cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic Cadmium Toxicity to the Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque)

Abstract Nine out of 18 adult bluegills exposed for 11 months during a chronic bioassay including reproduction were killed at 80 μg/liter of cadmium in water of 200 mg/liter (as CaCO3 hardness. Progeny exposed for 30 days were killed at 90 μg/liter. Adult fish spawned at 239 μg/liter and at 2,140 μg/liter, but most larvae were severely crippled 6 days after hatching at these concentrations. No effects on survival, development, or reproduction were attributable to cadmium at 31 μg/liter. The highest tissue residues were found in liver, intestine and caecum, and kidney. Cadmium concentrations increased with exposure concentration in gill, liver, and intestine and caecum, but not in kidney. At least until more information is available on cadmium toxicity in different water types, chronically toxic and “just safe” continuous exposure concentrations probably can be estimated better by relatively short-term exposures of embryos and larvae than by the use of application factors.
Anatomically preserved Glossopteris foliage from the central Transantarctic Mountains

Abstract Two distinctive new species of Glossopteris, G. schopfii Pigg sp. nov., are described from the central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica. These new species represent the first species of Glossopteris based on internal anatomy. Glossopteris schopfii is characterized by narrow, elongate meshes, bundle sheath fibers, prominent phloem lacunae, papillar epidermal cells with straight margins and simple, longitudinally-oriented stomata. In contrast, G. skaarensis has broad polygonal meshes, a distinctive hypodermis, epidermal cells with sinuous margins and irregularly distributed, sunken stomata. These stomata are surrounded by a well-defined ring of subsidiary cells with beak-like papillae. The variety of anatomical detail demonstrated by these forms illustrates the diverse nature of glossopterid-bearing plants and underscores the value of permineralized peat to the study of Gondwana plants.
Simple system for total automation of isotachophoresis using an LKB 2127 tachophor

Abstract This paper describes the total automation of isotachophoresis (ITP) using LKB instrumentation. With minor modifications to an LKB Tachophor, ITP can be performed on an unattended basis using a peristaltic pump for electrolyte flushing and a syringe-type autosampler. Combined with a microcomputer based data acquisition and control system, this instrumentation demonstrates the possibility of total automation of ITP analyses comparable to the performance of other highly automated instrumental methods.
LOW-FREQUENCY NOISE DUE TO CARRIER RECOMBINATION IN A P-N-JUNCTION

Abstract The noise due to recombination in the space-charge region of an abrupt Si p - n junction is calculated numerically for low and moderate forward bias. Then an expression is given for the recombination noise in the bulk region at high injection. The results show that the low frequency ratio ξ(0) of the equivalent shot-noise current to the recombination current depends both on doping density and on injection level. The value of ξ(0) approaches 1 asymptotically for low and high injection independently of the doping level, and its minimum is near 0.75 in the case of a relatively highly doped diode at moderate injection. Finally the numerical values of ξ(0) are compared with the analytically estimated values as well as the experimental results.
Characterization of cell surface carbohydrates on asexual spores of the water moldSaprolegnia ferax

In asexual reproduction of the water mold,Saprolegnia ferax, four distinct and sequentially produced spores are involved in dispersal, two of which are motile and two of which are nonmotile. Composition of cell surface glycoproteins may be important in dispersal strategies for each of these stages. Binding patterns of fluorescently labelled lectins were investigated to identify differences in glycoproteins of asexually produced dispersal stages. The pattern of lectin binding to zoospores was diverse. FITC-Con A bound to surfaces of zoospores and membranes of the water expulsion vacuole system, indicating the prescence of mannosyl and glucosyl residues. In zoospores incubated for more than 30 min in FITC-WGA and FITC-GS II. which bind N-acetyl glucosamine, fluorescence was sometimes localized in peripheral, intracellular patches. In shorter incubations, secondary zoospores bound these lectins along the groove region where K-bodies were located. Surfaces of cystospores typically bound FITC-WGA, but not FITC-GS II. FITC-GS II, however, bound to empty cystospore walls, probably because reactive sugars were available at the inner surface of the wall. Germ tubes emerging from cystospores bound labelled WGA and GS II, but not Con A. The same lectin binding pattern was found along discharge papilla of primary cystospores, indicating that modifications in cystospore walls associated with direct germination and zoospore discharge were similar. Thus, glycoproteins involved in early establishment of the hyphal system differ from those forming the cell surface of cystospores. Differences in the binding pattern of lectins to zoospores and cystospores highlight differences between cell surface carbohydrates of motile and nonmotile asexual stages.
Stability of Flow From a Nuclear Cavity

The stability of multicomponent flow through porous media is investigated. The flow results from an underground nuclear explosion. The effects of condensation, gravity, fluid mobilities, and heat transfer are considered. Marginal stability conditions and an expression for the decay rate of instabilities are obtained.
Urologic applications of a permanent, epithelializing urethral endoprosthesis

