cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tropical forest conservation and estuarine ecology

Abstract Basic ecological characteristics of a tropical estuary (Tortuguero, Costa Rica) are reviewed with special emphasis on the seasonal (wet season-dry season) variability of abiotic and related biotic parameters. The relationship of estuarine dynamics to the general character of the watershed are discussed, and a proposal to protect the remaining coastal forest cover of the Tortuguero watershed is offered. It is argued that the well-being of tropical estuaries is determined by the conservation of tropical forests.
Taking Next Steps: Gerontological Education, Research, and the Literary Imagination

This article interprets two literary works--both about old women who have suffered strokes and are near death--and argues that literature can make essential contributions to gerontological research and education by developing sensitivity to theory, empathic understanding, and self-awareness. This article examines these fictional accounts against two theoretical perspectives--the political economy of aging and theories of personal meaning--and encourages epistemological experimentation.
Call My Bluff: Multiple Interpretations of an Organizational Process

This paper attempts to illustrate the value of interpreting organizational processes from a variety of perspectives. It demonstrates that this approach reflects the natural richness of organization and avoids the rather blinkered search for single-paradigm explanations. It does not seek to offer the answer, but rather some possible insights. By combining both actor and researcher frames, it sheds light upon a particular process of social interaction within an organization. Both the context, an NHS trust hospital, and the content, a significant change scenario, brings richness and relevance to the debate. The paper outlines the macro and micro context before focusing on the interpretative methodological approach. The research involved collecting and analysing over thirty hours of taped, semi-structured interview discourse with senior and middle management and some junior staff. After describing the change initiative, an attempt at multi-skilling and the response of recipient actors to the proposals, the paper outlines three readings which seek to explain the events that occurred. The reader is invited to play the game ‘Call my Bluff’ and to choose the scenario that represents the most plausible explanation. The three interpretative frames employed are a managerial, a cultural and a political perspective. The paper concludes by raising some important issues in research, organizational change and the NHS.
Parametric study of heat transfer to an ice cylinder melting in air

Abstract A cylinder of ice was formed and suspended by a string from the end of a cantilevered beam. The beam had strain gages attached that were calibrated so that the weight of the ice cylinder was known during the time that it melted. Data on weight versus time were thus obtained and used to calculate values of Nusselt and Rayleigh Numbers over discrete intervals of time. The geometry of the ice cylinder precluded an exact determination of surface area and characteristic length for the time interval of interest. Consequently, three proposed expressions for characteristic length were tried and the one that yielded the highest correlation between Nusselt and Rayleigh numbers was selected as giving the best description. An equation was derived for each case.
Simulating sunflower canopy temperatures to infer root-zone soil water potential

A soil-plant-atmosphere model for sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), together with clear sky weather data for several days, is used to study the relationship between canopy temperature and root-zone soil water potential. Considering the empirical dependence of stomatal resistance on insolation, air temperature and leaf water potential, a continuity equation for water flux in the soil-plant-atmosphere system is solved for the leaf water potential. The transpirational flux is calculated using Monteith's combination equation, while the canopy temperature is calculated from the energy balance equation. The simulation shows that, at high soil water potentials, canopy temperature is determined primarily by air and dew point temperatures. These results agree with an empirically derived linear regression equation relating canopy-air temperature differential to air vapor pressure deficit. The model predictions of leaf water potential are also in agreement with observations, indicating that measurements of canopy temperature together with a knowledge of air and dew point temperatures can provide a reliable estimate of the root-zone soil water potential.
Judgment of intoxication by untrained social drinkers across drinking settings

Subjects' perceptions of cues used to judge intoxication across different drinking settings were investigated. Drinkers at a fraternity dance party and in a college town bar rated the importance of 18 cues for making estimations of their level of intoxication. Results indicated that 11 of the 18 cues were rated as more important in the party situation than in the bar situation. These results suggest that subjects apply cues to intoxication differently in different situations.
Primordial noble gases in separated meteoritic minerals—I

Primordial trapped planetary noble gases and solar isotopic ratios in separated meteoritic minerals from Orgueil carbonaceous chondrite
Light‐off location and front diffusion in a catalytic monolith reactor

A one-dimensional solid–gas model has been used to study the light-off behavior in a reactor system. Techniques from nonlinear analysis are applied to first arrive at an analytical expression to estimate the light-off location in the reactor. The model is then extended to estimate the thickening of the light-off front in the vicinity of the light-off location due to heat diffusion effects in the solid substrate. Both these results are expressed in terms of all the important operating and design variables of the monolith reactor and also the reaction specific variables such as the kinetic parameters and heats of reaction. A specific case of a three-way catalyst (TWC) is numerically treated in detail to illustrate the application of this work. Finally, we focus on using the insight obtained from this study to suggest design guidelines to optimize the performance of automotive catalytic monolith reactors. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2008
Inclusion Bodies in Xenosomes Purified on Percoll Gradients as Revealed by Electron Microscopy

