cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High frequency qrs electrocardiography in the detection of reperfusion following thrombolytic therapy

The hypothesis that an increase in the amplitude (root-mean-square voltage) of the high frequency (150-250 Hz) components of the QRS complex occurs with successful reperfusion following thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and fails to occur when thrombolysis fails was tested. Clinical markers for successful or failed reperfusion following thrombolytic therapy for AMI are notoriously insensitive. The amplitude of the high-frequency components of the QRS complex decreases during ischemia and returns to normal with resolution of ischemia, but neither the variability in measurement of these potentials nor their patterns of change during the course of AMI have been described. In 32 control subjects, the average coefficient of variation for the amplitude of the highfrequency QRS complex was 10% or 0.3 uV. Based on these data, for the acute infarction population a significant change in this measurement was therefore defined as a change in amplitude > 20% or 0.6 uV on two consecutive recordings. In 30 patients with AMI treated with a thrombolytic agent, either cardiac catheterization, serial serum myoglobin, or complete resolution of ST-segment elevation were used to define successful or failed reperfusion. High-frequency QRS electrocardiograms were obtained at the start of treatment with a thrombolytic agent and for 3 h thereafter using a signal-averaging technique and digital filtering. Standard 12-lead electrocardiograms were obtained at the same time. In patients who reperfused successfully, the high-frequency QRS amplitude increased significantly (1.2 ± 0.9 uV above its nadir at 83 ± 36 min after initiation of thrombolytic therapy) in 23 of 25 patients. In contrast, the highfrequency QRS amplitude did not change or declined in all five patients who failed to reperfuse (-0.4 ± 0.4 uV, p < 0.05 compared with successful reperfusion). Traditional clinical markers such as resolution of chest pain and ST-segment elevation failed to distinguish successful and failed reperfusion. High-frequency QRS electrocardiography is a rapid, reliable bedside technique for discriminating between successful and failed reperfusion in patients treated with thrombolytic agents for AMI.
Lifestyle Modification Counseling of Patients with Dyslipidemias by Pharmacists and Other Health Professionals

ABSTRACT Objectives To establish whether patients who are taking lipid-lowering medications receive information on lifestyle modifications from health care providers when originally prescribed and whether they continue to receive follow- up information on lifestyle modifications, and to establish where patients with dyslipidemias are receiving information about lowering their serum cholesterol levels through lifestyle modifications. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Two community pharmacies and two hospitals in two mediumsized cities in the midwestern area of the United States. Participants 234 patients taking medication to lower serum lipids. Intervention Paper-based survey. Main Outcome Measure Responses to survey items. Results Nearly three quarters (73.9%) of participants received information about lowering their serum lipids through lifestyle modifications when they were first diagnosed with elevated serum cholesterol concentrations. Of these, most (83.8%) said that the information came from their physician. Fewer than one half (48.3%) of all participants said that they continued to receive this type of information. Those who received lifestyle modification information at their original diagnosis and who continued to receive this type of information were more likely to be actively trying to lower their serum lipid levels through diet (93.1%) and exercise (71.6%). Participants visited their pharmacy more often than their physician's office each year, yet they recalled pharmacists offering less patient counseling on lifestyle modifications than did physicians and nurses. Conclusion Despite being well positioned to assist patients with elevated serum cholesterol concentrations, pharmacists offer less patient counseling about therapeutic lifestyle modifications compared with physicians and nurses.
Cochleostomy placement and vestibular injury

Dear Editor, In their interesting report on vestibular function before and after cochlear implantation via either the “anterior” or “round window” insertion approach, Todt, Basta and Ernst conclude that “the used round window approach for electrode insertion should be preferred to decrease the risk of loss of vestibular function and the occurrence of vertigo.” [1] Figure 1 in the article (reproduced in Figure 1AB below) suggests that what the authors call an “anterior” cochleostomy is actually anterosuperior (or anterosuperolateral) of the round window niche. The electrode insertion trajectory implied by that figure would pass through the scala media and/or scala vestibuli, as illustrated by the 3D Virtual Temporal Bone data set published by Wang, et al (Figure 1C) [2,3]. The high rate of vestibular injury Todt et al observed when using that approach likely reflects violation of the membranous labyrinth. Figure 1 Panels AB – Approaches to the cochlea defined by Todt, Basta and Ernst, reproduced from [1]. (A) Location of the “anterior” cochleostomy. (B) Location of the “round window” cochleostomy. The approach Todt et al call a “round window” cochleostomy in Figure 1B seems closer to the anteroinferior cochleostomy advocated by a majority of surgeons for safe entry into the scala tympani. [4] By entering the scala tympani anteroinferior of the round window, one can insert the electrode along a trajectory tangential to the axis of the lumen of the scala tympani’s basal turn, minimizing risk to the basilar membrane, membranous labyrinth, modiolus and saccule. Many otolaryngologists interpret “round window insertion” to mean insertion of the electrode array through the round window without making an anteroinferior cochleostomy into scala tympani. A minority of surgeons use this technique.[4] Depending on the electrode’s trajectory through the facial recess, round window insertion can lead to deflection off the anteroinferior lip of the niche, modiolar impact and cephalad deflection of the electrode into the vestibule. Ambiguity of nomenclature regarding cochleostomy sites partly results from the convention of using only one or two dimensions to describe inherently three-dimensional (3D) directions and distances. For example, when viewed in 3D using the Virtual Temporal Bone tool,2–4 the “inferior cochleostomy” advocated in a helpful recent publication by Adunka et al [5] arguably starts anteroinferolateral of the round window membrane while the “anteroinferior cochleostomy” against which they caution starts more nearly anterolateral. An analogous problem arises in describing the size and growth of vestibular schwannomas. Hopefully, a transition toward using 3D descriptors when necessary to convey anatomic subtleties will become more common as texts and journals evolve from images on paper toward web-accessible interactive 3D renderings.
Managing Work Group Performance by Individual Goals and Group Goals for an Interdependent Group Task

