cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A parallel algorithm for execution of production systems on HMESH architecture

In this paper, the parallelism of production systems is studied and divided into 6 levels — attribute level, precondition level, production (rule) level, working memory element level, parallel action level, and multiple rule firing. An algorithm for parallel execution of production systems to run on a HMESH structure[Ragh 1986] is proposed. It uses large number of PE's (4,096 to 65,536) to accommodate large production systems with one thousand to 16 thousand rules. The hierarchy of buses in HMESH structure provides flexible partitioning of PE's into different sizes such that different partitions can perform their processing simultaneously. This matches the need in executing the rule-based production systems by partitioning the rules into disjoint and independent sets. The algorithm, using the HMESH structure, can make the communication among PE's simple and regular to avoid overheads such as bus contention, access conflicts, etc. It exploits various levels of parallelism in production systems.
Toxoplasma gondii: Fusion Competence of Parasitophorous Vacuoles in Fc Receptor-Transfected Fibroblasts

After actively entering its host cells, the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii resides in an intracellular vacuole that is completely unable to fuse with other endocytic or biosynthetic organelles. The fusion blocking requires entry of viable organisms but is irreversible: fusion competence of the vacuole is not restored if the parasite is killed after entry. The fusion block can be overcome, however, by altering the parasite's route of entry. Thus, phagocytosis of viable antibody-coated T. gondii by Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with macrophage-lymphocyte Fc receptors results in the formation of vacuoles that are capable of both fusion and acidification. Phagocytosis and fusion appear to involve a domain of the Fc receptor cytoplasmic tail distinct from that required for localization at clathrin-coated pits. These results suggest that the mechanism of fusion inhibition is likely to reflect a modification of the vacuole membrane at the time of its formation, as opposed to the secretion of a soluble inhibitor by the parasite.
Designing useful evaluations: The stakeholder survey☆

Abstract The failure of program evaluations to provide policy decision-makers with useful information is a familiar complaint. This paper discusses an approach towards designing and implementing more useful evaluations — the stakeholder survey. Stakeholders are individuals, or groups, who have a direct interest in the program being evaluated. The central premise of the paper is that the information needs of stakeholders should be incorporated directly into the formulation of evaluation objectives, and the design of the evaluation to achieve those objectives. The paper presents a rationale for the stakeholder survey, describes its major components, and reports on the application of the approach in a large program evaluation. Key issues involved in applying the approach are also considered. The evidence from this study suggests that such surveys are not only feasible, but also of considerable value to the evaluation team.
Promoting professional responsibility and ethics: the pledge of the computing professional (abstract only)

The Pledge of the Computing Professional (http://computing-professional.org), endorsed by SIGCAS and the ACM Committee on Professional Ethics, was developed to both support professional responsibility in computing and to raise awareness of one's ethical responsibilities. To date, 25 institutions across the US have conducted Pledge Ceremonies to welcome their graduates into the computing profession. In a recent Inroads article, Don Gotterbarn asserts that, if one's ethics is influenced by those around us, then "just being aware of the existence of this Pledge helps to refocus us all on our own responsibility and the profession's responsibility." So in what ways can this Pledge be used both inside and outside of the classroom to better promote such traits? This session is for those interested in computing ethics and professional responsibility to get together and collaborate on new initiatives featuring The Pledge of the Computing Professional as a means to this end.
The Olympic Games: A Select Bibliography of Bibliographies

But if, my heart, you would speak of prizes won in the Games, look no more for another bright star by day in the empty sky more warming than the sun, nor shall we name any gathering greater than the Olympian.
China's Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2006-2010): From "Getting Rich First" to "Common Prosperity"

China's Eleventh Five-Year Plan, which sets the directions for national development for the 2006 to 2010 period, has been described as a revolutionary plan. This paper examines the Plan's goal to build a "harmonious socialist society" by enabling disadvantaged groups and less developed regions to share the fruits of economic growth. It first describes the Plan's main principles and major quantitative targets for the five-year period. In the second half of the paper, the author argues that the emphasis on "common prosperity" can be explained by the rise in inequality over more than two decades, by a new political administration that seeks to establish its own path while endorsing ideas from past regimes, and by President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao's more open and consultative style of leadership. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: O20, O53, P21. 1 figure, 2 tables, 58 references.
Pustular pyoderma gangrenosum associated with ulcerative colitis in childhood: Report of two cases and review of the literature

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a cutaneous disorder associated with systemic diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and blood dyscrasias. We are reporting two cases of pustular pyoderma gangrenosum associated with ulcerative colitis. One patient had inactive bowel disease when she developed her third episode of pustules, erosions, and nodules on the left leg. The other patient exhibited a widespread painful vesiculopustular eruption that coincided with the onset of her colitis. Both patients presented with pustules as the primary manifestation of their pyoderma gangrenosum. Histologic examination of skin from both patients revealed an acute perifollicular inflammation. Pyoderma gangrenosum should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pustular disorders in children with underlying conditions such as ulcerative colitis.
B cell TLR1/2, TLR4, TLR7 and TLR9 interact in induction of class switch DNA recombination: Modulation by BCR and CD40, and relevance to T-independent antibody responses

