cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Geography of Religious Freedom

In 2007 the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom classified the level of religious freedom in 101 countries and territories. The index focuses on “the denial to anyone of rights of a particular reason, those connected with practicing one’s religion, and the denial of rights for a particular reason, because of the religious beliefs of those who are persecuted and/or those who persecute.” Using the categories of “free,” “partly free,” and “unfree,” we first map these data to analyze the geography of religious freedom in different parts of the world. Religious freedom is generally greatest in North America and Western Europe, and least in North Africa and Asia. We further analyze these data in terms of the dominant religion in each country. The Muslim world had one of the smallest proportions of countries with high levels of religious freedom. Of the 35 countries dominated by Islam only Mali and Senegal were classified as “free.” The Catholic world included 23 countries with 19 being classified as “free.” Considering all 49 Christian countries whether Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox or mixed, 36 were classified as “free.” Countries dominated by Buddhism and related religions were divided with half being “free” and half being either “partly free” or “unfree.” There are six countries classified as “mixed Muslim/Christian” such as Cameroon, Eritrea and Lebanon, with all six being classified as “partly free” or “unfree.”
Mentoring, modeling, and mandating Leadership influences on the perceptions and activities of church planters in West Africa:

The rapid growth of Christianity in Africa in the last three decades is attributed to the aggressive activity of local church planters in their efforts to evangelize and missionize their contexts. ...
A distributed multi-GPU system for fast graph processing

We present Lux, a distributed multi-GPU system that achieves fast graph processing by exploiting the aggregate memory bandwidth of multiple GPUs and taking advantage of locality in the memory hierarchy of multi-GPU clusters. Lux provides two execution models that optimize algorithmic efficiency and enable important GPU optimizations, respectively. Lux also uses a novel dynamic load balancing strategy that is cheap and achieves good load balance across GPUs. In addition, we present a performance model that quantitatively predicts the execution times and automatically selects the runtime configurations for Lux applications. Experiments show that Lux achieves up to 20X speedup over state-of-the-art shared memory systems and up to two orders of magnitude speedup over distributed systems.
Submuscular Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve

Ulnar neuropathy resulting from compression at the elbow (cubital tunnel) is a relatively common pathology. Various techniques have been described for surgical management, ranging from simple in situ release to more elaborate transposition. This chapter will explore the surgical technique of submuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve and cover the history of nerve transposition, the indications, described modifications of surgical technique, and outcomes. The authors’ preferred surgical technique and postoperative care for submuscular transposition of the ulnar nerve are also included.
Interactive Unit Cell Visualization Tool for Crystal Lattice Structures.

A set of visualizations developed for the purpose of explaining solid state lattice structures is presented in this paper. The visualizations provide students with the option to view stacking patterns, extended structures, and individual unit cells for simple, body-centered and face-centered cubic, and hexagonal close-packed structures. Additionally, the visualizations include lattice structures for NaCl and CaF2, providing a visual perspective of empirical formulas and ionic lattice arrangements.
Trends in Stroke Recurrence in Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites

Background and Purpose: Stroke incidence and mortality are declining rapidly in developed countries. Little data on ethnic-specific stroke recurrence trends exist. Fourteen-year stroke recurrence t...
SmallSat swarm gravimetry: Revealing the interior structure of asteroids and comets

A growing interest in small body exploration has motivated research into the rapid characterization of near-Earth objects to meet economic or scientific objectives. Specifically, knowledge of the internal density structure can aid with target selection and enables an understanding of prehistoric planetary formation to be developed. To this end, multi-layer extensions to the polyhedral gravity model are suggested, and an inversion technique is implemented to present their effectiveness. On-orbit gravity gradiometry is simulated and employed in stochastic and deterministic algorithms, with results that imply robustness in both cases.
Insulin Resistance and Cardiometabolic Risk Profile Among Non-Diabetic American Young Adults: Insights from NHANES.

BACKGROUND The burden of insulin resistance (IR) among young American adults has not been previously assessed. We evaluated the 1) prevalence and trends of IR and cardiometabolic risk factors and, 2) assessed the association between measures of adiposity and IR among adults aged 18-44 years without diabetes and preexisting cardiovascular disease. METHODS Cross-sectional survey data from six consecutive National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2008 to 2017-2018) cycles were analyzed. IR was defined by the homeostatic model assessment for IR (HOMA-IR) of ≥2.5. The temporal trends of IR, cardiometabolic risk factors, and the relationship between IR and measures of adiposity were assessed using multivariable-adjusted regression models. RESULTS Among 6,247 young adults aged 18-44 years, the prevalence of IR was 44.8% (95% CI: 42.0-47.6%) in 2007-2010 and 40.3% (95% CI: 36.4-44.2%) in 2015-2018 (Ptrend=0.07). There was a modest association of HOMA-IR with higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, total lean fat mass, and total and localized fat mass (all p<0.001). Participants with IR had a higher prevalence of hypertension (31.3% [95% CI: 29.2-33.5%] vs. 14.7% [95% CI: 13.2-16.2%]), hypercholesterolemia (16.0% [95% CI: 12.4-19.5%] vs. 7.0% [95% CI: 5.8-8.5%]), obesity (56.6% [95% CI: 53.9-59.3%] vs. 14.7% [95%CI: 13.0-16.5%]) and poor physical activity levels (18.3% [95% CI: 16.4-20.2%] vs. 11.7% [95%CI: 10.3-13.1%]) compared to participants without IR (all p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Four-in-ten young American adults have IR, which occurs in a cluster with cardiometabolic risk factors. Nearly half of young adults with IR are non-obese. Screening efforts for IR irrespective of BMI may be required.
The Effect of Radiation Dose on Swallowing: Evaluation of Aspiration and Kinematics

