cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Configuration of the free surface above a vertical jet

On a fait l'etude experimentale d'un jet aximetrique vertical immerge au-dessous d'une surface libre. Les essais ont ete conduits par analyse dimensionnelle ; les resultats ont ete presentes sous forme de graphiques adimensionnels des profils de la surface libre (fig. 4), et du deplacement relatif de l'axe, en fonction de la profondeur relative de submersion de la buse et d'un terme adimensionnel tenant compte du flux de quantite de mouvement (fig. 3). Les deplacements de la surface libre ont ete mesures pour des profondeurs de submersion de la buse egales a 1, 4, 9, 16 et 25 diametres de buse. La figure 3 montre que le deplacement relatif de l'axe ΔZCL/Z0 devient progressivement de plus en plus independant de la profondeur relative de submersion de la buse, lorsque la valeur de z0 d0 augmente ; lorsque la profondeur de submersion depasse z0 / d0 = 16, la buse se comporte essentiellement comme une source ponctuelle de flux de quantite de mouvement. Sur cette meme figure 3, la courbe correspondant a z0/d0 = 25 n'a pas ete tracee sur les points experimentaux, mais a ete alignee sur les autres courbes, car les auteurs estimaient que la position de ces points se trouvait influencee par la plage amortisseuse de houle representee sur la figure 2. Le role de cette plage etait de limiter autant que possible les perturbations provoquees par le jet a la surface libre. On a constate que les profils adimensionnels de la surface libre tendaient a etre geometriquement semblables sur l'ensemble de la gamme des profondeurs de submersion relatives considerees dans les experiences. Ceci signifiait que tous ces profils pouvaient se ramener a peu pres a une courbe unique, celle de la figure 4. La depression localisee de la surface libre, correspondant a des valeurs de r/r base comprises entre 1,0 et 1,4, s'explique par le fait qu'en ce point, l'eau contenue dans la protuberance du profil rencontre la surface libre. L'introduction d'une nouvelle valeur variable de rbase dans la figure 4, a conduit a la necessite d'exprimer rbase/z0 en fonction du flux de quantite de mouvement, et de la profondeur de submersion relative. Ceci a fourni le graphique de la figure 5, qui est exactement analogue au graphique representant le deplacement de l'axe en figure 3. On a egalement constate que le deplacement de l'axe de la surface libre etait donne, approximativement, par la hauteur cinetique du filet liquide median d'un jet infini, et submerge, a une distance egale a Z0 + ΔZCL de la buse. Ceci permet de substituer dans l'equation (6), la vitesse correspondant a l'axe, tiree de l'equation (7), pour obtenir Δz0L. La ligne en traits discontinus de la figure 3 montre le resultat de cette approximation.
Computational modelling of single crystals

The physical basis of computationally tractable models of crystalline plasticity is reviewed. A statistical mechanical model of dislocation motion through forest dislocations is formulated. Following Franciosi and co-workers (1980-88) the strength of the short-range obstacles introduced by the forest dislocations is allowed to depend on the mode of interaction. The kinetic equations governing dislocation motion are solved in closed form for monotonic loading, with transients in the density of forest dislocations accounted for. This solution, coupled with suitable equations of evolution for the dislocation densities, provides a complete description of the hardening of crystals under monotonic loading. Detailed comparisons with experiment demonstrate the predictive capabilities of the theory. An adaptive finite element formulation for the analysis of ductile single crystals is also developed. Calculations of the near-tip fields in Cu single crystals illustrate the versatility of the method.
Characterization of the alkali-stable mannophospholipids of Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Abstract 1. 1. We have investigated the nature of two alkali-stable mannophospholipids that were previously shown to be present in the Mycobacterium smegmafis ATCC 607. The Chloroform-methanol extract of the cells of M. smegmatis was used as the source of the mannophospholipids and the [ 14 C]mannophospholipids synthesized enzymatically from GDP-D-[ 14 C]mannose and a particulate cell-free system of M. smegmatis were used as markers to locate the desired lipids during subsequent fractionations. The labeled phospholipids were initially deacylated and fractionated by (a) DEAE-cellulose column chromatography and (b) three successive Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies to obtain two highly purified [ 14 C]mannophospholipid fractions. 2. 2. Mass spectral analysis of one of the lipids as well as its reduction, ozonolysis and epoxidation products revealed the structure to be an octahydroheptaprenol; 3,7, 11,15,19,23,27-heptamethyl-2,6,10-octacosatrien-1-ol. The other lipid was characterized to be a decaprenol. These lipids were isolated from the M. smegmatis as the mannosyl-1-phosphoryl derivatives.
Placental opioid-enhancing factor (POEF): Generalizability of effects

