cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Desert crust formation and soil stabilization

Abstract A microbially formed soil cover known as desert crust carpets vast regions of land in the arid climates. An accretionary phenomenon in a generally erosional setting, it stabilizes soil and enhances its quality. It is potentially applicable to reclamation of unconsolidated soil in desert regions of the world. This paper reviews the work on microbial crusts, how they develop and contribute to soil quality, and what environmental variables enhance or impede their growth. Microbiological issues relating to the identification, isolation, and culturing of important members of this microbial community are discussed. Some practical problems are considered and suggestions for further research made.
The basic ideas in neural networks

Interest in the study of neural networks has grown remarkably in the last several years. This effort has been characterized in a variety of ways: as the study of brain-style computation, connectionist architectures, parallel distributed-processing systems, neuromorphic computation, artificial neural systems. The common theme to these efforts has been an interest in looking at the brain as a model of a parallel computational device very different from that of a traditional serial computer
CORRELATIONS AMONG CMMS, PPVT, AND RCPM FOR CEREBRAL PALSIED CHILDREN

Correlations among the PPVT, CMMS, and RCPM were based on the performance of 38 cerebral palsied children whose mean age was 149.4 mo. The coefficients were all positive and significant (p < .05). Considerable scatter in IQs was found among sets of data. The mean IQ on the PPVT was approximately 20 points higher than the mean IQs obtained from the CMMS and the RCPM, which were approximately equal. Comparison of scores for non-cerebral palsied children on these tests showed all three gave similar mean IQs. However, correlations among tests for non-cerebral palsied children differed from those for cerebral palsied children.
Preparation and Properties of Conducting Polymer Blends of Polyaniline in Poly(vinyl formal) or Poly(methacrylic acid)

Preparation and Properties of Conducting Polymer Blends of Polyaniline in Poly(vinyl formal) or Poly(methacrylic acid)
Outer membrane terminal saccharides of bovine liver nuclei and mitochondria

Abstract Specific agglutinins were used to identify terminal residues on membrane-bound oligosaccharides of purified bovine nuclei and mitochondria. Saccharides found on nuclear outer membranes were: α- d -mannose-like, d -galactose-like, N-acetyl- d -glucosamine-like, N-acetyl- d -galactosamine-like, and l -fucose-like residues. These same saccharides, with the exception of l -fucose-like and possibly N-acetyl- d -galactosamine-like residues, were found on mitochondrial outer membranes.
The law of non‐contradiction and chinese philosophy

This paper discusses some paradoxical propositions in Chinese tradition, especially the School of Names. It not only explains what Chinese philosophers mean by these propositions and why there are such paradoxes in Chinese philosophy, but also makes an attempt to formulate these paradoxical propositions in the language of symbolic logic. Meanwhile, the paper makes a comparison between Chinese views about contradiction and Aristotle’s law ot non‐contradiction and explores the relation between them. It comes to the conclusion that once the difference between Chinese concept of contraries and Aristotle’s is made clear, inconsistency between Chinese paradoxial propositions and Aristotle’s. law of non-contradiction disappears
Quantum ripples in chaos

The differences between quantum and classical chaos show up on the smallest of scales. Although tiny, these differences have implications for our understanding of quantum mechanics.
Greenhouse gases generated from the anaerobic biodegradation of natural offshore asphalt seepages in southern California

Significant offshore asphaltic deposits with active seepage occur in the Santa Barbara Channel offshore southern California. The composition and isotopic signatures of gases sampled from the oil and gas seeps reveal that the coexisting oil in the shallow subsurface is anaerobically biodegraded, generating CO2 with secondary CH4 production. Biomineralization can result in the consumption of as much as 60% by weight of the original oil, with 13C enrichment of CO2. Analyses of gas emitted from asphaltic accumulations or seeps on the seafloor indicate up to 11% CO2 with 13C enrichment reaching +24.8‰. Methane concentrations range from less than 30% up to 98% with isotopic compositions of –34.9 to –66.1‰. Higher molecular weight hydrocarbon gases are present in strongly varying concentrations reflecting both oil-associated gas and biodegradation; propane is preferentially biodegraded, resulting in an enriched 13C isotopic composition as enriched as –19.5‰. Assuming the 132 million barrels of asphaltic residues on the seafloor represent ~40% of the original oil volume and mass, the estimated gas generated is 5.0×1010 kg (~76×109 m3) CH4 and/or 1.4×1011 kg CO2 over the lifetime of seepage needed to produce the volume of these deposits. Geologic relationships and oil weathering inferences suggest the deposits are of early Holocene age or even younger. Assuming an age of ~1,000 years, annual fluxes are on the order of 5.0×107 kg (~76×106 m3) and/or 1.4×108 kg for CH4 and CO2, respectively. The daily volumetric emission rate (2.1×105 m3) is comparable to current CH4 emission from Coal Oil Point seeps (1.5×105 m3/day), and may be a significant source of both CH4 and CO2 to the atmosphere provided that the gas can be transported through the water column.
MAGNETIC FIELD AT THE NUCLEUS IN SPINEL-TYPE CRYSTALS

