cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Appropriateness and utilization of cardiac CT: implications for development of future criteria.

The cardiac CT (CCT) appropriateness criteria (AC) were jointly published by multiple societies to ensure effective utilization of CCT. We sought to determine how these criteria apply to CCT scans performed at a tertiary-care hospital. Data were collected from medical records and interviews of 267 consecutive patients referred for CCT. Two physicians designated exam indication as appropriate, inappropriate, or uncertain as per AC, or “not known” if not listed in AC. CCT exam indication was appropriate in 47%, inappropriate in 9%, uncertain in 15%, and not known in 29%. The most common appropriate indication was evaluation of CAD in symptomatic patients with equivocal stress test, whereas the most common inappropriate referral was evaluation of asymptomatic patients with low pretest probability of CAD. Most exams (69%) were for evaluation of CAD, with the remaining exams performed to evaluate other elements of cardiac structure or function. Exams for these non-CAD indications were more likely to be appropriate and less likely to have an undetermined (uncertain or not known) level of appropriateness than those for CAD indications. There was no difference in exam appropriateness whether ordered by cardiologists or internists, but providers who completed training >25 years ago ordered fewer appropriate and more inappropriate exams than younger providers. In applying the AC to a large academic medical center, few CCT exams were inappropriate; however, many patients referred for CCT, particularly for evaluation of CAD, had an indication for which the level of appropriateness remained undetermined. Given the rapid adoption of CCT, these results emphasize the need to refine current criteria for appropriate utilization.
Minimally invasive orbital decompression for Graves' ophthalmopathy.

We reviewed a 7-year experience at a tertiary-care, academic medical center with balanced, minimally invasive decompression for Graves' ophthalmopathy, in an effort to define the goals, risks, and outcomes of surgical intervention. Endoscopic medial decompression was performed in 26 patients; 23 underwent lateral decompression as well, and 13 also had inferior decompression. Septoplasty, turbinate reduction, and orbital rim augmentation were performed as needed. The indications for surgery were threat to vision (n = 10) and proptosis with a desire to return to the predisease state (rehabilitative, n = 16). The exophthalmos improved by a mean of 4.4 mm (p < .001). All patients who had surgery for threatened vision had improved vision after the operation. There were 3 patients with new-onset postoperative diplopia, 2 of whom underwent strabismus surgery. There was 1 case of postoperative sinusitis, which resolved with oral antibiotics and nasal decongestion, and 1 case of transient ulnar neuropathy. There were no other intraoperative or postoperative complications. Modern methods of orbital decompression provide a minimally invasive, effective, and relatively safe approach to the treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy.
Instability of granular materials at high pressures

An experimental study on instability of granular materials at high pressures was performed on dense Cambria sand in both triaxial compression and extension using cylindrical specimens. The instability line, which is located through the top points of the effective stress paths of undrained tests, separates stable and unstable soil behavior. Instability was experimentally demonstrated in compression and extension tests at stress levels located above the instability line. Further experiments clearly indicated that stable behavior was found beneath the instability line, but once it was crossed, unstable soil behavior was obtained.
New Forms of Collaborative Innovation and Production on the Internet: an interdisciplinary perspective

Volker Wittke and Heidemarie Hanekop (Eds) Gottingen: University Press, 2011 199 pp., €44.00 (hbk), ISBN 978-3-86395-020-0. Collaborative production, associated with terms such as co-creation and c...
Nutrient export by leaching and whole-tree harvesting in a loblolly pine and mixed oak forest

The combined effects of whole-tree harvesting (WTH) and soil leaching by both acid deposition and naturally-produced carbonic acid were evaluated in a mixed oak and a loblolly pine forest growing on similar soils in the Ridge and Valley province of eastern Tennessee. It was hypothesized that nutrient export via WTH would be greater in a mixed oak stand than in the loblolly pine stand because of greater nutrient concentrations in oak and hickory species than in pine. This hypothesis was true for N,P, and particularly Ca at the time of harvest, but not for K or Mg. When expressed on an annual basis, exports of N,P,K, and Mg were greater in the loblolly pine site and only Ca export was greater in the mixed oak site. It was also hypothesized that the large accumulation of Ca in the oak and hickory vegetation would cause lower exchangeable Ca2+ in soils, and, consequently, lower Ca2+ leaching in the mixed oak site than in the loblolly pine site. This hypothesis was supported by the data, which indicated 340–370% more exchangeable Ca and 100% more Ca2+ leaching in the loblolly pine site than in the mixed oak site.
Survival of offspring who experience early parental death: Early life conditions and later-life mortality

