cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Turbulent flow visualization by interferometric integral imaging and computed tomography

An experimental system using integral interferometric imaging and computer tomography for visualizing the structure of a turbulent, vertical helium jet is described. Integral images and tomographic integral data were obtained using a pulsed phase-shifted interferometer. The integral images revealed a sinuous overall jet structure and large-scale buckling motions in the far-field. Tomographic reconstruction of jet cross-sections at numerous axial locations were made for three turbulent jets at two different Reynols numbers, 2,800 and 4,300. Tomographic images revealed unmixed ambient fluid far inside the jet boundary and a bimodal concentration distribution. Image interpretation and experimental errors are discussed.
Gossamer superconductor, Mott insulator, and resonating valence bond state in correlated electron systems.

Gutzwiller variational method is applied to an effective two-dimensional Hubbard model to examine the recently proposed gossamer superconductor by Laughlin (LANL cond-mat/0209269). The ground state at half filled electron density is a gossamer superconductor for smaller intrasite Coulomb repulsion $U$ and a Mott insulator for larger $U$. The gossamer superconducting state is similar to the resonating valence bond superconducting state, except that the chemical potential is approximately pinned at the mid of the two Hubbard bands away from the half filled.
The revised 56-item CRPBI as a research instrument: Reliability and factor structure.

The utility of the revised 56-item Child's Report of Parental Behavior Inventory (CRPBI), an instrument less cumbersome than the 260-item original, was examined. Study I found the instrument to be highly reliable at 1-week and 5-week retest intervals. Study II found the factor structure of the revision similar to that of the original, with Factor III somewhat less stable than the other two factors. It was concluded that, in general, the 56-item CRPBI appeared to stand up well as a research instrument.
A murine fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor expressed in CHO cells is activated by basic FGF and Kaposi FGF.

Abstract We have cloned a murine cDNA encoding a tyrosine kinase receptor with about 90% similarity to the chicken fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor and the human fms-like gene (FLG) tyrosine kinase. This mouse receptor lacks 88 amino acids in the extracellular portion, leaving only two immunoglobulin-like domains compared to three in the chicken FGF receptor. The cDNA was cloned into an expression vector and transfected into receptor-negative CHO cells. We show that cells expressing the receptor can bind both basic FGF and Kaposi FGF. Although the receptor binds basic FGF with a 15- to 20-fold higher affinity, Kaposi FGF is able to induce down-regulation of the receptor to the same extent as basic FGF. The receptor is phosphorylated upon stimulation with both FGFs, DNA synthesis is stimulated, and a proliferative response is produced in cells expressing the receptor, whereas cells expressing the cDNA in the antisense orientation show none of these responses to basic FGF or Kaposi FGF. Thus this receptor can functionally interact with two growth factors of the FGF family.
Dissociation Constant, Ka, and Stability Constant, K(HA2-), of the 1:1 Homoconjugate of Sulfuric and Nitric Acids in Acetonitrile at 298.1 K. Revised Values

Previously reported values of pKa and K(HA2-) of sulfuric (first step) and nitric acids in acetonitrile derived from spectrophotometric indicator data have been revised. The revised values are 8.04, 2.7 × 103 mol-1 dm3 and 10.59, 1.2 × 103 mol-1 dm3, respectively. Both Ka and K(HA2-) of sulfuric acid are some 1.7 times smaller than those reported from potentiometric glass electrode data. An estimate of KaK(HA2-) of sulfuric acid was made from simultaneous spectrophotometric nitroaniline indicator and electrolytic conductivity measurements in solutions allowed to stand for various times. The glass electrode was used in mixtures of nitric acid and tetraethylammonium nitrate, pKa and K(HA2-) being 10.53 and 1.15 × 103 mol-1 dm3, respectively. The homoconjugation constant was verified from the increase in solubility of sodium nitrate in the presence of nitric acid. The protonation constant of aniline, 1010.57 mol-1 dm3, was determined spectrophotometrically in aniline−anilinium perchlorate mixtures with p,p‘-...
Both human ferredoxins 1 and 2 and ferredoxin reductase are important for iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis

Ferredoxins are iron–sulfur proteins that have been studied for decades because of their role in facilitating the monooxygenase reactions catalyzed by p450 enzymes. More recently, studies in bacteria and yeast have demonstrated important roles for ferredoxin and ferredoxin reductase in iron–sulfur cluster assembly. The human genome contains two homologous ferredoxins, ferredoxin 1 (FDX1) and ferredoxin 2 (FDX2 — formerly known as ferredoxin 1L). More recently, the roles of these two human ferredoxins in iron–sulfur cluster assembly were assessed, and it was concluded that FDX1 was important solely for its interaction with p450 enzymes to synthesize mitochondrial steroid precursors, whereas FDX2 was used for synthesis of iron–sulfur clusters, but not steroidogenesis. To further assess the role of the FDX–FDXR system in mammalian iron–sulfur cluster biogenesis, we performed siRNA studies on FDX1 and FDX2, on several human cell lines, using oligonucleotides identical to those previously used, along with new oligonucleotides that specifically targeted each gene. We concluded that both FDX1 and FDX2 were important in iron–sulfur cluster biogenesis. Loss of FDX1 activity disrupted activity of iron–sulfur cluster enzymes and cellular iron homeostasis, causing mitochondrial iron overload and cytosolic iron depletion. Moreover, knockdown of the sole human ferredoxin reductase, FDXR, diminished iron–sulfur cluster assembly and caused mitochondrial iron overload in conjunction with cytosolic depletion. Our studies suggest that interference with any of the three related genes, FDX1, FDX2 or FDXR, disrupts iron–sulfur cluster assembly and maintenance of normal cytosolic and mitochondrial iron homeostasis.
Towards an error-free Arabic stemming

