cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing leaders across contexts, culture, and time: Computerized content analysis of leader–follower communications:

Computer-aided text analysis (CATA) has enormous potential for expanding the study of leadership communications. Building on previous calls for more creative methodologies for studying leadership, ...
An Interview with Len Fulton, Founder of Dustbooks and Publisher of Small Press Review

This installment of “They Might Be Giants” continues on the theme of little magazines and small presses. This time, we talked to Len Fulton who founded Dustbooks almost forty years ago and who is currently publishing Small Press Review, as well as a handful of annual directories and occasional book. Serials Review 2003; 29: 154–156.
Improving visual SLAM algorithms for use in realtime robotic applications

Many vision-based Simultaneous Localization And Mapping (vSLAM) algorithms require large amounts of computational power and storage. With these requirements, vSLAM is difficult to implement in real time. One known bottleneck in vSLAM is performing feature identification and matching across a large database. In this paper, we present a system and algorithms to reduce computational time and storage requirements for feature identification and matching components of vSLAM. We compare our algorithms using ORB and SURF to their unmodified versions readily available datasets and show significant reductions in storage requirements and calculation time.
Representation of solutions and stability of linear differential-difference equations in a Banach space

Abstract In this paper the theory of linear delay differential equations is extended in three directions. One, the underlying phase space is allowed to be a Banach space so that equations with unbounded operators may be considered. Two, the delay is permitted to be effective over an infinite interval and a connection is made between this type of system and neutral systems whose delay is effective over a finite interval. Three, a theory of uniform asymptotic stability for linear delay differential equations in a Hilbert space is developed.
Risk factors for parkinson's disease: the leisure world cohort study.

We conducted a case-control study nested within a prospective cohort study of 13,979 residents of Leisure World Laguna Hills, a retirement community in southern California, for etiologic clues for Par
The impact of implementation of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology on the quality of reporting, "risk" of malignancy, surgical rate, and rate of frozen sections requested for thyroid lesions.

BACKGROUND: The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) has been anticipated to improve communication between pathologists and clinicians and thereby patient outcomes. In the current study, the impact of TBSRTC on various quality and outcome measures was assessed. METHODS: The current study included all patients who underwent fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the thyroid between April 2006 and April 2009. Before implementation, the authors used generic diagnostic categories; after implementation, TBSRTC was used. Quality of reporting, diagnostic categories, rate of surgery, rates of frozen section, the “risk” of malignancy after a cytologic diagnosis, and errors before and after implementation of TBSRTC were compared using the chi-square and Fisher exact tests. Multilevel likelihood ratios and the receiver operating characteristic were used to compare the accuracy of FNA before and after implementation. RESULTS: A total of 1671 FNAs (957 obtained before and 714 obtained after implementation of TBSRTC) were obtained from 1339 patients. Of these, 301 patients (191 before and 110 after implementation) underwent subsequent surgical resection. Before implementation, the reports were more ambiguous (3.7% vs 0.5%; P < .05) and implicit (5.1% vs 2.7%; P < .05) than after implementation. The overall rate of surgery decreased after implementation of TBSRTC (24.5% vs 19.6%; P < .05). The overall risk of malignancy did not appear to be affected by implementation of TBSRTC, but it decreased significantly after a benign FNA diagnosis compared with a diagnosis of an atypical lesion or follicular neoplasm. The rate of frozen section remained unchanged. The diagnostic accuracy was not found to be significantly different before compared with after implementation of TBSRTC. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of TBSRTC appears to improve the quality of reporting by lowering the number of ambiguous and implicit diagnoses and decreases the overall surgery rates, particularly for benign lesions, but it does not appear to have any effect on the accuracy of FNA of the thyroid, false-positive rates, or the frequency of intraoperative consultations. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Geology and fauna of a new Pliocene locality in north-western Kenya.

Lothagam Hill reveals a succession of fossil bearing sediments that extend knowledge of the East African Pliocene back from the base of the Omo succession, to about 5.5 million years
Summer vegetation, deglaciation and the anomalous bird diversity gradient in eastern North America

Aim Geographic variation in the species richness of birds has been shown to be strongly associated with annual water and energy levels (actual evapotranspiration, AET) at the global scale. However, the gradient in eastern North America appears to be anomalous, because richness is greatest around the Great Lakes, whereas AET is highest in the south-eastern US. Here I examine if birds may be responding to vegetation produced during the breeding season rather than to annual production. Location North America east of longitude 98degrees W. Methods The bird richness pattern was examined using climatic variables, remotely sensed estimates of annual and seasonal plant biomass, and time since areas were exposed by the retreating Laurentide ice sheet from 20,000 to 6000 yr BP. Results Average summer GVI (Global Vegetation Index, derived from NDVI) was found to be positively linearly associated with richness, explaining 82% of the variance, whereas the relationships between richness and annual measures of both AET and GVI were curvilinear. The pattern of retreat of the Laurentide ice sheet explained an additional 6% of the variance in richness, consistent with a previous analysis of Canadian birds. Main conclusions In eastern North America, a seasonal variable associated with plant production explains the diversity gradient rather than the annual measures, but it does not undermine a general conclusion that bird diversity is closely linked with plant biomass. Further, both contemporary and historical factors appear to influence the gradient, and an association between bird richness and the geographic pattern of glacial retreat is detectable in both climatic and plant-biomass models of bird diversity.
Covalent attachment of multilayers on poly(tetrafluoroethylene) surfaces.

