cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THREE SUB-GROUPS OF CHILDREN WITH READING DISABILITIES

It has been demonstrated that three subgroups of poor readers have a number of unique behavioral characteristics on intelligence, psycho-linguistics, and achievement. The present research explored whether further unique behavioral patterns could be delineated between the groups when considering the dimension of personality. The subjects were 64 children between the ages of 7 and 14 yr. who had been referred to a public school summer reading remediation clinic. Four tests were administered: Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Durrell Analysis of Reading Difficulty, Minnesota Percepto-Diagnostic Test, and the Rotschach. The subjects were grouped on the Minnesota test cut-off scores into one of three groups and then compared on the dimension of personality. There were significant diffetences on certain personality variables allowing different group profiles to be established. These personality profiles were discussed.
Glyburide decreases myocardial oxygen pressure in dogs.

BACKGROUND Reports show that glyburide, an adenosine triphosphate sensitive potassium (K+ATP) channel blocker, will reverse the myocardial protective effect of inhalational anesthesia. We evaluated the effect of glyburide on myocardial tissue oxygen pressure (PmO2) in dogs anesthetized with desflurane. METHODS Twelve dogs were anesthetized with 8% end-tidal desflurane for baseline anesthesia. A flow probe was placed on the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. A probe that measured PmO2 was inserted into the middle myocardium in the LAD region. After baseline measures, six dogs received i.v. 1 mg kg(-1) of glyburide and six dogs received sham vehicle treatment. After the glyburide or sham treatment, each dog received an i.v. infusion of adenosine 0.1 microg kg(-1) x min(-1), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) 2-4 microg kg(-1) x min(-1) and 14% end-tidal desflurane in random order. RESULTS Glyburide decreased LAD artery flow from 59 +/- 9 ml min(-1) to 30 +/- 6 ml min(-1) (P < 0.05) and PmO2 from 44 +/- 16 mmHg to 30 +/- 9 mmHg (P < 0.05). Adenosine infusion increased LAD artery blood flow 180% in the sham-treated dogs but produced no change in the glyburide-treated dogs. Sodium nitroprusside infusion increased LAD artery flow and decreased PmO2 in both the glyburide- and sham-treated dogs. Desflurane (14%) did not reverse the glyburide-induced vasoconstriction but increased PmO2 to 38 +/- 20 mmHg (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Glyburide produced myocardial tissue hypoxia, which was not changed by adenosine, worsened by SNP and improved by 14% desflurane. The improvement in PmO2 with desflurane occurred without a change in myocardial blood flow.
Antiferromagnetic domains and superconductivity in UPt 3

We explore the response of an unconventional superconductor to spatially inhomogeneous antiferromagnetism (SIAFM). Symmetry allows the superconducting order parameter in the E-representation models for ${\mathrm{UPt}}_{3}$ to couple directly to the antiferromagnetic (AFM) order parameter. The Ginzburg-Landau equations for coupled superconductivity and SIAFM are solved numerically for two possible SIAFM configurations: Model I, abutting antiferromagnetic domains of uniform size; and Model II, quenched random disorder of ``nanodomains'' in a uniform AFM background. We discuss the contributions to the free energy, specific heat, and order parameter for these models. Neither model provides a satisfactory account of experiment, but results from the two models differ significantly. Our results demonstrate that the response of an ${E}_{2u}$ superconductor to SIAFM is strongly dependent on the spatial dependence of AFM order; no conclusion can be drawn regarding the compatibility of ${E}_{2u}$ superconductivity with ${\mathrm{UPt}}_{3}$ that is independent of assumptions on the spatial dependence of antiferromagnetism.
Psychotic perceptions of pet animals in defendants accused of violent crimes

Some defendants charged with aggressive crimes against people have a history of psychotic perceptions and delusions involving their pet animals. Careful history of this phenomenon can contribute towards better understanding of a defendant's state of mind at the time of the alleged offense. Three case examples are presented and discussed. Language: en
The emerging roles of somatic globins in cardiovascular redox biology and beyond.

The vertebrate globins are a group of hemoproteins with the intrinsic capacity to regulate gaseous ligands and redox signaling required for cardiovascular biology. This graphical review will provide a comprehensive synopsis of somatic cardiovascular globins focusing on expression, function and redox signaling – an emerging area in both physiology and disease.
Factors affecting Pb-free flip chip bump reliability modeling for life prediction

The reliability of flip chip bumps remains a concern even after underfilling the gap between the chip and package substrate. A number of factors influence this reliability and it is desirable to evaluate the effect of these factors through simulations. However, underfilling introduces new material and modeling variables into the simulation methodology which need to be considered carefully. This paper reports on the study conducted to evaluate the impact of underfill material properties and modeling methodologies on solder bump response. Further, different post-processing schemes and damage indicators are evaluated to determine the best indicators for fatigue damage in solder bumps for flip chip applications. The results of these evaluations are compared with fatigue data collected on multiple package types using temperature cycle tests with in-situ resistance monitoring.
Wildfire Hazard in the Home Ignition Zone: An Object-Oriented Analysis Integrating LiDAR and VHR Satellite Imagery