Stemming is a computational process for reducing words to their roots (or stems). It can be classified as a recall-enhancing or precision-enhancing component.Existing Arabic stemmers suffer from high stemming error-rates. Arabic stemmers blindly stem all the words and perform poorly especially with compound words, nouns and foreign Arabized words.The Educated Text Stemmer (ETS) is presented in this paper. ETS is a dictionary free, simple, and highly effective Arabic stemming algorithm that can reduce stemming errors in addition to decreasing computational time and data storage.The novelty of the work arises from the use of neglected Arabic stop-words. These stop-words can be highly important and can provide a significant improvement to processing Arabic documents.The ETS stemmer is evaluated by comparison with output from human generated stemming and the stemming weight technique.
Measurement of fiber-cladding diameter uniformity by use of whispering-gallery modes: nanometer resolution in diameter variations along millimeter to centimeter lengths.

Variations in fiber-cladding diameter on a nanometer scale were measured along millimeter to centimeter lengths by use of whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) in the elastic scattering of the fiber. The fiber was side coupled with a wavelength-tunable Gaussian beam. The scattered light was imaged ≈1:1 onto a multichannel photodiode array detector. Based on the WGM wavelength shifts along the fiber, the taper of the fiber cladding’s diameter was measured on a nanometer/millimeter scale. The fiber’s surface roughness amplitude (in nanometers) and granular size ≈100 μm along centimeter-length fibers could also be revealed by use of higher-Q resonances.
Developing Model-Based Indices of Lake Whitefish Abundance Using Commercial Fishery Catch and Effort Data in Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior

Abstract Fishery catch per effort (CPE) is often used to assess relative fish abundance, and in many Great Lakes and other freshwater applications the CPE index is based on either an average or the ratio of summed aggregate catch to summed aggregate effort. In particular, assessments used to estimate the abundance of lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis and recommend harvest quotas in 1836 Treaty-ceded waters of Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior assume that commercial CPE from gill-net and trap-net fisheries is proportional to abundance; however, CPE may change due to factors other than abundance, leading to violations of this assumption. To account for sources of CPE variation that are not attributable to abundance, general linear mixed models (GLMMs) were developed for each management unit and least-squares means (LSMs) for each year were used as the index of abundance. The effect of using the GLMM method for standardization was evaluated by examining the temporal trends in the proportional differenc...
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction Of Calbon Black Chains Using An Automated Stereographic Technique

A method for calculating the three-dimensional structure of suspended chains of carbon black revealed by transmission electron microscopy is presented. The method is a general one involving the interpretation of inclined projections of thin transparent objects to determine the spatial characteristics of microscopic features. The reconstruction technique consists of five sections: preprocessing, segmentation, classification, correlation and spatial reconstruction. Preprocessing consists of sharpening the features in the electron micrographs which are inherently too diffuse for the application of standard image analysis techniques. Image segmentation involves dividing of the image into its basic components (feature records) which are later combined to reconstruct the object in three-dimensions. The feature records are classified using a clustering k-mean algorithm and the correlation between the images is accomplished using an algorithm which learns class correlation based on the known axis of rotation and the uniqueness of the correlation. Once the features have been correlated it is possible to locate the three-dimensional features in space based upon their relative disparity. The spatial information can also be used to identify the features which may not otherwise be a unique solution and the artificial intelligence methods used for this aspect of the solution will also be discussed.
A chemical equilibrium model of solution behavior and solubility in the H-Na-K-Ca-OH-Cl-HSO4-SO4-H2O system to high concentration and temperature