ABSTRACT The role of individual goals and group goals in group performance improvement is the focus of this study. Although most studies have explored the effects of individual goals for independent tasks, the present experiment implemented individual goals and group goals for an interdependent work group task in a laboratory setting. The research sample consisted of 138 university junior and senior students, with an average age of 24, average full-time work experience of 3.5 years, average managerial experience of one year, and 60 percent were male students. The goal setting effects were tested by analysis of covariance to control for ability and order effects. Individual goals led to a nineteen percent increase in group performance relative to no goals; group goals led to a twelve percent increase in group performance relative to no goals; the combination of compatible individual goals and group goals led to a thirty-one percent increase in group performance relative to no goals. The results are discuss...
Design of parts and manufacturing systems for reliability and maintainability

The design of parts and manufacturing systems can be viewed from different perspectives. This paper discusses the design of parts and manufacturing systems from reliability and maintainability perspectives. A convenient method of considering reliability and maintainability is through the use of design rules which are based on empirical and theoretical knowledge. Four design rules for improvement of reliability and maintainability of systems are presented. The design rules are proven and substantiated with numerical results. The relationship between the design for reliability and maintainability rules and design for manufacturing process rules is discussed.
Mode Chart for Microstrip Ring Resonators (Short Papers)

A universal mode chart for the microstrip ring resonator, based on a radial waveguide model, is presented. The resonant frequency is related to the width of the ring conductor. Experimental results from 4 to 16 GHz are shown to be in good agreement with the theory.
Macroscopic cysts of the pancreas in a case of cystic fibrosis

Multiple large cysts of the pancreas in a 12-year-old female patient with documented cystic fibrosis are described for the first time. This unique finding seems to be a progression of the cyst formation typical of the disease, and is discussed with reference to other pancreatic abnormalities. Results of immunologic analyses of the fluid obtained from these cysts are presented.
They know who they are

Okely, Judith. The Traveller‐Gypsies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Changing Cultures Series, 1983. xii + 254 pp. including photographs, tables, diagrams, bibliography, and index. $37.50 cloth, $12.95 paper.
Syntactic Structure Modifies Attention during Speech Perception and Recognition

The present paper demonstrates the interaction of syntactic structure and speech perception with a response task which minimizes the effects of memory: reaction time (RT) to clicks during sentences. (1) In 12-word unfamiliar sentences each with two clauses, RT is relatively slow overall to clicks located at the end of the first clause but decreases as a function of clause length. Clicks at the beginning of the second clause are not affected by length of the preceding clause. (2) In familiar sentences, RT is relatively fast to clicks located at the end of a clause while RT to clicks at the beginning of clauses is relatively unaffected by familiarity. (3) RT is not fastest overall to clicks located between clauses either in novel or familiar sentences. (4) As in previous studies, the subject's subsequent judegment of the location of the click tone are towards the clause break. (5) We could find no systematic interaction between RT and subjective click location. Findings (1) to (3) are consistent with the vi...
Fulminant pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in association with Coxsackie B4 infection.

