cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved detection of focal pneumonia by chest radiography with bone suppression imaging.

To evaluate radiologists’ ability to detect focal pneumonia by use of standard chest radiographs alone compared with standard plus bone-suppressed chest radiographs. Standard chest radiographs in 36 patients with 46 focal airspace opacities due to pneumonia (10 patients had bilateral opacities) and 20 patients without focal opacities were included in an observer study. A bone suppression image processing system was applied to the 56 radiographs to create corresponding bone suppression images. In the observer study, eight observers, including six attending radiologists and two radiology residents, indicated their confidence level regarding the presence of a focal opacity compatible with pneumonia for each lung, first by use of standard images, then with the addition of bone suppression images. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the observers’ performance. The mean value of the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for eight observers was significantly improved from 0.844 with use of standard images alone to 0.880 with standard plus bone suppression images (P < 0.001) based on 46 positive lungs and 66 negative lungs. Use of bone suppression images improved radiologists’ performance for detection of focal pneumonia on chest radiographs. • Bone suppression image processing can be applied to conventional digital radiography systems. • Bone suppression imaging (BSI) produces images that appear similar to dual-energy soft tissue images. • BSI improves the conspicuity of focal lung disease by minimizing bone opacity. • BSI can improve the accuracy of radiologists in detecting focal pneumonia.
The Rise of Rentier Capitalism and the Financialization of Real Sectors in Developing Countries

Using microlevel company panel data, the article analyzes the impacts of financial liberalization on real investment behavior under capital market imperfections, volatile macroprices, and changing country risk levels. The findings suggest that financial liberalization in developing countries has become instrumental in channeling real sector savings to speculative short-term investments instead of long-term investment projects and hence altering the pattern of capital accumulation in the real sectors of the economy.
Lexical morphology and lexical access.

Research on morphology in word recognition has been plagued by conflicting results (McQueen & Cutler, 1998, give a recent review). Some findings suggest that words are accessed as full forms, while others suggest that words are accessed in terms of their component morphemes. The answer may lie in the properties of the affixes themselves: Kiparsky's (1982) Lexical Phonology and Morphology assigns affixes in English to different "levels" of attachment, based on their productivity, order of attachment, and phonological interaction with roots. We present data suggesting that productive, phonologically neutral, semantically transparent "Level 2" suffixes are "decomposed" for analysis in some cases, but that words with idiosyncratic, structure-changing, semantically opaque "Level 1" suffixes are not.
Post placement and restoration of endodontically treated teeth: a literature review.

The restoration of endodontically treated teeth is a topic that is extensively studied and yet remains controversial from many perspectives. This article reviews the major pertinent literature on this topic, with an emphasis on major decision-making elements in post placement and restoration of end-odontically treated teeth. Recommendations are made for treatment planning, materials, and clinical practices from restorative and endodontic perspectives.
Pancreatic interstitial pH in human and feline chronic pancreatitis

Background & Aims Advanced chronic pancreatitis is associated with a reduction in pancreatic blood flow. To determine the physiological significance of this decrease, pancreatic interstitial pH was measured in a model of obstructive chronic pancreatitis in cats and in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Methods In cats, pancreatic interstitial pH and blood flow were measured serially under basal conditions and after secretory stimulation as chronic pancreatitis evolved. Basal pancreatic interstitial pH was also measured in patients undergoing an operation for chronic pancreatitis or periampullary cancer (controls). Results In normal cats, pancreatic interstitial pH was 7.41 ± 0.01 and blood flow was 124 ± 12 mL · min−1 · (100 g pancreas−1). With the evolution of chronic pancreatitis, interstitial pH and blood flow progressively decreased to 7.21 ± 0.04 (P < 0.007) and 75 ± 11 (P < 0.007), respectively. From 1 to 2 weeks, secretory stimulation reduced pancreatic interstitial pH and blood flow further, but as secretory function was lost, this effect disappeared. In patients with chronic pancreatitis, the interstitial pH was lower (7.02 ± 0.06) than in controls (7.25 ± 0.04; P < 0.05). Conclusions These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that, in chronic pancreatitis, acidic metabolites associated with pancreatic secretion accumulate within the pancreas, probably because of impaired blood flow.
Linear-time modular decomposition and efficient transitive orientation of comparability graphs

A module of an undirected graph is a set X of nodes such for each node x not in X, either every member of X is adjacent to x , or no member of X is adjacent to x. There is a canonical linear-space representation for the modules of a graph, called the modular decomposition. The modular decomposition facilitates solution of a number of combinatorial problems on certain classes of graphs, and algorithms for computing it have a lengthy history. Closely related to modular decomposition is the transitive orientation problem, which is the problem of assigning a direction to each edge of a graph so that the resulting digraph is transitive, if such an assignment is possible. We give the lirst linear-time algorithm for modular decomposition, and a new bound of 0 (ri +m logn) on transitive orientation and the problem of recognizing permutation graphs and two-dimensional partial orders.
Chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer: What to expect in 2001 and beyond