We examine the influences of a set of early life conditions (ELCs) on all-cause and cause-specific mortality among elderly individuals, with special attention to one of the most dramatic early events in a child's, adolescent's, or even young adult's life, the death of a parent. The foremost question is, once controlling for prevailing (and potentially confounding) conditions early in life (family history of longevity, paternal characteristics (SES, age at time of birth, sibship size, and religious affiliation)), is a parental death associated with enduring mortality risks after age 65? The years following parental death may initiate new circumstances through which the adverse effects of paternal death operate. Here we consider the offspring's marital status (whether married; whether and when widowed), adult socioeconomic status, fertility, and later life health status. Adult health status is based on the Charlson Co-Morbidity Index, a construct that summarizes nearly all serious illnesses afflicting older individuals that relies on Medicare data. The data are based on linkages between the Utah Population Database and Medicare claims that hold medical diagnoses data. We show that offspring whose parents died when they were children, but especially when they were adolescents/young adults, have modest but significant mortality risks after age 65. What are striking are the weak mediating influences of later-life comorbidities, marital status, fertility and adult socioeconomic status since controls for these do little to alter the overall association. No beneficial effects of the surviving parent's remarriage were detected. Overall, we show the persistence of the effects of early life loss on later-life mortality and indicate the difficulties in addressing challenges at young ages.
Occlusally oriented impressions for large maxillary stomas

A stable record base is critical to the making of an accurate centric jaw relation record. This is attained by meeting three criteria: (1) a well adapted, adequately extended record base, (2) adequate support of the alveolar bone to prevent excessive movement of the record bases, and (3) accurate tissue integrity to allow good base adaption, maximum tissue contact, and minimum movement. If these criteria cannot be met--and they cannot in the bilateral subtotal maxillectomy patient--then an alternative method must be used. The combination jaw relation record-impression technique using the patient's pre-existing occlusion is an alternate method for the fabrication of a stable prosthesis. This method has been tested in several maxillofacial prosthodontic centers and has proved to constitute a realistic approach to the management of the subtotal maxillectomy patient.
Disintegration of the Soviet politico‐economic system

Examines the process of systemic disintegration in the USSR brought about by perestroika, demokratizatsiya and glasnost. Places Soviet economic crises in a broader political and nationalities context. Concludes that liberalization and democratization led both to the break‐up of the Communist system and that of the imperial state.
209 CEREBRAL AND MYOCARDIAL BLOOD FLOW DURING CPR WITH AND WITHOUT EPINEPHRINE IN PIGLETS

We assessed efficacy of conventional CPR in terms of cerebral (CBF) and myocardial (MBF) blood flows in an infant animal model and determined whether epinephrine (EPI) improves CBF and MBF as in adult animals. CPR was performed on pentobarbitalanesthetized piglets (2 weeks old, 4–5 kg) by a pneumatic compressor with 20% sternal displacement, 100 compressions/min, 60% duty cycle, and 1:5 breath to compression ratio. Chest recoil was incomplete, leading to 20% deformation of diameter. CBF (ml·min−1 · 100g−1; microspheres) was 43 ± 4 (± SE; n=8) pre-arrest and 24 ± 7 at 5 min of CPR, but gradually fell further to 5 ± 4 at 50 min. MBF (188 ± 38 pre-arrest) fell from 27 ± 7 at 5 min to 1 ± 1 at 50 min. This was related to a gradual fall in aortic pressure with little change in right atrial or intracranial pressures. A second group of piglets (n=8) received EPI (4 μg/kg/min). CBF at 5 min (46 ± 9) and 20 min (44 ± 10) were not different from pre-arrest (49 ± 5), although CBF still fell by 50 min (11 ± 4) as MABP fell. MBF (65 ± 16, 5 min), CBF, cerebral O2 uptake and perfusion pressure were higher in the EPI group. We conclude that a) conventional CPR in infant piglets without EPI initially provides higher CBF and MBF than in adult animals, which is probably related to the greater chest deformity in young animals, and b) EPI further improves CBF and MBF by constricting other beds.
“Why not love our language and our culture?” National rights and citizenship in Khrushchev's Soviet Union

This paper highlights campaigns for national rights among two non-titular communities in the Soviet Union and places them in local historical contexts. Drawing on archival sources and oral history interviews, the author not only delves into the campaigns themselves, but also explores broader debates about the nature of Khrushchev's Thaw and Soviet citizenship, which was far from an empty concept in the Khrushchev era. Petitioners invoked discourses that indicate both an awareness of national rights and an expectation of the state's obligation to protect them. Oral history interviews with surviving petitioners and community members support the notion that petition language can serve as a reflection of how petitioners viewed their place in Soviet society and interpreted the Soviet citizen contract.
Free Blacks in Norfolk, Virginia, 1790-1860: The Darker Side of Freedom

Very few studies of free blacks have attempted to interpret the actions and events affecting them from their own perspectives. At the same time. the search for understanding the antebellum black experience in the South usually has centered on slaves. In Free Blacks in Norfolk, Virginia, 1790-1860, Tommy L. Bogger portrays lives somewhere between slavery and freedom. A free black community of skilled artisans and semi-skilled laborers emerged in Norfolk around 1800. Some free blacks earned the respect of leading white businessmen, and many enjoyed easy access to credit and steady employment. They showed no hesitation in suing recalcitrant debtors -- black or white -- and until 1805 they could count on the cooperation of court officials in helping them to collect. But from then on. free blacks experienced a steady decline in status that continued throughout the antebellum period. Legal restraints were placed on them at the same time that Norfolk's economy stagnated. and white immigrants arriving in the 1830s entered fields once monopolized by blacks. By the 1850s the free black community was sunk in hopelessness and despair. Free Blacks in Norfolk, Virginia, 1790-1860 discusses the active roles that blacks played in creating their community, contradicting prevalent images of free blacks at the mercy of whites. While previous studies of Virginia's free blacks have focused on Richmond or Petersburg, developments in Norfolk's free black community also merit analysis. Norfolk also offers the advantage of a population large enough to provide a reliable data base yet small enough to preserve the stories of individual lives. Those interested in African-American history, Virginia history, orthe South in general will find this book a valuable new resource.
Japan's security agenda in the post‐cold war era

