cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Post‐stroke aphasia prognosis: a review of patient‐related and stroke‐related factors

Rationale, aims and objectives Recovery of language function in individuals with post-stroke aphasia is associated with a variety of patient and stroke-related indices. Amidst a complex interaction of a multitude of variables, clinicians are faced with the arduous challenge of predicting aphasia recovery patterns and subsequently, long-term outcomes in these individuals. Unfortunately, predictive factors are highly variable making prognosis of aphasia recovery difficult. Therefore, the objective of this review was to assess the influence of patient-related and stroke-related factors on language recovery in individuals with post-stroke aphasia. Methods We completed a literature review to assess and identify evidence-based patient and stroke-related variables shown to be influential in aphasia recovery. Results A range of patient-related (gender, handedness, age, education, socio-economic status and intelligence) and stroke-related indices (initial severity, lesion site and lesion size) were identified as potential influential factors to post-stroke aphasia recovery. Initial severity of aphasia emerged as the factor most predictive of long-term aphasia recovery. Other influential factors of post-stroke language recovery included lesion site and size. Conclusions Stroke-related factors, including aphasia severity, lesion site and lesion size, appear most critical to post-stroke aphasia recovery. The findings presented in this review offer clinicians an evidenced-based framework to assist in prediction of post-stroke aphasia recovery patterns and subsequent long-term functional communication outcomes.
Norms Are What the System Makes of Them: Helsinki's Lessons for Normative Diplomacy on Climate Change

What factors lead to the promotion or dilution of a norm, and what determines the scope of a norm’s exceptions? This paper examines two cases of normative change in international relations concerning the norm of territorial integrity and its evolution during the nineteen-seventies. In contrast to a single-case study approach, this paper compares processes in two regions providing variance in state practice and the robustness of the norm, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, in order to understand the role of norms in a larger context of multiple forces and their collective interactions. By comparing negotiations concerning the norm of territorial integrity during the period of detente and the Arab-Israeli wars, we can examine how the content of norms, and especially the scope of exceptions to a norm, are influenced by power differences and the formation of alliances willing to ensure compliance. In other words, norms are a consequence, as well as a cause, of change in the international system, especially in terms of the system’s capacity to sanction. The implications for ongoing efforts in normative change such as those to prevent climate change are that any effective agreement must enable the system to restructure incentives through both coordination and the development of linkages so as to provide the material leverage necessary for inducing changes in state policies and individual behaviour.
'Optimism' Vs 'Big Bath' Accounting - A Regulatory Dilemma in Chinese Financial Reporting Practices

Although China's accounting system has experienced an evolution during the last three decades, its financial reporting practices are still not satisfactory. Optimism, by means of overstating companies' profits and assets value, has always been criticized in China. Therefore, the principle of Conservatism may provide a means of minimizing such improper behavior. With such concern, the paper systematically reviews the financial reporting problems in China. However, through analysis, it is found that although Optimism exists, the extremely contrary case - Big Bath accounting also exists. Hence, this paper argues that Conservatism may not be applicable in contemporary China's financial reporting environment.
New methods for determining the vacancy and void content of single crystal silicon

Summary form only given. Our present understanding of the point defect concentration and atomic transport in pure silicon will be reviewed, with the emphasis on the loss of equilibrium as the temperature is lowered. Diffusion and trapping of "fast" impurities in silicon will be reviewed. Interstitial in- and out-diffusion at low temperature of impurities that may be trapped at vacancies and internal surfaces provides new opportunities for characterizing lattice defects.
Contingency Tests of Neutrality Using Intra/Interspecific Gene Trees: The Rejection of Neutrality for the Evolution of the Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase II Gene in the Hominoid Primates

Contingency tests of neutrality are performed using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II (COII) DNA sequences from hominoid primates, including humans. An intra-/interspecific haplotype tree is estimated, including a statistical assessment of ambiguities in tree topology and branch lengths. Four functional mutational categories are considered: silent and replacement substitutions in the transmembrane portion of the COII molecule, and silent and replacement substitutions in the cytosolic portion. Three tree topological mutational categories are used: intraspecific tips, intraspecific interiors, and interspecific fixed mutations. A full contingency analysis is performed, followed by nested contingency analyses. The analyses indicate that replacement mutations in the cytosolic portion are deleterious, and replacement mutations in the transmembrane portion and silent mutations throughout tend to be neutral. These conclusions are robust to ambiguities in tree topology and branch lengths. These inferences would have been impossible with an analysis that only contrasts silent and replacement vs. polymorphic and fixed. Also, intraspecific interior mutations have similar evolutionary dynamics to fixed mutations, so pooling tip and interior mutations into a single ``polymorphic'' class reduces power. Finally, the detected deleterious selection causes lowered inbreeding effective sizes, so arguments for small effective sizes in recent human evolutionary history based upon mitochondrial DNA may be invalid.
Physical Properties and Chemical Composition of β-Glucans from Fleshy Fungi

