cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MEAN FIELD AND MONTE CARLO STUDIES OF SU(N) CHIRAL MODELS IN THREE DIMENSIONS

Abstract SU( N ) chiral models defined on three-dimensional cubic lattices arestudied using mean field and Monte Carlo techniques. Mean field theory predicts first-order transitions for all finite N greater than two. The mean field estimates of the transition temperature and discontinuity of the order parameter are in good agreement with computer simulations for N = 3 and 4. The N → ∞ limit of mean field theory has a first-order phase transition.
Pharyngoesophageal stricture after treatment for head and neck cancer.

Background The purpose of this study was to report the risk of pharyngoesophageal stricture after treatment for head and neck cancer. Methods Human studies on radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy for head and neck cancer published in peer-reviewed journals with assessment of pharyngoesophageal stricture with barium swallow or endoscopy were included. Results A total of 4727 patients from 26 studies treated between 1989 and 2008 were eligible for analysis. The reported overall risk of stricture was 7.2%. The risks of pharyngoesophageal stricture in both conventional and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) studies were 5.7% and 16.7%, respectively (p < .001). Use of concurrent (p < .001) and taxane (p = .01) chemotherapy was associated with the IMRT technique. Prospective studies reported a 3.3-fold increased risk of stricture compared with that of retrospective studies (odds ratio: 3.3; 95% confidence interval: 2.3–4.8; p < .001). Conclusions Pharyngoesophageal stricture after IMRT and chemotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer is not uncommon. Videofluoroscopic swallow study should be performed prospectively to evaluate swallowing function. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012
Gamma knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess outcomes in patients treated with gamma knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia. METHODS: From 1997 to 2003, a total of 49 patients with trigeminal neuralgia underwent gamma knife radiosurgery. The trigeminal root entry zone immediately adjacent to the pons was targeted by use of a 4-mm collimator to deliver 40 Gy to the 50% isodose line (maximum dose, 80 Gy). Special care was taken to limit radiation dose to the adjacent pons to 12 Gy. Of the 49 study patients, all had undergone previous medical therapy, 8 (16%) had undergone microvascular decompression, 8 (16%) had undergone percutaneous rhizotomy, 2 (4%) had undergone linear accelerator-based radiosurgery, and 5 (10%) presented with multiple sclerosis. The median duration of symptoms was 6 years. There were 29 female patients (59%) and 20 male patients (41%). Facial pain outcomes were assessed by use of the Barrow Neurological Institute pain score. Other outcomes assessed included recurrence of symptoms and treatment toxicity. The median follow-up period was 49 months. RESULTS: At last evaluation, a total of 27 patients (61%) with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia reported pain relief (scores of IIIb or less). This included 14 patients (32%) who reported complete pain relief when not receiving medications. Significant recurrence of pain after an initial interval of relief was reported by 10 patients (23%). Mean time to pain recurrence was 9.6 months (range, 2-36 mo). Mild to moderate facial numbness was experienced by 13 patients (29%), whereas 8 (18%) reported mild dysesthesias. CONCLUSION: Gamma knife radiosurgery established durable pain relief in 61% of patients with medically refractory idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. A longer follow-up period is necessary to fully assess the incidence of late complications and recurrences.
Transient hypothyroidism in preterm infants suffering from severe neonatal diseases

Previous studies of thyroid metabolism in healthy preterm infants have shown significantly lower T4-values if compared with full-term infants. Euthyroidism has been proven by normal concentrations of freeT4 in those infants. Discrepant findings occasionally have been made in preterm infants suffering from severe neonatal diseases. In order to rule out transient hypothyroidism, we investigated TSH,T4,free T4 and T3 in all infants admitted to our intensive care unit. In 30% of the neonates (n=30, 30-37 weeks of gestation) we found a fall of T4 (x=2, 7±1, 3 μg/dl), free T4 (x=0, 65±0,22 ng/dl) and T3 (0,64±0, 2ng/ml) on the 5th day of life. A control sample, withdrawn on day 10, confirmed the results of transient hypothyroidism. Unexpectedly TSH remained within normal limits (x=3, 2±2,8 μU/ml) on both days. When obtaining the results, a third blood sample was withdrawn, followed by T4-treatment (10 μg/kg b.w.). Conclusion: Transient hypothyroidism is a common finding in preterm infants suffering from severe neonatal diseases. The pathogenesis is not clear but may be explained by increased thyroxine metabolism and/or by disease-dependent breakdown of thyroid function and its thyrotropin regulation. Early treatment might improve the clinical course of neonatal diseases by ruling out transient hypothyroidism.
Whole abdominal radiotherapy and concomitant 5-fluorouracil as adjuvant therapy in advanced colon cancer

