cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conditions Mimicking Coarctation of the Aorta

Coarctation of the aorta is a cause of right arm hypertension in children and of heart failure in infants after ductal closure. We present two cases with these presentations that were initially thought to be coarctation of the aorta. They were subsequently diagnosed as Takayasu’s arteritis in the older child and a large cerebral arteriovenous malformation in the infant. These conditions should be in the differential of right arm hypertension and of aortic flow reversal on echocardiography.
Prospective Evaluation to Establish a Dose Response for Clinical Oral Mucositis in Patients Undergoing Head-and-Neck Conformal Radiotherapy

Purpose We conducted a clinical study to correlate oral cavity dose with clinical mucositis, perform in vivo dosimetry, and determine the feasibility of obtaining buccal mucosal cell samples in patients undergoing head-and-neck radiation therapy. The main objective is to establish a quantitative dose response for clinical oral mucositis. Methods and Materials Twelve patients undergoing radiation therapy for head-and-neck cancer were prospectively studied. Four points were chosen in separate quadrants of the oral cavity. Calculated dose distributions were generated by using AcQPlan and Eclipse treatment planning systems. MOSFET dosimeters were used to measure dose at each sampled point. Each patient underwent buccal sampling for future RNA analysis before and after the first radiation treatment at the four selected points. Clinical and functional mucositis were assessed weekly according to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria, Version 3. Results Maximum and average doses for sampled sites ranged from 7.4–62.3 and 3.0–54.3 Gy, respectively. A cumulative point dose of 39.1 Gy resulted in mucositis for 3 weeks or longer. Mild severity (Grade ≤ 1) and short duration (≤1 week) of mucositis were found at cumulative point doses less than 32 Gy. Polymerase chain reaction consistently was able to detect basal levels of two known radiation responsive genes. Conclusions In our sample, cumulative doses to the oral cavity of less than 32 Gy were associated with minimal acute mucositis. A dose greater than 39 Gy was associated with longer duration of mucositis. Our technique for sampling buccal mucosa yielded sufficient cells for RNA analysis using polymerase chain reaction.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF SELECTION FUNCTION AND DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION

To explain the phenomena of the transition in particle size distribution in a grinding process, the selection function and the distribution function were determined. The equation of distribution function obtained experimentally was as follows; B(y, ymax)={1-e-a(y/ymax)}/(1-e-a)where α is the distribution factor. The experiment was carried out by the "single-size fraction" method using a Hardgrove machine, a vibration mill and a ball mill. Five kinds of materials were used. The selection function was found to be proportional to the distribution factor, and the distribution function was a function of ymax and(y/ymax).
The Importance of Legitimacy in the Government's Response to the Financial Crisis

The Elliot Richardson Lecture American Society for Public Administration National Academy of Public Administration ASPA National Conference Miami, Florida March 22, 2009 It is a great honor to join you today to present the Elliott Richardson lecture. I was a young public interest lawyer when Mr. Richardson resigned in 1973 as Attorney General of the United States on a matter of principle. In those years of Watergate and Vietnam the legitimacy of government actions was widely questioned. “Don’t trust anyone over 30” was a rallying cry for many young people at the time. Elliott Richardson, a distinguished public servant and definitely over 30, showed us that integrity and courage are appropriate at any age.
Heterogeneous Catalysis at an Atomic Scale

For the overwhelming majority of processes in modern chemical and petrochemical industry, the presence of an active and selective catalyst is crucial. In the USA the total value of products from catalytic processes has been estimated to be roughly 9.10 11 $ per year, corresponding to 17% of the GNP. An arsenal of modern methods enables the physical chemist to characterize active sites and chemisorption complexes ; quantum chemical calculations increasingly lead to concrete predictions. The key issue remains, however, to unravel reaction mechanism and to use this knowledge for the design of superior catalysts. In the present paper some challenging problems are addressed : (1) How does a promoter in a Rh/NaY catalyst direct CO hydrogenation towards synthesis of ethanol and ethyl acetate ? (2) How does NO x decompose over Cu/ZSM5 catalysts and how is its reduction to N 2 enhanced by O 2 ? (3) How does the isomerization of butane to isobutane avoid primary carbenium ions over some acid catalysts, why are other catalysts with stronger acid sites less active ?
The polar heliospheric magnetic field

We describe the large-scale magnetic field morphology in the heliosheath. A simple argument, which depends only on the interstellar wind flowing nearly in the solar equatorial plane, shows that polar heliospheric magnetic fieldlines never approach the heliopause and therefore are accessible to galactic cosmic rays only through perpendicular diffusion. The same argument implies reconnection, at fine scales, on the nose of the heliopause, between the interplanetary magnetic field and the magnetic field in the local interstellar medium. Galactic cosmic rays therefore have direct access across the heliopause to fieldlines connected to equatorial regions of the inner solar system.
Ancient forests and grasslands in the desert: diet and habitat of Late Pleistocene mammals from Northcentral Sonora, Mexico.

