cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Forty-hour preservation of the rabbit heart: Optimal osmolarity, [Mg2+], and pH of a modified UW solution

Abstract The University of Wisconsin solution modified with 2,3-butanedione monoxime and calcium experimentally extends the limits of ischemic preservation of the heart. This study evaluates other characteristics of this modified solution that may further enhance preservation: osmolarity, Mg 2+ concentration ([Mg 2+ ]), and pH. Rabbit hearts were flushed with the modified University of Wisconsin solution and stored for 40 hours at 4 °C. Maximal left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), maximum rate of increase of left ventricular pressure (dP/dt), heart rate, and coronary flow were measured during 60 minutes of isolated crystalloid reperfusion with an isovolumic left ventricular balloon at constant end-diastolic pressure. Creatine kinase release and myocardial adenine nucleotide content were measured at completion of reperfusion. Solution osmolarity was tested at 357, 327, 297, and 277 mOsm/L by reducing K + , Na + , and lactobionate concentrations. [Mg 2+ ]was assessed at 5 and 16 mmol/L. Solution pH was studied at 7.0, 7.4, and 7.8. A control group of hearts was flushed and immediately reperfused to establish baseline function. Hearts stored in either hypertonic (357 mOsm/L) or hypotonic (277 mOsm/L) solutions functioned poorly, reaching 58% and 50% of control LVDP ( p p p = not significant) of LVEDV, 56% and 49% of +dP/dt ( p p p p = not significant), 89% and 85% of +dP/dt ( p = not significant), respectively, and released less creatine kinase ( p = not significant versus control). An increase in [Mg 2+ ]to 16 mmol/L further improved LVDP to 84% ( p p = not significant). Adenosine triphosphatase regeneration also returned to control levels. Raising or lowering the solution pH resulted in significantly worsened ventricular function and a greater creatine kinase release ( p 2+ ]is elevated to 16 mmol/L, and pH is maintained at 7.4.
Fiber optic cable assemblies for space flight: II. Thermal and radiation effects

Goddard Space Flight Center is conducting a search for space flight worthy fiber optic cable assemblies that will benefit all projects at all of the NASA centers. This paper is number two in a series of papers being issues as a result of this task to define and quality space grade fiber optic cable assemblies. Though to qualify and use a fiber optic cable in space requires treatment of the cable assembly as a system, it is very important to understand the design and behavior of its parts. This paper addresses that need, providing information on cable components shrinkage testing and radiation testing results from recent experiments at Goddard Space Flight Center. This work is an extension of the `lessons learned' reported in the first paper of this series entitled `Fiber Optic Cable Assemblies for Space Flight: Issues and Remedies,' published and presented at the AIAA World Congress in Anaheim CA, on October 15, 1997.
Effects of proinflammatory cytokines on the contractility of mammalian heart

Compelling evidence now exists that proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) are newly identified endogenous regulators of myocardial contractility. The mechanism(s) responsible for the inotropic and chronotropic effects of these novel mediators can be explained on the basis of recently established principles of myocardial excitation-contraction coupling (E-C). A novel hypothesis is proposed that cytokines and NO-mediated alterations in E-C coupling contribute to the reversible myocardial depression and adrenergic desensitization observed in a diverse group of clinical conditions that activate host inflammatory responses, including congestive heart failure. The results of in vitro studies indicate that cytokines and NO have both immediate, short-term, as well as long-term, effects on cardiac performance. Basic studies into these cytokine signaling pathways in cardiac myocytes have the potential to provide important new insights relevant to the design of new management strategies for the treatment of congestive heart failure patients.
Optimal replacement policy with stochastic maintenance and operation costs

Abstract An equipment replacement problem is considered in this paper. The state of a piece of equipment is described by the maintenance and operation cost which evolves continuously according to a Wiener process. The objective is to minimize the expected total discounted cost of maintenance and operation as well as of purchasing. Using the optimal stopping technique, a second order ordinary differential equation is derived with proper boundary conditions. Then, the optimal replacement policy is obtained and analyzed via the ordinary differential equation.
COMPARISON OF THREE SYSTEMS FOR CONCURRENT PRODUCTION OF LAMB MEAT AND WOOL

