cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rortyan Intercultural Conversation and the Problem of Speaking for Others

This paper examines Rorty’s proposals for intercultural conversation as a path to global justice. Three primary claims are advanced: that Rorty’s embrace of philosophy as cultural politics is of a piece with his call in the mid-1970s for philosophers to be more involved in the cause of enlarging human freedom; that his most explicit turn away from philosophy and theory toward novels and narrative is an attempt to expand the conversation beyond the West; and that his essay “Feminism and Pragmatism” offers a picture of social change that values the contribution of marginalized voices. After underscoring some important contributions, I argue that rather than merely assimilating non-Western voices to “our” conversation, what cultural politics demands is attention the creative power of difference, which may mean ending this conversation and starting another.
Relating network topology to the robustness of centrality measures

Abstract : This paper reports on a simulation study of social networks that investigated how network topology relates to the robustness of measures of system-level node centrality. This association is important to understand as data collected for social network analysis is often somewhat erroneous and may, to an unknown degree, misrepresent the actual true network. Consequently, the values for measures of centrality calculated from the collected network data may also vary somewhat from those of the true network, possibly leading to incorrect suppositions. To explore the robustness, i.e., sensitivity, of network centrality measures in this circumstance, we conduct Monte Carlo experiments whereby we generate an initial network, perturb its copy with a specific type of error, then compare the centrality measures from two instances. We consider the initial network to represent a true network, while the perturbed represents the observed network. We apply a six-factor full-factorial block design for the overall methodology. We vary several control variables (network topology, size and density, as well as error type, form and level) to generate 10,000 samples each from both the set of all possible networks and possible errors within the parameter space. Results show that the topology of the true network can dramatically affect the robustness profile of the centrality measures. We found that across all permutations that cellular networks had a nearly identical profile to that of uniform-random networks, while the core-periphery networks had a considerably different profile. The centrality measures for the core-periphery networks are highly sensitive to small levels of error, relative to uniform and cellular topologies. Except in the case of adding edges, as the error increases, the robustness level for the 3 topologies deteriorates and ultimately converges.
Unique Fingerprints of Alternatives to Inflation in the Primordial Power Spectrum

Massive fields in the primordial Universe function as standard clocks and imprint clock signals in the density perturbations that directly record the scale factor of the primordial Universe as a function of time, a(t). A measurement of such signals would identify the specific scenario of the primordial Universe in a model-independent fashion. In this Letter, we introduce a new mechanism through which quantum fluctuations of massive fields function as standard clocks. The clock signals appear as scale-dependent oscillatory signals in the power spectrum of alternative scenarios to inflation.
Association of germ-line single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with pathologic response to neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancers.

7558 Background: Pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy correlates with survival in resected lung cancers. Predictive biomarkers of response are needed. Tumor-specific biomarkers have been...
A Public Health Systems View of Risk Communication About Zika

ObjectivesThe spread of Zika virus throughout Latin America and parts of the United States in 2016 and 2017 presented a challenge to public health communicators. The objective of our study was to d...
Methodological Deflationism and Semantic Theories

Methodological deflationism is a policy about how we should conduct ourselves when it comes to theories of truth: in particular, a deflationary theory of truth should be taken as one’s starting point, and the notion of truth should be inflated only as necessary. This policy is motivated, in part, by the need to balance the theoretical virtue of parsimony with that of explanatory sufficiency. In this article, the case is made that the methodological deflationist is in no position to properly balance those virtues—a point made evident by tracing the relationship between semantic theories and the explanatory needs of theories of truth. Furthermore, methodological deflationism threatens to unduly influence semantic theorizing and, in doing so, displays an inappropriate bias towards deflationary theories of truth.
Decreasing Chronic Lung Disease Associated with Bubble CPAP Technology: Experience at Five Years.

Introduction Bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) is associated with a decreased risk for chronic lung disease (CLD) in preterm neonates. This report examined the effectiveness of adopting bCPAP to reduce respiratory complications and medication usage in a community hospital NICU. Methods The efficacy of bCPAP was assessed by retrospective examination and comparison of 45 neonates who received bCPAP and 87 neonates who received conventional ventilation only. Data on medication usage were also collected and analyzed. Results After introduction of the bCPAP protocol, the median number of days on oxygen decreased in the bCPAP group compared with the conventional ventilation only group (median = 33 days, IQR = 7.5-66 vs median = 0, IQR = 0-0; P < 0.001). The exposure to conventional ventilation decreased in the bCPAP group compared with the conventional ventilation only group (median = 18 days, IQR = 5-42.5 vs median = 0, IQR = 0-7; P < 0.001). Postimplementation of bCPAP revealed decreases in CLD from 26 (30%) in the conventional ventilation only group to 2 (4%) in the bCPAP group (P = 0.002); there was also a significant decrease in the use of sedative medications in the bCPAP group compared with the conventional ventilation only group (mean = 5.20 doses, SD = 31.97 vs mean = 1.43, SD = 9.98; P < 0.001). Conclusion The use of bCPAP results in significant decreases in the use of conventional ventilation, the risk for CLD, and the need for sedative medication.
Stamper: An Artboard-Oriented Creative Coding Environment

