cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear Oscillations in the Frame of Alternative Methods

This chapter discusses the nonlinear oscillations in the frame of alternative methods. The injection of methods of functional analysis in the classical bifurcation process of Poincare, Lyapunov, and Schmidt, and extensive subsequent work have made this process a fine tool in nonlinear analysis, particularly in the difficult problems at resonance in the usual terminology. The general theory that has ensued, with all its variants and ramifications, is often referred to as bifurcation theory, or alternative methods. There are many ideas that have been brought to bear in this theory in the last few years, such as Schauder's fixed point theorem, Banach's fixed point theorem, invariance properties of topological degree, Brouwer's fixed point theorem; the theory of monotone and maximal monotone operators in Banach spaces; Schauder's principle of invariance of domain; implicit function theorem; and Newton's polygon method in Banach spaces. The chapter discusses the recent aspects of the theory, mainly for non-self-adjoint problems. It presents the modification of Cesari's alternative scheme proposed by Hale, Bancroft, and Sweet for non-self-adjoint problems.
Mechanistic studies of benzene toxicity -- implications for risk assessment.

Benzene has been an established human carcinogen for some time now. Its use in the scientific laboratory, its disposal and use in the workplace is therefore tightly regulated in developed nations. It continues to be used, however, as a solvent in developing countries resulting in extremely high exposures. Further, with the introduction of unleaded gasoline in many countries, environmental and occupational exposure to benzene has increased. Most unleaded gasoline contains approximately 1% benzene, but some varieties contain 5% or more. The annual production of benzene in the US exceeds 1.2 billion gallons, accounting for 30% of worldwide production. Approximately 165,000 metric tons are released annually into the air in the US. Benzene is therefore a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. Smoking is another source of benzene exposure. A one pack/day smoker takes in 1800 μg benzene each day, while non-smokers are exposed to 180 – 1300 μg per day (1).
Transgenic Lilium longiflorum plants containing the bar-uidA gene controlled by the rice RPC1, Agrobacterium rolD, mas2 , and CaMV 35S promoters

Lilies are grown in the field for bulb production where they are susceptible to infection by Pratylenchus penetrans, the root lesion nematode. These migratory nematodes feed on roots and often physically disrupt the root tissues when many nematodes enter and move throughout the root to feed. The goal of this study was to find a root-specific or root-preferred promoter because of our interest in genetic engineering of lilies for nematode resistance. Several promoters, the Agrobacterium rolD and mas2, CaMV 35S, and rice RPC1 were examined in transgenic Lilium longiflorum, Easter lily, plants that contained the bar-uidA fusion gene under each promoter. Histochemical staining showed that the rolD, mas2, and CaMV 35S promoters directed gus gene expression in the cortex and stele of transformed roots. Gus expression was limited to the stele of roots with the rice RPC1 promoter making it unsuitable for engineering nematode resistance. The mas2 promoter was found to be expressed primarily in roots rather than shoots whereas the CaMV 35S promoter expressed well in both roots and shoots. Levels of gus specific activity were relatively high for both the mas2 and CaMV 35S promoter in roots but low with the rolD promoter. Because the mas2 promoter had relatively high levels of gus specific activity in roots and not shoots, and expression was throughout cortex and stele tissues of the roots, mas2 appears to be a promising promoter for engineering resistance to root lesion nematodes in Lilium longiflorum.
Altered Frontal Lobe Network Function in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Revealed by Graph Theory Analysis (P1.279)

Objective: To identify aberrant brain network function in people with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) using graph theory analysis of resting-state fMRI (rsfMRI) data. Background: Although usually classified as a focal epilepsy, TLE is increasingly viewed as a process that involves large-scale networks of the brain. Graph theory provides a method of quantifying functional network properties that may be difficult to identify or characterize using standard connectivity approaches. Design/Methods: Forty minutes of rsfMRI data were collected from 50 people with TLE and 40 healthy controls as part of the NINDS-funded Epilepsy Connectome Project. Connectivity matrices of z-score activity correlation values between 379 cortical and subcortical nodes defined by the Glasser parcellation were made for each participant. Matrices were thresholded to retain the strongest 6% of connections in addition to each matrix’ minimum spanning tree (the minimal connections required to include all nodes in the network). Graph theory measures assessing network integration, i.e. pagerank and closeness centrality, and network segregation, i.e. modularity, were compared between groups using t-tests, with Bonferroni correction (p Results: Compared to controls, TLE patients showed significantly lower pagerank values in several frontal opercular nodes (right FOP1, right FOP4, left FOP1, right MI), and lower modularity values in several prefrontal nodes (left a9–46v, right 11l, right d32, right 46). TLE patients showed greater closeness centrality in left medial motor region 5m compared to controls. Conclusions: Lower pageranks in the TLE opercular network indicate reduced influence of these nodes on network function. Lower modularity in the TLE prefrontal network indicates a reduced organization of this region into sub-networks. These alterations could underlie the reported executive and working memory deficits observed in some people with TLE. Study Supported by: American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Summer Research Scholarship NINDS U01 NS093650 Disclosure: Dr. Iyer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mathis has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ustine has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nair has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rozman has nothing to disclose. Dr. McMillan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kraegel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Almane has nothing to disclose. Dr. Forseth has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hwang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nencka has nothing to disclose. Dr. Birn has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ward has nothing to disclose. Dr. Prabhakaran has nothing to disclose. Dr. Maganti has nothing to disclose. Dr. Conant has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hermann has nothing to disclose. Dr. Humphries has nothing to disclose. Dr. DeYoe has nothing to disclose. Dr. Raghavan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Meyerand has nothing to disclose. Dr. Binder has nothing to disclose.
Data in motion: Supporting youth interest in athletics through multimodal data analytics

