cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dissociation of perfluorinated ethers on Al2O3 thin films

We have observed dissociation of several small fluorinated ethers on an Al2O3 surface. The ethers studied were perfluoro-1,3-dioxolane (-CF2OCF2OCF2-), perfluorodiethylether (CF3CF2OCF2CF3), perfluorodimethylether (CF3OCF3), tetrafluorodimethylether ((CF2H)2O), and perfluorodimethoxymethane (CF3OCF2OCF3). Temperature programmed desorption determined that the fluorinated ethers bond weakly to the Al2O3 surface with desorption energies ranging from 8 to 10.5 kcal/mole. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that a small fraction of a monolayer of adsorbed tetrafluorodimethylether decomposed thermally during heating. Although the decomposition is enhanced by electron irradiation or X-ray irradiation it will occur to a small extent in their absence. All the fluoroethers were observed to undergo some decomposition on the Al2O3 surface. None of the fluoroethers decomposed on the Al(110) surface even in the presence of X-ray irradiation.
Data Compilation for AGR-3/4 Driver Particle Composite LEU03-09T

This document is a compilation of characterization data for the AGR-3/4 driver fuel coated particle composite LEU03-09T, a composite of four batches of TRISO-coated, nominally 350 {micro}m diameter, 19.7% low enrichment uranium oxide/uranium carbide kernels (LEUCO). The AGR-3/4 driver fuel particles were fabricated using the AGR-1 baseline coating conditions and consist of a spherical kernel coated with an {approx}50% dense carbon buffer layer (100 {micro}m nominal thickness) followed by a dense inner pyrocarbon layer (40 {micro}m nominal thickness) followed by a SiC layer (35 {micro}m nominal thickness) followed by another dense outer pyrocarbon layer (40 {micro}m nominal thickness). the coated particles were produced by ORNL for the Advanced Gas Reactor Fuel Development and Qualification (AGR) program to be put into compacts, along with designed-to-fail particles, for insertion in the AGR-3 and AGR-4 irradiation test capsules. The kernels were obtained from BWXT and identified as composite G73V-20-69303. The BWXT kernel lot G73V-20-69303 was riffled into sublots for characterization and coating by ORNL and identified as LEU03-?? (where ?? is a series of integers beginning with 01).
Stability and Efficiency of Communication Networks in Open Source Software Development

Open source software (OSS) development teams use informal communication to coordinate their work towards common goals. According to software engineering folklore, the architecture and the organization of the final product depend on the communication patterns of the contributors. Unlike in a formal organization, the communication network structures in an OSS project evolve unrestricted and unplanned. Little is known about the stability and efficiency of the communication structures that would evolve in OSS projects. In this paper, we use the connections model of the social networks theory by incorporating the salient features of OSS development to study the communications structures that might emerge in OSS projects. We characterize the stable and efficient structures. We find that for a given scenario there may exist several stable structures which are inefficient. We also find that there does not always exist a stable structure that is efficient. This can be explained by the fact that the stability of the structure is dependent on individual's maximization of self utility whereas the efficiency of the structure is dependent on maximization of group utility. In general, tension exists between stable and efficient structures because the players act in their self-interest rather than the group-interest. We discuss the results of the model in the context of OSS development. We also provide numerical simulation to illustrate the tension between stable and efficient networks. We further discuss implications of our results and provide directions for future research.
Local Enforcement of Laws Prohibiting Discrimination in Housing: The New York City Human Rights Commission

This article examines the problem of housing discrimination in New York City as well as the role of the Human Rights Commission in fighting illegally discriminatory practices. Part I describes the evidence demonstrating housing market discrimination and examines the harmful impact these practices have on many New Yorkers. Part II examines the New York City Human Rights Commission’s battle against housing discrimination from its founding in 1955 to the present day. As part of this analysis, New York City’s Human Rights Law is compared with analogous protections enacted by the State of New York and the federal government. Data on all housing discrimination complaints filed with the Commission in 1992 and 1993 is also studied. Finally, Part III of the article comments briefly on how the Commission can face the challenges of the future in seeking to break down barriers to residential mobility and integration. LOCAL ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING: THE NEW YORK CITY HUMAN
Feed Deprivation Affects Crop Environment and Modulates Salmonella enteritidis Colonization and Invasion of Leghorn Hens