Abstract The radically changed regional security environment in the post‐cold war Asia‐Pacific poses serious challenges to Japan's security policy. Tokyo must develop a new strategic view of the region to complement its tendency to emphasize security based on economic growth and interdependence. Japan's relations with the United States, Russia and China have far‐reaching, long‐term regional security implications, yet Tokyo is barely managing to respond to bilateral political and economic issues as they arise. While the waning of the cold war security threat and budgetary considerations are putting increasing constraints on Tokyo's spending for both defence and foreign economic assistance, there are conflicting international demands and fears concerning expanded Japanese international security roles. At the same time, Tokyo's desire to participate more actively in United Nations peacekeeping and to gain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council is hampered by the domestic constitutional debat...
Trivial Games as Predictors of a Mixed-Motive Game

In the present study, two trivial games, one relevant to the trait of trust, the other to the trait of competition, were used to predict behavior in the mixed-motive game of Chicken. The results showed that behavior in the Chicken game was related to choice in the "competition" game but not in the "trust" game. Thus, findings suggested that competition is the dominant motive in the Chicken game, and they demonstrated the utility of using trivial games to determine the relative influence of the various motives that could be salient in mixed-motive situations.
The Remote Monitoring of Smoking in Adolescents.

Technology integration into research and healthcare delivery holds the potential for vast improvements to patient outcomes. This review will be devoted specifically to technology integration for the research and treatment of adolescent smoking, which has significant public health relevance, with emphasis on the emerging field of mobile health (mHealth). We will also briefly discuss the implications of mHealth for other aspects of adolescent health promotion.
Oral delivery of ACE2/Ang-(1-7) bioencapsulated in plant cells protects against experimental uveitis and autoimmune uveoretinitis.

Hyperactivity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) resulting in elevated Angiotensin II (Ang II) contributes to all stages of inflammatory responses including ocular inflammation. The discovery of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has established a protective axis of RAS involving ACE2/Ang-(1–7)/Mas that counteracts the proinflammatory and hypertrophic effects of the deleterious ACE/AngII/AT1R axis. Here we investigated the hypothesis that enhancing the systemic and local activity of the protective axis of the RAS by oral delivery of ACE2 and Ang-(1–7) bioencapsulated in plant cells would confer protection against ocular inflammation. Both ACE2 and Ang-(1–7), fused with the non-toxic cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) were expressed in plant chloroplasts. Increased levels of ACE2 and Ang-(1–7) were observed in circulation and retina after oral administration of CTB-ACE2 and Ang-(1–7) expressing plant cells. Oral feeding of mice with bioencapsulated ACE2/Ang-(1–7) significantly reduced endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in mice. Treatment with bioencapsulated ACE2/Ang-(1–7) also dramatically decreased cellular infiltration, retinal vasculitis, damage and folding in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU). Thus, enhancing the protective axis of RAS by oral delivery of ACE2/Ang-(1–7) bioencapsulated in plant cells provide an innovative, highly efficient and cost-effective therapeutic strategy for ocular inflammatory diseases.
Low temperature emission spectra of individual single walled carbon nanotubes: evidence for the fermi-edge singularity effect

Low temperature photoluminescence spectra of individual semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes indicate the existence of unintentionally doped nanotubes along with undoped species. The emission of doped nanotubes is strongly affected by the Fermi-edge singularity effect
Cleavage of gonococcal pilin and alteration of common pilin epitopes by human neutrophil lysosomal elastase

Incubation of purified gonococcal pili with human neutrophil granule extracts and highly purified neutrophil elastase, but not cathepsin G, resulted in digestion of pilin (the protomeric subunit of pili). Elastase cleaved pilin (18.6 kDa) in a fashion such that either two, three or four products (14.5, 10.5, 9.0, 4.0 kDa) were generated. With both neutrophil extracts and elastase, digestion of pilin was dependent on enzymatic activity. The 10.5 and 9.0 kDa proteolytic fragments of pifin reacted with antisera to conserved epitopes of the cyanogen bromide 2 fragment of gonococcaln pilin. However, the 14.5 kDa fragment was poorly reactive and the 4.0 kDa fragment was nonreactive. Our results indicate that elastase and possibly other serine proteases of human neutrophils have the capacity to degrade gonococcal pili.
Stereochemistry of intramolecular [2+2] photocycloadditions of 4-(4,5-hexadienyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-ones