Abstract Many spatially explicit studies of wildfire hazard focus on the wildland–urban interface (WUI), the area where natural vegetation intersects or mixes with structures. However, research suggests that the characteristics of a small portion of the WUI, the home ignition zone, largely determine potential for ignition from wildfire. The home ignition zone (HIZ) is the area that includes a structure and its surroundings out to 30–60 m. The primary goal of this study is to develop metrics to characterize land cover, burned area, and topography in the HIZ. Pre-fire metrics (i.e. related to land cover and topography) help identify relatively hazardous individual HIZes or neighborhoods of HIZes. Post-fire metrics can be used to assess the burned area across land cover types, inside and outside the HIZ. To calculate the HIZ metrics, multiple data sources (e.g. high resolution 8-band multispectral imagery and LiDAR point clouds) were integrated using an object-oriented image analysis. The setting for the study is the Fourmile Canyon area west of Boulder, Colorado, a data-rich area which experienced a large, destructive wildfire in September 2010. The land cover, burn area, and topography metrics were successfully and accurately calculated and then pre-fire metrics were combined into a simple HIZ hazard index. HIZ characteristics broadly mirror the characteristics of the WUI within the fire perimeter as a whole, though the HIZ on average contains more bare and less forest land, has more widely spaced canopies, and experienced less burning during the fire. The HIZ hazard index values were spatially heterogeneous, but with several distinct high and low hazard clusters. The methods described in this study, paired with in situ data collection, can be applied to other areas to inform hazard mitigation plans.
A phenomenological model for the effect of nanocrystalline microstructure on irradiation-induced amorphization in U3Si

A rate theory model is formulated wherein amorphous clusters are formed by a damage event. These clusters are considered centers of expansion (CEs), or excess-free-volume zones. Simultaneously, centers of compression (CCs) are created in the material. The CCs are local regions of increased density that travel through the material as an elastic (e.g., acoustic) shock wave. The CEs can be annihilated upon contact with a sufficient number of CCs, to form either a crystallized region indistinguishable from the host material, or a region with a slight disorientation (recrystallized grain). Recrystallized grains grow by the accumulation of additional CCs. Full amorphization is calculated on the basis of achieving a fuel volume fraction consistent with the close packing of spherical entities. Amorphization of a recrystallized grain is hindered by the presence of a grain boundary. Preirradiation of U{sub 3}Si above the critical temperature for amorphization results in the formation of nanometer-size grains. In addition, subsequent reirradiation of these samples in the same ion flux at temperatures below the critical temperature shows that the material has developed a resistance to radiation-induced amorphization (i.e., a higher dose is needed to amorphous preirradiated samples than those that have not been preirradiated). In the model, itmore » is assumed that grain boundaries act as effective defect sinks, and that enhanced defect annihilation is responsible for retarding amorphization below the critical temperature. The calculations have been validated against data from ion-irradiation experiments with U{sub 3}Si. For appropriate values of the activation energy of thermal crystallization, the model predicts the evolution of a two phase microstructure consisting of nanocrystalline grains and amorphous clusters.« less
SCHEDULING PARALLEL COMPUTATIONS WITH SUCCESSIVE CPM DOMAINS

This paper describes a functional procedure for implementation of structural engineering applications in an asynchronously scheduled multi-processor environment. A modification to the classical critical path method is proposed that permits scheduling of networks that contain conditional branching or loops. A general outline is presented, describing the functional requirements of two utility procedures that generate a priority list for scheduling tasks for the particular algorithm of interest. These list-generating utilities, operating with a driver program, work with a modified version of SCHEDULE (a list scheduler) to allocate tasks to processors in an order determined using the weighted-priority heuristic. Programming difficulties inherent in schedule implementation for both shared memory systems and loosely coupled systems (with emphasis on hypercubes) are discussed. The approach is demonstrated on the subspace iteration algorithm.
Photoperiodic requirements for timing onset and duration of the breeding season of the ewe: Synchronization of an endogenous rhythm of reproduction

A study was conducted to test the hypothesis that different portions of the annual photoperiodic cycle play different roles in timing the breeding season of the ewe, Ovis aries, an animal in which an endogenous rhythm generates the seasonal reproductive transitions. Adult female sheep were pinealectomized to disrupt transduction of photoperiodic cues at 4 times of the year (summer and winter solstices, vernal and autumnal equinoxes), and the effects on seasonal reproductive neuroendocrine activity were evaluated. Time of pinealectomy greatly influenced the subsequent seasonal reproductive cycle such that the following inferences are possible. Lengthening days between the winter and summer solstices synchronize reproductive onset to the appropriate time of year. The relatively long days around the summer solstice act to suppress reproductive activity and forestall the start of the breeding season until late summer/early autumn. The shortening days between the summer solstice and autumnal equinox maintain a normal intensity and duration of reproductive neuroendocrine induction during the impending breeding season. However, the shortening days between the autumnal equinox and winter solstice (i.e., after breeding season onset) do not appear to play a critical role in maintaining the breeding season of that year, but may provide important cues for timing the breeding season of the following year.
A communication architecture from rapid prototyping

