cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation of Ion Permeation in Biological Membranes

As part of nature's solution for regulating biological environments, ion channels are particularly interesting to device engineers seeking to understand how nanoscale molecular systems realize device-like functions, such as biosensing of organic analytes. By attaching molecular adaptors inside genetically engineered ion channels, it's possible to further enhance this biosensor functionality.
PRODUCTION PROCESS STRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE

A descriptive life cycle model of process development and innovation, as previously reported, is used as a framework to analyze historical trends in the technological development of U.S. automotive engine plants. Using the plant as the unit of analysis, the author examines trends in product diversity, equipment development, backward integration, and productivity improvement. Results support the original research framework and help to clarify the important impact of process changes on the sources of productivity improvement, the capability for product innovation, and the cost of change.
All-optical picosecond-pulse packet buffer based on four-wave mixing loading and intracavity soliton control

We report an all-optical packet buffer that is based on four-wave mixing loading and intracavity soliton pulse control. The target data packet consisting of picosecond pulses is loaded into the storage-buffer cavity by means of four-wave mixing with the pump pulses and stored at the corresponding idler wavelength. We stabilize the timing and amplitude of the stored idler pulses by applying intracavity all-optical soliton control. This is accomplished by combining the synchronous parametric-gain modulation achieved inside a pulse-pumped nonlinear-optical-loop mirror with the intensity discrimination provided by a nonlinear-amplifying-loop mirror. A 20 Gbit/s-packet pattern is loaded and stored for up to several seconds, corresponding to millions of circulations of the packet within the buffer.
Morphologic and morphometric changes in synovial membrane associated with mechanically induced osteoarthrosis

We sought to determine whether synovial leukocytic inflammation is a primary event in mechanically induced osteoarthrosis. Repetitive impulse loading (50 ms duration at 60 Hz for 40 minutes each day) was applied to the right hindlimbs of 24 New Zealand white rabbits for 3, 6, or 9 weeks. The synovial membrane from the medial suprapatellar area was examined qualitatively using transmission electron microscopy and quantitatively using light microscopic morphometry. The results indicate that synovial inflammation is not a primary event in this mechanically induced osteoarthrosis, but synovial hyperplasia occurs prior to histologically evident cartilage destruction at 6-9 weeks.
ACCEPTABILITY OF ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR DEVIANT CHILD BEHAVIOR

The acceptability of alternative treatments for deviant child behavior was evaluated in two experiments. In each experiment, clinical cases were described to undergraduate students along with four different treatments in a Replicated Latin Square Design. The treatments included reinforcement of incomparible behavior, time out from reinforcement, drug therapy, and electric shock and the treatments were described as they were appliedto children with problem behaviors. Experiment 1 developed an assessment device to evaluate treatment acceptability and examined whether treatments were rated as differentially acceptable. Experiment 2 replicated the first experiment and examined whether the severity of the presenting clinical problem influenced ratings of acceptability. The results indicated that treatments were sharply distinguished in overall acceptability. Reinforcement of incompatible behavior was more acceptable than other treatments which followed, in order, time out from reinforcement, drug therapy, and electric shock. Case severity influenced acceptability of alternative treatments with all treatments being rated as more acceptable with more severe cases. However, the strength of case severity was relatively small in relation to the different treatment conditions themselves which accounted for large portions of variance.
Cocaine modulates mammalian circadian clock timing by decreasing serotonin transport in the SCN

Cocaine abuse disrupts reward and homeostatic processes through diverse processes, including those involved in circadian clock regulation. Recently we showed that cocaine administration to mice disrupts nocturnal photic phase resetting of the suprachiasmatic (SCN) circadian clock, whereas administration during the day induces non-photic phase shifts. Importantly, the same effects are seen when cocaine is applied to the SCN in vitro, where it blocks photic-like (glutamate-induced) phase shifts at night and induces phase advances during the day. Furthermore, our previous data suggest that cocaine acts in the SCN by enhancing 5-HT signaling. For example, the in vitro actions of cocaine mimic those of 5-HT and are blocked by the 5-HT antagonist, metergoline, but not the dopamine receptor antagonist, fluphenazine. Although our data are consistent with cocaine acting through enhanced 5-HT signaling, the nonselective actions of cocaine as an antagonist of monoamine transporters raises the question of whether inhibition of the 5-HT transporter (SERT) is key to its circadian effects. Here we investigate this issue using transgenic mice expressing a SERT that exhibits normal 5-HT recognition and transport but significantly reduced cocaine potency (SERT Met172). Circadian patterns of SCN behavioral and neuronal activity did not differ between wild-type (WT) and SERT Met172 mice, nor did they differ in the ability of the 5-HT1A,2,7 receptor agonist, 8-OH-DPAT to reset SCN clock phase, consistent with the normal SERT expression and activity in the transgenic mice. However, (1) cocaine administration does not induce phase advances when administered in vivo or in vitro in SERT Met172 mice; (2) cocaine does not block photic or glutamate-induced phase shifts in SERT Met172 mice; and (3) cocaine does not induce long-term changes in free-running period in SERT Met172 mice. We conclude that SERT antagonism is required for the phase shifting of the SCN circadian clock induced by cocaine.
Does the availability of maternal HbA1c results improve the accuracy of sonographic diagnosis of macrosomia

