cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of giant internal carotid artery aneurysms.

n this issue of WORLD NEUROSURGERY, Ishishita et al. present a series of 38 patients with large or giant internal I carotid aneurysms treated with high flow extracranial-tointracranial bypass with a mean follow-up period of 46.7 months (range 8e170 months). They report an aneurysm obliteration rate of 100% with 0 recanalizations and 0 ruptures during the followup period. The graft patency rate was 94.7%. Complications included two transient neurological deficits, both completely resolved, an emergent revision for graft kinking, and an epidural abscess requiring surgical debridement.
Neural systems for sentence processing in stuttering

The role of neurolinguistic factors in stuttering was investigated by determining whether individuals who stutter display atypical neural functions for language processing, even with no speech prod...
Base mismatch-specific endonuclease activity in extracts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract An endonuclease activity (called MS-nicking) for all possible base mismatches has been detected in the extracts of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. DNAs with twelve possible base mismatches at one defined position are cleaved at different efficiencies. DNA fragments with A/G, G/A, T/G, G/T, G/G, or A/A mismatches are nicked with greater efficiencies than C/T, T/C, C/A, and C/C. DNA with an A/C or T/T mismatch is nicked with an intermediate efficiency. The MS-nicking is only on one particular DNA strand, and this strand disparity is not controlled by methylation, strand break, or nature of the mismatch. The nicks have been mapped at 2-3 places at second, third, and fourth phosphodiester bonds 5' to the mispaired base; from the time course study, the fourth phosphodiester bond probably is the primary incision site. This activity may be involved in mismatch repair during genetic recombination.
A characterization of knot polynomials

IN [7] Seifert presents a method for constructing a knot in the three-sphere S3, by imbedding a surface (with a single boundary component) in S” with prescribed self-linking characteristics. This technique was used to characterize the Alexander polynomial of a knot, in an algebraic manner. But the Alexander polynomial is only the first of a sequence of polynomials which arise as knot invariants, and it is natural to consider the problem of characterizing them algebraically. Seifert’s construction does not seem delicate enough to carry out this task.f It is the aim of this note to present a new technique for constructing knots, also based on a prescription of linking information, which can resolve the problem. The techniques to be presented here generalize to give similar characterizations of suitably defined invariants of higher-dimensional knots. This entire subject will be dealt with in a future paper; also see [4, Part II].
Differences in community and academic practice patterns for newly diagnosed myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients

Purpose The heterogeneous nature of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) complicates therapeutic decision making, particularly for newly diagnosed disease. Factors impacting the treatment plan in this early period of disease course are poorly defined. This study determines whether therapeutic choices for newly diagnosed MDS are associated with location of treatment (community or academic), prognostic risk category, and patient age.
Competitive Sorption between 17α-Ethinyl Estradiol and Naphthalene/Phenanthrene by Sediments

Steroid hormones such as 17alpha-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) have been frequently detected at various levels in surface waters downstream of many municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Their fate, transport, and environmental risk are currently not well characterized. This study examined the competitive sorption between EE2 and two aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, phenanthrene and naphthalene, by three sediments. The sorption isotherms of phenanthrene and naphthalene were measured at 22 +/- 0.5 degrees C using a batch technique with initial aqueous concentrations (Co) of EE2 at 0, 100, 500, and 2000 microg/L. Competitive sorption varied between EE2 and phenanthrene or naphthalene on the sediments. The linearity of the naphthalene sorption isotherm was found to increase as a function of the cosorbate EE2 concentration from 0 to 2000 microg/L. The single-point naphthalene KD value at equilibrium aqueous-phase naphthalene concentration (Ce) of 25 microg/L was reduced by 19-26% and 27-48% at Co (EE2) = 100 and 500 microg/L, respectively. The sorption of phenanthrene at its low Ce range was similarly affected by EE2, but to a much less extent, possibly because phenanthrene is more hydrophobic than EE2. At high phenanthrene Ce, no measurable change was observed even at CO (EE2) = 2000 microg/L. While the effect of naphthalene on EE2 sorption was insignificant, the competitive effect on the sorption of EE2 by phenanthrene was very significant at low EE2 concentrations. The measured single-point EE2 KD values decreased as much as 35% as the phenanthrene Ce increases from below 10 microg/L to slightly above 100 microg/L. This study suggests that the fate and transport of emerging pollutants such as EE2 could be affected in the presence of more hydrophobic pollutants in aquatic systems.
Metabolism of chimyl alcohol and phosphatidyl ethanolamine in the rat brain.

