cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of High-Volume Hospitals With Greater Likelihood of Discharge to Home Following Colorectal Surgery

Importance Discharge disposition is a patient-centered quality metric that reflects differences in quality of life and recovery following surgery. The effect of hospital volume on quality of recovery measured by rates of successful discharge to home remains unclear. Objective To test the hypothesis that patients having colorectal surgery at high-volume hospitals would more likely be discharged to home rather than discharged to skilled rehabilitation facilities to complete recovery. Design, Setting, and Participants Longitudinal analysis of 2008 hospital inpatient data to identify patients undergoing colorectal surgery who survived to discharge. The setting was the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, the largest all-payer inpatient care database, containing data from more than 1000 hospitals. Participants were 280 644 patients (≥18 years) who underwent colorectal resections for benign or malignant disease and survived to discharge. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was discharge to home (with or without home health care) vs discharge to skilled facilities (skilled nursing, short-term recovery, or rehabilitation hospitals or other institutions). The secondary end point was discharge to home with home health care rather than to a skilled facility for patients with postdischarge care needs. Multiple logistic regression using robust standard errors was used to compute the odds ratios of each outcome based on hospital volume, while adjusting for other important variables. Results The odds of discharge to home vs discharge to skilled facilities were significantly greater in high-volume hospitals compared with low-volume hospitals (odds ratio, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.70-2.56), with an absolute increase of 9%. For patients with postdischarge care needs, high-volume hospitals were less likely than low-volume hospitals to use skilled facilities rather than home health care (odds ratio, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.27-0.45), with an absolute difference of 10%. Conclusions and Relevance Patients having colorectal surgery at high-volume hospitals are significantly more likely to recover and return home after surgery than individuals having operations at low-volume hospitals. This study is the first step in a process of identifying which features of high-volume hospitals contribute toward desirable outcomes. Efforts to identify the reasons for improved recovery at high-volume hospitals can help lower-volume hospitals adopt beneficial practices.
Bison: A new instrument for the experimentalist†

General features of a new computational instrument for the non-specialist are discussed. This is an instrument for studying diatomic molecules and is responsive to such chemical questions as “What is the dipole moment of CaO?” or “How does the electronic charge density change during the formation of NaCl?” The essential logical feature of the instrument concept is an INTERVIEW module which converses with the requestor to define clearly his request and a PROCEDURAL-EXECUTIVE module which plans and executes a series of calculations in order to answer the requestor's question. The BISON instrument is designed around the BISON research system, a recently completed unified set of FORTRAN programs for doing computations on diatomic molecules.
New technic for intracavitary use of Co60.

Summary1. A new concept is described for the intracavitary use of radiocobalt employing an agent to precipitate the cobalt directly on the mucosa of the urinary bladder together with dispersing agent to enhance penetration of the radiocobalt into the tissues. 2. Results in the use of this technic in dogs are presented. When 8-oxyquinoline solution was instilled into the bladder prior to the radiocobalt, there was an increase and prolongation of measureable radioactivity. When both 8-oxyquinoline and sorbitol were used this effect was further augmented.
The synthesis and polymerization of a hyperbranched polyether macromonomer

Abstract A novel class of macromonomer, in which the macromolecular part is a hyperbranched dendritic polyether prepared by the ‘convergent-growth’ approach, is synthesized and characterized. Free-radical copolymerization with styrene at various feed ratios gives a series of unique copolymers.
Construction and characterization of adenovirus co-expressing hepatitis B virus surface antigen and interleukin-6.

Abstract Coexpression of biologically active interleukin 6 (IL-6), an immunoregulator, and hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), an immunogen, was obtained using an adenovirus type 7 (Ad7) vector. Two recombinant adenoviruses (re-Ad) containing both the HBsAg and IL6 genes were constructed: one virus was capable of expressing IL6 with its signal peptide ( sp1L6 ) (Ad7::spIL6::HBsAg), and the second virus lacked this sequence (Ad7::IL6::HBsAg). A third recombinant contained only HBsAg (Ad7::HBsAg). All three Ad constructs were plaque purified and characterized in the A549 human lung cell line. The growth kinetics of the recombinants were similar to wild-type (wt) Ad7. The production and secretion of HBsAg (p24 and gp27) from cells infected with each re-Ad were at a level greater than 9 μg/10 6 cells by 118 h postinfection. Two IL-6 of approx. 24 and 27 kDa were produced and secreted into the culture medium from cells infected with Ad7::spIL6::HBsAg, and maximal accumulation occurred by 92 h p.i. at a level >260 ng/10 6 cells. One cell-associated IL-6 of approx. 23 kDa was produced from cells infected with Ad7::IL6::HBsAg at a level > 12 ng/10 6 cells. Importantly, the Ad-produced IL-6 were determined to be biologically active by enhancing immunoglobulin production in lymphoblastoid cells. The co-production of IL-6 with HBsAg did not affect growth of these recombinant Ad, immunoreactivity of HBsAg, or the biological activity of IL-6 in tissue culture cells.
Dependent Scattering of Acoustic Phonons From Particles Embedded in an Anisotropic Medium