Radiation oncologists have focused on the pharyngeal constrictors as the primary muscles of concern for dysphagia. However, our prior investigations have demonstrated that radiation dose to the geniohyoid rather than the constrictor muscles was more closely related to penetration aspiration scores (PAS). We examined the relationship between (1) radiation dose and swallowing temporal kinematics, and (2) between PAS and swallowing kinematics in these patients. Videofluoroscopic swallowing studies of 41 patients following radiation therapy for oropharyngeal cancer were analyzed for thin liquid boluses. Timing measures included duration of laryngeal vestibule closure (DLVC), duration to maximum hyoid elevation (DTMHE), duration to cricopharyngeal opening (DTCPO), and pharyngeal transit time (PTT). PAS was extracted for each swallow and considered normal if ≤ 2. As minimum and mean dose to the geniohyoid increased, DTMHE, DTCPO, and PTT increased. Worse PA scores were most strongly correlated with radiation dose received by geniohyoid (r = 0.445, p < 0.0001). Mean DLVC varied according to PAS group (normal PAS mean = 0.67 s, abnormal PAS mean = 0.13 s; p < 0.001). Similarly, DTCPO was significantly different based upon PAS (normal PAS mean = 0.22 s, abnormal PAS mean = 0.37 s, p = 0.016). As PAS increased, DTPCO and PTT increased (r = 0.208, p = 0.04; r = 0.204, p = 0.043). A negative correlation was noted between PAS and DLVC (r = -0.375, p = 0.001). Higher doses of radiation to the geniohyoid muscles are associated with increased severity of dysphagia as measured through both kinematics and PAS. Consideration of dose to the geniohyoid should be considered when planning radiation.
Perturbation of Spectra

The method of perturbation is one of the most effective methods of determining approximately the spectral representation of a given operator. The method is applicable if the operator L in question is sufficiently near another operator L0 whose spectral representation is known — or partly known. One then introduces an operator Le which depends on a parameter e in such a way that it reduces to L for e = 1 and to L0 for e = 0. Then one tries to expand the spectral representers of L e in powers of e. The approximate representers of L are obtained by breaking off the series after a few terms and then setting e = 1.
Mechanisms of Suppression by DNA Methylation

We have cited a number of studies showing an inverse correlation between the level of methylation and function of a number of genes. What then is the nature of this correlation? The assumption usually is that DNA methylation is the initial event and suppression follows. However, some of the data are just as easily explained on the assumption that function turned off by some other mechanism makes the gene susceptible to methylation and there may not be a cause and effect relationship between methylation and gene activity. As long as the evidence was based only on correlation of the two properties, expression and the unmethylated State, this possibility had to be considered. Recently, however, a cause and effect relationship has been more firmly established.
Comparison of protein structure in crystals and in solution by laser raman scattering. I. Lysozyme.

Abstract The laser Raman-scattering technique was employed to examine the question of whether the structure of a globular protein is the same in crystals as in solution. Lysozyme was selected as a model system for this study. In the amide I and amide III regions we found a good agreement between the Raman spectra of lysozyme chloride crystals (in 100% relative humidity) and lysozyme solution (at pH 4.50), indicating that the main-chain conformation is the same between two phases. However, small but definite spectral differences were observed near 464, 622, 644, 934, 960, 978, 1032, 1129, and 1196 cm −1 . Some of these spectral differences may be interpreted in terms of side-chain conformational changes. Additionally, we present Raman spectrum of lysozyme in the lyophilized form and compare it to those of crystals and solution. It was concluded that lyophilization caused conformational changes appreciably, both in the main chain and side chain.
Surgical Suite Utilization and Capacity Planning: A Minimal Cost Analysis Model

In this paper, we are concerned with cost reduction, operating suite utilization, and capacity planning in surgical services. We studied 58,251 computerized surgical records from a teaching hospital to determine a model for measuring operating suite utilization, analyzing the quality of surgical schedules, and allocating surgical suite budgets (capacity planning). The classical definition of operating suite (OR) utilization, encountered in the literature is the ratio of the total OR time used to the total OR time allocated or budgeted. To create a better measure of utilization, we measured underutilization and overutilization providing a more complete description of the overall use of resources. Because the costs of under and overutilization of operating suites are high, they are attractive potential targets for cost minimization and the magnitude of the potential savings are such that attempts to measure and eliminate this inefficiency could be financially rewarding.
Purification of acetylcholinesterase by affinity chromatography and determination of active site stoichiometry.