Abstract Intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition of 4-(allenic-substituted)-2-cyclohexen-1-ones has been shown to be sensitive to change in substitution pattern and the nature of the reacting unsaturates. Initial bonding at C-2 of the enone is indicated.
Principles of Synaptic Transmissiona

Neurons in the central nervous system communicate almost exclusively by the production and release at synapses of a series of molecules that are designated transmitters. Three such molecules make up the major transmitters, GABA, glutamate, and acetylcholine. GABA neurons are the principal inhibitory neurons and, as such, are the major local circuit neurons of the brain. They also are projection neurons in a number of systems. Glutamate neurons are excitatory projection neurons, particularly of the cerebral cortex, thalamus and retina. Acetylcholine neurons are excitatory neurons in ascending brainstem and basal forebrain systems and in cranial and spinal motor neurons and neurons of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The catecholamines, dopamine and norepinephrine, are transmitters in several systems in brain. Dopamine is present in midbrain neurons projecting to the neostriatum, basal forebrain and cerebral cortex. It is also produced by hypothalamic neurons projecting to the median eminence and pituitary. These systems are highly topographically organized in contrast to the norepinephrine systems. The locus coeruleus norepinephrine system projects principally to thalamus, cerebral cortex and cerebellar cortex whereas the lateral tegmental system projects primarily to basal forebrain, hypothalamus, brainstem and spinal cord. The serotonin neurons of the brainstem raphe also project widely over the neuraxis, midbrain raphe neurons primarily to diencephalon and telencephalon and pontine medullary neurons to brainstem and spinal cord. There are smaller neuronal groups that produce glycine or histamine. At the present time, it appears that most, if not all, CNS neurons produce one of these small molecule transmitters. In many instances, these molecules are colocalized with one or more peptides that appear to modify the postsynaptic action of the small molecule transmitter.
Probing the Effect of Amino-Terminal Truncation for Aβ1―40 Peptides

We examine the effect of deletion of the amino-terminal (residues 1-9) on the structure and energetics of Abeta1-40 peptides. To this end, we use replica exchange molecular dynamics to compare the conformational ensembles of Abeta1-40 and amino-truncated Abeta10-40 monomers and dimers. Overall, the deletion of the amino-terminal appears to cause minor structural and energetic changes in Abeta monomers and dimers. More specifically, our findings are as follows: (1) there is a small but discernible conversion of beta-strand structure into helix upon amino-terminal deletion, (2) secondary structure changes due to truncation are caused by missing side chain interactions formed by the amino-terminal, and (3) the amino-terminal together with the central sequence region (residues 10-23) represents the primary aggregation interface in Abeta1-40 dimers. The amino-truncated Abeta10-40 retains this aggregation interface, which is reduced to the central sequence region. We argue that the analysis of available experimental data supports our conclusions. Our findings also suggest that amino-truncated Abeta10-40 peptide is an adequate model for studying Abeta1-40 aggregation.
Antibiotic and bronchodilator prescribing for acute bronchitis in the emergency department.

Abstract Background Although the overuse of antibiotics and underuse of bronchodilators for treatment of acute bronchitis is well known, few studies have analyzed these trends in the emergency department (ED). Study Objectives To characterize the antibiotic and bronchodilator prescribing practices of physicians at two academic EDs in the diagnosis of acute bronchitis, and to identify factors that may or may not be associated with these practices. Methods A computer database was searched retrospectively for all patients with an ED discharge diagnosis of acute bronchitis, and analyzed, looking at the frequency of antibiotic prescriptions, the class of antibiotic prescribed, and several other related factors including age, gender, chief complaint, duration of cough, and comorbid conditions. Results During the study period, there were 836 cases of acute bronchitis in adults. Of these, 622 (74.0%) were prescribed antibiotics. Of those prescribed antibiotics, 480 (77.2%) were prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics. Using multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval), antibiotics were prescribed significantly more often in patients aged 50 years or older (1.7, 1.2–2.5) and in smokers (1.5, 1.0–2.2). Of patients without asthma, 346 (49.9%) were discharged without a bronchodilator, and 631 (91.1%) were discharged without a spacer device. Conclusion Antibiotics are over-prescribed in the ED for acute bronchitis, with broad-spectrum antibiotics making up the majority of the antibiotics prescribed. Age ≥ 50 years and smoking are associated with higher antibiotic prescribing rates.
ON THE ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR OF THE PHOTON PROPAGATOR IN QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS

A new renormalization group method is used to calculate the photon propagator in the high four-momentum regime. The assumption that this propagator is a self-similar object leads directly to a functional equation of evolution involving an invariant charge (effective coupling function) which, in turn, is a functional of the propagator. Numerical results produced by this theory depend on a single unknown, namely, the scale in which the four-momentum k is measured. Calculations are presented for several values of this scale. From these it is concluded that the transverse photon propagator behaves asymptotically as D⊥(k)~k2(λ-1) with the value of λ (the anomalous dimension) falling in the range (0.12, 1).
Racial and ethnic differences in use of assistive devices for mobility: effect modification by age.