Contemporary WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) design software utilizes digital Artboards which are finite graphics frames that sit atop a scrollable zooming canvas; where many graphics frames can be arbitrarily arranged, scaled and duplicated to explore and juxtapose design ideas. Despite creative practitioners increasingly writing code to explore design spaces, programming environments for Creative Coding regularly only display one graphics frame per program. This hinders the non-linear nature of the creative process where seeing a trail of process work can spark new ideas. We propose bridging this gap and introduce Stamper, an Artboard-Oriented authoring environment for the popular creative coding library p5.js.
Time course of sensory substitution for gravity sensing in visual vertical orientation perception following complete vestibular loss

Loss of vestibular function causes severe acute symptoms of dizziness and disorientation, yet the brain can adapt and regain near to normal locomotor and orientation function through sensory substitution. Animal studies quantifying functional recovery have yet been limited to reflexive eye movements. Here, we studied the interplay between vestibular and proprioceptive graviception in macaque monkeys trained in an earth-vertical visual orientation (subjective visual vertical; SVV) task and measured the time course of sensory substitution for gravity perception following complete bilateral vestibular loss (BVL). Graviceptive gain, defined as the ratio of perceived versus actual tilt angle, decreased to 20% immediately following labyrinthectomy, and recovered to nearly prelesion levels with a time constant of approximately three weeks of postsurgery testing. We conclude that proprioception accounts for up to 20% of gravity sensing in normal animals, and is re-weighted to substitute completely perceptual graviception after vestibular loss. We show that these results can be accounted for by an optimal sensory fusion model.
Surgical management of high-grade spondylolisthesis

Abstract High-grade spondylolisthesis, defined as Meyerding grades III, IV, and V or greater than 50% anterior translation, represent a unique spinal pathology. Most commonly isthmic in etiology and predominantly affecting adolescent patients, these slips are associated with unique management considerations and surgical challenges for treatment. Reduction and decompression are controversial management strategies, whereas fusion has long been the definitive surgical modality to prevent slip progression and neurologic deterioration. Fusion methods including posterior in situ, posterior instrumented, anterior, and circumferential have been reported with varying successes. We examine the evolution of our evaluation and surgical management of these challenging clinical scenarios.
Deep learning for automated characterization of pore-scale wettability

Abstract A procedure combining experiments and deep learning is demonstrated to acquire pore-scale images of oil- and water-wet surfaces over a large field of view in microfluidic devices and to classify wettability based upon these pore scale images. Deep learning supplants the manual, time-consuming, error-prone investigation and categorization of such images. Image datasets were obtained by visualizing the distribution of immiscible phases (n-decane and water) within in-house fabricated micromodels containing sandstone-type and carbonate-type pore structures. The reference dataset consists of 6400 color images binned into four classes for sandstone (water- or oil-wet surfaces) and carbonate (water- or oil-wet surfaces) pore-network patterns. There are 1600 images per class. During 10 sequential training and testing runs of the deep-learning algorithm, 3000, 100, and 100 images were randomly assigned per each rock pattern as the training, validation, and test sets, respectively. We trained and optimized both a Fully Connected Neural Network (FCN) and Convolutional Neural Network (ConvNet) using the image data. The ConvNet performs better as 5 and 8 layers are implemented, as expected. The FCN shows an average test set accuracy for binary surface wettability classification of 87.4% for sandstone rock type and 98.7% for carbonate rock type pore networks. Distinctive heterogeneity in the carbonate rock type and its relevant phase saturation profile resulted in a better prediction accuracy. The best ConvNet models shows an average test set accuracy of binary surface wettability classification of 99.4 ± 0.1% for both sandstone-type and carbonate pore networks. Heterogenous pore sizes and an abundance of small pores amplify the effects of wetting and aid identification. Overall, the test set accuracy for the simultaneous classification of four classes including both sandstone (water- or oil-wet) and carbonate rock pattern (water- or oil-wet) is 98.5% with an 8-layer ConvNet. Performance of the deep-learning model is further interpreted using saliency maps that indicate the degree to which each pixel in the image affects the classification score. Pixels at and adjacent to interfaces are most important to classification.
Polarization Dependence of Friedric-Wintgen Bound States in the Continuum from THz Metasurfaces

In this experiment, we present a unique method to induce Friedric-Wintgen bound states in the continuum (BIC) also called accidental BIC by rotating a metasurface with asymmetric split ring resonators in the terahertz (THz) regime.
von Ebner's glands intercalated duct adenocarcinoma with PALB2 gene mutation.