A substance in amniotic fluid and placenta (POEF for Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor) has been shown to enhance opiate- or opioid-mediated analgesia in rats. Recent studies have only touched on the generalizability of the phenomenon. The present studies further tested the generalizability of the POEF effect: they examined sex specificity of the mechanism; whether POEF activity exists in afterbirth material of species other than the rat; whether POEF activity exists in tissue other than afterbirth material; whether POEF activity could be demonstrated after injection rather than ingestion of afterbirth material; and whether POEF enhances all opioid-mediated phenomena. We found that (a) POEF is effective in male rats as well as in female rats; (b) POEF activity exists in human and dolphin afterbirth material; (c) ingestion of pregnant-rat liver does not produce enhancement of opioid-mediated analgesia; (d) POEF does not seem to be effective when amniotic fluid is injected either IP or SC; and (e) POEF does not modify morphine-induced hyperthermia.
Cancer and complement

A component of the complement system promotes tumor growth by activating myeloid-derived suppressor cells.
Lasers used in analytical micropyrolysis

Abstract Laser micropyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) allows analytical pyrolysis to be conducted with micro-spatial resolution. Despite the large range of contemporary laser sources, most previous laser pyrolysis studies have been conducted with continuous wave (CW) infrared irradiation. Here, the laser micropyrolysis analysis of a Sydney torbanite was conducted with three different laser sources – 1. CW 532 nm; 2. Q-Switched (QSw) pulsed 1064 nm; and 3. QSw pulsed 266 nm – to compare the molecular analyses attributes of different laser types ( λ : 266–1064 nm; CW or QSw). The CW 532 nm laser irradiation consistently produced high concentrations of n -hydrocarbons, with lesser amounts of cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, similar to previous analyses with both CW 1064 nm laser pyrolysis and conventional analytical pyrolysis [1] . In contrast, both the IR and UV QSw pulsed irradiation sources provided poor and varied data. Relatively low concentrations of n -hydrocarbons were occasionally produced, but most often no structurally significant products were detected. The poor maintenance of hydrocarbon structural units by the short pulse lasers can be attributed to the very high power density delivered, leading to excessive degradation of the irradiated macromolecule.
Peroxisomes in pigment epithelium and Müller cells of amphibian retina possess D-amino acid oxidase as well as catalase.

Abstract In this paper we identify peroxisomes in Muller cells and retinal pigment epithelial cells of Rana pipiens and Xenopus laevis by virtue of their content of cytochemically stainable catalase. These organelles have the form of an extensive, branched system of tubules in the retinal pigment epithelium and appear as discrete ovoid structures in the Muller cells. In both the pigment epithelium and the Muller cells a second peroxisomal enzyme, d -amino acid oxidase, can be detected in the same structures as catalase by means of a cerium-based cytochemical staining procedure. This oxidase is active only against nonpolar and polar, uncharged d -amino acids.
George Gallup and the rhetoric of scientific democracy

Throughout his career, George Gallup, the “father” of modern polling, crusaded tirelessly to establish polling's scientific and cultural legitimacy. In public speeches, several books, and more than a hundred articles in journals and popular magazines, Gallup mythologized polling's history of “progress,” deflected doubts about the polls' accuracy and technical procedures with a rhetoric of scientific mystification, and celebrated the collective wisdom of “the people.” Gallup's “rhetoric of scientific democracy” sustained polling's cultural legitimacy, yet it also diverted attention from its most perplexing sources of error and stifled debate over its deleterious effects on the democratic process.
Data driven decisions : Using data to inform process changes in libraries

Over the past five years staff at every level at the University of Arizona Library have begun drastically improving services and increasing customer satisfaction with the Library. Without the data collection and analysis methods from Total Quality Management these changes would not have been possible. Creating and analyzing Pareto and control charts, customer satisfaction surveys, needs assessment focus group interviews, and other data methods have since become an integral part of everyday work at the Library.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided trucut biopsy of the pancreas: prospects and problems.

Endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration (EUS FNA) provides high diagnostic accuracy in most settings. However, limitations associated with pancreatic EUS FNA reduce accuracy. These limitations mo
Efficient computation of the large DFT and DCT coefficients

An algorithm for computing the large discrete Fourier transform (DFT) coefficients of a correlated data sequence is introduced. A novel formulation of the decimation-in-frequency (DIF) fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm is introduced which generalizes the decimation method FFT algorithm. The radix-2 DIF FFT algorithm is modified to introduce an efficient algorithm for computing the DFT coefficients larger than a given threshold. This algorithm significantly reduces the computations associated with the small coefficients. Results are extended to all the DIF-based FFT algorithms as well as the multidimensional FFT and the FFT-based fast discrete cosine transform algorithm. >
Contemporary liberal education: slowing down to discern

Purpose – This essay seeks to argue that contemporary liberal arts education can be viewed from the perspective of contemporary psychological understandings of human cognition combined with the classical pedagogy developed in the foundational concepts of Jesuit education. Through a description of the human cognitive system as discussed in the writing of Daniel Kahneman and the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola, the concepts of “slow thinking” and “discernment” are offered as important models that can inform development of a liberal education in an information-saturated society. Design/methodology/approach – The essay presents an interpretation of the essentially “liberating” nature of liberal education in light of the psychological literature that demonstrates how one's culture contributes to the formation of cognitive structures that allow largely automatic processing of information in a non-reflective, fast process that leads to understanding that is constrained and somewhat closed to alternative u...
Compact Application Signatures for Parallel and Distributed Scientific Codes