PURPOSE: This analysis was undertaken to assess whole abdomen radiation therapy and concurrent 5-fluorouracil for toxicity and patterns of failure in high-risk colon cancer patients after curative surgical resection. METHODS: Eighteen patients were treated adjuvantly after curative resection. Four patients (22 percent) had Stage B and 14 (78 percent) had Stage C disease. Histology was poorly differentiated in 4 (22 percent) and moderately differentiated in 14 (78 percent) patients. Four patients received whole abdominal radiation only, 30 Gy at 1 Gy/day. Fourteen patients had an additional locoregional boost of 9.6 to 16 Gy at 1.6 Gy/day. The liver received 19.8 Gy at 0.67 Gy/day. 5-Fluorouracil was given as a continuous infusion during therapy. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of three years, 6 of 18 (33 percent) patients have relapsed. Failure occurred locally in 3 of 18 (17 percent) and distantly in 4 of 18 patients (22 percent). Four of six (67 percent) failures occurred in the liver. The five-year actuarial survival and disease-free survival were 78 percent and 66 percent, respectively. Median elapsed time on radiotherapy was 73 days, with 5 of 18 patients (28 percent) requiring two or more weeks of unplanned treatment breaks. Acute Grade 3 to 4 toxicity (diarrhea, leukopenia) occurred in 3 of 18 patients (17 percent), with late complications (bowel obstruction) occurring in 2 of 18 patients (11 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Whole abdominal radiotherapy with concomitant 5-fluorouracil appears to improve local control but not to prevent liver metastases. Significant toxicity resulted in frequent interruption of therapy and protracted its course. Whether this adjuvant regimen impacts on survival or offers an advantage over locoregional irradiation remains to be studied.
BOOTSTRAPPING THE LONG RUN

We develop and apply bootstrap methods for diffusion models when fitted to the long run as characterized by the stationary distribution of the data. To obtain bootstrap refinements to statistical inference, we simulate candidate diffusion processes. We use these bootstrap methods to assess measurements of local mean reversion or “pull” to the center of the distribution for short-term interest rates. We also use them to evaluate the fit of the model to the empirical density.
Prognosis of non cardiac medical patients receiving mechanical ventilation in a veterans hospital

In order to determine prognostic factors in noncardiac medical patients treated by mechanical ventilation in a Veterans Administration hospital, 78 patient records were reviewed. Disease severity was scored by the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II system. Physicians' prior impressions of prognostic factors were compared with the actual results of this study. Most patients were middle-aged men with respiratory diseases. Fifty-nine patients (76 percent) died in the hospital. Survivors of hospitalization and nonsurvivors had similar age, diagnoses, emergency intubations, duration of ventilation, and pH and oxygen tension after 24 hours of ventilation. However, only one of 31 patients with a serum albumin level of 2.5 g/dl or less at the initiation of mechanical ventilation survived (p less than 0.001). Of 24 patients requiring a fractional inspired oxygen concentration greater than 50 percent at 24 hours, none survived (p less than 0.005). At all APACHE II scores, the mortality rates documented in this study were higher than predicted. Physicians overestimated the impact of several variables, including age and presence of pneumonia, on mortality. At the San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center, a low serum albumin level may aid in the decision whether to begin mechanical ventilation, and a high fractional inspired oxygen concentration at 24 hours may aid in the decision regarding further aggressive care. These findings need to be validated in other patients before being applied. Conversely, certain older patients, and those undergoing emergency intubation or intubation for a prolonged time, may have as good a prognosis as patients without these factors.
Complications associated with anaesthesia for ocular surgery: a retrospective study 1989-1996.

Summary This retrospective study was initiated to identify complications of anaesthesia occurring during ocular surgery. Records of 74 horses anaesthetised for eye enucleation, 65 horses anaesthetised for surgery of the eye and adnexa, and 51 horses anaesthetised for splint bone excision were reviewed. Fifty-three percent of the horses anaesthetised for eye enucleation moved during surgery which was significantly more frequent than in the other groups (P = 0.001). The incidence of moving was significantly reduced by use of an anaesthetic gas analyser for monitoring (P = 0.001). Transient hypertension was measured in 6 horses during removal of the eye. One horse experienced a momentary decrease in heart rate from 36 to 26 beats/min at the start of surgery involving a mass on the third eyelid. The incidence of unsatisfactory recovery from anaesthesia involving multiple attempts to stand was significantly greater after ocular surgery than after splint bone excision (P = 0.036). Our conclusions were 1) the oculocardiac reflex was not active in these horses undergoing ocular surgery, 2) increased attention must be paid to provision of analgesia and adequate depth of anaesthesia, which may be facilitated by use of an anaesthetic gas analyser and 3) horses were at greater risk for unsatisfactory recoveries from anaesthesia after ocular surgery.
A numerical analysis of tonal acoustics in rotor-stator interactions