Abstract An innovative lamb-feeding facility with a raised-slatted floor (RF) was designed and built for the purposes of concurrently producing high-quality, high-value wool and large, lean lamb carcasses. A ration was formulated to provide a low rate of gain in order that lambs attained slaughter weight (59 kg) when they were approximately 12 month of age because a 12-month fleece is a prerequisite for high value in the targeted hand spinning niche wool market. A study was conducted to compare production and quality of wool and meat and associated economics of feeding lambs housed in the RF system versus two conventional systems, a feedlot (FL) and supplementation on pasture (P). For this purpose, 143 5-month-old, male, castrated Rambouillet lambs were obtained and assigned to a production system. Half of the lambs in the RF and FL systems were fitted with protective coats. As planned, daily gain was greater and days to slaughter were less in the FL versus the RF system, with P being intermediate. Final shorn bodyweights were similar in each system, but RF dressing percentage was considerably lower than those in the FL and P systems. This anomaly was likely due to the greater gut fill of RF lambs compared to those in the other two systems. Leaner carcasses were produced in the RF and P systems compared to the FL system. The RF fleeces were heavier than those produced in the FL system with P fleeces being intermediate. Average fiber diameter and variability did not differ among treatments. Though considerably longer than FL staples, wool produced in the RF system was more uniform (CV%) in terms of fiber diameter measured along the staple length. Importantly, coats did not affect rates of gain in either the FL or RF system and had minimal effects on other measured properties. Coated fleeces were only arithmetically higher yielding than uncoated fleeces (55.2% versus 53.4%), but the coated fleeces were visually cleaner and brighter than uncoated fleeces, which is very important for the targeted niche market. Price obtained for coated RF wool sold into a niche market was five times higher than conventionally marketed FL and P wool prices. Net income per head was negative for all three systems (−US$ 0.11, −US$ 2.20, and −US$ 5.57 per head for FL, P, and RF, respectively). In this study, the substantially higher returns from the niche wool market did not compensate fully for the extra cost of production and the extra effort required for niche marketing.
Sudden quadriplegia after a minor trauma. The role of preexisting spinal stenosis

Three patients are described who became quadriplegic after a minor trauma to the spine without suffering a spinal fracture dislocation. Radiologic investigation revealed marked stenosis of the spinal canal, due to developmental stenosis with superimposed degenerative changes in two patients, and calcification of posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine in one. Two patients recovered almost completely with conservative measures. The spinal cord may be able to tolerate slowly increasing mechanical pressure for many years and conform to the shape of the spinal canal without causing any neurological symptoms. However, when stenosis is severe, any additional pressure, for example, swelling and edema from trauma, may cause a neurologic catastrophe.
Uptake of ferritin and Bordetella avium in bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue of turkeys

The uptake of macromolecular and particulate materials in bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) in turkeys was examined using transmission electron microscopy. Tracer materials used were live and ultraviolet-killed (UV-killed) Bordetella avium and ferritin. Suspensions of bacteria and ferritin were instilled via intratracheal catheterization and allowed to remain in contact with the respiratory surfaces for 0, 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min. Ferritin and B. avium were taken up by both ciliated and non-ciliated cells of the epithelium overlying BALT (BALT epithelium). Ferritin was found in organelles associated with endocytosis (i.e. apical vesicles, endosomes, cytoplasmic vacuoles) and was apparently transported across epithelial cells, since it was also found in intercellular spaces. Bacteria were found in vacuoles within BALT epithelial cells, but not free in intercellular spaces. Some macrophages in BALT epithelium also contained bacteria. No differences were observed between uptake of live and UV-killed bacteria. We conclude that both ciliated and non-ciliated cells of BALT epithelium in turkeys are able to take up macromolecular and particulate materials. Bacteria are also accessible to intraepithelial macrophages, although whether they are taken up directly from the bronchial surface or whether they pass through epithelial cells first could not be determined. This evidence suggests that antigens, including respiratory pathogens, could gain access to cells of the avian immune system by transepithelial passage in BALT.
Modelling of instream flow needs: the link between sediment and aquatic habitat

Instream flows are needed to remove undesirable accumulations of sediment. Fines and sand accumulate on and in gravels during periods of low flow and must be removed (flushed) periodically in order for the gravel to continue as suitable habitat for aquatic animals. Sediment of all sizes can also fill pools in the river and must be removed in order to maintain pool habitat. A new technique relates the sizes of sediment important in the biological process to the size transported as wash, suspended and bed loads. The technique has a biological component, a hydraulic component and a selection component that links the two. The technique was used to determine the instream flows needed to maintain habitat for Colorado squawfish in the Gunnison River in western Colorado. Flows included a flushing flow to remove course sand form the riffles where Colorado squawfish spawn, to remove fines and sand from the river in general, to remove gravel from pools, and to scour side channels. The Gunnison River has a mean discharge of 73 m3/s and the flows of both sediment and water in the river have been modified by the construction of reservoirs and by major diversions for irrigation. The flows needed to maintain the spawning habitat for the Colorado squawfish by removing fines and sand from the riffles is 355 m3/s, to remove sand and fines from the river is 354 m3/s, to remove gravel from pools is 484 m3/s and to scour side channels is 210 m3/s. The flow required to maintain the riffles during spawning is 210 m3/s. These flushing flows are not required each year but they are required periodically (usually not less than once in every 3 years); and the maintenance flow is needed every year. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
QLM9: A new radial quality factor (Qμ) model for the lower mantle