During the past 10 to 15 years, the number of cases of gastroenteritis due to Salmonella enteritidis infections has increased markedly in the United States and Europe (20). Epidemiological studies have attributed episodes of S. enteritidis infection to the consumption of food containing contaminated Grade A eggs (33). S. enteritidis is invasive in poultry and therefore has the potential to contaminate eggs by transovarian transmission following colonization of the intestinal tract (35). Practices, such as feed withdrawal, which increase the susceptibility of laying hens to S. enteritidis infection increase the risk of human salmonellosis from S. enteritidis-contaminated eggs. Feed withdrawal is used in the poultry industry to induce molting and stimulate multiple egg-laying cycles in laying hens (19). Unfortunately, the stress associated with feed withdrawal causes an increased susceptibility to S. enteritidis infection, marked by increased intestinal shedding and dissemination of S. enteritidis to internal organs such as the liver, spleen, and ovary (19, 20, 35). The incidence of S. enteritidis-positive eggs increases threefold within the first 10 weeks after hens are subjected to forced molting (38). Virulence genes and phenotypes are coordinately regulated in response to environmental signals in vivo (26). Environmental conditions such as osmolarity, oxygen tension, pH, and the stimuli of short-chain fatty acids regulate Salmonella virulence by modulating the expression of invasion genes in Salmonella and in epithelial cell invasion (2, 11, 16, 22). Because the crop is the first host environment encountered by S. enteritidis after ingestion, it can influence the survival and virulence of S. enteritidis. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the physiological changes in the crop associated with molt induced by feed withdrawal. HilA is a transcriptional activator that regulates the expression of invasion genes and the invasion phenotype in Salmonella (3). To improve our understanding of the potential role of the crop in S. enteritidis virulence, the expression of the hilA gene after growth of S. enteritidis in the crop contents of fed birds and birds deprived of feed was also evaluated in vitro.
Incremental role of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa abscess.

We report a case of an elderly patient in whom live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) provided definitive diagnosis of mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa abscess. This could not be done by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2DTTE) and two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE). 3DTEE was also helpful in ruling out associated mitral valve endocarditis, which was initially suspected by 2DTEE leading to a mitral valve sparing surgery. Thus, 3DTEE provided incremental information over 2DTTE and 2DTEE in this patient. (Echocardiography 2012;29:742-744)
Visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue FDG uptake by PET/CT in metabolically healthy obese subjects.

Objective To measure FDG uptake in visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissue of metabolically healthy obese (MHO) and metabolically abnormal obese (MAO) compared to metabolically healthy lean (MHL) subjects. Given that MHO has increased metabolic risk, it was hypothesized that MHO and MAO display similar VAT FDG uptake. Methods The 18F-FDG-PET/CT studies of 141 adults (n = 60 MHL, n = 20 MHO, n = 61 MAO) were examined to determine VAT and SAT volumes and FDG uptake. Data on CVD risk factors (BMI, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, serum lipids, and fasting plasma glucose) were collected. Results MHO and MAO had similar VAT FDG uptake (P = 0.74), both significantly lower than MHL (P 0.2) independent of age and gender. In all groups, VAT FDG uptake was higher than SAT (P < 0.0001). In separate sub-analyses of obese groups, VAT FDG uptake was more broadly negatively associated with whole-body adiposity than SAT FDG uptake, and FDG uptake in abdominal adipose depots was positively associated with liver density (P < 0.05). Conclusions FDG uptake in VAT of MHO is similar to MAO and lower than MHL, suggesting these subjects may present similar VAT dysfunction.
An Artificial Neural Network Approach to Diagnosing Epilepsy Using Lateralized Bursts of Theta EEGs

Determining the cause of seizures is a significant medical problem, as misdiagnosis can result in increased morbidity and even mortality of patients. The reported research evaluates the efficacy of using an artificial neural network (ANN) for determining epileptic seizure occurrences for patients with lateralized bursts of theta (LBT) EEGs. Training and test cases are acquired from examining records of 1,500 consecutive adult seizure patients. The small resulting pool of 92 patients with LBT EEGs requires using a jack-knife procedure for developing the ANN categorization models. The ANNs are evaluated for accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity on classification of each patient into the correct two-group categorization: epileptic seizure or non-epileptic seizure. The original ANN model using eight variables produces a categorization accuracy of 62%. Following a modified factor analysis, an ANN model utilizing just four of the original variables achieves a categorization accuracy of 68%.
Hummingbirds at artificial flowers made to resemble ornithophiles versus melittophiles

Certain floral characteristics are associated with specific pollinators. Hummingbird-pollinated flowers are usually red, lack a landing platform, lack nectar guides, and contain a high amount of dilute sucrose-rich nectar. Here we test hypotheses concerning the reasons for these characters to the extent that they involve hummingbird responses. An array was set up of 16 artificial plants, each with five artificial flowers. (1) Flowers made to differ only in colour elicited a slight preference for red. (2) When colour was associated with nectar offerings, and birds generally learned to visit flowers that provided much more nectar but did not associatively learn differences as little as 2 µL. (3) Birds were offered 8 µL of 12% sucrose versus 2 µL of 48% hexose, and they did not prefer the dilute nectar; they showed no evidence of discerning sucrose from hexose; however, they preferred 48% over 12% sucrose when both were offered in the same quantity. (4) Birds preferred flowers that lacked landing platforms over those with landing platforms. (5) Birds were offered flowers with nectar guides, associated with differing nectar volumes, and they did not associate the higher nectar reward with either flower type. In summary, the feedback from hummingbirds reflects some of the differences between bird- and bee-adapted flowers, but nectar seemed less predictive than expected. Factors other than the behavioural proclivities of hummingbirds, such as adaptation to discourage bees, are discussed as additional causes for the differences between the syndromes. We also discuss significance testing for field experiments involving one unreplicated array. Editors’ comment: The authors and reviewers disagreed about some aspects of the experimental design (e.g. necessity of marking of individual birds) and how the data should be treated (e.g. analysing only first visits versus including all data). On balance the editors decided that publication of this study gives readers the opportunity to make up their own minds about the results as presented.
Principles of the Law of Relationships Among Adults

