cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution of the Journal of Neurosurgery.

✓ The Journal of Neurosurgery, begun in 1944, has successfully fulfilled the purposes of its founders. During the 50 years of its existence it has remained pre-eminent in its field, while evolving in presentation, size, and content in response to the needs of succeeding generations of neurosurgeons and allied specialists. This article draws from the memories of many people, from the minutes of meetings of the Editorial Board, and from reports of successive editors, and touches on some of the knotty problems faced by those dedicated individuals.
Dynamic Response of Finite-Length Cylindrical Shells to Nearly Uniform Radical Impulse

The response of a cylindrical shell to a uniform radial impulse is a simple harmonic motion in which the cross section remains circular. In the presence of small nonuniformities in the impulse, this motion may be unstable. The instability is characterized by the parametric excitation of flexural modes which exchange energy with the basic motion in a cyclic manner. The stability criterion derived here for finite length cylinders shows this instability may occur over a wide range of shell geometries. The flexural modes that exhibit significant growth are identified. With this, the finite time response of the shell is obtained by numerical integration of the nonlinear equations. The nonlinear response is dominated by a few flexural modes that initially have high growth rates. The amplification of these modes results in displacements and stresses considerably in excess of those associated with the unperturbed response. Finally the imperfection sensitivity of the nonlinear motion is examined.
Statistical and structural similarities between micro- and macroscale wall turbulence

Microscopic particle-image velocimetry (micro-PIV) measurements are made in the streamwise–wall-normal plane of a 536 μm capillary at Re = 4,500 to study the statistical and structural features of wall turbulence at the microscale. Single-point velocity statistics, including the mean velocity profile, the root-mean-square streamwise and wall-normal velocities, and the Reynolds shear stress profile, agree well with established direct numerical simulations of turbulence in the same geometry at Re = 5,300. This consistency validates the efficacy of micro-PIV as an experimental tool for studying instantaneous, and even turbulent, flow behavior at the microscale. The instantaneous micro-PIV velocity fields reveal spanwise vortices that streamwise-align to form larger-scale interfaces that are inclined slightly away from the wall. These observations are entirely consistent with the signatures of hairpin vortices and hairpin vortex packets that are often noted in instantaneous PIV realizations of macroscale wall turbulence. Further, two-point velocity correlations and estimates of the conditionally averaged velocity field given the presence of a spanwise vortex indicate that hairpin structures and their organization into larger-scale vortex packets are statistically significant features of wall turbulence at the microscale.
Effect of fission products on air-oxidation of LWR spent fuel

Abstract Hyperstoichiometric U 4 O 9 produced by air-oxidation of LWR spent fuel was studied by ceramography, XRD, TEM, and thermal analysis methods. Several years' oxidation of the spent fuel at 175–195°C completely converted as-irradiated pellet fragments and coarse powders to disordered γ-U 4 O 9 of composition ~ UO 2.4 without forming U 3 O 8 . Heating the oxidized fuel to much higher temperatures converted the U 4 O 9 to U 3 O 8 without forming intermediate oxides such as U 3 O 7 . Oxidation of impurity-doped UO 2 was also investigated to determine if the fission products in solid solution with the UO 2 in spent fuel could be responsible for the different oxidation behavior of unirradiated and spent fuel. Additions of 4 to 8 wt% Gd 2 O 3 in unirradiated UO 2 were also found to stabilize U 4 O 9 and delay U 3 O 8 formation.
An Explanation of SRS Beam Cleanup in Graded-index Fibers and the Absence of SRS Beam Cleanup in Step-index Fibers

Beam cleanup via stimulated Raman scattering in multimode fibers is modeled by numerically considering the competition between the Stokes modes of graded-index and step-index fibers. The relative gain of each Stokes mode is calculated by considering the overlap the various pump and Stokes modes of the fibers. Mode competition in a graded-index fiber favors the LP(01) Stokes mode while mode competition in a step-index fiber does not favor the LP(01) Stokes mode. This model explains why beam cleanup has only been reported for graded-index fibers and not for step-index fibers.
Use of Virgin Female Tobacco Budworms to Increase Catch of Males in Blacklight Traps and Evidence That Trap Location and Wind Influence Catch

The numbers of male moths of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), and of the bollworm, H. zea (Boddie), caught in 3 blacklight insect traps baited with virgin female tobacco budworms and in 3 similar unbaited traps in a 4.3-acre cotton field, were compared for 19 weeks. Although traps with virgin female tobacco budworm moths did catch more male tobacco budworms, the difference was not apparent until the data were adjusted to compensate for trap location and effect of wind. Data indicate also interspecific attraction between male budworm moths and female tobacco budworm moths used to bait light traps.
A Short, Convenient Synthesis of Cyclopentenones via Derivatives of exo-Dicyclopentadiene

