cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolation-rearing of rats produces deficits as adults in the serotonergic innervation of hippocampus.

Abstract Isolation-rearing of rats causes a variety of behavioral changes, including anxiety, learning deficits and sensory changes related to schizophrenia. Similar changes are seen following loss of serotonin during development. Thus, the effects of isolation-rearing on behavior may be due to changes in serotonin. Sprague-Dawley rats were raised in groups of four (social animals) or in isolation, from postnatal day 22 until postnatal day 64. The hippocampi were examined immunochemically for changes in serotonin. Our findings show that serotonin terminals are lost throughout the CA regions of hippocampus, where there is also an associated loss of dendrites, but not in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. Thus, some of the brain and behavioral changes seen in isolation-reared animals could be due to loss of serotonin.
Characterization of the repetitious human DNA families

Human DNA isolated from HeLa cells or human placental tissue has been fractionated on hydroxyapatite at COt 1.0. The 25% of total DNA isolated at COt 1.0 is composed of 3% foldback DNA and 22% which renatures by second-order kinetics and can be resolved into five renatured DNA families banding at distinct densities in CsC1 gradients. The individual renatured DNA families were isolated and their physical properties including reassociation kinetics determined. A two-component kinetic analysis was used to resolve kinetic heterogeneity. The three lightest density DNA families possess satellite DNA-like properties. The two heaviest density DNA families were shown to contain reassociated highly repetitious DNA as well as single-stranded, middle-repetitious DNA sequences, suggesting interspersion. The middle repetitious DNA sequences are thought to be related in these two DNA families.
Flowfield Uncertainty Analysis for Hypersonic Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations

Uncertainty quantification in the hypersonic flow regime offers valuable information to determine physical models in need of improvement and to assist in design of vehicles and flight experiments. Here we present results of uncertainty quantification analysis based on polynomial chaos method to determine flowfield and surface heat flux uncertainty under typical blunt-body reentry conditions. The NASA Langley Aerothermodynamic Upwind Relaxation Algorithm code [Cheatwood, F., and Gnoffo, P., "Manual for the Langley Aerothermodynamic Upwind Relaxation Algorithm (LAURA)," NASA TM 4674, 1996.], was used for axisymmetric computational fluid dynamics calculations of chemically-reacting, hypersonic flow over FIRE 2 configuration. A third-order polynomial chaos method using the Gauss―Hermite quadrature was applied for determining probability density functions and moments of output quantities. Input parameters such as freestream density, velocity, and temperature were varied, and the propagation of their corresponding uncertainties on output properties of interest through the flowfield were studied. The flowfield regions where the uncertainties are amplified due to nonlinear effects have been determined. An order of magnitude increase in surface heat flux uncertainties was observed for an input freestream velocity uncertainty of ±30 m/s, or 0.29%. This parameter thus has the greatest sensitivity to variations, and conversely the freestream temperature has the least sensitivity. The utility of analyzing higher moments, such as skewness, in addition to mean and deviation of the uncertain output parameters has also been demonstrated.
4.2.3 Tools and Fools and Aphorisms

It's time for a sanity check on the use of tools for Systems Engineering. This paper is based on the authors experiences on both sides of the SE tools equation. On one side is the tool builder, on another side is the tool user, and also on some side (often the outside) is the manager or owner that has to pay for the tool only to discover that the tool purchase was the proverbial tip of the iceberg. This common sense treatment of such weighty issues as: “Tools! We don't need no stinking tools”, “What comes first-the method or the tool?”, “Can I afford this tool if you give it to me free?”,“ Will you show me your F-Net if I show you my STD?”, and “Who does the Systems Engineering for Systems Engineering tools?” may actually have a point.
Adenoma detection at colonoscopy by polypectomy in withdrawal only versus both insertion and withdrawal: a randomized controlled trial

Colonic configuration during insertion phase (IP) and withdrawal phase (WP) is different and some polyps seen during IP are difficult to find during WP and vice versa. To determine if polypectomy performed during both IP and WP of colonoscopy (study arm) increases adenoma detection rate (ADR) compared to WP only (control arm). In this prospective randomized controlled trial, adults undergoing out-patient colonoscopy were enrolled. The primary outcome was mean number of adenomas detected per patient. Secondary outcomes were ADR, defined as the proportion of colonoscopies with at least one adenoma, polyp detection rates (PDR), number of patients classified as high-risk group (presence of ≥3 adenomas of any size, any adenoma ≥1 cm in size, or adenoma with villous component, or high grade dysplasia), procedural times, patients discomfort, and ease of procedure. Among 772 patients enrolled, 610 were included (329 in study arm and 281 in control arm). In both arms, mean number of adenomas detected per patient were similar, 0.78 ± 1.4 vs. 0.74 ± 1.5, P = 0.75. Also, ADR (39.2 vs. 38.1 %, P = 0.77) and PDR (57.1 and 54.1 %, P = 0.45) were similar. Mean insertion time was significantly higher in study arm (10.2 ± 5.8 vs. 9.3 ± 5.6 min, p = 0.046). Proportion of patients identified as high-risk group were significantly higher in study arm (18.8 vs. 11.7 %, P = 0.016). Conclusions: Polypectomy performed during both IP and WP compared to the WP only, did not improve ADR or mean number of adenomas detected per patient. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, #NCT01025960.
Cloning and Heterologous Expression of Blasticidin S Biosynthetic Genes from Streptomyces griseochromogenes.

