cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal noise in germanium double-injection diodes

Abstract We measured the h.f. noise of double-injection S.C.L. germanium diodes and showed that the noise was always thermal noise, even when measured between the mid-point of the device and the cathode. This eliminates some theories predicting that the noise at midpoint was not of the form 4 kTg x , where g x is the h.f. conductance between midpoint and cathode.
The impact of folic acid intake on the association among diabetes mellitus, obesity, and spina bifida

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between spina bifida and 2 established risk factors (pregestational diabetes mellitus and obesity) in both the presence and absence of the recommended daily folic acid intake in the periconceptional period. Study Design Cases of spina bifida (n = 1154) and control subjects (n = 9439) from the Slone Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study (1976-2011) were included. Information on preexisting diabetes mellitus (collected 1976-2011) and obesity (collected 1993-2011), defined as a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m 2 , was collected through interviews that were conducted within 6 months of delivery. Periconceptional folic acid intake was calculated with both dietary and supplement information. Mothers were classified as consuming more or less than 400 μg/day of folic acid; food folate was included at a 30% discount for its lower bioavailability. Logistic regression models that were adjusted for maternal age, race, education, and study site were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the joint effects of low folic acid intake coupled with diabetes mellitus or obesity. Results Case mothers were more likely to have diabetes mellitus or be obese (0.7% and 19.0%, respectively) than control mothers (0.4% and 10.8%, respectively). The joint effect of diabetes mellitus and lower folic acid intake on spina bifida was larger (aOR, 3.95; 95% CI, 1.56–10.00) than that of diabetes mellitus and higher folic acid intake (aOR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.17–10.30). Folic acid intake made little difference on the association between obesity and spina bifida. Conclusion Our findings suggest that folic acid further attenuates, although does not eliminate, the risk of spina bifida that is associated with diabetes mellitus than the risk with obesity.
[Pulmonary artery sling with tracheal stenosis--primary repair in infancy].

Between 1984 and 1996 five infants underwent surgical repair of pulmonary artery sling associated with severe congenital tracheal stenosis. All infants had symptoms of severe respiratory distress and three of them required ventilator support preoperatively. ages ranged from 2 to 11 months (mean age 6 months). Complete tracheal rings were present in all patients as an associated lesion and right upper lobe tracheal bronchus in 3 patients. The length of tracheal stenosis ranged from 18 to 45 mm (median 40 mm). Three had associated intracardiac anomalies (Scimitar sydrome (1), VSD (1), double-outlet right ventricle with VSD (1), double-outlet right ventricle with pulmonary hypertension (1)). Surgical intervention was carried out through a right thoraco tomy (1) or median sternotomy (4). Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was used in 3 patients and extracorporeal membrane oxgenator (ECMO). in 1. All infants had reimplantation of the left pulmonary artery into the main pulmonary artery left anterior to the trachea. Four patients underwent simultaneous tracheoplasty using costal cartilage grafts and one had complete resection of obstructed trachea between the right upper lobe tracheal bronchus and carina. The length of resected trachea was about 30% of the entire length of the trachea. Three infants underwent simultaneous intracardiac repair. There was no hospital death. All were weaned from ventilatory support and extubated on 1 to 16 months (mean 4, 5 months) postoperatively. AS an additional procedure, aortopexy, removal of granulation tissue or balloon dilatation of the trachea were carried out in one patient each following tracheoplasty using cartilage grafts. There was one late death at 1 year postoperatively. Three of 4 survivors are doing well with no stridor. We adono stridor. We adovocate 1) early aggressive primary repair of pulmonary artrey sling with tracheal stenosis, 2) concomitant repair of tracheal lesion and intracardiac anomalies whenever possible, 3) application of CPB or ECMO to avoid cumbersome intubation technique, and 4) utmost effort to perform tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis.
A computationally implementable criterion for the solvability of boundary value problems on an infinite domain

In this note we develop a simple, computationally implementable criterion to determine the solvability of boundary value problems. This criterion for solvability involves converting the boundary value problem to an initial value problem, forming an associated nonlinear boundary constraint, and computing necessary conditions for convergence using a coupled variational initial value problem. Source term and near-field boundary condition effects are explicitly included. The solvability analysis is directly analogous to sampling convergence of a classical shooting method. Analytical and computational examples are provided which give confidence that this methodology is robust and has potentially wide applicability. Extensions to systems of equations are provided and demonstrated for a linear problem.
Prostate cancer: Predicting response to androgen receptor signalling inhibition.

