cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the equivalence of the static and dynamic asset allocation problems

A classic dynamic asset allocation problem optimizes the expected final-time utility of wealth, for an individual who can invest in a risky stock and a risk-free bond, trading continuously in time. Recently, several authors considered the corresponding static asset allocation problem in which the individual cannot trade but can invest in options as well as the underlying. The optimal static strategy can never do better than the optimal dynamic one. Surprisingly, however, for some market models the two approaches are equivalent. When this happens the static strategy is clearly preferable, since it avoids any impact of market frictions. This paper examines the question: when, exactly, are the static and dynamic approaches equivalent? We give an easily tested necessary and sufficient condition, and many non-trivial examples. Our analysis assumes that the stock follows a scalar diffusion process, and uses the completeness of the resulting market model. A simple special case is when the drift and volatility de...
Traitement totalement laparo-robotique d'un anévrysme de l'aorte abdominale par exclusion-ligature et pontage aorto-bi-fémoral

Un anevrysme de l'aorte abdominale (AAA) asymptomatique de 5,5 cm etait diagnostique chez un homme de 65 ans aux antecedents de coronaropathie, d'hypertension et d'arteriopathie obliterante des membres inferieurs lors de la surveillance de cette derniere. Les epreuves cardiaques de stress ne retrouvaient pas d'ischemie myocardique, et le patient choisissait une chirurgie conventionnelle pour le traitement de son anevrysme. Une reparation laparo-robotique de son AAA sous-renal par pontage aorto-bi-femoral etait realisee avec le systeme robotique da Vinci™. Nous decrivons par ailleurs une nouvelle technique d'exclusion pour AAA a l'aide d'un cerclage, ce qui facilite grandement la reparation des AAAs sous-renaux par les techniques lapa-robotiques. La reparation laparo-robotique d'un AAA sous-renal pourrait etre facilitee par l'exclusion du sac de l'AAA et son obliteration sans necessite de lier toutes les arteres lombaires ou meme d'ouvrir l'anevrysme. Ceci eviterait theoriquement les pertes sanguines liees a l'ouverture du sac et minimiserait les risques de conversion chirurgicale secondaire a une visibilite reduite sur le champ operatoire. Le traitement mini-invasif des anevrysmes aortiques par techniques laparoscopiques a ete rapporte dans la litterature. Les problemes associes a cette technique incluaient une courbe d'apprentissage prolongee, particulierement pour la realisation des anastomoses intracorporelles. La chirurgie robotique possede l'avantage de donner de plus grands degres de liberte au cours des mouvements de l'operateur dans un champ operatoire relativement reduit, avec une definition superieure et une visualisation tri-dimensionnelle. A ce jour, il n'avait pas ete rapporte de traitement totalement robotique d'AAA aux Etats-Unis. Nous rapportons cette technique combinant la chirurgie robotique avec un nouveau type de reparation anevrysmale par exclusion du sac et obliteration. Cette procedure nous permettait de realiser avec succes le traitement de l'AAA sans ouvrir le sac anevrysmal, ni endoanevrysmorrhaphie.
Media Ethnography in Virtual Space: Strategies, Limits, and Possibilities

For more than twenty years, ethnography has been used to study audience interpretation and social action. With the advent of the Internet, this approach is now being applied to the cultural practices of computer‐mediated communication. This article appraises some strategies for studying a new cultural arena in which aspects of embodiment and identity differ significantly from traditional media reception. Four areas of ethnographic engagement with virtual contexts are examined: the nature and boundaries of virtual community, the social presence of participation, social strategies of entry and membership, and technical utilities of data generation. Ethical issues and future possibilities for research are also discussed.
A comment on the second moment properties of a nonlinear system

This note considers a network consisting of a cascade of three elements: a linear circuit, a zero memory nonlinearity, and another linear circuit. The input is taken to be a Gaussian random process. The effect of the nonlinearity on the second moment properties of the output is analyzed.
Stimulation of angiotensinogen formation by renin and angiotensin.

SummaryIn rats administration of renin decreased plasma angiotensinogen and increased plasma renin, while administration of angiotensin had the opposite effects. However, both agents stimulated angiotensinogen formation by the liver. The stimulating effect of angiotensin II, and to a lesser extent of angiotensin I, was also demonstrated by adding these peptides to the perfusate of an isolated liver preparation. We propose a positive feedback effect of circulating angiotensin on angiotensinogen formation and release.We thank Dr. F. M. Bumpus for the supply of angiotensin I and Mrs. Kathleen Rice for technical assistance.
No evidence that chronic nitrogen additions increase photosynthesis in mature sugar maple forests

