cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robust Action Governor for Discrete-Time Piecewise Affine Systems With Additive Disturbances

In this letter, we introduce an extension of the Action Governor (AG), which is an add-on, supervisory scheme to a nominal control loop to enforce safety-related requirements. This extension enables AG design based on discrete-time piecewise affine (PWA) system models with additive set-bounded disturbance inputs and non-convex exclusion-zone avoidance constraints. We establish theoretical properties and computational approaches for this robust version of AG, and illustrate its application to an autonomous vehicle control problem.
Return Migration and Self-Employment: Evidence from Mexican Migrants

We study how changes in return migration patterns over the last decade impacted self-employment rates in Mexico. Using state historical migration rates as instruments, we calculate elasticities of self-employment to return migration of 0.093, 0.156, and 0.236 for all workers, males, and low-educated male workers, respectively. Back-of-the-envelope calculations indicate that the 0.18 percentage point decline in the return migration rates observed between 2006 and 2016 reduced the self-employment rate by 5.8 percent relative to the level seen in 2006. Additionally, we estimate the gains from migration and self-employment among Mexican return migrants controlling for observable and unobservable characteristics. While return migrants have earnings 1.72 log points higher than non-migrant Mexican workers, we do not find differences in the earnings of self-employed and wage-employed return migrants once we control for unobservable skills.
CCi-MOBILE: A Portable Real Time Speech Processing Platform for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Research.

Experimental hardware-research interfaces form a crucial role during the developmental stages of any medical, signal-monitoring system as it allows researchers to test and optimize output results before perfecting the design for the actual FDA approved medical device and large-scale production. These testing platforms, intake the raw signal through which the performance of novel algorithms can be analyzed and modified to generate the desired data points for an optimized output and advanced medical device. With cochlear implants (CIs) and hearing aids (HAs) becoming a more common solution for varying degrees of hearing impairment, having modern signal processing strategies tested for such speech sensitive systems is a necessity. But the rigid design requirements of commercial CI and HA sound processors make it difficult to explore novel algorithms for research investigations and conducting longitudinal studies. Hence, this study presents the design, development, clinical evaluation, and applications of CCi-MOBILE, a computationally powerful signal processing testing platform built for researchers in the hearing-impaired field. This custom-made, portable research platform allows researchers to design and perform complex speech processing algorithm assessment offline and in real-time through user-friendly, software-mediated open-source tools with implants manufactured by Cochlear Corporation. The FPGA design and hardware processing pipeline for CI stimulation is discussed followed by results from an acute study with implant users speech intelligibility in quiet and noisy conditions. The results show a consistent level of performance compared with the CI users clinical processor, thus confirming the viability of the platform in chronic CI based studies.
BioFace-3D: continuous 3d facial reconstruction through lightweight single-ear biosensors

Over the last decade, facial landmark tracking and 3D reconstruction have gained considerable attention due to their numerous applications such as human-computer interactions, facial expression analysis, and emotion recognition, etc. Traditional approaches require users to be confined to a particular location and face a camera under constrained recording conditions (e.g., without occlusions and under good lighting conditions). This highly restricted setting prevents them from being deployed in many application scenarios involving human motions. In this paper, we propose the first single-earpiece lightweight biosensing system, BioFace-3D, that can unobtrusively, continuously, and reliably sense the entire facial movements, track 2D facial landmarks, and further render 3D facial animations. Our single-earpiece biosensing system takes advantage of the cross-modal transfer learning model to transfer the knowledge embodied in a high-grade visual facial landmark detection model to the low-grade biosignal domain. After training, our BioFace-3D can directly perform continuous 3D facial reconstruction from the biosignals, without any visual input. Without requiring a camera positioned in front of the user, this paradigm shift from visual sensing to biosensing would introduce new opportunities in many emerging mobile and IoT applications. Extensive experiments involving 16 participants under various settings demonstrate that BioFace-3D can accurately track 53 major facial landmarks with only 1.85 mm average error and 3.38% normalized mean error, which is comparable with most state-of-the-art camera-based solutions. The rendered 3D facial animations, which are in consistency with the real human facial movements, also validate the system's capability in continuous 3D facial reconstruction.
Advanced Engineering Mathematics With Modeling Applications

Foundations of mathematical modeling Engineering analysis Conservation laws and mathematical modeling Problem formulation Nondimensionalization Scaling Linear algebra Introduction Three-dimensional space Vector spaces Linear independence Basis and dimension Inner products Norms Gram-Schmidt orthonormalization Orthogonal expansions Linear operators Adjoint operators Positive definite operators Energy inner products Ordinary differential equations Linear differential equations General theory for second-order differential equations Differential equations with constant coefficients Differential equations with variable coefficients Singular points of second-order equations Bessel functions Differential equations whose solutions are expressible in terms of Bessel functions Legendre functions Variational methods Introduction The general variational problem Variational solutions of operator equations Finite-element method Galerkin's method Eigenvalue problems Eigenvalue and eigenvector problems Eigenvalues of adjoint operators Eigenvalues of positive definite operators Eigenvalue problems for operators in finite-dimensional vector spaces Second-order differential operators Eigenvector expansions Fourth-order differential operators Differential operators with eigenvalues in boundary conditions Eigenvalue problems involving Bessel functions Eigenvalue problems in other infinite-dimensional vector spaces Solvability conditions Asymptotic approximations to solutions of eigenvalue problems Rayleigh's quotient Rayleigh-Ritz method Green's functions Partial differential equations Homogeneous partial differential equations Second-order steady-state problems, Laplace's equation Time-dependent problems: Initial value problems Nonhomogeneous partial differential equations Problems in cylindrical coordinates Problems in spherical coordinates Index
Detection of Lipid Peroxidation in Equine Spermatozoa Based Upon the Lipophilic Fluorescent Dye C11‐BODIPY581/591

