cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ventricular tachyarrhythmias following surgery for myocardial revascularization. A follow-up study.

Of 1,599 patients who underwent surgery for direct myocardial revascularization In 1973 at Cleveland Clinic Hospital, 19 patients (1.2 percent) developed primary ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia during the immediate postoperative period. Occurrence of postoperative ventricular tachyarrhythmias could not be predicted by assessment of preoperative symptoms or by evaluation of the extent of coronary artery disease and left ventricular function. There was no increase in early or late mortality or morbidity (including postoperative myocardial infarction) among patients who developed postoperative primary ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
Early growth studies and properties of BP

Abstract Boron monophosphide was grown by the chemical vapor deposition reaction of phosphine and diborane. Studies of the early growth show a three dimensional nucleation and coalescing of islands. The index of refraction of the film was determined as a function of film thickness. For thick films, a value of 2.3 was measured for the index of refraction.
Economic growth and military spending in South Africa

This study applies a statistical model to examine the overtime relationship between military expenditure and economic growth in South Africa. The model is based on a neoclassical production function, and is developed and estimated for the time period 1950 to 1985. The results indicate that the size effects of military expenditure on economic growth are negative, while the externality effects of military spending are positive. In addition, decreasing foreign investment and increasing domestic unrest are found to have negative impacts on GDP growth. Labor employment is positively related to growth, but non‐white labor is more strongly significant than white labor. These results are consistent with previous cross‐section studies that find some evidence for positive and negative effects of military spending on economic growth.
On operating a shuttle service

A vehicle shuttles between two terminals, at which passengers are arriving in a Poisson manner at given rates. Travel time between the stops is assumed deterministic. This paper considers the question of what operating strategy will yield lowest average waiting time for passengers of the system. Exact solutions to the problem are obtained, and it is found that the optimal strategy is a somewhat complex but very tractable function of the two Poisson arrival parameters.
Phase transition of model interacting chains

The partition function of $n$ interacting chains having a phase transition at ${T}_{c}(n)$ is reduced, by the transfer-matrix formalism, to the determination of an $n$-body bound state in one dimension. Subject to mild restrictions on the potentials, this $n$-body problem can be analyzed in terms of a two-body problem. It is shown for all $ng~2$ that ${T}_{c}(n)$ is an increasing function of $n$, bounded as follows: ${T}_{c}(2)l~{T}_{c}(n)l~{2}^{\frac{1}{2}}{T}_{c}(2)$. The important special case $n=2$ is studied explicitly, and a second-order phase transition (specific-heat discontinuity) is found to occur at a calculated ${T}_{c}(2)$.
Nonequilibrium ensemble dynamics.

The ensemble theory of Gibbs has been universally accepted as a theoretical foundation for dealing with thermodynamic systems in the equilibrium state. No comparable theory has gained wide acceptance in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. We would like to propose a formalism for nonequilibrium systems which follows the spirit of Gibbs's ensemble theory. We will show that such a nonequilibrium ensemble dynamics may be employed to derive, in a straightforward manner, (1) formal equations for the time evolution of the macroscopic features of the system, (2) the existence of a nonequilibrium entropy function which is a nondecreasing function of time, (3) the Onsager reciprocity theorem, and (4) the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. Just as Gibbs's ensemble dynamics may be justified by demonstrating that the mean-square fluctuation of the macroscopic properties of certain thermodynamic systems is small, so we will show that the mean-square fluctuation in the time evolution of the macroscopic properties is small for certain classes of thermodynamic systems.
Thermal Conductivity of Pure Silica MEL and MFI Zeolite Thin Films

This paper reports the room temperature cross-plane thermal conductivity of pure silica zeolite (PSZ) MEL and MFI thin films. PSZ MEL thin films were prepared by spin coating a suspension of MEL nanoparticles in 1-butanol solution onto silicon substrates followed by calcination and vapor-phase silylation with trimethylchlorosilane. The mass fraction of nanoparticles within the suspension varied from 16 to 55%. This was achieved by varying the crystallization time of the suspension. The thin films consisted of crystalline MEL nanoparticles embedded in a non-uniform and highly porous silica matrix. They featured porosity, relative crystallinity and MEL nanoparticles size ranging from 40 to 59%, 23 to 47% and 55 to 80 nm, respectively. PSZ MFI thin films were made by in-situ crystallization, were b-oriented, fully crystalline and had a 33% porosity. Thermal conductivity of the PSZ thin films was measured at room temperature using the 3ω method. The cross-plane thermal conductivity of the MEL thin films remained constant around 1.02 ± 0.10 Wm−1 K−1 despite increases in (i) relative crystallinity, (ii) nanoparticle size and (iii) yield as the nanoparticle crystallization time increased. Indeed, the effect of increases in these parameters on the thermal conductivity was compensated by the simultaneous increase in porosity. PSZ MFI thin films were found to have the same thermal conductivity as MEL thin films even though they had smaller porosity. Finally, the average thermal conductivity of the PSZ films was three to five times larger than that reported for amorphous sol-gel mesoporous silica thin films with similar porosity and dielectric constant.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Downward Longwave Radiation at the Surface from Satellite Measurements