Une observation: coccidioidomycose pulmonaire d'une gravite inhabituelle mais sans dissemination; discussion du role possible de l'infection virale associee
Dynamics of the β2-Adrenergic G-Protein Coupled Receptor Revealed by Hydrogen−Deuterium Exchange

To examine the molecular details of ligand activation of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), emphasis has been placed on structure determination of these receptors with stabilizing ligands. Here we present the methodology for receptor dynamics characterization of the GPCR human β2 adrenergic receptor bound to the inverse agonist carazolol using the technique of amide hydrogen/deuterium exchange coupled with mass spectrometry (HDX MS). The HDX MS profile of receptor bound to carazolol is consistent with thermal parameter observations in the crystal structure and provides additional information in highly dynamic regions of the receptor and chemical modifications demonstrating the highly complementary nature of the techniques. After optimization of HDX experimental conditions for this membrane protein, better than 89% sequence coverage was obtained for the receptor. The methodology presented paves the way for future analysis of β2AR bound to pharmacologically distinct ligands as well as analysis of other GP...
Tetragonal vs. cubic phase stability in Al – free Ta doped Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO)

Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) garnet is attracting interest as a promising Li-ion solid electrolyte. LLZO exists in a tetragonal and cubic polymorph where the cubic phase exhibits ∼2 orders of magnitude higher Li-ion conduction. It has been suggested that a critical Li vacancy concentration (0.4–0.5 atoms per formula unit) is required to stabilize the cubic polymorph of Li7La3Zr2O12. This has been confirmed experimentally for Al3+ doping on the Li+ site. Substitution of M5+ (M = Ta, Nb) for Zr4+ is an alternative means to create Li vacancies and should have the same critical Li vacancy concentration, nevertheless, subcritically doped compositions (0.25 moles of Li vacancies per formula unit) have been reported as cubic. Adventitious Al, from alumina crucibles, was likely present in these studies that could have acted as a second dopant to introduce vacancies. In this work, Al-free subcritically doped (Li6.75La3Zr1.75Ta0.25O12) and critically doped (Li6.5La3Zr1.5Ta0.5O12) compositions are investigated. X-ray diffraction indicates that both compositions are cubic. However, upon further materials characterization, including SEM analysis, Raman spectroscopy, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, and neutron diffraction it is evident that the subcritically doped composition is a mixture of cubic and tetragonal phases. The results of this study confirm that 0.4–0.5 Li vacancies per formula unit are required to stabilize the cubic polymorph of LLZO.
Genomic structural differentiation in Solanum : Comparative mapping of the A- and E-genomes

A genetic map was constructed from an F2 population of 76 individuals for the purpose of comparing the arrangement of loci in the A and E Solanum genomes. This progeny was derived from an interspecific cross between the species Solanum palustre×Solanum etuberosum, both of which are E-genome species. Two hundred and eighty one probes previously mapped in tomato and potato (A-genome, as postulated for diploid cultivated potato species by Matsubayashi 1991) disclosed 109 segregating loci in this population. Of these, 80 loci were linked in 19 linkage groups covering a total of 720.4 cM, with an average of 9 cM between markers. Although the genetic map of the E-genome showed conservation for most linkage groups with those of tomato and the A-genome, various translocations and possible inversions and transpositions were detected. It is evident that the accumulation of these structural changes in the E-genome is sufficient to cause the observed hybrid sterility. The major rearrangements in the E-genome included multiple translocations involving mosly linkage groups 2 and 8. Also a transposition was detected on group 9, with the same group-10 inversion distinguishing potato from tomato. Definitively groups 2, 8, 9 and 10, and possibly groups 1, 4 and 12, in the E-genome are structurally different from their homologues in the A-genome. In general, recombination values were larger in the E- than in the A-genome. The extensive structural differentiation of the E-genome with respect to that of potato and tomato justifies its present designation as a different genome, which is supported by previous chromosome-pairing studies. The difficult introgression of desirable traits from the Etuberosum species into potato can be explained by these structural differences.
Habitat availability for multiple avian species under modeled alternative conservation scenarios in the Two Hearted River watershed in Michigan, USA

Abstract Due to differences in the responses of species to changing landscape patterns, developing a conservation plan with an optimal outcome of supporting contrasting habitat needs can be difficult. Landscape scenario modeling can provide a means to compare alternative conservation strategies and can reveal tradeoffs of managing for one objective versus another. In order to evaluate the impacts of alternative conservation strategies in a 53,653 ha landscape in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, four scenarios of alternative conservation strategies were modeled 100 years into the future using the VDDT®/TELSA® spatial model suite, and habitat availability was evaluated for five target bird species of local conservation concern under each scenario. The target species were Dendroica fusca (Blackburnian Warbler), Picoides arcticus (Black-backed Woodpecker), Dendroica kirtlandii (Kirtland's Warbler), Buteo lineatus (Red-shouldered Hawk), and Scolopax minor (American Woodcock). Scenarios were ranked based on relative performance of three habitat metric results (total primary habitat area, average size of habitat patches, and average distance to the nearest neighboring habitat patch) for each species. The final overall rank for each scenario was generally related to harvest intensity; the scenario with the smallest total area of even-aged management ranked the highest. Ranks were not consistent across all response variables. Relative species sensitivity was also evaluated, and the ranks did not match expectations, with the more habitat generalist species showing the highest sensitivity and the most specialist species showing the lowest. The approach here provides a means of projecting and comparing potential long-term impacts of alternative landscape strategies on diverse wildlife habitats. These results, when considered with budget considerations and species’ habitat area and population goals, can assist local managers and stakeholders in conservation planning by identifying tradeoffs and compromises aimed at optimizing protection for a variety of target species.
Evaluation of the olefinic proton signals in the 1H-NMR spectra of allylic hydroxy groups in long-chain compounds

