cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orthogonal space-time coding for CPM system with fast decoding

Trellis-coded space-time (TC-ST) coding for continuous phase modulation (TC-ST-CPM) was recently studied by X. Zhang and M.P. Fitz (see Proc. 38th Annual Allerton Conf. on Commun. Control and Computing, 2000). Similar to TC-ST for PSK and QAM systems, it has good performance but its decoding complexity may be high. We propose an orthogonal space-time coding for CPM (OST-CPM) systems. Similar to S. Alamouti's OST coding for PSK and QAM systems (see IEEE J. Select. Areas Commun., vol.16, no.8, p.1451-8, 1998), the newly proposed OST-CPM has a fast decoding algorithm.
Psychological distress: A hierarchical factor model of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL)

Recent investigations of the structure of psychological distress have indicated that hierarchical models can accommodate both unitary and multifaceted conceptions of distress. The present study tested the hierarchical framework suggested by Zuckerman, Lubin, and Rinck (1983) for the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL), a commonly used measure of psychological distress. One- and two-factor models were estimated using maximum-likelihood methods. Results indicated that the two-factor solution, with correlated positive and negative affect factors, provided a significantly better fit to the data than did the omnibus one-factor solution. These results provide further support for hierarchical models of distress.
The distribution and stratification of persistent organic pollutants and fatty acids in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) blubber.

Abstract Blubber has been used for decades to monitor exposure of marine mammals to persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, little is known about POP variability as a function of blubber depth and across the body of the animal. Remote blubber biopsy sampling (e.g, projectile biopsy) is the most common technique used to acquire samples from free-swimming animals, yet such techniques may result in variable sampling. It is important to understand whether blubber stratification or body location affects POP concentration or the concentration of other important blubber constituents such as fatty acids (FA). To investigate the influence of sampling depth and location on POP concentration, full depth blubber samples were taken from one stranded bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) at six different body sites to assess variation in FA distribution and contaminant storage with body location. Three of the samples from different body locations were separated into histologically distinct layers to examine the effect of blubber depth and body location on POPs and FAs. In this individual, both POPs and FAs were heterogeneous with blubber depth and body location. POP concentrations were significantly greater in ventral (average ΣPBDEs 1350 ng/g lipid) and anterior (average ΣPCBs 28700 ng/g lipid) body locations and greater in the superficial blubber layer (average ΣPCBs 35500 ng/g lipid) when compared to the deep (8390 ng/g lipid) and middle (23,700 ng/g lipid) layers. Proportionally more dietary FAs were found in dorsal blubber and in middle and deep layers relative to other locations while the reverse was true for biosynthesized FAs. Stratification was further examined in blubber from the same body location in five additional stranded bottlenose dolphins. Although FAs were stratified with blubber depth, lipid-normalized POPs were not significantly different with depth, indicating that POP concentrations can vary in an individual with blubber depth though the direction of POP stratification is not consistent among individuals.
Herniation of cerebellar tonsils following supratentorial shunt placement

Acquired Chiari 1 following ventriculoperitoneal shunting is an extremely unusual event. We report the case of an 8-year-old boy who presented with clinical and radiological signs of cerebellar tonsil herniation shortly after the placement of a cystoperitoneal shunt. Quantitative analysis of posterior fossa volumes (PFV) revealed that the patient had a smaller posterior fossa than age-matched normal controls. This abnormality, expressed as a decreased ratio between the posterior fossa and the supratentorial cavities (PFR), had already been present when the preoperative MRI was done. Our results suggest that pre-existing structural abnormalities in the posterior fossa may constitute an important factor in the development tonsillar herniation following supratentorial shunts.
Breaking Infinite CuI Carboxylate Helix Held by Cuprophilicity into Discrete Cun Fragments (n = 6, 4, 2)

A new copper(I) carboxylate complex with 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoate ligands, [Cu(O2C(3,5-CF3)2C6H3)] (1), has been prepared in high yield and fully characterized. An X-ray diffraction study revealed a remarkable infinite double-helical chain motif held together by cuprophilic interactions ranging from 2.69 to 3.14 A. Both left- and right-handed helices are present in the unit cell of the centrosymmetric structure of 1 thus making the crystalline compound racemic. Complex 1 shows bright emission at ca. 594 nm upon UV/Vis radiation in the solid state (λex = 350 nm). The Cu···Cu contacts in 1 are easily broken in the gas phase to afford copper clusters of ascertained nuclearity upon sublimation with various polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Several polyarenes such as fluoranthene (C16H10), pyrene (C16H10), and coronene (C24H12) were selected to cover a broad temperature range from 130 to 220 °C for the gas-phase co-deposition reactions. As a result of the successive temperature increase, cleavage of the infinite copper(I) chain into [Cun(O2C(3,5-CF3)2C6H3)n] fragments of decreasing nuclearity, n = 6, 4, and 2, has been achieved. The isolation of these units represents the first instance where various polynuclear copper(I) complexes are prepared and structurally characterized for the same carboxylate ligand.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
The Path to School Failure, Delinquency, and Violence: Causal Factors and Some Potential Solutions