Abstract Despite high taxonomic diversity elsewhere in North America during the Pleistocene, vertebrate faunas are exceedingly rare in the region of northern Mexico. Terapa, a unique fossil site located in the present-day desert of Northcentral Sonora, Mexico (29°41′N, 109°39′W, 605 m elevation), contributes to our understanding of the paleoecology and paleoclimate of the region during the Late Pleistocene, ca. 43,000–40,000 cal. yr BP. At least 60 vertebrate taxa, including amphibians, turtles, a crocodilian, snakes, birds and many mammals, have been recovered from an 11-m thick sequence of fossiliferous sediments. The diversity and tropical affinity of these taxa suggest a more-forested environment than the thornscrub desert habitat present in this region today. Isotopic analyses of tooth enamel carbonate from ancient mammalian herbivores suggest that the Sonoran desert has undergone considerable climate change since the Late Pleistocene. Bulk carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes from nine mammalian fossils indicate a habitat mosaic with variations in diet that include browsers, mixed feeders and C4 hyper-grazers (δ13C range of − 10‰ to 2‰). Unique to this site are δ13C tooth enamel values of − 6.1 and − 5.6 ‰ for the deer Odocoileus, which suggest a more variable diet than strict browsing, including possibly feeding on CAM and/or C4 plants. Serial sampling of carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes for ancient mammal teeth with hypsodont dentitions (fossil Equus and Bison,) as well as δ18O meteroric water estimates from well-supported climatic models suggest a cooler and more equable environment at Terapa during the Late Pleistocene. These results also support previous habitat reconstructions inferred from the macrobotanical and packrat midden records of northern Sonora (Mexico). High-resolution stable isotope geochemistry indicates that: 1) ancient Terapa was covered with forest and grassland habitats that extended northward into Mexico by about 350 km relative to their present-day northern limits during the Late Pleistocene; and 2) an Amount Effect (AE) is demonstrated in the fossil record at Terapa even though the climate was less seasonal compared to the modern desert habitat.
Design and Implementation of a Unified Network Information Service

A holistic view of the network is key to the successful operation of many distributed, cloud-based, and service-oriented computing architectures. Supporting network-aware applications and application-driven networks requires a detailed representation of network resources, including multi-layer topologies, associated measurement data, and in-the-network service location and availability information. The rapid development of increasingly configurable and dynamic networks has increased the demand for information services that can accurately and efficiently store and expose the state of the network. This work introduces our Unified Network Information Service (UNIS), designed to represent physical and virtual networks and services. We describe the UNIS network data model and its RESTful interface, which provide a common interface to topology, service, and measurement resources. In addition, we describe the security mechanisms built into the UNIS framework. Our analysis of the UNIS implementation shows significant performance and scalability gains over an existing and widely-deployed topology, service registration, and lookup information service architecture.
Patenting Genes and the Public Interest

(2002). Patenting Genes and the Public Interest. The American Journal of Bioethics: Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 13-15.
Adaptive energy-efficient task partitioning for heterogeneous multi-core multiprocessor real-time systems

The designs of heterogeneous multi-core multiprocessor real-time systems are evolving for higher energy efficiency at the cost of increased heat density. This adversely effects the reliability and performance of the real-time systems. Moreover, the partitioning of periodic real-time tasks based on their worst case execution time can lead to significant energy wastage. In this paper, we investigate adaptive energy-efficient task partitioning for heterogeneous multi-core multiprocessor realtime systems. We use a power model which incorporates the impact of temperature and voltage of a processor on its static power consumption. Two different thermal models are used to estimate the peak temperature of a processor. We develop two feedback-based optimization and control approaches for adaptively partitioning real-time tasks according to their actual utilizations. Simulation results show that the proposed approaches are effective in minimizing the energy consumption and reducing the number of task migrations.
Plasma density effects on the three-body recombination rate coefficients

Abstract The existing reaction rate coefficients for the three-body recombination of ions with plasma electrons have a strong T −4.5 dependence on the electron temperature T , which seems to break down at low temperature, for T −4 eV. The obvious deficiency of the formula is the neglect of the plasma density effect on the recombined Rydberg states. A simple correctional procedure is adopted in terms of a density dependent cutoff of these high Rydberg states, which seems to improve the rates at low T . The total rate coefficients are now proportional to T −1 , for the density N not too low. The T dependence is closely related to the density, so that the −4.5 exponent is still valid at high T and low N region. Some numerical examples are given, and possible further improvements are suggested. The high and low T formulas interpolate smoothly through the principal quantum number cutoffs.
Dexamethasone Suppression of Serum T3 and T4

Dexamethasone (2 mg q6h for 48 h) decreased serum T3 in normal and athyreotic subjects, and decreased T4 in normal subjects. Dexamethasone probably alters secretion and peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones.
Robust Optimal Control Design Using Sensitivity Dynamics and Youla Parameterization