Although the androgen receptor remains active in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, the heterogeneity of this disease means that response to treatment in individual patients is uncertain. Analysis of relevant tissue before and after therapy can help identify markers of response and resistance to androgen receptor signalling inhibitors.
Monitoring of transmitter metabolites by voltammetry in cerebrospinal fluid following neural pathway stimulation

AN in vivo voltammetry technique has been developed which enables direct and continuous measurement to be made of the release of neurotransmitter metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after electrical stimulation or pharmacological manipulations of neural pathways. The measurement is very simple in principle. A potential is applied to a micro carbon electrode stereotaxically placed in a lateral ventricle. One then measures the minute current which results from the oxidation or reduction of small molecular weight constituents near the sensor electrode. The potential at which the electrolysis occurs serves as a qualitative indication of the constituent being monitored and the current itself is directly proportional to the concentration of this component in CSF.
Lasso procedure to revise overcorrection with radial keratotomy

Abstract PURPOSE: To report three patients who underwent the lasso procedure to revise overcorrection with radial keratotomy. METHODS: Case report and review of the literature. RESULTS: Four eyes of three patients who had undergone radial keratotomy with resultant hyperopic overcorrection underwent a lasso procedure. Before the procedure, average cycloplegic refraction spherical equivalent was +3.656 ± 1.352 diopters, and average manifest refraction spherical equivalent was +2.250 ± 0.621 diopters. A 10.0 monofilament nylon suture was placed in a circumferencial manner through the corneal stroma and overlapping the old radial keratotomy incisions. At 1 month postoperatively, best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in all four eyes, with average cycloplegic refraction spherical equivalent +0.438 ± 1.423 diopters and average manifest refraction spherical equivalent −0.156 ± 1.147 diopters. Mean delta cycloplegic refraction spherical equivalent was 3.219 ± 1.724. CONCLUSIONS: The lasso procedure provides an immediate solution for symptomatic overcorrected hyperopic eyes after radial keratotomy. Predictability and long-term stability necessitate further follow-up.
Properties and applications of AlxGa1−xAs (0 ≤ χ ≤1) grown at low temperatures

Abstract We have used low temperature MBE growth to obtain highly resistive GaAs and AlGaAs layers with potential applications in a variety of devices. Using MIS structures, we have examined the resistivity of AlGaAs for various aluminum mole fractions and growth temperatures. A GaAs resistor structure was grown at 300°C and a resistivity of 5 × 10 5 Ω cm is measured. This agrees well with the resistivity of 3 × 10 5 Ω cm measured using an MIS structure. Furthermore, we have grown a HEMT structure with high mobility ( μ = 156,000 cm 2 V −1 s −1 at 77 K) and electron sheet density ( n s = 6.0 × 10 11 cm −2 at 77 K) on a highly resistive low-temperature grown (LTG) Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 As/GaAs superlattice buffer. To test the LTG AlGaAs as possible dielectric for microwave applications, a coplanar waveguide (CPW) was fabricated on a 0.75 μm epitaxial Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 As layer grown at 270°C. There was virtually no difference in the measured S -parameters for the coplanar waveguide (CPW) fabricated on the 0.75 μm epitaxial Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 As layer and the CPW made directly on a semi-insulating GaAs wafer.
Development of an Efficient “Substrate-trapping” Mutant of Src Homology Phosphotyrosine Phosphatase 2 and Identification of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, Gab1, and Three Other Proteins as Target Substrates *

Src homology containing phosphotyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2) is a positive effector of growth factor, cytokine, and integrin signaling. However, neither its physiological substrate nor its mechanism of action in tyrosine kinase signaling has been demonstrated. We reasoned that the identification of physiological substrates of SHP2 would be a stepping stone in elucidating its mechanism of action, and, thus, we constructed a potent trapping mutant of SHP2. Surprisingly, the frequently used Asp to Ala substitution did not give rise to a trapping mutant. However, we were able to develop an efficient trapping mutant of SHP2 by introducing Asp to Ala and Cys to Ser double mutations. The double mutant (DM) protein identified the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the Grb2 binder 1, and three other, as yet unidentified, phosphotyrosyl proteins as candidate physiological substrates. Given that substrate trapping occurred in intact cells and that the interaction was very specific, it is highly likely that EGFR and Gab1 represent physiological SHP2 substrates. Therefore, the DM protein would serve as an important tool in future SHP2 studies, including identification of p190, p150, and p90.
Corrosion testing of nickel base superalloys and coatings with molten sulphates at 900°C