Ig class switch DNA recombination (CSR) in B cells is crucial to the maturation of antibody responses. It requires IgH germline IH-CH transcription and expression of AID, both of which are induced by engagement of CD40 or dual engagement of a Toll-like receptor (TLR) and B cell receptor (BCR). Here, we have addressed cross-regulation between two different TLRs or between a TLR and CD40 in CSR induction by using a B cell stimulation system involving lipopolysaccharides (LPS). LPS-mediated long-term primary class-switched antibody responses and memory-like antibody responses in vivo and induced generation of class-switched B cells and plasma cells in vitro. Consistent with the requirement for dual TLR and BCR engagement in CSR induction, LPS, which engages TLR4 through its lipid A moiety, triggered cytosolic Ca2+ flux in B cells through its BCR-engaging polysaccharidic moiety. In the presence of BCR crosslinking, LPS synergized with a TLR1/2 ligand (Pam3CSK4) in CSR induction, but much less efficiently with a TLR7 (R-848) or TLR9 (CpG) ligand. In the absence of BCR crosslinking, R-848 and CpG, which per se induced marginal CSR, virtually abrogated CSR to IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG3 and/or IgA, as induced by LPS or CD154 (CD40 ligand) plus IL-4, IFN-γ or TGF-β, and reduced secretion of class-switched Igs, without affecting B cell proliferation or IgM expression. The CSR inhibition by TLR9 was associated with the reduction in AID expression and/or IgH germline IH-S-CH transcription, and required co-stimulation of B cells by CpG with LPS or CD154. Unexpectedly, B cells also failed to undergo CSR or plasma cell differentiation when co-stimulated by LPS and CD154. Overall, by addressing the interaction of TLR1/2, TLR4, TLR7 and TLR9 in the induction of CSR and modulation of TLR-dependent CSR by BCR and CD40, our study suggests the complexity of how different stimuli cross-regulate an important B cell differentiation process and an important role of TLRs in inducing effective T-independent antibody responses to microbial pathogens, allergens and vaccines.
Differential effects of digitonin on mitochondria isolated from male-sterile and non male-sterile cytoplasms of corn

Abstract Mitochondria were isolated from corn roots containing T or C (male-sterile) cytoplasms and from N (non male-sterile) cytoplasm. The mitochondrial preparations (T, C and N mitochondria respectively) were treated with various concentrations of digitonin and assayed for respiratory activity. The T mitochondria were markedly more digitonin-sensitive than C or N mitochondria, as shown by the inhibition of malate and succinate respiration and uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. There were also differences between C and N mitochondria with respect to digitonin-sensitivity. These data strongly suggest that T, C and N mitochondria differ from each other with respect to biochemical structure. The chemical, genetic and agricultural significance of these data is discussed.
Ridge tillage for continuous grain sorghum production with limited irrigation

Abstract Improved soil and water conservation are basic goals for crop production systems in the semi-arid southern Great Plains (SGP) of the USA and similar regions, and managing crop residues on the soil surface plays a key role in attaining these goals. Residue production by dryland grain sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is often too low in semi-arid regions to improve soil and water conservation, but much greater amounts are produced by irrigated sorghum. However, irrigation water may be limited, as in the SGP, and a limited-irrigation approach is sometimes used for sorghum, which responds well to timely irrigations. This study, conducted on Pullman clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Torertic Paleustoll) from 1986 to 1992, determined effects of residue management treatments involving ridge tillage on continuous production of two grain sorghum hybrids with limited irrigation. Treatments were conventional (ConvT) tillage, which involved stalk shredding, disking, and rebuilding of the ridges soon after sorghun harvest, and two ridge tillage methods (residues shredded early (at harvest) — ConsTE; residues shredded late (at planting) — ConsTL). Soil water storage between crops was greatest with the ConsTL treatment and least with the ConvT treatment. Soil water use by sorghum was greater (66 mm) with ConsTL than with ConvT (51 mm). Mean initial plant populations and panicles harvested were greater with ConvT than with other treatments, but grain yields were less with ConvT (4.21 Mg ha −1 ) than with ConsTE (4.42 Mg ha −1 ) and ConsTL (4.52 Mg ha −1 ). Mean stover yields and seed weight (mg per seed) were not affected by tillage treatments. Although differences were relatively small, mean grain and stover yields were greater for the ‘Pioneer’ cultivar (4.53 and 5.68 Mg ha −1 ) than for the ‘Funk’ cultivar (4.24 and 5.25 Mg ha −1 ). Mean water use efficiency differences among treatments and between hybrids were small. Ridge tillage was better than conventional tillage for continuous grain sorghum production with limited irrigation in the semi-arid SGP. Ridge tillage that retained residues on the surfaces until planting increased soil water storage due to reduced evaporation and increased snow trapping, which resulted in the greater yields than where residues were incorporated with soil soon after crop harvest.
Cytotoxicity of lymphocytes from patients with cancer of the urinary bladder: Detection by A 3H‐proline microcytotoxicity test

