cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The semantics of collocational patterns for reporting verbs

One of the hardest problems for knowledge extraction from machine readable textual sources is distinguishing entities and events that are part of the main story from those that are part of the narrative structure. Importantly, however, reported speech in newspaper articles explicitly links these two levels. In this paper, we illustrate what the lexical semantics of reporting verbs must incorporate in order to contribute to the reconstruction of story and context. The lexical structures proposed are derived from the analysis of semantic collocations over large text corpora.
The Urban Environmental Gradient: Anthropogenic Influences on the Spatial and Temporal Distributions of Lead and Zinc in Sediments

Urban settings are a focal point for environmental contamination due to emissions from industrial and municipal activities and the widespread use of motor vehicles. As part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program of the U.S. Geological Survey, streambed-sediment and dated reservoir-sediment samples were collected from the Chattahoochee River Basin and analyzed for total lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) concentrations. The sampling transect extends from northern Georgia, through Atlanta, to the Gulf of Mexico and reflects a steep gradient in population density from nearly 1000 people/km2 in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area to fewer than 50 people/km2 in rural areas of southern Georgia and northern Florida. Correlations among population density, traffic density, and total and anthropogenic Pb and Zn concentrations indicate that population density is strongly related to traffic density and is a predictor of Pb and Zn concentrations in the environment derived from anthropogenic activities. Differences in the dis...
MANAGEMENT OF FEVER/NEUTROPENIA (F/N) IN CHILDREN WITH CANCER: A NATIONAL SURVEY

F/N is a frequent complication of treatment in a child with cancer; management is controversial and variable. We surveyed 70 pediatric oncology programs (POP) to determine the prevalent approach to this problem. Of those surveyed, 80% responded representing an annual accrual of about 5000 new oncology patients (pts). Analysis of the data showed that criteria for antibiotics (Ab) are temperature between 38°C and 38.5°Ca and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) 500. However, if the ANC remains 500-1000 regardless of duration) even in the absence of fever or DI. Only 9% treat for 3 days, Duration of Ab for pts with DI averages 103 (range 7-14) depending on the site if ANC >500. Thus most POP treat pts with F/N as if infected whether inf is documented or not. In neutropenic pts on Ab with persistent fever but no source 62% start amphotericin (ampho) 7d and 19% after >7d. 11% have no specific indications and 8% don't use ampho. After an afebrile period 55% do not treat recurrence of fever with ampho. Once started duration of treatment with ampho is extremely variable. There was good agreement among POP for F/N occurring during administration of blood product or chemotherapy known to cause fever. 65% culture and observe only; 16% treat with Ab until cultures are negative; 11% wait until ANC >500. On the use of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TM) or mycostatin (My) prophylactically during induction/consolidation: 30% do not use TM even for leukemia and 75% do not use My at all. In conclusion, although there are published guidelines and informal discussion of treatment of F/N, this study documents the acceptance of and adherence to these recommendations and defines the currently practiced standards of care. It defines fruitful areas for further clinical investigation.
ON THE INVARIANCE PRINCIPLE UNDER MARTINGALE APPROXIMATION

In this paper, we establish continuous Gaussian limits for stochastic processes associated to linear combinations of partial sums. The underlying sequence of random variables is supposed to admit a martingale approximation in the square mean. The results are useful in studying averages of additive functionals of a Markov chain with normal operator.
VISCOSITY OF GLASS BETWEEN THE STRAIN POINT AND MELTING TEMPERATURE1

An apparatus is described which employs the elongation of a glass fiber under load for the determination of annealing and strain points. The same apparatus is also used by varying the suspended load for the determination of the temperature-viscosity curve between the annealing range and the softening point of the glass. A description is given of measurements made in this manner on a series of three simple soda-lime-silica glasses at theses low temperatures, as well as measurements made in a rotating cylinder viscomcter between the softening point and the melting temperature. Curves are shown for the viscosities of the three glasses in the two temperature ranges and a complete viscosity curve from 500 to 1400°C is given for one of them. It is found that the two methods yield results that fit a smooth curve between these limits of temperature.
Pattern of sealant retention in children receiving a combination of caries-preventive methods: three-year results

Five therapeutic measures including application of sealant were included in a prototype program; patterns varied according to type of tooth and ages of children. Sealant-retention patterns at the end of three years in children in first and sixth grades varied according to the type of tooth. The retention pattern has remained the same during the three-year period of the study.
Implications of the new high conductivity polyacetylene

Abstract With the development of a technique [1] for synthesizing polyacetylene with reduced sp 3 defect content, new insights into the distinction between the intrinsic and morphological properties of fibrillar (CH) x , and into the nature of the instrinsic material have become possible. In this paper we summarize the results of transport measurements on the Naarmann/Theophilou material. These results are compared with those from the standard Shirakawa material. The doping regime in which the temperature dependence of the measured conductivity reflects intrinsic transport is distinguished from that in which the measurements are dominated by sample morphology. Finally, the problem of non-uniform doping is considered, and a projection is given for the conductivity under optimal doping conditions.
Hardcore smokers: What do we know?