Engagement in STEM learning using athletics and data analytics allows young people to use customizable technological devices to analyze performance.
“The Mouse Looks Like a Boy”: Young Children’s Talk About Gender Across Human and Nonhuman Characters in Picture Books

Recent study on gender representation in children’s literature has focused on the representations themselves, while there is less research regarding how children talk about these depictions in texts. Our work, a qualitative study of how kindergarten-aged children discuss gender during picture book read-alouds, examined how children drew on the social binary of boy/girl as they made sense of the human and non-human characters’ identities. The study looked at how children responded to questions about gender across both ambiguously-gendered characters and texts where gender norms were deliberately questioned. The findings expressed in this paper provide insight into how students’ previous experiences, along with classroom norms and text choice, influence student response. Specifically, we found that children drew on similar social norms and gendered expectations across all character types, demonstrating the importance of these societal categories on their comprehension of texts and on their sense-making of their lives and classrooms. The paper ends with implications for early childhood educators in allowing for more diverse representations when selecting texts and deliberate listening to student conversations to recognize how young learners perceive gender and identity.
Constructing place identity: ISIS and Al-Qaeda’s branding competition over the Caliphate

With the rise of global actors declaring statehood, the place branding competition has expanded beyond internationally recognized cities and nations. ISIS and al-Qaeda insist the establishment of the Caliphate defined both as a place and identity is paramount to reuniting Muslims under a supranational Islamic government. This study explores how each group presents the Caliphate as a place brand and identity construct in the online environment. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study investigates the discursive formation of place identity in ISIS and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s (AQAP) Arabic-language newsletters and examines the projections of Caliphate governance in over 3200 images. Using names, slogans, logos, and colours, ISIS targeted a niche Arab Muslim readership with contextual messages in al-Naba’ newsletter, while AQAP presented al-Masra as an Islamic, mainstream publication reinforcing the stated goal of liberating Jerusalem. The discursive strategies in al-Naba’ and al-Masra visuals further positioned ISIS as a self-governing Caliphate and AQAP as one of many sister brands with some capacity to govern. The study discusses the overlaps and distinctions between place and proto-state branding strategies and highlights the communicative threats the latter poses to cities and nations’ branding efforts worldwide.
Consideraciones sobre el piropo en Venezuela desde las nociones de imagen y ethos, de la Teoría de la Cortesía

En su forma tradicional, el piropo es un tipo de acto de habla expresivo con el que un hablante (generalmente) de sexo masculino busca llamar la atencion y obtener la aprobacion de una interlocutora (generalmente) de sexo femenino. Teoricamente, su realizacion deberia implicar estrategias con un nivel de amenaza muy bajo hacia la imagen negativa de la oyente. Sin embargo, despues de analizar un corpus de 53 piropos recolectados en Venezuela, se detecto que ademas de constituir una amenaza a la imagen negativa, tambien representan una posible amenaza a la imagen positiva de la oyente. Por otro lado, gracias al analisis se hace evidente el quiebre entre la forma y la funcion de un acto de habla que, a simple vista, pareciera tener cometido de agravio, pero en el que subyace una supuesta intencion de halagar. Este desplazamiento de la forma linguistica tradicional del piropo ha provocado un desleimiento del proposito o la esencia del requiebro: agradar, deleitar y lisonjear a la interlocutora.
Galectins in Host-Pathogen Interactions: Structural, Functional and Evolutionary Aspects.

Galectins are a family of s-galactoside-binding lectins characterized by a unique sequence motif in the carbohydrate recognition domain, and evolutionary and structural conservation from fungi to invertebrates and vertebrates, including mammals. Their biological roles, initially understood as limited to recognition of endogenous (“self”) carbohydrate ligands in embryogenesis and early development, dramatically expanded in later years by the discovery of their roles in tissue repair, cancer, adipogenesis, and regulation of immune homeostasis. In recent years, however, evidence has also accumulated to support the notion that galectins can bind (“non-self”) glycans on the surface of potentially pathogenic microbes, and function as recognition and effector factors in innate immunity. Thus, this evidence has established a new paradigm by which galectins can function not only as pattern recognition receptors but also as effector factors, by binding to the microbial surface and inhibiting adhesion and/or entry into the host cell, directly killing the potential pathogen by disrupting its surface structures, or by promoting phagocytosis, encapsulation, autophagy, and pathogen clearance from circulation. Strikingly, some viruses, bacteria, and protistan parasites take advantage of the aforementioned recognition roles of the vector/host galectins, for successful attachment and invasion. These recent findings suggest that galectin-mediated innate immune recognition and effector mechanisms, which throughout evolution have remained effective for preventing or fighting viral, bacterial, and parasitic infection, have been “subverted” by certain pathogens by unique evolutionary adaptations of their surface glycome to gain host entry, and the acquisition of effective mechanisms to evade the host’s immune responses.
Early life factors are associated with risk for eosinophilic esophagitis diagnosed in adulthood.