Understanding the dynamic behavior of parallel programs is key to developing efficient system software and runtime environments; this is even more true on emerging computational Grids where resource availability and performance can change in unpredictable ways. Event tracing provides details on behavioral dynamics, albeit often at great cost. We describe an intermediate approach, based on curve fitting, that retains many of the advantages of event tracing but with lower overhead. These compact "application signatures" summarize the time-varying resource needs of scientific codes from historical trace data. We also developed a comparison scheme that measures similarity between two signatures, both across executions and across execution environments.
Site-specific chromosomal integration of large synthetic constructs

We have developed an effective, easy-to-use two-step system for the site-directed insertion of large genetic constructs into arbitrary positions in the Escherichia coli chromosome. The system uses lambda-Red mediated recombineering accompanied by the introduction of double-strand DNA breaks in the chromosome and a donor plasmid bearing the desired insertion fragment. Our method, in contrast to existing recombineering or phage-derived insertion methods, allows for the insertion of very large fragments into any desired location and in any orientation. We demonstrate this method by inserting a 7-kb fragment consisting of a venus-tagged lac repressor gene along with a target lacZ reporter into six unique sites distributed symmetrically about the chromosome. We also demonstrate the universality and repeatability of the method by separately inserting the lac repressor gene and the lacZ target into the chromosome at separate locations around the chromosome via repeated application of the protocol.
Double unrelated reduced-intensity umbilical cord blood transplantation in adults

Abstract Umbilical cord blood (UBC) stem cells are a useful stem cell source for patients without matched related or unrelated donors. Adult transplantation with single UBC units is associated with high transplantation-related mortality (TRM). In most cases, mortality is due to infection related to slow engraftment and immunoincompetence. In this study, we used a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen of fludarabine, melphalan, and antithymocyte globulin followed by 2 partially matched UBC units. The UBC units were a 4/6 HLA match or better with each other and with the patient and achieved a minimum precryopreservation cell dose of 3.7 × 107 nucleated cells/kg. A total of 21 patients (median age, 49 years) were treated. The median time to an absolute neutrophil count > 0.5 × 109/L was 20 days, and the median time to an unsupported platelet count > 20 × 109/L was 41 days. Two patients experienced primary graft failure and underwent a second UBC transplantation. One patient had a late graft failure. Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) grade II-IV occurred in 40% of patients. The 100-day TRM was 14%, and the 1-year disease-free survival was 67%. Mixed chimerism was associated with a higher risk of chronic GVHD. Our findings indicate that adult patients can tolerate double UBC transplantation well and achieve sustained antitumor responses using this reduced-intensity conditioning regimen.
Perceived Advantages and Disadvantages of Age among Older HIV-Infected Adults

Semistructured interviews were conducted with 63 HIV-infected late middle-age andolder adults (i.e., age 50 or older). An analysis of the narrative material revealed avariety of themes that reflect...
Molecular and genetic basis of β2 -adrenergic receptor function

The beta(2 )-adrenergic receptor has been cloned, mutated, and recombinantly expressed such that many structural features involved in receptor function have been defined. Agonists bind in a pocket formed by transmembrane spanning domains 3, 5, and 6, where key contact points initiate receptor activation. An interaction with the beta-hydroxyl group of beta-agonists and Asn293 of the latter transmembrane domain is the basis of the stereoselectivity of R- vs S-isomers of catecholamine-like agonists. Sites within the receptor that serve to dampen the signal with continuous agonist exposure have also been identified and include sites for phosphorylation by protein kinase A and G-protein-coupled receptor kinases and structural features that direct the receptor toward degradation (downregulation). Several regions of the beta(2 )-adrenergic receptor show genetic diversity within the human population, such that expression, coupling, and agonist regulation may be different in individuals with these polymorphisms.
Speculation with Little Wasting: Saving Cost in Software Speculation through Transparent Learning

Software speculation has shown promise in parallelizing programs with coarse-grained dynamic parallelism. However, most speculation systems use offline profiling for the selection of speculative regions. The mismatch with the input-sensitivity of dynamic parallelism may result in large numbers of speculation failures in many applications. Although with certain protection, the failed speculations may not hurt the basic efficiency of the application, the wasted computing resource (e.g. CPU time and power consumption) may severely degrade system throughput and efficiency. The importance of this issue continuously increases with the advent of multicore and parallelization in portable devices and multiprogramming environments. In this work, we propose the use of transparent statistical learning to make speculation cross-input adaptive. Across production runs of an application, the technique recognizes the patterns of the profitability of the speculative regions in the application and the relation between the profitability and program inputs. On a new run, the profitability of the regions are predicted accordingly and the speculations are switched on and off adaptively. The technique differs from previous techniques in that it requires no explicit training, but is able to adapt to changes in program inputs. It is applicable to both loop-level and function-level parallelism by learning across iterations and executions, permitting arbitrary depth of speculations. Its implementation in a recent software speculation system, namely the Behavior-Oriented Parallelization system, shows substantial reduction of speculation cost with negligible decrease (sometimes, considerable increase) of parallel execution performance.
Modeling genome structure and function