Abstract Aims The existence of smokers who are resistant to smoking cessation treatment has long been noted in the literature. There has been ongoing debate as to whether the proportion of these smokers is increasing as smoking prevalence rates stagnate. Studies define hardcore smokers inconsistently and within the context of specific illnesses, addiction, population, and/or theoretical paradigms. This review examines the existing literature related to hardcore smokers to develop a better understanding of what is known and not known about this group to guide smoking cessation treatment. Methods PubMed MESH search and review of research publications from 1998 to 2012 (N = 61). Results Inconsistent definitions of hardcore smoking make it difficult to estimate prevalence rates and to identify specific characteristics of persistent smokers. Generally, persistent smokers have higher levels of nicotine dependence, are disproportionately from lower socioeconomic groups, start smoking at an earlier age, and are more likely to have a psychological co-morbidity. Discussion Defining some smokers as hardcore is limiting. Targeted and tailored interventions for smoking cessation for persistent smoking have demonstrated effectiveness in a small number of studies. Treatment access barriers need to be addressed to improve the reach and effectiveness of cessation with persistent smokers. Efforts to limit early age initiation of tobacco use are a critical element in averting persistent smoking.
Behavior of sea anemones evoked by the alarm pheromone anthopleurine

The sea anemoneAnthopleura elegantissima undergoes a characteristic response when exposed to anthopleurine, a recently isolated alarm pheromone. Aboral longitudinal tentacle muscles and mesenterial retractor muscles undergo a mechanically summed, facilitated series of discrete, rapid, radially-symmetrical contractions, usually followed by a slow, smooth contraction (Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6). The rapid contractions of all retractor muscles are probably simultaneous (Fig. 3). The marginal sphincter contracts at a slower rate (Fig. 2). The alarm response of mesenterial retractor muscles to anthopleurine closely resembles reflex withdrawal in other anemones and is probably mediated by the through-conducting system. Anthopleurine receptors are located primarily on the tentacles. Of ten other species of anemones tested onlyAnthopleura xanthogrammica shows an alarm response to anthopleurine (Table 1).
Engineering concepts for in situ bioremediation

Abstract Most organic materials that contaminate soil and the subsurface environment are readily degraded by natural biological processes. Thus, bioremediation can be thought of as a highly successful purification process. However, some organic molecules are naturally refractory to biodegradation, the proper microbial population is not present, or environmental conditions are not suitable to biodegradation so that the compounds become recalcitrant to biodegradation and persist in the environment for years. Where natural processes are slow, the best strategy may still be to wait for the natural degradation to occur because of the current high costs and lack of reliability of engineered solutions. In other cases, the natural recalcitrance may be changed by introduction of degrading populations of microorganisms or by changing the environmental conditions by introduction of chemicals or through mixing and dilution. The potential success of engineering procedures to enhance degradation rates also depends to a large degree upon the complexity of the hydrogeology at a given site. With complex hydrogeology, most remediation approaches are rendered difficult if not impossible. This must be recognized by regulatory authorities and the public. In such cases alternative strategies to site remediation itself should be sought. More attention to such alternatives is needed in order to reduce unproductive expenditure of scarce resources.
A complementary approach to treating antibody-mediated transplant rejection

Current treatment for antibody-mediated kidney transplant rejection is inadequate. Tillou and colleagues administered recombinant C1 inhibitor to block complement activation to prevent antibody-initiated injury in sensitized baboon recipients of kidney allografts. These early but encouraging results support further testing of the safety and efficacy of complement inhibition as part of a comprehensive strategy to treat this disease, both in animal models and ultimately in humans.
Political attitudes of Italian workers: twenty years of survey evidence

. This article reviews two decades of survey evidence regarding the attitudes of Italian industrial workers towards labour politics. Convention has it that, whereas Italian industrial workers were probably the most radical in western Europe at the time of the hot autumn (1969), they have since then become progressively more disenchanted with trade union involvement in politics and increasingly more cynical and apolitical. Using the numerous sample surveys conducted since the hot autumn, I show that there is no evidence to support this view. Rather, industrial workers in Italy have always been highly differentiated in their views of union politics and it is the politically-relevant behaviour of union elites that is more important than the attitudes of the rank and file in shaping union interaction with the political sphere. Theoretical context is provided by a discussion of trade unions as institutions, and by attention to the analytic distinction between preferences, behaviour, and context.
Joint Instability of Latitudinal Differential Rotation and Toroidal Magnetic Fields below the Solar Convection Zone. III. Unstable Disturbance Phenomenology and the Solar Cycle