Governmental regulation of intimate relationships between adults is so difficult because so many goods and principles important to a liberal democracy and to individuals themselves are at stake and, often, in tension. To what extent should the state stay out of regulating these relationships and leave them to citizens’ own freedom of choice? Or to what extent should public goods, such as equality and justice, which cannot adequately be pursued on an individual level, justify the state’s intervention in these relationships? In this essay I consider these questions. In doing so, I argue for an approach that gives both the private and public interests in intimate relationships their due. Because tradeoffs among so many important goods and principles — including individual freedom, sex and economic equality, and ensuring that children and adults receive caretaking, to give only a partial list — are implicated in relationships between adults, any viable solution must seek compromises among these goods. I offer such a compromise in the form of six principles to serve as the framework for laws regulating relationships among adults. With apologies to the reporters of the American Law Institute’s Principles of the Law of Family Dissolution, I model the title and form of this essay on the ALI’s Principles because of their similar purpose: Like the ALI’s Principles, the principles set out here seek to navigate the tension between our tradition of individual freedom on the one hand, and the recognition of the important public values served by families on the other. Like the ALI’s Principles, I seek to set out tenets that promote the law’s better adaptation to current social needs and to securing the end of justice. In doing so, these principles constitute a viable framework for harmonizing the relevant goods at stake in a manner consistent with the best of our nation’s political ideals.
A Compton Scatter Camera for Spectral Imaging of 0.5 to 3.0 MeV Gamma Rays

A prototype Compton scatter camera for imaging gamma rays has been built and tested. This camera addresses unique aspects of gamma-ray imaging at nuclear industrial sites, including gamma-ray energies in the 0.5 to 3.0 MeV range and polychromatic fields. Analytic models of camera efficiency, resolution and contaminating events are developed. The response of the camera bears strong similarity to emission computed tomography devices used in nuclear medicine. A direct Fourier based algorithm is developed to reconstruct two-dimensional images of measured gamma-ray fields. Iterative ART and MLE algorithms are also investigated. The point response of the camera to gamma rays of energies from 0.5 to 2.8 MeV is measured and compared to the analytic models. The direct reconstruction algorithm is at least ten times more efficient than the iterative algorithms are also investigated. The point response of the camera to gamma rays energies from 0.5 to 2.8 MeV is measured and compared to the analytic models. The direct reconstruction algorithm is at least ten times more efficient than the iterative algorithms and produces images that are, in general, of the same quality. Measured images of several phantoms are shown. Important results include angular resolutions as low as 4.4{degrees}, reproduction of phantom size and position within 7%, and contrast recovery of 84% or better. Spectral imaging is demonstrated with independent images from a multi-energy phantom consisting of two sources imaged simultaneously.
1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexa­fluoro-2-(4-nitro­phenyl)-N-phenyl­iso­propyl­amine

There is no interaction between the amine H and any F atom in the title compound, C15H10F6N2O2. Rather the amine H atom is hydrogen bonded to one of the nitro group O atoms on a neighboring mol­ecule. This hydrogen bonding operates in the direction of the minor axis and links mol­ecules into infinite chains.
VISUALIZING FITNESS LANDSCAPES

Fitness landscapes are a classical concept for thinking about the relationship between genotype and fitness. However, because the space of genotypes is typically high-dimensional, the structure of fitness landscapes can be difficult to understand and the heuristic approach of thinking about fitness landscapes as low-dimensional, continuous surfaces may be misleading. Here, I present a rigorous method for creating low-dimensional representations of fitness landscapes. The basic idea is to plot the genotypes in a manner that reflects the ease or difficulty of evolving from one genotype to another. Such a layout can be constructed using the eigenvectors of the transition matrix describing the evolution of a population on the fitness landscape when mutation is weak. In addition, the eigendecomposition of this transition matrix provides a new, high-level view of evolution on a fitness landscape. I demonstrate these techniques by visualizing the fitness landscape for selection for the amino acid serine and by visualizing a neutral network derived from the RNA secondary structure genotype-phenotype map.
Magnetic Resonance Arthrography of the Wrist and Elbow

Magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography of the wrist and elbow is useful for detecting a variety of intra-articular pathologies. MR dictations should address whether intrinsic ligament tears of the wrist are partial-thickness or full-thickness, and involve the dorsal, membranous, and/or volar components of the ligaments. With regard to elbow soft tissue pathology, partial-thickness tears of the anterior band of the ulnar collateral ligament in overhead-throwing athletes are well evaluated with MR arthrography. MR arthrography also is helpful in staging osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum, caused by repetitive valgus impaction injury in adolescent or young adult baseball pitchers.
UWB L-probe proximity fed V-slot patch antenna for early detection of breast cancer

An ultra wide-band (UWB) V-slot patch antenna is designed and simulated on microwave substrate with ∈ r = 2.2 using single layer planar circuit board technology. The V-slot patch antenna is electromagnetically excited by an L-probe feed. The simulated impedance bandwidth of 57.5% centered on 7.3 GHz is achieved with a peak gain of 6.8 dB. In addition to the wide bandwidth, the structure also has the advantage of high and steady gain over the broad frequency range. The structural properties such as small form factor and low cost of this antenna makes it a suitable building block for a microwave sensor array for breast cancer detection. The full wave EM simulator FEKO was employed for characterizing the antenna element.
Steroid-mediated inhibition of radiation-induced apoptosis in C4-1 cervical carcinoma cells is p53-dependent

In human papillomavirus (HPV) infected cervical epithelial cells the synthetic steroid dexamethasone inhibits radiation-induced apoptosis and increases the transcription of HPV E6/E7, enhancing p53 degradation. The aim of this study was to determine if suppression of apoptosis was mechanistically linked to changes in p53. HPV 16 E6 or E6/E7 expression vectors were transiently transfected into C4-1 HPV 18-positive cervical carcinoma cells to mimic the enhanced transcription following steroid treatment. After irradiation, apoptosis was suppressed in these cells comparable to the effect observed after steroid treatment alone. To confirm whether loss of p53 was responsible for the inhibition of apoptosis, residual p53 in C4-1 cells was targeted by stable transfection with a dominant-negative p53 mutant. While radiation-induced apoptosis increased after mutant transfection, inhibition of programmed cell death by steroid treatment was either eliminated or substantially reduced. Steroid-dependent inhibition of radiation-induced apoptosis in carcinoma of the cervix involves E6 modulation of p53 expression and may adversely affect treatment.
Reichenbach on observing and perceiving

Collected Papers, Charles Hartshome and Paul Weiss, eds. (Cambridge, Mass.Harvard University Press, 1931), 2.329. 1 Human Knowledge, p. 79. " Cf. Burks, "Icon, Index, and Symbol," p. 687. $5 Ibid., p. 683. '" Since a sentence of the form 'The A is B' is true only when (a) there is a unique object possessing A and (b) that object also possesses B. 1In contrast to a compound symbol (e.g., 'this blue house'), the meaning of which is derived from the meaning of its constituent element-symbols ('this,' 'blue,' and 'house') according to rules of syntax.
Nanocarbon boosts energy-efficient hydrogen production in carbon-assisted water electrolysis

Abstract To improve upon our previously reported slow hydrogen evolution rate R H at the energy-efficient lower voltages in CAWE (carbon-assisted water electrolysis) at room temperature, new results using different carbons and catalysts to improve R H are reported here. Compared to earlier results with carbon GX203, about a ten-fold increase in R H is reported using high surface area carbon BP2000 at the operating voltage E o = 1.12 V. With added FeSO 4 catalyst, E o is lowered to 0.72 V without lowering R H , representing about 30% decrease in the energy barrier of the process. For comparison, in water electrolysis without carbon, measurable R H is observed only for E o ≥ 2 V. This large improvement in R H at the energy efficient E o = 0.72 V is suggested to result from nanoscale particle size of carbon BP2000 as well as from electrons provided by the catalyst through the reaction Fe 2+ ⇌ Fe 3+ + e − . By measuring the amounts of H 2 evolved at the cathode and CO 2 evolved at the anode using gas chromatography, the mechanism for CAWE is established to be the reaction: C (s) + 2H 2 O (l) → CO 2 (g) + 2H 2 (g). The reaction slows down with time as carbon is depleted by oxidation.
A public health quality assurance system.

Abstract Quality assurance (QA) systems are commonplace among hospitals. They are even found in home health and health maintenance organizations, but they are less common among public health agencies. This article enumerates the discrepancies between the design of traditional QA and that necessary to meet the needs of a department of health's public health nursing service. It characterizes the subsequent changes that must be inserted into the QA system for it to comply with the mission and services of a public health setting. The system and instruments presented are used in the Baltimore County Department of Health, Public Health Nursing Services.
Laying the foundation for a comprehensive program of restoration for wildlife habitat in a riparian floodplain

We analyzed the past and current distribution and abundance of vegetation and wildlife to develop a wildlife habitat restoration plan for the Sweetwater Regional Park, San Diego County, California. Overall, there has been a substantial loss of native amphibians and reptiles, including four amphibians, three lizards, and 11 snake species. The small-mammal community was depauperate and dominated by the exotic house mouse (Mus musculus) and the native western harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis). It appeared that either house mice are exerting a negative influence on most native species or that they are responding positively to habitat degradation. There has apparently been a net loss of 13 mammal species, including nine insectivores and rodents, a rabbit, and three large mammals. Willow (Salix) cover and density and cottonwoods (Populus fremontii) had the highest number of positive correlations with bird abundance. There has been an overall net loss of 12 breeding bird species; this includes an absolute loss of 18 species and a gain of six species. A restoration plan is described that provides for creation and maintenance of willow riparian, riparian woodland, and coastal sage scrub vegetation types; guides for separation of human activities and wildlife habitats; and management of feral and exotic species of plants and animals.
An immunostimulatory substance in the ascites fluid of patients with cancer metastatic to the peritoneum.