Following intracerebral injection of14C-phosphatidylethanolamine and3H-chimyl alcohol into 18 day old rats, the ethanolamine phosphoglycerides were isolated and analyzed. The14C and3H activities in the dimethyl acetals derived from alkenyl acyl ethanolamine phosphoglycerides and in the glyceryl ethers derived from the alkyl acyl ethanolamine phosphoglycerides were measured. The absence of14C in the dimethyl acetals indicates that phosphatidyl ethanolamine is not transformed into phosphatidal ethanolamine under these circumstances. The increase with time of the3H content of the glyceryl ethers and dimethyl acetals indicates that chimyl alcohol was a precursor of both types of phospholipids.
Carbonate-associated sulfate as a proxy for lake level fluctuations: a proof of concept for Walker Lake, Nevada

Closed-basin alkaline lakes record climate change particularly well because they generally contain a sedimentary record that is high in carbonate mineral content from which climate proxies can be determined. Various approaches are used to estimate paleo-lake level and volume (δ18O, dating of “shoreline” tufas, biotic proxies, etc.), yet all carry certain caveats that limit their usefulness. Ultimately, the relationship between the chemistry of the lake, the volume of the lake, and the response of the proxy will determine how well a proxy serves a paleolimnologic purpose. Here, we discuss the use of carbonate-associated sulfate (CAS), the sulfate contained within the lattice of carbonate minerals that precipitate in lake water, as a proxy for lake water chemistry and by extension, lake volume. Walker Lake, an alkaline closed-basin lake in western Nevada, has experienced a well-documented lake-level decline since 1880 and provides a test case for CAS as a lake-level proxy. By extracting the CAS from sedimentary carbonate and tufas that have been age dated, we can relate these values to lake sulfate content based on historical or other proxy data. We confirm that CAS tracks lake sulfate. Our study of sedimentary carbonates demonstrates that CAS is a linear function of lake sulfate through a range of 10–25 mM, which corresponds to a change in lake level of 30 m. As confirmation of the CAS technique, we analyzed a stromatolitic tufa dated using AMS 14C. The CAS trend in the stromatolite suggested that it grew during a lake-level decline, a result consistent with other proxy data. Finally, laboratory experiments were conducted that demonstrate CAS is monotonically correlated with sulfate concentration and that precipitation kinetics are not likely a major control on CAS in alkaline lakes, but that ionic strength of the solution exerts a strong control on CAS.
Modeling of Glycerol-3-Phosphate Transporter Suggests a Potential ‘Tilt’ Mechanism involved in its Function

Many major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporters have similar 12-transmembrane alpha-helical topologies with two six-helix halves connected by a long loop. In humans, these transporters participate in key physiological processes and are also, as in the case of members of the organic anion transporter (OAT) family, of pharmaceutical interest. Recently, crystal structures of two bacterial representatives of the MFS family--the glycerol-3-phosphate transporter (GlpT) and lac-permease (LacY)--have been solved and, because of assumptions regarding the high structural conservation of this family, there is hope that the results can be applied to mammalian transporters as well. Based on crystallography, it has been suggested that a major conformational "switching" mechanism accounts for ligand transport by MFS proteins. This conformational switch would then allow periodic changes in the overall transporter configuration, resulting in its cyclic opening to the periplasm or cytoplasm. Following this lead, we have modeled a possible "switch" mechanism in GlpT, using the concept of rotation of protein domains as in the DynDom program17 and membranephilic constraints predicted by the MAPAS program.(23) We found that the minima of energies of intersubunit interactions support two alternate positions consistent with their transport properties. Thus, for GlpT, a "tilt" of 9 degrees -10 degrees rotation had the most favorable energetics of electrostatic interaction between the two halves of the transporter; moreover, this confirmation was sufficient to suggest transport of the ligand across the membrane. We conducted steered molecular dynamics simulations of the GlpT-ligand system to explore how glycerol-3-phosphate would be handled by the "tilted" structure, and obtained results generally consistent with experimental mutagenesis data. While biochemical data remain most consistent with a single-site alternating access model, our results raise the possibility that, while the "rocker switch" may apply to certain MFS transporters, intermediate "tilted" states may exist under certain circumstances or as transitional structures. Although wet lab experimental confirmation is required, our results suggest that transport mechanisms in this transporter family should probably not be assumed to be conserved simply based on standard structural homology considerations. Furthermore, steered molecular dynamics elucidating energetic interactions of ligands with amino acid residues in an appropriately modeled transporter may have predictive value in understanding the impact of mutations and/or polymorphisms on transporter function.
Name-Based Cluster Sampling

An innovative method is proposed for generating valid national samples of online e-mail addresses that are proportionate to the population. Although multistage cluster sampling is not new, this particular application using first names and/or surnames has not been previously published or presented. This article outlines the method in detail and presents a number of advantages over other forms of samples. Limitations are also discussed.
Pricing Engineering Services

Technology has an incredible impact on the pricing and profitability of engineering services. Historically, pricing for engineering services has been based on labor-hours. However, some in the industry have experienced at least a tenfold increase in efficiency because of computer-aided design and the development of three-dimensional computer models. Consequently, the labor-hours spent on a project no longer adequately represent the value of the engineering services rendered. There is a need for engineers, designers, and consultants to revise old, and develop new, pricing strategies. The writers discuss current and foreseeable issues and constraints facing engineers today. On April 16, 2003, the ASCE San Francisco Younger Member Forum, (YMF) met to discuss the topic of pricing for engineering and consulting services. The presentation, discussion, and conclusions as well as a discussion of the current state of the marketplace and future technical developments in the industry are included in this paper. Pric...
Causes of low-frequency ground motion amplification in the Salt Lake Basin: the case of the vertically incident P wave

