cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of native tissue transvaginal apical approaches in women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence

Limited data exist comparing different surgical approaches in women with advanced vaginal prolapse. This study compared 2-year surgical outcomes of uterosacral ligament suspension (ULS) and sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) in women with advanced prolapse (stage III–IV) and stress urinary incontinence. This was a secondary analysis of a multicenter 2 × 2 factorial randomized trial comparing (1) ULS versus SSLF and (2) behavioral therapy with pelvic floor muscle training versus usual care. Of 374 subjects, 117/188 (62.7%) in the ULS and 113/186 (60.7%) in the SSLF group had advanced prolapse. Two-year surgical success was defined by the absence of (1) apical descent > 1/3 into the vaginal canal, (2) anterior/posterior wall descent beyond the hymen, (3) bothersome bulge symptoms, and (4) retreatment for prolapse. Secondary outcomes included individual success outcome components, symptom severity measured by the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory, and adverse events. Outcomes were also compared in women with advanced prolapse versus stage II prolapse. Success did not differ between groups (ULS: 58.2% [57/117] versus SSLF: 58.5% [55/113], aOR 1.0 [0.5–1.8]). No differences were detected in individual success components (p > 0.05 for all components). Prolapse symptom severity scores improved in both interventions with no intergroup differences (p = 0.82). Serious adverse events did not differ (ULS: 19.7% versus SSLF: 16.8%, aOR 1.2 [0.6–2.4]). Success was lower in women with advanced prolapse compared with stage II (58.3% versus 73.2%, aOR 0.5 [0.3–0.9]), with no retreatment in stage II. Surgical success, symptom severity, and overall serious adverse events did not differ between ULS and SSLF in women with advanced prolapse. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01166373.
No WAN's Land: Mapping U.S. Broadband Coverage with Millions of Address Queries to ISPs

Accurate broadband coverage data is essential for public policy planning and government support programs. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission is responsible for maintaining national broadband coverage data. Observers have panned the FCC's broadband maps for overstating availability, due to coarsegrained data collection and a low coverage threshold.We demonstrate a new approach to building broadband coverage maps: automated large-scale queries to the public availability checking tools offered by major internet service providers. We reverse engineer the coverage tools for nine major ISPs in the U.S., test over 19 million residential street addresses across nine states for service, and compare the results to the FCC's maps.Our results demonstrate that the FCC's coverage data significantly overstates the availability of each ISP's service, access to any broadband, connection speeds available to consumers, and competition in broadband markets. We also find that the FCC's data disproportionately overstates coverage in rural and minority communities. Our results highlight a promising direction for developing more accurate broadband maps and validating coverage reports.
The nuclear magnetic resonance metabolic profile: Impact of fasting status.

Abstract Introduction Measurement of lipoprotein subclass concentration (-c), particle number (-p), and size (-s) by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has gained traction in the clinical laboratory due to associations between smaller lipid particle sizes and atherogenic risk, especially for LDL-p. The standard protocols for lipoprotein measurements by NMR require fasting blood samples; however, patients may not fast properly before sample collection. The study objective was to evaluate the impact of fasting status on the NMR-based lipid profile and to identify key parameters differentiating between fasting and post-meal specimens. Methods Forty-eight self-reported healthy male and female participants were recruited. Blood was collected after a 12 h fast and 4 h after a high fat meal. Samples were analyzed using the AXINON LipoFIT by NMR assay. The measurements included triglyceride, total cholesterol, IDL-c, and LDL, HDL, VLDL concentration, particle number, and size, as well as glucose, and four amino acids (alanine, valine, leucine and isoleucine). Results As expected, triglycerides increased after the meal (58%, p Conclusions The clinical impact on NMR results from post-meal samples warrants further evaluation. Algorithms to differentiate fasting and post-meal specimens may be useful in identifying suboptimal specimens.
Investigation of lesion detectability using deep learning based denoising methods in oncology PET: a cross-center phantom study