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can increase forest growth. Because N deposition commonly increases foliar N concentrations, it is thought that this increase in forest growth is a consequence of enhanced leaf-level photosynthesis. However, tests of this mechanism have been infrequent, and increases in photosynthesis have not been consistently observed in mature forests subject to chronic N deposition. In four mature northern hardwood forests in the north-central United States, chronic N additions (30 kg N·ha−1·yr−1 as NaNO3 for 14 years) have increased aboveground growth but have not affected canopy leaf biomass or leaf area index. In order to understand the mechanism behind the increases in growth, we hypothesized that the NO3− additions increased foliar N concentrations and leaf-level photosynthesis in the dominant species in these forests (sugar maple, Acer saccharum). The NO3− additions significantly increased foliar N. However, there was no significant difference between the ambient and +NO3− treatments in two seasons (2006–2007) of instantaneous measurements of photosynthesis from either canopy towers or excised branches. In measurements on excised branches, photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (μmol CO2·s−1·g−1 N) was significantly decreased (−13%) by NO3− additions. Furthermore, we found no consistent NO3− effect across all sites in either current foliage or leaf litter collected annually throughout the study (1993–2007) and analyzed for δ13C and δ18O, isotopes that can be used together to integrate changes in photosynthesis over time. We observed a small but significant NO3− effect on the average area and mass of individual leaves from the excised branches, but these differences varied by site and were countered by changes in leaf number. These photosynthesis and leaf area data together suggest that NO3− additions have not stimulated photosynthesis. There is no evidence that nutrient deficiencies have developed at these sites, so unlike other studies of photosynthesis in N-saturated forests, we cannot attribute the lack of a stimulation of photosynthesis to nutrient limitations. Rather than increases in C assimilation, the observed increases in aboveground growth at our study sites are more likely due to shifts in C allocation.
Mind the gap: Application-based analysis of cultural adjustment models

Abstract Cross-cultural adaptation literature describes multiple theories and models for addressing culture shock. However, the applicability of such theoretical constructs to intercultural trainers and sojourners is at times difficult to assess. The current research explores the communication strategies used by study abroad professionals to prepare sojourners for culture shock through a qualitative comparison to existing models of cross-cultural adaptation as a means of assessing how such theoretical constructs may inform the applied field of cross-cultural training. Specifically, study abroad advisors at a large Southwestern university were interviewed and observed during interactions with pre-departure sojourners traveling to six different locations around the world (Spain, South Korea, Australia, Senegal, and the UK/Ireland). A collaborative review of the transcriptions was then conducted, including in-depth, qualitative, line-by-line coding. Findings indicate that program coordinators use several communication techniques that reflect theoretical constructions of adaptation when discussing cross-cultural transitions with sojourners, including self-disclosure, uncertainty reduction, fear/efficacy appeals, and linguistic/cultural immersion strategies. Further, the results reveal that one model in particular (Gudykunst's Anxiety-Uncertainty Management model) emerges as the most relevant in the study abroad professionals’ narratives. Interestingly, the study further shows that Witte's Extended Parallel Process Model is also consistently used to communicate about culture shock with potential sojourners. The paper concludes with implications for future research given the preliminary nature of the study.
Know your parent organization and your business environment : Criteria for success

SUMMARY The culture and structure of each organization are unique. A successful fee-based service will take into account the critical features of its own organization, understanding that strong internal support will be vital for long-term success. Whether the business environment is local, regional, or global, an information provider must understand the overall needs of that environment and be able to satisfy them. Providing services for which costs are not fully recoverable may attract business but be unsustainable in the long run; finding and developing the right niche will build a solid base and lead to long-term success. This paper addresses these issues and identifies strategies for success in both internal and external environments. Since neither environment is static, the issues should be re-examined frequently; since neither environment exists totally independent of the other, it will be beneficial to take advantage of the situations where they overlap or exert influence on each other.
Optimal insulation of solar heating system pipes and tanks

Abstract A compact and time-effective insulation design procedure for solar heating system piping and water-filled thermal storage tanks was developed. Recognizing the particular sensitivity of solar systems to cost, the economic aspect of the problem was treated by a comprehensive present-value life-cycle cost analysis. In the development of the method, a numerical sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the relative effects of all relevant independent variables (within their pertinent ranges) on piping and tank heat transfer coefficient values. For the acceptable error limits of ± 14% for pipes and ± 19% for tanks, it was found that one may assume that only the nominal pipe diameter (or tank diameter), the thermal conductivity of the insulation, and the insulation's thickness have an effect on the overall heat transfer coefficient. Based on this result, design graphs and tables are presented which can be used to determine the optimal insulation thickness and type, total annual heat losses, present-value annual costs of insulation and lost heat, and overall insulation R-values. The use of the method is illustrated by calculating all the above quantities for all piping and storage tanks for the University of Pennsylvania SolaRow House. The present method provided insulation thicknesses slightly greater than those obtained by the ETI technique. A major conclusion of the study is that the cost of insulation in solar systems is not insignificant (e.g., ~15% in SolaRow), and that heat losses through insulation could amount to an important percentage of the useful solar energy collected (e.g., 24% in SolaRow). This re-emphasizes the need for a careful design of insulation in solar systems.
Learning curves in abdominal wall reconstruction with components separation: one step closer toward improving outcomes and reducing complications.