Abstract We employ a niching genetic algorithm to invert ∼30,000 differential ScS / S attenuation values for a new spherically symmetric radial model of shear quality factor ( Q μ ) with high sensitivity to the lower mantle. The new radial Q μ model, QLM9, possesses greater sensitivity to Q μ at large mantle depths than previous studies. On average, lower mantle Q μ increases with depth, which supports models of increasing viscosity with depth [B.M. Steinberger, A.R. Calderwood. Mineral physics constraints on viscous flow models of mantle flow, J. Conf. Abs., 6, 2001., 2001.]. There are two higher- Q μ regions at ∼1000 and ∼2500 km depth, which roughly correspond to high-viscosity regions observed by Forte and Mitrovica [A.M. Forte and J.X. Mitrovica, Deep-mantle high-viscosity flow and thermochemical structure inferred from seismic and geodynamic data, Nature 410, 1049–1056, 2001.]. There is a lower- Q μ layer at the core–mantle boundary and a relatively low- Q μ region in the mid-lower mantle. With several caveats, we infer a divergence of the solidus and geotherm in the lower mantle and a convergence within D ʺ by relating Q μ to homologous temperature.
Determination of didanosine in maternal plasma, amniotic fluid, fetal and placental tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid and efficient high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of didanosine concentrations in maternal rat plasma, amniotic fluid, placental and fetal tissue samples has been developed and validated. Tissue samples were homogenized in optima water and centrifuged. The supernatant was subjected to solid-phase extraction (SPE) prior to analysis. Plasma and amniotic fluid samples were extracted without pretreatment. An Agilent 1100 Series HPLC coupled with a Micromass Quattro II triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used for all analyses. Chromatographic resolution was achieved on a Nova-Pak phenyl analytical column (2.0 × 150 mm, 4 µm particle size) equipped with a Phenomenex Security-guard phenyl guard cartridge (2.0 × 4.0 mm) using 60% methanol in 10 mm ammonium acetate buffer mobile phase for all matrices at a flow rate of 0.15 mL/min. The method yields retention times of 2.9 min for didanosine and 3.0 min for the internal standard, stavudine. Limits of detection were 1 ng/mL for all matrices. Recoveries were 70% or greater for both compounds in the different matrices. Within- and between-run precision (%RSD) and accuracy (%error) was less than 15% for all matrices. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The skin microbiome

The skin is the human body's largest organ, colonized by a diverse milieu of microorganisms, most of which are harmless or even beneficial to their host. Colonization is driven by the ecology of the skin surface, which is highly variable depending on topographical location, endogenous host factors and exogenous environmental factors. The cutaneous innate and adaptive immune responses can modulate the skin microbiota, but the microbiota also functions in educating the immune system. The development of molecular methods to identify microorganisms has led to an emerging view of the resident skin bacteria as highly diverse and variable. An enhanced understanding of the skin microbiome is necessary to gain insight into microbial involvement in human skin disorders and to enable novel promicrobial and antimicrobial therapeutic approaches for their treatment.
The Quality Organization: A Conceptual Framework

Abstract The quality organization has implemented a set of interdependent behaviors aimed at satisfying its stakeholders. Stakeholders' dissatisfaction inhibits management's ability to implement the behaviors, and management's failure to implement the behaviors leads to stakeholders' dissatisfaction. A challenge managers are confronted with is how to implement the behaviors and reconcile stakeholders' conflicting needs and demands. Subsequent to the development of this framework, the writer asked employed MBA students to rate the extent their corporations practice contemporary thought, as they perceive it. Propositions were fully discussed in class prior to the ratings. Students were asked to prepare a term paper describing the rationality for their ratings. The findings are that today's organizations pay a lot of attention to the external environment, their organizational structures are still too tall, and the Theory X managerial mindset is still more prevalent than the Theory Y mindset. This study's lim...
Effects of Differential Self-Monitoring and Level of Mastery on Sports Performance: Brain Power Bowling

On the basis of laboratory research on self-regulation, it was hypothesized that positive self-monitoring, more than negative self-monitoring or comparison and control procedures, would improve the bowling averages of unskilled league bowlers (N =60). Conversely, negative self-monitoring was expected to produce the best outcome for relatively skillful league bowlers (N =67). In partial support of these hypotheses, positive self-monitors significantly improved their bowling averages from the 90-game baseline to the 9- to 15-game postintervention assessment (Ximprovement = 11 pins) more than all other groups of low-skilled bowlers; higher skilled bowlers' groups did not change differentially. In conjunction with other findings in cognitive behavior therapy and sports psychology, the implications of these results for delineating the circumstances under which positive self-monitoring facilitates self-regulation are discussed.
Resampling-based and other multiple testing strategies with application to combination drug trials with factorial designs.