430 Objectives: Previous studies have demonstrated promising performance in reducing noise in low-statistics PET images when using a deep convolutional neural network (CNN). While existing deep learning-based PET denoising studies have primarily focused on lesion quantification, this work investigates the impact of noise reduction with deep learning on lesion detectability for different noise levels based on a cross-center phantom study. Methods: For the deep learning network, we used a 3D U-Net trained by the datasets from 70 patients (age: 60.2 ± 22.7 years; BMI: 26.6 ± 4.9 kg/m2) acquired on a Biograph mCT scanner at Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH). The list-mode data were obtained for 15.9 ± 3.7 mins after 9.95 ± 0.81 mCi 18F-FDG injection with continuous-bed-motion whole-body scanning to generate the standard-statistics images using OSEM reconstruction with PSF and TOF modelling. Ten samples of low-statistics images were generated by 10% down-sampling of the list-mode data. Using the low-statistics images as input and the standard-statistics images as label, the network was trained to minimize a L2 loss function with the Adam optimizer. To investigate lesion detectability as a function of count statistics, the SNMMI CTN phantom filled with 18F-FDG was scanned on a mCT scanner at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, a uniform cylinder phantom was used to emulate the liver. List-mode data were acquired for 60 minutes. Spherical lesions (9.89 mm diameter) were embedded into the phantoms data by combining the lesion data acquired separately in air with the list-mode data of the two phantoms. Images of six different noise levels (scan duration: 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3 and 6 mins) were generated with 10 replicates for each noise level. The images were reconstructed using OSEM algorithm with PSF and TOF modeling. The denoised images were obtained using the U-Net trained by YNHH data. A generalized scan statistics methodology was used to determine the area under the LROC curve (ALROC) as a function of scan time for images without and with denoising to determine the improved lesion detectability with deep learning based noise reduction. Results: The noise of the CTN phantom images was effectively reduced by the U-Net for all noise levels. After noise reduction, the mean contrast and max contrast was reduced for all six noise levels in both liver and lung. However, benefiting from the reduced noise in the background, there was a substantial increase in the ALROC values for liver lesions. For lung lesions, the ALROC values derived from images without and with U-Net noise reduction were similar, likely due to the high contrast of the embedded lesions (6:1). Conclusions: Deep learning based noise reduction methods can improve the detectability of small lesions in low-statistics PET images.
Towards in-vivo label-free detection of brain tumor margins with epi-illumination tomographic quantitative phase imaging

Brain tumor surgery involves a delicate balance between maximizing the extent of tumor resection while minimizing damage to healthy brain tissue that is vital for neurological function. However, differentiating between tumor, particularly infiltrative disease, and healthy brain in-vivo remains a significant clinical challenge. Here we demonstrate that quantitative oblique back illumination microscopy (qOBM)—a novel label-free optical imaging technique that achieves tomographic quantitative phase imaging in thick scattering samples—clearly differentiates between healthy brain tissue and tumor, including infiltrative disease. Data from a bulk and infiltrative brain tumor animal model show that qOBM enables quantitative phase imaging of thick fresh brain tissues with remarkable cellular and subcellular detail that closely resembles histopathology using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained fixed tissue sections, the gold standard for cancer detection. Quantitative biophysical features are also extracted from qOBM which yield robust surrogate biomarkers of disease that enable (1) automated tumor and margin detection with high sensitivity and specificity and (2) facile visualization of tumor regions. Finally, we develop a low-cost, flexible, fiber-based handheld qOBM device which brings this technology one step closer to in-vivo clinical use. This work has significant implications for guiding neurosurgery by paving the way for a tool that delivers real-time, label-free, in-vivo brain tumor margin detection.
Using Cloudmesh GAS for Speedy Generation of Hybrid Multi-Cloud Auto Generated AI Services

Today’s problems require a plethora of analytics tasks to be conducted to tackle state-of-the-art computational challenges posed in society impacting many areas including health care, automotive, banking, natural language processing, image detection, and many more data analytics-related tasks. Sharing existing analytics functions allows reuse and reduces overall effort. However, integrating deployment frameworks in the age of cloud computing are often out of reach for domain experts. Simple frameworks are needed that allow even non-experts to deploy and host services in the cloud. To avoid vendor lock-in, we require a generalized composable analytics service framework that allows users to integrate their services and those offered in clouds, not only by one, but by many cloud compute and service providers.We report on work that we conducted to provide a service integration framework for composing generalized analytics frame-works on multi-cloud providers that we call our Generalized AI Service (GAS) Generator. We demonstrate the framework’s usability by showcasing useful analytics workflows on various cloud providers, including AWS, Azure, and Google, and edge computing IoT devices. The examples are based on Scikit learn so they can be used in educational settings, replicated, and expanded upon. Benchmarks are used to compare the different services and showcase general replicability.
Hick’s Contribution to the Development of the IS-LM Model Was Limited to Drawing the IS-LM Figure or Diagram: Keynes Was the Originator and Theoretical Developer Who Presented the Complete IS-LM(LP) Model, Supported by the D-Z Model, in the General Theory on pages 298-303 in Section Four of Chapter 21