A method is described for the isolation and purification of xenosomes, intracytoplasmic bacterial symbionts of the marine hymenostome Parauronema acutum, using percoll gradients. Xenosomes isolated by this procedure retained both their ability to kill susceptible Uronema strains and to infect homologous and heterologous P. acutum strains. Unexpectedly, both killer and non-killer xenosomes were found to contain inclusion bodies, heretofore unseen in fixed whole cell preparations, in the form of double helices, which we have termed H-bodies. The nature and function of these bodies is unknown.
Developmental origins of recoding and decoding in memory

Working memory is severely limited in both adults and children, but one way that adults can overcome this limit is through the pro- cess of recoding. Recoding happens when representations of indi- vidual items are chunked together into a higher order representation, and the chunk is assigned a label. That label can then be decoded to retrieve the individual items from long-term memory. Whereas this ability has been extensively studied in adults (as, for example, in classic studies of memory in chess), little is known about recoding's developmental origins. Here we asked whether 2- to 3-year-old children also can recode—that is, can they restructure representations of individual objects into a higher order chunk, assign this new representation a verbal label, and then later decode the label to retrieve the represented individuals from memory. In Experiments 1 and 2, we showed children identi- cal blocks that could be connected to make tools. Children learned a novel name for a tool that could be built from two blocks, and for a tool that could be built from three blocks. Later we told children that one of the tools was hidden in a box, with no visual informa- tion provided. Children were allowed to search the box and retrieve varying numbers of blocks. Critically, the retrieved blocks were identical and unconnected, so the only way children could know whether any blocks remained was by using the verbal label to recall how many objects comprised each tool (or chunk). We found that even children who could not yet count adjusted their searching of the box depending on the label they had heard. This suggests that they had recoded representations of individual blocks into higher-order chunks, attached labels to the chunks,
Beyond Meatless, the Health Effects of Vegan Diets: Findings from the Adventist Cohorts

Vegetarians, those who avoid meat, and vegans, additionally avoiding dairy and eggs, represent 5% and 2%, respectively, of the US population. The aim of this review is to assess the effects of vegetarian diets, particularly strict vegetarian diets (i.e., vegans) on health and disease outcomes. We summarized available evidence from three prospective cohorts of Adventists in North America: Adventist Mortality Study, Adventist Health Study, and Adventist Health Study-2. Non-vegetarian diets were compared to vegetarian dietary patterns (i.e., vegan and lacto-ovo-vegetarian) on selected health outcomes. Vegetarian diets confer protection against cardiovascular diseases, cardiometabolic risk factors, some cancers and total mortality. Compared to lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets, vegan diets seem to offer additional protection for obesity, hypertension, type-2 diabetes, and cardiovascular mortality. Males experience greater health benefits than females. Limited prospective data is available on vegetarian diets and body weight change. Large randomized intervention trials on the effects of vegetarian diet patterns on neurological and cognitive functions, obesity, diabetes, and other cardiovascular outcomes are warranted to make meaningful recommendations.
Fabrication of suspended carbon microstructures by e-beam writer and pyrolysis

A fabrication process has been developed to create suspended carbon microelectromechanical system (C-MEMS) structures. SU-8, a negative photoresist, was used as the starting material and was converted to the desired carbon microstructures using pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere. Suspended carbon-micro and nano electromechanical system (C-MEMS/NEMS) structures with feature sizes down to 500 nm were fabricated by ultra violet/electron beam (EB) lithography and pyrolysis. The problem of charging of the non-conductive SU-8 surface was solved by partially masking a thin metal layer to prevent the repulsion of negative charged electrons before EB writing. Complex suspended C-MEMS structures, such as bridges and networks have been formed. This fabrication method can accurately and reproducibly produce various suspended C-MEMS structures which have applications in microelectronics and biosensing.
A comparison of hematologic toxicity profiles after heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and mitomycin C

Abstract Background Although peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from colorectal and appendiceal tumors is consistent with metastatic disease, complete cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) using mitomycin C (MMC) can improve survival. A recent phase I study by our group using hyperthermic intraperitoneal oxaliplatin has demonstrated its safety and appropriate dose. Our goal in this study is to present a single institution’s experience with the hematologic toxicities of the two agents. Methods We performed a retrospective review of 187 patients with PC of colorectal or appendiceal origin who underwent HIPEC with MMC or oxaliplatin between October 2006 and September 2009. Hematologic toxicities were graded according to the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.0. Results Of the 187 patients, 55 had oxaliplatin-based HIPEC while 132 patients received MMC. Splenectomy was performed in 95 patients (50.8%) due to disease involvement. When comparing hematologic toxicity for MMC and oxaliplatin among the cohort of patients who underwent splenectomy, a statistically significant difference was noted in the incidence of platelet (P = .02) and neutrophil (P = .05) toxicity, with oxaliplatin having a higher incidence of grade 3 and grade 4 platelet and neutrophil toxicity respectively. However, no statistically significant difference in hematologic toxicity was noted between the two agents in patients who did not undergo splenectomy during cytoreductive surgery. Conclusions Oxaliplatin-based HIPEC for PC of colorectal and appendiceal origin is associated with similar white blood cell toxicity and higher platelet and neutrophil toxicity compared to MMC-based HIPEC.
Overlapping Pulse Trains

