cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The U.S. Army in the Iraq War: volume 1 (Invasion, Insurgency, Civil War 2003-2006)

Long anticipated but delayed amid internal controversy, the U.S. Army study on the Iraq War has finally appeared. Published as two volumes, it has been worth the wait. Its contents would seem to ma...
Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles

The Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world (Fautin et al. PLoS One 5(8):e11914, 2010). Twenty-one species of marine mammals and five species of sea turtles were routinely identified in the region by the end of the twenty-first century (Waring et al. NOAA Tech Memo NMFS NE 231:361, 2015), a decrease from approximately 39 species prior to intensive exploitation (Darnell RM. The American sea: a natural history of the Gulf of Mexico. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX, 2015). Life histories of these megafauna species range from hyperlocal residence patterns of bottlenose dolphins to inter-ocean migrations of leatherback turtles. All species are subject to direct and indirect impacts associated with human activities. These impacts have intensified with major development and extraction efforts since the 1940s. The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill represents a new type of injury to this system: Unlike previous large oil spills, it not only exposed marine megafauna to surface slicks, it also involved an unprecedented release of dispersed oil into deep waters and pelagic habitats, where effects are difficult to observe and quantify. This chapter synthesizes the research conducted following the DWH oil spill to characterize acute and chronic offshore effects on oceanic marine mammals and sea turtles. Marine mammals and sea turtles were exposed to unprecedented amounts of oil and dispersants. Local declines in marine mammal presence observed using passive acoustic monitoring data suggest that the acute and chronic population-level impacts of this exposure were likely high and were underestimated based on coastal observations alone. These population declines may be related to reduced reproductive success as observed in nearshore proxies. Long-term monitoring of oceanic marine mammals is a focus of this chapter because impacts to these populations have not been extensively covered elsewhere. We provide an overview of impacts to sea turtles and coastal marine mammals, but other more thorough resources are referenced for in depth reviews of these more widely covered species.
On the Hall algebra of coherent sheaves on P1 over F1

Abstract We define and study the category C o h n ( P 1 ) of normal coherent sheaves on the monoid scheme P 1 (equivalently, the M 0 -scheme P 1 / F 1 in the sense of Connes–Consani–Marcolli, Connes (2009) [2] ). This category resembles in most ways a finitary abelian category, but is not additive. As an application, we define and study the Hall algebra of C o h n ( P 1 ) . We show that it is isomorphic as a Hopf algebra to the enveloping algebra of the product of a non-standard Borel in the loop algebra L g l 2 and an abelian Lie algebra on infinitely many generators. This should be viewed as a ( q = 1 ) version of Kapranov’s result relating (a certain subalgebra of) the Ringel–Hall algebra of P 1 over F q to a non-standard quantum Borel inside the quantum loop algebra U ν ( s l 2 ) , where ν 2 = q .
Prediction of Cover Crop Adoption through Machine Learning Models using Satellite-derived Data

Abstract Cover crop is an agriculture operation that is planted during the winter and owns several advantages such as improving water quality and soil quality. However, the large-scale effect of cover crop in relieving environmental burden and improving cash crop yield over a region has not been widely investigated. Due to cost and time limitation, it is not favorable to conduct the conventional field trials. Previous study proposed a Random Forest classifier to predict the pattern of cover crop adoption from the remote sensing data. In this study, we propose a Multilayer Perceptron neural network to further improve the performance and reliability of the classification model and achieve an accuracy of 0.93 and Cohen’s Kappa of 0.76. Moreover, the Multilayer Perceptron model outperforms two baseline classification models. Finally, we predict the cover crop planting status for the Knox County and found a significant increase in cover crop planting on the corn cropland in 2016.
Dysregulation of H11 Kinase in the Failing Human Left Ventricular Myocardium

Purpose Mitochondrial dysfunction and ongoing cardiomyocyte loss from apoptosis contribute to the progressive LV dysfunction characteristic of the heart failure (HF) state. H11 kinase (H11K) is a 22-kD serine/threonine kinase protein abundantly expressed in the heart. Dysregulation of H11K occurs in HF but its potential contribution to the progression of HF is not fully understood. Cardiac deletion of H11K in mice with LV pressure overload has been shown to result in LV dilation, reduced hypertrophy, impaired contractile function, increased interstitial fibrosis and faster transition to HF. In this study, we examined the expression of H11K in LV myocardium and separately in cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions of explanted failing human hearts. Methods Sodium-dodecyl sulfate (SDS) extracts were prepared from LV tissue of 7 explanted failed human hearts due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC), 7 due to ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and of 7 non-failing human donor hearts (DNR). Western blotting and specific antibodies were used to assess protein levels of H11K normalized to the internal control GAPDH in homogenate and cytosolic fractions and protein levels of H11K normalized to the internal control porin in mitochondrial fractions. Results There were no differences in GAPDH and porin among the 3 groups. H11K protein levels were significantly increased in LV homogenate and cytosolic fractions but significantly decreased in mitochondrial fractions of both IDC and ICM failed human hearts compared to DNR hearts (Table). Conclusion The failing human LV manifests increased H11K protein levels independent of HF etiology. The reduced H11K protein level in mitochondria and its increase in the cytosolic compartment of failing cardiomyocytes represents an adverse maladaptation capable of reducing ATP synthesis by mitochondria and activation of cardiomyocyte pro-apoptotic cell death pathways in the cytosol respectively thus likely contributing to the progression of HF.
Why Do College Counselors Perceive Anxiety as Increasing? A Semi-structured Examination of Five Causes

