cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Projecting the impact of new sentencing laws on prison populations

Recent efforts at sentencing reform have led to the consideration or enactment of new sentencing structures, including mandatory-minimum sentences, flat-time sentences, and sentencing guidelines. There is a clear need for estimates of the impacts that new sentencing laws would have on sentencing practice and on corrections programs, both as an informational input during legislative debate and as a basis for planning once a particular law is enacted. This study develops a methodology for estimating the impacts of alternative sentencing policies on prison populations. The methodology is demonstrated with an estimation of the impacts on the Pennsylvania state prison system of a mandatory-minimum sentencing bill which was considered by the Pennsylvania legislature.
Periphyton photosynthesis as an indicator of effluent toxicity: relationship to effects on animal test species

Abstract The use of freshwater and marine plants in effluent toxicity evaluations is uncommon despite the presence of test methods and recommendations for their use. It has been assumed that aquatic plants are less sensitive than animal test species and consequently, results from toxicity tests with invertebrates and fish have been used often as a surrogate data base. This study evaluated the ability of these animal toxicity tests to provide “safe” concentrations for in-stream periphyton. The toxicity of several samples of a treated municipal effluent were determined during a five-month period by monitoring short-term changes in periphyton photosynthesis (carbon-14 uptake) and by observing the effects on young production and survival of cultured daphnids and the fathead minnow. The effect levels from the various tests were compared. The effluent was seldom acutely toxic to Daphnia magna and the fathead minnow ( Pimephales promelas ) but it was consistently acutely and chronically toxic to Cerioduphnia dubia . Chronic effect levels ranged between 17 and 71% effluent. Significant inhibition and stimulation of periphyton photosynthesis occurred at concentrations of 6 to 39% effluent. Periphyton photosynthesis was a more sensitive effect parameter than animal survival and in some cases than Ceriodaphnia reproductive performance. The results indicate that effluent toxicity tests conducted routinely with daphnids and fish may not be sufficient to predict effects on indigenous flora in receiving waters. Therefore, estimates of phytotoxicity are needed if effective risk assessments for effluents are to be made.
Conservation of Small-signal Power on an Electron Beam with Rectangular Velocity Distribution†

ABSTRACT For the simple case of an electron beam with rectangular velocity distribution an exact calculation is made of the small-signal power in the space charge and gas modes before and after a d.c.-velocity jump. The precise means by which power conservation is achieved in the velocity jump is determined and the results of Siegman and Shaw, which first demonstrated the lack of conservation of power in the space-charge waves of multi-velocity electron beams, are explained and put on a rigorous basis.
Hypothermia prevents increased capillary permeability following ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Severely injured trauma victims are frequently hypothermic. It is nuclear, however, whether hypothermia itself is a detrimental or protective physiologic response to injury. One of the major consequences of fluid resuscitation following ischemic injury is edema formation, characterized by ischemia-reperfusion injury models. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of regional hypothermia on a feline intestinal model of ischemia-reperfusion injury. An autoperfused segment of cat ileum was isolated and arterial, venous, and lymphatic vessels were cannulated. Lymph flow (Ql), lymph (C1), and plasma (Cp) protein concentrations and segmental blood flow (Qb) were measured. Permeability changes were characterized by the minimal ClCp ratio obtained by elevating venous outflow pressure. Animals were divided into the following groups: Group I: 1 hr of intestinal ischemia (30 mm Hg) with autoreperfusion; Group II: 1 hr of intestinal hypothermia (28°C) with subsequent rewarming; Group III: 1 hr of combined ischemia and hypothermia. Group III animals were either kept hypothermic (IIIA) or rewarmed (IIIB) during autoreperfusion. Minimal ClCp ratios (mean ± SEM) were as follows: Control: 0.15 ± 0.02; Group I∗: 0.32 ± 0.03; Group II: 0.15 ± 0.01; Group IIIA: 0.18 ± 0.02; Group IIIB∗: 0.42 ± 0.02; (∗ = P < 0.01 vs control). Reperfusion flow rates were no different between Group IIIA and Group IIIB animals. Ischemia-reperfusion, but not hypothermia alone, caused a marked increase in intestinal capillary permeability. Permeability increased after combined ischemia and hypothermia only if reperfusion was accompanied by rewarming. Hypothermic reperfusion protected against the increased permeability following ischemia.
Photonic switching for reliable nanoscale three-dimensional integrated network-on-chips