Communication issues can become a progress-impeding burden to software projects requiring advanced group collaboration. Human and social factors, such as conflicting personalities, educational backgrounds, or different communication styles, play a large part in group communication. During a recent rapid prototyping project with over 30 collaborators, including software engineers, UI designers and non-technical customers, we understood that effective and efficient communication would be crucial to the success of our project. The communication architecture that we evolved through the project incorporates human and social factors so that team members with different backgrounds (e.g., UI design, software engineering, non-technical) can communicate effectively in an agile development environment.
Stress-enhanced fear learning in rats is resistant to the effects of immediate massed extinction

Enhanced fear learning occurs subsequent to traumatic or stressful events and is a persistent challenge to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Facilitation of learning produced by prior stress can elicit an exaggerated fear response to a minimally aversive event or stimulus. Stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) is a rat model of PTSD; rats previously exposed to the SEFL 15 electrical shocks procedure exhibit several behavioral responses similar to those seen in patients with PTSD. However, past reports found that SEFL is not mitigated by extinction (a model of exposure therapy) when the spaced extinction began 24 h after stress. Recent studies found that extinction from 10 min to 1 h subsequent to fear conditioning "erased" learning, whereas later extinction, occurring from 24 to 72 h after conditioning did not. Other studies indicate that massed extinction is more effective than spaced procedures. Therefore, we examined the time-dependent nature of extinction on the stress-induced enhancement of fear learning using a massed trial's procedure. Experimental rats received 15 foot shocks and were given either no extinction or massed extinction 10 min or 72 h later. Our present data indicate that SEFL, following traumatic stress, is resistant to immediate massed extinction. Experimental rats showed exaggerated new fear learning regardless of when extinction training occurred. Thus, post-traumatic reactivity such as SEFL does not seem responsive to extinction treatments.
Actin and Myosin Function in Acanthamoeba

We have studied the functions of contractile proteins in Acanthamoeba by a combination of structural, biochemical and physiological approaches. We used electron microscopy and image processing to determine the three-dimensional structure of actin and the orientation of the molecule in the actin filament. We measured the rate constants for actin filament elongation and re-evaluated the effect of MgCl2 on the filament nucleation process. In Acanthamoeba actin polymerization is regulated, at least in part, by profilin, which binds to actin monomers, and by capping protein, which both nucleates polymerization and blocks monomer addition at the 'barbed' end of the filament. To test for physiological functions of myosin-II, we produced a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the actin-activated ATPase. When microinjected into living cells, this active-site-specific antibody inhibits amoeboid locomotion. We expect that similar experiments can be used to test for the physiological functions of the other components of the Acanthamoeba contractile system.
Neonatal isolation alters stress hormone and mesolimbic dopamine release in juvenile rats

Abstract Rat pups were individually isolated from the mother and nest for 1 h/day from postnatal days (PND) 2 to 9 and tested as juveniles (PND 26–30) compared to nonhandled (NH) controls. In response to 1 h of restraint stress, NH rats increased locomotor activity and dopamine (DA) levels, but neonatally isolated (ISO) rats did not. Both groups had increased plasma corticosterone levels in response to restraint, but corticosterone levels were higher in ISO than in NH. Brain allopregnanolone (3α,5α-THP) levels also increased in response to stress, but NH and ISO did not differ. Sex of the rats was not a factor for any of the measures except plasma corticosterone levels, where females had higher levels than males. These data indicate that the effects of neonatal isolation persist postweaning and that the effects are most evident in response to stress as opposed to under baseline conditions.
Cross-protection between attenuated Plasmodium berghei and P. yoelii sporozoites.

An attenuatedPlasmodium falciparum sporozoite (PfSPZ) vaccine is under development, in part, based on studies in mice withP. berghei. We usedP. berghei andP. yoelii to study vaccine-induced protection against challenge with a species of parasite different from the immunizing parasite in BALB/c mice. One-hundred percent of mice were protected against homologous challenge. Seventy-nine percent immunized with attenuatedP. berghei sporozoite (PbSPZ)(six experiments) were protected against challenge withP. yoelii sporozoite (PySPZ), and 63% immunized with attenuatedPySPZ(three experiments) were protected against challenge withPbSPZ. Antibodies in sera of immunized mice only recognized homologous sporozoites and could not have mediated protection against heterologous challenge. Immunization with attenuatedPySPZ orPbSPZ induced CD8+ T cell-dependent protection against heterologous challenge. Immunization with attenuatedPySPZ induced CD8+ T cell-dependent protection against homologous challenge. However, homologous protection induced by attenuatedPbSPZ was not dependent on CD8+ or CD4+ T cells, and depletion of both populations only reduced protection by 36%. Immunization of C57BL/10 mice withPbSPZ induced CD8+ T cell-dependent protection againstP. berghei, but no protection againstP. yoelii. The cross-protection data in BALB/c mice support testing a human vaccine based on attenuatedPfSPZ for its efficacy againstP. vivax.
Constitutive relations for single crystal based on two surface description