SUMMARY We use simulations of 1-D, 2-D and 3-D wave propagation to identify the major causes of low-frequency (0.2-1.2 Hz) seismic amplification in the Salt Lake Basin. For a simple two-layer basin model and a vertically incident P wave, we examine how amplification is influenced by mode conversion, surface-wave generation, impedance effects at the sediment-bedrock boundary, resonance, and 2-D and 3-D focusing and scattering. Results show the following. (1) Approximately 30 per cent of the total cumulative kinetic energy at the Salt Lake Valley floor consists of shear-wave energy generated by P-to-S converted waves and surface waves. The surface waves appear to be generated primarily along the edges of the basin, and the instantaneous SIP energy ratio in the sedimentary layer is as large as 3. (2) The largest peak particle velocity at the free surface is due to the direct P wave. The value is roughly predicted by the transmission coefficient of 1.46 at the sediment-bedrock interface, i.e. a normally incident P wave in the stiff bedrock will be magnified in amplitude by 1.46 times as it enters the softer sediments. (3) The low-frequency elastic response of the two-layer Salt Lake Basin model is characterized by surface-wave propagation and resonance from vertically interfering waves. (4) The peak particle velocities, cumulative kinetic energies, and mean spectral magnitudes computed from the 2-D (1-D) synthetics underestimate the values computed from the 3-D synthetics by up to 40 per cent (48 per cent) along a profile above the deepest part of the basin model. The 2-D and 1-D signal duration times underestimate the 3-D values by up to 59 and 94 per cent, respectively. Our results suggest that 2-D basin modelling may yield good approximations to the 3-D ground motion amplification above the deepest part of the Salt Lake Basin. Our results show that several mechanisms contribute significantly to lowfrequency seismic amplification in the semi-consolidated sediments of the Salt Lake Basin-P-to-S wave conversion, surface-wave generation, impedance effects at the sediment-bedrock boundary, and resonance. Future attempts to estimate ground motion amplification in the Salt Lake Basin should therefore account for the amplification effects of all these mechanisms.
Avian diversity and West Nile virus: testing associations between biodiversity and infectious disease risk

The emergence of several high profile infectious diseases in recent years has focused attention on our need to understand the ecological factors contributing to the spread of infectious diseases. West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease that was first detected in the United States in 1999. The factors accounting for variation in the prevalence of WNV are poorly understood, but recent ideas suggesting links between high biodiversity and reduced vector-borne disease risk may help account for distribution patterns of this disease. Since wild birds are the primary reservoir hosts for WNV, we tested associations between passerine (Passeriform) bird diversity, non-passerine (all other orders) bird diversity and virus infection rates in mosquitoes and humans to examine the extent to which bird diversity is associated with WNV infection risk. We found that non-passerine species richness (number of non-passerine species) was significantly negatively correlated with both mosquito and human infection rates, whereas there was no significant association between passerine species richness and any measure of infection risk. Our findings suggest that non-passerine diversity may play a role in dampening WNV amplification rates in mosquitoes, minimizing human disease risk.
Enzymatic determination of citrate in detergent products

A routine analytical procedure employing enzyme methodology has been developed for the determination of the citrate content of commercial detergent products. The enzyme system used is based upon the selective cleavage of citrate by citrate lyase (citrate oxaloacetate lyase; EC 4.1.3.6). One of the products, oxaloacetate, is reduced to malate by malic dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) with the simultaneous oxidation of reduced β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide to β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, oxidized form. The course of the reaction is measured spectrophotometrically. The decrease in absorbance at 340 nm caused by the formation of β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, oxidized form, is directly proportional to the concentration of citrate. The accuracy of the method which was determined by recovering citrate spikes into citrate-free detergent formulations is excellent. The precision of the method (±1.4% [two standard deviations relative to the average]) is adequate for an analysis of this type. Several commercial detergent products containing 10–20% trisodium citrate were assayed by this method.
Steady-state pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of immediate-release and extended-release formulations of lamotrigine in elderly epilepsy patients: Use of stable isotope methodology

A classic 2-period crossover bioavailability study was conducted to evaluate the relative and absolute bioavailability of immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (XR) lamotrigine formulations under steady-state conditions in elderly patients with epilepsy. On treatment days, each subject's morning dose (IR or XR lamotrigine) was replaced with an intravenous 50-mg dose of stable-labeled lamotrigine. Lamotrigine concentrations were measured at 13 points between 0 and 96 hours. XR and IR lamotrigine formulations were similar with respect to steady-state area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 hours (AUC0-24 h ss), average concentration (Cavg, ss), and trough concentration (Cτ, ss). A 33% lower fluctuation in concentrations with XR was observed relative to IR lamotrigine. The time to peak concentration (Tmax, ss) was delayed for XR lamotrigine (3.0 vs 1.3 hours) with lower peak concentration (15% lower). The absolute bioavailability for IR and XR formulations was 73% and 92%, respectively. The formulations were bioequivalent with respect to AUC0-24 h ss, Cτ, ss, and Cavg, ss indicating that it may be possible to switch directly from IR to XR lamotrigine without changes in the total daily dose.
Assessment of Colon Cancer Literacy in screening colonoscopy patients: a validation study.