As the multi-core architecture is becoming a prevailing high-performance chip design approach, power efficiency, limited bandwidth and low reliability have been recognized as major communication bottlenecks for on-chip networks (NOCs). To simultaneously tackle the above problems, we propose a three-dimensional integrated (3DI) photonic NOC architecture. This architecture is composed of the following layers: (i) the multi-core processor layer that host multiple heterogeneous processing cores together with corresponding local memories and network interfaces, (ii) multiple 3D memory layers that provide the bulk of on-chip memory, and (iii) photonic NOC layer. The photonic NOC layer is based on the optical cross-point switches (OXSs) implemented using active vertical coupler (AVC) structures. The use of this photonic NOC layer will provide ample bandwidth at reduced latencies along with low power consumption. The nanoscale photonic NOCs are sensitive to process variation and reliability issues. To deal with these problems, we proposed the use of LDPC codes with decoding based on simple majority-logic.
NOAA satellite snow cover data

Abstract Since 1966, NOAA satellites have been used to create weekly Northern Hemisphere snow cover maps. This 24-year database is available on digital tape and is annually updated. The digital data can be used to calculate snow cover area and create snow cover frequency and anomaly maps. It is the only known long-term record of hemispheric snow cover. In 1993, the new NOAA-K,L,M series of satellites will have a radiometer with a channel at 1.6 μm which will provide a more accurate assessment of global snow cover as it can discriminate snow from clouds. In addition, the NOAA-K,L,M satellites will have microwave sensors capable of detecting snow cover through clouds. During this decade, climatologists will have a global monitoring system for snow cover based on operational NOAA satellite sensors.
Effects of boron addition on a melt-spun Ni-base superalloy

Melt spinning of a nickel-base superalloy containing various amounts of boron up to 3.0 wt% has been carried out to explore the potential of extended boride alloyability through rapid solidification. More specifically, the melt-spinning castability, ribbon-solidification microstructure and heat-treatment precipitation were studied as a function of boron concentration by using analytical electron microscopy and a number of other techniques. Special attention was given to the boride structure, chemistry and thermal stability. The microstructural observations were then correlated to the ribbon bend ductility tested in as-cast and annealed conditions. On the basis of the present results, future investigation of superalloys using the rapid solidification process and the boride alloying concept is discussed.
A Size-Exclusion Permeability Barrier and Nucleoporins Characterize a Ciliary Pore Complex that Regulates Transport into Cilia

The cilium is a microtubule-based organelle that contains a unique complement of proteins for cell motility and signalling functions. Entry into the ciliary compartment is proposed to be regulated at the base of the cilium. Recent work demonstrated that components of the nuclear import machinery, including the Ran GTPase and importins, regulate ciliary entry. We hypothesized that the ciliary base contains a ciliary pore complex whose molecular nature and selective mechanism are similar to those of the nuclear pore complex. By microinjecting fluorescently labelled dextrans and recombinant proteins of various sizes, we characterize a size-dependent diffusion barrier for the entry of cytoplasmic molecules into primary cilia in mammalian cells. We demonstrate that nucleoporins localize to the base of primary and motile cilia and that microinjection of nucleoporin-function-blocking reagents blocks the ciliary entry of kinesin-2 KIF17 motors. Together, this work demonstrates that the physical and molecular nature of the ciliary pore complex is similar to that of the nuclear pore complex, and further extends functional parallels between nuclear and ciliary import.
Dendrimer Disassembly as a New Paradigm for the Application of Dendritic Structures

We present an overview of an entirely new concept in nanotechnology, dendrimer disassembly. Dendrimer disassembly is a process that relies on a single triggering event to initiate multiple cleavages throughout a dendritic structure that result in release of individual dendrimer subunits or larger dendrimer fragments. The potential of this process lies in (1) the nature of dendrimers as covalent assemblages of active species, and using the chemistry of disassembly to release these species into a system; and (2) the role of dendritic components of a system in influencing solubility, energy harvesting, or insulating capabilities, etc., and using the chemistry of disassembly to reverse those contributions to a system. This is a powerful construct, in that dendrimers and dendritic structures can be made up of a wide variety of subunits, compatibilized with many different environments, and incorporated into countless systems. We anticipate that dendritic materials with disassembly capabilities will (a) be useful for traditional polymer degradation technologies and (b) have potential applications in nanotechnology, biomedicine, sensors, etc.
Measurement of the effective focal shift in an optical trap

The focus of an oil-immersion microscope objective is shifted because of the refractive-index mismatch between the cover glass and the aqueous sample. We present a procedure with which to determine the focal shift by use of an inverted microscope equipped with optical tweezers. As the position of the sample chamber is scanned vertically, we measure the axial displacement of an optically trapped bead; the relative motion of the bead with respect to the surface supplies the effective focal shift. Measurements of this quantity deviate from electromagnetic calculations of the focal shift, a discrepancy attributable to the depth-dependent decrease in axial trap stiffness that arises from spherical aberration.
Human Acts, the Relevancy Matrix, and Systems of Relevancy