Early life exposures have been associated with pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), but it is unknown if a similar association is present in adults. We aimed to assess the association between early life risk factors and development of EoE in adulthood. To do this, we conducted a case-control study which was nested within a prospective cohort study of adults undergoing outpatient endoscopy. Cases of EoE were diagnosed per consensus guidelines; controls did not meet these criteria. Subjects and their mothers were contacted to collect information on four key early life exposures: antibiotics taken during the first year of life, Cesarean delivery, preterm delivery (≤37 weeks' gestation), and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. We calculated the odds of EoE given in each exposure and assessed agreement between subjects and their mothers. For the 40 cases and 40 controls enrolled, we observed a positive association between each of the early life exposures and development of EoE (antibiotics in infancy, OR = 4.64, 95% CI = 1.63-13.2; Cesarean delivery, OR = 3.08, 95% CI = 0.75-12.6; preterm delivery, OR = 2.92, 95% CI = 0.71-12.0; NICU admission, OR = 4.00, 95% CI = 1.01-15.9). Results were unchanged after adjusting for potential confounders, though only early antibiotic use had CIs that did not cross 1.0. Moderate to strong agreement was observed between 54 subject-mother pairs (antibiotics, K = 0.44, P = 0.02; Cesarean delivery, K = 1.0, P < 0.001; preterm delivery, K = 0.80, P < 0.001; NICU, K = 0.76, P < 0.001). In sum, antibiotics in infancy was significantly associated with increased risk of EoE diagnosed in adulthood, while positive trends were seen with other early life factors such as Cesarean delivery, preterm delivery, and NICU admission. This may indicate persistent effects of early life exposures and merits additional study into conserved pathogenic mechanisms.
Simultaneous Visualization of Mitochondria and Lysosome by a Single Cyanine Dye: The Impact of the Donor Group (-NR2) Towards Organelle Selectivity.

A benzothiazolium-based hemicyanine dye (probe 3) has been synthesized by attaching a morpholine group into a phenyl benzothiazolium skeleton. Probe 3 exhibited interesting photophysical characteristics including red emission (λem ≈600 nm), enhanced Stokes shift (Δλ ≈80 nm) and sensitivity to solvent polarity. Although the probe 3 exhibited almost no emission in aqueous environments (φfl ≈0.002), its fluorescence could be increased by ≈50 fold in organic solvents (φfl ≈0.10), making it possible for live cell imaging under wash-free conditions. Probe 3 exhibited excellent ability to visualize cellular mitochondria and lysosomes simultaneously, as observed from fluorescence confocal microscopy. In addition, probe 3 also exhibited good biocompatibility (calculated LC50 > 20 µM) and high photostability.
Factors associated with Infectious Disease fellowship fill rate: An analysis of 2019, 2020 and 2021 match cycles.

Historically, there has been a relative paucity of applicants to infectious disease fellowship. This leads to a significant number of programs being unfilled in the fellowship match. We sought to identify predictors of a program filling all positions offered in the match through retrospective review of available match and program data for the 2019-2021 match cycles. In the 2021 match, hospital and research ranking, as well as offering specialized training tracks and having an active Twitter account were associated with filling. Knowledge of these associations can help programs direct resources to optimize recruitment and enrichment of infectious disease fellows.
Financial Market Volatility

The aim of the following chapter is to provide an overview of the basics about volatility management and forecasting. This chapter is therefore structured in the following way: as the relevant and importance of volatility forecasts is already highlighted, first it is necessary to clarify what exactly is meant by the term volatility and where it has its roots in order to clarify the scope of this research paper. Moreover, a collection of different opinions about the predictability of future volatility is also provided, followed by a comparison of the predictive ability of various volatility types, including realized, model and implied volatility and associated models.
Identifying the Water Conservation Potential of Neighborhoods in Phoenix, Arizona: An Integrated Socio-spatial Approach

A key strategy for sustainable water resource management in cities is enhancing water use efficiencies in the residential sector, which accounts for a significant portion of overall demand. Through a novel approach integrating metered water use with social survey data in a Geographic Information System, we examine how residents’ perceptions about water consumption correspond to actual residential demand in Phoenix, Arizona neighborhoods. By integrating disparate research approaches, we develop a typology characterizing the socio-spatial relationship between water use, perceptions, and additional determinants of neighborhood water demand. Our findings reveal areas where perceptions do and do not correspond with actual water use rates, thereby informing conservation efforts. Of critical importance to water managers, we pinpoint areas where reducing high consumption rates are confounded by residents’ perceptions of low usage rates.
Leucine Aminopeptidase (Bovine Lens) STABILITY AND SIZE OF SUBUNITS