An event happens the first time several periodic pulse trains all overlap (are all ?on?) simultaneously. Assuming that all pulse trains are randomly located with respect to each other, it is argued that the time required is approximately an exponential random variable. A formula for the mean of this time and the results of some tests by computer simulation are given.
Planning a medical school teaching hospital in an era of cost containment. The CMDNJ-Rutgers Medical School experience.

Rutgers Medical School was started in 1962 as a two year medical school. By 1976 its basic science enrollment had grown to 108 and it retained 56 students each year for clinical instruction. During the early 1970's the medical school had been frustrated on three different occasions in its attempts to build an on-campus teaching hospital. This paper describes the school's successful post-1976 planning efforts to provides its faculty and students with the appropriate clinical facilities by a model which would generate support among external constituencies. The history of the medical school prior to 1976 is presented briefly. The paper then develops the rationale for the new planning model and shows the relationship of the model to the educational bases of the institution. It then tracks the planning process from program development through approvals by the external constituencies and brings the school's experience to the present where ? million dollars of construction is under contract for health care delivery and medical education facilities.
Path Integral Description of Light Transport in Tissuea

The early photons that arrive at a collector through a large thickness of tissue have potential for imaging internal organ structure, function, and status with improved image resolution relative to late arriving photons which have been diffusely scattered. Imaging algorithms require a theory to calculate early photon arrival for comparison with experimental data. The path integral description of light transport describes the movement of photons as particles undergoing collisions in a scattering medium based on the Brownian motion formalism of Feynman and Hibbs (unconstrained path) which applies the principle of least action. Including the additional constraint that photons have a constant velocity of c yields paths that conserve the speed of light (constrained path). This paper outlines the basic derivation of the path integral method and compares the constrained and unconstrained paths.
The effects of ionic migration on oscillations and pattern formation in chemical systems.

The possible emergence of oscillations and patterns due to coupling between transformation and transport processes is applied to electrolytic solution subjected to an applied electric field. The stability analysis is broadened in order to include ionic migration effects. Analysis of a simple example of two ionic species undergoing chemical reactions, diffusion and migration shows that even in such simple systems there are certain conditions under which spontaneous oscillations and dissipative structures might develop.
Employee Tenure Trends, 1983-2012

This paper updates previous Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) publications that have examined employee-tenure data of American workers. The latest data on employee tenure from the January 2012 Supplement to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS) are examined and compared with trends from previous CPS publications on employee tenure. Although data on tenure do not measure workers’ security (generally defined as the workers’ perceptions of being able to continue in their current jobs), they do show stability (the actual length of time workers have been with their current employers). Consequently, tenure data show the results, not the perception, of the ability to stay in a current job. The data for 2012 show that the overall median tenure of workers -- the midpoint of wage and salary workers’ length of employment in their current jobs -- was slightly higher in 2012, at 5.4 years, compared with 5.0 years in 1983. However, the median tenure for male wage and salary workers was lower in 2012 at 5.5 years, compared with 5.9 years in 1983. In contrast, the median tenure for female wage and salary workers increased from 4.2 years in 1983 to 5.4 years in 2012. Consequently, the increase in the median tenure of female workers more than offsets the decline in the median tenure of male workers, leaving the overall level slightly higher. The data on employee tenure -- the amount of time an individual has been with his or her current employer -- show that career jobs never existed for most workers and have continued not to exist for most workers. These tenure results indicate that, historically, most workers have repeatedly changed jobs during their working careers, and all evidence suggests that they will continue to do so in the future. The PDF for the above title, published in the December 2012 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another December 2012 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: “Views on Employment-Based Health Benefits: Findings from the 2012 Health Confidence Survey.”
Studies on the respiratory effect of dehydrated alfalfa meal in closed systems. I. Ascorbic acid and copper as possible factors in the reaction.