Recently, a flexible, self-expanding, permanent endoprosthesis has been developed to maintain patency of stenotic arteries after balloon angioplasty. This device, known as the UroLume Wallstent, is now under active investigation in both Europe and the United States as a treatment for: (1) recurrent bulbar urethral strictures, (2) benign prostatic hyperplasia, and (3) detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia. Preliminary data demonstrate this device to be an effective treatment for all three indications in select patients and to be associated with minimal untoward effects. If the long-term results are equally encouraging, this unique endoprosthesis will represent a significant advancement for the field of urology.
Maternal Reminiscing Style and Children’s Developing Understanding of Self and Emotion

Individual differences in how mothers structure reminiscing about shared past experiences with their preschool children are related to children’s developing autobiographical memory skills and understanding of self and emotion. More specifically, mothers who engage in highly elaborative reminiscing have children who come to tell more coherent and emotionally expressive autobiographical narratives, and these children also show better understanding of self and are better able to regulate emotion than children of less elaborative mothers. This body of research is reviewed and relations between maternal reminiscing style and children’s developing self and emotional understanding are explicated.
Accuracy of Breastfeeding Data on the Massachusetts Birth Certificate

In 2003, the question, "Is the infant being breastfed at discharge?" was added to the US standard certificate of live birth. In Massachusetts, this was adapted to, "Are you breastfeeding or do you intend to?" In 2004-5, we compared the mother's answer to the birth certificate question in 2 hospitals, with her infant's feeding record. At Hospital A, 94.8% (290/306) of birth certificate responses matched the record. At (Baby-Friendly) Hospital B, 79.8% (185/232) matched. At the Baby-Friendly hospital, 17.2% (40/232) of women stated intent to formula feed on the birth certificate but breastfed postpartum. No significant sociodemographic differences existed between women whose answers matched or did not match. Although breastfeeding is a desirable health behavior, mothers did not overstate intent. The assumption that a prenatal feeding decision is an independent predictor of breastfeeding practice may be flawed. In the Baby-Friendly hospital, many women apparently made the decision postpartum.
Collagenase clostridium histolyticum for Dupuytren's contracture

Importance of the field: Dupuytren's disease is a non-malignant, progressive disorder of the hands that can severely limit hand function and diminish overall quality of life. With global life expectancy increasing, the prevalence of this disease appears to be increasing amongst all ethnic groups. Treatment has traditionally remained surgical with few effective, nonsurgical options. However, with the introduction of collagenase clostridium histolyticum to treat Dupuytren's contractures, physicians and surgeons may be provided with a new, office-based, non-surgical option to treat this disease.Areas covered in this review: The literature behind the use of collagenase to treat Dupuytren's disease; including its mechanism of action, safety, efficacy and clinical evidence behind its recent FDA approval.What the reader will gain: The latest information available on collagenase through a comprehensive review of PubMed and the websites of licensing organizations for medicinal products.Take home message: Phase III...
An effective inservice nutrition workshop for home economics teachers

Abstract A 3-hour nutrition education workshop for home economics teachers focused on 4 nutrition topics — fast foods, vegetarianism, weight control, and food exchanges — in which teachers had expressed high interest. Significant positive changes in knowledge about these topics occurred among 138 teachers who attended any one of the 16 workshops offered statewide and completed pretests and posttests. A 1-month follow-up test returned by 96 teachers revealed significantly greater nutrition knowledge than held at pretesting, despite a significant decrease from posttest scores. About half of the teachers who returned follow-up questionnaires already had incorporated workshop materials into classroom teaching, and nearly all of the rest intended to do so in the future. These results and the favorable subjective comments offered by the participants indicate that the workshop was a practical and effective means of inservice nutrition education.
TQM: Just what the ethicist ordered

Total quality management (TQM) has become a basic business practice in organizations throughout the world. Implementation of TQM in these organizations has been driven by the desire to increase profits in the highly competitive business world. Total quality management techniques are designed to improve performance.
Highly Reversible Lithium Storage in Nanostructured Silicon

Anode materials of nanostructured silicon have been prepared by physical vapor deposition and characterized using electrochemical methods. The electrodes were prepared in thin-film form as nanocrystalline particles (12 nm mean diameter) and as continuous amorphous thin films (100 nm thick). The nanocrystalline silicon exhibited specific capacities of around 1100 mAh/g with a 50% capacity retention after 50 cycles. The amorphous thin-film electrodes exhibited initial capacities of 3500 mAh/g with a stable capacity of 2000 mAh/g over 50 cycles. We suggest that the nanoscale dimensions of the silicon circumvents conventional mechanisms of mechanical deterioration, permitting good cycle life.
A z = 3 Lyα BLOB ASSOCIATED WITH A DAMPED Lyα SYSTEM PROXIMATE TO ITS BACKGROUND QUASAR