Dependent scattering of acoustic phonons by multiple nanometer-scale inclusions in anisotropic media is investigated using a new molecular dynamics simulation technique. The spectral-directional characteristics of the scattering are found by calculation of three-dimensional scattering phase functions and cross sections for inclusions of varying sizes in various spatial arrangements. The technique enables computation of the effects of reflected wave interference and sequential scattering, mode conversion, lattice strain, elastic anisotropy, and atomic-scale granularity on acoustic phonon scattering from structured inclusions. The results will improve understanding and prediction of heat transfer in quantum-dot superlattices and other engineered thermal materials with nanometer-scale structures.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Maternal and neonatal outcomes after induction of labor without an identified indication.

Abstract Objective: This study was undertaken to examine associations between induction of labor and maternal and neonatal outcomes among women without an identified indication for induction. Study Design: This was a population-based cohort study of 2886 women with induced labor and 9648 women with spontaneous labor who were delivered at 37 to 41 weeks’ gestation, all without identified medical and obstetric indications for induction. Results: Among nulliparous women 19% of women with induced labor versus 10% of those with spontaneous labor underwent cesarean delivery (adjusted relative risk, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.50-2.08). No association was seen in multiparous women (relative risk, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 0.81-1.39). Among all women induction was associated with modest increases in instrumental delivery (19% vs 15%; relative risk, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.32) and shoulder dystocia (3.0% vs 1.7%; relative risk, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.69). Conclusion: Among women who lacked an identified indication for induction of labor, induction was associated with increased likelihood of cesarean delivery for nulliparous but not multiparous women and with modest increases in the risk of instrumental delivery and shoulder dystocia for all women. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:986-94.)
Contemporary Challenges in Mastocytosis

Mastocytosis denotes a wide range of disorders characterized by having abnormal growth and accumulation of mast cells. Mast cells contain histamine and other inflammatory mediators, which have diverse actions within the body, and play crucial roles in acquired and innate immunity. The diverse actions of these inflammatory mediators can lead to puzzling symptoms in individuals with mastocytosis. These symptoms can include flushing, pruritis, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vascular instability, and headache. These clinical features generally divide into cutaneous and systemic manifestations, giving rise to the two divisions of mastocytosis: cutaneous mastocytosis (CM) and systemic mastocytosis. CM has a highly favorable clinical prognosis. Systemic mastocytosis has a range of severity, with the milder forms often remaining chronic conditions, while the severe forms have rapid complex courses with poor prognoses. Generally, treatment is aimed at avoiding mast cell degranulation, inhibiting the actions of the constitutive mediators released by mast cells and, in severe cases, cytoreductive and polychemotherapeutic agents. Behavioral intervention includes avoidance of triggers, such as heat, cold, pressure, exercise, sunlight, and strong emotions. Treatment for released histamine and other inflammatory mediators includes H1 antihistamines, H2 antihistamines, proton pump inhibitors, anti-leukotriene agents, and injectible epinephrine (for possible anaphylaxis). For severe cases, treatment includes cytoreductive agents (interferon alpha, glucocorticoids, and cladribine) and polychemotherapeutic agents (daunomycin, etoposide, and 6-mercaptopurine). For very specific and severe cases, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, imatinib and midostaurine, have shown promise.
Vacuum Sealing-Based Volumetric Density Measurement Approach for Cold In-Place Recycling

Recent economic limitations have fostered increased use of pavement rehabilitation methods such as cold in-place recycling (CIR). CIR could be more appealing to departments of transportation provided variability were lower and performance were more predictable. Because of the nature of the materials and construction processes, CIR is likely to be more variable than plant-mixed asphalt, and it is believed that the performance variability of CIR can be reduced through enhanced density control. The many density control methods described in the literature for CIR are often vague. This study used ASTM D6857 vacuum sealing to obtain the maximum theoretical specific gravity (Gmm) of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and a gravity-proportioning equation to estimate CIR Gmm (specific gravity after cement, emulsion, or a combination is mixed with RAP). Vacuum sealing was also used to obtain the bulk specific gravity (Gmb) of compacted CIR (AASHTO T 331). In all, 240 Gmm and 156 Gmb tests were conducted. D6857 and AA...
Effects of drying on the mechanical properties of paper and their relationship to the treatment of paper

