cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A technique for growing massive single crystals of FeS

Abstract A modified Bridgman technique for growing massive Fe 1− x S crystals of known composition is described. Impurity content of the crystals is minimized through the use of BN crucibles and of procedures that avoid air contamination of the specially purified starting materials. Levels of metallic impurities range between 100 and 300 ppm while oxygen concentrations as low as 50 ppm (by weight) have been achieved. Means of minimizing stress generation and the subsequent cracking of the crystals during cooling are discussed. Rocking curve determinations indicate a mosaic spread of ∽0.1° for the crystals, and the results of an accurate determination of the pressure dependence of the composition of the crystals are reported.
Atrial fibrillation ablation complications

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia. Although significant work still needs to be done, recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of AF have led to the development of elegant catheter mapping techniques for ablation of AF, complemented by the evolution of various imaging and navigational technologies. Due to the complexity of the arrhythmia, and the significant length of time needed to successfully ablate in the left atrium, it is imperative that an acceptable risk-benefit profile be defined. Various complications, some of them serious, have been reported in the last several years. This review addresses the potential risks of AF ablation and how to avoid some of these complications.
Dimethacrylate Monomers of Aromatic Diethers

Crystalline aromatic diether methacrylates can be prepared from dihydric phenols or their bis(2-hydroxyethyl) derivatives by simple condensation procedures. Three solid isomers form a liquid ternary eutectic when mixed in suitable proportions.
TU‐C‐BRA‐03: Dose‐Mapping to Determine Anatomically Sensitive Bone Marrow Regions

Multiple studies have established associations between increased bone marrow (BM) radiationdose and hematologic toxicity, which is an important barrier to optimal delivery of chemoradiotherapy. Generalized linear toxicity models have been validated, using metrics derived from dose‐volume histograms (DVHs), but these models are limited by low predictive power. One reason may be that DVH‐based metrics disregard spatial information regarding the 3D BM dose distribution. For example, it is known that BM is comprised of subregions of heterogeneous functionality, which cannot be distinguished on traditional computed tomography(CT) simulation scans. BM‐sparing radiation techniques could be optimized by specifically sparing functional BM subregions, but the precise location of active BM subregions and relationship between toxicity and radiationdose to these subregions remains unclear. We have analyzed two approaches to identifying critical BM subregions: (1) a “bottom‐up” approach, using functional imaging to map hematopoietically active BM, and (2) a “top‐down” approach, using deformable image registration and high dimensional data analysis to statistically map BM subregions in which radiationdose is associated with toxicity. An advantage of the latter approach is that if active BM exists in consistent locations within the pelvis, a class solution for active BM‐sparing IMRT would be feasible, obviating the need for expensive functional imaging in every patient. Validation of the models and hypotheses underlying both approaches is still needed. This lecture will review the contemporary literature on BM‐sparing radiotherapy techniques, particularly functional BM‐sparing using the aforementioned approaches. Special attention will be given to toxicity modeling techniques that move beyond DVH‐based metrics to capture information about the spatial relationship between BM dose and toxicity. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand techniques used to locate heterogeneously functioning subregions within an organ, particularly bone marrow 2. Understand techniques used to quantify and model relationships between hematologic toxicity and radiationdose to functional bone marrow 3. Critically evaluate strengths and limitations of existing approaches and literature pertaining to this subject matter
Increasing research literacy in minority communities: CARES fellows training program.

The community alliance for Research Empowering Social Change (CARES) is an academic-community research partnership designed to: (1) train community members about evidence-based public health, (2) increase community members' scientific literacy, and (3) develop the infrastructure for community-based participatory research so that local stakeholders can examine and address racial/ethnic health disparities in their communities. Nineteen community members enrolled in the CARES training. The training consisted of 11 didactic training sessions and 4 experiential workshops, taught by a multidisciplinary faculty from research institutions. Results suggest that the training increased research literacy, prepared community members for collaborative work with academic researchers, and empowered them to utilize scientific research methods to create social change in their communities.
Research on the Mechanism of the Dissociation of Potassium Shale during Roasting

It was studied that the process and mechanism of potassium extraction from the potassium-rich shale sample during roasting via SEM, XRD and thermal analysis (TG and DSC). The result of roasting test shows that roasting size has a little affect on ratio of potassium extraction, however, the effect of roasting temperature, roasting time and mNaOH:mshale on potassium extraction is significant. Under the optimum conditions, the ratio of potassium extraction is more than 88 %. SEM, XRD and thermal analysis shows that, during roasting, NaOH contributes to decomposition and melt of the minerals like potassium feldspar and muscovite in the sample and intact structure of minerals in the shale are broken down gradually and there are new crystal phases like kalsilite in the roasting products. Under alkali conditions, increasing roasting temperature promotes decomposition of silicate and aluminosilicate minerals.
Mutagenicity in salmonella of hazardous wastes and urine from rats fed these wastes.

