cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reversible Nerve Damage and Corneal Pathology in Murine Herpes Simplex Stromal Keratitis

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) shedding from sensory neurons can trigger recurrent bouts of herpes stromal keratitis (HSK), an inflammatory response that leads to progressive corneal scarring and blindness. A mouse model of HSK is often used to delineate immunopathogenic mechanisms and bears many of the characteristics of human disease, but it tends to be more chronic and severe than human HSK. Loss of blink reflex (BR) in human HSK is common and due to a dramatic retraction of corneal sensory nerve termini in the epithelium and the nerve plexus at the epithelial/stromal interface. However, the relationship between loss of BR due to nerve damage and corneal pathology associated with HSK remains largely unexplored. Here, we show a similar retraction of corneal nerves in mice with HSK. Indeed, we show that much of the HSK-associated corneal inflammation in mice is actually attributable to damage to the corneal nerves and accompanying loss of BR and can be prevented or ameliorated by tarsorrhaphy (suturing eyelids closed), a clinical procedure commonly used to prevent corneal exposure and desiccation. In addition, we show that HSK-associated nerve retraction, loss of BR, and severe pathology all are reversible and regulated by CD4(+) T cells. Thus, defining immunopathogenic mechanisms of HSK in the mouse model will necessitate distinguishing mechanisms associated with the immunopathologic response to the virus from those associated with loss of corneal sensation. Based on our findings, investigation of a possible contribution of nerve damage and BR loss to human HSK also appears warranted. Importance: HSK in humans is a potentially blinding disease characterized by recurrent inflammation and progressive scarring triggered by viral release from corneal nerves. Corneal nerve damage is a known component of HSK, but the causes and consequences of HSK-associated nerve damage remain obscure. We show that desiccation of the corneal surface due to nerve damage and associated loss of BR severely exacerbates and prolongs inflammation-induced pathology in mice. Preventing corneal desiccation results in a milder and more transient HSK with variable scarring that mirrors HSK seen in most humans. We further show that nerve damage is reversible and regulated by CD4(+) T cells. Thus, we provide a mouse model that more closely resembles typical human HSK and suggest nerve damage is an important but largely overlooked factor in human disease.
Oral cancer knowledge and practices of dentists along the Texas-Mexico border.

Abstract-Background. The study assessed the knowledge and clinical practices of Texas-Mexico border dentists in oral cancer prevention and early detection. Methods. A pretested, self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all 398 dentists registered to practice along the Texas-Mexico border. Results. Inadequacies and ambivalence in respondents' oral cancer knowledge and practices were evident. Performance of oral cancer examinations was associated with positive perception of undergraduate oral cancer training (P = .02). Most respondents (81%) were interested in oral cancer continuing education (CE). Conclusions. More emphasis on oral cancer training for dental students as well as provision of oral cancer CE to respondents are recommended. J Cancer Educ. 2004; 19:6-11.
Method for Experimental Constriction of Arteries with Polyvinyl Alcohol Sponge

Simple plastic constricting devices for producing experimental arterial stenosis may be prepared from formalinized polyvinyl alcohol (surgical ivalon) sponge. Not a single instance of arterial rupture, a common sequel of stenosis produced by rigid devices, was encountered in 56 experiments.
Author’s response to “Optimal paricalcitol starting dose for parathyroid hormone suppression in secondary hyperparathyroidism”

Author’s response to “Optimal paricalcitol starting dose for parathyroid hormone suppression in secondary hyperparathyroidism”
ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE POLYMER-POLYMER COMPOSITES

Conductive composites have been prepared by polymerization of acelene in polyethylene films followed by iodine doping. The attainment of high conductivity (5-10 S/cm) at low (CH)x concentrations (∼3 wt%) is explained with a simple percolation model.
Vaccinia virus serves as an efficient vector for expressing heterologous proteins in human NTera 2 neurons

The human teratocarcinoma cell line NTera 2 (NT2) can be induced to differentiate into post-mitotic neurons possessing well-defined axonal and dendritic morphology. Highly enriched neurons (NT2-N cells) can be prepared in large numbers, thus combining many of the advantages of both primary and continuous cell culture systems. Unfortunately, it has proven difficult to express foreign genes in NT2-N cells. We examined whether vaccinia virus (VV) can express heterologous proteins in NT2-N cells and characterized the response of NT2-N cells to VV infection. NT2-N cells were infected with VV vectors expressing the envelope glycoprotein (gp160) from the human immunodeficiency type 1 virus (HIV 1). These vectors were chosen because VV-directed synthesis and post-translational processing of gp160 have been well characterized in many cell types. Approximately 85% of the neurons expressed gp160 which underwent native post-translational cleavage. The rate of gp160 synthesis was maximal at 5-48 hours postinfection, but was detectable for as long as 4 days. Surprisingly, NT2-N cells showed no VV-induced alterations in morphology, downregulation of host protein synthesis, or cytotoxicity, as measured by lactate dehydrogenase release. These results indicate that VV can serve as an efficient vector for introducing foreign genes in NT2-N cells without the cytotoxic effects often associated with VV infection. These properties, in conjunction with the advantages provided by NT2-N cells, provide new options for analyzing the cellular and molecular functions of human neurons.
A hierarchical perspective of the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation

This study examines the hierarchical relationship between the three dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (EO): proactiveness, innovativeness, and risk-taking. Information Processing Theory and Strategic Choice Theory were utilized to investigate the roles of both industrial munificence and opportunity perceptions in the formation of firm-level EO. Data collected from 227 organizations in four countries suggests that innovative and risk-taking behaviors are fundamentally driven by proactiveness and the perceived availability of opportunities in an industry. As such, proactiveness appears to be the leading and primary factor in encouraging and enabling the other dimensions of EO. The research and managerial implications of these findings are also discussed.
Amino Silane, Vinyl Silane, TESPD, ZS (TESPD/Zinc Complex) Effects on Carbon Black/Clay Filled Chlorobutyl Rubber (CIIR) Compounds Part III: Comparative Studies on Hard Clay and Soft Clay Filled Compounds

Various silanes, amino silane, vinyl silane, sulfur silane (TESPD), and ZS (TESPD/zinc soap complex), are added into chlorinated isobutylene-isoprene copolymer (CIIR)/soft clay/carbon black (CB) and CIIR/hard clay/CB compounds and they are investigated with respect to the vulcanization characteristics, the processability, and the mechanical properties. Comparing hard clay and soft clay filled compounds, hard clay (Suprex) filled system shows a higher die C tear than the soft clay (GK) filled one. The other properties (Mooney, extrusion torque/pressure, torque rise (), modulus at 300%) are close to each other. Among various silanes, the ZS treated hard clay (Suprex) compound shows the highest mechanical property following hard clay(S)/vinyl silane(V) and soft clay(GK)/vinyl silane(V) compounds. The TESPD and the ZS effectively helps a formation of a strong 3-dimensional network structure between silica and CIIR via coupling reaction due to bifunctional nature of TESPD. In addition to that, the ZS added compounds show both a better processability and mechanical properties compared to the S2 ones at low concentration due to improved compatibility between zinc soap and CIIR matrix. Only the ZS added compound shows both improved processabilities (Mooney, Extrusion torque-& pressure) and improved mechanical properties (degree of crosslinking, elongation modulus, tear, and fatigue to failure counts) on both CIIR/hard clay/CB and CIIR/soft clay/CB compounds.
Cost-Based Anticipatory Action Selection for Human–Robot Fluency

A crucial skill for fluent action meshing in human team activity is a learned and calculated selection of anticipatory actions. We believe that the same holds for robotic teammates, if they are to perform in a similarly fluent manner with their human counterparts. In this work, we describe a model for human-robot joint action, and propose an adaptive action selection mechanism for a robotic teammate, which makes anticipatory decisions based on the confidence of their validity and their relative risk. We conduct an analysis of our method, predicting an improvement in task efficiency compared to a purely reactive process. We then present results from a study involving untrained human subjects working with a simulated version of a robot using our system. We show a significant improvement in best-case task efficiency when compared to a group of users working with a reactive agent, as well as a significant difference in the perceived commitment of the robot to the team and its contribution to the team's fluency and success. By way of explanation, we raise a number of fluency metric hypotheses, and evaluate their significance between the two study conditions.
Road Safety: Discussion of State of Practice

This paper presents an overview of current issues in road safety, describes some promising areas of research and provides an introduction for the papers contained in this special issue of the Journal of Transportation Engineering.
Self-Constitution: Agency, Identity, and Integrity The Constitution of Agency: Essays on Practical Reason and Moral Psychology

Korsgaard, Christine M., Self-Constitution: Agency, Identity, and Integrity, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009, pp. xiv + 230, US$35/£18.99 (paper). Korsgaard, Christine M., The Constitution of...
Effect of prolonged high-temperature exposure on the fatigue and fracture behavior of aluminum-lithium alloy 2090

Abstract Effects of prolonged exposures of 100–1000 h at 163°C on fatigue crack propagation and fracture toughness behavior have been studied in commercial aluminum-lithium alloy 2090-T8E41, and results compared with behavior in similarly over-aged 2124 alloy. Over-aging in 2090, which led to decreases in strength and toughness principally through the formation of plate-like copper-rich grain boundary precipitates and associated copper-depleted and δ′ precipitate-free zones, was found to result in increased fatigue crack growth rates above ∼ 10−9 m cycle−1; near-threshold growth rates were less affected. Such behavior is related to a diminished role of crack-tip shielding during crack extension in over-aged microstructures, from less crack deflection and lower crack closure levels (from asperity wedging), arising from more linear crack paths. Despite this degradation in fatigue crack growth properties following high temperature exposure, crack growth rates in the over-aged 2090 remain comparable or superior to traditional high strength aluminum alloys, such as 2124-T351 and 7150-T651, due primarily to higher overall levels of crack-tip shielding.
Electroretinograms to checkerboard pattern reversal in cats: physiological characteristics and effect of retrograde degeneration of ganglion cells

Abstract Pattern electroretinograms (P-ERGs) evoked by alternating checks were studied in cats. Spatial frequency functions for transient and steady-state P-ERG waves showed a bimodal distribution with a preferred frequency at 0.6–0.75 c/deg and a second amplitude increase at frequencies lower than 0.5 c/deg. Decreasing the pattern luminance by 0.5 log units produced a shift of the spatial tuning curve toward lower spatial frequencies. No temporal tuning was noted in the temporal frequency functions. The bimodal distribution suggests that at spatial frequencies higher than 0.5 c/deg, the tuning reflects a ‘contrast response’ originating in cells with center surround organization. At spatial frequencies below 0.5 c/deg, the ‘luminance response’ becomes predominant and is generated in cells sensitive to mean luminance changes. Transient and steady-state P-ERGs to medium and high spatial frequencies were abolished by section of the optic nerve, while low spatial frequency stimuli at or below 0.3 c/deg continued to evoke P-ERGs at 1, 5 and 10 months after surgery. Quantitative whole amount retina microscopic examination confirmed the retrograde degeneration of the ganglion cells. It is concluded that both transient and steady-state P-ERGs to small and medium spatial frequencies checks are predominantly related to ganglion cell activity, while P-ERGs to low spatial frequencies reflect preganglionic cell activity.
Quantifying asthma symptoms in adults: the Lara Asthma Symptom Scale.

Background Accurate assessment of asthma symptoms is critical in research and clinical settings. A multidimensional asthma control questionnaire could provide more accurate information about asthma symptoms than global assessments, which often overestimate asthma control. Objective We sought to evaluate the efficacy of the Lara Asthma Symptom Scale (LASS) in adults with persistent asthma. Methods Participants were 18 to 64 years of age with persistent asthma. Data were collected at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. We described the construct and predictive validity of the LASS by comparing it with measures of pulmonary function (FEV 1 ), asthma-specific quality of life (Juniper's Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire [AQLQ]), and health care use (emergency department [ED] visits and hospitalizations). Results Three hundred eighty-three participants provided baseline data. The LASS had high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach α = .84). LASS scores correlated significantly with baseline measures of FEV 1 (−0.20, P = .0002), AQLQ (−0.68, P P = .002), and hospitalizations (0.15, P = .008). Baseline LASS scores were associated significantly with ED visits ( P = .03) and hospitalizations ( P = .04) over the subsequent 12 months. Change in LASS scores over time correlated significantly with changes in FEV 1 (−0.22, P = .001) and AQLQ (−0.70, P Conclusions The LASS demonstrated good internal consistency, excellent validity based on concurrent criterion validity and longitudinal predictive validity, and good discriminatory properties in a heterogeneous sample of adults with persistent asthma. Clinical implications This study validates a simple multidimensional asthma questionnaire as a clinical tool in the assessment of asthma control in adults.
Thermal degradation behavior of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate in presence of catalyst and detergents in neutral oil

Thermal decomposition of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) is examined in presence of a noble catalyst iron fluoride (FeF3), using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The influence of heating rate, isothermal holding period and catalyst concentration was verified. The role of FeF3 on ZDDP decomposition mechanism was analyzed using 31P-NMR. This study also focused on the effect of FeF3 on ZDDP decomposition in combination with detergents (Ca-sulfonate, Mg-sulfonate and Cophenates). The decomposition temperature of ZDDP is reduced significantly in presence of FeF3. Thanks to FeF3, the ZDDP decomposition temperature is lower even in the presence of the detergents, while the detergents greatly retard the ZDDP decomposition. The 31P-NMR studies confirmed a faster decomposition and a different decomposition mechanism of ZDDP in presence of FeF3
Equation of state of NaMgF3 postperovskite: Implication for the seismic velocity changes in the D″ region

[1] Recent first-principles calculations have proposed that bulk sound speed (VΦ) decreases at the perovskite (Pv) → postperovskite (PPv) transition. Yet some measurements suggest an increase in VΦ at the PPv transition in (Mg,Fe)SiO3 and NaMgF3. Our new measurements on NaMgF3 up to 50 GPa under quasi-hydrostatic stress conditions reveal that the VΦ of PPv remains lower than that of Pv near the PPv transition, consistent with a first-principles study on NaMgF3. Combined with similar observations in (Mg,Fe)SiO3, MgGeO3, and CaIrO3, our result on NaMgF3 suggests that the VΦ decrease is a robust trend in the PPv transition and is controlled more by crystal structure than by chemical composition. Our finding also strengthens the proposal that the elastic properties of PPv can explain the small P-wave increase across the D″ discontinuity and the anticorrelation between the VΦ and S-wave velocity anomalies in the D″ region.
ATTITUDINAL AND SITUATIONAL FACTORS AS PREDICTORS OF SELF-REPORTED LIKELIHOOD OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

ABSTRACT Previous research has examined individual trait-level characteristics, as well as situational factors related to the self-reported likelihood of males engaging in sexually aggressive behaviors. This study integrates both of these lines of research, proposing a model where individual attitudinal characteristics (sexually coercive attitudes, sexually coercive fantasy use) predict intermediate situational outcomes (current arousal, perceptions of the victim's experience), and subsequent self-reported probability of sexual assault. Participants were 89 undergraduates, mostly working class male students from a small university. After completing questionnaires measuring coercive sexual fantasy use and coercive attitudes, participants read a short “acquaintance-rape” scenario, then reported their level of arousal and likelihood of sexual assault (acting as the male in the scenario). Results suggest an emotional (sexual) arousal component, a cognitive-attitudinal component, and a disinhibitory component ...
Compression of mixed images using an image representation formed via segmentation

— This paper presents an approach for the compression of mixed-image data (images which include text) using a segmentation-based image representation. The mixed image to be compressed is approximated as a set of uniform regions encoded as a set of region boundaries (contours) and descriptions of the region interiors. In order to improve the visual quality of textual portions in the image approximation, coarsely quantized approximation error (corresponding only to the textual portions) is also encoded. The segmentation method used to form this representation combines a Gaussian texture model and a Gibbs-Markov contour model in order to find regions with boundaries which correspond closely to the objects in the image. A mixed image, in general, is difficult for conventional transform coding methods because these methods typically discard high-frequency components or quantize them coarsely. Structures such as edges in the image, however, are dependent upon these high-frequency components. Therefore, the visual quality of structures such as text (which consists mostly of high-contrast edges) in the image is severely degraded by conventional transform coding methods. Due to its ability to capture the semantically important structure in the image, segmentation-based coding is a promising approach for these images. The effectiveness of the proposed approach for the compression of mixed images is demonstrated through experimental results.
Effect of multicoil electromagnetic tool eccentricity on measured signals

Abstract The article discusses the effect on the measured signals of a multicoil electromagnetic tool offset with respect to the borehole axis. The tool is a non-conductive cylindrical body with several coaxial coils. It is assumed that the borehole is vertical and the medium is axisymmetric with respect to the borehole axis. A number of computations based on the finite element method were carried out. Simulations took into account the tool body and finite sizes of coils. A wide range of transmitter-receiver spacings (0.18–1.0 m) was studied. The operating frequency was 1.75 MHz. Different drilling muds and values of the tool offset were examined. It was shown that, for highly conductive drilling muds, the type of dependence between apparent resistivity and eccentricity varies greatly with the array length. It was discovered that increasing the contrast between invaded zone resistivity and mud resistivity also increases the eccentricity effect. The eccentricity effect increases with the decrease in mud resistivity and decreases as the array length increases. Also analyzed was the effect of the tool offset on electromagnetic field pattern.
Do associations with C-Reactive protein and extent of coronary artery disease account for the increased cardiovascular risk of renal insufficiency? ☆

Abstract Objectives We sought to determine whether the association of higher C-reactive protein levels (CRP) and more extensive coronary artery disease (CAD) explains the high cardiovascular risk of renal insufficiency (RI). Background Renal insufficiency and renal failure (RF) have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk in several studies, and it has been suggested that this association may be due to higher CRP levels and greater extent of CAD. To what extent CRP or severity of CAD explains this risk is uncertain. Methods A total of 1,484 patients without myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing angiography were entered and followed for 3.0 ± 1.6 years; RI and RF were defined as estimated glomerular filtration rates (GFR) of 30 to 60 and Results Mean age was 64 years, and 67% were men; CAD was absent in 24%, mild in 11%, and severe (≥70% stenosis) in 60%; CRP and CAD scores increased with declining renal function (median CRP: 1.2, 1.4, 2.2 mg/dl, p Conclusions Renal insufficiency, CRP, and angiographic CAD, although correlated, are largely independent predictors of cardiovascular risk, suggesting the importance of both inflammation and as yet undefined RI-related risk factors.
Autoradiography of dendritic acetylcholine receptors: A method for study of isolated neurons of the adult central nervous system in the turtle

Adult neurons were isolated from turtle retina in order to study the subcellular distribution of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Retinas were perfused in vitro with [3H]quinuclidinylbenzilate [3H]QNB) to label muscarinic receptors, and individual neurons with extensive dendritic arborization were obtained for autoradiography by use of papain and trituration. Papain caused no change in the number of muscarinic receptor sites nor in their affinity for [3H]QNB. Receptors, indicated by the positions of silver grains, were localized to dendritic processes.
Multivariable model reference adaptive control with unknown high-frequency gain

A multivariable model reference adaptive control algorithm is presented for the case when the high-frequency gain matrix is unknown. Only an upper bound on the norm of the matrix needs to be known a priori. A transformation of the parameters, with a sort of hysteresis, is used to guarantee that a controller matrix, which is normally the inverse of the estimate of the high-frequency gain matrix, remains nonsingular. It is shown that all the signals in the adaptive system are bounded and that the tracking error and the regressor error converge to zero for all bounded reference inputs. Furthermore, exponential convergence is achieved when the regressor vector is persistently exciting. >
Service-Oriented Architectures and Technologies

Service-oriented architectures and Web services are the latest step in the development of application integration middleware. They attempt to fix the interoperability problems of the past and provide a foundation for future Internet-scale distributed applications. They also attempt, and to some extent succeed, to mark the end of the “middleware wars” with all major vendors finally agreeing on a single rich set of technology standards for application integration and distributed computing.
Multi-scale optical image processing

The authors introduce two multiscale optical image processing systems, a centroid scale-space processor and an optical wavelet processor. A.P. Witkin (1984) introduced the idea of scale-space, where information is presented on a coordinate system with continuous spatial and scale axes. His representation consists of a convolving the input signal with a Laplacian of a Gaussian point spread function and retaining the zero-crossings (which correspond to edges) as scale (width of the Gaussian) is varied. These edge maps form continuous contours in scale-space. The optical implementation of the system is discussed. The centroid scale-space map (CSSM) is constructed. This technique is extended to 2D input functions by using correlation techniques. The optical system which computes a 2D wavelet transform is shown. One special advantage is that the system complexity is independent of the scale parameter. This gives the flexibility to tailor the scale parameter to the particular application. >
Tensile and Fatigue Properties of Friction Stir Processed NiAl Bronze

Friction stir processing (FSP) produced local microstructural refinement in cast Ni Al Bronze. The refined microstructure quality was evaluated with mechanical property characterization using monotonic tension and fatigue testing as a function of FSP raster patterns. Modifying the cast NiAl bronze with FSP resulted in a 140 - 172 % increase in yield strength, and a 40 - 57% increase in tensile strength. Changing the raster pattern from a linear to a rectangular spiral raster increased the tensile elongations by 40 - 134%. This increase in elongation was attributed to increased microstructural uniformity through the depth of the FSP raster. The ability to transfer FSP technology was demonstrated with consistent tensile property data produced by three different laboratories. Fatigue characterization (both uniaxial and rotating-bending fatigue) showed that FSP improved the cast NiAl bronze fatigue resistance. Both types of fatigue testing showed differences in fatigue resistance as a function of processing parameters.
Building Community Resiliency: Spatial Links between Household and Business Post-disaster Return

Rapidly urbanising areas along the world’s coasts are exposing greater numbers of households to more frequent and severe natural and man-made disasters. Knowledge gained from disaster situations can provide insight into larger urban forces and play a role in developing and prescribing policies that influence the creation of more resilient communities. This article explores the interdependency of households and businesses in post-disaster return following 2008’s Hurricane Ike in Galveston, Texas. Geocoded data from 980 households and 145 businesses collected in the months after the storm allow the spatial correlation of the household occupancy and business operation, controlling for damage. Findings suggest that the return of households and businesses are mutually dependent across space. The re-opening of businesses can influence nearby households’ decisions to return to their homes and the return of households in the market area will increase the chances for businesses to return.
Pustular psoriasis of pregnancy in a patient whose dermatosis showed features of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis.

A 23-year-old pregnant woman at 38 weeks of gestation presented with a 2-day history of a red eruption on her abdomen and upper thighs. The patient had applied baby oil to her abdomen a few days earlier, but she denied using any other topical products. Her only medications were prenatal vitamins and iron, which she had been taking since the beginning of her pregnancy. The clinical impression was contact dermatitis, and she was started on topical Sarna lotion (containing 0.5% camphor and 0.5% menthol) after she declined topical steroids. Three days later, she presented to the dermatology clinic with worsening pruritus, mild diarrhea, and subjective chills. On physical examination, there were diffuse erythematous plaques studded with 1-2-mm pustules on the upper extremities, chest, back, abdomen, and upper thighs (Fig. 1a-c). The pustules were distributed diffusely throughout the plaques with no obvious circinate pattern. Pustular psoriasis of pregnancy was the favored diagnosis; she was admitted for fetal and maternal monitoring. Admission medications included prednisone, 40 mg orally daily, and diphenhydramine, 50 mg intravenously, as needed for pruritus. Laboratory values on hospital admission are shown in Table 1. A lesional punch biopsy showed a subcorneal spongiform neutrophilic pustule (Fig. 2a,b). The papillary dermis was edematous with a perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate with eosinophils. No significant acanthosis or papillomatosis of the epidermis was seen and no necrotic keratinocytes were identified. Special stains for infectious organisms were negative. In addition, bacterial and herpes simplex viral cultures taken from a pustule showed no growth. On the second day in hospital, the patient's albumin fell to 2.6 g/dL and her serum calcium level dropped to 7.7 mg/dL (the albumin-corrected calcium level was 8.8 mg/dL). The obstetric team elected to induce delivery to prevent fetal complications, and a healthy boy was delivered. During the 24 h following delivery, the patient's erythema, pustules, and pruritus improved. At the 1 -week follow-up visit, skin examination revealed only residual scaling on the upper thighs and periumbilical skin and residual erythema on the upper back (Fig. 3a,b). She was continued on a tapered course of oral prednisone with continued resolution of the eruption. The patient returned to the clinic several months postpartum with a new eruption. Clinically, the lesions were thought to be consistent with inverse psoriasis and topical treatment was initiated. No biopsy was performed to confirm the diagnosis.
On-line delay testing of digital circuits

A new technique for on-line checking of digital systems is proposed. It is shown that, under certain timing restrictions, an off-line delay-fault testing method called Stability Checking can be used for on-line checking. Efficient CMOS on-line Stability Checker designs are presented, and an algorithm for meeting timing restrictions is described. Benchmark results are shown. On-line Stability Checkers detect errors caused by most common reliability failures and transients, and are shown to perform almost as well as duplication at a fraction of the hardware cost. Since outputs are checked independently, good diagnosability is possible. >
Territoriality and male reproductive success in arctic ground squirrels

Although territorial defense is a common form of reproductive competition among male vertebrates, the exact reproductive consequences of this behavior are often poorly understood. To explore relationships between territoriality and reproductive success in a nongroup-living mammal, we quantified patterns of space use, mating success, and fertilization success for males in a free-living population of arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii plesius). Because litters of this species are sired almost exclusively by a female’s first mate, we predicted that territory ownership would be associated with first access to estrous females. During the 2-week period when mating occurred, each male in the study population attempted to defend a distinct portion of the habitat, although the success of this defense varied among individuals. Twenty-six of 28 females monitored mated with the male on whose territory they resided. However, the majority of females observed throughout estrus (65%; n 20) also mated with at least one other male, indicating that territory ownership was not associated with exclusive access to females. In contrast, territory ownership was significantly associated with first access to estrous females; 20 (71.4%) of 28 females mated first with the male on whose territory they resided. In this regard, the behavior of S. parryii plesius parallels that of socially monogamous birds in which territorial defense by males functions to deter extrapair copulations by females. Although territorial defense represents an important component of male reproductive success in arctic ground squirrels, other aspects of male behavior (e.g., the ability to dominate agonistic interactions on the day of a female’s estrus) are also critical. We suggest that future studies of vertebrate mating systems will benefit by viewing such defense as only one of multiple axes along which conspecific males compete for access to females.
Para-aortic irradiation in cervical carcinoma

Cervical carcinoma spreads in a progressive and predictable manner in the vast majority of cases so that present management involves therapeutics directed to the primary and regional pelvic nodes. In the past 2 decades, the ability to encompass and sterlize lymph nodes by external radiation therapy has improved 5 year survivals over techniques that concentrated only on the primary site.” More recent attempts to improve these statistics by concentrating therapeutics only to the pelvic region have had little impact in terms of survival but instead have increased the incidence and severity of complications.“*” In deference to the natural history of the spread of cervical cancer, radiation oncologists have directed their attention to the echelon of lymph nodes in the para-aortic region.4,8*‘0 Until recently, the empiricism of the total dose delivered, and the techniques utilized, assured the occurrence of unacceptable morbidity. Lately, several reports have indicated that para-aortic doses of 4500-5000 rad in 5-6 weeks are tolerated we11.6*” The incidence of isolated loco-regional recurrence with radical radiation therapy is minimal; in the majority of patients who fail, disease is outside the pelvic confines. s*9 The naturally consequent use of systematic chemotherapeutic and immunological therapies have yielded unenviable results to date. Conversely, extending the irradiation portals to the para-aortic region offers the most promise of encompassing and sterilizing viable disease with resultant improvement in survival. This short communication will review the rationale in terms of results, complications and future portents in the management of cervical cancer.
Creating an Interdisciplinary Business Ethics Program

Driven by recent accreditation mandates, a changing legal environment, and multiple high-visibility corporate ethics scandals, many business schools are responding to the growing movement within higher education to integrate ethics into the curricula. The literature suggests that the amount of attention given to ethics varies widely among institutions, and has not been coherently developed. Moreover, institutions have struggled to tie related projects and instruction to the overall concept of assurance of student learning. The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for institutions interested in creating an interdisciplinary business ethics program that combines critical success factors, assurance of student learning and continuous quality improvement. Using a nationally recognized business school’s ethics program, we provide an example of how our model can be applied at other institutions based on their own unique vision, mission and goals.
Red-black trees in a functional setting

Everybody learns about balanced binary search trees in their introductory computer science classes, but even the stouthearted tremble at the thought of actually implementing such a beast. The details surrounding rebalancing are usually just too messy. To show that this need not be the case, we present an algorithm for insertion into red-black trees (Guibas and Sedgewick, 1978) that any competent programmer should be able to implement in fifteen minutes or less.
Geomagnetic polarity epochs: new data from Olduvai Gorge, Tanganyika

Abstract The lower lava flow of Bed I in Olduvai Gorge, Tanganyika, carries natural remanent magnetization (NRM) having normal polarity. Thermal demagnetization experiments demonstrate the stability of this NRM. Thus the Olduvai geomagnetic polarity event, which was originally named from the upper lava flow in Bed I, is represented in its type locality by two normally magnetized lavas. These lavas have been shown to be 1.9 m.y. old, and although they are distinct from each other in composition and surface structure, their eruptions appear to have been closely spaced in time.
Platelet transfusion therapy. One-hour posttransfusion increments are valuable in predicting the need for HLA-matched preparations.

Seventy-nine platelet transfusions to 73 thrombocytopenic patients with cancer were analyzed to determine whether a platelet count obtained one hour after transfusion could help differentiate between alloimmunization and other clinical factors that result in rapid platelet destruction. These transfusions were selected because 18- to 24-hour increments were inadequate in response to fresh, random donor platelets. A corrected count increment (CI) (CI=[posttransfusion count—pretransfusion count]×body surface area [sq m]/platelets transfused×10 11 ) at one hour of 10×10 3 /μL or greater was associated with absence of lymphocytotoxic antibody, whereas increments of less than 10×10 3 /μL were generally associated with high levels of strongly cytotoxic antibody. HLA-matched transfusions produced no improvement in increments when the previous one-hour CI had been 10×10 3 /μL or greater, whereas in the other group significantly better increments were obtained. A one-hour posttransfusion count is a simple test that correlates well with the presence of antibody against HLA antigens, is valuable in predicting the need for HLA-matched platelets, and helps avoid wasteful, empirical use of such transfusions. ( JAMA 243:435-438, 1980)
Explaining Debugging Strategies to End-User Programmers

There has been little research into how end-user programming environments can provide explanations that could fill a critical information gap for end-user debuggers - help with debugging strategy. To address this need, we designed and prototyped a video-based approach for explaining debugging strategy, and accompanied it with a text-only approach. We then conducted a qualitative empirical study with end-user debuggers. The results reveal the influences of the explanations on end-user debuggers' decision making, how users reacted to the video versus textual media, and the information gaps the explanations closed. The results also reveal issues of particular importance to explanations of this type.
Characterization of biochar from fast pyrolysis and gasification systems

Thermochemical processing of biomass produces a solid product containing char (mostly carbon) and ash. This char can be combusted for heat and power, gasified, activated for adsorption applications, or applied to soils as a soil amendment and carbon sequestration agent. The most advantageous use of a given char depends on its physical and chemical characteristics, although the relationship of char properties to these applications is not well understood. Chars from fast pyrolysis and gasification of switchgrass and corn stover were characterized by proximate analysis, CHNS elemental analysis, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area, particle density, higher heating value (HHV), scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence ash content analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy using a photo-acoustic detector (FTIR-PAS), and quantitative 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) using direct polarization and magic angle spinning. Chars from the same feedstocks produced under slow pyrolysis conditions, and a commercial hardwood charcoal, were also characterized. Switchgrass and corn stover chars were found to have high ash content (32–55 wt %), much of which was silica. BET surface areas were low (7–50 m2/g) and HHVs ranged from 13 to 21 kJ/kg. The aromaticities from NMR, ranging between 81 and 94%, appeared to increase with reaction time. A pronounced decrease in aromatic CH functionality between slow pyrolysis and gasification chars was observed in NMR and FTIR-PAS spectra. NMR estimates of fused aromatic ring cluster size showed fast and slow pyrolysis chars to be similar (∼7–8 rings per cluster), while higher-temperature gasification char was much more condensed (∼17 rings per cluster). © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2009
Dietary requirements of synthesizable amino acids by animals: a paradigm shift in protein nutrition

Amino acids are building blocks for proteins in all animals. Based on growth or nitrogen balance, amino acids were traditionally classified as nutritionally essential or nonessential for mammals, birds and fish. It was assumed that all the “nutritionally nonessential amino acids (NEAA)” were synthesized sufficiently in the body to meet the needs for maximal growth and optimal health. However, careful analysis of the scientific literature reveals that over the past century there has not been compelling experimental evidence to support this assumption. NEAA (e.g., glutamine, glutamate, proline, glycine and arginine) play important roles in regulating gene expression, cell signaling, antioxidative responses, fertility, neurotransmission, and immunity. Additionally, glutamate, glutamine and aspartate are major metabolic fuels for the small intestine to maintain its digestive function and to protect the integrity of the intestinal mucosa. Thus, diets for animals must contain all NEAA to optimize their survival, growth, development, reproduction, and health. Furthermore, NEAA should be taken into consideration in revising the “ideal protein” concept that is currently used to formulate swine and poultry diets. Adequate provision of all amino acids (including NEAA) in diets enhances the efficiency of animal production. In this regard, amino acids should not be classified as nutritionally essential or nonessential in animal or human nutrition. The new Texas A&M University’s optimal ratios of dietary amino acids for swine and chickens are expected to beneficially reduce dietary protein content and improve the efficiency of their nutrient utilization, growth, and production performance.
Annual survival and site fidelity of northern pintails banded on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Abstract We banded northern pintails (Anas acuta; n = 13,645) at a single site on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD), Alaska, USA, from 1990 to 2001. We used recaptures from our site in combination with hunter recoveries to model annual survival, recovery rates, and fidelity to our capture location. Most recoveries (>90%) occurred in the Pacific Flyway with 64% reported from California's Central Valley. Our top candidate models allowed survival to vary by sex but not by age or year. Estimated annual survival was 77.6% (95% CI: 73.9–81.0%) for males and 60.2% (95% CI: 53.2–67.0%) for females. Reporting rates varied by age, sex, and year; estimates for adult males exceeded those for adult females by 3.5 times. Within sexes, reporting rates of hatch-year pintails exceeded those of adults. Estimated recovery rates were considerably lower than those estimated during the 1950s–1970s for winter banded pintails (Hestbeck 1993b), but there were no differences in survival rates. This suggests that changes in harvest r...
A Peculiar Property of Exceptional Weyl Groups

Let W be a Weyl group and P ⊂ W, a parabolic subgroup. In this paper, we give the decomposition of the permutation representation IndPW 1 into irreducibles for each exceptional W and maximal parabolic P. We find that there is an 'extra' common irreducible component which appears for exceptional groups and not for classical groups. This work is motivated by the study of Prym varieties and integrable systems.
What Happened to ‘Strangeness in Quark-Gluon Plasma: 1982’

Due to mishaps, the following manuscript Chap. 31 did not appear in the proceedings of the QM2 meeting in Bielefeld, 10–14 May, 1982. It seems appropriate to show in this volume how things worked and what obstacles needed to be overcome in a new field of research that was recently born and rapidly advancing. The science policy decisions to be taken meant that 1–2 weeks were important, while a document could take as long as 4 weeks to travel between Geneva and Frankfurt.
Federalism, Fiscal Authority, and Centralization in Latin America: BRAZIL: THE RETENTION OF FISCAL AUTHORITY

Resilient Federalism In contrast with Venezuela, Argentina, and Mexico, the fiscal pact in Brazil did not involve a centralized federal commitment. States in Brazil successfully resisted the pressures for centralization from the federal government, retaining a highly peripheralized fiscal arrangement. The precedents of revenue-sharing date back to the 1930s, which would suggest a development parallel to Argentina and Mexico. However, in Brazil the federal bargain did not become centralized. Federal transfers to the states and municipalities did not become firmly established until the 1960s, after the collapse of democracy, and a substantial amount of fiscal authority always remained controlled by the states. Most discussions of Brazilian federalism suggest that decentralization has varied according to the political regime. Military rulers in Brazil tried to centralize taxation by controlling the most important sources of revenue and granting the federal government the residual power to create new taxes (Varsano, 1996; Abrucio, 1998). This was not unlike efforts by Getulio Vargas, within the authoritarian Estado Novo , to centralize revenue after 1937. However, what is striking about Brazil is not the variation in centralization but that state politicians remained – as they did with Vargas – too strong to subdue. The efforts at unitarian imposition of both Vargas and the military in the 20th century largely failed. Vargas had to concede the sales tax to the states, and could not strip from them the power to tax exports. The military had to allow the states to retain control of the value-added tax.
The Reproduction-Diapause Approach to Population Control of the Boll Weevil

Six applications of a spray of methyl parathion (0.5 lb per acre) were made at 4- to 5-day intervals to isolated cotton fields in Carroll County, Mississippi, to control reproducing and diapausing boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, during the fall. The most effective follow up procedure included chemical defoliation of cotton plants to limit the available weevil food, and a final application in October of Bidrin® (3-hydroxy- N, N -dimethyl- cis -crotonamide dimethyl phosphate) at 1 lb per acre. Examination of seedling cotton from the treated fields the following spring indicated that in 1 field only 2.7 weevils per acre had survived the control program and the winter weather. The boll weevil population in the treated fields did not rise to damaging proportions until mid-August (the 2nd generation).
Organometallic Epitaxy of Extrinsic N-Type HgCdTe Using Trimethylindium

Indium doping of mercury cadmium telluride, grown by organometallic epitaxy, has been accomplished using trimethylindium (TMIn) as the dopant source. Layers, grown by the Direct Alloy Growth (DAG) process, exhibited a linear doping vs TMIn partial pressure characteristic over the 5 × 1016 to 3 × 1018 cm-3 range. A maximum doping concentration of 5 × 1018 cm-3 was obtained in these layers. The optical band edge in these layers was observed to move to higher energy with increased doping. It is shown that this is caused by the Burstein-Moss shift of the bandedge with doping, and that the Cd fraction is independent of the doping concentration.