Through a series of experiments the mechanical properties of paper are explored. Hydrogen bonding is fundamental to the performance of paper and its disruption results in distinctive stress-strain behavior. Stress-strain curves were generated from which tensile strength, Young's modulus, percent stretch, and work (tensile energy absorption) were obtained. It was found that the contribution of the fiber to the mechanical properties of paper is primarily elastic. Fibers are many times stronger than paper. Only fibers which have been severely deteriorated show measurable changes in stress-strain behavior. Fiber deterioration results in characteristically different stress-strain behavior than that which results from disruption of interfiber bonding. Water immersion results in the disruption of interfiber bonds in paper, leaving only 2–3% of dry tensile strength. Interfiber bonds make a profound contribution to the mechanical properties of the paper. Aqueous treatment is shown to be a radical treatment, altering the original dried-in properties of the sheet. The release of structural bonds and dried-in strains during wetting and the subsequent reformation of interfiber bonds during drying are shown to be independent of water purity, be it ultrapure water, tap water, or water containing washing aids such as Ca(OH)2, NaOH, CaCO3 or Na2CO3. The effects of immersion in organic solvents was explored. Solvents have effects on mechanical properties which are approximately proportional to the degree of swelling caused by the solvent. Water, the liquid which caused the greatest swelling of the liquids evaluated, is shown to be the most disruptive liquid followed by methanol and acetone; toluene caused virtually no change. To explore the behavior of interfiber bonds paper was taken through a solvent exchange process. A sample was immersed in water and then taken through separate ethanol and acetone immersions to toluene, and dried. The result was a sheet with little bonding and decreases in all mechanical properties. To explore the surface tension and capillary action effects of water, the solvent-exchanged sheet was re-immersed in water. Upon drying, interfiber bonding was reintroduced which resulted in the regain of mechanical properties lost. p]A paradigm for the mechanical behavior of paper is developed. Fibers contribute elastic behavior and interfiber bonds are a principal source of plastic behavior.
Two-dimensional process modeling: a description of the SAFEPRO program

This paper describes the development, testing, and application of a finite element program which simulates the processes used in manufacturing transistors. The profiles calculated by the program can be input directly into a device analysis program. The paper includes a description of the physical phenomena modeled and explains the choice of the particular numerical methods used to solve the resulting equations. It shows an example of the application of the program to the design and sensitivity study of a submicrometer shallow-junction bipolar transistor and presents results obtained when an oxide is grown on boron-doped silicon.
Lymphoid cells recognize an alternatively spliced segment of fibronectin via the integrin receptor α4β1

Abstract Using purified recombinant fibronectins we show that WEHI 231 lymphoid cells spread only on fibronectin containing the alternatively spliced V region. Spreading is specifically blocked by peptides from the V25 segment (also called CS-1), which can be selectively spliced out independently of the rest of the V region. Using synthetic peptides we localize the binding site to a 10 amino acid segment that is highly conserved. Integrin α 4 β 1 is a major integrin on the surfaces of these cells and binds specifically to the V25 segment with a primary specificity for the conserved 10 amino acid sequence. Antibodies to integrin α 4 inhibit spreading of WEHI 231 cells on V + fibronectin. Therefore, integrin α 4 β 1 is a fibronectin receptor specific for an alternatively spliced cell adhesion site and may play important roles in selective adhesion of various cell types to specific forms of fibronectin.
OH radicals in radiation sensitization.

CELLS can be sensitized to ionizing radiation by chemical compounds and this offers opportunity for investigating the mechanisms intermediate between energy absorption and expression of biological effect. Concentration dependence seems to be an important factor for the effectiveness of a radiation sensitizer. The inactivation constant k for X-irradiated suspensions of Bacillus megaterium spores shows a peak at 3 × 10−3 M diacetyl (CH3COCOCH3) concentration1. Although the mechanism of this effect is unknown, certain free radical reactions have been suggested2–4. The decrease of k with increasing sensitizer concentration, envisaged as a protective action, indicates a competitive reaction in which the species contributing to the lethality are removed.
Aldosterone production by isolated glomerulosa cells: modulation of sensitivity to angiotensin II and ACTH by extracellular potassium concentration.

The influence of extracellular potassium concentration on adrenal sensitivity to angio-tensin II and ACTH was studied in isolated canine adrenal glomerulosa cells. When potassium was absent from the incubation medium, the aldosterone response to angiotensin II or ACTH was completely abolished. At physiologic angiotensin II concentrations (2.5 i 10”(U)M), aldosterone formation increased 4-fold when potassium concentration was increased from 2.5 to 5.0 mM, and rose 6-fold as potassium was increased from 2.5 to 7.5 mM. In the absence of angiotensin II, the same changes in potassium concentration increased aldosterone production only to 2-fold and 3.5-fold, respectively. The effect of potassium concentration upon thealdosterone response to ACTH was similar but less marked. The concentration and binding affinity of angiotensin II receptor sites in glomerulosa cells were not changed by increasing potassium concentrations from 0 to 7.5 mM. These observations demonstrate that the aldosterone response of the glome...
Regional growth and interstate migration

Abstract The current study examines a simultaneous equation model of interstate migration using income growth, employment growth, unemployment growth, population growth, gross migration, and employment in manufacturing as endogenous variables. The results show that neither the growth of employment nor the growth of income in the destination location has been directly important determinants of migration flow. However, an indirect effect through the population variable can be discerned for these variables, and this has important policy implications. A key feature of this migration model is that it incorporates most of the determinant factors as rates of change over time. The study sheds light on the joint and indirect effects of migration and other endogenous variables and draws some important policy implications pertaining to growth.
Dispersive Smoothing Effects for KdV Type Equations