PURPOSE: The authors investigated the extent to which differences in mobility device use existed by race/ethnicity and whether the effects were modified by age. METHOD: Using Phase II of the National Health Interview Survey on Disability, the authors identified 7,148 mobility-impaired adults. Logistic regression models provided estimates of race/ethnicity, adjusting for predictors of device use. RESULTS: Blacks were 1.2 times as likely as non-Hispanic Whites (95% CI: 1.0-1.4) to use devices. Hispanics were 0.78 times less likely to use devices as were non-Hispanic Whites (95% CI 0.65-0.96). Differences were attenuated by age, with a 40% increased likelihood of use attributable to being Black and aged 45 to 75, a 30% increased likelihood attributable to being Hispanic and aged 65 to 75, and a 130% increased likelihood attributable to being Hispanic and older than 75. CONCLUSION: Disentangling the observed patterns in mobility device use will provide direction for development of interventions to promote assistive device use. Language: en
Endothelial-derived neuregulin is an important mediator of ischaemia-induced angiogenesis and arteriogenesis

Aims Neuregulins (NRG) are growth factors that are synthesized by endothelial cells (ECs) and bind to erbB receptors. We have shown previously that NRG is proangiogenic in vitro , and that NRG/erbB signalling is important for autocrine endothelial angiogenic signalling in vitro . However, the role of NRG in the angiogenic response to ischaemia is unknown. We hypothesized that endothelial NRG is required for ischaemia-induced angiogenesis in vivo and that exogenous administration of NRG will enhance angiogenic responses after ischaemic insult. Methods and results An endothelial-selective inducible NRG knockout mouse was created and subjected to femoral artery ligation. Endothelial NRG deletion significantly decreased blood flow recovery (by 40%, P < 0.05), capillary density, αvβ3 integrin activation, and arteriogenesis after ischaemic injury. Isolated ECs from knockout mice demonstrated significantly impaired cord formation in vitro , suggesting that NRG signalling performs an important cell autonomous function. Recombinant human NRG (rNRG) has not only reversed the angiogenic defect in knockout mice but also accelerated blood flow recovery in wild-type mice. Conclusion Endothelial production of NRG is required for angiogenesis and arteriogenesis induced by ischaemic injury. Furthermore, exogenous administration of rNRG can enhance this process, suggesting a potential role for NRG in vascular disease.
Phase edge lithography for sub 0.1 /spl mu/m electrical channel length in a 200 mm full CMOS process

In this work a deep-UV stepper is used in conjunction with a phase edge mask to define sub 0.1 /spl mu/m electrical channel length gates in a 200 mm integrated CMOS process. Conventional binary intensity mask deep-UV and mid-UV lithography are other used for other levels. We demonstrate excellent channel length control with the phase edge technique, at channel lengths here-to-fore only achievable by e-beam or X-ray lithography.
Mitosis-specific Anchoring of γ Tubulin Complexes by Pericentrin Controls Spindle Organization and Mitotic Entry

Microtubule nucleation is the best known function of centrosomes. Centrosomal microtubule nucleation is mediated primarily by gamma tubulin ring complexes (gamma TuRCs). However, little is known about the molecules that anchor these complexes to centrosomes. In this study, we show that the centrosomal coiled-coil protein pericentrin anchors gamma TuRCs at spindle poles through an interaction with gamma tubulin complex proteins 2 and 3 (GCP2/3). Pericentrin silencing by small interfering RNAs in somatic cells disrupted gamma tubulin localization and spindle organization in mitosis but had no effect on gamma tubulin localization or microtubule organization in interphase cells. Similarly, overexpression of the GCP2/3 binding domain of pericentrin disrupted the endogenous pericentrin-gamma TuRC interaction and perturbed astral microtubules and spindle bipolarity. When added to Xenopus mitotic extracts, this domain uncoupled gamma TuRCs from centrosomes, inhibited microtubule aster assembly, and induced rapid disassembly of preassembled asters. All phenotypes were significantly reduced in a pericentrin mutant with diminished GCP2/3 binding and were specific for mitotic centrosomal asters as we observed little effect on interphase asters or on asters assembled by the Ran-mediated centrosome-independent pathway. Additionally, pericentrin silencing or overexpression induced G2/antephase arrest followed by apoptosis in many but not all cell types. We conclude that pericentrin anchoring of gamma tubulin complexes at centrosomes in mitotic cells is required for proper spindle organization and that loss of this anchoring mechanism elicits a checkpoint response that prevents mitotic entry and triggers apoptotic cell death.
Pressure Measurements in Highly Viscous and Elastic Fluids

Pressure measurements in flows of highly viscous and elastic fluids are of practical importance in polymer processing and rheology systems. Special problems arise during such pressure measurements. High fluid viscosity results in excessive dynamic response time (rise time) of the pressure measuring systems. This is true for systems that consist of manometers as well as pressure transducers attached to the base of a small hole at the wall. We model the dynamic response and examine related disturbing effects. These systematic errors in pressure measurements include hole-pressure effects, instabilities in cavity flow, and the time lag of the disturbance wave
Polarization, phase and amplitude control of ultrafast laser pulses with a single linear spatial light modulator