Background Few, if any, instruments assess disease-specific health literacy in colon cancer patients. We aimed to validate the Assessment of Colon Cancer Literacy (ACCL) compared with a standard health literacy test, the Newest Vital Sign (NVS). Materials and Methods A convenience sample of screening colonoscopy patients was surveyed. General health literacy was assessed with the NVS and colon cancer literacy with the ACCL. Contingency table analysis was performed. Results are frequency (proportion) or mean. Results Sixty-one subjects completed our survey, mean age 64 ± 9 y, 33 (54%) were women, 28 (46%) had a college degree, 38 (62%) had prior colonoscopy, and 19 (31%) worked in healthcare. The sensitivity and specificity of NVS to identify limited colon cancer literacy was 45.7% and 86.7%, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity of ACCL to identify limited general health literacy was 91.3% and 34.2%, respectively. Conclusions The ACCL is a valid, sensitive measure of health literacy. Furthermore, given its focus on clinically relevant content, this instrument may facilitate discussion of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis with colon cancer patients. ACCL is a novel, valid health literacy instrument that may aid gastroenterologists, colorectal surgeons, and medical oncologists in optimizing patient education.
The developmental psychopathology of self-injurious behavior: Compensatory regulation in posttraumatic adaptation

This article utilizes a developmental psychopathology framework to explicate one pathway, originating in childhood traumatic experience, toward the development of self-injurious behavior (SIB). The descriptive psychopathology of SIB is summarized first, followed by an overview of theoretical interpretations of SIB within psychoanalytic, neo-analytic, behavioral, and biological paradigms. Building on these empirical and theoretical foundations, a developmental psychopathology framework is used to model the development of SIB in the aftermath of childhood traumatic experience, particularly maltreatment. In this model, maltreatment undermines positive adaptation at motivational, attitudinal, instrumental, emotional, and/or relational levels of competence. In turn, vulnerabilities in the child's adaptive resources necessitate the application of alternative regulatory and relational strategies, such as self-injury, to the negotiation of contemporaneous and prospective developmental issues. The article concludes with a discussion of the empirical and clinical implications of a developmental understanding of SIB as a compensatory regulatory strategy in posttraumatic adaptation.
Comparison of historical and current forest surveys for detection of homogenization and mesophication of Minnesota forests

Intense harvesting and slash fires during the late 1800s and early 1900s led to homogenization throughout the Great Lakes region via the conversion from tamarack, pine, and spruce forests to aspen forests, which are supported by the forest products industry. Subsequently, mesophication occurred in the eastern United States due to fire suppression, transforming oak woodlands to mixed mesophytic forests. We explored both homogenization and mesophication at a regional scale by quantifying changes in community composition and density between historical General Land Office survey points and current USDA Forest Analysis and Inventory plots for Minnesota’s Laurentian Mixed and Eastern Broadleaf Forest provinces. We used the Morisita plotless density estimator and applied corrections for surveyor bias to estimate density for historical forests and we used known densities of FIA plots to predict current densities with random forests, an ensemble regression tree method, and terrain and soil predictor variables. Of the 43 ecological units used in the analysis, only one current community was similar to its historical counterpart. Within the Laurentian Mixed Forest province, forest density of primarily mature aspen stands is reduced slightly today compared to the tamarack-dominated forests of the past. Conversely, in the Eastern Broadleaf Forest province, forest densities have increased compared to historical pine and oak woodlands, due to increases of densely growing, fire-sensitive species. Ordinations of functional traits and structure showed substantial changes between current and historical communities as well as reduced differentiation among current communities compared to their historical counterparts. Homogenization in the Laurentian Mixed Forest is occurring by transition from early-successional to late-successional species, with associated changes in forest ecosystems, and homogenization and mesophication in the Eastern Broadleaf Forest are occurring by transition from disturbance-stabilized genera of open forest ecosystems to non-disturbance-dependent genera of dense forests. Despite different starting points of historical forest ecosystems in the Laurentian Mixed Forest and Eastern Broadleaf Forest, we found homogenization and mesophication to be interrelated in the convergence of composition and densities along a common trajectory to dense forests composed of late-successional species in Minnesota.
Identification of thyroid hormone receptors in the human larynx.