Abstract The stability to pH and denaturing agents of crystalline leucine aminopeptidase (bovine lens) (EC 3.4.1.1) is reported. The native enzyme exhibited a molecular weight of 327,000. In 7 m urea below pH 3 and in ≥3.7 m guanidinium chloride below pH 8.5, both leucine aminopeptidase and its reduced and carboxamidomethylated derivative exhibited a molecular weight on equilibrium centrifugation of 54,000 ± 4000 in the presence or absence of mercaptoethanol. A similar value (57,000) for the subunit of the enzyme or its carboxamidomethylated derivative was found on gel electrophoresis after incubation in 0.1 to 1.2% sodium dodecyl sulfate in the presence of mercaptoethanol.
Hydrophobic Electrospun Polyimide Nanofibers for Self‐cleaning Materials

In this paper, polyimide (PI) nanofibers with diameters of 300–400 nm are successfully produced via electrospinning methods. Electrospinning parameters such as polymer concentration, applied voltage, feed rate, and the needle-to-collector distance have been studied systematically to investigate their effects on morphology. The smooth-surfaced uniform nanofibers with diameters ranging from 300 to 400 nm can be obtained at the optimal parameters, further discussed herein. The synthesized PI nanofibers show improved thermal stability and a high hydrophobicity with a maximum contact angle of 140.7° and low surface energy of 3.12 mN · m−1, indicating potential applications as self-cleaning materials, such as solar panel cleaning, window glass cleaning, and cements.
Bulk‐Fill Flowable Composite Resins

Recent developed flowable composite resins have been marketed for bulk filling of preparations or replacement of dentin in a single increment. The obvious attraction of these materials-quicker placement of restorations-has rapidly made them very popular despite the limited in vitro data and lack of clinical studies. This Critical Appraisal will review some of the available in vitro literature on the topic and summarize the available knowledge in this new category of restorative materials.
Interpreting President Barack Obama's Facial Displays of Emotion: Revisiting the Dartmouth Group

Charismatic presidents like John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and now Barack Obama have been able toovercome stereotype-based barriers to political power by connecting emotionally with viewers, particularlythrough their nonverbal skills. In this study we focus on the facial displays of emotion by President Obamaand how participants interpret them. This study builds upon the pioneering research of the Dartmouth Groupconcerning response to displays of happiness-reassurance by political leaders. It will ﬁrst replicate andextend upon existing research by using Ekman and Friesen’s Facial Action Coding System (FACS) to char-acterize facial displays by President Obama, speciﬁcally three neutral displays and three different types ofsmiles. Second, this study replicates research carried out over two decades ago concerning individual dif-ferences in sex, ethnicity, and age cohort on response to political candidates culturally deﬁned as Black.Video focusing on the head and torso were FACS coded and presented in a web-based experiment to 79participants working at a southern institution of higher education. The participants identiﬁed the emotionsfelt by President Obama on a scale ranging from “not at all” to “extremely” focusing on the basic emotionterms of: “Happy” and “Playful” (happiness-reassurance) and “Angry” and “Disgusted” (anger-threat).Findings suggest participants differentiate between subtle facial-display differences and that there are dif-ferences based upon ethnicity and support for President Obama when they interpret his facial displays ofemotion.
Relation of Weight Variability and Intentionality of Weight Loss to Disease History and Health-related Variables in a Population-based Sample of Women Aged 55–69 Years