Human lymphocytes (purified from defibrinated venous blood using gelatin sedimentation, nylon column incubation, and Tris NH4Cl lysis of contaminating erythrocytes) were tested for cytotoxicity (CTX) against T24 cells derived from a carcinoma of the bladder and against cell cultures derived from other tissues. The CTX was assessed in a modified microcytotoxicity test (MCT) where loss of 3H-proline prelabelled monolayer target cells from the surface of micro-wells indicates destruction of these cells. The number of target cells that remained attached after incubation with lymphocytes (measured as residual 3H-counts) was compared to the number that remained attached after incubation with control lymphocytes. The results were classified into three categories: (1) specific CTX (destruction only of T24 cells); (2) non-specific CTX (destruction ofT24 cells as well as other target cells); and (3) negative (no destruction of any type of target cell). Specific CTX for T24 cells was seen more often with lymphocytes from bladder cancer patients (10/27) than from other patients and normal individuals (2/49) (p <0.001) which suggests that this is a disease-related phenomenon. By contrast, non-specific CTX occurred with equal frequency amopg bladder patients (6/27) and other patients (9/36), although less frequently among normal individuals (0/13). In addition, lymphocytes that showed specific CTX for T24 cells were found more often in patients with early or superficial bladder cancer (8/15) and less often in patients with advanced bladder cancer (2/12). These results are in agreement with those obtained by others who used the standard MCT that measures target-cell destruction and influences on target-cell proliferation.
Supporting cognitive processing with spatial information presentations in virtual environments

While it has been suggested that immersive virtual environments could provide benefits for educational applications, few studies have formally evaluated how the enhanced perceptual displays of such systems might improve learning. Using simplified memorization and problem-solving tasks as representative approximations of more advanced types of learning, we are investigating the effects of providing supplemental spatial information on the performance of learning-based activities within virtual environments. We performed two experiments to investigate whether users can take advantage of a spatial information presentation to improve performance on cognitive processing activities. In both experiments, information was presented either directly in front of the participant, at a single location, or wrapped around the participant along the walls of a surround display. In our first experiment, we measured memory scores and analyzed participant strategies for a memorization and recall task. In addition to comparing spatial and non-spatial presentations, we also varied field of view and background imagery. The results showed that the spatial presentation caused significantly better memory scores. Additionally, a significant interaction between background landmarks and presentation style showed that participants used more visualization strategies during the memorization task when background landmarks were shown with spatial presentations. To investigate whether the advantages of spatial information presentation extend beyond memorization to higher level cognitive activities, our second experiment employed a puzzle-like task that required critical thinking using the presented information. Focusing only on the effects of spatial presentations, this experiment measured task performance and mental workload. The results indicate that no performance improvements or mental workload reductions were gained from the spatial presentation method compared with a non-spatial layout for our problem-solving task. The results of these two experiments suggest that supplemental spatial information can affect mental strategies and support performance improvements for cognitive processing and learning-based activities. However, the effectiveness of spatial presentations is dependent on the nature of the task and a meaningful use of space and may require practice with spatial strategies.
Self-similarity in irreversible kinetic gelation

Etude d'un modele de gelification cinetique irreversible par simulations Monte Carlo sur un reseau carre. On trouve, par deux methodes differentes, que le reseau de gel est auto-similaire au point de gelification. La dimension fractale D est mesuree et comparee a la percolation et aux autres modeles cinetiques de formation d'agregats. On obtient les rapports des exposants γ/γ et β/ν a partir de D au moyen d'une loi d'echelle
A set of 265 pictures standardized for studies of the cognitive processing of temporal and causal order information

Planning, predicting, reasoning, and acting often depend crucially on the correct encoding and application of knowledge concerning the temporal and causal ordering of events. Yet no pictorial stimulus set is optimized for investigating the processing of temporal and causal order information. We introduce a novel stimulus set of 265 black-and-white line drawings depicting a diverse array of recognizable events. Most of the images in the stimulus set (N = 222) share a thematic or conceptual association with one other image in the set, and the stimuli were created and extensively normed such that the image pairs vary in the degrees to which they share a causal, ordered relation with one another. The stimuli were standardized in a series of normative tasks, including concept/noun/verb agreement, perceived frequency, visual similarity, and indexes of three features of causal associations between events (i.e., temporal proximity, exclusivity, and priority). Both younger adults (ages 18–30 years) and older adults (ages 60–80 years) contributed normative data, allowing for broad applications of the stimuli to the study of normal and age-related changes in the encoding, retention, and retrieval of information regarding temporal and causal order. Complete normative data sets are available in the online supplemental materials, and the full stimulus set is available by contacting the first author.
Health Perception Changes of State Employees Following a Health Screening Event

