cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients Who Snore

As the field of sleep medicine has evolved, the clinical implications of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in snoring patients have become well accepted. Recent advances in surgical therapy for snoring allow otolaryngologists to offer simple outpatient treatment to patients with this problem. However, because the incidence of OSA in snorers seeking medical attention is unknown, the appropriate pretreatment evaluation of these patients is a subject of continued debate. Ninety-four snoring patients were recruited for a study to determine the incidence of OSA in this highly selected population. Subjects answered an extensive sleep questionnaire to determine factors that might suggest a diagnosis of OSA. Level III ambulatory sleep studies were performed on each participant. The incidence of OSA in this group was 72% (42% severe and 30% mild to moderate). Twenty of the subjects with OSA also underwent formal level I sleep studies, and the diagnosis of OSA was confirmed in each instance. Although there was a relationship between body mass index and OSA and certain questions correlated with OSA, the sensitivity and specificity of these data alone or in combination were too low to recommend their use in lieu of a formal sleep study. Given the remarkably high incidence of OSA in this group, which may reflect that seen by otolaryngologists who treat snoring, a sleep study should be performed to diagnose OSA and institute therapy for this condition. Level III ambulatory monitoring devices may be the most cost-effective alternative for evaluating this high-risk population.
Post-hospitalization followup appointment-keeping among the medically indigent

The purpose of this study was to measure followup appointment-keeping in patients discharged from a General Medicine Inpatient Service and to identify possible predictors of compliance. Patients were interviewed on hospital admission and all charts were reviewed on discharge. A subset of patients were interviewed by telephone an average of one month after first followup appointment date. The study was conducted in an urban public teaching hospital with hospital-based and community clinics. A convenience sample of 209 patients were selected from admissions to the General Medicine Inpatient Service over a three month period. Followup appointment-keeping was recorded on all 195 patients discharged alive. Seventy-five percent of patients had no medical insurance, public or private. A compliance rate of 60% (95% confidence interval: 53% to 67%) with first followup appointment was found. Variables associated with compliance and which retained independence on multiple logistic regression analysis, followed by adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were: no copayment requirement, odds ratio 3.2 (1.6 to 6.3), single followup appointment 2.9 (1.4 to 5.9), apartment dwelling 3.2 (1.4 to 7.3) and non-primary care clinic appointment 2.3 (1.1 to 4.8). We conclude that health-care-delivery related factors such as no copayment requirements are strongly associated with appointment-keeping in a public hospital population.
Encounters of Saccharomyces cererisiae RNA Polymerase III with its Transcription Factors during RNA Chain Elongation

The analysis of RNA chain elongation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA polymerase (Pol) III in the accompanying paper has been extended by examining the encounter of highly purified RNA polymerase with purified individual transcription factors. Arrested ternary transcription complexes were formed with purified Pol III initiating precisely at the 3' overhanging ends of linear DNA. Transcription factors were then bound to DNA and their effects on individual steps of RNA chain elongation were analyzed. The outcome of the encounter between Pol III and TFIIIC was orientation-specific. For RNA synthesis in the sense direction, with Pol III approaching the obstructing protein from the direction of normal transcription, pure TFIIIC rapidly yielded the way to the advancing polymerase: only a single step of RNA chain elongation was slightly slowed by pure TFIIIC occupying its boxB binding site in the SUP4 tRNA(Tyr) gene. In a complete cell-free fraction, protein binding to this tRNA gene likewise generated a delay of only approximately 0.15 to 0.2 second in executing the same step. Transcription by pure Pol III in the sense direction also dissociated the TFIIIC-SUP4 gene complex. The encounter of Pol III elongating RNA chains in the anti-sense direction with the backside of TFIIIC yielded a different outcome. RNA chain elongation paused extensively six to nine base-pairs beyond the downstream edge of the DNA-binding site of TFIIIC, with a median delay of nine seconds, approximately 50 times longer than in the sense direction. At the height of its effect on RNA chain elongation, the TFIIIC-imposed barrier entrapped the great majority of RNA chains, but their elongation was eventually allowed to continue. In contrast, DNA-bound TFIIIB completely blocked RNA chain elongation in the anti-sense direction. The role of the internal promoter element in transcription by Pol III is discussed in the light of this analysis. The large bulk of TFIIIC, which binds with high affinity to boxB, and also to boxA, is particularly suited to occluding its transcription unit to other proteins. At the same time, TFIIIC makes way for transcription so rapidly that it places no limit on the level of gene activity.
Expression of transforming growth factor β1, transforming growth factor type I and II receptors, and TNF-α in the mucosa of the small intestine in infants with food protein–induced enterocolitis syndrome