We report on the discovery of a bright Lyα blob associated with the z = 3 quasar SDSS J124020.91+145535.6 which is also coincident with strong damped Lyα absorption from a foreground galaxy (a so-called proximate damped Lyα (PDLA) system). The one-dimensional spectrum acquired by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) shows a broad Lyα emission line with a FWHM 500 km s-1 and a luminosity of L Lyα = 3.9 × 1043 erg s-1 superposed on the trough of the PDLA. Follow-up observations using the Keck/LRIS spectrometer confirm that this source has a Lyα nebula with spatial extent exceeding 5'', corresponding to a proper size >39 kpc. Mechanisms for powering the large Lyα luminosity in this nebula are discussed. We use a Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulation to investigate the possibility that the line emission is fluorescent recombination radiation from a kpc-scale PDLA galaxy powered by the ionizing flux of the quasar, but find that the predicted Lyα flux is several orders of magnitude lower than observed. We conclude that the Lyα emission is not associated with the PDLA galaxy at all, but instead is intrinsic to the quasar's host and similar to the extended Lyα fuzz which is detected around many active galactic nuclei. PDLAs are natural coronagraphs that block their background quasar at Lyα and we discuss how systems similar to SDSS J124020.91+145535.6 might be used to image the neutral hydrogen in the PDLA galaxy in silhouette against the screen of extended Lyα emission from the background quasar.
Spatial filtering versus anchoring accounts of brightness/lightness perception in staircase and simultaneous brightness/lightness contrast stimuli

J. Cataliotti and A. Gilchrist (1995) reported that, consistent with anchoring theory, the lightness of a black step in a reflectance staircase was not altered by moving a white step from a remote to an adjacent location. Recently, E. Economou, S. Zdravkovic, and A. Gilchrist (2007) reported data supporting three additional predictions of the anchoring model (A. Gilchrist et al., 1999): 1) equiluminant incremental targets in staircase simultaneous lightness contrast stimuli appeared equally light; 2) the simultaneous lightness contrast effect was due mainly to the lightening of the target on the black surround; and 3) the strength of lightness induction was greatest for darker targets. We investigated similar stimuli using brightness/lightness matching and found, contrary to these reports, that: 1) the relative position of the steps in a luminance staircase significantly influenced their brightness/lightness; 2) equiluminant incremental targets in staircase simultaneous brightness/lightness contrast stimuli did not all appear equally bright/light; 3) an asymmetry due to a greater brightening/lightening of the target on the black surround was not general; and 4) darker targets produced larger effects only when plotted on a log scale. In addition, the ODOG model (B. Blakeslee & M. E. McCourt, 1999) did an excellent job of accounting for brightness/lightness matching in these stimuli.
Thyronamine, a new inotropic agent: its cardiovascular effects and mechanism of action.

Thyronamine, a decarboxylated, deiodinated derivative of thyroxine was administered to 21 anaesthetized dogs to assess its inotropic and chronotropic effects, to quantitate the haemodynamic response of a varying dosage schedule, and to investigate its mechanism of action on the cardiovascular system. All dogs received thyronamine at doses of 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 mg/kg as an intravenous bolus. Dogs were divided equally into five groups. Group 1 received thyronamine alone; group 2, thyronamine after beta-adrenergic blockade; group 3, thyronamine after catecholamine depletion; group 4, thyronamine after alpha- and beta-adrenergic and parasympathetic blockade; and group 5 received thyronamine with heart rate kept constant by ventricular pacing. Thyronamine produced potent haemodynamic effects which showed a peak response at 8 to 16 mg/kg, with onset and peak effect occurring within 10 min, and duration of action 30-40 min. The greatest effect was noted with thyronamine alone (group l), but the same magnitude of response was seen in group 5 (heart rate constant). The effects of thyronamine were markedly diminished in the other three groups. Thyronamine acts as a sympathomimetic agent and produces its potent haemodynamic effects almost totally due to catecholamine release. There is a small inotropic, but not chronotropic, effect which persists in the presence of alpha- and beta-adrenergic and parasympathetic blockade, and presumably is due to a direct effect of the drug.
A microfluidic flow-through device for high throughput electrical lysis of bacterial cells based on continuous dc voltage

Interest in electrical lysis of biological cells on a microfludic platform has increased because it allows for the rapid recovery of intracellular contents without introducing lytic agents. In this study we demonstrated a simple microfluidic flow-through device which lysed Escherichia coli cells under a continuous dc voltage. The E. coli cells had previously been modified to express green fluorescent protein (GFP). In our design, the cell lysis only happened in a defined section of a microfluidic channel due to the local field amplification by geometric modification. The geometric modification also effectively decreased the required voltage for lysis by several folds. We found that local field strength of 1000-1500 V/cm was required for nearly 100% cell death. This threshold field strength was considerably lower than the value reported in the literature, possibly due to the longer duration of the field [Lee, S.W., Tai, Y.C., 1999. Sens. Actuators A: Phys. 73, 74-79]. Cell lysis was detected by both plate count and fluorescence spectroscopy. The cell membrane was completely disintegrated in the lysis section of the microfluidic device, when the field strength was higher than 2000 V/cm. The devices were fabricated using low-cost soft lithography with channel widths considerably larger than the cell size to avoid clogging and ensure stable performance. Our tool will be ideal for high throughput processing of bacterial cells for chemical analysis of intracellular contents such as DNA and proteins. The application of continuous dc voltage greatly simplified the instrumentation compared to devices using electrical pulses for similar purposes. In principle, the same approach can also be applied for lysis of mammalian cells and electroporative transfection.
Trends in nephron-sparing surgery for renal neoplasia.