Two small chromosomal DNA fragments (2.6 and 4.8 kb) from the blasticidin S producer Streptomyces griseochromogenes were cloned in the high copy number vector pIJ702 and shown to confer increased resistance to blasticidin S upon S. lividans TK24. These fragments were used to screen a library of S. griseochromogenes DNA prepared in the cosmid shuttle vector pOJ446. Cosmids containing DNA inserts of at least 23 kb were identified which hybridized to one or the other resistance fragment, but not to both. Transformation of S. lividans TK24 with several cosmids hybridizing with the 4.8 kb resistance fragment resulted in clones that produced cytosylglucuronic acid, the first intermediate of the blasticidin S biosynthetic pathway, and other blasticidin-related metabolites. A strain of S. lividans TK24 harboring both the 4.8 kb-hybridizing cosmid and the 2.6 kb resistance fragment cloned in pIJ702 produced 12.5 times as much demethylblasticidin S as the transformant harboring the cosmid alone.
State‐resolved study of coadsorption effects on the stimulated dissociation of NO2 on Pt(111)

Stimulated surface processes, which are induced by electronic transitions, are especially sensitive to the presence of coadsorbates. We present here a detailed study of electron (5–350 eV) stimulated dissociation of chemisorbed NO2 on an O‐covered Pt(111) surface, utilizing state‐resolved laser resonance‐ionization detection of the NO gas‐phase product. Several dramatic effects on NO2 dissociation occur with increasing O atom coverage (up to θO=0.75 monolayer). First there is a large (×26) enhancement in the specific dissociation yield. Second, there is a narrowing of the translational energy distributions. A third observation is a distinct propensity (>4:1 at low J) for populating the upper (Ω=3/2) over the lower (Ω=1/2) level of the spin‐orbit‐split NO 2ΠΩ ground state. The enhanced yield can be understood in terms of increased lifetime(s) due to an O‐induced reduction in charge transfer screening. Diminished charge transfer also reduces the vibrational and rotational excitation of the NO product. The s...
Protein, carbohydrate, and lipid levels of the adult body wall of Actinopyga agassizi, Synaptula hydriformis and Pentacta pygmaea (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea)

Abstract 1. 1. Levels of protein, carbohydrate, and total lipid (in percent dry weight of the body wall) are 18.6, 1.3 and 1.5% for Actinopyga agassizi ; 28.1, 2.4 and 6.2% for Synaptula hydriformis ; and 22.6, 0.9 and 1.5% for Pentacta pygmaea . 2. 2. The body wall of a standard sized (142 g wet body wall weight) adult Actinopyga agassizi contains 5.0 g protein, 0.35 g carbohydrate, and 0.40 g lipid. 3. 3. The large amount of organic material in the body wall suggests that it has great potential as a nutrient storage organ in holothuroids. The high levels of protein suggest that it would be the primary energy source during prolonged need.
The origins of caucus selection of cabinet

(1955). The origins of caucus selection of cabinet. Historical Studies: Australia and New Zealand: Vol. 7, No. 25, pp. 37-43.
Key theoretical frameworks for intervention: understanding and promoting behavior change in parent-infant feeding choices in a low-income population.

The early introduction of solids to infants is a risk factor associated with later health problems including allergies, overweight, and diabetes. The Infant Feeding Series (TIFS), a newly designed curriculum that promotes the appropriate transition to solids through parenting education and behavior change among low-income mothers, used the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Transtheoretical Model of Change to develop TIFS curricular foci and activities. Using a pre-post design, pilot study results indicate that after exposure to the TIFS curriculum, mothers had significantly increased knowledge about appropriate infant feeding, could more accurately identify developmental indicators of infants’ readiness for solids, and reported greater feelings of self efficacy about initiating and maintaining healthy feeding practices. Editors’ Strategic Implications: Replication is necessary, but TIFS appears to be a promising prevention program based on short-term knowledge and long-term behavioral outcomes (i.e., healthy feeding practices).
Anatomy, phylogeny and palaeobiology of early archosaurs and their kin

Jurassic and Cretaceous dinosaurs get all the public attention (and fat movie contracts), but as this collection of papers makes clear, visitors to a Triassic Park would have encountered just as ma...
The Research and Design of Multi-Source Data Exchange System Based on Middleware Technology

To resolve the complexity and diversity of data exchange, the paper designed an data exchange system based on middleware technology, which realized different parsing and filtering capabilities. The method can meet the need of data exchange on the premise that network security can be guaranteed. The test results show that functionality and performance of the system meet the requirements of data isolation and exchange.
ON FUTURE WORTH AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO PRESENT WORTH AS AN INVESTMENT CRITERION