Specific inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase have been prepared and attached to Sepharose. When crude preparations of the enzyme are chromatographed on the affinity gel, the enzyme is selectively retained and may be eluted by a salt gradient. Conditions have been defined under which enzyme is purified some 20-fold in one step to a homogeneous and apparently pure species. An essential factor appears to be the distance the inhibitor is extended from the gel matrix by a chain of bridging atoms which form an attachment arm. A careful series of protein determinations was carried out to establish the ultraviolet extinction coefficient of the purified enzyme. Inherent differences among the protein values determined by various techniques appear to exist. They may in part account for discrepancies in values reported previously for the specific activity of homogeneous enzyme. With the use of an e1%280 nm = 18.0, a specific activity of 610 mmoles of acetylcholine hydrolyzed per hour per mg of protein was observed for the most highly purified enzyme. Active site titration measurements revealed 3.3 active sites per enzyme molecule.
Seepage into drifts and tunnels in unsaturated fractured rock

[1] Methods for obtaining estimates of seepage into drifts and tunnels excavated in unsaturated fractured rocks are of interest for engineering and environmental applications. For uniform porous media a tunnel surface may present a capillary barrier promoting water diversion around the opening through the porous matrix, hence reducing seepage into the opening. The presence of fractures intersecting the opening complicates flow behavior and presents a challenge to seepage prediction. We present a simple and physically based model for seepage estimation that preserves key physical processes associated with fracture flow, while avoiding complexity of detailed fracture network characterization. The processes of film and capillary-driven flows are combined with a geometrically tractable representation of the dual-continuum fractured rock with two disparate populations of matrix pores and fracture apertures. The large disparity in capillary forces between matrix and fractures rules out matrix seepage based on Philip's theory. We obtain estimates of seepage fraction for a given percolation flux from consideration of the hydraulic conductivity of the fracture domain only. Similar to previous studies, the new model shows existence of a percolation threshold for onset of seepage. The new model also exhibits a steep increase in seepage with increase in percolation flux that reflects the role of fracture film flow. In addition to consideration of physically based flow processes, computations for the proposed analytical model can be performed with common spreadsheet software, which is a distinct advantage over numerical equivalent porous media approaches that require a powerful computational environment, excessive computation time, and thorough characterization of the fracture domain.
Weighted Graph Separators and Their Applications

We prove separator theorems in which the size of the separator is minimized with respect to non-negative vertex costs. We show that for any planar graph G there exists a vertex separator of total sum of vertex costs at most \(c\sqrt {\Sigma _{v \in V(G)} (cost(v))^2 }\) and that this bound is optimal to within a constant factor. Moreover such a separator can be found in linear time. This theorem implies a variety of other separation results. We describe applications of our separator theorems to graph embedding problems, to graph pebbling, and to multi-commodity flow problems.
Entropy-based Pruning for Phrase-based Machine Translation

Phrase-based machine translation models have shown to yield better translations than Word-based models, since phrase pairs encode the contextual information that is needed for a more accurate translation. However, many phrase pairs do not encode any relevant context, which means that the translation event encoded in that phrase pair is led by smaller translation events that are independent from each other, and can be found on smaller phrase pairs, with little or no loss in translation accuracy. In this work, we propose a relative entropy model for translation models, that measures how likely a phrase pair encodes a translation event that is derivable using smaller translation events with similar probabilities. This model is then applied to phrase table pruning. Tests show that considerable amounts of phrase pairs can be excluded, without much impact on the translation quality. In fact, we show that better translations can be obtained using our pruned models, due to the compression of the search space during decoding.
Soil Percolation Rates From Neutron Probe Measurements

A study was undertaken to investigate the feasibility of using subsurface neutron moisture probes to estimate soil percolation rates. The measurement procedure developed is based upon the subsurface soil moisture content versus time relationship obtained with a subsurface neutron probe in a soil column in which one-dimensional percolation is occurring. The results from ten laboratory percolation tests employing a column of well-graded sand were used to validate the measurement procedure. The proposed procedure appears to be acceptable for homogeneous deposits of well-graded sand. The validity of the procedure for layered soil profiles or shallow groundwater table conditions must be investigated. The procedure proposed is simpler than traditional methods (e.g., lysimetric) to measure percolation rates.
A spatial exploration of informal trail networks within Great Falls Park, VA