Abstract Background: TNF-α secreted by activated T cells is known to increase intestinal permeability, whereas transforming growth factor (TGF) β has the ability to protect the epithelial barrier. Objective: We determined the expression of TGF-β1, its receptors, and TNF-α on the mucosa of small intestine to investigate their roles in the pathogenesis of food protein–induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES). Methods: Twenty-eight infants diagnosed with FPIES by means of clinical criteria and challenge test results were included. Immunohistochemical stains for TGF-β1, type 1 and 2 TGF-β receptors, and TNF-α on duodenal biopsy specimens were performed. Results: TGF-β1 expression was generally depressed in patients. Expression of type 1 TGF-β receptor was significantly lower in the patients who had villous atrophy compared with expression in those patients who did not ( P r = –0.59, P P Conclusion: Our results suggest that decreased countering activity of TGF-β1 against T-cell cytokines is implicated in the pathogenesis of FPIES. The significantly lower expression of type 1 TGF-β receptor compared with type 2 receptor suggests the differential contribution of each receptor to the diverse biologic activities of TGF-β in the intestinal epithelium. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002;109:150-4.)
The effect of metabolic acidosis and alkalosis on the H+-ATPase of rat cerebral microvessels.

Abstract To determine the role of the proton translocating adenosine triphosphatase (H+-ATPase) of the blood-brain barrier, the density of the 31 Kd subunit of the vacuolar type H+-ATPase was quantitated in isolated rat cerebral microvessels with immunoblotting techniques. To establish the tissue specificity of the findings, synaptosomal membranes were also studied. Metabolic acidosis was induced with 1.5% ammonium chloride in drinking water for five days. Metabolic alkalosis was induced with 2.35% NaHCO3 in drinking water and daily injections of 10 mg Kg furosemide intraperitoneally for 5 days. The quantity of the 31 Kd subunit (in arbitrary units) in cerebral microvessels was significantly increased in acidosis (3.98 ± 0.45) (p
The Multiple Benefits of Competitor Intelligence

Members of a corporation—from product development managers to the board of directors—can use competitive intelligence to improve their decision making.
TIA: A Resource for Those Interested in Educational Development.

Review of : To Improve the Academy: Resources for Faculty, Instructional and Organizational Development , Volume 31; James E. Groccia and Laura Cruz (ed); (2012). Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco, CA. 400 pages.
An efficient synthesis of the carbocyclic core of zoanthenol

A concise strategy for the synthesis of the carbocyclic portion of zoanthenol is disclosed. The key step involves a 6-endo radical-mediated conjugate addition that constructs the quaternary stereocenter at C(12) and closes the B ring in a stereoselective manner. The synthesis of the C-ring fragment uses an enantioselective desymmetrization to simultaneously establish the absolute stereochemistry of two vicinal quaternary stereocenters. In only 17 steps from known compounds, the route affords an ABC ring system containing all three quaternary stereocenters and appropriate functionality to complete the synthesis of zoanthenol.
URANIUM‐SERIES AND LUMINESCENCE DATING OF VOLCANIC LITHIC ARTEFACTS*

U-series dating was used to determine the growth rate of a feldspar-to-clay weathering rind in a mid-Holocene Cascade-Olcott tradition andesite core, and luminescence dating (last exposure to sunlight) was used to date fine-grained feldspars scraped from the surfaces of similar buried artefacts from a 14 C-sediment-dated archaeological site (45KI464) on the wet western slope of the Cascade Mountains of Washington. For U-series dating, we measured 226 Ra excess ( 226 Ra excess = 226 Ra - 230 Th) in five stratigraphic depth controlled rind scrapings. 238 U, 232 Th and 230 Th were counted by alpha spectrometry, and 226 Ra and 210 Pb were counted by gamma spectrometry on each sub-sample.
FORCED-CONVECTION BOILING BURNOUT FOR WATER IN UNIFORMLY HEATED TUBULAR TEST SECTIONS

Abstract To thoroughly study the effects of the major variables in forced-convective burnout, 402 high-pressure critical heat flux determinations were made with seven uniformly heated, internally-cooled, tubular test sections using water, subcooled at the inlet, as the coolant. Data were collected over the following range of variables: Critical heat flux 0.44 to 2.57 × 10 6 Btu/hr-ft 2 Mass velocity 0.5 to 13.7 × 10 6 lb/hr-ft 2 Exit coolant conditions 116.6°F subcooled to 59.2% quality Pressure 500 to 1500 psia Heated length 24 to 77 5 8 in. Inside diameter 0.245 to 1.475 in. The 1.475 in. tube represents the largest tube ever tested. The results indicate the existence of three burnout regimes: nucleate boiling, annular flow, and the still not fully explored “transition” region. An analytical study of annular flow burnout based on observations and dimensional analysis yielded a correlation which relates the critical heat flux to the significant local fluid properties and flow parameters. This equation was used to correlate and study the critical heat flux data obtained in the present work together with a selection of additional data points from the major available sources, including data for freon-12. The equation contains four dimensionless groups and constants determined by regression analysis with a limited portion of the data. Critical heat fluxes calculated by the correlation are in good agreement with the measured values. Observations of the effects of the parameters in subcooled nucleate boiling burnout enabled the formulation of an empirical equation for this regime. The equation relates the critical heat flux only to the mass flow rate and subcooling. In testing the equation with available data it was found that the correlation holds throughout the 60 to 2000 psia pressure range equally well, thus implying that there is no pressure effect on subcooled burnout over this entire range. The complete form of this study, including tabulated data, correlating procedures, literature survey, etc., is available as ref. [1] of the bibliography.
A semi-infinite anti-plane crack in a piezoelectric semiconductor