A new technique is presented for generating downward longwave flux at the earth's surface from satellite meteorological data and a radiative transfer model. The technique was tested by using TIROS-N data from 41 passes over a ground site covering a period of one month. Satellite-derived fluxes were compared with those measured by a ground-based pyrgeometer during each overpass. The standard error of the satellite-derived fluxes relative to the mean ground-measured values was found to be 6.5 percent.
The Berkeleyacetals, Three Meroterpenes from a Deep Water Acid Mine Waste Penicillium

Berkeley Pit Lake is a 1500 ft deep abandoned open-pit copper mine filled with over 1140 billion liters of acidic, metal-sulfate-contaminated water. This harsh environment is proving to be a source of unusual microorganisms that produce novel bioactive compounds. We recently reported the structures of berkeleydione (1) and berkeleytrione (2), two novel hybrid polyketide-terpenoid metabolites isolated from a deep water Penicillium sp. growing in Berkeley Pit Lake. In this paper we report the structures of three new compounds, berkeleyacetals A-C ( 3-5) isolated from extracts of this fungus. The structures of these compounds were deduced by comparison of mass spectral and NMR data to that of berkeleydione (1).
Asymptotic performance of unrestricted polar quantizers (Corresp.)

Unrestricted polar quantizers (UPQ's) were previously introduced to overcome the weak mean-squared error performance of polar coordinate quantizers for the independent bivariate Gaussian source when the number of levels was small ( bits /dimension). An asymptotic ntean-squared error analysis of the UPQ's with a general circularly symmetric source is presented. The performance of the UPQ's is shown to be asymptotically within 0.17 dB of that of the optimum bivariate quantizer. The results are extended to dimensions greater than two. Examples for the independent Gaussian source are included.
Physical Therapy or Advanced Imaging as First Management Strategy Following a New Consultation for Low Back Pain in Primary Care: Associations with Future Health Care Utilization and Charges

Objective Compare health care utilization and charges for low-back-pain (LBP) patients receiving advanced imaging or physical therapy as a first management strategy following a new primary care consultation. Data Source Electronic medical record (EMR) and insurance claims data. Study Design Retrospective analysis of propensity-matched groups. Data Collection/Extraction Claims and EMR data were used. Utilization and LBP-related charges over a 1-year period were extracted from claims data. Principal Findings In the propensity-matched sample (n = 406), advanced imaging recipients had higher odds of all utilization outcomes. Charges were higher with advanced imaging by an average $4,793 (95 percent CI: $3,676, $5,910). Conclusions For patients with LBP whom newly consulted primary care referred for additional management, advanced imaging as a first management was associated with higher health care utilization and charges than physical therapy.
Lack of lead effects on fetal development and offspring learning when combined with alcohol in the Long-Evans rat

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the interactive effects of alcohol and lead during pregnancy in rats. Our purpose was to see if lead, as lead acetate, would influence the alcohol effect already known to exist. In the first study, pregnant Long-Evans rats received lead (as lead acetate), alcohol (20% w/v), or lead plus alcohol once a day on gestation days (GD) 10-20. On GD 20, when animals were sacrificed, mean blood alcohol levels were consistently higher for the lead-plus-alcohol-dosed groups compared to alcohol alone, but these two groups did not differ in maternal weight gain, percent resorptions, litter size, or fetal weight. Mean blood lead levels were not consistently higher in the lead-plus-alcohol groups compared to lead only, but the lead-plus-alcohol groups differed significantly from the lead-only groups at higher doses in the previously mentioned parameters. The lead-only groups did not differ from vehicle controls in any parameter in spite of blood lead levels as high as 300 micrograms/dl. In the second experiment, animals given a combination of alcohol and lead did not differ in activity, passive avoidance, or active avoidance learning compared to animals given alcohol or lead alone. Animals given lead only or the combination of lead plus alcohol had longer first trial latencies in the passive avoidance test. The data indicate that neither lead nor alcohol attenuates or potentiates each other's effects on reproduction or learning behavior in the Long-Evans rat even at high blood lead levels.
Interferometric synthetic aperture radar study of Okmok volcano, Alaska, 1992-2003: Magma supply dynamics and postemplacement lava flow deformation