The lipophilic fluorescent probe, 4,4-difluoro-5-(4-phenyl-1 ,3-butadienyl)-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene-3-undecanoic acid (C11-BODIPY581/591) was used to evaluate changes in lipid peroxidation in equine spermatozoa during both short-term exposure to ferrous sulfate and sodium ascorbate in the presence of cumene hydroperoxide as well as during storage of spermatozoa at 5 degrees C for 48 hours. Peroxidation of C11-BODIPY581/591 was accompanied by a shift in fluorescence from red to green, and the relative amount of nonoxidized probe was determined as the ratio of red:(red + green) fluorescence as detected by either fluorescence microplate reader or by flow cytometry. The addition of Fe2SO4 (0 to 0.5 mM), low concentrations of sodium ascorbate, and the addition of cumene hydroperoxide increased peroxidation of C11-BODIPY581/591. The addition of high concentrations (10 or 20 mM) of sodium ascorbate or alpha-tocopherol reduced peroxidation of C11-BODIPY581/591 during short-term incubations. During storage at 5 degrees C in a skim milk-based extender, equine spermatozoa demonstrated a progressive decline in motility and a small but significant increase in lipid peroxidation based upon ratiometric analysis of C11-BODIPY581/591. The addition of Fe2SO4 increased lipid peroxidation in cooled spermatozoa in a dose-dependent fashion and decreased sperm motility. The addition of alpha-tocopherol, however, did not reduce lipid peroxidation during cooled semen storage. These data demonstrate that the lipophilic fluorescent probe C11-BODIPY581/591 is a useful measurement of lipid peroxidation in equine spermatozoa and that there is an increase in lipid peroxidation during cooled storage of equine spermatozoa that is increased in the presence of ferrous promoters.
Poster Presentation: Legal Research and Writing Program

Illustrates poster presentation technology for use in conference presentations. Provides September 2008 description of legal research and writing program at the University of Arkansas School of Law.The basic template is a Microsoft Power Point Slide and has been distributed by Swarthmore College online.
An Environmental Monitoring System with Integrated Wired and Wireless Sensors

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) technology has great potential to revolutionize many science and engineering domains. We present a novel environmental monitoring system with a focus on the overall system architecture for seamless integration of wired and wireless sensors for long-term, remote, and near-real-time monitoring. We also present a unified framework for sensor data collection, management, visualization, dissemination, and exchange, conforming to the new Sensor Web Enablement standard. Some initial field testing results are also presented.
Nonlinear diffusion adaptation with bounded transmission over distributed networks

This paper introduces diffusion adaptation strategies over distributed networks with nonlinear transmissions, motivated by the necessity for bounded transmit power. Local information is exchanged in real-time with neighboring nodes in order to estimate a common parameter vector via constrained nonlinear transmissions, using an adaptive learning algorithm. We propose nonlinear diffusion strategies for such an adaptive estimation. We will study convergence properties of the proposed algorithm in the mean and the mean-square sense. Simulations support the performance analysis and show that the proposed algorithm performs close to the linear case with the added advantage of power savings.
The Logarithmic Potential

We have seen in Chapter VI, § 7 (p. 172), that logarithmic potentials are limiting forms of Newtonian potentials. We have seen also that harmonic functions in two dimensions, being special cases of harmonic functions in space, in that they are independent of one coordinate, partake of the properties of harmonic functions in space. The only essential differences arise from a change in the definition of regularity at infinity, and the character of these differences has been amply illustrated in the exercises at the close of Chapter IX (p. 248).
Hepatic Sulfite Oxidase: THE NATURE AND FUNCTION OF THE HEME PROSTHETIC GROUPS