Abstract The development of convenient synthesis routes to substituted cyclopentenones remains an area of great interest to the organic chemist.1 The development of general preparations of 4,5-disubstituted 2-cyclopentenones (1) is especially intriguing due to the occurrance of this system in a variety of natural products and to its incompatibility with all but the mildest means of preparation as a result of its facile isomerization to the more stable 2,3-disubstituted isomers (2).
Metacognition and control of study choice in children

Middle childhood may be crucial for the development of metacognitive monitoring and study control processes. The first three experiments, using different materials, showed that Grade 3 and Grade 5 children exhibited excellent metacognitive resolution when asked to make delayed judgments of learning (JOLs, using an analogue scale) or binary judgments of knowing (JOKs, ‘know’ or ‘don’t know’) without the target being present. (The delayed method used here also results in excellent metacognitive resolution in adults). In three subsequent experiments after making JOLs the children were asked to choose which items they would like to restudy to optimize learning. We then either honored or dishonored the children’s restudy choices, and tested their memory performance. In Experiment 4, honoring the children’s choices made no difference to final recall performance. Experiments 5 and 6 showed that when the computer, rather than the children, chose the items for restudy based on theoretical constraints proposed by the Region of Proximal Learning model of study time allocation, the children’s recall performance improved. In all three experiments, Grade 3 children’s choices were random. Whereas the Grade 5 children showed some indication of a metacognitively guided strategy of choosing the lowest JOL items for study, it did not, consistently, improve performance. Apparently, accurate metacognitive monitoring is largely in place in middle childhood, but is not yet converted into effective implementation strategies. This dissociation between metaknowledge and its implementation in choice behavior needs to be taken into account by educators aiming to design interventions to enhance learning in children at this age.
Very low resistance nonalloyed ohmic contacts to Sn-doped molecular-beam epitaxial GaAs

This paper presents the results of an investigation conducted to understand the formation of very low resistance nonalloyed ohmic contacts to Sn-doped nGaAs grown by molecular-beam, epitaxy (MBE). The measured specific contact resistance is in good agreement with a new thermionic field-emission model presented in this paper that accounts for a number of physical phenomena that are critical in determining the carrier transport mechanisms across the metal-semiconductor interfaces. The experimental and theoretical results are more than two orders of magnitude smaller than previous contact resistance calculations. This discrepancy predominantly occurs because previous contact theories do not account for metal wave functions and include only conduction band effects when calculating the electron wave vector in the semiconductor energy gap. A specific contact resistance as low as R_{c} \approx 2 \times 10^{-7} \Omega .cm2at T = 300 K is obtained for the nonalloyed contacts fabricated in this work.
Non-Invasive Quadrature Modulator Balancing Method to Optimize Image Band Rejection

The design, simulation, and implementation of a non-ideal quadrature modulator balancing system based on the image rejection using correction factors with non-invasive and simple method is given. The novel balancing system proposed in this paper improves the performance of the quadrature modulator by eliminating the imperfections inherent in the RF systems. Furthermore, the proposed system improves DC offsets that can exist at the output of digital-to-analog converters in addition to frequency-dependent loss and phase shift of low-pass anti-aliasing filters by optimizing the image band rejection. The complete analytical model for a non-ideal quadrature modulator is developed and verified for several conditions. The method is non-invasive and requires only two sets of measurements to obtain the correction factors for amplitude and phase of I and Q signals. The proposed method eliminates the requirement for existing time consuming pre-calibration methods where the system is measured before operation and correction factors that depend on several parameters are stored in memory to be recalled during operation.
Language and Play Development in Toddlers With Cleft Lip and/or Palate

The relationship between play gesture performance and language milestones was examined for 6 children with cleft lip and/or palate at 20, 24, and 30 months of age. Standardized measures of language...
Glucuronosyl transfer to galactose residues in the biosynthesis of HNK-1 antigens and xylose-containing glycosaminoglycans: one or two transferases?

Abstract An early step in the assembly of the xylose→serine-linked proteoglycans is the transfer of glucuronic acid to the C-3 position of a galactose residue in the carbohydrate-protein linkage region. Since a similar reaction occurs in the biosynthesis of HNK-1 antigens, the question arose whether these processes are catalyzed by the same enzyme. In the present study, the proteoglycan-related glucuronosyltransferase activity in embryonic chick brain was found to be firmly membrane-associated, while the majority of the activity towards N-acetyllactosamine — a model substrate for HNK-1 antigen biosynthesis — was readily solubilized. No activity towards N-acetyllactosamine was found in embryonic chick cartilage, which is a rich source of the proteoglycan-related enzyme. Together with the results of mixed substrate experiments, these findings strongly indicate the existence of two separate glucuronosyltransferases catalyzing transfer to galactose residues.
Quantitative determination of phosphatidal ethanolamine and other phosphatides in various tissues of the rat.