These studies demonstrate a new approach of producing multifunctionalized coatings on poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) surfaces by covalent attachments of multilayers (CAM) of heparin (HP) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). This process can be universally applied to other covalently bonded species and was facilitated by microwave plasma reactions in the presence of maleic anhydride which, upon ring-opening and hydrolysis, provided covalent attachment of COOH groups to PTFE. These studies showed that alternating layers of PEG and HP can be covalently attached to COOH-PTFE surfaces, and the volume concentration and surface density of PEG and HP on the PTFE surface achieved by the CAM were 7.02–6.04 × 10–3 g/cm3 (2.1–1.8 × 10–7 g/cm2) and 9.3–8.7 × 10–3 g/cm3 (2.8–2.6 × 10–7 g/cm2), respectively. The CAM process may serve numerous applications when the covalent modification of inert polymeric substrates is required and particularly where the presence of bioactive species for biocompatibility enhancement is des...
Fracture toughness and flexural strength of Sm(Co,Fe,Cu,Zr)7−8 magnetic alloys

Abstract This paper presents the results of a parametric investigation of the strength and fracture toughness of Sm2Co17 type permanent magnets in the Sm(Co,Fe,Cu,Zr)7−8 family of alloys. The strength and fracture toughness of the as-received materials were characterized as a function of temperature, loading direction, and magnetization. Since these magnets are candidates for applications with service temperatures up to 450°C, the effect of thermal exposure on the mechanical properties was determined by characterizing the properties after a thermal treatment of 40 h at 450°C.
SCATTERING THEORY OF OSCILLATOR DEFECTS IN AN OPTICAL FIBER

We examine harmonic oscillator defects coupled to a photon field in the environs of an optical fiber. Using techniques borrowed or extended from the theory of two-dimensional quantum fields with boundaries and defects, we are able to compute exactly a number of interesting quantities. We calculate the scattering $S$ matrices (i.e., the reflection and transmission amplitudes) of photons off a single defect. We determine using techniques derived from thermodynamic Bethe ansatz the thermodynamic potentials of the interacting photon-defect system, and we compute several correlators of physical interest. We find the photon occupancy at finite temperature, the spontaneous emission spectrum from the decay of an excited state, and the correlation functions of the defect degrees of freedom. In an extension of the single defect theory, we find the photonic band structure that arises from a periodic array of harmonic oscillators. In another extension, we examine a continuous array of defects and exactly derive its dispersion relation. With some differences, the spectrum is similar to that found for electromagnetic wave propagation in covalent crystals. We then add to this continuum theory isolated defects, so as to obtain a more realistic model of defects embedded in a frequency-dependent dielectric medium. We do this both with a single isolated defect and with an array of isolated defects, and so compute how the $S$ matrices and the band structure change in a dynamic medium.
Detailed Mechanism of Rapid Amyloid Fibril Self-Assembly Due to Surface Diffusion

Surface-mediated fibrillization has been considered as an alternative pathway to form amyloid fibrils under physiological conditions. In order to develop new probes and therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, it's important to explore the detailed mechanism of the surface effects. However, the surface morphologies change with time and are hard to image without staining or labeling, which may alter the process of self-assembly. In recent work, we demonstrated a label-free procedure via controlling incubation time and the drying process to monitor the kinetics of fibril growth on surfaces across many length scales. We propose an anisotropic growth model to fit the time-evolution of morphologies of amyloid fibrils forming near a surface as measured using Atomic force microscopy (AFM). Two important variables, the deposition rate and the two-dimensional diffusion coefficient, can be used as fitting variables and can be characterized by the combination of experimental data and the theoretical approach presented here.
Molecular symmetry. III. Second derivatives of electronic energy with respect to nuclear coordinates

Symmetry methods employed in the ab initio polyatomic program HONDO are extended to the analytic computation of the energy Hessian matrix. A ’’skeleton’’ Hessian matrix is calculated from the unique blocks of electron repulsion integrals. The true Hessian matrix is generated by projecting the symmetric component out of the skeleton Hessian. The analysis is valid for many wave functions, including closed‐ or open‐shell restricted and unrestricted Hartree–Fock wave functions, multiconfiguration Hartree–Fock wave functions, and configuration interaction wave functions. We also extend the use of translational invariance previously used for energy gradient calculations. To illustrate the method, we compare the computer time required for the two‐electron contribution to the Hessian matrix of eclipsed ethane, using Pople’s 6‐31G basis set and D3h symmetry and various subgroups of D3h. Computational times are roughly inversely proportional to the order of the point group.
The biochemical composition of plankton in a subsurface chlorophyll maximum