Abstract The positional isomers of monounsaturated long-chain fatty compounds containing allylic hydroxy groups (shown for trans double bonds) are distinguished by 1H-NMR spectroscopy through the chemical shift differences of the olefinic protons. These differences are expressed as rational functions (the differences being proportional to the negative third power of the position of the unsaturation), or logarithmic functions (the differences being proprtional to the position of the unsaturation raised as power). The present results on more sensitive 1H-NMR spectra complement previous work on the 13C-NMR spectra of these compounds. Theoretical models for explaining shifts in 13C-NMR therefore also apply to 1H-NMR.
Incremental changes in the workforce to accommodate changes in demand.

In many service organizations, rosters must be constructed weekly or monthly as demand and available per- sonnel change. Once the permanent workforce is fixed, it may not be possible to alter its composition easily, imply- ing that expensive contract labor may be the only option to cover shortages. With respect to nursing resources, this means calling in part-timers, casuals, or agency nurses on a daily basis, or hiring travelers for up to several months at a time. This paper addresses the latter option and presents two models that can be used to solve what we call the nurse addition problem. The first was originally developed to solve the midterm preference scheduling problem and is based on a pattern-view formulation. The second is derived from a shift-view formulation and is solved with a branch-and-price algorithm. In either case, the objective is to hire up to some predetermined number of nurses and assign them midterm schedules that minimize the maximum amount of uncovered shifts per day in the planning horizon. Each roster selected for a new nurse must satisfy a set of hard constraints related to the total working hours, workstretches, time between shifts, and weekend requirements, and a set of soft constraints related to days-on and days-off patterns and transitions from one shift type to another. Extensive testing with data provided by a 400-bed hospital indicated that most instances could be solved in a matter of minutes.
Length of rupture of membranes in the setting of premature rupture of membranes at term and infectious maternal morbidity

Objective This study was undertaken to define the time thresholds of increased risk for infectious maternal morbidities with relationship to length of ruptured membranes at term. Study Design We designed a retrospective cohort study of all women with premature rupture of membranes beyond 37 weeks' gestation at a single institution. Dichotomized time thresholds of length of ruptured membranes before delivery were examined in 2-hour increments using bivariate and multivariable analyses to assess the rates of chorioamnionitis and endomyometritis. Results Among the 3841 women meeting inclusion criteria, increased rates of chorioamnionitis and endomyometritis were noted at time thresholds of 12 hours (adjusted odds ratio 2.3 [95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.4]) and 16 hours (adjusted odds ratio 2.5 [95% confidence interval, 1.1-5.6]), respectively. Conclusion We found that when length of time of ruptured membranes before delivery is examined via dichotomized time thresholds, the risks of chorioamnionitis and endomyometritis are significantly increased at 12 hours and 16 hours, respectively. These time thresholds derived from dichotomized time analyses should be considered during risk-based counseling and labor management in the setting of term premature rupture of membranes.
Seasonal changes of juglone potential in leaves of black walnut (Juglans nigra L.).

The literature concerning the extraction and quantification of juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) frequently fails to differentiate between juglone and its immediate precursors. The proposal that the term “juglone potential” be used to define the total concentration of juglone under an oxidative environment in walnut tissues is made. The juglone potential of a given tissue will more accurately reflect the allelopathic agent's presence than will juglone concentration of the tissue alone. The term juglone potential accepts the multiple chemical nature of juglone found in walnut tissue and gives a precise way for quantification of allelopathic action. The objective of this study was to measure seasonal changes in black walnut juglone potentials at various locations in the crown. Juglone potentials were measured weekly in leaves at the top, middle, and bottom of the tree crowns. The results showed a linear decrease in juglone potential over the growing season. The results also showed no significant difference in leaf juglone potentials among the three crown positions. If reanalyzed without the middle crown position juglone potentials were significantly greater in the lower crown positions when compared with the higher crown position. Potential use of juglone to manipulate species composition and decrease interference in plant communities is discussed.
1986 travel review conference

Abstract C.R. Goeldner, Associate Dean at the College of Business, University of Colorado, USA, presents a summary of the papers presented at the First Annual Travel Review Conference. The conference was co-sponsored by the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) and the US Travel and Tourism Administration, and was held on 20 February 1987 in Washington, DC, USA.
Mechanical Homogenization Increases Bacterial Homogeneity in Sputum