Abstract 15 hazardous industrial waste samples were evaluated for mutagenicity in the Salmonella plate-incorporation assay using strains TA98 and TA100 in the presence and absence of Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver S9. Dichloromethane/methanol extracts of the crude wastes were also evaluated. 7 of the crude wastes were mutagenic, but only 2 of the extracts of these 7 wastes were mutagenic; extracts of 2 additional wastes also were mutagenic. In addition, 10 of the crude wastes were administered by gavage to F-344 rats, and 24-h urine samples were collected. Of the 10 raw urines evaluated, 3 were mutagenic in strain TA98 in the presence of S9 and β-glucuronidase. The 3 crude wastes that produced these 3 mutagenic urines were, themselves, mutagenic. Adequate volumes of 6 of the 10 raw urines were available for extraction/concentration. These 6 urines were incubated with β-glucuronidase and eluted through Sep-Pak® C18 columns; the methanol eluates of 3 of the urines were mutagenic, and these were the same 3 whose raw urines also were mutagenic. In general, the C18/methanol extraction procedure reduced the cytotoxicity and increased the mutagenic potency of the urines. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the mutagenicity of urine from rodents exposed to hazardous wastes. Based on the present results, the use of only strain TA98 in the presence of S9 might be adequate for general screening of hazardous wastes or waste extracts for genotoxicity. The urinary mutagenesis assay does not appear to be a useful adjunct to the Salmonella assay for screening hazardous wastes. The problems associated with chemically fractionating diverse types of hazardous wastes for bioassay are also discussed.
Ontology-based multiplatform identification method

This paper puts forward a multiplatform identification method to overcome the limitations of a single platform strategy when mass customization is required. The method is applied to redesign or consolidate an existing product family. The method consists of four steps: (1) the determination of component values, (2) the estimation of component redesign efforts, (3) the platform component identification, and (4) the formation of multiple platform instances. An ontology-based framework is also provided to facilitate the information representation and the data integration in the identification of multiplatform structure. Once the platforms are identified, an ontology reasoning mechanism verifies the platform sharing among products and determines the possible multiplatform coalition. A water cooler product family is used to illustrate the ontology-based multiplatform identification method.
Concurrent hysterectomy at bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy : Benefits, risks, and costs

Objective To evaluate the medical and economic consequences of concurrent hysterectomy at the time of bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) for benign ovarian disease in peri- and postmenopausal women. Methods Decision analysis was used to compare the health outcomes and economic costs of performing BSO with concurrent hysterectomy versus BSO alone in theoretic cohorts of 10,000 women undergoing surgery for benign adnexal disease. A model was constructed incorporating probabilities of possible outcomes from the National Hospital Discharge Database, the National Cancer Institute SEER Program, and the literature. Data on associated costs were obtained from the California State Discharge Database, Medicare, and the literature. Results Performing concurrent hysterectomy in a cohort of 10,000 45-year-old women would prevent approximately 71 future deaths from gynecologic disease at a cost of five immediate deaths from the surgery. However, short-term complications are much more frequent in women undergoing hysterectomy. On average, hysterectomy at age 45 adds approximately 0.071 years of life expectancy; at age 55, it adds 0.026 years. The procedure results in cost savings of approximately $1913 per patient at age 45 and $1112 at age 55. Conclusion Concurrent hysterectomy causes short-term morbidity, but appears to increase average life expectancy slightly among perimenopausal women and is cost-saving. Medical outcomes and economic consequences only marginally favor the procedure. Patient preferences for the potential outcomes should play a key role in determining the appropriateness of its use.
Effects of primary effluent filtration on trickling filter design and operation

The BOD associated with the suspended solids in effluents from primary clarifiers represents a substantial portion of the organic load applied to subsequent wastewater treatment processes. Recently, specially designed filters have been developed to deal with the problems associated with the filtration of primary effluent. An example of these filters is a fine‐grained, shallow‐bed, air‐pulsed filter. This filter has been applied successfully to treat primary effluents at a number of locations. Average suspended solids and BOD5 removals have been reported to be 50 to 70% and 25 to 45%, respectively. The purpose of this paper is to present information on how the use of primary effluent filtration may alter the design and operating characteristics of trickling niters, and to present a methodology which may be used to estimate the effects of primary effluent filtration on trickling filter performance.
Observations of the Kuroshio's barotropic and baroclinic responses to basin‐wide wind forcing