Chemotherapy plays an important role in the management of metastatic breast cancer. The anthracyclines (doxorubicin, epirubicin) and the taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel) are considered the most active agents for patients with advanced breast cancer. Traditionally, the anthracyclines have been used in combination with cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil (FAC, FEC). The taxanes have single-agent activity similar to older combination chemotherapy treatments. There is great interest in developing anthracycline/taxane combinations. Capecitabine is indicated for patients who progress after anthracycline and taxane therapy. Vinorelbine and gemcitabine have activity in patients with metastatic breast cancer and are commonly used as third- and fourth-line palliative therapy. The role of high-dose chemotherapy is not well-defined and remains experimental. Novel cytotoxic therapy strategies include the development of anthracycline, taxane, and oral fluoropyrimidine analogues; antifolates; topoisomerase I inhibitors, and multidrug resistance inhibitors. A better understanding of the biology of breast cancer is providing novel treatment approaches. Oncogenes and tumor-supressor genes are emerging as important targets for therapy. Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the Her-2/neu protein, has been shown to prolong survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Other novel biologic therapies interfere with signal transduction pathways and angiogenesis. The challenge for the next decade will be to integrate these promising agents in the management of metastatic and primary breast cancer.
IMPACT OF BODY MASS INDEX ON RADICAL CYSTECTOMY

ABSTRACTPurpose: Radical cystectomy has a significant rate of morbidity and it is important to elucidate the factors that contribute to this risk. Obesity is a major problem in the United States and is associated with increased health hazard. Morbid obesity may even preclude definitive surgical treatment. This study examines the impact of body mass index (BMI) on radical cystectomy.Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on 498 patients who underwent radical cystectomy primarily for bladder cancer from July 1, 1990 to May 10, 2002. Patient BMI was defined as normal (less than 25 in 151), overweight (25 to 29.9 in 198), obese (30 to 34.9 in 98) and morbidly obese (35 or greater in 51). The bivariate relationships among BMI categories and clinical parameters were assessed using the chi-square test, the analysis of variance and the log rank test. Multivariate analyses were performed using Cox regression models.Results: Median followup for the cohort was 3.3 years. Mean BMI was 28 and 70 o...
THE SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR AS TRAILBLAZER - A ROLE FOR THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE IN A MARKET ECONOMY

This paper advances the field of social entrepreneurship by developing a basic economic model of the social entrepreneur as a profit-deviating firm. We then demonstrate how profit deviation lowers the effective operating costs of the firm, allowing social entrepreneurs to recognize, evaluate, and exploit previously unconsidered opportunities. In doing so, social entrepreneurs may generate knowledge spillovers by providing valuable ex-post entry information regarding the expected costs of a venture, thereby providing a public good to latent entrepreneurs in the commercial sector. Based on this new information, the latter may then enter markets previously considered unprofitable, leading to market development and growth. We illustrate the range of market conditions that are relevant for the social entrepreneur and provide one industry- and one company-focused case study to illustrate the model. The model and evidence provide a complementary role for the social entrepreneur beyond the production of collective goods.
Sensitivity of Kelani streamflow in Sri Lanka to ENSO

As part of an effort to demonstrate the use of climate predictions for water resources management, the El Ni˜ Oscillation (ENSO) influences on stream flow in the Kelani River in Sri Lanka were investigated using correlation analysis, composite analysis and contingency tables. El Ni˜ no (warm phase of ENSO) was associated with decreased annual stream flow and La Ni˜ na (cold phase of ENSO) with increased annual flows. The annual stream flow had a negative correlation with the simultaneous ENSO index of NINO3Ð4 that was significant at the 95% level. This negative correlation is enhanced to a 99% level if the aggregate January to September or the April to September stream flow alone were considered. Although, there is little correlation between ENSO indices and stream flow during the October to December period, there is a high correlation between rainfall and NINO3Ð 4( r D 0Ð51, significant at the 99% level). Therefore ENSO based rainfall predictions can be used along with a hydrological model to predict the October to December stream flow. This study demonstrates the viability of using ENSO based predictors for January to September or April to September stream flow predictions in the Kelani River. The October to December stream flow may be predicted by exploiting the strong relationship between ENSO and rainfall during that period. Copyright  2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
"A Measure of Legal Independence ": The 1870 Married Women's Property Act and the Portfolio Allocations of British Wives