Measurements of the magnetic field at the ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{57}$ nucleus were obtained on powder samples at room temperature using the M\"ossbauer effect for the spinel-type ferrites $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, "ordered" lithium ferrite ${(\mathrm{L}\mathrm{i}}_{0.5}$${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2.5}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$), and "disordered" lithium ferrite giving values of|496\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}20|koe,|508\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}20|koe, and|510\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}20| koe. These compounds contain only trivalent and no divalent iron. The M\"ossbauer spectra of all of these compounds were very similar and no difference could be detected between the "ordered" and "disordered" compounds. Only one set of lines was observed indicating that the fields at the octahedral and tetrahedral sites are about the same value. The value of the hyperfine interaction constant $A$ obtained from electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of the divalent ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{55}$ (isoelectronic with trivalent Fe) impurity in single crystals of the isomorphous spinel-type crystal "disordered" lithium aluminate (${\mathrm{Li}}_{0.5}$${\mathrm{Al}}_{2.5}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$) was found to be|77.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0| \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The angular variation of the spectrum indicated that the divalent ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{55}$ ions were located substantially on octahedral sites. The corresponding magnetic field for the ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{55}$ nucleus is around 550 koe, which is close to the value obtained elsewhere for the ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{55}$ nucleus located on a tetrahedral site in a spinel-type aluminate. This is in good agreement with the M\"ossbauer results.
Energy efficient communication using cooperative beamforming: A game theoretic analysis

In this paper, a game-theoretic model for studying power control in large data networks using cooperative beamforming is analyzed. Cooperating nodes form clusters to retransmit local signals to faraway destinations. Within each cluster, nodes multiply the received analog waveform by a complex weight chosen in a distributed fashion to maximize the received SNR. This work analyzes the scenario in which multiple such clusters are transmitting at the same frequency at the same time. A game where each cluster chooses its average transmit power to optimize the total number of bits it transmits per unit of transmit energy is proposed and the resulting unique Nash equilibrium is described.
Caught in the thickness of brain fog: exploring the cognitive symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is defined as greater than 6 months of persistent fatigue that is experienced physically and cognitively. The cognitive symptoms are generally thought to be a mild cognitive impairment, but individuals with CFS subjectively describe them as “brain fog.” The impairment is not fully understood and often is described as slow thinking, difficulty focusing, confusion, lack of concentration, forgetfulness, or a haziness in thought processes. Causes of “brain fog” and mild cognitive impairment have been investigated. Possible physiological correlates may be due to the effects of chronic orthostatic intolerance in the form of the Postural Tachycardia Syndrome and decreases in cerebral blood flow. In addition, fMRI studies suggest that individuals with CFS may require increased cortical and subcortical brain activation to complete difficult mental tasks. Furthermore, neurocognitive testing in CFS has demonstrated deficits in speed and efficiency of information processing, attention, concentration, and working memory. The cognitive impairments are then perceived as an exaggerated mental fatigue. As a whole, this is experienced by those with CFS as “brain fog” and may be viewed as the interaction of physiological, cognitive, and perceptual factors. Thus, the cognitive symptoms of CFS may be due to altered cerebral blood flow activation and regulation that are exacerbated by a stressor, such as orthostasis or a difficult mental task, resulting in the decreased ability to readily process information, which is then perceived as fatiguing and experienced as “brain fog.” Future research looks to further explore these interactions, how they produce cognitive impairments, and explain the perception of “brain fog” from a mechanistic standpoint.
Hepatic entrapment of esterified cholesterol drives continual expansion of whole body sterol pool in lysosomal acid lipase-deficient mice

Cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD) results from loss-of-function mutations in LIPA, the gene that encodes lysosomal acid lipase (LAL). Hepatomegaly and deposition of esterified cholesterol (E...
3D tetrahedron ray tracing algorithm

A new three-dimensional (3D) tetrahedron meshed ray tracing (TMRT) method is proposed. It is based on dividing the propagation region into tetrahedral cells whereby the number of tetrahedrons is decided by the number of vertices of structures instead of their dimensions. This method represents a 3D extension to the 2D procedure described in an earlier paper. Results from the 3D TMRT method show significant improvement in computational efficiency and are typically less than one half of those of the visibility ray tracing approach. These results were illustrated by calculating the delay spread in a typical indoor propagation environment.
Copolymer SAFT modeling of phase behavior in hydrocarbon-chain solutions: Alkane oligomers, polyethylene, poly(ethylene-co-olefin-1), polystyrene, and poly(ethylene-co-styrene)

