynein and with embryonic ciliary dynein, but it did not react with any component of sperm flagella. Indirect double immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that the anti-20 S antiserum could brightly stain embryonic cilia but it did not stain the sperm flagella from the same sea urchin species. Under the same conditions that the antiserum stained cilia, anti-20 S did not stain the mitotic apparatus but it did appear to stain the cortical region of the dividing egg. In a time-course experiment, the antigen reactive with the anti-20 S antiserum gradually accumulated in the developing early sea urchin embryo. The most significant increase in the apparent concentration of the 20 S dynein occurred just prior to embryonic ciliation and during a period when the mitotic activity of the embryo was in decline. These results lead to two conclusions. First, ciliary dynein and sperm flagellar dynein, although derived from very similar organelles and from the same species of sea urchin, are immunologically distinct. Second, the 20 S egg dynein may be a stored precursor of embryonic ciliary dynein and does not appear to be a component of the mitotic apparatus.
Ground State of an Interacting Bose Gas

The ground-state energy of an interacting many-boson system obtained by Bogoliubov and Zubarev using the collective-coordinate method is shown to be equivalent through second order to the variation-perturbation energy evaluated in the uniform limit by means of the method of correlated basis functions. It is also shown that the wave function derived with a slight modification of the Bogoliubov-Zubarev approach is equivalent to that determined formally from the Rayleigh-Schr\"odinger perturbation theory in the uniform limit.
Economic analysis of the N−k power grid contingency selection and evaluation by graph algorithms and interdiction methods

Contingency analysis is important for providing information about the vulnerability of power grids. Many methods have been purposed to use topological structures of power grids for analyzing contingency states. Considering failures of buses and lines, we present and compare several graph methods for selecting contingencies in this paper. A new method, called critical node detection, is introduced for selecting contingencies consisting of failures on buses. Besides these methods, we include an interdiction model which provides the worst case contingency selection. Our measurement for contingency evaluation is to maximize the social benefit, or to minimize the generating and load shedding cost. Comparing with other measurements for contingency selection, our model is based on economic analysis and is reasonable for evaluating the selected contingency state. Additionally, a contingency consisting of both buses and lines is also studied.
Transcallosally evoked potentials and the EEG in the decerebrate dog: Actions of tryptaminergic, dopaminergic and adrenergic agonists

Abstract The midpontine decerebrate dog, immobilized with gallamine, was used to determine the changes in the transcallosally evoked potential (TEP) produced by intravenous infusions of various drugs. A total of 50 TEPs, recorded from the g. ectolateralis, was computer analyzed before, during and after administration of the drugs. Changes in the TEP were also correlated with changes in the EEG recorded from the g. ectolateralis. The EEG was analyzed by inspection and amplitude integration (electrogenesis). LSD (30 μg/kg) significantly depressed the TEP, and the effect persisted for at least 80 min. DMT (1 mg/kg) caused a significant and reversible increase in the amplitude of the TEP. LSD and DMT reduced the alpha activity of the EEG and enhanced the amplitude of the low-frequency waves. DMT produced a significant and LSD a marginal increase in electrogenesis. Tryptamine (10 and 20 mg/kg), mescaline (6 mg/kg), methoxamine (0.88 mg/kg) and apomorphine (5 mg/kg) had no significant effect on the TEP or EEG. These results suggest that depression of the TEP is not related to spinal reflex facilitation in the dog or hallucinogenic activity in man.
Consensus + innovations distributed inference over networks: cooperation and sensing in networked systems

This article presents consensus + innovations inference algorithms that intertwine consensus (local averaging among agents) and innovations (sensing and assimilation of new observations). These algorithms are of importance in many scenarios that involve cooperation and interaction among a large number of agents with no centralized coordination. The agents only communicate locally over sparse topologies and sense new observations at the same rate as they communicate. This stands in sharp contrast with other distributed inference approaches, in which interagent communications are assumed to occur at a much faster rate than agents can sense (sample) the environment so that, in between measurements, agents may iterate enough times to reach a decision-consensus before a new measurement is made and assimilated. While optimal design of distributed inference algorithms in stochastic time-varying scenarios is a hard (often intractable) problem, this article emphasizes the design of asymptotically (in time) optimal distributed inference approaches, i.e., distributed algorithms that achieve the asymptotic performance of the corresponding optimal centralized inference approach (with instantaneous access to the entire network sensed information at all times). Consensus + innovations algorithms extend consensus in nontrivial ways to mixed-scale stochastic approximation algorithms, in which the time scales (or weighting) of the consensus potential (the potential for distributed agent collaboration) and of the innovation potential (the potential for local innovations) are suitably traded for optimal performance. This article shows why this is needed and what the implications are, giving the reader pointers to new methodologies that are useful in their own right and in many other contexts.
Central Auditory Processing Disorders: Is It a Meaningful Construct or a Twentiety Century Unicorn?