Abstract Secretory carcinoma of the salivary glands is a distinct entity with distinct morphologic features, immunohistochemical profile and molecular alterations. It mainly affects middle aged individuals with slight male predominance and parotid gland is the most common site of involvement. Although ETV6-NTRK3 gene fusion is considered pathognomonic for secretory carcinoma, advances in molecular profiling of this tumor have led to the discovery of novel ETV6 fusion partners and gene mutations. Herein, we describe a case of an adenocarcinoma of intercalated duct origin favor secretory carcinoma, in a unique location of von Ebner's glands of mobile tongue in a 40-year-old Caucasian female. Aside from being in a unique location, the tumor showed somatic mutation for PALB2 gene which has not been described so far in secretory carcinoma. Discovery of novel fusions and mutations have therapeutic implications with respect to targeted therapy.
Natural FLRW metrics on the Lie group of nonzero quaternions

It is shown that the Lie group of invertible elements of the quaternion algebra carries a family of natural closed Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker metrics.
Obesity as a Predictor of Outcomes in Type III & IV Supracondylar Humerus Fractures

OBJECTIVES To investigate the association of obesity with fracture characteristics and outcomes of operatively treated pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures. DESIGN Retrospective multicenter. SETTING Two Level I pediatric hospitals. PATIENTS Patients (age <18 years) with operatively treated Gartland type III and type IV fractures 2010-2014. INTERVENTION Closed or open reduction and percutaneous pinning of supracondylar humerus fractures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Incidence of Gartland IV fracture, preoperative nerve palsy, open reduction and complication rates. RESULTS Patients in the obese group had a significantly higher likelihood of having a Gartland IV fracture (not obese: 17%; obese: 35%; P = 0.007). There was a significantly higher incidence of nerve palsy on presentation in the obese group (not obese: 20%; obese: 33%; P = 0.03). No significant differences were found between groups regarding incidence of open reduction, compartment syndrome, and rates of reoperation. CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrates that obese children with a completely displaced supracondylar humerus fractures have an increased risk of Gartland type IV and preoperative nerve palsy compared with normal weight children. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Group 4 Codes Summary

Table G.2 summarizes the codes emitted by the group 4 encoder. Figure G.l is a tree with the same codes. Each horizontal branch corresponds to another zero and each vertical branch, to another 1.
TPP1 deficiency: Rare cause of isolated childhood-onset progressive ataxia

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by lysosomal ceroid deposition. Historically, NCLs were classified by onset age and electron microscopy abnormalities as infantile, late infantile, juvenile, and adult.1,2 Molecular techniques have broadened diagnostic subgroups with identification of at least 13 NCL genes ( ), though categorization remains difficult due to wide-ranging genetic, allelic, and phenotypic heterogeneity.1,2 Acknowledgment: The authors thank the patient and her family; Dr. Nathaniel Chuang for providing the MRI figure; and Carolyn Smith for providing the patient's testing costs.
Molecular mechanisms for mammalian melanogenesis. Comparison with insect cuticular sclerotization.

Melanogenesis is an important biochemical process for the production of skin pigments which protect many animals from the damage of s?? radiation. The abnormalities in melanogenesis are associated with albinism, vitiligo, as well as malignant melanoma in humans. In the lower f??? of animals viz., insects, the exoskeleton is hardened to protect their soft bodies by a process called sclerotization, which is often accompanie?? melanization. Recent advances in the biochemistry of sclerotization and melanization reveal remarkable similarity between these two proce?? The seven stages of sclerotization are: (a) enzymatic oxidation of N-acyldopamine, (b) Michael-1,4-addition reactions of N-acyldopamine quin?? (c) tautomerization of quinone to quinone methide, (d) Michael-1,6-addition of quinone methides, (e) tautomerization of N-acyldopamine qui?? methide to 1,2-dehydro-N-acyldopamine, (f) enzymatic oxidation of 1,2-dehydro-N-acyldopamine, and (g) the reactions of resultant quino?? compounds. Amazingly, striking similarities in the reaction sequences are found in the melanization process starting from dopa. These compari?? predict a central role for quinone methides as reactive intermediates during melanization. Accordingly, recent studies provide increasing evid?? in favor of this proposition.
Generalized Topological Degree and Semilinear Equations

This book describes many new results and extensions of the theory of generalised topological degree for densely defined A-proper operators and presents important applications, particularly to boundary value problems of non-linear ordinary and partial differential equations, which are intractable under any other existing theory. A-proper mappings arise naturally in the solution to an equation in infinite dimensional space via the finite dimensional approximation. This theory subsumes classical theory involving compact vector fields, as well as the more recent theories of condensing vector-fields, strongly monotone and strongly accretive maps. Researchers and graduate students in mathematics, applied mathematics and physics who make use of non-linear analysis will find this an important resource for new techniques.
Race-specific features and outcomes of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: Analysis of the National Cancer Data Base.