Complete control over the polarization, phase and amplitude state of an ultrafast laser pulse is demonstrated using a single, linear spatial light modulator placed in a near-common-path, polarization-split Martinez stretcher.
Asymptotically exact a posteriori LDG error estimates for one-dimensional transient convection-diffusion problems

In this paper, new a posteriori error estimates for the local discontinuous Galerkin (LDG) formulation applied to transient convection-diffusion problems in one space dimension are presented and analyzed. These error estimates are computationally simple and are computed by solving a local steady problem with no boundary conditions on each element. We first show that the leading error term on each element for the solution is proportional to a (p+1)-degree right Radau polynomial while the leading error term for the solution's derivative is proportional to a (p+1)-degree left Radau polynomial, when polynomials of degree at most p are used. These results are used to prove that, for smooth solutions, these error estimates at a fixed time converge to the true spatial errors in the L^2-norm under mesh refinement. More precisely, we prove that our LDG error estimates converge to the true spatial errors at O(h^p^+^5^/^4) rate. Finally, we prove that the global effectivity indices in the L^2-norm converge to unity at O(h^1^/^2) rate. Our computational results indicate that the observed numerical convergence rates are higher than the theoretical rates.
Frequency invariant MVDR beamforming without filters and implementation using MIMO radar

Frequency invariant beamforming with sensor arrays is generally achieved using filters in the form of tapped delay-lines following each sensor. However it has been recently shown that with the help of the rectangular smart antenna array, it is possible to generate frequency invariant beampattern without using filters. In this paper, this frequency invariant beamforming technique is utilized to perform MVDR beamforming in the beamspace by designing frequency invariant beams spanning the desired range of azimuthal angles and optimally combining them. However the performance of the frequency invariant beamformer depends on the number of sensors which could be large for a rectangular array of size M × N. Making use of the virtual array concept used in MIMO radar, a novel method of producing the same frequency invariant beam, using only M transmitting and N receiving antennas, is proposed and a design example is provided to demonstrate the idea.
Proposal of a spintronics-based polarization detector

Connection between spin orientation in semiconductors and optical selection rules has been exploited in spin LEDs (Fiederling et al., 1999), where the degree of luminescence polarization indicates the average spin of electrons injected into the diode. We present a proposal of a reciprocal device: a spin-based detector of circularly polarized light, in which the absorption occurs in the planar semiconductor (SC) structure
Loss of heterozygosity at 11q23.3 in vasculoinvasive and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

Abstract We have previously demonstrated a strong relationship between loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosome 11q23.3 and the presence of extensive tumor plugs in lymphvascular spaces (LVS) in stage 1B cervical carcinoma, suggesting that genes at this locus may regulate vasculoinvasion. This study examined LOH at 11q23.3 in microdissected tumor plugs within LVS and in metastatic foci in lymph nodes (MFLN), as well as corresponding invasive tumor and adjacent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3 in stage 1B squamous cell carcinoma. Of 49 invasive carcinomas, 38.8% had LOH at 11q23.3. Of 36 tumor plugs in LVS, 39% had LOH at 11q23.3. Twenty percent of 15 MFLN demonstrated LOH at 11q23.3. Patients with LOH at 11q23.3 are significantly more likely to have disease recurrence than patients without LOH at 11q23.3 ( P =.02). Of 10 foci of CIN 3, none showed LOH at 11q23.3. Although unlikely to have an impact early in carcinogenesis, tumor-suppressor genes located in the region of 11q23.3 appear to be important in tumor progression, facilitating lymphvascular space invasion and, by inference, spread to lymph nodes in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. HUM PATHOL 32:475-478. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Arabic Preprocessing Schemes for Statistical Machine Translation

In this paper, we study the effect of different word-level preprocessing decisions for Arabic on SMT quality. Our results show that given large amounts of training data, splitting off only proclitics performs best. However, for small amounts of training data, it is best to apply English-like to-kenization using part-of-speech tags, and sophisticated morphological analysis and disambiguation. Moreover, choosing the appropriate preprocessing produces a significant increase in BLEU score if there is a change in genre between training and test data.
Lithium Diisopropylamide-Mediated Enolizations: Solvent-Dependent Mixed Aggregation Effects

6Li and 15N NMR spectroscopic investigations of lithium diisopropylamide-mediated ester enolization in THF, t-BuOMe, HMPA/THF, and DMPU/THF (HMPA = hexamethylphosphoramide, DMPU = 1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidone) reveal substantial concentrations of mixed aggregates. While previous quantitative rate studies revealed that the metalations by lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) homonuclear dimers proceed at nearly solvent-independent rates, the reactivities of the intermediate mixed aggregates are markedly lower and quite sensitive to the choice of solvent. The autoinhibition correlates with the relative stabilities of the mixed aggregates. However, the relative stabilities do not correlate in a simple fashion with the ligating properties of the solvent.
Observation of Daytime Sleep-like Behavior in a Migratory Songbird during Stopover