Abstract Objectives To determine the extent that laparoscopy has replaced open surgery for nephron-sparing surgery in a mature laparoscopic environment. Methods The records of all patients at Washington University who underwent nephron-sparing surgery for localized renal masses from 1999 to 2003 were examined for clinical and pathologic information. Information regarding the mass size, surgery type performed, and surgeon training was obtained. Results A total of 271 patients underwent nephron-sparing surgery from January 1999 to December 2003. During the study period, the total number of partial nephrectomies increased from 33 per year to 91 per year. The proportion of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy increased from 3% of total cases to 56% of total cases. Open partial nephrectomy decreased from 97% of cases to 24% of cases; however, the absolute number of open partial nephrectomies only decreased from 32 to 22 per year. Laparoscopic cryoablation increased from 0% of cases to 20% of cases. Endourologists increased their frequency of performing open partial nephrectomy, and oncologists increased their frequency of performing laparoscopic renal surgery. Conclusions Laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery has not completely replaced open partial nephrectomy for low-stage renal neoplasia; however, the number of laparoscopic partial nephrectomies has increased rapidly in recent years. Laparoscopic approaches are being performed by all urologists treating renal malignancies at our institution and this reflects changes in the surgical treatment of renal cancer.
Minimizing DC capacitor current ripple and DC capacitance requirement of the HEV converter/inverter systems

This paper presents an accurate theory of calculating the DC link capacitor voltage ripples (Ampere-Second) and current ripples (Irms) for inverters and PWM rectifiers, which are most commonly used in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) converter/inverter systems. The results are analyzed and summarized into graphs according to the theory, which helps to find the right capacitance value for a given voltage ripple tolerance and the rms ripple current that the capacitor has to absorb. The comparison shows that the calculation result and experimental result are in close agreement. Therefore, these theoretical calculation results help to minimize the DC capacitors rather than merely relying on simulation methods.
Recent Advances in the Computational Discovery of Transcription Factor Binding Sites

The discovery of gene regulatory elements requires the synergism between computational and experimental techniques in order to reveal the underlying regulatory mechanisms that drive gene expression in response to external cues and signals. Utilizing the large amount of high-throughput experimental data, constantly growing in recent years, researchers have attempted to decipher the patterns which are hidden in the genomic sequences. These patterns, called motifs, are potential binding sites to transcription factors which are hypothesized to be the main regulators of the transcription process. Consequently, precise detection of these elements is required and thus a large number of computational approaches have been developed to support the de novo identification of TFBSs. Even though novel approaches are continuously proposed and almost all have reported some success in yeast and other lower organisms, in higher organisms the problem still remains a challenge. In this paper, we therefore review the recent developments in computational methods for transcription factor binding site prediction. We start with a brief review of the basic approaches for binding site representation and promoter identification, then discuss the techniques to locate physical TFBSs, identify functional binding sites using orthologous information, and infer functional TFBSs within some context defined by additional prior knowledge. Finally, we briefly explore the opportunities for expanding these approaches towards the computational identification of transcriptional regulatory networks.
Academic procrastination and statistics anxiety

Statistics anxiety, which is experienced by as many as 80% of graduate students, has been found to debilitate performance in statistics and research methodology courses. As such, it is likely that statistics anxiety is, in part, responsible for many students delaying enrollment in these courses for as long as possible. Moreover, it is possible that, once enrolled in these courses, students with high levels of statistics anxiety tend to procrastinate on assignments. Thus, the purpose of this study was: (a) to examine the prevalence of procrastination among graduate students, and (b) to investigate the relationship between academic procrastination and six dimensions of statistics anxiety. Participants were 135 graduate students enrolled in three sections of a required introductory-level educational research course at a university in the southeastern part of the USA. Findings revealed that a high percentage of students reported problems with procrastination on writing term papers, studying for examinations, and completing weekly reading assignments. A canonical correlation analysis (Rc1 .51) revealed that academic procrastination resulting from both fear of failure and task aversiveness was related significantly to worth of statistics, interpretation anxiety, test and class anxiety, computational self-concept, fear of asking for help, and fear of the statistics instructor. Implications for statistics anxiety reduction as a procrastination intervention are discussed. It has been estimated that as many as 80% of graduate students experience uncomfortable levels of statistics anxiety (Onwuegbuzie & Wilson, 2003). According
Microsatellite loci for studies of population differentiation and range expansion in Solidago sempervirens L. (Asteraceae)