Abstract The ascitic fluids from patients with cancer metastatic to the peritoneum contain a factor(s) which stimulates the primary antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in vitro . This enhancement is manifested by an increase in the number of plaque-forming cells per culture and a slight increase in plaque size. This factor has a molecular weight in the range 30,000–100,000 as determined by Sephadex gel filtration. The factor, which we have called “stimulatory factor” (SF), will completely replace the requirement for fetal calf serum in the Mishell-Dutton type of assay. Enhancement of the antibody response is most apparent at suboptimal culture conditions. SF does not increase the number of plaque-forming cells to the T-independent antigen Escherichia coli but there is a marked increase in the size of the plaques produced to the lipopolysaccharide using coated SRBC as targets. The stimulation induced by this factor is not due to endotoxin contamination since endotoxin is heat stable and the SF is heat inactivated at 80 °C for 10 min. In addition endotoxin does not act in a manner similar to SF. Thus, the SF appears to influence both T and B cells. With thymus-dependent antigen the factor results in increased numbers of antibody cells being generated; with thymus-independent antigen the factor results in increased quantity of antibody being produced.
On the number of information symbols in Bose-Chaudhuri codes*

Let α be a primitive root of G. F. ( q m ). Let I(m, v) be the number of information symbols of the code with parity check matrix ( α \mij ), i = 1, …, v, j = 0, …, q m − 2. Let v = q λ , m − λ = r . Then for sufficiently large m we have {fx0153-1} where 〈 c 〉 denotes the nearest integer to c and ρ is the positive root of the equation x r = ( q − 1) ( x r−1 + … + 1). For small values of m we have I(m, v) = ρ m + e where | e \t| ≦ ( r − 1) τ m , ″> τ 〈 m ≧ r − 1, are also given. The first contains r terms, the second [ m/r + 1] terms, where [ c ] denotes the largest integer not exceeding c .
Gallstones: Genetics versus environment

Objective The aim of this study was to determine if a significant genetic component contributes to the pathogenesis of symptomatic gallstones. Background Data Gallstones represent a polygenic disorder that affects more than 30,000,000 Americans and results in more than 750,000 cholecystectomies in the United States annually. Risk factors include age, gender, race, parity, obesity, and diabetes. A family history of gallstones also has been identified as a risk factor suggesting that genetics play a role in gallstone formation. However, the role of genetics in the pathogenesis of gallstone formation has not been determined. Methods A gallbladder disease-specific questionnaire was administered to 904 healthy unrelated adult volunteers (association study). The questionnaire ascertained a history of cholecystectomy and gallstone disease in first-degree relatives, as well as medical history, demographic, and anthropometric data. A logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors for symptomatic gallstone disease in a multivariate analysis. A maximum likelihood based variance decomposition approach was then used in 1,038 individuals from 358 families (family study) to estimate the additive genetic heritability of symptomatic gallstone disease. Results In the association study significant risk factors for symptomatic gallstone disease were female gender (relative risk 8.8, P 30, relative risk 3.7, P 50 (relative risk 2.5, P <.001), and a positive family history of previous cholecystectomy in a first-degree family member (relative risk 2.2, P <.01). In the family study the additive genetic heritability of symptomatic gallstones was 29% (P < .02), age and gender were significant covariates and explained 9.3% of the phenotypic variation in gallbladder disease. Conclusions These data suggest that genetic factors are responsible for at least 30% of symptomatic gallstone disease. However, the true role of heredity in gallstone pathogenesis is probably higher because data based on symptomatic gallbladder disease underestimates the true prevalence in the population.
The changing face of malignant melanoma.