The copolymer SAFT equation of state is found to represent phase transitions in the normal-alkane and methyl-alkane solutions in methane, ethane, propane, and n-hexane, the polyethylene and poly(ethylene-co-olefin-1) solutions in propane, and the polystyrene solutions in n-butane. The pure-solute parameters are all estimated on the basis of the molecular weight and structure only, and the one temperature-independent and system-independent (within each class of solutes) binary parameter is set equal to a constant. The segment energy of the methyl branches is found to be around 160 K, which is lower than the corresponding backbone energy, while the segment energy of the benzene branches is found to be around 222 K for polystyrene, which is higher than the corresponding backbone energy. The alkyl branches are found to promote the polymer miscibility while the benzene branches are found to inhibit the polymer miscibility in propane.
Effects of adsorbents on membrane fouling by natural organic matter

Fouling by natural organic matter (NOM) is a major impediment to cost-effective operation of membrane processes in water treatment. This research investigated the removal of NOM by three adsorbents: heated iron or aluminum oxide particles (HIOPs and HAOPs, respectively) and powdered activated carbon (PAC). Although PAC removed a larger fraction of the DOC than did either HAOPs or HIOPs, it adsorbed non-fouling molecules preferentially over foulants, whereas the opposite was true for the metal oxide particles. In addition, when the oxide adsorbents were pre-deposited on a microfiltration membrane, foulants that were not adsorbed in batch tests were effectively removed from the solution before it reached the membrane, leading to excellent performance with respect to both NOM removal and fouling. SEM images showed that membranes under a layer of HAOPs and HIOPs were virtually as clean as a pristine membrane.
Insular pathology in Parkinson's disease patients with orthostatic hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients may be a significant source of morbidity and discomfort. Although peripheral ANS components have been associated with its development, central mechanisms are probably involved. The insular cortex is a central site of autonomic and limbic integration and neuropathologic studies have indicated its involvement in the neurodegenerative process of PD. To this end, we studied the neuropathology of the insular, temporal and parietal cortices in PD patients with and without OH. Our results suggest an association between the severity of PD-related neuropathology in the insular cortex and OH. Further research into the subject is warranted.
Pedagogy, Patriotism, and Democracy: On the educational meanings of 11 September 2001

In this article, I examine the social and pedagogic context of the 11 September tragedy. Although a good deal has been written about the national and international politics of 11 September, I focus on the most local of levels: the complicated ways in which 9/11 was experienced phenomenologically by teachers such as myself, and on the little known effects it had on pedagogy and on the urge to have schools participate in a complicated set of patriotic discourses and practices that swept over the United States in the wake of the disaster. Given this focus, parts of my analysis are personal, while others parts are more institutional and ideological. I describe one instance in which the 'compulsory patriotism' that arose in schools after 9/11 had damaging effects. The discussion demonstrates that no analysis of the effects of 9/11 on schools can go on without an understanding of the ways in which the global is dynamically linked to the local. Such an analysis must more fully understand the larger ideological w...
A preferential vibration dissociation coupling model for nonequilibrium flowfields

A preferential vibration-dissociation coupling model is incorporated into a radiatively coupled viscous shock laver code that also includes chemical, radiative, and thermal nonequilibrium. Stagnation point flow profiles are obtained for various Fire 2 flight conditions and for a typical 14 km/sec AOTV case, and comparisons are made with Fire 2 experimental data. Adjustments in molecular absorption coefficients are also made for several diatomic species. Based on comparisons with experimental data, very little preferential dissociation behavior is present in the Fire 2 flight conditions.
Kapton Capacitance Thermometry at Low Temperatures and in High Magnetic Fields

A sensitive Kapton foil capacitance sensor, with size of 9.5 mm×4.5 mm, has been developed and used as a thermometer at ultra-low temperatures down to 1.2 mK and in high magnetic fields. There is no visible magnetic field dependence up to 15 T. The sensor was calibrated with 3He melting pressure thermometer (MPT) and vibrating wire (VW) viscometer. With the silver powder sintered heat exchanger sandwich-like design, the thermal relaxation time is as short as a few minutes at the base temperature. The low temperature (below 1.2 K) reproducibility has been tested and is satisfied within experimental errors.
The reaction of O+2 with atomic nitrogen and NO+· H2O and NO+2 with atomic oxygen

Abstract The reactions of atomic nitrogen with O+2 and atomic oxygen and atomic nitrogen with NO+· H2O and NO+2 have been measured at 296 K. The rate constants are reported and the implication of the measurements to atmospheric ion chemistry is discussed.
Correlated Independent Variables: The Problem of Multicollinearity

Whenever two supposedly independent variables are highly correlated, it will be difficult to assess their relative importance in determining some dependent variable. The hligher the correlation between independent variables the greater the sampling error of the partials. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the practical implications for social research.
Interfacial charge transfer dynamics in TiO 2 -sensitizer-Ru 4 POM photocatalytic systems for water oxidation