[1] Observations show that the Kuroshio in the East China Sea (ECS-Kuroshio) responds to the large-scale wind stress curl field at two time scales. It is argued that these two responses are related to barotropic and baroclinic modes that reach the ECS via different waveguides. Variability in the ECS-Kuroshio is assessed by comparing satellite altimetry, historical hydrography, and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) index with the latter used as a proxy for the large-scale wind stress curl forcing. Sea level difference across the ECS-Kuroshio is positively correlated with PDO at zero lag and negatively correlated at 7 year lag. In contrast, pycnocline steepness and PDO are uncorrelated at zero lag and negatively correlated at 7 year lag. These signals in the ECS-Kuroshio, considered together with wind stress curl anomalies in the open ocean, are consistent with a barotropic response to the wind at zero lag. The barotropic response is likely forced in the central North Pacific by wind stress curl anomalies of opposite sign, one of which is centered at ECS latitudes (∼27°N) while the other sits further north. This suggests that, in general, the absolute transport at a given latitude is not simply that predicted by the Sverdrup balance along the latitude. This is a consequence of waveguides that can steer the barotropic mode across latitude lines. In contrast, the signals that lag PDO by 7 years are consistent with a baroclinic mode, which represents the ocean's time-integrated response to the wind stress curl along a single latitude band between 24°N and 27°N.
Influence of body fatness on the coronary risk profile of physically active postmenopausal women.

We have shown previously that endurance-trained postmenopausal runners demonstrate more favorable coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors compared with age-matched sedentary women. However, the runners exhibited higher levels of physical activity and lower levels of body fatness, both of which can influence CHD risk factors. To gain insight into the influence of body fatness per se, we studied 38 postmenopausal healthy women: 10 swimmers, 10 runners, and nine obese and nine leaner sedentary subjects matched for age, hormone replacement use, and years postmenopause. Swimmers and runners were further matched for exercise training volume (4.5+/-0.2 v 4.6+/-0.6 h/wk) and relative competitive performance (79%+/-5% v 77+/-3% of age-adjusted world record). Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) on the treadmill was lower (P < .01) in swimmers versus runners. Body mass (65.0+/-2.0 v 59.0+/-1.3 kg), percent body fat (29%+/-2% v 23%+/-2%), and waist circumference (79+/-3 v 71+/-1 cm) were greater (P < .01) in swimmers than in runners. There were no significant differences in total caloric intake or dietary composition between swimmers and runners. Insulin sensitivity (via Bergman's minimal model) and fasting plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), glucose, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity were not different between the groups. However, plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), HDL2-C, HDL-C/TC, insulin, fibrinogen, fibrin D-dimer, PAI antigen, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity, and t-PA antigen levels all were less favorable (P < .05) in swimmers versus runners. Daytime, nighttime, and 24-hour systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 6 to 10 mm Hg higher in swimmers compared with runners, but resting blood pressure, 24-hour blood pressure load, and blood pressure variability were not significantly different. Stepwise regression showed that measures of body fatness were the primary independent determinants of most of the metabolic CHD risk factors. When analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed with body fatness as a covariate, differences in CHD risk factors between swimmers and runners were abolished (P=.18 to .90). We conclude that among endurance-trained postmenopausal women matched for training volume and competitive eliteness, higher total and abdominal body fatness is, in general, associated with a less favorable metabolic CHD risk profile. Thus, high levels of habitual aerobic exercise do not appear to negate the deleterious effects of adiposity on the coronary risk profile of healthy middle-aged and older women.
The Roles of Individual Mammalian Argonautes in RNA Interference In Vivo

Argonaute 2 (Ago2) is the only mammalian Ago protein capable of mRNA cleavage. It has been reported that the activity of the short interfering RNA targeting coding sequence (CDS), but not 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of an mRNA, is solely dependent on Ago2 in vitro. These studies utilized extremely high doses of siRNAs and overexpressed Ago proteins, as well as were directed at various highly expressed reporter transgenes. Here we report the effect of Ago2 in vivo on targeted knockdown of several endogenous genes by siRNAs, targeting both CDS and 3′UTR. We show that siRNAs targeting CDS lose their activity in the absence of Ago2, whereas both Ago1 and Ago3 proteins contribute to residual 3′UTR-targeted siRNA-mediated knockdown observed in the absence of Ago2 in mouse liver. Our results provide mechanistic insight into two components mediating RNAi under physiological conditions: mRNA cleavage dependent and independent. In addition our results contribute a novel consideration for designing most efficacious siRNA molecules with the preference given to 3′UTR targeting as to harness the activity of several Ago proteins.
Observations on the morphology, ecology, and behaviour of Bathylychnops exilis Cohen

Bathylychnops exilis is an unusual north-eastern Pacific mesopelagic fish of which adults have previously been undescribed and the biology is poorly known. Its sensory and digestive systems are highly modified. Sensory modifications include the equivalent of four functional eyes, well developed nasal rosettes, and lateral line canals up to 4 mm in diameter. Digestive adaptations include a peculiar mouth, large tongue, crumenal organ, and a large caecal stomach. Bathylychnops exilis apparently lacks an anal light organ. Ontogenetic changes occur in the morphology of the head, eyes, body, and coloration. Bathylychnops exilis eats crustaceans and may be medusae and microscopic organisms. Reproduction probably occurs in late summer. Adults occur most commonly at about 500 m depth, possibly in groups, and may be diurnal vertical migrators.
Persistence and Degradation of Azinphosmethyl in Soils, as Affected by Formulation and Mode of Application