Abstract A method based on thin-layer chromatography was devised for the determination of microgram quantities of the phospholipids. This procedure was used to estimate both the quantity and the radioactivity of the ethanolamine plasmalogens by taking advantage of the fact that the α,β-unsaturated ether bond of these compounds is hydrolyzed in the presence of mercury salts. The conditions of this reaction were investigated to ensure that complete hydrolysis took place and that the ester phospholipids were not affected. Under these conditions, estimation of the lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine produced permitted accurate quantitation of the phosphatidal ethanolamine in the lipid mixture. With this method values were obtained for the phosphatide composition of whole rat brain, and the phosphatidal ethanolamine content of a number of other tissues. The assay procedure can also be applied to other chromatographic systems.
Treatment With CRH-1 Antagonist Antalarmin Reduces Behavioral and Endocrine Responses to Social Stressors in Marmosets (Callithrix kuhlii)

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) has multiple roles in coordinating the behavioral and endocrine responses to a host of environmental challenges, including social stressors. In the present study we evaluated the role of CRH in mediating responses to a moderate social stressor in Wied's black tufted-eared marmosets (Callithrix kuhlii). Male and female marmosets (n=14) were administered antalarmin (a selective CRH-1 receptor antagonist; 50 microg/kg, p.o.) or vehicle in a blind, counterbalanced, crossover design. One hr after treatment, marmosets were separated from long-term pairmates and then housed alone in a novel enclosure for 7 hr. Behavior was recorded during separation and upon reunion with the partner, and urine samples for cortisol assay collected before, during, and after the intervention. Separation from partners elevated urinary cortisol concentrations over baseline for both conditions, but antalarmin treatment reduced the magnitude of the elevation. Antalarmin also lowered rates of behavioral patterns associated with arousal (alarm and "e-e" vocalizations, object manipulate/chew), but had no effect on contact calls, locomotory activity or alertness. Although most patterns of social behavior upon reunion with the partner were not affected by antalarmin, antalarmin-treated marmosets displayed more sexual behavior (mounts and copulations) upon reunion. These data indicate that antagonism of the CRH-1 receptor acts to reduce the magnitude of both endocrine and behavioral responses to a moderate social stressor without causing any overall reduction in alertness or general activity. This supports the hypothesis that CRH, acting through its type 1 receptor, is involved in coordinating the responses to anxiety-producing events. These results further suggest that the marmoset is a useful model for exploration of the role of CRH in mediating the behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to psychosocial stressors, particularly in the context of heterosexual social relationships.
Spectrophotometric determination of arsenite, arsenate, and phosphate in natural waters

Summary A spectrophotometric method is presented for the determination of arsenite, arsenate, and phosphate in fresh and salt waters. By the use of an oxidizing and a reducing reagent, these species may be determined in a mixture of all three. Appro priate conditions for the use of these reagents are described. The method is applicable to solutions where the total phosphorus and arsenic molar concentration is less than about 3 · 10 −6 . The precision is of the order of ±0.015 μM.
A Pragmatic View of Perceived Service Quality Measurement

Abstract Service quality measurement has been a central issue to service quality researchers and practitioners. A review of the service quality literature yields several approaches to the measurement of service quality. These approaches each have their strengths and weaknesses, and each may be appropriate under given circumstances. The present paper seeks to offer guidance to service practitioners interested in the measurement of service quality by suggesting which approach may be appropriate in light of various measurement criteria.
Influence of reclamation management practices on microbial biomass carbon and soil organic carbon accumulation in semiarid mined lands of Wyoming

In recent years, interest has been generated in the ability of disturbed soils to accumulate organic carbon (C), thereby sequestering C from the atmosphere as well as improving their edaphic characteristics. Responses and recovery of soil microbial populations and processes, including C cycling, to disturbance caused by surface mining and subsequent reclamation are not well understood. This study was conducted to determine the long-term influence (>10 years) of a number of reclamation management practices on the concentration and amounts of soil organic C (SOC) and microbial biomass C (MBC) in reclaimed soils at five surface coal mines located in semiarid regions of Wyoming. Comparisons were made across a number of commonly used reclamation management practices (grazing, topsoil handling, seed mixes, and mulching) as well as between paired treatments within each management practice (i.e., grazed vs. ungrazed; stockpiled topsoil vs. direct hauled topsoil; grass vs. shrub seed mix; hay crimped mulch vs. stubble mulched). There were no significant differences in SOC concentrations between paired treatments for a given practice but there were some differences between management practices. In the majority of cases, undisturbed, native soils had significantly greater SOC concentrations than reclaimed soils. In contrast, there were significant differences in MBC between paired treatments and between management practices, as well as between management practices and undisturbed soils. Across all mines, half of the mines reclaimed soils had masses of SOC that were similar to, or greater than, undisturbed soil reflecting their ability to accumulate C.
TU-G-217A-05: Improved Look-Locker Acquisition Scheme and Curve Fitting Procedure