Efficient solar-driven catalytic water oxidation is one of the main challenges in solar-to-fuel conversion. In this proceeding, we investigate three approaches for constructing electron acceptor -sensitizer - catalysts systems for photocatalytic water oxidation and our current understanding of the relevant fundamental processes involved. We demonstrated that an all-inorganic molecular water oxidation catalyst (WOC), [{Ru 4 O 4 (OH) 2 (H2O) 4 }(γ-SiW10O36)2]10- (or Ru 4 POM), catalyzed a homogenous O 2 evolution system with 27% quantum efficiency in homogeneous solution in the presence of sensitizer (Ru(bpy)3) and sacrificial electron donor. 1 This suggests the feasibility of a heterogeneous photoelectrochemical system in which the photoanode integrates all three components: electron acceptor, photosensitizer, and WOC. We prepare a photocatalytic electrode based on Ru 4 POM and a dye-sensitized nanoporous TiO 2 film for efficient light-harvesting and charge separation. Ultrafast spectroscopic studies of this triadic nanocomposite indicate efficient charge separation from the excited sensitizer to TiO 2 and efficient regeneration of the ground state of the dye. The latter can be attributed to Ru 4 POM oxidation by the photogenerated dye cation and has a yield of > 80% within 1 ns.
Higgs bosons in the standard model, the MSSM and beyond

I summarize the basic theory and selected phenomenology for the Higgs boson(s) of the standard model, the minimal supersymmetric model and some extensions thereof, including the next-to-minimal supersymmetric model.
Neurotensin receptor binding and antinociceptive activity for lipophilic Nα-amido neurotensin(9–13) analogs

Abstract A series of lipophilic Nα-amido-neurotensin(9–13) analogs was prepared. These acylated pentapeptides exhibited good neurotensin receptor binding, as well as in vivo analgesic activity via i.c.v. and even intravenous routes of administration.
Attempts to Make Meaning of Terror: Family, Play, and School in Time of Civil War

How Lebanese youth attempted to confer meaning on the events of their lives in the midst of the terror of war was investigated by participant-observation. An emic view of life for children and adolescents was presented in terms of war, politics, religion, family, play, boredom, career, school, and the acceptance of a warrior identity. Analysis proceeded in terms of identity formation, the internalization of identity, and the effects of the dislocation of life patterns on cultural transmission. Although children rejected politics and were terrified by war, as adolescents they were pushed, in a cycle of war-induced poverty, to join militias. Becoming a warrior gave one a job, an identity, a way to control terror and relieve boredom.
An inverse sampling scheme using blocks

Abstract A block of B animals, sampled from a herd of size H ⩾ B , is called a “reactor block” if at least one among the B animals reacts positively to a diagnostic test. To estimate r , the number of reactors in the herd, an inverse sampling scheme is proposed, in which, not one, but B (⩾ 1) animals at a time are tested simultaneously. The specimens from each of the B animals are not pooled as in some mass screening schemes. Rather, each of the B specimens retains its identity throughout the laboratory processng. For a finite population and a preassigned positive integer n , the joint probability law of K i , the number of blocks sampled from reactor block i − 1 up to and including reactor block i , and X i , the number of reactors in the i th reactor block, i = 1,…, n , is derived. The Neyman factorization theorem is invoked to demonstrate joint sufficiency of the statistics Σ n i =1 K i and Σ n i =1 X i . A dual interpretation of the problem, applicable to estimation of wild animal populations, is indicated. Sampling from an infinite population is considered, the appropriate joint probability law is derived, and joint sufficiency is shown to persist. Both maximum likelihood and Bayes estimates are derived for both the finite and infinite population cases. Taking into account cost considerations, an optimal choice of the block size B is derived.
Interpretation of observations supporting a magnetospheric model of SS 433

Abstract We present a Fourier analysis of the average ‘velocity’ of the moving line spectra of SS433. An interpretation of the Fourier co-efficients in terms of a very general geometrical model and the light travel time effects required by the finite size of the system is presented. It is found that these effects are present and are statistically significant at the 1.6σ level. Implications of this effect are discussed.
An IT view on perspectives of computer aided process planning research

Abstract This paper presents current research perspectives on Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP) and it covers articles and other related publications that appeared especially in the last seven years. It aims to provide a clear understanding of the directions and challenges in the field. The current research efforts on CAPP systems focus on both variant as well as generative and hybrid systems. A majority of these systems apply expert system or artificial intelligence based techniques. At the same time a strong emphasis is placed on integrating CAPP and its related activities into one system. As a bridge between Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) CAPP relies on good interfaces between these systems. Automatic feature recognition systems can be used to interface CAD and CAPP. Various methods are available to perform feature recognition using solid model of the part. This paper first provides a general introduction to CAPP along with its background. It also gives an overview of manufacturing features and feature recognition research. Recent CAPP research and systems are discussed in terms of their general characteristics. Finally, shortcomings of current systems and expected future developments are considered.
Characterization of sources for southern African aerosols through fatty acid and trajectory analyses

