cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance modeling in ATR algorithm and data partitioning

One of the problems with taking aided target recognizer software written for a uniprocessor and hosting it on a multiprocessor running in real time is determining the allocation of data and functions across multiple processors. The partitioning varies based on the algorithm and the computer architecture. Often, more than one partitioning is possible. Ideally, one would like to evaluate the possible partitioning, choose a one that meets requirements, and modify or rewrite the existing program to embody that partitioning. The paper describes the steps that were used to rehost a real aided target recognition algorithm onto a commercial off-the- shelf embedded multiprocessor, with an emphasis on the use of performance modeling to determine which partitioning schemes will result in code which meets requirements. Libraries that facilitate the transition from uniprocessor to multiprocessor are also discussed; the libraries are being evaluated as part of an NVESD effort for the High Performance Computing Modernization Office.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A review of nonoperative treatment of Jones' fracture:

Sir Robert Jones, in 1902, described a transverse fracture of the proximal diaphysis of the fifth metatarsal, which he treated conservatively with good results. Since that time, classification into acute and chronic categories by several authors has been proposed and most agree with the relatively high incidence of non- union. Controversy exists concerning operative versus nonoperative primary treatment especially in athletes. The purpose of this study was to determine if nonop erative treatment could be used effectively in treating these fractures.A retrospective study of nine patients with 10 Jones' fractures was completed. The cases were categorized as acute or chronic by clinical history and radiographic appearance. The average age was 23.6 years. There were eight males and one female. In this group, com petitive athletes sustained chronic fractures, while acute fractures occurred in nonathletes. Treatmentconsisted of a short leg nonweightbearing cast until radiographic and clinical healing occurred, ...
The story of the lost needle: Foreign body embolization to the heart.

A 61-year-old female was evaluated because of severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation. She was found to have a foreign body in the heart by cardiac catheterization. Through a retrospective review of serial imaging studies, we found that a hypodermic needle had been retained in the body from a prior abdominal wall surgery and had subsequently migrated to the heart. During surgical mitral valve replacement the needle was identified and removed. We demonstrate the trajectory of this foreign body from the abdominal wall into the heart. .
Sustaining the Competitive Edge of Small to Medium Size Enterprises Through Innovative Manufacturing System Design

Increasing Small to Medium size Enterprises (SME’s) competitive edge requires continuously developing creative and novel methods and solutions. This paper presents a novel design for a manufacturing system named Smart Manufacturing Systems (SMS). The new design can be viewed as a modification to the Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) to better suits continuously changing market conditions, which may lead a company to develop a more sustainable competitive edge. The new design address several issues in manufacturing system design that affect the competitiveness of the system such as: merger of different manufacturing processes, non-productive times, and to be able to performing economically under different market conditions.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Decadal‐scale climate drivers for glacial dynamics in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

[1] Little Ice Age (14th–19th centuries A.D.) glacial maxima and 20th century retreat have been well documented in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. However, the influence of regional and Pacific Basin driven climate variability on these events is poorly understood. We use tree-ring reconstructions of North Pacific surface temperature anomalies and summer drought as proxies for winter glacial accumulation and summer ablation, respectively, over the past three centuries. These records show that the 1850's glacial maximum was likely produced by ∼70 yrs of cool/wet summers coupled with high snowpack. Post 1850, glacial retreat coincides with an extended period (>50 yr) of summer drought and low snowpack culminating in the exceptional events of 1917 to 1941 when retreat rates for some glaciers exceeded 100 m/yr. This research highlights potential local and ocean-based drivers of glacial dynamics, and difficulties in separating the effects of global climate change from regional expressions of decadal-scale climate variability.
Identification of Multiple 5-HT4 Partial Agonist Clinical Candidates for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

The cognitive impairments observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are in part a consequence of reduced acetylcholine (ACh) levels resulting from a loss of cholinergic neurons. Preclinically, serotonin 4 receptor (5-HT4) agonists are reported to modulate cholinergic function and therefore may provide a new mechanistic approach for treating cognitive deficits associated with AD. Herein we communicate the design and synthesis of potent, selective, and brain penetrant 5-HT4 agonists. The overall goal of the medicinal chemistry strategy was identification of structurally diverse clinical candidates with varying intrinsic activities. The exposure–response relationships between binding affinity, intrinsic activity, receptor occupancy, drug exposure, and pharmacodynamic activity in relevant preclinical models of AD were utilized as key selection criteria for advancing compounds. On the basis of their excellent balance of pharmacokinetic attributes and safety, two lead 5-HT4 partial agonist candidates 2d and 3 were c...
Transfusion History and Cancer Risk in Older Women

Objective: To test the hypothesis that history of blood transfusion is associated with an increased incidence of cancer in older women. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: General community ...
Spectral Theory of Laplace–Beltrami Operators with Periodic Metrics