The work refers to the application of electrochemical testing procedures on the corrosion properties of different commercial nickel base superalloys. This included the following alloys: IN 738 LC, IN 939, Nimonic 81, Nimonic 90, IN 713 LC, IN 792 5 A, IN 100, IN 853, IN 617, Nimonic 105, B 1925, N 33 Hastelloy X, Mar M 246, Mar M 421, Mar M 432, IN 671, Nicrofer 7520, IN 800. Beside a short galvanostatic test with subsequent metallographic measurement of the resulting corrosion damage, potential/current density curves and potential/time curves were taken from selected alloys. In all cases the corrodent was a melt of (Na0.9, K0.1)2SO4 at 900°C. Thermogravimetric tests were run for comparison of three alloys (IN 738 LC, IN 939, IN 713 LC). The existence of ranges of passivation and induction periods could be established. The galvanostatic corrosion test was also applied to the testing of two different coatings (S 57 and LDC 2) on IN 738 LC and Mar M 246 or IN 100. In all cases scale compounds and intermetallics in coatings were analyzed by XRD. The electrochemical test for nickel base superalloys is a useful tool for a quick ranking of alloys. For the assessment of coatings more work will be necessary. Korrosionsprufung von Superlegierungen auf Nickelbasis und Uberzugen in Sulfatschmelzen bei 900°C. Die Arbeit behandelt die Anwendung von elektrochemischen Prufverfahren bei der Ermittlung der Korrosionseigenschaften verschiedener handelsublicher Superlegierungen auf Nickelbasis, darunter IN 738 LC, IN 939, Nimonic 81, Nimonic 90, IN 713 LC, IN 713 LC, IN 792 5 A, IN 100, IN 853, IN 617, Nimonic 105, B 1925, N 33 Hastelloy X, Mar M 246, Mar M 421, Mar M 432, IN 671, Nicrofer 7520, IN 800. Zusatzlich zu einem kurzen galvanostatischen Test mit anschliesender metallographischer Identifizierung des Korrosionsschadens wurden mit einigen ausgewahlten Legierungen Potential/Strom-Kurven und Potential/Zeit-Kurven aufgenommen. Als angreifendes Mittel diente in allen Fallen eine Schmelze von (Na0.9, K0.1)2SO4 bei 900°C. Zu Vergleichszwecken wurden mit IN 738 LC, IN 939 und IN 713 LC thermogravimetrische Untersuchungen durchgefuhrt. Bei den Untersuchungen konnte die Existenz von Passivierungsbereichen und Induktionsperioden nachgewiesen werden. Mit der galvanostatischen Prufmethode wurden auch zwei Uberzuge (S 57 und LDC 2) auf IN 738 LC und Mar M 246 oder IN 100 untersucht. Die Im Zunder enthaltenen Verbindungen sowie die Intermetallide in den Uberzugen wurden mittels Rontgenbeugung nachgewiesen. Die beschriebene elektrochemische Methode zur Ermittlung der Korrosionsbestandig keit von Superlegierungen auf Nickelbasis eignet sich vor allem als rasche Relativmethode. Im Falle der Uberzuge mussen jedoch noch weitere Untersuchungen durchgefuhrt werden.
Minimizing wire delays by net-topology aware binding during floorplan- driven high level synthesis

With shrinking feature sizes in deep sub-micron technologies, interconnect delays play a dominant role in the cycle time of digital circuits. It is essential to consider the impact of physical design during high-level synthesis. No prior work exists in literature that accounts for the topology of nets resulting from binding decisions during high-level synthesis. This paper presents a novel floorplan-aware high-level synthesis technique that uses accurate net topologies and distributed wire-delay models to guide resource allocation and binding decisions during design-space exploration. The proposed approach tightly integrates a floorplanner with a high-level synthesis binding algorithm. The location of data path modules in the floorplan is used to determine the minimal length RSMT of every net, to which the delay model is applied to accurately estimate delays of multi-terminal nets. Our results show that, when compared to previous approaches, the synthesis technique proposed in this paper reduces wire delays by as much as 48.9% in 70nm technology with an average improvement of 38.6%, and an overhead of only 3.6% in chip area
Sociocultural dimensions of e-learning in emerging nations

The economic and sociocultural dimensions of e-learning are sometimes ignored in system and policy implementation in emerging nations. Many learning objects, systems, and courses (i.e. MOOCs) originate in Western developed nations and are presented in English, thus contain explicit and implicit cultural bias. Based on the author's experience in using cross-cultural e-learning systems in the emerging nation of Qatar and a relevant literature review, this contribution outlines sociocultural aspects of national and multinational online learning (with a focus on the Arabic-speaking nations) that must be considered for successful implementation.
Modeling surgical procedures to assist in understanding surgical approach

Often within the clinical environment of a neurosurgical brain tumor procedure, the surgeon is faced with the difficulty of orienting the patient's head to maximize the success of removing the pathology. Currently, these decisions are based on the experience of the surgeon. The primary objective of this paper is to demonstrate how a mathematical model can be used to evaluate the different patient positioning for tumor resection therapies. Specifically, therapies involving gravity-induced shift are used to demonstrate how a series of candidate approaches to the tumor can result in significantly different deformation behavior of brain tissue. To quantitatively assess the advantages and disadvantages of potential approaches, three different midline tumor locations were used to evaluate for the extent of tumor exposure and the magnitude of tensile stress at the brain-tumor interface, both of which are reliable indicators of the ease of resection. Preliminary results indicate that the lateral decubitus position is best suited for midline tumors.
Creep stresses and strains in an axially loaded plate with a hole

Abstract This paper develops an approximate method for determining the stresses and strains in a plate with a circular hole subjected to axial tension and accompanied by creep (Fig. 1).Plates with holes subjected to creep are found in bolted and riveted connections of aircraft and other constructions operating at-elevated temperatures. Lack of symmetry makes an exact analysis of this problem difficult. For this reason an approximate theory was developed.
QUANTUM-STATE-SPECIFIC METASTABLE TIME-OF-FLIGHT AS A PROBE OF CO PHOTODESORPTION FROM GAAS(100)

Abstract By exciting the ‘forbidden’ a 3Π ← X1Σ+ bands of CO with an intense ultraviolet laser pulse, neutral time-of-flight (TOF) distributions of single quantum states of CO can be obtained using long (> 10 cm) flight paths. This new method is applied here to surface photodesorption in order to simultaneously determine the rotational, vibrational and translational energy content of CO formed in the reaction CO/GaAs(100) + hv(248 nm) → CO(X1Σ+, v ⩽ 4, J ⩽ 24) + GaAs(100). Distinctly non-Boltzmanntranslational energy distributions were obtained for every observed quantum state of CO. Other state specific observations are discussed.
Directionally Independent Failure Prediction of End-Milling Tools During Pocketing Maneuvers