Abstract The biochemical composition of plankton at a station with a deep, subsurface chlorophyll maximum (SCM) below a nitrogen-depleted surface layer off the Washington coast was determined in order to answer long-standing questions about the nature and causes of SCM. The chlorophyll maximum did not correspond to a protein-biomass maximum, and chlorophyll: protein ratios indicate that only in the SCM were phytoplankton a major constituent of the total biomass. Ratios of free amino acids: protein in the particulate matter were high at all depths in the euphotic zone. From this it can be concluded that phytoplankton in the SCM are N-sufficient, since they make up 80–90% of the biomass there. Above and below the SCM, where non-phytoplankton predominate, the state of N deficiency or sufficiency of the phytoplankton cannot be ascertained until more is known about how the chemical composition of phytoplankton, zooplankton and bacteria are related. However, if it is assumed that very N-sufficient zooplankton and bacteria would not coexist with very N-deficient phytoplankton, then it seems likely that the phytoplankton were also N-sufficient or nearly so. Thus, the biochemical indicators do not support the hypothesis that the SCM forms because it represents the only layer in the water column with adequate N and light for phytoplankton growth. Comparison of the chlorophyll: protein ratios with those from cultures and from other regions suggests that oligotrophic areas have a much higher proportion of non-phytoplankton biomass than do eutrophic areas.
Magneto-thermo-elastokinetics of Geometrically Nonlinear Laminated Composite Plates. Part 1: Foundation of the Theory

A fully coupled magneto-thermo-elastokinetic model of laminated composite, finitely electroconductive plates incorporating geometrical nonlinearities and subjected to a combination of magnetic and thermal fields, as well as carrying an electrical current is developed, In this context. the first-order transversely shearable plate theory in conjunction with von-Karman geometrically nonlinear strain concept is adopted. Related to the distribution of electric and magnetic field disturbances within the plate, the assumptions proposed by Ambartsumyan and his collaborators are adopted. Based on the electromagnetic equations (i.e. the ones by Faraday, Ampere, Ohm, Maxwell and Lorentz), the modified Fourier's law of heat conduction and on the elastokinetic field equations, the 3-D coupled problem is reduced to an equivalent 2- D one. The theory developed herein provides a foundation for the investigation, both analytical and numerical, of the interacting effects among the magnetic, thermal and elastic fields in multi-layered thin plates made of anisotropic materials.
Ways of knowing: reflections of a health economist.

Changes in the technical environment of the health sciences, in social and economic institutions, and in the types of health problems that afflict the public constantly refocus the attention of health care analysts. The evolution of statistical, econometric, and sociometric research techniques and of giant databases has thoroughly changed many aspects of the research enterprise. Neverthe
Comparison of the lognormal and beta distribution functions to describe the uncertainty in permeability

Abstract The permeability of a single hydrostratigraphic unit is associated with considerable uncertainty due to measurement errors and significant spatial variability. Historically this uncertainty is characterized by a lognormal distribution. This distribution is generally heavy tailed, so using this distribution to describe the permeability has the limitation that all positive values of permeability for a given hydrostratigraphic unit have positive (not zero) probability of occurrence. The beta distribution, with its bounded domain, is explored as an alternative to the lognormal distribution in describing the uncertainty of permeability. The lognormal distribution and the beta distribution are both fit to the historic data provided by Jan Law in 1944 that was used to generalize the statement that the uncertainty in the permeability follows a lognormal distribution. The lognormal distribution and the beta distribution are also fit to an extensive permeability data set taken from regions within the Dakota Sandstone that have been shown to represent a single hydrostratigraphic unit. The results of this curve fitting exercise indicate that the beta distribution is a viable alternative to the lognormal distribution to characterize the uncertainty in permeability.
Anharmonic force constants of ClCN

Abstract An attempt has been made to adjust the force constants in the general quartic force field of ClCN to the vibrational energies and the rotational constants using standard least-squares methods. It was found that the general quartic force field contained too many adjustable parameters and therefore a Morse function was used for bond-bond stretching potentials and the interaction force constants were modeled in a semi-empirical way. Numerical values have been obtained for the quadratic, cubic and quartic force constants.
Lethal Effect of a Heterologous Murein Hydrolase on Penicillin-Treated Streptococcus sanguis

Nine strains of Streptococcus sanguis exhibited tolerance to benzylpenicillin: the growth of each strain was susceptible to penicillin with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 0.1 mug/ml or lower, but the bacteriolytic and bactericidal effects were limited in each case. The tolerance of these bacteria was also reflected in the large discrepancies between the minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentrations for benzylpenicillin. The hypothesis that a natural deficiency of endogenous murein hydrolase (autolysin) in this species accounts for the penicillin tolerance was tested by using a heterologous murein hydrolase, the C-phage-associated lysin. In seven of the strains, addition of the lysin to the culture together with penicillin or other cell wall inhibitors resulted in lysis and rapid loss of viability. The enzyme alone did not appreciably affect normally growing cultures. The irreversible effects of penicillin plus lysin were drastically reduced in the presence of the bacteriostatic agents chloramphenicol and cerulenin. Speculations based on experiments are presented for the mechanisms by which penicillin treatment sensitizes these bacteria to an exogenous lytic enzyme. Similar phenomena requiring cooperation of host factors and penicillin may occur during infection, since somewhat similar although less pronounced results were obtained by addition of human lysozyme to penicillin-treated S. sanguis.
Electro-optical terrain reflectance modeling - A perspective