A new methodology for parametric sensitivity based robust optimal control sysnthesys (PS-ROCS), is presented for robust optimal control synthesis using augmented plant dynamics with sensitivity co-system. Robustness of the control system to parametric uncertainties is ensured by minimizing the energy in the states where state vector incorporates states of the sensitivity co-system. The sensitivity dynamics is developed for the first-order parametric sensitivities from the system dynamics. This paper uses the Youla parameterization approach for controller synthesis. The robust optimal design methodology is demonstrated using a linearized model of double slider mechanism. For comparative study, two control designs obtained using the proposed methodology is compared with the H∞-based design. It was observed that the new methodology presents a viable alternative for robust optimal control design. The attractiveness of the proposed approach lies in the fact that no uncertainty estimates are needed as parametric sensitivities are directly minimized.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The metal-carbonyl bond in Ni(CO) 4 and Fe(CO) 5 : A clear-cut analysis

A detailed analysis of the metal-carbonyl bonding in Ni(CO)4 and Fe(CO)5, based on the newly developed contained space orbital variation (CSOV) method, is carried out to investigate various contributing factors to the interaction. Three aspects about the metal-CO interaction are presented: (1) the frozen orbital repulsion between the metal 4s and the CO is large; (2) the metal to CO pi donation is energetically much more important than the CO to the metal sigma donation; and (3) the metal 4s and 4p orbitals make a very small contribution (smaller than 0.4 eV) to the interaction energy; the largest portion of this contribution arises from the CO to metal sigma donation.
Landau gap in a two-dimensional hole gas

Abstract Susceptibility and magnetoresistivity studies of a stage 2 Br2-intercalated graphite show clear evidence that this is a field-induced two-dimensional hole gas. The sharp spikes in the susceptibility are a signature of energy gaps between successive Landau levels.
Testing Models of Turnover Intentions with University Faculty1

Four models of turnover intentions were competitively tested for their effectiveness in predicting the intentions to search for alternative positions and intentions to resign from current positions among a sample of university faculty. Faculty at an upper Midwest university completed a survey developed to measure the components of the four models. All four models (intermediate linkages, expanded Mobley, reasoned action, and planned behavior) significantly predicted intentions to search and intentions to resign. The reasoned action model was found to be more effective and parsimonious than the other models. Attitude toward the turnover action and subjective norm concerning the turnover action appear to be the critical factors influenang the faculty members' turnover intentions. Implications of these findings for turnover research and related concepts such as organizational commitment are discussed.
Topographic component (parallel factor) analysis of multichannel evoked potentials: practical issues in trilinear spatiotemporal decomposition.

We describe a substantive application of the trilinear topographic components /parallel factors model (TC/PARAFAC, due to Mocks/Harshman) to the decomposition of multichannel evoked potentials (MEP's). We provide practical guidelines and procedures for applying PARAFAC methodology to MEP decomposition. Specifically, we apply techniques of data preprocessing, orthogonality constraints, and validation of solutions in a complete TC analysis, for the first time using actual MEP data. The TC model is shown to be superior to the traditional bilinear principal components model in terms of data reduction, confirming the advantage of the TC model's added assumptions. The model is then shown to provide a unique spatiotemporal decomposition that is reproducible in different subject groups. The components are shown to be consistent with spatial/temporal features evident in the data, except for an artificial component resulting from latency jitter. Subject scores on this component are shown to reflect peak latencies in the data, suggesting a new aspect to statistical analyses based on subject scores. In general, the results support the conclusion that the TC model is a promising alternative to principal components for data reduction and analysis of MEP's.
The lateral hypothalamus: a primary site mediating excitatory amino acid-elicited eating

Lateral hypothalamic (LH) injections of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, or its excitatory amino acid (EAA) agonists, kainic acid (KA), D,L-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA), or N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA), can rapidly elicit an intense feeding response in satiated rats. To determine whether the LH is the actual locus of this effect, we compared these compounds' ability to stimulate feeding when injected into the LH, versus when injected into sites bracketing this region. Food intake in groups of adult male rats was measured 1 h after injection of glutamate (30-900 nmol), KA (0.1-1.0 nmol), AMPA (0.33-3.3 nmol), NMDA (0.33-33.3 nmol) or vehicle, through chronically implanted guide cannulas, into one of seven brain sites. These sites were: the LH, the anterior and posterior tips of the LH, the thalamus immediately dorsal to the LH, the amygdala just lateral to the LH, or the paraventricular and perifornical areas medial to the LH. The results show that across doses and agonists the eating-stimulatory effects were largest with injections into the LH. In the LH, glutamate between 300 and 900 nmol elicited a dose-dependent eating response of up to 5 g within 1 h (P < 0.01). Each of the other agonists at doses of 3.3 nmol or less elicited eating responses of at least 10 g with injections into this site. Injections into the other brain sites produced either no eating, or occasionally smaller and less consistent eating responses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Angiotensin II Activates Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Via Protein Kinase C and Ras/Raf-1 Kinase in Bovine Adrenal Glomerulosa Cells

Angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulates growth and mitogenesis in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells, but little is known about the signaling pathways that mediate these responses. An analysis of the growth-promoting pathways in cultured bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells revealed that Ang II, acting via the AT1 receptor, caused rapid but transient activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), with an ED50 of 10–50 pm. Although neither Ca2+ influx nor Ca2+ release from intracellular stores was sufficient to activate MAPK, Ca2+ appeared to play a permissive role in this response. A major component of Ang II-induced MAPK activation was insensitive to pertussis toxin (PTX), although a minor PTX-sensitive component could not be excluded. Ang II also induced the rapid activation of ras and raf-1 kinase with time-courses that correlated with that of MAPK. Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was sufficient to activate both MAPK and raf-1 kinase. However, whereas PKC depletion ...
Land use policy and landscape fragmentation in an urbanizing region: Assessing the impact of zoning

Abstract The research presented here explores the spatial patterns in the landscape near Bloomington, Indiana, where urban and suburban development is expanding into formerly agricultural and forested areas. Landscape fragmentation has potentially detrimental impacts on provision of services and functions of forest ecosystems. We investigate the statistical relationship between landscape fragmentation and various socioeconomic, biophysical, and spatial variables associated with land use and land cover at the scale of individual, privately owned parcels. We find that the diversity of land uses is much higher, at the aggregate level and at the parcel level, in areas that are zoned to allow for the highest density in housing and smallest lot sizes. These results are still robust after accounting for key geophysical and accessibility characteristics of the individual parcels.
Part-timers: Overlooked and undervalued

Jobs are usually designed to be staffed eight hours a day, five days a week. And, since most people depend upon employment as their principal source of income, job seekers normally want full-time positions of eight hours a day, five days a week. This has been true for so long--over a century in some organizations--that the eight-hour day norm can be fairly labeled a tradition. As with most traditions, the arrangement is seldom questioned. One primary exception has been the four-and-forty manpower scheduling proposals, which require employees to work four days and forty hours a week. This and similar variations challenge part of the tradition: the eight-hour day. Forty hours per week generally remains the standard, however. Another exception to the forty-hour, five-day workweek is the use of part-time personnel. Here the traditional employment hours are replaced with an unlimited number of combinations; there is no commitment to either eight-hour days or forty-hour weeks. Given the diversity of service organizations and industrial production techniquesranging from custom and small batch orders to extended mass assembly runs the use of more flexible manpower schedules holds many potential benefits. Unfortunately, dogmatic adherence to the traditional five-day, forty-hour workweek precludes these gains. Even variations of the four-and-forty approaches usually begin with the assumption that a forty-hour workweek is optimal. Any manager who has ever had to request overtime realizes that forty hours per week is not always the best schedule.
Theory of the Anisotropic Energy Gap in Superconducting Lead

The energy gap of a model anisotropic superconductor is considered. This model calculation forms the basis of a more realistic theoretical consideration of the energy gap of superconducting Pb, one in which the phonon density of states is the principal source of gap anisotropy. The effect of energy-band structure, important only near Brillouin-zone boundaries, is included as a perturbation. The phonon density of states is calculated from the experimental dispersion curves and singularities---present in the special density of states entering the superconductivity problem---are discussed. The phonon density of states and the isotropic gap solution obtained by previous workers are used to calculate the anisotropic part of the energy gap. The double gap, $2\ensuremath{\Delta}$, is found to have an absolute maximum of 2.86 meV in the [100] direction, and an absolute minimum of 2.55 meV in the [110] direction. Ten other maxima, minima, and saddle points are listed. The effect of the energy-gap anisotropy on electron-tunneling, electromagnetic-absorption, and acoustic-attenuation experiments is predicted.
Structural Health Monitoring and Impact Detection Using Neural Networks for Damage Characterization

Detection of damage due to foreign object impact is an important factor in the development of new aerospace vehicles. Acoustic waves generated on impact can be detected using a set of piezoelectric transducers, and the location of impact can be determined by triangulation based on the differences in the arrival time of the waves at each of the sensors. These sensors generate electrical signals in response to mechanical motion resulting from the impact as well as from natural vibrations. Due to electrical noise and mechanical vibration, accurately determining these time differentials can be challenging, and even small measurement inaccuracies can lead to significant errors in the computed damage location. Wavelet transforms are used to analyze the signals at multiple levels of detail, allowing the signals resulting from the impact to be isolated from ambient electromechanical noise. Data extracted from these transformed signals are input to an artificial neural network to aid in identifying the moment of impact from the transformed signals. By distinguishing which of the signal components are resultant from the impact and which are characteristic of noise and normal aerodynamic loads, the time differentials as well as the location of damage can be accurately assessed. The combination of wavelet transformations and neural network processing results in an efficient and accurate approach for passive in-flight detection of foreign object damage.
Cisplatin-gemcitabine therapy in metastatic breast cancer: Improved outcome in triple negative breast cancer patients compared to non-triple negative patients.