In this paper we study the smoothness properties of solutions of some nonlinear equations of Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) type, which are of the form∂tu=a(x, t)u3+f(u2, u1, u, x, t),(1)wherex∈R,uj=∂jxu, andkandjare nonnegative integers. Our principal condition is thata(x, t) be positive and bounded, so that the dispersion is dominant. It is shown under certain additional conditions onaandfthatC∞solutionsu(x, t) are obtained fort>0 if the initial datau(x, 0) decays faster than it does polynomially onR−and has certain initial Sobolev regularity. A quantitative relationship between the rate of decay and the amount of gain of smoothness is given. Lets0be the Sobolev index. If∫Ru2(x, 0)(1+|x−|m)dx<∞(2)for an integerm⩾0 and the solution obeys ‖u‖Hs0<∞ for an existence time 0<t<T, thenu(x, t)∈Hmloc(R) for all 0<t⩽T, andu(x, t)∈L1([0, T];H(m+1)loc(R)). Our method can also be extended to address the fully nonlinear dispersive equations related to (1).
Biomimetics and smart Materials

Smart materials functions often mimic biological functions. Recent basic research at the U.S. Army Research Office has focused on biomimetics and meso-scale smart materials. Current ARO materials research interests and progress in these areas are reviewed for sensors, molecular recognition, signal transduction, structures and control functions.
Subexponential Divergence and Diffusive Twist of Turbulent Magnetic Field Lines in the Limit of the Very Short Separations

Turbulent magnetic field lines have long been thought to be diverging from each other (or converging toward each other) at exponential rates known as Lyapunov exponents. It is argued here that in a turbulent magnetized plasma, subexponential divergence (convergence) and diffusive twist better characterize the dispersal of magnetic field lines (MFLs) in the limit of the very small separations ρ than do the usual Lyapunov exponents or exponentiation rates. In that limit of the very small separations, the field-line equations give a variation rate for ln ρ , not ρ, and the implied log-normality of the ρ distribution makes (ln ρ/ρ0)2 a much better probe of the exponential divergence of core MFLs. A fully nonlinear calculation shows that the separation logarithm, ln ρ , and twist or rotation angle, Δ θ , between pairs of MFLs diffuse with the distance Δ z elapsed along the main field, as soon as Δ z exceeds min (k−1II,ζII) , the minimum of the parallel correlation length k−1II ≡ L∥ ∇ of the turbulent field gradients and of the associated nonlinear scale, ζII ≡ ζ∇, defined as the field-aligned length scale for which the mean cross-field displacement (rζ − r0)21/2 reaches 21/2ξ k−1II ≡ 21/2L⊥ ∇, with kII the wavenumber where the turbulence spectrum becomes steeper than (k2∥ + ξ2k2⊥)−1 and ξ the anisotropy parameter of the turbulence. The average growth of the core field-line separation ρ0e (ln ρ/ρ0)21/2 = e∝ (Δ z)1/2 along the direction of fastest growth, being subexponential, is not compatible with the definition of Lyapunov exponents. The largest exponentiation rate of the core MFLs actually decreases with the distance Δ z. Application of the new nonlinear calculation to the solar wind shows a substantial MFL rotation in a plane transverse to the main field.
A RISK-BASED METHOD FOR EVALUATING NASA TECHNOLOGY FOR USE IN THE NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM

To assess the safety of its technology in the National Airspace System, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Aviation Safety Program currently compares accident rates before and after introducing new technology, using the decrease as a measure of improved safety. This method restricts analysis to accidents rather than incidents, which are precursors of accidents. Reliance on accident data makes NASA's evaluation reactionary, based on changes in accident rates. This is not useful for evaluating new technology investments. This paper introduces a risk-based approach that defines risk as the product of the conditional accident probability (given a set of related incidents) and its consequence in constant dollars. Probabilities are derived from the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) data. These are modeled with a Poisson probability distribution. Consequences are derived from damage payments for aviation accidents reported by the Department of Transportation. The procedure worked well in a case study using simulated incident data and assumptions about the probability and cost of accidents after the introduction of NASA technology. The project produced a procedure that was transparent, flexible, time-efficient, and would work with the available data from ASRS and NTSB.
Gastric pepsin secretion and ABO blood groups in polycythemia vera

A study of the ABO blood group distribution among 332 patients with polycythemia vera revealed 3.5 per cent excess of group O. Although this difference was in the predicted direction, it was not significant. In 73 individuals with polycythemia vera and 38 with chronic granulocytic leukemia, measurement of plasma pepsinogen concentration was made by the indirect method of plasma pepsinogen determination. The mean value for polycythemic patients was slightly higher and for leukemic subjects slightly lower than among controls. Neither difference was statistically significant. The increased occurrence of peptic ulcer claimed for these 2 diseases, if indeed real, may be due to factors other than elevated acid-pepsin activity.
Natural Resistance of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 to the CD4bs Antibody b12 Conferred by a Glycan and an Arginine Residue Close to the CD4 Binding Loop