Abstract This paper describes a chemical model that calculates solute and solvent activities and solid-liquid equilibria in the H-Na-K-OH-Cl-HSO 4 -SO 4 -H 2 O system from dilute to high solution concentration within the 0° to 250°C temperature range. All binary and ternary subsystems are included in the model parameterization. The model is validated by comparing predictions with experimental data, primarily in higher order systems, not used in the parameterization process. Limitations of the model due to data insufficiencies are discussed. The Harvie and Weare ( GCA 44, 981, 1980) solubility modeling approach, incorporating their implementation of the concentration-dependent specific interaction equations of Pitzer ( J. Phys. Chem. 77, 268, 1973), is employed. This model expands the variable temperature Na-K-Cl-SO 4 -H 2 O model of Greenberg and Moller ( GCA 53, 2503, 1989) by including acid (H 2 SO 4 , HCl) and base (NaOH, KOH) species. Temperature functions for the chemical potentials of 5 acidic (sodium bisulfate, sodium sesquisulfate, mercallite, potassium sesquisulfate and misenite) and 6 basic (4 sodium hydroxide hydrates and 2 potassium hydroxide hydrates) solid phases are determined.
Direct estimates on intersection probabilities of random walks

A study is made of intersection properties of independent random walks in d-dimensional lattice space Z{sup d}. A simple method is developed which makes it possible to estimate intersection probabilities of two random walks with killing rate m directly. It is expected that the method can be generalized and extended to other issues.
Providing for Culturally Diverse College Students.

Abstract The DICSIE Model includes the phases Describe, Interact, Control, Select, Instruct, and Evaluate. This systematic approach personalizes instruction in teacher education, especially with culturally diverse students. With a little effort and creativity, the college classroom can be a model of not only what to teach but how to teach.
Similar neurobehavioral outcome after valve or coronary artery operations despite differing carotid embolic counts.

Abstract Objectives: The interrelationships among coronary and valvular operations, microemboli, and neurobehavioral outcome are unclear. We hypothesized that adult patients undergoing cardiac valve operations would have more total emboli delivered to the brain than patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and that this would associate with worse neurobehavioral outcomes. Methods: One hundred ninety-three patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and 73 patients undergoing cardiac valve operations were compared. Patients received neurologic, neuro-ophthalmologic, and 11 standardized neurobehavioral tests preoperatively and 5 to 7 days, 1 month, and 6 months postoperatively. Left common carotid Doppler ultrasonographic embolus detection was performed intraoperatively. Repeated measures and logistic regression analyses of outcome were performed. Results: Patients undergoing either coronary or valve operations were well matched by age (61 ± 10 and 59 ± 12 years, respectively), but a significantly greater fraction of patients undergoing valve operations were female, diabetic, or had undergone previous cardiac operations. Neurobehavioral scores of patients undergoing either coronary artery bypass grafting or cardiac valve operations did not differ significantly at any time. Total embolus counts differed significantly: the median was 105 during coronary artery bypass grafting and 479 during cardiac valve operations (geometric means of 104 and 412, respectively; P = .0001). Significantly more emboli were detected in the patients undergoing cardiac valve operations after removal of the left ventricular vent and after separation from cardiopulmonary bypass, but comparable numbers of emboli were seen in the 2 groups before cardiopulmonary bypass. In both groups decreased neurobehavioral performance was apparent at 5 to 7 days, with improvement at 1 and 6 months. Increasing numbers of carotid emboli significantly associated with worse performance on the letter cancellation test. There were no significant differences between patients undergoing valve and coronary operations in neurobehavioral outcomes, strokes, transient ischemic attacks, or deaths. Conclusions: The significantly greater number of emboli in the group of patients undergoing cardiac valve operations is likely the result of the entrainment of intracardiac air. The greater numbers of emboli during cardiac valve operations do not appear associated with a commensurately greater risk of adverse neurologic or neurobehavioral outcome. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001;121:125-36)
Assessing Micellar Interaction and Growth in Detergent Solutions Used to Crystallize Integral Membrane Proteins

Integral membrane proteins are solubilized in aqueous solutions by the addition of detergent, creating protein−detergent complexes (PDCs), which can then be crystallized. Interactions between the detergent moieties of PDCs contribute significantly to their crystallization behavior. Interaction forces can be quantified using the second osmotic virial coefficient (B22). The B22 behavior of protein-free detergent micelles is a good predictor of the behavior of the corresponding PDCs under similar conditions, suggesting that detergent B22 measurements can be used as a screening tool when crystallizing PDCs. However, if the micelle size varies, B22 measurements will not accurately reflect micelle−micelle forces. We therefore examined micelle size in a model detergent system, using small-angle X-ray scattering and static and dynamic light scattering, assessing the effects of temperature, detergent concentration, and precipitant on B22 and micelle size. In the absence of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), decreases in...
Production of Soluble Virulence Factor by Escherichia Coli

AbstractExperimental evidence suggests that adherence is a prerequisite for bacterial infection. We demonstrated that transitional cells at the surface of the bladder are coated with glycosaminoglycans (proteoglycans and mucus) whose presence efficiently decreases bacterial adherence to the mucosa. Exposure of mucus to protamine sulfate, a quaternary amine (known to form salts with glycosaminoglycans and inactivate them) significantly increases the bacterial adherence to the bladder.Investigators have primarily focused on bacterial surface factors (that is pili or fimbriae, glycocalix) in relation to the ability to adhere. We explored the hypothesis that Escherichia coli produces a soluble virulence factor that increases the infection rate in rabbits by promoting bacterial adherence to the bladder mucosa. In addition, it was proposed that this factor is a quaternary amine similar to protamine. For these studies an in vivo bacterial infection assay (which we described previously in rabbits) was used to exa...
A generalization of Baer’s Lemma