INTRODUCTION Learning curves are characterized by incremental improvement of a process, through repetition and reduction in variability, but can be disrupted with the emergence of new techniques and technologies. Abdominal wall reconstruction continues to evolve, with the introduction of components separation in the 1990s and biologic mesh in the 2000s. As such, attempts at innovation may impact the success of reconstructive outcomes and yield a changing set of complications. The purpose of this project was to describe the paradigm shift that has occurred in abdominal wall reconstruction during the past 10 years, focusing on the incorporation of new materials and methods. METHODS We reviewed 150 consecutive patients who underwent abdominal wall reconstruction of midline defects with components separation, from 2000 to 2010. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for complications. Patients were stratified into the following periods: early (2000-2003), middle (2004-2006), and late (2007-2010). RESULTS From 2000 to 2010, we performed 150 abdominal wall reconstructions with components separation [mean age, 50.2 years; body mass index (BMI), 30.4; size of defect, 357 cm; length of stay, 9.6 days; follow-up, 4.4 years]. Primary fascial closure was performed in 120 patients. Mesh was used in 114 patients in the following locations: overlay (n = 28), inlay (n = 30), underlay (n = 54), and unknown (n = 2). Complications occurred in a bimodal distribution, highest in 2001 (introduction of biologic mesh) and 2008 (conversion from underlay to overlay location). Age, sex, history of smoking, defect size, and length of stay were not associated with incidence of complications. Unadjusted risk factors for seroma (16.8%) were elevated BMI, of previous hernia repairs, use of overlay mesh, and late portion of the learning curve, with logistic regression supporting only late portion of the learning curve [odds ratio (OR), 4.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0-18.6] and BMI (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06-1.29). The only unadjusted risk factor for recurrence was location of mesh. Logistic regression, comparing underlay, inlay, and overlay mesh to no mesh, revealed that the use of underlay mesh predicted recurrence (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.04-8.64). All P values were less than 0.05. CONCLUSIONS The overall learning curve for a specific procedure, such as abdominal wall reconstruction, can be quite volatile, especially as innovative techniques and new technologies are introduced and incorporated into the surgeon's practice. Our current practice includes primary repair myofascial flap of the components separation and the use of biologic mesh as an overlay graft, anchored to the external oblique. This process of outcome improvement is not gradual but is often punctuated by periods of failure and redemption.
Who defines resistance? the clinical and economic impact of antimicrobial susceptibility testing breakpoints

Antimicrobial susceptibility test breakpoints are necessary for the correct clinical interpretation of quantitative or qualitative susceptibility test values of antibacterial agents. Breakpoints are selected by regulatory bodies or professional groups (eg, the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards) based on an extensive review of the microbiological, pharmacokinetic, and clinical data applicable to each drug. No precise formula for selection of optimal breakpoints has been established. Instead, the process involves a review of all existing data and is influenced by the perspectives of the individuals charged with selecting the breakpoints. The interpretive breakpoints may differ somewhat by country with some antibiotics because of regional or national decisions on dosing regimens. Breakpoints also influence the selection of empiric therapy and development of local, regional, or national treatment guidelines by classifying the percentage of previously tested organisms that were susceptible to various antibiotics. Thus, antibiotic breakpoints affect the care of individual patients and provide epidemiologists and policy makers with data regarding trends in antibiotic resistance.
Postaccess processes in the open vs. closed class distinction.

Abstract We present the results of two auditory lexical decision experiments in which we attempted to replicate findings originally presented in Bradley (1978, Computational distinctions of vocabulary type , Ph.D. dissertation, MIT). The results obtained by Bradley were used as evidence for a processing distinction between the open and the closed class vocabularies; this distinction was then used as part of an explanation for agrammatism in the comprehension and production of Broca's aphasics. In our first experiment we failed to replicate Bradley's result of frequency insensitivity in the closed class. Our second experiment, however, replicates Bradley's finding that closed class based nonwords (e.g., thanage ) fail to induce interference effects in nonword decisions. We argue that our results, together with the various other reported failures to replicate Bradley's frequency insensitivity result, indicate that the open and closed classes may play distinct roles in postaccess phenomena involving the processing of morphological information but that such studies cannot address the question of whether the open vs. closed class distinction plays a role in syntactic processing.
Vision for perception and vision for action: normal and unusual development

Evidence suggests that visual processing is divided into the dorsal ('how') and ventral ('what') streams. We examined the normal development of these streams and their breakdown under neurological deficit by comparing performance of normally developing children and Williams syndrome individuals on two tasks: a visually guided action ('how') task, in which participants posted a card into an oriented slot, and a perception ('what') task, in which they matched a card to the slot's orientation. Results showed that all groups performed worse on the action task than the perception task, but the disparity was more pronounced in WS individuals and in normal 3-4-year-olds than in older children. These findings suggest that the 'how' system may be relatively slow to develop and more vulnerable to breakdown than the 'what' system.
DNA Sequence Specificity of Mitomycin Cross-Linking