Abstract 1. 1. The respiratory effect of CO 2 production and O 2 consumption by dehydrated alfalfa meal in closed systems has been studied further. 2. 2. Increasing the water level and/or the temperature had the effect of increasing the respiratory effect and increasing the ascorbic acid (AA) destruction. 3. 3. Adding AA to a reconstituted system in graded amounts produced graded increases in the CO 2 output. 4. 4. Adding AA to alfalfa autoclaved in tubes with low, medium, and high levels of water produced an increase in CO 2 at all levels, the effect tending to be more pronounced at the higher levels. 5. 5. Adding AA to alfalfa autoclaved outside of the tubes gave an increase in CO 2 in some cases, and an irregular effect in other cases. 6. 6. The addition of NaCN to reconstituted alfalfa systems caused an inhibition of the respiratory effect. 7. 7. In an artificial system, AA with the help of a copper catalyst gave rise to significant amounts of CO 2 , whereas no effect was observed with oxalic, tartaric, citric, or lactic acid under this system. 8. 8. Adding copper in the form of a cuprocyanide complex to the artificial system produced much less CO 2 than when it was added in the form of cupric chloride. 9. 9. The above facts are discussed in relation to a new theory to account for the respiratory effect in the natural system.
Does Consumer Ethnocentrism Affect Purchase Intentions Of Chinese Consumers? Mediating Effect Of Brand Sensitivity And Moderating Effect Of Product Cues

This paper studies how Chinese consumers respond to foreign goods in the post‐WTO era. Specifically, it examines brand sensitivity as a mediator and product cues as moderator of purchase intention. Additionally, it examines consumer preferences for different products and consumption plans for the subsequent five years. The survey sample is drawn from a population of foreign product users from 34 cities in 18 provinces in China. Results provide evidence that brand sensitivity mediates the relationship between consumer ethnocentrism and purchase intention; product cues moderate the effect of ethnocentrism on purchase intention. As the first study to link consumer ethnocentrism directly to brand sensitivity and purchase intention, this research provides some managerial implications. Global marketers can offset the negative effect of ethnocentrism by emphasizing brand image of its products, taking advantage of specific product cues, or by providing more comprehensive after‐sale service to reduce the perceived risk of purchasing imports. Also, price is still a hurdle that prevents Chinese consumers from mass consumption of foreign products. Global firms should not overestimate the purchasing power of Chinese consumers. This study represents a “snapshot” of Chinese consumers’ decision making at a time when their economic system is undergoing rapid change.
Self-Aligned-Gate Digital AlGaAs/GaAs Modulation-Doped Field Effect Transistor (MODFET) Processing And Short Channel Effects

Self-aligned-gate digital AlGaAs/GaAs MODFETs have been fabricated with gate lengths from 1.3 to 0.35 pm. A "T"cross-section gate formed by reactive ion etching (RIE) is employed. Rapid thermal annealing (RTA) is used for implant activation and ohmic contact alloying. High temperature stability of layer structures grown by molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE)and of refractory gate metallization is presented. Finally, a comparison of device characteristics is made for pulse-doped MODFETs with and without superlattice buffers, with emphasis on short channel effects.
The synthesis, crystal structure and complexation of a new octacoordinate hexaazamacrocyclic ligand

Abstract A new dinucleating 28-membered hexaazadiphenol macrocyclic ligand 3,7,11,19,23,27-hexaaza-33,34-dihydroxy-15,31-dimethyl-tricyclo-tetratriaconta-1(32),13,15,17(34),29(33),30-hexaene, HDTH, was synthesized by NaBH4 hydrogenation of the corresponding Schiff base obtained from the [2+2] condensation between 3,3′-iminobis(propylamine) and diformyl-p-cresol. The structure of its hexahydro-bromide salt, HDTH·6HBr·2CH3OH was determined as a colorless plate crystallizing in the space group P1 as a triclinic crystal with the cell dimensions: a=8.5996(4), b=11.0578(5), c=11.8011(5) A, α=94.2830(10)°, β=100.5330(10)°, γ=101.1380(10)°, V=1075.45(8) A3, and Z=1. The protonation constants of HDTH and the stability constants of its complexes with Cu(II), Zn(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Fe(II), Mn(II) and Fe(III) in 1:1 and 2:1 systems (metal–HDTH), have been determined potentiometrically at 25.0 °C and μ=0.100 mol l−1 KCl. Potentiometric equilibrium studies indicate that a variety of deprotonated and protonated mononuclear and dinuclear, as well as hydroxy-bridged complexes, form in the pH range 2–12 in aqueous solution. The species distributions and the characteristics of these complexes are also described.
Current diagnosis and management of unusual pancreatic tumors

