cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The preparation and use of high surface area silicon carbide catalyst supports

Abstract High surface area SiC has been prepared in a tubular reactor by the high-temperature, vapor phase decomposition of Si-containing compounds such as tetramethylsilane. Surface areas near 50 m2 g−1 for β-phase SiC were obtained in these initial experiments. These powders did not sinter during heating to 1173 K, even in the presence of oxygen, and surface areas actually increased somewhat due to burnoff of residual elemental carbon. Using these SiC powders as a support resulted in well-dispersed Pt/SiC catalysts which possessed normal kinetic behavior for methanation. However, Ni/SiC catalysts exhibited unusual chemisorption behavior, a range of activity for CO hydrogenation, and selectivity only to methane.
Gender Perceptions of Managerial Positions: Implications for Work-Related Outcomes

This study examined gender-based perceptions (masculinity/femininity, agency/communion) in managerial competencies. Specifically, the authors explored the potential effects of these perceptions on competency ratings and subsequent organizational decisions. Archival data and data collected from adult employees with managerial experience indicated that women rated competencies as feminine, whereas men rated most competencies as neutral; however, feminine competencies were rated as most important for managerial jobs. Conversely, both men and women rated more competencies as agentic and rated agentic competencies as most important for managerial jobs. Although the ratings of competency possession for a hypothetical male and female applicant were not significantly different, the male applicant was recommended significantly more for promotion and selection. Implications for managers, including different types of rater training, are discussed.
The Nature of Common-Pool Resource Problems

This article presents a conceptual framework for theoretical and empirical analysis of the multiplicity of behavioral problems encountered in common-pool resources (CPRs). This framework is used to specify more clearly the strategic content of CPR dilemmas and to show their interaction. The framework shows how general theoretical constructs (e.g., Prisoner's Dilemma and coordination games) apply to these behavioral dilemmas. Finally, results from a case study and a set of laboratory experiments demonstrate the applicability of this framework in designing and conducting empirical research on CPRs.
Avian material from Rancho del Oro, a Pleistocene locality in San Diego County, California

Abstract Late Pleistocene avifaunal material from a construction site in Oceanside, California is described. The material includes 77 bones from 21 species, only one of which (Podiceps parvus) is extinct. Two previously described Pleistocene species (Oxyura bessomi and Bucephala fossilis) are placed in extant species. The first fossil record for Phalaropus lobatus is recorded.
Transfusion-attributable acute respiratory distress syndrome, hospital utilization and costs in the USA: a model simulation

SUMMARY There are nearly 150,000 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) admissions in the USA, annually incurring 2.7 million hospital days. Although packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusions increase the risk of developing ARDS, nearly one-half of intensive care unit (ICU) patients receive pRBCs. The rate of transfusion-attributable ARDS remains unknown. I estimated this annual rate, and the hospital utilization and costs in the USA. A model utilizing inputs from publicly available sources was constructed. Step 1 calculated the at-risk population. In step 2, the proportion of ARDS cases attributable to pRBC transfusion was estimated. Step 3 computed excess annual ARDS cases related to transfusion. Step 4 quantified hospital utilization and costs. Of 141,500 annual ARDS cases, 86,315 (61%) comprised at-risk population. Of those, 20% (n = 16,980) were estimated to be attributable to pRBCs, or 12% of all ARDS. In base-case analysis, using median hospital length of stay of 14 days and mean cost of $31,846 per case, aggregate annualized hospital days and costs were 237,720 and $599,241,180, respectively. This model demonstrates that pRBC transfusions may be responsible for a substantial number of ARDS cases. These cases may incur hospital costs of nearly $600 million. A restrictive transfusion strategy in appropriate at-risk ICU patients may be effective in mitigating the magnitude of this clinical and economic burden.
“Thinking About Thinking: It's not Just for Philosophers:” Using Metacognitive Journals to Teach and Learn About Constructivism

This article describes how Metacognitive Journals were used to teach prospective early childhood educators about constructivism. We emphasize the importance of modeling constructivist pedagogy and cultivating students' metacognitive potential. We share the effects on our students' learning and on our teaching. We also offer recommendations for teacher educators to incorporate Metacognitive Journals in their practice
Prematurely induced arousal from hibernation alters key aspects of warming in golden-mantled ground squirrels, Callospermophilus lateralis

Abstract Hibernation researchers have long been interested in the transitions between the dissimilar states of torpor and euthermy. Natural arousal from torpor occurs spontaneously with highly predictable timing. However, animals can also be induced to arouse prematurely in response to various disturbances. While many investigations have used natural and induced arousals synonymously, direct comparisons of these two types of arousal have been limited. We address the question of whether natural and prematurely induced arousals generate the same patterns of warming at the level of the whole organism. We compare the effects of ambient temperature on the dynamics of natural versus induced arousals. Arousal duration, maximum rewarming rate, and the variance associated with increases in body temperature differed between natural and induced arousals. Prematurely inducing arousal also alters the duration of the interbout aroused (IBA) period. We recommend that careful consideration be given to experimental design and data interpretation related to the arousal phase of a torpor bout.
Comparison of techniques for discriminating hydrothermal alteration minerals with Airborne Imaging Spectrometer data