I examine the portfolio allocations of women married in the years surrounding the 1870 Married Women's Property Act. The act, which gave women married after 1870 the right to own and control personal property, serves as a natural experiment to examine the extent to which individuals respond to changes in property law. I link wealth data to census information and find that, as a result of the act, women married after 1870 altered their portfolio allocations by shifting wealth-holding away from real property to personal property. The results indicate that the act greatly impacted the investment decisions of women. N ineteenth-century Britain witnessed a natural experiment with potential to change the lives of women: the 1870 Married Women's Property Act. The act gave women married after 1870 the right to own and control certain forms of property and thus provided them with the opportunity to change their investment portfolios and shift wealthholding to forms of property that they could both own and control. For this reason contemporary reformers hailed the act as a major achievement of the women's movement; however, there still exists a debate among modem scholars about whether women benefited from the act. Feminist historians have long regarded the act as a milestone in the emancipation of women. A few argue that the act deserves a place "in the pantheon of historical events" and praise its impact on the lives of women.' Others note, however, that even after the act other factors in combination with the law likely limited the ability of women to control their economic lives on an equal footing with men.2
Syntaxin 3 is required for cAMP-induced acid secretion: streptolysin O-permeabilized gastric gland model

Gastric gland stimulation triggers H(+),K(+)-ATPase translocation from cytoplasmic tubulovesicles to apical plasma membrane in parietal cells, resulting in HCl secretion. We studied the mechanisms involved in tubulovesicle translocation with a permeabilized gland system. Streptolysin O (SLO)-treated glands were permeabilized such that exogenous fluorescently labeled actin incorporated into cytoskeleton in a pattern mimicking endogenous F-actin. As shown by accumulation of the weak base aminopyrine (AP), SLO-permeabilized glands are stimulated to secrete acid by addition of cAMP and ATP and inhibited by proton pump inhibitors. Direct visualization with the fluorescent pH probe Lysosensor showed acid accumulation in glandular lumen and parietal cell canaliculi. ME-3407, an antiulcer drug with inhibitory action implicated to involve ezrin, inhibited AP uptake in and effectively released ezrin from intact and SLO-permeabilized glands. In contrast, wortmannin, an effective secretion inhibitor in intact glands, had minimal effects on ezrin or AP accumulation in SLO-permeabilized glands. The finding that SNARE protein syntaxin 3 is associated with H(+),K(+)-ATPase-containing tubulovesicles suggested that it is involved in membrane fusion. Addition of recombinant syntaxin 3, but not syntaxin 5 or heat-denatured syntaxin 3, dose-dependently inhibited acid secretion. Our studies are consistent with a membrane recycling hypothesis that activation of protein kinase cascades leads to SNARE-mediated fusion of H(+),K(+)-ATPase-containing tubulovesicles to apical plasma membrane.
Trismus in the paediatric population

Trismus is a rare presentation affecting neonates, children, and adults. In newborns there are serious implications, with potential to affect feeding, cause airway problems, and make intubation difficult. Causes of trismus seen in the paediatric patient are discussed in this review article; they are divided into intra- and extra-articular types. The extra-articular group consists of congenital and acquired disorders. The acquired group includes infective causes such as tetanus, iatrogenic causes related to drugs, cancer or dental treatment, and trauma causing articulation difficulty or triggering a rare type of bone growth in myositis ossificans. Changes in the mouth resulting from oral submucous fibrosis can undergo malignant transformation. This review aims to raise awareness of potential causes of trismus in paediatric populations, helping clinicians identify the underlying pathology so appropriate strategies for treatment be applied, with the ultimate aim of improving long-term outlook and quality of life for affected children.
Neurotoxicity of Intra-arterial Papaverine Preserved with Chlorobutanol Used for the Treatment of Cerebral Vasospasm After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose— Papaverine is used to vasodilate cerebral arteries undergoing vasospasm from subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, papaverine inhibits cellular respiration in vitro and could cause neurotoxicity in humans. Methods— We studied 5 consecutive patients with cerebral vasospasm who were treated with intra-arterial papaverine preserved with chlorobutanol and imaged with MRI fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted imaging after treatment. One patient had histological analysis of the brain at autopsy. Results— All 5 patients exhibited marked neurological decline immediately after treatment, and this was sustained through hospital discharge. In all cases, MRI images showed selective gray matter–only signal changes within the vascular territory treated with papaverine. Histological analysis of 1 case brought to autopsy showed selective injury to islands of neurons with relative sparing of white matter. Conclusions— Intra-arterial delivery of papaverine preserved with chlorobuta...
Studying Individual Identities Is Good, But Examining Intersectionality Is Better