Sulfite oxidase (sulfite:O2 oxidoreductase EC 1.8.3.1) was purified 1000-fold from acetone powdered bovine liver and shown to be 65 to 80% pure by several criteria including disc gel electrophoresis, sedimentation velocity, and gel exclusion chromatography. The molecular weight of the enzyme was found to be 115,000 by the method of sedimentation equilibrium and it was shown to be composed of subunits, whose molecular weight was estimated by acrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, and found to be 55,000. The rate of sedimentation of the enzyme in dilute phosphate buffer at 20° was 5.8 S. The absorption spectrum of the enzyme exhibited a broad band centered at 530 nm with a shoulder at 560 nm and a sharp peak at 413 nm. Upon reduction of the enzyme with sulfite, absorption maxima were seen at 555, 526, 423, and 325 nm. The enzyme was found to contain heme which was quantitated as the pyridine-hemochromogen. Each molecule of enzyme contained 2 molecules of heme. Several lines of evidence indicated that the heme was a prosthetic group of the enzyme. Heme content and sulfite oxidase activity were enriched in parallel during the purification procedure. Heme and sulfite oxidase activity migrated identically when subjected to disc gel electrophoresis and sedimentation in a centrifugal field. In addition, when the enzyme was heated, its heme lost the ability to be reduced by sulfite and there was a concurrent and proportional loss of sulfite oxidase activity. The reduction of oxygen by sulfite oxidase exhibited an initially rapid phase which passed over into a slower and linear rate. This partial inactivation of the enzyme occurred by a first order process and correlated with reduction of half of the heme. When the sulfite was depleted, the heme reoxidized. When challenged with another aliquot of sulfite, the enzyme again exhibited the fast initial rate and the first order partial inactivation, thus demonstrating the complete reversibility of this phenomenon. The presence of sulfite did not change the sedimentation properties of sulfite oxidase. The heme of sulfite oxidase was reduced in the steady state achieved in the simultaneous presence of sulfite and oxygen, but was oxidized in the steady state when the electron acceptor was ferricyanide.
A new model for inductive inference

We introduce a new model for inductive inference, by combining a Bayesian approach for representing the current state of knowledge with a simple model for the computational cost of making predictions from theories. We investigate the optimization problem: how should a scientist divide his time between doing experiments and deducing predictions for promising theories. We propose an answer to this question, as a function of the relative costs of making predictions versus performing experiments. We believe our model captures many of the qualitative characteristics of "real" science. We believe that this model makes two important contributions. First, it allows us to study how a scientist might go about acquiring knowledge in a world where (as in real life) there are costs associated with both performing experiments and with computing the predictions of various theories. This model also lays the groundwork for a rigorous treatment of a machine-implementable notion of "subjective probability". Subjective probability is at the heart of probability theory [5]. Previous treatments have not been able to handle the difficulty that subjective probabilities can change as the result of "pure thinking"; our model captures this (and other effects) in a realistic manner. In addition, we begin to provide an answer to the question of how to trade-off "thinking" versus "doing"---a question that is fundamental for computers that must exist in the world and learn from their experience.
Can kinesiology tapes affect knee performance in healthy subjects

Athletes use kinesiology tape to help work through injuries and increase performance. Kinesiology tape manufacturers claim that these tapes may improve strength, blood flow, and range of motion (ROM). The purpose of this pilot study is to analyze the validity of these claims through evaluation of biomechanical parameters (strength, ROM, muscle activity, and muscle oxygenation) that may potentially affect the performance in healthy subjects. Three tapes were tested on healthy subjects. One of the tapes (Tape 3) demonstrated improvements in knee ROM, and strength, but no changes were observed in muscle activity or oxygenation levels. No improvement was found for other two tapes. Based on the results, further research involving a fatigue protocol would be beneficial to possibly reveal more evident differences between tapes.
Increasing Learner Interaction: Using Jigsaw Online

Although delivered via distance learning technology, distributed learning is substantially different in fundamental ways. Distributed learning could be described as a distance learning environment that supports the co‐construction of knowledge, an endeavour where learners build a learning community where they are given and take on more responsibility, as well as the power to help ‘spread out’ cognitive activities among themselves. This paper provides guidelines for and details of an online collaborative learning activity that takes the perspective of constructing an online learning environment founded upon an active, collaborative, constructivist approach that is supported through the development of a strong sense of community, a distributed learning community. Pour augmenter l’interaction apprenante: l’usage de Jigsaw en ligne Bien qu’il soit transmis par les memes technologies que l’apprentissage a distance, l’apprentissage distribue est substantiellement different et ce, d’une facon fondamentale. On po...
Osteopontin Protects the Islets and β-Cells from Interleukin-1 β-Mediated Cytotoxicity through Negative Feedback Regulation of Nitric Oxide

Osteopontin (OPN), a phosphorylated glycoprotein that binds to an integrin-binding motif, has been shown to regulate nitric oxide (NO) production via inhibition of induced NO synthase (iNOS) synthesis. In the transplanted islets, iNOS and toxic amounts of NO are produced as a result of islets infiltration with inflammatory cells and production of proinflammatory cytokines. Here, we demonstrate that addition of OPN before IL-1β in freshly isolated rat islets improved their glucose stimulated insulin secretion dose-dependently and inhibited IL-1β-induced NO production in an arginine-glycine-aspartate-dependent manner. Transient transfection of OPN gene in RINm5F β-cells fully prevented the toxic effect of IL-1β at concentrations that reduced the viability by 50% over 3 d. OPN prevention of IL-1β-induced toxicity was accompanied by inhibited transcription of iNOS by 80%, resulting in 50% decreased formation of the toxic NO. In OPN-transfected cells, the IL-1β-induced nuclear factor-κB activity was significan...
Angiosarcoma of the liver: MR imaging pre- and post-chemotherapy