Purpose Thyroid hormone is essential for normal development, growth, and function of the majority of tissues. Among the many clinical signs associated with hypothyroidism, alterations in the voice may occur even in cases of mild thyroid failure, suggesting that the larynx is a target tissue for thyroid hormone. The objective of our study is to further understand the effects of thyroid hormone on the larynx by first identifying the presence and locations of its receptors. Methods Two human cadaveric larynges (one male and one female) were harvested, formalin-fixed, and paraffin-embedded. Sections were immunostained with antibodies reactive with the two identified thyroid hormone receptors, TR-alpha and TR-beta. The slides were examined under light microscopy. Results Both male and female specimens revealed consistent patterns of staining for thyroid hormone receptors. The staining pattern for TR-alpha included the fibrous connective tissue of the lamina propria, the cartilage, and the glandular elements. The staining pattern for TR-beta included the fibrous connective tissue of the lamina propria only. No receptors were identified in the respiratory mucosa or muscle. Conclusions Thyroid hormone receptors are present in both the male and the female human larynx. These findings imply a role for thyroid hormone within the human larynx, through both TR-alpha and TR-beta.
Use of the in-situ lesser saphenous vein bypass from popliteal to peroneal artery

Lesser saphenous vein grafts have become an important element in limb salvage surgery. Their location frequently dictates that the graft be translocated for use. This incurs the disadvantages of ischemia and increased manipulation of the graft and loses the advantages of an in-situ bypass. The use of the lesser saphenous vein as an in-situ graft for tibial artery reconstruction offers the advantages of reduced vein graft injury and improved patency. Technical requirements for an in-situ lesser saphenous bypass include that graft inflow be based on the popliteal artery, the vein length suffice to reach the target artery, and the runoff vessel have adequate size, length, and collateral connections to allow reasonable likelihood of success. The surgical approach requires the patient be in a prone position allowing a posterior longitudinal incision in the leg. Exposure of the distal portion of the peroneal artery is accomplished by separating the peroneus brevis and flexor hallucis longus. The peroneal artery is then visualized when the fibular attachments of the flexor hallucis longus are divided. Our experience indicates that the lesser saphenous vein may be successfully used as an in-situ conduit for bypass to the distal peroneal artery. Technical innovations such as flexible valvulotomes with detachable heads, and tourniquet control of bleeding facilitate the operation. A posterior approach to the popliteal and crural arteries affords the ability to use the lesser saphenous vein as an in-situ bypass.
Outcomes in children under 12 months of age undergoing adenotonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing.

Objectives/Hypothesis To evaluate the incidence, safety, and efficacy of adenotonsillectomy for the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in infants 12 months of age and younger. Study Design Case series study. Methods A retrospective review was performed of pediatric patients, 12 months of age or younger, who underwent adenotonsillectomy between January 1, 2006 and May 18, 2012 at a tertiary-care children's hospital. Results Only 25 patients were identified. Most of the patients were male, with an average age of 10.6 months. All of the patients were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) postoperatively. The average length of stay was 2.7 days (range, 1–9 days). Twelve patients were otherwise healthy infants, whereas 13 had significant comorbid conditions. Adenotonsillectomy was successful in treating OSA/SDB in all of the otherwise healthy patients and less effective in patients who had comorbid conditions (38.5%) (P = .002). Postoperative complications occurred in three of the 12 otherwise healthy patients, and in four of the 13 patients with comorbid conditions. Conclusions Adenotonsillectomy in infants under 12 months old is uncommonly performed, but is more effective in treating OSA/SDB in patients who are healthy than in those with comorbid conditions. Postoperative PICU monitoring is recommended given that the risks of postoperative complications in this young age group is high (28%) and often related to perioperative oxygen requirements. Patients should also be counseled about the potential for symptomatic adenoid regrowth, for which revision adenoidectomy may be indicated. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 123:2281–2284, 2013
Looking for Work, Searching for Workers: American Labor Markets During Industrialization . By Joshua L. Rosenbloom. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Pp. xvi, 208. $20.00, paper.

Joshua Rosenbloom provides a superb study of the operations of the U.S. labor market between the Civil War and World War I. The book weaves fascinating descriptions of the various ways in which employers and workers established connections together with clear summaries of an extensive amount of background quantitative work. Although the analysis is firmly grounded on a series of more technical statistical studies, most of the book does not emphasize econometrics. Instead, the findings are effectively summarized using graphs, simple means and telling anecdotes that illustrate the experiences of many workers. The book is beautifully written and can be used by economists, historians, and both graduate and undergraduate students to obtain a clearer understanding of how markets work.
A 3500‐year paleomagnetic record of Late Holocene secular variation from Blue Lake, Idaho

Three meters of sediment from Blue Lake, Idaho, have provided a 3500-year paleomagnetic record with low scatter and good serial correlation. Comparison of the Blue Lake record with the record from Fish Lake, Oregon, reveals differences of up to 963 years for secular variation extrema based on the separate radiocarbon chronologies for Blue Lake and Fish Lake. To achieve a common time scale, the Blue Lake record was redated using the Fish Lake ages for five major inclination extrema. With this adjusted time scale, the excellent correspondence between the declination records confirms the extremal correlations and demonstrates that paleomagnetic correlations may provide more accuracy for relative stratigraphy than radiocarbon dating. The morphological agreement between the smoothed records documents secular variation features with wavelengths of 1000-2000 years and amplitudes of 10°-20° in inclination and 20°-30° in declination. Examination of the unsmoothed records indicates that features with wavelengths of less than a few hundred years and amplitudes of less than 5° are probably noise.
Design of a GSM vocoder