The ongoing genomics revolution has led to the creation and enumeration of all the genes encoded within several organisms. The next steps are to catalog all proteins, their struc- tures, and their functions in different contexts. At the same time, scientists have been pursu- ing experimental and theoretical approaches to integrate this information to gain understand- ing of the behavior of entire systems. In this work, we provide a framework for obtaining structures for all tractable protein sequences encoded by a genome, and using the resulting structures to aid in understanding function. Our aim is to integrate the output produced with other genomic and proteomic data to create a comprehensive picture of systems and organis- mal biology.
Functional Morphology of the Midcarpal Joint in Knuckle-Walkers and Terrestrial Quadrupeds

The functional anatomy of the forelimb has played a critical role in reconstructing locomotor and postural adaptations of fossil anthropoids, including hominins. This study examined the functional anatomy of the midcarpal joint and wrist ranges of motion in extant hominoids and terrestrial cercopithecines to investigate ways that knuckle-walkers are similar to, and distinct from, other terrestrial catarrhines. New data on maximum ranges of motion in Pan, Hylobates, Papio, and Erythrocebus support the conclusion that Asian apes have unusually mobile wrist joints as adaptations for suspension and/or climbing activities, and that African ape wrists have limited ranges of extension as an adaptation to knuckle-walking.
Polymicrobial Bacteremia: Clinical and Microbiologic Patterns

Between 1971 and 1987, 97 patients with polymicrobial bacteremia (PMB) were seen by a consulting infectious disease service. Seventy-four had severe underlying illnesses, and infection was hospital acquired in 80. PMB resulted from intraabdominal, urinary tract, or soft tissue infection in 45 patients, but a wide range of sources were implicated in the rest. Eleven patients had more than one source for the bacteremia, and, despite intensive diagnostic efforts, 24 had no identifiable source for at least one blood isolate. Bacteremia due to gram-negative bacilli most commonly occurred in intraabdominal, urinary tract, and wound infections; Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species were most frequently isolated. Streptococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus were the predominant gram-positive isolates. Certain bacterial combinations seemed to provide a clue for predicting the source of PMB: for example, S. aureus together with gram-negative facultative rods usually arose from a skin or soft tissue source, whereas S. faecalis together with a gram-negative bacillus could often be traced to an intraabdominal infection. No unique clinical features appeared to predict the occurrence of bacteremia due to multiple rather than to a single organism. The mortality in patients was 21%, lower than has previously been described in PMB but similar to that reported for bacteremia due to a single organism.
Caridean and stenopodid shrimp of the Galapagos Islands

At least 65 species of caridean and stenopodid shrimp live in the waters of the Galapagos Islands. These animals can be common, and often are a food source for fishes, birds or cephalopods. Many engage in mutualistic or commensal relationships with other animals. These shrimp, however, often go unnoticed because of cryptic coloration, small size (1 cm or less in total length), nocturnal activity patterns, or inaccessible habitats.
Large Waves in the Gulf of Mexico Caused by Hurricane Ivan

The large waves generated by Hurricane Ivan caused extensive damage to the offshore oil industry and to the coastal areas on the Gulf of Mexico. This damage and the wave conditions have received considerable media coverage. There has been speculation that the associated wave conditions correspond to a 1000-year event and that the criteria for designing offshore structures in the Gulf of Mexico may need revision. In view of what appear to be extraordinary wave conditions, we analyzed all of the measurements from National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) buoys in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere in U.S. waters in order to place Hurricane Ivan's waves in the context of other measurements. It was found that the maximum significant wave height (SWH) measured during Hurricane Ivan in the Gulf of Mexico exceeded the largest wave heights ever recorded in all U.S. waters, even though on a return period basis, the Gulf of Mexico has the smallest wave climate compared with all other regions around the United States. At four ...
Peer influences on risk behavior: an analysis of the effects of a close friend

Cross-sectional research suggests that peer influence has a moderate to strong impact on adolescent risk behavior. Such estimates may be inflated owing to third-variable confounds representing either friendship selection effects or the operation of parallel events. Approximately 1,700 peer dyads in Grades 7 to 11 were studied over a 1-year period to estimate the influence of closest friends on sexual activity and binge drinking. Analyses suggested that peer influence was small but reliable when both selection effects and parallel events were taken into account. Peer influence varied as a function of individual-peer similarity and maternal relations but not in accord with other theoretical predictions. It is suggested that the magnitude of peer effects in previous research may be overestimated in many contexts.
Toward optimal tissue sealants for neurosurgery: use of a novel hydrogel sealant in a canine durotomy repair model.