Sputum obtained from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is highly viscous and often heterogeneous in bacterial distribution. Adding dithiothreitol (DTT) is the standard method for liquefaction prior to processing sputum for molecular detection assays. To determine if DTT treatment homogenizes the bacterial distribution within sputum, we measured the difference in mean total bacterial abundance and abundance of Burkholderia multivorans between aliquots of DTT-treated sputum samples with and without a mechanical homogenization (MH) step using a high-speed dispersing element. Additionally, we measured the effect of MH on bacterial abundance. We found a significant difference between the mean bacterial abundances in aliquots that were subjected to only DTT treatment and those of the aliquots which included an MH step (all bacteria, P = 0.04; B. multivorans, P = 0.05). There was no significant effect of MH on bacterial abundance in sputum. Although our results are from a single CF patient, they indicate that mechanical homogenization increases the homogeneity of bacteria in sputum.
Long-term Trends in Depression among Women Separated from Abusive Partners

This study tested a cumulative adversity hypothesis, where differences in postseparation stressors among battered women were expected to lead to a widening gap in levels of women's depression over time. Ninety-four women separated from their abusive partners were interviewed six times over a 2-year period. Consistent with the hypothesis, inequalities grew over time. Women who were exposed to the greatest amount of violence and secondary stressors shortly after shelter exit experienced relatively higher levels of depression that either did not improve or significantly increased with time. Social support was the only resource to have the hypothesized decreasing effect on depression.
Expression and localization of the phosphoglucomutase-related cytoskeletal protein, aciculin, in skeletal muscle

Recently, a 60/63 kDa cytoskeletal protein, highly homolo gous to the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglucomutase (PGM 1), was isolated from smooth muscle tissue and shown to localize in various adherens-type junctions of muscle and some nonmuscle cells. Since this protein, tentatively named ‘aciculin’, was enriched in muscle tissues and cells, we have attempted to study its expression and localization during myodifferentiation. C2C12 mouse myoblasts did not express any aciculin before cell fusion in culture. Immedi ately after cell fusion aciculin became detectable and its content continued to rise during myotube maturation. In early myotubes aciculin appeared first at cell tips and was predominantly localized to focal adhesions of immature myotubes. As myotubes matured in culture, aciculin became associated with growing myofibrils, and finally was found redistributed in striations, corresponding to sarcomere Z-discs. Immunoblotting showed that aciculin content in chicken breast skeletal muscle remained very low until day 11 of embryogenesis, but significantly increased in late prenatal and early postnatal development. By immunofluorescence, aciculin was not revealed in thigh skeletal muscle of day 11 chicken embryos, but was prominently localized at myotendinous junctions in thigh muscle of day 16 embryos. Myotendinous junctions appeared to be major sites of aciculin accumulation in developing and mature skeletal muscle fibers in vivo, suggesting some role for this protein in thin filament-membrane interactions and, potentially, in force transmission at these cell-matrix contacts. In adult skeletal muscle faint aciculin staining appeared at the sarcolemma and as striations in register with Z-discs. Since the protein was not identified in glycerinated myofibrils but was localized to striations in C2C12 myotubes and within the limited areas on skeletal muscle tissue sections, we conclude that aciculin is a component of skeletal muscle costameres. In cultured C2C12 myotubes we found some codistribution of aciculin with clusters of acetylcholine receptors, suggesting its presence at neuro muscular junctions. However, we did not detect any significant concentration of aciculin at neuromuscular junctions in both embryonic and adult skeletal muscle. Taken together, our data show that aciculin expression in skeletal muscle is differentiation-dependent and upregu lated during muscle development, and that this novel cytoskeletal protein is a component of various cell-matrix adherens junctions in muscle cells. SUMMARY
Building a Strong Foundation: Mentoring Programs for Novice Tenure Track Librarians in Academic Libraries

Increasingly, new librarians graduate to face a world of changing technology and new ways of interacting with information. The anxiety of this shifting environment is compounded for tenure-track librarians who must also meet scholarship and instruction requirements that may be unfamiliar to them. One way that librarians can navigate the transition to tenure-track professional positions is to participate in mentoring programs for new academic librarians. This study examines the effectiveness of mentoring programs for novice tenure-track libraries in a variety of library settings, and provides examples of successful academic library mentoring programs already in place with the intent that librarians use the data and findings to construct or improve their own library mentoring programs.
Quantifying the biomass of parasites to understand their role in aquatic communities