Objective To determine whether measuring maternal glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) can improve the accuracy of sonographic estimation of fetal macrosomia. Methods Sonographic estimation of fetal weight (EFW) and maternal HbA1c were obtained in term, non-diabetic patients within 1 week before delivery. Neonatal birth weights were recorded at delivery and compared with both sonographic estimations and HbA1c. Macrosomia was defined as birth weight of ≥4000 g. The absolute error of the sonographic EFW was calculated. Receiver–operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate sonographic EFW and HbA1c as predictors of birth weight ≥4000 g. Variables were tested using regression analysis and student's t-test. Results One hundred and sixty two patients were evaluated between July and December 2002. Twenty-eight patients (17.3%) delivered macrosomic infants. Sonographic EFW ≥4000 g predicted macrosomia with sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of 66.6%, 88.8%, 54.5% and 93.0%, respectively. Its overall accuracy was 85.5%. The area under the ROC curve of sonographic EFW in the prediction of macrosomia was 0.9 (P < 0.001). HbA1c levels in women delivering macrosomic and non-macrosomic neonates were 5.3 ± 0.7% and 5.2 ± 0.5%, respectively (P = 0.27). The area under the ROC curve of HbA1c in the prediction of macrosomia was 0.53 (P = 0.27). Conclusions Maternal HbA1c is not a useful test in the prediction of birth weight. It therefore cannot be used to improve the accuracy of sonographic EFW. Copyright © 2004 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Errors in the measurement of NOE factors

Des facteurs NOE inferieurs a 5-10% sont difficiles a mesurer. Etude experimentale de la variabilite observee dans l'estimation des facteur NOE et sa relation avec l'incertitude consequente dans les estimations des distances internucleaires
Group cognitive-behavior therapy with family involvement for middle-school-age children with obsessive-compulsive disorder: a pilot study.

Objective. Middle-school-aged children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are poised in development between the dependency of elementary-school-aged children and growing independence of adolescence. OCD patients of this age group may differ from older ones in the quality of symptoms and level of insight. We report the results of a naturalistic, pilot study of group Cognitive-behavior Therapy (CBT) for school-aged children with OCD with parents involved. The authors predicted symptom improvement and format acceptability. Method: Over a 1.5 year period, 14 children with OCD aged 8–14 years and their parents received 14-week group CBT based on March and Mulle’s OCD in Children and Adolescents: A Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Manual in three consecutive sessions of four to six families. Age of onset averaged 8.7 years, 36% had undergone at least one medication trial, and 36% had previous CBT experience. Results: OCD symptoms measured by the Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale improved significantly, both statistically and clinically (25%) from moderate-severe to mild-moderate. Mean Clinical Global Impression of Impairment (NIMH-CGI) Impairment ratings fell from clinical to sub-clinical and CGI Improvement ratings were “much improved”. Children’s self-reported depression decreased significantly from pre- to post-group. Parent ratings of the negative impact of OCD symptoms on the Children’s OCD Impact Scale and of behavior problems on the Child Behavior Checklist each improved significantly. Conclusions: This pilot study, which included a non-selected clinical sample, demonstrates that a manual-based treatment protocol may be effectively adapted for group treatment of different developmental levels and be exported for clinical use. Clinical improvement justifies further investigation in a controlled study.
Entrepreneurship and ethics

In business and the culture hospitable to it, not much is more important than the moral status of entrepreneurship. If the entrepreneur is a rascal, a rogue, the system that gives such a person a home is surely tainted. Critics of capitalism such as Robert Kuttner and Earl Shorris have made this point repeatedly in their various prominently published books. They follow the likes of Karl Marx, only unlike Marx they see nothing redeeming about the free market. (Marx thought it was a vital stage of humanity’s development!)
Comparison of the area structure function to alternate approaches for optical surface characterization

The structure function (SF) represents the average height difference squared as a function of separation. The linear SF has been used in astronomy and captures data of all spatial frequencies. However, it does not capture anisotropy on the surface. The one-quadrant area SF has been introduced to represent surface roughness information, but it is inadequate when surfaces are rotationally varying, as is frequently the case for optical surfaces. The recently introduced twoquadrant representation of the area SF can be calculated for any aperture shape, for all spatial content and isotropies. This paper describes the physical interpretation of the two-quadrant area SF and the comparison to area power spectral density (PSD) and area autocorrelation function (ACF) for a range of optical surfaces.
Materials evaluation of antireflective coatings for single-layer 193-nm lithography

A survey of optical constants for a variety of materials measured at 193 nm suggests that antireflection measures will be necessary for single-layer resist lithography at 193 nm. The extent to which standing waves occur in 193- nm resists is similar in magnitude to those occurring at 248 nm. To help reduce these effects, a new spin-on antireflective layer has been developed. It is composed of a polymeric dye in a phase-compatible blend with a transparent base polymer, can be thermally cured to render it insoluble, and is compatible with chemically amplified resists. In addition to this spin-on material, extension of existing 248-nm dry-deposited antireflective layers to 193 nm should allow for either spin-on or dry-deposited antireflection coatings for 193-nm lithography.
Lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation pathways in Rattus norvegicus.