[1] Okmok volcano, located in the central Aleutian arc, Alaska, is a dominantly basaltic complex topped with a 10-km-wide caldera that formed circa 2.05 ka. Okmok erupted several times during the 20th century, most recently in 1997; eruptions in 1945, 1958, and 1997 produced lava flows within the caldera. We used 80 interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) images (interferograms) to study transient deformation of the volcano before, during, and after the 1997 eruption. Point source models suggest that a magma reservoir at a depth of 3.2 km below sea level, located beneath the center of the caldera and about 5 km northeast of the 1997 vent, is responsible for observed volcano-wide deformation. The preeruption uplift rate decreased from about 10 cm yr−1 during 1992–1993 to 2 ∼ 3 cm yr−1 during 1993–1995 and then to about −1 ∼ −2 cm yr−1 during 1995–1996. The posteruption inflation rate generally decreased with time during 1997–2001, but increased significantly during 2001–2003. By the summer of 2003, 30 ∼ 60% of the magma volume lost from the reservoir in the 1997 eruption had been replenished. Interferograms for periods before the 1997 eruption indicate consistent subsidence of the surface of the 1958 lava flows, most likely due to thermal contraction. Interferograms for periods after the eruption suggest at least four distinct deformation processes: (1) volcano-wide inflation due to replenishment of the shallow magma reservoir, (2) subsidence of the 1997 lava flows, most likely due to thermal contraction, (3) deformation of the 1958 lava flows due to loading by the 1997 flows, and (4) continuing subsidence of 1958 lava flows buried beneath 1997 flows. Our results provide insights into the postemplacement behavior of lava flows and have cautionary implications for the interpretation of inflation patterns at active volcanoes.
New Isomers of Bovine Porphyropsin: A Nondestructive Method for Determining Chromophore Configuration during Formation of Visual Pigment Analogs

Abstract Binding interactions of six isomers (five previously unknown) of 3-dehydroretinal (3-DHR) with bovine opsin have been investigated. Of these only 7- cis and 7,9-di- cis isomers retained the original polyene configuration, giving the corresponding isomeric porphyropsin pigment analogs. The 7,13-di- cis , 7,9,11-tri- cis , and 7,9,13-tri- cis isomers of 3-DHR were found to lose readily the 13- cis or 11- cis geometry, yielding instead the 7- cis or 7,9-di- cis pigments. The 7,11-di- cis isomer yielded a pigment, believed to be the 7,11-di- cis , which subsequently isomerized to the stable 7- cis pigment. While the general behavior of the 3-DHR isomers is similar to that of the retinals, current results on the two tri- cis isomers were not available for the corresponding retinal isomers. Instead of using the established chromophore extraction procedure, we demonstrated that curve resolution of the spectra obtained during binding interactions, a procedure requiring a much smaller sample, could yield equally reliable information on stereochemical properties of the chromophore.
A Test of Two Skew Models to Explain Cooperative Breeding

Two competing models, reproductive skew and skew selection, have been constructed to explain the evolution of cooperation among unrelated breeders. Reproductive skew is a trade-off model that assumes breeding occurs under scarce resource conditions. One breeder gains units of fecundity at the expense of other breeders during aggressive, altruistic or tug-of-war transactions. After joining, the distribution of fecundity among breeders shifts from symmetrical to asymmetrical. In contrast, skew selection is a surplus model that assumes breeding occurs during a springtime glut. Skew selection assumes that fecundity among breeders is initially asymmetrical and that joining reduces the asymmetry of fecundity. This paper reports findings from a breeding experiment on the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, which supported skew selection rather than reproductive skew. Joining was a win-win strategy for alpha and beta breeders; beta breeders gained within-group survival benefits; alpha breeders gained between-group survival benefits. In summary, skew selection extends Darwin’s theory of natural selection by revealing the self-interested core of cooperative breeding.
Weighted triangular norms using generating functions

We introduce the t-norm and discuss the representation of this operator by additive generators. An approach is suggested for including importances in t-norm aggregation taking advantage of this representation of the t-norm. We look at formulations resulting for a variety of t-norms. We then apply the approach to the t-conorm and look at its effect on a variety of t-conorms. Finally, we turn to the uninorm and suggest an analogous method for including weighting in uninorm aggregations. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Morphology of siloxane block copolymers: Tetramethyl‐p‐silphenylene siloxane–dimethylsiloxane

The morphological features of random block copolymers of tetramethyl-p-silphenylene (TMPS) and dimethylsiloxane (DMS) have been studied as a function of copolymer composition. Wide-angle and small-angle x-ray diffraction coupled with several electron diffraction and microscopy studies were used to investigate these materials. The results of this work clearly indicate that the amorphous segments do not enter into the crystalline lattice of the crystallizable component which is varied in content from 90% to 30%. Over the entire range of compositions the block copolymers are crystallizable. Spherulites can be grown from the melt, and single crystals and/or spherulites may be obtained from solution. Single crystals can be obtained over the entire range of compositions provided ample time is allowed for crystallization. The crystalline TMPS component exhibits tetragonal symmetry at all compositions. The amorphous phase manifests itself as a diffuse halo in patterns obtained by electron and x-ray diffraction.
Transgraft hemorrhage: a serious complication of low-dose thrombolytic therapy.