Physical properties and chemical structure of two related polysaccharides produced fermentatively by Plectania occidentalis NRRL 3137 and by Helotium sp. NRRL 3129 were studied. Both polymers were readily recovered as amorphous gels by precipitation from culture liquors with two parts of ethyl alcohol or methanol. Dried polymeric material was redissolved in water with agitation to give uniform aqueous solutions up to about 1.5% by weight. The polymers were similar in physical properties but possessed different chemical structures. The viscosity of aqueous solutions of each polymer varied from about 50 centipoises at 0.1% to approximately 2,200 centipoises at 1.4% concentrations by weight. Highly viscous solutions at concentrations of 1% or greater behaved like thixotropic gels. Mono-, di-, and trivalent salts, except borate, did not affect viscosity of either polymer. The viscosities were slightly increased by the addition of borate. Autoclaving did not alter the physical properties of neutral polymer solutions. The polymers were stable in acid or alkaline solutions at moderate temperatures but degraded under extremes of pH at 70 C or above. Each polymer had a specific rotation of +20° in aqueous dimethylformamide (1:1). The results of acid hydrolysis and periodate oxidation, in conjunction with paper and gas chromatography, indicate that both polymers are branched glucans containing appreciable amounts of β-1,3 linkages.
Enabling Scaling of Advanced CMOS Technologies: A Reliability Perspective

As CMOS technologies continue to scale and devices become more interconnected, new reliability challenges are emerging. With Internet-of-Things, semiconductor devices will be ubiquitous and used under diverse environmental conditions. In this paper we will review the device level scaling challenges from the reliability perspective, which include new materials, variability in ever decreasing dimensions, and methodology enhancements needed to provide reliable solutions across different product segments. The critical need for product level reliability assessment will be highlighted to provide additional margin for the consumer market.
Microscopic Neuroanatomic Abnormalities in Autism

Since its initial description in 1943,1 autism has been primarily conceptualized as a behavioral disorder, and for many years it was believed to be the result of parental and environmental influences. With heightened clinical interest in the disorder, coincident with advances in medical technology, however, evidence for an underlying neurologic basis for autism has become increasingly apparent. HISTORICAL NEUROPATHOLOGIC PERSPECTIVE Based largely on the constellation of symptoms that characterize the disorder, various anatomical sites within the brain have been suggested as a possible primary source of pathology in autism. Suspected regions have included the medial temporal lobe,2-5 the thalamic nuclei,6 the basal ganglia,7 and the vestibular system.8 Computed tomographic imaging studies have shown inconsistent findings.9-14 More recently, however, magnetic resonance imaging studies have described abnormalities in portions of the cerebellum and posterior fossa.15-17 Direct microscopic examination of the autistic brain has, until recently, yielded little information. Aarkrog18 reported "slight thickening of the arterioles, slight connective tissue increase in the leptomeninges, and some cell increase" in a frontal lobe biopsy performed on an autistic patient. Later, in 1976, 33 cases of childhood psychosis were reviewed by Darby.19 Although he suggested a possible correlation between limbic system lesions and the affective symptomatology of autism, no consistent neuropathologic findings were found. In 1980, Williams et al20 studied sections of brain from four patients with autistic-like behavior; looking primarily for cell loss and gliosis, they failed to find any consistent abnormalities. MICROSCOPIC NEUROANATOMIC OBSERVATIONS In 1984, anatomic abnormalities were reported in the brain of a 29-year-old man with well-documented autism; the technique of whole brain serial section was used, and the patient was studied in comparison with an identically processed age- and sex-matched control subject.21,22
Behavioral responses of hybrid lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) to courtship songs.

The study of hybrid courtship songs and the behavioral responses of hybrids and parental individuals to hybrid songs can be useful in understanding the origin of reproductive isolation among species that differ mainly in their courtship songs. Here we test the hypotheses (a) that hybrid lacewings prefer hybrid songs to either of the parental songs from a cross betweenChrysoperla plorabunda andC. johnsoni, and (b) that parental individuals prefer their own song over those of hybrids. Analysis of songs showed that most features of hybrid songs are intermediate between the two parents. Hybrids organize their songs with a series of simple volleys like those ofC. plorabunda. Female hybrids from two reciprocal crosses and females and males of the parental species were presented with choices of hybrid and parental songs. Hybrids responded more to recordings of hybrid songs than to recordings ofC. plorabunda but did not differ in the responses given toC. johnsoni and hybrid songs. In contrast, males and females of both parental lines preferred to duet with recordings of their own song types and did not respond to hybrid songs. Our results demonstrate that hybrids would be at a disadvantage in nature, because neitherC. plorabunda norC. johnsoni will respond to their songs.
On the Density of Various Classes of Groups