Background:Health screenings can identify patients at risk for chronic medical conditions. Additionally, screenings may influence behavior changes as depicted by the Health Belief Model.Objective:To examine the perceptions of state employees regarding their health and risk for medical conditions, assess whether unexpected or abnormal screening results will impact perceptions, and identify barriers to scheduling an annual physical examination.Methods:State employees participated in screenings for diabetes, dyslipidemia, and osteoporosis. Participants were asked to complete a pre- and post-survey. Pre-survey questions gathered information on demographics, chronic medical conditions, perception of overall health, and willingness to have an annual physical examination. The post-survey assessed self-health perceptions based on screening results, their risk for chronic medical conditions, and the likelihood that the screening results would encourage scheduling a provider appointment.Results:One hundred twenty-s...
Optical Profilers For Surface Roughness

Different possible interferometers for surface roughness measurements are described. Advantages and disadvantages of optical techniques compared to stylus instruments are discussed. Important features of phase-shifting techniques for surface roughness measurements are given. The WYKO NCP-1000M optical profiler is described along with techniques for measuring surfaces having an rms roughness on the order of 0.1 nm.
Murine catalase phenotypes.

An examination of three inbred strains of mice differing with respect to liver and kidney catalase activity reveals two distinct genetic factors controlling the level of liver catalase activity. The first genetic factor controls the catalytic activity of the enzyme. Specific activity of purified enzyme from C57BL/6 and C57BL/Ha strains is 60% of that of the DBA/2 strain. The second factor controls the content of liver catalase. Liver catalase of C57BL/Ha is degraded in vivo at a rate one half that of liver catalase of DBA/2 and C57BL/6, resulting in the accumulation of twice as many catalase molecules in C57BL/Ha. The factor affecting turnover of catalase is apparently specific for catalase of liver since no differences exist in kidney catalase levels between C57BL/Ha and C57BL/6. Furthermore, this factor does not appear to alter the metabolism of total liver protein since no substantial difference in the turnover rate of liver protein is observed among the strains. It is particularly significant that the genetic factor affecting the amount of liver catalase does so by altering the rate of catalase degradation rather than the rate of synthesis, confirming the previously published report of Rechcigl and Heston (1967). Thus, these studies emphasize that the quantity of an enzyme in animal cells is a balance between the rate of synthesis and the rate of degradation of the enzyme.
Addition of aromatic compounds to oleic acid catalyzed by heterogeneous acid catalysts

The addition of aromatic compounds to the double bond of oleic acid was studied using solid acid catalysts. For example, in the presence of an acid clay catalyst (bentonite), phenol reacted with oleic acid to yield 96% of an alkylphenol addition product. When toluene was used as the aromatic reactant, however, the yield of alkylbenzene addition product was less than 2%. In this instance, the major reactions observed were elaidinization and migration of the double bond of oleic acid. The addition of phenol to oleic acid in greater than 95% yield also was accomplished with the use of a sulfonic acid ion-exchange resin catalyst. This same catalyst also catalyzed the addition of toluene and benzene to oleic acid to yield 82% and 22%, respectively, of alkylbenzene-type addition products. In the latter instances, the major side product formed was γ-stearolactone. Capillary gas chromatographic (GC) analyses of the alkylbenzene addition products obtained showed them to be mixtures of positional isomers. The isomer distributions were subsequently determined by GC-mass spectrometry (MS).
Effect of grafted UV stabilizers on wood surface erosion and clear coating performance

The critical element for a durable exterior clear coating on wood is photochemical stability of the wood surface beneath the coating. If this interface is not stabilized, even a durable coating will delaminate due to photoinduced wood degradation. A new method for stabilizing the wood surface was developed and evaluated. HEBP [2-hydroxy-4-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)benzophenone] was grafted to western redcedar (Thuja plicata). HEBP contains an ultraviolet (UV) stabilizer moiety that improved the xenon are accelerated weathering performance of western redcedar (WRC). The weathering performance of the HEBP-modified WRC was compared with WRC treated with an unbound UV stabilizer of similar type and with untreated controls. The grafted stabilizer reduced the erosion rate (weathering) of unfinished WRC, and, as a pretreatment under clear finishes (spar varnish and exterior grade polyurethane), the stabilized surfaces improved coating performance and color retention.
Oxidant injury in PC12 cells: A possible model of calcium dysregulation in aging : II. Interactions with membrane lipids