Describes a UCI - Motorola joint project demonstrating SpecC methodology. Evaluates benefits of enhanced full-rate (EFR) vocoder with GSM standard for mobile telephony (GSM 06.10) and lossy voice encoding/decoding: stream of speech samples at 104 kbit/s; encoded bit stream at 12.2 kbit/s.
Young Adults' Contraceptive Knowledge, Norms and Attitudes: Associations with Risk Of Unintended Pregnancy

CONTEXT: Women aged 18-29 have higher rates of unintended pregnancy than any other age-group. Information is needed to understand what characteristics are associated with risky contraceptive use practices among this population and to develop new strategies for reducing these womens risk of unintended pregnancy. METHODS: Data related to unintended pregnancy risk were collected from a nationally representative sample of 1800 unmarried women and men aged 18-29 surveyed by telephone in 2009. Among those at risk of unintended pregnancy multiple logistic regression was used to assess associations between contraceptive knowledge norms and attitudes and selected risky contraceptive behaviors. RESULTS: More than half of young men and a quarter of young women received low scores on contraceptive knowledge and six in 10 underestimated the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Among women for each correct response on a contraceptive knowledge scale the odds of expecting to have unprotected sex in the next three months decreased by 9% of currently using a hormonal or long-acting reversible method increased by 17% and of using no method decreased by 17%. Fear of side effects norms and attitudes that favor nonmarital pregnancy or undervalue the importance of contraception pregnancy ambivalence and mistrust of governments role in promoting contraception were also associated with one or more risky contraceptive use behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Programs to increase young adults knowledge about contraceptive methods and use are urgently needed. Given the demonstrated link between method knowledge and contraceptive behaviors such programs may be useful in addressing risky behavior in this population. Copyright (c) 2012 by the Guttmacher Institute.
Uncertainty about estimating total returns of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar to the Gander River, Newfoundland, Canada, evaluated using a fish counting fence

For a number of rivers in Newfoundland, Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., is managed in relation to river-specific conservation spawning requirements. One such river is the Gander River, where between 1989 and 1999, the escapement of Atlantic salmon, a major factor in assessing the status of stock, was determined using a fish counting fence. In 2000, the counting fence was discontinued and alternative means of calculating total returns were explored. Regression and simulation methods, using relationships between total returns and salmon counts at an upstream tributary during 1989–99, formed the basis for estimates of returns for 2000, and the uncertainty around estimates. The accuracy of methods is evaluated by retrospective comparisons with actual total returns between 1989 and 1999. Estimates of total returns deviated from the actual by as much as 50–60%, depending on the method. Management implications of the approach are discussed.
Effect of Extrasystoles on Idioventricular Rhythm

Ventricular extrasystoles exert a variable effect on idioventricular rhythm. The postextrasystolic, or the "returning," cycle may be unchanged, or it may be shorter or longer than the dominant cycle. The factors responsible for these different responses have never been investigated. Therefore, the effect of electrically induced extrasystoles was studied by microelectrode techniques in an in vitro model of idioventricular rhythm consisting of spontaneously firing Purkinje fiber bundles with their attached ventricular segments. Late extrasystoles lengthened the Purkinje returning cycle, primarily by transiently increasing the duration of spontaneous phase-4 depolarization. In contrast, early extrasystoles produced shortening of the returning cycle, primarily because of the marked abbreviation of the duration of the extrasystolic action potential. Other factors affecting the ultimate duration of the Purkinje returning cycle were delineated. The effect of extrasystoles on the electrical activity of the ventricular segments was studied by surface electrograms. This effect was complex and was modified by the direction of propagation of the extrasystole with respect to the pacemaker site and by the degree of conduction delay. Ventricular electrical activity usually reflected the electrical events occurring in the pacemaker cells, but frequent exceptions occurred: the ventricular returning cycle could be prolonged while the corresponding Purkinje returning cycle was shortened and vice versa. "Interpolation" of an extrasystole did not necessarily indicate failure of the extrasystole to discharge the pacemaker site. The effects of extrasystoles on idioventricular rhythm which have been described in the earlier literature are easily understood from the findings of this study.
Impacts of tree height on leaf hydraulic architecture and stomatal control in Douglas-fir