Abstract Let T be a subset of the set of all isomorphism classes of finite groups. We consider the number F g ( x ) of positive integers n ≤ x such that all groups of order n lie in T . When T consists of the isomorphism classes of all finite groups of any of the following types, we obtain an asymptotic formula for F g ( x ): cyclic groups, abelian groups, nilpotent groups, supersolvable groups, and solvable groups. In the course of the arguments, we also obtain, for almost all n, a lower bound for the number of groups of a given order n.
Dynamic Scene Analysis Using Pixel-Based Processes

Because they ignore stationary scene components, difference pictures provide a simple, robust method for detecting motion in the early stages of dynamic scene analysis.
Vertical growth response of ponderosa pine infested by western pine shoot borer, Eucosma sonomana Kearfott (Lepidoptera : Olethreutidae)

Etude des relations entre taux d'infestation de l'arbre et croissance de l'arbre. Consequences de l'infestation sur la croissance verticale de l'arbre.
Clinical significance of small colorectal polyps.

Purpose: Since the concept of “advanced” or “dangerous” adenomas was introduced in 1992, less concern has been directed to diminutive colorectal adenomas. They apparently confer no increased risk of metachronous colorectal cancer and some investigators have suggested that they need neither follow-up nor treatment. This study is intended to discover how often small colorectal adenomas have unfavorable histologic features. Methods: Since 1995 the details of all colorectal polyps have been entered into a database, along with data concerning patients, symptoms, treatment, and outcome. Using this database all adenomas were categorized into three groups: Group I, < 6 mm diameter, Group II, 6 to 10 mm diameter, and Group III, < 10 mm diameter. “High risk” adenomas were defined as those containing < 25 percent villous architecture, those with severe dysplasia, and those over 10 mm in size. Thus all Group III adenomas are high-risk by definition. The effects of family history, patient age, and polyp location on the proportions of Group I and Group II adenomas that were histologically high risk were examined. Results: There were 5, 722 polyps of which 4, 381 (76.6 percent) were Group I, 666 (11.6 percent) were Group II, and 675 (11.8 percent) were Group III. These included 24 invasive cancers (2 in Group I, 1 in Group II, and 21 in Group III. Of the Group I adenomas, 91/2, 064 (4.4 percent) were high risk compared to 65/417 (15.6 percent) in Group II. Of the 564 Group III adenomas, 326 (57.8 percent) had unfavorable histology. There was no effect of age, family history, or site of the polyp on the proportion of polyps that were high risk. Conclusions: Four percent of adenomas less than 6 mm diameter and 16 percent of those between 6 and 10 mm have unfavorable histology. Small adenomas can still be clinically significant and should not be ignored.
Nuclear magnetic resonance in LiF: A single nuclear-dipolar-spin temperature in crystals with more than one spin species

In a crystal containing more than one species of nuclear spin in a large dc magnetic field, the secular dipolar interactions between all spins, unlike as well as like, form a single reservoir described by a single spin temperature. We demonstrated this concept with experiments on LiF. In particular, we showed that ${T}_{1D}$ of $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ and $^{19}\mathrm{F}$ are equal. We also measured ${T}_{1}$ and ${T}_{1\ensuremath{\rho}}$ of $^{19}\mathrm{F}$ using $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ detection. Finally we applied this concept to the Provotorov theory of saturation, which we extended to the case of a two-spin system, and demonstrated experimentally the validity of the treatment.
Modelling the combustion of a sub-micron aluminium particle

We pose the following question: ‘Within the context of the classical shrinking-core model for sub-micron aluminium combustion, allowing only for the diffusion of atomic oxygen (no aluminium diffusion), but with two non-classical ingredients (large Knudsen number heat losses to the ambient atmosphere and a fractal reacting surface), are the solutions consistent with four experimental facts and data sets: (i) burn times; (ii) particle temperatures; (iii) maximum temperatures independent of particle size for small Damkohler numbers; and (iv) also for small Damkohler numbers a burn law of the form d1 − ν–t (where d is the particle diameter and ν ∼ 0.7 or so)?’ In the analysis we first consider a non-fractal model and scale the lengths with (where is the diffusion coefficient and k is the reaction-rate constant) and time with (where ρ− is the aluminium density and co is a characteristic value of the O density within the alumina). Burn times are calculated which follow a linear d–t law for small values of kL/D(...
Structure and photochemistry of 18-diazo-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclononadeca-17,19-dione and its sodium and potassium complexes. Control of the ground-state conformation of 2-diazo-1,3-dicarbonyl fragment via host-guest complexation.