In a model recently developed to study the parameters altering vulnerability to oxidative stress, it was shown via image analysis that H 2 0 2 -exposed PC12 cells exhibited increased levels of intracellular Ca 2+ (baseline), decreases in K + -stimulated Ca 2+ levels (peak), and decreased poststimulation Ca 2+ clearance (recovery). The present experiments were performed to determine if the response patterns in these parameters to oxidative stress would be altered after modification of membrane lipid composition induced by incubating the PC12 cells with 660 μM cholesterol (CHL) in the presence or absence of 500 μM sphingomyelin (SPH) before low (5 μM) or high (300 μM) H 2 0 2 exposure. Neither CHL nor SPH had synergistic effects with high concentrations of H 2 O 2 on baseline. However, CHL in the presence or absence of SPH reversed the effect of low concentrations of H 2 O 2 on baseline. SPH decreased significantly the cell's ability to clear excess Ca 2+ in the presence or absence of H 2 O 2 and increased significantly the level of conjugated dienes (CDs). It is surprising that in the cells pretreated with CHL, the CD levels were not significantly different from controls. However, in the presence of SPH, the effects of CHL on CDs were altered. These results suggest that the ratios of membrane lipids could be of critical importance in determining the vulnerability to oxidative stress and Ca 2+ translocation in membranes. This may be of critical importance in aging where there is increased membrane SPH and significant loss of calcium homeostasis.
Learning and Motivational Benefits of Acronym Use in Introductory Psychology

Study 1 assessed students� use and perceptions of acronyms at 3 different exam times in 2 sections of Introduction to Psychology. Acronym use consistently predicted higher performance on acronym related exam items, and I partially discounted 2 possible confounds. Students rated acronyms as helpful in multiple ways, including increasing motivation to begin studying. Students reported low prior use of acronyms, created their own acronyms during the semester, and conveyed intentions to continue mnemonic use on their own in later classes. Study 2 assessed psychology instructors� use and views of acronyms. I also provide a list of acronyms for introductory psychology and discuss general considerations in the construction and classroom use of acronyms.
Mesoscale and Microscale Observations of Biological Growth in a Silicon Pore Imaging Element

The factors contributing to biological clogging of filtration beds, recharge basins, and aquifers during in-situ bioremediation are yet poorly understood. Better physical understanding is needed of the processes affecting biological growth in aquifers, filtration beds, and recharge basins. Toward this end, a two-dimensional random width network pore model etched in a silicon wafer was developed to simulate microbial growth in porous media representative of fine sand. This Silicon Pore Imaging Element (SPIE) was seeded with a mixed culture and fed with 0.34 mM acetate under aerobic conditions and at fixed flow rate. Twelve filamentous colonies grew in a dense manner in the upgradient and lateral directions at low density in the downgradient direction. Heterogeneous colonization led to empty zones. Particle tracking suggested rerouting of flow due to biomass growth. Microscale time-lapse measured filamentous growth rates were in good agreement with measured mesoscale colony expansion rates. Rather than the microscale concept of biomass developing at the surface of soil grains, filamentous growth may be better represented as mesoscale colonies spanning over several pores and separated from each other by open flow channels. Biological clogging might be prevented if such flow channels could be kept open in some manner.
The environment and asthma in U.S. inner cities.

The prevalence and severity of asthma has increased in the last 20 years, and the greatest increase has been seen among children and young adults living in U.S. inner cities. The reasons for this increase are obviously complex, but include environmental exposures to allergens and pollutants, changing patterns of medication, and the psychosocial stresses of living in poor inner-city neighborhoods. This paper presents an overview of environmental, immunologic, and genetic factors associated with asthma morbidity and mortality. This overview can be used to provide a framework for designing an interdisciplinary research program to address the complexities of asthma etiology and exacerbation. The strongest epidemiologic association has been found between asthma morbidity and the exposure of immunologically sensitive asthmatic patients to airborne allergens. Our current understanding of the process of sensitization suggests that there is a strong genetic predisposition to form IgE to allergenic proteins on airborne particles. Much of this work has been conducted with animal models, but in a number of instances, specific confirmation has been reported in humans. Sensitized individuals respond to inhaled exposure with immediate mast-cell dependent inflammation that may be augmented by pollutant particles, especially diesel exhaust particles. Relatively little is known about the methods of assessing exposure to airborne pollutants, especially biologically active particulates. However, to examine the relationship of morbidity in genetically predisposed individuals, it will be important to determine the most relevant method of making this assessment.
Left thyrocervical trunk bronchial artery supplying right lung: source of recurrent hemoptysis in cystic fibrosis.

Bronchial artery embolization is an accepted, effective method of controlling hemoptysis in patients with cystic fibrosis when more conservative means fail [1 , 2]. Several studies address the typical origin of bronchial arteries from the descending aorta [3-5]. Some reports describe ipsilateral atypical or “anomalous sources” collateralizing with the bronchial [1 , 3, 4, 6, 7] or systemic [8} circulation. We recently encountered a patient with cystic fibrosis in whom recurrent massive hemoptysis was caused by bleeding from bronchial arteries arising from multiple sites. One bronchial artery arose from the left thyrocervical trunk and supplied the right lung. This previously unreported occurrence is important when angiographic methods are used to control the bleeding.
The Electroencephalogram in Congenital Hypo-thyreosis