By infecting multiple host species and acting as a food resource, parasites can affect food web topography and contribute to ecosystem energy transfer. Owing to the remarkable secondary production of some taxa, parasite biomass – although cryptic – can be comparable to other invertebrate and vertebrate groups. More resolved estimates of parasite biomass are therefore needed to understand parasite interactions, their consequences for host fitness, and potential influences on ecosystem energetics. We developed an approach to quantify the masses of helminth parasites and compared our results with those of biovolume-based approaches. Specifically, we massed larval and adult parasites representing 13 species and five life stages of trematodes and cestodes from snail and amphibian hosts. We used a replicated regression approach to quantify dry mass and compared these values with indirect biovolume estimates to test the validity of density assumptions. Our technique provided precise estimates (R2 from 0.69 to 0.98) of biomass across a wide range of parasite morphotypes and sizes. Individual parasites ranged in mass from 0.368 ± 0.041 to 320 ± 98.1 μg. Among trematodes, adult parasites tended to be the largest followed by rediae, with nonclonal larval stages (metacercariae and cercariae) as the smallest. Among similar morphotypes, direct estimates of dry mass and the traditional biovolume technique provided generally comparable estimates (although important exceptions also emerged). Finally, we present generalized length-mass regression equations to calculate trematode mass from length measurements, and discuss the most efficient use of limited numbers of parasites. By providing a novel method of directly estimating parasite biomass while also helping to validate more traditional methods involving length-mass conversion, our findings aim to facilitate future investigations into the ecological significance of parasites, particularly with respect to ecosystem energetics. In addition, this novel technique can be applied to a wide range of difficult-to-mass organisms.
A closed-form solution of the forward displacement analysis of a class of in-parallel mechanisms

A class of in-parallel platforms of special geometry with algebraically solvable, closed-form, forward-displacement solutions is presented. It is shown that all variables of the forward-displacement analysis problem from linear or quadratic equations for those mechanisms where the S joints in the base and movable platform are each in one plane and the base and movable platform have the same form but are different sizes. For the more special case in which the six S joints are located in the vertices of a regular hexagon both on the base and on the movable platform, the platform becomes unconstrained. >
A comparison between the cell division rate of natural populations of the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum (Greville) Cleve grown in dialysis culture and that predicted from a mathematical model1

Ahstruct At weekly intervals from January through May 1977, during the winter-spring phytoplankton bloom in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, a phytoplankton sample was collected from the bay, encapsulated in dialysis bags, incubated in flowing seawater for 2-5 days at two different light levels, and the cell division rate of Skeletonema costatum was determined. Light intensity, water temperature, and the ambient concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicon were measured during each experiment. Observed cell division rates were compared with those predicted from a mathematical model incorporating terms for the effect on growth of light intensity, temperature, and silicate concentration. Regression analysis revealed that equations incorporating only the effect of temperature and light intensity were sufficient to explain the observed cell division rate in many experimcnts, but the inclusion of silicate concentration improved the relationship. The cell division rate of these natural populations of S. costatum grown in dialysis bags in flowing seawater could thus be predicted with reasonable accuracy with a simple mathematical model primarily formulated from the results of a batch culture study of a single clone of this species.
Arsenic Trioxide (Trisenox®) Therapy for Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia in the Setting of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

The relapse-free survival of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has significantly increased during the last decade. The introduction of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) doubled the survival of patients with this disease. However, despite ATRA and anthracycline-based chemotherapy, 12%-30% of patients will still relapse. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has demonstrated efficacy and safety in patients with first and subsequent relapsed or refractory APL, regardless of the disease-free interval. Treatment of relapsed and refractory patients with this novel therapy produces complete remission in 87% of patients and molecular remission in 83%. Studies have documented the efficacy of autologous and allogeneic transplantation as salvage therapy in relapsed and refractory APL. The
Decentralized failure diagnosis of discrete event systems

By decentralized diagnosis we mean diagnosis using multiple diagnosers, each possessing its own set of sensors, without involving any communication among diagnosers or to any coordinators. The notion of decentralized diagnosis is formalized by introducing the notion of codiagnosability that requires that a failure be detected by one of the diagnosers within a bounded delay. Algorithms of complexity polynomial in the size of the system and the nonfault specification are provided for: 1) testing codiagnosability, 2) computing the bound in delay of diagnosis, 3) offline synthesis of individual diagnosers, and 4) online diagnosis using them. The notion of codiagnosability and the above algorithms are initially presented in a setting of a specification language (violation of which represents a fault) and are later specialized to the case where faults are modeled as the occurrences of certain events. The notion of strong codiagnosability is also introduced to capture the ability of being certain about both the failure as well as the nonfailure conditions in a system within a bounded delay.
Current Status of the Myriapod Class Diplopoda (Millipedes): Taxonomic Diversity and Phylogeny

The arthropod class Diplopoda, the millipedes, ranks among the most diverse groups of terrestrial organisms, with over 12,000 species described. Although they play an important ecological role in most terrestrial ecosystems, little is known about the group's diversity, morphology, and phylogeny compared with other arthropod groups. We review diplopod natural history and discuss the historical and current literature pertaining to millipede morphology, ecology, chemical defenses, and the paleontological record of the group's ancient history. Diplopod systematics, past and present, are reviewed with a focus on taxonomy, collections, and biogeography. The phylogenetics of the class is reviewed, with particular attention on diplopod placement within the Myriapoda and emphasis on recent advances using molecular approaches to phylogenetic reconstruction. We present (a) the first combined morphological and molecular analysis of the millipede orders, and (b) a list of critically evaluated characteristics of nominal clades identifying putative apomorphies.
Structural properties of nondeterministic complete sets