There is a classical result known as Baer’s Lemma that states that an R-module E is injective if it is injective for R. This means that if a map from a submodule of R, that is, from a left ideal L of R to E can always be extended to R, then a map to E from a submodule A of any R-module B can be extended to B; in other words, E is injective. In this paper, we generalize this result to the category qω consisting of the representations of an infinite line quiver. This generalization of Baer’s Lemma is useful in proving that torsion free covers exist for qω.
Teachers' Perceptions of Principals Affect Collaborative Efforts

If teachers perceive their principals as "closed'—inaccessible, unsupportive,and insecure—they shy away fromprincipals' efforts to involve them in collaborative school improvementefforts. Principals should assess theirleadership style to determine howthey present themselves.
The role of major histocompatibility complex class I antigens in tumorigenesis: future applications in cancer therapy

Presentation du complexe majeur d'histocompatibilite, des antigenes de classe I, et cellules immunitaires, intervenant dans l'elimination des cellules tumorales (lymphocytes T et B, cellules NK, lymphocytes infiltrant les tumeurs). Description de modeles animal sur lesquels sont menes des protocoles d'immunotherapie. Developpement du role des antigenes de classe I chez l'homme, avec presentations des differentes pathologies susceptibles d'etre traitees par immunotherapie
A locality-aware bi-level mesh-mesh 2d-noc architecture for future thousand core CMPs

The scalability of the flat-mesh network-on-chip (NoC) architecture is limited due to the increase in the network diameter. In this work, a locality-aware bi-level mesh-mesh network architecture is proposed to balance the number of packets injected between the top and bottom level networks, without placing any constraints on the destination nodes. The results of the network analysis for a 1024 core CMP demonstrate an increase of upto ≈ 34% in the throughput compared to a flat-mesh, while consuming upto ≈ 10% less energy per flit. In comparison to a hierarchical CMesh NoC topology, the proposed network provides upto 2.5 X improvement in the throughput while consuming approximately the same amount of energy per flit. Similar results of higher throughput and low energy compared to the flat-mesh and CMesh NoC topologies are observed down to smaller 100-core CMPs.
Integrating Palliative and Critical Care: Evaluation of a Quality-Improvement Intervention

Rationale: Palliative care in the intensive care unit (ICU) is an important focus for quality improvement. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-faceted quality improvement intervention to improve palliative care in the ICU. Methods: We performed a single-hospital, before–after study of a quality-improvement intervention to improve palliative care in the ICU. The intervention consisted of clinician education, local champions, academic detailing, feedback to clinicians, and system support. Consecutive patients who died in the ICU were identified pre- (n = 253) and postintervention (n = 337). Families completed Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit (FS-ICU) and Quality of Dying and Death (QODD) surveys. Nurses completed the QODD. The QODD and FS-ICU were scored from 0 to 100. We used Mann-Whitney tests to assess family results and hierarchical linear modeling for nurse results. Measurements and Main Results: There were 590 patients who died in the ICU or within 24 hours of transfer; 496 had an identified family member. The response rate for family members was 55% (275 of 496) and for nurses, 89% (523/590). The primary outcome, the family QODD, showed a trend toward improvement (pre, 62.3; post, 67.1), but was not statistically significant (P = 0.09). Family satisfaction increased but not significantly. The nurse QODD showed significant improvement (pre, 63.1; post, 67.1; P < 0.01) and there was a significant reduction in ICU days before death (pre, 7.2; post, 5.8; P < 0.01). Conclusions: We found no significant improvement in family-assessed quality of dying or in family satisfaction with care, we found but significant improvement in nurse-assessed quality of dying and reduction in ICU length of stay with an intervention to integrate palliative care in the ICU. Improving family ratings may require interventions that have more direct contact with family members.
Price Elasticities of Demand for Individual Commodities Imported into the United States

THE ESTIMATES of price elasticities in international trade which have so far been published have been derived mostly by applying correlation techniques. The application of these techniques is subject to a number of disadvantages.' An alternative method of approach, which may be of particular significance, is to determine elasticities from the long-run effects to be expected from tariff changes, based on a study of the characteristics of demand and supply in the markets of individual commodities.
Outlier detection in multivariate analytical chemical data.