Abstract The spectra of Laplace–Beltrami operators with periodic metrics has been less investigated than that of Schrodinger operators with a periodic potentials, and there are many differences between these two cases. It has been established that the spectrum of a Laplace–Beltrami operator with periodic metric is the union of closed intervals and that spectral gaps are possible, but whether an infinite number of spectral gaps is possible is an open question. Utilizing special transformations it is shown that there are two-dimensional Laplace–Beltrami operators having an arbitrarily large number of spectral gaps by proving that a particular two-dimensional operator has an infinite number of spectral gaps. In the case of a periodic conformal metric relationships between the scalar curvature and the number of gaps are investigated.
Conditioned taste aversion: a database

The present commentary describes the availability of a database on conditioned taste aversion learning, the avoidance of fluids and foods previously associated with the aversive effects of a variety of drugs. The database includes articles as early as 1955 by Garcia and his colleagues [Science 122 (1955) 127] (reporting such avoidance in rats) and papers just published given that the database is ongoing and constantly updated. At the printing of this announcement, approximately 2600 papers are included in the database. The database allows the user to search for articles by author(s), key word(s), date, title and journal. These terms can be used as single entries or multiple combinations. Finally, the full database can be viewed by performing the search function without entering any terms in the query window. The database can be accessed at http://www.CTALearning.com.
Prevention of homicidal behaviour in men with psychiatric disorders.

AbstractObjectives. Homicide is overwhelmingly committed by men compared to women. Conservative estimates suggest that more than a third of these individuals have a treatable psychiatric disorder. These data present an opportunity to mental health clinicians to assist in the prevention of homicide by improving men's mental health. Methods. We review the current literature on men's mental health with a focus on assessing and reducing homicide risk in men with psychiatric conditions. Results. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia appear to share a neural endophenotype that is a risk factor for homicide. Dual disorders, or the presence of a substance use disorder with other major mental illness, are a major risk factor for homicide in males. Dual diagnosis disorders, personality disorders and pathological traits and male depression share emotion dysregulation, irritability, and reactive aggression. Promoting physician education, addressing firearm safety, reducing the reluctance of men relative to women to enga...
Composite class models for SAR recognition

This paper focuses on a genetic algorithm based method that automates the construction of local feature based composite class models to capture the salient characteristics of configuration variants of vehicle targets in SAR imagery and increase the performance of SAR recognition systems. The recognition models are based on quasi-invariant local features: SAR scattering center locations and magnitudes. The approach uses an efficient SAR recognition system as an evaluation function to determine the fitness class models. Experimental results are given on the fitness of the composite models and the similarity of both the original training model configurations and the synthesized composite models to the test configurations. In addition, results are presented to show the SAR recognition variants of MSTAR vehicle targets.
1.6 V Nanogenerator for Mechanical Energy Harvesting Using PZT Nanofibers

Energy harvesting technologies that are engineered to miniature sizes, while still increasing the power delivered to wireless electronics,(1, 2) portable devices, stretchable electronics,(3) and implantable biosensors,(4, 5) are strongly desired. Piezoelectric nanowire- and nanofiber-based generators have potential uses for powering such devices through a conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy.(6) However, the piezoelectric voltage constant of the semiconductor piezoelectric nanowires in the recently reported piezoelectric nanogenerators(7-12) is lower than that of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanomaterials. Here we report a piezoelectric nanogenerator based on PZT nanofibers. The PZT nanofibers, with a diameter and length of approximately 60 nm and 500 μm, were aligned on interdigitated electrodes of platinum fine wires and packaged using a soft polymer on a silicon substrate. The measured output voltage and power under periodic stress application to the soft polymer was 1.63 V and 0.03 ...
Social Issues in Management: Theory and Research in Corporate Social Performance

This article offers a broad developmental view of thinking in the field of social issues in management (SIM). The article reviews conceptual developments and empirical research in the context of the emerging theory of corporate social performance. After briefly describing the evolution and current status of the CSP model, the article shows how this model serves as an organizing device for research in SIM. Finally, the article discusses research implications of viewing the SIM field through the lens of corporate social performance.
Latitude Variations of the Polar Caps on Ganymede

Abstract We have modeled Ganymede's polar regions as a frost layer overlying typical non-polar materials using a two-layer photometric model. The optical depth of the overlying layer is found to increase from a few tenths at the cap boundary to more than four at the poles. Such an increase is consistent with the predictions of Johnson's (1985) sputtering model but not with those of thermal migration models of the formation of Ganymede's polar caps. If the frost forms a distinct layer, it must be physically thin—on the order of millimeters or less—particularly near the cap boundary. Therefore, the mechanism responsible for its formation must be ongoing since impact gardening would destroy such a thin layer on short time scales. Interestingly, the photometric properties of the layer are similar to those of the surface of Europa.
Regulation of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Growth by β-estradiol Sulfation