Abstract Triple negative or basal-like breast cancers lack expression of estrogen, progesterone and HER2 neu receptors. There are no specific treatment guidelines for this group of patients, however, it has been postulated that their phenotypic and molecular similarity to BRCA-1 related cancers would confer sensitivity to certain cytotoxic agents like cisplatin (CDDP). The aim of the study was to retrospectively examine the clinical outcome at our institution of patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with CDDP and gemcitabine combination chemotherapy who had triple negative breast cancer compared to non-triple negative breast cancer. Thirty-six patients with metastatic breast cancer were treated with CDDP and gemcitabine combination chemotherapy, 17 of whom were triple negative (47%) and 19 were non-triple negative (53%). The median progression free survival for triple negative and non-triple negative metastatic breast cancer patients were 5.3 months and 1.7 months respectively ( p = 0.058). By multivariate Cox proportional hazard model after adjusting for age, race and menopausal status the risk of progression was reduced by 47% for triple negative compared to non-triple negative metastatic breast cancer patients (HR = 0.53, p = 0.071). Conclusions Our results suggest an improved outcome for metastatic triple negative breast cancer patients compared to non-triple negative breast cancer patients when treated with cisplatin and gemcitabine combination chemotherapy.
Genetic basis for susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss in mice

The C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) inbred strains of mice exhibit an age-related hearing loss (AHL) due to a recessive gene (Ahl) that maps to Chromosome 10. The Ahl gene is also implicated in the susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The B6 mice (Ahl/Ahl) are more susceptible to NIHL than the CBA/CaJ (CB) mice (+ Ahl ). The B6UD2.F1 hybrid mice (Ahl/Ahl) are more susceptible to NIHL than the CBUB6.F1 mice (+/Ahl)[Erway et al., 1996. Hear. Res. 93, 181^187]. These genetic effects implicate the Ahl gene as contributing to NIHL susceptibility. The present study demonstrates segregation for the putative Ahl gene and mapping of such a gene to Chromosome 10, consistent with other independent mapping of Ahl for AHL in 10 strains of mice [Johnson et al., 2000. Genomics 70, 171^180]. The present study was based on a conventional cross between two inbred strains, CBUB6.F1 backcrossed to B6 with segregation for the putative +/Ahl:Ahl/Ahl. These backcross progeny were exposed to 110 dB SPL noise for 8 h. All of the progeny were tested for auditory evoked brainstem responses and analyzed for any significant permanent threshold shift of NIHL. Cluster analyses were used to distinguish the two putative genotypes, the least affected with NIHL (+/Ahl) and most affected with PTS (Ahl/Ahl). Approximately 1/2 of the backcross progeny exhibited PTS, particularly at 16 kHz. These mice were genotyped for two D10Mit markers. Quantitative trait loci analyses (log of the odds = 15) indicated association of the genetic factor within a few centiMorgan of the best evidence for Ahl [Johnson et al., 2000. Genomics 70, 171^180]. All of the available evidence supports a role for the Ahl gene in both AHL and NIHL among these strains of mice. fl 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
CD‐ROMs . . . Millions of Ideas for Millions of Learners

Abstract An introduction to CD‐ROM technology sets the stage for an exploration of the use of CD‐ROMs in both the United States and other countries. Then, the main categories of CD‐ROMs and some of their instructional applications are discussed. Categories discussed include reference sources, utility tools for professionals, public access catalogues, directories, public domain and shareware, clip art, curriculum materials and multimedia materials. After this discussion, future trends in the use of the technology are examined.
Post treatment Development and Fertility of Nondiapausing Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Larvae and Their Progeny Following Gamma Irradiation

Nondiapausing codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), larvae were exposed to gamma irradiation at a rate of 14.3-15.7 Gray (Gy)/min. Based on percentages of larvae that developed to pupae, adults, and physically normal adults, sensitivity to radiation increased with increasing dose and decreasing age, and females were more sensitive than males. The effect of radiation on insects is often delayed in that it occurs in developmental stages subsequent to that on which the treatment is applied. A study to determine the minimum dose required to produce detrimental effects on subsequent developmental stages showed that LD99s (95% upper confidence limit) were 233 (284) Gy to prevent pupation and 126 (147) Gy to prevent adult emergence. At 60 Gy, only infertile males developed to physically normal adults from treated larvae. Thus, an irradiation treatment that prevents surviving individuals from mating and producing fertile progeny still serves the purpose of preventing establishment of a quarantine pest. Adults of both sexes from larvae treated at 40 Gy were fertile, and single-pair reciprocal crosses of their adult progeny with untreated moths showed no evidence of delayed or F1 sterility.
The role of shelf acetabuloplasty in early and late stages of Perthes disease: a meta-analysis of observational studies