Abstract A 71-year-old woman came to the hospital with a 24-hour-old occlusion of the left limb of an aortoiliac knitted Dacron graft and was treated with an intra-arterial infusion of urokinase, 40,000 U/hr. Although the graft limb was successfully recanalized in 16 hours, the patient suffered a massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage through the wall of the graft. Clinicians must be aware of this potentially serious complication of thrombolytic therapy in patients with thrombosed, knitted Dacron grafts. (J VASC SURG 1986;3:936-8.)
Postnatal maturation of somatostatin-expressing inhibitory cells in the somatosensory cortex of GIN mice

Postnatal inhibitory neuron development affects mammalian brain function, and failure of this maturation process may underlie pathological conditions such as epilepsy, schizophrenia and depression. Furthermore, understanding how physiological properties of inhibitory neurons change throughout development is critical to understanding the role(s) these cells play in cortical processing. One subset of inhibitory neurons that may be affected during postnatal development is somatostatin-expressing cells. A subset of these cells is labeled with green-fluorescent protein (GFP) in a line of mice known as the GIN line. Here, we studied how intrinsic electrophysiological properties of these cells changed in the somatosensory cortex of GIN mice between postnatal ages P11 to P32+. GIN cells were targeted for whole-cell current clamp recordings and ranges of positive and negative current steps were presented to each cell. The results showed that as the neocortical circuitry matured during this critical time period, multiple intrinsic and firing properties of GIN inhibitory neurons, as well as those of excitatory (regular-spiking [RS]) cells, were altered. Furthermore, these changes were such that the output of GIN cells, but not RS cells, increased over this developmental period. We quantified changes in excitability by examining the input-output relationship of both GIN and RS cells. We found that the firing frequency of GIN cells increased with age, while the rheobase current remained constant across development. This created a multiplicative increase in the input-output relationship in the GIN cells, leading to increases in gain with age. The input-output relationship of the RS cells, on the other hand, showed primarily an additive shift with age, but no substantial change in gain. These results suggest that as the neocortex matures, inhibition coming from GIN cells may become more influential in the circuit and play a greater role in the modulation of neocortical activity.
Varying the Size of Multivalent Ligands: The Dependence of Concanavalin A Binding on Neoglycopolymer Length

Motomu Kanai, Kathleen H. Mortell, andLaura L. Kiessling*Department of ChemistryUniVersity of WisconsinsMadisonMadison, Wisconsin 53706ReceiVed June 24, 1997Carbohydrate-substituted polymers have emerged as importantmaterials for the exploration of protein-saccharide interactions,which are critical components of diverse biological processes.
Kinesonic approaches to mapping movement and music with the remote electroacoustic kinesthetic sensing (RAKS) system

Sensor technologies allow for a direct link between a dancer's kinetic and kinesthetic experience and musical expression. The Remote electroAcoustic Kinesthetic Sensing (RAKS) system, a wearable wireless sensor interface designed specifically for belly dance, enables such a link. Teka Mori (2013) for belly dancer, RAKS system, and computer-generated sound, explores a kinesonic approach to mapping belly dance movement to timbral control in electronic music.
Invasive ductal adenocarcinoma arising from pancreatic heterotopia in rectum: case report and review of literature

Pancreatic heterotopia has been described at several abdominal and intrathoracic locations, most commonly in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine. Its occurrence in the rectum is unusual, and malignant transformation in the rectum has not been reported. We report a case of ductal adenocarcinoma arising in a rectal pancreatic heterotopia in a 42-year-old woman with delayed local recurrence. The tumor was composed of well to moderately differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma infiltrating through the full thickness of the anorectal wall with extension into the vaginal septum. A focus of ectopic pancreas consisting of exocrine acini and small ducts adjacent to the tumor with some ducts showing mild to severe dysplasia reminiscent of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia was also observed. Although our literature search found 31 documented reports of tumors arising in the heterotopic pancreas, the present case is the first case of ductal adenocarcinoma arising in a focus of pancreatic heterotopia in the rectum.
Growth of ADP crystals from the melt

Abstract A rationale is presented to support the speculation, and it is confirmed by experiment, that ADP can be made to melt quasicongruently and, therefore, that single crystals of this material can be grown from its melt. As is to be expected, the growth rates achieved in growth from the melt are much greater than those which are realizable in industrial-scale solution growth of crystals of the same material.
Pain management in burn injury

Traumatic bum injuries and the associated treatments are a tremendous pain management challenge. The degree of tissue damage in severe burns can initiate physiologic changes in nociceptive pathways that place the patient at risk for undertreatment. The use of analgesic guidelines that address both background and procedural pain and associated anxiety can provide a rational and consistent approach to treatment. The key to successful treatment is the continuous and accurate assessment of the patient's pain and the response to therapy. Medications, especially opioids, should be regularly evaluated and adjusted to achieve maximum effect and minimal side effect.Nursing's role is perhaps the most important in the essential focused surveillance of bum pain and it's successful treatment.
A Study of Inductively Coupled Plasma Torch Configurations

Plasma torch design and shapes were studied to facilitate ignition, to concentrate the sample into a narrow central channel, to raise the sample to excitation temperatures with optimized efficiency, and to avoid clogging by organic samples such as residual oil. Observation of the influence of the torch configuration on ignition emphasized the importance of the shape and rate of the gas flows. Operating conditions of torches with diameters from 7 to 18 mm were calculated using a computer model, and predicted operation of small diameter torches requires high magnetic flux density. Experimental verification of an improved torch design demonstrated a higher efficiency, a lower gas consumption, and an easier ignition than conventional configurations.
Ultrasound‐aided high‐resolution biophotonic imaging