Summary Twenty-two cases of clinically determined congenital hypothyreosis were examined along with a follow-up study by means of electroencephalography. All the patients except one were adequately treated and normally developed somatically, but their mental development showed a wide range of variation. In general, the psychically normally developed patient had an EEG with normal frequencies, while those who were most poorly developed mentally seemed to show general cerebral damage reflected in the form of a pathological EEG. The time at which this injury arose will be the object of further study. Resume Vingt-deux cas d'hypothyreose congenitale diagnostiques cliniquement furent examines par une etude suivie au moyen d'electroencephalographie. Tous les patients sauf un furent traite de facon adequate, et se sont developpes physiquement de facon normale, alors que leur developpement mental se montrait tres different. En general le patient developpe psychiquement de facon normale avait un EEG a frequences normales, tandis que ceux qui etaient moins bien developpes mentalement semblaient presenter des atteintes cerebrales generales se manifestant sous la forme d'un EEG pathologique. L'epoque a laquelle ces lesions apparaissent sera l'objet d'etudes ulterieures. Zusamrnenfassung 22 Falle von angeborener Hypothyreosis wurden klinisch verfolgt und elektroencephalographisch untersucht. Alle diese Patienten ausser einem waren adaquat therapeutisch behandelt und waren physisch normal entwickelt, ihre geistige Entwicklung zeigte dagegen grosse Differenzen. Im allgemeinen hatten die psychisch normal Entwickelten ein normal Aussehen des Elektroencephalogramms mit normaler Frequenz. Dagegen zeigten die geistig Zuruckgebliebenen allgemeine cerebrale Schadigungen in Form eines pathologischen EEG. Der Zeitraum in dem diese cerebralen Schadigungen beginnen soll ein Objekt weiterer Studien sein. Sumario 22 casos de hipotiroidismo congenito diagnosticados clinicamente, fueron examinados y seguidos con estudios electroencefalograficos. Todos los pacientes con ecepcion de uno recibieron el tratamiento adecuado, y alcanzaron un desarrollo somatico normal, pero en su desarrollo psiquico demostraron un margen de variaciones muy amplias. Como regla general al paciente con desarrollo psiquico normal presento un electroencefalograma con frecuencias normales, mientras que los que tenian un desarrollo mental mas insuficiente, parecian mostrar lesiones cerebrales generales, reflejadas en forma de un electroencefalograma patologico. El momento de aparicion de estas lesiones, sera objeto de nuevos estudios.
Red Cross seeks to boost medical support in Afghanistan to ease plight of civilians.

The International Committee of the Red Cross is increasing its surgical support and other medical services in Afghanistan to help ease the plight of large numbers of civilians, many in isolated rural areas, caught up in the spreading of hostilities across more than half the country. “The civilian population is paying a high price, and we are seeing a lot casualties in ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross] supported hospitals such as Mirwais in Kandahar,” said Reto Stocker, head of the committee's delegation in Afghanistan. During the first six months of this year hospitals assisted by the Red Cross performed about 9000 operations and provided medical services to 17 700 inpatients and 86 000 outpatients. Mr Stocker said that because of the deteriorating situation and greater need …
Design guidelines for routing protocols in ad hoc and sensor networks with a realistic physical layer

We present guidelines on how to design network layer protocols when the unit disk graph (UDG) model is replaced by a more realistic physical layer model. Instead of merely using the transmission radius in the UDG model, physical, MAC, and network layers share the information about a bit and/or packet reception probability as a function of distance between nodes. We assume that all nodes use the same transmission power for sending messages, and that a packet is received when all its bits are correctly received. The MAC layer reacts to this probabilistic reception information by adjusting the number of acknowledgments and/or retransmissions. We observe that an optimal route discovery protocol cannot be based on a single retransmission by each node, because such a search may fail to reach the destination or find the optimal path. Next, we discuss that gaining neighbor knowledge information with "hello" packets is not a trivial protocol. We describe localized position-based routing protocols that aim to minimize the expected hop count (in case of hop-by-hop acknowledgments and fixed bit rate) or maximize the probability of delivery (when acknowledgments are not sent). We propose a guideline for the design of greedy position-based routing protocols with known destination locations. The node currently holding the message forwards it to a neighbor (closer to the destination than itself) that minimizes the ratio of cost over progress, where the cost measure depends on the assumptions and metrics used, while the progress measures the difference in distances to the destination. We consider two basic medium access layer approaches, with fixed and variable packet lengths. This article serves as a preliminary contribution toward the development of network layer protocols that match the assumptions and criteria already used in simulators and ultimately in real equipment.
Theoretical intensity ratios for some Fe XIII coronal lines.