Nothing is more ubiquitous within the human worlds than human activity, yet few of the constitutions of everyday living in these worlds are so rarely understood as what it means for a person to act.l The activities of persons within worlds-as-taken-for-granted, and the meanings these have for oneself and for other persons, are founding enactings through2 which the constitutions of the structures of the social worlds of everyday life arise. Any social science, therefore, must have in its foundation a theory (or theories) of human action; but each one of these sciences largely lacks this at present. One of the principal tasks of any philosophy of the social sciences at this stage is to construct theories of human action which may be employed fruitfully by the social sciences. It is within the context of these problems that I focus in this essay upon the phenomenon of relevance as a fundamental problem in any theory of human action. In due course I shall make certain distinctions between human action and a theory of human action; point to some of the major problems which have to be treated by any philosophy of human action;3 discuss certain views of
Numerical Studies of Cold Water Injection into Vapor-Dominated Geothermal Systems

Recent reservoir pressure and steam flow rate declines at The Geysers geothermal field in California have attracted interest in studies of increased cold water injection into this system. In this paper, numerical studies of such injection into a fractured vapor-dominated reservoir are conducted using a two-dimensional radial, double-porosity model. The results obtained indicate that cold water injection into superheated (low-pressure) zones will greatly enhance the productivities of steam wells. Injection into two-phase zones with significant liquid reserves in the matrix blocks does not appear to aid in steam recovery until most of the original liquid reserves are depleted. Sensitivity studies are conducted over the range of fracture and matrix permeabilities applicable to the Geysers. The sensitivity of the grid size is also conducted, and shows very large grid effects. A fine vertical space discretization near the bottom of the reservoir is necessary to accurately predict the boiling of the injected water. 28 refs., 15 figs., 3 tabs.
In vitro transformation of petunia cells by an improved method of co-cultivation with A. tumefaciens strains

A method (termed co-cultivation) for transforming plant cells in vitro with A. tumefaciens strains, which was originally developed by Marton et al. (1978) Nature 277: 129-131, has been modified by the incorporation of a novel feeder plate culture system and been extended to use with petunia protoplasts. Using efficient cell plating and selection conditions for phytohormone-independent growth, large numbers of independent transformed calli can be obtained efficiently (∼10(-1)) and in less than 3 weeks following protoplast isolation. Southern hybridization analysis has confirmed that the majority of the resulting in vitro transformants contain a single copy of full length T-DNA.The high efficiency of this procedure allows simple screening to identify plant cells transformed by Ti plasmids attenuated by deletion of internal T-DNA regions. Results are presented that demonstrate the co-cultivation method can be used in conjunction with short term assays for monitoring plant gene expression.
Agreement among dentists' restorative treatment planning thresholds for primary occlusal caries, primary proximal caries, and existing restorations: findings from The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Objectives The aim of this study was to quantify the agreement among individual National Dental Practice-Based Research Network dentists’ self-reported treatment decisions for primary occlusal caries, primary proximal caries, and existing restorations.
Controlled Functionalization of Crystalline Polystyrenes via Activation of Aromatic C-H Bonds †

The iridium-catalyzed functionalization of the C-H bond of commercial polystyrenes with three types of tacticities (syndiotactic, isotactic, atactic) using boron reagents is reported. The boronate ester group in the polystyrene was further converted to hydroxy and arene via oxidation and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, respectively. These functionalizations proceeded without affecting the tacticity or chain length of the starting polymer, and the functional group concentration was easily controlled by changing the ratio of boron reagent to polymer repeating unit. The size and concentration of the functional group in the syndiotactic polystyrenes were found to have huge impacts on the thermal properties of the functionalized polymers. The incorporation of even a small amount (<5 mol %) of the bulky boronate ester group induced complete disappearance of crystallinity for the boryl-functionalized syndiotactic polystyrene. The high crystallinity and melting temperature of syndiotactic polystyrene were not significantly changed, however, until 10 mol % hydroxy group was incorporated into the polymer, presumably owing to the small size of hydroxy group.
Optimal control of linear systems with incomplete measurements using an Nth order observer

The optimal control of linear systems where measurement of all the state variables is not possible is investigated from the viewpoint of observer theory. Observers whose dynamic order equals the dimension of the plant state vector are examined and necessary conditions for the optimal observer dynamics and control feedback gains are derived.
Midlife, adolescence, and parental employment in family systems

Parents' midlife concerns and the resolution of those concerns were examined as a function of their children's adolescence and their involvement in employment via analyses acknowledging the interdependence of mothers and fathers. Multivariate analyses of variance results demonstrated that fathers' and mothers' midlife concerns were similar and modestly related to their children's pubertal development. There were significant differences between families of sons and of daughters. Mothers' and fathers' temporal and emotional involvement in paid work were differentially related to their own and to one another's midlife concerns. Finally, the relationships among parents' midlife concerns, work involvement, and children's pubertal status depended in part on the degree to which spouses felt supported by one another.
What place does naltrexone have in the treatment of alcoholism