Abstract Background The finding of a solid or cystic mass in the pancreas is becoming more common secondary to the increasing use of cross-sectional imaging and the improved sensitivity of such studies for the detection of pancreatic abnormalities. Because of the aggressive natural history of pancreatic cancer, this has caused concern that all pancreatic abnormalities may be cancer as well as confusion over proper diagnostic and treatment algorithms. This review provides an overview of the natural history, diagnostic considerations, and treatment recommendations for the less common tumors of the pancreas which can be misinterpreted as pancreatic cancer including: solid pseudopapillary tumors (SPT), acinar cell carcinoma (ACC), lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP), primary pancreatic lymphoma (PPL), and metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the pancreas. Data sources A Medline search was conducted to identify studies investigating the clinicopathologic features, molecular genetics, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of SPT, ACC, LPSP, PPL, and pancreatic metastases. Conclusions It is often possible to obtain an accurate pretreatment diagnosis for these unusual pancreatic tumors and to successfully differentiate them from the more common pancreatic malignancies.
Restricted distribution of loss‐of‐function mutations within the LMX1B genes of nail‐patella syndrome patients

Nail-patella syndrome (NPS) is a pleiotropic condition characterized by dysplasia of the nails, hypoplasia of the patellae, elbow dysplasia, and progressive kidney disease. The syndrome is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner and has been shown to result from mutations in the LIM-homeodomain encoding LMX1B gene. The LMX1B transcription factor plays a role in defining the development of dorsal-specific structures during limb development. To date, a total of 64 point mutations and small deletions or insertions have been reported, concentrated within either the LIM or homeodomains. No NPS mutations have been observed within the carboxy-terminal third of the coding sequence, suggesting that mutations in this region are not inactivating. These findings support the hypothesis that NPS results from a 50% reduction in LMX1B function via a reduction in synthesis, disruption of secondary structure, or failure to bind DNA.
The effect of SBE4-β-CD on i.m. prednisolone pharmacokinetics and tissue damage in rabbits: Comparison to a co-solvent solution and a water-soluble prodrug

Abstract The i.m. pharmacokinetics of prednisolone (5 mg/kg) in eight rabbits after its administration in a co-solvent (40:10:50; PEG 400/ethanol/water) mixture, in a slightly hypertonic 0.09 M SBE4-β-CD (a sulfobutyl ether derivative variably substituted on the 2-, 3- and the 6-positions of β-cyclodextrin) solution and from a water-soluble prodrug, the 21-phosphate ester, disodium salt were studied. Muscle damage as measured by changes in plasma creatine kinase (CK) levels caused by the administration of the three solutions was also assessed. The prednisolone plasma AUC values over 24 h from the SBE4-β-CD formulation and the phosphate ester were 87.0 ± 12.6 and 78.0 ± 14.1% of that from co-solvent, respectively. The apparent bioavailability of prednisolone over 24 h from the SBE4-β-CD formulation and its prodrug was not significantly different from that of the co-solvent. The changes in CK levels from the SBE4-β-CD were identical to those from normal saline, however, the co-solvent mixture caused significantly elevated CK levels. The presence or absence of prednisolone had no effect on the relative CK levels for the cyclodextrin solution and the normal saline. There was a small effect noted for the co-solvent, with and without prednisolone. These results confirm that i.m. administered drugs, such as prednisolone, appear to be rapidly, quantitatively and safely released from SBE4-β-CD inclusion complexes. SBE4-β-CD may provide an alternative to the use of co-colvents and possibly even prodrugs for the i.m. delivery of sparingly water-soluble drugs such as prednisolone.
Pressure and temperature derivatives of the elastic constants of caF2 and BaF2

Abstract The elastic constants and their pressure and temperature derivatives were measured by the ultrasonic pulse-echo technique for CaF 2 and BaF 2 at 195° and 298°K. The elastic constants and the pressure derivatives were analyzed in terms of a dipole shell model due to Axe. The Gruneisen parameter in the low temperature limit was calculated and found to compare favorably with the Gruneisen parameter determined from thermodynamic data. The explicit temperature dependencies of the normal mode frequencies for the non-dispersive acoustic modes were calculated. The ultrasonic equation of state is determined and compared with Bridgman's compression data.
The calculated electronic spectra and structures of heptafulvene and the benzoheptafulvenes12

Abstract The ground state conformation of heptafulvene was calculated (by a combination of a Pariser-Parr type treatment of the π system and a Westheimer treatment of the sigma system) to be planar, with alternating bond lengths. The calculated electronic spectrum of this conformation agrees with that observed. The 2,3-and the 4,5-benzoheptafulvenes were also studied.
On Rigorous Mathematical Definitions of Correlation Dimension and Generalized Spectrum for Dimensions

We consider different definitions of the correlation dimension and find some relationships between them and other characteristics of dimension type such as Hausdorff dimension, box dimension, etc. We also introduce different ways to define and study the generalized spectrum for dimensions—a one-parameter family of characteristics of dimension type.
The utility and feasibility of business training for neurosurgeons.