Purpose: To improve the quality of 3D Look‐Locker (LL) T1 mapping by optimizing the k‐space segmentation in MRI. In addition, a multi‐step curve fitting procedure is developed to reduce the effect of curve fitting error on the T1 estimation. Methods: Traditional 3D LL acquisition generally utilizes centric encoding scheme that is limited to single phase encoding direction. To minimize reconstruction artifacts, we optimized the k‐space segmentation by implementing the elliptical segmentation scheme along both phase encoding directions. We also developed a multi‐step curve fitting procedure to compute the T1 values. First, four‐parameter curve fit (flip angle, inversion angle, equilibrium magnetization and T1) is performed to obtain the angle maps. Then, the acquired angle maps are smoothed based on the chi‐square weighting of the fit. These smoothed angle maps are treated as the actual angle maps and a two‐parameter (equilibrium magnetization and T1) fit is used to create the final T1 map. Simulation and phantom study were performed to assess the performance of the proposed LL modification and the multi‐step fitting algorithm. Results: Reconstruction artifacts are reduced using the elliptical segmentation scheme relative to the traditional encoding method. In addition, the subsequent T1 computation using the elliptical encoding data along with the chi‐square weighted angle maps is shown to yield more precise T1 values and was more immune to fitting errors. Conclusions: An elliptical centric k‐ space segmentation scheme is implemented on a 3D LL sequence to reduce reconstruction artifacts. A multi‐step curve fitting procedure that uses chi‐ square weighting is used to reduce the effect of false angles obtained from spurious signal. These methods were shown to improve the precision and accuracy of 3D LL T1 estimation.
Running with the land: legal-historical imagination and the spaces of modernity

Abstract In the middle decades of the nineteenth century, rural upstate New York was the site of a series of sometimes violent tenant uprisings known as the «Anti-rent Wars». The objective of tenants was to dismantle massive landholdings, some of which, such as the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, dated from the 1620s. Though tenant opposition took many forms, one crucial component was litigation and the practice of legal argument. This paper uses ideas of the production of space associated with Henri Lefebvre in presenting a reinterpretation of these events. After giving a brief account of the genealogy of Rensselaerwyck as a legal space, the historical arguments expressed in and made possible by legal discourse in a series of legal cases are analysed. One of the central issues in these cases was whether Rensselaerwyck represented an illegitimate survival of feudal spatiality in New York or whether the legal foundation of social space here could be assimilated to more modern legal forms. Legal argument in these cases is a social practice by which partisans attempt to produce (or reproduce) social space through the strategic interpretation of lines of continuity (or discontinuity) of the legal meaning of space encoded in rival conceptions of property.
Conversion of Valencene to Nootkatone

SUMMARY Nootkatone, an important flavoring constituent in grapefruit, has been synthesized from the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon valencene. Valencene, which is isolated from orange oil, was oxidized with tert-butyl chromate to yield a sesquiterpene ketone having the same physical properties as the natural nootkatone.
Confidence intervals for orbital parameters determined polarimetrically

Aspin, Simmons & Brown and Simmons, Aspin & Brown have shown that the estimate of the inclination of a binary system derived from polarimetric observations becomes increasingly biased with decreasing statistical precision of the data. These authors have also calculated the statistical uncertainty associated with the value of the inclination derived from polarimetric observations for certain binary inclinations. We calculate the light curves of the two normalized Stokes parameters q and u produced by scattering in a binary star system at every 5° in inclination i, equally spaced from 0° to 90°. For each value of i, Gaussian-distributed noise with variance σ p 2 and mean zero is added to the calculated q and u, and the resulting Stokes parameters with noise, q' and u', are used to determine the statistical distribution of the estimates i', λ 2 ' (related to the orbital longitude of the scattering region) and Ω' (related to the orientation of the major axis of the binary orbit on the plane of the sky)
Crystal structure, thermal expansion and melting point of americium metal

Abstract The methods for preparing milligram quantities of pure, well crystallized americium metal are discussed in detail. A versatile high and low temperature X-ray powder camera for small radioactive samples is presented. americium metal prepared by the reduction of americium trifluoride with barium vapour has been indexed as hexagonal close-packed with a = 3·4681 ± 0·0008 A and c = 11·241 ± 0·003 A at 20°C. The proposed structure type is that of lanthanum metal (P63/mmc with metal atoms in 2 (a) 000; 00 1 2 and 2 (c) 1 3 , 2 3 , 1 4 ; 2 3 , 1 3 , 3 4 ). Americium metal condensed on a tantalum wire or quartz fibre from the vapour phase was found to be face-centred cubic ( a = 4·894 ± 0·005 A ) with a density similar to the dhcp structure. Evidence for the existence of a face-centered cubic form of americium metal above 600°C, is presented. The following physical properties of americium metal have been determined: 1. (1) Melting point: 994 ± 7°C. 2. (2) Density (X-ray): 13·671 ± 0·005 g/cm3 (20°C). 3. (3) Metallic radius (CN 12): 1·730 A. 4. (4) Coefficient of thermal expansion: (20°C) αa = 7·5 ± 0·2 × 10−6°C−1αc = 6·2 ± 0·4 × 10−6°C−1
Bacteremic infection and malnutrition in patients with solid tumors. Investigation of host defense mechanisms