Despite two recent negative trials, most controlled clinical studies have found that when naltrexone is added to substance abuse treatment or counselling, significantly less heavy drinking is done by the patients who are willing to take most of the prescribed naltrexone. Naltrexone also reduces urges to drink and makes any slips back into drinking less pleasant. Therefore, naltrexone can be a useful adjunct to substance abuse counselling or rehabilitation programmes, as one of many tools that clinicians and patients use. However, beneficial effects are limited in scope. Naltrexone mostly does not increase the chance of staying completely abstinent but rather reduces the intensity or frequency of any drinking that does occur. Many alcohol-dependent individuals are medically ineligible or are unwilling to take naltrexone, many who start naltrexone do not continue with it and many who comply with it do not benefit. Compliance is greater for individuals who experience fewer adverse effects and who have stronger beliefs in the benefits of naltrexone, suggesting that clinicians can increase compliance by helping patients to manage adverse effects and by bolstering patients' beliefs in the benefits of naltrexone. Alcohol-dependent individuals who are most likely to benefit from naltrexone seem to be those with close relatives who also had alcohol problems, or who have stronger urges to drink or who are more limited in cognitive abilities. Some individuals may benefit from a higher dose, particularly people with lower blood concentrations of the medication, and individuals who achieve good results may benefit from a longer course of treatment with naltrexone. In these ways, treatment can be targeted to increase the likelihood of beneficial outcomes with naltrexone.
Instability of Abelian field configurations in Yang-Mills theory

It is shown that static purely electric or purely magnetic Abelian field configurations in Yang-Mills theory are unstable when the electric or magnetic field strength is too large over too wide a region. The critical parameter is gEL/sup 2/ (gBL/sup 2/), where E (B) is a measure of the field strength and L is a measure of the distance over which such field strengths extend.
Sociometric Status and Related Personality Characteristics of Mainstreamed Learning Disabled Adolescents

Learning disabled adolescents rated each other, and were rated by nondisabled classmates and teachers within special education and lower track mainstreamed classes. Results demonstrated that, while...
Kinetics and Mechanism of the Nucleophilic Substitution Reaction of Imidazole with Bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) Oxalate and Bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl) Oxalate.

The kinetics of the imidazole-catalyzed decomposition of bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate (TCPO) and bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl) oxalate (DNPO) was investigated by the stopped-flow technique. Pseudo-first-order rate constants were determined as a function imidazole concentration in the temperature range 6−45 °C by fitting the temporal changes in absorbance throughout the 245 to 345 nm wavelength range for TCPO and at 420 nm for DNPO. The reaction proceeds by release of two molecules of substituted phenol and formation of 1,1‘-oxalyldiimidazole (ODI) for both esters. The identity of ODI was confirmed in the reaction of imidazole with TCPO by its UV absorbance spectrum and 13C-NMR spectrum. The reaction of imidazole with TCPO has a second-order dependence on imidazole concentration and an observed negative activation energy of −6.2 ± 0.3 kJ/mol, whereas the DNPO reaction has a first-order dependence on imidazole concentration and an observed positive activation energy of 12.0 ± 0.6 kJ/mol. The differences in t...
Josephson junction coupled to an open transmission line: An application to the theory of macroscopic quantum tunneling

In view of recent interest in the subject of macroscopic quantum tunneling in Josephson junctions and superconducting quantum interference devices, an extension of the method of calculation of the tunneling rate is made to a distributed circuit model. The current understanding is based on a lumped circuit model. It is hoped that the results derived would be useful in the context of the present experimental efforts.
Antecedent-Focused Emotion Regulation, Response Modulation and Well-Being

The aim of the research was to examine the full range of emotion regulation strategies proposed by the Gross and John (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 85:348–362, 2003; John, O. P., & Gross, J. J. (2007). Individual differences in emotion regulation. In J. J. Gross (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (pp. 351–372). New York: Guilford) process model of emotional regulation. Seventy-three participants from Australia provided information on their use of emotion regulation strategies, well-being, and emotional intelligence. As predicted by the process model of emotional regulation, antecedent focused regulation strategies were associated with greater well-being. Response-modulation strategies predicted no additional variance in well-being beyond antecedent-regulation strategies. In contrast to past research on the selected response modulation strategy of suppression, in the present research response modulation was not associated with negative well-being outcomes. Individuals higher in emotional intelligence showed more antecedent-focused regulation, a finding congruent with model-based predictions.
Assigning real-time tasks to heterogeneous processors by applying ant colony optimization