Estrogen stimulation is an important factor in human breast cancer cell growth and development. Metabolism of β-estradiol (E2), the major endogenous human estrogen, is important in regulating both the level and activity of the hormone in breast tissues. Conjugation of E2 with a sulfonate moiety is an inactivation process since the sulfate ester formed by this reaction can not bind and activate the estrogen receptor. In human tissues including the breast, estrogen sulfotransferase (EST, SULT1E1) is responsible for high affinity E2 sulfation activity. EST is expressed in human mammary epithelial (HME) cells but not in most cultured breast cancer cell lines, including estrogen responsive MCF-7 cells. Stable expression of EST in MCF-7 cells at levels similar to those detected in HME cells significantly inhibits cell growth at physiologically relevant E2 concentrations. The mechanism of cell growth inhibition involves the abrogation of responses observed in growth factor expression in MCF-7 cells following E2 stimulation. MCF-7 cells expressing EST activity did not show a decrease in estrogen receptor-α levels, nor a characteristic increase in progesterone receptor or decrease in transforming growth factor-β expression upon exposure to 100 pM or 1 nM E2. The lack of response in these MCF-7 cells is apparently due to the rapid sulfation and inactivation of free E2 by EST. These results suggest that loss of EST expression in the transformation of normal breast tissues to breast cancer may be an important factor in increasing the growth responsiveness of preneoplastic or tumor cells to estrogen stimulation.
Detecting Hamiltonian cycles

We present some conditions equivalent to the existence of a Hamiltonian cycle in a graph on n vertices. Among other things, we show that for each n, there is an explicitly determined nxn diagonal matrix D such that if A is the adjacency matrix of such a graph, then the existence of a Hamiltonian cycle is completely determined by the eigenvalues of AD. These results have some bearing on possible algorithms which detect such cycles, and we discuss this.
Thermal sensitivity of CHO cells with different shapes

Confirming previous reports, we observed that rounded Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells from suspension culture were more resistant to heat kill than flattened CHO cells from monolayer culture. Cell survival was quantitatively described by determining full cell survival curves for flattened versus rounded CHO cells after exposure to 43, 44, 45 and 46 degrees C and calculating the To values. The cell survival responses of the rounded cells were significantly different from those of the flattened cells. Based on the ratio of the To values, the rounded cells were consistently twice as resistant to heat-induced cell death than flattened cells. This difference in cell survival was not explained by a trypsin effect in monolayer cells, or by the amount of time rounded cells were maintained in suspension culture, or technical differences in heat-up and cool-down kinetics, or differences in extracellular pH. The two groups also showed no differences in cell generation times or whole cell protein contents. However, we found that the rounded cells had a lower percentage of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle (40% versus 52%) than the flattened cells, which could account for part of the differential heat-induced cell kill in the flattened versus rounded cells. These data suggest there is a significant association between cell shape and heat-induced cell killing.
Effects of adenine and cytokinins on growth and protein kinase activity of Verticillium albo-atrum.

Growth ofVerticillium albo-atrum in liquid Czapek-Dox broth was stimulated about four-fold by added 10 mM adenine, N6-benzyladenine, or kinetin. Less stimulation was evident at lower concentrations. With none of these included in the basal growth medium, detectable protein kinase activity in cell-free extracts was low and responded minimally to cAMP (adenosine 3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate) in the reaction mixture. With each of these compounds as an additive to the growth medium, protein kinase activity was not only greater but also responded markedly (several fold) to cAMP. These results demonstrate a strong correlation between exogenously supplied adenine and related compunds, increased growth, increased protein kinase activity, and kinase response to cAMP in this organism.
Partial purification and characterization of mannitol: mannose 1-oxidoreductase from celeriac (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum) roots.

Abstract A mannitol:mannose 1-oxidoreductase was isolated from celeriac (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum) root tips by fractionation with (NH4)2SO4, followed by chromatography on a Fractogel DEAE column and then concentration with (NH4)2SO4. This newly discovered mannitol dehydrogenase catalyzes the NAD-dependent oxidation of mannitol to mannose, not mannitol to fructose. The sugar product of the enzyme reaction was identified by three independent HPLC systems and by an enzymatically linked system as being mannose and not fructose or glucose. Normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics were exhibited for both mannitol and NAD with Km values of 72 and 0.26 m m , respectively, at pH 9.0. The Vmax was 40.14 μmol/h/mg protein for mannitol synthesis and 0.8 μmol/ h/mg protein for mannose synthesis at pH 9.0. In the polyol oxidizing reaction, the enzyme was very specific for mannitol with a low rate of oxidation of sorbitol. In the reverse reaction, the enzyme was specific for mannose. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by NADH and sensitive to alterations of NAD NADH ratio. The enzyme is of physiological importance in that it is mainly localized in root tips (sink tissue) where it functions to convert mannitol into hexoses which are utilized to support root growth. Product determination and kinetic characterization were carried out on an enzyme preparation with a specific activity (SA) of 30.44 μmol/h/mg protein. Subsequently, the enzyme was further purified to a SA of 201 μmol/h/mg protein using an NAD affinity column. This paper apparently represents the first evidence of the existence of a mannitol:mannose 1-oxidoreductase and also the first evidence of the presence of a mannitol dehydrogenase in vascular plants.
Beveling of Fine Micropipette Electrodes by a Rapid Precision Method