This article addresses the issues associated with the path to school failure, delinquency, and violence that increasing numbers of our children and youth are following. Causal factors are identified and described, and the developmental nature of the path leading from exposure to risk factors to short- and long-term destructive outcomes is discussed. Prevention strategies for diverting at-risk children and youth from this path are also described and illustrated. These strategies include but are not limited to supporting families, developing and implementing school-based prevention approaches, supporting schools, improving academic and social competence, and achieving prevention goals through true collaborative arrangements between schools, families, and communities.
Orchestrating development and function: retrograde BMP signaling in the Drosophila nervous system

Recent work has shown that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) growth factors regulate development of the larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of Drosophila. Intriguingly, the same BMP growth factors also influence the expression of circulating hormones that modulate the physiological properties of NMJs. Together, the results suggest that retrograde growth factor signaling by BMPs integrates neuromuscular development and function at both local and global levels in the animal.
Hydrogen ingress into copper-nickel alloys

Abstract Hydrogen (H) ingress into two copper (Cu)-nickel (Ni) alloys — a commercial 77% Cu-15% Ni alloy (aged) and alloy K-500 (UNS N05500, aged and unaged) — was studied using a technique referre...
The Architecture of a High-Impact and Sustainable Peer Leader Program: A Blueprint for Success.

Building and sustaining a high-impact peer leader program requires intentional and deliberate design from the ground up, as well as attention to the details of training and supervision.
PHARYNGEAL AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION IN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA:Pathophysiology and Clinical Implications

It is well recognized that airflow obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea is caused by collapse of the pharynx. Although the precise anatomic and structural factors leading to pharyngeal collapse are not known, it is generally appreciated that collapse is caused by a complex interaction of structural and neuromuscular factors. The pharynx is comprised of numerous anatomic structures. Its properties are modulated dynamically by neural activation of its musculature. This neuromuscular control is required to integrate the normal functions of the pharynx in respiration, alimentation, and speech. In obstructive sleep apnea, however, such control goes awry as pharyngeal collapse interferes with its normal respiratory function during sleep. This article examines the underlying mechanisms for pharyngeal collapse in apneic patients and their therapeutic implications.
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM)- a central component of its cardiovascular effects in rats; involvement of serotonin.

Abstract The hallucinogen DOM produces a rise in blood pressure and heart rate when injected into the cerebral ventricles of anesthetized rats. These effects are abolished in rats with transected spinal cords but are unaffected by prior treatment with hexamethonium. Central but not peripheral administration of the serotonin antagonist BOL reduces the response. Tachyphylaxis to the response develops rapidly and is accompanied by a decrease in the ability of 5-HT to induce a centrally mediated cardiovascular change. It is concluded that the response is mediated by direct stimulation of central 5-HT receptors. Tachyphylaxis may be the result of irreversible binding of DOM to 5-HT receptors or to 5-HT receptor desensitization.
Improving within-run uniformity of polysilicon film

SVG/Thermco 7000 series VTRs (vertical thermal reactors) were purchased capable of running 100 production wafers in a single run. Manufacturing needs required an increase to 125 production wafers per run. Polysilicon deposition furnaces with five zone temperature control were capable of running 125 production wafers, but furnaces with three zone temperature control were not. The three zone temperature controlled furnace showed an elevated thickness signature near the top test wafer position. This increased thickness measured near upper specification limits. A designed experiment was run based on dummy wafer placement and end zone temperature setpoints. The optimized dummy wafer load and top and bottom temperature setpoints improved the wafer within-run uniformity from 8.0% to 1.8%.
A novel mixed-valence trinickel complex containing nickel(I), nickel(II) and iodonium moieties

Abstract The title complex, [{Ni(C14H28N2S2)2}NiI2]+I−·CH3CN forms as a crystalline minor product in the oxidation of Ni(C14H28N2S2) with iodine. X-ray analysis reveals that the trinuclear monocations are racemic and consist of two neutral, square-planar Ni(II)N(amine)2S(thiolate)2 units bridged via the thiolate ligands by an unusual NiI2 + group that can be described as containing Ni(I) and I(I) species. The Ni(I) atom is coordinated to two S(thiolate) ligands, an iodide ligand and an iodonium atom in an unusual distorted trigonal-pyramidal arrangement. The I(I) ion is coordinated to the remaining two S(thiolate) ligands [SIS=171.91(7)°] and to the Ni(I) ion [Ni(I)I(I)=3.0298(14) A] to yield a T-shaped geometry. Pyramidal coordination at the four sulfur atoms gives each cation a U-shaped conformation in profile.
Teammate social support, burnout, and self-determined motivation in collegiate athletes