Several studies suggest that college counselors believe anxiety has been rising in recent decades. However, these surveys do not allow counselors to give nuanced answers or explicate their reasons,...
Presence and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes at an organic goat dairy farm

How does the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry impact antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and integron prevalence? This article examines the prevalence of nine ARGs (OXA-2, tetB, tetG, bla CMY-2 , ereB, NDM, ermB, sul1, and sul2) and two class one integron sequences (intI1 and CS) at an organic goat dairy farm. To provide insight on how antibiotic use is contributing to the abundance of ARGs and integrons outside of where they are used, we made a comparison between our findings and the prevalence of ARGs and integrons at conventional farms from previously published studies. Samples were collected from an organic goat dairy farm in the Willamette Valley from the goat bedding and goat pellets, as well as non-agriculture soil from the Pacific University campus. DNA extraction, followed by PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis, was used to determine the ARG and integron presence in samples. Quantitative PCR was used to determine the ARG and integron abundance in the samples. Out of nine ARGs and two class 1 integron sequences, we found that four ARGs (tetG, ermB, sul1, and sul2) and both class 1 integron sequences (intI1 and CS) were present in the bacterial populations in our samples. tetG, intI1, and sul1 were chosen for qPCR analysis, and revealed equal or higher concentrations when compared to conventional farms. This study highlights the need to compare various practices to determine their impact on ARG prevalence.
An interactive programming paradigm for realtime experimentation with remote living matter

Recent advancements in life-science instrumentation and automation enable entirely new modes of human interaction with microbiological processes and corresponding applications for science and education through biology cloud labs. A critical barrier for remote life-science experimentation is the absence of suitable abstractions and interfaces for programming living matter. To this end we conceptualize a programming paradigm that provides stimulus control functions and sensor control functions for realtime manipulation of biological (physical) matter. Additionally, a simulation mode facilitates higher user throughput, program debugging, and biophysical modeling. To evaluate this paradigm, we implemented a JavaScript-based web toolkit, 9Bioty9, that supports realtime interaction with swarms of phototactic Euglena cells hosted on a cloud lab. Studies with remote users demonstrate that individuals with little to no biology knowledge and intermediate programming knowledge were able to successfully create and use scientific applications and games. This work informs the design of programming environments for controlling living matter in general and lowers the access barriers to biology experimentation for professional and citizen scientists, learners, and the lay public.
Superfast polarization-sensitive off-axis full-field optical coherence microscopy for label-free imaging of neural activity

The electrical activity of neurons is invariably accompanied by a flux of ions and the motion of the cell membrane. This leads to subtle changes in the refractive index and birefringence of the sample. We present Superfast Polarization-sensitive Off-axis Full-field Optical Coherence Microscopy (SPoOF OCM), a novel setup to capture these variations. Using two orthogonal spatial modulations for each polarization state and a high-speed camera that can operate at up to 4000 Hz, we demonstrate the ability of our setup to observe label-free electrical activity in both the short (1-10 ms) and long (50-500 ms) term.
Evolution of Thermal Sensitivity in Changing and Variable Climates

Evolutionary adaptation to temperature and climate depends on both the extent to which organisms experience spatial and temporal environmental variation (exposure) and how responsive they are to th...
China’s Economy and Success Without Freedom

China’s economic approach has changed so drastically that it is largely unrecognizable today from the days of Mao Zedong. Some broad ideologies remain the same, but the role of market incentives has changed, and economic output has grown at rates that could hardly have been imagined in the 1960s and 1970s. Despite its pretenses to the contrary, China has not adopted a free market like the West. China’s economy is structured to achieve the regional and global goals of the Chinese Communist Party. This chapter illustrates the reasons for China’s economic approach, which is essential for understanding the harm that trade with China causes for Western institutions.
How Many Readings

A perennial issue that arises with regard to sentences showing a collective/distributive ambiguity is that of how many readings they have. The answers that have been given range from one (effectively denying that the collective/distributive distinction comes from an authentic ambiguity at all) to arbitrarily many, allowing even for transfinite numbers of readings. Frequently, the kind of answer which is given reflects the type of analysis which is assumed: NP/S theorists may argue that the number of readings is dependent on the number of occurrences of and in the sentence; scope theorists may assume that it depends on the number of quantifiers or other operators, etc. Ontological concerns also sometimes play a role in this issue; the kind of answer one gives may have a bearing on what “groups” are like, and how they relate to individuals. We will try to keep both kinds of concern in mind as we review the options, though ontological issues will not be much of an explicit concern until Chapter 9. With luck, we shall arrive in the end at an analysis which both preserves the conclusions we have already come to with regard to the analysis of collectives and distributives, and affords us a reasonable and intuitive view as to what groups are like and how they relate to individuals.
A weak PAR2 partial agonist that can block PAR2 signaling initiated via protease and/or potent peptidomimetics (794.5)

Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) is a GPCR activated by proteolytic cleavage of the extracellular NH2-terminus resulting in a newly exposed peptide sequence or “tethered ligand.” Potent and efficacious peptidomimetic agonists have been developed to PAR2, however, similar antagonists have been lacking. We have modified the peptidomimetic agonist, 2-furoyl-LIGRLO-NH2, substituting LIG2-4 with an azabicycloalkane scaffold and O6 with a Tyr. At 10 - 50 M, C391 blocks protease and/or peptidomimetic induced, PAR2 dependent, Ca2+ and MAPK signaling and, -arrestin recruitment. In a PAR2-dependent behavioral mouse model, C391 dose-dependently blocked (75 g max effect) mast cell degranulation-induced thermal hyperalgesia. We transformed C391 into a synthetic tethered ligand (C391-PEG3-Hdc) in an effort to increase PAR2 affinity and efficacy. C391-PEG3-Hdc performed as a partial agonist across PAR2 assays. We conclude that C391 is a weak partial agonist with low M PAR2 affinity that can act as an antagonist when...
Early risk factors for psychopathology in offspring of parents with bipolar disorder: the role of obstetric complications and maternal comorbid anxiety.

Objective Offspring of parents with bipolar disorder (BD) are at increased risk for developing a range of psychiatric disorders. Although genetic factors clearly confer risk to offspring, environmental factors also play a role in increasing vulnerability. Such environmental factors may occur at the initial stages of development in the form of obstetric complications (OCs). The current investigation examined the relationship between OCs and the development of psychopathology in offspring at risk for BD and the influence of parental psychopathology in this relationship. Methods This cross-sectional study included 206 offspring of 119 parents with BD. Probit regression analyses examined associations between: (1) OC history and offspring psychopathology; and (2) maternal lifetime comorbid anxiety diagnoses and OCs in pregnancy/delivery with their offspring. Path analyses then tested whether OCs mediate the relationship between maternal comorbid anxiety disorders and offspring lifetime psychopathology. Results Results indicated a specific association between OCs, particularly delivery complications, and increased risk for offspring anxiety disorders. Data also showed a significant relationship between maternal anxiety disorder comorbidity and OCs. Finally, path analyses suggested that delivery complications act as a mediator in the relationship between comorbid maternal anxiety disorder and offspring anxiety disorder. Conclusions Our findings lend support to the importance of identifying and reducing anxiety in pregnant woman with BD. The identification of OCs as early vulnerability factors for psychopathology in offspring at familial risk may also lead to earlier detection and intervention in these offspring.
Stability is woven by complex webs

Most ecological systems are highly complex. But the issue of whether greater complexity means greater stability, or otherwise, has been long debated. New mathematical modelling now seems to bring theory closer into line with what one would intuitively imagine to be the case — that complexity tends to stabilize an ecosystem by, for instance, dampening population fluctuations.
Institutional change, stature, and northeast industrialization: Evidence from the 19th century Philadelphia County prison

This article considers the relationship between stature, race, institutional change, and proximity to urban centers during economic development. A new data set of male inmates from the 19th century Philadelphia County prison is introduced to compare black and white statures during industrialization in a northern state. White inmates were consistently taller than their black counterparts, and Americans were taller than British and Europeans. It is documented that blacks and whites in Southeastern Pennsylvania who lived in urbanized Philadelphia were consistently shorter than other rural Pennsylvanians, indicating that the relative effects of urbanization dominated proximity to dairy production during industrialization.
The Arrow-Lind Theorem in a Continuum Economy

In their stimulating contribution to the theory of cost-benefit analysis, Arrow and Lind showed that "when the risks associated with a public investment are publicly borne, the total cost of risk bearing is insignificant and, therefore, the government should ignore uncertainty in evaluating public investments... This result is obtained not because the government is able to pool investments but because the government distributes the risk associated with any investment among a large number of people. It is the risk-spreading aspect of government investment that is essential to this result." Arrow and Lind proved their result from an asymptotic point of view, letting the number of taxpayers grow infinitely large.(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Rapid diagnosis of Brucella melitensis in blood: some operational characteristics of the BACT/ALERT.

A clinical isolate of Brucella melitensis was detected in a blood culture with the BACT/ALERT after an incubation period of 2.8 days. Dilution studies revealed an inverse linear relationship between the log of the initial concentration of the organism and the time to detection of a positive result. Reproducibility studies demonstrated a mean detection time of 48 +/- 1 h in 8 of 10 replicates seeded with a stock containing 10(2) CFU/ml. Images
Polychlorocycloalkane insecticide-induced convulsions in mice in relation to disruption of the GABA-regulated chloride ionophore.