The problem of determining whether a set of periodic tasks can be assigned to a set of heterogeneous processors without deadline violations has been shown, in general, to be NP-hard. This paper presents a new algorithm based on ant colony optimization (ACO) metaheuristic for solving this problem. A local search heuristic that can be used by various metaheuristics to improve the assignment solution is proposed and its time and space complexity is analyzed. In addition to being able to search for a feasible assignment solution, our extended ACO algorithm can optimize the solution by lowering its energy consumption. Experimental results show that both the prototype and the extended version of our ACO algorithm outperform major existing methods; furthermore, the extended version achieves an average of 15.8% energy saving over its prototype.
Energy conditions in non-Riemannian spacetimes

We interpret the energy conditions in non-Riemannian spacetimes by applying them to a family of stationary, axially symmetric solutions for the gravitational field equations for an Einstein-Cartan theory in a Riemann-Cartan spacetime.
Volitional ethanol increases during acquisition and extinction of avoidance responding

Abstract In a discriminated shock avoidance situation, rats offered a choice between water and ethanol increased their ethanol consumption significantly during acquisition of the avoidance response and when random unavoidable shock signaled by a warning light was simultaneously delivered. Control rats which received unsignaled random unavoidable shock during the avoidance sessions, and controls which received only signaled or unsignaled random unavoidable shock did not increase ethanol consumption. A trend toward increased levels of plasma corticosterone was found in the experimental rats over control animals. Weights of the thymus and adrenal glands did not differ significantly between the experimental and control groups. A relation was observed between ethanol consumption and changes in the stimulus conditions which required the acquisition of a new response.
Institutionalization, Sustainability, and Repeatability of ADVANCE for Institutional Transformation

Principal investigators sow the seeds for successful institutionalization and sustainability of their ADVANCE grants when they make the decision to submit the grant and plan the goals, objectives, and activities underpinning the particular aspects of institutional transformation that their university will pursue within a general framework to advance faculty women to senior and leadership positions. Receiving the National Science Foundation (NSF) funding in a very competitive, peer-reviewed program and the relatively large size of the NSF grants carry considerable prestige. It is the institutional investment in terms of both human and capital resources and commitment on the parts of administrators and faculty to establish, change, and implement policies and practices to support ADVANCE that leverages the NSF support and assures long-term impact of the initiative.
Biochemical Evidence for Multiple Dimeric States of the Sinorhizobium meliloti DctD Receiver Domain

X-ray crystal structures suggest very different dimeric states for the inactive and active forms of the two-component receiver domain of Sinorhizobium meliloti DctD, a σ54-dependent AAA+ ATPase. Moreover, the receiver domain in crystals grown from unphosphorylated protein is refractory to phosphorylation whereas solution protein is fully phosphorylatable, and equilibrium analytical ultracentrifugation data are consistent with solution dimers for both phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms of the protein. Here we report biochemical data consistent with the presence of multiple dimeric conformations in the inactive and active states, and evidence for significant change in the dimeric state upon activation by phosphorylation or binding of Mg2+ and BeF3-.
Beet armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) behavior and effects on insecticide efficacy in open and closed cotton flowers and boll abscission or damage from flower infestation

Severe natural infestations of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), in upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., result in flower infestations as well as foliage infestations. Conventional insecticide applications did not control beet armyworms in the flowers when applications were applied in early morning before the flowers opened. This problem was remedied by delaying applications until flowers opened before initiating insecticidal control. Two tests were conducted to determine the validity of the observation. In both tests, insecticidal control was ≥96% when flowers were open and ≤12% control when flowers were closed. In a 3rd test, flowers were infested with beet armyworm larvae to determine if that would inhibit boll development or increase boll abscission. Seven days after the infestation, there was a significant reduction in bolls developed from infested flowers compared with that in bolls from non infested flowers.
Folate Utilization by Monomeric versus Heterotetrameric Sarcosine Oxidases

Abstract There are two types of bacterial sarcosine oxidases. The heterotetrameric enzymes contain subunits ranging in size from about 10 to 100 kDa, noncovalently bound FAD and NAD+, and covalently bound FMN attached to the β subunit (42–45 kDa). Monomeric sarcosine oxidases are similar in size to the β subunit in the heterotetramers and contain covalently bound FAD. Formaldehyde formation during sarcosine oxidation by several heterotetrameric sarcosine oxidases was suppressed in the presence of 50 μ m [6S]-tetrahydrofolate, accompanied by a 25–50% increase in the rate of sarcosine oxidation. In contrast, [6S]-tetrahydrofolate caused only a modest decrease in the rate of formaldehyde production with monomeric sarcosine oxidases (∼25%), an effect which was virtually entirely attributable to an accompanying decrease in the rate of sarcosine oxidation. In the presence of 100 μ m [6R,S]-tetrahydropteroyltriglutamate [H4Pte(Glu)3], the heterotetrameric enzymes catalyzed the formation of 5,10-methylenetetrahydropteroyltriglutamate [5,10-CH2-H4Pte(Glu)3] at a rate which was 35–60% faster than the rate of sarcosine oxidation in the absence of folate. An apparentKmvalue of 3.1 μ m was estimated for [6S]-H4Pte(Glu)3with the heterotetrameric corynebacterial sarcosine oxidase. In contrast, slow formation of 5,10-CH2-H4Pte(glu)3was detected during sarcosine oxidation with monomeric sarcosine oxidases, attributable to the nonenzymatic reaction of free formaldehyde with H4Pte(Glu)3. The results show that only the heterotetrameric sarcosine oxidases can use tetrahydrofolates as substrates and, in this regard, they resemble mammalian sarcosine and dimethylglycine dehydrogenases.
Comparison of dural grafts in Chiari decompression surgery: Review of the literature