As diversity researchers, it is encouraging to see seasoned scholars discussing the need to study demographic populations that have been historically silenced in our literature. At the same time, although studying singular identities (such as gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and size) is useful in demonstrating the unique experiences of members of individual groups, investigating the intersection of multiple identities will ultimately provide us with a more holistic perspective on the impact of identity at work. The focal article by Ruggs et al. (2013) suggests this but also underscores the potentially distracting nature of studying multiple identities at once, as well as the possibility for individuals without stigmatized identities to claim that they are also diverse in some way. Though these concerns are worth consideration, we believe it is important to pursue research on singular identities only as a building block to a larger end goal: Studying and understanding the realities of identity through intersectional research. The following commentary will outline our reasons for why studying multiple intersecting identities is vital to achieving a more complete view of diversity at work.
Evaluating the use of prosodic information in speech recognition and understanding

The goal of this project is to investigate the use of different levels of prosodic information in speech recognition and understanding. In particular, the current focus of the work is the use of prosodic phrase boundary information in parsing. The research involves determining a representation of prosodic information suitable for use in a speech understanding system, developing reliable algorithms for detection of the prosodic cues in speech, investigating architectures for integrating prosodic cues in a parser, and evaluating the potential improvements of prosody in the context of the SRI Spoken Language System. This research is sponsored jointly by DARPA and NSF.
Preparation, characterization, and some thermodynamic properties of lanthanum oxide carbide, La2O2C2

Abstract A lanthanum oxide carbide of the general formula La 2 O 2 C 2 has been prepared in a carbon monoxide atmosphere by a variety of techniques. Preparations which were zone refined by slow passage of an arc over the sample yielded a crystalline phase which was monophasic both by X-ray diffraction and micrographic analysis. Vapor phase chromatographic analysis indicates the principal species of the acid hydrolysis product of this phase is acetylene. From a carbon monoxide equilibration study of the reaction, La 2 O 3 ( s ) + 3 C( s ) = La 2 O 2 C 2 ( s ) + CO( g ) effected in a constant volume system the following data were obtained: ΔH ° 298 = 82. 2 ±1. 9 kcal/gfw ΔS ° 298 = 36. 7 ±3. 6 eu. Combination of these values with the appropriate thermodynamic data yields an elthalpy of formation of −320. 0 ±2. 0 kcal/gfw for La 2 O 2 C 2 . A third law enthalpy is also calculated.
Searching for excellence & diversity: increasing the hiring of women faculty at one academic medical center.

One opportunity to realize the diversity goals of academic health centers comes at the time of hiring new faculty. To improve the effectiveness of search committees in increasing the gender diversity of faculty hires, the authors created and implemented a training workshop for faculty search committees designed to improve the hiring process and increase the diversity of faculty hires at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. They describe the workshops, which they presented in the School of Medicine and Public Health between 2004 and 2007, and they compare the subsequent hiring of women faculty in participating and nonparticipating departments and the self-reported experience of new faculty within the hiring process. Attendance at the workshop correlates with improved hiring of women faculty and with a better hiring experience for faculty recruits, especially women. The authors articulate successful elements of workshop implementation for other medical schools seeking to increase gender diversity on their faculties. Acad Med. 2010; 85:999–1007.
Risky but Rational: War as an Institutionally Induced Gamble

AbstractWe present and process-trace a complete information model of diversionary war. In our model, leaders must retain the support of some fraction of a selectorate whose response in turn depends on the outcome of an international conflict. The need to retain the loyalty of a segment of the selectorate generates institutionally induced risk preferences in leaders. Under specified conditions, this in turn results in the leaders’ choice of risky options and war emerges as a rational gamble. We analyze when the leader prefers to impose such a gamble, what the optimal gamble would be, and its effect on crisis bargaining between two leaders. We find that when leaders have institutionally induced risk preferences, whether leaders rationally choose to initiate or continue a war can depend on which selectorate cares most about the outcome of the conflict. A reexamination of the bargaining over a settlement to end the First World War in December 1916–January 1917 and Germany's contemporaneous consideration of un...
Managing the interconnect continuum...from silicon to package and board

As VLSI technologies advance and performance of logic chips approaches 1 GHz, it is recognised that their performance is limited by the interconnect system. Furthermore, it is not just the interconnects on the chip but the entire interconnect continuum from the chip, through the package and the system board. In this paper, we present a holistic view of the challenges and potential directions for this interconnect continuum. It is seen that performance can be affected by architecture and partitioning of the chips and the systems. Additionally, the advent of new interconnect technologies such as copper metallization, flip-chip and organic substrates play key roles in managing and optimizing the outcome.
Free-Space Optical Communications

With recent successes of laboratory, inatmosphere, and space demonstrations of free-space optical communications, there is no doubt that the technology is ready for operational deployment. While these successes have shown that there are no laws of physics against such systems, their estimated system costs are still much too high for serious considerations. Two types of development can reduce the cost dramatically. The first is via the improvement of physical-link communication efficiency by an order of magnitude using photon-counting receivers for vacuum channels, system complexity, weight, and power for space systems can be greatly reduced. The second is through the use of coherent systems in links where clear-air turbulence impairs communication efficiency, and in multiple access applications where coherent processing can reduce the level of interference, significant reduction in system costs can be realized
Synthesis of the vector resonator modes from scalar results.