The toxicity to mice of intraperitoneally-administered polychlorocycloalkane (PCCA) insecticides is generally correlated with their potency as in vitro inhibitors of the brain specific [35S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate [( 35S]TBPS) binding site with correction for metabolic activation and detoxification. These findings from our earlier studies are extended here to in vivo investigations relating convulsant action to inhibition of the TBPS binding site in poisoned mice. Radioligand binding assays involved brain P2 membranes washed three times with 1 mM EDTA to remove endogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or other modulator(s) which otherwise serves as a noncompetitive inhibitor of [35S]TBPS binding at the GABA-regulated chloride ionophore. Examination of lindane, technical toxaphene, toxaphene toxicant A, and 10 polychlorocyclodiene insecticides revealed 62 +/- 4% binding site inhibition 30 min after their LD50 doses with 32 +/- 3% inhibition at one-half and 6 +/- 3% inhibition at one-quarter of their LD50 doses. This correlation between binding site inhibition and convulsant action is also evident in dose- and time-dependency studies with endosulfan sulfate. The brain P2 membranes of treated mice contain the parent compound with each of the PCCAs plus activation products of some of the cyclodienes, i.e. endosulfan sulfate from alpha- and beta-endosulfan and 12-ketoendrin from isodrin and endrin. The finding that the brains of treated mice contain sufficient PCCA or its activation products to achieve a magnitude of [35S]TBPS binding site inhibition correlated with the severity of the poisoning signs supports the hypothesis that the acute toxicity of PCCA insecticides to mammals is due to disruption of the GABA-regulated chloride ionophore.
Anomalous electronic transport effects in a-Si:H/a-SiNx:H multilayers

Abstract The electronic coplanar transport properties of a-Si:H/a-SiN x :H multilayers changes drastically when large fields (E>50 V/cm) are applied. Most striking is the observation of increases in dark conductance by more than two orders of magnitude after a brief exposure to light while the sample is under large bias. This photo-induced enhanced conductance state (PIEC) lasts for hours at 300°K and can be removed not only by annealing to 420°K but also by exposing the sample to light with no voltage applied. Moreover, at large applied fields it takes many minutes until the current stabilizes after the application of voltages. These bias-induced anomalous transport properties result from charges accumulating across the insulating a-SiN x :H layers and producing band bending in the semiconducting layers.
An Alternate Route to 2-Amino-3-nitro-5-bromo-4-picoline: Regioselective Pyridine Synthesis via 2-Nitramino-picoline Intermediate

The 2-nitramino functionality in 2-nitramino-4-picoline was successfully exploited not only as a protecting group but also as a directional handle to afford an efficient, atom-economic, and regioselective synthesis of 2-amino-5-bromo-3-nitro-4-picoline (4), a precursor for a drug candidate in development.
Multiplexed p53 Mutation Detection by Free-Solution Conjugate Microchannel Electrophoresis with Polyamide Drag-Tags

We report a new, bioconjugate approach to performing highly multiplexed single-base extension (SBE) assays, which we demonstrate by genotyping a large panel of point mutants in exons 5-9 of the p53 gene. A series of monodisperse polyamide "drag-tags" was created using both chemical and biological synthesis and used to achieve the high-resolution separation of genotyping reaction products by microchannel electrophoresis without a polymeric sieving matrix. A highly multiplexed SBE reaction was performed in which 16 unique drag-tagged primers simultaneously probe 16 p53 gene loci, with an abbreviated thermal cycling protocol of only 9 min. The drag-tagged SBE products were rapidly separated by free-solution conjugate electrophoresis (FSCE) in both capillaries and microfluidic chips with genotyping accuracy in excess of 96%. The separation requires less than 70 s in a glass microfluidic chip, or about 20 min in a commercial capillary array sequencing instrument. Compared to gel electrophoresis, FSCE offers greater freedom in the design of SBE primers by essentially decoupling the length of the primer and the electrophoretic mobility of the genotyping products. FSCE also presents new possibilities for the facile implementation of SBE on integrated microfluidic electrophoresis devices for rapid, high-throughput genetic mutation detection or SNP scoring.
Test and design considerations for a 4 GHz gated ring oscillator in 65 nm CMOS technology for biomedical UWB applications

This paper describes the practical issues associated with the test and design of an impulse-based ultra wideband (I-UWB) transmitter for biomedical applications. A 4 GHz gated ring oscillator is designed and fabricated in a 65 nm CMOS process as a pulse generator for a pulse-position-modulated I-UWB transmitter. The parasitic effects on-chip and off-chip associated with the test setup are investigated, simulated, and experimentally verified. Modeling of the parasitic effects is developed for an improved accuracy in simulation as well as measurement. Further guidelines for design and packaging are introduced.
Correlating impact related residual microstructures through 2D computer simulations and microindentation hardness mapping: review