Tracking the health of cutting tools under typical wear conditions is advantageous to the speed and efficiency of manufacturing processes. Existing techniques monitor tool performance through analyzing force or acceleration signals whereby prognoses are made from a single sensor type. However, this work proposes to enhance the spectral output of autoregressive models by combining tri-axial accelerometer and tri-axial dynamometer signals. Through parallel processing of force and acceleration signals using single six degree of freedom modeling, greater spectral resolution is achieved. Two entirely independent methods of tracking the tool wear are developed and contrasted. First, using the discrete cosine transform, primary component analysis will be applied to the spectral output of each AR auto and cross spectrum (Method 1). Each discrete cosine transform of the 6 dimensional spectral data is analyzed to determine the magnitude of the critical (primary) variance energy component of the respective spectrum. The eigenvalues of these selected spectral energies are then observed for trends towards failure. The second method involves monitoring the eigenvalues of the spectral matrices centered at the toothpass frequency (Method 2). The results of the two methodologies are compared. Through the use of the eigenvalue method, it is shown that, for straight and pocketing maneuvers, both methods successfully track the condition of the tool using statistical thresholding.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Muscarinic receptors of rat parotid gland enlarged by gland ablation and bulk diet. Effects of denervation.

Abstract The density of muscarinic binding sites was increased 10% in the rat parotid gland enlarged (2 times control) as a result of ablation of the submandibular-sublingual glands and maintenance of rats on bulk diet (50% inert cellulose plus 50% solid chow) for 4 weeks. When either the parasympathetic or sympathetic innervation to the gland was unilaterally removed at the time of submandibular-sublingual ablation and introduction of the bulk diet, the density of muscarinic receptors showed an even greater increase from levels of innervated glands of chow-fed controls (29%); with removal of both nerves, the increase was 39%. A 36% increase in cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels accompanied the increase in receptors of the enlarged gland, but when the parotid was denervated, there was no change in cyclic GMP. Absence of either or both nerves led to a maximal decrease of 24–29% in density of muscarinic receptors of parotid gland of chow-fed controls, but to no change in cyclic GMP levels. While autonomic influences mediate the changes in density of muscarinic receptors of parotid gland of chow-fed rats, some additional factor is apparently involved in their increase in the enlarged gland.
Higgs-mediated FCNC in supersymmetric models with large tan β

Abstract In the supersymmetric models with nontrivial flavour structure in the soft-breaking sector the exchange of neutral Higgses becomes a leading mechanism for Δ F = 2 transitions. I present the implications of this mechanism for different types of supersymmetry breaking.
A genre analysis of high-tech marketing white papers: A report of research-in-progress

White papers are commonly produced by companies to market high-tech products and services. But little evidence-based guidance is available to aid novices in their creation. To fill this void, we are engaged in an analysis of this genre, including macro-, micro-, and para-linguistic features, for a sample of 20 recent, top-rated white papers.
Differentiation of the soft-rotting erwinias (the carotovora group) by fatty acid composition

About 90 % of total cellular fatty acids in E. carotovora, grown on KB medium for 1 day at 28°C, were the saturated, even-carbon straight chains 12 : 0 (5.9%), 14 : 0 (1.7%) and 16 : 0 (30.1 %), and the unsaturated 16 : 1 (36.6%) and 18 : 1 (15.0%) fatty acids. Other components were the hydroxy-substituted 3-OH 14 : 0 (5.3%) and 21 minor fatty acids each occurring less than 0.1 % of the total — 14 of them reported herein for the first time in Erwinia. The ratio of 16 : 1/18 : 1 in KB-grown cells was as useful in differentiating subspecies of E. carotovora as previously reported by other workers for TSA-grown cells. A comparison of fatty acid profiles of E. carotovora on 4 different media, KB, TSA, NA and PDA, indicated that on KB there was the greatest proportion of Class A and C fatty acids, and the highest number of detectable components. Significant differences were noted in the 5 major fatty acids and in cyclic fatty acids among the 4 species of the carotovora group –E. carotovora, E. chrysanthemi, E. rhapontici and E. cypripedii. These differences could be expressed as algorithms that, when used in sequential dichotomous steps, could differentiate the 4 species. Zusammenfassung Nach eintagiger Kultivierung bei 28 °C auf KB-Medium machten die saturierten, mit geradezahligen Kohlenstoffen, m gerade Ketten 12 : 0 (5,9%), 14 : 0 (1,7%) und 16 : 0 (30,1 %), und die unsaturienen 16 :1 (36,6%) und 18 :1 (15,0%) Fettsauren circa 90% der gesamten zelluiaren Fettsauren in E. carotovora aus. Andere Besundteile waren die Hydroxy-substituierte 3-OH 14 : 0 (5,3%) und 21 untergeordneten Fettsauren, von denen alle weniger als 0,1% zur Gesamtmenge beitnigen – 14 dieser untergeordneten Fettsauren sind zum ersten Mai in Erwinia beobachtet worden. Das Verhaltnis 16 : 1/18 : 1 in KB-gezuchteten Zellen war bei der Differenzierung von E. carotof ora-Subspezies genauso brauchbar wie das von anderen Autoren fur TSA-gezuchtete Zellen Publizierte. Ein Vergleich der Fettsaureprofile von E. carotovora nach der Kultivierung auf vier verschiedenen Medien, KB, TSA, NA und PDA, zeigte, das der hochste Anteil an Klasse A und C Fettsauren, und die hochste Anzahl an feststellbaren Bestandteilen auf dem KB-Medium zu ermitteln war. Signifikante Unterschiede wurden bei den funf Hauptfettsauren und bei den zyklischen Fettsauren bei vier Spezies der carotovora-Gruppe –E. carotovora, E. chrysanthemi, E. Rhapontici und E. cypripedii– festgestellt. Diese Unterschiede konnten als Algorythmen dargestellt werden, die die vier Spezies differenzieren konnten, wenn sie in aufeinanderfolgenden zweispaltigen Schritten angewandt wurden.
Biochemical mode of action of tricyclohexylhydroxytin.