Electromechanical fields around an anti-plane, semi-infinite crack in piezoelectric semiconductors of 6mm symmetry are obtained. The effects of semiconduction on fields near the crack tip are examined.
Navier-Stokes Solution Using Hybridizable Discontinuous Galerkin methods

We are concerned with the numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes and Reynoldsaveraged Navier-Stokes equations using the Hybridizable Discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) methods recently introduced in Ref. [34]. These methods are computationally more ecient and accurate than other discontinuous Galerkin methods and hence, well suited to be applied to CFD problems. However, in order for them to be able to deal with the range of problems of relevance to Aeronautics, both turbulence and shocks have to be properly addressed. First, we will present a modication of the Spalart-Allmaras (SA) turbulence model that improves the convergence properties of the method by means of a regularization of the working variable; this modication is eective only in regions where the eddy viscosity is smaller than the molecular viscosity, therefore, it does not aect the numerical prediction of ow quantities as compared to the original SA model. Then, an articial viscosity coecient driven by the divergence of the velocity will be implemented in order to deal with shock waves. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the proposed approach in several instances, from laminar separated ows to turbulent compressible ows.
The first president's pathway into ESTSS: memories and ideas for future issue. Patients as partners

This article addresses Wolter De Loos’ pathway into ESTSS that ended on 6th January 2004. His footsteps are still printed in the field of psychotraumatology as he showed the field how a physician was trying to integrate his working field with that of psychiatry, with a great passion for his patients. Erica M. Van der Schrieck-De Loos outlines the perspectives of her father as funding president of the ESTSS by using his Opening Address of the Fourth ESTSS Conference in 1995. This address emphasized that the mixture of righteousness and offence in warfare is ubiquitious and everlasting. The perspective of the first president's pathway has been integrated with the current vision of the author to show that the patient can be a partner of the healthcare team. A suggestion for ESTSS main objective number (8), contained within the ESTSS mission statement, is to involve patients as partners of the traumatic stress care team into accelerating traumatic stress care across Europe and beyond.
TNFα and IFNγ but Not Perforin Are Critical for CD8 T Cell-Mediated Protection against Pulmonary Yersinia pestis Infection

Septic pneumonias resulting from bacterial infections of the lung are a leading cause of human death worldwide. Little is known about the capacity of CD8 T cell-mediated immunity to combat these infections and the types of effector functions that may be most effective. Pneumonic plague is an acutely lethal septic pneumonia caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Yersinia pestis. We recently identified a dominant and protective Y. pestis antigen, YopE69–77, recognized by CD8 T cells in C57BL/6 mice. Here, we use gene-deficient mice, Ab-mediated depletion, cell transfers, and bone marrow chimeric mice to investigate the effector functions of YopE69–77-specific CD8 T cells and their relative contributions during pulmonary Y. pestis infection. We demonstrate that YopE69–77-specific CD8 T cells exhibit perforin-dependent cytotoxicity in vivo; however, perforin is dispensable for YopE69–77-mediated protection. In contrast, YopE69–77-mediated protection is severely impaired when production of TNFα and IFNγ by CD8 T cells is simultaneously ablated. Interestingly, TNFα is absolutely required at the time of challenge infection and can be provided by either T cells or non-T cells, whereas IFNγ provided by T cells prior to challenge appears to facilitate the differentiation of optimally protective CD8 T cells. We conclude that cytokine production, not cytotoxicity, is essential for CD8 T cell-mediated control of pulmonary Y. pestis infection and we suggest that assays detecting Ag-specific TNFα production in addition to antibody titers may be useful correlates of vaccine efficacy against plague and other acutely lethal septic bacterial pneumonias.
Modal distribution analysis, synthesis, and perception of a soprano's sung vowels.

Abstract A high-resolution time-frequency analysis technique, the modal distribution, is applied to sung vowels from a soprano singer. Parameters are estimated for each partial component of notes analyzed with the modal distribution. These estimates are used in an additive synthesis model to generate replicates of the original recording, using a series of time-varying sinusoids. Additionally, a source-filter model is applied to create synthetic signals, where pitch- and vowel-specific filters and driving functions are constructed from the amplitude and frequency estimates obtained. Different driving functions, which sample the range of this singer's rate and excursion variation, are transposed and filtered to create synthetic signals. The perceptual salience of the different rates and excursions is then determined via a paired-comparison listening experiment. It is found that listeners are sensitive to small variations in both average vibrato rate and average vibrato excursion. However, the perceived amount of vibrato excursion varies somewhat depending upon the pitch at which the vibrato is "played" synthetically. Finally, the naturalness and sound quality of these synthetic examples is determined through both paired-comparison and single-note sound quality scaling listening experiments.
Crucial roles of SP1 and epigenetic modifications in the regulation of the CLDN4 promoter in ovarian cancer cells