Background: Decompression of Chiari malformation is a common procedure in both pediatric and adult neurosurgery. Although the necessity for some bony removal is universally accepted, other aspects of Chiari surgery are the subject of debate. The most controversial points include the optimal amount of bony removal, the use of duraplasty (and the type of material), the need for subarachnoid dissection, and the need for tonsillar shrinkage. Material and Methods: We critically reviewed the literature to elucidate the risks and benefits of different graft types and to clarify optimal treatment options therein. Based on our search results, 108 relevant articles were identified. With specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, we noted three studies that directly compared two tlpes of dural substitutes in Chiari malformation surgery. Results: Our review did not support the superiority of either autologous or nonautologous grafts when duraplasty is employed. Our institutional experience, however, dictates that when the pericranium is available and of good quality, it should be utilized for duraplasty. It is non-immunogenic, inexpensive, and capable of creating a watertight closure with the dura. Conclusions: Discrepancies between the three comparative studies analyzed are likely attributable to increases in pericranial quality and thickness with maturity. Future randomized studies with large numbers and the power to resolve differences in the relatively low rates of complications in Chiari surgery are warranted.
Effect of Heat and pH on the Inactivation of Rennin in Whey

Summarry The zone of maximum stability of the milk-coagulating power of commercial rennet extract, when heated in whey to 49° C. or above, centers at pH 4.0. The pH-inactivation curves at the temperatures of 49° to 70° C. are nearly symmetrical both above and below pH 4.0. In the regions where alterations in pH accelerate inactivation, an alteration of one pH unit includes approximately the complete inactivation effect. No peptic activity could be demonstrated, using the carmine-fibrin test, in solutions in which the rennin activity had been destroyed. The data indicate that normal amounts of rennet can be inactivated by holding at 50° C. for 14 minutes at pH 6.8 to 7.0.
Glycine preserves function and decreases necrosis in skeletal muscle undergoing ischemia and reperfusion injury.

Abstract Background. Glycine (GLY) is a neutral amino acid that has been shown to be cytoprotective in the kidneys of dogs and rabbits undergoing ischemia-reperfusion injury. To investigate whether GLY exhibits a protective effect on skeletal muscle subjected to ischemia and reperfusion injury, we used a well-described gracilis muscle model in canines. Methods. Twelve adult mongrel dogs were subjected to 6 hours of ischemia in 1 randomly selected side. The dogs were randomized into 2 groups: group 1 (6 animals) underwent 15 minutes of perfusion with 2.2% GLY, and group 2 (6 animals) underwent 15 minutes of perfusion with normal saline solution (NS) only. Both groups had normothermic reperfusion for 1 hour along with the corresponding perfusate. Muscle biopsy specimens were taken, frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at −70°C. Muscle injury was evaluated at 48 hours by measuring weight gain (edema), maximal contractile force, and percent of muscle necrosis. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phosphocreatine (Pcr) (an energy store for ATP synthesis) levels were determined by using high performance liquid chromatography. Results. In group 1, the average weight gain was 57% ± 11.27% while in group 2 it was 100% ± 12.48%. Maximal muscle contractile force was 712.5 ± 68 g for group 1 and 511 ± 27.91 g for group 2. The amount of muscle necrosis was 30 ± 3.7% in group 1, as opposed to 63 ± 10% in group 2. The ATP content was 0.07 ± 0.03 nmol/mg wet tissue weight (post-ischemia with NS) and 0.21 ± 0.08 nmol/mg wet tissue weight (post-ischemia with GLY). Pcr content was 0.19 ± 0.04 mmol/mg wet tissue weight (post-ischemia with NS) and 0.27 ± 0.04 μmol/mg wet tissue (post-ischemia and infused with GLY) (P
Application of the Relaxed Free Energy of Mixing to Problems in Shape Memory Alloy Simulation