The persistence and metabolism of azinphosmethyl (Guthion®) in soils was studied under field and laboratory conditions. The insecticide was least persistent after field application in an emulsion and when left on the soil surface (50% loss within 12 days after soil treatment) and was most persistent (50% loss within 28 days) after its incorporation in granular form into the upper 4-5 inches of the soil. One year after soil treatment with azinphosmethyl granules, 13% of the applied dosage was recovered in the form of azinphosmethyl, and the derivatives mercaptomethyl benzazimide, N -methyl benzazimide and N -methyl benzazimide sulfide or N -methyl benzazimide disulfide. In addition, benzazimide plus 4 unknown compounds were detected. However, toxic effects observed with Drosophila melanogaster Meigen flies or with larvae of the yellow-fever mosquito, Aedes aegpti (L,) were due only to azinphosmethyl Nearly all the insecticide, although applied at the relative high dosage of 5 lb per acre, was degraded in 1 year into non-toxic products, and more azinphosmethyl derivatives than azinphosmethyl were present at that time. Two years after the insecticidal application, only traces of azinphosmethyl were left in the soil, and concentrations of azinphosmethyl derivatives had also declined. The amount of 14-azinphosmethyl applied to soils under laboratory conditions declined over a 10-week period, while the amounts of several nontoxic and more polar derivatives increased during that time.
A kinder and gentler CHOP

A “kinder and gentler” nation was promised by George Bush in his 1988 acceptance speech to the Republican convention. Within a few years and perhaps with this in mind, Osby and colleagues (page [3840][1]) of the Nordic Lymphoma Group designed the 2-by-2 study reported in this issue of Blood,
Transport Rates of Radiolytic Substances into Europa's Ocean: Implications for the Potential Origin and Maintenance of Life

Abstract Bombardment of the surface of Europa produces oxidants and other biologically useful substances, but they can only contribute to the habitability of the ocean if they are delivered down through the icy crust. Previous estimates of the thickness of the oxygenated layer of ice assumed that impact gardening is the dominant factor and concluded that the ocean may be habitable if the oxidant delivery time, via undefined mechanisms, is sufficiently short. Consideration of the types of processes that continually resurface Europa suggests that the oxygenated layer is thicker than ∼300 m, far greater than the few meters indicated by impact gardening alone, and possibly includes the entire ice crust. The estimated delivery rate to the ocean is such that the oxygen levels could now be high enough to support macrofauna; and, at ∼3 × 1011 mol/yr of oxygen, it could maintain 3 million tons of macrofauna, assuming respiration rates similar to terrestrial marine organisms. These values are independent of any add...
Magnetic properties of amorphous iron.

Ultrasonic irradiation of iron pentacarbonyl was shown recently to result in the formation of fine (\ensuremath{\simeq}30 nm) amorphous, elemental-iron particles. We have measured the magnetic properties of an aggregate of these particles and find that they are soft ferromagnets with a Curie temperature in excess of 580 K. The exchange stiffness, as manifested through the coefficient of the ${\mathit{T}}^{3/2}$ temperature dependence in Bloch's law, is 30% of that of crystalline Fe. The low-temperature magnetization curves approach saturation as the inverse square root of applied field, which is characteristic of systems with random anisotropy fields. We argue that the results are consistent with the properties of an aggregate of amorphous Fe particles of nonspherical shape, giving rise to local shape anisotropy.
Outcomes following acute primary angle closure in an Asian population.

Background: Data regarding development of primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) following acute primary angle closure (APAC) is conflicting. This study looks at outcomes after an APAC episode with a secondary aim to identify any risk factors that could predict progression to PACG. Methods: This is a retrospective review of the charts of consecutive patients who were diagnosed with APAC from December 2003 to June 2006. All were treated in a standard manner with initial intensive medical therapy or laser iridoplasty followed by early laser peripheral iridotomy within 24 h of presentation. Results: Forty-two eyes of 41 patients were analysed. The mean follow-up period was 27.3 ± 16.2 months. Nine eyes (21.4%) developed an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) within a mean of 11.9 months (median 5 months) after resolution of APAC. Eight eyes went on to have trabeculectomy or glaucoma drainage device. At final follow up, the mean IOP of attack eye was 13.3 ± 2.92 mmHg. None of the eyes, including those that underwent surgery, required topical medication to control IOP. Thirty-eight eyes (90.5%) have BCVA of 6/6 to 6/12. The duration of symptoms before presentation (P = 0.00) and duration taken to abort the acute attack (P = 0.01) were found to be significantly associated with development of PACG. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that outcomes following successful treatment of APAC may not be as poor as described previously. Early aggressive management of the acute episode may have a role to play in preventing development of PACG after APAC.
Contact geometry effects on fretting fatigue crack initiation behaviour of Ti–6Al–4V