We analyze additional solutions for the two-dimensional instability of coexisting differential rotation and toroidal magnetic fields, organized in families with fixed ratios ER of magnetic to kinetic energy in the unperturbed state. Solutions are found for a wide range of differential rotation amplitudes found in the solar tachocline, for toroidal fields that have a node that ranges in latitude from the pole to the equator, as we expect to exist in the Sun through a sunspot cycle. Fixed ER is a proxy for nonlinear saturation of the solar dynamo due to the reaction of electromagnetic body forces. Since the saturation ratio is not known from either theory or observations, we find solutions in the range 0.1 ≤ ER ≤ 30, corresponding to peak toroidal fields in the solar tachocline of between about 8 × 103 to 1.4 × 105 G. We focus on properties of the unstable disturbances that could test the hypothesis that such disturbances in the solar tachocline provide a template for surface features. We show that the symmetry of magnetic pattern about the equator could switch at one or more phases of the magnetic cycle, and for high ER a switch could also occur between two antisymmetric patterns of different latitudinal profiles. In the former case, the pattern rotation rate would be unchanged, but there would be a sudden longitudinal phase shift in one or both hemispheres. In the latter case, there would be no phase shift but instead a substantial change in the rotation rate of the observed magnetic pattern. For a given mode symmetry and type, the rotation rate is the same at all latitudes, with the rate being close to that of the local rotation of the plasma at the latitude where the disturbance amplitude peaks. For ER 1, the disturbance magnetic patterns have significant tilts upstream away from the equator, reminiscent of similar patterns in synoptic magnetograms. Sharp changes with latitude in the differential rotation and toroidal field are associated with "critical points" in the system, where the Doppler-shifted disturbance rotation equals the local (angular) Alfven speed. These migrate toward the equator with the toroidal field node but increasingly lag it. The higher the magnetic energy for a given differential rotation, the closer the equator is approached. If these sharp changes in differential rotation and toroidal field are related to the torsional oscillations and latitudes of sunspots, then these solutions favor large toroidal fields in the tachocline, of peak amplitude at least 6 × 104 G.
Tissue bioanalysis of biotherapeutics and drug targets to support PK/PD

Contemporary drug discovery leverages quantitative modeling and simulation with increasing emphasis, both to gain deeper knowledge of drug targets and mechanisms as well as improve predictions between preclinical models and clinical applications, such as first-in-human dose projections. Proliferation of novel biotherapeutic modalities increases the need for applied PK/PD modeling as a quantitative tool to advance new therapies. Of particular relevance is the understanding of exposure, target binding and associated pharmacology at the target site of interest. Bioanalytical methods are key to informing PK/PD models and require assessment of both PK and PD end points. Where targets are sequestered in tissues (noncirculating), the ability to quantitatively measure drug or biomarker in tissue compartments becomes particularly important. This perspective provides an overview of contemporary applications of quantitative bioanalysis in tissue compartments as applied to PK and PD assessments associated with novel ...
Early postoperative bleeding is independently associated with increased surgical mortality in infants after cardiopulmonary bypass

Objective Infants undergoing cardiac surgery often have postoperative bleeding contributing to the occurrence of adverse events. A quantitative evaluation of postoperative bleeding has not been well described. Methods We identified 1071 infants who had undergone cardiopulmonary bypass from August 1, 2008 to December 31, 2011. The volume of postoperative bleeding and its effect on mortality were reviewed. Results Postoperative bleeding during the first 12 hours postoperatively was stratified by quartiles. Bleeding was significantly associated with increased mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-1.21; P P P P P P = .01) and intensive care unit length of stay ( P = .003). Conclusions Early postoperative hemorrhage was independently associated with an increased mortality in infants after cardiac surgery. The longer interval from surgery to death suggests that other factors, aside from the bleeding itself, including the transfusion volume, might contribute to mortality. Initiatives to limit postoperative bleeding and to critically appraise packed red blood cell transfusion practices are warranted.
Novel MBTPS2 Missense Mutation in the N-Terminus Transmembrane Domain in a Patient with Ichthyosis Follicularis, Alopecia, and Photophobia Syndrome

Ichthyosis follicularis, alopecia, and photophobia (IFAP) syndrome is an X-linked dominant condition characterized by the triad of ichthyosis follicularis, alopecia, and photophobia caused by mutations in the MBTPS2 gene. Herein we describe a proband with IFAP syndrome with mild cutaneous manifestations and a novel MBTPS2 mutation in the N-terminal transmembrane domain.
Phylogenetic characterization of the ubiquitous electron transfer flavoprotein families ETF-α and ETF-β

Abstract Electron transfer flavoproteins (ETF) are αβ-heterodimers found in eukaryotic mitochondria and bacteria. We have identified currently sequenced protein members of the ETF-α and ETF-β families. Members of these two families include (a) the ETF subunits of mammals and bacteria, (b) homologous pairs of proteins (FixB/FixA) that are essential for nitrogen fixation in some bacteria, and (c) a pair of carnitine-inducible proteins encoded by two open reading frames in Escherichia coli (YaaQ and Yaar). These three groups of proteins comprise three clusters on both the ETF-α and ETF-β phylogenetic trees, separated from each other by comparable phylogenetic distances. This fact suggests that these two protein families evolved with similar overall rates of evolutionary divergence. Relative regions of sequence conservation are evaluated, and signature sequences for both families are derived.
Effect of an applied electric field on the flow stress of ultrafine-grained 2.5Y-TZP at high temperatures