We develop novel biophotonic imaging for early‐cancer detection, a grand challenge in cancer research, using nonionizing electromagnetic and ultrasonic waves. Unlike ionizing x‐ray radiation, nonionizing electromagnetic waves such as optical waves are safe for biomedical applications and reveal new contrast mechanisms and functional information. For example, our spectroscopic oblique‐incidence reflectometry can detect skin cancers based on functional hemoglobin parameters and cell nuclear size with 95% accuracy. Unfortunately, electromagnetic waves in the nonionizing spectral region do not penetrate biological tissue in straight paths as do x‐rays. Consequently, high‐resolution tomography based on nonionizing electromagnetic waves alone, as demonstrated by our Mueller optical coherence tomography, is limited to superficial tissue imaging. Ultrasonic imaging, on the contrary, furnishes good imaging resolution but has poor contrast in early‐stage tumors and has strong speckle artifacts as well. We developed ultrasound‐mediated imaging modalities by combining electromagnetic and ultrasonic waves synergistically. The hybrid modalities yield speckle‐free electromagnetic‐contrast at ultrasonic resolution in relatively large biological tissue. In ultrasound‐modulated (acousto)‐optical tomography, a focused ultrasonic wave encodes diffuse laser light in scattering biological tissue. In photo‐acoustic (thermo‐acoustic) tomography, a low‐energy laser (RF) pulse induces ultrasonic waves in biological tissue due to thermoelastic expansion.
Der Wiederaufbau des Öffentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes in der Bundesrepublik

Einleitung In den fruhen Jahren der Bundesrepublik blieb der Offentliche Gesundheitsdienst (OGD) auf der Rechtsgrundlage eines NS-Gesetzes erhalten, allerdings mit anhaltendem Aufgaben- und Personalabbau. Die wohlfahrtsstaatlich orientierte Gesundheitspolitik starkte die GKV. Dementsprechend wurden Aufgaben der Gesundheitsfursorge und der Pravention in die Kompetenz frei praktizierender Arzte verlagert. Mitte der 1970er Jahre gewann der OGD wieder an Bedeutung durch neue Aufgaben und Gesundheitsdienstgesetze der Lander. New Public Health und Gesundheitsforderung waren kreative Impulse fur den OGD und seine Akademien. Trotz Aufgaben- und Strukturentwicklung sind die Arztzahlen im OGD rucklaufig. Fur die Aufrechterhaltung des OGD sind weitere Masnahmen erforderlich.
Fast scaled-DCT algorithm

ABSTRACTThe Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) followed by scaling and quantiza.tion is an ml- portant operation in image processing. Because of the scaling, the DCT itself need not he computed, but rather a scalar mu]tiple of the DCT might do, with appropriate compensationincorporated into the scaling. We present a fast method for computing such scaled output ofthe 2-dimensional DCT on 8 x 8 points. We also present a similar algorithm for the inversescaled DCT.1. INTRODUCTIONThe discrete cosine transform (DCT) plays an important role in digital image processing.Of particular interest is the two-dimensional DCT followed by scaling and quantiza.tion. This has applications in data compression of continuous tone images [1, 11]. Because the DCT is so often used, research into fast algorithms for its implementation has been rather active[3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15].Given an array y(k) , 0 k  K — 1, of input data, its one-dimensional DCT output is K—i (irn(2k+1)\ y(n) = c(n) cost i y(),
Etiology of Prolongation of the P-R Interval in Patients with an Endocardial Cushion Defect Further Observations on Internodal Conduction and the Polarity of the Retrograde P Wave

Conduction time from the region of the sinus node to the region of the atrioventricular (A-V) node was studied during open heart surgery in 13 patients with an endocardial cushion type atrial septal defect, eight patients with a secundum type atrial septal defect, one patient with a sinus venosus type atrial septal defect, and eight patients with an intact atrial septum. Internodal conduction time was prolonged by an average of 37 msec (range 15-69 msec) in patients with an endocardial cushion defect when compared with the other three groups of patients. However, when the atria were paced from the A-V nodal region, the resulting P-R intervals in patients with an endocardial cushion defect were similar to those of patients in the other three groups, a fact that indicates normal A-V nodal-His-Purkinje conduction in patients with an endocardial cushion defect. It was therefore concluded that the prolonged P-R interval which patients with an endocardial cushion defect often manifest is due simply to prolonged...
Issues, challenges, and lessons learned when scaling up a learning analytics intervention

This paper describes an intra-institutional partnership between a research team and a technology service group that was established to facilitate the scaling up of a learning analytics intervention. Our discussion focuses on the benefits and challenges that arose from this partnership in order to provide useful information for similar partnerships developed to support scaling up learning analytics interventions.
Evaluation of biotin responsiveness in cultured fibroblasts from patients with propionic acidemia: Absence of response by structurally altered carboxylases