The processing of auditory information is a complex task that involves a variety of peceptual and conceptual processes. The process begins with the sensation of an auditory signal and successfully when the appropriate meaning is assigned to the signal. In this articles we will demonstrate how professional and theoretic perspectives significantly influence the manner in which CAP is viewed, assessed, and remediated.
Effects of Carbon Dioxide Exposure on Intensively Cultured Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss: Physiological Responses and Fillet Attributes

Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (261.6 × 24.7 g initial weight, mean × SEM) at 13.1 × 0.2 C were exposed for 94 d to one of three CO2 treatments: control (22.1 × 2.8 mg/L), medium (34.5 × 3.8 mg/L), or high (48.7 × 4.4 mg/L). Trout were checked daily for survival, and fish were sampled at 0, 28, 56, and 84 d for physiological responses, growth, and fillet quality assessments. Trout were also challenged to a 15-min crowding stress at 93 d to assess their ability to initiate a stress response during hypercapnia. Chronically exposed trout showed nearly 100% survival through 84 d exposure (1 of 1,500 fish died). Growth and physiological results showed that increasing elevated CO2, concentrations result in corresponding decreased growth rates and CO2specific physiological parameters: The medium and high CO2 treatments had significantly slower growth and subsequently smaller fish by 84 d. Exposed trout also showed significantly (P < 0.05) decreased plasma chloride for medium and high CO2 treatments compared to the control from 28 through 84 d. Decreased growth and smaller fish in the medium and high CO2 treatments resulted in correspondingly smaller fresh and smoked fillet weights. Chronic CO2 exposure did not result in notable changes in ultimate muscle pH. Exposure to 15-min crowding stress at 93 d resulted in significant changes in hematocrit, plasma cortisoI, glucose, and chloride for all treatment groups. CO2-specific changes were detected in hematocrit, plasma cortisoI, and plasma chloride responses following the 15-min crowding stress.
IPSIHAND BRAVO: An improved EEG-based brain-computer interface for hand motor control rehabilitation

Stroke and other nervous system injuries can damage or destroy hand motor control and greatly upset daily activities. Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) represent an emerging technology that can bypass damaged nerves to restore basic motor function and provide more effective rehabilitation. A wireless BCI system was implemented to realize these goals using electroencephalographic brain signals, machine learning techniques, and a custom designed orthosis. The IpsiHand Bravo BCI system is designed to reach a large demographic by using non-traditional brain signals and improving on past BCI system pitfalls.
Cuz1/Ynl155w, a Zinc-dependent Ubiquitin-binding Protein, Protects Cells from Metalloid-induced Proteotoxicity

Protein misfolding is a universal threat to cells. The ubiquitin-proteasome system mediates a cellular stress response capable of eliminating misfolded proteins. Here we identify Cuz1/Ynl155w as a component of the ubiquitin system, capable of interacting with both the proteasome and Cdc48. Cuz1/Ynl155w is regulated by the transcription factor Rpn4, and is required for cells to survive exposure to the trivalent metalloids arsenic and antimony. A related protein, Yor052c, shows similar phenotypes, suggesting a multicomponent stress response pathway. Cuz1/Ynl155w functions as a zinc-dependent ubiquitin-binding protein. Thus, Cuz1/Ynl155w is proposed to protect cells from metalloid-induced proteotoxicity by delivering ubiquitinated substrates to Cdc48 and the proteasome for destruction.
Study of Erbium Thin Film Oxidation in the Electron Microscope