Hicks, in the last paragraph of the last page of his April,1937 Econometrica paper dealing with a “suggested interpretation” of the General Theory, correctly concluded that his “skeleton” model represented a small improvement over Keynes’s similar “skeleton” model of the General Theory. This “small” improvement was, presumably, Hicks’s actual drawing of the IS and LM curves in Aggregate Income and rate of interest space. The major defect in Hicks’s IS-LM model, when compared to Keynes’s IS-LM(LP) model of chapter 21 of the General Theory, is an error of omission, not commission. The problem, mentioned to Hicks in Keynes’s reply to Hicks, was that Hicks had no D-Z model serving as a foundation for the IS-LM model that would have incorporated the missing expectations concerning the price level, theory of the firm, production function, labor market, and marginalist conditions, like Keynes’s chapter 20 result that the real (expected) wage equals the marginal product of labor, that Keynes had incorporated in his D-Z model of expected aggregate demand and expected aggregate supply. In Hicks’s 1980-81 paper in the JPKE, which offered an explanation for the IS-LM model, Hicks, correctly, states clearly that his contribution to the IS-LM model was the IS-LM graph or diagram. He later correctly stated that it was Keynes, who had a model with three elements that was analyzed with two parameters in Aggregate (effective demand) Income-rate of interest space in chapter 21, whose model he was interpreting. This is just another way of stating what he had stated in the last paragraph of his 1937 Econometrica paper, which was that his “skeleton” was a small improvement over the original Keynesian “skeleton”. The first IS-LM model was presented by Keynes in December ,1933,in his student lectures attended by D. Champernowne and W. Brian Reddaway, whose June, 1936 papers in the Economic Record and Review of Economic Studies, respectively, incorporated versions of the IS-LM model contained both in Keynes’s December, 1933 lectures and in his mid 1934 draft copy of the General Theory, where the confidence in one’s expectations variable had replaced the “change in the news” variable, W, as pointed out by Dimand and Rubin. The Reddaway and Champernowne papers appeared 11 months before Hicks’s April, 1937 paper on IS-LM and the General Theory. Hicks’s June, 1936 review of the General Theory in the Economic Journal not only has absolutely no discussion of any type of IS-LM model, but claims, partly correctly, that Keynes’s discussion of expectations was what was truly important and original in Keynes’s General Theory.
Tidal management affects sub-adult fish assemblages in impounded South Carolina marshes

In coastal South Carolina, most impounded marshes are managed for waterfowl; fewer are managed for fishes. Tidal control is central to each strategy but raises concerns that nursery function could be impaired. This research examined the assemblage composition of fishes during early-life stages. We sampled two impoundments of each management type monthly in 2008 and 2009. We used light traps to collect 61,527 sub-adult fish representing 21 species and 16 families and push nets to collect 12,670 sub-adult fish representing 13 species and 11 families. The effective number of species detected at larval stage in “fish” impoundments (summer mean = 2.52 ± 0.20, winter mean = 2.02 ± 0.66) was greater than in “waterfowl” impoundments (summer mean = 1.27 ± 0.14, winter mean = 1.06 ± 0.09); CI = 90 %. Species richness did not differ between management types, but hierarchical linear models predicted differences in assemblage composition. These findings underscore the importance of frequent water exchange for maintaining diverse assemblages of early-life-stage fishes in marsh impoundments.
Injuries in Athletics: Causes and Consequences

Foundations of Injury in Athletics.- Classification of Injuries in Athletics.- Science of Training and Injury in Athletics.- Balance as a Risk Factor for Athletic Injuries.- Fatigue-Related Injuries in Athletes.- Nutrition as a Risk Factor for Injury in Elite Athletes.- Coaches and Athletes' Perspectives of Injury.- Injury in Athletics: Coaches' Point of View.- Injury from Athletes' Perspectives.- Interviews with Injured Athletes.- Overuse Injuries: Students' Points of View.- Fitness Assessment in Athletes.- Psychological Traumas in Athletes.- Psychological Trauma: Unfortunate Experience in Athletics.- Fear as Adaptive or Maladaptive Form of Emotional Response.- Fear of Injury, Kinesiophobia & Perceived Risk.- Multiple Facets of Pain due to Injury.- Psychological Trauma: Case Studies.- Psychological Trauma: Age & Gender Factors.- Concussion in Athletes.- Concussion: Why Bother?.- Concussion Classification: Historical Perspectives and Current Trends.- Evaluation of Concussion: Signs and Symptoms.- Traumatic Brain Injuries in Children.- Injury Rehabilitation.- Integrated Injury Rehabilitation.- EEG & Neurofeedback in Rehabilitation.- Virtual Reality in Injury Rehabilitation.
Refining the usability engineering toolbox: lessons learned from a user study on a visualization tool

This paper details a usability study on a bioinformatics visualization tool. The tool was redesigned based on a usability engineering framework called UX-P (User Experiences to Patterns) that leverages personas and patterns as primary design directives, and encourages on-going usability testing throughout the design lifecycle. The goals were to carry out a design project using the UX-P framework, to assess the usability of the resulting prototype, and to mitigate the test results into useful recommendations.
Drafting New York Civil-Litigation Documents: Part XLI — In Limine, Trial, and Post-Trial Motions Continued

This article, the 51st in a continuing series on how to draft civil-litigation papers in New York, discusses in limine, trial, and post-trial motions, This article reviews mistrial motions, motions for a directed verdict, motions for a continuence, motions to strike, and motions to reopen the trial.
Intralipid Fat Emulsion Decreases Respiratory Failure in a Rat Model of Parathion Exposure