Using cross section values for collisional excitation by protons recently calculated by Landman (1973), theoretical values for the relative intensities of the Fe XIII 10747-, 10798-, and 3388-A lines are determined as functions of electron density. The obtained results are compared with those of Chevalier and Lambert (1969).
The role of biomaterials in stem cell differentiation: Applications in the musculoskeletal system

The capabilities of stem cells continue to be revealed, leading to excitement regarding potential new therapies. Regenerative medicine is an area in which stem cells hold great promise for overcoming the challenge of limited cell sources for tissue repair. Biomaterials play an important role in directing tissue growth and may provide another tool to manipulate and control stem cell behavior. Biomaterials are made from natural or synthetic polymers and can be processed into three-dimensional scaffolds designed to promote cell proliferation and/or differentiation that ultimately produces new tissue. Stem cells will have a significant impact on the fields of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering as a powerful cell source that will work, in conjunction with biomaterials, to treat tissue and organ loss. Herein, we survey our latest research on applying embryonic stem (ES) cells to hydrogel biomaterials for engineering musculoskeletal tissues, emphasizing the unique biomaterial requirements of ES cells for differentiation and tissue development.
Contemporary management of subarachnoid hemorrhage and vasospasm: the UIC experience.

BACKGROUND Cerebral vasospasm is a well-known and serious complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. The means of monitoring and treatment of vasospasm have been widely studied. Each neurosurgical center develops a protocol based on their experience, availability of equipment and personnel, and cost, so as to keep morbidity and mortality rates as low as possible for their patients with vasospasm. METHODS At the University of Illinois at Chicago, we have developed algorithms for the diagnosis and management of cerebral vasospasm based on the experience of the senior authors over the past 25 years. This paper describes in detail our approach to diagnosis and treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and vasospasm. Our discussion is highlighted with data from a retrospective analysis of 324 aneurysm patients. RESULTS Over 3 years, 324 aneurysms were treated; 185 (57%) were clipped, 139 (43%) were coiled. The rate of vasospasm for the 324 patients was 27%. The rate of hydrocephalus was 32% for those patients who underwent clipping, and 29% for those coiled. The immediate outcomes for those who underwent clipping was excellent in 35%, good in 38%, poor in 15.5%, vegetative in 3%, and death in 8% of the patients. For those who underwent coiling the immediate outcome was excellent in 64%, good in 14.5%, vegetative in 2.5%, and death in 14.5% of the patients. These statistics include all Hunt and Hess grades. For those patients who underwent clipping, 51% were intact at 6 months follow-up, 15% had a permanent deficit, 10% had a focal cranial nerve deficit, and 2% had died from complications not directly related to the procedure. For those patients who had undergone coiling, 75% were intact at 6 months follow-up, 12.5% had a permanent deficit, and 12.5% had a cranial nerve deficit, with no deaths. CONCLUSIONS The morbidity and mortality of cerebral vasospasm is significant. A good outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is dependent upon careful patient management in the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative periods. The timely work-up and aggressive treatment of neurological deterioration, whether or not it is because of vasospasm, is paramount.
CVII. Quantum theory of photographic exposure. third paper

(1923). CVII. Quantum theory of photographic exposure. third paper. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: Vol. 45, No. 269, pp. 1062-1070.
Prevalence of high (3S)-3-hydroxyquinidine/quinidine ratios in serum, and clearance of quinidine in cardiac patients with age.

In the sera from 42 patients receiving quinidine, (3S)-3-hydroxyquinidine (3-OH), an active metabolite of quinidine, and quinidine were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. These results were added to those of 25 other patients reported previously.4 The 3-OH/quinidine ratio averaged 0.34 ± 0.17 (SD) with a range of 0.10 to 0.90. Eleven patients (16%) had ratios above 0.50. After adjusting for protein binding differences between the 2 compounds, these 16% had 3-OH concentrations in serum water greater than that of quinidine. An additional 7 patients (10% of the total) had levels of this metabolite in serum water slightly less than that of quinidine. A histogram showing the frequency distribution of 3-OH/quinidine in serum indicates extensive skewing with possibly a bimodal distribution with the antimode at 0.50. Thus, 3-OH may make a significant contribution to the effect of quinidine therapy in a fraction of treated patients. The clearance of quinidine decreased with age, indicating the need for, on the average, higher doses of quinidine in the young. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1980) 27, 72–75; doi:10.1038/clpt.1980.11
Organizing for Evidence-Based Decision Making and Improvement

In today's accountability climate, regional accrediting bodies are requiring colleges and universities to develop and sustain a culture of evidence-based decision making and improvement. But two-th...
Density-driven self-consistent-field method: Density-constrained correlation energies in the helium series

The electron-correlation energies, calculated with the wave functions constrained to the Hartree-Fock density, are computed for the helium series and are compared with the exact (unconstrained) correlation energies. Imposition of the density constraints increases the energies by a surprisingly small amount. Both the l=0 (s) and l=1 (p) limit differences between the constrained and exact energies are demonstrated to scale like the reciprocal of the square of the atomic numbers. The computational results are rationalized by introducing rigorous definitions of the dynamical and nondynamical correlation energies.
A class of useful identities involving correlated direct products of γ matrices

Abstract A class of elementary identities involving correlated direct products of γ matrices is discussed. They can be applied judiciously to simplify the evaluation of differential cross sections, virtual Feynman diagrams and spin summations in problems involving two spinor lines and vector and axial vector vertices.
Antagonism of bretylium by sympathomimetic amines.