Abstract Self-stimulation in lateral hypothalamus involves the activation of several ascending and descending fiber systems. In an effort to define these fiber systems, self-stimulation loci were studied with a single low current level and bipolar nichrome electrodes made with wire 78.7 μ dia. Prograde degeneration revealed by the Fink-Heimer technique and retrograde chromatolytic changes were described following lesions at self-stimulation sites. Neuronal activity following electrical stimulation of self-stimulation sites was also used to define the functional influence of these fiber systems. The relationship with the extrapyramidal system was emphasized, with convergent evidence suggesting an intimate relation between lateral hypothalamic neurons and those of substantia nigra, pars compacta.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Semicrystalline−Rubbery−Semicrystalline Triblock Copolymers

Microstructure of and mechanical properties of a series of symmetric EPE (E = poly(ethylene-co-1-butene) and P = poly(ethylene-alt-propylene)) triblock copolymers with Mn = 27−372 kg/mol have been investigated in the solid state. Microphase separation of EPE triblock copolymers originates from either (i) chemical incompatibility-induced microphase separation in the melt before crystallization at high overall molecular weights or (ii) crystallization-induced microphase separation from a homogeneous melt at low overall molecular weights. Small-angle X-ray scattering demonstrates that these EPEs (fE ≈ fP ≈ 0.5) adopt a lamellar morphology over the range of molecular weights studied. The observed interlamellar domain spacing (d) scales with the molecular weight as d ∼ N0β, where N0 is the degree of polymerization and β = 0.22 for crystallization-induced segregation and β = 0.63 for microphase-separated melts. The mode of microphase separation strongly affects the chain folding microstructure of the polyethyle...
Encapsulation within nanofibers confers stability to the protective antigen protein

The current vaccination paradigm for the prevention of anthrax is insufficient to deal with a potential, widespread epidemic. To solve this issue, we propose a self-administrable vaccine patch capable of delivering the antigen of interest into the skin. This patch is comprised of solid-state nanofibers containing encapsulated protective antigen (PA), a binding protein secreted by Bacillus anthracis. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers, produced by the electrospinning technique, are utilized as our transdermal delivery vector because the high surface area to volume ratio that they afford maximizes contact with the skin; in turn increasing local concentration gradients of reversibly packaged PA when the hygroscopic PVP is solubilized via transepidermal water loss. Previous studies have confirmed the retention of PA immunoreactivity and functionality after the voltage-intensive electrospinning process. The study described here aimed to compare the retention of PA functionality within the nanofibers to PA in solution over a several month period; since it is theorized that encapsulation within nanofibers may confer protein stability. The functionality of encapsulated PA was retained whereas PA in solution was inactive after a 32 week incubation at 4°C; suggesting that encapsulation within nanofibers confers stability to the PA protein.
Psychophysical evidence for a magnocellular pathway deficit in dyslexia

The relationship between reading ability and psychophysical performance was examined to test the hypothesis that dyslexia is associated with a deficit in the magnocellular (M) pathway. Speed discrimination thresholds and contrast detection thresholds were measured under conditions (low mean luminance, low spatial frequency, high temporal frequency) for which psychophysical performance presumably depends on M pathway integrity. Dyslexic subjects had higher psychophysical thresholds than controls in both the speed discrimination and contrast detection tasks, but only the differences in speed thresholds were statistically significant. In addition, there was a strong correlation between individual differences in speed thresholds and reading rates. These results support the hypothesis for an M pathway abnormality in dyslexia, and suggest that motion discrimination may be a more sensitive psychophysical predictor of dyslexia than contrast sensitivity.
A parameterization method and application in breast tomosynthesis dosimetry