Objective Socioeconomic changes have imposed many administrative demands on neurosurgeons, including managing facilities such as the intensive care unit without absolute authority and maintaining referrals, marketing in an increasingly competitive environment, effecting change within stubborn hospital systems, negotiating fair contracts with insurance companies, using financial statements to make financial decisions, managing small groups under new rules of human resources, navigating a Byzantine system of reimbursement, and assessing entrepreneurial opportunities. A set of new tools and skills has been developed by the business community in response to similar problems that may be of use to neurosurgeons. These advances are reviewed in a neurosurgical context, and routes to business training for the neurosurgeon are discussed. Methods Recent advances in business are discussed with a focus on their relevance to neurosurgical practice. Current neurosurgical interest in business training and training opportunities for neurosurgeons are presented. Results Interest in business training within the neurosurgery community is keen, and advances in the field of business may be helpful in addressing the new tasks faced by neurosurgeons. Conclusion New tools from advances in business are available which have been invaluable to corporations and may be helpful to neurosurgeons wanting to improve efficiency and maintain competitive advantage. Business training is available to neurosurgeons through a variety of routes.
Dynamics of Insulin Secretion in Hypoglycemia

Data have been presented on dynamic changes in plasma insulin concentrations in normal and pathologic states and the relationship between plasma insulin levels and insulin secretory rates has been considered. Hypoglycemia secondary to absolute or relative hyperinsulinism can follow stimulation by glucose or pharmacologic agents, abnormal sensitivity to leucine, uncontrolled secretion by insulinomas and exogenous insulin administration; hypoglycemianot associated with significant elevation of plasma insulin may occur with nonpancreatic neoplasms, fructose intolerance, idiopathic hypoglycemia of childhood and hepatic malfunction. The occasional failure of the body9s counterregulatory mechanisms to alleviate hypoglycemia in the absence of significant hyperinsulinism may be attributable to different factors in individual cases and requires independent study.
Performance contracting and quality improvement in outpatient treatment: Effects on waiting time and length of stay

Abstract We evaluate the effects of a performance contract (PC) implemented in Delaware in 2001 and participation in quality improvement (QI) programs on waiting time for treatment and length of stay (LOS) using client treatment episode level data from Delaware ( n =12,368) and Maryland ( n =147,151) for 1998–2006. Results of difference-in-difference analyses indicate that waiting time declined 13 days following the PC, after controlling for client characteristics and historical trends. Participation in the PC and a formal QI program was associated with a decrease of 20 days. LOS increased 22 days under the PC and 24 days under the PC and QI programs, after controlling for client characteristics. The PC and QI programs were associated with improvements in LOS and waiting time, although we cannot determine which aspects of the programs (incentives, training, and monitoring) resulted in these changes.
A Viscoelastic Model for the Dynamic Behavior of Saturated Poroelastic Soils

4 viscoelastic model is proposed to describe the dynamic response of the saturated poroelastic materials that obey the Biot theory (1956). The viscoelastic model is defined from the velocity and attenuation of dilatational and distortional waves in poroelastic materials. Its material properties are defined in terms of the elastic moduli, porosity, specific gravity, degree of saturation, and permeability of the soils. The proposed model is tested by comparing its response with the one of poroelastic materials in the case of axial and lateral harmonic loadings of onedimensional columns. The viscoelastic model is simpler to use than poroelastic materials but yields similar results for a wide range of soils and dynamic loadings.
State Practices in Serving Individuals with Autism

This article reports findings from a survey of state directors of special education that focused on current practices in providing services to individuals with autism. Results indicated that states vary greatly in the ways they define, assess, and provide training and technical assistance for those working with pupils with autism. Recommendations based on the literature and from the results of this study are provided.
Estimation Techniques for Arithmetic: Everyday Math and Mathematics Instruction.

Recent advances in the way that adults perform computation in our society require reconsideration of the assumptions underlying current elementary mathematics instruction. The widespread use of calculators and computers for situations requiring precise calculation removes much of the motivation for teaching the current addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division algorithms. Yet precisely this use of computing technology now puts a premium on the exercise of estimation techniques for verifying the reasonableness of computations. These techniques, especially those that can be used “mentally” (without the use of any external tools), have been used informally for years, but never formalized for instruction. This paper discusses a range of estimation techniques, and presents in detail a series of mental estimation procedures based on the concepts of measurement and real numbers rather than on counting and integers. A set of techniques for teaching these procedures is described. These estimation techniques are evaluated against the multiple functions that elementary mathematics instruction needs to serve.
Recent trends in U.S. and Canadian nonmetropolitan manufacturing

Abstract During the 1960s and 1970s, growth in manufacturing contributed greatly to the economic well-being of nonmetropolitan areas in the U.S. and Canada. The recession of the early 1980s, however, led to absolute and relative declines in nonmetro areas on both sides of the border, and nearly every state and province experienced employment declines in nonmetro manufacturing. Impacts were greatest in the Northwest and Midwest in the U.S. and in the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and British Columbia in Canada. Job losses were especially significant in several states and provinces where nonmetro areas accounted for a large proportion of total manufacturing employment. This paper examines recent changes in nonmetro manufacturing in the two nations and discusses factors contributing to the changes.
Derivation of biological structure and function: A general theory