Angiosarcoma of the liver is a rare tumor of mesenchymal origin. We report the MR appearance of angiosarcoma of the liver on T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and serial gadolinium enhanced spoiled gradient echo images pre- and post-intravenous chemotherapy. On pre-treatment images, angiosarcoma lesions were well defined, high signal with central regions of low signal on T2-weighted images, and showed peripheral nodular enhancement on serial post gadolinium images. Lesions resembled hemangiomas, however low signal central regions on T2-weighted images was a distinguishing feature. Post-treatment images acquired 11, 15, and 17 months after initiation of therapy, demonstrated decrease in diameter or resolution of angiosarcoma masses. Lesions increased in signal on T1 weighted images and decreased in signal on T2 weighted images approaching the signal intensity of liver. Treated liver lesions enhanced negligibly on gadolinium enhanced images.
QUOTIENTS OF ELLIPTIC CURVES OVER FINITE FIELDS

Fix a prime l, and let &#x1d53d;q be a finite field with q ≡ 1 (mod l) elements. If l > 2 and q ≫l 1, we show that asymptotically (l - 1)2/2l2 of the elliptic curves E/&#x1d53d;q with complete rational l-torsion are such that E/〈P〉 does not have complete rational l-torsion for any point P ∈ E(&#x1d53d;q) of order l. For l = 2 the asymptotic density is 0 or 1/4, depending whether q ≡ 1 (mod 4) or 3 (mod 4). We also show that for any l, if E/&#x1d53d;q has an &#x1d53d;q-rational point R of order l2, then E/〈lR〉 always has complete rational l-torsion.
Evaluation of Batch Leaching Procedures for Estimating Metal Mobility in Glaciated Soils

Batch leaching methods have been used for several decades to estimate the potential release of contaminants from soils. Four batch leaching procedures (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure, synthetic precipitation leaching procedure, deionized water leaching procedure, and California waste extraction test) were evaluated for their ability to realistically quantify the mobility of metals from previously contaminated glaciated soils. The study was conducted using soils from four different sites (three in Connecticut and one in Maine). The results of the batch leaching procedures were compared with a set of continuous column leaching experiments performed at two different flowrates and two influent pH values. The results suggested that the synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP) was more realistic than the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), but still a conservative leaching estimate for evaluating the potential for metal mobility in glaciated soils. This study suggests that using SPLP as a test for estimating metal cleanup levels will result in lower remediation costs relative to TCLP or waste extraction test (WET), but still maintain a high level of confidence in the protection of ground water quality.
Multi-Institutional Study of Women and Underrepresented Minority Faculty Members in Academic Pharmacy

Objectives. To examine trends in the numbers of women and underrepresented minority (URM) pharmacy faculty members over the last 20 years, and determine factors influencing women faculty members’ p...
Problem diversity and familiarity in multiple discrimination learning by monkeys

Abstract Three groups of four stumptail macaques were trained in a learning-set experiment. Two groups saw seven familiar and three unfamiliar problems daily; the third group saw ten problems, all new. Reward was always under certain familiar stimuli for the PR group but unpredictably located for the UR group. Control group performance surpassed that of the familiar problem groups on novel problems. Familiar-problem performance equalled novel-problem performance in the UR group. Proficiency on novel problems was identical for the two familiar-problem groups.
Absolute partial photoionization cross sections of ethylene

Abstract Absolute partial photoionization cross sections for ionization out of the first four valence orbitals to the X 2 B 3u , A 2 B 3g , B 2 A g and C 2 B 2u states of the C 2 H 4 + ion are presented as a function of photon energy over the energy range from 12 to 26 eV. The experimental results have been compared to previously published relative partial cross sections for the first two bands at 18, 21 and 24 eV. Comparison of the experimental data with continuum multiple scattering Xα calculations provides evidence for extensive autoionization to the X 2 B 3u state and confirms the predicted shape resonances in ionization to the A 2 B 3g and B 2 A g states. Identification of possible transitions for the autoionizing resonances have been made using multiple scattering transition state calculations on Rydberg excited states.
An aging study by semi-conductive microstrip gas chambers

Abstract The aging behavior of wire chambers have been of great interest for many years. Recently, a new generation of proportional chambers have been built including the microstrip gas chamber (MSGC) microgap chamber (MGC) and gaseous electron multiplier (GEM). Aging studies of these detectors are of particular interest to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) community because the baseline design of the CMS experiment includes MSGCs as part of the tracking system. We have performed a series of aging tests of large pitch, 1 mm MSGC’s constructed on semiconductive glass substrates operated in argon and dimethyl ether (DME). The quencher, DME is believed to chemically react with some materials of organic origin commonly used in gas systems, shortening the lifetime and deteriorating the performance of the detectors. Great care was taken to minimize unwanted chemical reactions and all materials suspected to react with DME were removed from areas where the DME gas flows. With these precautions, we have demonstrated that the MSGC can tolerate about 150 mC/cm of accumulated charge without significant degradation of the chamber performance. This corresponds to about 15 yr of operation at the LHC.
Acute pulmonary thromboembolism: a historical perspective.