AbstractImpact and penetration studies for a wide variety of projectile/penetrator compositions and geometries along with target compositions have demonstrated reasonable if not revealing correlations between two-dimensional (2D) computer simulations of these events and corresponding microindentation measurements and maps. Residual target microstructures have also been related to residual microindentation hardness measurements along the impact axis (in the target) as well as maps corresponding to impact crater or target penetration geometries. The impacts of soda lime glass, aluminium, steel and tungsten carbide projectiles impacting aluminium, steel and copper targets at velocities ranging from 0·6 to 6 km s−1 are examined using optical metallography and transmission electron microscopy, microindentation hardness measurements and mapping and 2D computer simulation (Autodyn/Johnson–Cook constitutive relationship). These studies permit computer simulation validation allowing for extrapolations from the rec...
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis as Reflected in the Paleontologic Record: Dinosaurs and Early Mammals

Public exhibition represents only a small fraction (often < 1%) of museum collections. The major portion of the collection is stored in racks or cabinets. A rack by rack, drawer by drawer visual inspection was conducted of approximately 200,000 bones, subsequent to examination of 323 skeletons on exhibit. Specific examination was performed for visual evidence of Iigamentous, tendinous, or capsular ossitication, also observing for syndesmophyte or sacroiliac alterations and for zygoapophyseal and costovertebral erosions or fusion. Any vertebral bridging of uncertain etiology was subjected to radiologic examination. Presence of vertebral bridging without zygoapophyseal joint erosion or fusion, spinal syndesmophyte formation, sacroiliac disease or vertebral endplate destruction was accepted as evidence of DISH. Bridging was defined as osseous overgrowth uniting or transgressing vertebral disc space(s) extrinsic to the site of attachment of the anulus fibrosus. Presence of fragmentation (breaks) at external margins of bridging, but separate in space from vertebral margins, was also considered evidence of DISH if vertebral ossification was identifiable extrinsic to the anulus fibrosus. Radiologic demonstration of separation of ossification from integral vertebral ossification was accepted as evidence of DISH. Selected specimens were subjected to sectioning for histologic confirmation of separation of ligamentous from vertebral ossification. Caudal spine bridging (Fig 1) was documented in 50% of specimens of two Sauropod genera examined. These Sauropods included Diplodocus and Apatosaurus, formerly referred
Production and Nutritional Evaluation of High‐Protein Rice Flour

Optimal processing conditions for the production of high-protein rice flour from two rice varieties were determined. Gelatinized rice flour slurry was treated with 0.25 mg α-amylase per milliliter of slurry at 60°C for 90 min. The hydrolyzed starch was removed by centrifugation. The precipitated paste was then freeze-dried to yield high-protein rice flour which had 38% protein. The amino acid composition of the high-protein rice flour was similar to that of the dehulled rice flour. The protein efficiency ratio of the high-protein rice flour was 2.17. Supplementation with limiting amino acids, lysine and threonine, or with a laboratory-prepared freeze-dried soy isolate increased protein efficiency ratios above that of casein.
Low cost platinum counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

A platinum counter-electrode (CE) was fabricated using spray-deposition method to provide efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This method uses over 86% less Pt compared to conventional Pt counter-electrode prepared by highly efficient sputter deposition method. The cost of this new counter-electrode is estimated to be only 0.11$/Wp. Moreover, this counter-electrode exhibits a high transparency, over 80% in visible and near infrared, along with high catalytic activity, comparable with that of the conventional Pt counter-electrode. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show Pt nanoparticles varying in size from 5 nm to 70 nm distributed on transparent conducting oxide (TCO)/glass substrate. DSSCs based on this counter-electrode showed 6.17% power conversion efficiency, comparable to 6.46% efficiency of the corresponding reference DSSC with sputtered Pt counter-electrode.
Wilms' tumor of the cervix: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract Introduction. Extrarenal Wilms' tumors are rare, with only 55 well-documented cases in the literature and only 4 confined to the uterus. A fifth case along with review of the current literature is presented. Case. A 13-year-old girl presented with a 2-month history of irregular vaginal spotting. A 6.5 × 4.5 × 2.5-cm polypoid mass meeting criteria for an extrarenal Wilms tumor was removed from the superior aspect of the cervix, but recurred 8 months later on the posterior lip. The patient underwent a Schauta procedure, lymph node dissection, and bilateral oophoropexy. The surgery was followed by typical renal Wilms' tumor chemotherapy. The patient is without evidence of disease 5 years after surgery. Discussion. This case uniquely suggests that limited excision of the original tumor has inherent risks for relapse. Oophoropexy appears to be reasonable when fertility preservation is desired and reconfirms that treatment mimicking renal nephroblastomas offers good long-term survival.
BEHAVIORAL TECHNOLOGY FOR REDUCING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES TO STYRENE