ABSTRACT The present worth (PW) and future worth (FW) decision criteria are to be found in virtually all current engineering economy textbooks. Although the relationships between the internal rate of return (IRR) criterion and PW has been widely discussed in the literature, there remains some misunderstanding as to similar relationships between PW and FW. Of particular importance is the interest rates at which PW and FW are maximized. It is shown here that the maximizing rates are not necessarily equal. This leads to the seemingly peculiar result that a change in the discount rate may decrease the PW while at the same time increasing the FW, or vice versa. Numerical, mathematical and intuitive arguments are presented.
Evidence for a membrane surface defect in erythrocytes in Huntington's disease

Abstract Electron spin resonance studies of erythrocyte membranes from patients with Huntington's disease and normal controls have been performed. Intact erythrocytes in each case were either untreated or subjected to proteolysis with the membrane impermeable enzymes, pronase, chymotrypsin, or trypsin. Membrane ghosts were prepared from untreated and protease-treated intact cells and spin labeled with protein- or lipid-specific spin probes. Comparison of the resulting electron spin resonance spectra confirmed our previous findings that in untreated samples the relevant parameter of the protein-specific spin label was increased in Huntington's disease (P
Academic consortium for the evaluation of computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) in mammography

Computer aided diagnosis (CADx) is a promising technology for the detection of breast cancer in screening mammography. A number of different approaches have been developed for CADx research that have achieved significant levels of performance. Research teams now recognize the need for a careful and detailed evaluation study of approaches to accelerate the development of CADx, to make CADx more clinically relevant and to optimize the CADx algorithms based on unbiased evaluations. The results of such a comparative study may provide each of the participating teams with new insights into the optimization of their individual CADx algorithms. This consortium of experienced CADx researchers is working as a group to compare results of the algorithms and to optimize the performance of CADx algorithms by learning from each other. Each institution will be contributing an equal number of cases that will be collected under a standard protocol for case selection, truth determination, and data acquisition to establish a common and unbiased database for the evaluation study. An evaluation procedure for the comparison studies are being developed to analyze the results of individual algorithms for each of the test cases in the common database. Optimization of individual CADx algorithms can be made based on the comparison studies. The consortium effort is expected to accelerate the eventual clinical implementation of CADx algorithms at participating institutions.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Out of machine age?: complexity, sociotechnical systems and actor network theory

Abstract This paper compares sociotechnical systems (STS) theory and actor network theory (ANT) as developed by Latour, Callon and Law. We examine how STS and ANT can be viewed as responses to rationalist/functionalist research on large sociotechnical systems and as extensions and elaborations of pragmatist/culturalist frameworks developed in sociology and anthropology. We reexamine, from an actor network perspective, Trist and Bamforth’s seminal article in which the concept of a sociotechnical system was introduced. We also discuss how STS ideas on interactive planning can be combined with concepts from ANT to investigate interdependent processes of invention and innovation in large sociotechnical networks.
Transition operators in acoustic-wave diffraction theory. I. General theory.

The objective of this paper is the establishment of a formal theory of the scattering of time-harmonic acoustic scalar waves from impenetrable, immobile obstacles; the time-independent formal scattering theory of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, in particular the theory of the complete Green's function and the transition (T) operator, provides the model. The quantum-mechanical approach is modified to allow the treatment of acoustic-wave scattering with imposed boundary conditions of impedance type on the surface \ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\Omega} of an impenetrable obstacle. With ${\mathit{k}}_{0}$ as the free-space wave number of the signal, a simplified expression is obtained for the ${\mathit{k}}_{0}$-dependent T operator for a general case of homogeneous impedance boundary conditions for the acoustic wave on \ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\Omega}. All the nonelementary operators that enter the expression for the T operator are formally simple, rational algebraic functions of a certain invertible linear operator Z${\mathrm{\ifmmode \check{}\else \v{}\fi{}}}_{\mathit{k}0}$, which is called the radiation impedance operator, and which maps any sufficiently well-behaved, complex-valued function on \ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\Omega} into another such function on \ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\Omega}. The nonlocal operators Z${\mathrm{\ifmmode \check{}\else \v{}\fi{}}}_{\mathit{k}0}$ and Z${\mathrm{\ifmmode \check{}\else \v{}\fi{}}}_{\mathit{k}0}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ are defined only implicitly, in that Z${\mathrm{\ifmmode \check{}\else \v{}\fi{}}}_{\mathit{k}0}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ is the operator that maps the limiting-value function on \ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\Omega} of an outgoing-wave solution to the scalar Helmholtz equation into the uniquely corresponding limiting-normal-derivative function, and Z${\mathrm{\ifmmode \check{}\else \v{}\fi{}}}_{\mathit{k}0}$ does the inverse operation. Previous appearances in the literature of these operators, or their analogs for other elliptic, linear partial-differential equation systems, are cited. An analytical study of the dominant singularities of the operators (considered as two-point kernels on a smooth \ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\Omega}), and of their behavior in the geometrical acoustics limit, is the subject of a second paper [G. E. Hahne, following paper, Phys. Rev. A 43, 1990 (1991)].
Pituitary follistatin and activin gene expression, and the testicular regulation of FSH in the adult Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