BACKGROUND The incidence of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is higher among African Americans than among other races, but to the authors' knowledge, the characteristics of NLPHL in this population have not been evaluated. The authors compared clinical features, treatments, and survival of black and white patients with NLPHL using the National Cancer Data Base. METHODS The authors extracted the records of 602 black and 1950 white patients with NLPHL who were diagnosed between 1998 and 2011. Overall survival (OS) was compared using the log-rank test. RESULTS Black patients were on average younger than white patients (median age, 42 years vs 45 years; P =.0001), more often female (49% vs 29%; P<.0001), and more likely to have the axillary lymph nodes as the primary disease site (25% vs 17%; P =.0002). They also had unfavorable socioeconomic characteristics, a higher rate of no treatment in patients with early-stage disease, and a longer time to therapy initiation (median, 53.5 days vs 47 days; P<.0001). Despite this, the authors found no significant difference between the races with regard to stage distribution or survival (P =.39). OS at 7 years was 90.1% in patients with early-stage (American Joint Committee on Cancer stage IA/B, IIA) and 79.4% in patients with advanced stage (American Joint Committee on Cancer stage IIB, III/IV) NLPHL. Survival in the early stage of disease was not found to be significantly different after various treatment strategies (stratified log-rank P = .18), except that the administration of chemotherapy was associated with a better outcome in black patients (log-rank P =.011 vs P =.81 for white patients). CONCLUSIONS Differences in clinical presentation suggest the interaction of race-specific and sex-specific susceptibility factors for NLPHL. Further research is needed to elucidate these factors, and to investigate possible heterogeneous effects of treatments by race. Clinical trials comparing standard treatment strategies are unlikely to detect differences in OS among patients with early-stage NLPHL. Cancer 2015;121:3435–43. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Real power-system economic dispatch using a variable weights linear programming method

This paper presents an ecient method to solve an economic load dispatch problem with load flow type network security constraints: the active generation limits and line active power flows limits. A new form of linear programming method is proposed: a variable weights linear programming. The nonlinear dispatch problem is transformed into a linear one through variable weights linear programming. To achieve good linear, representation the nonlinear cost functions between the active generation limits are approximated by the sum of products of cost values multiplied by the variable weights. The nonlinear equality network constraint containing the losses expressed by the specially formulated and calculated function of generated powers is transformed into a linear one, the same manner as above. The set of nonlinear inequality constraints on line active power flows is linearly expressed in terms of active bus generation powers with upper limits on the active power flow to each violating lines. The dispatch problem transformed this manner with or without solving the load flow problem is demonstrated that the proposed method has practical application for real-time control/dispatch.
Prevalence of Pneumococcal Bacteremia in Children with Sickle Cell Disease

We performed a retrospective chart review of children with sickle cell disease hospitalized for fever at our local institution. We reviewed 456 hospitalizations in 133 patients between January 2006 and June 2012. The prevalence of true bacteremia was 4%. The mean C-reactive protein values and temperatures were nonsignificantly higher in patients with positive blood cultures. The mean time to detection was 22.5 hours in bacteremia compared to 32.6 hours in blood cultures that grew contaminants (p = .034). Only two (0.4%) cases of pneumococcal bacteremia were reported and both occurred before May 2010, which marks the introduction of 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13). Both patients with pneumococcal bacteremia had discontinued penicillin prophylaxis after the age of 5 years. The first patient was immunized but contracted a nonvaccine serotype (23B). The second patient was partially vaccinated and acquired a vaccine-preventable serotype (23F). Both serotypes were sensitive to ceftriaxone and vancomycin; one was resistant to penicillin. This is the first study reporting the prevalence of pneumococcal bacteremia since the introduction of PCV13.
Incremental-redundancy transmission for meteor-burst communications

The performance of type-II hybrid automatic repeat request (ARQ) is compared to that of fixed-rate type-I hybrid ARQ for meteor-burst communications. Maximum throughput is obtained for meteor-burst communications by using a transmission scheme for which the information rate of the code, varies in response to the fluctuations in the power received from a meteor trail. For type-II hybrid ARQ, a variation in the code rate is inherent in the coding scheme. On the first transmission that is made for a data block, a code of relatively high rate is used, but if an additional transmission is required, only redundant symbols are sent, and this reduces the overall rate of the code. The performance measure is the throughput per trail, which is defined as the expected number of successfully received information bits for a given meteor trail. The authors also develop an approximation for the average value of the throughput, averaged over the parameters of the meteor trail. Numerical results for Reed-Solomon codes are included to illustrate the relative performance of the various schemes. It is shown that the throughput is larger for type-II hybrid ARQ than for either fixed-rate type-I hybrid ARQ or ARQ without forward-error-correction. >
Handbooks and History: Is It Still the American Science of Politics?

While the American origins of the discipline of political science have often been noted and stressed, it has also been argued that the field has been fundamentally transformed as it has migrated an...
ToF-SIMS depth profiling of cells: z-correction, 3D imaging, and sputter rate of individual NIH/3T3 fibroblasts.