The authors examined the relation of recalled weight variability and history of intentional and unintentional weight loss with disease history in 41,837 older women. Lifetime history of disease, current medication use, health-related behaviors, body weight, and intentional and unintentional weight loss episodes of at least 20 lbs (9.1 kg) were assessed by means of two surveys, completed 6 years apart. Weight variability, as measured by the root mean square error around the linear regression line of weight on age at ages 18, 30, and 40 years, was positively related to disease history. Women who reported losing > or = 20 lbs (> or = 9.1 kg) unintentionally between the ages 18 and 39 years were more likely to report a history of disease than were women who had never lost > or = 20 lbs (> or = 9.1 kg) during this age period. Intentional weight loss episodes of > or = 20 lbs (> or = 9.1 kg) between ages 18 and 39 years were also associated with higher cumulative disease prevalence. These results suggest that both unintentional and, to a lesser degree, intentional weight loss may contribute to the observed positive relation between weight loss or variability and disease. Prospective studies are needed to confirm whether weight variability is a risk factor for disease only when unintentional, or whether intentional weight loss also increases risk.
Does Inflammation or Undernutrition Explain the Low Cholesterol–Mortality Association in High‐Functioning Older Persons? MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect of inflammation and undernutrition on the association between hypocholesterolemia and higher overall mortality in high-functioning older persons. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Three U.S. communities. PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 870 participants from the MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging. MEASUREMENTS: Baseline information was obtained for serum levels of cholesterol, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and albumin; body mass index; prevalent medical conditions; health behaviors; and medications. Crude and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between serum total cholesterol levels and 7-year all-cause mortality, while adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, the risk ratio of low serum total cholesterol level (<169 mg/dL) for 7-year total mortality was 1.90 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.18–3.07). The multiple adjusted risk ratios were 1.82 (95% CI = 1.10–3.00) after controlling for markers of inflammation and nutrition and 1.39 (95% CI = 0.80–2.40) after adjustment for additional cardiovascular risk factors. Sex was an important confounding variable that contributed to the observed inverse association between low serum cholesterol and overall mortality in univariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Hypocholesterolemia is not an independent risk factor for increased overall mortality in high-functioning community-dwelling older men and women. The association between low total cholesterol and high mortality observed in crude analysis is mainly confounded by common cardiovascular risk factors, rather than underlying inflammation or undernutrition.
Effective Lifestyle Habits and Coping Strategies for Stress Tolerance Among College Students

Abstract Background: Stress among college students is a major problem, impacting their overall health. Students, especially freshmen, are expected to handle difficult academic workloads at a faster pace while adapting to new social situations. In addition, findings from new stress data purport that stress responses might vary by gender and race. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine effectiveness of lifestyle habits and coping strategies on stress tolerance among college students, specific to race and gender. Methods: College students (N=459) completed a stress inventory, which was comprised of three established surveys of stressors, symptoms and coping strategies. Stress tolerance ratios (STRs) were calculated, and subjects divided into high or low stress tolerance groups. Statistical differences were determined by chi-square estimates and odds ratio calculations (95%CI). Results: Seven lifestyle/coping factors (out of 20) were significantly associated with high stress tolerance (HST) for m...
Nevada's Gaming Revenues: Time Characteristics and Forecasting

The growing interest in gaming activity has led to an increased interest in Nevada's economy. Gross gaming revenues are regarded as an important economic indicator of the Nevada economy and of considerable importance to the State's budgetary planning since taxes derived from these revenues represent almost fifty percent of the general revenues in any given year. The major objective of this study is to identify the time varying characteristics of quarterly gaming revenues over a twenty-year period for the three most important economic areas within Nevada. This will provide the basis for developing a meaningful forecasting methodology. Examination of the gaming revenues for seasonal and non-seasonal fluctuations indicate that each area's revenues exhibited a consistent seasonal pattern and the amplitude of the seasonal fluctuation tended to diminish over time. No significant evidence of non-seasonal fluctuations such as business cycles could be found. Based on the time characteristics of the gaming revenues it was concluded that the autoregressive-moving average forecasting techniques suggested by Box and Jenkins would be the most appropriate forecasting methodology to employ. A Box-Jenkins model was estimated for each area over a period ending in 1974-IV and forecasts were generated for the period from 1975-I to 1977-IV. The forecasts were judged to be reasonably close to actual gaming revenues at least for the first 6 quarters of the forecast period.
Strain induced ferromagnetism in epitaxial Cr2O3 thin films integrated on Si(001)

We report on the epitaxial growth and magnetic properties of antiferromagnetic and magnetoelectric (ME) Cr2O3 thin films deposited on cubic yttria stabilized zirconia (c-YSZ)/Si(001) using pulsed laser deposition. The X-ray diffraction (2ϴ and Φ) and TEM characterizations confirm that the films were grown epitaxially. The Cr2O3(0001) growth on YSZ(001) occurs with twin domains. There are four domains of Cr2O3 with in-plane rotation of 30° or 150° from each other about the [0001] growth direction. The epitaxial relation between the layers is given as [001]Si ‖ [001]YSZ ‖ [0001]Cr2O3 and [100]Si ǁ [100]YSZ ǁ [101¯0] Cr2O3 or [112¯0] Cr2O3. Though the bulk Cr2O3 is an antiferromagnetic with TN = 307 K, we found that the films exhibit ferromagnetic like hysteresis loops with high saturation and finite coercive field up to 400 K. The thickness dependent magnetizations together with oxygen annealing results suggest that the ferromagnetism (FM) is due to oxygen related defects whose concentration is controlled ...
The effect of volume and number on fragmentation of gallstones by lithotripsy