We have demonstrated that, although propionyl CoA carboxylase (PCC) activity is deficient in fibroblast extracts from PCC-deficient patients belonging to the two major and two minor genetic complementation groups, the activity of another biotin-dependent carboxylase, β-methylcrotonyl CoA carboxylase (βMCC), is normal. Moreover, βMCC activity is stimulated when the fibroblasts are cultured in high concentrations of biotin, in the same way that it is in normal fibroblasts, whereas the depressed PCC activity remains essentially unchanged. Because these results are parallel with the in vivo failure of high-dose biotin to stimulate PCC activity in peripheral blood leukocytes, we conclude that the biotin responsiveness of PCC in cultured fibroblasts from patients with PCC deficiency may be used to predict or confirm biotin responsiveness in vivo.
Error analysis in Newton-Sor computer simulation of semiconductor devices

Abstract This paper is concerned with a frequently encountered problem in numerical simulation of semiconductor devices; i.e. terminal currents are not consistent even for a convergent solution. A definite relationship between the doping level and the grid structure which leads to this inconsistency is revealed in this work. It was also found that a more stringent convergent criterion has little effect in correcting this problem. A practical solution to this dilemma is devised in this paper which works well for the power MOSFET simulation.
Primary cutaneous malignant melanoma and its precursor lesions: Diagnostic and therapeutic overview

During the past few decades, scientific data relating to melanoma have flourished. New information regarding acquired nevi, dysplastic nevi (atypical nevi), and congenital nevi has given us a better understanding of these precursor lesions and their relationships to malignant melanoma. The roles of laboratory testing, photography, and newer diagnostic tools (eg, epiluminescence) to evaluate patients for melanoma or precursor lesions have fallen under close scrutiny. Traditional surgical therapeutic interventions continue to be replaced by less aggressive protocols based on prospective randomized studies. Many new interventions such as sentinel lymph node procedures are currently being evaluated at research/referral centers around the world. We present clinicians with an evidence-based summary of the current literature with regard to primary cutaneous melanoma, its diagnosis, precursor lesions, and therapy. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;45:260-76.)
Narrating the Landscapes of Entrepreneurial Regionalism: Rescaling, ‘New’ Regionalism and the Planned Remaking of València, Spain

Abstract This paper analyses the instrumental role of cultural landscape in the regionalisation of European states and identities through a case study of the planned redevelopment of Valencia, capital of the Spanish autonomous region the Comunitat Valenciana. Briefly articulating recent theories of state rescaling and ‘new regionalism’ to cultural landscape this paper poses the question: how may landscapes be planned by ‘new’ regional states to rescale regionalist territories and imaginaries? The planning and promotion of the cultural entertainment complex the City of Arts and Sciences demonstrates how one regional state—the Generalitat Valenciana—sought to redefine an historically contested and historicist regionalism through landscapes of modern, entrepreneurial regionalism. Paying more attention to the cultural landscape enriches our theories of how state rescaling and ‘new’ regionalism are narrated discursively and represented materially.
Earthquake ground motion modeling on parallel computers

We describe the design and discuss the performance of a parallel elastic wave propagation simulator that is being used to model and study earthquake-induced ground motion in large sedimentary basins. The components of the system include mesh generators, a mesh partitioner, a parceler, and a parallel code generator, as well as parallel numerical methods for applying seismic forces, incorporating absorbing boundaries, and solving the discretized wave propagation problem. We discuss performance on the Cray T3D for unstructured mesh wave propagation problems of up to 14 million tetrahedra. By paying careful attention to each step of the process, we obtain excellent performance despite the highly irregular structure of the coefficient matrices of the problem. The mesh generator, partitioner, parceler, and code generator have been incorporated into an integrated toolset/compiler. This system, called Archimedes, automates the solution of unstructured mesh PDE problems on parallel computers, and is being used for other unstructured mesh applications beyond ground motion modeling.
cyp2j2 and cyp2c8 polymorphisms and coronary heart disease risk: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (aric) study

Objective— The cytochromes P450 epoxygenases CYP2J2 and CYP2C8 synthesize epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, which regulate endothelial function. We sought to determine if genetic variation in CYP2J2 and CYP2C8 was associated with coronary heart disease risk. Methods— We genotyped 2065 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study participants (1085 incident coronary heart disease cases, 980 noncases) for polymorphisms in CYP2J2 and CYP2C8. Using a case–cohort design, associations between genotype and incident coronary heart disease risk were evaluated using proportional hazards regression. The influence of cigarette smoking on these associations was also evaluated. False discovery rate q-values were estimated to minimize the impact of the multiple statistical comparisons completed. All analyses were race stratified. Results— The CYP2J2 G-50T polymorphism variant –50T allele was associated with significantly lower risk of incident coronary heart disease in African-Americans (adjusted hazard rate ratio 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.35–0.96, P = 0.036, q = 0.051); however, no significant association was observed in Caucasians. Overall, the I264M, I269F, and K399R polymorphisms in CYP2C8 were not significantly associated with risk of incident coronary heart disease. In Caucasians, the relationship between the I264M and K399R polymorphisms and incident coronary heart disease risk was significantly modified by cigarette smoking status (P for interaction = 0.008, q = 0.064), with the highest risk observed in smokers carrying at least one variant allele. Conclusions— The G-50T polymorphism in CYP2J2 may be an important risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease events in African-Americans, whereas cigarette smoking may modify the relationship between the I264M and K399R polymorphisms in CYP2C8 and coronary heart disease risk in Caucasians. Confirmation of these findings in an independent population is warranted.
Hemodynamic effects of decompressive craniectomy in cold induced brain oedema.