1. 1. The biochemical mode of action of the acaricide tricyclohexylhydroxytin (Plictran) was studied in mice, houseflies (Musca domestica L.), and two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch). 2. 2. Plictran inhibited mouse liver and housefly thorax mitochondrial magnesium-stimulated ATPase in vitro and in vivo, and it was suggested that its mode of action in these two organisms was due to blockage of ATPase or to interference with closely related phenomena. 3. 3. ATP dephosphorylation was observed with the 20,000 g particulate fraction prepared from whole homogenates of two-spotted spider mites. Hydrolysis of ATP by this preparation was stimulated by magnesium and inhibited by oligomycin and azide but not by Plictran under our assay conditions.
Sustainable Infrastructure Materials: Challenges and Opportunities

The recent quest for developing new low carbon footprint construction materials to lower the environmental emissions and implications of infrastructure has imposed many challenges and has created many opportunities for research and development in academia and industrial sectors. The present paper, discusses and summaries these challenges and opportunities and provides a synopsis of the ideas presented in the Infrastructure sessions of the Fourth International Congress on Ceramics (ICC4). This paper also discusses recent advances in the development of sustainable infrastructure materials.
The family experience following bone marrow or blood cell transplantation

Aim To explore how families with children at home managed 4–12 months after an adult family member was discharged from the hospital to home following bone marrow or blood cell transplantation. Background Studies of these families have been limited in number. The Family Management Style Framework offers a conceptual framework relevant to families with children who have an adult member who has undergone a bone marrow or blood cell transplant. Design This was a descriptive, qualitative, one-point-in-time study. Method Content analysis in relation to the three conceptual components of the Family Management Style Framework was employed; inductive thematic analysis determined the emergent conceptual dimensions present in the data. The sample was composed of 29 participants: 15 transplant recipients and 14 significant others who met the study criteria in 2008 and 2009. Each patient and his or her significant other were interviewed; the audio-recorded interviews were analysed after transcription. Findings The three conceptual components of the Family Management Style Framework: (1) definition of the situation; (2) management behaviours; and (3) perceived consequences, were validated as relevant for this sample across all participants. New conceptual dimensions were also present, inclusive of recovery view, support base, financial picture, management domains, perceived consequences to the whole family, and perceived consequences to the dyad relationships. Conclusion There are several overarching findings in this study, notably that recovery at home is a family experience. Implications for nursing practice include the need for effective transitional care for the patient and family.
Suture versus tack fixation of mesh in laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair.

Background and objectives Mesh fixation in laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair is poorly studied. We compared postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair in suture versus tack mesh fixation. Methods Patients who underwent laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair were separated by method of mesh fixation: sutures versus primarily tacks. Medical history and follow-up data were collected through medical records. The primary outcome of this study was the recurrence rates of hernias. Postoperative major and minor complications, such as surgical site infection, small-bowel obstruction, and seroma formation, were regarded as secondary outcomes. Additionally, a telephone interview was conducted to assess postoperative pain, recovery time, and overall patient satisfaction. Results Eighty-six patients were identified: 33 in the suture group and 53 in the tacks group. The number of emergent cases was increased in the tacks group (6 vs 0; P = .022). Mean follow-up time was 2.7 years for both groups. Documented postoperative follow-up was obtained in 29 (90%) suture group and 31 (58%) tacks group patients. Hernia recurrence occurred in 3 and 2 patients in the sutures and tacks groups, respectively (P was not significant). No differences were found in secondary outcomes, including subjective outcomes from telephone interviews, between groups. Conclusions There are no differences in postoperative complication rates in suture versus tack mesh fixation in laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair.
Relationships between the dielectric and structural properties of supercooled LiCl:RH2O solutions