Abstract Application of a dc electric field (E = 46 V/cm) during the tensile deformation of an ultrafine-grained 2.5Y-TZP (d = 350 nm) at 1450 °C resulted in a significant reduction in the flow stress σ, which reversed upon removal of the field. At strains ϵ ≤ 0.6, the reduction in flow stress ΔσE consisted of two components: (a) a rapid initial decrease in stress ( Δ σ E * ) due to the effect of the field on the deformation mechanism(s) and (b) a longer-time decrease in stress (ΔσT) due to Joule heating, giving Δ σ E = Δ σ E * + Δ σ T . At ϵ > 0.6, an additional contribution ( Δ σ E str ) occurred, which was attributed to a change in defect structure, e.g., grain growth and cavitation. It was concluded that the rate-controlling mechanism in the present tests is grain boundary sliding accommodated by lattice diffusion of the Zr ions with a threshold stress σo, giving an acting effective stress σe = σ − σo. It was determined for this case that Δ σ E * contained reductions in both the effective stress ( Δ σ e , E * ) and in the threshold stress (Δσo,E). Analysis of the behavior in terms of an electrochemical potential for vacancy formation showed that Δ σ e , E * and Δσo,E are related to changes in the electric field potential pertaining to the space charge at the grain boundaries. The calculated width of the space charge region acted on by the electric field was 3–5 nm in the temperature range of 1450–1550 °C.
The Masses of the B Stars in the High Galactic Latitude Eclipsing Binary IT Librae

ABSTRACT A number of blue stars that appear to be similar to Population I B stars in the star‐forming regions of the Galactic disk are found more than 1 kpc from the Galactic plane. Uncertainties about the true distances and masses of these high‐latitude B stars have fueled a debate as to their origin and evolutionary status. The eclipsing binary IT Lib is composed of two B stars, is approximately 1 kpc above the Galactic plane, and is moving back toward the plane. Observations of the light and velocity curves presented here lead to the conclusion that the B stars in this system are massive young main‐sequence stars. While there are several possible explanations, it appears most plausible that the IT Lib system formed in the disk about 30 million years ago and was ejected on a trajectory taking it to its present position.
A Bayesian Approach to Assessing the Superiority of a Dose Combination

One prevalent goal within clinical trials is to determine whether or not a combination of two drugs is more effective than each of its components. Many researchers have addressed this issue for fixed-dose combination trials, using frequentist hypothesis testing techniques. In addition, several of these have incorporated prior information from sources such as Phase II trials or expert opinions. The Bayesian approach to the general selection problem naturally accomodates the need to utilize such information. It is useful in the dose combination problem because it does not rely on a nuisance parameter that affects the power of frequentist procedures. We show that hierarchical Bayesian methods may be easily applied to this problem, yielding the probability that a drug combination is superior to its components. Moreover, we present methods that may be implemented using readily available software for numerical integration as well as ones that incorporate Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods.
Fluoride-Exchanging Resins for Caries Protection

Prototype anion-exchanging resins were used to treat artificial carious lesion; The resins penetrate into lesion porosity, harden, and release either F or Cl ions. After second demineralization, various histological features of the lesions were measured. I progression of untreated lesions, surface zones (SZ) decreased by 75% and lesion bodie increased by 86%, while in resin-treated lesions the SZ remained essentially constant ant lesion bodies increased by only 52%. Dark zones (DZ) of F resin-treated lesions wer significantly larger than the DZ of Cl resin-treated, untreated, and initial lesions. After initiation of lesions in sound enamel, the SZ was essentially the same for botl treated and untreated enamel but slightly larger lesion bodies developed in the treate( enamel. After demineralization, the DZ of F resin-treated enamel were significantly larger than in Cl resin-treated or untreated enamel. In a separate experiment the rate of phosphate release from demineralized enamel into i pH 4.5 buffer was decreased by 85% by a F resin treatment and by 41% by a Cl resin treatment. In summary, both resins act as a barrier to demineralization and the fluoride-releasing resin appears to promote remineralization during acid attack.
Determination of coumarin, vanillin, and ethyl vanillin in vanilla extract products: liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method development and validation studies

A LC-MS method was developed for the determination of coumarin, vanillin, and ethyl vanillin in vanilla products. Samples were analyzed using LC-electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS in the positive ionization mode. Limits of detection for the method ranged from 0.051 to 0.073 microg mL(-1). Using the optimized method, 24 vanilla products were analyzed. All samples tested negative for coumarin. Concentrations ranged from 0.38 to 8.59 mg mL(-1) (x =3.73) for vanillin and 0.33 to 2.27 mg mL(-1) (x =1.03) for ethyl vanillin. The measured concentrations are compared to values calculated using UV monitoring and to results reported in a similar survey in 1988. Analytical results, method precision, and accuracy data are presented.
The bound free continuum for C