Perthes disease may result in deformity of the proximal femoral epiphysis and incongruity of the hip, and shelf acetabuloplasty has been frequently used for treatment. The aim of this study was to review the published articles about the outcome of shelf acetabuloplasty as a containment or reconstruction–salvage procedure in Perthes disease. We utilized the PubMed online database for peer review articles using the following search terms: shelf arthroplasty, acetabuloplasty, and Perthes. To be included in this meta-analysis, we isolated studies on children with Perthes disease who received shelf acetabuloplasty as a treatment, conducted in any geographic location with the Stulberg classification outcome. Twenty articles were identified for a qualitative systematic review. The fixed effect and random effect meta-analysis were performed as appropriate for the summary pool estimate following the heterogeneity test. The meta-analysis was performed on 11 articles in three categories: all articles, articles for shelf arthroplasty in the early stages of Perthes disease, and in the late stages. Overall, shelf acetabuloplasty provided 84 % good outcome of Stulberg classes I, II, and III. Shelf acetabuloplasty performed in early stages for containment provided good outcome in 85 %, while only 69 % good outcome was achieved when shelf acetabuloplasty was performed in late stages for reconstruction–salvage. Shelf acetabuloplasty provides a good or fair Stulberg outcome when performed in early Perthes stages (Waldenstrom stages I and II) as a containment surgery, but less favorable outcomes were observed when shelf surgery was used for reconstructive–salvage purposes in late Perthes disease stages (Waldenstrom stages III and IV). Caution is advised in performing the shelf procedure in children over 10–11 years of age.
Observations on the Me Mexico earthquake of 19 September 1985

Abstract Important lessons can be learned from the recent devastating Mexico City earthquake during which it is estimated that 10000 people were killed and untold thousands made homeless. Thanks to excellent accelerographic records obtained, the response spectra for the severely damaged area of the city could be constructed and compared with building code provisions in force prior to the earthquake. Through the cooperation of Mexican colleagues, geotechnical and statistical data on the damage were made available to the author and are abstracted. Illustrations of some damaged buildings and possible causes for their malfunctioning are given.
Improving cardiac function with new-generation plasma volume expanders.

Abstract Background Plasma expander (PE) based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated to albumin has shown positive results maintaining blood volume during hemodilution and restoring blood volume during resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock. Polyethylene glycol conjugation to human serum albumin (HSA), PEG-HSA, increases size, weight, and colloidal osmotic pressure, with minor effects on solution viscosity. Methods This study was designed to test the hypothesis that PEG-HSA (2 g/dL) produced by direct PEGylation chemistry improves cardiac function during 2 experimental models, (i) moderate hemodilution and (ii) resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock, compared with a conventional colloidal PE (Dextran 70 kd [Dx70], 6 g/dL). Cardiac function was studied using a miniaturized pressure volume conductance catheter implanted in the left ventricle and evaluated in terms of cardiac indices derived from the pressure volume measurements. Results Polyethylene glycol–HSA increased cardiac output, stroke volume, and stroke work and decreased systemic vascular resistance compared with Dx70 in both experimental models. The improvements induced by PEG-HSA in cardiac function were sustained over the observation time. Polyethylene glycol–HSA cardiac mechanoenergetics changes are the result of increased energy transferred per stroke and decreased resistance of the vasculature connecting the heart. In summary, PEG-HSA decreased left ventricle ejection impedance. Conclusion Ejection of blood diluted with PEG-HSA presented a reduced load to the heart, increased contractile function, and lowered the energy consumed per unit volume compared with Dx70. Our results emphasize the importance of heart function as a parameter to be included in the evaluation changes induced by new PEs.
Distributed Coding of Random Dot Stereograms with Unsupervised Learning of Disparity

Distributed compression is particularly attractive for stereoscopic images since it avoids communication between cameras. Since compression performance depends on exploiting the redundancy between images, knowing the disparity is important at the decoder. Unfortunately, distributed encoders cannot calculate this disparity and communicate it. We consider a toy problem, the compression of random dot stereograms, and propose an Expectation Maximization algorithm to perform unsupervised learning of disparity during the decoding procedure. Our experiments show that this can achieve twice as efficient compression compared to a system with no disparity compensation and perform nearly as well as a system which knows the disparity through an oracle.
Fibre Optic Sensors for Sale

The fibre optic sensor market (unlike the fibre optic communications market) is highly heterogeneous and diversified in both sensor types and application areas. Sensors vary widely in their measurand function, basic technology, performance, construction and end user market. As such, it is difficult to describe this activity in broad generalisations. Fibre optic sensors are finding their way into specialised applications where they offer specific advantages over conventional instruments. Examples of different fibre sensors are to be found in many varied domains. Specific examples cited indicate some of the types becoming available.
Condensate fluctuations of a trapped, ideal Bose gas.