A technique is presented in which the full vector solution for resonator modes is synthesized from the known scalar solution. Second-order perturbation theory is utilized to predict the behavior of a resonator when an imperfect coating on the rear cone results in a phase shift between the s and p polarizations. The theoretical results agree well with a numerical example.
MODELING OF HCN SYNTHESIS IN A SOLID ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELL

Abstract The synthesis of HCN from CH 4 , NH 3 and air was achieved with co-generation of electrical energy in an yttria-stabilized zirconia cell with Pt electrodes operating at 750–1000°C. In addition to HCN the exit stream contained N 2 , CO, H 2 O and occasionally CO 2 and N 2 O. A kinetic model was prepared considering 14 reactions occuring simultaneously at the anode. The effects of temperature, O -- flux, inlet gas composition, and inlet gas velocity on the HCN yield and on the overall exothermicity of the system were examined. It was found that the cell can operate adiabatically if the CH 4 /NH 3 feed ratio is higher than 1.25. Two different cell designs were examined, one in which the anode is inside the YSZ tube, and one in which air flows inside the tube and the fuel flows outside perpendicular to the direction of air flow. The latter design exhibits certain additional advantages over the traditional tubular cell design.
Modeling Turbidity and the Effects of Alum Application for a Water Supply Reservoir

High loads of inorganic particles received following runoff events from terrigenous sources can cause elevated turbidity ( Tn ) levels in water supply lakes and reservoirs. The development, successful testing, and application of a mechanistic Tn model is documented for Kensico Reservoir, New York, the terminal reservoir of New York City’s multireservoir unfiltered water supply, where a standard of Tn<5 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) must be met in the withdrawals. The model includes three submodels: (1) hydrothermal/transport; (2) turbidity; and (3) alum floc deposition. The alum floc deposition submodel supports simulation of the extent of local deposits formed from alum additions made to reduce high Tn delivered from extreme runoff events. The modeling is supported by long-term monitoring of the inflows, reservoir, and withdrawals, characterization of the turbidity-causing particles (mostly clay minerals, 1–10 μm in diameter), resolution of specific conductance (tracer) patterns with rapid profili...
Dynamic characterization of surface-mount component leads for solder joint inspection

Vibration frequencies of soldered and unsoldered leads of surface-mount wide and narrow small outline integrated circuits (SOICs), plastic leaded chip carriers (PLCCs), and plastic quad flat packs (PQFPs) are calculated using the finite-element method. The corresponding mode shapes of the leads and solder joints are also provided for a better understanding of their dynamic characteristics. It is found that the fundamental frequencies of all the soldered leads are at least five times larger than those of the unsoldered leads. A laser Doppler vibrometer method is developed to measure the frequency of soldered and unsoldered leads of these four surface-mount components. Experiments and theory are in close agreement. The results presented should be useful for theoretically determining the reliability of solder joints under shock and vibration conditions, and for developing a solder joint inspection system for use in a controlled manufacturing process. >
Fault diagnosis of mixed signal VLSI systems using artificial neural networks

This paper presents an approach to the diagnosis of linear and nonlinear analog circuits. The diagnosis methodology is focused on the soft faults in analog circuits. An on-chip white noise generator provides the test stimulus and an artificial neural net (ANN) is used as the response evaluator. Our analysis shows that the white noise relative to the pole zero locations of the circuit transfer function has a significant impact on the classification efficiency of ANN. White noise based stimulus method works for some nonlinear circuits as long as they are constrained to operate in their small signal region of operation. Circuits with strong nonlinearity are difficult to diagnose using the noise stimulus approach. Our results are demonstrated for a linear filter, Schmidt trigger and the phase lock loop (PLL).
Control of Trenching and Surface Roughness in Deep Reactive Ion Etched 4H and 6H SiC

An optimized deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) process for the fabrication of SiC microstructures has been developed. The optimized process enables the etching of 4H and 6H SiC to depths > 100 microns with the required characteristics of (1) high rate (>0.5 microns/min), (2) vertical sidewalls, (3) minimal microtrenching at the sidewall base, and (4) smooth etched surfaces. The optimized process was determined based on the results of an experiment (full factorial design) which determined how the etch characteristics are affected by four important process parameters: temperature of the wafer chuck, pressure within the chamber, and concentrations of O2 and Ar in a gas flow comprised of O2, Ar and SF6. This study is believed to be the first systematic investigation of the effect of temperature on SiC DRIE characteristics; substrate heating was found to be a key in producing the desired etch properties.
On using belief maintenance systems to assist mathematical modeling