Electro-optical terrain reflectance modeling is one of the components required in the overall capability to simulate remote sensing measurement systems as an aid to the sensor or information processing designer. Given that sensor fields-of-view may vary from a few centimeters to several meters and that measurement devices may be placed at varying heights above the terrain surface, modeling of complex combinations of terrain classes or media with respect to both vertical and horizontal scales may be required. This paper addresses the issue of combining modeling approaches for different classes of materials in the optical regime and recommends a more formal approach to the radiative characterization of media properties as well as the calculation of the bidirectional reflectance distribution functions.
Phenotypic plasticity in the reef corals Montastraea annularis (Ellis & Solander) and Siderastrea siderea (Ellis & Solander)

Abstract Mature colonies of Montastraea annularis (Ellis & Solander) and Siderastrea siderea (Ellis & Solander) were transplanted reciprocally between four reef environments near Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Multivariate analyses of variables describing corallite structures show that colonies of M. annularis change their skeletal morphology after transplantation from that characteristic of their original habitat to that characteristic of the environment to which they were moved. Control colonies of M. annularis, however, retain the morphology characteristic of their original habitat after manipulation. Many colonies of S. siderea similarly altered their morphology after transplantation, but some retained the morphology characteristic of their original habitat. Most control colonies of S. siderea did not change after manipulation. In general, control colonies of S. siderea show more morphologic variation between skeleton deposited before and after manipulation within colonies and also between colonies within populations, than did control colonies of M. annularis. These results indicate that, although M. annularis shows more plasticity than S. siderea. both species have highly plastic phenotypes. A large number of characters describing the architecture of corallites respond to environmental factors such as light intensity, sedimentation rate, water activity, and food availability. The most plastic characters in M. annularis describe coenosteal features and the thickness of thecae. The most plastic characters in S. siderea describe the thicknesses of thecae. septa, and columellae. This study suggests that phenotypic plasticity is an important species attribute in scieractinians and may be a significant mechanism in controlling the distribution and abundance of scleractinians on reefs.
Central Role of IL-6 Receptor Signal-Transducing Chain gp130 in Activation of L-Selectin Adhesion by Fever-Range Thermal Stress

The physiological benefit of the febrile response is poorly understood. Here we show that fever-range thermal stress enhances the function of the L-selectin lymphocyte homing receptor through an interleukin-6 (IL-6)-dependent signaling mechanism. Thermal stimulation of L-selectin adhesion in vitro and in vivo is mediated by engagement of the gp130 signal-transducing chain by IL-6 and a soluble form of the IL-6 receptor-alpha (sIL-6Ralpha) binding subunit. Thermal control of adhesion is maintained in IL-6-deficient mice through a gp130-dependent compensatory mechanism mediated by IL-6-related cytokines (i.e., oncostatin M [OSM], leukemia inhibitory factor [LIF], and IL-11). Combined biochemical and pharmacological inhibitor (PD98059, U0126, SB203580, SP600125) approaches positioned MEK1/ERK1-2, but not p38 MAPK or JNK, in the IL-6/sIL-6Ralpha signaling pathway upstream of activation of L-selectin/cytoskeletal interactions and L-selectin avidity/affinity. These results highlight a role for gp130-linked IL-6/sIL-6Ralpha transsignaling in amplifying lymphocyte trafficking during febrile inflammatory responses.
Precipitate character in laser-melted PSZ

Etude de la nature de precipites formes dans de la zircone partiellement stabilisee lors d'une fusion rapide, dans des conditions oxydantes, par laser. Contrairement aux ceramiques en zircone stabilisee par MgO, dans celle stabilisee par Y 2 O 3 , il est difficile de controler la taille des precipites formes, car la nucleation et la croissance de ceux-ci sont tres rapides. Existence d'un phenomene d'ordre ou de decomposition spinodale
Gendered institutional research cultures in science: the post-doc transition for women scientists

This study examines perceptions of post-doctoral women bench scientists working across fourteen major US research universities, and how both individual and institutional experiences influenced their desired futures. Findings reveal three distinct career paths (research, teaching, and industry). This study provides insight into individual career decision processes involving as to how gender is experienced in male-centric cultures, how experiences of barriers are reframed, and how obstacles influence choices. These women emphasized strong desires to contribute to their respective fields and to collaborate with others, a key relational aspect missing in their current work. All participants indicated aspirations to have both a career and a full life beyond the lab. Findings further suggest a post-doctoral environment laden with gender and family biases including subtle discrimination and challenges specific to women working in male-centric cultures. A strong relationship between experiences of gender and fami...
Closed-Loop Flow Control of a Forebody at a High Incidence Angle