Objective Watertight dural repairs are difficult to achieve, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage causes complications and extends hospital stays. Therefore, a novel synthetic hydrogel film was evaluated as an adjunct to dural closure in a canine model. Methods The self-polymerizing, absorbable, and biocompatible hydrogel was sprayed onto tissue and formed a flexible, adherent sealant. A 2-cm incision of cranial dura and arachnoid was created in 26 adult dogs and loosely repaired. Hydrogel was applied over the 2-mm dural gap in 13 dogs; 13 control dogs received no hydrogel application. Results All dogs remained neurologically intact. Valsalva tests conducted at 1, 4, 7, and 56 days were associated with mean leakage pressures (+/- standard error of the mean) of 5 +/- 0, 5 +/- 0, 7 +/- 2, and 13 +/- 8 cm H(2)O in the controls and of 53 +/- 2, 37 +/- 11, 42 +/- 6, and 48 +/- 4 in the treated animals (P = 0.001, 0.053, 0.010, 0.035, respectively, at each time point; one-tailed t test). Histopathological analysis revealed minimal changes. Conclusion The hydrogel-treated animals exhibited normal progression of dural healing, no dural adhesions, and no underlying effects on the brain. Although dural healing progressed normally, the control animals displayed marked peridural adhesions. The results of this in vivo study suggest that hydrogels, such as that used here, may significantly decrease cerebrospinal fluid leakage, thereby increasing the safety and effectiveness of dural closure in patients and facilitating surgical reexploration.
Sleep disturbance and depression as barriers to adherence

This study examined the relationships among subjective sleep disturbance, depressive symptoms, and adherence to medications among HIV-infected women. HIV-infected women (N = 173) were recruited through community AIDS service organizations throughout South Carolina. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and a modified version of the Adults AIDS Clinical Trials Group Adherence Baseline Questionnaire. Women who reported greater sleep disturbance also reported a higher level of depressive symptoms and reported poor adherence to their medication regimen. Depression helped to explain the relationship between sleep quality and adherence. Results indicate that assessment and management of sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms in women with HIV disease is important to promote medication adherence.
Applications of regional anaesthesia in paediatrics

Summary. Advances in the field of paediatric regional anaesthesia have specific applications to both acute and chronic pain management. This review summarizes data regarding the safety of paediatric regional anaesthetic techniques. Current guidelines are provided for performing paediatric regional techniques, with a focus on applications for postoperative pain management. Brief descriptions of relevant anatomy followed by indications for commonly performed blocks are highlighted along with the potential of adverse sideeffects.
Photonics: Linear and Nonlinear Interactions of Laser Light and Matter, 2nd Edition

This PDF file contains the editorial “Photonics: Linear and Nonlinear Interactions of Laser Light and Matter, 2nd Edition” for JBO Vol. 13 Issue 05
Contact mechanics for coated spheres that includes the transition from weak to strong adhesion

Recently published results for a rigid spherical indenter contacting a thin, linear elastic coating on a rigid planar substrate have been extended to include the case of two contacting spheres, where each sphere is rigid and coated with a thin, linear elastic material. This is done by using an appropriately chosen effective radius and coating modulus. The earlier work has also been extended to provide analytical results that span the transition between the previously derived Derjaguin–Muller–Toporov (DMT)-like (work of adhesion/coating-modulus ratio is small) and Johnson–Kendall–Roberts (JKR)-like (work of adhesion/coating-modulus ratio is large) limits.
Comparison of Plasma Concentrations for Two Amiodarone Products

BACKGROUND:A generic formulation of amiodarone was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration based on single-dose equivalence data. Because amiodarone has complex pharmacokinetic properties, a narrow therapeutic range, and a significant adverse effect profile, concern about equivalency persists.OBJECTIVE:To compare steady-state plasma concentrations of the brand-name reference product Cordarone with the AB-rated generic formulation, Pacerone, in patients exposed to both products.METHODS:A retrospective analysis was performed at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center on 138 patients who were taking a stable dose of amiodarone before and after an amiodarone generic product substitution.RESULTS:Seventy-seven patients had steady-state plasma concentrations documented for each product at the same dose. The mean steady-state plasma concentrations of amiodarone were not significantly different for Cordarone compared with Pacerone (1.07 ± 0.48 vs. 1.19 ± 0.66 μg/mL, respectively); similarly, ...
Benign retroperitoneal schwannoma: a case series and review of the literature.