Eighty-five patients with solid tumors without neutropenia were studied in order to determine host characteristics associated with bacteremic infection. Twenty patients without neoplastic disease who had bacteremia served as controls. Bacteremia frequently occurred in patients with tumors of the gastrointestinal and urinary tract, who were over 51 years of age, and had evidence of malnutrition. Peripheral blood lymphocyte dysfunction in vitro was commonly noted in infected patients with cancer. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) dysfunction was common in older bacteremic patients with and without cancer. The PMNL abnormality appeared to be cellular, it was not corrected with use of pooled normal serum, and was manifested by poor uptake of the assay organisms.
Photoinduced dermal pigmentation in patients taking tricyclic antidepressants : Histology, electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy

Abstract Two patients had been taking long-term tricyclic antidepressant therapy. Each developed a blue to slate-gray hyperpigmentation in sun-exposed areas. On histologic examination there were refractile golden brown granules free in the dermis along collagen bundles. Similar pigment was present in macrophages and along the basement membrane zone. The granules stained for melanin, but not for iron, and were bleached by the permanganate method. Electron microscopy showed varying size and shaped electron-dense granules within lysosomes and free in the dermis, which, in unstained sections, showed a less dense peripheral halo. This peripheral halo was also evident on light microscopy. Energy dispersive spectroscopy showed these granules to be rich in copper and sulfur (elements present in tyrosinase and pheomelanin, respectively). We believe that this represents a drug-melanosome complex, which is most likely caused by chronic photoactivation. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;40:290-3.)
Impacts of humidity and temperature on the performance of transparent conducting indium tin oxide and electrical interconnects for solar applications

The impact of humidity and temperature on indium doped tin oxide based transparent conducting oxide (TCO) and electrical interconnects were assessed under hot and humid conditions. A review of thin film photovoltaic (PV) literature has shown one major failure mode of cells/modules is associated with the ingress of water into modules in the field. Water contamination has been shown to degrade the performance of the TCO in addition to corroding interconnects and other conductive metals/materials associated with the module. Few interconnects have been tried traditionally however currently the industry needs an alternative to traditional bonding methods which is reliable and has lower manufacturing costs. In this work, the impact of varying TCO process parameters on the thin film stability is studied in a hot and humid environment. Electrically conducting pressure sensitive adhesives have been applied as interconnects which hold manufacturing advantages. The stability of laminated TCO and interconnects is studied under hot and humid conditions and an optimized TCO layer and interconnect structure is proposed for a laminated CIGS module. A method for evaluation of TCO, interconnect, lamination materials and processes have been established to support qualification for the use in CIGS manufacturing.
Regulation of gene-specific RNA synthesis in bacteriophage T4.

Abstract An improved method for the isolation of gene-specific RNA of phage T4 is described. We have studied the time-dependent transcription of the endolysin (e) gene and present evidence that the e-gene is transcribed co-ordinately with its neighbors at early times and non-co-ordinately at late times after infection. The synthesis of late e-messengers was found to be under the control of an initiation site located at or near that end of the e-gene which codes for the N-terminus of lysozyme protein. Synthesis of both early and late e-messengers was found to be independent of the production of functional phage lysozyme. A “pre-early” initiation site was identified close to but not serving the rII region. Based on the limited sample of genes studied, we suggest the existence of a large number of starter sequences for DNA-dependent RNA polymerase on the phage genome. The number of rII messengers synthesized during the period of peak transcription was calculated to be about ten per minute per DNA template, suggesting a simultaneous reading of the rII region by several polymerase molecules.
The relationship between rheological parameters and whey separation in milk gels

Abstract The relation between whey separation of rennet-induced gels and rheological properties of those gels is reasonably well understood. A low fracture stress and a high value for the loss tangent at low frequencies have been correlated with a tendency to exhibit syneresis in rennet gels. In contrast, little is known about the relationship between mechanical properties of gels and whey separation in acid-induced milk gels, such as yoghurt, although this continues to be a major defect. In recent work, it has been found that conditions such as high milk heat treatment, fast rates of acidification and high incubation temperatures all gave high levels of whey separation compared with gels made from unheated milk that were incubated at low temperatures and where the rate of acidification was slow (i.e. when bacterial cultures were used instead of the acidogen, glucono-δ-lactone). The tendency to exhibit whey separation in acid gels made from heated milk was related to a low fracture strain and an increase in the loss tangent (observed even at high frequencies) during the gelation process (a high value indicates conditions favouring relaxation of bonds). Excessive rearrangements of particles in the gel network before and during gelation were implicated as being responsible for whey separation and rheological conditions that appeared to indicate this defect are described. It was also concluded that techniques that measure the spontaneous formation of surface whey should be distinguished from those that measure the expression of whey from networks under pressure as the latter tests only measure gel rigidity.
The comprehensive midtrimester test: High-sensitivity Down syndrome test