BRETYLIUM, an antihypertensive agent, inhibits the function of the adrenergic nerves without antagonizing the actions of epinephrine and norepinephrine1. It appears that bretylium blocks the terminal portion of the post-ganglionic sympathetic fibre by preventing the release of the neurohumoral agent. Bretylium should then block the effects of certain agents which cause the release of the transmitter substance from the terminals of the sympathetic post-ganglionic fibres. According to Burn and Rand2, such sympathomimetic amines as amphetamine, ephedrine, tyramine and phenylethylamine elicit their action by releasing the neuro-humoral agent from the terminals of the nerve fibres. However, Hukovic3 and Azarnoff and Burn4 have reported that the actions of tyramine are potentiated in isolated atrial preparations after pretreatment with bretylium.
Evaluation of biomarkers of environmental exposures: urinary haloacetic acids associated with ingestion of chlorinated drinking water.

A study was conducted to determine if DCAA and TCAA urinary excretion rates are valid biomarkers of chronic ingestion exposure to these disinfection by-products of chlorination of drinking water. Entire first morning urine voids, time-of-visit urine samples, and tap water samples were collected from 47 female subjects. In addition, a 48-h recall questionnaire was administered to determine the amounts and types of liquids ingested by each subject as well as other exposures that could lead to DCAA and TCAA urinary excretion. The TCAA excretion rate for the first morning urine samples was significantly correlated with the estimated 48-h TCAA ingestion exposure for 25 subjects whose ingestion exposures primarily occurred at home, while the DCAA excretion rate was not correlated with the DCAA ingestion exposure. Thus, urinary TCAA appears to be a valid biomarker of chronic ingestion exposure to TCAA from chlorinated water, while urinary DCAA is not. It is proposed that the difference in the biological half-lives between these two compounds is the rationale for this finding. The biological half-life of TCAA is longer than successive exposure intervals; thus TCAA accumulates until it reaches a steady state. The half-life of DCAA is shorter than successive exposure intervals; thus DCAA is almost completely metabolized following an exposure and is eliminated from the body. This study suggests that biological half-life, exposure interval, and sample collection interval should be considered in selecting biomarkers and designing studies to validate them.
Asthma Prevalence among Pregnant and Childbearing-aged Women in the United States: Estimates from National Health Surveys

Abstract PURPOSE: Asthma is a major complication of pregnancy, but there are currently no reliable national estimates for the United States of asthma prevalence in pregnancy or in the childbearing years. METHODS: The prevalence of asthma among pregnant women and all childbearing-aged women was estimated and examined by age group using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 1997–2000, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2000–2001, and the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 1988–1994. Time trends were explored using NHANES II (1976–1980) and NHANES III (1988–1994). RESULTS: Asthma was estimated to affect from 88,573 to 190,650 pregnant women between 1997 and 2001, or approximately 3.7% to 8.4% of pregnant women in the United States. A slightly lower estimate of 3.2% was obtained for the period between 1988 and 1994. Among adult women of childbearing age, a two-fold increase in asthma from 2.9% to 5.8% occurred between 1976–1980 and 1988–1994. Among women aged 18 to 24, the increase was three-fold, from 1.8% to 6.0%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of asthma during pregnancy may be higher than previously estimated and appears to be continuing to increase.
Iron negative foci and nodules in safrole-exposed mouse liver made siderotic by iron-dextran injection.

Summary A procedure for the production of mouse hepatic siderosis is described which results in extensive iron deposition in all lobular zones. Mice exposed to safrole for 24 weeks displayed basophilic and acidophilic foci which did not accumulate iron. 36 weeks of dietary safrole exposure resulted in nodular lesions comprised of basophilic and hyalinized cells. The nodules displayed decreased or negative reactions for iron in hepatic parenchymal cells when the surrounding liver was siderotic.
Nonlinear Effects in the Josephson Plasma Resonance

Experimental and theoretical studies are reported of the stability of the zero-voltage state of Josephson tunnel junctions in the simultaneous presence of dc bias current and rf field at a frequency comparable to the Josephson plasma frequency. The observations can be qualitatively understood in terms of large amplitude parametric excitation of the plasma mode at fractional harmonics of the plasma frequency. The quasiparticle-pair interference or cos φ current appears to play a significant role in the observed phenomena. Comments are made on nonlinear phenomena in the longitudinal nuclear magnetic resonance in superfiuid 3 He A on the basis of a previously proposed analogy between the two systems. *The experimental work reported here was supported at the University of Pennsylvania by the Army Research Office (Durham) and the Advanced Research Projects Agency. Subsequent analysis by AJD was supported by the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission under Grant No. AT(11-1)-2027 and the National Science Foundation under Grant No. GH-40960, and by DNL by the Army Research Office (Durham) and the National Science Foundation. © 1975 Plenum Publishing Corporation, 227 West 17th Street, New York, N.Y. 10011. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.