Using a gel electrophoresis assay, we show that the target DNA sequence cross-linked by N-methylmitomycin A, its aziridinomitosene, and mitomycin C is CpG, in strong preference over GpC. The yield per CpG site increases as the number of successive CpG sequences increases. Molecular modeling reveals no systematic difference between the energies of mitomycin cross-links at CpG in comparison with GpC. However, the distance between guanine amino groups in CpG sequences is nearly the same as the distance in the cross-linked adduct, whereas the amino group separation at GpC sites is substantially larger in the starting DNA than in the adduct. We suggest that the favorable placement of the second reaction center in CpG greatly accelerates the second step in the cross-linking reaction. As shown by a competition assay, mitomycins bind A-T and G-C sequences noncovalently equally well, even though the only sequence that yields appreciable cross-linking is CpG. N-Methylmitomycin A and its aziridinomitosene are found to be better cross-linking agents than is mitomycin C.
Surgery: the coming of age of metabolic surgery.

Individuals with obesity who undergo bariatric surgery are much less likely to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus than are those receiving routine care, new findings reveal. Intriguingly, baseline data on surrogate measures of insulin resistance rather than BMI were predictive of the preventive effect of surgery on type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Becoming a psychiatrist-researcher: what it means and how to do it.

The title is not a non sequitur. It is possible to be both a psychiatrist and researcher. However, it is not easy. This article provides some information and advice for medical students, residents, research fellows, and junior faculty who have such an ambition, or need to respond to an expectation to do research by, for example, a departmental chair or promotions committee. We describe the financial and other rewards for those doing research, the skills that are required to conduct research, the opportunities for obtaining research funding or training that are available at various stages of a psychiatrist’s career, the obstacles to success in this endeavor, and some strategies for overcoming those obstacles.
Synthesis of Ti2AlC by spark plasma sintering of TiAl–carbon nanotube powder mixture

In this study synthesis of Ti2AlC is investigated by mixing TiAl powder and Carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The CNTs were grown uniformly on the TiAl powder by direct in-situ growth using the CVD technique. The ratio of the starting material obtained this way is highly non-stochiometric compared to that normally used to synthesize this compound. Analysis of the sample obtained by SPS sintering of TiAl with in-situ grown CNT mixtures, however, resulted in a predominantly single phase sample of Ti2AlC. This is believed to be due to the presence of uniformly distributed CNTs which favors the formation of the ternary phase. The density and hardness of the sample was similar to the results reported for synthesis of Ti2AlC.
Change in tumor cellularity of breast carcinoma after neoadjuvant chemotherapy as a variable in the pathologic assessment of response.

BACKGROUND Complete pathologic response of breast carcinoma to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a well defined outcome that correlates with prolonged survival. Categorization of incomplete response depends on accurate measurement of residual tumor size but is complicated by the variable histopathologic changes that occur within the tumor bed. In the current study, the authors investigated the contribution of assessing tumor cellularity in the pathologic evaluation of response to chemotherapy. METHODS The slides from diagnostic core needle biopsy and the subsequent matched resection specimens were examined in 240 patients with breast carcinoma: 120 “treated” patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 120 “control” patients who received primary surgical management within a few weeks of diagnosis. Clinical response and residual tumor size were evaluated in 108 treated patients who completed a clinical trial with paclitaxel and then received combined 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy. Tumor cellularity was assessed from hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections as the percentage of tumor area that contained invasive carcinoma. RESULTS After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, tumor cellularity decreased from a median of 40% in core needle biopsy to 10% in resection specimens (P < 0.01; Wilcoxon signed rank test). The cellularity of core needle biopsy (median, 30%) tended to underestimate the cellularity of resection specimens (median, 40%) in the control group (P < 0.01). Changes in cellularity varied within each clinical response category, particularly partial response and minor response. The greatest reduction was observed in the cellularity of residual primary tumors that measured ≤ 1 cm (pathologic T1a [pT1a] and pT1b tumors), but changes in cellularity varied in the pT1, pT2, and pT3 residual tumor categories. The shape of the distribution of tumor size, expressed as the greatest dimension in cm, was similar in the control group and the treatment group (excluding complete pathologic response); however, when residual tumor size and cellularity were combined, the distribution of pathologic response shifted left (toward complete response) with a steep decline, suggesting that many tumors had a large reduction in cellularity but little change in the tumor size. CONCLUSIONS Cellularity of the tumor mass was reduced significantly by neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and the change varied widely in different categories of clinical response. Although residual tumors measuring ≤ 1 cm in greatest dimension had the most reduction in tumor cellularity, there was broad variability for all residual tumor groups (pT1–pT3). The frequency distribution of residual tumor size was altered markedly by the inclusion of tumor cellularity, indicating that the product of pathologic size and tumor cellularity may provide more accurate pathologic response information than tumor size alone. Cancer 2004100:1365–73. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
A Novel Mitochondrial DNA Point Mutation in the tRNAIleGene Is Associated with Progressive External Ophtalmoplegia