Abstract Objective There is limited understanding of how specific components of social support are associated with athlete burnout and self-determined motivation, as most investigations have exclusively targeted overall support satisfaction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine if perceived support availability and received support, over and above support satisfaction, were associated with these correlates of psychological well-being in athletes. We also examined potential team-level variation in burnout and self-determined motivation. Design Cross-sectional. Method United States college athletes (N = 235; Mage = 19.8 years) completed reliable and valid assessments of study variables via an online questionnaire. Results Multilevel linear modeling showed a lack of team-level variation in burnout and self-determined motivation. Regression analyses showed perceived support availability to be inversely associated with burnout and positively associated with self-determined motivation. This was over and above support satisfaction, which demonstrated the same pattern of associations. Received support did not meaningfully associate with burnout or self-determined motivation over and above support satisfaction. Conclusion Results suggest that the perception of support availability from teammates, regardless of received support, was an important correlate of burnout and self-determined motivation in sport. Also, the general lack of team-level variation in the criterion variables suggests that burnout and self-determined motivation perceptions were largely driven by individual experiences.
Radiology of anterior cerebral artery infarction

Twenty patients with anterior cerebral artery infarction are reviewed. Usual and unusual clinical presentation and radiographic findings (angiography and computed tomography) are correlated.
Prose mesurée in the Lakes tour and guide: quoting and recalibrating English blank verse

In this paper I consider Wordsworth’s blank verse and Lake District tours and guides in the context of debates about meter. Neo‐classical critiques had cast blank verse as a visual trick of the typographical page: as prose posing as verse by appearing in lines. In this paper I argue that the transformed textual conditions made possible by an expanded print culture contributed to the Romantic revaluation of the blank‐verse measure and the valorization of its lyric form. In effect, blank verse’s visual aspects were naturalized and nationalized. I isolate a particular kind of Romantic‐era page on which blank verses frequently appeared, that of the tour and guidebook, exploring the effects of this print format on the verse. Tours and guidebooks celebrated visual features of specifically English landscapes and quoted national poets to do so. In works published between 1774 and 1835, Gilpin, Hutchinson, Housman, and Wordsworth supplemented landscapes plotted in prose with extracts from Paradise Lost, Night Thou...
Detecting and Resolving Firewall Policy Anomalies

The advent of emerging computing technologies such as service-oriented architecture and cloud computing has enabled us to perform business services more efficiently and effectively. However, we still suffer from unintended security leakages by unauthorized actions in business services. Firewalls are the most widely deployed security mechanism to ensure the security of private networks in most businesses and institutions. The effectiveness of security protection provided by a firewall mainly depends on the quality of policy configured in the firewall. Unfortunately, designing and managing firewall policies are often error prone due to the complex nature of firewall configurations as well as the lack of systematic analysis mechanisms and tools. In this paper, we represent an innovative policy anomaly management framework for firewalls, adopting a rule-based segmentation technique to identify policy anomalies and derive effective anomaly resolutions. In particular, we articulate a grid-based representation technique, providing an intuitive cognitive sense about policy anomaly. We also discuss a proof-of-concept implementation of a visualization-based firewall policy analysis tool called Firewall Anomaly Management Environment (FAME). In addition, we demonstrate how efficiently our approach can discover and resolve anomalies in firewall policies through rigorous experiments.
Identifying the Neural Correlates Underlying Social Pain: Implications for Developmental Processes

Although the need for social connection is critical for early social development as well as for psychological well-being throughout the lifespan, relatively little is known about the neural processes
Experimental Investigations On The Oxidation Of Cobalt Disilicide(CoSi 2 )

When a film of CoSi2 on a SiO2 substrate is thermally annealed in an oxidizing ambient in the temperature range, 750 - 1000°C, a SiO 2 layer grows on the surface by depleting the film of its Si. As a result, the chemical composition of the film passes through a sequence of silicides with increasing metal content. The film also breaks up into islands. This morphological instability is observed also for pure Co film on SiO 2 when annealed in vacuum. We show that less than 10 atomic percent of Si, or higher, in Co suppresses this instability under vacuum annealing. The oxidation of a CoSi 2 film on a Si substrate establishes that the displacement of Si atoms against Co atoms in the silicide does not create a morphological instability. The irradiation of a film on SiO 2 prior to oxidation by Kr ions whose range is commensurate with the thickness of the film can partly suppress this instability during oxidation under certain circumstances.
Can information foraging pick the fix? A field study

Previous findings have revealed the ability of information foraging to model or predict where developers will navigate within source code. However, the previous investigation did not consider whether the places developers went were the right places to go. In this paper, we present afield study in which we investigated over 200 open source bug reports and feature requests. We analyzed the textual similarity of these issues in relation to the source code, and determined what files developers had changed to fix these issues. Our results demonstrate that information scent can narrow down quite well where developers should make fixes, implying that future software navigation tools can predict the appropriate places to make fixes based solely on the contents of the issue and the source code.
Stability robustness bounds for discrete-time linear regulators