Abstract The wave functions for the ground state of carbon and the negative carbon ion are determined using our small variation program. The Coulomb potential for the free electron is then computed using the carbon wave function thus obtained, and the subsequent obtention of the s - and d -wave portions of the free electron wave function is detailed. The dipole length form of the matrix elements is then determined for the various desired values of the free electron momenta under the assumption that the lower state is the complete negative carbon ion wave function while the upper state is the antisymmetric product made up of the free electron plus the complete neutral carbon atom wave functions. Finally a simple calculation using the matrix element results provides the photo-ionization cross section.
In vivo uptake of estrone sulfate by rabbit uterus.

The capability of rabbit uterus and liver to hydrolyze estrone sulfate (E1S) to estrone (E1) was demonstrated in vitro by supervision of tissue slices with mixtures of [3H]-E1S and [14C]E1. However, capillary barriers or binding factors may prevent the utilization of the blood-borne estrogen sulfate. To evaluate the extent of uptake of circulating E1S by uterine cells, a mixture of [3H]E1S and [14C]E1 was injected into the abdominal aorta of anesthetized rabbits. Shortly after the injection, samples of blood, uterine tissue, and liver were simultaneously taken. Isotope ratios in E1 isolated from these samples were measured and compared. The 3H to 14C ratios in E1 isolated from the uterus and from plasma were similar. It was concluded from these results that blood-borne E1S was not taken up directly by the uterus, since, otherwise, uterine E1 would be expected to have a higher 3H to 14C ratio than plasma E1. The isotope ratios in hepatic E1 were higher than those in E1 isolated from plasma or uterus, proba...
Thermodynamics of liquid metals: The hard-sphere versus one-compoent-plasma reference systems

We have calculated the Helmholtz free energy of liquid Na and Al using a variational principle based on the Gibbs-Bogolyubov inequality in conjunction with hard-sphere and one-component-plasma reference systems. For liquid Na, the one-component plasma gives a lower variational bound to the free energy and fits the experimental structure factor better than does the hard-sphere fluid, in agreement with the findings of Ross et al. for liquid Li. Liquid Al, however, is better described by the hard-sphere reference system when exchange-correlation corrections to the pair potential are properly included. We ascribe the difference to the fact that the pair potentials of Al are relatively stiff, and those of the alkali metals relatively soft at small separations.
Polidocanol for endovenous microfoam sclerosant therapy

Background: Polidocanol is a liquid surfactant having endothelial cell lytic properties. In the form of a controlled, dispensed microfoam it is administered endovenously as a sclerosing agent in the treatment of varicose veins. Objective: This review summarizes efficacy of polidocanol endovenous microfoam sclerotherapy using a proprietary dispensing system to control foam characteristics and gas content for treating varicose veins. Methods: We reviewed in vitro, Phase I, Phase II and limited Phase III data for polidocanol microfoam with a focus on controlled foam formulation in therapy. Results/conclusions: Clinical trials of controlled dispensing of polidocanol microfoam provide evidence of effective treatment of chronic venous insufficiency with low toxicity, minimal risk and few complications.
Crystal structure, formation enthalpy, and energy bands of B6O.

We have performed ab initio calculations of the crystal structure and electronic structure of ${\mathrm{B}}_{6}$O using an expansion in over 11 700 plane waves. The crystal structure is compared with recent x-ray data; contour plots show the two oxygen atoms in the unit cell do not bond to each other, and the heat of formation is calculated to be 11.37 eV per unit cell.
Rapid Three‐Dimensional MAS NMR Spectroscopy at Critical Sensitivity

Solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) is maturing rapidly. Progress is highlighted by recent examples that demonstrate its capability to yield site-specific assignments and atomic resolution structural information on fibrillar,[1–3] membrane-associated,[4–6] and non-crystalline proteins.[7–9] Furthermore, applications to systems of ever-increasing molecular size are limited only by the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) in the multidimensional spectra required for adequate resolution,, rather than by more fundamental limitations from spin relaxation. Therefore, the most pressing need in MAS NMR is arguably for more efficient data acquisition methods.
Folate and vitamin B12 levels in levodopa-treated Parkinson's disease patients: Their relationship to clinical manifestations, mood and cognition