We report a new mutation, a T-->C transition at nt.4285 in the mitochondrial tRNA(Ile) gene, in a sporadic case of progressive external ophtalmoplegia (PEO) and ragged-red fibers (RRF). The mutation, involving a highly conserved base-pair in the anticodon stem, was detected in high percentages (91%) in muscle, but not in blood. It has never been reported in literature in normal subjects and it was not found in any of 80 controls studied in our laboratory. The absence of the mutation in leukocytes in this case with pure muscle involvement confirms the importance of performing mtDNA studies in PEO patients preferentially on muscle rather than blood, which could give false negative results. Other mutations in the tRNA(Ile) gene associated with different phenotypes have been previously reported. Thus, tRNA(Ile) gene is confirmed to be another "hot spot" region for mtDNA mutations.
Carotid Sinus Syndrome Associated With an Occult Primary Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

• A patient presented with syncope, and a diagnosis of carotid sinus syndrome was established. Further evaluation revealed a large nasopharyngeal carcinoma invading the left petrous bone. There were no cervical metastases. The tumor partially regressed with radiation therapy, and there was complete resolution of the carotid sinus syndrome, but the patient died three months later of metastatic disease. Autopsy confirmed petrous bone involvement by the mass but no cervical metastatic disease. This Is the first reported case (to our knowledge) of malignancy-associated carotid sinus syndrome attributable to a primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The literature on malignancy-associated carotid sinus syndrome Is reviewed, with emphasis on pathophysiology and treatment. ( Arch Intern Med 1988;148:1217-1219)
Taking up space? How customers react to health information and health icons on restaurant menus.

Eating out at restaurants has been identified as a major contributor to the epidemic of obesity in America. Prior quantitative research has demonstrated that health information on menus leads to healthier food choices, but not enough is known about the decision-making process behind these choices. Further insight into what happens when health information or health icons are included on menus was explored using focus groups. Health information was found to have a stronger effect on restaurant food choices than health icons, but icons did not provoke any serious negative reactions. Certain segments of people (e.g., dieters) strongly desired health information on menus, specifically calories, fat grams, and sodium levels.
A simple way to construct NFA with fewer states and transitions

The problem of converting a regular expression to NFA is a fundamental problem that has been well studied. However, the two basic construction algorithms: (1) Thompson, (2) McNaughton-Yamada and Glushkov, does not yield the best solution in terms of the number of states and transitions. In this paper, we show: For a regular expression with l literals, we can construct an NFA with 2l states and 4l transitions in the worst case. Our algorithm runs in linear time with respect to the length of the regular expression. This improves the construction algorithm given by Chang in [5], which constructs an NFA with 5l=2 states and (10l -- 5)/2 transitions in the worst case. The method presented here is much simpler and easier to understand, as we use only naive ideas: divide and conquer.
Corrosive wear behavior of 7075 aluminum alloy and its composite containing Al2O3 particles

Corrosive wear behavior of 7075 aluminum alloy and a composite containing 0.10 volume fraction of alumina particles (VFAP) has been evaluated. Transient current (TC) generated as a result of impacting a rotating cylindrical electrode immersed in a 0.1M NaCl solution with a Vickers diamond hardness indenter has been used to measure the corrosive wear response. Age hardenable 7075 alloy shows TC values that are sensitive to prior solutionizing time. The effect of alumina particles in a 7075 aluminum alloy matrix has been studied by comparing the TC values of a monolith along with composites under almost identical experimental conditions. The role of microstructural features associated with composites, such as dislocations generated after solutionizing treatment and during the corrosive wear process, has been observed with the help of near surface microstructures through transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Deformation induced dislocations, as well as those that are due to differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) values between the particles and the matrix during solutionizing, have been attributed to the experimentally observed TC values. They may also be affected by the aging response of the monolith and composites, depending on solutionizing time.
Neutrality and geometry of mean voting

Mean proximity rules provide a simple geometric framework to achieve consensus among a collection of rankings (votes) over a set of alternatives. They embed all rankings into a Euclidean space, take the mean of the embeddings of the input votes, and return the ranking whose embedding is closest to the mean. Previous work on mean proximity rules has not integrated an important axiom---neutrality---into the framework. By drawing on ideas from the representation theory of finite groups, we show that integrating neutrality actually helps achieve a succinct representation for every mean proximity rule. Various connections are drawn between mean proximity rules and other prominent approaches to social choice.
Compositional redistribution during casting of Hg(0.8)Cd(0.2)Te alloys