Informal (visitor-created) trails represent a threat to the natural resources of protected natural areas around the globe. These trails can remove vegetation, displace wildlife, alter hydrology, alter habitat, spread invasive species, and fragment landscapes. This study examines informal and formal trails within Great Falls Park, VA, a sub-unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, managed by the U.S. National Park Service. This study sought to answer three specific questions: 1) Are the physical characteristics and topographic alignments of informal trails significantly different from formal trails, 2) Can landscape fragmentation metrics be used to summarize the relative impacts of formal and informal trail networks on a protected natural area? and 3) What can we learn from examining the spatial distribution of the informal trails within protected natural areas? Statistical comparisons between formal and informal trails in this park indicate that informal trails have less sustainable topographic alignments than their formal counterparts. Spatial summaries of the lineal and areal extent and fragmentation associated with the trail networks by park management zones compare park management goals to the assessed attributes. Hot spot analyses highlight areas of high trail density within the park and findings provide insights regarding potential causes for development of dense informal trail networks.
Innovation in doctoral degrees designed for adult learners: A hybrid model in personal financial planning

Innovation in doctoral degree program development and delivery provides an effective counterpoint to the expert-apprentice model established in the Middle Ages. The author outlines the importance of innovation in reaching adult learners and describes an innovative hybrid PhD program designed to allow aspiring doctoral adult-age students to pursue a degree by providing access to education at a distance.
What is the origin of chirality in the cholesteric phase of virus suspensions

We report a study of the cholesteric phase in monodisperse suspensions of the rodlike virus fd sterically stabilized with the polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG). After coating the virus with neutral polymers, the phase diagram and nematic order parameter of the fd-PEG system then become independent of ionic strength. Surprisingly, the fd-PEG suspensions not only continue to exhibit a cholesteric phase, which means that the grafted polymer does not screen all chiral interactions between rods, but paradoxically the cholesteric pitch of this sterically stabilized fd-PEG system varies with ionic strength. Furthermore, we observe that the cholesteric pitch decreases with increasing viral contour length, in contrast to theories which predict the opposite trend. Different models of the origin of chirality in colloidal liquid crystals are discussed.
Making Sense of Social History

Drawing on Eric Hobsbawm's thinking on the meaning and nature of social history, this essay explores how the field has influenced recent work on the history of the senses, particularly work on historical aurality. By reviewing work on sensory history, the essay argues that social history seems to have been important to historical work on sound, noise, hearing, listening, and olfaction especially. It points to how social history's emphasis on the depth, breadth, and braided nature of historical experience has helped inform writing on the senses and considers some of the methodological and conceptual questions and concerns arising from histories of the senses. The essay concludes by suggesting the probable importance of social and sensory history for historical writing generally.
Electrodeposition of selected alpha-emitting nuclides from ammonium acetate electrolyte

Abstract The experimentally optimal conditions of the electrodeposition of selected alpha particle-emitting radionuclides, including 208Po, 226Ra, 228Th, 238U, 239Pu, 241Am and 243,244Cm, with ammonium acetate electrolyte have been determined. This simple method could be used for the determination of the most important actinides in radiological waste and could be applicable to waste treatment. In addition, this method could be used for radium determination instead of the traditional radon emanation technique, which requires approximately 30 days.
Effect of Pion-Pion Interaction on Nuclear Forces

The effect of pion-pion interaction on the two-nucleon potential is investigated by using the pion-pion coupling, $H=(\frac{4\ensuremath{\pi}f}{c\ensuremath{\hbar}}):{U}_{i}{U}_{i}{U}_{j}{U}_{j}:$. It is found that if the coupling constant $f$ is negative, the resulting spin-orbit nuclear force in the nonrelativistic approximation is similar to that produced by the exchange of a neutral meson of mass between 3.3 and 4.1 times the pion mass. A comparison of the theoretical results for the angular dependence of the Wolfenstein coefficient ${\overline{C}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ with those obtained by the phase-shift analysis of the proton-proton scattering at 310 MeV shows reasonable agreement, and gives $f=\ensuremath{-}0.262$.
Conformation of the m-dibenzoylbenzene radical anion

Abstract The hyperfine coupling constants for the m-dibenzoylbenzene radical anion previously determined by Chaudhuri et al. have been confirmed by ENDOR. It is shown that two reasonable assignments of these constants simulate the ESR spectrum equally well and that an HMO molecular orbital calculation can predict either assignment depending on whether the two carbonyl groups are chosen syn or anti. Thus, based on magnetic resonance data, no conclusion can be drawn about the conformation of the radical anion.
Digital technique for generating synthetic aperture radar images

This paper describes a digital processing method applicable to a synthetic aperture radar, to be carried by the space shuttle or by satellites. The method uses an earth-fixed coordinate system in which corrective procedures are invoked to compensate for errors introduced by the satellite motion, earth curvature, and wavefront curvature. Among the compensations discussed are those of the coordinate system, skewness, roll, pitch, yaw, earth rotation, and others. The application of a Fast Fourier Transform in the numerical processing of the two-dimensional convolution is discussed in detail.
Coastal Bathymetry from Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Data: Comparisons with High Resolution Multibeam Bathymetry