Recent theoretical advances in the development of functional representations for the free energy of mixing associated with solid-solid phase transformations has made possible the development of a new class of constitutive models based directly on bounds to the relaxed free energy. The present work, which continues that of Govindjee et al. (2002) and Hall and Govindjee (2002), demonstrates the application of the theory to the simulation of the complex behavior exhibited by shape memory alloys. The first three case studies undertaken herein support the validity of the theoretical approach by analyzing subtle aspects of the physics associated with such phase transformations. The final simulation, a torsion tube under combined loading, provides impetus for future experimental and theoretical advancements.
Protein-bound carbohydrate content of normal and tumorous human lung tissue

Abstract The protein-bound carbohydrate content of normal and tumor tissue (adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and bronchiogenic carcinoma) of the human lung has been determined by gas—liquid chromatography. Cells from three lung tumor types contained from two to four times the amounts of sialic acid, fucose, mannose, galactose. N -acetylglucosamine and N -acetylgalactosamine than tissue taken at a site distant from the tumor. Cells taken from a site adjacent to the tumor had values of protein-bound carbohydrate intermediate between tumor and normal tissue. Approx. 62% of the sialic acid obtained from the tumor sample was neuraminidase labile. These data suggest that human lung tumor cells are synthesizing elevated amounts of glycoprotein which is probably present on the cell surface.
Generalized neural networks for tactical target image segmentation

ABSTRACTA generalized formalism for feedforward neural networks is presented. This generalized architectureis shown to be capable of mapping many common neural network paradigms into a single architecture.Using an intrinsically iterable element, neural networks can be used to compute common preprocessingtechniques including Karhunen-Loeve reduction, Fourier and Gabor spectral decomposition and some wavelet techniques. The generalized architecture is applied to a problem in tactical target image segmentation. 1. A Generalized Neural Network AlgorithmA generalized formulation of feedforward network node can be represented by the equation: Zkfh(XTAX+WTX+Ok) (1)Where T,T, 4, and 9k are propagation constants or weights, and zk is the output of a particular node. Thisformulation, by not specifically addressing training, allows for simple implementation of many commonneural network paradigms, as well as many common preprocessing techniques which include Karhunen-Loeve reduction, Fourier and Gabor spectral decomposition in a connectionist network architecture.Cybenko showed that one hidden layer is sufficient for any multivariate function approximation.3Oxley9 et al proved that the output of the hidden layers can be, not only a sigmoid non-linearity, butalso a negative exponential.9 While Cybenko and others
Size, operational sex ratio, and mate-guarding success of the carrion beetle, Necrophila americana

When male insects guard females until oviposition, the benefits from last-male sperm precedence must outweigh the costs of relinquishing additional fertilizations. The profitability of guarding is increased when males guard large, fecund females and when females are scarce because fewer fertilizations are sacrificed. However, the male reproductive success is not only determined by the profitability of guarding but also by his ability to maintain guarding. In this study, we used male carrion beetles (Necrophila americana) to examine the effects of sex ratio, male relative size, and female quality on the ability to guard. First, we present a model of mate guarding that explores factors, such as sperm precedence, sex ratio, male size, and female quality, that influence the profitability of postcopulatory riding. Our model predicts that large N. americana males should preferentially guard the largest female only when the sex ratio is male biased and sperm precedence is above 80%. In contrast, small males gain little from guarding because they are not likely to maintain it and be the last male to mate. Then, we tested these predictions by manipulating sex ratio, relative male size, and female quality. All males in equal sex ratio and large males in male-biased sex ratio guarded females significantly longer than did males in female-biased sex ratio. In male-biased sex ratio, large males guarded significantly longer and achieved more takeovers than small males. Large females were guarded longer. The success of guarding males in this beetle depends on their size relative to other males and the operational sex ratio. Key words: carrion beetle, female quality, male size, mate guarding, Necrophila, operational sex ratio, resource-holding potential. [Behav Ecol]
Anisotropic Viscoelastic Properties of Undamaged Asphalt Mixtures

A test protocol and a data analysis method are developed in this paper on the basis of linear viscoelastic theory to characterize the anisotropic viscoelastic properties of undamaged asphalt mixtures. The test protocol includes three nondestructive tests: (1) uniaxial com- pressive creep test, (2) indirect tensile creep test, and (3) the uniaxial tensile creep test. All three tests are conducted on asphalt mixture specimens at three temperatures (10, 20, and 30°C) to determine the tensile and compressive properties at each temperature and then to construct the master curve of each property. The determined properties include magnitude and phase angle of the compressive complex modulus in the vertical direction, magnitude and phase angle of the tensile complex modulus, and the magnitude and phase angle of the compressive complex modulus in the horizontal plane. The test results indicate that all tested asphalt mixtures have significantly different tensile properties from compressive properties. The peak value of the master curve of the tensile complex modulus phase angle is within a range from 65 to 85°, whereas the peak value of the compressive moduli phase angle in both directions ranges from 35 to 55°. In addition, the undamaged asphalt mixtures exhibit distinctively anisotropic properties in compression. The magnitude of the compressive modulus in the vertical direction is approximately 1.2 to ∼2 times of the magnitude of the compressive modulus in the horizontal plane. Dynamic modulus tests are performed to verify the results of the proposed test protocol. The test results from the proposed test protocol match well with those from the dynamic tests. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)TE.1943-5436.0000302. © 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers. CE Database subject headings: Asphalts; Mixtures; Anisotropy; Poisson ratio; Viscoelasticity; Material properties. Author keywords: Asphalt mixtures; Anisotropy; Viscoelasticity; Complex modulus; Poisson's ratio; Master curve.
Improved Outer Inverses for the Numerical Solution of Euler-Lagrange Equations