[1] Biogeochemical cycles in southern Africa are affected by emissions from extensive biomass burning. Emitted trace gases and aerosols frequently accumulate and recirculate in the well-defined synoptic pattern that persists for long time periods over southern Africa. The role of organic aerosols during atmospheric transport and the influence of neighboring air masses on biogeochemical dynamics in this nutrient-limited region are insufficiently studied. The Southern African Regional Science Initiative (SAFARI 2000) was conducted in part to investigate the impacts of this large-scale transport and deposition of increasingly anthropogenic emissions on southern African biogeochemical cycling. This study explores the understanding of regional atmospheric transport through the identification of chemical biomarkers to describe aerosols collected during the SAFARI 2000 dry season research campaign. Total suspended particulate aerosol samples were collected diurnally for a period of two weeks in Mongu, Zambia. Mongu is bordered by the Zambezi River on the west and the Miombo woodland savanna in all other directions. It also lies on the northern extent of the Kalahari Desert. This region is characterized by high biomass burning emissions of river floodplain grasses and woodland savanna during the dry season. Fatty acids were extracted from the collected aerosols and analyzed using gas chromatography. The resultant fatty acid compositions were examined for temporal patterns and trends. Furthermore, these results were compared to both synoptic meteorological patterns over the region, as well as to modeled air parcel trajectories, to gain insight into changes in aerosol composition resulting from changes in atmospheric transports from regions of different vegetation. The results of these analyses confirm that abundances of fatty acids are dependent on local and synoptic meteorology and can thus be used as an additional geochemical tracer to better describe aerosol sources and transport processes within the region.
Decolonisation and provincial Muslim politics: Sind, 1937–47

(1993). Decolonisation and provincial Muslim politics: Sind, 1937–47. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies: Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 53-72.
Pilot-aided chip-interleaved DS-CDMA transmission over time-varying channels (Invited Paper)

Time-varying multipath fading associated with the wireless link limit the capacity of a wireless system. To adapt to this adverse radio environment efficiently, we investigate the use of a pilot-aided fade-resistant transmission scheme for the uplink of a chip-interleaved code division multiple access (CDMA) system. We analyze the trade-off between the number of diversity branches and the channel estimation error. We derive the optimum ratio of pilot signal power to information signal power. Our numerical study indicates that depending on the transmitter power and channel condition, the proposed system is capable of outperforming the conventional CDMA system.
Contribution of human hippocampal region to novelty detection.

THE ability to respond to unexpected stimuli (the 'orienting response') is a fundamental characteristic of mammalian behaviour1, but the brain mechanisms by which novelty is detected remain poorly defined. Electrophysiological recordings of scalp and intracranial event-related potentials (ERPs) have shown that novel stimuli activate a distributed network involving prefrontal and posterior association cortex2–6. In addition, ERP7,8 and single-neuron9,10 recordings, as well as neuroimaging11 and modelling12 studies, have suggested that temporal cortical regions, including the hippocampus, are also involved. To examine further the role of the medial temporal lobe in novelty processing, I measured physiological responses to novel auditory and tactile stimuli in patients with damage to the posterior hippocampal region. In normal control subjects, unexpected novel stimuli produce a characteristic ERP signal, accompanied by an autonomic skin response. Both responses are reduced in hippocampal lesion patients, whereas the response to expected control stimuli is unaffected. Thus the hippocampal region, in addition to its known role in memory formation, is an essential component of the distributed limbic–cortical network that detects and responds to novel stimuli.
Industrial Shifts, Occupational Recomposition, and the Changing Sexual Division of Labor in the Five Largest U.S. Cities: 1910-1930

Using data from the 1910 and 1930 Censuses of Population, this paper examines how patterns of industrial change in American's five largest cities conditioned occupational opportunities for men and women. Theoretically, cities are conceptualized as independent dimensions of the nation's stratification system. Men and women in the early part of this century, then, confronted widely varying sets of occupational possibilities depending upon where they were located with respect to the spatial division of labor in the country. Results from a shift-share analysis show that the sexual division of labor in the United States was a function of, among other things, the territorial division of labor in the country.
Autoradiographic studies of uridine incorporation in peripheral nerve of the newt, Triturus.

Autoradiographic studies combined with digestion tests of incorporated 3H-uridine showed that the peripheral nerve of Triturus contains ribonucleic acid. Localization studies revealed the presence of RNA in the axon, in the myelin and Schwann sheath, and in the Schwann cell body. Similar experiments on nerve separated by transection from its neuronal cell bodies yielded the same results. They showed that RNA of the nerve can be synthesized without the intervention of the neuronal cell body. The results strongly suggest that the radioactive substance, precursor or RNA, is transported inward from the Schwann cell to be deposited in the myelin sheath and axon. The route of passage and the possible sites of origin of the RNA in the nerve are discussed. A significant role is suggested for the Schmidt-Lantermann cleft because of its relations with the adaxonal layer of Schwann cytoplasm and with the myelin leaflets.
Effects of scalpel, electrocautery, and CO2 and KTP lasers on wound healing in rat tongues.