We tested the hypothesis that mood, clinical manifestations and cognitive impairment of levodopa-treated Parkinson's disease (PD) patients are associated with vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. To this end, we performed this cross-sectional study by measuring serum folate and vitamin B12 blood levels in 111 consecutive PD patients. Levodopa-treated PD patients showed significantly lower serum levels of folate and vitamin B12 than neurological controls, while depressed patients had significantly lower serum folate levels as compared to non-depressed. Cognitively impaired PD patients exhibited significantly lower serum vitamin B12 levels as compared to cognitively non-impaired. In conclusion, lower folate levels were associated with depression, while lower vitamin B12 levels were associated with cognitive impairment. The effects of vitamin supplementation merit further attention and investigation.
Prognostic impact of lymphadenectomy in uterine clear cell carcinoma

was associated with improved survival. Patients who underwent lymphadenectomy were 39% (hazard ratio [HR], 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52 to 0.72; p 10 nodes removed) were 32% (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.83; p<0.001) and 47% (HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.65; p<0.001) less likely to die, respectively. Conclusion: The extent of lymphadenectomy is associated with an improved survival of patients diagnosed with UCCC.
Aminoglycoside-Induced Hair Cell Death of Inner Ear Organs Causes Functional Deficits in Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Aminoglycoside antibiotics, like gentamicin, kill inner ear sensory hair cells in a variety of species including chickens, mice, and humans. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been used to study hair cell cytotoxicity in the lateral line organs of larval and adult animals. Little is known about whether aminoglycosides kill the hair cells within the inner ear of adult zebrafish. We report here the ototoxic effects of gentamicin on hair cells in the saccule, the putative hearing organ, and utricle of zebrafish. First, adult zebrafish received a single 30 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection of fluorescently-tagged gentamicin (GTTR) to determine the distribution of gentamicin within inner ear sensory epithelia. After 4 hours, GTTR was observed in hair cells throughout the saccular and utriclar sensory epithelia. To assess the ototoxic effects of gentamicin, adult zebrafish received a single 250 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection of gentamicin and, 24 hours later, auditory evoked potential recordings (AEPs) revealed significant shifts in auditory thresholds compared to untreated controls. Zebrafish were then euthanized, the inner ear fixed, and labeled for apoptotic cells (TUNEL reaction), and the stereociliary bundles of hair cells labeled with fluorescently-tagged phalloidin. Whole mounts of the saccule and utricle were imaged and cells counted. There were significantly more TUNEL-labeled cells found in both organs 4 hours after gentamicin injection compared to vehicle-injected controls. As expected, significantly fewer hair cell bundles were found along the rostral-caudal axis of the saccule and in the extrastriolar and striolar regions of the utricle in gentamicin-treated animals compared to untreated controls. Therefore, as in other species, gentamicin causes significant inner ear sensory hair cell death and auditory dysfunction in zebrafish.
Isotropic light source for underwater applications

The design and construction of an isotropic light source is described. The instrument's design is well suited to underwater applications. Any combination of light sources (flashlamps, CW sources, or lasers) and spectral filters (absorption or interference) can be simultaneously incorporated to provide a single isotropic source with any desired temporal and spectral characteristics. This design was recently used in an underwater experiment that required a synchronously triggered isotropic flash to simultaneously measure absorption, scattering, and attenuation. The design of this particular isotropic source is presented along with data demonstrating the isotropy of the light field produced by the source.
Adaptive speed control of hydrogenerators by recursive least squares identification algorithm

An inherent challenge to hydrogenerator speed regulation is the nonlinear and time varying nature of the process. When a fixed gain controller is used to regulate such a process, globally stable system response can be achieved only at the expense of degraded off design-point performance. This paper considers the application of an adaptive control methodology that allows the controller gains to automatically adjust to changing process variables and thereby provide uniform closed loop response over a wide range of operating conditions. Preliminary findings derived from a calculated plant model, and a standard recursive identification technique, indicate that the adaptive system provides desirable dynamic response despite changes in system operating dynamics, maintaining stable operation in situations where constant gain schedules fail. >
Multivariate analysis of second trimester midfacial morphology in normal and cleft lip and palate human fetal specimens.

To better understand the contribution of congenital dysmorphogenesis to postnatal midfacial dysplasia in individuals with complete cleft lip and palate (CLP), a series of studies were undertaken to investigate age related changes in a number of midfacial components for a sample of 20 normal and 9 complete CLP second trimester fetal specimens. Using data from this sample, the present study assessed the complex multivariate relationships among these variables which represent the fetal normal and CLP midface. Ten variables were standardized relative to crown-rump length and used in Canonical Discriminant Function Analysis (CDFA). CDF analysis revealed that five variables best described the midface and accounted for 72% of the overall variance. These included nasal capsule length, nasal airway volume, premaxillary length, premaxillary volume, and tongue volume. Classification using the CDFA coefficients resulted in correct group membership assignment for 26 of 29 total specimens (89.66%), 8 of 9 cleft (88.9%), and 18 of 20 normal specimens (90.0%). These results suggest that by as early as the second trimester CLP fetuses have a significantly distinct set of midfacial morphological relationships. Some or all of these factors may be responsible for postnatal growth dysplasias noted in CLP individuals. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Overview of molecular dynamics techniques and early scientific results from the Blue Gene project