Two aspects of the structure of complete sets for NE and larger nondeterministic time classes are surveyed. First, differences between complete sets arising from various polynomial-time reductions are proved. Immunity properties of these complete sets are then considered. It is shown that NE-complete sets (and their complements) have dense E subsets and dense UP subsets. All of these results hold for nondeterministic time classes containing NE. Some consequences for NP are noted. >
Are self-enhancing cognitions associated with healthy or unhealthy biological profiles?

Self-enhancement is variously portrayed as a positive illusion that can foster health and longevity or as defensive neuroticism that can have physiological–neuroendocrine costs. In a laboratory stress-challenge paradigm, the authors found that high self-enhancers had lower cardiovascular responses to stress, more rapid cardiovascular recovery, and lower baseline cortisol levels, consistent with the positive illusions predictions and counter to the predictions of the defensive neuroticism position. A second set of analyses, replicating the “illusory mental health paradigm” (J. Shedler, M. Mayman, & M. Manis, 1993), also did not support the defensive neuroticism hypothesis. The association between self-enhancement and cortisol was mediated by psychological resources; analyses of the cardiovascular results provided no definitive mediational pathway. Discussion centers on the potential stress-buffering effects of self-enhancing beliefs.
Genetic algorithms for neuromagnetic source reconstruction

Neuromagnetic source reconstruction is the process of deducing internal brain currents from the external magnetic fields they produce. Brain currents are the result of neural activity and a map of their distribution corresponds to a functional image of the brain. In this paper the reconstruction is formulated as an underdetermined linear inverse problem to which a minimal source solution is sought. The minimal source solution is defined by the minimization of a hybrid metric that accounts for both the sparseness of the reconstruction and its compatibility with the measured magnetic field. Genetic algorithms are employed as a robust means of computing this minimal source reconstruction. >
Stiff-man syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.

Received January 18, 2002; revised February 28, 2002; accepted March 5, 2002. From the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Franco, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology—P57, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195; E-mail: francok@ccf.org. Stiff-man syndrome (SMS) is a rare autoimmune neurological condition first described a half decade ago and only rarely spotted on consultation-liaison services. It is characterized by involuntary rigidity and painful spasm of the axial muscles, resembling a chronic form of tetanus.1–10 Patients are likened to ‘‘tin soldiers,’’2 with the following criteria: (1) initial stiffness and rigidity in the axial muscles; (2) slow progression of stiffness to include proximal limb muscles, making volitional movements and ambulation difficult; (3) a fixed deformity of the spine, as in lordosis, and with some patients a restriction of hip movement; (4) the presence of superimposed episodic spasms precipitated by sudden movements, jarring noise, and emotional upset; (5) normal findings on motor and sensory nerve examinations; (6) normal intellect; and (7) electromyographic findings typical of continuous motor activity that can be abolished by intravenous or orally administered diazepam.3,4 Antiglutamic acid decarboxylase (antiGAD65) autoantibodies disrupt the function of gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA)7 and may explain why SMS, a relapsing and remitting disease, only partially responds to diazepam and baclofen, with 50% of patients becoming wheelchair bound.2 GABA agonists, such as benzodiazepines, alcohol, and barbiturates, in high doses can greatly alleviate psychiatric and neurological symptoms.5,10,11 We describe a patient diagnosed by neurological symptoms of SMS who also met criteria for generalized anxiety, major depression, and panic disorder.
High-throughput asynchronous pipelines for fine-grain dynamic datapaths

This paper introduces several new asynchronous pipeline designs which offer high throughput as well as low latency. The designs target dynamic datapaths, both dual-rail as well as single-rail. The new pipelines are latch-free and therefore are particularly well-suited for fine-grain pipelining, i.e., where each pipeline stage is only a single gate deep. The pipelines employ new control structures and protocols aimed at reducing the handshaking delay, the principal impediment to achieving high throughput in asynchronous pipelines. As a test vehicle, a 4-bit FIFO was designed using 0.6 micron technology. The results of careful HSPICE simulations of the FIFO designs are very encouraging. The dual-rail designs deliver a throughput of up to 860 million data items per second. This performance represents an improvement by a factor of 2 over a widely-used comparable approach by T.E. Williams (1991). The new single-rail designs deliver a throughput of up to 1208 million data items per second.
A saga in international HIV policy modeling: preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission.