An experimental model of cold induced brain oedema was carried out in 7 albino rabbits by topic application of fluid N2 on the skull to examine the favourable effects of an appropriate tailored craniodural opening both on the whole brain perfusion and on the local dynamics of the oedematous fluid. After positioning the animals in a stereotactic frame the following parameters were recorded: ICP, carotid blood pressure and flow velocity, EEG, EKG. Histological staining with Evan’s blue was utilized to check fluid extravasation. In all the animals the lesion was followed both by an ICP increase and a reduction in the carotid blood flow velocity so indicating an increase in the cerebrovascular resistances. In 4 animals the removal of the craniodural flap over the lesion dramatically reduced the ICP values and normalized the blood flow velocity. No difference in the Evan’s blue distribution was noticed between the two groups of animals.
Association of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms and Adiposity Among Adolescent Females, Using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry:

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between anxiety and depressive symptoms and obesity among adolescent females using objective measures of adiposity and evaluate for moderating effects of race and age. This is a cross-sectional analysis of 198 females aged 11, 13, 15, and 17 years (mean = 14.6, standard deviation = 2.2). Adiposity measures include BMI, BMI Z score, percentage body fat from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and fat distribution (fat mass upper vs lower body regions from DXA). Symptoms of anxiety are measured with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and depressive symptoms with the Children's Depression Inventory. Trait anxiety and depressive symptoms are positively associated with BMI and percentage body fat. No interaction of anxiety/ depressive symptoms with race or age on measures of adiposity was detected. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are associated with percentage body fat among adolescent females, linking psychological distress with a physiological measure of adiposity.
Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 Thin-Film Evolution During Growth from (In,Ga) 2 Se 3 Precursors

We examined the Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin-film growth from (In,Ga)2Se3 precursors and found that the evolution of the microstructure and intrinsic native defects depends on the compositional changes that occur as the film transitions from being Cu rich to In(Ga) rich.
Cytoplasmic male sterility in Nicotiana, restoration of fertility, and the nucleolus.

Plants with the cytoplasm of Nicotiana repanda and the chromosomes of N. tabacum produce nonfunctional and feminized anthers. Introduction of a satellited fragment chromosome, apparently derived from N. repanda, restores normal anthers and pollen fertility. The fragment is somatically stable and addition-homozygotes transmit it to the great majority of their offspring. Cells with the fragment exhibit amphiplasty, i.e. , in plants having one or two fragments, nucleolar organizers of N. tabacum are suppressed and the nucleoli are entirely or largely produced by the fragments. Formation of nucleoli by organizers from N. repanda in N. repanda cytoplasm may thus be a condition for male fertility. The manner in which nucleoli may influence the development of originally indeterminate sex primordia is discussed. Further cytological studies of cytoplasmically male-sterile plants and restorer chromosomes are needed to decide whether the observed relationship is of functional significance or merely accidental.
Wavefront Reconstruction with Diffused Illumination and Three-Dimensional Objects*

Holograms of transparencies have been produced in diffused light. The reconstructions are free from flaws and are of a quality comparable to pictures produced by conventional photography with incoherent light. Holograms of three-dimensional scenes have been produced by reflected light. Such holograms produce three-dimensional reconstructions having all the visual properties of the original scene: parallax between near and distant objects, a requirement to refocus the eyes when viewing objects in different parts of the scene, and a stereo effect equal to that of ordinary stereo photography.
Genome-wide gene–environment interaction analysis for asbestos exposure in lung cancer susceptibility

Asbestos exposure is a known risk factor for lung cancer. Although recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified some novel loci for lung cancer risk, few addressed genome-wide gene–environment interactions. To determine gene–asbestos interactions in lung cancer risk, we conducted genome-wide gene–environment interaction analyses at levels of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), genes and pathways, using our published Texas lung cancer GWAS dataset. This dataset included 317 498 SNPs from 1154 lung cancer cases and 1137 cancer-free controls. The initial SNP-level P-values for interactions between genetic variants and self-reported asbestos exposure were estimated by unconditional logistic regression models with adjustment for age, sex, smoking status and pack-years. The P-value for the most significant SNP rs13383928 was 2.17×10–6, which did not reach the genome-wide statistical significance. Using a versatile gene-based test approach, we found that the top significant gene was C7orf54, located on 7q32.1 (P = 8.90×10–5). Interestingly, most of the other significant genes were located on 11q13. When we used an improved gene-set-enrichment analysis approach, we found that the Fas signaling pathway and the antigen processing and presentation pathway were most significant (nominal P < 0.001; false discovery rate < 0.05) among 250 pathways containing 17 572 genes. We believe that our analysis is a pilot study that first describes the gene–asbestos interaction in lung cancer risk at levels of SNPs, genes and pathways. Our findings suggest that immune function regulation-related pathways may be mechanistically involved in asbestos-associated lung cancer risk. Abbreviations: CI confidence interval E environment FDR false discovery rate G gene GSEA gene-set-enrichment analysis GWAS genome-wide association studies i-GSEA improved gene-set-enrichment analysis approach OR odds ratio SNP single nucleotide polymorphism
Preferable Descriptive Representatives: Will Just Any Woman, Black, or Latino Do?