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19: 504–509 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Abstract Background: Therapies exist for acute organophosphate (OP) exposure but mortality rates remain high (10% to 20%). Currently, treatment focuses on reversing the resultant cholinergic excess effects through the use of atropine. Intralipid fat emulsion (IFE) has been used to treat lipophilic drug ingestions and theoretically would be beneficial for some OP agents. Objectives: The hypothesis was that IFE would decrease the acute respiratory depressant effects following lethal OP exposure using a lipophilic OP agent (parathion). Methods: The authors used a previously validated animal model of OP poisoning with detailed physiologic respiratory recordings. The model consisted of Wistar rats anesthetized but spontaneously breathing 100% oxygen. Airflow, respiratory rate, tidal volume, mean arterial pressure, and pulse rate were digitally recorded for 120 minutes following OP exposure or until respiratory failure. Three study groups included parathion alone (n = 6), parathion and IFE 5 minutes after poisoning (n = 6), and parathion and IFE 20 minutes after poisoning (n = 6). In all groups, parathion was given as a single oral dose of 54 mg/kg (four times the rat oral 50% population lethal dose [LD50]). Three boluses of IFE (15 mg/kg/min) were given over 3 minutes, 20 minutes apart, starting either 5 or 20 minutes after poisoning. Timing of IFE was based on parathion kinetics. In one study group IFE was initiated 5 minutes after poisoning to coincide with initial absorption of parathion. In another study group IFE was given at 20 minutes to coincide with peak intravenous (IV) parathion concentration. Primary outcome was percentage of animals with apnea. Secondary outcome was time to apnea. Results: Animals exposed to parathion alone demonstrated a steady decline in respiratory rate and tidal volume postexposure, with apnea occurring a mean of 51.6 minutes after poisoning (95% confidence interval [CI] = 35.8 to 53.2 minutes). Animals treated with IFE 5 minutes postexposure demonstrated no difference in mean time to apnea (44.5 minutes vs. 51.6 minutes, p = 0.29) or number of animals with respiratory arrest (100% vs. 100%, p = 1.00). Animals treated with IFE 20 minutes postexposure demonstrated a significantly prolonged mean time to apnea (95.3 minutes vs. 51.6 minutes, p = 0.002), but there was no difference in number of animals with respiratory arrest (100% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.45). Conclusions: All animals exposed to 4 × LD50 of oral parathion demonstrate apnea and respiratory arrest. IFE given immediately after oral parathion does not prolong time to apnea. IFE given 20 minutes after oral exposure to parathion decreases the acute effects of the OP and prolongs the time to apnea.
Reproduction, Law, Regulation of Reproductive Technologies

Introduction U.S. Case Law Professional Group Guidelines Artificial Insemination Surrogacy Cryopreservation Embryo Splitting Use of Fetal Oocytes in Assisted Reproduction Posthumous Reproduction State Law and Regulations Federal Guidelines International Approaches Keywords: reproduction; law
Permanent Electric Dipole Moments of Atoms and Molecules

Abstract The permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) of a particle or system is a separation of charge along the direction of the total angular momentum of the system and arises from elementary particle interactions that directly violate parity and time-reversal symmetry. Assuming symmetry under combined charge-conjugation, parity, and time-reversal transformations, an EDM is a signal of simultaneous violation of charge-conjugation and parity symmetry (CP violation), and thus probes very weak interactions in the background of much stronger interactions that bind the atom and its nucleus. CP violation arises naturally in the Standard Model of strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions through two mechanisms: the phase of a complex amplitude in the weak interactions, the Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa phase, which is constrained by measurements with neutral K and B mesons, and the vacuum phase of the strong interaction, θQCD, which is constrained by EDM measurements. The Standard Model does not, however, appear complete. For example, the predominance of matter over antimatter in the universe is not compatible with Standard Model mechanisms of baryogenesis, and CP-violating physics beyond the Standard Model’s interactions could produce the observed baryon asymmetry as well as detectable EDMs. For over five decades, experimenters have measured steadily smaller upper limits on the EDMs of atoms, molecules, and elementary particles, and the searches continue with new motivations and new techniques that promise improved sensitivity to CP violation. In this article, we set the stage for contemporary efforts and discuss current and near-term experimental endeavors to measure EDMs in a variety of systems.
A 512Mb phase-change memory (PCM) in 90nm CMOS achieving 2b/cell

The PCM memory chip demonstrates the key features for MLC on a relevant scale (256Mcells). Given its versatility in terms of programming pulse shape and timing, closed?loop algorithms, and the wide cell resistance range that the ADC can accommodate, the chip also appears as an ideal characterization tool in the development of PCM technology for nonvolatile MLC. For example, the flexibility allows the on-chip exploration of drift?resilient schemes, critical for MLC. In addition to its capability for technology benchmarking, the chip also serves as a template for future PCM memory chips targeting more than 2b/cell by introducing key circuit blocks such as fast BL voltage regulator and ADC auto range. We acknowledge the support of the entire PCM team at IBM.[1]C. Villa, ISSCC 2010. [2]G. De Sandre, ISSCC 2010. [3]I.S. Kim, Symp. VLSI Tech. 2010. [4]D.H. Kang, Symp. VLSI Tech. 2008. [5]R.F. Freitas, et al., IBM J. Res. & Dev. 2008. [6]A. Pantazi , EPCOS 2009. [7]G.F. Close, IEDM 2010. 19–4
A semiparametric method for describing noisy population pharmacokinetic data