In rats, FSHβ gene expression and FSH secretion are increased and decreased, respectively, by pituitary activin and follistatin. Because little information is available on the paracrine control of FSH secretion in the primate, follistatin and activin/inhibinβ B messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were measured in pituitaries of adult male rhesus monkeys 6 weeks after castration or sham surgery (n = 5/group). Follistatin mRNA was determined by quantitative RT-PCR assay using oligonucleotide primers designed to span exons 3–5 of the human follistatin gene. Activin/inhibinβ B mRNA levels were measured by ribonuclease protection. Orchidectomy resulted in a 100-fold increase in plasma FSH concentrations and a 60-fold rise in those of LH. In castrated monkeys, levels of mRNA encoding FSHβ, LHβ, α- subunit, and GnRH receptor (GnRH-R) were increased 21-, 2.1-, 1.7-, and 1.7-fold, respectively (P < 0.01). Levels of pituitary follistatin and activin/inhibin βB mRNAs, however, were similar in castrated and intact animals. T...
A Semantic Framework for Integrated Modeling and Simulation of Transportation Systems

Abstract A number of modeling and simulation tools exist for studying transportation systems. The value of these tools will be significantly increased if they can be used in an integrated manner to investigate scenarios involving domain aspects modeled by different tools. This paper describes the design of an integrated traffic modeling and simulation framework using Semantic Web technology. The core component of the system is a domain ontology model which captures domain concepts and forms the common vocabulary for data and application integration. The proposed framework is designed to be modular and extensible, and to accommodate advanced visualization and human interaction together with data access and management capabilities. It hides the disparity of data formats, models and tools from domain experts and provides a single logical space for simulation design. We describe the technologies to achieve these goals and discuss the methodologies through representative use cases in studying transportation systems and control algorithms.
Acuity-Driven Gigapixel Visualization

We present a framework for acuity-driven visualization of super-high resolution image data on gigapixel displays. Tiled display walls offer a large workspace that can be navigated physically by the user. Based on head tracking information, the physical characteristics of the tiled display and the formulation of visual acuity, we guide an out-of-core gigapixel rendering scheme by delivering high levels of detail only in places where it is perceivable to the user. We apply this principle to gigapixel image rendering through adaptive level of detail selection. Additionally, we have developed an acuity-driven tessellation scheme for high-quality Focus-and-Context (F+C) lenses that significantly reduces visual artifacts while accurately capturing the underlying lens function. We demonstrate this framework on the Reality Deck, an immersive gigapixel display. We present the results of a user study designed to quantify the impact of our acuity-driven rendering optimizations in the visual exploration process. We discovered no evidence suggesting a difference in search task performance between our framework and naive rendering of gigapixel resolution data, while realizing significant benefits in terms of data transfer overhead. Additionally, we show that our acuity-driven tessellation scheme offers substantially increased frame rates when compared to naive pre-tessellation, while providing indistinguishable image quality.
Adaptive computational models of fast learning of motion direction discrimination

In a previous study, we found that subjects' performance in a task of direction discrimination in stochastic motion stimuli shows fast improvement in the absence of feedback and the learned ability is retained over a period of time. We model this learning using two unsupervised approaches: a clustering model that learns to accommodate the motion noise, and an averaging model that learns to ignore the noise. Extensive simulations with the models show performance similar to psychophysical results.
Seat belt aorta: endovascular management with a stent-graft

PURPOSE: To report the endovascular treatment of a relatively uncommon type of deceleration injury to the abdominal aorta. CASE REPORT: A 21-year-old backseat passenger was wearing a single lap belt without shoulder harness when the car was involved in a collision. He sustained a transverse (Chance) fracture of the third lumbar vertebra and a circumferential dissection of the infrarenal abdominal aorta with pseudoaneurysm. As an interim measure while a stent-graft was obtained, a Wallstent was deployed to tack down the dissection and prevent distal embolization. Thirty-six hours later, an AneuRx endograft was successfully implanted inside the Wallstent to seal the pseudoaneurysm. The patient's recovery was uneventful, and the endograft remains secure and the pseudoaneurysm excluded at 10 months after the accident. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular repair of "seat belt aorta" is a minimally invasive, straightforward method of management for this type of aortic injury. The potential for infection in a contaminated peritoneal cavity and the long-term outcome of this treatment have not been determined. Language: en
An Aromatic Detector for the Infrared