We conducted a test of the usefulness of behavioral methods to control occupational health problems by reducing workers' exposures to toxic chemicals. Four plastics workers were trained in nine behaviors selected for potential to reduce their exposures to styrene, a common chemical with multiple toxic effects. Behavioral measures indicated that the workers quickly came to emit most of the behaviors. Measures of air samples indicated that large decreases in exposures to styrene accompanied the changes in behaviors for the three workers who had been selected because they most needed relief from their exposures and because they had opportunities to control their exposures by the ways they behaved.
High-dose-rate surface brachytherapy to boost elongated, curvilinear incisional scars after extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma treated with adjuvant intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Abstract Purpose Providing adequate dosimetric coverage of elongated, curvilinear incisions during adjuvant intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) after extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) creates technical challenges. We explored high-dose-rate (HDR) surface brachytherapy to supplement dose to multiple curvilinear incisions. This modality circumvents the technical limitations of relying on multiple en face electron fields while minimizing dose to adjacent normal tissues. Methods and Materials A 59-year-old man presented with a left-sided, Stage III, T3N2M0, epithelioid MPM. After undergoing a left EPP, adjuvant IMRT was recommended to improve local control. An eight-field IMRT plan was designed to encompass the postoperative hemithorax. Incisional scars were lengthy and extended beyond the hemithoracic target volume. Both en face electron and surface HDR plans were prepared and evaluated based on dosimetric coverage of the incisional scars, dose to normal tissues, reliability of setup, and treatment delivery. Results HDR was preferred. The patient was planned and treated in the right lateral decubitus position. HDR source catheters were placed along the incisions atop 5-mm bolus. A composite plan including IMRT and brachytherapy dose contributions was produced. Boosts of incisional scars were performed in six fractions (three fractions per week) of 3 Gy prescribed to 12 mm from the catheter. HDR brachytherapy was well tolerated. Conclusions Surface HDR brachytherapy is a viable option for supplemental dose to incisional scars at risk of local recurrence after EPP for MPM. Advantages over electron beam therapy include avoidance of field abutments and feathering, less tissue–bone interface dose uncertainty and reproducibility of treatment delivery.
Evaluation of a new environmentally stable positive tone chemically amplified deep-UV resist

Similar to most of the reported positive deep-UV resists, this new resist is also a chemically amplified system. However, unlike other resists, this resist if resilient to airborne base contaminants and it shows stable resist linewidth with more than 24 hours delay between exposure and develop. This resist has high sensitivity (17-18 mJ/cm2), high contrast (7), high resolution (0.35 micrometers with (lambda) equals 248 nm and NA equals 0.37) and large process latitude in deep UV-lithography. This system does not require postexposure bake. When a postexposure bake is introduced, the linewidth variation is in the range of 2-3 nm per degree. This eliminates the concern of linewidth variation in resist images due to slight variation of postexposure baking temperature, which is commonly encountered in chemically amplified resist systems. This resist system is environmentally stable like conventional DQ system; at the same time, it retains most of the merits of chemically amplified system.
A Principle for Solving a Class of Anisotropic Current Flow Problems and Applications to Electrocardiography

In studies of electrocardiographic lead performance, theoretical analyses of the influence of the anisotropic heart and skeletal muscle are particularly difficult. In this paper, the basic differential equations of static fields and steady current flow are arranged to emphasize the field and conductivity dependent charge distributions which arise in anisotropic media. The equations are applied to two types of problems of immediate interest. Firstly, the equations are used to explain how anisotropic media may be included in current digital computer studies of the heart-lead relation and to conclude that the techniques which made the computer studies possible tend to lose their advantage when applied to arbitrary anisotropic configurations. Secondly, the equations are used to develop a principle which permits exact solutions for the fields of numerous simple anisotropic configurations. Three such configurations useful for heart-lead studies are analyzed with the following results: the anisotropic skeletal muscle can be treated in special cases such as a head-foot heart-vector lead approximately as isotropic with resistivity of 280 ohm cm; the closed dipolar layer in an anisotropic, inhomogeneous heart produces the same null electric field as it does in homogeneous isotropic media; bounds on the influence of the heart's anisotropy on a heart-vector lead field are estimated at plus or minus 12 percent of the average lead field intensity.
EARLY EXPERIENCES WITH THE 360TF IBM BLUE GENE/L PLATFORM

The High Order Method Modeling Environment is a scalable, spectral-element-based prototype for the Community Atmospheric Model component of the Community Climate System Model. The 3D moist primitive equations are solved on the cubed sphere with a hybrid pressure η vertical coordinate using an Emanuel convective parametrization for moist processes. Semi-implicit time integration, based on a preconditioned conjugate gradient solver, circumvents the time step restrictions associated with gravity waves. Benchmarks for two standard tests problems at 10 km horizontal resolution have been run on Blue Gene/L. Results obtained on a 32-rack Blue Gene/L system (65,536 processors, 183.5-teraflop peak) show sustained performance of 8.0 teraflops on 32,768 processors for the moist Held–Suarez test problem in coprocessor mode and 11.3 teraflops on 32,768 processors for the aquaplanet test problem, running in virtual node mode.
Two-photon MPI spectroscopy of alkyl iodides