For studies of population differentiation and range expansion in the seaside goldenrod, Solidago sempervirens, we identified hypervariable molecular markers by screening genomic libraries enriched for microsatellite motifs. We designed primers that reliably amplified nine polymorphic loci. High polymorphism in a population from Delaware Bay, USA suggests that the loci will be useful in population studies. The success of cross-amplifications in 11 species of Asteraceae varied among loci and did not appear to reflect phylogenetic relationships within Solidago.
Soft ARQ for Layered Streaming Media

A growing and important class of traffic in the Internet is so-called “streaming media,” in which a server transmits a packetized multimedia signal to a receiver that buffers the packets for playback. This playback buffer, if adequately sized, counteracts the adverse impact of delay jitter and reordering suffered by packets as they traverse the network, and if large enough also allows lost packets to be retransmitted before their playback deadline expires. We call this framework for retransmitting lost streaming-media packets “soft ARQ” since it represents a relaxed form of Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ). While state-of-the-art media servers employ such strategies, no work to date has proposed an optimal strategy for delay-constrained retransmissions of streaming media—specifically, one which determines what is the optimal packet to transmit at any given point in time. In this paper, we address this issue and present a framework for streaming media retransmission based on layered media representations, in which a signal is decomposed into a discrete number of layers and each successive layer provides enhanced quality. In our approach, the source chooses between transmitting (1) newer but critical coarse information (e.g., a first approximation of the media signal) and (2) older but less important refinement information (e.g., added details) using a decision process that minimizes the expected signal distortion at the receiver. To arrive at the proper mix of these two extreme strategies, we derive an optimal strategy for transmitting layered data over a binary erasure channel with instantaneous feedback. To provide a quantitative performance comparison of different transmission policies, we conduct a Markov-chain analysis, which shows that the best transmission policy is time-invariant and thus does not change as the frames' layers approach their expiration times.
Low prevalence of myocilin mutations in an African American population with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: Mutations in the myocilin gene (MYOC) are associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in many different populations. This study represents the first large survey of MYOC mutations in an African American population. Methods: We recruited 529 African American subjects with POAG and 270 African American control subjects in this study. A complete eye examination and blood collection was performed in all study subjects. Genomic DNA was extracted. The entire coding sequence of MYOC was amplified and sequenced using the Sanger method. Identified MYOC variants were compared with previously reported MYOC mutations. Results: We identified a total of 29 MYOC variants including six potential MYOC mutations. Two mutations (Thr209Asn and Leu215Gln) are novel and are found only in cases and no controls. We also identified four previously reported MYOC mutations in cases and no controls (Tyr453MetfsX11, Gln368X, Thr377Met, and Ser393Arg). The overall frequency of glaucoma-causing MYOC mutations in our African American population with POAG was 1.4%. Conclusions: We identified two novel probable glaucoma-causing MYOC mutations (Thr209Asn and Leu215Gln). This study indicates that, despite the high prevalence of POAG, MYOC mutations are rare in the African American population.
Set domain-dependent regulation of transcriptional silencing and growth control by SUV39H1, a mammalian ortholog of Drosophila Su(var)3-9.

Mammalian SET domain-containing proteins define a distinctive class of chromatin-associated factors that are targets for growth control signals and oncogenic activation. SUV39H1, a mammalian ortholog of Drosophila Su(var)3-9, contains both SET and chromo domains, signature motifs for proteins that contribute to epigenetic control of gene expression through effects on the regional organization of chromatin structure. In this report we demonstrate that SUV39H1 represses transcription in a transient transcriptional assay when tethered to DNA through the GAL4 DNA binding domain. Under these conditions, SUV39H1 displays features of a long-range repressor capable of acting over several kilobases to silence basal promoters. A possible role in chromatin-mediated gene silencing is supported by the localization of exogenously expressed SUV39H1 to nuclear bodies with morphologic features suggestive of heterochromatin in interphase cells. In addition, we show that SUV39H1 is phosphorylated specifically at the G1/S cell cycle transition and when forcibly expressed suppresses cell growth. Growth suppression as well as the ability of SUV39H1 to form nuclear bodies and silence transcription are antagonized by the oncogenic antiphosphatase Sbf1 that when hyperexpressed interacts with the SET domain and stabilizes the phosphorylated form of SUV39H1. These studies suggest a phosphorylation-dependent mechanism for regulating the chromatin organizing activity of a mammalian su(var) protein and implicate the SET domain as a gatekeeper motif that integrates upstream signaling pathways to epigenetic regulation and growth control.
Costo-efectividad del uso de la Vareniclina versus las alternativas existentes para la cesación del fumado usando el modelo BENESCO en la población adulta costarricense

Resumen es: Objetivo: El uso del tabaco es uno de los problemas de salud mas serios a nivel mundial y es una adiccion prevenible, por esto, la disponibilidad de trat...
Adverse reactions to indocyanine green: A case report and a review of the literature