Abstract A two surface model is used to describe single crystal slip. The evolution of the yield surface and outer yield surface are proposed to be directly related to the development of dislocation structures. The anisotropy of inner yield surface is attributed to both the long range and short range dislocation interactions, whereas anisotropy of the outer yield surface is assumed to depend solely on the short range interactions. The outer yield surface is not isotropic as assumed in most two surface models of other researchers. This surface is able to evolve even when the stress state is within the outer yield surface.
Conjunctival melanoma metastasis diagnosed by sentinel lymph node biopsy

Abstract Purpose Evaluate the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in staging and directing treatment of patients with conjunctival malignancy. Design Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case reports. Methods Two patients with conjunctival melanoma underwent SLNB, which consisted of lymphoscintigraphy with injection of sulfur colloid technetium-99m. Lymphazurin blue was injected intraoperatively into the area of prior excision. The combination of a signal through the sulfur colloid technetium-99m and blue staining identified SLNs. Results In both patients, the SLNs containing metastatic disease were identified and biopsies obtained, aiding staging and optimal therapy. Conclusion Sentinel lymph node biopsy has been recently reported as an aid in evaluating patients with periocular malignancies. These reports of patients with tumor-positive SLNs arising from the lymphatic metastasis of conjunctival malignancies underscore the utility of this important technique in evaluating patients with periocular malignancies.
Impact of the Implementation of a Sepsis Protocol for the Management of Fluid-Refractory Septic Shock: A Single-Center, Before-and-After Study

Background: Evidence-based guidelines have been published for the acute management of severe sepsis and septic shock. Key goals of institution-driven protocols include timely fluid resuscitation and antibiotic selection, as well as source control. Objective: This study assessed the impact of a sepsis protocol on the timeliness of antibiotic administration, the adequacy of fluid resuscitation, and 28-day mortality in patients with fluid-refractory septic shock. Methods: This was a single-center, before-and-after study (18 months before July 2007 and 18 months after) with prospective data collection evaluating the outcomes of a sepsis protocol in adult patients with fluid-refractory septic shock. All patients received a fluid challenge and antibiotics; those who did not were excluded from this analysis. Preprotocol findings led to the development of the sepsis protocol, which emphasized fluid resuscitation, timely administration of antibiotic therapy, and collection of specimens for culture at the onset of septic shock. In the pre- and postprotocol phases of the study, data were collected prospectively and analyzed for demographic characteristics; Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score; appropriateness of fluid resuscitation; antibiotic use; number of vasopressor, ventilator, and intensive care unit (ICU) days; and 28-day mortality. Outcomes were measured prospectively at any time during the patient's hospital admission. The primary end points were the time to administration of antimicrobial therapy and the appropriateness of fluid resuscitation before and after implementation of the sepsis protocol. Results: A total of 118 patients were included in the analysis: 64 and 54 in the pre- and postprotocol groups, respectively. Patients in the preprotocol group were primarily women (53% [34/64]) and had a mean (SD) age of 61 (15.5) years and a mean APACHE II score of 28 (6.0). Patients in the postprotocol group were primarily men (54% [29/54]) and had a mean age of 52 (18.0) years and a mean APACHE II score of 27 (6.4). Implementation of the sepsis protocol resulted in a greater percentage of patients receiving timely antibiotic therapy (ie, within 4.5 hours of refractory shock; 85% [46/54] vs 56% [36/64]; P = 0.001) and adequate fluid resuscitation (72% [39/54] vs 31% [20/64]; P 4.5 hours (odds ratio [OR] = 5.54; 95% CI, 1.91–16.07; P < 0.002), vasopressor duration in days (OR = 1.27; 95% CI, 1.01–1.59; P = 0.037), APACHE II score (OR = 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.24; P = 0.003), and type of infection (community vs nosocomial, OR = 0.18; 95% CI, 0.05–0.61; P = 0.006) as significant predictors. The 28-day mortality decreased from 61% (39/64) to 33% (18/54) after implementation of the protocol (P = 0.004). Conclusion: Implementation of a sepsis protocol emphasizing early administration of antibiotic therapy and adequate fluid resuscitation was associated with improved clinical outcomes and lower 28-day mortality in patients with fluid-refractory septic shock at this institution.
Full-field swept-source phase microscopy

We present a full-field phase microscopy technique for quantitative nanoscale surface profiling of samples in reflection. This technique utilizes swept-source optical coherence tomography in a full-field common path interferometer for phase-stable cross-sectional acquisition without scanning. Subwavelength variations in surface sample features are measured without interference from spurious reflections by processing the interferometric phase at a selected depth plane, providing a 1.3 nm stability for high signal-to-noise ratio surface features. Nanoscale imaging was demonstrated by measuring the location of receptor sites on a DNA assay biochip and the surface topography of erythrocytes in a blood smear.
Materials Advances for Next-Generation Ingestible Electronic Medical Devices