Mathematical modeling systems are an important component in the toolkit of decision support system (DSS) generators. These systems provide a language in which mathematical models can be stated, and enable access to algorithms which may be used to manipulate (e.g., optimize, what-if analysis) the model. While these features are useful, we believe that these systems should also support other important aspects of the DSS model development process. We focus on two such aspects in this paper. These include support for the iterative refinement of models, and for the management of multiple model versions which are created when alternative problem scenarios are investigated. Building on empirical studies of the model development process, we argue that support for these aspects of model development requires knowledge of the rationale for modeling decisions, the dependencies that relate them, and of methods that maintain their consistency. We then demonstrate how belief maintenance concepts developed in the artificial intelligence literature can be used to implement our proposals. While the issues we discuss are relevant to all kinds of mathematical modeling, we examine them in the context of mathematical programming model development and present an implemented system called MODFORM. >
Interaction of Three Cotton Cultivars to Infestations of the Tarnished Plant Bug

In a field cage test, more Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvais) were found on a cotton cultivar that was hirsute with nectaries than on one that was glabrous and nectariless or on one, a Frega-type, that was glabrous and nectariless. The Frego bract cotton was especially sensitive to attack as demonstrated by an extended delay in fruiting and boll opening; the hirsute cotton was relatively tolerant. Certain characters genetically controlled in cotton increase plant sensitivity to such insect injury so damage is not necessarily related to the population of the insects.
RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF PARALLEL PROCESSING SYSTEMS

Parallel processors promise an increase in reliability as well as throughput. A quantitative framework for the evaluation and comparison of reliability-enhancement techniques for parallel systems must be employed by system architects. This paper presents a reliability evaluation of a parallel processing ensemble computer as a function of several fault tolerance techniques which might be applied to such a computer. For each fault tolerance approach, Markov models and combinatorial models are used to compute the reliability and expected value of the number of processing elements as a function of mission time. Using this analytical framework for the development of a high-reliability and high-throughput architecture, reliability-critical architectural parameters are identified, leading to a new organizational approach for obtaining high ensemble reliability. The reliability of an ensemble constructed using this approach is computed and found to be superior to the other approaches investigated.
Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) - a Complex Cost-Saving Solution to Long-Term Artificial Nutrition

Background: Home enteral nutrition (HEN) was introduced in Poland several years ago. However, the benefi ts of such medical care have been questioned recently due to the growing costs in the health system. The purpose of this study was to examine the eff ect of a complex specialized home enteral nutrition on clinical outcome variables in HEN patients.
Stem Cell Stimulatory Properties in Vitro of an Agar Colony-Stimulating Factor

SummaryBone marrow was incubated over a short period in vitro in the presence of WBI and normal serum. The number of cells capable of forming colonies in soft agar was maintained over a 48-hr period in the presence of WBI but not normal serum. Furthermore the decline in transplantable CFU was slower in the presence of WBI serum. Possible mechanisms for these results are discussed although firm conclusions cannot be drawn.
Experimental Investigation of the Autoignition Behavior of Surrogate Gasoline Fuels in a Constant-Volume Combustion Bomb Apparatus and Its Relevance to HCCI Combustion

The autoignition behavior of 21 surrogate gasoline fuels formulated with n-heptane, isooctane, methylcyclohexane, toluene, and 1-hexene using an augmented simplex-lattice mixture design was studied in an Ignition Quality Tester (IQT) and in a single-cylinder engine operating under homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) conditions. The measured ignition delays were highly correlated to fuel composition, while the observed correlation between ignition delay and research (RON) and motor (MON) octane numbers was poor. The statistical modeling using canonical Scheffe polynomials indicated strong effects from n-heptane (autoignition enhancer), toluene, and isooctane (autoignition inhibitors), while methylcyclohexane and 1-hexene showed minor effects, acting essentially as inactive components in this system. The analysis of global burning rates showed that there was a limited correlation between burning rate and ignition delay, which suggests the possibility to control ignition delay and burning rate ind...
Long-Term Followup of Endoscopic Management of Urethral Strictures in Children

AbstractThe long-term followup of 31 children with urethral strictures managed by an endoscopic technique was reviewed. Four children could not be managed endoscopically and required urethroplasty, yielding an over-all success rate of 87 per cent. Repeat endoscopic procedures were needed in approximately a third of the patients and intralesional steroids enhanced the chance of success. The initial favorable short-term results with endoscopic management of urethral strictures in children are confirmed in this expanded series.
Smoking among patients in substance use disorders treatment: associations with tobacco advertising, anti-tobacco messages, and perceived health risks

ABSTRACTBackground: Although tobacco control efforts have contributed to an overall decline in smoking, individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) continue to smoke at high rates and remain targets of advertising to vulnerable groups, including those with mental health disorders and SUDs. Objectives: We examined associations of tobacco advertising exposure and receptivity, anti-tobacco message awareness, and health-risk perception with smoking status and cigarettes-per-day (CPD) in a national sample of SUD treatment patients. Methods: The patients (N = 1,113) in 24 programs chosen randomly, stratified by program type, from among publicly funded adult treatment programs within the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network completed surveys of smoking, advertising exposure and receptivity, anti-tobacco message awareness, and perceived health risks. Results: Current smokers (77.9% of the sample) smoked a daily median of 10 cigarettes (IQR = 13). The participants reporting daily advertising e...
Use of fine needle aspiration for detection of stage A prostatic carcinoma before transurethral resection of the prostate: a clinical trial.