Indocyanine green is a dye used primarily in cardiac output determinations, and in ophthalmic angiography. It has a low incidence of side effects; however, they occur and have included death. We report a case of anaphylactoid reaction to indocyanine green and review the literature on these reactions.
ESTIMATING HYDRODYNAMIC QUANTITIES IN THE PRESENCE OF MICROSCOPIC FLUCTUATIONS

This paper discusses the evaluation of hydrodynamic variables in the presence of spontaneous fluctuations, such as in molecular simulations of fluid flows. The principal point is that hydrodynamic variables such as fluid velocity and temperature must be defined in terms of mechanical variables such as momentum and energy density). Because these relations are nonlinear and because fluctuations of mechanical variables are correlated, care must be taken to avoid introducing a bias when evaluating means, variances, and correlations of hydrodynamic variables. The unbiased estimates are formulated; some alternative, incorrect approaches are presented as cautionary warnings. The expressions are verified by numerical simulations, both at thermodynamic equilibrium and at a nonequilibrium steady state.
Finding Unusual Code

We describe an automated approach to finding code fragments that are unusual and hence might represent potential problems. Many potential problems in programs arise in code that is uncommon either because it represents rarely used constructs and hence is unfamiliar to the programmer, or because it represents a mistyping or other error that still happens to be legal code, albeit not very common. We present an approach that first finds what is "unusual" by reading a corpus of code and building a library of common patterns. The approach can then take any existing program and check if it contains any unusual patterns. We have run the system using a large corpus and have identified problems in a number of sample projects with otherwise working code.
Multiple regulatory elements contribute differentially to muscle creatine kinase enhancer activity in skeletal and cardiac muscle.

Abstract We have used transient transfections in MM14 skeletal muscle cells, newborn rat primary ventricular myocardiocytes, and nonmuscle cells to characterize regulatory elements of the mouse muscle creatine kinase (MCK) gene. Deletion analysis of MCK 5'-flanking sequence reveals a striated muscle-specific, positive regulatory region between -1256 and -1020. A 206-bp fragment from this region acts as a skeletal muscle enhancer and confers orientation-dependent activity in myocardiocytes. A 110-bp enhancer subfragment confers high-level expression in skeletal myocytes but is inactive in myocardiocytes, indicating that skeletal and cardiac muscle MCK regulatory sites are distinguishable. To further delineate muscle regulatory sequences, we tested six sites within the MCK enhancer for their functional importance. Mutations at five sites decrease expression in skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and nonmuscle cells. Mutations at two of these sites, Left E box and MEF2, cause similar decreases in all three cell types. Mutations at three sites have larger effects in muscle than nonmuscle cells; an A/T-rich site mutation has a pronounced effect in both striated muscle types, mutations at the MEF1 (Right E-box) site are relatively specific to expression in skeletal muscle, and mutations at the CArG site are relatively specific to expression in cardiac muscle. Changes at the AP2 site tend to increase expression in muscle cells but decrease it in nonmuscle cells. In contrast to reports involving cotransfection of 10T1/2 cells with plasmids expressing the myogenic determination factor MyoD, we show that the skeletal myocyte activity of multimerized MEF1 sites is 30-fold lower than that of the 206-bp enhancer. Thus, MyoD binding sites alone are not sufficient for high-level expression in skeletal myocytes containing endogenous levels of MyoD and other myogenic determination factors.
Fabrication and characterization of surface micromachined capacitive ultrasonic immersion transducers

In this paper, several innovative steps used in fabricating surface micromachined capacitive ultrasonic immersion transducers are reported. The investigation is focused on major steps in the device fabrication processes necessary to optimize transducer performance. Such steps include membrane formation, vacuum sealing, and electrode metallization. Three transducer membrane structures are evaluated: a nitride membrane with an oxide sacrificial layer; a polysilicon membrane with an oxide sacrificial layer; and a nitride membrane with a polysilicon sacrificial layer. Three vacuum sealing mechanisms are compared, each of which requires a different degree of lithographic sophistication, uses a particular sealing mechanism, and results in a sealed cavity. Submicrometer via sealing requires sophisticated lithography but is amenable to LPCVD nitride, LTO, and other sealing procedures. Standard g-line lithography results in vies which seal only with high sticking coefficient species, such as LTO. A novel etch channel structure, which results in lateral sealing and requires neither sophisticated lithography nor a particular sealing material, is demonstrated. Finally, the impact of electrode metallization on the impedance, bandwidth, and efficiency of the transducers is discussed. The experiments in the paper are guided by theoretical analysis and computer simulations when applicable. The new process results in optimized devices which have a broad-band 50-/spl Omega/ real part impedance in the megahertz range. A transducer dynamic range in excess of 100 dB is achieved around 4.5 MHz. An untuned transducer exhibits more than 100% bandwidth when connected to electronics with 50-/spl Omega/ input impedance. In addition, beam pattern measurement shows the immersion devices behave like uniform piston transducers and are readily suitable for array applications. The fabrication techniques and results herein reported indicate that surface micromachined ultrasonic immersion transducers are an attractive alternative to piezoelectric transducers in immersion applications.
The use of adjuvant radiation therapy by members of the society of gynecologic oncologists