It has been shown previously that in order to explain the electronic processes in a whole class of aromatic solids starting from the aromatic molecular systems and running through condensed aromatics, baked carbons, and polycrystalline graphite to perfect graphite crystals, the existence of an energy gap between the filled π band and the conduction band has to be assumed, the energy gap decreasing gradually with the increase of molecular dimensions and disappearing in the limit for large graphite crystals. This process of the gradual decrease of the energy gap was later investigated for pyrolyzed cellophane films heat treated up to temperatures of 800°C by study of the position of the long-wavelength limit of the absorption. It was found that the position of the absorption limit does in fact move from the visible into the infrared with increase in molecular size (increase of maximum heat-treatment temperature). The possibility of an exact control in the position of the infrared limit and furthermore the possibility of shifting it as far into the infrared as necessary should make such substances of great value as photodetectors. In this paper, preliminary results of experiments performed with thin films of condensed aromatic substances are reported. The presence of a photoresponse with a sensitivity limit roughly corresponding to the absorption limit has been established using square-wave illumination with frequencies up to somewhat more than 2000 cycles per second. The current shows saturation within about one-twentieth of a second. The amplitude of the fundamental is given as a function of pulse frequency in Fig. 2. The signal-to-noise ratio is found to be considerably inferior to that shown by commercial PbS photocells. The simplicity of such cells is remarkable, however, and might be a great asset for some special applications. Cells with infrared limits of photoresponse up to somewhat more than 5μ were obtained, the extension into the farther infrared being prevented by the increase in the conductivity of the films. The photoresponse seems to be a complicated process involving a combination of a photoelectric excitation with an effect of essentially bolometric nature.
Application of a linear time invariant model in the Fourier domain to perform statistical analysis of functional magnetic resonance images

A linear time invariant model is applied to functional fMRI blood flow data. This model assumes that the fMRI stochastic output sequence can be determined by a constant plus a linear filter (hemodynamic response function) of several fixed deterministic inputs and an error term, assumed stationary with zero mean and error spectrum. An on-off finger tapping experiment was performed where the subject repetitively tapped their fingers for 30 seconds and remained still for 30 seconds. Thirty three disjoint frequency bands, 3 wave numbers wide were chosen to analyze the data. At each band an F- statistical image was constructed to test ((alpha) equals .05/33) whether power from the input signal induced a response in the output signal. Activation was seen at frequency .0154 Hz close to the frequency for maximum power of the input signal, .0167 Hz in the contralateral motor strip and motor cortex. In conclusion, (1) No assumptions are made about the filter. (2) Several different deterministic inputs may be applied. (3) Problems with temporal correlation are avoided by performing the statistics in the Fourier domain. (4) Testing can be performed for differences in the hemodynamic transfer function at different spatial locations under different experimental conditions.
Diffusion of HDO into Single-Crystal H216O Ice Multilayers: Comparison with H218O

The diffusion of HDO into ultrathin single-crystal H216O ice multilayers was investigated using a novel combination of laser-induced thermal desorption (LITD) probing and isothermal desorption depth-profiling. The single-crystal hexagonal ice multilayers were grown epitaxially on a Ru(001) metal substrate, and the diffusion coefficients were measured perpendicular to the basal (0001) facet. The measured HDO diffusion coefficients ranged from D = (2.2 ± 0.3) × 10-16 to D = (3.9 ± 0.4) × 10-14 cm2/s over the temperature range 153−170 K. Arrhenius analysis of the temperature-dependent diffusion coefficients yielded a diffusion activation energy of EA = 17.0 ± 1.0 kcal/mol and a preexponential factor of D0 = (4.2 ± 0.8) × 108 cm2/s. The similarity of the diffusion coefficients for HDO and H218O indicates that H/D exchange does not contribute significantly to HDO diffusion in ice. The agreement between the diffusion kinetics for HDO and H218O argues that the HDO diffusion occurs via a molecular transport mecha...
The fate of the larval storage protein calliphorin during adult development of Calliphora vicina

Abstract Purified calliphorin labelled with [ 14 C]phenylalanine by in vivo synthesis was injected into mature Calliphora vicina larvae to examine the distribution of label during metamorphosis and in young adults. About 2.5% of the administered radioactivity was expired during adult development, and 10% was incorporated in the puparium. At the middle of adult development calliphorin was the only detectable radioactive soluble protein in contrast to the situation in the teneral adult where most soluble proteins were labelled. All organs and/or tissues of 4-day flies were radioactive; nearly half the phenylalanine of calliphorin was incorporated into flight muscle, actin and myosin being strongly labelled. Earlier hypotheses that calliphorin is a larval storage protein are now experimentally verified.
Shared agency with parents for educational goals: ethnic differences and implications for college adjustment.