In this study, the unsteady, thin-layer, Navier-Stokes equations are solved using a system of patched grids for a rotor-stator configuration of an axial turbine. The study focuses on the plurality of spinning modes that are present in such an interaction. The propagation of these modes in the upstream and downstream regions is analyzed and compared with numerical results. It was found that the numerically calculated tonal acoustics could be affected by the type of numerical boundary conditions employed at the inlet and exit of the computational boundaries and the grid spacing in the upstream and downstream regions. Results in the form of surface pressure amplitudes and the spectra of turbine tones and their far field behavior are presented. Numerical results and experimental data are compared wherever possible. The 'mode-content' for different harmonics of blade-passage frequency is shown to conform with that predicted by a kinematical analysis.
Structural Change of the Mn Cluster during the S2→S3 State Transition of the Oxygen-Evolving Complex of Photosystem II. Does It Reflect the Onset of Water/Substrate Oxidation? Determination by Mn X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

The oxygen-evolving complex of Photosystem II in plants and cyanobacteria catalyzes the oxidation of two water molecules to one molecule of dioxygen. A tetranuclear Mn complex is believed to cycle through five intermediate states (S 0-S4) to couple the four-electron oxidation of water with the one-electron photochemistry occurring at the Photosystem II reaction center. We have used X-ray absorption spectroscopy to study the local structure of the Mn complex and have proposed a model for it, based on studies of the Mn K-edges and the extended X-ray absorption fine structure of the S1 and S2 states. The proposed model consists of two di-I-oxo-bridged binuclear Mn units with Mn-Mn distances of 2.7 A that are linked to each other by a mono-I-oxo bridge with a Mn-Mn separation of 3.3 A. The Mn -Mn distances are invariant in the native S1 and S2 states. This report describes the application of X-ray absorption spectroscopy to S 3 samples created under physiological conditions with saturating flash illumination. Significant changes are observed in the Mn-Mn distances in the S3 state compared to the S1 and the S2 states. The two 2.7 A Mn -Mn distances that characterize the di-I-oxo centers in the S1 and S2 states are lengthened to 2.8 and 3.0 A in the S 3 state, respectively. The 3.3 A Mn -Mn and Mn-Ca distances also increase by 0.04-0.2 A. These changes in Mn - Mn distances are interpreted as consequences of the onset of substrate/water oxidation in the S 3 state. Mn- centered oxidation is evident during the S0fS1 and S1fS2 transitions. We propose that the changes in Mn- Mn distances during the S2fS3 transition are the result of ligand or water oxidation, leading to the formation of an oxyl radical intermediate formed at a bridging or terminal position. The reaction of the oxyl radical with OH - ,H 2O, or an oxo group during the subsequent S state conversion is proposed to lead to the formation of the O-O bond. Models that can account for changes in the Mn-Mn distances in the S3 state and the implications for the mechanism of water oxidation are discussed.
Improved space-time codes using serial concatenation

In this letter, a new family of space-time codes is proposed. These codes employ a serially concatenated coding scheme with a standard space-time code as the outer code and a very simple rate-1 recursive code as the inner code. Adding this simple rate-1 recursive inner code does not decrease the bit rate and introduces only negligible complexity increase to the transmitter when compared to cases with standard space-time codes. An interleaver is embedded between the inner coder and the outer coder and the size of this interleaver determines the performance gain. We also provide a relatively low complexity iterative decoding procedure. For applications which can tolerate delay, significant gain can be achieved with the proposed approach.
SCORE at Maine Medical Center.

ThelastseveralyearsatMaineMedicalCenterhavebeenatime ofinnovationfortheMaineMedicalCenterSurgicalResidency Educational Curriculum, attributable to the energy and enthusiasm of the program director, faculty, and resident leadership. SCORE has been incorporated in a variety of educational curriculums developed here. Use of the SCORE curriculum has provided a consistent, organized, and readily available resource for a 2-year cycle of weekly general surgery topics based on an organ system approach. Weekly, resident-led conferences are mentored by general surgical and specialty-specific faculty members. The SCORE curriculum provides guidelines for study and electronic text resources often used as the basis for lectures and discussions prepared by residents. Residents are encouraged to create interactive presentations to solidify the understandingofpathophysiology,clinical,andoperativemanagement. SCORE module objectives and study questions can be used to generate case and scenario discussions. A dedicated bimonthly resident trauma conference also exists. SCORE resources may also be used for trauma conference presentation development and study in addition to suggested readings and specialty specific texts. As SCORE is still in the process of both integration in our curriculum and expanding its own subject content, there is no requirement that residents must complete specific SCORE modules. However, SCORE resources tend to be commonly used resources for study. Aside from educational curriculum assignments, residents also have found the SCORE curriculum to be a resource for independent, general study. Residents can use SCORE modules and resources to study rotation-specific topics and operative procedures. As it is an Internet-based resource, it can be accessed anywhere. Overall since SCORE has been integrated in our curriculum, we have had increased resident use of SCORE resources and fewer resident complaints regarding resources appropriate for conference preparation. Comments by my fellow residents regarding the organization of the SCORE portal, objectives included in SCORE modules, and suggestions for improvement have served as useful feedback for the resident advisory committee. The SCORE portal is one of many educational tools available for Maine Medical Center residents. It’s use at Maine Medical Center will likely continue to evolve along with SCORE’s own growth as future versions and features are introduced. Although founded on a twoyear cycle of core topics, the Maine Medical Center curriculum is continually refined as new resources become available and resident feedback and performance is evaluated.
Incidence of subclinical nodal disease at the time of salvage surgery for locally recurrent head and neck cancer initially treated with definitive radiation therapy.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To estimate the incidence of subclinical nodal disease at the time of isolated local recurrence (LR) after chemoradiotherapy for an initially staged N0 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 44 patients who underwent salvage surgery with or without elective neck dissection (END) for an isolated LR between 1997 and 2010. The incidence of subclinical nodal disease was determined from the pathology reports and from clinical neck failures. RESULTS Thirty patients received END. The overall incidence of subclinical nodal disease in patients with dissected necks was 10% (3/30 patients). The rate of regional control for the 14 observed necks was 100%. Three-year local control and overall survival rates for the END and non-END cohorts were 71% versus 73% (P=0.80) and 55% versus 64%, respectively (P=0.40). CONCLUSIONS The risk of subclinical nodal disease is low for patients with an isolated LR after chemoradiotherapy.
N-methyl-D-aspartic acid-induced lesions of the nucleus accumbens and/or ventral pallidum fail to attenuate lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation reward.