For a non-self-interacting Bose gas with a fixed, large number of particles confined to a trap, as the ground-state occupation becomes macroscopic, the condensate number fluctuations remain microscopic. However, this is the only significant aspect in which the grand canonical description differs from canonical or microcanonical in the thermodynamic limit. General arguments and estimates including some of the vanishingly small quantities are compared to explicit, fixed-number calculations for 10^(2)-10^(6) particles.
Glial cell number and neuron/glial cell ratios in postmortem brains of bipolar individuals

Abstract Background There are several lines of evidence implicating a glial abnormality in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. Previous studies have reported a wide range of abnormalities but with little consistency between their findings. Methods Sixty frozen postmortem temporal cortical brain samples from normal, schizophrenic, bipolar, and depressed subjects were obtained from the Stanley Neuropathology Consortium. Nissl stain was utilized to visualize cellular structures. The sections were analyzed for neuron and glial content using the computer programs SPOT Advanced and Metamorph. Three representative fields from each subject were counted and the average numbers obtained. Results There was no critical difference in glia number across the four diagnostic groups. Compared with normal controls, area occupied by glia was reduced in bipolar subjects (P = 0.018), and the ratio of glial area to neuronal area was reduced (P = 0.028). Discussion The percent glial space was substantially lower in bipolar disorder subjects compared to normal controls, suggesting that the glia may be smaller in bipolar subjects. The size reduction may be reflective of glial dysfunction. Limitations Postmortem interval of 29.4 ± S.D. 13.4 h may have affected cellular structure and reduced the quality of the staining.
Mycotoxins and the avian kidney: assessment of physiological function

The avian kidney has shown a remarkable ability to maintain adequate and even normal function in the face of a mycotoxin challenge. Full evaluation of the nephrotoxicity of a substance must therefore go beyond pathological and ultrastructural documentation and include a complete functional evaluation. To date, only three nephrogenic mycotoxins, citrinin, ochratoxin A, and aflatoxin B1 have been assessed for their ability to alter avian renal function. At non-lethal doses, citrinin appears to have acute reversible effects on the distal portion of the nephron, possibly acting to inhibit water absorption. Ochratoxin A is more potent and less acute than citrinin but less site-specific in that both proximal and distal tubules are damaged, resulting in severe loss of both fluids and electrolytes. Aflatoxin B1 at a dosage and duration which induced hepatotoxicity, concurrently exerted nephrogenic effects such as increased urinary calcium excretion and decreased inorganic phosphate excretion. In commercial broilers aflatoxin B1 has been shown to decrease plasma levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D and may also decrease endogenous parathyroid hormone synthesis and the renal sensitivity to parathyroid hormone. Furthermore, exposure to aflatoxin B1 may cause prolonged alteration in renal function such as reduced glomerular filtration rate. This review summarizes the studies which have been conducted to evaluate avian renal function during both acute and chronic exposure to these three mycotoxins.
Recent Trends in the Processing of Enargite Concentrates

The copper industry is witnessing great interest in the development and utilization of copper-arsenic deposits. While most plants tend to use traditional processing technologies, the depletion of conventional copper ores has created competition for designing and implementing new process alternatives for the treatment of copper-arsenic ores containing minerals such as enargite, luzonite, and tennantite. Nevertheless, the downstream processing of high-arsenic copper concentrates represents a significant metallurgical challenge in terms of both arsenic separation and also its stabilization in an environmentally benign form that fulfills the current and future environmental policies. Smelters are subject to penalties on high arsenic-bearing copper concentrates. While reductive roasting can drive-off the arsenic from enargite concentrates to an acceptable level suitable for smelting (<0.5 wt.%), this option has generally been viewed as unacceptable due to environmental conflicts and the lack of a market for ar...
The Livermore intelligent gateway: An integrated information processing environment

Abstract The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory developed the Intelligent Gateway software in work that began in 1975. The Intelligent Gateway creates a framework that links distributed, heterogeneous computer resources and provides a single user interface such that a “virtual information system” can be tailored to any user's idiosyncratic needs. The Gateway can provide access to external services as well as serve as resident host for installation of local databases and information processing tools. Thus, it provides an integrated information processing environment to support the complete range of scientific and technical information needs.
Osteotome axial twist (OAT) technique: a simple method for exposing arthritic foot joints in preparation for arthrodesis.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition of articular cartilage commonly associated with capsular contractures, peripheral osteophytosis, and joint-space narrowing. Whether treatment of the diseased joint involves arthrodesis or arthroplasty, most open surgical approaches require adequate joint exposure for debridement and preparation of the joint surfaces. However, intraoperative access to arthritic joint surfaces is often difficult because of peripheral capsular contractures and osteophytes. Although lamina spreaders, osteotomes, elevators, and distraction devices are surgical tools commonly used to obtain joint access, some of these devices afford limited exposure and can be cumbersome to use, obstructing efforts to debride the joint. This article describes the osteotome axial twist (OAT) technique, a simple, efficient method for exposing tight, arthritic joint surfaces using an osteotome and surgical pliers.
Genomic Assortative Mating in Marriages in the United States

Assortative mating in phenotype in human marriages has been widely observed. Using genome-wide genotype data from the Framingham Heart study (FHS; number of married couples = 989) and Health Retirement Survey (HRS; number of married couples = 3,474), this study investigates genomic assortative mating in human marriages. Two types of genomic marital correlations are calculated. The first is a correlation specific to a single married couple "averaged" over all available autosomal single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs). In FHS, the average married-couple correlation is 0.0018 with p = 3 × 10(-5); in HRS, it is 0.0017 with p = 7.13 × 10(-13). The marital correlation among the positively assorting SNPs is 0.001 (p = .0043) in FHS and 0.015 (p = 1.66 × 10(-24)) in HRS. The sizes of these estimates in FHS and HRS are consistent with what are suggested by the distribution of the allelic combination. The study also estimated SNP-specific correlation "averaged" over all married couples. Suggestive evidence is reported. Future studies need to consider a more general form of genomic assortment, in which different allelic forms in homologous genes and non-homologous genes result in the same phenotype.
Determination of the pKa of Ethyl Acetate: Brønsted Correlation for Deprotonation of a Simple Oxygen Ester in Aqueous Solution