Claudins form a large family of tight junction proteins that have essential roles in the control of paracellular ion flux and the maintenance of cell polarity. Many studies have shown that several claudin family members are abnormally expressed in various cancers. In particular, CLDN4 (encoding claudin-4) is overexpressed in ovarian cancer. However, although CLDN4 overexpression is well established, the mechanisms responsible for this abnormal regulation remain unknown. In the present study, we delineate a small region of the CLDN4 promoter critical for its expression. This region contains two Sp1 sites, both of which are required for promoter activity. However, because of the ubiquitous expression of Sp1, these sites, although necessary, are not sufficient to explain the patterns of gene expression of CLDN4 in various ovarian tissues. We show that the CLDN4 promoter is further controlled by epigenetic modifications of the Sp1-containing critical promoter region. Cells that overexpress CLDN4 exhibit low DNA methylation and high histone H3 acetylation of the critical CLDN4 promoter region, and the reverse is observed in cells that do not express CLDN4. Moreover, the CLDN4-negative cells can be induced to express CLDN4 through treatment with demethylating and/or acetylating agents. Because CLDN4 is elevated in a large fraction of ovarian cancer, the mechanism leading to deregulation may represent a general pathway in ovarian tumorigenesis and may lead to novel strategies for therapy and an overall better understanding of the biology of this disease.
Photogeologic Interpretation of Structure in the Amazon Basin: A Test Study

A photogeological test study of an area of about 1100 sq. mi. in the Middle Amazon Basin revealed evidence of structure in spite of low relief and heavy forest cover. The study suggests that a thin surficial formation rests with angular unconformity on a thick northward-dipping sedimentary sequence and that undulations in the mantle formation are structural warps. Active deformation or differential compaction of sediments over buried topographic highs arc believed to have caused these warps. Recent doming by igneous intrusion is not likely because the affected rocks are considerably younger than the last recorded episode of intrusion. The warping has nowhere caused a reversal of dip of the lower sediments but has affected the direction and magnitude of dip. Ironically, the rivers, which provide the easiest access to much of the interior and along which both field and geophysical surveys are run, may actually have been shunted off structure by the warping. Restriction of exploration to available routes of access, therefore, may be self-defeating as far as structural appraisal of at least some parts of the Amazon Basin is concerned.
Atrazine exposure leads to altered growth of HepG2 cells

Atrazine is one of the most commonly used herbicides in the United States. While effective on target plants, it has been associated with harmful health effects in non-target organisms such as fish, amphibians and mammals. In this study, growth effects on human liver cells were determined after exposure to increasing concentrations of this herbicide. Growth of immortalized human hepatoma HepG2 cells was inhibited by atrazine concentrations of 625 ppb after 72 h exposure and flow cytometry analysis demonstrated HepG2 cells exposed to 100 ppb atrazine accumulated in S phase after 48 h compared to untreated cells. Expression of cell cycle specific cyclin proteins was altered after atrazine exposure with cyclin E levels significantly decreased after a 24h exposure and cyclin B levels decreased after 48 h. This study demonstrates that relatively low levels of atrazine exposure can affect growth and lead to disruptions in the cell cycle regulation of immortalized human liver cells.
“Pseudo”-AV block and right atrial electrical disconnection complicating ablation for typical atrial flutter

avoid ablation within the pulmonary veins, as well as near the esophagoatrial interface. Segmental ostial ablation guided by a 10-pole circular mapping catheter was then performed after circumferential ablation to ensure electrical isolation of each vein. There were no complications. At 6 months, the patient has remained free of AF as assessed by symptoms and periodic Holter monitoring. Conclusions: CT imaging used in conjunction with a non-fluoroscopic navigation system is a new and important tool for AF ablation. By providing a highly detailed anatomic representation of the left atrium, pulmonary veins and esophagus, CT imaging serves to verify the accuracy of NavX-generated geometry. Regions of interest, such as the pulmonary vein ostia, the left atrial roof, the esophago-atrial interface and the isthmus between the left atrial appendage and the left superior pulmonary vein, can be more accurately defined, potentially resulting in a more effective and precise ablation while avoiding serious complications, such as pulmonary vein stenosis and esophago-atrial fistulas.
Thermal defects and thermal expansion of ionic crystals at high temperatures