Stability robustness analysis and design for linear multivariable discrete-time systems with bounded uncertainties are discussed. Robust stability of the full-state feedback linear quadratic (LQ) regulator in the presence of perturbations (modelling errors) of the system matrices is investigated. These results are based on a recently developed bound on elemental (structured) time-varying perturbations of an asymptotically stable linear time-invariant discrete-time system. Lyapunov theory and singular value decomposition techniques are employed in deriving these bounds. Extensions of these results to linear stochastic systems with the Kalman filter as the stale estimator (LQG regulators) and to reduced-order dynamic compensator feedback are described. A state feedback control design method is presented for LQ regulators, using a quantitative measure called the Stability Robustness Index. Simple examples illustrate these new results.
Initial measurements of the UCLA rf photoinjector

The 1.5 cell standing wave rf photoinjector has been operated for the past several months using a copper cathode. The photoinjector drive laser produces sub 2 ps pulses of UV (A = 266 nm) light with up to 200 p~J/pulse which generates up to 3 nC of charge. The emittance of the photoinjector was measured as a function of charge, rf launching phase, and peak accelerating field. Also, the quantum efficiency and pulse lengths of the laser beam and the electron beam were measured.
Distribution of mast cells and histamine in canine pulmonary arteries

The distributions of mast cells and histamine along the canine pulmonary arterial tree were determined. Mast cell counts were made on toluidine blue stained histologic sections, and histamine concentration was measured in dissected arterial branches by an enzymatic-isotopic assay. Mast cell density and histamine concentration were greater in small muscular arteries compared to elastic arteries. In elastic arteries there was more histamine than would be expected by the number of mast cells found there, suggesting the presence of non-mast cell histamine in those vessels. In all arteries mast cells were located primarily in the adventitia. The finding of mast cells and histamine in greatest concentration in muscular pulmonary arteries suggests that these vessels are the major site of action of histamine and other mast cell contents within the pulmonary arterial tree.
Predictive value of immunofluorescence and electron microscopic evaluation of endomyocardial biopsies in the diagnosis and prognosis of myocarditis and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

The distinction between idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and myocarditis is controversial, both clinically and pathologically. To increase diagnostic accuracy and provide prognostic information, we prospectively tested the routine application of immunofluorescence and electron microscopy in endomyocardial biopsy evaluation. Biopsy samples from a consecutive series of 79 patients with cardiomyopathy and possible myocarditis were thus evaluated by light (LM), immunofluorescence (IF), and electron microscopy (EM). Patient course was followed prospectively to determine prognostic factors. Immunoglobulin (IgG) and complement (C) in biopsy tissue were graded 0 to 3+ and an IF score was derived as 2 (IgG) grade + C grade. A highly significant association was found between IF score greater than or equal to 2 and the presence of mononuclear cells (lymphocytes plus macrophages) greater than 5/high-power field, confirmed by EM; 12 of 15 (80%) with IF score greater than or equal to 2 had inflammatory cells, vs only 2 of 64 (3%) with IF score less than 2 (p less than 0.000001). EM was used to confirm the identity of infiltrating cells and to grade myofilament loss (0 to 3+) and 11 other ultrastructural features. EM did not provide important predictive information in myocarditis, but confirmed the presence of inflammatory cells. However, the EM finding of myofilament loss provided prognostic information both in patients with and without myocarditis (p less than 0.03). Mortality at 18 months was 37% for patients with 2 to 3+ myofilament loss, vs 10% in those with 0 to 1+ loss. Moreover, myofilament loss was prognostically independent of clinical class and ejection fraction. EM determination of myofilament loss is valuable as a prognostic indicator, whether or not myocarditis is present. Routine IF and EM increase the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic information in endomyocardial biopsies from patients with suspected myocarditis or cardiomyopathy.
Nomenclature and Correlation of Some Upper Precambrian and Basal Cambrian Sequences in Western Utah and Southeastern Idaho

Recent stratigraphic studies in three widely separated localities in southeastern Idaho and western Utah have revealed a startling continuity of both individual rock units and of rock sequences over a distance of some 300 mi parallel to the strike of a late Precambrian and Cambrian depositional trough. Between 15,000 and 25,000 ft of beds were deposited in the axis of the trough, whereas only 1000 to 3300 ft of correlative rocks were laid down on the shelf to the east. In several areas a diamictite is present near the base of the sequence; this is underlain locally and overlain generally by argillites containing lenticular limestones and dolomites; these in turn are succeeded by quartzitic rocks containing a thick grayish-red to maroon unit—the Mutual Formation. In each area the sequence includes, at the top, quartzites typical of the basal Cambrian. Deposition in the basin was essentially continuous from late Precambrian into Cambrian time but was interrupted by uplift and erosion on the shelf. The hinge line of the ancient seaway is inferred to have coincided roughly with the present “Wasatch line,” but erosion prior to deposition of the Tintic Quartzite has removed most of the data needed to establish this with certainty. Rocks in each of the three areas described here in detail are regarded as allochthonous and appear to have been thrust eastward during the Sevier orogeny. A precise reconstruction of the sedimentary basin must therefore await not only additional stratigraphic studies in such areas as the Promontory Range of Utah and the Bannock and Malad Ranges of southern Idaho, but also final resolution of the structural events.
A case mix simulation decision support system model for negotiating hospital rates