The Blue Gene® project involves the development of a highly parallel supercomputer, the coding of scalable applications to run on it, and the design of protein simulations that take advantage of the power provided by the new machine. This paper provides an overview of analysis techniques applied to scientific results obtained with Blue Matter, the software framework for performing molecular dynamics simulations on the Blue Gene/L computer. Blue Matter is a portable environment that runs on several platforms ranging from single-processor to massively parallel machines. Since the Blue Gene/L computer has become available only recently, this work describes analysis techniques applied to a range of experiments of increasing complexity on a corresponding range of machine sizes, concluding with a membrane protein simulation currently running on a 512-node Blue Gene/L computer.
Temporal patterning of electric organ discharges in the African electric catfish, Malapterurus electricus (Gmelin)

This paper is the first detailed analysis of situation-specific temporal patterning of electric organ discharges (EODs) in a strong electric fish. Using a resident-intruder paradigm EODs were recorded during interactions between dyads composed of Malapterurus electricus (Gmelin) and four different types of fish: (1) conspecifics; (2) large prey-type mid-water fish, goldfish (Carassius auratus, Linnaeus 1758) and tilapia (Oreochromis melanotheron, Ruppel, 1852); (3) a sympatric competitor, Polypterus palmas (Ayres 1850) and (4) a larger, threatening catfish, Clarias sp. An analysis of the EODs emitted showed that in the presence of conspecifics the average EOD volley consisted of a single long-duration, low frequency train of EODs. The presence of the midwater fish (goldfish and Tilapia) elicited volleys consisting of two short trains, and P. palmas elicited long duration volleys with two trains and long inter-train intervals. Finally, an attacking Clarias resulted on average in volleys consisting of two high-frequency trains of EODs. With nonconspecific partner species resident electric catfish emitted volleys with more pulses, more trains that were longer in duration and higher in frequency than the EODs in volleys emitted by intruder electric catfish with the same species stimulus fish.
Structure and bonding in the mixed chalcogenide system As2SxSe3−x

Abstract 75 As Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) lineshape measurements for the amorphous mixed chalcogenide system As 2 S x Se 3−x are reported. The line-shapes are asymmetric and approximately 8 MHz in width (full width at half maximum). The peak resonance frequency is observed to increase approximately linearly with x. The NQR results indicate the presence of mixed As 2 (S, Se) 3 pyramidal structural units and are thus not consistent with models that predict the occurrence of anion subsite segregation. NQR measurements performed on crystalline As 2 SSe 2 lend support to the structural model proposed for the glasses.
The use of exponentially smoothed data in continuous process control

Continuous production processes characteristically do not result in production units which are well-defined from a quality control standpoint. Application of standard statistical quality control techniques requires sampling one litre, ounce or yard of product while the product is produced by the barrel, ton, or reel. Thus, direct application of quality control techniques is difficult. The possibilities offered by the use of exponential smoothing are analysed in this paper. Use of this method permits determination of meaningful control charts with a minimum of effort. The method is illustrated by applying it in the study of water pollution control.
Comparison of methods for determining the correlation contribution to hydrogen bond energies

The correlation energy contributions to the hydrogen bond energies of complexes (A2H2n+1)+, A2H2n, and (A2H2n–1)− for AHn = OH2, FH, ClH have been evaluated using Moller–Plesset perturbation theory at second (MP2), third (MP3), and fourth (MP4) order; configuration interaction including all single and double excitations (CISD); the averaged coupled-pair functional method (ACPF); and the linearized coupled-cluster method (LCCM), all relative to a single-reference Hartree–Fock function. The CISD energies were corrected for size-consistency errors using the Pople formula and several variants of the Davidson correction and by use of the supermolecule approach for evaluating the binding energies. The Pople formula reduces the size-consistency errors to less than 1 kcal/mol, and the supermolecule approach brings the CISD binding energies, even without correction, into reasonable agreement with the size-consistent methods. The ACPF energies are found to be essentially size consistent in all the complexes studied. Both ACPF and LCCM provide binding energies very close to those of MP3.
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF REGIONALIZED NEONATAL CARE FOR LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS IN THE STATE OF RI

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF REGIONALIZED NEONATAL CARE FOR LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS IN THE STATE OF RI
Functional brain networks in REM sleep behavior disorder