The problem of detecting all effective and superior combinations in a factorial drug efficacy trial is stated in terms of two hypothesis families, full and reduced. The reduced problem formulation allows identification of all simultaneously effective and superior combinations. The full formulation allows individual detection of the efficacy and superiority of combinations resulting in more detailed conclusions. While the full hypothesis family deals with simpler parameters, the true mean effect differences, it has three times as many hypotheses as the reduced family. The reduced family is comprised of hypotheses concerning a gain-parameter, which is defined as the minimum of the true mean differences and leading to a fairly complicated structure. For each problem formulation, Holm’s, Hochberg’s and two resampling approaches are studied with respect to strong control of overall error rate and several power measures. Holm’s and Hochberg’s approaches are recommended for the reduced family, while the step-dow...
Transition processes for junction vortex flow

The details of the start-up transient vortex structure that forms near the junction of an impulsively started plate and a stationary plate where a step jump in velocity occurs at the plate surfaces are investigated. Numerical simulations have been conducted in a geometry representative of recent experiments of this flow. The experiments did not have access to data at very early times following the impulsive start, but they did suggest that the flow undergoes transitions from a viscous-dominated phase to an inertia-dominated phase. The numerical simulations presented here are designed to explore the early viscous-dominated transients. The simulations show that when the non-dimensional time, τ = tU 2 /ν (t is the time that the plate has been in motion and v is the kinematic viscosity), is less than 100, the development process is dominated by viscous forces. In this regime similarity scaling is used to collapse the data, which scale as √t. The simulation results at low τ, when evaluated using entrainment diagrams, show an unsteady transition process consisting of the following stages. Initially, the flow consists of a non-rotating vorticity front with a single critical point for τ 50 as the outermost node evolves into a spiral focus. The simulations span the viscous range to the inertial range. In the inertial range, for τ > 10 3 , the flow structure scales as t 5/6 , as was observed in the experiments.
Fundamental limitations of reciprocal path imaging through the atmosphere with dilute subaperture arrays

When synthesizing a large aperture with an array of smaller subapertures for high-resolution imaging applications, it is important not only to arrange the subapertures to achieve minimal spatial frequency redundancy, but also to choose the size of the subapertures necessary to achieve the best possible image quality. Spurious, or ghost, images often occur even for nonredundant dilute subaperture arrays. In this paper we show that array configurations producing a uniform modulation transfer function will not exhibit these undesirable ghost images. A method is then presented for constructing both 1D and 2D configurations of dilute subaperture arrays that result in uniform spatial frequency response with arbitrarily high spatial resolution for reciprocal path imaging applications.
Solitary spinal metastasis of Hürthle cell thyroid carcinoma

Hurthle cell carcinoma is a rare variant of differentiated thyroid cancer that occasionally forms distant metastases. However, even in the presence of metastases, patients with Hurthle cell carcinoma have a relatively good prognosis. There are few reports of Hurthle cell carcinoma metastases to the vertebral column, and none describing aggressive resection of spinal metastases. Here, we report a 68-year-old woman with a solitary metastasis of Hurthle cell carcinoma to the T1 vertebral body causing severe kyphotic deformity, myelopathy, and pain. The patient was treated with aggressive excisional decompression of the spinal cord and T1 vertebral body resection from an entirely posterior approach. Reconstruction and stabilization of the anterior spine was accomplished with a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion allograft spacer and posterior instrumentation. We discuss aspects of the diagnosis, management, patient selection, and surgical treatment of metastatic Hurthle cell carcinoma in reference to the literature.
Diagnosis and management of recurrent herpes simplex infections

ABSTRACT Background Dentists are frequently asked by patients to diagnose and treat recurrent herpetic infections, which are painful and disfiguring. The author explores the diagnosis and treatment of these commonly encountered viral conditions. Overview Herpetic infections represent a reactivation of the herpes simplex virus, which is highly infectious to patients, their families, dentists and staff members. The diagnosis of these conditions usually is based on case-specific historical findings, the characteristic clinical appearance and the location of the lesions. Conclusions Dentists often treat patients with a history of recurrent herpetic infections. Currently used topical antiviral agents, when used in a timely manner, are well-absorbed and quite effective in decreasing the severity and duration of herpetic episodes. Clinical Implications Until the herpetic lesions are completely healed, the dental team and patient should use management strategies to prevent spread of the virus, ensure adequate nutrition and maintain appropriate oral hygiene practices.
Embedded audio coding (EAC) with implicit auditory masking