The unreliability of multivariate outlier detection techniques such as Mahalanobis distance and hat matrix leverage has been known in the statistical community for well over a decade. However, only within the past few years has a serious effort been made to introduce robust methods for the detection of multivariate outliers into the chemical literature. Techniques such as the minimum volume ellipsoid (MVE), multivariate trimming (MVT), and M-estimators (e.g., PROP), and others similar to them, such as the minimum covariance determinant (MCD), rely upon algorithms that are difficult to program and may require significant processing times. While MCD and MVE have been shown to be statistically sound, we found MVT unreliable due to the method's use of the Mahalanobis distance measure in its initial step. We examined the performance of MCD and MVT on selected data sets and in simulations and compared the results with two methods of our own devising. Both the proposed resampling by the half-means method and the smallest half-volume method are simple to use, are conceptually clear, and provide results superior to MVT and the current best-performing technique, MCD. Either proposed method is recommended for the detection of multiple outliers in multivariate data.
Taking evidence-based coping skills training to the internet.

Coping skills training (CST) addresses adolescents’ coping skills and behavior patterns related to type 1 diabetes management and has demonstrated improved health and quality of life outcomes [1, 2]. CST is delivered in small groups and attempts to promote adaptive coping skills that translate to improved abilities to solve problems around diabetes management. CST trials have evidenced a large effect size, making this approach one of the best supported among adherence-promoting interventions for this population [3]. Internet-based health promotion interventions are growing in popularity, with benefits including wide accessibility, appeal to teenagers, potential for individualized content and contact between users, and demonstrated impact on health and mental health outcomes [4]. Considering the established efficacy of CST and the potential advantages of intervention delivery via the Internet, a team of investigators set about adapting CST for Internet delivery.
A Radiation-Hardened I2L 8 × 8 Multiplier Circuit

Development of improved Substrate Fed I2L (SFL) processing has been combined with geometry and fanout constraints to design a radiation hardened LSI 8 × 8 Multiplier. This paper will describe details of the process and circuit design and give resultant electrical and radiation test performance.
The Maintenance Need for Water in Parenteral Fluid Therapy

In the category of genitourinary and fluid and electrolyte disorders, no paper bridges the discoveries of the 1930s through the 1950s and the practice of today as does the classic paper of Holliday and Segar.1 Today house officers and staff physicians use this same simple method for estimating insensible and urinary water losses of a child or adult of any size or age. Current textbooks and the latest editions of commonly used house officer manuals use this method of determining maintenance water needs based on calorie expenditure.2-5 This method involves a simple formula that relates the average calorie expenditure of a … Address correspondence to Russell W. Chesney, MD, University of Tennessee, Memphis; Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, 50 N Dunlap, Room 306, Memphis, TN 38103.
Physical models enhance molecular three-dimensional literacy in an introductory biochemistry course*

This article reports the results of a recent study to evaluate the usefulness of physical models of molecular structures as a new tool with which to teach concepts of molecular structure and function. Of seven different learning tools used by students in this introductory biochemistry class, the use of the physical models in a laboratory was rated as most useful. These results suggest that physical models can play an important role in capturing the interest of students in the subject of molecular structure and function. These physical models often stimulate more sophisticated questions in the minds of students, which can then be more appropriately explored using computer visualization tools.
Growth of the computing literature as reflected in the Computing Information Directory , 1981–1995

TheComputing Information Directory has been a road map to the computing literature since 1981. The increase in the number of serials since the first edition reflects the evolution of the computer from a research tool used by a few to a broad-based personal business and entertainment product used by the general public.
Combating emerging viral threats

Although hundreds of viruses are known to cause human disease, antiviral therapies are approved for fewer than 10. Most approved antiviral drugs target viral enzymes, most commonly proteases and polymerases. Such direct acting antivirals (DAAs) have shown considerable success in the treatment of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. However, this approach does not scale easily and is limited particularly with respect to emerging and reemerging viruses against which no vaccines or antiviral therapies are approved.
Gender and computer-mediated communication

A case study analyzed employees' attitudes toward, and experiences with, an intraorganizational electronic mail system. Results revealed that females perceived e-mail to be easier to use, more efficient, and more effective than males. They also gave higher ratings of appropriateness for using e-mail to transmit certain types of messages. Females (particularly managers) were more likely than their male counterparts to rely on co-workers to learn how to use e-mail. More females used the computer system for word processing, while more males and whites (who comprised 82.2% of the sample) had off-site connections to the computer system. No other distinctions were found regarding race—ethnicity. Implications for future research are discussed.
Low-cost sequencing opens new insights into diverse plant genomes

A report on the Plant Genomes and Biotechnology: From Genes to Networks meeting, held at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 30 November to 3 December 2011.
An integral method for two‐temperature ionizing laminar boundary layers

An integral method is developed in order to solve approximately the governing equations for a multitemperature, nonequilibrium ionizing, compressible boundary layer. This method is based on classical momentum and energy integral methods which are used in conjunction with the Howarth–Dorodnitsyn transformation. A novel feature of this method is the separate treatment of the translational or sensible energy equations for each species. As an illustrative example, this method is applied to the problem of a shock‐generated ionizing argon boundary layer on a flat surface at a uniform temperature. Reasonable agreement for this case is found between this approximate theory and existing experimental and numerical results.
The Incidence of Ischemic Stroke versus Intracerebral Hemorrhage after Carotid Endarterectomy: A Review of 2452 Cases