A general theory (conceptual basis and formalism) has been developed representing evolution as a random walk in a multidimensional representation space. The biological structures correspond to states in that space, and they are defined in terms of discrete quantized parameters characterizing biomolecular specificity, interactions, barriers to the interactions, and transports through these barriers. The random walk in the representation space is subject to constraints by laws of physics, relative efficiency considerations, and the occupation of certain other states. The walk proceeds from every occupied state to every available state in proportion to their relative probability, evolutionary accessibility as measured in time required. This theory is subsequently applied to analyze nucleic acid molecules and the available barriers to regulate their information processing. This leads to a general conceptual framework for the evolution and theoretical derivation of cell structure, function, regulation, complementarity of cell and virus replicating processes, mechanism of cell differentiations, and loss of cell growth control that leads to carcinogenesis. This theoretical approach is general, it is applicable to all structure and function that arises through evolutionary process.
Words on the right sound louder than words on the left in free field listening.

Abstract Right-handed subjects adjusted the intensity of word pairs presented diotically over two loudspeakers to sound equally loud. The adjusted intensity of the right speaker was consistently lower than that of the left speaker. Although this task addresses a “sensory” dimension of the stimulus, analysis of word pairs by phonetic class suggests that feedback from the later stage of phonetic encoding influences judgments of loudness.
Measurements of energy loss spectra of positrons scattered from solid surfaces

Abstract Surfaces of tungsten and silicon were bombarded with monoenergetic beams of positrons and electrons, and spectra were recorded for particles scattered at shallow angles with respect to the incoming beam. For both positrons and electrons discrete energy loss peaks were observed at kinetic energies about 15 eV lower than that of the elastic peaks. For energy losses greater than 15 eV the positron spectra were significantly different from the electron spectra; for tungsten the relative intensities for positrons were higher and the spectra showed different structure. In this letter we report the first experimental measurements of positron energy losses from solid surfaces. We have demonstrated that such experiments are practical and that it is feasible to explore their use for surface analysis.
Unicity of minimal rank completions for tri-diagonal partial block matrices

Abstract In this paper, we establish necessary and sufficient conditions for a minimal rank completion of a tri-diagonal partial block matrix to be unique. The case of 4×4 block matrices with four consecutive diagonals is also considered, along with its application to the problem of completing a matrix and its inverse.
Attention to a painful cutaneous laser stimulus modulates electrocorticographic event-related desynchronization in humans.

Abstract Objective To test the hypothesis that attention to painful cutaneous laser stimuli enhances event-related desynchronization (ERD) in cortical regions receiving nociceptive input. Methods We used wavelet time–frequency analysis and bandpass filtering to measure ERD quantitatively in subdural electrocorticographic recordings while subjects either attended to, or were distracted from, a painful cutaneous laser stimulus. Results ERD were observed over primary somatosensory and parasylvian (PS) cortices in all 4 subjects, and over medial frontal cortex in 1 subject. Laser-evoked potentials were also observed in all 3 regions. In all subjects, ERD was more widespread and intense, particularly over PS, during attention to laser stimuli (counting stimuli) than during distraction from the stimuli (reading for comprehension). Conclusions These findings suggest that pain-associated ERD is modulated by attention, particularly over PS. Significance This study suggests that thalamocortical circuits are involved in attentional modulation of pain because of the proposed role of these circuits in the mechanisms of ERD.
Hemorrhagic stroke with intraventricular extension in the setting of acute posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES): Case report

Summary We report the case of an eighteen year-old pregnant female with preeclampsia and florid signs and symptoms of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in whom intracerebral hemorrhage was evidenced following delivery. Management included blood pressure control, external ventricular drainage and lumboperitoneal shunt. To our knowledge this is the first report of intracranial hemorrhage occurring concurrently with peripartum acute PRES. This case was successfully treated with good outcome upon conclusion of management, thus making awareness of this potentially fatal complication and its suggested management for successful outcome necessary for neurosurgeons, neurologists and intensivists alike.
Nanoporous inorganic membranes or coatings for sustained drug delivery in implantable devices.