This paper describes the formation of suspect ErO single crystals during erbium evaporation onto NaCl in ultrahigh vacuum (10−8 Torr); and a unique twinning phenomenon in these f.c.c. NaCl-type crystals (a = 5.12 A) is observed by electron microscopy. The oxidation of thin erbium foils (650 A thickness) directly within the electron microscope by double condenser beam heating of selected areas and the sequential recrystallization and growth of the completely oxidized erbium (Er2O3) are investigated. It is shown that the Er2O3 films have a b.c.c. structural characteristic with the unit cell defined by a vacancy defect CaF2 structure composition possessing the T5 (I213) space group for a = 10.55 A. Er oxidation in the electron microscope at a background pressure of roughly 10−4 Torr appeared to be logarithmic, and presumably lattice diffusion controlled. Es wird die Bildung von moglicherweise einkristallinen ErO-Kristallen wahrend einer Erbiumaufdampfung auf NaCl im Ultrahochvakuum (10−8 Torr) beschrieben. Eine eindeutige Zwillingsbildung in diesen kfz-Kristallen vom NaCl-Typ (a = 5,12 A) wird im Elektronenmikroskop beobachtet. Die Oxidation dunner Erbiumschichten (650 A Dicke) durch Doppelkondensorstrahl-Aufheizung unmittelbar im Inneren des Elektronenmikroskops und die darauf folgende Rekristallisation und das Wachstum des vollstandig oxidierten Erbiums (Er2O3) werden untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, das die Er2O3-Schichten eine kfz-Strukturcharakteristik mit der Einheitszelle, die durch die Leerstellendefekt-CaF2-Struktur definiert ist, und die T5 (I213) Raumgruppe mit a = 10,55 A besitzen. Er-Oxidation im Elektronenmikroskop bei einem Untergrunddruck von ungefahr 10−4 Torr scheint logarithmisch zu verlaufen und hauptsachlich durch Gitterdiffusion gesteuert zu werden.
Are dermoid and epidermoid tumors preventable complications of myelomeningocele repair

Dermoids and epidermoids found at reoperation for tethered cord following myelomeningocele repair have been attributed to inadequate excision of cutaneous elements and 'implantation' in the repair site. This study reviews the pathological findings in excised placodes from fresh myelomeningoceles and specimens from tethered cord release and concludes that hamartomatous lesions are a common feature of the myelodysplastic sequence.
THE NECESSITY AND VALUE OF TRANSNATIONAL COMPARATIVE STUDY: SOME PREACHING FROM A RECENT CONVERT*

Over the past decade I have become convinced that transnational comparisons are a necessary part of virtually all serious work in criminal justice ad the study of criminal behavior.... KEYWORDS: Juvenile justice Language: en
An algorithm to aid varve counting and measurement from thin-sections

An algorithm has been implemented to count and measure laminations from digital images of petrographic thin-sections. Boundaries and limits of laminations are first marked manually using imaging software. These marks are then exported to a workable format output file. Using the output file, the algorithm extracts the relevant information for lamination counts and thickness measurements along one or more parallel vertical lines. Compared to manual counts, the use of the algorithm improves the accuracy of measurements and speeds up the process. The method requires tools commonly available in most laboratories, i.e., a digital camera or a flat bed scanner with transparency capability and a desktop computer with 64 MB of RAM. From the algorithm, two utilities are implemented in Visual Basic for Applications and Fortran to be used on both Apple Macintosh and a  PC-compatible, with Adobe Photoshop .
Proton damage in linear and digital optocouplers

Fundamental differences in design influence the way that linear and digital optocouplers are degraded by radiation. Linear optocouplers are more affected by current drive conditions because the detector operates in a high-injection region when the LED produces normal light output, and do not have the extra operating margin that is inherent in digital optocouplers. Although LED degradation is often the dominant degradation mechanism in space environments, degradation of optocouplers with improved LEDs is limited by photoresponse degradation. Phototransistor gain has a relatively minor effect except at very high radiation levels.
The effects of social isolation on two shock-induced aggressive responses in rats

This experiment investigated the effects of social isolation during development and during adulthood on the topography of the shock-induced aggressive behavior of rats. Rats isolated during development from weaning to adulthood displayed more shock-induced biting than rats housed in groups during that period. Isolation during development did not affect the frequency of the upright boxing behavior, but isolation during adulthood reduced the frequency of the boxing response regardless of rearing conditions during development.
Coordination of ubiquinol oxidase and cytochrome cbb(3) oxidase expression by multiple regulators in Rhodobacter capsulatus.