A technique has been developed for embedding alumina particles 0.05 micrometer in size in the surface of a polyurethane film laid on glass. This abrasive surface is used for rapid, precise, and reliable beveling of Pyrex micropipettes with tip diameters at least as small as 0.1 micrometer. In the snapping turtle retina the beveled electrodes give much better cell penetration and intracellular response stability than unbeveled electrodes of considerably higher proach to this problem.
Effects of continuous and intermittent exposure of lactating mothers to aroclor 1242 on testicular steroidogenic function in the adult male offspring.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are worldwide pollutants and have caused hazardous effects on many animal species including humans. They have been detected in human milk and therefore exposure of newborns to PCBs is unavoidable if they are breast-fed. We present our findings on two experiments performed to test the effects of intermittent and continuous exposure of lactating rats to two different doses (80 microg and 8 microg) of Aroclor 1242 (a PCB congener) on testicular steroidogenic function of their adult male offspring. In experiment I, three groups of lactating dams received daily subcutaneous (SC) injections of either corn oil, 80 microg of Aroclor 1242 and 8 microg of Aroclor 1242 in corn oil, respectively. In experiment II, three groups of lactating dams received two SC injections per week of either corn oil or Aroclor 1242 (80 microg and 8 microg) in corn oil, respectively. Pups in all groups (n=8 per group) were weaned at day 21 and were raised on a normal diet until sacrificed at 90 days. Experiment I: Leydig cell number per testis was significantly (P .05) from the offspring of corn oil-treated dams. However, these parameters were lower in value in the offspring of dams treated with Aroclor 80 microg compared to the other two groups. LH-stimulated testosterone secretory capacity per Leydig cell was significantly lower in offspring of dams treated with Aroclor compared to controls. Serum T4 and T3 levels were not significantly different among the Aroclor-exposed and control rats in both experiments. These results demonstrate that continuous exposure of lactating mothers to 8 and 80 microg of Aroclor 1242 causes hypotrophy and malfunctioning of Leydig cells in the adult male offspring resulting in a hypoandrogenic status. Intermittent treatment of lactating mothers with 80 microg of Aroclor (but not with 8 microg of Aroclor) also produced malfunctioning of Leydig cells and a hypoandrogenic status in the absence of Leydig cell hypotrophy. However, the Aroclor 8 microg dose was ineffective to produce the above effects.
Two-dimensional scattering of in-plane body waves due to a discontinuity in bedrock

The direct boundary integral equation technique is used to study in-plane surface amplification of in-plane seismic body waves for the case of an inhomogeneity in a bedrock half-space. In the studied soil configuration, a soil layer rests on a rock half-space which includes a rock inclusion. The rock inclusion considered is a semi-infinite horizontal rock layer in which its upper boundary borders the soil layer. Materials in the soil-rock configuration are considered viscoelastic except for the section of the rock half-space below the level of the rock inclusion which is considered elastic. A parametric study is performed to determine controlling factors for surface displacement due to in-plane body waves. The study investigates varying the stiffness and the thickness of the rock inclusion for a range of frequencies and wave incidence angles. Anti-plane waves for this type of soil-rock configuration have been addressed in a previous article by Heymsfield (Earthquake Engng. Struct. Dyn. 28: 841-855 (1999)).
Comparing Knowledge of β-Thalassemia in Samples of Italians, Italian-Americans, and Non-Italian-Americans

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of β-thalassemia awareness among Italians living on the eastern side of Sicily (Bronte, Catania, and Tortorici, Messina), Italian-Americans, and Americans of other ethnic backgrounds (Other-Americans). A questionnaire was developed which asked respondents knowledge questions about both β-thalassemia and Down Syndrome. Five hundred questionnaires were distributed, and 456 were ultimately returned and analyzed (150 Italians, 156 Italian-Americans, 150 Other-Americans). Italians answered an average of 55% of the β-thalassemia correctly compared to scores of 17 and 24% for the Italian-Americans and Other-Americans, respectively. The groups did not differ in their knowledge of Down Syndrome (all answered between 58 and 60% of the questions correctly on average). Over 80% of the Italian respondents had heard of β-thalassemia compared to only 19% of the Italian-Americans. β-Thalassemia education programs in Italy appear to have dramatically increased awareness of the disorder. Similar programs need to be developed for at-risk populations in the United States.
Stock prices, money supply, and interest rates: the question of causality