The institution of prospective payment systems by many health care insurers has drawn increased attention to case-based financial planning in hospitals. When hospital revenues are directly linked to patient diagnoses rather than to the types and quantities of services supplied to patients, managers must be aware of the financial implications of different case mixes and must be prepared to influence insurers' price structures. A case-based financial planning model is presented here for the purpose of assisting managerial decision making in the strategic areas of case mix planning and pricing. The computerized model characterizes hospitals as product manufacturers, the product being discharged patients. Diagnosis serves to differentiate the “products”; however, diagnoses are grouped by payor and similar treatment cost experiences to create a limited set of managerially meaningful case types. Diagnostic and treatment costs are also aggregated to facilitate the modeling of the hospital production process. The computerized model projects the number of patients of each case-type and total patient volume, based on estimated patient volume growth rates. The model also projects prices and contribution margins for each case-type, as well as total contribution to hospital overhead. Testing the model with a hypothetical example of a hospital strategic planning problem demonstrates the model's potential as a decision-making aid in case mix planning and case-type pricing. It also reveals several model shortcomings that require further developmental effort.
Crystallization, melting, and rheology of reactive polyamide blends

The crystallization and melting characteristics of a series of polyamide blends based on PA 4,6 and PA 6I were investigated by calorimetric methods; preparation of the samples was conducted so as to control the extent of transamidation occurring in the melt before crystallization. Blend samples with minimal prior thermal history displayed a modest degree of melting point depression compared to the equilibrium melting temperature of PA 4,6 (T = 309.5°C). Application of the Nishi–Wang equation indicated a value of χ = −0.25 for the blends. PA 4,6 and the blends followed Avrami crystallization kinetics with exponents in the range 2.0 to 2.5; no systematic variation of n with blend composition was observed. The influence of transamidation was investigated for samples exposed to varying melt temperatures and melt times with the extent of transreaction quantified using 13C-NMR. Increasing extents of transreaction led to a decrease in both the rate of crystallization and the overall bulk crystallinity of the blends owing to a reduction in the length and number of crystallizable blocks present along the polymer chains. Capillary rheometry studies indicated a strong sensitivity to time in the melt for the PA 4,6 homopolymer, and the mechanism responsible for the observed decrease in apparent viscosity was also operative in the blend samples. As such, it was not possible to independently assess the influence of transreaction on the rheology of the blends. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 1245–1252, 2004
Instant‐count sampling: A technique for estimating recreation use in municipal settings

Instant‐count sampling was tested on four municipal recreation areas in Athens, Georgia. Users were counted instantaneously on the areas at randomly selected times. From these counts, estimates of use and standard errors were achieved with a minimum of sampling time required. Errors ranged from 10.2 to 37.8 percent of estimated use and did not exceed 23.6 percent for total use.
Negotiating Pluralism and Specifying Modernity in Greece: Reading Church–State Relations in the Christodoulos Period

The author explores Church–state relations in Greece during the period of Archbishop Christodoulos’ ecclesiastical leadership. Church–state interactions are analyzed as a series of engagements shaped by the logic of pluralism, whereby emblematic episodes reflect the efforts of Church and state to resolve their respective ambivalence regarding the conception, sources and manifestations of, as well as responses to, religious pluralism in contemporary Greece. Re-problematizing Church–state relations within the theoretical framework of pluralism offers analytical and practical gains in resolving the core issue in longstanding debates about constitutional design for Church–state relations in Greece, namely, the need to balance the state’s responsibility for uncompromising protection of the freedom and equality of all citizens, against the sensitivity to both historical and contemporary factors that constitute the cultural particularity of Greece. Finally, exploration of Church–state relations in terms of plura...
Early manifestation of noncalcific aortic stenosis after porcine valve replacement

Symptoms of noncalcific aortic stenosis developed in a 57-year-old man 3 months after implantation of a Carpentier-Edwards porcine heterograft. The glutaraldehyde-processed bioprosthesis was removed 7 months after implantation and replaced with a No. 3 Medtronic Hall valve.
Hypothyroidisim following hemithyroidectomy: Incidence, risk factors, and management***