AbstractFretting fatigue is complex phenomenon which depends on various factors. The present study focuses on the contact geometry dependence of fretting fatigue crack initiation behaviour by combining tests and their analysis. Various geometries were investigated which ranged from cylindrical shape of different radii to essentially flat including flat with rounded edges in Ti alloy Ti–6Al–4V. The measured fretting fatigue life data were compared using stress range, effective stress and a critical plane based parameter, modified shear stress range (MSSR) for the eight pad geometries where first two are the variations of the applied cycling stress on the substrate while the third one is the combination of normal and shear stresses on the critical plane in the contact region. Fatigue life relationships from all contact geometries as well as from the plain fatigue (i.e.without fretting) were within a scatter band as commonly seen in the fatigue tests. Further, MSSR predicted the crack initiation location and...
Agreement among response to intervention criteria for identifying responder status.

Abstract In order to better understand the extent to which operationalizations of response to intervention (RTI) overlap and agree in identifying adequate and inadequate responders, an existing database of 399 first grade students was evaluated in relation to cut-points, measures, and methods frequently cited for the identification of inadequate responders to instruction. A series of 543 2 × 2 measures of association (808 total comparisons) were computed to address the agreement of different operationalizations of RTI. The results indicate that agreement is generally poor and that different methods tend to identify different students as inadequate responders, although agreement for identifying adequate responders is higher. Approaches to the assessment of responder status must use multiple criteria and avoid formulaic decision making.
The ABCs of categorical perception

Abstract Studies of speech perception first revealed a surprising discontinuity in the way in which stimulus values on a physical continuum are perceived. Data which demonstrate the effect in nonspeech modes have challenged the contention that categorical perception is a hallmark of the speech mode, but the psychophysical models that have been proposed have not resolved the issues raised by empirical findings. This study provides data from judgments of four sensory continua, two visual and two tactual-kinesthetic, which show that the adaptation level for a set of stimuli serves as a category boundary whether stimuli on the continuum differ by linear or logarithmic increments. For all sensory continua studied, discrimination of stimuli belonging to different perceptual categories was more accurate than discrimination of stimuli belonging to the same perceptual category. Moreover, shifts in the adaptation level produced shifts in the location of the category boundary. The concept of Adaptation-level Based Categorization (ABC) provides a unified account of judgmental processes in categorical perception without recourse to post hoc constructs such as implicit anchors or external referents.
Multiple Imputation in a Large-Scale Complex Survey: A Practical Guide

The Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance (CanCORS) Consortium is a multisite, multimode, multiwave study of the quality and patterns of care delivered to population-based cohorts of newly diagnosed patients with lung and colorectal cancer. As is typical in observational studies, missing data are a serious concern for CanCORS, following complicated patterns that impose severe challenges to the consortium investigators. Despite the popularity of multiple imputation of missing data, its acceptance and application still lag in large-scale studies with complicated data sets such as CanCORS. We use sequential regression multiple imputation, implemented in public-available software, to deal with non-response in the CanCORS surveys and construct a centralised completed database that can be easily used by investigators from multiple sites. Our work illustrates the feasibility of multiple imputation in a large-scale multiobjective survey, showing its capacity to handle complex missing data. We present the implementation process in detail as an example for practitioners and discuss some of the challenging issues which need further research.
Supervisee Incompatibility and Its Influence on Supervisee and Supervisor Outcomes in Triadic Supervision: An Investigation of Supervisors' Perspectives

A qualitative study was conducted to examine supervisors' experiences of the outcomes for themselves and their supervisees when supervisee incompatibility was present in triadic supervision. In-depth, open-ended interviews were conducted with nine supervisors in one counselor education program. A whole-text analysis revealed that participants varied in the supervisee characteristics that they considered most important to address during supervisee matching. Supervisee incompatibility also resulted in a variety of positive and negative outcomes for both the supervisees and the supervisor.
Reliability and Construct Validity of the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire Short-Form (CSFQ-14)

The Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ) is a 36-item clinical and research instrument identifying five scales of sexual functioning. This study documents the internal consistency and factor structure of a 14-item version of the CSFQ (CSFQ-14), which yields scores for three scales corresponding to the phases of the sexual response cycle (i.e., desire, arousal, and orgasm) as well as the five scales of the original CSFQ. Factor analysis confirms the construct validity of the CSFQ-14 as a global measure of sexual dysfunction. The CSFQ-14 and the individual scales exhibit strong internal reliability.
Influence of debris flows and log jams on the location of pools and alluvial channel reaches, Oregon Coast Range