Thermal expansion of ionic crystals at high temperature is treated as contributions from the perfect crystal and its lattice thermal defects. A semi-empirical quasi-harmonic model represents the thermal expansion of the perfect crystal, and contributions from lattice defects at high temperature are described by the theory of thermodynamics of point defects. The formation energies of thermal defects of those crystals considered are obtained from fitting thermal expansion differences between real and perfect crystals. Results show that there is a linear trend between the formation energies of thermal lattice defects and their Debye temperatures. The formation energies obtained are smaller than theoretical calculations and ionic conductivity measurements. This indicates that thermal defects are ordered at high temperatures. Thermische Ausdehnung von Ionenkristallen bei hohen Temperaturen wird als Beitrage von einem idealen Kristall und seinen thermischen Gitterstorungen behandelt. Ein halb-empirisches, quasi-harmonisches Modell reprascntiert die thermische Ausdehnung eines idealen Kristalls, und Beitrage von Gitterstorungen bei hohen Temperaturen werden durch die thermodynamische Theorie atomarer Fehlstellen beschrieben. Die Bildungsenergien von thermischen Storungen der betrachteten Kristalle werden durch Anpassung der thermischen Ausdehnungsdifferenz zwischen realen und idealen Kristallen erhalten. Die Resultate zeigen, das eine lineare Beziehung zwischen den Bildungsenergien thermischer Gitterstorungen und ihrer Debye-Temperatur besteht. Die erhaltenen Bildungsenergien sind kleiner als theoretische Berechnungen und Ionenleitungsmessungen. Das weist darauf hin, das thermische Gitterstorungen bei hohen Temperaturen geordnet sind.
Using conditional entropy to identify periodicity

This paper presents a new period-finding method based on conditional entropy that is both efficient and accurate. We demonstrate its applicability on simulated and real data. We find that it has comparable performance to other information-based techniques with simulated data but is superior with real data, both for finding periods and for just identifying periodic behaviour. In particular, it is robust against common aliasing issues found with other period-finding algorithms.
Trends in the Economic Independence of Young Adults in the United States: 1973–2007

One of the major milestones of adulthood is achieving economic independence. Without sufficient income, young people have difficulty leaving their childhood home, establishing a union, or having children-or they do so at great peril. Using the National Longitudinal Survey, this article compares the employment and economic circumstances of young adults aged 22-30 in 1973, 1987, and 2007, and their possible determinants. The results show that achieving economic independence is more difficult now than it was in the late 1980s and especially in the 1970s, even for the older age groups (age 27-28). The deterioration is more evident among men. From the 1970s there has been convergence in the trajectories for the achievement of economic self-sufficiency between men and women, suggesting that the increase in gender parity, especially in education and labor market outcomes, is making their opportunities to be employed and to earn good wages more similar. This convergence also suggests that union formation increasingly may depend on a capacity to combine men's and women's wages.
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS AND URBAN–SUBURBAN DISPARITIES

This paper develops a spatially explicit model to examine how urban and suburban communities evolve differently with changes in local economic fundamentals such as rising income or falling commuting costs in the metropolitan area. The model highlights the importance of environmental amenities and the economy of scale in the provision of public services as determinants of urban spatial structure. Results suggest that urban sprawl, income segregation, and jurisdictional disparities are driven by the same economic conditions and thus tend to co-exist. Rising incomes or falling commuting costs for high-income households in a metropolitan area tend to increase land prices and public services in every community, while rising incomes or falling commuting costs for low-income households can have the opposite effects.
Increased lysosomal enzymes in genetic muscular dystrophy.

Abstract Detergent-induced activation of cathepsin, acid ribonuclease, β-glucuronidase, and aryl sulfatase in skeletal muscle homogenates of chickens and mice and in particulate fractions of chicken muscle indicates that they are bound in lysosomes. In leg muscle of dystrophic mice and in pectoral muscle of dystrophic chickens there were large increases in some of these lysosomal enzymes. A hypothesis that increased lysosomal enzymes are the cause of hydrolytic and catabolic wasting processes in muscular dystrophy is presented and discussed.
Intentionality, social play, and definition

Social play is naturally characterized in intentional terms. An evolutionary account of social play could help scientists to understand the evolution of cognition and intentionality. Alexander Rosenberg (1990) has argued that if play is characterized intentionally or functionally, it is not a behavioral phenotype suitable for evolutionary explanation. If he is right, his arguments would threaten many projects in cognitive ethology. We argue that Rosenberg's arguments are unsound and that intentionally and functionally characterized phenotypes are a proper domain for ethological investigation.
Adaptive filters for continuous queries over distributed data streams

We consider an environment where distributed data sources continuously stream updates to a centralized processor that monitors continuous queries over the distributed data. Significant communication overhead is incurred in the presence of rapid update streams, and we propose a new technique for reducing the overhead. Users register continuous queries with precision requirements at the central stream processor, which installs filters at remote data sources. The filters adapt to changing conditions to minimize stream rates while guaranteeing that all continuous queries still receive the updates necessary to provide answers of adequate precision at all times. Our approach enables applications to trade precision for communication overhead at a fine granularity by individually adjusting the precision constraints of continuous queries over streams in a multi-query workload. Through experiments performed on synthetic data simulations and a real network monitoring implementation, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in achieving low communication overhead compared with alternate approaches.
On integrating depth from motion and stereo

This paper presents a method to accurately and efficiently extract depth from a sequence of images. The method integrates two techniques of depth extraction, namely, spatial and temporal gradient analysis, and stereo processing to enhance the reliability of the depth extraction. Spatial and temporal gradient analysis has been shown to provide depth in a highly efficient manner. However, due to the small image displacement used in this algorithm, depth with only limited precision can be computed. To enhance the precision, a stereo based matching is performed on the first frame and the last frame of the monocular sequence used in spatial and temporal gradient analysis. The stereo matching is limited to a small region, based on the results of the spatial and temporal gradient analysis. The performance of the approach is demonstrated through experiments with real scenes. >
Implications of Raman scattering and phase noise on multiple four-wave mixing processes in an optical fiber.