Abstract Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of the members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists with respect to the use of adjuvant radiation therapy in women with endometrial cancer. Methods. An anonymous survey concerning the use of adjuvant radiation therapy in endometrial cancer was mailed to all members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists listed in the 1998 directory. Results. Of the 767 listed members, 325 (42%) returned completed surveys. Less than 20% of respondents recommended adjuvant radiation therapy in stage IA grade 1 or 2 and stage IB grade 1 endometrial cancer. Adjuvant radiation is recommended by 40 to 50% of respondents in women with stage IA grade 3 and IB grade 2 tumors. Most recommend adjuvant radiation for all women with >50% myometrial invasion or grade 3 tumors with any myometrial invasion. Lymph node sampling is attempted in all cases by 48% of respondents. For those familiar with Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) Study No. 99, 20% stated that they were more likely to recommend adjuvant radiation and 27% stated that they were less likely to recommend adjuvant radiation based on the preliminary results. Except in stage IA grade 1 tumors, the chance of recommending further therapy in women with all stages and grades was significantly less if a complete staging procedure including lymph node dissection had been performed. Conclusions. Complete staging appears to decrease the chance that postoperative therapy will be recommended. The use of adjuvant radiation therapy seem to have declined slightly as a result of GOG Study No. 99. Future studies in women with endometrial cancer that do not require lymph node sampling should evaluate the frequency of adjuvant therapy in the absence of complete staging.
Azithromycin as treatment for disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex in AIDS patients

This multicenter, randomized, dose-ranging study was performed to determine the safety and efficacy of two different doses of azithromycin for treating disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in patients with AIDS. Eighty-eight AIDS patients with symptoms and blood cultures consistent with disseminated MAC were treated with 600 or 1,200 mg of azithromycin daily for 6 weeks; 62 patients completed the entire 6 weeks of study. Of note, this study was done prior to the time when combination antiretroviral or anti-MAC regimens were the standard of care. Over the 6-week study period, symptomatic improvement was noted in both dose groups. Microbiological responses were comparable, with mean decreases of 1.5 and 2.0 log CFU/ml in the high- and low-dose groups, respectively. Sterilization of blood cultures occurred in 54% of samples; patients with lower baseline colony counts were more likely to achieve culture negativity. Resistance developed in one patient. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common side effects and were more frequent in patients receiving 1,200 mg. Azithromycin is a useful alternative treatment for disseminated MAC infection in AIDS patients. Symptomatic improvement correlates with measurable decreases in mycobacterial load.
Design and microfabrication of a flexible oral electrotactile display

A polyimide-based flexible oral tactile display with an array of 7/spl times/7 tactors is designed for presentation of electrotactile patterns onto the roof of the mouth. The device is microfabricated on a rigid substrate using thin-film and electroplating processes and then released by peeling it off from the substrate. Dome-shaped tactors are electroplated through round openings 300 /spl mu/m in diameter in the flexible polyimide base for more uniform current distribution and better contact with the skin. The overall dimensions of the tactor array are 18.5/spl times/18.5 mm/sup 2/, with a center-to-center spacing of 2.54 mm between adjacent tactors. Each tactor is 200 /spl mu/m in height and 700 /spl mu/m in diameter. The device robustness is improved by using a grid-pattern design for the openings to overcome the stress mismatch between the rigid tactors and the flexible base. The flexible oral tactile display has been tested in human subject experiments and found to deliver comfortable electrotactile stimulation with relatively low stimulation intensities.
Human Vection Perception Using Inertial Nulling and Certainty Estimation: The Effect of Migraine History.

Vection is an illusory perception of self-motion that can occur when visual motion fills the majority of the visual field. This study examines the effect of the duration of visual field movement (VFM) on the perceived strength of self-motion using an inertial nulling (IN) and a magnitude estimation technique based on the certainty that motion occurred (certainty estimation, CE). These techniques were then used to investigate the association between migraine diagnosis and the strength of perceived vection. Visual star-field stimuli consistent with either looming or receding motion were presented for 1, 4, 8 or 16s. Subjects reported the perceived direction of self-motion during the final 1s of the stimulus. For the IN method, an inertial nulling motion was delivered during this final 1s of the visual stimulus, and subjects reported the direction of perceived self-motion during this final second. The magnitude of inertial motion was varied adaptively to determine the point of subjective equality (PSE) at which forward or backward responses were equally likely. For the CE trials the same range of VFM was used but without inertial motion and subjects rated their certainty of motion on a scale of 0–100. PSE determined with the IN technique depended on direction and duration of visual motion and the CE technique showed greater certainty of perceived vection with longer VFM duration. A strong correlation between CE and IN techniques was present for the 8s stimulus. There was appreciable between-subject variation in both CE and IN techniques and migraine was associated with significantly increased perception of self-motion by CE and IN at 8 and 16s. Together, these results suggest that vection may be measured by both CE and IN techniques with good correlation. The results also suggest that susceptibility to vection may be higher in subjects with a history of migraine.
Antibiotic Resistance in Sputum Isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is Related to Antibiotic Exposure