The flowfield around an axisymmetric forebody at a high angle of attack (40<α<60 deg) produces a significant side force. This side force results from an asymmetric pressure distribution around the body due to an asymmetric vortex configuration. Numerical studies of open-loop control using mass blowing slots near the tip of the model have shown a proportional response of the side force over a range of momentum coefficient amplitudes. From the open-loop simulations, a prediction-error minimization method was employed to formulate a linear time-invariant model, which captured the dynamics of the side force response to different mass flow rates applied to either the port or starboard actuator. Based on the linear time-invariant model, a proportional–integral control law was developed for set-point tracking a prescribed side force. The development of the linear time-invariant model, and corresponding linear time-invariant feedback solution are presented to illustrate the model’s capabilities and limitations. ...
Energy Substrates for Neurons during Neural Activity: A Critical Review of the Astrocyte-Neuron Lactate Shuttle Hypothesis

Glucose had long been thought to fuel oxidative metabolism in active neurons until the recently proposed astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle hypothesis (ANLSH) challenged this view. According to the ANLSH, activity-induced uptake of glucose takes place predominantly in astrocytes, which metabolize glucose anaerobically. Lactate produced from anaerobic glycolysis in astrocytes is then released from astrocytes and provides the primary metabolic fuel for neurons. The conventional hypothesis asserts that glucose is the primary substrate for both neurons and astrocytes during neural activity and that lactate produced during activity is removed mainly after neural activity. The conventional hypothesis does not assign any particular fraction of glucose metabolism to the aerobic or anaerobic pathways. In this review, the authors discuss the theoretical background and critically review the experimental evidence regarding these two hypotheses. The authors conclude that the experimental evidence for the ANLSH is weak, and that existing evidence and theoretical considerations support the conventional hypothesis.
Hepatoma Derived Growth Factor represses SET and MYND domain containing 1 gene expression through interaction with C-terminal binding protein

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) is a nuclear protein with both mitogenic and angiogenic activity that is highly expressed in the developing heart and vasculature. To date, the mechanism underlying the function of HDGF is unknown. Oligonucleotide microarray analysis was used to gain insights into HDGF function. Adenoviral expression of HDGF significantly (> or =2-fold) downregulated a large group (66) of genes, and increased expression of a relatively small number of genes (9). Two groups of target genes that are involved in cardiovascular development and transcriptional regulation, including the skeletal/cardiac muscle specific SET and MYND domain containing 1 (SMYD1) gene, were validated by real time PCR. This suggested that HDGF could function as a transcriptional repressor. In a one-hybrid system, GBD-HDGF significantly repressed reporter gene activity in a dose-dependent manner. This demonstrated that HDGF has transcriptional repressive activity. Moreover, in G-7 myoblast cells, over-expression of a GFP-HDGF fusion specifically downregulated SMYD1 mRNA expression and the activity of the human SMYD1 promoter. HDGF repressed SMYD1 gene transcription through interaction with a transcriptional corepressor C-terminal binding protein (CtBP). Over-expression of CtBP potentiated the trans-repressive activity of HDGF; on the other hand, knocking down CtBP attenuated the trans-repressive effect of HDGF. HDGF binds CtBP through a non-canonical binding motif (PKDLF) within the PWWP domain, as mutation of DL to AS abolished HDGF and CtBP interaction, and diminished the trans-repressive effect of HDGF without affecting DNA binding. Finally, fluorescent microscopy showed that HDGF induced the nuclear accumulation of CtBP, suggesting that HDGF forms a transcriptional complex with CtBP. Taken together, our data demonstrate that HDGF functions as a transcriptional repressor of the SMYD1 gene through interaction with the transcriptional corepressor CtBP. Because of moderate conservation of the CtBP binding motif in HDGF family members, trans-repressive activity mediated by CtBP may be a common function among HDGF proteins.
Population density patterns in Port-au-Prince, Haiti: A model of Latin American city?

Abstract This paper examines the population density patterns in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, by both the monocentric and polycentric models, based on the 2003 census data at the SDE ( Section d’enumeration ) and district levels. The regression results show a poor fitting power of monocentric functions, and improved but less than satisfactory R 2 by the polycentric functions. Port-au-Prince bears some resemblance to the Griffin–Ford (1980) model for Latin American cities with its own identity. The city has five zones: (1) a commercial quarter around the city center, (2) a transitional zone with mixed land uses, (3) a high-income residential zone with the best amenities in the southeastern area, (4) a disamenity (squatters) zone with the highest population density in the north area, and (5) another disamenity (squatters) zone with the second highest population density in the south and southwest areas. A regression model validates the five-zone model for Port-au-Prince. This structure is mainly shaped by the absence or lack of institutional enforcement of land use regulations and urban planning.
Use of Intravascular Stents in Systemic Venous and Systemic Venous Baffle Obstructions Short-term Follow-up Results