Electronic medical implants have collectively transformed the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, but have many inherent limitations. Electronic implants require invasive surgeries, operate in challenging microenvironments, and are susceptible to bacterial infection and persistent inflammation. Novel materials and nonconventional device fabrication strategies may revolutionize the way electronic devices are integrated with the body. Ingestible electronic devices offer many advantages compared with implantable counterparts that may improve the diagnosis and treatment of pathologies ranging from gastrointestinal infections to diabetes. This review summarizes current technologies and highlights recent materials advances. Specific focus is dedicated to next-generation materials for packaging, circuit design, and on-board power supplies that are benign, nontoxic, and even biodegradable. Future challenges and opportunities are also highlighted.
Stem cells, cancer, and cancer stem cells

Stem cell biology has come of age. Unequivocal proof that stem cells exist in the haematopoietic system has given way to the prospective isolation of several tissue-specific stem and progenitor cells, the initial delineation of their properties and expressed genetic programmes, and the beginnings of their utility in regenerative medicine. Perhaps the most important and useful property of stem cells is that of self-renewal. Through this property, striking parallels can be found between stem cells and cancer cells: tumours may often originate from the transformation of normal stem cells, similar signalling pathways may regulate self-renewal in stem cells and cancer cells, and cancer cells may include 'cancer stem cells' - rare cells with indefinite potential for self-renewal that drive tumorigenesis.
Imaging Upconversion from NaYF 4 :Er:Yb Nanoparticles on Au and Ag Nanostructured Substrates

Near-infrared-to-visible upconversion materials have many promising applications, including use in luminescent solar concentrators, in next-generation displays, and as biological labels. NaYF4 nano-particles doped with Yb and Er exhibit efficient upconversion and are easily deployed in these applications. It is known that a rough metal surface may increase the yield of fluorescence of a nearby fluorophore, by local field enhancement due to plasmonic resonances, and by modification of the radiative rate(s) of the fluorophore. Thus, properly chosen metallic nanostructures can potentially increase the upconversion efficiency of lanthanide-doped nanoparticles, yet the optimal design of these nanostructures is still an active area of research. In our experiments, we use a spectroscopic imaging system to study the upconversion efficiency of NaYF4: Er3+/ Yb3+ through spatially-resolved upconversion spectra, using a custom-built scanning confocal microscope system with infra-red excitation, and wide-field fluorescence imaging. We present spectrally-resolved upconversion images of NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanoparticles on plasmonic substrates, including silver nanowires and patterned substrates of gold and silver, which show localized regions (~ 1µm) of relatively stronger intensity and modified upconversion spectra, and compare these to wide-field fluorescence images of samples with and without plasmonic substrates.
Wendell Berry and the politics of homecoming: place, memory and time in Jayber Crow

In author Wendell Berry’s novel, the life-story of Jayber Crow is a journey of homecoming, progressing through three stages of nativity, estrangement, and restoration. These phases correspond and interact with philosophical motifs that can be traced throughout Berry’s corpus, but reaching their fullest expression in Jayber Crow. “Place” is the first motif, and facilitates a discussion of Berry’s contemporary agrarian vision of community. “Memory,” the second motif, becomes effective during the self’s estrangement, and enables its return to authentic community. Memory is discussed in the context of Berry’s critique of modernity. The final motif, “Time,” is important for its implications for membership, which is Berry’s ideal of the authentic community. This concept of membership appears throughout the essay, having both practical political, as well as metaphysical aspects important to the discussion. Ultimately, membership informs all political associations, as well as pointing to the proper relationship between man and creation. In this light, Berry’s politics of homecoming offers unique and bold insights into the nature and purpose of human society. His political vision is directed toward the restoration of health to the human soul, the reunification of authentic communities, and ultimately, the reconciliation of all mankind to the divine order of creation.
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation for refractory ascites: post-TIPS gradient best predictor of clinical outcome

tively acquired database of patients undergoing either Y TARE with resin microspheres or TACE for metastatic hepatic NET over a 5-year period was performed. Patients treated with hepatotoxic systemic chemotherapy were excluded. Collected data included liver/spleen volumes on CT/MR, platelet count, INR, albumin, total protein, AST, ALT, bilirubin, and creatinine before therapy and approximately 1-3 and 4-6 months after. Results: Of 47 patients, 22 patients (11M; age 62 12 y) underwent TARE and 25 patients (16M; age 58 12 y) underwent TACE. The two groups had similar baseline demographics, pretreatment spleen and liver volumes and lab data. After TARE, mean splenic volume showed a non-significant increase of 9% at 3 months post treatment (p1⁄40.3), which increased to 15% at 6 months compared with the pretreatment volumes (p1⁄40.008). Mean liver volume showed no significant change at 3 months post treatment (avg. decrease of 1%) but showed a significant decrease of 11% at 6 months (p1⁄40.01). After TACE, at 1-3 months there was transient increase in mean splenic volume of 40% (p1⁄40.03). Splenic volume subsequently normalized at the 4-6 month follow-up to a 4% increase from baseline (p1⁄40.6). Mean liver volume showed a decreasing trend of 8% at 3 months (p1⁄40.6) and 10% at 6 months (p1⁄40.08). There was a significant 12.8% decrease in platelet count at 6 months in the TACE group (p1⁄40.02) and a trend toward a decreased platelet count of 12.6% in the TARE group at 6 months (p1⁄40.1). Changes in all other serologic data were not statistically significant. Conclusion: In chemo-naive patients with metastatic NET both TACE and TARE appear to cause splenic enlargement although the change appears to be earlier and more transient after TACE. With the exception of a decrease in platelet values, there appears to be no significant change in major markers of hepatic injury/function within 6 months after either treatment.
Propagation of eigenmodes and transfer amplitudes in optical waveguide structures