Several factors may affect the fragmentation of gallstones by lithotripsy. We hypothesized that stone volume is an important determinant of degree of fragmentation, while number of stones is less important. The volume of 30 single stones was measured in vitro by water immersion. Thirty sets of multiple stones were matched with single stones of similar volumes. The stones were subjected to 750 shock waves (18 kV) with the Dornier MPL 9000 lithotripter. Degree of fragmentation was assessed by passing fragments through sieves of 1, 2, and 4 mm and recording percentage of stone weight which passed through each sieve. The mean percentage of stone weight passing through sieves of 1, 2, and 4 mm for single stones was 38.2, 49.4, and 59.8. The corresponding values for multiple stones were 46.4, 61.3, and 75.4. These values were not significantly different at P less than or equal to 0.05. Thus, there was no significant difference in fragmentation between single and multiple stones when their volumes were similar. The mean volume of stones with 100% of fragments less than 4 mm (0.80 +/- 0.05 cc) was significantly less than that of stones with fragments greater than 4 mm (1.95 +/- 0.14 cc) (P less than 0.0001). There was a significant inverse linear correlation between stone volume and degree of fragmentation (r = -0.65). We conclude that stone volume is an important determinant of degree of fragmentation and may be the most important criterion in selecting patients for lithotripsy. In this in vitro setting, stone number alone had no effect on degree of stone fragmentation.
Modulation of carbachol-stimulated AP-1 DNA binding activity by therapeutic agents for bipolar disorder in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

Lithium, carbamazepine and sodium valproate are mood stabilizers used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, and although their mechanisms of action remain unknown, signal transduction systems and the associated modulation of gene expression may constitute significant actions. We examined if acute or chronic treatments with these agents modulated the activation of the AP-1 transcription factor or the increased intracellular calcium levels in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells caused by stimulation with carbachol. AP-1 activation stimulated by carbachol was reduced by pretreatment for 1 h, 24 h or 7 days with 1 mM lithium by 15%, 37%, and 60%, respectively, and with 0.05 mM carbamazepine by 3%, 21%, and 46%, respectively, but not by pretreatment with 0.5 mM sodium valproate. AP-1 DNA binding activity stimulated by carbachol or by phorbol ester-induced activation of protein kinase C was inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitor Ro31-8220, but phorbol ester-stimulated AP-1 activation was unaltered by 7-day pretreatments with lithium or carbamazepine. Activation of AP-1 by carbachol was dependent on calcium, as it was inhibited by treatment with the extracellular calcium chelator EGTA, the intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA-AM, and the calcium/calmodulin kinase II inhibitor KN62. Pretreatment for 7 days with lithium or carbamazepine had no significant effect on carbachol-stimulated increases in intracellular calcium levels, but reduced the stimulation of AP-1 by the calcium ionophore ionomycin by 30% to 40%. Thus, chronic treatment with the antibipolar agents lithium and carbamazepine attenuates carbachol-stimulated AP-1 DNA binding activity, and these agents preferentially inhibit signaling cascades activated by the calcium rather than the protein kinase C arm of the phosphoinositide signaling pathway.
Evaluation of ultraviolet light for disinfection of hospital water contaminated with legionella

Abstract An epidemic of nosocomial Legionella micdadei pneumonia occurred among renal transplant patients in the University of Virginia hospital between 1978 and 1982. Although no further cases were diagnosed after 1982, filters and ultraviolet light (UVL) fittings were installed in 1985 as an attempt to disinfect water piped to rooms of transplant patients, because of concern about persistence of L micdadei in hospital water. Water samples were obtained from eight UVL-treated rooms and eight control rooms. 26 of 95 control samples were culture positive for L micdadei compared with 0 of 71 samples of filtered, UVL-treated water (p
Nonorganic failure to thrive in infancy: an update on nutrition, behavior, and growth.

Failure to thrive (FTT) has been defined in a number of ways, but most definitions include a weight less than the 5th percentile on the growth chart or a decreasing rate of weight gain. Nonorganic failure to thrive (NOFTT), i.e., FTT not due to organic disease, is the most common category of FTT in the United States and is associated with delayed growth and development and abnormal behaviors. Factors extrinsic to the infant are primarily responsible for NOFTT. That acute undernutrition may be a cause of the poor weight gain is suggested by anthropometric studies and by the observation that NOFTT infants often gain weight when food is supplied. Yet, decreased caloric intake has been documented in only a few infants, and not all infants immediately gain weight when given adequate calories. Current thinking attributes lack of weight gain in NOFTT to probably mixed interacting causes, including decreased nutrition, and abnormal hormonal mechanisms associated with abnormal behavior. That behavior and nutrition are related is recognized, but their interactions have not been adequately documented or explained. It is unknown whether behavior affects growth directly through nutrition or independently of nutrition. Until the cause or causes of poor growth and development in NOFTT are understood, permanently reversing the process will be difficult. This report reviews what is presently known about nutrition and growth in NOFTT.
Darkroom: compiling high-level image processing code into hardware pipelines