Abstract Objectives To present our experience with four retroperitoneal schwannomas treated by surgical excision and review the current literature. Retroperitoneal schwannomas are rare, benign tumors and infrequently present to the urologist. Methods From 1997 through 2002, the charts of 164 patients with a diagnosis of benign retroperitoneal soft tissue mass were reviewed. Of those, four had a pathologic diagnosis of retroperitoneal schwannoma. Results Three of the 4 patients were women, with a median age of 54 years (range 46 to 80). The average tumor size was 13.7 cm (range 8.8 to 20). All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or ultrasonography, and 3 of the 4 patients underwent a computed tomography-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (all were either inaccurate or inconclusive). All patients underwent complete tumor excision with free margins of resection and tolerated surgery without any complications. None of the patients have had any evidence of recurrence at a mean follow-up of 26 months (range 10 to 48). Conclusions Retroperitoneal schwannomas are difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Computed tomography-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy does not appear to provide an accurate preoperative diagnosis. The surgical approach should focus on complete excision of the mass. Patients undergoing complete surgical resection tend to do well without evidence of early recurrence.
Discrimination within the Family – Do Infant Girls in Bangladesh Get the Same Amount of Food as Infant Boys?

With gender discrimination still prevalent in most parts of the world, governments and the United Nations are adopting policies to eliminate all forms of discrimination by 2030. Although most policy interventions attempt to reduce gender discrimination in the workplace and educational attainment, little is known about the extent of gender discrimination within the family. In this paper, I study whether girls and boys are treated equally in Bangladesh by examining the extent of the difference in standardized BMI between infant boys and infant girls of the same household. Using data from the Demographic and Health Surveys of Bangladesh, my results show that the standardized BMI of infant girls are lower than that of boys of the same household, and the presence of more children in the household makes the standardized BMI of girls even lower.
Using individual differences to test the role of temporal and place cues in coding frequency modulation

The question of how frequency is coded in the peripheral auditory system remains unresolved. Previous research has suggested that slow rates of frequency modulation (FM) of a low carrier frequency may be coded via phase-locked temporal information in the auditory nerve, whereas FM at higher rates and/or high carrier frequencies may be coded via a rate-place (tonotopic) code. This hypothesis was tested in a cohort of 100 young normal-hearing listeners by comparing individual sensitivity to slow-rate (1-Hz) and fast-rate (20-Hz) FM at a carrier frequency of 500 Hz with independent measures of phase-locking (using dynamic interaural time difference, ITD, discrimination), level coding (using amplitude modulation, AM, detection), and frequency selectivity (using forward-masking patterns). All FM and AM thresholds were highly correlated with each other. However, no evidence was obtained for stronger correlations between measures thought to reflect phase-locking (e.g., slow-rate FM and ITD sensitivity), or between measures thought to reflect tonotopic coding (fast-rate FM and forward-masking patterns). The results suggest that either psychoacoustic performance in young normal-hearing listeners is not limited by peripheral coding, or that similar peripheral mechanisms limit both high- and low-rate FM coding.
Protection of Contractual Rights: A Tale of Two Constitutional Provisions

This essay contrasts two constitutional provisions that were employed during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to protect contractual obligations from legislative interference. It explores why the contract clause, once among the most important provisions of the Constitution, gradually eroded in the late nineteenth century and was eclipsed by the liberty of contract doctrine under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The essay suggests that a possible explanation may be found in the growing commitment to economic liberty which stressed freedom to enter contracts and was concerned about the extent to which the public law branch of the contract clause shielded business enterprise from competition. It further points out that courts gave only modest protection to contracts under either the contract clause or the liberty of contract doctrine.
Multiple tobacco product use among young adult bar patrons in New Mexico.

Abstract Introduction Use of non-cigarette tobacco products is common, and e-cigarette use is increasing among young adults. We aimed to identify use of other tobacco products among young adult bar patrons in the context of a bar-based intervention to decrease cigarette smoking. Methods 2291 cross-sectional surveys were collected from young adults in bars in Albuquerque, New Mexico using time–location sampling between 2011 and 2013 (N = 1142 in 2011, N = 1149 in 2012–2013), 2 and 3 years into an intervention to reduce cigarette use, and analyzed in 2014–2015. Participants reported current (i.e. past 30-day) use of cigarettes, snus, dip, cigarillos, hookah, and e-cigarettes, demographics, and tobacco-related attitudes. Multiple imputation was used to account for planned missing data. Logistic regression determined correlates of multiple tobacco product use. Results Cigarette smoking in the population decreased during the intervention from 43% to 37%. Over 60% of current cigarette smokers reported poly-use, most frequently with e-cigarettes (46%) and hookah (44%), followed by cigarillos (24%), dip (15%), and snus (14%) in 2012–2013. Among cigarette smokers, current e-cigarette use increased, while use of other products decreased during the intervention. Odds of poly-use (versus smoking cigarettes only) were greater among males and those reporting past 30-day binge drinking, and lower in those who strongly believed secondhand smoke exposure is harmful. Conclusions Among young adult bar patrons in Albuquerque, New Mexico, most cigarette smokers reported currently using at least one other tobacco product. Public health interventions should address use of all tobacco products, use of which may rise despite decreased cigarette use.
Beam by design: Laser manipulation of electrons in modern accelerators