We present a large-scale quantitative test of a hyperspectral remote-sensing reflectance algorithm. We show that coastal bathymetry can be adequately derived through model inversions using data from the Airborne Visible-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer instrument. Data are analyzed from a shore-perpendicular transect 5 km offshore Sarasota, Florida at water depths ranging from 10 m to 15.5 m. Derived bottom depths are compared to a high-resolution multibeam bathymetry survey. Model-derived depths are biased 4.9% shallower than the mean of the multibeam depths with an RMS error of 7.83%. These results suggest that the model performs well for retrieving bottom depths from hyperspectral data in subtropical coastal areas in water depths ranging from 10 m to 15.5 m.
Modeling of Leakage Through Cracked Clay Liners - II: a New Perspective

: An hydraulic description of moisture transport through the compacted clay layers of a landfill cover liner is presented. Previous descriptions have assumed that micro-pore processes control the transport. The present description incorporates the influence of voids or macro-pores created by desiccation cracking. The existence and importance of cracks is documented using laboratory and field data. Although micro-pore flow can be modeled confidently using Darcy's Law, the contribution of macro-pore flow is often neglected because of the lack of field verified models to describe its occurrence. The variety of modes and mechanisms of flow that are operative in flow through cracked clay liners is discussed, and analogies are made to familiar concepts in open channel flow theory. The discussion provides the conceptual framework for the development of a numerical model to simulate both the micro- and macro-pore flow phenomena.
Effect of total dopant concentration and dopant ratio on conductivity of (DyO1.5)x-(WO3)y-(BiO1.5)1-x-y

Abstract Dysprosium- and tungsten-stabilized bismuth oxide (DWSB) electrolytes were developed to achieve higher conductivity. With double doping, stabilization of the cubic phase was achieved with as little as 12 mol.% total dopant concentration, resulting in higher conductivity. The conductivity of DWSB electrolytes increased linearly as the total dopant concentrations decreased with fixed dopant ratio. Overall, DWSB has a closer inherent structure to pure δ-Bi2O3 than any singly doped compositions. Both lattice parameter and conductivity linearly extrapolate with total dopant concentration to that of pure δ-Bi2O3, resulting in the ability to stabilize δ-phase at lower dopant concentration, and thus achieving higher conductivity.
A Tender Voyage: Children and Childhood in Late Imperial China – Ping‐chen Hsiung

The author of this book takes a new approach to the study of childhood, beginning with the development of medical pediatrics in the Song dynasty. The first section of the book contains three chapte...
Beyond Indigenous Authenticity: Reflections on the Insider/Outsider Debate in Immigration Research

The insider/outsider debate in field research has recently been identified as one of the more important areas of needed research in immigration scholarship. My fieldwork as a native ethnographer among Somali immigrants to Canada is used to further that argument by showing the insatiability of categories such as native ethnographers and that the insider/outsider roles are products of the particular situation in which a given fieldwork takes place and not from the status characteristics per se of the researcher.
What Protein Charging (and Supercharging) Reveal about the Mechanism of Electrospray Ionization

Understanding the charging mechanism of electrospray ionization is central to overcoming shortcomings such as ion suppression or limited dynamic range, and explaining phenomena such as supercharging. Towards that end, we explore what accumulated observations reveal about the mechanism of electrospray. We introduce the idea of an intermediate region for electrospray ionization (and other ionization methods) to account for the facts that solution charge state distributions (CSDs) do not correlate with those observed by ESI-MS (the latter bear more charge) and that gas phase reactions can reduce, but not increase, the extent of charging. This region incorporates properties (e.g., basicities) intermediate between solution and gas phase. Assuming that droplet species polarize within the high electric field leads to equations describing ion emission resembling those from the equilibrium partitioning model. The equations predict many trends successfully, including CSD shifts to higher m/z for concentrated analytes and shifts to lower m/z for sprays employing smaller emitter opening diameters. From this view, a single mechanism can be formulated to explain how reagents that promote analyte charging (“supercharging”) such as m-NBA, sulfolane, and 3-nitrobenzonitrile increase analyte charge from “denaturing” and “native” solvent systems. It is suggested that additives’ Bronsted basicities are inversely correlated to their ability to shift CSDs to lower m/z in positive ESI, as are Bronsted acidities for negative ESI. Because supercharging agents reduce an analyte’s solution ionization, excess spray charge is bestowed on evaporating ions carrying fewer opposing charges. Bronsted basicity (or acidity) determines how much ESI charge is lost to the agent (unavailable to evaporating analyte).
Effect of age and gender on restenosis after carotid endarterectomy.

Several studies have suggested that the benefits of CEA may be gender-dependent. The purpose of this study was to focus on age and gender outcomes after CEA. Three hundred seventy-two CEAs were performed in 344 patients (115 females, 229 males; mean age 72.9 years). Mean follow-up was 25.8 months. Data were collected retrospectively by chart review, and follow-up data were obtained by clinical examination and duplex ultrasound. Recurrent stenosis was defined as >50% and/or occlusion. Three hundred and seventy-two CEAs were performed in 120 female and 252 male carotid arteries: 97.3% of patients underwent patch angioplasty (bovine pericaridium 71.5%, Dacron 21.8%, vein 3.8%, and polytetrafluoroethylene 0.3%) and 2.7% of patients underwent eversion endarterectomy. Perioperative mortality rate (30-day) was 0.8% (0% of females vs. 1.2% of males), and stroke rate was 0.5% (1.7% of females vs. 0% of males), with no significant gender difference (p = 0.554 and p = 0.103, respectively). Follow-up ultrasound revealed 21 (7%) restenoses (>50%) and/or occlusions, with a significantly higher rate of restenosis in females (14% vs. 3.9% in males, p = 0.008) and in patients <70 years of age at time of surgery (p = 0.003). There was no age difference between women and men with restenosis. Although there was no statistical difference in occurrence of restenosis between Dacron and bovine patch (p = 0.62), females who underwent patch angioplasty with Dacron were more likely to develop restenosis (p = 0.052). CEA is a low-risk procedure for significant carotid stenosis; however, females are more likely to develop restenosis after carotid surgery, especially with Dacron patches. Younger patients appear to be at a higher risk of restenosis after surgery.
SpS1-SOFIA studies of stellar evolution

The U.S./German Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA, Figure 1) is a 2.5-meter infrared airborne telescope in a Boeing 747-SP flying in the stratosphere at altitudes as high as 45,000 feet where the atmospheric transmission averages ≥ 80% throughout the 0.3 - 1600 μm spectral region. SOFIA's first-generation instruments include broadband imagers, moderate resolution spectrographs capable of resolving broad features due to dust and large molecules, and high resolution spectrometers suitable for kinematic studies of molecular and atomic gas lines at km s −1 resolution. These and future instruments will enable SOFIA to make unique contributions to studies of the physics and chemistry of stellar evolution for many decades. Science flights will begin in 2010. A full operations schedule of at least 100 flights per year will begin in 2014 and will continue for 20 years. The SOFIA Guest Investigator (GI) program, open to investigators worldwide, will constitute the major portion of the SOFIA observing program.
Distribution and sources of particulate organic matter in the water column and sediments of the Fly River Delta, Gulf of Papua (Papua New Guinea)

Suspended particles from surface and bottom waters and surficial sediments from the seabed were collected throughout the Fly River subaqueous delta region during the monsoon season in January 2003. Because of the unusually low river discharge associated with a strong El Nino, water-column salinities were relatively high (10 to 32) throughout most of the delta, with brackish salinities ( 4 wt.%), relatively high organic carbon:nitrogen molar ratios (OC:N > 20 mol:mol) and quite depleted stable isotopic compositions of organic carbon (δ13COC < −27‰). In contrast, surface sediments in the seabed displayed spatially uniform compositions that were characterized by markedly lower %OC contents (1.1 ± 0.8 wt.%), lower OC:N ratios (17 ± 9 mol:mol) and relatively enriched δ13COC compositions (−25.5 ± 1.1‰). The radioisotopic compositions of OC from a selected set of seabed samples (Δ14COC of −408 ± 82‰) indicate OM in surface sediments is old (14C ages of 2800 to over 6000 years before present). The ratios of organic carbon to mineral surface area exhibited by these sediments are within the typical (mono-layer equivalent) ranges characteristic of shelf sediments and do not reflect the preferential removal of terrigenous OM. Overall, these compositions indicate that while water-column POM appears to be derived mainly from terrigenous vascular plant debris and riverine/estuarine phytoplankton, the source of most of the sedimentary POM is aged, soil OC ultimately derived from C3 vegetation. We speculate that the concentrations and sources of suspended POM in the water column of the Fly River delta region reflect the conditions of low river discharge, low wave energy and neap tides encountered at the time of sampling. In contrast, POM compositions in surface sediments are consistent with the transport and deposition of old, mineral-bound OC most likely eroded from the upland regions of the Fly River watershed, which is characterized by steep slopes, high precipitation and C3 tropical forests and grasslands.
Inhibition of N-linked glycosylation prevents inclusion formation by the dystonia-related mutant form of torsinA.

Most cases of early-onset torsion dystonia are associated with a mutation in the DYT1 gene that results in the loss of a glutamic acid residue in the carboxy terminus of the encoded protein, torsinA. When overexpressed in cultured cells, wild-type torsinA distributes diffusely throughout the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), while the dystonia-related mutant, torsinAΔE, accumulates within multilamellar membrane inclusions. Here we show that inclusion formation requires the addition of an N-linked oligosaccharide to one of two asparagine residues within the ATP-binding domain of the mutant protein. In the absence of this modification, overexpressed torsinAΔE was localized diffusely throughout the cell in a reticular pattern resembling that of wild-type torsinA. In contrast, the localization of wild-type torsinA did not appear to vary with its glycosylation state. These results thus indicate that torsinAΔE must achieve a specific conformation to induce formation of intracellular membrane inclusions.
Evaluation measures for interactive information retrieval

Abstract Several criteria and measures have been proposed and used in evaluating interactive IR performance. There is no agreement about what is a successful IR performance or which are the best existing evaluation measure(s). This study aims to identify the best evaluation measure(s) for interactive IR performance. Twenty measures of IR performance were selected for study in the natural IR environment, involving 40 real end-users from an academic setting with 40 real information problems, interacting with six professional intermediaries searching in large operational IR systems. These end-users were responsible for the costs of their own searches. This study showed that value of search results as a whole is the best single measure of interactive IR performance among the measures selected. Precision, one of the most important traditional measures of effectiveness, is not significantly correlated with success. Users appear to be more concerned with absolute recall than with precision. The study also identified the two more basic factors for future IR evaluation which can account for a much higher proportion of the total variance than value of search results as a whole alone can. Seventeen new success categories were also suggested for future investigation.
Multilepton signals from supersymmetry at hadron supercolliders.

We have developed a new event generator SUSYSM to simulate the production of squarks and gluinos at hadron supercolliders including all the cascade decays as given by the minimal supersymmetric model. The simulation incorporates final-state hadronization and fragmentation effects for the decays of heavy flavors. We have used this to compute the rates for {ital E}{sub {ital T}} events, same-sign dilepton events, {ital n}{sub {ital l}}=3, 4, and 5 isolated-lepton events, and single or double {ital Z}{sup 0}+{ital E}{sub {ital T}} events from squark and gluino production at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) for cuts inspired by the Solenoidal Detector Collaboration. We have identified and estimated several backgrounds to the various event topologies and shown that it should be possible to extract signals in several channels both at the LHC and SSC. We have shown that after accumulating one year's worth of design luminosity, it should be possible to identify a gluino with mass up to 2 TeV at the SSC, while the corresponding reach of the LHC is 1.2--1.7 TeV, depending on the luminosity.
Repeated weight fluctuation increases plasma insulin in the obese Wistar fatty diabetic rat.

Abstract Weight fluctuation may contribute to the expression of hyperglycemia in genetically susceptible individuals. Alternating between diets with low and high fat content also may play a contributory role. To test these hypotheses, plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured in obese prediabetic Wistar-Fatty rats after two episodes of diet switching, with and without concomitant weight loss. Following two cycles of weight loss and regain, glucose levels did not differe between weight-cycled rats and static weight controls. However, insulin concentrations of weight-cycled rats were 74% higher than those of controls, suggesting an impairment of insulin resistance. Insulin and glucose levels of animals subjected to episodes of diet switching without accompanying weight loss and regain did not differ reliably from those of controls. A single cycle of weight loss followed by regain appeared to have no effect on either glucose tolerance or insulin resistance. Together, these results suggest that insulin resistance of Wistar-Fatty rats was worsened by repeated weight fluctuation. Further, the effect of repeated weight fluctuation on insulin concentrations is not due to diet switching. Repeated weight fluctuation did not lead to the expression of hyperglycemia under the present conditions. Additional studies are needed to determine what factors modify the effects of weight fluctuation on health, behavior, and metabolism.
Hierarchical representations in the auditory cortex

Understanding the neural mechanisms of invariant object recognition remains one of the major unsolved problems in neuroscience. A common solution that is thought to be employed by diverse sensory systems is to create hierarchical representations of increasing complexity and tolerance. However, in the mammalian auditory system many aspects of this hierarchical organization remain undiscovered, including the prominent classes of high-level representations (that would be analogous to face selectivity in the visual system or selectivity to bird's own song in the bird) and the dominant types of invariant transformations. Here we review the recent progress that begins to probe the hierarchy of auditory representations, and the computational approaches that can be helpful in achieving this feat.
LATE-ONSET NEPHROPATHIC CYSTINOSIS WITH MASSIVE PROTEINURIA. A STUDY OF THE RENAL LESIONS AND TUBULAR FUNCTIONS

Cystinosis has not been associated with massive proteinuria. Although tubular dysfunctions are frequently noted, data on tubular kinetics prior to the onset of renal failure are lacking. Glomerular filtration rate(Cin), renal plasma flow(CpAH). urinary concentration(U/Posm), amino acid excretion, maximum tubular reabsorption of glucose(TmG) and secretion of PAH (TmpAH), and urinary acidification were measured in 3 siblings (2 boys 12 and 18 yrs and a 9 yr old girl) with cystinosis and massive proteinuria(6.0, 13.0 and 2.0 Gm/day). Renal biopsy was performed in all. Light and electron-microscopy and immunofluorescent studies were done. Despite normal Cin in patients 1 and 3, tubular functions were already impaired. Patient 2 had the worse function. Phosphaturia, aminoaciduria and failure to acidify were noted. The biopsy showed glomerular sclerosis in all patients and exudative lesions in patient 2. Noimmune complex deposits were seen. Cystine crystals were present in tubular cells, in the lumen and interstitium.
Structural features of the precursor to mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase responsible for binding to hsp70.