Specialized image signal processors (ISPs) exploit the structure of image processing pipelines to minimize memory bandwidth using the architectural pattern of line-buffering, where all intermediate data between each stage is stored in small on-chip buffers. This provides high energy efficiency, allowing long pipelines with tera-op/sec. image processing in battery-powered devices, but traditionally requires painstaking manual design in hardware. Based on this pattern, we present Darkroom, a language and compiler for image processing. The semantics of the Darkroom language allow it to compile programs directly into line-buffered pipelines, with all intermediate values in local line-buffer storage, eliminating unnecessary communication with off-chip DRAM. We formulate the problem of optimally scheduling line-buffered pipelines to minimize buffering as an integer linear program. Finally, given an optimally scheduled pipeline, Darkroom synthesizes hardware descriptions for ASIC or FPGA, or fast CPU code. We evaluate Darkroom implementations of a range of applications, including a camera pipeline, low-level feature detection algorithms, and deblurring. For many applications, we demonstrate gigapixel/sec. performance in under 0.5mm2 of ASIC silicon at 250 mW (simulated on a 45nm foundry process), real-time 1080p/60 video processing using a fraction of the resources of a modern FPGA, and tens of megapixels/sec. of throughput on a quad-core x86 processor.
A unique inverse estimate of magnetic source images: The minimum-norm least-squares approach

The minimum-norm least-squares approach provides a mathematically unique solution when the magnetic field pattern across the scalp is interpreted with prior knowledge of anatomy without resort to any explicit source model.
Aggregate-Associated Carbon and Nitrogen in Reclaimed Sandy Loam Soils

Minimal research has been conducted on aggregate, C, and N in coarse-textured soils used to reclaim surface coal mine lands. Furthermore, little is known about the contribution different plant communities make to the recovery of aggregation in these soils. Two chronosequences of semiarid reclaimed sites with sandy loam soils were sampled under shrub- and grass-dominated communities. Aggregation, aggregate fractions, and associated C and N were measured. No definitive trends of increasing macroaggregates between sites were observed undershrubs; however, macro- and microaggregation was greater in the 16-yr-old (0.20 and 0.23 kg aggregate kg{sup -1} soil, respectively) than in the 5-yr-old soils (0.02 and 0.08 kg aggregate kg{sup -1} soil, respectively) under grasses. Although C and N concentrations were drastically reduced (50-75%) with mining activity between the <1-yr-old and native soils, aggregate C and N concentrations tinder shrubs and grasses were similar to each other and to the native soils in the 5-yr-old site. Sods under grass in the 16-yr-old site had lower available and aggregate-occluded C and N concentrations than the 5-yr-old site, while C and N concentrations did not change between 5- and 16-yr-old soils under shrubs. Conversely, aggregate C and N pool sizes under shrubs and grasses both increasedmore » with site age to conditions similar to those observed in the native soil. Reclaimed shrub site soils had consistently higher C concentrations in the older reclaimed sites (10 and 16 yr old) than the soils under grasses, indicating greater accumulation and retention of C and N in organic material under shrub than grass communities in semiarid reclaimed sites.« less
Non-work-related finger amputations in the United States, 2001-2002.

Study objective We characterize non–work-related finger amputations treated in US hospital emergency departments (EDs) and discuss implications for injury-prevention programs. Methods Finger amputation data from 2001 and 2002 were obtained from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System All Injury Program (a nationally representative sample of 66 US hospital EDs). National estimates are based on weighted data for 948 cases for finger amputations (including partial and complete) that occurred during non–work-related activities (ie, nonoccupational) activities. Results An estimate of 30,673 (95% confidence interval [CI] 24,877 to 36,469) persons with non–work-related amputations were treated in US hospital EDs annually. Of these persons, 27,886 (90.9%; 95% CI 22,707 to 33,065) had amputations involving 1 or more fingers; 19.1% were hospitalized or transferred for specialized trauma care. Male patients were treated for finger amputations at 3 times the rate of female patients. The rate of persons treated for finger amputations was highest for children younger than 5 years (18.8 per 100,000 population; 95% CI 12.3 to 25.2 per 100,000 population), followed by adults aged 55 to 64 years (14.9 per 100,000 population; 95% CI 9.6 to 20.1 per 100,000 population). For children aged 4 years and younger, 72.9% were injured in incidents involving doors, and for adults aged 55 years or older, 47.2% were injured in incidents involving power tools. Conclusion National estimates of finger amputations among US residents indicate that young children and older adults are at greatest risk. Parents or other responsible adults should be aware of the risk of small children's fingers around doorways, and adults should take safety precautions when using power tools.
Active modeling of large-scale turbulence

Abstract The scale of turbulence generated using conventional techniques is usually limited by the size of the wind tunnel. In many cases the prototype turbulence length scale can not be correctly modeled. A new technique, active turbulence modeling, which overcomes this limitation is introduced and illustrated. It is shown how turbulence can be controlled by active supplying of additional energy to the flow. The turbulence intensity and scale, spectra, and space cross-correlations are presented and discussed. The scale of turbulence, generated in an active manner, is one order of magnitude larger than the maximum scale obtainable in the same wind tunnel using a passive technique of turbulence modeling. The presented technique could be used in studies of the turbulence scale effects on the aerodynamics of buildings and structures.
G-CSF and monosomy 7 in marrow failure patients