Abstract Nocturnal migration is accompanied by sleep loss likely dependent upon the length of the migratory flight. Migrants may minimize the effect of sleep deficit by inserting brief naps into their daytime activities. On 25 April 2006, I observed daytime sleep-like behavior by a radio-marked male Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina) at a coastal stopover site in southwestern Louisiana. The bird likely completed a flight across the Gulf of Mexico a few hours before the observation and departed from the stopover site the evening of the day of arrival. To my knowledge, this is the first reported field observation of daytime sleep behavior in a neotropical landbird migrant. The behavior exhibited in the field was consistent with behavioral characteristics of daytime sleep observed in captive migrants.
Epidemiologic studies for osteoarthritis: new versus conventional study design approaches

This article discusses epidemiologic study designs for osteoarthritis and why traditional designs are outmoded. It reviews the design of new studies, the Osteoarthritis Initiative and Multicenter Ostroarthritis Study.
Blind separation of delayed sources based on information maximization

Bell and Sejnowski (see Neural Computation, vol.7, no.6, p.1004-34, 1995) have presented an approach to blind source separation based on the information maximization principle. We extend this approach into more general cases where the sources may have been delayed with respect to each other. We present a network architecture capable of coping with such sources, and we derive the adaptation equations for the delays and the weights in the network by maximizing the information transferred through the network. Examples using wideband sources such as speech are presented to illustrate the algorithm.
Photon number distributions from a diode laser

We use balanced homodyne detection to characterize light from a diode laser as it crosses the threshold. We measure the single-time second-order correlation function g(2), and also extract the photon number distribution. Just above the laser threshold, we find that the measured g(2) exceeds the prediction of the semiclassical single-mode laser model. From the reconstructed photon number distributions, we conclude that this excess is due to emission from nonlasing modes. For higher pumping current, the light noise increases due to a different mechanism, possibly mode competition or mode partition noise.
Study of D0 decays into final states with a 0 or

We have made measurements of decay modes of neutral {ital D} mesons into exclusive final states containing photons using data collected with the CLEO detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring. We report observation of {ital D}{sup 0}{r arrow}{ital K}{sup {minus}}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup {minus}}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup 0} (charge conjugates are implicit), and present new measurements of the branching ratios for {ital D}{sup 0}{r arrow}{ital K}{sup {minus}}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup 0}, {ital D}{sup 0}{r arrow}{ital {bar K}}{sup 0}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup 0}{pi}{sup {minus}}, {ital D}{sup 0}{r arrow}{ital {bar K}}{sup 0}{pi}{sup 0}, {ital {bar K}}{sup *0}{eta}, and {ital D}{sup 0}{r arrow}{ital {bar K}}{sup 0}{omega}. Where possible, results are compared with theoretical predictions for two-body {ital D}{sup 0} decays.
Pretreatment C-Reactive Protein Is a Predictor for Outcomes after Reduced-Intensity Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

We tested the independent prognostic impact of 2 commonly used biomarkers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6, on the outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Consecutive patients who underwent a uniform reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen of fludarabine (Flu), melphalan (Mel), and alemtuzumab were evaluated retrospectively. Cryopreserved serum samples drawn before the RIC were available to measure CRP levels in 81 patients and IL-6 levels in 79 patients. Patients with CRP levels above the median of 18.5 mg/L had significantly more grade 3-4 hepatic toxicity (P = .01), longer HCT hospital stay (P = .005), more acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) (P = .003), greater nonrelapse mortality (NRM) (P = .01), and inferior overall survival (OS; P = .02). Higher baseline CRP showed no significant correlation with grade 3-4 infectious toxicity (P = .09). In contrast to CRP, pre-HCT IL-6 levels above the median of 78.3 pg/mL did not confer a statistically significant increased risk of toxicity or mortality. An elevated HCT comorbidity index (HCT-CI) did not predict for any measure of HCT morbidity. After adjustment for disease status, comorbidity, performance status, and age, elevated CRP concentration remained predictive of NRM. These data require confirmation in non–T cell–depleted conditioning regimens. If validated, they suggest that preconditioning CRP holds promise for enhancing estimates of transplantation tolerance.
A system dynamics model to facilitate public understanding of water management options in Las Vegas, Nevada

Water managers increasingly are faced with the challenge of building public or stakeholder support for resource management strategies. Building support requires raising stakeholder awareness of resource problems and understanding about the consequences of different policy options. One approach that can help managers communicate with stakeholders is system dynamics modeling. Used interactively in a public forum, a system dynamics model can be used to explain the resource system and illustrate the effects of strategies proposed by managers or suggested by forum participants. This article illustrates the process of building a strategic-level system dynamics model using the case of water management in Las Vegas, Nevada. The purpose of the model was to increase public understanding of the value of water conservation in Las Vegas. The effects of policies on water supply and demand in the system are not straightforward because of the structure of the system. Multiple feedback relationships lead to the somewhat counterintuitive result that reducing residential outdoor water use has a much greater effect on water demand than reducing indoor water use by the same amount. The model output shows this effect clearly. This paper describes the use of the model in research workshops and discusses the potential of this kind of interactive model to stimulate stakeholder interest in the structure of the system, engage participant interest more deeply, and build stakeholder understanding of the basis for management decisions.
Soil aggregate stability was an uncertain predictor of ecosystem functioning in a temperate and semiarid grassland