A method of transfer amplitudes suitable for modeling and simulation in integrated optical circuits is presented. The method is based on vectorial formulation of electrodynamics: distributions and propagation of electromagnetic fields in optical circuits are described by equivalent surface sources. This approach permits a division of complex optical waveguide structures into sets of primitive blocks and to separately calculate the transfer amplitude for each block. The transfer amplitude of the entire optical system is represented by a convolution of transfer amplitudes of its primitive blocks. Diffraction in slab regions is taken into account using known propagation functions. It is shown that the concept of a normalized transverse eigenfunction of the diffracted field is very useful in calculations of transfer amplitudes. The crucial role of transverse Bloch modes in propagation through multiwaveguide structures is emphasized. With this method, the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of an arbitrary waveguide structure can be obtained with high accuracy. The general approach is illustrated with the transfer amplitude and efficiency calculations for a star coupler and a waveguide grating router.
Contextual Modulation of Target Saliency

The most popular algorithms for object detection require the use of exhaustive spatial and scale search procedures. In such approaches, an object is defined by means of local features. In this paper we show that including contextual information in object detection procedures provides an efficient way of cutting down the need for exhaustive search. We present results with real images showing that the proposed scheme is able to accurately predict likely object classes, locations and sizes.
Investigation on the stability of absorbing boundary conditions for the time-domain finite-difference method

Due to the instability of absorbing boundary conditions, numerical solutions spuriously grow as computations proceed; sooner or later, numerical errors override actual solutions. It has been found that the higher the order of the absorbing boundary condition applied, the stronger the instability. In the present work, it is shown that the instability originates from the computer roundoff error in the process of calculating boundary values. This error is further accumulated as the computation goes on. Numerical examples illustrate the instability caused by boundary conditions, and examine the way to suppress the instability. >
Income and Substitution Effects in the Linder Theorem

1. The modified Linder Theorem, 630. — 2. The role of the income effect, 631. —3. Concluding comment, 632.
Dealing with ghosts: Managing the user experience of autonomic computing

Although the goal of autonomic computing is to make systems that work continuously, robustly, and simply, no one imagines that people can be excluded entirely. Whether it is end users getting their jobs done by interacting with autonomic systems or system administrators maintaining, monitoring, and debugging large-scale systems with autonomic components, humans will always be part of the computational process. As autonomic systems become part of the computing infrastructure, new demands will be placed on all users. How do users understand what autonomic systems are trying to do? How should systems portray themselves to users? How can we design the experience of autonomic computing to amplify user capabilities? This paper presents an analysis of the user experience challenges of autonomic computing and discusses design requirements for user interaction. Our main point is that autonomic computing makes effective design of the user experience even more challenging and critical than it is now. The reason is that autonomic actions taken by the system must be understandable by the user and capable of review, revision, and alteration. Because such actions are often made autonomously, a heavy burden is placed on the ability of the system to explain what it is doing and why.
Transitions and the relaxation spectrograph: Poly(oxymethylene)

In place of directly assaying the relative rebound height of a ball from a polymeric sample, the passage time of the ball between fixed points is used in a much more precise version of the poor man's relaxation spectrograph. Poly(oxymethylene) has a sharp transition at — 74.8°C which progressively becomes broader and moves to — 39.0°C as the polymer is pretreated at 70°C and exposed to 330 nm light for times up to 1038 ksec. A second transition, broad and shallow, is seen in the range 104 to 124°C and is unaffected by the pretreatment. This is attended by a slight decrease in density, proportional to the time held at 70°C, at the rate of −3.54 × 10−9 g/cm3 sec.
Rescaling China-Brazil Investment Relations in the Strategic Minerals Sector

China’s overseas activities during the first decade of the 21st century were characterized by state-directed investments, while the Brazilian government was often portrayed as lacking a strategic policy toward the emerging Asian power. Times have changed. In recent years China’s activities in Brazil’s mineral sector have become more fragmented, while Brazilian subnational entities have assumed greater prominence in directing transnational investment flows. Based on research in both countries between 2011 and 2014, this article presents three developments that help explain the changing scales of China-Brazil mining relations.
TMCTS for gate dielectric in thin film transistors