639 diographic features of acute pulmonary thromboembolism are insensitive and nonspecific. The Westermark sign—oligemia of the lung beyond the occluded vessel—did not live up to early enthusiasm [10]. Similarly, elevation of the ipsilateral hemidiaphragm, enlargement of the proximal pulmonary artery, atelectasis, and pleural effusion are all nonspecific. The most common radiographic findings in the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED) study were atelectasis and patchy pulmonary opacity [11]. However, the prevalence of these findings in patients who did not have pulmonary thromboembolism was not significantly different. Radionuclide imaging (scintigraphy) became the mainstay of noninvasive imaging but had limitations. A normal ventilation–perfusion scan reliably excluded acute pulmonary thromboembolism, and a high-prob ability scan made this diagnosis with reasonable accuracy. However, a substantial proportion of ventilation–perfusion studies were nondiagnostic [12]. Over the years, the introduction of newer, safer, and quicker investigations has led to a progressive decrease in mortality from acute pulmonary thromboembolism [13]. In the early 1990s, the value of CT in the diagnosis of central pulmonary thromboembolism was documented by Remy-Jardin et al. [14]. CT was 90% sensitive and 96% specific for detection of central and lobar pulmonary thromboembolism, but segmental and subsegmental pulmonary thromboembolism was not assessed. In 1995, Goodman et al. [2] significantly advanced the field by comparing helical CT angiography (CTA) with pulmonary angiography in patients with unresolved suspicion for pulmonary thromboembolism and addressing the issue of segmental and subsegmental pulmonary thromboembolism. Acute Pulmonary Thromboembolism: A Historical Perspective
Effects of immediate dentures on certain structural and perceptual parameters of speech.

1 he consonant /s/ is classified as an unvoiced linguoalveolar fricative and is one of the most frequently misarticulated sounds of speech. According to a study conducted by Fairbanks’ approximately 90% of all speakers with defective articulation have difficulty with the /s/ sound. Previous dental research and clinical reports have been concerned with the effects of denture construction on speech performance. Silverman* suggested that incorrect determination of the vertical dimension of occlusion and improper placement of anterior teeth frequently results in a lisp or substitution of the /th/ sound for the /s/ sound. Tanaka” found that in edentulous patients the placement of a denture resulted in overall improvement of speech with time. He noted that the sounds most frequently in error were the sibilant sounds and that palatal contour can affect certain speech sounds. Boucher’ and Allen’ reported that edentulous patients tend to return to normal speech patterns relatively soon after insertion of dentures, whereas Troffer and Beder” found that normal speech patterns were not observed”
Unfinished business: the Catholic Church, communism, and democratization

Although history has shown us that the church plays a role in the political liberalization of non-democratic countries, the nature of the church's role and how it participates in politics has yet to be fully revealed. By revisiting the Polish Church's historic role in the collapse of communism, I argue that we have overestimated the church's effect on political liberalization in that case, which has led us to neglect or be prematurely disappointed in its role in the remaining communist countries such as in Cuba. Drawing from the Polish case, I conclude that the church's moral, self-limiting, and transnational character needs to be recognized and incorporated into a general theory of democratization. It is this aspect of the church that has helped it to remain active within remaining communist societies, and provide the moral support that is an integral part of political liberalization processes.
Subjunctive biscuit and stand-off conditionals

Conventional wisdom has it that many intriguing features of indicative conditionals aren’t shared by subjunctive conditionals. Subjunctive morphology is common in discussions of wishes and wants, however, and conditionals are commonly used in such discussions as well. As a result such discussions are a good place to look for subjunctive conditionals that exhibit features usually associated with indicatives alone. Here I offer subjunctive versions of J. L. Austin’s ‘biscuit’ conditionals—e.g., “There are biscuits on the sideboard if you want them”—and subjunctive versions of Allan Gibbard’s ‘stand-off’ or ‘Sly Pete’ conditionals, in which speakers with no relevant false beliefs can in the same context felicitously assert conditionals with the same antecedents and contradictory consequents. My cases undercut views according to which the indicative/subjunctive divide marks a great difference in the meaning of conditionals. They also make trouble for treatments of indicative conditionals that cannot readily be generalized to subjunctives.
Thermodynamic Model for the Sensing Behavior in Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Ni-Mn-Ga

A magnetomechanical model for the sensing effect in the ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) Ni-Mn-Ga is presented. The model is based on continuum thermodynamics with the constitutive response being derived from the total (magnetic and mechanical) free energy. The model predicts the stress-strain and induction-strain response at various bias fields. Only two experiments are required to obtain the model parameters.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Two-Dimensional Gel Analysis of Histones in Acid Extracts of Nuclei, Cells, and Tissues