Abstract High spectral and spatial resolution Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) data were used to map hydrothermal alteration mineralogy in the Tybo mining district, Hot Creek Range, Nevada. Kaolinite and montmorillonite—clinoptilolite alteration zones and limestone formations, which had been identified from field mapping and laboratory analyses were delineated using three methods: band ratios, principal component analysis, and a signature matching algorithm. The signature matching algorithm was the most effective method for discriminating alteration minerals and has the potential of identifying mineralogy by matching AIS image spectra with library reference spectra. Principal components was the second most successful method, and band ratioing was the least useful. With each of the methods, localities with kaolinite could be distinguished from areas with clinoptilolite or calcite and from unaltered rocks and alluvium. Kaolinite and montmorillonite could be distinguished from each other only with the signature matching algorithm. AIS bands in the portion of the spectrum between 2048 and 2337 nm which were found to account for the greatest amount of variance, and were not related to albedo, slope, or aspect, were: 2067, 2076, 2132, 2141, 2169, 2178, 2188, 2197, 2206, 2300, 2309, 2318, 2328, and 2337 nm. Most of these bands are located within spectral absorption features for kaolinite, montmorillonite, clinoptilolite, and calcite. The mapping of hydrothermal alteration minerals with high resolution remote sensing instruments provides us with a rapid method to extend the limits of field mapping and can be used to direct future exploration efforts.
A search algorithm for the generalized flowshop scheduling problem

Abstract This paper considers the problem of scheduling a given number of jobs to be processed on a given number of machines in a flowshop. By a realistic analysis of the assumptions and current formulation of the problem, the generalized flowshop scheduling problem is defined and a search algorithm, based on the concepts of Lexicographic search, is proposed as a possible solution to the n -job, M -machine generalized flowshop scheduling problem when the objective is to minimize total opportunity cost. The proposed algorithm uniquely specifies a linear lexicographic order relation and systematically generates schedules until the set of all feasible schedules is implicitly examined and the optimal schedule is identified. Computational results show that the proposed algorithm is comparatively more efficient than a complete enumeration procedure.
Characterization of Soil Particle Surfaces Using Adsorption Excess Isotherms

Measurement of adsorption excess isotherms of methanol-benzene mixtures was applied to the characterization of soil particle surfaces. The sorption capacity and Gibbs energy of sorption of the solid-liquid interface were determined for montmorillonite, three types of soil, and their humin fractions. The soils were found to be less polar or less hydrophilic than the clay, and the humin fraction of soils was found to be less hydrophilic than the whole soils. The soil and humin samples have heterogeneous surfaces which can be divided in two regions on the basis of their relative polarity. The x-axis intersection of the straight section of isotherm assigns the relative proportions of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions of the surface.
A light-scattering pressure-jump kinetics apparatus

Abstract We have developed an optical sample cell made of stainless steel and fitted with three quartz ultracentrifuge windows in standard holders, to follow the kinetics of macromolecular reactions by the pressure-jump technique. Photomultiplier response to transmitted white light is continuously subtracted from photomultiplier response to white light scattered at 90°C, the difference being displayed by an oscilloscope. The pressure is simultaneously monitored by a quartz pressure sensor in mechanical contact with the sample. Pressurization is accomplished by leading in gas from a commercial cylinder, as originally described by Ljunggren and Lamm, but the pressurization time has been reduced by a factor of 25, to 2 millisec, by valving off a fixed volume of helium and introducing it into the sample cell through a high-speed solenoid valve. Determinations may be repeated at will on a single sample, of total volume under 2 ml. This light-scattering pressure-jump apparatus has been used to observe the kinetics of a number of macromolecular interactions and to determine rate constants for the ribosome-subunit interaction of Escherichia coli .
An empirical adjustment to the likelihood ratio statistic

Consider a model parameterised by a scalar parameter of interest ψ and a nuisance parameter λ. Inference about ψ may be based on the signed square root of the likelihood ratio statistic, R. The statistic R is asymptotically distributed according to a standard normal distribution, with error O(n -1 /2). To reduce the error of this normal approximation, several modifications to R have been proposed such as Barndorff-Nielsen's modified directed likelihood statistic, R * . In this paper, an approximation to R * is proposed that can be calculated numerically for a wide range of models. This approximation is shown to agree with R * with error of order O p (n -1 ). The results are illustrated on several examples.
Plasma Transfer Functions

The concept of transfer function which is so valuable for lumped dynamical systems is developed for plasma problems. Methods of construction of transfer functions for problems with boundary excitation as well as internal excitation are discussed.
Assessment of myocardial viability with myocardial contrast echocardiography