Purpose: To present a parameterization method based on singular value decomposition (SVD), and to provide analytical parameterization of the mean glandular dose (MGD) conversion factors from eight references for evaluating breast tomosynthesis dose in the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) protocol and in the UK, European, and IAEA dosimetry protocols. Methods: MGD conversion factor is usually listed in lookup tables for the factors such as beam quality, breast thickness, breast glandularity, and projection angle. The authors analyzed multiple sets of MGD conversion factors from the Hologic Selenia Dimensions quality control manual and seven previous papers. Each data set was parameterized using a one- to three-dimensional polynomial function of 2–16 terms. Variable substitution was used to improve accuracy. A least-squares fit was conducted using the SVD. Results: The differences between the originally tabulated MGD conversion factors and the results computed using the parameterization algorithms were (a) 0.08%–0.18% on average and 1.31% maximum for the Selenia Dimensions quality control manual, (b) 0.09%–0.66% on average and 2.97% maximum for the published data byDance et al. [Phys. Med. Biol.35, 1211–1219 (Year: 1990)10.1088/0031-9155/35/9/002; Dance et al. Phys. Med. Biol.45, 3225–3240 (Year: 2000)10.1088/0031-9155/45/11/308; Dance et al. Phys. Med. Biol.54, 4361–4372 (Year: 2009)10.1088/0031-9155/54/14/002; Dance et al. Phys. Med. Biol.56, 453–471 (Year: 2011)]10.1088/0031-9155/56/2/011, (c) 0.74%–0.99% on average and 3.94% maximum for the published data by Sechopoulos et al. [Med. Phys.34, 221–232 (Year: 2007)10.1118/1.2400836; Sechopoulos et al. J. Appl. Clin. Med. Phys.9, 161–171 (Year: 2008)]10.1120/jacmp.v9i4.2887, and (d) 0.66%–1.33% on average and 2.72% maximum for the published data by Feng and Sechopoulos [Radiology263, 35–42 (Year: 2012)]10.1148/radiol.11111789, excluding one sample in (d) that does not follow the trends in the published data table. Conclusions: A flexible parameterization method is presented in this paper, and was applied to breast tomosynthesis dosimetry. The resultant data offer easy and accurate computations of MGD conversion factors for evaluating mean glandular breast dose in the MQSA protocol and in the UK, European, and IAEA dosimetry protocols. Microsoft Excel™ spreadsheets are provided for the convenience of readers.
Answer to the letter to the editor of T. B. Grivas concerning "a comprehensive review of thoracic deformity parameters in scoliosis" by Harris JA, et al. Eur Spine J (2014): DOI 10.1007/s00586-014-3580-8.

First, we would like to thank Dr. Grivas who replied to our review article and commend him on the thoroughness describing the rib index (RI) radiological thoracic deformity parameter. Our original article, titled ‘‘A comprehensive review of thoracic deformity parameters in scoliosis’’, sought to establish the first compendium of radiographic and CTbased thorax deformity parameters in contrast to the existing scoliosis research society (SRS) glossary of spine deformity [2]. Furthermore, we hoped to highlight how the overabundance of deformity parameters obfuscates grasping the fundamental ‘features’ of the thorax deformity secondary to idiopathic scoliosis (IS) and the clinical relevancy of these parameters. Providing evidence of this fact, 25 measurements can be used to describe eight unique thorax qualities associated with IS: (1) anterior chest angulation, (2) area enclosed by rib cage, (3) coronal asymmetry, (4) hemithorax depth asymmetry, (5) hemithorax width asymmetry, (6) posterior rib asymmetry, (7) sagittal depth, and (8) sternum deviation. As Dr. Grivas describes, RI is the ratio of distances between the posterior margin of the vertebra and the posterior most points of the convex and concave rib, measured in a lateral radiograph [1]. The calculation of RI quantifies the transverse plane deformity of the thorax without the need for computed tomography and subsequent increase in radiation exposure. In the context of our review, RI characterizes ‘posterior rib asymmetry’ from landmarks previously established [3]; VLy WLy. It should be mentioned that rib hump (RH), introduced by Kuklo et al. in 2005 and described in our review, is very similar to RI as it is a linear measurement between the left and right posterior rib prominences at the apex of the rib deformity measured using a lateral radiograph [4]. Both can be measured on a lateral radiograph and have been shown to correlate with Cobb angle [1, 4]. The extreme similarity between the parameters further highlights the redundancy that can be found when surveying published radiographic parameters assessing thorax deformity found in IS. Still, both deserve to be included in the conversation. In summary, we agree with Dr. Grivas that the inclusion of RI further completes our initial efforts. It was not our intention that our review remains static. As imaging modalities expand beyond CT and simple radiography, so too must deformity characterization. It is our hope that our initial work summarizes what has been done in literature and establishes a foundation as further work unravels the complex relationship between spinal deformity and subsequent rib cage development and pulmonary function.
Testing the Role of gp96 as Peptide Chaperone in Antigen Processing

gp96 is a 96-kDa glycoprotein of the endoplasmic reticulum that is believed to be involved in antigen processing as an intermediate carrier of peptides for presentation by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. This function implies that gp96 carries a large array of different peptides that represent the antigenicity of the cell and can serve all MHC class I molecules. So far, the evidence regarding these peptides is largely indirect and based on experiments where mice immunized with gp96 from tumor or virus-infected cells developed T cellular immune responses with the corresponding specificities. We analyzed by mass spectrometry peptides isolated from gp96 and found a number of different peptides derived from the proteins of different cellular compartments but mostly cytoplasm and nucleus. The sequences of these peptides provide information on the specificity of antigen processing and reveal structural requirements for binding to gp96 that only partially correspond to those of peptides presented by MHC class I molecules. The yield of peptides extracted from gp96 was far substoichiometric with an estimated occupancy of this chaperone of between 0.1% and 0.4%. These results strongly argue against a regular role for gp96 as a peptide chaperone in antigen processing.
Contact angles and wettability of human skin