Proper display of three-dimensional time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) imaging data of complex, nonflat samples requires a correction of the data in the z-direction. Inaccuracies in displaying three-dimensional ToF-SIMS data arise from projecting data from a nonflat surface onto a 2D image plane, as well as possible variations in the sputter rate of the sample being probed. The current study builds on previous studies by creating software written in Matlab, the ZCorrectorGUI (available at http://mvsa.nb.uw.edu/), to apply the z-correction to entire 3D data sets. Three-dimensional image data sets were acquired from NIH/3T3 fibroblasts by collecting ToF-SIMS images, using a dual beam approach (25 keV Bi3+ for analysis cycles and 20 keV C602+ for sputter cycles). The entire data cube was then corrected by using the new ZCorrectorGUI software, producing accurate chemical information from single cells in 3D. For the first time, a three-dimensional corrected view of a lipid-rich subcellul...
Fragile X mental retardation: misregulation of protein synthesis in the developing brain?

Fragile X mental retardation results from the absence of a selective RNA-binding protein, FMRP. Previous studies demonstrated that FMRP forms messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes to associate with translating polyribosomes, suggesting that FMRP is involved in regulating protein synthesis. We are now facing the changing questions: How does FMRP influence protein synthesis in the brain? What is the target for FMRP in learning and memory? How does the absence of FMRP cause misregulation of protein synthesis, which in turn leads to mental impairment in fragile X syndrome? Models for abnormal neuronal function as a result of misregulated translation due to the absence of FMRP are discussed.
Controllability, inertia, and stability for tridiagonal matrices

Abstract Criteria are given for the controllability of certain pairs of tridiagonal matrices. These criteria may be used, with the Chen-Wimmer theorem, to obtain inertia results. Also, a characterization is given of those nonsingular tridiagonal matrices with certain principal minors nonnegative which are positive stable. This extends a previous characterization of the real D -stable tridiagonal matrices.
How much can an intermediate state influence competing reactive pathways

A molecule undergoing reaction may form a short-lived intermediate. Under certain conditions, the rate at which the reaction proceeds toward the product state via the intermediate may exceed that of a simple, direct path. The competition of two alternative reactive pathways is analyzed here in terms of a stochastic model. The approach allows one to diagnose this competition as a function of the energy of the intermediate relative to the barrier heights of the potential surface and values of the reactive vibrational modes. The result has applications to a variety of problems in chemical physics, ranging from the “lock-and-key” mechanism for the enzymatic activity to control of temporal evolution of complex systems by optimal laser fields.
High performance liquid chromatography/video fluorometry. Part II: Applications

Abstract : A Video Fluorometer is used as a detector for HPLC to characterize highly complex samples. Data selection and evaluation techniques are discussed so as to speed the spectral identification process. Several well-known Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons are found in the samples. (Author)
Developing an Evidence-Based Fall Prevention Curriculum for Community Health Workers

This perspective paper describes processes in the development of an evidence-based fall prevention curriculum for community health workers/promotores (CHW/P) that highlights the development of the curriculum and addresses: (1) the need and rationale for involving CHW/P in fall prevention; (2) involvement of CHW/P and content experts in the curriculum development; (3) best practices utilized in the curriculum development and training implementation; and (4) next steps for dissemination and utilization of the CHW/P fall prevention curriculum. The project team of CHW/P and content experts developed, pilot tested, and revised bilingual in-person training modules about fall prevention among older adults. The curriculum incorporated the following major themes: (1) fall risk factors and strategies to reduce/prevent falls; (2) communication strategies to reduce risk of falling and strategies for developing fall prevention plans; and (3) health behavior change theories utilized to prevent and reduce falls. Three separate fall prevention modules were developed for CHW/P and CHW/P Instructors to be used during in-person trainings. Module development incorporated a five-step process: (1) conduct informal focus groups with CHW/P to inform content development; (2) develop three in-person modules in English and Spanish with input from content experts; (3) pilot-test the modules with CHW/P; (4) refine and finalize modules based on pilot-test feedback; and (5) submit modules for approval of continuing education units. This project contributes to the existing evidence-based literature by examining the role of CHW/P in fall prevention among older adults. By including evidence-based communication strategies such as message tailoring, the curriculum design allows CHW/P to personalize the information for individuals, which can result in an effective dissemination of a curriculum that is evidence-based and culturally appropriate.
Factors Related to Decisions about Infertility Treatment

This descriptive study identifies preferences that 147 persons with infertility held about treatment options and the factors they perceived as most important in making decisions about undergoing various treatments. Medical regimens, artificial insemination with husband's sperm, and surgical procedures are identified as the preferred treatments. The most important factors influencing couples' decisions about infertility treatments are personal beliefs, partner's beliefs, physician's advice, and emotional stress. Implications for nurses in the role of decision counselor are suggested.
Optimum structural design via convex model superposition