The application of noninvasive imaging techniques to assess myocardial viability has become an important part of routine management of patients with acute myocardial infarction and chronic coronary artery disease. Information regarding the presence and extent of viability may help identify patients likely to benefit from revascularization or therapy directed at attenuating left ventricular remodeling. Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) is capable of defining the presence and extent of viability by providing an accurate assessment of microvascular integrity needed to maintain myocellular viability. It is especially suited for the spatial assessment of perfusion, even when myocardial blood flow is reduced substantially in the presence of severe epicardial stenoses or in a bed dependent on collateral perfusion. The routine use of MCE to evaluate viability in patients with acute and chronic coronary artery disease is now feasible with the advent of new imaging technologies and microbubble agents capable of myocardial opacification from venous injections. The utility of this technique for determining treatment strategies has not been established but is forthcoming.
Increasing The Conductivity Of Polycrystalline Silicon By Rapid Thermal Processing Before And After Ion Implantation

Polycrystalline silicon films on oxidized silicon wafers have been subjected to rapid thermal processing before arsenic or boron ion implantation (pre-implant anneal). The films have then been ion implanted and given another rapid thermal process step to activate the dopant and repair the implant damage. The pre-implant anneal has caused the as-deposited grain size to increase by approximately a factor of ten. After the activation anneal these films have shown a 10 to 100% lower sheet resistance than films which did not receive a pre-implant anneal. The increase in grain size by the pre-implant anneal reduced the grain boundary area and as a result reduced the amount of dopant trapped in the grain boundaries relative to that which was actually inside the grains.
Estimating cochlear frequency selectivity with stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions in chinchillas.

It has been suggested that the tuning of the cochlear filters can be derived from measures of otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). Two approaches have been proposed to estimate cochlear frequency selectivity using OAEs evoked with a single tone (stimulus-frequency (SF)) OAEs: based on SFOAE group delays (SF-GDs) and on SFOAE suppression tuning curves (SF-STCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether either SF-GDs or SF-STCs obtained with low probe levels (30 dB SPL) correlate with more direct measures of cochlear tuning (compound action potential suppression tuning curves (CAP-STCs)) in chinchillas. The SFOAE-based estimates of tuning covaried with CAP-STCs tuning for >3 kHz probe frequencies, indicating that these measures are related to cochlear frequency selectivity. However, the relationship may be too weak to predict tuning with either SFOAE method in an individual. The SF-GD prediction of tuning was sharper than CAP-STC tuning. On the other hand, SF-STCs were consistently broader than CAP-STCs implying that SFOAEs may have less restricted region of generation in the cochlea than CAPs. Inclusion of <3 kHz data in a statistical model resulted in no significant or borderline significant covariation among the three methods: neither SFOAE test appears to reliably estimate an individual’s CAP-STC tuning at low-frequencies. At the group level, SF-GDs and CAP-STCs showed similar tuning at low frequencies, while SF-STCs were over five times broader than the CAP-STCs indicating that low-frequency SFOAE may originate over a very broad region of the cochlea extending ≥5 mm basal to the tonotopic place of the probe.
A Functional NQO1 609C>T Polymorphism and Risk of Gastrointestinal Cancers: A Meta-Analysis

Background The functional polymorphism (rs1800566) in the NQO1 gene, a 609C>T substitution, leading to proline-to-serine amino-acid and enzyme activity changes, has been implicated in cancer risk, but individually published studies showed inconclusive results. Methodology/Principal Findings We performed a meta-analysis of 20 publications with a total of 5,491 cases and 5,917 controls, mainly on gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. We summarized the data on the association between the NQO1 609C>T polymorphism and risk of GI cancers and performed subgroup analyses by ethnicity, cancer site, and study quality. We found that the variant CT heterozygous and CT/TT genotypes of the NQO1 609 C>T polymorphism were associated with a modestly increased risk of GI cancers (CT vs. CC: OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.01 – 1.19, Pheterogeneity = 0.27, I2 = 0.15; CT/TT vs. CC: OR = 1.11, 95%CI = 1.02 – 1.20, Pheterogeneity = 0.14; I2 = 0.27). Following further stratified analyses, the increased risk was only observed in subgroups of Caucasians, colorectal cancer in Caucasians, and high quality studies. Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that the NQO1 609T allele is a low-penetrance risk factor for GI cancers. Although the effect on GI cancers may be modified by ethnicity and cancer sites, small sample seizes of the subgroup analyses suggest that further larger studies are needed, especially for non-colorectal GI cancers in Caucasians and GI cancers in Asians.
Liposomes prepared dynamically by interactions between bile salt and phospholipid molecules

Quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) studies showed that vesicles can spontaneously form from sodium glycocholate-egg phosphatidylcholine mixed micelles upon dilution with physiological saline buffer (pH 7.5). A water-soluble drug, cytosine arabinoside, did not affect the transition pattern. Transitions were also obtained when dilutions were performed using diluted serum solutions (5% and 10% serum in buffer). However, if intermicellar bile salt monomer concentration (imc) was kept constant in diluent media, the transition was completely suppressed. Approximately 10% of the cytosine arabinoside was trapped inside vesicles which were formed in buffer, although this value decreased to approx. 2.5% when diluted serum was used. These results suggest that the mixed micelle to vesicle transition can be an alternative means to sonication in loading drugs into in vitro vesicles. A good correlation was found between the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) diameter and the mean hydrodynamic diameter obtained by QELS.
Towards a conceptual framework for the relationship between subsidiary staffing strategy and subsidiary performance

Staffing key management positions at host country subsidiaries is a strategic challenge for most MNEs. While previous research in this domain explored the antecedents of MNE subsidiary staffing decisions, strategic outcomes of different staffing patterns (e.g., using parent, host, or home country nationals) have been mostly overlooked. Drawing from the resource-based view of the firm, we develop a theoretical model that explains the links between different strategies for staffing key management positions in host country subsidiaries and the performance of those subsidiaries in their host markets and within their MNE networks. Further, we propose contingencies that moderate the relationship between subsidiary staffing strategy and host country and MNE network performance.
Relationships among nutrients, chlorophyll-a, and dissolved oxygen in agricultural streams in Illinois.

A better understanding of the controls on algae and dissolved O2 in agricultural streams of Illinois is needed to aid in development of nutrient standards. We investigated the relationships between dissolved nutrients, algal abundance, and dissolved O2 in five streams in east-central Illinois from March through November 2004. The streams drained watersheds from 25 to 777 km 2 that were dominated by row crop agriculture.Three sites had open canopies and twowerebordered by a narrow forest of deciduous trees. Algal abundance was measured as chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration in the water column (sestonic) and on the streambed (periphytic). Mean NO3–N concentrations ranged from 5.5 to 8.8 mg N L 21 and did not relate to algal abundance. Sestonic chl-a values ranged from nearly zero to .15 mg m 23 with no differences between open and shaded streams and only a weak correlation with dissolved reactive P (mean concentrations were 44– 479 m gL 21 ). The results suggest that sestonic chl-a is a poor criterion for assessing nutrient-related problems in these streams. Greatest periphytic chl-a occurred during low flow from August through October, but periphyton occurred consistently in only two of the five streams. The abundance of filamentous algae explained 64% of the variation in diel O2 saturation, but was not correlated with nutrients. Currently it appears that hydrology and light, rather than nutrients, control algal abundance in these streams, and in the agricultural landscape of east-central Illinois, it may not be possible to reduce nutrient concentrations sufficiently to limit filamentous algal blooms.
Parameterized algorithm decomposition and performance analysis

A unique decomposition model using two-task replacement sets is used to model algorithm decomposition and algorithm performance. This technique provides a parametric representation of decomposition and performance analysis that is more general and powerful than previous methods. The model is used to investigate the performance of algorithms for MIMD architectures, and the results include statistical descriptions of task and synchronization penalty behavior under decomposition and analytical representations of algorithm performance. The analysis provides insight into the effect of decomposition on performance at both the local task and global algorithm levels. This information would be useful to those interested in compiler technology or algorithm development tools.
High-Frequency Stimulation Selectively Blocks Different Types of Fibers in Frog Sciatic Nerve

Conduction block using high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) stimulation has been shown to reversibly block conduction through various nerves. However, unlike simulations and experiments on myelinated fibers, prior experimental work in our lab on the sea-slug, Aplysia, found a nonmonotonic relationship between frequency and blocking thresholds in the unmyelinated fibers. To resolve this discrepancy, we investigated the effect of HFAC waveforms on the compound action potential of the sciatic nerve of frogs. Maximal stimulation of the nerve produces a compound action potential consisting of the A-fiber and C-fiber components corresponding to the myelinated and unmyelinated fibers' response. In our study, HFAC waveforms were found to induce reversible block in the A-fibers and C-fibers for frequencies in the range of 5-50 kHz and for amplitudes from 0.1-1 mA. Although the A-fibers demonstrated the monotonically increasing threshold behavior observed in published literature, the C-fibers displayed a nonmonotonic relationship, analogous to that observed in the unmyelinated fibers of Aplysia. This differential blocking behavior observed in myelinated and unmyelinated fibers during application of HFAC waveforms has diverse implications for the fields of selective stimulation and pain management.
Fluorochromes: Properties and Characteristics

Immunofluorescence microscopy provides a sensitive means by which antigens can be localized within tissues or individual cells. For the most effective use of this technique the researcher can draw upon basic information on factors that affect the brightness of the fluorescence image, and how well that image can be distinguished from background fluorescence or interfering fluorescence signals. A wide variety of fluorochromes are available, with emitting wavelengths that range from the blue-violet end of the visible spectrum to the infrared. Individual fluorochromes are characterized by their extinction coefficients, quantum yields, susceptibility to photobleaching, the wavelengths at which they maximally absorb excitatory and emit fluorescent light, and how far apart those wavelength maxima are separated. Additional choices for fluorescent labeling of antibodies are provided by the availability of fluorescent quantum dots. Informed choices of fluorochromes can obviate many problems, particularly with regard to situations in which two or more antigens are to be localized simultaneously within a specimen.
High-Resolution Electron Microscopy of Olivine-Magnetite Interfaces.