Abstract The role of ventral striatum in the maintenance and transmission of a hypothalamic intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) reward signal was investigated using the rate-frequency multiple-curve paradigm. The excitotoxinN-methyl- d -aspartic acid (NMDA) was bilaterally administered into the nucleus accumbens (15 μg per side), the ventral pallidum (15 μg per side) or the juncture between the two structures (20 μg per side) creating three lesion groups. Both the nucleus accumbens (NAC) lesion group and the ventral pallidum (VP) lesion group displayed substantial NMDA-induced damage which was generally restricted to the intended limbic structure. The NMDA lesions in the third group displayed extensive damage to both the NAC and VP, as intended, but also typically diffused into adjacent medial structures. NMDA-induced lesions in all groups caused a suppression in motor/performance activity at all currents tested. Contrary to motor effects, reward efficacy was relatively unaffected for the NAC and VP groups. The lack of reward effects may be due to plasticity of neuronal systems and redundancy of circuit connections. However, this explanation is questionable given the fact that NMDA lesions which encompassed both the NAC and VP had little effect on reward efficacy. The above data suggests that the nucleus accumbens and the ventral pallidum are not critical for ICSS rewards stimulation and that hypothalamic ICSS reward signals are processed downstream from these limbic structures.
A New Approach to Clustering the Amino Acid

Each amino acid is represented by a vector of numerical measurements for the attributes of volume, area, hydrophilicity, polarity, hydrogen bonding, shape, and charge. Inter-residue distances are then calculated according to common metrics, and we introduce a new clustering objective function derived from information-theoretic considerations. The arguments of the function are the inter-object distances of the things to be clustered: in this case the amino acids. By means of approximating the solution of an integer programming problem, then, the residues are partitioned into clusters. The clusters obtained are compared with groups obtained in substitution/mutation studies and found to be similar. Thus, probably the strongest and most objective evidence to date is supplied for believing that physico-chemical properties account for the viability of substitutions and that the important similarities/differences are explained by a relatively small and simple set of properties.
A possible solution, but not the last word.

In 1998 the authors of Core Competencies for Health Care Ethics Consultation declined to endorse certification of individuals or groups who do ethics consultation, judging it was, "at best, premature." The "professionalization" of clinical ethics consultants has long been a subject of heated debate, with questions raised about accreditation of training programs, licensure and certification of practitioners, identification of competency standards, and development of a code of ethics. Many remain concerned about the quality of clinical ethics consultations because the level of knowledge, skill, and training seems to vary widely among practitioners. In this issue, Nancy Dubler and colleagues report on consensus recommendations from a "national working group" convened to critique the products and processes of the Clinical Ethics Credentialing Project, whose goal is to create a model for credentialing and privileging clinical ethics consultants. In its statement, the group identified five characteristics, three components, and nine standards for clinical ethics consultation services and consultants. Two of the standards directly address consultants' credentialing and privileging. The CECP represents one possible solution to assuring quality in clinical ethics consultation. At the local level, the institution or hospital would grant "privileges" to qualified, credentialed ethics consultants, just as it does to clinical practitioners. These individuals would then be permitted to provide ethics consultation at the institution and to place notes in patients' medical records. A significant issue is what credentials are considered adequate for consultants who wish to apply for privileging. The CECP working group and faculty recommends completion of a substantial, formal program in bioethics and clinical ethics, a supervised apprenticeship, and satisfactory written evaluations from teachers or mentors. Although the model CECP promotes contains positive elements, what qualifies as a "substantial, formal program" is unclear, especially given the absence of any existing accreditation process for training programs. A simpler proposal would be to assess candidate practitioners for competencies related to particular knowledge, skills, experiences, and attributes. Candidates demonstrating these competencies upon examination would be credentialed and could apply for institutional privileges. This model bypasses any requirement to participate in a training program or apprenticeship. …
Optical bistability through nonlinear dispersion and absorption