An embedded audio coder (EAC) is proposed with compression performance rivals the best available non-scalable audio coder. The key technology that empowers the EAC with high performance is the implicit auditory masking. Unlike the common practice, where an auditory masking threshold is derived from the input audio signal, transmitted to the decoder and used to quantize (modify) the transform coefficients; the EAC integrates the auditory masking process into the embedded entropy coding. The auditory masking threshold is derived from the encoded coefficients and used to change the order of coding. There is no need to store or send the auditory masking threshold in the EAC. By eliminating the overhead of the auditory mask, EAC greatly improves the compression efficiency, especially at low bitrate. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the EAC coder substantially outperforms existing scalable audio coders and audio compression standards (MP3 and MPEG-4), and rivals the best available commercial audio coder. Yet the EAC compressed bitstream is fully scalable, in term of the coding bitrate, number of audio channels and audio sampling rate.
Polymers on disordered trees, spin glasses, and traveling waves

We show that the problem of a directed polymer on a tree with disorder can be reduced to the study of nonlinear equations of reaction-diffusion type. These equations admit traveling wave solutions that move at all possible speeds above a certain minimal speed. The speed of the wavefront is the free energy of the polymer problem and the minimal speed corresponds to a phase transition to a glassy phase similar to the spin-glass phase. Several properties of the polymer problem can be extracted from the correspondence with the traveling wave: probability distribution of the free energy, overlaps, etc.
Metal accumulation and sublethal effects in the sea anemone, Aiptasia pallida, after waterborne exposure to metal mixtures

The marine environment is subjected to contamination by a complex mixture of metals from various anthropogenic sources. Measuring the biological responses of organisms to a complex mixture of metals allows for examination of metal-specific responses in an environmentally realistic exposure scenario. To address this issue, the sea anemone, Aiptasia pallida was exposed to a control and a metal mixture (copper, zinc, nickel, and cadmium) at three exposure levels (10, 50, and 100 μg/L) for 7 days. Anemones were then transferred to metal-free seawater for an additional 7 days after the metal exposure to assess metal depuration and recovery. Metal accumulation, activity of the enzymes catalase, glutathione reductase, and carbonic anhydrase, as well as, cell density of the symbiotic zooxanthellae were measured over 14 days. Metal accumulation in A. pallida occurred in a concentration dependent manner over the 7-day exposure period. Altered enzyme activity and tentacle retraction of the host, as well as decreased zooxanthellae cell density were observed responses over the 7 days, after exposure to a metal concentration as low as 10 μg/L. Metal depuration and physiological recovery were dependent on both the metal and the exposure concentration. Understanding how A. pallida and their symbionts are affected by metal exposures in the laboratory may allow better understanding about the responses of symbiotic cnidarians in metal polluted aquatic environments.
Analysis of gold films used in microcircuit chip-attachment

Abstract ESCA and SEM were used to evaluate various gold deposition methods and different backside die preparations on the adhesion of backside gold films. Results indicate that poor die-attachment yield is most likely caused by an intermediate SiO 2 film which forms between the silicon die and gold film. Data indicate that sputtered gold films are much better than vacuum evaporated films at preventing the formation of this intermediate oxide. Formation of the gold-silicon eutectic using a RTA immediately after the gold deposition allows vacuum evaporated films to perform as reliably as sputtered films.
An Introduction to Lattice Rules and their Generator Matrices

Revue des resultats de la theorie des formules de quadratures multidimensionnelles sur un hypercube
Self-efficacy and cessation of smoking.

A Confidence Questionnaire developed by DiClemente and Prochaska (1981) was used to measure self-efficacy at pretreatment, treatment cessation, 1 and 3 mo. posttreatment. The questionnaire required subjects rate their confidence that they could avoid smoking in 31 given simations. Self-efficacy was measured on a five-point, Likert-type scale, and scores were obtained by summing the 31 items. Data on smoking status collected at each assessment period classified subjects as either smoking or abstinent. Abstinence was continuous nonsmoking from a specified "quitting date"; smoking was continuation or relapse after the quitting date. At cessation of treatment 42 (64%) were abstinent, which reduced to 26 (39%) at 1-mo. posttreatment, and 18 (27%) at 3-mo. posttreatment. The Confidence Quesionnaire was analyzed, using a 2 x 4 (status by time) analysis of variance with repeated measures; see tabled means, standard deviations and ranges. Significant effects were found for smoking status, 'time, and status by time. Abstinent subjects had significantly higher levels of self-efficacy than those smoking (P = 59.64, df = 1/64, p < .001). Scheffb post hoc comparisons, performed to determine the extent and nature of significant findings, showed an over-all treatment mean of 77.88, which increased significantly to 105.67 at cessation of treatment (P = 78.82, df = 3/192, P < .001) and decreased significantly to a 3-mo. posttreatment mean of 89.39
Occurrence of lysosomes in the prostatic epithelium of castrate rats.