The purpose of this study is to examine the statistical relationship between the supply of money and stock price levels and between the level of interest rates and stock prices. The current literature in financial economics offers differing opininon on each of these relationship. This research addresses a significant aspect of this debate by examining the direction of causality between the money supply, stock prices and interest rates. Using Granger–Sims' test for determining unidirectional causality, we find that the relationship between the money supply and stock prices is characterized by a feedback system, with money supply causing some of the observed variations in the stock price levels and vice versa. With respect to the relationship between stock prices and interest rates, the results are not as conclusive. In this instance, the causality seems to be mostly running from interest rates to stock prices, and not the other way around.
Antioxidant vitamins attenuate oxidative stress and cardiac dysfunction in tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES We administered antioxidant vitamins to rabbits with pacing-induced cardiomyopathy to assess whether antioxidant therapy retards the progression of congestive heart failure (CHF). BACKGROUND Although oxidative stress is increased in CHF, whether progression of heart failure could be prevented or reduced by antioxidants is not known. METHODS Rabbits with chronic cardiac pacing and sham operation were randomized to receive a combination of beta-carotene, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol, alpha-tocopherol alone or placebo over eight weeks. Echocardiography was used to measure cardiac function weekly. Resting hemodynamics and in vivo myocardial beta-adrenergic responsiveness were studied at week 8. Animals were then sacrificed for measuring myocardial beta-receptor density, norepinephrine (NE) uptake-1 site density, sympathetic neuronal marker profiles, tissue-reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio and oxidative damage of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). RESULTS Rapid cardiac pacing increased myocardial oxidative stress as evidenced by reduced myocardial GSH/GSSG ratio and increased oxidized mtDNA and produced cardiac dysfunction, beta-adrenergic subsensitivity, beta-receptor downregulation, diminished sympathetic neurotransmitter profiles and reduced NE uptake-1 carrier density. A combination of antioxidant vitamins reduced the myocardial oxidative stress, attenuated cardiac dysfunction and prevented myocardial beta-receptor downregulation and sympathetic nerve terminal dysfunction. Administration of alpha-tocopherol alone produced similar effects, but the effects were less marked than those produced by the three vitamins together. Vitamins produced no effects in sham-operated animals. CONCLUSIONS Antioxidant vitamins reduced tissue oxidative stress in CHF and attenuated the associated cardiac dysfunction, beta-receptor downregulation and sympathetic nerve terminal abnormalities. The findings suggest that antioxidant therapy may be efficacious in human CHF.
Roux-en-Y Reconstruction After Pancreaticoduodenectomy

Hypothesis Roux-en-Y reconstruction (RYR) is associated with a reduction in morbidity and mortality associated with pancreatic anastomotic failure after pancreaticoduodenectomy compared with conventional loop reconstruction (CLR). Design Retrospective study of patients from 1991 to 2006. Setting Tertiary care center. Patients Records of patients undergoing CLR (n = 588) and patients undergoing RYR (n = 112) between February 1, 1991, and June 30, 2006, for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed and compared. Main Outcome Measures Perioperative outcome and mortality were compared for patients who underwent RYR compared with those who underwent CLR. Results Overall, both groups required a similar rate of postoperative interventional radiology procedures (CLR, 6.8%; RYR, 9.8%;P = .24) and subsequent operations (CLR, 6.9%; RYR, 9.1%;P = .62). No significant difference was found in the rate of overall postoperative mortality (CLR, 2.6%; RYR, 0.9%;P = .49). The overall rate of pancreatic anastomotic failure was 7.2%, and pancreatic anastomotic failure was associated with a 6% mortality rate. Among patients who developed pancreatic anastomotic failure, no significant difference was seen between CLR (n = 32) and RYR (n = 16) in length of hospital stay (18 vs 19 days;P = .98) or postoperative mortality (3 patients [9.4%] vs none [0%];P = .54). Conclusion We found that RYR is not associated with a reduction in morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma compared with CLR, even among patients who develop pancreatic anastomotic failure.
To all students of electrical engineering

MY CORDIAL AND MOST SINCERE greetings to each of you. I am sure you realize that our colleges and universities are doing their best to give the undergraduate student the most comprehensive basic training possible within the traditional 4-year aca demie period This is with the hope that the graduate may enter his chosen profession sufficiently well equipped to accept employment of a technical nature or to proceed successfully with a graduate study program. After graduation, one usually finds his early assignments to be associated with some kind of on-the-job training of a formal nature, or otherwise. In any case, he launches upon his professional career and his employer rightfully expects him to make progress.
Prothrombin Time and Partial Thromboplastin Time Tests Are Unnecessary Before Routine Cardiac Catheterization

Prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time tests are commonly obtained prior to cardiac catheterization but the usefulness of the tests in these patients has not been examined. The records of 1,462 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic catheterization were reviewed. All patients had received prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time tests. The prevalence of abnormal test values was determined. The coagulation test values were correlated with history and physical evidence of bleeding risk, and also with bleeding complications. Abnormal coagulation values were found in 72/1,462, a prevalence of 4.9%. The history and physical exam predicted 63/72 (87.5%) of abnormal values, yielding a sensitivity of 87.5%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 99.3%. The nine unpredicted abnormal values (0.6%, 9/1,462) were minimally abnormal and clinical decision making was not affected by the test result in any of the nine patients. There was no correlation between abnormal values and bleeding complications. Abnormal test values have a low prevalence in catheterization patients, 4.9% in this series, are highly predictable from history and physical exams, and in the absence of history or physical findings do not predict procedural bleeding complications. The tests should, therefore, be obtained only in a small percentage of patients, 4.3% in this series, who have an increased bleeding risk indicated by history or physical findings of anticoagulant use, excessive bleeding, liver disease, or malabsorption.
Tissue difference in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase attributed to sialic acid content

Abstract Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) was extracted from the microsomal fraction of various bovine tissues and partially purified. Purified enzymes demonstrated different mobilities toward the anode in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 0.5% Emulphogene BC720, pH 7.5. The ciliary-body GGT migrated fastest, while the brain enzyme was electrophoresed most slowly. The apparent Km values (Km′) of GGT for L-gamma-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide were 1.4–2.0 mM when assayed with glycylglycine as the gamma-glutamyl acceptor. After neuraminidase treatment, electrophoretic mobility was decreased considerably for all enzyme preparations, compatibly with the removal of negatively charged sialic-acid residues. The Km′ values of the enzyme were not affected by the hydrolytic treatment. Electrophoresis of digested enzymes showed essentially identical mobilities. From these results we conclude that tissue differences in GGT are attributable to the varying extent of sialylation of enzyme.
Explaining Observed Productivity Differentials Between Plants: Implications for Operations Research

Within the same company, several factories, all essentially producing the same products the same way, often differ widely in productivity and profitability. Twelve factories belonging to three companies were studied to discover the impact of managerial policies on productivity. The factories' total factor productivity was measured monthly over several years and related to managerial policies.
Educational disadvantage and cigarette smoking during pregnancy.

Abstract This study examined the influence of education on smoking status in a cohort ( n = 316) of pregnant women who were smokers at the time they learned of the current pregnancy. Subjects were participants in clinical trials examining the efficacy of monetary-based incentives for smoking-cessation and relapse prevention. In multivariate analyses, educational achievement was a robust predictor of smoking status upon entering prenatal care, of achieving abstinence antepartum among those still smoking at entry into prenatal care, and of smoking status at 6-month postpartum in the entire cohort and the subsample who received smoking-cessation treatment. In addition to educational attainment, other predictors of smoking status included smoking-related characteristics (e.g., number of cigarettes/day smoked pre-pregnancy), treatment, maternal age, and stress ratings. We suggest that strategies to increase educational attainment be included with more conventional tobacco-control policies in efforts to reduce smoking among girls and young women.
Modeling and measuring biogeochemical reactions: system consistency, data needs, and rate formulations

Abstract This paper intends to lay-out a foundation of protocols for planning and analyzing biogeochemical experiments. It presents critical theoretical issues that must be considered for proper application of reaction-based biogeochemical models. The selection of chemical components is not unique and a decomposition of the reaction matrix should be used for formal selection. The decomposition reduces the set of ordinary differential equations governing the production–consumption of chemical species into three subsets of equations: mass action; kinetic-variable; and mass conservation. The consistency of mass conservation equations must be assessed with experimental data before kinetic modeling is initiated. Assumptions regarding equilibrium reactions should also be assessed. For a system with M chemical species involved in N reactions with NI linearly-independent reactions and NE linearly-independent equilibrium reactions, the minimum number of chemical species concentration vs. time curves that must be measured to evaluate the kinetic suite of reactions using a reaction-based model will be (NI−NE). However, for a partial assessment of system consistency, at least one more species must be measured [i.e. (NI−NE+1)]. For a complete assessment of system consistency, (NI−NE+NC) additional species would have to be measured, where NC is the number of chemical components. Reaction rates for kinetic reactions that are linearly independent of other kinetic reactions can be determined based on only one profile of a kinetic-variable concentration vs. time for each kinetic reaction. Reaction rates for parallel kinetic reactions that are linearly dependent on each other cannot be uniquely segregated when they result in production of the same species, however, they must be included for simulation purposes. Kinetic reactions that are linearly dependent only on equilibrium reactions are redundant and do not have to be modeled. The bioreduction of ferric oxide is used as an example to functionally demonstrate these points, and shows that Henri–Michaelis–Benton–Monod kinetics should be applied with care to coupled abiotic and biotic systems.
The Relationship Between Loneliness and Internet Use and Abuse