The human monoclonal antibody b12 recognizes a conserved epitope on gp120 that overlaps the CD4 binding site. b12 has neutralizing activity against diverse human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains. However, we recently reported that b12 sensitivity of HIV-1 envelopes amplified from patient tissues without culture varied considerably. For two subjects, there was clear modulation of b12 sensitivity, with lymph node-derived envelopes being essentially resistant while those from brain tissue were sensitive. Here, we have mapped envelope determinants of b12 resistance by constructing chimeric envelopes from resistant and sensitive envelopes derived from lymph node and brain tissue, respectively. Residues on the N-terminal flank of the CD4 binding loop conferred partial resistance. However, a potential glycosylation site at residue N386 completely modulated b12 resistance but required the presence of an arginine at residue 373. Moreover, the introduction of R373 into b12-sensitive NL4.3 and AD8 envelopes, which carry N386, also conferred b12 resistance. Molecular modeling suggests that R373 and the glycan at N386 may combine to sterically exclude the benzene ring of b12 W100 from entering a proximal pocket. In summary, we identify residues on either side of the CD4 binding loop that contribute to b12 resistance in immune tissue in vivo. Our data have relevance for the design of vaccines that aim to elicit neutralizing antibodies.
Increased Heart Rate Predicts Early Mortality in LVAD Patients

reconstruction at time of transplant are considered even higher risk within this group. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that heterotaxy patients had inferior survival post heart transplantation compared to all patients undergoing heart transplantation. Methods: Heart transplant recipients were identified at our center between January 1992 and October 2010 (Group A: Complex venous reconstruction; Group B: All other recipients). Survival was censored at 12 y using the Kaplan-Meier method Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was adjusted for age, sex, ischemic time, dialysis, life support, VAD use, wait time & HLA mismatch. Results: 1625 heart transplant recipients were identified during the study period: 18 (1.1%) in Group A and 1607 (98.9%) in Group B. Median age was: Group A: 9 years (IQR 6 15) and Group B: 53 y (IQR 36-61). Survival (1 month, 1y, 5y, 10y) was: Group A (89%, 83%, 52%, 52%) and Group B (96%, 87%, 73%, 56%). There was no significant survival difference (log rank, p50.36). Unadjusted HR for all-cause mortality was 1.47 (CI 0.66-3.30, p50.34). Adjusted multivariate analysis showed HR 1.16 (CI 0.36-3.75, p50.81). Conclusion: Heterotaxy patients requiring complex venous reconstruction at the time of heart transplantation have comparable outcomes to all other heart transplant recipients performed at our center.
Multiple Enzyme Analyzer (MEA): Steps toward the in situ detection of microbial community ectoenzyme activities

The capability of microbes to use certain compounds can be examined by measuring ectoenzyme activities. These enzymes are found on or near the surface of a cell and hydrolyze large molecules to a smaller size, serving as a key first step in organic matter use. A new instrument is under development for high-resolution measurements of in situ ectoenzyme activity intended for use at coastal ocean observatories. This system, the Multiple Enzyme Analyzer (MEA), measures up to four different enzyme activities in flow-through channels by quantifying the fluorescence increase associated with substrate hydrolysis over time. A description of the MEA design, a comparison of MEA performance with laboratory fluorometers, an exploration of instrument and reagent stability, and results from a preliminary experiment in a seawater tank are addressed. These results demonstrate that the MEA is capable of detecting variable ectoenzyme activity in seawater. As microbes are major players in organic matter transformations in the aquatic environment, such a tool may assist in characterizing the rapid metabolic activities of microbial communities on both short-term (e.g., diurnal, tidal) and more extended time scales.
Identifying Sources of Variation in Sheet Metal Stamping

Manufacturers using traditional process control charts to monitor their sheet metal stamping pro- cesses often encounter out-of-control signals indicating that the process mean has changed. Unfortunately, a sheet metal stamping process does not have the necessary adjustability in its process variable input settings to allow easily correcting the mean response in an out-of-control condition. Hence the signals often go ignored. Accord- ingly, manufacturers are unaware of how much these changes in the mean inflate the variance in the process output. We suggest using a designed experiment to quantify the variation in stamped panels attributable to changing means. Specifically, we suggest classifying stamping variation into three components: part-to-part, batch-to-batch, and within batch variation. The part-to-part variation represents the short run variability about a given stable or trending batch mean. The batch-to-batch variation represents the variability of the individual batch mean between die setups. The within batch variation represents any movement of the process mean during a given batch run. Using a two-factor nested analysis of variance model, a manufacturer may estimate the three components of variation. After partitioning the variation, the manufacturer may identify appropriate countermeasures in a variation reduction plan. In addition, identifying the part-to-part or short run variation allows the manufacturer to predict the potential process capability and the inherent variation of the process given a stable mean. We demonstrate the methodology using a case study of an automotive body side panel.
Central Mechanisms I: Plasticity of Central Pathways