We estimate rangeland managers assessing ecosystem health have measured soil stability >800,000 times. Our aim was to use quantitative data from a site in the Northern Great Plains, USA and a semi-quantitative literature search to demonstrate the robustness of soil stability as an indicator of ecosystem functioning. Empirical data included measurements of plant and soil properties along a local livestock grazing gradient to determine whether soil stability (e.g., % water-stable aggregates) explained primary productivity and soil water transport for a mixed-grass prairie site in the Northern Great Plains. We measured: annual net primary productivity (ANPP), elevation, % soil moisture, measures of soil stability, and soil water transport (field-saturated infiltrability and sorptivity) across points spanning a local gradient in livestock grazing intensity (none vs. light to moderate stocking rates; mean distance separating points = 39.9 m [range = 5.2–71.3 m]). Across the sampled gradient, variation in ANPP ...
Faculty Roles and Faculty-Related Topics

Faculty who practice service-learning and community engagement are engaged scholars who focus their teaching and research on the renewal of democracy and social and environmental issues of relevance to the broader public. Their scholarship comprises a vehicle for their personal commitments and, in some cases, their respective institution’s commitments to the civic purposes of higher education. Faculty who effectively use service-learning and community-engaged pedagogies prioritize active, experiential methods, including student inquiry and community action. They embrace broader epistemologies that honor a diversity of perspectives including different ways of knowing and community-based knowledge. The research practices of faculty in service-learning and community engagement are typically more collaborative and action-oriented than is traditional in academic disciplines; the aim of research is the enhancement of the polity or public life achieved through continuous cycles of inquiry and action. Despite support for community-engaged work in the scholarship on higher education (Boyer, 1990), faculty who practice these approaches often face institutional barriers to tenure, promotion, and other rewards.
Oxidation of Diesel Particulates by Catalyzed Wall-Flow Monolith Filters

Oxydation des particules emises par un moteur diesel dans un filtre monolithique avec catalyseur a ecoulement de paroi
Why Use Requirement Contracts? The Tradeoff between Price Premium and Breach

A requirements contract is a form of exclusive dealing in which the buyer promises to buy a particular product only from one seller. This paper models a common-sense motivation for such contracts: that the buyer wants to ensure a reliable supply at a pre-arranged price without the need for renegotiation. The model requires that the buyer be unsure of his future demand, that a seller make an investment specific to the buyer, and that the transaction costs of revising or enforcing contracts be high. Transaction costs are key, because without them a better outcome can be obtained with a fixed-quantity contract. The fixed-quantity contract, however, can result in breach. If transaction costs make efficient breach too costly, option and requirements contracts have the advantage of not inducing inefficient performance. A requirements contract has the further advantage that it balances the profits of the seller across states of the world and thus allows for an average price closer to marginal cost.
Wave propagation in thermoelastic solids at very low temperature

The one-dimensional problem of an elastic half-space subjected to thermal and mechanical disturbances at its free surface is considered, using a generalized theory of the thermoelasticity which takes into account a finite velocity of propagation of thermal disturbances. An approximation of the general solution is obtained in closed form valid at temperatures near absolute zero, resulting in expresssions for temperature and strain response due to arbitrary inputs at the free boundary. These general expressions are applied to the particular problem of a step-strain input at the boundary and the results compared with previous work. The problem of a half-sine temperature pulse input is also treated.
From 'Socratic Logoi' to 'Dialogues': Dialogue in Fourth-Century Genre Theory

This paper argues that we can only have a just appreciation of the rise and early development of philosophic dialogue in Greece by bracketing the immense influence that the Platonic version of the form has exerted and turning instead to tracing how “Socratic logoi” came to be recognized as a new prose genre in fourth-century Athens. A consideration of the early terms used to name the form suggests that dialogue should not be derived from fifth-century mime or drama but should be understood in the context of the burgeoning rhetorical literature of the period; in particular, dialogue will be shown to be one of many innovative kinds of fictional speech-texts that were proclaiming new and special powers for written prose.
Radon transforms and Gegenbauer–Chebyshev integrals, I

We suggest new modifications of the Helgason’s support theorem and description of the kernel for the hyperplane Radon transform and its dual. The assumptions for functions are formulated in integral terms and close to minimal. The proofs rely on the properties of the Gegenbauer–Chebyshev integrals which generalize Abel type fractional integrals on the positive half-line.
Deconstructing Construction Law Resources

For those engaged in construction law practice, complex facets of contract, tort, and property routinely converge like a law school hypothetical run amok, with a healthy dose of alternative dispute resolution, litigation, environmental, labor, bankruptcy, and tax issues occasionally mixed in for good measure. This brief article offers tips on how to research effectively across a multitude of subject areas and introduces Virginia practitioners to a variety of relevant construction law resources.