Background Balloon-expandable intravascular stents are well accepted in the management of arterial obstructions. This study was undertaken to detail the immediate and short-term results of intravascular stent implantation in systemic venous and systemic venous baffle obstructions in children. Methods and Results Between September 1991 and June 1994, 12 patients had 21 stents implanted in 13 systemic venous obstructions, 1 patient having stents placed in 2 separate obstructions. In the baffle group, 4 of 13 obstructions were at the superior vena cava/right atrial junction after atrial baffling for transposition of the great arteries. One of 4 patients had complete obstruction requiring transseptal needle perforation before stent implantation. There was an immediate gradient reduction from 12±8.4 mm Hg (range, 4 to 20 mm Hg) to 1.3±1.9 mm Hg (range, 0 to 4 mm Hg, P =.05). The obstructed segment diameter increased from 3.5±3.9 mm (range, 0 to 8.5 mm) to 16±2.7 mm (range, 14 to 20 mm, P =.002). In the central vein group, 9 of 13 obstructions were in large central veins. Three of 9 patients had complete obstruction requiring transseptal needle perforation before stent implantation. There was an immediate gradient reduction from 10.3±8.5 mm Hg (range, 0 to 20 mm Hg) to 0.8±1.1 mm Hg (range, 0 to 3 mm Hg, P =.005). The obstructed segment diameter increased from 1.3±1.1 mm (range, 0 to 2.8 mm) to 9.4±1.7 mm (range, 7.6 to 12 mm, P P =NS). Neointimal hyperplasia (5 of 6 patients) reduced the stent lumen only from 12.5±4.7 mm (range, 8 to 20 mm) to 10.6±4.7 mm (range, 4.5 to 17.7 mm, P =NS). No stents required redilation. One of 18 stents placed in series had “unlocked” and rotated in the venous lumen but remained fully patent to flow. Conclusions Balloon-expandable intravascular stents can be safely and effectively used to relieve systemic venous and systemic venous baffle obstructions, even when obstruction is complete. Short-term follow-up suggests excellent continued patency, but further follow-up is required to observe for progression of neointimal hyperplasia. We postulate that balloon-expandable intravascular stents will become the treatment of choice for the relief of selected systemic venous and venous baffle obstructions in the pediatric population.
Oligocene glacio–eustasy and erosion on the margins of the North Atlantic

Oligocene foraminiferal δ 18 O records suggest the development of ice caps (= inferred glacio–eustatic falls) at ca. 36, 31, and 25 Ma. Biostratigraphic analyses of wells from the United States east coast and Irish continental margins consistently show that upper Oligocene sediments overlie a diachronous erosional surface, underlain by lower Oligocene to Eocene strata. At the minimum, the hiatus extends between ca. 34 and 30 Ma. We speculate that erosion during a glacio–eustatic fall near the early/late Oligocene boundary (ca. 32–31 Ma) developed (1) an unconformity on the margins, (2) numerous canyons noted in seismic profiles from the margins of the North Atlantic, and (3) a coastal offlap event. Using δ 18 O data, we apply a model for eustatic changes and margin response that explains the relationships of sea level, unconformities, and coastal onlap/offlap events.
Combinatorial selection and edited combinatorial selection of phosphorothioate aptamers targeting human Nuclear factor-κB RelA/p50 and RelA/RelA

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) transcription factors are important in regulating the immune response and play critical roles in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases and a variety of human cancers. Agents that target specific NF-kappaB dimers may serve as therapeutic agents for the prevention of pathogenic immune responses. We have selected monothiophosphate-modified aptamers, or "thioaptamers", to the NF-kappaB p50/RelA heterodimer using combinatorial selection techniques. We also utilized a "double sieve" or editing approach for the generation of thioaptamers with enhanced selectivity to the RelA/RelA homodimer. The thioaptamers from these selections and our previous selections on the p50/p50 and RelA/RelA homodimers all had unique sequences and bound tightly to the recombinant NF-kappaB dimers against which they were selected. The selected thioaptamers also appear to maintain their selectivity and specificity among other cellular proteins, because they have the ability to bind NF-kappaB proteins within nuclear extracts from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages and B cells.
INTRAPERICARDIAL AORTICO-PULMONARY ARTERY SHUNT.

An operative procedure for the creation of an aorticopulmonary artery anastomosis with use of a Teflon prosthesis was developed. After laboratory trial in animals, the operation was performed in six patients varying in age from 2 months to 14 years. In all but one instance the shunt remained patent. The longest observation in dogs is 1½ years. In this animal the shunt has remained open and there has been no evidence of pulmonary or cardiac embarrassment. One child, 5 years of age, has lived 10 months after the operation. He has had marked improvement in his cyanosis and clubbing, his hematocrit value remains less than 50 per cent, and he is generally well. The operation should carry no more risk than a Blalock-Taussig or Potts procedure and is thought to be another, perhaps better, method for increasing pulmonary blood flow in cyanotic infants and children.
Conflict-triggered top-down control: default mode, last resort, or no such thing?