A body of theoretical literature has developed that explains why historically disadvantaged groups should be represented by members of those groups. Such representatives are commonly referred to as descriptive representatives. This literature has also endorsed various institutional reforms aimed at increasing the number of descriptive representatives, e.g., party list quotas, racial districting, and proportional representation. However, this literature does not articulate criteria that should guide the selection of descriptive representatives to serve in these institutional positions. Indeed, some thinkers claim that such criteria cannot, or at least should not, be articulated. I argue that some descriptive representatives are preferable to others and that criteria for selecting preferable descriptive representatives can, and should, be articulated. Moreover, I recommend one such criterion: Preferable descriptive representatives possess strong mutual relationships with dispossessed subgroups of historically disadvantaged groups.
Interference-aware mesh multicast for wireless multihop networks

In this paper, we consider the problem of building mesh-based multicast routing structures that account for the impact of interference in wireless multihop networks. Our analysis is based on the most accurate known interference model, namely the physical interference model. We first analyze interference-aware mesh structures that augment individual paths in a multicast tree. Based on this analysis, we propose two interference-aware multicast mesh routing structures, which extend an interference-aware Steiner multicast tree in two different ways to form interference-aware meshes. We evaluate the performances of our proposed interference-aware multicast mesh structures in wireless networks where wireless links are bursty and nodes can be faulty. Under these conditions, we show that our proposed algorithms provide up to 80% increase in goodput over existing tree-based multicast routing structures and up to 45% increase in goodput over existing mesh-based multicast routing structures.
The impact of electronic mail on managerial and organizational communications

The primary objectives of this study were to determine how an electronic mail system was being used by manager and professionals in a business setting and to describe its cognitive, affective and behavioral impacts. The organizational impacts reported by the respondents were compared with research-based evidence reported by experts in an earlier study by Kerr and Hiltz. The results showed that electronic mail was used extensively to displace phone calls and memos particularly for “organizing” activities, such as scheduling events, asking questions, and providing feedback. The experiences of the users showed that electronic mail reduced lag times in distributing information, created more flexible working hours, and provided lateral linkages throughout the organization. More pervasive social impacts of electronic mail, such as changes in social structure, expansion in group size, and increase in span of control, were not experienced to a marked degree.
Laminar entrance flow in a curved pipe

The full elliptic Navier–Stokes equations have been solved for entrance flow into a curved pipe using the artificial compressibility technique developed by Chorin (1967). The problem is formulated for arbitrary values of the curvature ratio and the Dean number. Calculations are carried out for two curvature ratios, a/R = 1/7 and 1/20, and for Dean number ranging from 108.2 to 680.3, in a computational mesh extending from the inlet immediately adjacent to the reservoir to the fully developed downstream region.Secondary flow separation near the inner wall is observed in the developing region of the curved pipe. The separation and the magnitude of the secondary flow are found to be greatly influenced by the curvature ratio. As observed in the experiments of Agrawal, Talbot & Gong (1978) we find: (i) two-step plateau-like axial-velocity profiles for high Dean number, due to the secondary flow separation, and (ii) doubly peaked axial-velocity profiles along the lines parallel to the plane of symmetry, due to the highly distorted secondary-flow vortex structure.
The center-limb behavior of solar molecular lines.

The center-limb behavior of C2, CH, CN, CO, and MgH lines have been analyzed using five photospheric models. A three-stream model developed by G. Elste gave the most satisfactory results, providing evidence for the existence of inhomogeneities in the photospheric layers - 2.5 ⩽ log τ5000 ⩽ -0.5.
Minority Ethnic Mobilization in the Russian Federation

Minority Ethnic Mobilization in the Russian Federation. By Dmitry P. Gorenburg. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003. 312p. $75.00.Dmitry Gorenburg has written a most useful book on the subject of minority ethnic mobilization within the Russian Federation during the Gorbachev and early Yeltsin periods. Gorenburg sets out clearly the aims underlying his ambitious study. The book, he writes, “seeks to explain how state institutions affect ethnic mobilization,” through a focusing on the upsurge of nationalist sentiment that took place in both the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe during the late 1980s and early 1990s (p. xi). In addition, the book also intends to challenge the widely held perception that “governing elites can kindle latent ethnic grievances virtually at will” and “to shift the study of ethnic mobilization from the whys of its emergence to the hows of its development as a political force” (p. xi). (It is unclear, at least to this reviewer, why the “whys” are not equally as important as the “hows”: Both questions, one would think, need to be carefully addressed by specialists.) In answering the “how” question, Gorenburg argues that “The nature of these processes … is determined by the ethnic and political institutions established by the state” (p. xii).