We investigated the influence of debris-flow deposits and log jams on the location of pools and alluvial channel reaches in three Oregon Coast Range watersheds. Our surveys reveal differences in the type and location of log jams and the associated influences on pool formation and the extent of alluvial channel beds between channels flowing through old-growth and industrial forests. In channels we surveyed, debris-flow deposits formed 3% of log jams in reaches flowing through old-growth forest and 12% and 25%, respectively, in the two industrial forest channels. Pools formed by the direct effects of debris flows accounted for 4%–7% of all pools in reaches surveyed in both old-growth and industrial forest channels. Logs and log jams accounted for about half of the pools formed in old-growth reaches, but just 12%–13% of pools in reaches flowing through industrial forest. The distribution of bedrock and alluvial reaches was influenced by drainage area, channel-reach slope, sediment trapping by log jams, and boulders deposited by debris flows. Although debris-flow deposits can locally create or influence aquatic habitat, our field observations suggest general contrasts between old-growth and industrial forest in both log jam locations and the relative importance of debris-flow processes in the formation of pools and alluvial reaches.
Flexible implication operators in fuzzy reasoning

A novel implication operator is introduced. It improves inference results of fuzzy reasoning in some practical applications and provides a new approach to application of fuzzy set method. These implication operators are applied to some examples, and they show very good performance. >
Competing Ethical Communities and a Researcher’s Dilemma The Case of a Sexual Harasser

Ethical research communities provide important guidance for those conducting communication research projects. However, researchers face serious ethical dilemmas when their memberships in multiple ethical communities create conflicting ethical obligations. The present study explores conflicting demands between competing ethical communities to provide a series of reflexive questions researchers can ask themselves as they negotiate the contradictory terrain of their ethical communities. To accomplish this task, the authors explore the ethical dilemmas faced by one researcher as she conducted research on sexual harassment.
Comparison of subsampling techniques for random subspace ensembles

This paper presents the comparison of three subsampling techniques for random subspace ensemble classifiers through an empirical study. A version of random subspace ensemble designed to address the challenges of high dimensional classification, entitled random subsample ensemble, within the voting combiner framework was evaluated for its performance for three different sampling methods which entailed random sampling without replacement, random sampling with replacement, and random partitioning. The random subsample ensemble was instantiated using three different base learners including C4.5, k-nearest neighbor, and naive Bayes, and tested on five high-dimensional benchmark data sets in machine learning. Simulation results helped ascertain the optimal sampling technique for the ensemble, which turned out to be the sampling without replacement.
When are Ghettos Bad? Lessons from Immigrant Segregation in the United States

Recent literature on the relationship between ethnic or racial segregation and outcomes has failed to produce a consensus view of the role of ghettos; some studies suggest that residence in an enclave is beneficial, some reach the opposite conclusion, and still others imply that any relationship is small. This paper presents new evidence on this relationship using data on first-generation immigrants in the United States. Using average group characteristics as instruments for segregation, controlling for individual characteristics and both metropolitan area and country-of-origin fixed effects, we estimate impacts of residential concentration that vary with group human capital levels. Residential concentration can be beneficial, but primarily for more educated groups. The mean impact of residential concentration varies across measures, which may illuminate some of the causal mechanisms relating segregation to outcomes.
A novel clustering and declustering algorithm for fuzzy classification of wafer defects

A method has been developed for enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of wafer defect analysis for yield improvement. This multi-step fuzzy algorithm has been developed for automatic clustering and classification of wafer defects. The algorithm utilizes a combination of new and existing feature measurements to identify and match defects with those referenced in a defect classes library. The process is more efficient than other approaches like pair-wise K-Nearest Neighbor (K-NN) classifiers and other fuzzy methods, which can be computationally very expensive. The algorithm also offers improved accuracy and the ability to decluster defects in cases where more than one overlap.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: long-term outcome in neonates treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

As more infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) survive with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), it seems prudent to detail the long-term outcome in these medically complex intants. Eighteen children with CDH treated with postoperative ECMO were recruited for participation in this study. The mean duration of ECMO was 193 hours (range 82 to 493 hours), mean time to extubation after ECMO was 142 hours (range 34 to 312 hours), and median duration of hospitalization was 46 days (range 30 to 181 days). Of the 18 infants, 4 (22%) were discharged home requiring oxygen therapy. At follow-up the notable findings were a high incidence of gastroesophageal reflux and failure to thrive. At both 1 and 2 years of age, 50% of infants were at less than the 5th percentile for weight. At 1 and 2 years of age, 39% and 21%, respectively, were at less than the 5th percentile for weight/length ratio. A total of 16 children (89%) had clinical evidence of reflux, and 8 (44%) were discharged home on a regimen of nasogastric feedings. Reherniation occurred in 4 children (22%) and was more frequent when a patch was used. An electrocardiogram showed right ventricular hypertrophy in 6 (43%); oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry was >95% in all children, and pulmonary artery pressure was estimated by Doppler echocardiography to be normal in 12 of 14 children examined. The neurodevel-opmental outcome (Bayley Scales or Stanford-Binet scale) at 1 to 4 years of age was not dissimilar from that of other ECMO-treated children. Given the severity of illness in the neonatal period, the general health and development of children with CDH surviving after ECMO are good. Surprisingly few children have long-term respiratory complications related to pulmonary hypoplasia. Follow-up in the first few years should be aimed at aggressive nutritional intervention to prevent the growth failure that appears to be prevalent in these children.
Interactive desktop analysis of high resolution simulations: Application to turbulent plume dynamics and current sheet formation