Abstract A new approach is presented for implementing a multidimensional convex model for the optimal design of structures subjected to bounded but uncertain loads. This is a non-probabilistic method for including uncertainty in the design. In previous studies, a two-stage optimization process was used to predict the effect of uncertainties, modeled using convex theory, on the response constraints. Here, a superposition method is used to find the response of structures with load uncertainties. The convex model is implemented on the effect of the uncertain loads, i.e., the displacements and stresses. The advantage of the method is that one optimization process is eliminated, and the constraints do not need to be expressed explicitly as a function of the design variables.
Spinal Cord Monitoring With Transcranial Motor Evoked Potentials in Patients With Neural Axis Abnormalities Undergoing Spinal Deformity Surgery

Abstract Study Design Retrospective, case-control study. Objectives To report the effectiveness of transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEPs) in patients undergoing scoliosis surgery with neural axis abnormalities (NAAs). Summary of Background Data Transcranial motor evoked potentials are a safe and sensitive modality to identify impending spinal cord injury in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Previous studies have analyzed somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and neurogenic motor evoked potentials in NAA patients, but to our knowledge, no study has addressed the use of TcMEPs in these patients. Methods We performed an institutional review board–approved retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients with NAA at a single institution and compared them with a consecutive series of AIS patients undergoing scoliosis surgery with spinal cord monitoring using TcMEP and SSEP. We compared the ability to obtain baseline data and the incidence of critical changes in TcMEPs and SSEPs between groups and examined a correlation with postoperative neurologic deficits. Results We compared 38 patients with NAA (15 Chiari malformations, 12 syrinx, 7 tethered cords, and 4 spinal cord tumors) with 184 patients with AIS. The age was similar and preoperative curve magnitude was greater in the NAA group. Good baseline data were obtained less frequently in the NAA group for TcMEPs (94.7% vs. 100%; p Conclusions The ability to obtain baseline spinal cord monitoring in patients with NAA approaches that of an AIS group and accurately identifies impending neurologic deficits with high sensitivity. Surgeons should be confident that TcMEP baseline data can be obtained in patients with spinal cord pathology and should trust critical changes in TcMEPs intraoperatively to prevent spinal cord injury.
Buddy-finding in the mobile environment

Abstract The development of buddy-finding technology in the traditional Internet environment contributed largely to the functionality of the Internet. Now important issues relate to the development of mobile buddy-finding technologies—users' security and privacy, communication bandwidth, and social issues. As the natural extension of e-commerce, mobile commerce is now getting more and more attention from both business and academia. In mobile commerce, as with e-commerce, various virtual communities can be an important way people look for information to make purchases. Although mobile wireless devices allow people to stay connected to the community any place any time, inborn limitations like tiny screen and poor connectivity, frustrates users. Therefore, a technology that facilitates users to talk with the right group of individuals directly in the peer-to-peer mode is very much needed. The following discusses how buddy-finding technologies operate.
ADVANCES IN INTERFEROMETRIC OPTICAL PROFILING

Abstract This paper discusses some advances in non-contact, interferometric optical profilers. Topics discussed include: (i) The advantages of using a white light source, rather than a laser source, (ii) The tradeoff between the use of Michelson, Mirau, and Linnik interferometers for different fields of view and different lateral resolutions, and (iii) Techniques for removing errors in the reference surface enabling a person to measure sub-Angstrom surface microstructure in the presence of a much rougher reference surface.
Correlating the hydrogen evolution reaction activity in alkaline electrolytes with the hydrogen binding energy on monometallic surfaces

The slow reaction kinetics of the hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions (HER/HOR) on platinum in alkaline electrolytes hinders the development of alkaline electrolysers, solar hydrogen cells and alkaline fuel cells. A fundamental understanding of the exchange current density of the HER/HOR in alkaline media is critical for the search and design of highly active electrocatalysts. By studying the HER on a series of monometallic surfaces, we demonstrate that the HER exchange current density in alkaline solutions can be correlated with the calculated hydrogen binding energy (HBE) on the metal surfaces via a volcano type of relationship. The HER activity varies by several orders of magnitude from Pt at the peak of the plot to W and Au located on the bottom of each side of the plot, similar to the observation in acids. Such a correlation suggests that the HBE can be used as a descriptor for identifying electrocatalysts for HER/HOR in alkaline media, and that the HER exchange current density can be tuned by modifying the surface chemical properties.
Encapsulating fluorescein using adipic acid self-assembly on the surface of PPI-3 dendrimer

A water-soluble self-assembly has been formed by associating adipic acid molecules onto the surface of the third generation poly(propyleneimine) dendrimer and this system has been used to encapsulate fluorescein.
Spin distribution in copper(I) phosphine complexes of verdazyl radicals