Accelerator-based light sources such as storage rings and free-electron lasers use relativistic electron beams to produce intense radiation over a wide spectral range for fundamental research in physics, chemistry, materials science, biology, and medicine. More than a dozen such sources operate worldwide, and new sources are being built to deliver radiation that meets with the ever-increasing sophistication and depth of new research. Even so, conventional accelerator techniques often cannot keep pace with new demands and, thus, new approaches continue to emerge. In this article, a variety of recently developed and promising techniques that rely on lasers to manipulate and rearrange the electron distribution in order to tailor the properties of the radiation are reviewed. Basic theories of electron-laser interactions, techniques to create microstructures and nanostructures in electron beams, and techniques to produce radiation with customizable waveforms are reviewed. An overview of laser-based techniques for the generation of fully coherent x rays, mode-locked x-ray pulse trains, light with orbital angular momentum, and attosecond or even zeptosecond long coherent pulses in free-electron lasers is presented. Several methods to generate femtosecond pulses in storage rings are also discussed. Additionally, various schemes designed to enhance the performance of light sources through precision beam preparation including beam conditioning, laser heating, emittance exchange, and various laser-based diagnostics are described. Together these techniques represent a new emerging concept of ``beam by design'' in modern accelerators, which is the primary focus of this article.
The Conquest Tradition of Mesoamerica 1

To observe that events are determined by historical antecedents is hardly informative. What is difficult about history is that it is rarely equally easy to find out how the past shapes the future. Central America presents an interesting case in which indigenous cultures and Spanish conquest have succeeded in reproducing old geographical patterns while the cultures and societies therein have changed in extraordinary ways. The present paper suggests how it is that some of these cultural and social relational continuities, perhaps difficult to understand apart from this long tradition, may have continued down from the pre-Columbian period to the present. A key element in the process seems to lie in the ethnic relations, those relations that have been retained between Ladinos and the state on the one hand, and the highly populous Indian population of Guatemala.
Boundary-Layer Transition on a Flared Cone in the Texas A&M Mach 6 Quiet Tunnel

Measurements of boundary layer transition location and boundary-layer profiles on a sharp-tipped 5o-half-angle flared cone were made in a low-disturbance Mach 6 wind tunnel. Following a recent nozzle repolishing effort, an updated flow quality characterization for the facility is presented for freestream unit Reynolds numbers of 8 and 10 × 10/m. At the high Reynolds number condition, transition onset on the flared cone model was observed to occur only very near its base, consistent with the previous observations on the same test article in the quiet tunnel’s former installation at NASA Langley. Uncalibrated boundary-layer profiles of mean and rms mass flux are obtained using constant temperature hotwire anemometry at several axial locations, and are compared with available historical data. Locations of maximum fluctuating content within the boundary layer are consistent with previous experiments and expectation, although boundary-layer thicknesses are observed to be 16% higher than previously, most likely due to a slightly heated-wall condition on the cone. Several imminent improvements to the current hotwire technique are discussed. This early work represents a key milestone toward the acquisition of highly-resolved, calibrated measurements of hypersonic transitional boundary layers to be used as code validation.
Kinematic earthquake models and synthesized ground motion using empirical Green's functions

Abstract In order to improve computer simulations of earthquakes and computations of ground motions, the primary goals of this study are to: (1) examine the effect of a range of kinematic rupture models and rupture parameters on synthesized seismograms, (2) examine the theoretical relationship between rupture models and synthesized seismograms, and (3) demonstrate that simple kinematic earthquake models, used with empirical Green9s functions, can be used to predict very realistic seismograms. Earthquake models and synthesized seismograms are examined by computing ground motion for the 1971 San Fernando earthquake ( M L = 6.4) and for two aftershocks ( M L = 3.3 and 3.5). Well-constrained source parameters and Green9s functions allow a controlled examination of rupture models and rupture parameters. Seismograms are synthesized for the full wave train on three components and for frequencies of 0.5 to 25.0 Hz and are compared to observed seismograms as a guide to indicate whether the models are realistic. The examination of rupture models and rupture parameters show that: (1) variations in modeled rupture velocity and rise times most greatly affect the waveforms and amplitudes of synthesized waveforms; (2) the shape of the slip function is not critical to match observed seismograms; (3) only a narrow range of rupture parameters results in realistic synthetic seismograms; (4) simple source models are sufficient to provide good matches to observed seismograms; (5) a simple interpolation scheme for empirical Green9s functions is sufficient to match observed seismograms; and (6) the best rupture model for simulating earthquakes is a Kostrov slip model with healing that results in a smooth variation of slip amplitudes, and a distribution of rise times that results in a constant stress drop for most of the fault surface; randomly distributed areas of shortened rise times, resulting in higher stress drops, improve synthesis above 10 Hz. Theoretical and numerical solutions for the representation relation show that: (1) spectral fall-off of the synthesized seismograms is controlled by the phase delays resulting from rupture parameters; (2) moderately complicated source pulse shapes result from simple rupture models, and the high complexity of synthesized seismograms is primarily a result of the empirical Green9s functions; (3) high-frequency arrivals are generated by simple fault rupture models that violate accepted hypotheses that require spatial variations in either stress drop, rupture velocity, or slip rate; and (4) only Haskell rupture models are subject to previously published results that the empirical Green9s function synthesis method leads to deficiencies of the Fourier amplitude spectra.
Spontaneous resolution of iatrogenic ascending aorta dissection: now you see it, now you do not