Background. The purpose of this study was to characterize the hypothyroidism that occurs following hemithyroidectomy. Methods. The records of all euthyroid patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy from 1992 to 2000 were reviewed to determine the frequency of postsurgical hypothyroidism and the predisposing factors. All patients were evaluated for age, gender, serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels, weight of resected thyroid tissue, and associated thyroiditis. Hypothyroid patients were evaluated for symptoms, timing of diagnosis, and treatment doses of levothyroxine (L-T4). Results. Hypothyroidism was diagnosed in 25 (35%) of 71 patients, subclinical in 16 and overt in 9 with a mean postoperative TSH level of 8.51 ± 6.53 μIU/L. The mean preoperative TSH level was 1.94 ± 1.00 μIU/L in hypothyroid compared with 1.10 ± 0.74 μIU/L in euthyroid patients (P <.05). Lymphocytic thyroiditis was present in 10 (40%) of 25 hypothyroid compared with 10 (22%) of 46 euthyroid patients (P = not significant). There were no significant differences in age, gender, or weight of resected thyroid tissue. The average therapeutic dose of L-T4 was 1.3 μg/kg (range, 0.5 to 1.9 μg/kg). All but 2 hypothyroid patients were diagnosed within 2 months of operation. Conclusions. Hypothyroidism following hemithyroidectomy occurs in patients with higher preoperative TSH levels, is usually mild and asymptomatic, and can be treated with reduced doses of L-T4. (Surgery 2000;128:994-8.)
Superinduction of IL-6 by cycloheximide is associated with mRNA stabilization and sustained activation of p38 map kinase and NF-κB in cultured Caco-2 cells

Protein synthesis inhibitors paradoxically increase the expression of early-gene products, including various cytokines, through a process known as superinduction. Superinduction is cell-specific and the mechanisms involved are not fully understood but are usually attributed to decreased mRNA degradation. There is, however, increasing evidence that activation of signaling cascades and increased transcriptional activation may be involved as well. Recent studies suggest that IL-6 production in the intestinal mucosa is particularly important due to its anti-inflammatory and protective effects. The effect of protein synthesis inhibitors on IL-6 production in enterocytes, however, is unknown. Treatment of Caco-2 cells with cycloheximide (10 microg/ml) increased IL-6 mRNA and protein levels in IL-1beta-treated cells and this was associated with increased mRNA stabilization. In addition, cycloheximide suppressed IkappaBalpha resynthesis and prolonged p38MAP kinase activation and these changes were associated with sustained activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. NF-kappaB activation, in turn, was prevented by the specific p38MAP kinase inhibitor SB208350. Our results suggest that superinduction of IL-6 by cycloheximide in enterocytes results from both increased mRNA stabilization and upregulated transcriptional activity mediated by prolonged activation of the p38 MAP kinase and NF-kappaB.
Capacitance of the polypyrrole/polyimide composite by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Electrically conducting polymers and their composites attract a lot of attention because of their high charge storage ability. As was shown previously, the composite of polypyrrole (PPy) and polyimide (PI) possesses better charge storage properties then pure PPy. Probably the PI matrix protects PPy from oxidative destruction and serves as a high molecular weight dopant. In this paper, the PPy/PI composite was studied by as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at different applied dc polarization potentials. The properties of the coatings were found to differ significantly between pure PI and the PPy/PI composite, depending on the applied potential and on the amount of the conducting polymer. An additional time constant related to the PPy/PI interface appears when PPy is added to PI. The pseudocapacitance of the PPy/PI composite increased significantly with increased cathodic potential. This was explained by additional doping of PPy by the PI matrix.
Optical response of excess electrons in dielectric liquids

Abstract The theoretical basis for describing the optical absorption spectrum of the trapped electron in polar and non-polar liquids is critically examined. The choice of the degenerate vibronic wavefunctions as zero-th order basis wavefunctions leads to a unified description of the absorption spectrum and the d.c. mobility through the use of the Kubo formula. On the other hand, a set of one-center vibronic wavefunctions of the Landau-Jortner formulation are shown to give a narrower line shape and zero d.c. mobility if one imposes the adiabatic approximation. A new interpretation of the UV response is also given.
Interleukin-6, β-amyloid peptide and NMDA interactions in rat cortical neurons

Neuronal damage in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is thought to involve direct toxicity of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) and excitotoxicity involving NMDA receptors (NMDARs) and altered Ca2+ dynamics. Inflammation agents produced by microglia or astrocytes and associated with senile plaques such as the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) could also contribute. To investigate this possibility, neuronal damage (lactate dehydrogenase assay, LDH, assay) was measured in cultures of rodent cortical neurons chronically treated with IL-6, Aβ or Aβ plus IL-6 and acutely treated with NMDA. Both Aβ and NMDA produced neuronal damage and this effect was larger with combined treatment. IL-6 did not produce significant neuronal damage but the largest neuronal damage was observed in cultures exposed to all three factors. IL-6 and Aβ enhanced Ca2+ responses to NMDA and combined treatment produced the largest effect. These results are consistent with a role for interactions between Aβ, NMDA and IL-6 in the neuronal loss in AD.
Fenchel's Duality Theorem in Generalized Geometric Programming.