We propose a semiparametric method to estimate model-independent pharmacokinetic (PK) measures such as area under concentration–time, peak concentration and time to peak concentration (Tpeak ), for noisy population PK data from a sparsely sampled prospectively designed trial. The method is developed within the mixed-effect model framework, for the single-dose and steady-state case. We describe individual concentration vs. time using a longitudinal spline, consisting of a template spline, common to all individuals, and an individual-specific distortion spline accounting for individual differences. We impose a number of constraints on the longitudinal spline, including (i) it has a decreasing tail, (ii) its typical Tpeak is near the modal Tpeak observed in the population data, and (iii) its value is zero at time zero (single dose), or the same nonzero value at the beginning and end of a dosing interval (steady state). We test our method using simulated data and compare its performance to that of a parametric and a nonparametric method. An actual data example is also shown. The performance of the method is as good or better than that of a standard nonparametric method, and when the analysis model is misspecified, the method is superior to a standard parametric one. Since it is often not apparent that an analysis model is correct, we propose this approach as a general method for analysis.
Multiple modes of N-type calcium channel activity distinguished by differences in gating kinetics

In many neurons, N-type Ca2+ channels are a major Ca2+ entry pathway and strongly influence neurotransmitter release. We carried out cell- attached patch recordings (110 mM Ba2+ as charge carrier) to characterize the rapid opening and closing kinetics of N-type Ca2+ channel gating in frog sympathetic neurons. Single channels display at least three distinct patterns of gating, characterized as low-, medium- , and high-rho o modes on the basis of channel open probability (rho o) during depolarizing pulses to -10 mV. Spontaneous transitions from one mode to another are infrequent, with an exponential distribution of dwell times and mean sojourns of approximately 10 sec in each mode. Thus, a channel typically undergoes hundreds or thousands of open- closed transitions in one mode before switching to a different mode. Transitions between modes during a depolarization were occasionally detected, but were rare, as expected for infrequent modal switching. Within each mode, the activation kinetics were well described by a simple scheme (C2-C1-O), as previously reported for other types of Ca2+ channels. Rate constants are strikingly different from one mode to another, giving each mode its own characteristic kinetic signature. The gating behavior at -10 mV ranges from brief openings (approximately 0.3 msec) and long closures (10–20 msec) for low-rho o gating to long openings (3 msec) and brief closures (approximately 1 msec) for high- rho o gating. Intermediate values for mean open durations (approximately 1.5 msec) and mean closed durations (approximately 3 msec) were found for medium-rho o gating. In addition to being kinetically distinct, channel openings in the low-rho o mode often exhibit a unitary current approximately 0.2 pA larger than in the medium- or high-rho o mode. Each mode is characterized by its own voltage dependence: activation occurs at relatively negative potentials and is most steeply voltage dependent in the high-rho o mode, while activation requires very strong depolarizations and is weakly voltage dependent in the low-rho o mode. The proportion of time spent in the individual modes varies greatly from one patch to another, suggesting that modal gating may be subject to cellular control.
Monograph of the Genus Elodea (Hydrocharitaceae): Part 2. The species found in the Andes and Western South America

The genus Elodea Richard in Michaux was first published in 1803 (Fl. Bor.-Am. 1: 20, 1803), based upon the single species. E. Canadensis from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Though this was stated to have perfect flowers, it is now certain that the holotype specimens and the plants in nature are dioecious. Very abundant are plants bearing pistillate flowers with three stigmas and three acicular staminodia. Staminate plants are rare, but occur throughout the natural range of the species. Their flowers have nine stamens, but no trace of a gynoecium. Two well known species are now separated and placed in the genus Egeria Planch., a group just monographed by the writer. Left in Elodea are seventeen species. These are to be found in two broad areas, the northern ones in the United States and southern Canada; the southern ones in South America. As yet there is no evidence of any indigenous species of Elodea in Central America.
A numerical model for preferential solute movement in structured soils.

Abstract A model for preferential flow for the vadose zone is presented. In the model, a piecewise linear approximation of the hydraulic conductivity as a function of water content is used to identify the flow paths (or pore groups) in which water moves at distinct velocities. By choosing the linear approximations in such a way that the velocity in a pore group is an integer multiple of the velocity of the adjoining pore group, a simple numeric procedure can be formulated for simulating solute movement. The character of the solute exchange among the pore groups may be altered as demanded by the nature of the system being modeled. If complete mixing among the pore groups is specified, the model is reduced to the convective-dispersive equation. If no mixing is specified, it behaves as a pore bundle model.
Flocculation of siliceous detritus on the sea floor of a deep Pacific seamount