The ever increasing processing capabilities of the supercomputers available to computational scientists today, combined with the need for higher and higher resolution computational grids, has resulted in deluges of simulation data. Yet the computational resources and tools required to make sense of these vast numerical outputs through subsequent analysis are often far from adequate, makingsuchanalysisofthedataapainstaking,ifnotahopeless,task.Inthispaper, we describe a new tool for the scientific investigation of massive computational datasets. This tool (VAPOR) employs data reduction, advanced visualization, and quantitative analysis operations to permit the interactive exploration of vast datasets using only a desktop PC equipped with a commodity graphics card. We describe VAPORs use in the study of two problems. The first, motivated by stellar envelope convection, investigates the hydrodynamic stability of compressible thermal starting plumes as they descend through a stratified layer of increasing density with depth. The second looks at current sheet formation in an incompressible helical magnetohydrodynamic flow to understand the early spontaneous development of quasi two-dimensional (2D) structures embedded within the 3D solution. Both of the problems were studied at sufficiently high spatial resolution, a grid of 504 2 by 2048 points for the first and 1536 3 points for the second, to overwhelm the interactive capabilities of typically available analysis resources.
Nontraditional Markers of Glycemia: Associations with microvascular conditions

OBJECTIVE To compare the associations of nontraditional (fructosamine, glycated albumin, 1,5-anhydroglucitol [1,5-AG]) and standard (fasting glucose, glycated HbA 1c ) glycemic markers with common microvascular conditions associated with diabetes mellitus. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS There was a cross-sectional study of 1,600 participants (227 with a history of diabetes and 1,323 without) from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, a community-based population. We conducted logistic regression analyses of the associations of diabetes-specific tertiles of fructosamine, glycated albumin, 1/(1,5-AG), fasting glucose, and HbA 1c with prevalence of chronic kidney disease, albuminuria, and retinopathy after adjustment for demographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables. RESULTS We observed significant positive trends in the associations of each marker with albuminuria and retinopathy, even after accounting for demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors (all P trends P trend = 0.005), fructosamine ( P trend = 0.003), and HbA 1c ( P trend = 0.005) values. After further adjustment for HbA 1c , glycated albumin and fructosamine remained significantly or borderline significantly associated with the microvascular outcomes. CONCLUSIONS In cross-sectional analyses, two serum markers of glycemia—glycated albumin and fructosamine—are as, or more strongly, associated with microvascular conditions as HbA 1c . These markers may be useful in settings where whole blood is not available. Whether they might complement or outperform HbA 1c in terms of long-term predictive value requires further investigation.
ICATIBANT BLOCKS BUT DOES NOT REVERSE ACE INHIBITOR RENAL EFFECT IN GOLDBLATT RABBIT

This study examined the proposition that kinins are involved in the renal hemodynamic effect of an ACE inhibitor in Goldblatt (GB) hypertension. The effects of the ACE inhibitor enalaprilat were compared in two groups of anesthetized two-kidney one-clip GB rabbits. One group (n=11) was given enalaprilat (10 mg/kg, iv) while a second group (n=10) received the kinin B2 receptor antagonist, icatibant (2.5–5 µg/kg/min, iv) prior to enalaprilat. Enalaprilat caused a 40% rise in renal blood flow and 11 mm Hg decrease in blood pressure in the untreated, but no significant renal effect in the icatibant-treated group. Blood pressure was reduced to the same degree in both groups. The results indicate that kinins play a major role in the renal hemodynamic, but not the blood pressure effect of ACE inhibition in the GB rabbit.
Emergency ultrasound and urinalysis in the evaluation of flank pain.