Rhodobacter capsulatus utilizes two terminal oxidases for aerobic respiration, cytochrome cbb3 and ubiquinol oxidase. To determine the transcription factors involved in terminal oxidase expression, ccoN-lacZ and cydA-lacZ protein fusions were assayed in a variety of regulatory mutants. The results of this and previous studies indicate that cytochrome cbb3 expression is controlled by regB-regA, fnrL, and hvrA and that ubiquinol oxidase expression is controlled by regB-regA, fnrL, hvrA, crtJ, and aerR.
When do multiple dimensions of procedural justice predict agreement to publicly endorse your employer in recruitment advertisements

This field study linked multiple dimensions of procedural justice to working nurses' (N = I98) agreement to permit their names to appear in recruiting advertisements for their employer. Using a longitudinal design, surveys were completed at two different times. After controlling for differences in gender, tenure, job involvement, and distributive justice; nurses who perceived higher procedural justice of work schedules and work assignments were more likely to permit their names to appear in recruitment advertisements. Unlike prior research that found high procedural justice offset the negative impact of low distributive justice, in this study high procedural justice interacted with high distributive justice to produce a positive organizational citizenship behaviour.
What is the Frege‐Geach Problem?

In the 1960s, Peter Geach and John Searle independently posed an important objection to the wide class of ‘noncognitivist’ metaethical views that had at that time been dominant and widely defended for a quarter of a century. The problems raised by that objection have come to be known in the literature as the Frege-Geach Problem, because of Geach’s attribution of the objection to Frege’s distinction between content and assertoric force, and the problem has since occupied a great deal of the attention both of defenders of broadly noncognitivist views, and of their critics. In this article I explain Geach and Searle’s historical objections, and put the subsequent discussion into dialectical context, paying some attention to the developments along the way and how they have enhanced our overall understanding of the problem. The article covers a lot of territory, so we will only be able to see the highlights, along the way. For further reading, see the Works Cited.
A study of the reported condensation of chloral with p-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid; an improved synthesis of p-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid.

The synthesis of p-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid has been studied and a preparative method for this compound is described in detail. Three separate methods for the condensation of chloral with p-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid are described and evaluated.
Integration of voice communication on a synchronous optical hypergraph

The optical hypergraph is a novel network architecture in which each edge of the hypergraph is a multiple-access broadcast medium constructed as a passive optical star coupler. Access to each net (edge) is time-slotted, and the system maintains global slot synchronization. The integration of voice into the system is done by reserving time slots in a periodic manner. A packet which contains several voice parcels from different phone conversations is transferred in these slots. These parcels may have different destinations on the optical net. As a result of the global end-to-end synchronization, the delay from the source to the destination is a known constant, with accuracy of plus or minus half a time slot. In the analysis, it is shown that the system improves its operation as the communication bandwidth increases. In other words, the algorithms and protocols improve in performance as the communication bandwidth increases. Two criteria are used to exhibit this phenomenon: (i) the utilization efficiency and (ii) the end-to-end delay. >
Computing on Encrypted Data

Encryption secures our stored data but seems to make it inert. Can we process encrypted data without having to decrypt it first? Answers to this fundamental question give rise to a wide variety of applications. Here, we explore this question in a number of settings, focusing on how interaction and secure hardware can help us compute on encrypted data, and what can be done if we have neither interaction nor secure hardware at our disposal.
A case for explicit join point models for aspect-oriented intermediate languages

Aspect-oriented languages mostly employ implicit language-defined join point models, where well-defined points in the program are called join points and declarative predicates are used to quantify them. The primary motivation for using an implicit join point model is obliviousness and ease of quantification. A design choice for aspect-oriented intermediate languages is to mirror the source language model. In this position paper, I argue that an explicit join point model is better suited at the intermediate language level and sketch a preliminary solution.
High levels of emotional distress, trauma exposure, and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors among military personnel and veterans with a history of same sex behavior.