The contact angles of several liquids on human skin were measured before and after extraction of surface lipids with acetone. The critical surface tension of the skin was determined by extrapolating the cosines of the contact angles of the liquids as a function of their surface tensions to unity. The critical surface tensions for untreated and extracted skin were in the range of 22-30 dynes/cm. These low values are probably caused by reductions in contact angles resulting from furrows in the skin and by small amounts of air trapped at the furrows underneath the drops rather than by low free energy or polarity of the skin surface. Application of benzalkonium chloride and of a hand lotion reduced the contact angles of water on the skin.
Brain development of the preterm neonate after neonatal hydrocortisone treatment for chronic lung disease

Previous studies reported impaired cerebral cortical gray matter (CGM) development and neurodevelopmental impairment after neonatal dexamethasone treatment for chronic lung disease (CLD) in preterm newborns. No long-term effects on neurocognitive outcome have yet been shown for hydrocortisone treatment. A prospective study was performed to evaluate the brain growth at term in preterm infants who did receive neonatal hydrocortisone for CLD. Thirty-eight preterm infants (n = 19 hydrocortisone, n = 19 controls) were matched for gestational age at birth. Gestational age and birth weight were 27.0+/- 1.4 versus 27.6+/- 1.1 wk (p = ns) and 826+/- 173 versus 1017+/- 202 g, respectively (p < 0.05). Infants were studied at term equivalent age. Hydrocortisone was started with a dose of 5 mg/kg/d for 1 wk, followed by a tapering course over 3 wk. A 3D-MRI technique was used to quantify cerebral tissue volumes: CGM, basal ganglia/thalami, unmyelinated white matter, myelinated white matter, cerebellum, and cerebrospinal fluid. Infants who were treated with hydrocortisone had more severe respiratory distress. There were no differences in cerebral tissue volumes between the two groups at term equivalent age. In conclusion, no effect on brain growth, measured at term equivalent age, was shown after treatment with hydrocortisone for CLD.
Event-related induced frontal alpha as a marker of lateral prefrontal cortex activation during cognitive reappraisal

Electrocortical activity, typically used to track the effects of cognitive reappraisal on the processing of emotional stimuli, has not been used to index the prefrontal-cortex-mediated regulatory mechanisms responsible for these effects. In the present study, we examined the novel possibility that induced frontal alpha (i.e., 8–13 Hz), shown to reflect the inhibition and disengagement of task-relevant cortical regions, may be quantified to explore cortical activation that is specifically enhanced during cognitive reappraisal. For this purpose, 44 participants viewed unpleasant and neutral pictures followed by auditory instructions to either continue viewing the picture or reduce their emotional response to the picture by making the picture seem less emotional (i.e., cognitive reappraisal). In line with previous work, unpleasant pictures elicited a larger late positive potential (LPP) than did neutral pictures. Also corroborating previous work, the mid-latency LPP was reduced when pictures were cognitively reappraised. However, the present study showed for the first time that whereas unpleasant pictures elicited higher frontal alpha power bilaterally than did the neutral pictures, frontal alpha power was reduced (indicative of more activation and cognitive control) during cognitive reappraisal of both picture types over the left hemisphere. Taken together, the LPP and event-related induced frontal-alpha findings contribute unique information about the distinct neural substrates and cognitive processes underlying reappraisal.
Use of Experiments in Teaching Engineering Statistics

Abstract * Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Statistical Association at Washington, D. C., December 29, 1953.
Electron Microscopic Detection of Virus Particles in the Rhino Mouse

The rhino mouse, an experimental model for systemic lupus erythematosus, was found to have murine leukemia virus particles present in the skin. Immunoperoxidase studies with anti-type C virus antibody indicated viral antigen presence in the sebaceous cells and surrounding follicular cysts of the dermis. Electron microscope studies show virus particles, both type C extracellularly and type A intracellularly, around follicular cysts. Virus particle was labeled with specific ferritin-conjugated antitype C virus antibody.
Development of Monolithic Michelson Interferometer for RV measurement in IR

We present a fixed delay interferometer to be installed in IR-ET (Infra-Red Exoplanets Tracker). We introduce the design, fabrication and testing processes. In particular, we present a new methodology of computing the fundamental limit of radial velocity (RV) measurement given by photon noise for DFDI (Dispersed Fixed Delay Interferometer) method as opposed to conventional echelle method. The new method is later used to determine the optical path difference (OPD) of the IR-ET interferometer. In addition, we introduce a novel method of monitoring the stability of the interferometer for IR-ET in broad-band using fourier-transform white-light scanning interferometry technique. The new method can be potentially expanded and applied to thermo-optic effect measurement if temperature control system is introduced into the experiment. The thermal response of the optical system is 3500 m/s/°C. We find that the RV calibration precision of 'Bracketing' method is 1.74 m/s without temperature control.
Postoperative problems of tracheal resection.