The conflict monitoring account posits that globally high levels of conflict trigger engagement of top-down control; however, recent findings point to the mercurial nature of top-down control in high conflict contexts. The current study examined the potential moderating effect of associative learning on conflict-triggered top-down control engagement by testing the Associations as Antagonists to Top-Down Control (AATC) hypothesis. In 4 experiments, list-wide proportion congruence was manipulated, and conflict-triggered top-down control engagement was examined by comparing interference for frequency-matched, 50% congruent items across mostly congruent (low conflict) and mostly incongruent (high conflict) lists. Despite the fact that global levels of conflict were varied identically across experiments, evidence of conflict-triggered top-down control engagement was selective to those experiments in which responses could not be predicted on the majority of trials via simple associative learning, consistent with the AATC hypothesis. In a 5th experiment, older adults showed no evidence of top-down control engagement under conditions in which young adults did, a finding that refined the interpretation of the patterns observed in the prior experiments. Collectively, these findings suggest that top-down control engagement in high conflict contexts is neither the default mode nor an unused (or nonexistent) strategy. Top-down control is best characterized as a last resort that is engaged when reliance on one’s environment, and in particular associative responding, is unproductive for achieving task goals.
Tailored Organometallics as Low-Temperature CVD Precursors to Thin Films

We have been investigating the use of “tailored” organo-metallic precursors for the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of thin films in an effort to open up new approaches to the low-temperature synthesis of ceramic, electronic, and optical materials that contain transition metals. Following our approach to the successful deposition of high-quality titanium carbide thin films at 150–250°C from tetraneopentyltitanium, we have extended this technique to the preparation of other carbides, such as ZrC, HfC, TaC, and WC, at temperatures some 1000°C lower than previous CVD methods from the metal halides and methane. The details of the thermolysis of the organometalico precursors are most consistent with a mechanism involving homolysis of M-C bonds to give alkyl radicals followed by C-C and C-H bond activation steps. Metal diboride thin films such as TiB2, ZrB2, and HfB2 can be prepared at ca. 250 °C by CVD of suitable tetrahydroborate precursors: Ti(BH4)3-(MeOCH2CH2OMe), Zr(BH4)4, and Hf(BH4)4. In these cases, the principal byproducts are hydrogen and diborane. Mirror-bright, adhesive thin films up to 2 μm thick can be grown on a variety of substrates including glass, steel, aluminum, copper, silicon, and graphite. Despite the amorphous nature of the films, their electrical resistivities are essentially identical with those of the bulk polycrystalline material.
Responses to an emerging threat: HIV/AIDS policy in Pakistan.

A decade has passed since the discovery of HIV in Pakistan. In the presence of a susceptible population "high-risk" behaviors and potential for further spread the policies and programs addressing HIV/AIDS need to be further developed. This paper explores the response to HIV/AIDS in Pakistan and describes the contributions of the public and private sectors towards AIDS prevention. A review of contextual and social factors of HIV/AIDS in Pakistan is followed by a structural analysis of the response an assessment of the impact and policy recommendations for a more integrated approach to this emerging threat. The conclusion calls for better epidemiological information on HIV/AIDS in the country development of proactive evidence-based policies and socially appropriate implementation of prevention and care measures. (authors)
Book Review: The Subprime Virus: Reckless Credit, Regulatory Failure, and Next Steps

John Godfrey Saxe’s 19th century poem, "The Blind Men and the Elephant," opens with six learned men, "Who went to see the Elephant/(Though all of them were blind)/That each by observation/Might satisfy his mind." The financial crisis is the Elephant of our time. Over the last couple of years, more than six wise men and women have written books purporting to explain the financial crisis and many more such books are surely in the works. Most of these wise ones suffer from the same limitations as the poem’s learned men. As each reaches out, he or she can only make out one small part of Our Elephant - maybe the rampant fraud at mortgage origination or the distortions of short term profit-seeking or the complexity of the CDO2 - but go on to confidently opine on the essential nature of this beast. The SUBPRIME VIRUS is a cut above the books that have come before it because of its authors’ breadth of knowledge of financial institutions and consumer protection.
HYPERSPECTRAL AND POLARIZATION IMAGING WITH DOUBLE-TRANSDUCER AOTFS FOR WIDER SPECTRAL COVERAGE

We have developed a number of programmable hyperspectral imagers operating from the ultraviolet to the longwave infrared using an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) in conjunction with a suitable camera. Each of these AOTFs is fabricated with a single transducer to operate over only one octave in wavelength. Recently, we have developed two separate tellurium dioxide (TeO2) noncollinear AOTF cells that operate over two octave range. Each cell has an aperture of 1.5 × 1.5 cm2 with a field-of-view of 4.2°, and two thin-plate lithium niobate transducers are bonded on it. The tuning range of the first cell is 0.43–2.1 μm, and 0.69–4.0 μm for the second cell. We have used each of these cells to carry out spectral imaging experiments with CCD, InGaAs, and InSb cameras to cover the spectral region from the visible to the midwave infrared. We image the two orthogonally polarized diffracted beams to get spectropolarimetric information from the scene, as well as a broadband image by using one of the undiffracted beams. In this paper, we discuss the two AOTF cells, the imaging experiments, and present the results obtained.
Corticotropin secretory dynamics in humans under low glucocorticoid feedback.