A general theory of optical bistability for a homogeneously broadened two-level system in a Fabry-Perot interferometer is presented. Both absorptive and dispersive mechanisms are included, and in the mean-field approximation a cubic state equation is derived relating transmitted intensity to all physical parameters. From the perspective of catastrophe theory, this equation describes an elementary cusp catastrophe. We show that bistable switching may follow not only from sweeping the incident laser intensity, but also with continuous variation of atomic or cavity detuning, or atomic density, with the laser intensity fixed. For the case having incident intensity as the variable control, the domain of bistability is studied in some detail as a function of the remaining fixed parameters. Stability criteria are considered for the general case including both absorption and dispersion.
ACP Journal Club. Review: Little evidence exists for type of dressing or support surface or for nutritional supplements for pressure ulcers.

Source Citation Reddy M, Gill SS, Kalkar SR, et al. Treatment of pressure ulcers: a systematic review. JAMA. 2008;300:2647-62. 19066385
Alkali silica reactions — Some paradoxes

Abstract This paper provides an exposition of several special chemically-related areas of ASR that have been actively investigated in the past few years. It was found that: (a) the addition of alkali hydroxide to cement to simulate cement of higher alkali contents in laboratory studies has unexpected consequences that may jeopardize the validity of interpretations made; (b) partial drying of concrete may cause practically irreversible fixation of the alkali hydroxide in the pore solution, an effect which would appear to render further ASR problematical for a long time, even if the concrete is wetted again; (c) silica fume with coarse particles or undispersed agglomerates can induce, rather than prevent ASR distress in certain instances; and (d) lithium-based treatments for ASR commonly result in lithium being retained in the pore solution as lithium hydroxide; the addition to hydroxide concentration over that produced by cement alkalis may pose an augmented challenge to any reactive aggregates in the concrete. It was also indicated that some treatments may induce long-term retention of sulfate ions in the pore solution, posing a risk for possible delayed ettringite formation.
Calibrage des chaînes externes d'instrumentation nucléaire

Cet article decrit une amelioration notable des procedures de calibrage periodique des detecteurs externes a la cuve qui appartiennent au systeme de mesure de la puissance nucleaire (systeme RPN). Apres un rappel des problemes physiques mis en jeu, de la definition actuelle des essais periodiques RPN, on trouvera une description de la nouvelle strategie mise en place par EDF sur les reacteurs a eau pressurisee (REP) du palier 1300 MWe
Normal Three-Dimensional Pulmonary Artery Flow Determined by Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging

In this study, an application was developed to measure three-dimensional blood flow in the main, right, and left pulmonary arteries of seven healthy volunteers using phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Presently, no other noninvasive technique is capable of providing this information. Flow, mean velocity, kinetic energy, and cross-sectional area were measured at multiple phases of the cardiac cycle and were consistent with previously reported values measured with one-dimensional velocity encoded MRI and Doppler echocardiography. Additionally, axial, circumferential, and radial shear stresses near the wall of the vessel at multiple phases of the cardiac cycle were estimated using the in-plane velocities. All three shear stresses were relatively constant along the vessel wall and throughout the cardiac cycle (approximately 7 dyn/cm2). This three-dimensional characterization of normal pulmonary blood flow provides a base line to which effects of altered pulmonary artery flow patterns in disease can be compared. [Morgan, V. L., T. P. Graham, Jr., and C. H. Lorenz. Circulation Suppl. 94:I-417 (abstract), 1996].
Effects of Horizontal Advection on Upper Ocean Mixing: A Case of Frontogenesis

Abstract The wind stress on the ocean surface induces horizontal advection and vertical mixing, two mechanisms which are capable of changing the surface water density. Advection and mixing can enhance or partially destroy the effects of each other. Frontogenesis due to convergent Ekman transports forced by a wind-stress field is one example. A bulk model for the study of advection and mixing in such circumstances is constructed from a one-dimensional model. Continuity of mass requires that water masses either downwell (convergence) or escape laterally (confluence). This distinction leads to a study of two extreme cases of frontogenesis, each herein treated separately. The model reduces to two coupled highly nonlinear prognostic equations for the mixed-layer buoyancy and mixed-layer depth. Scaling of the equations leads to the definition of a mixing parameter, a nondimensional number which measures the relative importance of advection and mixing. For large-scale ocean frontogenesis, this parameter is of th...
Gnatophyma and otophyma.