With the advent of the intermittent positive pressure breathing apparatus and cuffed endotracheal tubes, the problem of tracheal stenosis has increased in both incidence and severity. The lesion may be at the tracheotomy stoma or at the site of the tracheal tube cuff, or both. Treatment of severe cases revolves around primary tracheal resection and anastomosis, often with laryngeal release procedures. This report reviews all cases of tracheal stenosis and resection at the Upstate Medical Center, and presents postoperative problems of significance. Twenty-three consecutive cases of tracheal stenosis were found, 20 of which followed tracheotomy. These were equally prevalent at both stomal and cuff sites, contributing factors being infection and mechanical ventilators, respectively, Eighteen patients were operated upon, all but two undergoing direct resection with end-to-end anastomosis. Laryngeal release was performed simultaneously in seven patients. Despite particular postoperative care, 50 percent (9/18) developed significant complications after surgery, including re-stenosis and/or granulation tissue formation, aspiration, innominate artery hemorrhage, and vocal cord paralysis. These problems ensued despite neck bracing, antibiotics and steroids, and meticulous surgical technique. Two of the patients with re-stenosis could be controlled only by another tracheal resection. The control of superimposed infection, painstaking surgical manipulation, and relaxation of all tension on the anastomosis line by extensive tracheal mobilization are all methods used to circumvent these problems. Although laryngeal release will allow increased tracheal mobility in and of itself, it also may cause deglutitive dysfunction, as seen in several of our patients and should be used with discretion.
Absence of reversed magnetic anisotropy in (111) Cu/Ni/Cu structures

Abstract The previously observed complete reversal in magnetic anisotropy for thin (100) Ni layers in the Cu/Ni/Cu structures is revisited to find the crucial information on the generality of such an observation for other orientations. (100) and (111) oriented Cu/Ni/Cu structures with different Ni thickness, 25–500 A, and fixed Cu thickness, 1000 A, are compared for their changes of ferromagnetic properties with Ni thickness. A complete reversal in anisotropy between the in-plane and normal-to-plane magnetization curves is seen for the (100) Cu/Ni/Cu structures with Ni layers thinner than 100 A, as previously observed. A squared hysteresis loop is seen for the normal-to-plane curve, with no loop for the in-plane curve, in these structures. The (111) structures with identical thicknesses, however, show no sign of reversal in anisotropy over the Ni thickness explored. A hysteresis loop remains seen for the in-plane magnetization of the (111) structures down to a Ni thickness of 50 A, with no loop for the normal-to-plane one. At a Ni thickness of 25 A, no loop is seen for both curves. The role of orientation and the effect of lattice deformation, are discussed among these structures and Cu-Ni superlattices.
Amorphous thin film growth: Effects of density inhomogeneities

A nonlinear stochastic growth equation for the spatiotemporal evolution of the surface morphology of amorphous thin films in the presence of potential density variations is derived from the relevant physical symmetries and compared to recent experimental results. Numerical simulations of the growth equation exhibit a saturation of the surface morphology for large film thickness originating from the inclusion of the density inhomogeneities. Furthermore, we argue why moundlike surface structures observed on vapor deposited amorphous films are not the result of the Grinfeld instability.
Using copper oxide wire particles or sericea lespedeza to prevent peri-parturient gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep and goats

Abstract Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) continue to plague the small ruminant industry, especially in parts of the world with warm, humid climates. Alternatives to chemicals are needed for GIN control because of anthelmintic resistance and a desire to reduce chemical residues in meat products. Three experiments using peri-parturient does or ewes addressed the objective: 1) in Arkansas, meat goats were untreated (n = 20) or fed copper oxide wire particles (COWP; 2 g each) in pelleted sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata; n = 22) before kidding while consuming sericea lespedeza hay, 2) in Arkansas, 42 Katahdin ewes were randomly assigned to remain untreated or were fed COWP (2 g each) before lambing within groups fed bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) or sericea lespedeza hay in a 2 × 2 factorial design, 3) in Louisiana, Gulf Coast Native ewes were randomly assigned to remain untreated or were fed COWP (4 g each) in a pelleted ration (n = 10 each) after lambing began. Fecal egg counts (FEC) and blood packed cell volume (PCV) were determined weekly in all experiments, and coproculture to examine GIN species was conducted in the first two experiments. Haemonchus contortus is typically the predominant GIN in the southeastern U.S., even during cooler months. However, Trichostrongylus spp. was the predominant GIN in Arkansas during these experiments. In all of the experiments, feeding COWP led to a reduction in FEC, but no change in PCV. The sericea lespedeza hay fed to ewes in Experiment 2 was associated with a reduction in FEC compared with ewes fed bermudagrass hay. Kids and lambs from COWP-treated dams in two experiments were lighter than those from untreated dams. Sericea lespedeza aided in the control of GIN infection, and while feeding COWP to peri-parturient ewes and does offered some reduction in GIN infection, body weight of offspring at birth and 60 or 90 days of age may be reduced.
The EcoCyc and MetaCyc databases

EcoCyc is an organism-specific Pathway/Genome Database that describes the metabolic and signal-transduction pathways of Escherichia coli, its enzymes, and-a new addition-its transport proteins. MetaCyc is a new metabolic-pathway database that describes pathways and enzymes of many different organisms, with a microbial focus. Both databases are queried using the Pathway Tools graphical user interface, which provides a wide variety of query operations and visualization tools. EcoCyc and MetaCyc are available at http://ecocyc.PangeaSystems.com/ecocyc/
Perspectives on the Use of European Material Culture at Two Mid-To-Late 17th-Century Native American Sites in the Chesapeake