A series of Hg(0.8)Cd(0.2)Te ingots was cast both vertically and horizontally under well-defined thermal conditions by using a two-zone furnace with isothermal heat-pipe liners. The main objective of the experiments was to establish correlations between casting parameters and compositional redistribution and to develop ground-based data for a proposed flight experiment of casting of Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te alloys under reduced gravity conditions. The compositional variations along the axial and radial directions were determined by precision density measurements, infrared transmission spectra, and X-ray energy dispersion spectrometry. Comparison between the experimental results and a numerical simulation of the solidification process of Hg(0.8)Cd(0.2)Te is described.
Case study on eye abnormalities in tank-reared hybrid walleyes (Sander vitreus×S. canadensis)

Hybrid walleye is important for recreational fisheries and is a potential aquaculture species in the north central region of the United States. Stress related to intensive culture conditions has been documented to cause eye lesions in fish. Finfish eyes do not have eyelids, hence the cornea is permanently exposed to mechanical damage and toxic substances. We documented various disorders of the eye in juvenile hybrid walleyes reared in a flow-through tank system. Abnormalities include exophthalmia, enophthalmia, unilateral loss of globe and bilateral loss of globe. These lesions negatively affected body weight, specific growth rate and condition factor of hybrid walleyes reared in tanks.
Synthesis and characterization of new poly(siloxysilanes)

The efficient synthesis of two new monomers, vinyltris(dimethylsiloxy)silane (2) and tris(dimethylvinylsiloxy)silane (3), was developed. Hydrosilation of these new A–B3 monomers affords highly branched starburst poly(siloxysilane) polymers. Polymerization of2 yields a polymer structure that has siliconhydride functional groups on the outer sphere. Polymerization of3 yields a polymer that has the same hyperbranched poly(siloxysilane) core as the polymer produced from2, but the outer sphere contains vinyl moieties. The presence of silicon-hydride or vinyl groups on the surface of both polymers allows functionalization of these materials with a wide variety of reagents.
Whisker nucleation in indentation residual stress field on tin plated component leads

Tin whisker formation has been a serious concern for application of pure tin as a Pb-free component lead finish. It has been long believed that residual stress is the root cause of whisker formation. A fundamental question is if stress produced by other than the plating processing and post-plating metallurgical reactions can induce whisker formation. In this study, micro indents were made on pure tin plated component leads to introduce a stress field and a scanning electron microscope was used to monitor the nucleation of whiskers in-situ. Nanoindentation was also performed to measure hardness and elastic modulus of the tin coating and substrate. The stress/strain field around the micro-indent was calculated using finite element method. Experimental and theoretical calculation results show that stress gradient plays an important role in whiskers nucleation.
Autoimmunity to isomerized histone H2B in systemic lupus erythematosus

Histone H2B is a common target of autoantibodies in both spontaneous and drug-induced systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Recent studies demonstrate that Asp(25) of histone H2B (H2B) spontaneously converts to an isoaspartic acid (isoAsp) in vivo. Our laboratory has demonstrated that the posttranslational modification of an aspartic acid to an isoaspartic acid within self-peptides renders otherwise ignored peptides immunogenic. Analysis of serum from lupus-prone mice and histone antibody positive SLE patients revealed antibodies specific to the Asp and isoAsp H2B(21-35) peptide, and that the expression of these antibodies is dependent on TLR9. IsoAsp H2B(21-35) is immunogenic in non-autoimmune prone mice and mice lacking the ability to repair isoAsp have significantly reduced levels of antibodies to H2B. Asp H2B(21-35) incubated at physiological temperatures and pH acquires the isoAsp modification, demonstrating that H2B(21-35) is prone to spontaneous isoAsp formation in vivo. Autoimmunity to isoAsp H2B suggests that this form of the autoantigen may be critical in the induction of anti-histone autoantibodies in human SLE and in murine models of disease.
Bridge Seismic Retrofitting Practices in the Central and Southeastern United States

This paper conducts a detailed review of the seismic hazard, inventory, bridge vulnerability, and bridge retrofit practices in the Central and Southeastern United States (CSUS). Based on the analysis of the bridge inventory in the CSUS, it was found that over 12,927 bridges (12.6%) are exposed to 7% probability of exceedance (PE) in 75-year peak ground acceleration (PGA) of greater than 0.20 g, and nearly 3.5% of bridges in the CSUS have a 7% PE in 75-year PGA of greater than 0.50 g. Since many of the bridges in this region were not designed with explicit consideration of the seismic hazard, many of them are in need of seismic retrofitting to reduce their seismic vulnerability. While several of the states in the CSUS have retrofitted some of their bridges, systematic retrofit programs do not currently exist. The review of retrofit practices in the region indicates that the most common retrofit approaches in the CSUS include the use of restrainer cables, isolation bearings, column jacketing, shear keys, and seat extenders. The paper presents an overview of the common approaches and details used for the aforementioned retrofit measures. This paper serves as a useful tool for bridge engineers in the CSUS as they begin to perform systematic retrofit of vulnerable bridges in the region.
A fast binary counter