Two-dimensional gel analysis of histones from extracts of nuclei, cells, and tissues is described. A discontinuous buffer system which concentrates the sample was used to increase resolution in both dimensions and also to allow the direct loading of HCl extracts of chromatin, nuclei, cells, and tissues. Stained one-dimensional gels are used as sample gels for the second dimension, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide being used to solubilize the proteins in the dye-protein complex. These methods enable one to purify proteins through acetic acid/urea/Triton, acetic acid/urea, and sodium dodecyl sulfate gels without eluting them from the gels. The method is also compatible with the use of protamine to displace histones from nuclei and nucleosomes separated in chromatin gels.
Restrictive lung function in pediatric patients with structural congenital heart disease

Objectives We sought to describe the prevalence of restrictive lung function in structural congenital heart disease and to determine the effect of cardiothoracic surgical intervention. Methods The data from a retrospective review of the spirometry findings from pediatric patients with structural congenital heart disease were compared with the data from 220 matched controls. Restrictive lung function was defined as a forced vital capacity of 80%. Results Of the children with congenital heart disease, 20% met the criteria for restrictive lung function compared with 13.2% of the controls ( P = .03). The prevalence in those with congenital heart disease without a surgical history was similar to that of the controls (odds ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-1.13). Restrictive lung function was more likely if surgical intervention had occurred within the first year of life (odds ratio, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-3.55; P P P Conclusions Restrictive lung function was more prevalent in those with congenital heart disease after cardiothoracic surgical intervention than in the controls or patients without surgical intervention. The prevalence was also greater with surgical intervention at an earlier age. The risk was equivalent when sternotomy alone was compared with thoracotomy alone but was significantly greater when both sternotomy and thoracotomy were performed. The risk increased with each additional surgery performed.
Use of cognitive interviews in the development of the PLUS-M item bank.

Purpose Measuring constructs such as mobility with patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can enhance clinical and scientific understanding of how health conditions, like lower limb amputation, impact patients’ lives. When developing PRO questionnaires, cognitive interviews (CIs) are used to examine whether survey items are understandable, clear, and meaningful. The aim of this study was to use CIs to inform item development for the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility (PLUS-M), a PRO that measures mobility in prosthetic limb users.
Abnormalities on the Neurological Examination and EEG in Young Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders

This study examined the nature and frequency of neurological and EEG abnormalities in 60 young children (ages 2-6 years) with pervasive developmental disorders. A number of standard neurological functions could not be adequately assessed due to the young age of the children and/or limited comprehension and cooperation. The most common neurological deficits were hyporeflexia, stereotypies, and hypotonia. EEG abnormalities were identified in 32% of the children while only two children were known to have clinical seizures. The frequency of cases with hypotonia or hyporeflexia was more common than in older children with this diagnosis. Results also indicate that EEG abnormalities are common in this young population but clinical seizures are rare, confirming other studies.
Detection of endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair with use of technetium-99m sulfur colloid and (99m)Tc-labeled red blood cell scans.

PURPOSE This study was performed to determine whether endoleaks could be detected after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) with use of technetium-99m sulfur colloid and 99m Tc-labeled red blood cell (RBC) nuclear medicine scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS There were 13 patients enrolled in this study: nine with endoleaks seen on computed tomographic (CT) angiography and four with no endoleak on CT angiography. All patients underwent regularly scheduled surveillance CT angiography examination after EVAR to evaluate for endoleak. Endoleak detection was then attempted in each patient with two nuclear medicine scans: a 99m Tc sulfur colloid scan and a 99m Tc-labeled RBC scan. Flow images (5 seconds per frame) were obtained for 1 minute after intravenous administration of 555 MBq (15 mCi) 99m Tc sulfur colloid. Sequential dynamic images were then obtained every minute for 30 minutes. Next, a 99m Tc-labeled RBC study was performed after the intravenous administration of 370–1,073 MBq (10–29 mCi) in vitro labeled 99m Tc RBCs. Flow images were obtained, followed by sequential dynamic images obtained every minute for 30 minutes. Single photon emission CT images of the abdomen were then acquired. The nuclear medicine scans were evaluated for the presence or absence of endoleak independent of the CT angiography findings. RESULTS Of the nine patients with endoleaks on CT angiography, seven (78%) had them detected by nuclear medicine examinations. Two of the nine endoleaks seen on CT angiography (22%) were not seen on either scintigraphic examination. All patients with no endoleak on CT angiography had their nuclear medicine scans correctly interpreted as showing no endoleak present ( n = 4; 100%). No complications occurred as a result of the nuclear medicine scans. CONCLUSIONS Endoleaks can be detected with 99m Tc sulfur colloid and 99m Tc-labeled RBC nuclear medicine scans. This initial work suggests that the sensitivities of these scintigraphic scanning methods for endoleak detection are lower than that of CT angiography.
Effect of estrous cycle phase on clinical pathology values in beagle dogs.