Cough is the most common symptom for which individuals seek medical attention and spend health-care dollars. Despite the burden induced by cough, the current treatments for cough are only partially effective. Delineating the sites and mechanisms in the cough central network for changes in the cough reflex could lead to new therapeutic strategies and drug target sites for more effective treatments. The first synaptic target in the CNS for the cough-related sensory input is the secondorder neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS); these neurons reorganize the primary sensory information into a coherent output. The NTS neurons have been shown to undergo neuroplasticity under a variety of conditions, such as respiratory disorders, stress, and exposures to environmental pollutants. The NTS contains a rich innervation of substance P immunoreactive nerve terminals, suggesting that substance P might be important in altered cough reflex response. This chapter summarizes our current findings on the role of substance P in enhanced cough reflex as well as the potential NTS targets for the action of substance P.
Effect of Warming Rate on the Survival of Vitrified Mouse Oocytes and on the Recrystallization of Intracellular Ice

Successful cryopreservation demands there be little or no intracellular ice. One procedure is classical slow equilibrium freezing, and it has been successful in many cases. However, for some important cell types, including some mammalian oocytes, it has not. For the latter, there are increasing attempts to cryopreserve them by vitrification. However, even if intracellular ice formation (IIF) is prevented during cooling, it can still occur during the warming of a vitrified sample. Here, we examine two aspects of this occurrence in mouse oocytes. One took place in oocytes that were partly dehydrated by an initial hold for 12 min at −25°C. They were then cooled rapidly to −70°C and warmed slowly, or they were warmed rapidly to intermediate temperatures and held. These oocytes underwent no IIF during cooling but blackened from IIF during warming. The blackening rate increased about 5-fold for each five-degree rise in temperature. Upon thawing, they were dead. The second aspect involved oocytes that had been vitrified by cooling to −196°C while suspended in a concentrated solution of cryoprotectants and warmed at rates ranging from 140°C/min to 3300°C/min. Survivals after warming at 140°C/min and 250°C/min were low (<30%). Survivals after warming at ≥2200°C/min were high (80%). When warmed slowly, they were killed, apparently by the recrystallization of previously formed small internal ice crystals. The similarities and differences in the consequences of the two types of freezing are discussed.
Ovarian function preservation in the cancer patient.

Abstract Objective To review the clinical modalities that are available to women receiving potentially sterilizing cancer therapy. Design The MEDLINE database was reviewed for all publications on medication, surgery, or assisted reproductive technology that could potentially preserve fertility in women who are receiving cancer therapy. Conclusion(s) There are many options available to a patient undergoing a treatment that will negatively impact her fertility. Many procedures and medical interventions have been proven successful both in terms of ovarian function and pregnancy rates. Other techniques have great potential but do not have long-term clinical data. It is important that the patient's primary care physician understand the methods available to preserve fertility in cancer patients and communicate this information to the patient.
Charge Quantization in a Normal Coulomb Island Strongly Coupled to a Superconductor

We study the charge of a small normal island connected by a tunnel junction to a superconducting lead. Unlike in the N-I-N case, the steps of the Coulomb staircase remain sharp even when the conductance of the tunneling barrier exceeds ${e}^{2}/h$. One can observe the transition from sharp steps to smeared ones by applying a magnetic field to destroy the superconductivity.
What initiates the pressor effect of salt in salt-sensitive humans? Observations in normotensive blacks.

We tested the traditional hypothesis that an abnormally enhanced renal reclamation of dietary NaCl alone initiates its pressor effect (“salt sensitivity”). Under metabolically controlled conditions...
Thermal resistance calculation of AlGaN-GaN devices

We present an original accurate closed-form expression for the thermal resistance of a multifinger AlGaN-GaN high electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) device on a variety of host substrates including SiC, Si, and sapphire, as well as the case of a single-crystal GaN wafer. The model takes into account the thickness of GaN and host substrate layers, the gate pitch, length, width, and thermal conductivity of GaN, and host substrate. The model's validity is verified by comparing it with experimental observations. In addition, the model compares favorably with the results of numerical simulations for many different devices; very close (1%-2%) agreement is observed. Having an analytical expression for the channel temperature is of great importance for designers of power devices and monolithic microwave integrated circuits. In addition, it facilitates a number of investigations that are not practical or possible using time-consuming numerical simulations. The closed-form expression facilitates the concurrent optimization of electrical and thermal properties using standard computer-aided design tools.
Automated sequencing of complete mitochondrial genomes from laser- capture microdissected samples

Mitochondrial DNA mutations have been related to both aging and a variety of diseases such as cancer. Due to the relatively small size of the genome (16 kb) and with the use of automated DNA sequen...
Principal Curvature-Based Region Detector for Object Recognition