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop a highly sensitive algorithm for midtrimester Down syndrome detection. Study design: Urine (hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin, β-core fragment of human chorionic gonadotropin), serum (α-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin and unconjugated estriol [uE 3 ]), and ultrasound biometry (nuchal thickness, humerus length, the presence of gross ultrasonographic anomalies), and maternal age were measured at genetic amniocentesis. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to identify the most significant markers. A multivariate Gaussian algorithm plus age was used to derive patient-specific Down syndrome risk. Sensitivity and false-positive rates at different risk thresholds and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve were determined. A probability value of Results: There were 568 study cases with 17 Down syndrome cases (3.0%). The mean (±SD) maternal and gestational ages for the study group were 36.9 (±3.5) years and 16.2 (±1.4) weeks, respectively. The significant markers were nuchal thickness ( P = .0001), hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin( P P Conclusion: In a preliminary study, the comprehensive midtrimester test appeared highly sensitive in different age groups. Gross anomaly detection was not required for high performance, which makes the comprehensive midtrimester test potentially suitable for low-risk screening and as an alternative to amniocentesis in women who wish to avoid the procedure. This was a small study; thus, the clinical value of this test can only be established in large trials. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;186:803-8.)
Inverse Diffraction Theory and Computation of Minimum Source Regions of Far Fields

A methodology based on the multipole expansion is developed to estimate the minimum source region of a given far field. The support of any source that produces the given far field must contain this minimum source region. The results are derived in the framework of the scalar Helmholtz equation in two-dimensional free space, which is relevant to transverse magnetic electromagnetic waves. The proposed approach consists of two steps. First we address, via an exterior inverse diffraction framework, the estimation of the minimum convex source region, which is the convex hull of the minimum source region. Next we compute, via a complementary interior inverse diffraction approach, nonconvex bounds for the minimum source region. This allows, in theory, the estimation of the minimum source region which can be nonconvex. The derived approach is illustrated with analytical and numerical examples relevant to inverse source and scattering problems.
Reply to H. Charalambous et al

We agree with Charalambous and Silbermann that action needs to be taken to improve the skills of oncologists to manage chronic cancer pain. Their suggestion for clinical training programs at first seems logical; they cite findings that classroom training did not improve residents’ knowledge, a finding consistent with ours, that is, that continuing medical education in cancer pain management seemed to be ineffective. They also cite a study showing that clinically based training in palliative care is effective. In that study, however, there was only a 10% improvement, with statistically significant improvement in only six of 25 questions. In addition, the program was optional, which might suggest that those who took it were more motivated than most, making the generalizability of these findings questionable. Thus, although we agree that change is critically needed, the way to accomplish that change remains elusive. We continue to study this issue and hope that a more complete characterization of this problem will inform the development of more effective programs to support best practices in pain management and palliative care for the broad oncology community. Brenda Breuer, Ricardo A. Cruciani, and Russell K. Portenoy Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY
The Effect of Neuraminidase on the Properties of Salivary Proteins

Neuraminidase rapidly cleaves sialic acid residues and increases the turbidity of human saliva. The isotherm for the adsorption of salivary proteins to hydroxyapatite is unchanged by preliminary treatment of the saliva or the hydroxyapatite with neuraminidase. The data suggest that neuraminidase does not alter the adsorption behavior of salivary proteins.
Design and implementation of a robust and reconfigurable data acquisition and post-processing system

Data acquisition, logging, and processing can be integral processes involved in the characterization of complex systems. However, the tasks involved in these processes become cumbersome when massive amounts of data are involved. Though data can be logged to disk with relative ease, identification and post-processing of the data can be difficult. If identification information is stored along with the measured data, parsing and post-processing can be greatly simplified, and the meaning of stored data can be reliably represented as more than just a set of time-indexed unit-less values. Providing a platform that totally or partially automates these processes can free the tester or researcher from the laborious task of parsing stored data for post-processing.
Cochlear neuronal tracing for frequency mapping with DiI, NeuroVue, and Golgi methods.