Background In dogs, the diestrus phase is considerably longer than in most domestic animals, and is characterized by high circulating progesterone concentrations that may influence clinical pathology values. Objective The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate differences in clinical pathology data in dogs in diestrus compared with data from dogs in all other phases of the estrous cycle. Methods Phase of the estrous cycle was determined by histologic evaluation of reproductive tissues from 86 control female Beagles that had participated in 23 toxicity studies. Serum biochemical, hematologic, and urinalysis values from dogs in diestrus were compared with data from dogs in all other estrous cycle phases using a 2-tailed t-test. Results In Beagles in diestrus (n = 38), serum cholesterol concentrations and eosinophil counts were 35% (P < .0001) and 45.8% (P = .0035) higher, respectively, than for Beagles in all other phases of the estrous cycle (n = 48). Furthermore, Beagles in diestrus had 14% lower AST activity (P = .0011), 1% lower chloride concentration (P = .0224), 7.8% lower hemoglobin concentration (P < .0001), 7.8% lower RBC count (P < .0001), and 7.6% lower hematocrit (P < .0001) compared with female dogs in all other phases of the estrous cycle. Urine values did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions Differences in clinical pathology values between dogs in different phases of the estrous cycle could potentially confound interpretation of data in toxicity studies, which often have small group sizes. Interpretation of clinical pathology data in female dogs should be performed with due consideration given to the phase of the estrous cycle.
Intraspecific comparisons reveal differences in the pattern of ultraviolet radiation responses in four maize (Zea mays L.) varieties.

Abstract Four maize (Zea mays L.) varieties were examined for ultraviolet radiation-induced changes in leaf rolling, biomass, fluctuating leaf asymmetry and DNA damage. Short-term dose–response curves for each response were constructed and responses in each line compared. The four varieties each exhibited a different pattern of tolerance and reactivity, ranging from B73, which was tolerant in all four measures, to TS1, which was affected in DNA damage levels and leaf rolling but unaffected in biomass accumulation and fluctuating leaf asymmetry. The pattern of ultraviolet radiation responses allows us to narrow the possibilities for the source of the defect in reactive varieties. The four varieties tested include inbred parents that have been used to construct recombinant inbred lines and a variety that is found in the background of the engineered RescueMu transposon mutagenesis lines. These dose–response curves and variety comparisons provide the foundation for genetic dissection of the mechanisms of ultraviolet radiation responses in maize.
Electronic transport in small strongly localized structures

We review some recent results on the low-temperature transport properties (T < 4K) of very small silicon metal-oxide field-effect transistors in the insulating regime of conduction. Our devices are lithographically patterned to have widths as small as 0.05 µm and lengths as short as 0.06 µm. These small transistors exhibit new and unexpected sample-specific fluctuation behavior in the gate voltage, temperature, and magnetic field dependence of the conductance. We discuss both resonant tunneling and Mott variable-range hopping, the two main transport mechanisms in these devices at low temperature.
748 COMPARISON OF LASER NEPHELOMETRY (Ne) & RADIAL IMMUNODIFFUSION (RID) METHODS FOR MEASURING IMMUNOGLOBULINS (ID) IN IMMUNE DEFICIENT (ID) PATIENTS (PTS)

748 COMPARISON OF LASER NEPHELOMETRY (Ne) & RADIAL IMMUNODIFFUSION (RID) METHODS FOR MEASURING IMMUNOGLOBULINS (ID) IN IMMUNE DEFICIENT (ID) PATIENTS (PTS)
Medical innovation, collapsing goods, and the moral centrality of the free-market

Thomas Magnells rich and insightful essay, ‘‘Collapsing Goods in Medicine and the Value of Innovation,’’ illustrates some of the ways in which well intended social, medical, and political policy, even the intentional production of short term goods, can lead in the long run to more harm than benefit. As Magnell notes, the over use of antibiotics may lead to the evolution of drug resistant strains of bacteria, the over use of short cuts through a field may destroy the grass, and bragging to friends about a wonderful fishing spot may attract too many fishermen and lead to over fishing, or, at least, to the loss of privacy. Magnell terms such goods ‘‘collapsing goods’’ in that the ‘‘good continues only up to a point, a threshold of use, and then plummets with undesirable and possibly devastating results.’’ 1 In ‘‘Collapsing Goods in Medicine and the Value of Innovation,’’ Magnell is concerned in particular with collapsing goods in medicine and how best to combat the unintended consequences of short term benefit maximization, which lead, perhaps unintentionally, to longterm harmful outcomes. Magnell offers four possibilities for governing collapsing goods: ‘‘moral suasion, regulation, a pricing mechanism, and innovation.’’ 2 His preferred solution is innovation. Given such a conclusion, it is perhaps understandable that he raises concerns regarding opposition to innovation by what he terms ‘‘religions’’ and ‘‘ideologies’’: Religions and ideologies sometimes foster an unquestioning attitude on all manner of conduct. When accepted practices are not to be questioned, discounting is effectively without limit and innovation is not countenanced. Opposition to innovation takes the form of categorical demands to prevent change. This is the outlook of committed Luddites. 3
Dynamics of Limit Models