In the oxidation of iron-rich olivine (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 at elevated temperatures interfaces between olivine and the magnetite spinel (Fe3O4) are formed. The orientation relation between these structures is such that the planar spacing for the principal low index planes are very closely matched in the two materials. Regions of different contrast are observed in the olivine up to 5-10 nm from the interface. It is proposed that this contrast is due to enhanced iron concentration in this region caused by the strain field around the magnetite precipitates.
Wideband Adaptive Beamforming System for Speech Recording

An adaptive beamforming algorithm that enhances the quality of the signal recorded by a microphone array is presented. The system described here attenuates the interference from spatially scattered sources while preserving the desired signal quality in the speech frequency range. A novel method for defining additional constraints within the adaptation process and performing beamforming in parallel across several frequency bands achieves undistorted recording even with slight errors in localizing the speaker. Simulation results show nearly optimal improvement of speech quality in various noisy environments. The algorithm is modified to perform in a real environment by introducing two modes of adaptation that switch according to the speaker activity. The implementation of this modified system demonstrates SNR gain close to that of the original simulated system. It is robust to localization errors and non-ideal environmental effects.
Real-time classification of buried targets with teams of unmanned vehicles

Recent rapid developments in autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technology have provided the opportunity to explore new approaches for detecting and classifying mine-like objects. In particular, the mobility of the vehicles the spatial diversity of the target scattering can be of advantage. The multi-platform approach can also lead to detection and classification algorithms that require significantly less computation than traditional sonar techniques, and as such these algorithms are more readily implementable in real-time onboard the vehicles. A method of target classification is shown in which the 3D scattered field is sampled by several receiver vehicles and information is extracted about the targets that clearly distinguish mines from rocks and rounded objects from oblong objects. The method is applicable to both buried and proud targets, and does not require the sub-wavelength accuracy navigation that is necessary for synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) imaging. The proposed classification method is shown to be easily implementable in real-time, as is demonstrated both in simulations and in post-processing experimental data from the 1998 generic oceanographic array technology sonar project (GOATS'98) experiment. Experimental data from the GOATS 2002 experiment are also presented.
Trends in hourly rainfall statistics in the United States under a warming climate

Has the frequency of ‘extreme weather events’ changed with climate warming over the last century? Using hourly precipitation records from thirteen sites, this study finds no evidence for significant changes in mean ‘storminess’ across the United States.
Mindlessness and brainlessness in psychiatry.

The theme of this address—that brain and mind are as warp and woof in the fabric of psychiatry—may seem so much a truism as to be a banal choice. I think not. Despite the lip service paid to brain-mind integration, its implications are daily contravened in both theory and practice. At least, this is so in the country where I reside. If the problem is more extreme in the States, as most everything seems to be, recall the words Sir Aubrey Lewis (1953) wrote in commenting on Anglo-American contrasts, some 30 years ago: “the chief differences between your psychiatric scene and ours are differences only of quantity and tempo.” Think of me, then, as an anthropologist describing an exotic foreign culture and reporting on the strange customs of the natives, in hope of shedding light on your own.
Integral inequalities for two functions

Let f(x) be an arbitrary continuous, piecewise smooth function with f(0)=0, and let h(x) be a positive concave function with piecewise smooth hx(i.e., hxx≦ 0 where it exists) satisfying hx(0)≦ 0, for 0≦ x≦ 1. Then the inequality \(L{\text{(}}h,f{\text{) = }}\int\limits_{\text{0}}^{\text{1}} {H{\text{(}}x{\text{) }}f_x^{\text{2}} dx} /{\text{(}}\int\limits_{\text{0}}^{\text{1}} {h{\text{(}}x{\text{)}}dx\int\limits_{\text{0}}^{\text{1}} {f^2 dx} } {\text{)}}\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle-}$}}{ \geqslant } \pi ^2 {\text{/4}}\) holds. Furthermore, equality holds for h(x)≡ 1, f(x)=sin(πx/2). When h(x)≡ 1, this inequality reduces to the Wirtinger inequality. The proof proceeds in ratchet fashion on the string of inequalities \(L(h,f) \geqq L(h,f[h]) \geqq L(\bar h,f[h]) \geqq L(\bar h,f[\bar h]) \geqq L(h = 1,sin({{\pi x} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\pi x} 2}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 2})) = {{\pi ^2 } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\pi ^2 } 4}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 4},\) where f [h] denotes the fundamental eigenfunction f belonging to the variational problem δL= 0 for given h, and h denotes a concave function consisting of one or two straight line segments. Related inequalities are also proved.
PIRACETAM DOES NOT CHANGE THE ANAESTHETIC REQUIREMENT FOR HALOTHANE