Conclusions. Labeling experiments using NeuroVue® Red dye allowed us to demonstrate individual afferent fiber tracks in the cochlea from the synaptic region of the inner hair cell in the organ of C...
The effects of contrast upon compliance with socially undesirable requests in the foot-in-the-door paradigm

The study sought to assess the effects of the degree of contrast between the initial and critical requests upon the rate of compliance in the foot-in-the-door paradigm. Subjects were randomly assigned to a high-contrast, lew-contrast, or no-initial-request control condition. The critical request was presented either immediately or after an average of 8.5 days. It was found that the timing of the critical request failed to affect the rate of compliance. However, subjects in the low-contrast condition complied at a significantly higher rate than those in the high­ contrast condition, although neither of the experimental conditions differed significantly from the control condition. The latter finding was discussed in terms of the inhibitory role of contrast upon compliance in the foot-in-the-doorparadigm. Of the many techniques that have been shown to induce compliance , two have received more attention than the others. In both of these techniques, a moderate­ sized critical request with which compliance is actually desired is preceded by either a small request, in the case of the foot-in -the-door technique , or a fairly large and unreasonable request , in the case of the door-in-the­ face technique. The most commonly accepted explanation of the effectiveness of the foot-in-the-door technique has been Bern's (1972) self-perception theory, which states that people infer their internal states by observing their overt behavior. Thus, in the foot-in-the-door situation, subjects who comply with the small initial request come to see themselves as "compliers" and, therefore, would be more likely to comply with the critical request. There is some evidence in the literature , however, that strongly suggests that contrast rather than self-perception may be involved in studies using the foot-in-the-door technique. Seligman, Bush, and Kirsch (1976) and , more recently , Shanab and O'Neill (1982) found that if the initial request was very small, the foot -in-the-door technique failed to induce compliance. In the study by Seligman et al. (1976), subjects presented with an initial request that was only slightly smaller than the critical request complied with the critical request at a higher rate than those presented with initial requests that were either moderately or extremely smaller than the critical request. That is, higher rates of compliance were obtained when the amount of contrast between the two was minimal, and lower rates of compliance were obtained with greater
CFAR integration processors in randomly arriving impulse interference

Time diversity transmission is often used to circumvent the high probability of a deep fade on a single transmission which may result in loss of the signal. One way to combat deep fades is to postdetection integrate the received observations from each range resolution cell. The false alarm rate of the postdetection integrator (PI) is extremely sensitive to randomly arriving impulse interference. Such interfering pulses may be unintentionally generated by nearby radars or intentionally generated by pulse jammers seeking to destroy the visibility of the radar. The binary integrator (PI) which uses an M-out-of-L decision rule is insensitive to at most M-1 interfering pulses. We consider the adaptive implementation of the PI and BI detectors for constant false alarm rate (CFAR) operation. We show that the CFAR BI detector when the "AND" (L-out-of-L) decision rule is used exhibits more robust false alarm control properties in the presence of impulse interference at the expense of severe detection loss when no interference is present. The CFAR adaptive PI (API) detector is proposed to alleviate this problem. The CFAR API detector implements an adaptive censoring algorithm which determines and censors with high probability the interference samples thereby achieving robust false alarm control in the presence of interference and optimum detection performance in the absence of interference. >
Topics in VCSEL-based high-speed WDM optical interconnects

In addition to a small form factor, low drive current and low power dissipation, vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are integrable into arrays with either a surface-normal or an in-plane, waveguide-coupled geometry, which enables a compact, wideband optical interconnect. The wavelength division multiplexing of high speed VCSEL arrays, in a discrete or monolithic format, provides a compact interconnect technology minimizing SWaP for avionic application.
Si-SiO/sub 2/ interface state generation during X-ray irradiation and during post-irradiation exposure to a hydrogen ambient (MOSFET)

The changes in the number of interface traps and oxide traps which result when a previously X-ray irradiated MOSFET is exposed to a hydrogen ambient were measured. At room temperature, a doubling in the number of positively charged oxide traps was observed. The increase in the number of interface states is approximately the same as the decrease in the number of oxide traps. These changes could result from the cracking of H/sub 2/ by positively charged radiation-induced defects in the oxide. This cracking reaction produces H/sup +/ ions which are then transported to the interface (under positive gate bias), where they react to form interface states. The necessity of positively charged radiation-induced defects in the oxide to explain the postirradiation buildup of interface states leads to the proposal of a model for the buildup of interface states during and immediately after irradiation. This model supports recent models of interface state formation as resulting from H/sup +/ transport and clarifies the origin of the H/sup +/. >
Access, Affordability, And Insurance Complexity Are Often Worse In The United States Compared To Ten Other Countries

The United States is in the midst of the most sweeping health insurance expansions and market reforms since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. Our 2013 survey of the general population in eleven countries—Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States—found that US adults were significantly more likely than their counterparts in other countries to forgo care because of cost, to have difficulty paying for care even when insured, and to encounter time-consuming insurance complexity. Signaling the lack of timely access to primary care, adults in the United States and Canada reported long waits to be seen in primary care and high use of hospital emergency departments, compared to other countries. Perhaps not surprisingly, US adults were the most likely to endorse major reforms: Three out of four called for fundamental change or rebuilding. As US health insurance expansions unfold, the survey offers benchmark...
Quality Planning in Engineering Education: Analysis of Alternative Implementations of a New First-Year Curriculum at Texas A&M University