Implications of spontaneous and stimulated Raman scattering (SSRS) and phase noise on the spatial evolution of multiple-order sidebands arising from four-wave mixing (FWM) along the length of an optical fiber are investigated. A modified split-step Fourier method is used to solve the governing coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equations. The phase noise overcomes the depletive nature of SSRS and stabilizes the FWM sidebands, in good agreement with experimental results.
N-terminal amino acids of the proteins of the floating fraction of egg yolk.

Lysine is the major N-terminal amino acid of both the soluble and insoluble fractions of the floating lipoprotein of hen's egg yolk, which suggests a common primary structure. Several minor components are also present in both fractions.
The effect of a short-term delay of puberty on trabecular bone mass and structure in female rats: a texture-based and histomorphometric analysis.

Accrual of bone mass and strength during development is imperative in order to reduce the risk of fracture later in life. Although delayed pubertal onset is associated with an increased incidence of stress fracture, evidence supports the concept of “catch up” growth. It remains unclear if deficits in bone mass associated with delayed puberty have long-term effects on trabecular bone structure and strength. The purpose of this study was to use texture-based analysis and histomorphometry to investigate the effect of a delay in puberty on trabecular bone mass and structure immediately post-puberty and at maturity in female rats. Forty-eight female Sprague–Dawley rats (25 days) were randomly assigned to one of four groups; (1) short-term control (C-ST), (2) long-term control (C-LT), (3) short-term GnRH antagonist (G-ST) and (4) long-term GnRH antagonist (G-LT). Injections of either saline or gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-a) (100 μg/day) (Cetrotide™, Serono, Inc.) were given intraperitoneally for 18 days (day 25–42) to both ST and LT. The ST groups were sacrificed after the last injection (day 43) and the LT groups at 6 months of age. Pubertal and gonadal development was retarded by the GnRA antagonist injections as indicated by a delay in vaginal opening, lower ovarian and uterine weights and suppressed estradiol levels in the short-term experimental animals (G-ST). Delayed puberty caused a transient reduction in trabecular bone area as assessed by histomorphometry. Specifically, the significant deficit in bone area resulted from a decreased trabecula number and an increase in trabecular separation. Texture analysis, a new method to assess bone density and structural anisotropy, correlated well with the standard histomorphometry and measured significant deficits in the density measure (MDensity) in the G-ST group that remained at maturity (6 months). The texture energy deficit in the G-ST group was primarily in the 0° orientation (�13.2%), which measures the longitudinal trabeculae in the proximal tibia. However, the deficit in the G-LT group was in the 45° and 135° orientations. These results suggest that any “catch-up” growth following the cessation of the GnRH-antagonist injection protocol may be directed in trabeculae oriented perpendicular to 0° at the expense of trabeculae in other orientations.
Gyral calcification in an adult masquerading as subarachnoid hemorrhage.

An 85-year-old female with a medical history significant for coronary artery disease, status post pacemaker placement, and a prior stroke presented to an outside emergency department (ED) with complaints of lethargy, diaphoresis, dysarthria, and an episode of transient loss of consciousness at her nursing home. There was no history of trauma and she was not on any anticoagulants. A computed tomography (CT) scan was performed and read by the ED physician as subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the left sylvian fissure, and the patient was emergently transferred to our hospital for further management with a tentative diagnosis of SAH. Upon arrival to our intensive care unit, she was following commands, oriented to self, dysarthric but with fluent speech. Cranial nerve examination was within normal limits except for the presence of rightsided upper motor neuron–type facial nerve palsy. Careful evaluation of the CT scan showed the presence of a serpentine hyperdensity along the left perisylvian cortex consistent with dystrophic calcification from prior ischemic insult rather than an SAH, along with chronic microvascular ischemic changes, old lacunar infarcts, and age-appropriate cerebral parenchymal volume loss (Figure 1). CT angiography performed as part of a
Monopolies in America: Empire Builders and Their Enemies from Jay Gould to Bill Gates . By Charles R. Geisst. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Pp. x, 355. $30.00.