Background:Phymas are slowly progressive, disfiguring disorders of the face and ears that represent the end stage of rosacea. The most common phyma is rhinophyma, yet similar swellings may occur on...
Elastin-Mimetic Protein Polymers Capable of Physical and Chemical Crosslinking

We report the synthesis of a new class of recombinant elastin-mimetic triblock copolymer capable of both physical and chemical crosslinking. These investigations were motivated by a desire to capture features unique to both physical and chemical crosslinking schemes so as to exert optimal control over a wide range of potential properties afforded by protein-based multiblock materials. We postulated that by chemically locking a multiblock protein assembly in place, functional responses that are linked to specific domain structures and morphologies may be preserved over a broader range of loading conditions that would otherwise disrupt microphase structure solely stabilized by physical crosslinking. Specifically, elastic modulus was enhanced and creep strain reduced through the addition of chemical crosslinking sites. Additionally, we have demonstrated excellent in vivo biocompatibility of glutaraldehyde treated multiblock systems.
Slopes of Western Galapagos volcanoes from airborne interferometric radar

The distribution of slopes on the six basaltic shield volcanoes in the Western Galapagos Islands is investigated using a digital elevation model derived from airborne interferometric radar (TOPSAR) data. These measurements have a spatial sampling of 10 m/pixel, a vertical accuracy of 3 to 5 m, and constitute the highest resolution, most complete, topographic data set available for the islands. Volcano heights are determined to range from 1,124 m (Sierra Negra) to 1,710 m (Wolf). Over extensive areas of each volcano, slopes exceed 25°, with the highest slopes being ∼37° on Wolf and ∼36° on Fernandina. We confirm that two morphologic subgroups exist: Cerro Azul, Fernandina, and Wolf, with deep calderas (depth between 40–60% of the subaerial height of the volcano) and steep (>20°) maximum slopes at elevations between ∼60 and 80% of the volcano height; and Alcedo, Darwin, and Sierra Negra, with shallow calderas (depth <25% of subaerial height) and slopes that remain <15° until ∼90% of the total height is reached. Our data show that steep slopes are not uniquely correlated with the occurrence of arcuate fissures at the summit, leaving the origin of the steep slopes unresolved.
Assessing the Get Real about Violence® Curriculum: Process and Outcome Evaluation Results and Implications

Guided largely by the theory of reasoned action, the Get Real about Violence curriculum attempts to reduce verbal and physical aggression, as well as behaviors that encourage verbal or physical aggression, such as watching a fight and spreading rumors about a fight that is going to happen. This 12-lesson curriculum was evaluated using a pretest-posttest control group design. Participants were 293 seventh-grade boys and girls enrolled in two public junior high schools in a moderate size Midwestern city. The curriculum had its greatest effect on verbal aggression, where the experimental school outperformed the control school on three of four variables, including behavior, behavioral intent, and attitudes. The experimental school also outperformed the control school in several other instances, including intent to watch a fight, intent to spread rumors about a fight, and beliefs and opinions about fighting and violence in general. Implications for the Get Real about Violence curriculum, and for youth violence prevention and intervention programs are discussed.
Reduction of cold injury in flies using an intermittent pulse of high temperature

Abstract Exposure to 0 °C reduced injury in flesh flies (Sarcophaga crassipalpis) subsequently cold shocked at −10 °C, but the protection generated reached a maximum after 1 day at 0 °C and was eventually lost within 20 days when the flies were held constantly at 0 °C. Injury, however, was reduced by interrupting the 20-day interval on Day 10 with a pulse of higher temperature (15 °C). Pulse temperatures ⩽ 10 °C or ⩾20 °C were ineffective. The 15 °C pulse was only effective in generating protection from cold shock injury and did not reduce the indirect chilling injury observed in flies held at 0 °C. These results suggest that the use of intermittent pulses of high temperature could be exploited during cold storage of insects to maintain protection against cold shock injury. Naturally occurring temperature cycles may sustain cold tolerance in a similar manner.
Typing of ovarian carcinomas: an update

Abstract Classification of ovarian carcinomas into different subtypes is no longer only an exercise in pattern recognition that lacks clinical and biological significance. Biologically validated diagnostic criteria now separate ovarian carcinomas into specific disease types that have clinical relevance: high-grade serous carcinoma, low-grade serous carcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma and primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma. This review summarizes the clinical and pathologic features of these types of ovarian carcinoma and provides information about refined diagnostic criteria and the use of ancillary diagnostic techniques for diagnosis.
Molecular orbital study of bond–valence sum rule for hydrogen bond systems using Lewis-electron pair theory