Abstract Changes occurring in rat prostatic epithelium of castrate rats have been investigated by means of histochemical and electron microscope techniques. It was shown that after castration, the normally dilated ergastoplasmic sacs of the epithelial cells tend to collapse and finally disappear. This was accompanied by a deposition in the cytoplasm of numerous dense bodies, which showed the fine structural organization and acid phosphatase activity characteristic of lysosomes. The functional significance of the increase of lysosomes after castration was discussed in terms of their possible participation in the removal of secretory material from the dilated ergastoplasmic sacs.
Radiation focusing and guiding in the free electron laser

Abstract In the free electron laser (FEL) the resonant interaction between the radiation field and electron beam can result in radiation focusing. If the centroid of the electron beam is transversely displaced off-axis, the radiation field, under certain conditions, will follow and be guided by the electron beam. The effect of a spatial modulation on the electron beam envelope can also modify the propagation characteristics of the radiation. These and other phenomena are analytically and numerically evaluated using a novel modal representation of the fully three dimensional radiation field. In this representation the transverse modal dependence consists of the usual Laguerre-Gaussian functions whereas the longitudinal dependence is determined and characterized by the source term in the wave equation. Among the advantages of this general source dependent expansion approach is that far fewer modes are needed to accurately describe the radiation. Hence, fast and accurate numerical solutions of the fully three dimensional FEL problem can be obtained over distances of many Rayleigh lengths.
‘Nothing is Straight in Zimbabwe’: The Rise of the Kukiya-kiya Economy 2000–2008

This article examines the development of what I term the ‘kukiya-kiya’ economy, a new logic of economic action in post-2000 Zimbabwe. In local parlance ‘kukiya-kiya’ refers to multiple forms of ‘making do’. I argue that it has spread from its former position on the urban margins and in so doing has effected a sweeping spatio-temporal shift in the country's economic life. ‘Straight’ transactions carried out in accordance with enduring, jointly-held rules and morals have given way to ‘zigzag’ ‘deals’ seen to be limited to a particular time and place and directed at individual ‘survival’. This reorientation to the short term, where ‘proper’ solutions of all sorts are suspended, is mirrored by a widely-held perception that the country's development has also been suspended. When put together, the two forms of suspension create a seemingly inescapable dialectic, where the dictates of ‘survival’ and temporary ‘necessity’ can be used to justify nearly any economic act. Indeed, I argue, the new economy is driven a...
Modeling International Grain Trade with Government Controlled Markets

ticularly the existence of large grain stocks and the potential for oligopolistic behavior on the part of the major exporters, these methodologies in conjunction with educated guesses on the part of the analyst could be used to project short-run behavior as well. Under those market conditions, accurate estimation of the behavior of the smaller traders was not important, because fluctuations in international prices were relatively small. Because the depletion of grain stocks in the hands of the major exporters during the early and mid1970s placed severe restrictions on their behavior, estimation of the behavior of the smaller traders becomes considerably more important if short-run shifts in international grain prices and trade flows are to be predicted. Explicit attention must be paid to the behavior of governments with respect to grain markets and to the imperfections in those markets, in order to make such predictions. A model of trading behavior emphasizing the problems with that standard methodology will, therefore, be presented. That model will allow interpretation of parameter estimates in net trade models in the light of domestic market behavior and government intervention. It might also be used to suggest respecification of the models utilized in the standard approach. The approach used here could be useful in the analysis of nonagricultural markets, as well, when government intervention in international trade is present.
The Potential Applications of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Ligands in Assisted Reproductive Technology

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ, also known as PPARβ) has ubiquitous distribution and extensive biological functions. The reproductive function of PPARδ was first revealed in the uterus at the implantation site. Since then, PPARδ and its ligand have been discovered in all reproductive tissues, including the gametes and the preimplantation embryos. PPARδ in preimplantation embryos is normally activated by oviduct-derived PPARδ ligand. PPARδ activation is associated with an increase in embryonic cell proliferation and a decrease in programmed cell death (apoptosis). On the other hand, the role of PPARδ and its ligand in gamete formation and function is less well understood. This review will summarize the reproductive functions of PPARδ and project its potential applications in assisted reproductive technology.
Colonoscopy utilization and outcomes 2000 to 2011

Background Understanding colonoscopy utilization and outcomes can help determine when the procedure is most effective. Objective To study trends in utilization and outcomes of colonoscopy in the United States from 2000 to 2011. Design Prospective collection of colonoscopy data. Setting A total of 84 adult diverse GI practices. Patients All adult patients receiving colonoscopy for any reason. Intervention Colonoscopy. Main Outcome Measurements Polyps >9 mm or suspected malignant tumor. Results We analyzed 1,372,838 reports. The most common reason for colonoscopy in patients aged 74 years, surveillance for cancer or polyps is the most common indication. The use of colonoscopy for average-risk screening increased nearly 3-fold during the study period. The prevalence of large polyps increases with age and is higher in men for every procedure indication. The prevalence of large polyps in patients with symptoms of IBS was lower than in those undergoing average-risk screening (odds ratio [OR] 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-0.87). With increasing age, there was a shift from distal to proximal large polyps. The rate of proximal large polyps is higher in the black population compared with the white population (OR 1.19; 95% CI, 1.13-1.25). Limitations In the absence of pathology data, use of surrogate as the main outcome. Conclusion Colonoscopy utilization changed from 2000 to 2011, with an increase in primary screening. The proximal location of large polyps in the black population and with advancing age has implications for screening and surveillance.
An adaptive utility interactive photovoltaic system based on a flexible switch matrix to optimize performance in real-time