Abstract The two-photon resonant multiphoton ionization (MPI) spectra of methyl iodide, methyl iodide-d 3 , ethyl, propyl, and butyl iodide are reported in the 49 000-55 000 cm −1 region. Four separate transitions to excited states labeled Δ, Π, Σ, Π in increasing energy are expected in this range which result from the excitation of an iodine 5pπ electron to the 6s molecular Rydberg orbital. Two-photon spectroscopy with its different selection rules and unique dependence on the laser polarization is shown to significantly advance the understanding of these transitions. In particular, laser polarization studies identify a state which is strongly two-photon allowed but absent in the UV absorption spectrum as the Σ state. Rotational contours indicate a large geometry change takes place in this transition. The two Π states appear strongly in both the one-and two-photon spectrum. Polarization analysis confirms their electronic symmetry assignment in addition to distinguishing vibronic bands arising from nontotally symmetric vibrations. No evidence is found for the Δ state in the multiphoton ionization spectrum, due to either a small two-photon cross section or a low probability of ionization following the initial two-photon transition. Further complications and characteristics of single laser MPI spectroscopy in the study of two-photon absorption in methyl iodide and other fundamental molecules are discussed.
MRI in neonatal dural sinus thrombosis

Dural sinus thrombosis in the newborn period is a rare but underrecognized condition which may cause seizures, macrocephaly, lethargy, and respiratory depression. A 10-day-old term infant with no pre- or perinatal risk factors for thrombosis presented with seizures and was found to have dural sinus thrombosis on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). One week later, MRI revealed partial resolution and 3 weeks later disclosed a complete resolution of the thrombosis. Clinicians should consider the diagnosis of neonatal dural sinus thrombosis in infants presenting with seizures and/or increased intracranial pressure even in the absence of risk factors or when the cranial computed tomography is normal. MRI is the most sensitive diagnostic tool to establish the diagnosis and permit a noninvasive follow-up, contributing to our understanding of the natural history, associated pathology, and prognosis of this condition.
Cooperation and Collaboration Using Computer-Mediated Communication

This study operationally defined and measured collaboration and compared the products and structure of collaborative groups that used computer-mediated communication. Key characteristics of collaboration selected from the literature were interdependence, synthesis, and independence, and a model for evaluating these characteristics was developed. All communication in this study occurred via asynchronous computer-mediated communication, using a threaded Web discussion. Participants in the study were graduate students, studying the same course with the same instructor at two venues. The students were divided into small groups from one or both venues, and four of these groups were studied. All students were given a problem to solve involving the cost-benefit trade-offs of distance education. The groups received different instructions. Two of them were told to collaborate on a solution, and the other two were told to select a role and discuss the problem from that point of view. Groups that were instructed to ...
White holes, black holes, and CPT in two dimensions.

It is argued that a unitarity-violating but weakly $\mathrm{CPT}$ invariant superscattering matrix exists for leading-order large-$N$ dilaton gravity, if and only if one includes in the Hilbert space Planckian "thunderpop" excitations which create white holes. $\mathrm{CPT}$ apparently cannot be realized in a low-energy effective theory in which such states have been integrated out. Rules for computing leading-large-$N$ superscattering are described in terms of quantum field theory on a single multiply connected spacetime obtained by sewing the future (past) horizons of the original spacetime with the past (future) horizons of its $\mathrm{CPT}$ conjugate. Some difficulties which may arise in going beyond leading order in $\frac{1}{N}$ are briefly discussed.
A string searching algorithm

This paper is an attempt to develop a string searching algorithm that begins the search for a match in the middle of the strings being compared. The algorithm uses information gained from mismatches and the location of the search area in the large string, to make decisions and direct the search. Several elements of this algorithm can be useful in string searching applications. The algorithm is developed in FORTRAN IV (IBM [email protected]?145), and the entire program is written in modular replacement form so that modification can be efficient.
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate metabolism in synaptic growth, strength, and precision: neural and behavioral phenotype-specific counterbalancing effects between dnc phosphodiesterase and rut adenylyl cyclase mutations.

Abstract: Two classic learning mutants in Drosophila, rutabaga (rut) and dunce (dnc), are defective in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) synthesis and degradation, respectively, exhibiting a variety of neuronal and behavioral defects. We ask how the opposing effects of these mutations on cAMP levels modify subsets of phenotypes, and whether any specific phenotypes could be ameliorated by biochemical counter balancing effects in dnc rut double mutants. Our study at larval neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) demonstrates that dnc mutations caused severe defects in nerve terminal morphology, characterized by unusually large synaptic boutons and aberrant innervation patterns. Interestingly, a counterbalancing effect led to rescue of the aberrant innervation patterns but the enlarged boutons in dnc rut double mutant remained as extreme as those in dnc. In contrast to dnc, rut mutations strongly affect synaptic transmission. Focal loose-patch recording data accumulated over 4 years suggest that synaptic currents...
Design and baseline characteristics of the Soy Phytoestrogens As Replacement Estrogen (SPARE) study — A clinical trial of the effects of soy isoflavones in menopausal women