MAC of halothane was determined in rats before and after the injection of piracetam 0.5 or 2.5 g kg−1, or both. No consistent changes in MAC were found. We conclude that piracetam is unlikely to influence halothane requirement appreciably.
Recruitment of African Americans and Asian Americans With Late-Life Depression and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the relative effectiveness of several different strategies for recruiting elderly Asians, African Americans, and whites to participate in mental health research. Participants A total of 35 African American, 24 Asian American, and 215 white participants were phone screened for potential enrollment into a University of California, San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry treatment outcome study for older adults (aged 60 years and older) with major depression and mild cognitive impairment. Design The methods by which participants were recruited were recorded, coded into composite categories, and statistically analyzed to determine whether certain recruitment strategies were disproportionately effective for recruiting participants from the three racial groups. Results Fisher's exact test analyses revealed that Asians and African Americans were significantly less likely than whites to be recruited through mental health-based methods, and African Americans were significantly more likely than whites and Asians to be recruited through referrals rather than solicitations. Logistic regression, which controlled for potential confounds, largely supported these findings. Conclusions Findings suggest that the recruitment of elderly African or Asian Americans into mental health treatment outcome research can be facilitated by a flexible consumer-oriented strategy that integrates multiple recruitment methods. Establishing study credibility through nonmental health media and professional referral sources may be especially effective in engaging the participation of elderly Asian Americans; and cultivating ongoing relationships with key gatekeepers, who can observe benefits to the community, may be particularly effective in recruiting elderly African Americans.
Resveratrol Is Rapidly Metabolized in Athymic (Nu/Nu) Mice and Does Not Inhibit Human Melanoma Xenograft Tumor Growth

Resveratrol has been shown to have anticarcinogenic activity. We previously found that resveratrol inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in 2 human melanoma cell lines. In this study we determined whether resveratrol would inhibit human melanoma xenograft growth. Athymic mice received control diets or diets containing 110 micromol/L or 263 micromol/L resveratrol, 2 wk prior to subcutaneous injection of the tumor cells. Tumor growth was measured during a 3-wk period. Metabolism of resveratrol was assayed by bolus gavage of 75 mg/kg resveratrol in tumor-bearing and nontumor-bearing mice. Pellets containing 10-100 mg resveratrol were implanted into the mice, next to newly palpated tumors, and tumor growth determined. We also determined the effect of a major resveratrol metabolite, piceatannol, on experimental lung metastasis. Resveratrol, at any concentration tested, did not have a statistically significant effect on tumor growth. The higher levels of resveratrol tested (0.006% in food or 100 mg in slow-release pellets) tended to stimulate tumor growth (P = 0.08-0.09). Resveratrol and its major metabolites, resveratrol glucuronide and piceatannol, were found in serum, liver, skin, and tumor tissue. Piceatannol did not affect the in vitro growth of a murine melanoma cell line, but significantly stimulated the number of lung metastases when these melanoma cells were directly injected into the tail vein of the mouse. These results suggest that resveratrol is not likely to be useful in the treatment of melanoma and that the effects of phytochemicals on cell cultures may not translate to the whole animal system.
A theoretical justification for nonlinear control property of a class of fuzzy logic controllers

In Sayyarrdsari, Homaifar, and Hogans (1993), a hybrid implementation of fuzzy and conventional PID controller was introduced and its application to a 2 degree of freedom robot manipulator arm was examined. A theoretical justification for that approach, based on the fact that “fuzzy systems are universal approximators” is presented in this paper.
2log1-ε n hardness for the closest vector problem with preprocessing

We prove that for an arbitrarily small constant e>0, assuming NP⊈ DTIME (2logO 1-e n), the preprocessing versions of the closest vector problem and the nearest codeword problem are hard to approximate within a factor better than 2log1-e n. This improves upon the previous hardness factor of (log n)δ for some δ>0 due to [AKKV05].
The Post-operative Changes of Stereopsis in Adult Strabismus

Purpose: To evaluate the postoperative changes of stereopsis after surgical correction of adult strabismus. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated strabismus patients older than 16 years at the time of operation at our hospital between April of 1999 and December of 2006. We retrospectively examined the medical records of 53 exotropia and 11 esotropia patients. We divided the pre-operative stereopsis into three groups:above 3000 arc of sec, between 3,000 to 100 arc of sec, and below 100 arc of sec. We analyzed the correlation between the post-operative status of stereopsis and the pre-op type of strabismus, the onset and duration of strabismus, and the presence or absence of amblyopia. Results: In patients who had pre-op stereopsis above 3,000 arc of sec, 31.6% showed improvement, whereas 77.8% of patients who had pre-operative stereopsis between 3,000~100 showed improvement; this value was 89.5% for patients with pre-operative stereopsis below 3000. 94.5% of patients in the intermittent exotropia group who had a good pre-operative stereopsis condition showed postoperative improvement and maintenance. For those patients with poor stereopsis at pre-operative, 32.2% of patients with exotropia and 18.1% of patients with esotropia showed improvement. Stereopsis decreased when consecutive esotropia occurred. Conclusions: This study showed deterioration of stereopsis in patients with consecutive esotropia. Post-operative stereopsis was correlated with the pre-operative stereopsis status and with the type of strabismus. No other factors that we examined were correlated with stereopsis. Post-operative stereopsis in exotropiaand intermittent exotropia were better than esotropia and constant exotropia. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2008;49(11):1807-1811
Garbage collection without paging