Copper(I) forms mixed ligand coordination compounds with the stable, paramagnetic bipyridine analogue, 1,5-dimethyl-3-(2-pyridyl)-6-oxoverdazyl (pyvd) and a variety of monodentate and bidentate phosphine ligands. These compounds were characterized in solution by titration, UV-vis spectra, ESR spectra and electrospray mass spectrometry. Coordination of the phosphine gives a metal–ligand charge transfer transition in the UV-vis that is red shifted by more electron donating phosphines. ESR indicates that spin density on copper increases, both with strongly electron donating phosphines and with weakly basic phosphite ligands. This can be explained by the presence of two different orbital interactions: with more donating phosphines the interaction is predominantly through the filled copper(I) d-orbitals, but with weakly donating phosphite ligands the interaction is through an empty copper(I) p-orbital. The differing spin transfer mechanisms may have implications in the design of molecular magnetic systems.
A positive endomyocardial biopsy result for sarcoid is associated with poor prognosis in patients with initially unexplained cardiomyopathy.

Background Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology. In patients with cardiomyopathy, the diagnosis of sarcoidosis has important treatment implications. We studied the prognostic implications of a cardiac biopsy diagnosis of sarcoidosis in patients with unexplained cardiomyopathy. Methods We evaluated 1235 patients with unexplained cardiomyopathy who underwent endomyocardial biopsy (EMBx) between 1982 and 1997 at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Twenty-eight patients were referred with a clinical diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Results Seven of these 28 patients (25%) plus 3 more with other initial diagnoses had sarcoidosis on heart biopsy. Of these 10 patients, 3 (30%) died with a median survival time after biopsy of 0.69 years. Of the remaining 21 patients with a clinical diagnosis of sarcoidosis, 20 had negative biopsy results for sarcoidosis and 7 (35%) died with a median survival time of 2.34 years. The odds of death within 1, 2, and 3 years were higher for those with than for those without an EMBx-proven cardiac sarcoid (crude OR 4.75 [P = .23], 8.1 [P = .09], and 1.28 [P = .78], respectively), but the differences failed to reach significance at the .05 level. However, the difference in the odds of death within 2 years did achieve marginal significance. Conclusions Only a quarter of patients with cardiomyopathy and clinical diagnosis of sarcoid have a noncaseating granuloma on EMBx. Of those with a clinical diagnosis of sarcoidosis, heart biopsy results that are positive for sarcoidosis appear to be associated with a shorter median survival time than heart biopsy results that are negative for sarcoidosis. Finally, a noncaseating granuloma on EMBx is a rare finding in patients with cardiomyopathy without a history of sarcoidosis.
Transanastomotic feeding tubes in repair of esophageal atresia

To avoid the need for a gastrostomy and parenteral nutrition during the 7- to 10-day healing period after esophageal anastomosis, the authors modified their technique for esophageal atresia repair to include placement of a transanastomotic feeding tube. A SILASTIC transanastomotic feeding tube and early enteral nutrition was used for 19 of 23 consecutively treated patients after repair of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula. One of the 19 patients had recurrent fistula and another had an anastomotic leak. Five patients had significant gastroesophageal reflux (noted on barium esophagram), and four had strictures that required dilatation. Parenteral nutrition was necessary for only two patients. The authors conclude that transanastomotic feeding tubes and early enteral nutrition are safe and effective, reduce costs, and do not appear to increase the incidence of anastomotic leaks, strictures, or gastroesophageal reflux.
Agglomeration and Land Rents: Evidence from the Prefectures

Abstract We use Japanese prefectural wage and land rent data to estimate the magnitude of agglomeration effects in manufacturing and financial services. We also examine the geographical range of agglomeration effects by estimating the extent to which they diminish with distance, using a specification that encompasses the polar cases of purely local agglomeration economies, on the one hand, and national increasing returns, on the other. We find that the extent of agglomeration economies in both industries is significant, but that their effect decays much faster with distance in financial services than in manufacturing. That is, the geographical reach of spillovers in financial services appears to be much lower than in manufacturing.
Measurement of oxygen tension in the ischemic myocardium using encased polargraphic oxygen electrodes.

Abstract The ability to continuously monitor the delicate balance between blood flow and oxygen consumption would be a great asset in the study of myocardial ischemia. The present study was performed, in anesthetized dogs, to validate the use of encased polargraphic oxygen electrodes in the study of myocardial ischemia. Polargraphic oxygen electrodes were placed in the area to be rendered ischemic at fixed tissue depths of 3 mm (epicardium) and 9 mm (endocardium). Endocardial and epicardial oxygen tensions as well as the ratio of endocardial to epicardial oxygen tension and left circumflex coronary flow were monitored. Ischemia was induced by decreasing left circumflex coronary flow by 50%. Upon completion of a 20-min poststenotic period, endocardial pO 2 , endocardial/epicardial ratio, and coronary flow were significantly decreased (59 ± 7, 52 ± 7, and 55 ± 4%, respectively) whereas epicardial pO 2 was slightly decreased. Nitroglycerin (10 μ g/kg, i.v.) markedly increased endocardial pO 2 and endocardial/epicardial ratio above poststenotic control (13 ± 5 mmHg and 64 ± 10%, respectively) whereas epicardial pO 2 was not significantly decreased. The increases in endocardial pO 2 occurred at a point where coronary flow and mean arterial pressure were not significantly changed. Conversely, dipyridamole (125 μ g/kg, i.v.) significantly increased coronary flow (26 ± 2 ml/min/100 g) although it did not appreciably alter endocardial or epicardial pO 2 . It is concluded that encased polargraphic oxygen electrodes provide a quantitative method for determination of oxygen tension in the ischemic myocardium.
Temperatures of aqueous alteration and evidence for methane generation on the parent bodies of the CM chondrites