Introduction REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) has a strong association with synucleinopathies. Prior studies of psychometrics have demonstrated subtle abnormalities of task-switching and visuospatial tasks in iRBD, similar to deficits in synucleinopathies. In this study, we used resting state functional connectivity MRI to assess the strength of brain networks and regions involved in attention, executive control, visual, auditory, and motor function. Materials and methods Ten individuals (6 male, 4 female) with polysomnogram-confirmed iRBD were compared to ten age- and sex-matched controls. All underwent brain MRI including two blood-oxygen level dependent (BOLD) sequences acquired resting awake with eyes closed. Following standard pre-processing and regression of noise signals, BOLD time series were extracted from pre-defined regions of interest (ROI). The correlation coefficient between BOLD time series of each pair of ROIs was Fisher-z transformed to obtain normally-distributed data, prior to constructing cross-correlation matrices. Correlation coefficients for ROI-pairs were averaged to assess the connectivity strength of each network. Paired t-tests were used to compare iRBD cases and controls. Results There were no significant differences between iRBD cases and controls in the strength of the executive control, attention, or default mode networks. However, there was a significant decrease in connectivity between visual cortex and attention network (iRBD 0.06 vs. Control 0.14, p = 0.02). Additionally, the iRBD group had almost no correlation between the visual and primary motor regions, significantly lower than the robust correlation in controls (iRBD 0.08 vs. Control 0.33, p = 0.008). Conclusion Resting state functional connectivity MRI analysis demonstrates significantly reduced strength of connections between the visual regions and the attention network, and between the visual and motor regions. The strength of canonical cognitive networks—including the default mode, attention, and executive networks—and connectivity of other sensory and motor regions, was not different between iRBD cases and controls. These findings suggest that the decline in visuo-spatial performance in iRBD reflects a specific disconnection of the visual regions from their usual functional networks, rather than a generalized brain dysfunction. This has implications for understanding how and where synucleinopathies affect the brain at the earliest stages of disease. Acknowledgement American Sleep Medicine Foundation Physician Scientist Training Award.
Application of probabilistic decoding to digital magnetic recording systems

A digital magnetic recording system is viewed in this paper as a linear system that inherently includes a correlative level encoder. This encoder can be regarded aas linear finite-state machine like a convolutional encoder. The maximum likelihood decoding method recently devised by Viterbi to decode convolutional codes is then applietdo digital magnetic recording systems. The decoding algorithm and its implementation are discussed in detail. Expressions for the decoding error probability are obtained and confirmed by computer simulations. It is shown that a significant improvement in the performance with respect to other methods is achievable by the maximum likelihood decoding method. For example, under the Gaussian noise assumption the proposed technique can reduce raw error ratehse in 10-3 to 10-4 range by a factor of 50 to 300. These results indicate that the maximum likelihood decoding method gains as much as 2.5 dB in signal-to-noise ratio over the conventional bit-by-bit detection method.
Biocompatible mannosylated endosomal-escape nanoparticles enhance selective delivery of short nucleotide sequences to tumor associated macrophages

Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) can modify the tumor microenvironment to create a pro-tumor niche. Manipulation of the TAM phenotype is a novel, potential therapeutic approach to engage anti-cancer immunity. siRNA is a molecular tool for knockdown of specific mRNAs that is tunable in both strength and duration. The use of siRNA to reprogram TAMs to adopt an immunogenic, anti-tumor phenotype is an attractive alternative to ablation of this cell population. One current difficulty with this approach is that TAMs are difficult to specifically target and transfect. We report here successful utilization of novel mannosylated polymer nanoparticles (MnNP) that are capable of escaping the endosomal compartment to deliver siRNA to TAMs in vitro and in vivo. Transfection with MnNP-siRNA complexes did not significantly decrease TAM cell membrane integrity in culture, nor did it create adverse kidney or liver function in mice, even at repeated doses of 5 mg kg−1. Furthermore, MnNP effectively delivers labeled nucleotides to TAMs in mice with primary mammary tumors. We also confirmed TAM targeting in the solid tumors disseminated throughout the peritoneum of ovarian tumor bearing mice following injection of fluorescently labeled MnNP-nucleotide complexes into the peritoneum. Finally, we show enhanced uptake of MnNP in lung metastasis associated macrophages compared to untargeted particles when using an intubation delivery method. In summary, we have shown that MnNP specifically and effectively deliver siRNA to TAMs in vivo.
Optimal encodings of linear block codes for unequal error protection

It is possible for a linear block code to provide more protection for selected message positions than is guaranteed by the minimum distance of the code. The protection provided a message position can be measured by associating a number with that position called its separation. The separation of a message position measures the protection provided to that position in a manner analogous to that in which the minimum distance of a code measures the protection provided the entire message. This paper proves that any fixed linear block code has an encoding which is optimal with respect to the error protection provided the individual message positions. More precisely, among those encodings of the code for which the separations associated with the message positions are arranged in nondecreasing order, there is at least one which simultaneously maximizes all the separations associated with the message positions. A procedure is given which may be used to construct optimal encodings for linear codes of small dimension. When the Hamming metric is employed, the procedure builds a generator matrix which is as sparse as possible for the given code. At each iteration the procedure adds a row to a partially constructed generator matrix. A code word of minimum weight is chosen for this purpose—subject to the restriction that the rows of the generator matrix must be linearly independent. A more general result is that any generator matrix which is as sparse as possible induces an optimal encoding of its row space. A similar result holds when the Lee metric is used to model a channel. Theorems dealing with cyclic codes and product codes are developed. Under suitable restrictions, an optimal generator matrix for a cyclic code may be formed by concatenating the generator matrices of the minimal ideals which are contained in it. When the Hamming metric is employed, an optimal generator matrix for a product code may be obtained by taking the Kronecker product of optimal generator matrices for the component codes.