Garbage collection offers numerous software engineering advantages, but interacts poorly with virtual memory managers. Existing garbage collectors require far more pages than the application's working set and touch pages without regard to which ones are in memory, especially during full-heap garbage collection. The resulting paging can cause throughput to plummet and pause times to spike up to seconds or even minutes. We present a garbage collector that avoids paging. This bookmarking collector cooperates with the virtual memory manager to guide its eviction decisions. Using summary information ("bookmarks") recorded from evicted pages, the collector can perform in-memory full-heap collections. In the absence of memory pressure, the bookmarking collector matches the throughput of the best collector we tested while running in smaller heaps. In the face of memory pressure, it improves throughput by up to a factor of five and reduces pause times by up to a factor of 45 over the next best collector. Compared to a collector that consistently provides high throughput (generational mark-sweep), the bookmarking collector reduces pause times by up to 218x and improves throughput by up to 41x. Bookmarking collection thus provides greater utilization of available physical memory than other collectors while matching or exceeding their throughput.
Paraclinoid and cavernous sinus regions: measurement of critical structures relevant for surgical procedure.

Determination of the safest distance the falciform ligament can be incised from its origin to the orbital apex. Measurement of the distance between the oculomotor foramen and the IV nerve in the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. Evaluation of the optic strut as an accurate landmark between the intradural (subarachnoid) and extradural segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Ten fixed human cadaver heads were examined for a total of 20 sides. A frontotemporal craniotomy, an orbito-optic osteotomy, and extradural anterior clinoidectomy were carried out followed by opening the falciform ligament, circumferentially releasing the distal dural ring and dissection of the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus under the operating microscope. We measured: 1) the distance between the entry of the III nerve and the point where the IV nerve crosses over it into the cavernous sinus; 2) the distance the falciform ligament can be incised along the optic nerve laterally until the IV nerve is encountered at the orbital apex; 3) the distance between the optic strut and the lateral part of the distal dural ring; and 4) the distance between the optic strut and the ophthalmic artery. All measurements were made in millimeters, using small calipers. The distance between the optic strut and the lateral part of the distal dural ring ranges from 3–7.5 mm (mean = 5.47 mm). In all our specimens, the ophthalmic artery was found distally from the optic strut in the intradural space at a distance ranging from 0.5–7 mm (mean = 3.35 mm). The distance between the entry of the third nerve and the IV nerve into the cavernous sinus ranged from 7–15 mm (mean = 10.9 mm). The distance between the origin of the falciform ligament and the IV nerve at the level of the orbital apex ranged from 9–15 mm (mean = 10.75 mm). The falciform ligament and the optic sheath should not be opened longer than 9 mm along the lateral optic nerve or injury to the IV nerve can occur. Starting at the oculomotor foramen, the opening of the cavernous sinus should be limited to 7 mm to avoid injuring the IV nerve. Finally, the optic strut can be a reliable bony landmark that separates the subarachnoid space and extradural compartments along the anterior and medial ICA. Clin. Anat. 18:3–9, 2005. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reagentless Near-Infrared Determination of Glucose in Whole Blood Using Multivariate Calibration

Noninvasive monitoring of glucose in diabetic patients is feasible with the use of near-infrared spectroscopic measurements. As a step toward the final goal of the development of a noninvasive monitor, the near-infrared spectra (4250 to 6600 cm−1) of glucose-doped whole blood samples were obtained along with reference glucose values. Glucose concentrations and spectra of blood samples obtained from four subjects were subjected to multivariate calibration with the use of partial least-squares (PLS) methods. The cross-validated PLS standard errors of prediction for glucose concentration based on data obtained from each individual subject's blood samples averaged 33 mg/dL over the range from 3 to 743 mg/dL. Cross-validated standard errors for glucose concentration from PLS calibrations based on data from all four subjects were 39 mg/dL. However, when PLS models based upon three subjects' data were used for prediction on the fourth, glucose prediction abilities were poor. It is suggested that blood chemistry differences were sufficiently different for the four subjects to require that a larger number of subjects be included in the calibration for adequate prediction abilities to be obtained from near-infrared spectra of blood from subjects not included in the calibration.
Automated Algorithms for Heuristic Base-Flow Separation1