This article examines the assemblages of two Contact period Native American sites: Posey (c. 1650-1700) and Camden (c. 1680-1710). While the collections from these two sites share many similarities, their analysis revealed that occupants of the Posey site had far greater proportions of European material goods than their counterparts at the Camden site. The amount of European artifacts at each site was scant at best, but Posey residents used European artifacts as commodities for trade while Camden inhabitants possessed a number of formal European tools, suggesting that they were more directly integrated into daily activities.
Excimer-laser-induced electric conductivity in thin-film C60

The electrical conductivity of thin-film C60 has been changed by more than seven orders of magnitude with KrF (248nm) excimer-laser irradiation. Specific conductivities of 1 Ω−1 · cm−1 have been obtained. The onset of conductivity is consistent with a laser-induced metal-insulator phase transition. The threshold for KrF-laser ablation of C60 has been determined to be 20±2 mJ/cm2. This laser-induced process generates an all-carbon semiconductor-metallic junction which may have important technological applications.
Locomotor Activity of Land Crabs during the Premolt Period

When maintained in darkness, premolt specimens of Gecarcinus lateralis, with or without eyestalks, show variations in level of activity according to six distinct stages. Furthermore, in darkness the rhythmic pattern of premolt crabs with eyestalks resembles that of eyestalkless premolt crabs, the intervals between principal bursts of activity being generally shorter than in nonpremolt crabs.
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for trauma

We report a case of successful emergency TIPS placement to control intra-abdominal bleeding after blunt abdominal trauma in a patient with severe cirrhosis and portal hypertension.
Sources and distribution of late Quaternary silt in the surficial sediment of the northeastern continental shelf of the United States

Abstract The sources and distribution of silt in the surficial sediment of the northeastern continental shelf of the United States and the Gulf of Maine were determined by the analysis of quartz grain roundness and surface textures. Three distinct populations of silt are present in the surficial sediment of the continental shelf and the Gulf of Maine. Each population is represented by a suite of quartz silt grains with distinctive roundness and surface texture characteristics, is derived from a different source, and is distributed throughout different parts of the study area. The first population is represented by rounded and subrounded quartz silt grains with weathered surfaces (“quo;end member 1”quo;). It was apparently derived from the Cretacious, Tertiary, and Quaternary sdiments of the Atlantic coastal plain, and is most abundant on the continental shelf between Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras (which is underlain and bordered by coastal plain strata) and on the western and eastern rims of the Gulf of Maine (which are also underlain by coastal plain strata). The second population is represented by very angular quartz silt grains with microfractures and fracture faces (“quo;end member 2”quo;). It was apparently derived from the late Wisconsin glacial and periglacial deposits of the northeast United States, and is most abundant within and downdrift from the glaciated part of the study area and in the modern depocenters of rivers which drain glaciated terranes in New York and New England. The third population is represented by subangular and subrounded quartz silt grains with crystalline nodes, grain embayments, and secondary quartz overgrowths (“quo;end member 3”quo;). It was apparently derived from Precambrian, Paleozoic, and Early Mesozoic crystalline and sedimentary rocks of the Appalachian Mountains, and is most abundant in the modern and ancient depocenters of the Appalachian rivers of the eastern United States
Seismic Earth Pressures on Cantilever Retaining Structures

An experimental and analytical program was designed and conducted to evaluate the magnitude and distribution of seismically induced lateral earth pressures on cantilever retaining structures with dry medium dense sand backfill. Results from two sets of dynamic centrifuge experiments and two-dimensional nonlinear finite-element analyses show that maximum dynamic earth pressures monotonically increase with depth and can be reasonably approximated by a triangular distribution. Moreover, dynamic earth pressures and inertia forces do not act simultaneously on the cantilever retaining walls. As a result, designing cantilever retaining walls for maximum dynamic earth pressure increment and maximum wall inertia, as is the current practice, is overly conservative and does not reflect the true seismic response of the wall-backfill system. The relationship between the seismic earth pressure increment coefficient (ΔK AE ) at the time of maximum overall wall moment and peak ground acceleration obtained from our experiments suggests that seismic earth pressures on cantilever retaining walls can be neglected at accelerations below 0.4 g. This finding is consistent with the observed good seismic performance of conventionally designed cantilever retaining structures.
Institutional profile. UNC Institute for Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy: interdisciplinary research for individual care.