Abstract Reconfigurable architectures are of great interest to system designers to improve the system’s operation and efficiency. In this paper, we propose an adaptive utility interactive photovoltaic (PV) system based on a novel Flexible Switch array Matrix topology. This proposed system maximizes the generated power in real-time in response to operational conditions such as shading, soiling, mismatches, and module failure among others. The proposed system is a compromise in the utilization of power conditioning equipment to maximize energy capture and system efficiency. Simulation results demonstrate an average 13% improvement in efficiency when compared with the central inverter topology performance. A prototype system has been designed and tested. The experimental results validate the proposed topology and its benefits for a wide range of applications.
Enzymatic degradation by the sera of various animal species of penicillium chrysogenum mycophage double-stranded RNA

Abstract The enzymatic degradation of dsRNA by the sera of a number of animal species was studied using a quantitative polyacrylamide gel assay procedure. Species ranking of activity correlate well with known biological effects of dsRNA. Human serum showed unusually high activity, and a comparison was made between it and bovine ribonuclease A using penicillium chrysogenum mycophage double-stranded RNA and yeast sRNA substrates.
DEVELOPMENTAL ABNORMALITIES IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN WITH ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS) AND AIDS‐RELATED COMPLEX

Children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) display two types of clinical picture: a full-blown AIDS characterized by the presence of opportunistic infections and/or Kaposi's sarcoma and a prodromal stage now identified as AIDS-related complex (ARC). Neurological complications have been identified in infants and children with the disease. This paper discusses the developmental abnormalities in 16 pediatric patients, seven with AIDS and nine with ARC, ranging in age from six months to six years. In all cases, the mothers of these children either had ARC, AIDS and/or used intravenous drugs. Developmental histories showed delayed acquisition of milestones in most children following the diagnosis of AIDS or ARC, with delayed motor milestones consistently noted in both groups. Several children with AIDS actually lost milestones as their illness progressed; this has not occurred in the ARC group. Psychometric testing revealed more severe cognitive dysfunction in the group with AIDS. Involvement of the central nervous system was documented clinically, radiologically, and/or electrophysiologically in all patients with AIDS. In the ARC group the course of the illness has shown greater variability. Medical and social factors that may contribute to the developmental abnormalities are discussed.
Generating B-Scans of the Environment With a Conventional Sonar

This paper examines the task of displaying more information about the environment using a conventional ranging sonar than is available in standard time-of-flight (TOF) maps. A conventional ranging sonar forms an environmental image that displays the information in the echo envelope, similar to a medical ultrasound image. The sonar performs rotational sector scans of simple objects and two complex environments containing various reflecting structures. In acquiring sonar data, we repeatedly reset the conventional sonar to generate a point process whose density relates to the echo amplitude. This point process is displayed as a grayscale image, called a brightness scan (B-scan), analogous to B-scans in medical ultrasound. We compare the information content of sonar B-scans to TOF maps for object classification and show B-scans to be richer. B-scan textures produced by rough surfaces and volumes containing random scatterers exhibit statistical invariance, similar to some organs within the body, suggesting the feasibility of automated classification. Image artifacts and means for their identification are discussed. The qualitative information present in sonar B-scans should lead to improved quantitative techniques for classifying objects.
Effects of Timbering on Plethodon Hubrichti Over Twelve Years

Clearcuts have been shown to adversely affect salamander populations, whereas impacts from milder forms of timbering are more variable. We determined the effects of clearcuts and shelterwood cuts on populations of the Peaks of Otter Salamander (Plethodon hubrichti) using counts of surface active salamanders found during multiple night collections. Sampling was done prior to and then periodically after timbering for 12 yr. Overall, the long-term trends in mean number of P. hubrichti at reference and shelterwood cut sites were not significantly different. In contrast, means at clearcut sites declined 41% during the first year posttimbering and then declined over the next three years to a low of 75% below pretimbering means. The means stabilized at 45% below pre-timbering means for the remainder of the study. Immediately after timbering 41% of the salamanders moved from transects established at the edge of clearcuts to reference transects that were 3-9 m away. Clearcuts had less canopy closure and dead leaf cover than reference and shelterwood cuts which likely degraded habitat for salamanders. Therefore, clearcutting forests is not advisable because of adverse impacts on salamanders, but forms of timbering that retain a portion of the forest canopy may be acceptable if it can be shown that the timbering method does not reduce salamander populations. Clearcut harvesting of timber adversely af- fects salamander populations. Various study designs have been used to assess impacts, with the most common one being a comparison of counts of salamanders found in plots or transects in mature forests with similar plots or transects found in nearby tracts of forests that were clearcut various years prior to the study being conducted (reviewed extensively in de- Maynadier and Hunter, 1995; Dupuis and Bunnell, 1999; Grialou et al., 2000; DeGraaf
Recent Advances in the Operative Management of Massive Chest Trauma