: The subjective nature of graphical base-flow separation combined with the many applications of base-flow time series derived from continuous streamflow data, motivates the development and application of automated algorithms for heuristic base-flow separation. Base-flow time series derived from gauged streamflow support diverse applications in engineering hydrology, catchment analysis, hydrogeologic investigations, regional low-flow analysis, and recharge estimation. Whether based on graphical procedures for recession analysis or analytical expressions derived from fundamental equations of ground-water flow, the variety of base-flow separation algorithms belies the array of base-flow definitions and interpretations that variously refer to dominant process, source, flow path, and characteristic response time. Algorithms that are invariant in their consistent – though heuristic – characterization of base-flow response are particularly useful for interbasin comparisons of low-flow characteristics and hydrologic regionalization. More adaptable algorithms provide application-specific flexibility in allocating flow components like interflow to either quickflow or slowflow. Four widely used algorithms that produce consistent base-flow time series using only gauged streamflow records are compared and contrasted with a complementary heuristic algorithm that incorporates hydrologic judgment explicitly, through manual parameterization. The utility of these inherently subjective algorithms is illustrated through a simple example of flow phase separation in a two-component end-member mixing model of dissolved chlorides in the Cuyahoga River.
The Value of Home to Older Persons Relationship to Housing Satisfaction

Previous research reveals that elderly individuals report high levels of satisfaction with their homes, yet this satisfaction has not been shown to be strongly related to personal, demographic factors or to the physical properties of the housing itself. In a prior study, a factor analysis of homeowners' attitudes revealed four subjective-value factors: (1) competence in a familiar environment, (2) traditional family orientation and memories, (3) the status value of homeownership, and (4) a cost "versus" comfort tradeoff factor. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether these factors would contribute to a better understanding of older persons' high levels of housing satisfaction. Homeowners (N = 320), over the age of 60, completed an inventory that assessed personal, demographic, and housing characteristics, and a scale that measured the subjective value of the home. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the subjective-value factors made a significant increment in the variance accou...
OR27 Monoclonal antibody RL41A recognizes cisplatin resistant ovarian cancer cells via HLA-A2

Aim Cisplatin is widely used as a chemotherapeutic drug in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Resistance to cisplatin occurs in about one-third of women during the primary course of treatment and in all patients treated for recurrent disease. We hypothesized that the HLA class I of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells presents peptides distinct to these cells as compared to sensitive cells and that HLA/peptide complexes unique to cisplatin-resistant cells would be valuable targets for immunotherapeutic intervention. Methods To identify peptides that are uniquely presented by the HLA of cisplatin resistant ovarian cancer cells, the intrinsic cisplatin-resistant cells (SKOV3) and sensitive cells (A2780, OV90, FHIOSE) were transfected to express soluble HLA-A*02:01. Transfected resistant and sensitive cells were grown in separate bioreactors. Harvested HLA were purified by immunoaffinity chromatography, and high throughput comparative mass spectrometry was employed to identify the peptids unique to cisplatin-resistant cells. A T cell receptor mimic monoclonal antibody (TCRm mAb) was then generated against cisplatin resistant peptide/HLA-A*02:01 complex, using mouse immunization and hybridoma technology. Results Peptide sequences distinct to cisplatin-resistant cells were identified including a peptide (VMF11) derived from thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) that was present in abundance in SKOV3. Next a TCRm mAb (RL41A) was produced against A*02:01/VMF11 complex. The specificity and affinity of RL41A toward VMF11/A*02:01 complex was shown by staining peptide-pulsed T2 cells and surface plasmon resonance respectively. Staining of ovarian cancer cells by flow cytometry also showed that RL41A was able to only stain cisplatin-resistant cells and not the sensitive ones. Conclusion We therefore report the successful development of a TCRm mAb that could be an attractive candidate for further validation using cisplatin-resistant and sensitive primary ovary tissues. W. Hildebrand: Scientific/Medical Advisor; Company/Organization; Pure MHC, LLC .
Comparative performance analyses of commercially available products for salivary collection and nucleic acid processing in the newborn

Analysis of saliva for clinical monitoring and biomarker detection holds great promise for improving health care. Commercially available assays are not intended for use with neonates, however, and collection and processing of saliva for subsequent transcriptomic analysis presents unique challenges in this population. We compared RNA yield, quality, stability and RT-qPCR performance for two commonly used commercial systems: the Qiagen RNeasy Protect Saliva Mini Kit® and the DNA Genotek Oragene•RNA® assay. Two 10 μl saliva samples were collected from ten newborns and stabilized for each assay. Total RNA was extracted following incubation for 3, 10, 15 or 20 days. Total RNA extracted from each assay was analyzed for integrity, quality and quantity using the Agilent BioAnalyzer 2100. RT-qPCR was performed for the reference gene, GAPDH, to assess subsequent performance of the extracted RNA. Although the DNA Genotek extraction protocol required nearly twice the time of the Qiagen protocol, RNA integrity did not...