Background and Objectives There is currently an epidemic of malignant melanoma occurring in the United States. At the same time there has been a heightened awareness for early detection of melanoma in the professional ranks as well as in the lay population. A database review was performed to investigate the changing patterns of melanoma presentation during a 2 decade time period in the State of Florida. Methods This report is based on data collected in a prospective fashion from three institutions that shared a single melanoma database initially established in 1987. Four 5-year time periods were arbitrarily selected for the study: 1989–1993, 1994–1998, 1999–2003, and 2004–2008. Patients were grouped by their date of initial diagnosis. Results A total of 7,580 patients were registered in the database during the study intervals. Multiple group comparisons by Chi-Square analysis showed that there were significant differences among the four groups in tumor thickness at diagnosis, stage of disease at diagnosis and disease-free survival (DFS). The DFS rate for all patients diagnosed with melanoma has progressively improved over the last 20 years (P < 0.0001). Conclusions Even though there is an epidemic of malignant melanoma occurring in the United States, it appears that patients are being diagnosed earlier with thinner lesions that are capable of being cured with simple surgical techniques. J. Surg. Oncol. 2010; 101:443–446. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An Empirical Review of Treatment and Rehabilitation Approaches Used in the Acute, Sub-Acute, and Chronic Phases of Recovery Following Sports-Related Concussion

Several treatment and rehabilitation approaches for sport-related concussion have been mentioned in recent consensus and position statements. These options range from the more conservative behavioral management approaches to aggressive pharmacological and therapeutic interventions. Moreover, clinical decision-making for sport-related concussion changes as symptoms and impairments persist throughout recovery. The current article provides an empirical review of proposed treatment and rehabilitation options for sport-related concussion during the acute, subacute, and chronic phases of injury.
Incidence, predictors, and clinical course of atrial tachyarrhythmias in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

The prevalence and predictors of atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATa) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) is less well understood. We performed a retrospective study including 311 patients with PH, confirmed by right heart catheterization in our center between 2007 and 2011. Baseline characteristics, clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic data were collected and compared between patients with and without ATa. The mean age was 61 ± 13 years with 64 % females. The mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was 46 ± 20 mmHg, mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 55 ± 13 %, and mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) was 19 ± 9 mmHg. Of the 311 patients with PH, 121 (39 %) patients had ATa. Patients with ATa were older (p < 0.001) and were more likely to have systemic hypertension (p = 0.03), diabetes (p = 0.015), coronary artery disease (p < 0.001), heart failure (p < 0.001), mitral regurgitation (p = 0.001), impaired LVEF (p = 0.02), and left atrial enlargement (p < 0.001). There was no difference in the prevalence of ATa in mild, moderate, or severe PH. The mean PCWP was higher in patients with ATa (17.9 ± 9 vs 20.3 ± 8; p = 0.022). In multivariate analysis using Cox-proportional hazard model, the independent predictors of mortality were age (HR 1.05; p = 0.003), coronary artery disease (HR 2.34; p = 0.047), LVEF (HR 0.793; p = 0.023), and mPAP (HR 1.023; p = 0.003). ATa are common in patients with PH. Left heart disease, left atrial enlargement, and elevated PCWP but not right atrial enlargement or mPAP predict the occurrence of ATa in patients with PH.
Development of texture and elastic anisotropy during deformation of hcp metals

The inner core of the earth most likely consists of ϵ (hcp) iron and shows anisotropy of seismic velocities which could be explained by crystallographic preferred orientation developing during convective flow. This paper summarizes deformation mechanisms in hcp metals and applies the Taylor theory of polycrystal deformation to analogs of ϵ-iron for different strain histories. The pattern of preferred orientation is then used to calculate elastic properties of deformed polycrystals with special emphasis on anisotropy.
Abnormalities of the cingulate gyrus in bipolar disorder and other severe psychiatric illnesss: postmortem findings from the Stanley Foundation Neuropathology Consortium and literature review

Abstract The cingulate gyrus is an important area of study for psychiatric disease because of its rich interconnectedness with prefrontal, limbic, and dopaminergic brain areas. A substantial literature that is briefly reviewed here has demonstrated subtle structural and functional abnormalities of the cingulate in severe mental illness. Postmortem data obtained from cingulate specimens from the Stanley Foundation Neuropathology Consortium (which contains matched specimens from subjects with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and controls) are also summarized. Using multiple analyses of variance (ANOVA), and the non-parametric Classification and Regression Tree (CART) technique, 58 data sets were examined. Six molecular markers (calbindin RNA, complexin 2, GAP-43, cytosolic phosphorylated protein kinase C (PKC) α, membrane-bound PKCα, and synaptophysin) were abnormal in at least one disease by ANOVA. Bipolar disorder was associated with four molecular abnormalities, schizophrenia with three and major depression with two. Cytosolic phosphorylated PKCα and glial density contributed to statistically significant disease classifications with CART. The abnormalities presented may serve as future targets for therapeutic intervention or candidate gene studies.
Intercultural Friendship Development

This study examined intercultural friendship development through analysis of in-depth interviews. While extant literature on friendship development has examined friends from the same cultural background, interviewees in the current study (N = 30) described relationships with friends from cultures different than their own. Analysis revealed four factors that respondents felt influenced the development of their intercultural friendship; targeted socializing, cultural similarities, cultural differences, and prior intercultural experience. Results also indicate several ways in which communication both enables and hinders the development of intercultural friendships, providing evidence of the uniqueness and complexity of communication in these relationships.
The Evolution of Art and Culture as It Relates to Workforce Dynamics