Research has found that loneliness is associated with both increased Internet use and Internet abuse. Causality is hard to determine. This article presents evidence from research on computermediated communication, social anxiety, and Internet-specific survey and field studies that support two opposing hypotheses. Loneliness is a byproduct of excessive Internet use because users invest in online relationships at the expense of real-life relationships. Lonely individuals are drawn to some forms of interactive activities online because of the possibilities of connectedness, companionship, and communities they offer. Limitations of these hypotheses and the potential benefits and risks of Internet use by the lonely also is discussed.
Efficacy and tolerability of open-label topiramate in the treatment of sleep-related eating disorder : A retrospective case series

Objective Determine the efficacy and tolerability of topiramate in the treatment of sleep-related eating disorder (SRED). Method This is a retrospective chart review of consecutive patients treated in an open-label trial of topiramate for SRED in a sleep disorders clinic. Patients were diagnosed according to the second edition of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders. Patients with a Clinical Global Impressions of Improvement (CGI-I) rating of "very much" or "much" improved were considered treatment responders. Results 30 subjects were prescribed topiramate, of whom 25 had at least 1 postbaseline follow-up appointment. The mean age of these 25 patients was 44 +/- 12 years, 76% were female, and the mean age at onset of SRED was 25.2 +/- 12.8 years. The mean dose of topiramate was 135 +/- 61.6 mg (range, 25-300 mg) over a mean period of 11.6 +/- 11.4 months (range, 1-42 months). Over two thirds of the patients (17/25 or 68%) were considered topiramate responders. Twenty-eight percent (7/25) of the patients lost more than 10% of body weight. Adverse events were reported by 84% (21/25) of patients. Nearly half (7/17 or 41%) of the responders discontinued topiramate after a mean of 12.4 months. Conclusion In this open-label retrospective trial, topiramate was found to be very effective in reducing nocturnal eating in patients with chronic SRED. The tolerability of topiramate was an issue in some patients. Given the promise of this approach, but the limitations of this study, prospective, double-blind study of topiramate in a larger sample of patients with SRED is warranted.
Neurobehavioral and immunological effects of prenatal cocaine exposure in rat

Time-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously with 20 mg/kg of cocaine HCl or 0.9% saline daily from gestation days 15 through 21. Maternal plasma levels of approximately 720 ng/ml of cocaine did not alter maternal weight gain during treatment, duration of pregnancy, any of the litter variables or several indices of maternal behavior. Offsprings' body weight from birth to 30 days of age and physical maturation were not generally affected by prenatal cocaine exposure. While the development of surface righting, cliff avoidance, and the startle response was accelerated in cocaine-exposed offspring, acquisition of a preference for a social odor was unaltered. Prenatal cocaine also attenuated the locomotor response of the offspring to d-amphetamine and cocaine at PND 15; at PND 30 both of these catecholaminergic agonists increased activity in prenatal saline and prenatal cocaine offspring. However, the difference in plasma levels of cocaine at PND 30 suggests a possible down-regulation of adrenergic receptors following prenatal cocaine exposure. Decreased thymus/body weight ratios and splenomegaly were observed in prenatal cocaine animals at 55 days of age. Although complete neutralization of herpes simplex virus-type 1 was not observed, sera from prenatal cocaine offspring showed an increased rate of appearance of cytopathic effect, while sera from animals given cocaine postnatally showed a reduction in the rate at which viral infectivity was expressed in culture. These results indicate that prenatal cocaine exposure can alter neurobehavioral ontogeny and humoral immune responsitivity in the offspring.
Speech Acts and Conversational Interaction

1. The nature of speech acts 2. Meaning and force 3. The structure of communicative interactions 4. Interactional effects 5. Indirect speech acts 6. Conventions of use 7. The structure of conversation 8. Utterance generation References Index.
Intracerebellar nicotinic-cholinergic participation in the cerebellar adenosinergic modulation of ethanol-induced motor incoordination in mice