Abstract The relation between the dynamics of dielectric relaxation, the glass-forming ability and properties in the supercooled state of LiCl:RH 2 O solutions are investigated, via measurements of the dielectric spectra between 45 MHz and 20 GHz and temperatures between 210 K and 300 K and concentrations R ≤ 20. For high concentration glass-forming solutions, a close correspondence between the temperature dependencies of the Cole-Cole relaxation time τ C , the conductivity, and the viscosity, is observed. τ C (T) is well-described by a power law form (T-T MC ) γ , with T MC ∼ 205 K and γ ∼ 2, a form motivated by mode-coupling theory. The data suggest that non-Debye response at room temperature is associated with the ability to vitrify at low temperatures. A microscopic basis for the avoidance of crystallization is provided by obtaining from the dielectric data the mean radius available to a water molecule, which is shown to approach 1.9 A in the highly concentrated solutions. This suggests strong confinement of water molecules by the ions, which prevents macroscopic crystallization from occurring when cooled.
Electronic density of states and bonding in chalcopyrite-type semiconductors

Measured x-ray-photoemission spectra for ZnGeP/sub 2/ and CdSnAs/sub 2/ are presented along with density-of-states N(E) and charge-density calculations for ZnGeP/sub 2/. Analysis of the density-of-states spectra illustrates the relation between N(E) structure and bonding properties, allowing spectral peaks to be assigned to specific bonds.
Noninvasive Imaging of Melanoma with Reflectance Mode Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy in a Murine Model

A reflectance-mode confocal scanning laser microscope (rCSLM) was developed for imaging early-stage melanoma in a living mouse model without the addition of exogenous contrast agents. Lesions were first located by surveying the dorsum with a polarized light camera, then imaged with the rCSLM. The images demonstrated two characteristics of melanoma in this animal model: (1) melanocytes and apparent tumor nests in the epidermis at the stratum spinosum in a state of pagetoid spread and (2) architectural disruption of the dermal–epidermal junction. The epidermal melanocytes and apparent tumor nests had a high melanin content, which caused their reflectance to be fivefold greater than the surrounding epidermis. The rCSLM images illustrate the difference between normal skin and sites with apparent melanoma. This imaging modality shows promise to track the progression of melanoma lesions in animal models.
Predictors of Academic Achievement and Their Possible Applications

A significant amount of attention has been given to the predictors of academic achievement in higher education. However, the vast majority of articles have centred on entrance criteria and the learning approaches or personal habits of students. Investigations into how achievement depends on student efforts, being almost invariably based on subjective and unavoidably imprecise student self-evaluations, do not generally help the university determine how it can actually promote academic achievement. In this article, the authors construct models for the academic achievement of economics students in various subjects at their institution. These models include students' previous scores and objective information about their studies during the year, including marks for home assignments and tests; subjective information from the students is not used. The predictive power of these models is high, and the authors use them to formulate how the university can enhance academic achievement and improve the quality of studies: for example, improving student feedback; tailoring subjects to complement each other; determining the need for additional classes; identifying students who are in danger of failing; and giving instructors feedback on the efficacy of activities such as home assignments or the format of examination papers and marking.
Rab3D redistribution and function in rat parotid acini.

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in J. Cell. Physiol. (2003) 197(3) 400–408 . Rab3D is a low molecular weight GTP-binding protein believed to be involved with regulated secretion in many cell types. In parotid, Rab3D is localized to secretory granule membranes or present in the cytosol as a complex with Rab escort protein. In the present study, we examined the redistribution of membrane-associated Rab3D during secretion in permeabilized parotid acini. When permeabilized acini were stimulated with calcium and cAMP, amylase release increased greater than twofold over basal. Quantitative immunoblotting of subcellular fractions revealed that Rab3D did not dissociate from parotid membranes during secretion. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that Rab3D co-localizes with amylase containing granules that are found in the apical pole of the cell. Upon stimulation with calcium and cAMP, Rab3D and amylase immunostaining of granules appeared to be more dispersed. However, Rab3D immunostaining was not observed on the plasma membrane and appeared to reside in the apical cytoplasm. To examine the role of Rab3D in amylase release, cytosolic extracts containing myc-tagged Rab3D and Rab3DQ81L, a GTP-binding mutant, were prepared and incubated with streptolysin O-permeabilized acini. Rab3D, but not Rab3DQ81L, bound to parotid membranes suggesting that Rab3D-binding to parotid membranes is guanine nucleotide-dependent. Moreover, wild-type and mutant Rab3D inhibited agonist-induced amylase release from permeabilized parotid acini. These observations indicate that in parotid acini, Rab3D does not dissociate from parotid membranes or redistribute to the plasma membrane during secretion, and may play an inhibitory role in regulated secretion. The fact that both wild-type Rab3D and the GTP-binding mutant inhibit amylase release suggests that binding of Rab3D to the membrane is not essential for secretory inhibition. J. Cell. Physiol. 199: 316, 2004© 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Differential distribution of exogenous BDNF, NGF, and NT-3 in the brain corresponds to the relative abundance and distribution of high-affinity and low-affinity neurotrophin receptors