The author discusses the relationship among art, culture, and the workforce, examining the historical context of these areas and outlining the implications for the arts and cultural sector.
Clinical psychology students' perceptions of an academic climate for caring

There is a general consensus that caring is an important personal attribute of helping professionals. One way for educational institutions to develop a caring attitude in students is to provide an academic climate for caring. A total of 45 doctoral students in a clinical psychology program were asked to list specific faculty-student and student-student interactions which they believed reflected a caring attitude towards others. Components of this student-perceived climate for caring include mutual respect and support, personal interest, and informal socialization.
Duplicate removal on Hypercube engines: An experimental analysis

The Duplicate Removal Problem (DRP) appears in a number of applications such as protocol verification, database operations and image processing. Although numerous parallel sorting algorithms have been proposed, DRP has received relatively little attention. In this paper we propose and study three parallel duplicate removal algorithms. The algorithms are implemented and evaluated on an Intel iPSC/2 hypercube. We assume that all the data are resident in the main memory and do not consider the I/O access times. The results indicate that the performance of a parallel duplicate removal algorithm is a function of the system and data conditions, viz. the number of nodes, the number of data values, the uniqueness factors, and the processing and data transfer speeds. The results suggest amethod of selecting an optimum algorithm based on the data and system conditions. To interpret and scale the results of the experiments, we developed analytical models of the algorithms. Those models compare favorably to the results obtained experimentally. Finally the average computational complexity of each of the three algorithms is presented.
Queueing networks with blocking: a bibliography

In recent years, queueing networks with blocking have been studied by researchers from various research communities such as Computer Performance Modelling, Operations Research, and Industrial Engineering. In view of this, related results are scattered throughout various journals. The bibliography given below is the result of a first attempt to compile an exhaustive list of related papers in which analytic investigations (exact or approximate) or numerical investigations of queueing networks with blocking have been reported.
Direct solution of Poisson's equation in cylindrically symmetric geometry: A fast algorithm

Abstract We describe a new algorithm for directly solving Poisson's equation in cylindrically symmetric geometries. It is based on the use of fast Fourier transforms for the axial solution, and a novel expansion in cubic splines for the radial solution. Error and stability analyses of the algorithm are included, and the results of test calculations are presented. The algorithm has proved stable, reasonably fast, and able to handle very stiff driving functions.
Primary Mast Cell Disorders in Children

Mastocytosis arises from clonal mast cell expansion and the resultant accumulation of mast cells in cutaneous and sometimes extracutaneous tissues. Recent studies have demonstrated that c-kit mutations seem to be more prevalent in pediatric mastocytosis than previously assumed, but what determines disease evolution and severity in the individual patient remains elusive. For the large majority of children, mastocytosis is a self-limited cutaneous disease that spontaneously regresses before they reach adult age. Rarely, children develop systemic disease progression that is the hallmark of adult-onset disease. Therefore, invasive diagnostic testing, including performing a bone marrow biopsy, is not routinely recommended and usually reserved for children that present with signs of systemic involvement and persistently elevated serum tryptase levels. Despite its often-transient nature and limited skin involvement, some children experience challenging disease-associated symptoms due to spontaneous or trigger-induced mast cell degranulation. Anticipation of and preparation for potential complications can in many instances avoid symptomatic exacerbations. Proper symptomatic treatment and supportive care can often improve the child's quality of life. Cytoreductive therapy is usually not indicated given the natural history of spontaneous disease resolution.
The Reliability and Validity of the Brief Symptom Inventory−18 in Persons With Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Meachen S-J, Hanks RA, Millis SR, Rapport LJ. The reliability and validity of the Brief Symptom Inventory−18 in persons with traumatic brain injury. Objective To investigate the psychometric properties of the Brief Symptom Inventory−18 (BSI-18) among persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design Inception cohort design with cross-sectional follow-up of 6 months to 15 years. Setting Rehabilitation hospital. Participants Adults (N=257) with moderate to severe TBI (81 inpatients and 176 follow-up participants, analyzed separately). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures The BSI-18 is a brief screen of psychologic distress with a Global Severity Index (GSI), and 3 clinical subscales: somatization, anxiety, and depression. Results Internal consistency of the GSI was high in both follow-up participants (α=.91) and inpatients (α=.84), whereas estimates for the somatization, anxiety, and depression subscales were more variable (α range, .61–.84). As would be expected for a measure of affective state, retest reliability estimates were only moderate. The BSI-18 GSI correlated with multiple measures of psychosocial adjustment. After accounting for demographics, injury severity, inpatient functional status, years since injury, and various psychosocial factors, the BSI-18 showed incremental validity in predicting concurrent functional, psychosocial, and psychologic status. Conclusions The BSI-18 GSI had excellent reliability and validity among inpatients and follow-up participants. Modest reliability estimates may place an upper bound on the validity of the BSI-18 clinical subscales in inpatient TBI populations.
Thermal Disorder, Fluctuations, Growth and Fragmentation of Finite One-Dimensional Atomic Chains