Rates of suicide deaths and attempts among military personnel and veterans have risen over the past decade. Research on the relationship of sexual minority status (whether by attraction, identity, or behavior) with self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB) among military personnel and veterans is sparse, despite considerable evidence suggesting sexual minority individuals are at increased risk in the general population. The current study examined the relationship of sexual minority status (i.e., those reporting a history of same-sex partners) with emotional distress, trauma exposure, and SITB in a sample of 422 military personnel and veterans enrolled in college classes. Results indicated that military personnel who had a history of same-sex partners reported more severe depression, posttraumatic stress, and trauma exposure than military personnel who reported only other-sex partners. Female military personnel with a history of same-sex partners reported the highest rates of physical (48.3%) and sexual (41.4%) assault, and nonsuicidal self-injury (31%) and suicide attempts (20.7%). Military personnel with a history of same-sex partners reported significantly increased rates of suicide ideation (OR 2.08, p .05), nonsuicidal self-injury (OR 2.29, p .05), and suicide attempts (OR 2.89, p .05). Results suggest sexual minority military personnel and veterans, especially women, report greater emotional distress and trauma exposure. They are also at increased risk for SITB, as a function of these high levels of psychological distress and trauma.
High performance asynchronous ASIC back-end design flow using single-track full-buffer standard cells

This work presents a back-end design flow for high performance asynchronous ASICs using single-track full-buffer (STFB) standard cells and industry standard CAD tools to perform schematic capture, simulation, layout, placement and routing. This flow is demonstrated and evaluated on a 64-bit asynchronous prefix adder and its test circuitry. The STFB standard cells provide low latency and fast cycle-times at the expense of some timing assumptions. This paper demonstrates that, by controlling top-block sizes and/or wire length within the place & route flow, ultra-high-performance circuits can be automatically designed. In particular, in the TSMC 0.25/spl mu/m process our post-layout STFB standard-cell 64-bit asynchronous prefix adder requires 0.96 mm/sup 2/, offers a latency of 2.1 ns, has a throughput of 1.4 GHz, and operates at five process corners as well as a wide-range of temperatures and voltages.
The Effects of Heparin Versus Normal Saline for Maintenance of Peripheral Intravenous Locks in Pregnant Women

Objective To compare the efficacy of two available preparations (heparin, 10 U/mL, 1 mL, vs. normal saline, 1 mL) used for maintaining patency in peripheral intravenous (IV) locks during pregnancy. Design Prospective, randomized, and double-blind. Eligible patients who were to receive a peripheral intermittent IV lock were randomly assigned to receive either heparin flushes or normal saline flushes for IV lock maintenance. IV locks were flushed after each medication administration, or at least every 24 hours, with the assigned blinded flush solution. Intermittent IV lock sites were also evaluated every 12 hours for the development of phlebitis. Setting A large academic medical center in the Midwest that has both community-based and regional-referral obstetric practices with more than 2,000 deliveries per year. Participants A convenience sample included 73 hospitalized pregnant women who were between 24 and 42 weeks gestation. Exclusions from the study were women with significant abnormalities in the fetal heart tracing on admission, cervical dilation > 4 cm, presence of hypersensitivity to heparin, presence of clotting abnormalities, and anticoagulation therapy (including low-dose aspirin). Results Data indicate there were no statistically significant differences in IV lock patency nor in phlebitis between heparin or normal saline flushes. Conclusions This study provides support that both normal saline and heparin in the doses studied may be equally effective in the maintenance of peripheral IV locks. Due to small sample size, additional studies are needed to determine optimal therapy over time.
Age, Tumor Characteristics, and Treatment Regimen as Event Predictors in Ewing: A Children’s Oncology Group Report

Purpose. To associate baseline patient characteristics and relapse across consecutive COG studies. Methods. We analyzed risk factors for LESFT patients in three randomized COG trials. We evaluated age at enrollment, primary site, gender, tumor size, and treatment (as randomized). We estimated event-free survival (EFS, Kaplan-Meier) and compared risk across groups (log-rank test). Characteristics were assessed by proportional hazards regression with the characteristic of interest as the only component. Confidence intervals (CI) for RR were derived. Factors related to outcome at level 0.05 were included in a multivariate regression model. Results. Between 12/1988 and 8/2005, 1444 patients were enrolled and data current to 2001, 2004, or 2008 were used. Patients were with a median age of 12 years (0-45), 55% male and 88% Caucasian. The 5-year EFS was 68.3% ± 1.3%. In univariate analysis age, treatment, and tumor location were identified for inclusion in the multivariate model, and all remained significant (p 18 years, pelvic tumor, size > 8 cms, and chemotherapy without ifosfamide/etoposide significantly predict worse outcome. AEWS0031 is NCT00006734, INT0091 and INT0054 designed before 1993 (unregistered).
Does generalized anxiety disorder predict coronary heart disease risk factors independently of major depressive disorder