Abstract To evaluate effective means for delivering exogenous neurotrophins to neuron populations in the brain, we compared the distribution and transport of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) following intracerebral delivery. Rats received an injection of radioiodinated or unlabeled neurotrophin into the lateral ventricle and were killed humanely after 1.5-24 hours. Other rats received continuous infusion of unlabeled neurotrophin into the lateral ventricle, the striatum, or the hippocampus for 3-14 days. The neurotrophins were detected by autoradiography or immunohistochemistry. There were striking differences between BDNF, NGF, and NT-3 in their penetration through brain tissue. These differences occurred regardless of the site or method of delivery, but were most pronounced following a bolus intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection. After ICV injection, NGF was widely distributed in tissues around the ventricles and at the surface of the brain, whereas the penetration of BDNF into brain tissue was distinctly less than that of NGF, and the penetration of NT-3 was intermediate. An ICV injection of NGF produced prominent but transient labeling of cells that contain the low-affinity NGF receptor, whereas an injection of BDNF prominently labeled the ventricular ependyma. During ICV infusion (12 micrograms/day), the distribution of BDNF was no greater than that observed after a 12-micrograms bolus injection. A sixfold increase in the amount of BDNF infused (72 micrograms/day) produced a more widespread distribution in the brain and doubled the depth of penetration into periventricular tissues near the cannula. Corresponding to their differences in penetration, NGF was retrogradely transported by basal forebrain cholinergic neurons after ICV or intrastriatal delivery, whereas NT-3 was transported by a few basal forebrain neurons after ICV delivery, and BDNF was rarely detected in neurons after ICV delivery. Delivery of BDNF directly to the striatum or the hippocampus labeled numerous neurons in nuclei afferent to these structures. In situ hybridization studies confirmed that the high-affinity BDNF receptor (TrkB) was much more widely expressed in neurons than was the high-affinity NGF receptor (TrkA). Moreover, mRNA for truncated forms of TrkB was expressed at high levels in the ependyma, the choroid epithelium, and the gray matter. It is likely that binding of BDNF to TrkB, which appears to be more abundant and ubiquitous than TrkA, restricts the diffusion of BDNF relative to that of NGF.
Iterative detection in block-orthogonal and spatially multiplexed multisensor signaling schemes

The impact of iterative minimum mean square error (MMSE) detection on multisensor signaling schemes in frequency-selective media is considered. The suitability of a decision-feedback MMSE (DF-MMSE) front end relative to a linear MMSE (LMMSE) front end is examined using two case studies, namely, layered spatial-multiplexing and block-orthogonal space-time signaling. Iterative MMSE detection is observed to afford near-optimal performance. Further, in channels with large delay spreads, a combination of the LMMSE and DF-MMSE front ends seems appropriate: the former in earlier iterations and the latter in concluding iterations.
The developmental toxicity of boric acid in rabbits.

Boric acid (BA), an ingredient of many pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and pesticide products, was previously shown to induce reproductive and developmental toxicity in laboratory rodents. In this study, BA (0, 62.5, 125, or 250 mg/kg/day, po) was administered on Gestational Days (GD) 6-19 to New Zealand White rabbits (18-23 pregnant/group). Maternal body weight, food consumption, and clinical condition were monitored at regular intervals throughout gestation. At termination (GD 30), the numbers of uterine implantations, resorptions, dead fetuses, and live fetuses were determined. Fetuses were weighed, and live fetuses examined for external, visceral, and skeletal defects. Maternal food intake decreased during treatment at 250 mg/kg/day and increased at s= 125 mg/kg/day after treatment. Maternal body weight (GD 930), weight gain during treatment, gravid uterine weight, and number of ovarian corpora lutea decreased at 250 mg/kg/day. In contrast, maternal corrected gestational weight gain increased at s= 125 mg/kg/day. Maternal liver weight was not affected. Relative (but not absolute) maternal kidney weight increased at 250 mg/ kg/day, and microscopic evaluation revealed no treatment-related renal pathology. At 250 mg/kg/day, prenatal mortality was increased (90% resorptions/litter vs 6% for controls), the proportion of pregnant females with no live fetuses was increased (73% vs 0%), and live litter size was reduced (2.3 fetuses/litter vs 8.8). As a result, there were only 14 live fetuses (6 live litters) available for evaluation in the high-dose group, compared to 153-175 live fetuses (18-23 live litters) in the other groups. The percentage malformed fetuses/litter was increased at 250 mg/kg/day, primarily due to cardiovascular defects in 72% of high-dose fetuses vs 3% The U.S. Government's right to retain a nonexclusive royalty-free license in and to the copyright covering this paper, for governmental purposes, is acknowledged. 1 Presented in part at the 31 st Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology, Seattle, WA, February 23-27, 1992 (Price el ai, 1992), and at the International Symposium on the Health Effects of Boron and Its Compounds, Irvine, CA, September 16-17, 1992 (Heindel et al., 1994). 2 To whom all correspondence should be addressed. 3 Present address: National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR), HFT-1, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079-9502. of controls. The most prevalent cardiovascular malformation (interventricular septal defect) was observed in 57% of high-dose fetuses compared to 0.6% among controls. At 250 mg/kg/day, average fetal body weight/litter was 92% of the average control weight (not statistically significant). In summary, no definitive maternal or developmental toxicity was observed at 62.5 or 125 mg/kg/day BA. Mild maternal effects and severe developmental toxicity were Observed at 250 mg/kg/day. © 1996 Society of Toxicology.
Differences in healthcare expenditures for inflammatory bowel disease by insurance status, income, and clinical care setting.