This study investigated the mechanisms involved in the regulation of stomatal closure in Douglas-fir and evaluated the potential impact of compensatory adjustments in response to increasing tree height upon these mechanisms. In the laboratory, we measured leaf hydraulic conductance (K(leaf)) as leaf water potential (Psi(l)) declined for comparison with in situ diurnal patterns of stomatal conductance (g(s)) and Psi(l) in Douglas-fir across a height gradient, allowing us to infer linkages between diurnal changes in K(leaf) and g(s). A recently developed timed rehydration technique was used in conjunction with data from pressure-volume curves to develop hydraulic vulnerability curves for needles attached to small twigs. Laboratory-measured K(leaf) declined with increasing leaf water stress and was substantially reduced at Psi(l) values of -1.34, -1.45, -1.56 and -1.92 MPa for foliage sampled at mean heights of approximately 20, 35, 44 and 55 m, respectively. In situ g(s) measurements showed that stomatal closure was initiated at Psi(l) values of -1.21, -1.36, -1.74 and -1.86 MPa along the height gradient, which was highly correlated with Psi(l) values at loss of K(leaf). Cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that relative abundances of embolized tracheids in the central vein increased with increasing leaf water stress. Leaf embolism appeared to be coupled to changes in g(s) and might perform a vital function in stomatal regulation of plant water status and water transport in conifers. The observed trends in g(s) and K(leaf) in response to changes in Psi(l) along a height gradient suggest that the foliage at the tops of tall trees is capable of maintaining stomatal conductance at more negative Psi(l). This adaptation may allow taller trees to continue to photosynthesize during periods of greater water stress.
Stable water isotopes suggest sub‐canopy water recycling in a northern forested catchment

Stable water isotopes provide a means of tracing many hydrologic processes, including poorly understood dynamics like soil water interactions with the atmosphere. We present a four-year dataset of biweekly water isotope samples from eight fluxes and stores in a headwater catchment at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA. We use Dansgaard's deuterium excess (d) parameter to infer hydrologic processes that cause stable water isotope fractionation. Although we expected to observe a decrease in d from precipitation to soil water because of evaporation, instead we observed an increase, which suggests sub-canopy water vapour recycling (evapotranspiration and then re-condensation). However, the underlying mechanisms and spatial dynamics remain uncertain. The apparent recycling is most evident in the growing season; weak evidence suggests a similar process in the dormant season. Sub-canopy water recycling is a novel hydrologic process that should have implications for micro-meteorology and habitat provided by the forest sub-canopy environment.
Taking Justice Too Seriously

One of the standard objections to traditional act utilitarianism is that it is insensitive to issues of justice and desert. Traditional act utilitarianism holds, for example, that it is morally obligatory to torture or kill an innocent person, when doing so increases the happiness of others more than it decreases the happiness of the innocent person. Utilitarianism is, of course, sensitive to what people believe about justice (for example, people might riot, if they believe a gross injustice has been done), but it is not sensitive to justice itself.
Dynamic and substituent effects in the ESR spectra of triplet biradical intermediates in lithiation reactions of 2‐alkylbenzotriazoles: A cautionary note

Investigations of intermediates generated in the course of lithiation of four 2-alkylbenzotriazoles revealed largescale temperature-dependent changes in their ESR spectra. A cautionary observation was that the ESR spectra obtained under synthesis conditions exhibited lineshapes that were assignable to a monoradical, while additional, lower temperature measurements clearly showed the species to be a biradical. The electron–electron dipolar couplings yield an average distance between the two unpaired electrons in the biradical, Rav, of about 5.3 ± 0.16 A. These Rav values are consistent with the unpaired electrons being localized on the nitrogen atoms of the two benzotriazole moieties in the biradical fragment. This conclusion is supported by oxygen trapping (nitroxide radical formation) studies. The biradicals are shown to have triplets as the ground state with a single-triplet separation of about 26±4 kJ mol−1.
Fabrication of single-crystal PTS channel waveguide

Polydiacetylene conjugated polymers have been an extraordinary class of third-order nonlinear optical material by virtue of both their excellent crystalline properties and large nonlinearity. More specifically, poly bis(p-toluene sulfonate) of 2,4-hexdiyne-1,6-diot (PTS) single crystals possess the largest nonresonant third-order nonlinearity among this class of materials and a very small linear and nonlinear absorption in the communication window around 1.55 /spl mu/m. This should allow all-optical devices to be achieved with low power requirements. To realize a switching device, a PTS channel waveguide in crystalline form will be needed. We report here a technologically simple fabrication method based on capillary action, slow solvent evaporation, and controlled configuration for making PTS channel waveguides for all-optical devices.
Extratropical Forcing of Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves during Austral Winter

Abstract Observations are presented that link extratropical Rossby wave disturbances excited in the Southern Hemisphere subtropical jet to the initiation of convectively coupled Kelvin waves in the Pacific intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) during austral winter. A baroclinic, zonal wavenumber 6, eastward-propagating Rossby wave train in the subtropical jet turns northeastward in the vicinity of Australia, inducing upper tropospheric divergence and vertical motion fields that spread equatorward and induce cloudiness anomalies in the Tropics. Lower tropospheric pressure surges excited from the extratropics also induce Kelvin wave–like geopotential height and temperature anomalies at the surface, providing additional lower tropospheric convergence and vertical motion forcing. The tropical outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and circulation fields propagate eastward in tandem with the extratropical Rossby wave train at approximately 17 m s–1. Kelvin wave activity in the central Pacific ITCZ thus appears to ...
ACID-BASE AND RESPIRATORY RESPONSES TO HYPOXIA IN THE GRASSHOPPER SCHISTOCERCA AMERICANA