Many epidemiological studies have suggested a high correlation between the use of tobacco and ethanol, the two most frequently abused psychoactive drugs. Recently, we reported behavioral interactions between (-)-nicotine, (-)-cotinine and ethanol within the CNS. The present report is a confirmation and an extension of that study. Using a 2 g/kg ethanol-induced motor incoordination (EIMI) as the test response, possible behavioral interactions between (-)-nicotine, (-)-cotinine and ethanol and between (-)-nicotine, (-)-cotinine and adenosine agonist + ethanol in the cerebellum were investigated. (-)-Nicotine, 0.625, 1.25 and 5 ng intracerebellarly (ICB) significantly attenuated EIMI in a dose-related manner. Likewise, ICB injection of 1.25, 2.5, and 5 ng (-)-cotinine, a major metabolite of nicotine, significantly attenuated EIMI after the same i.p. dose of ethanol as in case of (-)-nicotine but less markedly compared to (-)-nicotine. No change in normal motor coordination was observed when the highest dose of (-)-nicotine or (-)-cotinine was injected ICB followed by saline control, suggesting selectivity of their behavioral interactions with ethanol. The attenuation of EIMI by (-)-nicotine and (-)-cotinine was blocked by ICB hexamethonium (1 microgram) and trimethaphan (100 ng), the purported nicotinic-cholinergic antagonists. Finally, the ICB injection of adenosine agonists, N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) or 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), produced marked accentuation of EIMI which was significantly antagonized by ICB (-)-nicotine and (-)-cotinine. The data obtained in the present study suggested, for the first time, a cerebellar adenosinergic-nicotinic cholinergic interaction and modulation of EIMI. The data also suggested participation of cerebellar nicotinic-cholinergic receptors in EIMI.
Action of halothane on human erythrocytes. Mechanisms of cell lysis and production of sealed ghosts.

Abstract 1. 1. Suspension of human erythrocytes in halothane-saturated physiological media induces major cell deformation. 2. 2. Release of halothane from erythrocyte suspensions after equilibrium with the anaesthetic produces complete hemolysis. 3. 3. The membrane fragments isolated after halothane release are in the form of biconcave ghosts, impermeable to macromolecules (lactoperoxidase) and small molecules (ATP). 4. 4. The protein composition of the membranes differs from that of ghosts produced by hypotonic lysis in the lack of components previously shown to be adsorbed at low ionic strength. 5. 5. A hypothesis is presented explaining the action of halothane in terms of both its action on membranes and its capacity to modify water structure. 6. 6. Halothane-induced hemolysis constitutes a simple method for the large-scale production of hemoglobin-depleted, sealed erythrocyte ghosts under physiological ionic conditions.
The cinefluorographic approach to the diagnosis of mitral regurgitation.

Summary Cineangiofluorography, even in its present imperfect state, provides very useful information on the anatomy of mitral regurgitation and fair estimates of its magnitude. Differentiation between anterior and posterior commissural involvement is possible by cineangiofluorographic means even though other filming technics fail to make the distinction. It is suggested that the morphology of left atrial enlargement may not be the same for mitral regurgitation that develops over a long period of time, as for that which develops acutely. Finally, cineangiofluorography, by making possible the calculation of chamber volumes, may ultimately furnish the most precise and reliable method of accurate measurement of mitral regurgitation in absolute units.
Reshaping Catholic Secondary School Curriculum Through Culminating Portfolios

This study analyzes qualitative data on student perceptions and curriculum transformation from a schoolwide culminating portfolio program of a small, urban, archdiocesan Catholic high school located on the West Coast. Over 4 years, all graduating students (n=102) developed culminating portfolios, evidencing their accomplishment of specific learning outcomes and presented those portfolios to panels of educators, parents, and community representatives. Students, teachers, and panelists were surveyed to determine their perceptions about the benefits and challenges of this process. The study found that (1) students’ perceptions of the portfolio and panel processes were very positive, including the belief that the portfolios helped students determine for themselves the extent and quality of their learning; (2) panelists and school faculty reported the belief that the portfolio process better prepared students for college and helped students reflect upon and assume personal responsibility for their learning; and (3) significant curricular transformations had taken place in what was being taught at the school, how it was being taught, and how it was being assessed. Teachers, students, and panelists identified the benefits of the process for students as well as suggestions to increase the impact of the process on classroom teaching and learning. Challenges in the process included logistics of portfolio management, the amount of time required to develop and continue the process, and the development of methodologies for continued refinement of the program.
Recovering model invariants from simulation traces with Petri net analysis techniques

Modern modeling frameworks allow us to generate and simulate discrete event system models of great complexity. The use of existing environments, and the use, calibration, and configuration of existing submodels to build large models in a productive manner can rise the question what really happens in a simulation run for a particular experiment. In this paper, we describe ways to make use of invariant analysis techniques that originate from the theory of Petri nets, to be applied in the broader setting of invariant identification from simulation traces. The key idea is to provide feedback to a modeler on constraints that hold for the observed behavior of a model in a simulation run.
Scheduling for reactive real-time systems

In designing Chinook, a hardware-software cosynthesis system for reactive real-time controllers, the impact of timing constraints on software scheduling has been a central concern. By dividing constraints into two levels, corresponding to low-level interactions with device interfaces and high-level real-time response and rate requirements, we have developed solutions tailored to each aspect. These scheduling techniques enable Chinook to map a high-level specification onto a specified collection of processors and peripheral devices while respecting performance requirements. >