Background: Anxiety symptoms are associated with elevated coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, but it is not known whether such associations extend to anxiety disorders or if they are independent of depression. We sought to determine if generalized anxiety disorder is associated with elevated CHD risk, and whether this association is independent of or interacts with major depressive disorder. Methods: Generalized anxiety and major depressive disorders were assessed in a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of U.S. adults aged 25–74 (N=3032). Coronary heart disease risk was determined by self-reported smoking status, body mass index, and recent medication use for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. Results: Generalized anxiety disorder independently predicted increased CHD risk (F(1,3018)=5.14; b=0.39; 95% confidence interval (0.05–0.72)) and tended to denote the greatest risk in the absence of major depressive disorder. Limitations: The cross-sectional design cannot determine the causal direction of the association. Conclusions: Generalized anxiety disorder appears to be associated with elevated CHD risk in the general population. It may denote excess CHD risk relative to major depressive disorder, and clinicians should consider CHD risk when treating generalized anxiety disorder. D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Serotype 19A Is the Most Common Serotype Causing Invasive Pneumococcal Infections in Children

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to monitor the clinical and microbiologic features of invasive infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae among children before and after the introduction of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). DESIGN: We conducted a 15-year prospective surveillance study of all invasive pneumococcal infections in children. The sample included infants and children at 8 children9s hospitals in the United States with culture-proven invasive S pneumoniae infections. RESULTS: Since the implementation of routine PCV7 immunization in 2000, invasive infections have decreased yearly from 2001 through 2004, to a nadir of 151 infections; the rate then increased from 2005 through 2008. Compared with the pre-PCV7 era, a greater proportion of children with invasive pneumococcal infection had an underlying condition in the post-PCV7 period. Compared with the total number of annual admissions, the number of 19A isolates increased significantly from 2001 to 2008 ( P CONCLUSIONS: Since 2005, the number of invasive pneumococcal infections in children has increased at 8 children9s hospitals, primarily as a result of serotype 19A isolates, one third of which were resistant to multiple antibiotics in 2007 and 2008. Continued surveillance is necessary to detect emerging serotypes after the planned introduction of 13-valent or other pneumococcal vaccines.
Enterprise stenting for intracranial aneurysm treatment induces dynamic and reversible age-dependent stenosis in cerebral arteries

Background Although intracranial stenting has been associated with in-stent stenosis, the vascular response of cerebral vessels to the deployment of the Enterprise vascular reconstruction device is poorly defined. Objective To evaluate the change in parent vessel caliber that ensues after Enterprise stent placement. Methods Seventy-seven patients with 88 aneurysms were treated using Enterprise stent-assisted coil embolization and underwent high-resolution three-dimensional rotational angiography followed by three-dimensional edge-detection filtering to remove windowing-dependence measurement artifact. Orthogonal diameters and cross-sectional areas (CSAs) were measured proximal and distal on either side of the leading stent edge (points A, B), trailing stent edge (points D, E), and at mid-stent (point C). Results Enterprise stent deployment caused an instant increase in the parent artery CSA by 8.98% at D, which was followed 4–6 months later by significant in-stent stenosis (15.78% at A, 27.24% at B, 10.68% at C, 32.12% at D, and 28.28% at E) in the stented artery. This time-dependent phenomenon showed resolution which was complete by 12–24 months after treatment. This target vessel stenosis showed significant age dependence with greater response in the young. No flow-limiting stenosis requiring treatment was observed in this series. Conclusions Use of the Enterprise stent is associated with a significant dynamic and spontaneously resolvable age-dependent in-stent stenosis. Further study is warranted on the clinical impact, if any, of this occurrence.
Different forms of Go alpha mRNA arise by alternative splicing of transcripts from a single gene on human chromosome 16.