AbstractThe incidence of stage A prostatic carcinoma is approximately 10 per cent. We performed a clinical trial to determine if pre-prostatectomy fine needle aspiration could detect reliably stage A prostatic carcinoma. In 102 men with clinically staged benign disease by digital examination we performed a 4-quadrant fine needle aspiration of the prostate before prostatectomy. The cytological diagnosis of the aspirate was compared to the pathological diagnosis obtained at prostatectomy in all patients. The incidence of stage A prostatic carcinoma in this group of patients was 18.6 per cent (19 of 102 men). Sufficient aspirate material for cytological diagnosis was obtained in 98 of 102 men (96 per cent), including 17 with a diagnosis of carcinoma. When adequate diagnostic material was obtained, fine needle aspiration detected all cases of clinical stage A2 prostatic carcinoma but it did not detect stage A1 prostatic carcinoma, There were no false positive diagnoses. We conclude that routine pre-prostatect...
Lone Star Unionism, Dissent, and Resistance: Other Sides of Civil War Texas. Edited by Jesús de la Teja

Lone Star Unionism, Dissent, and Resistance: Other Sides of Civil War Texas . Edited by Jesus de la Teja . (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2016. viii + 285 pp. Illustrations, map, chart, tables, notes, bibliography, index. $29.95, cloth; $19.95, paper.) This wide-ranging collection of essays presents discussions of the regional, socio-economic, and ethnic groups in Texas that opposed secession, rejected the Confederacy, or supported change during Reconstruction. Laura Lyons McLemore describes the United Daughters of the Confederacy as the major promoters for the collective memory of a Confederate Texas; but finds support for that image limited by the alternate heroic frontier memory encouraged by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Slave escapes during the conflict ended slaveholder illusions of loyal bondsmen and stirred fears of revolts, concludes Andrew J. … alwyn.barr{at}ttu.edu
Clinical Features and Complications of Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystem disease, and its clinical features reflect the broad impact that loss of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) function has on multiple organs (Fig. 3.1). However, pulmonary and gastrointestinal disease account for the vast majority of morbidity and mortality in CF.
An Updated Blizzard Climatology of the Contiguous United States (1959–2014): An Examination of Spatiotemporal Trends

AbstractBlizzards are extreme winter storms that are defined by strong winds and falling or blowing snow that significantly reduces visibility for an extended period of time. For the conterminous United States, blizzard occurrence by county was compiled from Storm Data for 55 winter seasons from 1959/60 to 2013/14. Spatiotemporal patterns were examined for blizzard seasons (September–August) at annual, decadal, and monthly frequencies. Linear regression and spectral analysis were used to detect any blizzard cycles or trends. Societal impacts such as fatalities, injuries, property damage, and federal disaster declarations were also tallied. Data revealed 713 blizzards over the 55 years, with a mean of 13 events per season. Seasonal blizzard frequency ranged from one blizzard in 1980/81 to 32 blizzards in 2007/08. The average area per blizzard was 83 474 km2, or approximately the size of South Carolina. Blizzard probabilities ranged from 1.8% to 76.4%, with a distinct blizzard zone in North Dakota, western ...
A wave model test bed study for wave energy resource characterization

This paper presents a test bed study conducted to evaluate best practices in wave modeling to characterize energy resources. The model test bed off the central Oregon Coast was selected because of the high wave energy and available measured data at the site. Two third-generation spectral wave models, SWAN and WWIII, were evaluated. A four-level nested-grid approach—from global to test bed scale—was employed. Model skills were assessed using a set of model performance metrics based on comparison of six simulated wave resource parameters and observations from a wave buoy inside the test bed. Both WWIII and SWAN performed well at the test bed site and exhibited similar modeling skills. The ST4 physics package with WWIII, which represents better physics for wave growth and dissipation, out-performed ST2 physics and improved wave power density and significant wave height predictions. However, ST4 physics tended to over-predict the wave energy period. The newly developed ST6 physics did not improve the overall model skill for predicting the six wave resource parameters. Sensitivity analysis using different wave frequencies and direction resolutions indicated the model results were not sensitive to spectral resolutions at the test bed site, likely due to the absence of complex bathymetric and geometric features.
Food inspection services: A comparison of programs in the US and Brazil