To explore the mechanisms of homeostatic adaptation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis to an experimental low-feedback condition, we quantitated pulsatile (ultradian), entropic (pattern-sensitive), and 24-h rhythmic (circadian) ACTH secretion during high-dose metyrapone blockade (2 g orally every 2 h for 12 h, and then 1 g every 2 h for 12 h). Plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations were sampled concurrently every 10 min for 24 h in nine adults. The metyrapone regimen reduced the amplitude of nyctohemeral cortisol rhythm by 45% (P = 0.0013) and delayed the time of the cortisol maximum (acrophase) by 7.1 h (P = 0.0002). Attenuated cortisol negative feedback stimulated a 7-fold increase in the mean (24-h) plasma ACTH concentration, which rose from 24 ± 1.6 to 169± 31 pg/ml (ng/liter) (P < 0.0001). Augmented ACTH output was driven by a 12-fold amplification of ACTH secretory burst mass (integral of the underlying secretory pulse) (21 ± 3.1 to 255 ± 64 pg/ml; P < 0.0001), yielding a higher percentage o...
Overexpression of MtWRKY76 increases both salt and drought tolerance in Medicago truncatula

Abstract WRKY transcription factors have been studied in a wide range of plant species, but have remained largely uncharacterized in legumes. To obtain insight into the functions of WRKY in legumes, we isolated and characterized one WRKY family member from Medicago truncatula, MtWRKY76, which belongs to sub-group II. Expression analysis showed that MtWRKY76 was rapidly induced by abiotic stresses. MtWRKY76 overexpression markedly enhanced the salt and drought tolerance of transgenic M. truncatula and triggered abiotic inducible genes. MtWRKY76 was located in the nucleus and interacted with Medtr1g098680.1 that was deduced as ASR protein, which acted as a component of a transcription-regulating complex involved in abiotic stress signalling pathways. Interestingly, MtWRKY76 was found to be involved in regulated abiotic pathways via Solexa/Illumina digital gene expression (DGE) analysis. In conclusion, we demonstrated that MtWRKY76 was a multifunctional abiotic stress response gene in M. truncatula.
Tumor histopathology predicts outcomes after resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases treated with and without pre-operative chemotherapy

Background and Objectives Study objectives, included determination of: (i) associations between radiologic and pathologic responses of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) to chemotherapy; and (ii) whether CRCLM histopathology is associated with recurrence free survival (RFS) after resection among patients not treated with pre-operative chemotherapy (untreated). Methods Demographics, clinicopathologic characteristics, and outcomes among patients who underwent CRCLM resection from 2007 to 2014 were reviewed. Tumor regression grade (TRG) of 1–2 and 4–5 depict low and high proportions of viable tumor relative to fibrosis, respectively. Results Of 138 patients, 84 (60.9%) were treated with pre-operative chemotherapy. In these patients, there was no difference in proportions with TRG 1–2 among those with verses without radiologic response (26.9% vs. 18.8%, P = 0.393). TRG 1–2 was associated with superior RFS on univariable (median 15 vs. 6 months, P < 0.001) and multivariable (P = 0.005) analyses. Radiologic response was not associated with RFS. Among untreated patients (n = 54), TRG 4–5 was associated with poor RFS on univariable (median 44 vs. 15 months, P = 0.011) and multivariable (P = 0.012) analyses. Conclusions High proportions of CRCLM fibrosis occur in 20% of patients without radiologic response to chemotherapy. Among untreated patients, high proportion of viable tumor relative to fibrosis is associated with poor RFS after resection. J. Surg. Oncol. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Geoboard Triangles with One Interior Point

(1977). Geoboard Triangles with One Interior Point. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 50, No. 2, pp. 92-94.
Analysis and processing of noise in engine fault diagnosis by fractal method

To analyze the influence of noise on the correlation dimension of mechanical fault signals and improve the reliability of the mechanical fault diagnosis using correlation dimension of signals,the changes of correlation dimensions of simulated chaos signals with different noise level were studied firstly.It is langely unreliable to reflect the system's characteristic with the correlation dimension of noised signal,which would be greatly influenced by noise.So the original signal must be de-noised prior to the correlation dimension calculation.The comparison between the correlation dimensions of the noised and de-noised startup voltage signals of the engine at different gas-leaking state that are normal,light,obvious and serious states also shows that the wavelet de-noising preprocessing on signals could make the correlation dimension quite close to the truth value and could greatly enhance the accuracy and reliability of the fault diagnosis by the correlation dimension of the engine startup signals.