Aqueous alteration of primitive meteorites was among the earliest geological processes during the evolution of our solar system. 'Clumped-isotope' thermometry of carbonates in the CM chondrites, Cold Bokkeveld, Murray, and Murchison, demonstrates that they underwent aqueous alteration at 20–71 °C from a fluid with δ^(18)O_(VSMOW) of 2.0‰ to 8.1‰ and δ^(17)O_(VSMOW) of −0.1‰ to 3.0‰. The δ^(13)C_(VPDB) values of these carbonates exhibit a negative correlation with the δ^(18)O_(VSMOW) of their formation waters, consistent with formation and escape of ^(13)C-depleted CH_4 during aqueous alteration. Methane generation under these conditions implies that the alteration fluid was characterized by an Eh ⩽ −0.67 and pH ⩾ 12.5 (or lower at the highest alteration temperatures). Our findings suggest that methane generation may have been a widespread consequence of planetesimal and planetary aqueous alteration, perhaps explaining the occurrence of methane on Titan, Triton, Pluto, and other Kuiper-belt objects.
Associations Between Markers of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells and Adenomas Among Ethnic Groups

Background and Purposes Most colorectal tumors develop from adenomatous polyps, which are detected by colonoscopy. African Americans (AAs) have higher incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) and greater mortality from this disease than Caucasian Americans (CAs). We investigated whether differences in predisposition to CRC and its surrogate (colonic adenomas) between these ethnic groups were related to numbers of cancer stem or stem-like cells (CSCs) in colonocytes.
Picosecond Transient Digitizer For Optical Pulse Analysis

The nonlinear mixing of oppositely propagating waves in an integrated optics waveguide is shown to lead to a sum frequency signal which can be used in conjunction with a CCD array to perform the functions of a picosecond transient digitizer.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The solvable problem of racial under-representation in Parkinson's disease clinical trials

It has been 15 years since the 1993 National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act mandated racial and ethnic representation in federally sponsored clinical trials, and over 5 years since the Food and Drug Administration issued its draft guidance calling for description of race and ethnicity in trial reports. In this issue of Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, Schneider and her colleagues tell us that North American (NA) trials in Parkinson’s disease (PD), like trials in other health related conditions, still fall short [1–4]. Among North American, PD studies published since 1985 (239 citations), only 33 reported racial and ethnic demographics. In 32 trials with no racial inclusion criteria, 6% of subjects were from racial or ethnic minorities, compared to an at-risk population that includes more than 20% African Americans, Asians, and Hispanic Whites. There was no apparent trend to improvement; only 7 of the 33 trials were published before 2000. Minority under-representation of this degree could effectively mask race-based differences in the response to interventions, racially associated genetic differences in the metabolism of dopamine or anti-Parkinson drugs, and the influence of cultural heritage on the scoring of subjective outcomes. In one Parkinson Study Group trial examining the effect of pramipexole added to levodopa in patients of African American, Asian, or Hispanic heritage, the UPDRS Part 2 plus Part 3 endpoint showed potentially important differences in the active-versus-placebo comparisons [5]. Potential explanations offered for the ongoing under-representation of minorities include difficulties with recruiting from minority communities; a higher incidence of disqualifying baseline characteristics, especially co-morbidities, among minority candidates; increased difficulty with consent related to language differences or cross-cultural mistrust; and overall lower rates of retention for minority subjects. From a subset of the 33 trials reporting racial demographics, Schneider et al. conclude that for PD, racial and ethnic differences related to consent, Inclusion/Exclusion criteria, and retention need not restrict minority participation. On the remaining matter of recruitment, we can look to the Parkinson Study Group trial, where 17 sites employed a short list of subject-friendly innovations and enrolled nearly 180 racial or ethnic minority PD patients over a span of 20 months. The enrollment and retention experience in the Parkinson Study Group trial and the observations from available published trials by Schneider and her co-authors suggest that under-representation of minorities in Parkinson’s trials can be overcome through trial design and conduct practices already within our reach. Those of us in the business of designing and conducting PD trials could hear this as a call to reset our default expectation: our trials could and should recruit, enroll, and retain minority PD patients in numbers that reflect the at-risk