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is recovered from sputum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during stable disease and exacerbations. In patients with community acquired pneumonia, antibiotic exposure in the prior 3-6 months is associated with recovery of antibiotic resistant isolates of S. pneumoniae. Whether the same relationship is seen in COPD is not known. From April 1994 to June 2004, 127 adults with COPD were enrolled in a prospective longitudinal study. Sputum isolates of S. pneumoniae were characterized with susceptibility testing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The relationship between antibiotic use in the previous 3 and 6 months with either new acquisition of a resistant pneumococcal isolate or development of resistance (4-fold increase in MIC) in a pre-existing colonizing pneumococcal strain was determined. A total of 194 pneumococcal isolates were recovered from 38 patients. Among 71 newly acquired and 4 resistance-emergent strains analyzed further, rates of resistance to penicillin (MIC ≥2), erythromycin (MIC ≥1), tetracycline (MIC ≥8) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (MIC ≥4) were 8%, 24%, 17% and 16% respectively. Flouroquinolone resistance was not seen. Among strains isolated from patients exposed to a macrolide within 6 months, 53.6% displayed erythromycin resistance vs. 14% of strains without such exposure (p = 0.00085). Similar associations were not seen for other antibiotics. Macrolide use in the previous 6 months is associated with macrolide resistance in sputum isolates of S. pneumoniae. Recent antibiotic exposure may help in determining appropriate antibiotic treatment in these patients.
Performance of MODFET and MESFET, a comparative study including equivalent circuits using combined electromagnetic and solid-state simulator

A combined electromagnetic and solid-state (CESS) simulation model for the analysis of submicrometer semiconductor devices including the electromagnetic-wave propagation effects is presented. The performance comparison of two important high-frequency devices-modulation doped field-effect transistor (MODFET) and metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET)-are illustrated using this model. The CESS simulator couples a semiconductor model to the three-dimensional (3-D) time-domain solution of Maxwell's equations. The semiconductor model is based on the moments of the Boltzmann's transport equation. The simulation uses the electromagnetic-wave concept to emphasize the better performance of MODFET over MESFET. The electromagnetic-wave propagation effects on the two devices are thoroughly analyzed. The use of the electromagnetic model over the conventional quasi-static model provides the actual device response along the gatewidth at high frequencies. The exchange of energy between the electrons and the electromagnetic wave is observed. The CESS model also facilitates the optimum choice of the device width in terms of the output voltage. This model is capable of predicting the large-signal behaviour of the submicrometer devices as well. The equivalent-circuit parameters are extracted at high frequencies for MODFET and MESFET, using a time-domain approach as well as a quasi-static approach.
A Factor Analytic Test of Houle's Typology of Professionals' Modes of Learning.

Houle has proposed a typology of professionals' modes of continuing learning. Three modes are hypothesized: inquiry, instruction, and performance. The purpose of the study was to test the adequacy ...
Ghost Modes in Imperfect Waveguides

Attention is called to the existence of microwave resonances which have the unusual property that they are nonradiating, and thus have high Q, in spite of the fact that the fields are not enclosed completely by metallic walls. These "ghost modes" represent fields which are derived from those of the usual waveguide modes, but are "trapped" in the vicinity of imperfections in the waveguide. Their resonant frequency is slightly lower than the corresponding cutoff frequency. If one attempts to use a waveguide in its lowest mode, over a range of frequencies which includes the ghosts of higher modes, complicated resonance effects may be observed which can cause trouble in some types of microwave circuits. The same phenomenon exists in any structure which has pass bands and rejection bands, such as periodic structures or crystals.
Cable News Wars on the Internet: Competition and User-Generated Content

Academics and practitioners alike recognize that user-generated content UGC, such as blog posts, help not only predict but also boost performance e.g., sales. However, the role of competition in the UGC domain is not well understood. Building on extant research pertaining to the UGC-performance relationship, the authors document empirical evidence for a relationship between competitor UGC and focal firm performance. Data from a 30-week period describe the viewership of competing cable news shows on Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC during the 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. time slots. They find evidence of a statistically significant relationship between competitor UGC and viewership and of heterogeneity in the direction of these competitive relationships, positive in some time slots and negative in others. The predictive power of UGC for viewership is enhanced by 3% to 5% simply by incorporating competitors' UGC, in addition to a show's own UGC. Thus, the study, as well as formulation of UGC-related marketing strategies, should incorporate competitive relationships.