Kojima and colleagues (page [786][1]) report a correlation between G-CSF treatment of children with aplastic anemia and evolution to cytogenetic abnormalities and myelodysplasia. How strong is this relationship and how generalizable the conclusions? The Japanese investigators administered high G-
Rate-Distortion Coding Simulation For Color Images

Werner FreiAssistant Professor of Electrical EngineeringImage Processing InstituteUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, California 90007AbstractIt is hypothesized that a rudimentary measure of human color perception can help define a fidelitymeasure for color image coding. A simple visual model is considered, which defines a non -lineartransformation of the red, green and blue image components into functions that are more closely relatedto the perceived colored stimuli. The effects of the transformations on image coding efficiency arediscussed, and an optimal coder, which minimizes the average distortion of these "perceptual" imagefunctions is simulated. Results provide a tentative quality yardstick for actual coders operating at thesame bit rate, but further experiments will be required to substantiate the results.
Cr and MoSi photomask plasma etching

The Advanced Metrology Advisory Group (AMAG) is a council composed of the chief CD-metrologists from the International SEMATECH consortium's Member Companies and from the National Institute of Standards (NIST). The AMAG wrote, in 2002, with CD-SEM supplier involvement, updated the 'Unified Advanced CD-SEM Specification for Sub-130nm Technology (version 2002)' to be a living document which outlines the required performance of advanced CD-SEMs for supplier compliance to the 2001 International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors, and also conveys other member companies' collective needs to vendors. Using this specification, a benchmarking effort of the currently available advanced CD-SEMs will be performed. As these results are not yet complete, they will be presented at a future date. However, the current version of the specification has undergone many changes and improvements from the last, and these will be discussed here.
Ultraviolet photolysis of anthracene in H2O interstellar ice analogs: Potential connection to meteoritic organics.

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) anthracene was oxidized by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in H2O ice under simulated astrophysical conditions, forming several anthracene ketones (9-anthrone, 1,4-anthraquinone, and 9,10-anthraquinone) and alcohols (1-anthrol and 2-anthrol). Two of the ketones produced have been detected in the Murchison meteorite but, to our knowledge, there has been no search for the alcohols or other oxidized anthracenes in meteorites. These results seem consistent with the possibility that interstellar ice photochemistry could have influenced the inventory of aromatics in meteorites. Since quinones are also fundamental to biochemistry, their formation in space and delivery to planets is relevant to studies relating to the habitability of planets and the evolution of life.
The abundances of ammonia in the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, and Titan

An investigation of low-resolution ratio spectra of Jupiter, Saturn, and Titan in the region 5400-6500 A has permitted new evaluations of ammonia absorption bands. The distribution of ammonia over the disk of Jupiter is very inhomogeneous. The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is distinctly different from the solar value, but this is probably a result of uneven mixing of methane and ammonia, as suggested previously by Kuiper (1952), rather than a compositional anomaly. The abundancy of ammonia on Saturn also shows spatial variations, but appears constant in time over a 3-yr period. Two weak, unidentified absorptions were discovered in the red region of Titan's spectrum, in the absence of any detectable ammonia.
Close Encounters of the Collaborative Kind

The participants in a collaborative interdisciplinary project found that developing a shared, project-specific communication style helped them overcome cultural barriers, understand the nuances of each other's work, and enhance the accuracy, interpretability, and utility of their models.
Supporting deliberative democracy: Pedagogical arts of the contact zone of the electronic public sphere

I participate in a teaching and learning collaborative called the Intercollegiate Electronic Democracy Project (IEDP). The project's goal is to enable students' participation in democratic culture through rhetoric and public writing. Using Internet and Web technology, we inhabit an electronic public sphere where both teaching and learning are collaborative, connecting teachers and students from many institutions across the country, and where pedagogy, public issues, and politics intersect. From the perspective of rhetoric and composition, the IEDP embraces three topics important to our field: computers and writing; public discourse, especially deliberative rhetoric; and multiculturalism, specifically contact-zone theory and pedagogy. This essay elaborates some pedagogical implications of this nexus. While much of the pedagogy I discuss reflects strategies successfully used in the IEDP, its implications extend to similar projects that engage students in the electronic public sphere. Ever since Mary Louise Pratt challenged teachers to develop "pedagogical arts of the contact zone" (40), many teachers have become more sensitive to the multicultural dynamics of their classrooms, and they have begun to chart what Richard E. Miller calls "the uncharted realms of teaching and studying in the contact zone" (407). There have been theoretical projects such as using contact zones as a basis for rethinking and reorganizing English studies (Bizzell); pedagogical efforts such as those that address challenges posed by asymmetrical power relations in the classroom (Miller) and differences in cultural perspectives and values (van Slyck); and investigations of specific contact-zone phenomena such as students' strategies for coping with dominant discourses (Canagarajah) and "the politics of style" (Lu). These developments signify our ability to respond to multicultural classroom conditions by accommodating educational needs and desires of all students. Nowadays, however, the classroom per se is no longer the sole site for teaching, learning, writing, and speaking. With growing interest in public discourse and civic participation among students-and with rapidly increasing