This paper presents a new structure-based interest region detector called principal curvature-based regions (PCBR) which we use for object class recognition. The PCBR interest operator detects stable watershed regions within the multi-scale principal curvature image. To detect robust watershed regions, we "clean" a principal curvature image by combining a grayscale morphological close with our new "eigenvectorflow" hysteresis threshold. Robustness across scales is achieved by selecting the maximally stable regions across consecutive scales. PCBR typically detects distinctive patterns distributed evenly on the objects and it shows significant robustness to local intensity perturbations and intra-class variations. We evaluate PCBR both qualitatively (through visual inspection) and quantitatively (by measuring repeatability and classification accuracy in real-world object-class recognition problems). Experiments on different benchmark datasets show that PCBR is comparable or superior to state-of-art detectors for both feature matching and object recognition. Moreover, we demonstrate the application of PCBR to symmetry detection.
Significant Variation for Fitness Impacts of ETS Loci in Hybrids between Populations of Tigriopus californicus

The connections between the genes that cause hybrid incompatibilities and the physiological processes disrupted in hybrids by these incompatibilities are not well understood. The interactions between proteins in the electron transport system (ETS) in the copepod, Tigriopus californicus, have emerged as a potential model system to explore such connections. In this study, the effects on hybrid fitness of 3 different nuclear loci encoding proteins of the ETS are examined in hybrid copepods obtained from crosses of genetically divergent populations of this species. The potential interactions between these genes and mitochondrial-encoded proteins of the ETS are also explored; these interactions have been shown to have diverged functionally between these populations in other studies. Large deviations from Mendelian inheritance are found in genotypic ratios at each of the 3 loci in adults but not in nauplii, demonstrating genotype-based selection during development. The length of developmental time of hybrids appears to influence the pattern of deviations in these loci, likely in conjunction with levels of competition in these crosses. The major finding of this study is that in repeated crosses, the nature of deviations at these ETS loci shows dramatic differences suggesting that slight perturbations in initial conditions can dramatically shift the patterns of selection at these ETS loci in interpopulation hybrids.
Work-Environment analysis: environment centric multi-agent simulation for design of socio-technical systems

This paper presents a multi-agent based simulation framework for cognitive systems engineering of socio-technical systems. Comprehensive design analysis of socio-technical systems requires modeling of various aspects of the work environment and of behavior and performance of humans. This framework provides a distinct focus on the work-environment, specifying it as a coherent collection of declarative models spanning its multiple aspects. Compared to traditional methods in cognitive systems engineering, aggregating multiple aspects allows greater detail and scale in modeling socio-technical systems. This also addresses design issues that cut across individual aspects, thus enabling a comprehensive what-if analysis of the system. Humans are computationally modeled as proactive and interactive agents operating within their work-environment. Emergent behavior of the system in response to design changes in both humans and their work environment can thus be simulated. The framework is illustrated through an example in air traffic control. The framework can be applied to problems in enterprise re-engineering, organizational structuring, etc.
Continuous K-nearest neighbor search for moving objects

The paper describes a new method of continuously monitoring the k nearest neighbors of a given object in the mobile environment. Instead of monitoring all k nearest neighbors, we choose to monitor the k-th (nearest) neighbor since the necessary condition of changes in the KNN is the change of the k-th neighbor. In addition, rather than in the original space, we consider the moving objects in a transformed time-distance (TD) space, where each object is represented by a curve. A beach-line algorithm is developed to monitor the change of the k-th neighbor, which enables us to maintain the KNN incrementally. An extensive empirical study shows that the beach-line algorithm outperforms the most efficient existing algorithm by a wide margin, especially when k or n (the total number of objects) is large.
Pregnancy rates in varying age groups after in vitro fertilization: a comparison of follitropin alfa (Gonal F) and follitropin beta (Follistim).

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the efficacy of two recombinant follicle-stimulating hormones, follitropin beta (Follistim, Organon, West Orange, NJ) and follitropin alfa (Gonal F, Serono, Norwell, Mass) on pregnancy rates in varying age groups of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). STUDY DESIGN: Three hundred sixty-five IVF cycles were retrospectively compared, 233 by use of follitropin beta and 132 by use of follitropin alfa, both after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist down-regulation. Assignment to each medication was indiscriminate. The primary outcome measured was pregnancy evidenced by fetal heartbeat on ultrasonography. Secondary outcomes included days of stimulation, ampules per patient cycle, estradiol level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration, total follicles present on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration, follicles greater than 14 mm, oocytes retrieved, mature eggs, fertilization rate, and embryos transferred. Outcomes were stratified by age, including women less than 36 years old, 36 to 39 years old, and more than 39 years old. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between follitropin beta and follitropin alfa in either the primary or secondary outcomes, although the pregnancy rate was significantly decreased with advancing age. CONCLUSION: Success rates are similar, when stratified by age, in women undergoing IVF with either follitropin beta or follitropin alfa.
DOES THE YANG-MILLS THEORY SOLVE THE STRONG CP PROBLEM BY ITSELF?