In general terms, traditional strategic planning may be described as a mechanism for generating a set of targets and approaches for achieving the established purpose of an organization. For it to be effective, a strategic plan must serve as the basis for creating a set of well-defined operations that align with the organizational goals and strategies. Because the task of generating an effective plan requires knowledge, time, patience, and persistence, not all organizations are prepared to devote the time and energy that is required to produce a meaningful plan. It is the intent of this paper to describe an approach to quality planning which was used to make major curricular changes in the first-year engineering education program at Texas A&M University. The planners' intention in this instance was to apply quality function deployment matrices, systems engineering concepts, quality management principles, and multi-attribute utility analysis to the evaluation of curriculum alternatives in an effort to make the planning process less complex and more systematic.
Chemotherapy rapidly alternating with twice-a-day accelerated radiation therapy in carcinomas involving the hypopharynx or esophagus: an update.

Laboratory studies have suggested that rapidly alternating chemotherapy and radiation therapy might act synergistically. We undertook this study to evaluate the toxicity and effectiveness of this approach in patients with carcinoma involving the hypopharynx or esophagus. Between 1987 and 1991, we treated 47 patients (23 with carcinoma involving the hypopharynx arid 24 with carcinoma involving the esophagus) by three cycles of chemotherapy (during weeks 1, 4, and 7) rapidly alternating with twice-a-day radiution therapy (during weeks 2, 5, atid 8). Chemotherapy consisted of cisplatin 100 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil 3–4 g/m2 given over 4 days. Radiation therapy consisted of 180–200 cCy twice each day to 2000 ccylcycle, total 6000 cCy over 7 weeks. The histology was squamous cell carcinoma in 44 patients and adenocarcinoma in 3 patients with esophagus cancer. Median follow-up is 2 years (range 1–5 years). The observed survival rate for all 47 patients was 54% at 1 year and 38% at 2 years. Acute toxicity was con...
Improving data analysis in herpetology: Using Akaike's information criterion (AIC) to assess the strength of biological hypotheses

In ecology, researchers frequently use observational studies to explain a given pattern, such as the number of individuals in a habitat patch, with a large number of explanatory (i.e., independent) variables. To elucidate such relationships, ecologists have long relied on hypothesis testing to include or exclude variables in regression models, although the conclusions often depend on the approach used (e.g., forward, backward, stepwise selection). Though better tools have surfaced in the mid 1970's, they are still underutilized in certain fields, particularly in herpetology. This is the case of the Akaike information criterion (AIC) which is remarkably superior in model selection (i.e., variable selection) than hypothesis- based approaches. It is simple to compute and easy to understand, but more importantly, for a given data set, it provides a measure of the strength of evidence for each model that represents a plausible biological hypothesis relative to the entire set of models considered. Using this approach, one can then compute a weighted average of the estimate and standard error for any given variable of interest across all the models considered. This procedure, termed model-averaging or multimodel inference, yields precise and robust estimates. In this paper, I illustrate the use of the AIC in model selection and inference, as well as the interpretation of results analysed in this framework with two real herpetological data sets. The AIC and measures derived from it is should be routinely adopted by herpetologists.
Nonaqueous Titration of Barbiturates in Tetramethylurea

Tetramethylurea was evaluated as a solvent for the nonaqueous titration of barbiturates and several of their dosage forms and combinations. Tetrabutylammonium hydroxide and sodium methoxide in benzene-methanol were used as titrants. Titrations were performed visually and potentiometrically with a titrimeter equipped with a glass-calomel electrode system. Comparison was made with the solvent dimethylformamide.
Sedimentation behavior of human γ-globulins from various sources†

The sedimentation coefficients of four normal γ-globulin preparations and six preparations from patients with malignant diseases were determined. No statistically significant differences were found between either the mean [s] values or the slopes of the concentration regression lines between the two groups. Significant differences in the sedimentation behaviour, however, appeared between preparations within each group, especially between the globulins isolated from the blood of cancer patients. Die Sedimentationskonstanten von 4 normalen γ-Globulinproben und 6 γ-Globulinen, die aus dem Blut von Krebskranken isoliert worden waren, wurden bei drei verschiedenen Konzentrationen bestimmt. Die Konstanten der Geraden wurden statistisch ausgewertet. Es wurde gefunden, das die Mittelwerte der [s]-Konstanten sowie die Neigungen der Geraden der beiden Globulingruppen die gleichen sind. Demgegenuber wurden in jeder Gruppe betrachtliche Unterschiede zwischen den einzelnen Proben sichtbar, besonders zwischen den γ-Globulinen, die aus dem Blut Krebskranker isoliert worden waren.
A uniform procedure for converting matrix proofs into sequent-style systems

We present a uniform algorithm for transforming machine-found matrix proofs in classical, constructive, and modal logics into sequent proofs. It is based on unified representations of matrix characterizations, of sequent calculi, and of prefixed sequent systems for various logics. The peculiarities of an individual logic are described by certain parameters of these representations, which are summarized in tables to be consulted by the conversion algorithm.