This study proposed and confirmed three ways in which college students can perceive shared agency and two ways in which they can perceive non-shared agency with parents when pursuing educational goals in college. Differences and similarities were examined among participants from four ethnic backgrounds (N = 515; 67% female): East Asian American, Southeast Asian American, Filipino/Pacific Islander American, and European American. Results indicated that Asian American youth reported higher levels of non-shared agency with parents (i.e., parental directing and noninvolvement), lower levels of shared agency (i.e., parental accommodation, support, or collaboration), and poorer college adjustment compared to European Americans. However, ethnic similarities were found whereby perceived shared agency in education with parents was associated with college adjustment. Multiple mediation analyses also indicated that our model of shared and non-shared agency with parents explained differences in college adjustment between Asian and European Americans, though more strongly for comparisons between European and East Asian Americans. Our results suggest that parents continue to be important in the education of older youth but that continued directing of youth’s education in college can be maladaptive.
Soft Tissue Complications of Dorsal Versus Volar Plating for Ulnar Shortening Osteotomy

Purpose To compare the results and complications of fixed-angle dorsal locking plate fixation for ulnar shortening osteotomy (USO) with the conventional technique of volar plating. Methods We performed a retrospective review of 32 patients undergoing USO on 34 wrists and compared the outcomes of 16 consecutive cases with dorsal 2.4/2.7-mm fixed-angle plating and 18 consecutive cases with volar 3.5-mm plating. A minimum of 12 months' follow-up was used to assess outcomes. Primary outcomes were painful hardware and removal of symptomatic implants. Secondary outcomes were pain, Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation, range of motion, time to union, grip strength, and complications. Results There were no significant differences in Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation, pain score, range of motion, or time to union. Relative grip strength compared with the contralateral upper extremity in the dorsal group was higher than the volar group. After adjusting for hand dominance, dorsal plating was significantly associated with higher relative grip strength. There were 2 complications in the dorsal group, including one case with painful hardware. This was significantly lower than in the volar group, which had 10 complications including 2 nonunions and 6 cases of hardware-related soft tissue irritation. Conclusions Both volar and dorsal plating techniques for USO yielded good functional outcomes. There was a higher incidence of painful hardware requiring removal of implants in the volar group. Based on these findings, we advocate dorsal plate position using a smaller fixed-angle plate for USO in ulnar impaction syndrome. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic III.
Economic analysis of reliability differentiated service (for electricity consumers)

Welfare gains and reserve reduction for giving electricity customers the choice of reliability of service are analyzed. The problem of specifying reliability indices to give proper signals to the consumer is outlined. The welfare maximization formulation of Ramsey has been extended to include reliability constraints. The results show uncertain benefits from reliability-based pricing. There appears to be no economic compulsion to warrant such pricing schemes. >
Green element solutions of nonlinear diffusion–reaction model

Abstract The application of a hybrid numerical technique for the solution of the nonlinear diffusion–reaction equation is achieved by the Green element method (GEM). By discretizing both the boundary and problem domain, GEM is able to solve the whole system for the field variables and their derivatives. The ease with which satisfactory results are obtained demonstrates the utility of GEM as a hybrid numerical technique.
Abstract A21: Tissue platinum concentration and tumor response in non-small cell lung cancer

Background: Platinum resistance is a major limitation in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Reduced intracellular drug accumulation is one of the most consistently identified features of platinum-resistant cell lines, but clinical data are limited. We assessed effects of tissue platinum concentrations on tumor response, time to recurrence, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with early-stage NSCLC following neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy. Methods: We measured total platinum concentrations in 44 archived fresh frozen NSCLC specimens from patients who received neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy. Samples were analyzed by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry to assess absorbance reading associated with platinum concentration. Four specimens from patients who underwent surgery only and one patient who received pemetrexed as neoadjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed as negative controls. Absorbance value per mg of tissue was correlated with percent reduction in tumor size on post- vs prechemotherapy CT scans. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to evaluate differences in time to recurrence and survival between two groups divided by median platinum concentration. Results: Platinum absorbance values in 44 neoadjuvant specimens were easily detectable and ranged from 0.6 to 6.7 × 10−3 per mg of tissue while five negative controls demonstrated absorbance readings similar to 0.1N HCL. Platinum absorbance correlated significantly with percent reduction in tumor size (R2 = 0.48, P <0.00001). The same correlations were seen in cisplatin ( P = 0.0003), carboplatin ( P = 0.0013), adenocarcinoma ( P = 0.0003) and squamous cell carcinoma ( P = 0.019) groups. Furthermore, there was no significant impact of potential variables such as the type of platinum compound, number of cycles, pre-treatment tumor diameter and time lapse from last chemotherapy on platinum concentration. Patients with lower Pt concentration also had shorter time to recurrence ( P = 0.0494), progression free survival ( P = 0.0366) and overall survival ( P = 0.035). Conclusion: This is the first tissue-based study to establish a relationship between tissue platinum concentrations and response in NSCLC. Reduced intratumoral platinum accumulation may constitute a significant mechanism of platinum resistance even in clinical specimens. Further studies investigating factors that modulate intracellular platinum concentration are warranted (Supported by National Foundation of Cancer Research 90088436, Department of Defense W81XWH-07-1-0306, National Institute of Health CA127263, CA160687 and CA16672).
Numerical calculation of subsonic jets in crossflow with reduced numerical diffusion