The use of the liquid source tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCTS) for gate dielectric deposition in low-temperature polysilicon thin film transistor (TFT) processes is investigated. TMCTS was reacted with O 2 in an LPCVD furnace at 580°C to form a gate dielectric. For comparison, a low temperature oxide (LTO) was deposited as a gate dielectric using SiH 4 −O 2 LPCVD at 450°C. Capacitance and charge pumping measurements indicate fewer interface states for TMCTS gate dielectric. Both NMOS and PMOS TFTs show comparable or superior performance with TMCTS oxide. Post-deposition annealing has less effect on TMCTS gate oxides. Although TMCTS gate dielectrics appear slightly more susceptible to damage in biastemperature stress tests, TFTs with TMCTS gate oxides still retain better performance after stressing.
Controlled and uncontrolled studies of phosphodiesterase III inhibitors in contemporary cardiovascular medicine

Abstract The phosphodiesterase inhibitors are new inotrope vasodilators that have beneficial hemodynamic effects in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). The most extensively studied agents are milrinone and enoximone. Both drugs have clearly been shown in numerous studies to improve hemodynamics in patients with CHF when given acutely by either the intravenous or oral route. In long-term studies, milrinone has been shown to have sustained beneficial hemodynamic effects during active treatment. Effects on exercise tolerance have been less clear-cut in several uncontrolled trials, but a recent large-scale randomized trial does show sustained improvement in exercise performance. When milrinone is withdrawn after long-term therapy, some studies show worsened cardiac performance; the exact cause remains ill-defined, but could be due to deterioration of baseline ventricular function or to “rebound.” Both uncontrolled studies and a large recently reported randomized trial show that the hemodynamic response to readministration of milrinone after withdrawal is well-preserved, i.e., no tolerance is observed. Studies of enoximone show that its acute hemodynamic effects are similar to those of milrinone, but its long-term efficacy, using both hemodynamic and exercise end points, is less clear-cut, and no large-scale randomized trials of enoximone therapy have yet been reported. The studies of both these agents performed thus far indicate that the phosphodiesterase inhibitors have considerable promise for both acute and long-term treatment of patients with CHF.
Estrogen and CCK1 receptor modification of μ-opioid receptor binding in the cortex of female rats

Cholecystokinin (CCK) in the nervous system has effects opposite to those of opioids. However, the mechanism by which CCK opposes the effect of opioids at the receptor or cellular level is still unknown. In the brain, distributions of CCK receptors and opioid receptors have been demonstrated to overlap. The present study was undertaken to determine the mechanism of CCK-opioid interactions in the cortex of ovariectomized rats. Furthermore, because estrogen is a powerful regulator of CCK and opioid activity, we examined whether estrogen state also modulates the interactions of these neuropeptides. mu-Opioid (MOP) receptor binding was examined in cortical membranes that were preincubated with CCK-8S and CCK receptor agonist and antagonist followed with 3H-DAMGO. Pharmacological results revealed that CCK-8S suppressed 3H-DAMGO binding in cortical membranes of ovariectomized rats. The same result was obtained using a CCK1 receptor agonist (JMV-180), whereas a CCK2 receptor agonist (CCK-4) failed to suppress 3H-DAMGO binding. Antagonism of the CCK1 receptor by JMV-179 blocked both CCK-8S and JMV-180 suppression of 3H-DAMGO binding. Furthermore, estrogen treatment to female rats resulted in a suppression of 3H-DAMGO binding in cortical membranes. These results demonstrate an estrogen regulation of the MOP receptor and a protein-protein interaction between CCK1 receptor and MOP receptor.
Respiratory symptoms and lung function abnormalities related to work at a flavouring manufacturing facility

Objectives To better understand respiratory symptoms and lung function in flavouring manufacturing workers. Methods We offered a questionnaire and lung function testing to the current workforce of a flavouring manufacturing facility that had transitioned away from diacetyl and towards substitutes in recent years. We examined symptoms, spirometric parameters and diffusing capacity measurements by exposure variables, including facility tenure and time spent daily in production areas. We used linear and logistic regression to develop final models adjusted for age and smoking status. Results A total of 367 (93%) current workers participated. Shortness of breath was twice as common in those with tenure ≥7 years (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.6). Other chest symptoms were associated with time spent daily in production. Participants who spent ≥1 h daily in production areas had twice the odds of any spirometric abnormality (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.1 to 5.3) and three times the odds of low diffusing capacity (OR 2.8; 95% CI 0.9 to 9.4) than other participants. Mean spirometric parameters were significantly lower in those with tenure ≥7 years and those who spent ≥1 h daily in production. Mean diffusing capacity parameters were significantly lower in those with tenure ≥7 years. Differences in symptoms and lung function could not be explained by age, smoking status or employment at another flavouring plant. Conclusions Symptoms and lung function findings were consistent with undiagnosed or subclinical obliterative bronchiolitis and associated with workplace exposures. Further efforts to lower exposures to flavouring chemicals, including diacetyl substitutes, are warranted.
A study by in situ hybridization of the stage of appearance and disappearance of the transition protein 2 and the mitochondrial capsule seleno-protein mRNAs during spermatogenesis in the mouse.