Using noncommutative integration theory, we show why certain singular behavior has been appearing in the dynamics of large quantum mechanical systems, and how to isolate the singularities.
Molecular complex design: bridging the tetrakiscarboxylatodirhodium core

Abstract The preparation, X-ray structure determination and catalytic activity of the first bridged tetracarboxylatodirhodium complex are described. The bridging diacid ligand was designed using computational techniques. This is the first report of a tetrakiscarboxylato metal-metal dimer having two of the ligating carboxylato groups connected by an organic bridge. The bridged dimer very actively (1610 turnovers) catalyzes the cyclization of a long chain α-diazo β-keto ester to the corresponding cyclopentane.
Encapsulation of High-Purity Germanium Detectors

The encapsulation of high purity germanium detectors is very desirable in order to increase their versatility and reliability. However, rapid and extensive degradation is seen for all detectors made from detector grade crystals which are encapsulated in a simple vacuum. Extensive studies have shown that the cause of this degradation is hydrogen adsorption on the detector surface. There it causes the formation of a strong p+ inversion layer which in turn shunts the detector junction. Reliable encapsulation is shown to be achievable by the use of hydrogen-free germanium crystals.
Catalysts for selective hydrogenation of soybean oil. III. Hydrogenation catalysts prepared on molecular sieves and other supports

A survey of nickel, platinum and palladium catalysts prepared on silicas, aluminas and mo-lecular sieves indicated that the nature of such supports contributed importantly to selective hydrogenation of soybean oil. Nickel-molecular sieve catalysts provided both high hydrogenation selectivity and lowtrans- isomer formation. Some kind of spatial hindrance may be postulated in explanation of the results.
Vaginal Douches and Other Feminine Hygiene Products: Women's Practices and Perceptions of Product Safety

Objective: Use of vaginal douche products has been linked with a variety of reproductive health problems; nonetheless, the practice of douching persists. The goals of this study were to 1) determine the use of vaginal douches and other feminine hygiene products, 2) ascertain how safe women think vaginal douche products are, and 3) evaluate women's readiness to stop douching. Methods: A random-digit-dial computer-assisted telephone survey was conducted among US women between the ages of 18 and 44. Results: Of the 2,602 women interviewed, 11.8% (n = 307) engaged in regular douching (White: 9.1%; African American: 27.7%; Hispanic: 15.0%). Women who douched, compared to women who did not douche, used other feminine hygiene products significantly more often (vaginal sprays [ p < .0001], wipes/towelettes [ p < 0.01], vaginal powder [ p < 0.0001] and bubble bath for feminine cleansing [ p < 0.001]). Women who douched also were more likely than nondouchers to agree with the statement, “Douche products are safe to use; otherwise they wouldn't be on the market” (70.3% vs. 33.4%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Nearly all women (90.0%) who douched had no intention to discontinue the practice. Conclusion: Compared with women who do not douche, women who douche use other feminine hygiene products at a much higher rate and also believe that douche products are safe. Women who douche will remain resistant to stopping the practice without innovative interventions. Given that most women start douching in adolescence, teens should be targeted for prevention efforts.
Tensile instability of initially spherical balloons

Abstract Using a new elastic constitutive relation for rubber-like materials previously proposed by the author, a large deformation analysis of the inflation of rotationally symmetric balloons is developed and specialized to the inflation of an initially spherical balloon. An investigation of the pressure versus radius characteristic reveals the existence of a local maximum indicating the occurrence of a tensile instability. Observing the form of the total potential energy function at various equilibrium positions yields much insight into the tensile instability phenomenon. An analogy to snap-through buckling is recognized and discussed in detail. Inflation experiments performed with neoprene balloons are found to verify the analytically obtained results. Bifurcations to non-spherical modes in the unstable region, previously investigated by V. I. Feodos'ev by performing a perturbution on the homogeneously deformed non-linear state, are experimentally observed and verified.
Responses of guayule (Parthenium argentatum) seedlings to plant growth promoting fluorescent pseudomonads

The potential of a number of fluorescent pseudomonad strains to promote growth of guayule plants in the greenhouse and in the field was studied. A number of bacterial strains collected from guayule roots and rhizospheres promoted growth of greenhouse-grown plants but not field-grown plants. Percent increase in shoot dry weight of 12-week-old, greenhouseinoculated guayule plants ranged from 17 to 75 nine weeks after inoculation compared to non-inoculated plants. The increased growth of plants in the greenhouse could reduce production cost by shortening the time required to maintain plants in the nursery prior to transplanting to the field.
Synthesis and reactivity of sulfido ruthenium carbonyl clusters

A survey of the structures and reactivity of ruthenium carbonyl cluster complexes containing sulfido ligands is presented and discussed.
Condensation by homogeneous nucleation in the vapor phase

Abstract : The history of nucleation theory and experimentation since 1926 is recounted and the current status of the theory is reviewed. The review reveals points that apparently went unnoticed in the past. A comparison of data obtained by cloud chambers and nozzles with theory points to essential agreement with the so-called classical theory. New results on the condensation of ethanol are added. (Author)