Objective Evaluate wound healing of incisions created by the scalpel, electrocautery, CO2 laser, and potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser in the upper aerodigestive tract in an animal model. Study design Prospective randomized study in an animal model. Methods Postoperative oral intake, histologic depth of injury, and tensile mechanical strength were measured in rat tongues after creating incisions using a scalpel, electrocautery, CO2 laser, and KTP laser. An unpaired, two-tailed Student's t-test was used to compare results between the experimental groups. Results Oral intake, indirectly assessed by postoperative weight loss, by the third postoperative day was significantly decreased in the electrocautery (P = 0.004), CO2 laser (P = 0.001), and KTP laser (P = 0.0001) groups as compared with the scalpel group. The depth of the wound healing, as assessed by histologic examination, was successively greater for the scalpel (75 +/- 13 microm), electrocautery (110 +/- 10 microm), CO2 laser (145 +/- 10 microm), and KTP laser (195 +/- 23 microm) groups. However, this difference was only statistically significant for the CO2 laser (P = 0.006) and KTP laser (P = 0.01) groups relative to the scalpel group. Wounds created by the KTP laser had the lowest strength (76.5 +/- 6.9 kPa) as compared with the CO2 laser (156 +/- 28.4 kPa), electrocautery (153 +/- 15.7 kPa), and scalpel groups (249 +/- 61.8 kPa). This difference was only statistically significant for the KTP laser group (P = 0.02) when compared with the scalpel group. Conclusions Wounds created in the upper aerodigestive tract of rats by scalpels result in the least postoperative weight loss, tissue destruction, and decrease in tensile strength, whereas wounds created by the KTP laser demonstrated a significantly greater postoperative weight loss, depth of wounding, and decrease in tensile strength.
Practical Considerations in the Ethics of Parkinsonian Deep Brain Stimulation

On the topic of deep brain stimulation (DBS), it is curious that many in the bioethics community have seemingly been more apt to address its comparatively exotic applications, such as experimental ...
Disproofs of Generalized Gilbert-Pollak Conjecture on the Steiner Ratio in Three or More Dimensions

The Gilbert?Pollak conjecture, posed in 1968, was the most important conjecture in the area of “Steiner trees.” The “Steiner minimal tree” (SMT) of a point setPis the shortest network of “wires” which will suffice to “electrically” interconnectP. The “minimum spanning tree” (MST) is the shortest such network when onlyintersite line segmentsare permitted. The generalized GP conjecture stated that?d=infP?Rd(lSMT(P)/lMST(P)) was achieved whenPwas the vertices of a regulard-simplex. It was showed previously that the conjecture is true ford=2 and false for 3?d?9. We settle remaining cases completely in this paper. Indeed, we show that any point set achieving?dmust have cardinality growing at least exponentially withd. The real question now is: What are the true minimal-?point sets? This paper introduces the “d-dimensional sausage” point sets, which may have a lit to do with the answer.
Four-point joint density function for the intensities of a fully developed monochromatic laser speckle pattern

A four-point joint density function for the intensities of a fully developed speckle pattern is derived as an infinite summation of products of modified Bessel functions of the first kind. It is found that the special cases of this density function will agree with all the previously known results. With interest growing rapidly in the higher-order correlations of signals, this result will be useful in general optical scattering problems.
Reliability versus yield and die location in deep sub-micron VLSI

The results of multiple correlations between reliability and yield on a die level basis are presented for an advanced microprocessor fabricated using a 0.25 /spl mu/m, five layer metal CMOS logic process. Traceability information was programmed into each unit; investigated were infant mortality of edge die versus center die, effects of unusual sort yield signatures on infant mortality, alternating column effects, and the sources of variability of burn-in failures. The model that latent defect density is proportional to yield defect density was found to be in excellent agreement with experimental data over a wide range of yield values. The x-y die position yield was found to be an excellent predictor of infant mortality. The variation in infant mortality from wafer to wafer was found to be twice the lot to lot variation, consistent with the large number of single wafer processing tools used on advanced fabrication processes. Because the traceability information was part of the standard manufacturing flow this analysis was performed using very large, 1 million unit sample sizes.
Posterior communicating and vertebral artery configuration and outcome in endovascular treatment of acute basilar artery occlusion

Background We aimed to evaluate if vertebrobasilar anatomic variations impact reperfusion and outcome in intra-arterial therapy (IAT) for basilar artery occlusion (BAO). Methods Consecutive BAO patients with symptom onset Results 38 BAO patients were included. Mean age was 63±15 years; 52% were men. Baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 21±9, and mean/median time from symptom onset to IAT were 10/7 h. First generation thrombectomy devices were mostly used. Overall Treatment in Cerebral Ischemia 2b-3 reperfusion was 68.4%. Good outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2) was observed in 17.8% and mortality in 64.3% of cases at 90 days. 55% of patients had an atretic PCoA while 47% had a hypoplastic VA. The mean sum of the bilateral PCoA and VA diameters were 2.3±1.2 and 5.2±5.2 mm, respectively. VAs that end in the PICA was noted in 23% of patients, and extracranial VA occlusion in 42%. BAO was proximal/mid/distal in 36%/29%/34%. Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated hypertensive disease (β=2.97; 95% CI 1.15 to 4.79; p Conclusions Reperfusion emerged as a predictor of good outcome in patients that underwent IAT for BAO. Angioarchitectural variations of the posterior circulation were not found to impact reperfusion or clinical outcome.
Testing Dynamic Adaptation in Distributed Systems