Following the results of the Women's Health Initiative, many women now decline estrogen replacement at the time of menopause and seek natural remedies that would treat menopausal symptoms and prevent bone loss and other long-term consequences of estrogen deficiency, but without adverse effects on the breast, uterus, and cardiovascular system. The results of most soy studies in this population have had limitations because of poor design, small sample size, or short duration. This report describes the study rationale, design, and procedures of the Soy Phytoestrogens As Replacement Estrogen (SPARE) study, which was designed to determine the efficacy of soy isoflavones in preventing spinal bone loss and menopausal symptoms in the initial years of menopause. Women ages 45 to 60 without osteoporosis and within 5 years from menopause were randomized to receive soy isoflavones 200mg daily or placebo for 2 years. Participants have yearly measurements of spine and hip bone density, urinary phytoestrogens, and serum lipids, thyroid stimulating hormone, and estradiol. Menopausal symptoms, mood changes, depression, and quality of life are assessed annually. The SPARE study recruited 283 women, 66.1% were Hispanic white. With a large cohort, long duration, and large isoflavone dose, this trial will provide important, relevant, and currently unavailable information on the benefits of purified soy isoflavones in the prevention of bone loss and menopausal symptoms in the first 5 years of menopause. Given the high proportion of Hispanics participating in the study, the results of this trial will also be applicable to this minority group.
Evaluation of postoperative bupivacaine infusion for pain management after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Abstract Purpose: Postoperative pain control has received increasing attention by health care providers in the new millennium. In fact, pain was called the "sixth vital sign" by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) in 2001. The continued challenge of effective, safe analgesia in the outpatient setting has promoted the use of various devices designed to deliver local anesthetic directly to the surgical site. We endeavored to evaluate the efficacy of one such device currently in use. Type of Study: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study. Methods: In this study, 49 consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Patients and investigators were blinded to group assignment. Group 1 (control group) received no catheter. Group 2 (placebo group) received an infusion catheter filled with saline. Group 3 (experimental group) received the same catheter filled with 0.25% bupivacaine solution. All patients received an ipsilateral femoral nerve block with 30 mL 0.25% bupivacaine and 20 mL 0.25% bupivacaine intra-articular injection. Patients recorded narcotic consumption and pain levels on visual analogue scales twice a day for 4 days after surgery. The catheters were removed on day 4 and physical therapy performance was recorded. The patients were then asked to continue to record pain ratings and medication consumption for an additional 4 days after catheter removal. All patients underwent bone—patellar tendon—bone ACL reconstruction by the senior author (P.D.F.). Seven patients were excluded from the study for ineffective femoral nerve block or catheter disconnection or occlusion. Narcotic consumption and the maximum, minimum, and median pain ratings were analyzed by analysis of variance. Results: Median pain ratings show lower pain levels ( P P Conclusions: The data suggest some element of placebo benefit at median pain ratings but a protective effect of the bupivacaine at maximum pain levels.
CLINICAL TRIALS FOR SEVERE SEPSIS: Past Failures, and Future Hopes

Recent clinical trials with experimental immunotherapeutic agents for severe sepsis and septic shock have been largely unsuccessful despite seemingly convincing preclinical evidence of significant benefit of these antisepsis therapies. This article reviews basic therapeutic rationale, preclinical evaluation, and clinical trial design of past clinical trials of innovative sepsis treatments. Lessons learned from past failures should provide insights into the design and implementation of successful clinical trials for new anti-sepsis agents in the future.
Integrated system simulation in X-ray radiography

An integrated simulation capability is being developed to examine the fidelity of a dynamic radiographic system. This capability consists of a suite of simulation codes which individually model electromagnetic and particle transport phenomena and are chained together to model an entire radiographic event. Our study showed that the electron beam spot size at the converter target plays the key role in determining material edge locations. The angular spectrum is a relatively insensitive factor in radiographic fidelity. We also found that the full energy spectrum of the imaging photons must be modeled to obtain an accurate analysis of material densities.
Computer assisted psychiatric diagnosis: Experiments in software design

The process of psychiatric diagnosis involves the real-time utilization of large amounts of knowledge to maintain and test multiple hypotheses. Therefore, the development of an on-line computerized assistant that can aid a clinician performing psychiatric diagnoses presents challenging problems in data-base organization and retrieval. We have developed the DUNE (Diagnostic Understanding of Natural Events) system architecture that organizes the knowledge around processing structures. The system was designed as a shell for expert-systems that aid diagnoses and assessment tasks in ill-structured domains in general. These domains have previously proven unfeasible for traditional expert-systems such as rule based systems. Currently, DUNE contains sufficient knowledge to aid the diagnosis of anxiety and affective disorders. Among DUNE's advantages: a large degree of tolerance to clinician errors, and flexibility at run time. In this paper, we discuss the general specifications for a program that can aid psychiatric diagnoses, and then describe DUNE and its capabilities.