Carotid endarterectomy is a frequently performed vascular procedure. The most common major perioperative neurologic complication is ischemic stroke. Intracerebral hemorrhage has been traditionally viewed as less common. It has been recently proposed that as technical advances are made, the rate of ischemic stroke and other complications has decreased, causing hemorrhagic stroke to attain increasing importance as a perioperative complication. A review of 2452 consecutive endarterectomies performed by a single surgeon from 1983 to 2000 was performed and rates of ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes were analyzed. There were five hemorrhagic strokes for a rate 0.20% (13.5% of postoperative neurologic complications) and 32 with ischemic strokes for a rate of 1.31% (86.5% of postoperative neurologic complications). From these data we conclude that hemorrhagic stroke remains uncommon and ischemic stroke continues to be the most frequent cause of postoperative neurologic complication after carotid endarterectomy.
Maintenance of intraoral pressure during speech after maxillary resection

Although structural defects such as cleft palate and severe anterior open bite alter vocal tract resistance, compensatory responses usually result in maintaining consonant pressures at an adequate level. The purpose of the present study was to determine if individuals with an acquired palatal defect spontaneously develop similar compensatory behaviors. The pressure‐flow technique was used to measure aerodynamic variables associated with consonant production after surgery and obturation. Although intraoral pressures decreased considerably immediately after surgery, pressures were maintained at a mean level of 3.5‐cm H2O. Respiratory volumes increased as much as fourfold without obturation and were normal with obturation. Voice–voiceless differences in air volumes among consonants were maintained even in the presence of the defect. These findings suggest that compensatory responses are directed toward maintaining an appropriate level of intraoral pressure for consonant production.
Cyclical Distribution of Dispersed Organic Matter and Dinocysts, ODP Site 959 (early Oligocene-early Miocene, Côte D'Ivoire-Ghana Transform Margin)

Abstract The Oligocene/Miocene boundary interval at Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 959 on the Cote d'Ivoire‐Ghana Transform Margin is characterized by cyclical variations in siliceous and mixed calcareous‐siliceous deposits. This cyclical pattern is reflected in the distribution of dispersed organic matter in the deposits, which shows an alternation between dominantly marine organic matter and mixed marine‐terrestrial matter. There is some correlation between the composition and abundance of dispersed organic matter, dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts), and calcareous and siliceous microfossils in the deposits. A study of the dinocysts revealed(1)an abundance of inner neritic forms in a deep marine (bathyal) setting, and (2) a pattern of cyclical alternation of the dominant dinocysts between gonyaulacalean and peridinialean forms. Spiniferites spp., and to a much lesser extent Hystrichokolpoma rigaudiae, are the most common gonyaulacoid dinocysts. One sample contains a noticeable proportion (6%) of the ou...
MDMA (ecstasy) use is associated with reduced BOLD signal change during semantic recognition in abstinent human polydrug users: a preliminary fMRI study

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) users have impaired verbal memory, and voxel-based morphometry has shown decreased grey matter in Brodmann area (BA) 18, 21 and 45. Because these regions play a role in verbal memory, we hypothesized that MDMA users would show altered brain activation in these areas during performance of a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) task that probed semantic verbal memory. Polysubstance users enriched for MDMA exposure participated in a semantic memory encoding and recognition fMRI task that activated left BA 9, 18, 21/22 and 45. Primary outcomes were percent blood oxygen level-dependent signal change in left BA 9, 18, 21/22 and 45, accuracy and response time. During semantic recognition, lifetime MDMA use was associated with decreased activation in left BA 9, 18 and 21/22 but not 45. This was partly influenced by contributions from cannabis and cocaine use. MDMA exposure was not associated with accuracy or response time during the semantic recognition task. During semantic recognition, MDMA exposure was associated with reduced regional brain activation in regions mediating verbal memory. These findings partially overlap with previous structural evidence for reduced grey matter in MDMA users and may, in part, explain the consistent verbal memory impairments observed in other studies of MDMA users.
Theoretical aspects of surface-to-volume ratios and water-storage capacities of succulent shoots.