Objectives: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of limited emergency ultrasonography of the kidney in diagnosing renal colic. Methods: This was a prospective observational trial from December 2001 to December 2003 at a suburban emergency department. Patients who presented with flank pain suspicious for renal colic were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included fever, trauma, known current kidney stone, unstable vital signs, and inability to provide consent. All patients underwent sequential emergency ultrasonography and computed tomography of the kidneys and bladder. Data were analyzed using chi-square analysis. The primary outcome was the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography. Results were also stratified for presence of hematuria. Results: Fifty-eight of the 104 patients enrolled in the study were diagnosed with renal colic. The overall sensitivity and specificity of bedside ultrasonography for the detection of hydronephrosis were 86.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 78.8 to 92.3) and 82.4 (95% CI = 74.1 to 88.1), respectively. In patients with hematuria, hydronephrosis by emergency ultrasonography demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 87.8 (95% CI = 80.3 to 92.5) and 84.8 (95% CI = 73.7 to 91.9), respectively. In 55 of the cases, the initial computed tomograph was read by a resident and later re-read by an attending physician. Using the reading of the attending physician as the criterion standard resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 83.3 (95% CI = 73.2 to 88.0) and 92.0 (95% CI = 79.9 to 97.6), respectively. Conclusions: Emergency ultrasonography of the kidneys shows very good sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing renal colic in patients with flank pain and hematuria.
Electronic and magnetic structure of the (LaMnO3)2n/(SrMnO3)n superlattices

We study the magnetic structure of the ${({\text{LaMnO}}_{3})}_{2n}/{({\text{SrMnO}}_{3})}_{n}$ superlattices from density-functional calculations. In agreement with the experiments, we find that the magnetism changes with the layer thickness $n$. The reason for the different magnetic structures is shown to be the varying potential barrier across the interface, which controls the leakage of the $\text{Mn-}{e}_{g}$ electrons from the ${\text{LaMnO}}_{3}$ side to the ${\text{SrMnO}}_{3}$ side. This in turn affects the interfacial magnetism via the carrier-mediated Zener double exchange. For the $n=1$ superlattice, the $\text{Mn-}{e}_{g}$ electrons are more or less spread over the entire lattice so that the magnetic behavior is similar to the equivalent alloy compound ${\text{La}}_{2/3}{\text{Sr}}_{1/3}{\text{MnO}}_{3}$. For larger $n$, the ${e}_{g}$ electron transfer occurs mostly between the two layers adjacent to the interface, thus leaving the magnetism unchanged and bulklike away from the interface region.
Secondary Reinforcement and Frustration

It was pointed out that conventional tests for secondary reinforcement are also theoretically optimal conditions for the production of aversive frustration. Hence, positive demonstrations of secondary reinforcement create a paradox for frustration theory. A resolution of this paradox is offered in terms of the chain of behavior cued off by the secondary reinforcing stimulus. The analysis implies that secondary reward effects will be maintained longer the longer is the chain of behavior cued off by stimuli presented following the to-be-learned response. To test this prediction, rats were first trained to run an alley for food reward. Subsequently, they learned to press a lever to get out of the start box; Ss in the Short-chain condition exited directly into the goal box, whereas Ss in the Long-chain condition ran through the alley to the goal box. Sixty tests were given with food reward omitted from the goal box. As predicted, the bar pressing performance of the Long-chain Ss was consistently superior to t...
Differentiating congestion vs. random loss: a method for improving TCP performance over wireless links

Previous research has focussed on the problems associated with TCP performance in the presence of wireless links and ways to improve its performance. We present an extension to TCP Santa Cruz which improves TCP performance over lossy wireless links. TCP has no mechanism to differentiate random losses on the wireless link from congestion, and therefore treats all losses as congestive. We present a simple method in which our protocol is able to differentiate these random losses, thereby avoiding the rate-halving approach taken by standard TCP whenever any loss is detected. We compare the performance of our protocol against TCP Reno and demonstrate higher throughput and lower end-to-end delay with our approach.
Dose calculation for photon beams with intensity modulation generated by dynamic jaw or multileaf collimations

A dose calculation algorithm has been developed for photon beams with intensity modulation generated by dynamic jaw or multileaf collimations. First, an in‐air fluence distribution is constructed based on the dynamic motion of the jaws or leaves, taking into account the variation of output with field size defined by the jaws. The fluence distribution is then convolved with the appropriate pencil beam kernel to give correction factors which are used to calculate the dose distribution for an intensity‐modulated photon field. The proposed algorithm is strictly valid in homogeneous media only, patient heterogeneity correction is accounted for in an approximate manner. Dose distributions at several depths and for several field sizes were calculated for 6‐ and 15‐MV x‐ray beams for a set of standard wedges produced by dynamic jaws. Measurements were made with film and an ion chamber. Comparisons between calculated and measured data show good agreement (within 2%) for both dose profiles and wedge factors. Similar calculations and measurements were also made for a 25‐MV intensity‐modulated photon field produced by dynamic motion of a multileaf collimator. Agreement between calculations and measurements is also good (within 3%). The ‘‘tongue‐and‐groove’’ effect associated with a multileaf collimator design is also examined using a ring‐shaped field produced by matching two component fields. The computation time for a dynamic‐collimated field is the same as that for an irregular field shaped by conventional blocks. The algorithm is applicable to any pattern of jaw or multileaf motions. The strengths and remaining problems of the algorithm are discussed.