The characteristics of nanoporous inorganic coatings on implants or on implantable devices are reviewed. The commonly used nanoporous materials, such as aluminum oxide (Al2O3), titanium oxide (TiO2) and porous silicon are highlighted with illustrative examples. The critical issues for sustained release systems are examined and the elution profiles of nanoporous coatings are discussed. The available data shows that these systems can be used effectively for sustained release applications. They satisfy the basic biocompatibility tests, meet the requirements of drug loading and sustained release profiles extending to several weeks and also are compatible with current implant technologies. Nanoporous inorganic coatings are well suited to provide improved efficacy and integration of implants in a variety of therapeutic situations.
Enhancement of flow in VARTM using localized induction heating

A critical step in the vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process is the permeation of a porous preform by the reactive resin. A real time flow control is often imperative to achieve complete preform saturation and void-free fill. Local permeability variations in the preform, however, challenge the flow control endeavor. Control strategies that use manipulation of the inlet port parameters are shown in the literature to be limited in the controllability of flow in regions of localized preform variability, particularly at locations away from the controlled injection ports. This paper explores an innovative scheme of using induction heating as a method of locally reducing the resin viscosity to counteract the effects of such localized low permeability regions within the preform. Toward this end, the paper presents a process model for nonisothermal flow during the VARTM process, in the presence of induction heating. The process model, validated with experiments, is used to conduct process simulations to investigate the effects of processing parameters such as induction heating location, induction heating power level, and vacuum level on three heterogeneous preform geometries with varying permeability ratios between the low permeability and high permeability regions. Results of these studies are presented in the form of processing windows and processing maps, which show that induction heating is capable of reducing void and dry spot formation during the VARTM process.
Selective adenosine-A2A activation reduces lung reperfusion injury following transplantation

Abstract Background: The adenosine-A 2A receptor on the neutrophil is responsible for several anti-inflammatory actions. We hypothesized that DWH-146e, a selective adenosine-A 2A agonist, would reduce lung reperfusion injury following transplantation. Methods We used an isolated, whole blood–perfused, ventilated rabbit lung model. Donor rabbits underwent lung harvest after pulmonary arterial PGE 1 injection and Euro-Collins preservation solution flush, and lungs were preserved for 18 hours at 4°C. Group I lungs ( n = 9) served as control subjects. Group II lungs ( n = 9) were reperfused with whole blood that was first passed through a leukocyte-depleting filter. In group III ( n = 9), DWH-146e was added to the blood reperfusate (25 μg/kg) immediately before reperfusion and was administered throughout the reperfusion period (1 μg/kg/min). All lungs were reperfused for 30 minutes. Results Arterial oxygenation in group II and group III was significantly higher than that of group I after 30 minutes of reperfusion (514.27 ± 35.80 and 461.12 ± 43.77 vs 91.41 ± 20.58 mm Hg, p −5 ) compared to both group II and group I (31,057 ± 1743 and 36,911 ± 2173 dynes · s · cm −5 , p p = .03). Microvascular permeability in group III was reduced to 106.82 ± 17.09 compared with 165.70 ± 21.83 ng Evans blue dye per gram of tissue in group I ( p = .05). Group III myeloperoxidase activity was 39.88 ± 4.87 compared with 88.70 ± 18.69 ΔOD/g/min in group I ( p = .03); group II myeloperoxidase activity was 56.06 ± 7.46. Conclusions DWH-146e reduced lung neutrophil sequestration and dramatically improved pulmonary graft function. Neutrophils are important components of the inflammatory cascade of reperfusion injury and their source may include both the circulating blood and the lung graft itself. Selective adensosine-A 2A activation interrupts the neutrophil-mediated inflammatory response and reduces lung reperfusion injury following transplantation.
Barrier Information Coverage with Wireless Sensors

Sensor networks have been deployed for many barrier coverage applications such as intrusion detection and border surveillance. In these applications, it is critical to operate a sensor network in an energy-efficient manner so the barrier can be covered with as few active sensors as possible. In this paper, we study barrier information coverage which exploits collaborations and information fusion between neighboring sensors to reduce the number of active sensors needed to cover a barrier and hence to prolong the network lifetime. Moreover, we propose a practical solution to identify the barrier information coverage set which can information-cover the barrier with a small number of active sensors. The effectiveness of the proposed solution is demonstrated by numerical and simulation results.
Scan power reduction in linear test data compression scheme

XOR network-based on-chip test compression schemes have been widely employed in large industrial scan designs due to their high compression ratio and efficient decompression mechanism. Nevertheless, such a scheme necessitates high unspecified bit ratios in the original test cubes, resulting in quite significant difficulties in preprocessing test cubes for scan power reduction. The linear mapping from the original cubes to the compressed seeds typically provides extra degrees of flexibility as multiple seeds may reconstruct the test cube. Appreciable power reductions in the decompressed test data can be attained through the pinpointing of the power-optimal seeds during the compression phase. The proposed work explores the aforementioned flexibility in the seed space, and proposes the mathematical and algorithmic framework for a power-aware linear test compression scheme. The proposed technique incurs no hardware overhead over the traditional linear compression scheme; it can be easily embedded furthermore into the industrial test compaction/compression flow. Experimental results confirm that the proposed technique delivers significant scan power reduction with negligible impact on the compression ratio.