Fenchel’s duality theorem is extended to generalized geometric programming with explicit constraints—an extension that also generalizes and strengthens Slater’s version of the Kuhn-Tucker theorem.
The efficacy of systematic desensitization in reducing nightmares

Abstract The effectiveness of systematic desensitization in ameliorating nightmares was evaluated in a controlled study. Twenty-nine subjects were assigned to either systematic desensitization, a nightmare discussion placebo, or continuous self-recording. The placebo treatment did not differ from desensitization in terms of rated logicalness and potential effectiveness. However, the desensitization group showed a significantly greater reduction in the frequency of nightmares as well as a decrease in rated intensity. Moreover the desensitization subjects also had a significantly greater decrease in reported fear and state anxiety. Related research on nightmares is noted and future research needs are discussed.
Effect of orofacial exercises on oral aperture in adults with systemic sclerosis.

Purpose: To examine the effect of a home orofacial exercise program on increasing oral aperture among adults with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Method: Forty-eight adults with SSc were assigned randomly to the multifaceted oral-health intervention or usual dental care control group. Participants with an oral aperture of <40 mm in the intervention group received an orofacial exercise program, which included daily manual mouth-stretching and oral-augmentation exercises twice a day with a total of 6 minutes for 6 months. The outcome measure was oral aperture which was measured at baseline, 3-months, and 6-months intervals. Results: A significantly larger increase in oral aperture for participants received the orofacial exercise program was found when compared to those in the usual care at 3 months (P = 0.01), but not at 6-months evaluation. Participants’ adherence rate to the exercise program was low (48.9%). Conclusions: The orofacial exercise program intervention for adults with SSc and microstomia did not sho...
Effects of Some Processing Variables on Dimensional Stability

Precision device dimensional stability and relaxation of residual stresses introduced during processing, noting design, material selection and material processing
Electronic and optical properties of high quality low bandgap amorphous (Ge, Si) alloys

High quality low bandgap a-(Ge,Si):H alloys were prepared using low pressure, reactive ECR plasma deposition with high H dilution and subtle (sub-ppm) B-doping. The charge transport and optical properties of these low bandgap materials as a function of alloy composition have been investigated by employing the microwave photomixing technique and optical absorption spectroscopy. From the measurements of electric field dependence of the drift mobility, we have found strong evidence for the existence of long-range potential fluctuations in a-(Ge,Si):H alloys, and determined the depth and range of the potential fluctuations, and subsequently the charged defect density, as a function of alloy composition. It was found that at ∼30% Si in Ge, the photoresponse begins to decrease rapidly with increasing Si content due to the decreases in the mobility and lifetime, and meanwhile, both the charged defect density and the Urbach energy increase significantly. The latter indicates an increase in the compositional disorder. It is the potential fluctuations whose effect can be also enhanced by incorporating Si to the alloy system that result in the deterioration of the electronic properties of a-(Ge,Si):H alloys, similar to the case of the incorporation of Ge at the Si end. This enhanced effect accompanies with an increase in the depth, and a decrease in the range of potential fluctuations, leading to a decrease in the mobility, and consequently in the photoconductivity. Our present results demonstrate that the increased charged scattering centers and compositional disorder upon adding Si to the alloys play an important role in the potential fluctuations.
Ultraviolet-fluorescent tattoo location of cutaneous biopsy site.

BackgroundCutaneous biopsies often heal with little or no scarring. Prior studies have shown an alarming percentage of patients who incorrectly identify biopsy sites at the time of surgery.ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and utility of an ultraviolet (UV)-fluorescent tattoo for biopsy site identi
Radionuclide Sorption Modeling Using the Minteqa2 Speciation Code

The MINTEQA2 database has been updated and expanded to include radionuclide data from the most recent release of the EQ3/6 database. Comparison of U(VI)-speciation predicted using the old and new MINTEQA2 databases indicates several significant differences, including the introduction of neutral and anionic species at neutral to alkaline pH. In contrast, comparison of results calculated by EQ3 and MINTEQA2, both using Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) uranium data, reveals only small differences that are likely due to differences in calculated activity coefficients. With the new database, MINTEQA2 was used to model U(VI)-goethite sorption data from the literature with the Triple-Layer Model (TLM). Values were independently fixed for all but one of the model parameters. The parameter optimization code FITEQL was then used to determine binding constants for mononuclear uranium complexes (UO2(OH)n2−n). The surface complex MOH2-UO2(OH)4− produced a very good fit of the sorption data, which was not significantly improved by the use of two or more surface complexes.
Deposition of palladium films by a novel supercritical fluid transport-chemical deposition process

Abstract Palladium was pyrolytically deposited by a supercritical fluid transport-chemical deposition method using the metal β-diketonate complex bis-(2,2,7-trimethyl-3,5-octanedionato)palladium(II). Deposition at a rate of 95 nm/min occurred at a substrate temperature of 740 °C. X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe analyses of the reflective films that were deposited on fused silica substrates showed that they contained polycrystalline palladium. The films were electrically conductive, but conductivity was substantially lower than that for bulk palladium. X-ray diffraction of the films deposited on (100) Si substrates showed that palladium silicide was formed.
The Center for Advanced Study and Research on Intellectual Property (CASRIP)

Abstract CASRIP is an independent research and policy development institute focusing on problems in patent and other property ownership rights in products of high technology, including biotechnology and computer software. It aims to improve the exchange of views, particularly between Japan and the USA, and to study the impact of intellectual property on international trade.
Thermal inhibition of repair of methylmethane sulfonate-damaged DNA in chick embryo fibroblasts.