The basic problem with writing a history of American Big Business is finding some method to organize the familiar chronicles of companies and people as well as the usual stories of good and evil into some coherent book of reasonable length. The organizing method adopted by Charles Geisst is to focus on the popular reaction to “monopolies,” more accurately, private concentrations of economic power. For the most part, this method succeeds, assisted in no small part by Geisst's smooth style and cynical, perhaps jaded, attitude.
A Course to Train Church Volunteers to Interact with the Aged, Ill and Handicapped

An ongoing program, designed by an occupational therapist to train church volunteers to interact with the aged, ill and handicapped, is described. Topics include identifying personal needs and skills, myths and truths regarding aging and illness, bio-psychosocial changes and death and dying. Organizational issues such as program sponsorship and paid versus community service care are discussed.
Predicting forest successional stages using multitemporal Landsat imagery with forest inventory and analysis data

Forest succession is an important ecological process that has profound biophysical, biological and biogeochemical implications in terrestrial ecosystems. Therefore, information on forest successional stages over an extensive forested landscape is crucial for us to understand ecosystem processes, such as carbon assimilation and energy interception. This study explored the potential of using Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plot data to extract forest successional stage information from remotely sensed imagery with three widely used predictive models, linear regression (LR), decision trees (DTs) and neural networks (NNs). The predictive results in this study agree with previous findings that multitemporal Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery can improve the accuracy of forest successional stage prediction compared to models using a single image. Because of the overlap of spectral signatures of forests in different successional stages, it is difficult to accurately separate forest successional stages into more than three broad age classes (young, mature and old) with reasonable accuracy based on the age information of FIA plots and the spectral data of the plots from Landsat TM imagery. Given the mixed spectral response of forest age classes, new approaches need to be explored to improve the prediction of forest successional stages using FIA data.
Characterization of Dichlorosilane Based Tungsten Silicide Films For Local Interconnects

Ultrathin refractory metal silicide films, such as tungsten silicide (WSix) offer a wide range of applications in VLSI and ULSI circuits such as local interconnects, bit lines and wordlines. One practical way of depositing WSix is by a CVD technique in which WF6 is reduced by either SiH4 or SiH2Cl2. For sub 0.5 micron technologies, SiH4 based WSix shows limitations due to poor step coverage and high F incorporation (>1020 atoms/cm3). If the reducing agent is changed to SiH2Cl2, then these problems are largely eliminated. However, interactions between processing parameters and film properties to achieve compositionally and structurally uniform films are not well understood. In this investigation, SiH2Cl2 based WSix films (60–200 nm) deposited on undoped poly-Si, doped poly-Si and oxide substrates were studied after a high temperature furnace anneal and oxidation cycle. Electron transparent samples were prepared by a low temperature ion beam technique and the individual films of Si-SiO2-poly Si-WxSiy layers were investigated by high resolution cross sectional transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and electron nanospectroscopy techniques with a beam energy of 300 kV. RBS measurements were used to determine the composition profile through the depth of the film and Si/W uniformity in terms of Si-rich and W-rich interfaces. SIMS measurements were used to determine the impurity content in the silicide film and at the film/substrate interface. This paper focuses on the processing-structure relationships in terms of development of defect structures within WxSiy, the non-stoichiometric W-Si compositons and related crystal structures and the role of the nucleation step in modulating the Si/W ratio at the WSix/poly-Si interface and discusses their implications on future process development.
Expression cloning of a cDNA encoding a retinoblastoma-binding protein with E2F-like properties

An expression vector was modified to permit the rapid synthesis of purified, 32P-labeled, glutathione S-transferase (GST)-retinoblastoma (RB) fusion proteins. The products were used to screen lambda gt11 expression libraries, from which we cloned a cDNA encoding a polypeptide (RBAP-1) capable of binding directly to a putative functional domain (the pocket) of the retinoblastoma gene product (RB). The RB "pocket" is known to bind, directly or indirectly, to the cellular transcription factor, E2F, implicated in cell growth control. We have found that RBAP-1 copurifies with E2F, interacts specifically with the adenovirus E4 ORF 6/7 protein, binds specifically and directly to a known E2F DNA recognition sequence, and contains a functional tranasactivation domain. Therefore, RBAP-1 is a species of E2F and can bind specifically to the RB pocket.
Hindlimb casting decreases muscle mass in part by proteasome-dependent proteolysis but independent of protein synthesis

The hypothesis of the present study was that rats subjected to short-term unilateral hindlimb immobilization would incur skeletal muscle wasting and concomitant alterations in protein synthesis, co...
Functional results of pyeloplasty in patients with ante-natally diagnosed pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction

Objective To assess the outcome after pyeloplasty in children with an ante-natal diagnosis of hydronephrosis, shown on post-natal renography to be due to pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction, and in particular to review the outcome of those who had initially been managed expectantly. Patients and methods Between 1984 and 1995, 321 patients were diagnosed as having PUJ obstruction, after investigating ante-natal hydronephrosis. Of these, 47 had undergone pyeloplasty and also had a normal contralateral kidney; 26 patients had early pyeloplasty because of impaired function and 21 underwent surgery after a period of expectant management. Renal function was assessed renographically before and at least one year after surgery. Results Relative renal function was stabilized in those patients who underwent early pyeloplasty (mean differential function 28.1% before and 32.7% after surgery). In patients who underwent pyeloplasty after a period of expectant management, the mean relative function decreased from 44.8% initially to 30.5% before surgery; this recovered to 37.5% at the post-operative reassessment, representing a statistically significant loss of function (P<0.01). Conclusion In patients born with PUJ obstruction and impaired renal function, pyeloplasty failed to significantly improve function, possibly because of cortical loss. In patients with ante-natal PUJ obstruction managed expectantly there is a small but significant risk of a modest loss of renal function
Direct measurement of 248- and 193-nm excimer-induced densification in silica–germania waveguide blanks

The densification of a waveguide blank of composition 14GeO2:86SiO2 produced by 193- and 248-nm excimer exposure was measured by an interferometric technique. With the aid of a finite-element model, we derive the unconstrained densification from the experimentally determined optical phase shift. The densification versus exposure can be fitted to a power law and is compared with the behavior of fused silica. Again, with the finite-element model, an estimate is made of the refractive-index change that would be produced in a single-mode fiber. For the exposure levels typically used for the 248-nm exposure, the densification contribution to the optical index change is found to be negligible for this composition. On the other hand, for the high 193-nm exposure, the densification contribution can be dominant.
Walsh Summing and Differencing Transforms

Analogous to Fourier frequency transforms of the integration and differentiation of a continuous-time function, Walsh sequency transforms of the summing and differencing of an arbitrary discrete-time function have been derived. These transforms can be represented numerically in the form of matrices of simple recursive structure. The matrices are not orthogonal, but they are the inverse of each other, and the value of their determinants is one.
How to overcome inter-electrode variability and instability to quantify dissolved oxygen, Fe(II), mn(II), and S(−II) in undisturbed soils and sediments using voltammetry

Although uniquely capable of measuring multiple redox constituents nearly simultaneously with no or minimal sample pretreatment, voltammetry is currently underutilized in characterizing redox conditions in aquatic and terrestrial systems. Investigation of undisturbed media such as pore water requires a solid-state electrode, and such electrodes can be difficult to fabricate reproducibly. An approach to determine the concentrations of electroactive constituents using indirectly calibrated electrodes has been developed, but the protocol for and accuracy of this approach—the pilot ion method—has not been documented in detail. A detailed procedure for testing electrode quality is provided, and the application and limitations of the pilot ion method have been documented. To quantify Fe(II) and Mn(II), subtraction of non-linear baseline functions from voltammetric signals produced better calibration curves than did linear baselines, enabled lower detection limits and reliable deconvolution of overlapping signals, and was successfully applied to sediment pore water signals. We observed that electrode sensitivities often vary by tens of percent, and that the sensitivity declines over time. The ratio of calibration slopes of Mn(II) to Fe(II) varied by no more than 11% from one Hg/Au electrode to another and Fe(II) concentrations predicted by the Mn(II) pilot ion were, on average, 13% different from their actual values. However, concentration predictions by the pilot ion method were worse for less than 15 μM Fe(II) (46% different on average). The ratio of calibration slopes of Mn(II) to S(−II) varied by almost 20% from one Hg/Au electrode to another, and S(−II) predicted concentrations were as much as 58% different from their actual values. These predictions of Fe(II) and S(−II) concentrations indicate that the accuracy of the pilot ion method depends on how independent calibration slope ratios are from the electrode used. At medium-to-high concentration for the ocean, naturally derived dissolved organic carbon did not significantly affect the baseline-corrected electrode response of Mn(II) and Fe(II), but did significantly affect the response of S(−II). Despite their intrinsic variability, Hg/Au electrodes fabricated by hand can be used to quantify O2, S(−II), Fe(II), and Mn(II) without calibrating every electrode for every constituent of interest. The pilot ion method can achieve accuracies to within 20% or less, provided that the underlying principle—the independence of slope ratios—is demonstrated for all voltammetric techniques used, and effects of the physicochemical properties of the system on voltammetric signals are addressed through baseline subtraction.
Multi-geometric collimation for high sensitivity brain SPECT

Certain neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease are diagnosed by imaging centrally located brain structures such as basal ganglia and striatum. High sensitivity imaging of these structures is essential for the early-stage diagnosis of the disorder. We simulated a multi-geometric collimator that combines a short-focal-length astigmatic half-cone-beam collimator, designed to efficiently image the bottom half of the brain and especially the centrally located brain structures, and a spatially-variable-focusing collimator, designed to image the rest of the brain without truncation. We demonstrate that a multi-geometric collimator may offer significant sensitivity increase in imaging of the centrally located brain structures compared to conventional general-purpose parallel-hole and fan-beam collimators. As a result, the noise is reduced in the reconstructed images and lesion visualization is improved. Multi-geometric collimation shows a strong potential for improved regional tomography of the brain and early-stage diagnosis of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease.