cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mobilizing Institutions and Class Representation in U.S. State Electorates

Scholarly explanations for comparatively low U.S. voter turnout typically point to the weakness of mobilizing institutions, restrictive registration laws and the character of the election calendar. These same factors are assumed to account for the disproportionate representation of upper-class individuals in United States electorates. Furthermore, it is assumed that high turnout generally enhances class representation. We demonstrate below that turnout is related to class representation only under certain conditions; and we show that the causes of class representation differ from those of voter turnout. Using aggregate data on turnout and class representation in state electorates, we find that mobilizing institutions have modest effects on class representation. Contrary to typical assumptions about the effects of mobilizing institutions, class repesenta tion in U.S. state electorates is largely determined by the socioeconomic attributes (most notably, income and ethnic diversity) of the state's population.
Advanced propulsion for the XXIst century.

This document represents a poster presentation offered at the AIAA/CAS International Air & Space Symposium and Exposition from July 14-17, 2003 in Dayton Ohio. This presentation outlines advanced space propulsion concepts as well as associated research and industry activities during the 21st century.
Hypercapnia induces long-term changes in postganglionic renal nerve activity in the piglet.

Abstract In developing swine, time and frequency domain analyses were used to compare changes in discharge features of efferent phrenic and postganglionic renal nerve activities evoked by prolonged (1 h) exposure to severe hypercapnia (10% CO 2 , balance O 2 ), before and after combined carotid sinus and aortic depressor nerve (CSN–AOD) sectioning. With intact CSN–AOD innervation, respiration-related activity in renal nerve discharge was rare (3 of 11 animals) during baseline periods with intact innervation, but was observed in most cases (10 of 11 animals) during baseline following denervation. Renal nerve respiration-related activity was recruited by hypercapnic stimulation in animals with intact CSN–AOD innervation, and was augmented in denervated animals with ongoing respiratory activity. Phrenic nerve discharge was markedly augmented during hypercapnia, whether CSN–AOD innervation was intact or not, and it did not exhibit a post-hypercapnic depression. Autopower spectra of renal nerve activity revealed the presence of two coexisting rhythms, 2–6 and 7–13 Hz, which were present whether CSN–AOD innervation was intact or not. The hypercapnic-induced increases of activity in the 2–6 and 7–13 Hz bands were not comparable, with the latter region exhibiting a much more robust response to hypercapnia, especially following CSN–AOD denervation. Thus, prolonged exposure to hypercapnia evoked changes in renal nerve discharge that involved increased coupling to neuronal ensembles shaping central inspiratory activity and those generating central sympathetic outflows, especially to networks generating 7–13 Hz rhythm. Such changes may permit more efficient modulation of innervated structures during exposure to stressors.
FLASH PHOTOLYSIS OF SEVERAL AROMATICS BY ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT AND VISIBLE LIGHT IN THE PRESENCE OF EOSIN Y

— A flash photolysis investigation was made of the photo-oxidation of aqueous aniline, resorcinol, βnaphthol, p-sulfanilic acid, and p-bromophenol induced by ultraviolet and visible light irradiation in the presence of eosin Y. The transient spectra show that u.v. irradiation generates the hydrated electron (except in p-bromophenol) and the radical products of one-electron oxidation. The initial products of the eosin-sensitized oxidations are the dye semi-quinone and aromatic radicals which coincide with the u.v. photolysis products in at least several cases. The investigation of the reaction kinetics by rapid spectrophotometry with analog computer analysis shows that the aromatics quench the triplet state of eosin and also react with it in a slower electron-transfer process, in competition with ‘dye-dye’ quenching and electron-transfer reactions. The u.v. and dye-sensitized oxidations are discussed in terms of their energetics.
Disposition Kinetics of Orally Administered Enoximone in Patients with Moderate to Severe Heart Failure

Enoximone is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, which has been studied extensively for use in the management of patients with moderate-to-severe heart failure. The authors have studied the absorption and disposition kinetics of enoximone and its primary metabolite, enoximone sulfoxide, after both single oral doses of enoximone and at steady-state after short-term chronic oral therapy. A total of ten patients (two female, eight male) with moderate-to-severe heart failure (NYHA class II-IV) were enrolled into the study after giving written informed consent. The plasma levels of enoximone sulfoxide were greater than those of enoximone at all sampling times. The peak enoximone sulfoxide plasma concentrations ranged from 3.5 to 17.3 times the peak enoximone plasma levels for individual patients. The average steady-state plasma concentrations for enoximone were 115 +/- 40 ng/mL and 190 +/- 78 ng/mL for 50 mg every 8 hours and 100 mg every 8 hours dosage regimens, respectively. The absorption and disposition kinetics of enoximone were found to be significantly variable between patients. The authors also evaluated the relationship between dose administered and steady-state plasma levels as well as the relationship between the observed and predicted steady-state plasma levels. The authors found a linear relationship between the dose that was administered and the accrued plasma levels, as well as a good correlation between the predicted and observed steady-state levels. Although these data confirm previous reports that the sulfide metabolite of enoximone accumulates extensively in the plasma during oral therapy, reaching levels much higher than those of enoximone, these data do not support previous suggestions that the disposition of enoximone is nonlinear.
High flux photochemical changes in Black Chrome solar absorbing coatings

Abstract Black Chrome samples have been exposed to concentrated solar radiation (350kW m−2–2.5 MW m−2) at elevated temperatures (250–500°C) over limited periods of time with the resultant observation that the coatings degrade less optically than equivalent coatings heated by IR radiation. The decreased degradation is a result of decreased oxidation of the Black Chrome coating under solar heating as compared to oven heating. This is proposed to be due to photo-desorption of gaseous oxygen bearing species from the surface of the film.
The effect of various dietary zinc concentrations on the biological interactions of zinc, copper, and iron in rats

Three groups (14 rats each) were fed one of the following diets for 8 wks: a control purified basal diet containing 12 ppm zinc, 5 ppm copper, and 35 ppm iron; the basal diet with <2 ppm zinc; or the basal diet supplemented with 1000 ppm zinc. Rats fed the zinc-deficient diet had decreased weight gain, moderate polydipsia, and intermittent mild diarrhea. The zinc-supplemented rats had a cyclical pattern of food intake and weight loss from weeks 5 to 8. Tissue concentrations suggest that zinc and copper were not mutually antagonistic with chronic dietary imbalances. If tissue element concentrations reflected intestinal uptake, then competition and/or inhibition of intestinal uptake occurred between zinc and iron. The fluctuations in tissue element concentrations that occurred with increased duration of the study were at variance with previous studies of shorter time periods. The dietary proportions of zinc, copper, and iron appear to influence zinc, copper, and iron metabolism at the intestinal and cellular transport levels over a given period of time.
Extending domain coverage of language understanding systems via intent transfer between domains using knowledge graphs and search query click logs

This paper proposes a new technique to enable Natural Language Understanding (NLU) systems to handle user queries beyond their original semantic schemas defined by intents and slots. Knowledge graph and search query logs are used to extend NLU system’s coverage by transferring intents from other domains to a given domain. The transferred intents as well as existing intents are then applied to a set of new slots that they are not trained with. The knowledge graph and search click logs are used to determine whether the new slots (i.e. entities) or their attributes in the graph can be used together with transfered intents without re-training the underlying NLU models with the expanded (i.e. with new intents and slots) schema. Experimental results show that the proposed technique can in fact be used in extending NLU system’s domain coverage in fulfilling the user’s request.
Correlations in Space and Time and Born Approximation Scattering in Systems of Interacting Particles

A natural time-dependent generalization is given for the well-known pair distribution function $g(\mathrm{r})$ of systems of interacting particles. The pair distribution in space and time thus defined, denoted by $G(\mathrm{r}, t)$, gives rise to a very simple and entirely general expression for the angular and energy distribution of Born approximation scattering by the system. This expression is the natural extension of the familiar Zernike-Prins formula to scattering in which the energy transfers are not negligible compared to the energy of the scattered particle. It is therefore of particular interest for scattering of slow neutrons by general systems of interacting particles: $G$ is then the proper function in terms of which to analyze the scattering data.After defining the $G$ function and expressing the Born approximation scattering formula in terms of it, the paper studies its general properties and indicates its role for neutron scattering. The qualitative behavior of $G$ for liquids and dense gases is then described and the long-range part exhibited by the function near the critical point is calculated. The explicit expression of $G$ for crystals and for ideal quantum gases is briefly derived and discussed.
The Derivation of the Cells of the Epidermal Strata of the Boa Constrictor (Constrictor Constrictor)

The epidermis of squamate reptiles is generated and shed discontinuously. Multiple cornified strata which are histologically, ultrastructurally, biochemically, biophysically, and developmentally distinct are formed sequentially from cells forced out of the germinal stratum. In order to determine the ultimate destiny of cells generated at different times in the sloughing cycle, the fate of 3 H-thymidine-labelled germinal cells from the epidermis of Constrictor constrictor was studied with relation to the times of their synthesis of desoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). All DNA synthesis occurred in the cells of single columnar germinal stratum. The ultimate destiny of the progeny did not depend entirely upon when labelling took place. Daughters of cells undergoing DNA synthesis during the early to mid resting phase became part of the alpha, lacunar, and clear stratum of the outer generation and occasionally of the Oberhautchen of the inner generation. Cells labelled in this portion of the resting phase left the germinal stratum randomly and continued to form part of a thickening alpha stratum during the resting phase. The progeny of cells labelled in the mid to late resting phase ultimately became part of the inner epidermal generation. Those cells undergoing DNA synthesis during the early proliferative stage formed portions of the mesos and alpha strata of the inner generation. the daughters of cells labelled during the late proliferative phase generally remained in the germinal stratum and randomly formed part of the alpha stratum after sloughing. The ultimate fate of a cell depends more on when it leaves the germinal stratum than on when it was generated. Paired daughter cells may form parts of different strats, and cells labelled at the same time may end up in different strata depending upon their position in the scale and when they leave the germinal stratum. These studies support the idea of intrinsic epidermal determination of differentiation squamate epidermal strata
Activities of Antimicrobial Agents against Intracellular Pneumococci

Pneumococci can enter and survive inside human lung alveolar carcinoma cells. We examined the activity of azithromycin, gentamicin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, penicillin G, rifampin, telithromycin, and trovafloxacin against pneumococci inside and outside cells. We found that moxifloxacin, trovafloxacin, and telithromycin were the most active, but only telithromycin killed all intracellular organisms.
Endowed Faculty Positions in Academic Emergency Medicine: One Decade Later.

Abstract Background In 2004 and 2009, we examined the number of endowed faculty positions in academic departments of Emergency Medicine (ADEMs). Objective We sought to survey ADEMs regarding the number of endowed faculty positions and compare the results to the 2004 and 2009 studies. Methods A survey was e-mailed to the chairs of all ADEMs belonging to the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine. We requested information on the following: the number of endowed chair and professorship positions; the amount required to fund; the amount allowed to be spent annually; the date established; and the source of funding. Results Eighty-nine chairs responded (100% response rate). Nineteen chairs reported 1 endowed chair position. One chair reported 2 such positions, and 2 chairs reported 3 positions. One chair reported 4 positions. In total, 23 ADEMs (25.8%) reported 31 endowed chair positions. For endowed professorships, 8 chairs reported 1 professorship each. Four chairs replied that they had 2 positions each and 2 chairs reported 3 positions each. A total of 14 ADEMS (15.7%) reported having 22 endowed professorships. The most common amount required to fund an endowed chair position was $2 million, and $1 million for an endowed professorship. The majority of ADEMs were allowed to spend 4% to 5% of the value of the endowment annually. Conclusion Thirty ADEMs (33.7%) currently have an endowed position, compared to only 19 (26%) 5 years ago. Emergency Medicine now has a total of 53 endowed positions, compared to only 25 such positions in 2009 and just 9 endowed positions in 2004.
Lone Atrial Fibrillation Associated with Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation

Atrial fibrillation in young patients without structural heart disease is rare. Therefore, when the arrhythmia is present in this population, reversible causes must be identified and resolved. Thyroid disorders, illicit drug or stimulant use, and acute alcohol intoxication are among these causes. We report the case of a 30-year-old Caucasian man who came to the emergency department in atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. His medical history was unremarkable, except for minor fractures of the fingers and foot. Thyroid-stimulating hormone, magnesium, and potassium levels were within normal limits, urine drug screen was negative, and alcohol use was denied. However, when the patient was questioned about use of herbal products and supplements, the use of creatine monohydrate was revealed. The patient was admitted to the hospital, anticoagulated with unfractionated heparin, and given intravenous diltiazem for rate control and intravenous amiodarone for rate and rhythm control. When discharged less than 24 hours later, he was receiving metoprolol and aspirin, with follow-up plans for echocardiography and nuclear imaging to assess perfusion. Exogenous creatine is used by athletes to theoretically improve exercise performance. Vegetarians may also take creatine to replace what they are not consuming from meat, fish, and other animal products. Previous anecdotal reports have linked creatine to the development of arrhythmia. Clinicians must be diligent when interviewing patients about their drug therapy histories and include questions about their use of herbal products and dietary supplements. In addition, it is important to report adverse effects associated with frequently consumed supplements and herbal products to the Food and Drug Administration and in the literature.
On the impactfulness of theory and review articles

Every article in the AMS Review should have an impact on marketing thought. The editors of the journal offer several operational guidelines for crafting theoretical/conceptual manuscripts and suggest three characteristics for assessing future impactfulness of a contribution. The marketing professoriate may require a new mindset in order to contribute high quality, impactful theory and review articles that can keep pace with marketplace events and marketing practice.
Security in Pervasive Health Care Networks: Current R&D and Future Challenges

Remote health monitoring has tremendous potential to improve quality of health care services in modern and ubiquitous medical environments. It helps to cut the cost in modern healthcare by avoiding unnecessary hospital visits for frequent checkups. In this context, security and protection of sensitive medical data and measurements such as Electronic Health Records (EHR), data integrity and confidentiality and protection of patient’s privacy to be monitored are important aspects in order to increase user’s acceptance of these new technologies. This paper presents an overview of current security threats in pervasive healthcare applications and analyzes the outstanding issues and future challenges.
Identification of neuropeptides from the decapod crustacean sinus glands using nanoscale liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Abstract Neurosecretory systems are known to synthesize and secrete a diverse class of peptide hormones which regulate many physiological processes. The crustacean sinus gland (SG) is a well-defined neuroendocrine site that produces numerous hemolymph-borne agents including the most complex class of endocrine signaling molecules—neuropeptides. As an ongoing effort to define the peptidome of the crustacean SG, we determine the neuropeptide complements of the SG of the Jonah crab, Cancer borealis, and the Maine lobster, Homarus americanus, using nanoflow liquid chromatography electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight (ESI-QTOF) MS/MS. Numerous neuropeptides were identified, including orcokinins, orcomyotropin, crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH), CHH precursor-related peptides (CPRPs), red pigment concentrating hormone (RPCH), β-pigment dispersing hormone (β-PDH), proctolin and HL/IGSL/IYRamide. Among them, two novel orcokinins were de novo sequenced from the SG of H. americanus. Three CPRPs including a novel isoform were sequenced in H. americanus. Four new CPRPs were sequenced from the SG of C. borealis. Our results show that structural polymorphisms in CPRPs (and thus the CHH precursors) are common in Dendrobranchiata as well as in Pleocyemata. The evolutionary relationship between the CPRPs is also discussed.
Concentration of 210Po and 210Pb in the diet at the Marshall Islands

Abstract The concentrations of 210 Po and 210 Pb have been determined in many local foods consumed by societies residing on different atolls in the Marshall Islands. The average daily intake of these two naturally occurring radionuclides from local and imported food is estimated to be 2.18 and 0.36 Bq, respectively. Local foods contribute 87% of the 210 Po and 47% of the 210 Pb associated with the diet. The items contributing the majority of the activity to the diet are derived from the marine environment and include parts of fish, invertebrates, seabirds and eggs of seabirds. The committed effective dose from ingestion of 210 Po and 210 Pb is ∼ 2 mSv/year (200 mrem/year). This pathway now contributes 83% of the natural background irradiation received by residents in the Marshall Islands. Because the naturally occurring radionuclides are omnipresent in terrestrial and marine foods at all atolls, the annual intake and computed dose can be considered as typical values for individuals with comparable diets and inhabiting other islands in the Pacific.
Wildfire, timber salvage, and the economics of expediency

Administrative planning rules and legal challenges can have significant economic impacts on timber salvage programs on public lands. This paper examines the costs of the delay in salvage caused by planning rules and the costs associated with the volume reductions forced by legal challenges in one case study. The fires on the Bitterroot National Forest in the northern Rocky Mountains in the United States burned 124,250 ha in the summer of 2000, killing valuable timber. A proposal to salvage about 15% of the burned area, containing 0.8 million m 3 (176 million board feet) of the damaged timber, was challenged in court, resulting in a mediation plan salvage amount of 0.27 million m 3 (60 million board feet). Administrative planning requirements also delayed the initiation of salvage to 2003. Because timber decays following death and damage, the costs of delay can be quantified. We evaluate the costs of both reducing the salvage volume due to the litigation and the losses due to decay from the administrative delay. Simulations show that the court settlement plan created through legal challenge resulted in an $8.5 million loss to the U.S. treasury and an $8.8 million (65%) loss in net welfare under the base case market assumptions. The delay in salvaging the agreed upon salvage amount from 2001 to 2002 reduced revenues from salvage to the U.S. treasury by $1.5 million (25%) and potential welfare benefits by the same amount, under base case assumptions of market sensitivities to prices. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A bracket assignment problem for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Basketball Tournament

The National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Basketball Tournament is a 65-team championship in American college basketball, in which a single team is eliminated in a play-in game, followed by a six-round, single-elimination tournament. Owing to its immense popularity, each aspect of the tournament, including the selection of teams, their ranking (or “seeding”), and the assignment of teams to locations for the first few rounds, is a hotly debated topic. In this paper, we concentrate on the latter aspect of the tournament composition, as the first two elements have been extensively researched in a variety of settings. We formulate the team assignment problem as a mixed-integer program, and examine various methods of tightening the linear programming relaxation in order to yield an effective methodology for generating feasible tournament pairings with minimum expected travel. Finally, we demonstrate the results of our algorithm on data derived from the 2004 and 2005 basketball tournaments.
Mechanism of the Selective Action of Eosin-Methylene-Blue Agar on the Enteric Group

The actual mechanism of the differentiation of lactose-fermenting and non-lactose-fermenting organisms on eosin-methylene-blue medium is not reported in the literature. The present study is an attempt to elucidate this problem.The color of colon forms on E.M.B. agar was found to depend on two factors: (1) the reaction of eosin with methylene blue to form a dye compound of either acidic or neutral nature, and (2) the production, by lactose-fermenting colonies, of a sufficiently low pH so that this dye compound is taken up by individual cells of the colony. Non-lactose-fermenting organisms are not colored because the compound is not taken up in alkaline reaction.An explanation is offered to account for the occasional blue colonies found on E.M.B. medium. It is suggested that these colonies form a relatively high pH and thus cause slight dissociation of the compound. This dissociation would allow independent staining of the colonies by methylene blue.
A distributed chromosome genetic algorithm for bin-packing

Abstract Genetic algorithms (GAs) are excellent approaches to solving complex problems in optimization with difficult constraints. The classic bin-packing optimization problem has been shown to be a NP-complete problem. The loading multiple parts into the build cylinder of a rapid prototyping machine is a type of a bin-packing optimization problem. There are GA applications that work with variations of the bin-packing problem, such as stock cutting, vehicle loading, air container loading, scheduling, and knapsack problems. These applications are mostly based on one-dimensional or two-dimensional considerations, using very specific assumptions. Ikonen et al. (A genetic algorithm for packing three-dimensional non-convex objects having cavities and holes. In: Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Genetic Algorithms. Michigan State University, July 19–23, 1997.) have developed a GA for rapid prototyping called GARP, which utilizes a three-dimensional chromosome structure for the bin-packing of a Sinterstation 2000s build cylinder. GARP allows the Sinterstation 2000 to be used more productively by designing a packing method for multiple parts. GARP was developed using a sequential GA, so execution time is influenced by the number of parts to be packed. Anticipating greater use of time compression technologies, GARP's execution time needs to be reduced. This paper will detail the development of a distributed chromosome GA to reduce the execution time of GARP. The implementation of this distributed GA will improve the efficiency of GARP, by using multiple CPUs to help solve the problem of bin-packing the build cylinder for the rapid prototyping machine.
Residual signal analysis - A subsystem approach to adaptive signal processing

A signal bus contains a multiplicity of signals to be recovered. A cooperative arrangement between estimation processors is shown in which each processor acts as an adaptive interference nulling device for all the other processors while performing an efficient estimation of its own signal. Signals being estimated are removed from the common bus driving all of the estimators except that a unique feedback arrangement gives to each estimator full access to its own assigned signal.
Graded localisation of naming from electrical stimulation mapping of left cerebral cortex

APPLYING a weak electric current to the cerebral cortex of awake neurosurgical patients is an established method for mapping language zones on the basis of stimulation-evoked errors. Two new findings are reported here—the topographical extent of language cortex in an individual subject can be wider than that proposed in the classic maps, and, within this zone different sites are variably committed to language as measured by the naming function.
The enzymology of alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) isoforms from Hordeum vulgare and other organisms, and the HvAlaAT crystal structure.

Abstract In this paper we describe the expression, purification, kinetics and biophysical characterization of alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) from the barley plant ( Hordeum vulgare ). This dimeric PLP-dependent enzyme is a pivotal element of several key metabolic pathways from nitrogen assimilation to carbon metabolism, and its introduction into transgenic plants results in increased yield. The enzyme exhibits a bi-bi ping-pong reaction mechanism with a K m for alanine, 2-oxoglutarate, glutamate and pyruvate of 3.8, 0.3, 0.8 and 0.2 mM, respectively. Barley AlaAT catalyzes the forward (alanine-forming) reaction with a k cat of 25.6 s −1 , the reverse (glutamate-forming) reaction with k cat of 12.1 s −1 and an equilibrium constant of ∼0.5. The enzyme is also able to utilize aspartate and oxaloacetate with ∼10% efficiency as compared to the native substrates, which makes it much more specific than related bacterial/archaeal enzymes (that also have lower K m values). We have crystallized barley AlaAT in complex with PLP and l -cycloserine and solved the structure of this complex at 2.7 A resolution. This is the first example of a plant AlaAT structure, and it reveals a canonical aminotransferase fold similar to structures of the Thermotoga maritima , Pyrococcus furiosus , and human enzymes. This structure bridges our structural understanding of AlaAT mechanism between three kingdoms of life and allows us to shed some light on the specifics of the catalysis performed by these proteins.
5.1.2 Evolution of EIA 632 from an Interim Standard to a Full Standard

The EIA 632 standard has been developed that describes the “processes for engineering a system.” This standard evolved from EIA/IS 632—the interim standard that describes a systems engineering process. This paper will describe the heritage of this standard, reasons for this particular evolutionary step, and the approach in converting from the interim standard to the full standard.
From Normal Conflict to Normative Deviance: The Micro-Politics of Trouble in Close Relationships:

When people experience trouble in their relations with others, they may come to define the problem in nonjudgmental ways as a conflict to be resolved or in moralistic terms as a product of the other’s deviant intentions or character. Empirical materials on troubles among college roommates reveal an initial preference for the former, with the latter typically emerging if and when initial response efforts fail and the trouble escalates. These findings force a revision of analyses that take up consideration of the conflict/deviance alternative only with the entrance of a third party into dyadic troubles.
Ganglioneuroma masquerading as spinal pain

Abstract Objective: To discuss the clinical features of ganglioneuroma and to propose it as a differential diagnosis for a young patient suffering from chronic back pain. Clinical Features: A 25-year-old patient suffered from chronic mid-thoracic pain and a history of scoliosis. The physical examination result was unremarkable; thus radiographs were obtained. A posteroanteriorand lateral chest radiograph demonstrated a well-defined opacity extending from the region of the left hilum to below the diaphragm. A differential diagnosis of a posterior mediastinal mass was advanced. Computed tomography revealed a homogenous, nonenhancing left posterior mediastinal mass with adjacent posterior rib deformity. Computed tomography (CT)–guided biopsy subsequently defined the mass as a ganglioneuroma. Intervention and Outcome: The mass was surgically resected. Although the patient experienced some postsurgical discomfort, she has faired well. Conclusion: Twenty percent of mediastinal tumors are neurogenic, and 10% of neurogenic tumors are ganglioneuromas. In spite of the rarity of this tumor, ganglioneuroma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of young patients suffering from back pain. The diagnosis is important to ascertain because surgical resection is curative and can relieve the symptoms.
Topological Determinants of Epileptogenesis in Large-Scale Structural and Functional Models of the Dentate Gyrus Derived From Experimental Data

In temporal lobe epilepsy, changes in synaptic and intrinsic properties occur on a background of altered network architecture resulting from cell loss and axonal sprouting. Although modeling studie...
Water-density effects on phenol oxidation in supercritical water

Supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) experiments were performed in a tubular flow reactor at 420–465°C and 141–241 bar. Phenol was the organic reactant. Both pure water and a helium (1/3 by mol)–water mixture served as reaction media. Adding helium to the reaction medium permitted variation of the water concentration and system pressure independently. By decoupling the water concentration from the system pressure, it was shown that the rate of phenol disappearance during SCWO is influenced by the water concentration and not the system pressure. The experiments consistently revealed that adding helium, and thereby decreasing the water concentration at a fixed system pressure, increased the phenol conversion. In addition, experiments showed that lowering the water concentration using pure water as the solvent also increased the phenol conversion. The results suggest that dilution with helium (and perhaps other inert gases) may be a new way to control SCWO reaction rates.
Thermodynamics of heme‐induced conformational changes in hemopexin: Role of domain‐domain interactions

Hemopexin is a serum glycoprotein that binds heme with high affinity and delivers heme to the liver cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis. A hinge region connects the two non-disulfide-linked domains of hemopexin, a 35-kDa N-terminal domain (domain I) that binds heme, and a 25-kDa C-terminal domain (domain II). Although domain II does not bind heme, it assumes one structural state in apo-hemopexin and another in heme-hemopexin, and this change is important in facilitating the association of heme-hemopexin with its receptor. In order to elucidate the structure and function of hemopexin, it is important to understand how structural information is transmitted to domain II when domain I binds heme. Here we report a study of the protein-protein interactions between domain I and domain II using analytical ultracentrifugation and isothermal titration calorimetry. Sedimentation equilibrium analysis showed that domain I associates with domain II both in the presence and absence of heme with Kd values of 0.8 microM and 55 microM, respectively. The interaction between heme-domain I and domain II has a calorimetric enthalpy of +11 kcal/mol, a heat capacity (delta Cp) of -720 cal/mol.K, and a calculated entropy of +65 cal/mol.K. By varying the temperature of the centrifugation equilibrium runs, a van't Hoff plot with an apparent change in enthalpy (delta H) of -3.6 kcal/mol and change in entropy (delta S) of +8.1 cal/mol.K for the association of apo-domain I with domain II was obtained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Growth and carcass characteristics of bilateral, unilateral, and non‐castrated Holstein calves under various planes of nutrition

Zusammenfassung Wachstumsverlauf und Fleischbeschaffenheit von beidseitig, einseitig und unkastrierten Holstein-Friesian-Kalbern bei unterschiedlicher Futterungsintensitat Drei Versuche wurden durchgefuhrt, um den Einflus von verschiedenen Kastrations-Methoden bei unterschiedlicher Futterungsintensitat (hoher, mittlerer und niedriger Kraftfutteranteil in der Ration) zu prufen. Die Kalber wurden kurz vor ihrem sechsten Lebensmonat einseitig oder beidseitig operativ oder durch Burdizzo kastriert. Zum Vergleich dienten nicht kastrierte Kalber. Die Versuchsdauer betrug nach der Kastration weitere sechs bis neun Monate. Aus den Untersuchungen geht hervor, das die totale oder einseitige Kastration den Wachstumsverlauf und die Fleischbeschaffenheit nicht signifikant verbessern. Unabhangig von der Futterungsintensitat fuhrte die beidseitige Kastration zu signifikant verringerten Gewichtszunahmen im Vergleich zu einseitig und nicht kastrierten Tieren. Bei den einseitig kastrierten Tieren ergab sich ein um 21 % hoheres Hodengewicht als Reaktion einer uberfunktion. Die Gewichtszunahmen waren fur alle Tiere bei hohem Kraftfutteranteil groser als bei mittlerem oder niedrigem Kraftfutteranteil in der Ration.
Failure of Viable Nonculturable Campylobacter jejuni to Colonize the Cecum of Newly Hatched Leghorn Chicks

Campylobacter jejuni cells entered the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state upon suspension in sterile water. Cell viability was determined with tetrazolium violet. VBNC cells suspended in water for 7, 10, or 14 days were given, by gavage, to day-of-hatch leghorn chickens. The ceca of control and challenged birds were examined for the presence of campylobacteria by conventional microbiological methods at 1 wk and 2 wk after challenge inoculation and by polymerase chain reaction methods at 1 wk after challenge. We did not find culturable Campylobacter cells in the ceca. Neither was Campylobacter DNA found in cecal samples. Therefore, VBNC cells did not revert to the culturable colonizing form, nor did VBNC cells persist within the cecal environment.
Efficient algorithms for independent assignment on graphic and linear matroids

Efficient algorithms are presented for the matroid intersection problem and generalizations. The algorithm for weighted intersection works by scaling the weights. The cardinality algorithm is a special case that takes advantage of greater structure. Efficiency of the algorithms is illustrated by several implementations. On graphic matroids the algorithms run close to the best bounds for trivial matroids (i.e. ordinary bipartite graph matching): O( square root nm log n) for cardinality intersection and O( square root nm log/sup 2/n log(nN)) for weighted intersection (n, m, and N denote the number of vertices, edges, and largest edge weight, respectively; weights are assumed integral). Efficient algorithms are also given for linear matroids. These include both algorithms that are practical and algorithms exploiting fast matrix multiplication. >
Retrieval experiments using pseudo-desktop collections

Desktop search is an important part of personal information management (PIM). However, research in this area has been limited by the lack of shareable test collections, making cumulative progress difficult. In this paper, we define desktop search as a semi-structured document retrieval problem and introduce a methodology to automatically build a reusable collection (the pseudo-desktop) that has many of the same properties as a real desktop collection. We then present a comprehensive evaluation of retrieval methods for semi-structured document retrieval on several pseudo-desktop collections and the TREC Enterprise collection. Our results show that a probabilistic retrieval model using the mapping relation between a query term and a document field (PRM-S) has the best performance in collections with more structure, such as email, and that the query-likelihood language model is better for other document types. We further analyze the observed differences using generated queries and suggest ways to improve PRM-S, which makes the performance gains more significant and consistent.
Mechanics of large electrostriction in ferroelectrics

The complex arrangement of domains observed in ferroelectric crystals is a consequence of multiple energy minima of the crystal free energy density. Since the total energy is a sum of the free energy, and electrical and mechanical work, switching between the different energetically equivalent domain states can be achieved by both electrical and mechanical means. For many ferroelectric materials, this results in an electrostrictive phenomenon resulting from domain switching. In the current study, the electrostrictive behavior of single crystal ferroelectric perovskites has been investigated experimentally. Experiments have been performed in which a crystal of barium titanate is exposed to a constant compressive stress and an oscillating electric field and global deformation is measured. The combined electromechanical loading results in a cycle of stress and electric field induced 90-degree domain switching. The domain switching cycle results in a measurable strain response theoretically limited by the crystallographic unit cell dimensions. Induced strains of more than 0.8% have been measured in barium titanate. Larger strains of up to 5% are predicted for other materials of the same class.
Test system for clinical force platforms

Our team has built a system for testing and calibration of clinical Force Platforms, able to generate a circular path Center of Pressure (CoP) that can be accurately applied in the horizontal plane at a given travel speed, selectable radius and vertical force. The CoP generated, which is applied directly onto the platform, is used as a precise reference for both static and dynamic measurements, to check the operation of unknown Force Platforms performance characteristics or to verify specifications indicated by the Force Platform's manufacturer. To confirm the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed test apparatus, it was applied to a commercial clinical usage Force Platform manufactured by artOficio LTDA. The main advantages of the proposed Test System are the accuracy in fixing or setting a direct reference and the ability to maintain continuous monitoring through the generation of flexible and stable circular patterns during the tests.
Dynamic simulations of the inhomogeneous sedimentation of rigid fibres

We have simulated the dynamics of suspensions of fibres sedimenting in the limit of zero Reynolds number. In these simulations, the dominant inter-particle force arises from hydrodynamic interactions between the rigid, non-Brownian fibres. The simulation algorithm uses slender-body theory to model the linear and rotational velocities of each fibre. To include far-field interactions between the fibres, the line distribution of force on each fibre is approximated by making a Legendre polynomial expansion of the disturbance velocity on the fibre, where only the first two terms of the expansion are retained in the calculation. Thus, the resulting linear force distribution can be specified completely by a centre-of-mass force, a couple, and a stresslet. Short-range interactions between particles are included using a lubrication approximation, and an infinite suspension is simulated by using periodic boundary conditions. Our numerical results confirm that the sedimentation of these non-spherical, orientable particles differs qualitatively from the sedimentation of spherical particles. The simulations demonstrate that an initially homogeneous, settling suspension develops clusters, or streamers, which are particle rich surrounded by clarified fluid. The instability which causes the heterogeneous structure arises solely from hydrodynamic interactions which couple the particle orientation and the sedimentation rate in particle clusters. Depending upon the concentration and aspect ratio, the formation of clusters of particles can enhance the sedimentation rate of the suspension to a value in excess of the maximum settling speed of an isolated particle. The suspension of fibres tends to orient with gravity during the sedimentation process. The average velocities and orientations, as well as their distributions, compare favourably with previous experimental measurements.
Inhaled Corticosteroids in Obstructive Airway Disease

Inhaled corticosteroids play an important role in the management of obstructive airway disease, by suppressing airway inflammation that is central to the pathophysiology of these conditions. In asthma there is strong clinical evidence supporting the use of inhaled corticosteroids in mild, moderate, and severe persistent asthma to improve lung function, reduce exacerbations, and prevent death. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inhaled corticosteroids improve symptoms, reduce frequency of exacerbations and hospitalizations, and should be considered in patients with moderate-to-severe airflow limitation who have persistent symptoms despite optimal bronchodilator therapy. Though the adverse effects of corticosteroids are less when given via inhalation than when given systemically, nevertheless, the adverse effects are important and need to be considered. Newer inhaled corticosteroids with better pharmacologic properties are being developed and will probably be available in the near future.
The Brittle to Ductile Transition In MgAl2O4 Spinel

The brittle to ductile transition in ceramic materials is often referred to as the ductile to brittle transition in the metallurgical literature.1–4 It has been a topic of interest in crystalline ceramics for nearly half a century, since the early efforts to develop “ductile” ceramics in the 1950’s. Although there have been efforts to address the topic by examining various phenomena, including the indentation hardness and the creep deformation, this transition is best described in the traditional sense of the energy dissipation during crack extcnsion as a function of temperature.
The allegorical character of political metaphors in discourse

When people talk about politics, they often employ metaphors, sometimes in extended sequences, in which a metaphorical idea is referred to across a larger segment of discourse (e.g., talk about political debates as wars, boxing matches, or games of chess). Empirical studies from psychology indicate that, at least in some cases, metaphors can have great persuasive value. My primary claim in this article is that many political metaphors in discourse are often understood as instances of allegory. Allegories refer to extended metaphors in which an entire narrative introduces and elaborates upon a metaphorical source domain to present a rich symbolic understanding of people and events. I describe several notable instances of political allegory and go on to suggest that people can readily interpret many of these allegories via ‘embodied simulations’ by which they imagine themselves participating in the very actions referred to in the language. These embodied simulations are automatic and sometimes tap into enduring allegorical themes that have symbolic value within different cultural communities.
Structural and Electronic Properties of Pt13 Nanoclusters on Amorphous Silica Supports

An accurate description of metal nanoparticle (NP)–support interactions is required for designing and optimizing NP catalytic systems because NP–support interactions may significantly impact NP stability and properties, such as catalytic activity. The ability to calculate NP interactions with amorphous supports, which are commonly used in industrial practice, is hampered because of a general lack of accurate atomically detailed model structures of amorphous surfaces. We have systematically studied relaxation processes of Pt13 NPs on amorphous silica using recently developed realistic model amorphous silica surfaces. We have modeled the NP relaxation process in multiple steps: hard-sphere interactions were first used to generate initial placement of NPs on amorphous surfaces, then Pt–silica bonds were allowed to form, and finally both the NP and substrate were relaxed with density functional theory calculations. We find that the amorphous silica surface significantly impacts the morphology and electronic s...
Inflammatory bowel disease prevalence by age, gender, race, and geographic location in the U.S. military health care population.

Background There is limited data examining the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a diverse North American population. Methods Using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes, patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) seen within the military health care system (Tricare) from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009 were identified. This database comprised all active duty military, retirees, and dependents. The overall prevalence of IBD, UC, and CD was calculated, and the prevalence by age, gender, race, and geographic location. Results A total of 35,404 cases of IBD were identified in 10.2 million military health care beneficiaries establishing a prevalence of total IBD, UC, and CD of 348, 202, and 146 per 100,000, respectively. IBD was more prevalent in females compared with males (417 versus 284 per 100,000; relative risk, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.50-1.57). There was an increased prevalence of IBD with each decade of life. IBD was more common in Caucasians (324 per 100,000) compared with blacks, Asians, Hispanics, and American Indians (239, 162, 147, and 224 per 100,000, respectively; relative risk, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.53-1.67). There was no difference in prevalence when comparing Northern versus Southern states (339 versus 333 per 100,000, respectively, P = 0.114). Conclusions This large population study establishes a prevalence of IBD, UC, and CD (348, 202, and 146 per 100,000, respectively) in the military health care population. The prevalence of IBD, UC, and CD was higher in females and with increasing age, whereas IBD was most common in whites compared with other ethnicities in our patient population.