Many software systems undergo dynamic adaptation in response to change in requirements or frequent changes in their usage context. Before adaptation, the system satisfies the behavior of the old program (i.e., program before adaptation), and after adaptation the system satisfies the behavior of the new program (i.e., program after adaptation). During adaptation, the behavior of the old program and the behavior of the new program may overlap. Existing algorithms to test distributed systems do not deal with adaptive systems. In this paper, we discuss testing of system during adaptation using predicate detection techniques.
Fuel loads, snag abundance, and snag recruitment in an unmanaged Jeffrey pine–mixed conifer forest in Northwestern Mexico

Abstract Management of downed woody fuels and snags (standing dead trees) is receiving increasing attention because of their ecosystem values and effects on potential fire behavior. Research has correlated the abundance of many wildlife species with snags and downed woody material but very little information exists of the abundance and arrangement of these forest structures, particularly in unmanaged forests. Conifer forests in northwestern Mexico have not experienced systematic fire suppression or harvesting making them unique in western North America. In 1998, average snag density in Jeffrey pine–mixed conifer forests in the Sierra San Pedro Martir (SSPM) National Park was 3.95 snags/ha but 35% of inventoried plots had no snags. In 2002, average snag density significantly increased to 5.10 snags/ha after a multiple-year drought. Average surface and ground fuel loads were 15.8 and 8.7 t/ha, respectively. High variability characterized all snag and fuel attributes measured in this forest. This high amount of variation is probably the result of the relatively intact frequent surface fire regime and because no harvesting has occurred in the sampled area. The patchy distribution of snags observed argues against the application of uniform targets for snag retention across similar forested landscapes. An improvement in management guidelines would be to manage for snag density and large fuels over moderate spatial scales (hundreds of hectares) instead of on a per hectare basis. Forest fragmentation and diverse ownerships in many western United States forests complicates this recommendation. Conservation of the forests in the SSPM is critical because it is the last landscape-scale, old-growth mixed conifer forest in western North America with a relatively intact frequent fire regime.
Important Demographic Variables Impact the Musculoskeletal Knowledge and Confidence of Academic Primary Care Physicians

Background: Although most musculoskeletal illness is managed by primary care providers, and not by surgeons, evidence suggests that primary care physicians may receive inadequate training in musculoskeletal medicine. We evaluated the musculoskeletal knowledge and self-perceived confidence of fully trained, practicing academic primary care physicians and tested the following hypotheses: (1) a relationship exists between a provider's musculoskeletal knowledge and self-perceived confidence, (2) demographic variables are associated with differences in the knowledge-confidence relationship, and (3) specific education or training affects a provider's musculoskeletal knowledge and clinical confidence. Methods: An examination of basic musculoskeletal knowledge and a 10-point Likert scale assessing self-perceived confidence were administered to family practice, internal medicine, and pediatric faculty at a large, regional, academic primary care institution serving both rural and urban populations across a five-state region. Subspecialty physicians were excluded. Individual examination scores and self-reported confidence scores were correlated and compared with demographic variables. Results: One hundred and five physicians participated. Ninety-two physicians adequately completed the musculo-skeletal knowledge examination. Fifty-nine (64%) of the ninety-two physicians scored <70%. Higher examination scores were associated with male gender (p = 0.01) and participation in a musculoskeletal course (p = 0.009). Practitioners who took elective courses demonstrated higher scores compared with those who took required courses (p = 0.014). Greater musculoskeletal confidence was associated with the number of years in clinical practice (p = 0.045), male gender (p = 0.01), residency training in family practice (p < 0.00001), and prior participation in a musculoskeletal course (p = 0.0004). Physicians demonstrated greater confidence with medical issues than with musculoskeletal issues (mean confidence scores, 8.3 and 5.1, respectively; p < 0.00001). Higher scores for musculoskeletal knowledge correlated significantly with increasing levels of musculoskeletal confidence (r = 0.416, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Although a large proportion of primary care visits are for musculoskeletal symptoms, the majority of primary care providers tested at a large, regional, academic primary care institution failed to demonstrate adequate musculoskeletal knowledge and confidence. Further characterization of the relationship between knowledge and confidence and its association with demographic variables might benefit the education of musculoskeletal providers in the future.
How to make sense of temporal/spatial ‘before’ and ‘after’