Abstract Theoretical background of the bond–valence sum rule for hydrogen bond systems O–H⋯O is examined using molecular orbital methods related to Lewis-electron pair theory proposed by Okada and Fueno [T. Okada, T. Fueno, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn, 49 (1976) 1524]. The hydrogen valence conservation is considered. The bond order analysis for (HCOOH) 2 , α-(COOH) 2 ·2H 2 O and H 2 SO 4 ·4H 2 O shows that the bond–valence sum rule for hydrogen-bond systems is realised by the fact that the hydrogen valence conservation is approximately achieved thanks to the polarization effect and the charge transfer effect. Based on the bond order analyses for the symmetric hydrogen bond systems and B 2 H 6 molecule, a revised valence concept is proposed as a rewritten expression of the bond–valence sum rule.
Avalanche photodiodes for detection of eye-safe laser pulses

Low noise, high speed laser detectors sensitive to eye-safe laser wavelengths (near 1.5 micrometer) are of great importance in next-generation laser rangefinders, or laser radar applications. Improved signal-to-noise performance, and thus improved range or decreased laser power, can be achieved through the use of avalanche photodiodes (APD) in place of unity gain PIN detectors. The noise behavior of the APD is crucial in determining the overall performance of these systems. We will discuss intrinsic and extrinsic limits to performance for several different APD material systems sensitive to eye-safe lasers, including a detailed comparison of HgCdTe, InGaAs, and several other material systems.
Mixed Membership Subspace Clustering

Clustering is one of the fundamental data mining tasks. While traditional clustering techniques assign each object to a single cluster only, in many applications it has been observed that objects might belong to multiple clusters with different degrees. In this work, we present a Bayesian framework to tackle the challenge of mixed membership clustering for vector data. We exploit the ideas of subspace clustering where the relevance of dimensions might be different for each cluster. Combining the relevance of the dimensions with the cluster membership degree of the objects, we propose a novel type of mixture model able to represent data containing mixed membership subspace clusters. For learning our model, we develop an efficient algorithm based on variational inference allowing easy parallelization. In our empirical study on synthetic and real data we show the strengths of our novel clustering technique.
System reliability and congestion in a material handling system

Abstract Congestion in a transportation system prevents vehicles from traveling freely. Therefore, congestion in a material handling system can reduce the system's performance. This paper: (1) develops an analytical methodology for measuring congestion in a material handling system, (2) develops a congestion measure that is measurable in real-time and readily incorporated into existing analytical models for material handling system design and (3) develops quantitative relationships between critical material handling system variables and system congestion.
Hybrid inorganic-organic frameworks containing magnesium : Synthesis and structures of magnesium squarate, diglycolate, and glutarate, and potassium magnesium cyclobutanetetracarboxylate

Abstract Four new magnesium containing metal–organic hybrid compounds have been synthesized in an effort to prepare low-density materials for hydrogen storage. The compounds were prepared hydrothermally and characterized using single crystal X-ray diffraction. Three of these compounds are analogs of known transition metal structures with squarate (I, Pn-3n, a = 16.276(5) A), diglycolate (II, P212121, a = 6.860(1) A, b = 9.993(1) A, c = 10.884(1) A, R1 = 0.0341), and glutarate (III, R-3, a = 10.744(2) A, c = 28.677(5) A, R1 = 0.0554) ligands; the fourth is a novel structure using cyclobutanetetracarboxylate (IV, Pccn, a = 9.382(1) A, b = 14.410(2) A, c = 8.725(1) A, R1 = 0.0465) which contains potassium as well as magnesium cations.
Procreative sex in infertile couples: the decay of pleasure? A letter to the editor

A response to Marci et al. ‘Procreative sex in infertile couples: the decay of pleasure?’ This is a reply to http://www.hqlo.com/content/pdf/1477-7525-11-52.pdf .
Relations between Housing Characteristics and the Well-Being of Low-Income Children and Adolescents.

Extant research has highlighted the importance of multiple characteristics of housing but has not comprehensively assessed a broad range of housing characteristics and their relative contributions to children's well-being. Using a representative, longitudinal sample of low-income children and adolescents from low-income urban neighborhoods (N = 2,437, ages 2-21 years) from the Three-City Study, this study assessed housing quality, stability, type (i.e., ownership status and subsidy status), and cost simultaneously to delineate their unique associations with children's development. Hierarchical linear models found that poor housing quality was most consistently associated with children's and adolescents' development, including worse emotional and behavioral functioning and lower cognitive skills. These associations operated in part through mothers' psychological functioning. Residential instability showed mixed links with functioning, whereas housing cost and type were not consistently predictive. Results suggest that housing contexts are associated with functioning across the developmental span from early childhood through late adolescence, with some differences in patterns by child age.
Boron carbide structure by Raman spectroscopy