The food safety warranty is a fundamental principle of international trade. Veterinary inspection is the process that allows countries to meet trade obligations and access to the international markets by ensuring that food safety and animal health control are effective and trustworthy. Brazil and the United States (US) are the major players in the world’s meat marketing industry. The Brazilian Federal Inspection Service (SIF) and the US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) are responsible for food inspection services guidelines in these two countries. The objectives of this overview were to compare and highlight the similarities and differences between SIF and FSIS, to address the challenges of which Brazilian Food Inspection Service faces due to the rapidly growing demand by the livestock sector for Veterinary Services, and provide recommendations to improve the Brazilian food inspection services. Government regulations and local news were examined to provide information for this paper. FSIS is an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), with their own governance and budget. In contrast, the SIF is not an independent agency, but is a department within the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA). It has technical governance, but no separate budget or legal independence. The US establishments for production, processing and distribution of food of animal origin have the option to apply for Federal inspection or State inspection under the “at least equal to” (Federal) requirements policy. In Brazil the industry players have the option to apply for Federal, State or Municipal inspection, and there is no mandatory compliance with Federal requirements. The FSIS hiring system is continuous and straightforward, whereas the hiring system for all public servants in Brazil is conducted through a general entrance examination and is subject to the approval of high-ranking government. The challenges of the Brazilian food inspection services are discussed and recommendations to improve the service are presented.
Developing Students’ Ethical Professional Identity

The Carnegie Foundation’s Educating Lawyers: Preparation for the Profession of Law encouraged law schools to take an active role in the professional identity formation of their students. Acquiring a professional identity requires learning more than the doctrine and practical skills needed to perform the tasks of a lawyer, but also involves developing an understanding of the values, norms, and perspectives needed to interact with other lawyers and with clients, to make decisions impacting clients, and to determine what constitutes appropriate and ethical behavior. In my Contract Drafting and Negotiating course, I provide my students with the opportunity to develop their ethical professional identities through the use of two different role-playing exercises, which I describe in detail in this short article.
Associations between medical cannabis and other drug use among unstably housed women.

Abstract Background Several studies suggest that U.S. state-level legalization of cannabis for medical purposes may be associated with reductions in opioid use; yet its relationship with stimulant use, particularly in high-risk populations like unstably housed women, has received less attention. The purpose of this study was to estimate independent associations between medical and non-medical use of cannabis and use of stimulants and opioids among unstably housed women. Methods Cross-sectional data were analyzed from 245 women in the SHADOW study, a community based cohort in San Francisco, CA, in which HIV+ women were oversampled (126 HIV+ and 119 HIV-). Results Compared to no cannabis use in the past 6 months (51%), non-medical cannabis use (28%) was associated with a higher adjusted odds of using stimulants (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]=4.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.17–8.70) and opioids (AOR=3.81, 95% CI: 1.78–8.15). Compared to no cannabis use, medical cannabis use (21%) was not significantly associated with stimulant or opioid use. Compared to non-medical cannabis use, however, medical cannabis use was associated with lower adjusted odds of using stimulants (AOR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.18–0.96). These associations were not modified by HIV status. Conclusions Associations between use of cannabis and "street drugs" depend on whether the cannabis is obtained through a medical context. Interventions, research, and policy considering the influence of cannabis on the use of other drugs may benefit by distinguishing between medical and non-medical cannabis use.
073_16230 Recurrence Of Atrial Fibrillation After Cryoablation During The Blanking Period Is A Strong Predictor For Long Term Recurrence

The term blanking period refers the initial 3 months post radiofrequency ablation (RFA) when early recurrence (ER) of atrial tachyarrhythmias can be ascribed to the temporary inflammatory and proarrhythmic changes that occur in the atrium post procedure and do not necessarily predict late recurrence
NTOS and Repetitive Trauma Disorders

The relationships between Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (NTOS) and the various forms of repetitive trauma disorders merit clarification. In many patients there is a link between NTOS and the various forms of repetitive trauma disorders. These disorders appear to, in part, stem from nerve involvement in the brachial plexus often related to poor posture. This in turn impairs peripheral muscle function when coupled with sustained overuse. Muscle regeneration is impaired due to a lack of activation of satellite cells located between muscle fibers and the basal lamina. Satellite cells create new muscle fibers under conditions of good circulation, intact nerve impulses and optimal hormonal factors. Our study and that of others show that about 70 % of persons with these trauma disorders have clinical evidence of NTOS. This association results in muscle damage particularly when associated with eccentric contraction of loaded stretched muscles. The degeneration-regeneration cycle of muscle is then impeded due to neurological circulatory abnormal factors decreasing the ability of satellite cells to repair damaged muscle. A logical continuum can be proposed under these circumstances linking NTOS with repetitive trauma in the peripheral nerves and muscles.