The rate constants for deprotonation of ethyl acetate by 3-substituted quinuclidines are correlated by β = 1.09 ± 0.05. The limits of kBH = 2−5 × 109 M-1 s-1 for the encounter-limited reaction of the simple oxygen ester enolate with protonated quinuclidine (pKBH = 11.5) were combined with kB = 2.4 × 10-5 M-1 s-1 for deprotonation of ethyl acetate by quinuclidine, to give pKaK = 25.6 ± 0.5 for ionization of ethyl acetate as a carbon acid in aqueous solution. A rate−equilibrium correlation for proton transfer from methyl and benzylic monocarbonyl compounds to hydroxide ion has been extended by 6 pK units in the thermodynamically unfavorable direction, and it is shown that the absence of curvature of this correlation is inconsistent with a constant Marcus intrinsic barrier for the enolization of simple carbonyl compounds.
FREEZE TOLERANCE AND CRYOPROTECTANT MOBILIZATION IN THE GRAY TREEFROG (HYLA VERSICOLOR)

Interstudy differences have been reported in the cryobiology of Hyla versicolor, especially for southern vs. northern populations, although laboratory conditioning likely was a contributing factor. This study measured freeze tolerance and cryoprotectant levels in H. versicolor from a southern population (Illinois). Frogs fully tolerated freezing at -1.5 and -3.5 degrees C for 24-48 hr but their survival rate declined at -5.5 degrees C (< 50%). Calorimetry revealed that 46% of the body water froze after 24 hr at -1.5 degrees C. Levels of plasma glucose and glycerol were substantially elevated, 14x and 5x respectively, in recently thawed frogs vs. unfrozen frogs. Plasma osmolality correspondingly rose from 242 to 304 mOsmol/L. Three unfrozen frogs had levels of plasma glycerol ranging between 17.1-36.8 mmol/L, suggesting an anticipatory response to freezing, but another three unfrozen frogs had a glycerol level of 1.1 mmol/L. A direct relationship existed between glycerol content and plasma osmolality and an inverse relationship was observed between plasma osmolality and ice content. Glycerol clearly was a major component of cryo-protectant production in these frogs, which was likely essential to their freeze tolerance. The cryobiology of Illinois frogs was only marginally less developed than seen in northern populations of this species.
Characterisation of a β-N-acetylhexosaminidase from a commercial papaya latex preparation

Abstract A β- N -acetylhexosaminidase (β-NAHA) (EC 3.2.1.52) with molecular mass of 64.1 kDa and isoelectric point of 5.5 was purified from a commercial papaya latex preparation. The optimum pH for p -nitrophenyl- N -acetyl-β- d -glucosaminide ( p NP-β-GlcNAc) hydrolysis was five; the optimum temperature was 50 °C; the K m was 0.18 mM, V max was 37.6 μmol min −1 mg −1 and activation energy ( E a ) was 10.3 kcal/mol. The enzyme was thermally stable after holding at 30–45 °C for 40 min, but its activity decreased significantly when the temperature exceeded 50 °C. Heavy metal ions, Ag + and Hg 2+ , at a concentration of 0.25 mM and Zn 2+ and Cu 2+ , at a concentration of 0.5 mM, significantly inhibited enzyme activity. The β-NAHA had only one active site for binding both p NP-β-GlcNAc and p -nitrophenyl- N -acetyl-β- d -galactosaminide ( p NP-β-GalNAc). A prototropic group with p K a value of about five on the enzyme may be involved in substrate binding and transformation, as examined by Dixon–Webb plots.
Can segmental neurofibromatosis be considered a rare disease

‘True’ segmental neurofibromatosis (SNF) is characterized by the unilateral, segmental appearance of neurofibromas and/or ‘cafe au lait’ spots in the absence of genetic transmission. SNF is apparently rare: only 41 cases have been described since the first report by Crowe in 1956. However, the incidence of SNF is probably higher because more and more patients have been described in the last few years and several cases have been observed by single trained authors in a short time. In 1988 and 1989 we had described two patients affected by ‘true’ SNF. Now we report three additional patients observed in the last two years. ‘True’ SNF is considered to be a consequence of a post-zygotic (hence non-transmissible) mutational event but this hypothesis is not suitable for cases with segmental lesions matching deep systemic involvement, bilateral distribution of cutaneous lesions or genetic transmission. Additional reports, with careful investigations of both systemic involvement in SNF patients and apparently unaffected relatives and with long follow-ups, will help clarify the genetics and the pathogenests of the disease.