A series of calculations are reported for two, subsonic jet in crossflow geometries. The parametric variation examined are the lateral spacing of a row of jets. The first series of calculations corresponds to a widely space jet geometry, S/D = 4, and the second series corresponds to closely spaced jets, S/D = 2. The calculations are done with alternate differencing schemes to illustrate the impact of numerical diffusion. The calculated jet trajectories agreed well with experimental data in the widely spaced jet geometry, but not in the closely spaced geometry.
Management and Results of Peroneal Nerve Lesions

Objective A retrospective analysis of clinical results in a relatively large series of peroneal nerve lesion is presented. Historically, such lesions have been difficult to manage successfully. Methods Between 1967 and 1991, 302 patients with either injury or tumor of the peroneal nerve at the knee were evaluated at Louisiana State University Medical Center. Mechanisms of injury included stretch injury with or without fracture, "sharp" or "blunt" laceration, gunshot wound, compression, entrapment, and iatrogenic injury. Surgery was performed on 183 of 276 patients (66%). If spontaneous recovery had not occurred 4 to 6 months after injury, patients were operated on and lesions in continuity were usually evaluated using nerve action potential recordings. Results Eighty-six patients required interfascicular grafts. Graft lengths varied from 4 to 20 cm (average, 10 cm). Grafts measured Conclusion Neural repair is the first priority in selected patients with peroneal nerve palsy. As with other nerve lesions, a timely operation and thorough intraoperative evaluation are necessary for optimal results.
Risk Stratification of Community-Acquired Pneumonia: What Does All of This Mean?

Pneumonia and influenza are the seventh leading causes of death in the United States and pneumonia is the most common cause of severe sepsis. Accurate methods of risk-stratifying patients with suspected pneumonia can substantially affect cost of care, resource requirement, and outcomes. The study by Huang et al, published in this month’s Annals, provides important and timely data to assist emergency physicians in risk stratification of patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Using an observational cohort design, Huang et al performed a 2-step approach to risk stratification in community-acquired pneumonia. In the first step, the Pneumonia Severity Index score was calculated and subjects were dichotomized into low risk, defined as a Pneumonia Severity Index score I to III, or high risk, defined as Pneumonia Severity Index score IV or V (the authors also calculated the CURB-65 score; however, for brevity we will discuss only the Pneumonia Severity Index). In the second step, a serum procalcitonin concentration was measured and categorized into one of 4 predetermined tiers. Analyses were then performed across Pneumonia Severity Index groups and procalcitonin tiers to determine whether these risk stratification methods were complementary as separate prognostic indicators. Their major finding was that among patients deemed high risk by Pneumonia Severity Index, those in the lowest procalcitonin group ( 0.1 ng/mL) had a negative likelihood ratio of 0.09 (95% confidence interval 0.02 to 0.36) for the primary outcome of 30-day mortality and a lower occurrence of other adverse outcomes. The authors conclude that in their proposed 2-step approach of using Pneumonia Severity Index followed by procalcitonin, only high-risk patients would potentially benefit from the procalcitonin measurement. We commend and congratulate the authors of this report for carrying out a large, rigorous, and elegant investigation of high methodologic quality. The report is clear, concise, and exceptionally easy to read. The limitations of the study are comprehensive and clearly outlined. The conclusions are conservative and are well within the reasonable bounds of the data
Collector probe measurements of deuterium and impurity fluxes in the ZT-40M reversed-field pinch

Abstract The edge plasma and impurity content of the ZT-40M reversed-field pinch during operation without limiters are characterized using silicon collector probes. After exposure to a number of deuterium discharges, analysis of the probe samples yields information about both the ion temperature and the impurity flux. Deuterium retention and depth profile measurements show that the charge-exchange outflux from ZT-40M consists of two components: a large 50 eV component and a smaller, energetic component corresponding to an ion temperature of ≈ 400 eV. Measured deposits of nickel, chromium, iron, and molybdenum atoms, which are the main constituents of the Inconel 625 liner, indicate that the flux of metal atoms is 1–2% of the total deuterium outflux.
The effect of load uncertainty on anticipatory muscle activity in catching

To investigate how the CNS copes with load uncertainty in catching, anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) in one-handed catching of balls of known and unknown weights were compared. Twenty-nine (n = 29) men (mean age = 21.1 years) participated, all of whom had engaged in a sport activity requiring hand–eye coordination. Participants’ muscle activity in the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, wrist flexor group, and bilateral erector spinae at L4-5 was recorded using electromyography (EMG) while they caught visually identical balls of four different weights (0.5, 1.33, 2.17, and 3.0 kg). EMG integrals were computed for the 1 s prior to ball drop (pre-drop period), and the interval between ball drop and catch (drop period). Uncertainty about ball weight had no effect on APA activity during the pre-drop period. During the drop period, however, load uncertainty did influence APA activity in the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, and the wrist flexor muscles (i.e., the effect of ball weight on APA magnitude depended on the presence or absence of load knowledge). In the known ball weight condition, participants exhibit greater APA magnitude with increases in ball weight. In contrast, under the unknown ball weight condition, APA magnitude was relatively consistent across ball weights and at a level similar to the APA magnitude for an intermediate weight (i.e., the second heaviest ball of four) in the known weight condition. In catching balls of unknown weights, the CNS appears to scale APA magnitude to afford the greatest chance of catching the ball, regardless of the weight.
Autonomous underwater vehicles: Hybrid control of mission and motion