A transistor binary counter employing seven flip-flops is described. Its operation is dependent only on the switching time of one flip-flop which may be ~ 100 ns.
Herbal Supplements and Potential Risk for Surgical Patients

Patients’ use of herbal and other dietary supplements and poor reporting of this to medical practitioners is widely documented in the literature. Many herbal supplements have potent pharmacological activity that can lead to potential adverse effects and drug interactions. The perioperative setting is a critical point in patient care for preventing these potential complications. A literature review was conducted regarding commonly used herbal and natural supplements and their potential for adverse effects in the surgical setting. Several herbal supplements or botanicals used by patients may, because of their chemical structure and pharmacokinetics, have adverse effects if used during the perioperative period. With the increasing use of herbal supplements by patients, it is critical for healthcare workers to screen patients pre-surgically for use of herbal and other natural supplements and to be knowledgeable about their potential adverse effects.
Regulatory role of n-propanol in propylene glycol biomethanization under overload

Abstract This work examines the transient response of an anaerobic fluidized bed bioreactor to an overload of propylene glycol (PG), the primary component in aircraft de-icing waste. Under favorable operating conditions, PG was converted to n -propanol ( n -PrOH) and propionate (HPr), and subsequently n -PrOH was completely converted into HPr. HPr was then fully degraded to methane and carbon dioxide via acetate. Under an overload condition, n -PrOH conversion to propionate was completely blocked but propionate degradation continued, contrary to free-energy computations in which n -PrOH should rapidly degrade and HPr should accumulate. When the imposed overload condition was relieved, the accumulated n -PrOH was rapidly converted into propionate. n -PrOH, then, could act as a temporal sink for reducing equivalents (XH 2 ) and could regulate the overall PG methanazation process. n -PrOH should be monitored along with typical VFAs such as HPr to avoid sudden VFA accumulation and thus to optimize process performance for PG methanization.
Transfer of information about taste from the nucleus of the solitary tract to the parabrachial nucleus of the pons

In the study of the neural code for gustation, the relative sensitivity of a cell to a variety of taste stimuli is defined as its response profile. To study the construction of response profiles from incoming signals, electrophysiological responses to NaCl, HCI, quinine-HCl, sucrose and Na saccharin were recorded simultaneously in pairs of single cells: one in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and the other in the parabrachial nucleus of the pons (PbN), respectively the first and second synapses in the central pathway for gustation. Of 37 units recorded in the NTS and 32 in the PbN, 12 (32%) pairs showed evidence of functional connectivity. Although PbN responses were significantly larger than those in the NTS in general, no amplification of NTS activity was apparent among those units that were functionally connected. Analysis of NTS-PbN connectivity patterns suggests that PbN units receive input from NTS units with response profiles that are both similar and different from their own pattern of sensitivities. Further analysis suggests that the stimulus-selectivity of the response profile of a PbN unit may be determined by stimulus-selective input from NTS cells that show similar response profiles. However, input from NTS cells with response profiles different from their own appears to be non-stimulus-selective. Analysis of the organization of response profiles in the two structures suggests that the cells in both the NTS and PbN cannot be easily distinguished by their patterns of sensitivity to taste stimuli.
Meaningful Use Of Electronic Health Records

Meaningful Use Of Electronic Health Records Danny McCormick and coauthors (Mar 2012) have launched a useful debate on the value of health information technology. Because few studies on the cost-effectiveness of this technology have been done, we understand that readers and reporters may be receptive to the authors’ message. However, there is an unfortunate and deep disconnect between the question the authors ask and the one they believe they answer. They ask whether physicians with access to computerized images save money by ordering fewer imaging tests. They conclude that electronic health record (EHR) systems—and, by implication, health information technology in general—have not been proven to control costs. The technology is underspecified. Researchers studying health information technology often err in treating it as a black box, uniformly implemented across sites of care. Disparity across products, product versions, settings and configurations, and the workflows developed at different sites creates enormous variance around the most important variable, the intervention. In this case, for example, the study included both systems providing textual reports only and those presenting the images themselves. It is unclear how often physicians used EHRs to view images or reports, and what portion of that content was available electronically. Access to technology does not guarantee its meaningful use. For example, computerized order entry without realtime, evidence-based decision support simply enables test ordering, without providing guidance about duplication or appropriateness. The authors presented no conceptual model to explain why access to digitized images should affect test ordering. In the absence of research hypotheses about what testing is appropriate for specified conditions, how can the directionality of the authors’ results be judged? Evaluating health information technology requires a nuanced understanding and explicit matching of questions and hypotheses to the definition of the systems studied.
Discrimination blocking: acquisition versus performance deficits in human contingency learning.