In this paper, improved outer inverses are used for solving the overdetermined differential-algebraic equations that arise in the simulation of mechanical systems. The method is based on Newton-type iterations using outer inverses. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous confidence intervals for differential gene expressions

Abstract In this article, we describe an environment for designing and analyzing gene expression data from 2-channel microarrays, from design of the arrays, to exact multiplicity-adjusted inference for differential gene expressions. There are two possible formulations to the comparison of gene expression levels: tests of equality and confidence intervals. The testing formulation has been more popular, but confidence intervals are more informative because they not only infer the existence of differential expressions, but also bound the magnitude of such differentials. We provide simultaneous confidence intervals. Before gene expression levels can be compared, the data need to be pre-processed to adjust for variations in the arrays, and unequal affinity of genes to dyes. Processed data are then normalized with respect to control genes (which may be all the target genes or a set of housekeeping genes). The approach we take is to model the data. Pre-processing to adjust for array and dye differences amounts to fitting array and dye effects and gene × dye interaction in the model. A set of control genes, chosen to be normalized, specifies a set of estimable functions as the normalized expression differentials. The correlation structure of estimates of these functions can then be derived based on the model, allowing accurate multiplicity adjustment to obtain simultaneous confidence intervals. This is illustrated with the analysis of a real data set.
Right-Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain May Predict Neo-Aortic Arch Obstruction After Norwood/Sano Procedure in Children With Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Neo-aortic arch obstruction (NAAO) is a common complication following the Norwood/Sano procedure (NP) for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, there is currently no objective method for predicting which patients will develop NAAO. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that hemodynamic changes from development of NAAO after NP in patients with HLHS will lead to changes in myocardial dynamics that could be detected before clinical symptoms develop with strain analysis using velocity vector imaging. Patients with HLHS who had at least one cardiac catheterization after NP were identified retrospectively. Strain analysis was performed on all echocardiograms preceding the first catheterization and any subsequent catheterization performed for intervention on NAAO. Twelve patients developed NAAO and 30 patients never developed NAAO. Right ventricular strain was worse in the group that developed NAAO (-6.2 vs. -8.6 %, p = 0.040) at a median of 59 days prior to diagnosis of NAAO. Those patients that developed NAAO following NP were significantly younger at the time of first catheterization than those that did not develop NAAO (92 ± 50 vs. 140 ± 36 days, p = 0.001). This study demonstrates that right ventricular GLS is abnormal in HLHS patients following NP and worsening right ventricular strain may be predictive of the future development of NAAO.
Dynamics of cell membrane permeability changes at supraphysiological temperatures

A quantitative fluorescent microscopy system was developed to characterize, in real time, the effects of supraphysiological temperatures between 37 degrees and 70 degrees C on the plasma membrane of mouse 3T3 fibroblasts and isolated rat skeletal muscle cells. Membrane permeability was assessed by monitoring the leakage as a function of time of the fluorescent membrane integrity probe calcein. The kinetics of dye leakage increased with increasing temperature in both the 3T3 fibroblasts and the skeletal muscle cells. Analytical solutions derived from a two-compartment transport model showed that, for both cell types, a time-dependent permeability assumption provided a statistically better fit of the model predictions to the data than a constant permeability assumption. This finding suggests that the plasma membrane integrity is continuously being compromised while cells are subjected to supraphysiological temperatures.
Critical thinking and perianesthesia nursing in action.

S A MEMBER of the ASPAN Clinical Practice ommittee, I have the opportunity to respond o questions from the membership on a regular asis. Most often the questions relate to current rends in perianesthesia nursing or interpreting particular standard or resource from the Stanards of Perianesthesia Nursing Practice. bout a year ago, I received a question from everly Caswell, BS, RN, Resource Nurse, Periperative Services at St Luke’s Hospital, part of outhcoast Hospital Group in New Bedford, assachusetts. The question read as follows: Should PACU RNs assist the anesthesiologist ith blocks? They are asked to inject while e/she holds the catheter.”