Ordering in one-dimensional atomic chains is studied using computer simulation. We find that dense ordered chains may exist if the system is cold enough and not macroscopically long. Growth of finite length chains from the vapor and by vapor exchange between chains begins rapidly, then slows down exponentially in time. As temperature rises density fluctuations increase, causing the chains to fragment. Independent of fragmentation, disordering begins at the ends, a condition similar to the precursor of edge and surface melting in two and three dimensions. The chemical potential of finite ordered chains is a function of length and temperature, due to the competition between attraction and internal thermal excitation. Equilibrium of chains coexisting with one-dimensional vapor produces a distribution of sizes, peaked at a temperature dependent chain length. Several results may be relevant to experimental studies of adsorption on carbon nanotubes
Rare events occurring at insertion of an intrauterine device--a review of an international experience.

Events occurringat the time of insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) are rarely studied, especially for parous women for whom, in theory, IUD contraception is most suitable. These events, although rare, cause personal distress, embarrassment and inconvenience and can have a negative impact on IUD acceptance. Sixty million women worldwide are using IUDs. Thus, even a rare event may have important public health implications. To avoid such occurrences, the risk factors of these rare events need to be delineated. The large international IUD data set compiled by Family Health International (FHI) since 1972 provides a unique opportunity to achieve this purpose. Four IUD insertion-related rare events have been studied, namely: insertion failure, uterine perforation, syncope and other vasovagal reactions, and severe insertional pain. This review paper summarizes the important findings from these as well as other relevant studies. This broad experience should form the basis by which health personnel inserting IUDs can improve the quality of care for women requesting a device for contraception.
Nonlinear Optical Rotatory Dispersion: Application of Group Theoretical Statistical Mechanics

Abstract The third principle of group theoretical statistical mechanics is used to define the existence of many new nonlinear optical rotatory phenomena caused by the interaction of intense electromagnetic radiation with molecular ensembles. This treatment removes the necessity of having to distinguish between ‘natural’ and ‘magnetic’ optical activity; both processes emerge consistently from the analysis, which is based on an application of the Hellman-Feynman theorem and a double Taylor expansion of the induced electric and magnetic dipole moments.
Morbidity and mortality in pregnancy: laying the groundwork for safe motherhood.

The Safe Motherhood Initiative is a global effort to reduce deaths and illnesses among women and infants. Despite the relatively low maternal mortality rate in the United States, ensuring safe motherhood is still critical. For several reasons, it is important to study maternal mortality and morbidity. First, the pregnancy-related mortality ratio has not declined; second, evidence suggests that at least half of pregnancy-related deaths may be preventable through changes in patient, provider, or system factors; and third, mortality rates are disproportionately high among certain racial and ethnic groups. In addition, deaths are only the tip of the iceberg: maternal morbidity also represents a huge burden of disease for women and their families. Broadening the research focus and prevention efforts to include the study of maternal morbidity, especially near-miss morbidity—life-threatening morbidity—can strengthen the study of maternal death. This paper presents an overview of maternal mortality and morbidity including incidence and etiology, issues and challenges for measurement, and issues of preventability. We also address specific strategies for change for health care providers, federal and state health agencies, and the public health community.
Oxazolidines versus schiff bases

The formation of oxazolidines from propionaldehyde and aliphatic β-aminoalcohols is complicated by the appearance of appreciable amounts of unsaturated Schiff bases. The simple Schiff base, often the dominant species when aromatic aldehydes react with amines, could not be detected in the present aliphatic systems. We conclude that in aliphatic systems the order of stability is and . The gem-dimethyl group α to nitrogen stablizes the heterocyclic ring remarkably.
Growth of nanoscale nickel ferrite on carbonaceous matrix--A novel method of turning harmful particulates into a functional nanocomposite: An XAFS study.

Abstract Particulate matter (PM) emission from residual oil combustion typically consists of carbonaceous material accompanied by inorganic matter notably transition metal sulfates. Often a minor sulfide form is found in the coarse fraction while an oxide form is more common in the fine and ultrafine fractions. A composite comprising of nanoscale nickel ferrite dispersed on carbonaceous matrix has been obtained following liberation of metal sulfates from the fine PM–a novel method of turning harmful particulates into a functional nanocomposite without the need for elaborate preparation using expensive precursors. The nickel ferrite content in the composite varies with the Fe/Ni ratio in particulate, fuel type, and combustion condition. Such variation may lead to the composite exhibiting diverse physical behaviors. Detailed structure and cation distribution in dispersed ferrite have been studied using Fe and Ni K -edges XAFS spectroscopy. Peaks are identified in the radial structure function with specific atom pair correlations within the spinel ferrite from which the relative occupancy of the cations in the octahedral and tetrahedral sites can be discerned. The results show that Ni(II) has strong preference for the octahedral site, while Fe(III) prefers both sites which is consistent with that of an inverted spinel ferrite.