Abstract A benthic layer of flocculated material, which was centimeters thick in and around biogenic sediment structures on the carbonate-covered cap of Magellan Rise (7°N, 177°W: equatorial Pacific), consisted of a meshwork of delicate and spiny forms of radiolarians including phaeodarians. This floc apparently formed at the sea floor by resuspension and aggregation of a fine siliceous matrix, which then entangled other sedimentary components such as planktonic foraminiferans. The composition of the floc was only slightly enriched in organic carbon compared to underlying sediments and was distinctly more degraded than fresh diatom-rich calcareous detritus collected in conical sediment traps moored over, and adjacent to, the seamount. These results suggest that all occurrences of aggregated biogenic particles on the sea floor do not signal the sudden arrival of rapidly sinking, surface-derived aggregates, described as “phytodetritus”. Like phytodetritus, however, patches of degraded floc appear to be disrupted on relatively short time scales by surface deposit-feeding megafauna. This destruction is through ingestion of surface sediment particles and erasure of sediment structures serving as benthic particle traps.
Coulomb and exchange interactions in C60n

Semiempirical modified-neglect-of-differential-overlap (MNDO) quantum chemistry calculations are performed for the negative ions of an isolated ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$. The value computed for the first electron affinity is in excellent agreement with experiment. MNDO predictions of the energies of the low-lying states of ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}^{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ and ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}^{3\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ allow us to extract an effective on-site repulsion ${\mathit{U}}_{0}$\ensuremath{\sim}3 eV, and a direct exchange interaction K\ensuremath{\sim}50 meV for ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$. These values are used to estimate the effective on-site repulsion and dielectric constant of solid ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$, with results in good agreement with experiment. A similar approach is used to determine ``partially'' screened parameters appropriate to a model of ${\mathrm{K}}_{3}$${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$. We find that both the on-site (${\mathit{U}}_{0}$\ensuremath{\sim}1.3 eV) and near-neighbor (V\ensuremath{\sim}0.3 eV) Coulomb terms are significant relative to the bandwidth (W\ensuremath{\sim}0.6 eV).
Instructional control of female sexual responding

To examine whether women can suppress genital arousal under instructional control, 25 women were presented with three erotic films and instructions to "become as aroused as possible" (Arouse) or to "suppress arousal" (Suppress). Genital responding was assessed using the heated oxygen electrode which yields two measures of vaginal responding: oxygen perfusion and thermistor assessment of vasocongestion. 36 to 40% of the sample was able to demonstrate a substantial reduction in sexual responding under Suppress instructions (depending upon the measure used), based on externally derived criteria to determine suppression. Differences were noted in the patterns of responding between suppressors and nonsuppressors, on both the pO2 and heat measures. Examination of thought-listing data indicated that subjects were able to identify cognitive strategies they used to suppress responding. In particular, successful suppressors were more likely to report the use of 2+ cognitive strategies, whereas the nonsuppressors reported reliance on a single strategy. Results are discussed in light of current theories of emotional factors in sexual responding, with emphasis on clinical implications. Directions for future research in female sexuality are highlighted.
Macrolides and airway inflammation in children

For more than 20 years macrolide antibiotics have been used to treat chronic inflammatory airway diseases based on their immunomodulatory activity. Macrolide antibiotics down-regulate damaging prolonged inflammation as well as increase mucus clearance, decrease bacterial virulence and prevent biofilm formation. Initially shown to decrease morbidity and mortality in diffuse panbronchiolitis and in steroid-dependent asthma, long-term macrolide therapy has now been shown to significantly reduce exacerbations and improve lung function and quality of life in children with cystic fibrosis. They have also proven beneficial in Japanese children and adults with chronic sinobronchitis especially when there is nasal polyposis. Long-term macrolides have also proven clinically beneficial in some patients with plastic bronchitis. Adverse reactions are few and generally self-limited when used at the recommended dosage for immunomodulation.
Effects of a dual L/N-type Ca2+ channel blocker cilnidipine on neurally mediated chronotropic response in anesthetized dogs

Abstract We investigated the effects of an L-type and N-type Ca 2+ channel blocker, cilnidipine, on neurally mediated chronotropic responses to clarify the anti-autonomic profile of cilnidipine in anesthetized dogs. Pretreatment with cilnidipine (0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 μg/kg, i.v.), which decreased mean blood pressure by 5 to 31 mm Hg, inhibited the changes in heart rate and plasma norepinephrine concentration induced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion, whereas it had no effect on vagal nerve stimulation-induced bradycardia. These results suggest that antihypertensive and antisympathetic doses of cilnidipine fail to influence chronotropic responses mediated by parasympathetic nerve activation in the in vivo canine heart.
On Mass Conservation in High-Order High-Resolution Rigorous Remapping Schemes on the Sphere

It is the purpose of this short article to analyze mass conservation in high-order rigorous remapping schemes,whichcontrarytoflux-basedmethods,reliesonelaborateintegralconstraintsoveroverlapareasand reconstruction functions. For applications on the sphere these integral constraints may be violated primarily as a result of inexact or ill-conditioned integration and the authors propose a generic, local, and multitracer efficient method that guarantees that the integral constraints are satisfied in discrete space irrespective of the accuracyofthenumericalintegrationmethodandslightinaccuracies inthecomputationofoverlapareas.The authors refer to this method as enforcement of consistency as it is based on integral constraints valid in continuous space. The consistency enforcement method is illustrated in idealized transport tests with the Conservative Semi-Lagrangian Multitracer scheme (CSLAM) in the High Order Method Modeling Environment(HOMME)wheretheanalyticintegrals,whichwerefoundtobeillconditionedatcertainresolutions and flow conditions, have been replaced with robust quadrature. This violates mass conservation; however, with the consistency enforcement method, mass conservation is inherent even with low-order quadrature and renders rigorous remap schemes such as CSLAM (which was previously limited to gnomonic cubed-sphere grids) mass conservative on any spherical grid.
Hi-cites: dynamically created citations with active highlighting