The precursor (pmAspAT) and mature (mAspAT) forms of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase interact with hsp70 very early during translation when synthesized in either rabbit reticulocyte lysate or wheat germ extract (Lain, B., Iriarte, A., and Martinez-Carrion.(1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 15588-15596). The nature of the structural elements responsible for recognition and binding of this protein to hsp70 has been studied by examining the folding and potential association with the chaperone of several engineered forms of this enzyme. Whereas pmAspAT and mAspAT bind hsp70 very early during translation, the cytosolic form of this enzyme (cAspAT) does not interact with hsp70. A fusion protein consisting of the mitochondrial presequence peptide attached to the amino terminus of cAspAT associates with hsp70 only after the protein has acquired its native-like conformation, apparently through binding to the presequence exposed on the surface of the folded protein. Deletion of the amino-terminal segment of mAspAT or its replacement with the corresponding domain from the cytosolic isozyme eliminates the cotranslational binding of hsp70 to the mitochondrial protein. We conclude that both the presequence and NH2-terminal region of pmAspAT represent recognition signals for binding of hsp70 to the newly synthesized mitochondrial precursor. Results from competition studies with synthetic peptides support this conclusion. The ability of hsp70 to discriminate between these two highly homologous proteins probably involves the recognition of specific sequence elements in the NH2-terminal portion of the mitochondrial protein and may relate to their separate localization in the cell. A slower folding rate and higher affinity for cytosolic chaperones may represent evolutionary adaptations of translocated mitochondrial proteins to ensure their efficient importation into the organelle.
Pressure core measurements in tight sandstone lenses during the multiwell experiment

A pressure coring operation was performed in two tight sandstone lenses of the Mesaverde group during the drilling of one well of DOE's Multi-Well Experiment. The goals were: (1) to obtain accurate water saturation data; (2) to measure the amount and composition of gas on a foot-by-foot basis; and (3) to recover fluids for water chemistry analysis. This application of pressure coring had not been tried before; it was felt to be the best approach for accurate water saturation measurements in tight sandstone core. Several changes to usual pressure coring procedures were adopted. These included the development of an organic noninvasive coring fluid, compatible with the oil-based drilling fluid used, that would help preserve water saturation. Three 15-ft pressure core barrels were taken in two sandstone lenses 20 and 30 ft thick; all three barrels were filled with sandstone. Goals 1 and 2 were met. Water saturation values are reported and discussed. The type and duration of the water extraction processes are shown to be very important in determining water s
Capital Asset Pricing and Real Estate Valuation

This paper examines the Capital Asset Pricing Model with respect to its implications for real estate investment analysis and appraisal. The derivation of the CAPM, and theoretical problems with it, are discussed, along with its empirical validation. The similarities and differences between real estate and securities markets are evaluated. Alternative models to the CAPM are presented, followed by the conclusions.
Structural multiplicity of ∑ = 5(001) twist boundaries and interpretation of X-ray diffraction from these boundaries

Abstract Four different low energy structures of the ∑ = 5 (001) twist boundary which possess the CSL periodicity have been found by computer simulations. These structures, three of which were also discovered in the earlier studies, generally differ in symmetry but have very similar energies. Two of these structures appear to be particularly important. The reason is that further atomistic studies show that many other low energy structures of the ∑ = 5 twist boundary with repeat cells larger than the CSL cell may exist which can be regarded as composed of the units of these two structures. These calculations then suggest that the energetically most favourable structure corresponds to a random distribution of these units in the boundary. Using this assumption the intensities of a number of X-ray diffraction reflections have been evaluated and compared with the experimental observations of the X-ray diffraction patterns from the ∑ = 5 twist boundary in gold. While serious discrepancies between calculations and experiments have been reported in the previous works a very good agreement is achieved in the present study. The comparison of the calculated and experimental diffraction data is then discussed in detail and it is concluded that the structure of the ∑ = 5 boundary is most likely nonperiodic composed of two types of well defined units that are randomly distributed in the boundary. This conclusion appears to be independent of the iteratomic forces used in the calculations and therefore valid for different metals the electronic structure of which is similar to that of gold.
Significant Reductions in Length of Stay After Carotid Endarterectomy Can Be Safely Accomplished Without Modifying Either Anesthetic Technique or Postoperative ICU Monitoring

Background and Purpose —We sought to determine whether postoperative length of stay (LOS) and resource utilization could be safely reduced without changing our uniform protocol of performing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) under general anesthesia with postoperative intensive care unit monitoring. Methods —We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of 421 consecutive CEA operations performed during a 3-year period of transition in discharge policy to determine LOS, complications, and resource utilization. We divided operated patients into 3 cohorts: cohort I patients were operated on before a stay reduction policy was instituted (1995, n=171); cohort II patients were operated on after the institution of a single-day-stay policy for selected patients (January to August 1996, n=95); and cohort III patients were operated on after the institution of a universal single-day-stay policy (September 1996 to December 1997, n=155). Results— While significant in-hospital complications leading to increased LOS remained essentially unchanged over time (cohort I: 4.0%; II: 6.3%; III: 3.9%; P =NS), the mean postoperative LOS decreased from 2.6±0.3 days in cohort I to 1.6±0.1 days in cohort III ( P P P Conclusions —A uniform policy of discharge home from the intensive care unit on postoperative day 1 following CEA under general anesthesia can reduce LOS and decrease resource utilization without compromising care.