Surface-to-volume (S/V) ratios of drought-adapted plants affect transpiration, photosynthesis, and water-storage capacity. The S/V ratio of cladodes and flat leaves is S/V 5 2/T, where T is thickness: even slight thickening greatly reduces S/V. During rain/drought cycles succulent stems swell and shrink without tearing by having flexible ribs, but ribs increase S/V above that of a smooth cylindrical stem with equal volume: the increased surface area is Sribbed/Scylindrical 5 N /p ), where N is number of ribs and 22 ˇ[x 1 (p/N )] ˇ(1 1 x x is rib height relative to the radius of the inner stem. Numerous low ribs provide moderate expandability (storage volume) with little increase in S/V and are adaptive where droughts are short. Tall ribs provide greater expandability but greatly increase S/V and probably are adaptive only in mesic habitats. Having ;8‐15 ribs, each about as tall as the inner stem radius, provides large storage capacity and intermediate increase in S/V. By increasing absolute size, S/V is reduced so greatly that even large ribs can have an S/V smaller than that of a narrow cylindrical or spherical stem with less volume. Many plant species have adapted to xeric conditions by becoming succulent, and during their evolution, several problems had to be solved. First, the transpirational surface area could be reduced either temporarily by leaf abscission or permanently by evolutionary reduction of leaves. Second, sufficient water storage capacity had to be available to allow persistent organs such as buds, roots, and the stem axis to survive droughts. Third, seasonal rain/drought cycles caused the plants’ volume to increase and decrease cyclically. These three factors affect a plant’s surface-to-volume ( S/V) ratio. Simply reducing a plant’s S/V ratio to a minimum may not be an optimal survival strategy. Because the transpirational surface is typically also a photosynthetic surface, reducing surface area reduces photosynthesis (Fig. 1). If the habitat has high atmospheric humidity and only short periods without rain, then maintaining extra surface area (a non-minimum S/V ratio) may be advantageous (Figs. 2‐6). Conversely, if a plant will experience droughts that last a year or longer, large amounts of succulent tissue and a low S/V ratio may be necessary (Figs. 7, 8). Several species of cactus survive up to three years without water (Szarek and Ting, 1975; Smith and Madhaven, 1982). As the amount of succulent tissue increases in a stem, so does the potential for large changes in volume: the plant will swell greatly after a rain and shrink during drought (Nobel, 1981; Barcikowski and Nobel, 1984; Mauseth, 1995). The epidermis and hypodermis must accommodate this, but whereas young, growing dermal tissues are extremely extensible, mature ones are not: the total surface area of a region of mature stem tends to be constant. Many succulent stems have contiguous ribs that can widen or shrink at the base whenever the stem swells or contracts (Fig. 9; Porembski, Martens-Aly, and Barthlott, 1991; Felger and Henrickson, 1997). When dry, the
A Phase Ib/II Study of Gemcitabine and Docetaxel in Combination With Pazopanib for the Neoadjuvant Treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Lessons learned Our results highlight some of the challenges in the management of soft tissue sarcomas, which requires close cooperation between surgeons and medical oncologists and a careful selection of patients. The incidence of hepatotoxicity was a concerning finding and had been previously reported in patients treated with pazopanib.Although pharmacokinetic analysis was not part of this study, concomitant treatment with pazopanib has been recently reported to increase docetaxel exposure, which may explain the increased toxicity of combination regimens. It remains possible that lower doses of combined gemcitabine, docetaxel, and pazopanib may be tolerable. However, caution should be exercised in future trials investigating similar combinations. Background For extremity soft tissue sarcomas (STS), surgical resection remains the standard of care, and the addition of chemotherapy is controversial. This was a phase Ib/II trial of neoadjuvant therapy for patients with STS. Methods Patients with high grade, extremity STS of >8 cm and amenable to definitive resection were treated with up to four 21-day cycles of 900 mg/m(2) gemcitabine on days 1 and 8, 75 mg/m(2) docetaxel on day 8, and 400 mg of pazopanib daily (GDP), followed by surgery and, if indicated, radiation therapy. Primary and secondary endpoints (phase Ib portion) were the safety and rate of pathologic response. Results The trial was discontinued because of slow accrual after inclusion of five patients (leiomyosarcoma: two; undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma: three). Two patients completed four treatment cycles: one underwent surgery and one had insufficient response and received additional therapies. Three patients discontinued treatment because of toxicity. Grade 3 adverse events included hypertension, fatigue, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation, hoarseness, and myelotoxicity. There were no complete or partial responses. One patient had ≥ 90% pathologic response. Among four patients who underwent resection, three remain free of disease, and one patient eventually relapsed. Conclusion GDP combination used in the neoadjuvant setting resulted in significant toxicity; despite pathologic responses, no objective responses occurred.
The geometric median on Riemannian manifolds with application to robust atlas estimation

One of the primary goals of computational anatomy is the statistical analysis of anatomical variability in large populations of images. The study of anatomical shape is inherently related to the construction of transformations of the underlying coordinate space, which map one anatomy to another. It is now well established that representing the geometry of shapes or images in Euclidian spaces undermines our ability to represent natural variability in populations. In our previous work we have extended classical statistical analysis techniques, such as averaging, principal components analysis, and regression, to Riemannian manifolds, which are more appropriate representations for describing anatomical variability. In this paper we extend the notion of robust estimation, a well established and powerful tool in traditional statistical analysis of Euclidian data, to manifold-valued representations of anatomical variability. In particular, we extend the geometric median, a classic robust estimator of centrality for data in Euclidean spaces. We formulate the geometric median of data on a Riemannian manifold as the minimizer of the sum of geodesic distances to the data points. We prove existence and uniqueness of the geometric median on manifolds with non-positive sectional curvature and give sufficient conditions for uniqueness on positively curved manifolds. Generalizing the Weiszfeld procedure for finding the geometric median of Euclidean data, we present an algorithm for computing the geometric median on an arbitrary manifold. We show that this algorithm converges to the unique solution when it exists. In this paper we exemplify the robustness of the estimation technique by applying the procedure to various manifolds commonly used in the analysis of medical images. Using this approach, we also present a robust brain atlas estimation technique based on the geometric median in the space of deformable images.
Adolescents' Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Dysplasia