Each year more than 350,000 babies acquire HIV infection from their mother, mainly in Africa. As sadly constant as this fact is, the policy environment around crafting an effective response has changed rapidly and unpredictably. Sequential advances in antiretroviral therapy, preserving effectiveness with far more practical regimens, have repeatedly upped the ante for action, and have also transformed policy issues. This paper relates a modeling story-something of a saga in its meandering course-closely intertwined with evolving policy. Our models have achieved a modicum of success. They have framed several policy discussions and have at least once led directly to an important policy development, as we discuss below. What made that possible? We've identified four elements: solid modeling, which establishes credibility; connected and savvy collaborators, who permit us to reach key decisionmakers (both logistically and in the sense of gaining their serious interest); our policy orientation, which has kept the models practical; and quick adaptations of the model, allowing our participation in fast-moving policy developments. Our models portray the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission during pregnancy, delivery, and breast-feeding. They also portray the reduction in risk associated with the use of antiretroviral therapy (typically a 40 to 60 percent reduction), and with use of formula feeding instead of breast-feeding. Finally, the models estimate the costs of HIV testing, intervention, and HIV disease in children-in order to estimate the net Costs per HIV infection averted and per Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY) gained.
On Maintaining Sensor-Actor Connectivity in Wireless Sensor and Actor Networks

In wireless sensor and actor networks (WSANs), a group of sensors and actors are connected by a wireless medium to perform distributed sensing and acting tasks. Sensors usually gather information in an event area and pass it on to actors, which are resource-rich devices that make decisions and perform necessary actions. Therefore, it is vital to maintain connections between sensors and actors for effective sensor- actor coordination. In this paper, we first define several sensor- actor connection requirements, including weak and strong actor-connectivity, and then propose several local solutions that put as many sensors as possible to sleep for energy saving purposes, while meeting different actor-connectivity requirements. We also prove the relationship between the proposed actor-connectivity and the connectivity in regular graphs, which helps with the implementation of the proposed solutions. Comprehensive performance analysis is conducted through simulations.
Civil asset forfeiture, equitable sharing, and policing for profit in the United States

Purpose: Critics of asset forfeiture claim that forfeiture laws create financial incentives that inappropriately influence police behavior. The present study examines the relationship between measures of the financial incentive and legal burdens for civil asset forfeiture on federal equitable sharing payments to local law enforcement to determine whether police behavior is affected by different statutory incentives for forfeiture activity.Methods: Using LEMAS and DOJ forfeiture data, this study addresses some of the limitations of previous research by using a multi-year average for forfeiture activity, an improved measure of financial incentives for law enforcement, and multiple measures of statutory burdens to law enforcement to determine the impact of forfeiture laws on forfeiture activity.Results: Consistent with anecdotal reports and limited prior research, findings indicate that agencies in jurisdictions with more restrictive state forfeiture laws receive more proceeds through federal equitable sharing.Conclusions: Results suggest that state and local law enforcement agencies use federal equitable sharing to circumvent their own state forfeiture laws when state laws are more burdensome or less financially rewarding to these agencies, providing additional evidence that police operations are influenced by financial incentives.
Modified P elements that mimic the P cytotype in Drosophila melanogaster

Activity of the P family of transposable elements in Drosophila melanogaster is regulated primarily by a cellular condition known as P cytotype. It has been hypothesized that P cytotype depends on a P element-encoded repressor of transposition and excision. We provide evidence in support of this idea by showing that two modified P elements, each with lesions affecting the fourth transposase exon, mimic most of the P cytotype effects. These elements were identified by means of two sensitive assays capable of detecting repression by a single P element. One assay makes use of cytotype-dependent gene expression of certain P element insertion mutations at the singed bristle locus. The other measures suppression of transposase activity from the unusually stable genomic P element, delta 2-3(99B), that normally produces transposase in both germinal and somatic tissues. The P cytotype-like effects include suppression of snw germline hypermutability, snw somatic mosaicism, pupal lethality, and gonadal dysgenic sterility. Unlike P cytotype, however, there was no reciprocal cross effect in the inheritance of repression.
Analysis and Modeling of Crosstalk Noise in Domino CMOS Circuits

Domino CMOS logics offer designers with the advantage of most influential circuit design parameters viz., speed, higher integration density and lower power dissipation. This has made a common practice to use the domino CMOS in high performance integrated circuits. However, along with these positives comes inherently low crosstalk noise immunity. This reduced noise immunity of domino CMOS logics is continuously aggravating as recent trends in integrated circuit technology are constantly followed. Although several works investigate the problem of crosstalk noise at the inputs of domino circuits, crosstalk at the dynamic node of the domino circuits has been ignored. In this paper, we propose a model for crosstalk noise at the dynamic node of domino CMOS logic circuits. The model developed incorporates a newly derived switching threshold for the output static inverter in domino CMOS logics to more accurately predict the crosstalk noise immunity of the design. Application of this model can ensure immunity of domino circuits from crosstalk failures.