Abstract Chick embryo fibroblasts were treated with the monofunctional alkylating agent methylmethane sulfonate at various concentrations for 1 h at 42°C, rinsed and then incubated post-treatment at various temperatures at which the kinetics of alkali-labile bond disappearance was followed. Growth experiments showed that these cells grew similarly at temperatures of either 37°C or 42°C. Repair as assessed by removal of alkali-labile bond was also similar for postincubation in the temperature range 37–42°C for damage due to methylmethane sulfonate treatment at concentrations less than 1.5 mM. When the postincubation temperature was raised higher than 42.5–43°C, this type of repair was stopped. The normal internal body temperature of adult chickens is about 41.6°C. Hence the present finding indicates that chick cells are much more severely restricted in DNA repair at temperatures above normal than are mammalian cells, which can function in this respect for several deg. C above 37°C.
Identification of In-Gel Digested Proteins by Complementary Peptide Mass Fingerprinting and Tandem Mass Spectrometry Data Obtained on an Electrospray Ionization Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer

The present study reports a procedure developed for the identification of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretically separated proteins using an electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Q-TOF MS) equipped with pressurized sample introduction. It is based on in-gel digestion of the proteins without previous reduction/alkylation and on the capability of the Q-TOF MS to provide data suitable for peptide mass fingerprinting database searches and for tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) database searches (sequence tags). Omitting the reduction/alkylation step reduces sample contamination and sample loss, resulting in increased sensitivity. Omitting this step can leave disulfide-connected peptides in the analyte that can lead to misleading or ambiguous results from the peptide mass fingerprinting database search. This uncertainty, however, is overcome by MS/MS analysis of the peptides. Furthermore, the two complementary MS approaches increase the accuracy of the assignment of the unknown...
Somatic Polyembryogenesis from Callus of Mature Sugar Pine Embryos

An embryogenic callus was isolated from suspensor cells of 5–year–old sugar pine seeds. With a newly formulated basal medium and by removal of 2,4–D followed by an addition of BAP, globular somatic embryos were induced having elongated suspensors. In darkness, embryos elongated and formed numerous cotyledons in a repetitive and true–to–type polyembryonic process. When separated from one another, none of the embryos showed overt evidence of lethal or competitive effects under in vitro conditions.
Signal Enhancement of Time-resolved Magneto-optic Measurements on Individual Nanomagnets

The sensitivity of magneto-optic Kerr measurements of nanomagnetic structures is significantly improved using cavity enhancement to increase the Kerr signal by depositing dielectric layers on the magnetic surface under study. We discuss different strategies to optimize the use of cavity enhancement for observation of nanomagnets. We show that maximization of the Kerr rotation from magnetic structures results in higher sensitivity for magnetic films, but does not yield the highest sensitivity for nanomagnets. Instead, the use of an anti-reflection coating on the substrate surrounding the magnet in conjunction with index optimization of the enhancement layer can increase the Kerr signal by more than two orders of magnitude in the deep nanometer range, and enables detection of individual nanomagnets using conventional far-field Kerr microscopy.
Dynamics of Drop Impact on a Rectangular Slot

Drop impact on substrates is of scientific importance and plays a central role in both microscale and large-scale applications, e.g., ink-jet printing and spray coating. For over 100 years, researchers have studied situations where drops impact planar substrates, a beautiful free surface flow resulting in either drop deposition or splashing. By contrast, drop impact on nonplanar substrates, e.g., spheres, has become of interest only recently. Here, the impact of drops of several liquids with a slot of width comparable to the drop diameter that is dug into an otherwise planar substrate is studied experimentally as a function of impact velocity. Two different kinds of splashing arise in the new experiments: an internal splash similar to that observed on planar substrates and a new, external splash, where some of the drop liquid splashes out of the slot. Phase diagrams that delineate regimes of drop spreading and splashing are presented. Simple scaling arguments are also developed to rationalize the findings.
Evaluating the efficacy of psychotherapy for depression: the USA experience.

New forms of psychotherapy have been developed in North America specifically focused on the treatment of depressed patients, usually “neurotic depressives” treated on an ambulatory basis. The widely studied treatments have been cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy (IPT). The theoretical background and empirical basis of IPT is reviewed along with the available evidence for efficacy based on studies of acute treatment and maintenance treatment. The recently completed NIMH multi-center study provides evidence for the overall efficacy of treatment of outpatient depressives, whether by drugs or by brief psychotherapy. Future developments will likely increase the focus of psychotherapy for depression alone and in combination with medication.