An 81-year-old woman with ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction 26%), severe functional mitral regurgitation, and NYHA class III exertional dyspnoea was referred for mitral valve repair. Preoperative computed tomography demonstrated ascending aorta enlargement, confirmed on TEE ( Panel A ; 47 mm) and severe, laminated atherosclerosis involving the aortic arch ( Panel B ), and descending …
The Design Method of the Seismically Isolated Bridge by Lead Rubber Bearing Based on Energy Method

The energy response equations of the seismically isolated bridge system are established based on the energy equilibrium theory.Bilinear analysis model of the energy response of the seismically isolated bridge is constructed by series connecting the bridge piers and the lead rubber bearings.According to the applicable Code of Seismic Design for Railway Engineering,forty strong ground motion records are appropriately selected as the seismic input and the nonlinear time history analyses for the seismic energy responses of the bilinear SDOF seismically isolated bridge systems with different natural periods are carried out.Then according to the dynamic characteristics of the lead rubber bearing itself,the statistical seismic input energy spectra for the bridge seismic isolation design in Ⅰ-type site are presented.Considering the seismic isolation bridge system input energy reaching to the utmost energy dissipation of the lead rubber bearing as the damage rule,and the seismic input energy acquired from seismic input energy spectra of this paper,and the seismic isolation degree taken as the isolation object as well as the ratio of displacement ductility of the isolation bearing taken as the restricted conditions,the design method of seismic isolation bridge is put forward.
The relationship between the single nucleotide polymorphisms of multidrug resistance gene 1,brain derived neurotrophic factor gene and childhood drug resistance epilepsy

Aim To explore the relationship of the single nucleotide polymorphisms of multidrug resistance gene 1 and brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) gene to childhood drug resistance epilepsy.Methods Two single nucleotide polymorphisms,T-129C polymorphism in multidrug resistance gene 1 and C270T polymorphism in BDNF gene,were conducted with PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.The distribution of genotypes and allele frequencies of two single nucleotide polymorphisms in childhood drug resistance epilepsy were compared to those in drug respond epilepsy and controls.Results The distribution of TT genotype and T allele frequencies of multidrug resistance gene 1 in drug resistance epilepsy differed significantly from those in drug respond epilepsy and controls(P0.05);the distribution of CC,CT and TT genotypes and C,T allele frequencies of BDNF gene showed no significant difference between drug resistance epilepsy and drug respond epilepsy or controls(P0.05).Conclusions The findings suggested that the T-129C polymorphism of multidrug resistance gene 1 maybe associated with childhood drug resistance epilepsy and played some role in the etiology of drug resistance epilepsy,but C270T polymorphism of BDNF gene was not confirmed to relate to childhood drug resistance epilepsy.
A Review of Evidence Presented in Support of Three Key Claims in the Validity Argument for the TextEvaluator® Text Analysis Tool

The TextEvaluator® text analysis tool is a fully automated text complexity evaluation tool designed to help teachers and other educators select texts that are consistent with the text complexity guidelines specified in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). This paper provides an overview of the TextEvaluator measurement approach and summarizes evidence related to three key claims in the TextEvaluator validity argument: (a) TextEvaluator has succeeded in expanding construct coverage beyond the two dimensions of text variation that are traditionally assessed by readability metrics; (b) the TextEvaluator strategy of estimating distinct prediction models for informational, literary, and mixed texts has succeeded in generating text complexity predictions that exhibit little, if any, genre bias; and (c) TextEvaluator scores are highly correlated with text complexity judgments provided by human experts, including judgments generated via the inheritance method and judgments generated via the exemplar method. Implications with respect to the goal of helping teachers and other educators select texts that are closely aligned with the accelerated text complexity exposure trajectory outlined in the CCSS are discussed.
Back to the Future: Lösch, Isard, and the Role of Money and Credit in the Space-Economy

The recent financial crisis has been a powerful reminder that the intersectoral flow of funds is also—always and everywhere—a local phenomenon with real effects. Yet, the contemporary canon of regional economic theory has enshrined the classical dichotomy, treating the spheres of money and production as analytically distinct. Consequently, the current literature has little to say about monetary phenomena and their spatial consequences. The widespread disengagement of regional scientists with respect to issues of money, credit and banking represents a radical break with the discipline’s intellectual origins over half a century ago. This chapter re-examines the monetary content of some of the foundational works in regional science. In particular, I argue that August Losch and Walter Isard, the former a student of Joseph Schumpeter’s and the latter a student of Alvin Hansen’s, both represent important branches in the long lineage of twentieth century continental and U.S. monetary thought, respectively. In doing so, this chapter also outlines key elements of a research agenda that reengages with regional aspects of money and credit, casting them as central pillars of a Losch-Isard synthesis.