The original SenseMaker interface for information exploration [2] used tables to present heterogeneous document descriptions. In contrast, printed bibliographies and World Wide Web (WWW) search engines use formatted citations to convey this information. In this paper, we discuss hi-cites, a new interface construct developed for SenseMaker that combines the benefits of tables (which encourage the comparison of descriptions) and citations (which facilitate browsing). Hi-cites are dynamically created citations with active highlighting. They are useful in environments where heterogeneous structured descriptions must be browsed and compared with ease. Examples beyond digital libraries include product catalogs, classified advertisements, and WWW search engines. We have performed an evaluation of hi-cites, tables, and citations for tasks involving single attribute comparisons in the digital-library domain. This evaluation supports our claim that hi-cites are valuable for both comparison and skimming tasks in this environment.
Photoemission as a test of the resonating valence bond theory of high-Tc superconductors

Abstract The predictions of the resonating valence bond (RVB) theory for photoemission from the normal phase of high-Tc materials are discussed. In the RVB picture, the emission of a photoelectron is accompanied by the creation of a holon-spinon pair. Because of phase space restrictions, the photoelectron intensity is predicted to decrease in the neighborhood of the fermi level over an interval set by the spinon bandwidth.
The statistical significance of the MUC-4 results

The MUC-4 scores of recall, precision, and the F-measures are used to measure the performance of the participating systems. The differences in the scores between any two systems may be due to chance or may be due to a significant difference between the two systems. To rule out the possibility that the difference is due to chance, statistical hypothesis testing is used. The method of hypothesis testing used is a computationally-intensive method known as approximate randomization. The method and the statistical significance of the results for the two MUC-4 test sets, TST3 and TST4, will be discussed in this paper.
Robber Flies in Cretaceous Ambers (Insecta: Diptera: Asilidae)

ABSTRACT Cretaceous fossils of Asilidae are reviewed, and two new taxa from Burmese and Raritan (New Jersey) ambers are described. The first robber fly from Burmese amber, †Burmapogon bruckschi, new genus and species, is described based on specimens of both sexes. A scientific name is provided for the previously described but unnamed fossil assassin fly from Raritan amber, †Cretagaster raritanensis, new genus and species, preserved as a fragmentary specimen. The amber fossils are placed phylogenetically within Asilidae. Specifically, †Burmapogon is postulated to be a representative of the clade comprised of (Brachyrhopalinae + Stichopogoninae), while †Cretagaster is a member of the Leptogastrinae and postulated to be an extinct sister group to (Acronychini + Leptogastrini).
The foreign-policy consensus: an interim research report

From the time they first tried to establish a separate discipline, political scientists have sought to understand how decisions of government are made and by whom.1 But, in contemplating government and its workings, each new generation has used a different method and approach-a different theoretical model. The first approach was an analysis of the legal powers of formal institutions, the constitutional rights and prerogatives of the President and Congress, and it is useful still. Few of the analytical approaches that followed were so durable, but some stand out as milestones. One, for example, was the discovery of lobbies and interest groups. Not the least of its contributions was that it attracted the attention of
Inefficient recognition of autologous viral sequences by intrahepatic hepatitis C virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in chronically infected subjects.

Abstract Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) capable of recognizing prototype hepatitis C virus (HCV) sequences have been shown to localize to the liver in chronically infected individuals, where they are thought to influence hepatic inflammation and viral replication. We isolated three intrahepatic CD8 + CTL clones from two individuals with chronic HCV infection and compared the recognition of prototype and autologous HCV sequences. These CTL recognized epitopes within the NS2 (amino acids 957–964) or NS3 (amino acids 1402–1410 and 1406–1415) proteins in the context of HLA B37, B8, or A2.1, respectively. The corresponding predominant autologous HCV sequences (SDWAANGL, ELAAKLVGL, and ALRGMGVNAV, respectively) differed from the HCV-1 sequences used for screening (RDWAHNGL, ELAAKLVAL, and KLVALGINAV, respectively) at one to five residues. For each CTL clone, recognition of the autologous HCV sequence required significantly higher peptide concentrations than did recognition of the HCV-1 sequence; for two of the clones, recognition was minimal or absent at peptide concentrations as high as 25 μM. These data show that intrahepatic HCV-specific CD8 + CTL clones can be relatively inefficient at recognizing autologous viral epitopes. Inefficient recognition of autologous HCV sequences should influence the interpretation of data generated using prototype HCV sequences and might have implications in vivo .
Analyzing student interactions and meaning construction in computer bulletin board discussions