Abstract Of more than 800 patients treated at our institution who suffered chest trauma from July, 1971, to July, 1972, 91 patients had severe chest injury requiring emergency thoracotomy. Twenty-seven of these patients underwent thoracotomy in the emergency room because of cardiac arrest or refractory shock; 10 survived. In addition, 52 of the remaining 64 patients who underwent thoracotomy in the operating room survived despite the severity of their wounds. The inciting cause of injury was penetrating trauma in 72 patients. Injuries to the lungs, heart, and great vessels comprised the majority of the group. Portable cardiopulmonary bypass was used in 11 patients with 6 survivors. The use of fine-screen filtration of blood in massive transfusion, early tracheostomy, and positive end-expiratory pressure significantly decreased postoperative complications and mortality. The aggressive operative management of massive chest trauma is urged.
Relationships among phosphorus, molybdenum and free-living nitrogen fixation in tropical rain forests: results from observational and experimental analyses

Biological nitrogen (N) fixation is the primary source of “new” N to unmanaged ecosystems, and recent analyses suggest that terrestrial N inputs via free-living N fixation may be more important than previously assumed. This may be particularly true in some tropical rain forests, where free-living fixation could outpace symbiotic N fixation to represent the dominant source of new N inputs. However, our understanding of the controls over free-living N fixation in tropical rain forests remains poor, which directly constrains our ability to predict how N cycling will respond to changing environmental conditions. Although both phosphorus (P) and molybdenum (Mo) availability have been shown to limit free-living N fixation rates in the tropics, few studies have simultaneously explored P versus Mo limitation or the potential importance of P × Mo interactions. Here, an archived set of foliar, litter, and soil samples from a Costa Rican tropical rain forest provided an opportunity to simultaneously assess the relative strength of P versus Mo relationships with free-living N fixation rates. We also conducted a short-term, full-factorial (P × Mo) litter incubation experiment to directly assess nutrient limitation, allowing us to explore P and Mo controls over free-living N fixation rates using both observational and experimental approaches. We previously showed that N fixation rates were positively correlated with P concentrations in all substrates and, using the archived samples, we now show that Mo concentrations correlated with N fixation only in canopy leaves (where total Mo concentrations were extremely low). Likewise, fertilization with P alone (and not Mo) stimulated leaf litter N fixation rates. Thus, our results suggest that P availability dominantly controls free-living N fixation at this site, and when taken with data from other studies, our results suggest that attempts to identify “the nutrient” that limits N fixation in “the tropics” may be misguided. Rather, nutrient controls over free-living N fixation appear to be more nuanced—and the true nature of nutrient limitation to N fixation likely varies over a variety of scales across the vast tropical rain forest biome.
433: Predictors of abdominal wall closure in neonates with gastroschisis

tional test indicate a significant reduction of spastic paresis. CONCLUSION: Transplantation of human placenta-derived MSC into the lateral ventricle of neonatal rats / EPO is possible. Morphologic changes in the reciepient‘s brain indicate neuroprotective effects of the stem cell therapy in both investigated groups. Further experiments will assess the window of opportunity of stem cell therapy in perinatal brain damage.
Reduction and identification methods for Markovian control systems, with application to thin film deposition

Dynamic models of nanometer-scale phenomena often require an explicit consideration of interactions among a large number of atoms or molecules. The corresponding mathematical representation may thus be high dimensional, nonlinear, and stochastic, incompatible with tools in nonlinear control theory that are designed for low-dimensional deterministic equations. We consider here a general class of probabilistic systems that are linear in the state, but whose input enters as a function multiplying the state vector. Model reduction is accomplished by grouping probabilities that evolve together, and truncating states that are unlikely to be accessed. An error bound for this reduction is also derived. A system identification approach that exploits the inherent linearity is then developed, which generates all coefficients in either a full or reduced model. These concepts are then extended to extremely high-dimensional systems, in which kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations provide the input–output data. This work was motivated by our interest in thin film deposition. We demonstrate the approaches developed in the paper on a KMC simulation of surface evolution during film growth, and use the reduced model to compute optimal temperature profiles that minimize surface roughness. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.