We have obtained and analyzed Raman spectra of single-crystal, hot-pressed, and chemical-vapor-deposited boron carbide materials over their single-phase region (from {similar to}9 to {similar to}20 at. % carbon). These spectra provide insight into the substitutional disorder that characterizes these structurally ordered solids. In particular, although icosahedra and chain structures occupy regular lattice positions, there is local substitutional disorder resulting from the occupancy of certain sites within the icosahedra and chains by either boron or carbon atoms. Comparison of boron carbide Raman spectra with the Raman spectra of {alpha}-rhombohedral boron, boron phosphide, and boron arsenide has confirmed the following structural model derived from theoretical considerations and electrical and thermal transport data. The boron carbide composition with nearly 20 at. % carbon is composed of B{sub 11}C icosahedra linked by carbon-boron-carbon chains. As the carbon content is reduced toward approximately 13 at. %, carbon-boron-carbon chains are progressively replaced by carbon-boron-boron chains. Further reduction in the carbon content results in the replacement of B{sub 11}C icosahedra with B{sub 12} icosahedra.
Recent Advances in the Molecular Biology of West Nile Virus

Since the mid-1990s, West Nile virus (WNV) has emerged as a significant agent of arboviral encephalitis in several regions of the world. In 1999, WNV was introduced into the northeastern United States and was associated with an outbreak of encephalitis affecting humans, birds and horses. Subsequently, the virus has spread across the country, and across southern Canada, and in 2002 and 2003 was associated with the largest outbreaks of arboviral encephalitis recorded in the Western hemisphere. Interestingly, the more recent spread of WNV into Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean has not been associated with the high levels of clinical disease observed in North America. This review addresses the most recent results from studies investigating the molecular biology and evolution of WNV, as well as progress in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic reagents.
Design and simulation of miniaturized PIFA antenna for biomedical sensors

Dielectric properties (permittivity and conductivity) of biological tissues are interest for biomedical microwave imaging. These properties should be measured in vivo to provide correct images of the tissue. Although there is a significant research done on ex-vivo and in-vitro tissue measurements, the in-vivo measurements have been limited due to the need for surgery or implanted sensors.
Old HDL learns a new (anti-inflammatory) trick.

In addition to its canonical role in reverse cholesterol transport, high-density lipoprotein can suppress inflammation in target cells through the induction of Atf3, which encodes a well-known transcriptional repressor.
Sensitivity of N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor–Mediated Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials and Synaptic Plasticity to TCN 201 and TCN 213 in Rat Hippocampal Slices

Whereas ifenprodil has been used as a selective GluN1/GluN2B (NR1/NR2B, B-type) receptor antagonist to distinguish between GluN2B (NR2B) and GluN2A (NR2A)-containing N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), TCN 201 (3-chloro-4-fluoro-N-[4-[[2-(phenylcarbonyl)hydrazino]carbonyl]benzyl]benzenesulphonamide) and TCN 213 [N-(cyclohexylmethyl)-2-[{5-[(phenylmethyl)amino]-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl}thio]acetamide] have been found to be selective GluN1/GluN2A (NR1/NR2A, A-type) antagonists. Based on the premise that A- and B-types are major synaptic NMDARs, we examined whether inhibition of NMDAR excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) by the TCN compounds and ifenprodil are complementary. Contrary to this prediction, inhibition of NMDAR EPSPs by the TCN compounds and ifenprodil were largely overlapping in the CA1 region of hippocampal slices from 30-day-old rats. After partial inhibition by ifenprodil, TCN compounds produced little further suppression of NMDAR EPSPs. Similarly, after partial inhibition by TCN compounds ifenprodil failed to further suppress NMDAR EPSPs. However, low micromolar d-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate, a competitive NMDAR antagonist, which alone only partially inhibits NMDAR EPSPs, markedly suppresses residual NMDAR responses in the presence of ifenprodil or the TCNs, suggesting that low 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate antagonizes both ifenprodil- and TCN-insensitive synaptic NMDARs. These observations can be most readily interpreted if ifenprodil and TCNs act on a similar population of synaptic NMDARs. Recent lines of evidence suggest that the majority of hippocampal synaptic NMDARs are triheteromers. If so, modulation of GluN2A, and not just GluN2B NMDARs, could dampen long-term depression (LTD). Indeed, both TCNs, like ifenprodil, blocked LTD, suggesting the involvement of ifenprodil- and TCN-sensitive NMDARs in LTD induction. However, the TCNs plus ifenprodil failed to inhibit long-term potentiation (LTP), suggesting that neither ifenprodil- nor TCN-sensitive NMDARs are essential for LTP induction.
Analysis of Pavement Rutting Data from FHWA Pavement Testing Facility Superpave Validation Study

Since 1986, FHWA has been performing accelerated pavement tests at its Pavement Testing Facility (PTF) located on the grounds of the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center. At this laboratory, FHWA uses two accelerated loading facility pavement testing machines to simulate the effects of heavy vehicle loading on full-scale test pavements. In 1992, FHWA, with help from Strategic Highway Research Program staff and contractors, started an experiment to validate selected aspects of the Superpave binder specification using accelerated pavement tests. Twelve test lanes with 48 individual test sites were constructed at the PTF in 1993. The results of accelerated pavement tests on these pavements will be used to validate the Superpave binder parameters for rutting and fatigue cracking.