This paper provides an experimental implementation and verification of a hybrid (mixed discrete state/ continuous state) controller for semi-autonomous and autonomous underwater vehicles in which the missions imply multiple task robot behavior. An overview of some of the missions being considered for this rapidly developing technology is mentioned including environmental monitoring, underwater inspection, geological survey as well as military missions in mine countermeasures.
Effect of heating order on radiation response of mouse tumor and skin

Abstract The response of C3H mouse mammary adenocarcinomas and skin to irradiation either immediately before, or during heating at 43°C was evaluated. The therapeutic gain factor (TGF) was 1.3 for irradiation during heating, but only 0.9 for irradiation prior to heating. X-irradiation also was done 2 hr before, during or 2 hr after heating at 42.5°C. Heating times were 15, 30 and 60 min. There was no TGF for irradiation following 60 min. heating. When irradiation preceded 1 hr of heating, the TGF was 1.2. Therapeutic gains also were achieved for 30 min. of heating regardless of sequence, although the largest TGF of 1.3 was obtained for simultaneous treatment. TGFs of 1.3 were obtained for 15 min. heating 2 hr prior to or during irradiation. The greater TGFs for shorter heating times resulted from the small effect of heat on skin response, but significant effect on tumor control.
Subduction zone evolution and low viscosity wedges and channels

Dehydration of subducting lithosphere likely transports fluid into the mantle wedge where the viscosity is decreased. Such a decrease in viscosity could form a low viscosity wedge (LVW) or a low viscosity channel (LVC) on top of the subducting slab. Using numerical models, we investigate the influence of low viscosity wedges and channels on subduction zone structure. Slab dip changes substantially with the viscosity reduction within the LVWs and LVCs. For models with or without trench rollback, overthickening of slabs is greatly reduced byLVWs or LVCs. Two divergent evolutionary pathways have been found depending on the maximum depth extentoftheLVWandwedgeviscosity.Assumingaviscositycontrastof0.1withbackgroundasthenosphere,modelswithaLVWthat extendsdown to 400km depthshow asteeply dipping slab, while models with anLVW that extends to muchshallower depth, such as 200 km, can produce slabs that are flat lying beneath the overriding plate. There is a narrow range of mantle viscosities that produces flatslabs (5to10×10 19 Pas) andthe slab flatteningprocessisenhanced bytrenchrollback. Slabcanbedecoupled fromthe overriding platewithaLVCifthe thicknessisatleastafew10s ofkm,the viscosityreduction isatleastafactor oftwoandthedepthextentofthe LVC is several hundred km. These models have important implications for the geochemical and spatial evolution of volcanic arcs and the state of stress within the overriding plate. The models explain the poor correlation between traditional geodynamic controls, subductingplateageandconvergencerates,onslabdip.Wepredictthatwhenvolcanicarcschangetheirdistancefromthetrench,they could be preceded by changes in arc chemistry. We predict that there could be a larger volatile input into the wedge when arcs migrate toward the trench and visa-versa. The transition of a subduction zone into the flat-lying regime could be preceded by changes in the volatile budget such that the dehydration front moves to shallower depths. Our flat-slab models shed some light on puzzling flat subductionsystems,likeinCentralMexico,wherethereisnodeformationwithintheoverridingplateabovetheflatsegment.Thelack
There’s plenty of gloom at the bottom: the many challenges of accurate quantitation in size-based oligomeric separations

There is a variety of small-molecule species (e.g., tackifiers, plasticizers, oligosaccharides) the size-based characterization of which is of considerable scientific and industrial importance. Likewise, quantitation of the amount of oligomers in a polymer sample is crucial for the import and export of substances into the USA and European Union (EU). While the characterization of ultra-high molar mass macromolecules by size-based separation techniques is generally considered a challenge, it is this author’s contention that a greater challenge is encountered when trying to perform, for quantitation purposes, separations in and of the oligomeric region. The latter thesis is expounded herein, by detailing the various obstacles encountered en route to accurate, quantitative oligomeric separations by entropically dominated techniques such as size-exclusion chromatography, hydrodynamic chromatography, and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation, as well as by methods which are, principally, enthalpically driven such as liquid adsorption and temperature gradient interaction chromatography. These obstacles include, among others, the diminished sensitivity of static light scattering (SLS) detection at low molar masses, the non-constancy of the response of SLS and of commonly employed concentration-sensitive detectors across the oligomeric region, and the loss of oligomers through the accumulation wall membrane in asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation. The battle is not lost, however, because, with some care and given a sufficient supply of sample, the quantitation of both individual oligomeric species and of the total oligomeric region is often possible.