The Institute for Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy (IPIT) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC, USA) is a collaborative, multidisciplinary unit that brings together faculty from different disciplines and crosses the traditional departmental/school structure to perform pharmacogenomics research. IPIT investigators work together towards the goal of developing therapies to enable the delivery of individualized medical care. The NIH-supported Comprehensive Research on Expressed Alleles in Therapeutic Evaluation (CREATE) group leads the field in the evaluation of pathways regulating drug activity, and also provides a foundation for future IPIT research. IPIT members perform bench research, clinical cohort analysis and prospective clinical intervention studies, research on the integration of pharmacogenomic therapy into practice and research to foster global health pharmacogenomics application through the Pharmacogenetics for Every Nation Initiative. IPIT Investigators are actively ...
The extent of gravitationally bound structure in a ΛCDM universe

A new analytical model for constraining the extent of gravitationally bound structure in the Universe is presented. This model is based on a simple modification of the spherical collapse model (SCM), and its performance in predicting the limits of bound structure in N-body simulations is compared to that of two previous models with the aid of new software named coldgas – compute unified device architecture object location determination in gadget2 snapshots – which was developed by the author. All of these models can be distilled down to a single unique parameter ξ, here named the critical parameter, which was found to have values of 3 and 1.18 from the previous studies, and a value of 1.89 from the modified SCM. While still on the conservative side, this new model tends to better identify what structure is gravitationally bound in simulations. All three analytical models are applied to the Corona Borealis supercluster, with the modified SCM and ξ = 1.18 model making predictions that are in agreement with recent work showing that A2056, A2061, A2065, A2067, and A2089 comprise a gravitationally bound supercluster. As an additional test, the modified SCM is used to estimate the mass within the turn-around radius of the Virgo cluster, providing results in good agreement with studies relating the virial mass of clusters to the total mass within turn-around.
Feedback Reduction for CDI-Based Beamforming in the MIMO Broadcast Channel

Recent research has demonstrated that for the multi-antenna broadcast channel, applying transmit precoding based on the channel spatial covariance matrices leads to temporal stability of the achievable network sum rate. This approach allows reduction in the frequency of channel information feedback events at the expense of increased feedback complexity. While recent work has demonstrated the possibility of feedback complexity reduction through matrix decompositions, this paper demonstrates significant additional feedback reduction through compression of the covariance matrices using the Karhunen-Loeve Transform.
Kinetics of sulforaphane in mice after consumption of sulforaphane-enriched broccoli sprout preparation.

Scope Sulforaphane is a natural isothiocyanate in broccoli sprouts with cancer chemopreventive activity. This study is aimed to to use different methods to develop broccoli sprout preparations to compare their ability to deliver sulforaphane to the mice and to evaluate the kinetics and biodistribution of sulforaphane.
INFORMATION PROCESSING IN TIE 1990's

Information processing technology has had a profound impact on organizations since the widespread adoption of computers in the 1950s. How will this technology influence management and organizations in the 1990s? Will there be a revolution of management theory and practice? The purpose of this paper is to present 1) significant trends in the technology and 2) to discuss how senior management can take advantage of the technology to change the fundamental nature of a business. What does the senior manager have to do to see that information technology is employed effectively in the 1990s? What technology is most appropriate for the firm and how should it be selected? How does the firm implement new technology?
Fifteen-year outcome of surgery for the near angle in patients with accommodative esotropia and a high accommodative convergence to accommodation ratio.

Objective To determine the 15-year outcome of patients with partly accommodative esotropia with a high accommodative convergence to accommodation (AC/A) ratio who underwent surgery based on the angle of esotropia at one-third meter while wearing full hyperopic correction. Methods A retrospective chart review to determine the 15-year outcome of 25 patients whose 6-month outcome had been previously reported as part of a prospective, randomized, masked clinical trial. All patients had partly accommodative esotropia with a high AC/A ratio and underwent surgery based on their esotropia at one-third meter while wearing full-distance optical correction. Results Fifteen years after surgery, 19 of the 22 patients for whom follow-up data are available had between 0 and less than 10 prism diopters of esotropia. Only 6 of the 19 needed to continue to wear optical correction to maintain satisfactory alignment; however, 8 more needed spectacles for visual purposes. Only 1 patient needed to use a bifocal add to have satisfactory alignment at one-third meter. All patients showed some degree of sensory fusion, with 4 obtaining 40 seconds of stereopsis and another 8 obtaining between 60 and 200 seconds of stereopsis. Conclusion Surgery for the near angle obtained with patients wearing their full hyperopic distance correction provides excellent motor and sensory results in patients with partly accommodative esotropia with a high AC/A ratio.
Catecholamine-induced stimulation of progesterone and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate production by dispersed ovine luteal cells.

Epinephrine (E), isoproterenol (ISO), and norepinephrine (NE) as well as LH and N,O-dibutyryl cAMP [(Bu)2cAMP] stimulated progesterone production by enzymatically dispersed cells of the ovine corpus luteum. cAMP synthesis was also stimulated by LH and the catecholamines. The hormonally induced stimulation of progesterone and cAMP synthesis was inhibited by the β-adrenergic antagonist propranolol at a concentration (3 × 10-4 M) at which the drug acts nonspecifically on plasma membranes. At a concentration where propranolol acts as a competitive inhibitor of β-adrenergic receptors (6 × 10-6 M), propranolol did not block LH or (Bu)2cAMP-induced steroidogenesis but continued to inhibit the stimulatory effect of the catecholamines. Catecholamines might exert an indirect effect on steroidogenesis by stimulating fibroblasts or erythrocytes to produce cAMP which could then diffuse into granulosa and thecal cells to stimulate progesterone production. However, incubation of isolated small cells (fibroblasts and ery...