Abstract Study Objective This study examined adolescents' knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical dysplasia (CD). Factors associated with knowledge and self-reported change in health-related behaviors were identified. Design Interviews were conducted at an average of 2.5 years following the diagnosis of HPV/CD. Medical charts were reviewed. Setting The study was conducted at a university-based adolescent dysplasia clinic. Participants Fifty females, ages 15–23 participated in the study: 88% African-American, 12% Caucasian. Results On average, participants responded correctly to 86% of the questions regarding HPV/CD. However, the following key points were routinely missed: 52% did not know cigarette smoking increased the risk for cervical cancer; 42% believed that HPV/CD was always symptomatic; and 22% did not know condoms decreased the transmission of HPV. According to participants, their health care provider explained the diagnosis and treatment of HPV/CD using words they understood “some” or “most of the time.” Higher academic skills significantly correlated with greater knowledge of HPV/CD. Forty-one percent of participants with a smoking history reportedly increased their smoking since the diagnosis, and only 40% used condoms “most of the time.” However, 90% had maintained or increased their frequency of Pap tests. Conclusions Adolescent girls had knowledge of most factors related to HPV/CD, but many did not understand the risks of cigarette smoking and failure to use condoms. To improve understanding and compliance, health care providers should tailor educational strategies to the functional level of adolescents.
Magnetic brain stimulation: safety studies.

Abstract We describe short-term and long-term safety studies after low repetition rate magnetic brain stimulation in 10 normal subjects. We obtained quantitative EEG data, psychometric test results, serum prolactin and cortisol levels before and after brain stimulation. EEG and psychometric data were also obtained in 5 of these subjects 16–24 months after the initial experiment. Short-and long-term studies did not show any deleterious effects. Randt delayed recalls, however, showed a transient reduction in the score immediately after stimulation which resolved on retesting in 2 weeks. To address the question of fatigue we repeated Randt tests in 4 subjects before and after magnetic brain stimulation but without the other extensive psychometric, EEG and blood tests. Pre- and post-stimulation scores on this occasion showed no significant difference in these 4 subjects suggesting that the transient changes in the previous Randt score were related to fatigue. We conclude that single-pulse magnetic brain stimulation has no deleterious effects after magnetic brain stimulation.
The Effects of Kernel Feeding by Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on Commercial Hazelnuts

Halyomorpha halys Stal, the brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an invasive pest with established populations in Oregon. The generalist feeding habits of H. halys suggest it has the potential to be a pest of many specialty crops grown in Oregon, including hazelnuts, Corylus avellana L. The objectives of this study were to: 1) characterize the damage to developing hazelnut kernels resulting from feeding by H. halys adults, 2) determine how the timing of feeding during kernel development influences damage to kernels, and 3) determine if hazelnut shell thickness has an effect on feeding frequency on kernels. Adult brown marmorated stink bugs were allowed to feed on developing nuts for 1-wk periods from initial kernel development (spring) until harvest (fall). Developing nuts not exposed to feeding by H. halys served as a control treatment. The degree of damage and diagnostic symptoms corresponded with the hazelnut kernels' physiological development. Our results demonstrated that when H. halys fed on hazelnuts before kernel expansion, development of the kernels could cease, resulting in empty shells. When stink bugs fed during kernel expansion, kernels appeared malformed. When stink bugs fed on mature nuts the kernels exhibited corky, necrotic areas. Although significant differences in shell thickness were observed among the cultivars, no significant differences occurred in the proportions of damaged kernels based on field tests and laboratory choice tests. The results of these studies demonstrated that commercial hazelnuts are susceptible to damage caused by the feeding of H. halys throughout the entire period of kernel development.
Institutional Change and American Economic Growth: A First Step Towards a Theory of Institutional Innovation

This paper attempts to provide an explanation of the formation and mutation of economic institutions. It is specifically concerned with that process as it has developed over the past one hundred and seventy-five years of American history, but with appropriate changes the model might be used to predict institutional change in the future and to explain institutional change in other nations and in other eras. Like more traditional theory, the model has been formulated in a manner that makes it in principle operational, although we admit that it predicts relatively little. Profit maximization is the motivating force, and in this sense too the model fits into the stream of neo-classical economics, although like the macro models of Keynes its subject has not traditionally been considered a part of that discipline. Finally, we admit that the theory is at some points woefully weak and the explanations at times incredibly simplistic. The work, however, does, we feel, represent a first step towards a useful theory of institutional change.