Abstract Go alpha, (gene symbol GNA01), a member of the signal-transducing guanine nucleotide-binding (G) protein family, has been implicated in ion channel regulation. Some tissues contain multiple Go alpha mRNAs of different sizes that differ in the 3' untranslated regions (UTRs). Using sequence-specific 48-base oligonucleotides, two complementary to the different 3' UTRs and one complementary to the coding region, we investigated the origin of the multiple Go alpha transcripts, the organization of the Go alpha gene, the interspecies conservation of 3' UTRs, and the chromosomal localization of Go alpha. Oligonucleotides labeled to high specific activity by using terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase each hybridized with a single band of restriction enzyme-digested mouse and human DNAs. In three of four digests of human DNA, the two probes specific for the different 3' UTRs hybridized with the same restriction fragment. Thus, these nucleotide sequences are in close proximity in the human genome. The order of the UTRs in the bovine, human, and mouse genomes was confirmed directly by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing. Hybridization of bovine oligonucleotide sequence with mouse and human genomic DNA indicated a high degree of interspecies sequence conservation: conservation was confirmed by PCR amplification and sequencing. Bands detected by both UTR probes, as well as the predominant bands detected by a bovine Go alpha cDNA, segregated with human chromosome 16 on Southern blot analysis of human-mouse somatic cell hybrids. We conclude that Go alpha mRNAs with different 3' UTRs arise by alternative splicing of transcripts from a single gene. The UTRs, which exhibit a high degree of interspecies conservation, may play a role in regulation of Go alpha expression during differentiation or in specific tissues. The use of oligonucleotide probes of the type described here represents a new strategy, potentially widely applicable for mapping and elucidating structural features of genes.
The Federal Reserve Banks New Monetary Policy Tool

The Federal Reserve Bank (FED) plays a vital role in the US economy. The roles and functions of the Fed are discussed here. This paper also offers an explanation of the traditional tools the Fed uses to conduct monetary policy. Open market operations are explained. The important role of the discount rate is discussed. The legally required reserve ratios are also explored. This author believes that the Fed has recently created a new tool. This tool is the payment of interest on demand deposit accounts at the Fed. This new tool is explained and its ramifications explored. The functions of monetary policy are also expanded upon in this paper.
The Impact of Individual Differences on Social Communication Pattern in Online Learning

This chapter describes the college students’ online social communication patterns and behavior with a focus on the impact of individual differences on learners’ online communication. The study consisted of 27 college students who engaged in an online discussion over a period of fourteen weeks as part of requirements in an undergraduate educational technology course. The findings indicated that cognitive styles such as field dependence and field independence played a critical role in forming learners’ online social communication. Based on social compensation theory and Witkin et al.’s theory of individual differences, the authors claimed that effective individual communication in an online community can be fostered through creating learning support, taking into considerations factors like cognitive styles, complementary personality, interest and motivation in the process of design. Suggestions for future online learning are made with an emphasis on creating an effective online community for learning.
Psychoanalytic views of alcoholism. A review

As a framework in considering alcoholism, basic concepts used in explaining the psychodynamics of addictions are outlined. Growth and dependency, character formation, management of conflicts, psych...
Nano-sized Superlattice Clusters Created by Oxygen Ordering in Mechanically Alloyed Fe Alloys

Creating and maintaining precipitates coherent with the host matrix, under service conditions is one of the most effective approaches for successful development of alloys for high temperature applications; prominent examples include Ni- and Co-based superalloys and Al alloys. While ferritic alloys are among the most important structural engineering alloys in our society, no reliable coherent precipitates stable at high temperatures have been found for these alloys. Here we report discovery of a new, nano-sized superlattice (NSS) phase in ball-milled Fe alloys, which maintains coherency with the BCC matrix up to at least 913 °C. Different from other precipitates in ferritic alloys, this NSS phase is created by oxygen-ordering in the BCC Fe matrix. It is proposed that this phase has a chemistry of Fe3O and a D03 crystal structure and becomes more stable with the addition of Zr. These nano-sized coherent precipitates effectively double the strength of the BCC matrix above that provided by grain size reduction alone. This discovery provides a new opportunity for developing high-strength ferritic alloys for high temperature applications.