How do quiescent insects maintain constant rates of oxygen consumption at ambient PO2 values as low as 2-5 kPa? To address this question, we examined the response of the American locust Schistocerca americana to hypoxia by measuring the effect of decreasing ambient PO2 on haemolymph acid-base status, tracheal PCO2 and CO2 emission. We also tested the effect of hypoxia on convective ventilation using a new optical technique which measured the changes in abdominal volume during ventilation. Hypoxia caused a progressive increase in haemolymph pH and a decrease in haemolymph PCO2. A Davenport analysis suggests that hypoxia is accompanied by a net transfer of base to the haemolymph, perhaps as a result of intracellular pH regulation. Hypoxia caused a progressive increase in convective ventilation which was mostly attributable to a rise in ventilatory frequency. Carbon dioxide conductance ( micromol h-1 kPa-1) across the spiracles increased more than threefold, while conductance between the haemolymph and primary trachea nearly doubled in 2 kPa O2 relative to room air. The rise in trans-spiracular conductance is completely attributable to the elevations in convective ventilation. The rise in tracheal conductance in response to hypoxia may reflect the removal of fluid from the tracheoles described by Wigglesworth. The low critical PO2 of quiescent insects can be attributed (1) to their relatively low resting metabolic rates, (2) to the possession of tracheal systems adapted for the exchange of gases at much higher rates during activity and (3) to the ability of insects to rapidly modulate tracheal conductance.
Tumor Vaccines in Leukemia

The goal of cancer vaccination is to elicit an active systemic immune response against antigen(s) expressed by tumor cells, with that response resulting in a therapeutically useful antitumor effect. This goal is being realized through the identification of tumor-associated antigens, the discovery of critical immunological effector cells, and a growing understanding of the complex cellular and molecular mechanisms that determine immune-based host-tumor interactions. Vaccine clinical trials in leukemias are examining diverse antigenic targets, new vaccine formulations, and a spectrum of clinical settings in which immunomodulation may be optimally conducted. The ability to integrate vaccines with other immunomodulatory strategies in earlier stages of disease, particularly in the minimal residual disease state or in combination with adoptive T-cell therapies, may optimize clinical application and overall clinical effect.
"Straight line" sign of diffuse peritoneal carcinomatosis on sagittal FDG positron emission tomographic images.

A 46-year-old woman with a gastroesophageal junction tumor had an F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomographic (FDG-PET) scan. On sagittal sections, a vertical straight line was seen demarcating the boundary between diffusely increased activity in the peritoneum and low activity in the retroperitoneum. This straight line sign is an early indication of diffuse peritoneal carcinomatosis. The patient returned 3 months later for another FDG-PET scan, which showed extensive peritoneal carcinomatosis.
Analysis on Cointegration of Electricity Consumption and Economic Growth in Shandong Province

The relationship between electricity demand and economic development has been a hot spot in the China's macro-economic regulation and control,particularly those in the industrialized countries with economies in transition and the key to advancing period.On such a big economic province,Shandong is a particularly heavy industrialization-intensive area,and the power consumption for economic development plays an important role.Through Cointegration analysis of quantitative method the long-term relationship between Shandong power consumption and its economic development is givenout,and our work can give some suggestions for the electricity supply of Shanddong province.
Matter and field spectral densities for multidimensional optical response

Abstract In the semiclassical theory of multidimensional spectroscopy, which describes a classical field coupled to quantum matter, n-th order signals are calculated as a convolution of n spectral field envelopes and an n-th order matter response function which enforces the time-ordering of interactions. In quantum field spectroscopy, the electromagnetic field is in a nonclassical state and the product of spectral field envelopes is replaced by a correlation function of the associated field operators. In this paper, we introduce a complementary representation in which the roles of field and matter are interchanged and signals are given by an ordinary, correlation function of matter convoluted with a time-ordered response function of the field. This suggests an inverse spectroscopy which uses matter to probe the state of the field.
Towards Scalable Governance: Sensemaking and Cooperation in the Age of Social Media

Cybernetics, or self-governance of animal and machine, requires the ability to sense the world and to act on it in an appropriate manner. Likewise, self-governance of a human society requires groups of people to collectively sense and act on their environment. I argue that the evolution of political systems is characterized by a series of innovations that attempt to solve (among others) two ‘scalability’ problems: scaling up a group’s ability to make sense of an increasingly complex world, and to cooperate in increasingly larger groups. I then explore some recent efforts toward using the Internet and social media to provide alternative means for addressing these scalability challenges, under the banners of crowdsourcing and computer-supported argumentation. I present some lessons from those efforts about the limits of technology, and the research directions more likely to bear fruit.