If certain long-ranged interactions between instantons are present, the θ parameter relaxes to zero. The question is raised as to whether this can happen in Yang-Mills theory thereby leading to a natural solution of the strong CP problem. A lattice gauge theory simulation is proposed to decide the issue.
Temporal and spatial relationships between watershed land use and salt marsh disturbance in a pacific estuary

Historical and recent remote sensing data can be used to address temporal and spatial relation- ships between upland land cover and downstream vegetation response at the watershed scale. This is demonstrated for sub-watersheds draining into Elk- horn Slough, California, where salt marsh habitat has diminished because of the formation of sediment fans that support woody riparian vegetation. Multiple regression models were used to examine which land cover variables and physical properties of the watershed most influenced sediment fan size within 23 sub-watersheds (1.4 ha to 200 ha). Model explan- atory power increased (adjusted R 2 = 0.94 vs. 0.75) among large sub-watersheds (>10 ha) and historical watershed variables, such as average farmland slope, flowpath slope, and flowpath distance between farm- land and marsh, were significant. It was also possible to explain the increase in riparian vegetation by historical watershed variables for the larger sub-watersheds. Sub- watershed area is the overriding physical characteristic influencing the extent of sedimentation in a salt marsh, while percent cover of agricultural land use is the most influential land cover variable. The results also reveal that salt marsh recovery depends on relative cover of different land use classes in the watershed, with greater chances of recovery associated with less intensive agriculture. This research reveals a potential delay
Embedding star networks into hypercubes

The star interconnection network has recently been suggested as an alternative to the hypercube. As hypercubes are often viewed as universal and capable of simulating other architectures efficiently, we investigate embeddings of star network into hypercubes. Our embeddings exhibit a marked trade off between dilation and expansion. For the n dimensional star network we exhibit: (1) a dilation N-1 embedding of S/sub n/ into H/sub n/, where N=[log/sub 2/(n!)]; (2) a dilation 2(d+1) embedding of S/sub n/ into H/sub 2d+n-1/ where d=[log/sub 2/([n/2]!)]; (3) a dilation 2d+2i embedding of S(2/sup i/m) into H(2/sup i/d+i2/sup i/m-2i+1) where d=[log/sub 2/(m!)]; (4) a dilation L embedding of S/sub n/ into H/sub d/, where L=1+[log/sub 2/(n!)], and d=(n-1)L; (5) a dilation (k+1)(k+2)/2 embedding of S/sub n/ into H(n(k+1)-2/sup k+1/+1) where k=[log/sub 2/(n-1)]; (6) a dilation 3 embedding of S/sub 2k+1/ into H(2k/sup 2/+k); and (7) a dilation 4 embedding of S/sub 3k+2/ into H(3k/sup 2/+3k+1). Some of the embeddings are in fact optimum, in both dilation and expansion for small values of n. We also show that the embedding of S/sub n/ into its optimum hypercube requires dilation /spl Omega/(log/sub 2/ n).
Hopping transport and the Hall effect near the insulator-metal transition in electrochemically gated poly(3-hexylthiophene) transistors

Despite 35 years of investigation, much remains to be understood regarding charge transport in semiconducting polymers, including the ultimate limits on their conductivity. Recently developed ion gel gating techniques provide a unique opportunity to study such issues at very high charge carrier density. Here we have probed the benchmark polymer semiconductor poly(3-hexylthiophene) at electrochemically induced three-dimensional hole densities approaching 10(21) cm(-3) (up to 0.2 holes per monomer). Analysis of the hopping conduction reveals a remarkable phenomenon where wavefunction delocalization and Coulomb gap collapse are disrupted by doping-induced disorder, suppressing the insulator-metal transition, even at these extreme charge densities. Nevertheless, at the highest dopings, we observe, for the first time in a polymer transistor, a clear Hall effect with the expected field, temperature and gate voltage dependencies. The data indicate that at such mobilities (~0.8 cm(2)V(-1) s(-1)), despite the extensive disorder, these polymers lie close to a regime of truly diffusive band-like transport.
Unequal cleavage in leech embryos: zygotic transcription is required for correct spindle orientation in subset of early blastomeres

Leech embryos undergo invariant sequences of equal and unequal cell divisions to give rise to identifiable progeny cells. While many of the early cleavages are under maternal control, the divisions of a subset of early blastomeres (the large cells of the D' lineage) are perturbed after the inhibition of zygotic transcription. Analysis of the different types of cells produced in embryos injected with the transcriptional inhibitor, alpha-amanitin, revealed that the symmetry of cell division is perturbed in these large D'-derived cells during this early period of development. These cells, which would normally undergo a series of equal and unequal cleavages, always undergo equal cleavages after the inhibition of zygotic transcription. It appears that zygotically transcribed gene product(s) are required in the large cells of the D' lineage to orient the mitotic spindles properly for these unequal cell cleavages.