Two experiments were devised in order to better understand the relationship between temporal before and after and their spatial counterparts. In Experiment I, sixty adults were probed for their spatial metaphoric understanding of temporal before and after. Although H. Clark proposed that temporal before and after were derived from their spatial counterparts, Experiment I did not support that notion. In fact, the subjects overwhelmingly reported that temporal before was more related to spatial after and that temporal after was more related to spatial before. Since it has been shown by numerous investigators that temporal before is acquired before temporal after by children, the evidence from Experiment I suggested that their spatial relatives may be acquired similarly. Experiment II presents evidence that indeed spatial after is understood better by three-year-old children than spatial before. This evidence is coincident with the adult reports in Experiment I.
Integrated control of postharvest diseases of sweet cherry with yeast antagonists and sodium bicarbonate applications within a hydrocooler

Abstract In vitro experiments showed that sodium bicarbonate (SBC) was effective in inhibiting the growth of Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum . Radial growth of B. cinerea and P. expansum was completely inhibited at 0.12 M (1%) SBC. Spore germination of B. cinerea and P. expansum was completely inhibited in PDA containing 0.03 M (0.25%) SBC. Three storage experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of two yeast antagonists alone or in combination with SBC to control postharvest diseases of sweet cherry. In all experiments, treatments were applied to fruit within a hydrocooler prototype. Treatments with Kloeckera apiculata , Metschnikowia fructicola , SBC or their combinations significantly reduced the total decay incidence and the decay incidence caused by B. cinerea and P. expansum . The efficacy of SBC treatments at 0.12 and 0.24 M (2%) was equal. The total decay incidence of fruit treated with K. apiculata , M. fructicola , at 0.12 M and 0.24 SBC, and control was 56.6, 49.5, 56.8, 47.2 and 87.3%, respectively. M. fructicola and K. apiculata populations changed little during 60 days of storage at 0 °C. The population of K. apiculata on fruit treated with the combination of yeast and 0.12 and 0.24 M SBC was significantly lower than a stand-alone treatment of K. apiculata . Similar results were recorded on fruit treated with the combination of M. fructicola and 0.24 M SBC. Yeast antagonists did not harm the appearance of fruit while 0.24 M SBC caused a slight injury on stems of fruit.
A corpus-based evaluation of centering and pronoun resolution

In this paper we compare pronoun resolution algorithms and introduce a centering algorithm (Left-Right Centering) that adheres to the constraints and rules of centering theory and is an alternative to Brennan, Friedman, and Pollard's (1987) algorithm. We then use the Left-Right Centering algorithm to see if two psycholinguistic claims on Cf-list ranking will actually improve pronoun resolution accuracy. Our results from this investigation lead to the development of a new syntax-based ranking of the Cf-list and corpus-based evidence that contradicts the psycholinguistic claims.
Remembering First Oil in Nevada

In June 1954 Nevada became the twenty-ninth oil-producing state in the United States (Picard 1955). Interestingly, production was from volcanic rocks from the open-hole interval 6,450 to 6,730 ft (1,966 to 2,051 m) in the Oligocene Garrett Ranch volcanics, an unexpected reservoir in the kind of rocks rarely productive anywhere in the world. The pour-point (65-80° F) and gravity (26-29° API) of the crude were high, similar to oils found in the Eocene Green River Formation of the Uinta Basin, northeast Utah. Cumulative production in the field through September 1978 was 3.3 million barrels of oil. An early estimate of ultimate primary reserves was four million barrels of oil (Bortz and Murray, 1979). The trap is a faulted truncated wedge of Oligocene and Cretaceous-Eocene rocks with a top seal of impermeable valley fill, a bottom seal of Paleozoic rocks, and an east-side seal formed by a basin boundary fault and impermeable Paleozoic rocks. The new field in Railroad Valley of east-central Nevada, finally tot...
Isaac Ray, malpractice defendant.

Isaac Ray (1807–1881), founder of American forensic psychiatry, produced his classic Treatise on the Medical Jurisprudence of Insanity in 1838. He did not begin to practice asylum medicine, however, until 1841, when he became superintendent of the Maine Insane Hospital in Augusta. There, he treated a patient, Isaac Hunt, who later sued him for malpractice and then self-published a book, Astounding Disclosures! Three Years in a Mad House , detailing alleged abuses suffered at the doctor's hands. This article recalls the incident and tracks Ray's reactions to it, the public's perception of asylums, and the tension between paternalistic asylum medicine and an emerging consumer-rights movement.
Reproductive Biology of the Endangered Schweinitz's Sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii)

ABSTRACT The federally endangered Schweinitz's sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii) is endemic to the Carolina Piedmont. This study investigates the reproductive biology of this sunflower to better understand the two main methods of propagation: sexual reproduction by seed and asexual reproduction by tuberous rhizome. The researchers randomly collected the mature and senescent heads (capitula) and recorded the numbers of filled and unfilled cypselae in the fall of 2012. Analyses of the effect of the use of gibberellic acids (GA) and the use of a mix of charred soil and aboveground organic matter on seed germination were conducted. The GA treatment at 1,000 mg L−1 significantly increased germination. Cypselae planted in a mix of soil and aboveground matter that had been burned for 30 min germinated significantly better compared to a control group. To study asexual reproduction, tuberous rhizomes were collected and the effect of a cold treatment was tested as a second part of this study. No shoots formed on ...