Transition protein 2 is a basic chromosomal protein which functions as an intermediate in the replacement of histones by protamines, and the mitochondrial capsule seleno-protein is a constituent of the outer membrane of mitochondria which functions in constructing the mitochondrial sheath surrounding the flagellum. To determine precisely the stages in spermatogenesis when these mRNAs are present, paraffin sections of sexually mature testes were hybridized to 35S- and 3H-labeled antisense RNAs and exposed to autoradiographic emulsion. The cell types hybridizing to probes in situ were determined by staining with hematoxylin and periodic acid Schiff. The in situ hybridizations reveal that the transition protein 2 mRNA is first detectable in step 7 round spermatids, persists at high levels through step 13, and is degraded before step 14. By contrast, the mitochondrial capsule seleno-protein mRNA is first detected in step 3 round spermatids and persists at high levels until step 16, the end of spermiogenesis. The mitochondrial capsule seleno-protein mRNA appears to be expressed only in haploid cells since low levels could not be detected in Northern blots of RNA from pachytene primary spermatocytes from 18 day prepubertal mice. These results demonstrate that the transition protein 2 and mitochondrial capsule seleno-protein mRNAs are transcribed and degraded at different times during the haploid phase of spermatogenesis. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reducing shame in a game that predicts HIV risk reduction for young adult men who have sex with men: a randomized trial delivered nationally over the web

Introduction : Men who have sex with men (MSM) often face socially sanctioned disapproval of sexual deviance from the heterosexual ‘‘normal.’’ Such sexual stigma can be internalized producing a painful affective state (i.e., shame). Although shame (e.g., addiction) can predict risk-taking (e.g., alcohol abuse), sexual shame’s link to sexual risk-taking is unclear. Socially Optimized Learning in Virtual Environments (SOLVE) was designed to reduce MSM’s sexual shame, but whether it does so, and if that reduction predicts HIV risk reduction, is unclear. To test if at baseline, MSM’s reported past unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) is related to shame; MSM’s exposure to SOLVE compared to a wait-list control (WLC) condition reduces MSM’s shame; and shamereduction mediates the link between WLC condition and UAI risk reduction. Methods : HIV-negative, self-identified African American, Latino or White MSM, aged 1824 years, who had had UAI with a non-primary/casual partner in the past three months were recruited for a national online study. Eligible MSM were computer randomized to either WLC or a web-delivered SOLVE. Retained MSM completed baseline measures (e.g., UAI in the past three months; current level of shame) and, in the SOLVE group, viewed at least one level of the game. At the end of the first session, shame was measured again. MSM completed follow-up UAI measures three months later. All data from 921 retained MSM (WLC condition, 484; SOLVE condition, 437) were analyzed, with missing data multiply imputed. Results : At baseline, MSM reporting more risky sexual behaviour reported more shame (rs=0.21; p <0.001). MSM in the SOLVE intervention reported more shame reduction ( M =- 0.08) than MSM in the control condition ( M =0.07; t (919)=4.24; p<0.001). As predicted, the indirect effect was significant (point estimate -0.10, 95% bias-corrected CI [-0.01 to -0.23] such that participants in the SOLVE treatment condition reported greater reductions in shame, which in turn predicted reductions in risky sexual behaviour at follow-up. The direct effect, however, was not significant. Conclusions : SOLVE is the first intervention to: (1) significantly reduce shame for MSM; and (2) demonstrate that shame-reduction, due to an intervention, is predictive of risk (UAI) reduction over time. Keywords : stigma; shame; intervention; serious games; SOLVE; HIV; AIDS; sexual risk-taking; men who have sex with men (MSM). (Published: 13 November 2013) Citation : Christensen JL et al. Journal of the International AIDS Society 2013, 16 (Suppl 2):18716 http://www.jiasociety.org/index.php/jias/article/view/18716 | http://dx.doi.org/10.7448/IAS.16.3.18716
Blood group differentiation using fluorescent antibodies.

SummaryHuman antisera against isologous blood groups have been combined with fluorescent chemicals and used in the study of red cell-antiserum reactions. The decrease in fluorescence of the antiserum measured after addition of red cells is used as an indication of the amount of antibody combining with the cells. By this technic, cells have been differentiated by ABO group, subgroup and Rh type.
Reduction Intensity of Sterile Bouillon Dye Reduction Controlled by Electrode Measurements.

The reduction potential which may be attained under anaerobic conditions in sterile bouillon has been reported1 as reaching an apparent equilibrium at EH—0.085 to 0.095 volt at pH 7.5.Dubos2 has found, however, that the reduction intensity of sterile broth is sufficient to bring about the reduction of dyes more positive in Eo value than indigo disulfonate, and at least the partial reduction of this dye. This corresponds to a potential considerably more negative than those reported for electrode measurement. Simultaneous measurement of dye reduction and electrode potential is necessary to explain the discrepancy and to throw light on the possible catalytic effect of the dyes. This is the subject of the present paper.The procedure for measurement of the electrode potentials has been described elsewhere.1 In the present work a quadrant electrometer was used instead of a galvanometer in order to minimize polarization of the electrodes. Sterility of the bouillon was maintained throughout. The bouillon represen...