We compared acquisition and performance accounts of human contingency learning. After solving a discrimination in Phase 1, in which Cue A predicted the occurrence of the outcome and Cue B predicted its nonoccurrence (A+/B−), a new discrimination (X+/Y−) was superimposed in Phase 2 (AX+/BY−). The participants were finally trained in Phase 3 with the added discrimination, which either maintained the same contingencies as those in Phase 2 (X+/Y−; Experiment 1) or reversed the contingencies (X−/Y+; Experiment 2). According to competitive-learning theories (e.g., Rescorla & Wagner, 1972), there should be no learning of the added discrimination in Phase 2, so that no advantage or disadvantage for this discrimination should be observed in Phase 3. In contrast, performance theories, such as the comparator hypothesis (Miller & Matzel, 1988), contend that learning of the added discrimination in Phase 2 should proceed normally; so, in Phase 3, an advantage for the added discrimination should be observed in Experiment 1, but a disadvantage should be observed in Experiment 2. Our participants learned about the added discrimination and generally showed the effects predicted by the comparator hypothesis.
Primary radical termination rate constant at high conversion in radical polymerization

A primary radical termination rate constant given by: kti = A1iDi, where A1i is a constant and Di is the diffusion constant of the primary radical, was examined on the basis of the variation of conversion. It was proved that this rate constant is correct at high conversion. A relationship between primary radical termination rate constant and conversion was derived. The effect of variation of conversion on the gel effect is discussed.
Pulse-pair propagation in multilevel resonant systems

We discuss a recent thrust in the general area of driven atoms, wherein, the properties of a Stokes pulse are controlled via the application of a pump pulse. Specifically, we demonstrate, through analytic and numerical calculations, that the amplitude and phase of the Stokes pulse can be manipulated via the input pump pulse. Specific applications to the production and tailoring of optical solitons in two- and three-level atoms are reported, and we also explore the role of the initial conditions on the atom and field parameters, which can be exploited towards pulse engineering.
Extended Delignification Kraft Pulping of Softwoods - Effect of Treatments on Chips and Pulp with Sulfide-Containing Liquors

Abstract Pretreatment of softwood chips with Na2 S liquors at moderately-elevated temperatures prior to a kraft stage delignification resulted in higher pulp viscosity at a given kappa number as compared to that of a conventionally-cooked reference kraft pulp. Final pulp yields were equivalent to, or slightly better than for conventional kraft pulps. The high viscosity is due to the lower alkali requirement during the kraft stage as a result of the pretreatment. The decreased alkali requirement is due to the extraction and removal of hemicelluloses during pretreatment which normally produce sugar acids via peeling reactions. The presence of sulfide in the pretreatment promotes lignin degradation and also enhances polysaccharide stability during the subsequent kraft stage. When kraft pulps, pretreated with sulfide-contaim'ng liquors, were further delignified in an oxygen stage, lower kappa numbers at equivalent viscosity were obtained versus conventional kraft-0? treatment. This enhanced polysaccharide sta...
Correlates of variation in the major/minor ratio of the ant, Pheidole dentata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Major workers of the ant, Pheidole dentata , show a stronger alarm/defense response to members of the genus Solenopsis , including the fire ant, S. invicta , than to other kinds of ants. Nevertheless colonies stressed for 19 weeks (more than 3-fold the developmental time from egg to pupa) with S. invicta invaders failed to alter the rate of production of major workers. Production of queens and males begins when the colonies reach an adult worker population of 3,000 or more, and it is associated with a sharp reduction in major worker production. Colonies of P. dentata vary markedly among themselves in the adult major/minor ratio. The differences are restored after the ratio has been perturbed experimentally, and they are also restored after the colonies pass through episodes of queen and male production.
Über Organo-Phosphore. IX. Über „zweidimensionale” Phosphore mit anorganischem Grundmaterial und organischen Aktivatoren†

Es wurden Organo-Phosphore in dunner Schicht (sog. „zweidimensionale” Phosphore) in der Weise auf einer metallischen Unterlage erzeugt, das das Metall durch rein chemische bzw. elektrochemische Umsetzungen mit einer zusammenhangenden Oxyd(Hydroxyd)-Schicht uberzogen wurde, die ihrerseits als Grundmaterial fur luminescenzfahige Systeme nach Aktivierung durch geeignete organische Verbindungen wirksam ist. Hierzu eigneten sich besonders auf Aluminium anodisch erzeugte Schichten, ferner liesen sich auf Magnesium und Zink ebenfalls luminescenzfahige Systeme erhalten. Die Bedingungen zur Darstellung dieser „zweidimensionalen” Phosphore wurden untersucht und einige ihrer Eigenschaften ermittelt. Luminescent systems have been prepared in a thin coating on metals, called „two-dimensional”, produced of an inorganic base and activated by organic compounds. Their qualities have been studied and described.