This case study, based on social constructivist learning theory, investigated the communication patterns and the knowledge construction process of students who used a computer bulletin board system (BBS) to discuss course-related content. Collected data included the outline of BBS postings and transcripts of the BBS messages from three selected weeks during the semester in an advanced communications class. Quantitative analysis was used to examine participation and interaction rates, and qualitative procedures were used to analyze knowledge construction processes and to refine a category system of indicators and descriptors. Results showed that students engaged in a knowledge construction process that was characterized chiefly by clarification, elaboration, and interpretation, and that produced more reflective monologues than dialogical interactions. Findings were related to constructivist theories and to previous analyses of computer conferencing systems, and were used to develop a list of recommendations for practitioners interested in incorporating such systems in their courses.
Wideband, Wide Angle, Polarization Independent RCS Reduction Using Nonabsorptive Miniaturized-Element Frequency Selective Surfaces

A thin, wideband, nonabsorptive radar cross section (RCS) reducer (NARR) layer capable of operation over a wide range of incident angles and for any arbitrary incident wave polarization is presented. The design is based on implementation of two different types of subwavelength miniaturized-element frequency selective surfaces (MEFSS) backed by a thin grounded dielectric substrate. Two MEFSS structures are designed in such a way to produce reflection phase values with a difference of about 180° (±30°) over a wide frequency range. Segments of these surfaces are arranged in periodic and aperiodic fashions to distribute the scattered energy and minimize the maximum bistatic RCS of the underlying metallic surface over a wide range of incident angles at both polarizations. It is shown that the aperiodic NARR structure has 3-dB lower maximum bistatic RCS compared to the periodic one. The -6 dB bistatic RCS reduction bandwidth of 66% is achieved for both periodic and aperiodic NARR surfaces at the normal incidence. The monostatic RCS reduction level at normal incidence is the same for both structures, but the aperiodic NARR layer is shown to provide 13% higher -10 dB bandwidth. In addition, the performance of both structures for oblique angle of incidence up to 50 ° is examined and is shown that the aperiodic NARR layer shows better performance in suppressing the RCS sidelobes. As a partial experimental validation, two prototypes of periodic and aperiodic NARR layers are fabricated and their monostatic RCS reduction are characterized experimentally. The measured results are in good agreement with the corresponding simulations.
Improved conditions and new data for identification of lichen products by standardized thin-layer chromatographic method

Abstract A standardized method for the identification of compounds by thin layer chromatography uses three solvent systems and RF classes coded on punched cards. This method, applied to the study of secondary products of lichen-forming fungi, has been imporoved and expanded to include easily prepared hydrolysis and O-methylation products. The data reported allow the confirmation of many substances previously difficult to identify and the proposal of structures for certain types of new compounds extrated from fragments of herbarium specimens. New data are given for 220 compounds and derivatives chromatographed in three standard solvent systems.
Wide-angle scattering: Rescattering corrections to the quark-counting results

It is shown how the inclusion, in the usual way, of initial- and final-state interactions alters some of the quark-counting results. (AIP)
Development of Heart Failure in Chronic Hypertensive Dahl Rats Focus on Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

The impact of hypertension on left ventricular (LV) structure, pump function, and heart failure in Dahl salt-sensitive rats is poorly characterized but hypothesized to yield insights into the pathophysiology of heart failure with normal or preserved ejection fraction. Eighty Dahl salt-sensitive rats were fed either a high-salt (HS) or low-salt (LS, controls) diet starting at age 7 weeks. Ventricular properties were measured by echocardiography, hemodynamics and end-systolic and end-diastolic pressure-volume relationships (ESPVR and EDPVR, respectively). Compared with LS controls, HS rats developed severe hypertension and LV hypertrophy. At week 12, HS rats developed passive diastolic dysfunction (leftward/upward shifted EDPVR, increased chamber stiffness) with reductions in end-diastolic volume. However, the ESPVR also shifted upward (enhanced end-systolic function) so that overall pump function was enhanced compared with LS, and there was no change in end-diastolic pressure (EDP). At 16 and 20 weeks, HS hearts enlarged so that end-diastolic volumes and EDPVRs became similar to the respective age-matched LS controls. Concomitantly, the ESPVRs and overall pump function curves also moved toward controls, and ejection fraction declined. Despite normal or enhanced overall pump function at these times, EDP and wet lung weight increased, indicative of development of heart failure. In the Dahl salt-sensitive rat, which pathophysiologically retains salt and water, the development of heart failure (increased EDP and wet lung weight) is dissociated from changes in passive diastolic and active systolic properties. These observations suggest that a volume overload sate plays an important pathophysiological role in development of heart failure despite preserved overall ventricular pump function in this model of chronic hypertension.
Combat Stressors Predicting Perceived Stress Among Previously Deployed Soldiers

While combat exposures are considered principle stressors in developing mental health problems, research suggests social support can reduce this risk. Using data from 1,592 previously deployed sold...