Background. Socioeconomic factors and insurance status have not been correlated with differential use of healthcare services in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Aim. To describe IBD-related expenditures based on insurance and household income with the use of inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and office-based services, and prescribed medications in the United States (US). Methods. We evaluated the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from 1996 to 2011 of individuals with Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). Nationally weighted means, proportions, and multivariate regression models examined the relationships between income and insurance status with expenditures. Results. Annual per capita mean expenditures for CD, UC, and all IBD were $10,364 (N = 238), $7,827 (N = 95), and $9,528, respectively, significantly higher than non-IBD ($4,314, N = 276, 372, p < 0.05). Publicly insured patients incurred the highest costs ($18,067) over privately insured ($8,014, p < 0.05) or uninsured patients ($5,129, p < 0.05). Among all IBD patients, inpatient care composed the highest proportion of costs ($3,392, p < 0.05). Inpatient costs were disproportionately higher for publicly insured patients. Public insurance had higher odds of total costs than private (OR 2.13, CI [1.08–4.19]) or no insurance (OR 4.94, CI [1.26–19.47]), with increased odds for inpatient and emergency care. Private insurance had higher costs associated with outpatient care, office-based care, and prescribed medicines. Low-income patients had lower costs associated with outpatient (OR 0.38, CI [0.15–0.95]) and office-based care (OR 0.21, CI [0.07–0.62]). Conclusions. In the US, high inpatient utilization among publicly insured patients is a previously unrecognized driver of high IBD costs. Bridging this health services gap between SES strata for acute care services may curtail direct IBD-related costs.
The Impact of Interpreters on Parents' Experiences with Ambulatory Care for Their Children

Health plan members who did not need an interpreter in the past 6 months were compared with those who needed one and always, usually, sometimes, or never got one. In multivariate analyses, Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islanders (API) members who needed interpreters and usually, sometimes, or never used one reported significantly worse (p < .05) provider and office staff communication, access to care, and health plan customer service compared with members who did not need interpreters. Hispanic and API members who needed and always used an interpreter reported similar or significantly better (p < .05) provider and office staff communication, access to care, and health plan customer service than members that did not need interpreters. Use of interpreters reduced White-Hispanic disparities in reports of care by up to 28 percent and White-API disparities by as much as 21 percent. Increasing use of interpreters could reduce racial/ethnic disparities and improve health plan performance.
Engineered deposition of coatings from nano- and micro-particles: A brief review of convective assembly at high volume fraction

Abstract In this paper, we review the state of the art of a simple, easily controlled convective assembly technique for rapid deposition of structured micro- and nano-particle coatings. The advantages afforded by this method are improved process efficiency and reduced material consumption relative to standard dipcoating techniques. Structured coatings larger than a few square centimeters are deposited in minutes from aqueous suspension volumes of approximately 10–20 μl. The governing mechanism of particle deposition is convective assembly at high volume fractions. Our research with monodisperse polystyrene latex showed that a volumetric flux balance incorporating the evaporating solvent and assembling particle fluxes can accurately relate the deposition process parameters to the coating structure and properties. Operational ’phase’ diagrams were constructed that demonstrate good correspondence between coating thickness and structure to the operational parameters of the coatings process predicted on the basis of the material balance model. These ’phase’ diagrams may be instrumental in turning the colloidal deposition into a usable and scaleable technology. This deposition technique can be applied to a variety of colloidal systems, including the fabrication of conductive and antireflective coatings, surface-enhancing Raman scattering (SERS) substrates, and lithographic masks.
Recommended Joint and Meta-Analysis Strategies for Case-Control Association Testing of Single Low-Count Variants

In genome-wide association studies of binary traits, investigators typically use logistic regression to test common variants for disease association within studies, and combine association results across studies using meta-analysis. For common variants, logistic regression tests are well calibrated, and meta-analysis of study-specific association results is only slightly less powerful than joint analysis of the combined individual-level data. In recent sequencing and dense chip based association studies, investigators increasingly test low-frequency variants for disease association. In this paper, we seek to (1) identify the association test with maximal power among tests with well controlled type I error rate and (2) compare the relative power of joint and meta-analysis tests. We use analytic calculation and simulation to compare the empirical type I error rate and power of four logistic regression based tests: Wald, score, likelihood ratio, and Firth bias-corrected. We demonstrate for low-count variants (roughly minor allele count [MAC] < 400) that: (1) for joint analysis, the Firth test has the best combination of type I error and power; (2) for meta-analysis of balanced studies (equal numbers of cases and controls), the score test is best, but is less powerful than Firth test based joint analysis; and (3) for meta-analysis of sufficiently unbalanced studies, all four tests can be anti-conservative, particularly the score test. We also establish MAC as the key parameter determining test calibration for joint and meta-analysis.
Physical medicine and complementary approaches

Medical approaches to the treatment of spine pain are the cornerstone of therapy for neck and back pain. Although these techniques are used widely, seldom have they been subjected to the scrutiny of careful randomized and controlled clinical trials. The costs of complementary treatments, such as spinal manipulation, massage therapy, and acupuncture, now are reimbursed by many medical insurance providers, but these modalities lack much scientific support. Physical medicine and complementary treatment modalities and some of the scientific studies aimed at assessing their effectiveness are reviewed.
Environmental Concern Does it Make a Difference How it's Measured?

Past studies of environmental concern have measured the concept in many ways, often assuming that different types of measures are equivalent. In this study the degree to which different types of me...