The macrocyclic 18-diazo-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclononadeca-17,19-dione (3-diazo-2,4-dioxo-19-crown-6, 1) readily forms complexes with potassium (2, stability constant in methanol is KK+ = 229 ± 2...
Monitoring the Biological and Physical Reactivity of Dextran Carbohydrates in Seawater Incubations Using Flow Field-Flow Fractionation

Abstract In order to better understand the factors that modulate the size and reactivity of high molecular weight organic matter dissolved in seawater, fluorescently labeled dextrans were used as the model compounds whose molecular weight distributions were monitored by flow field-flow fractionation (flow FFF or F1FFF) during incubations in seawater matrices. Two fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled dextrans (145k and 2M Da) were incubated in whole seawater (natural microbial population and natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) present), 0.02 μm filtered seawater (all microorganisms removed, but natural DOM largely unaltered), and UV-oxidized seawater (no microorganisms or natural DOM present). Flow FFF fractograms of the two FITC-dextrans incubated in UV-oxidized seawater showed no changes, signifying that the dextrans did not undergo any alteration or aggregation. The dextrans incubated in filtered seawater with natural DOM present resulted in fractograms that are shifted to higher retention times...
Games for Health: Past, Present, and Future?

Abstract This article provides a review of selected past and present games for health. This will highlight some existing games for health and examine the relationship between health content and game technology. Because of this relationship, new technology trends may suggest future approaches to the application of videogame-based health interventions.
Learning dynamic temporal graphs for oil-production equipment monitoring system

Learning temporal graph structures from time series data reveals important dependency relationships between current observations and histories. Most previous work focuses on learning and predicting with "static" temporal graphs only. However, in many applications such as mechanical systems and biology systems, the temporal dependencies might change over time. In this paper, we develop a dynamic temporal graphical models based on hidden Markov model regression and lasso-type algorithms. Our method is able to integrate two usually separate tasks, i.e. inferring underlying states and learning temporal graphs, in one unified model. The output temporal graphs provide better understanding about complex systems, i.e. how their dependency graphs evolve over time, and achieve more accurate predictions. We examine our model on two synthetic datasets as well as a real application dataset for monitoring oil-production equipment to capture different stages of the system, and achieve promising results.
Massively parallel genomic sequence search on the Blue Gene/P architecture

This paper presents our first experiences in mapping and optimizing genomic sequence search onto the massively parallel IBM Blue Gene/P (BG/P) platform. Specifically, we performed our work on mpiBLAST, a parallel sequence-search code that has been optimized on numerous supercomputing environments. In doing so, we identify several critical performance issues. Consequently, we propose and study different approaches for mapping sequence-search and parallel I/O tasks on such massively parallel architectures. We demonstrate that our optimizations can deliver nearly linear scaling (93% efficiency) on up to 32,768 cores of BG/P. In addition, we show that such scalability enables us to complete a large-scale bioinformatics problem --- sequence searching a microbial genome database against itself to support the discovery of missing genes in genomes --- in only a few hours on BG/P. Previously, this problem was viewed as computationally intractable in practice.
Degenerate four-wave mixing in a mercury-argon discharge

Phase conjugation has been obtained with pump powers as low as 0.5 mW on the 546.1-nm line of atomic mercury. Collisional processes that oppose the effects of optical pumping sustain the signal. Line splittings observed in the Doppler regime are compared with theory. Reflectivities agree with those obtained from a model that includes pump absorption.
Increasing the Efficiency of Free Energy Calculations Using Parallel Tempering and Histogram Reweighting.

Free energy calculations from molecular simulations using thermodynamic integration or free energy perturbation require long simulation times to achieve sufficient precision. If entropic and enthalpic components of the free energy are desired, then the computational requirements are larger still. Here we present how parallel tempering (PT) Monte Carlo and weighted histogram analysis method (WHAM) can be used to improve the efficiency of free energy calculations. For both methods, which can be used separately or together, simulations at more than one temperature are performed. The same additional temperatures are often used to determine entropy changes. The results, for the aqueous solvation of n-butane and methane, show noticeable improvement in the precision of the free energy and entropy changes. The PT and WHAM methods can give similar error bars as conventional molecular dynamics in half the simulation time. The methods offer an efficient procedure for calculating free energy, entropy, and enthalpy ch...
Introduction: Immigration and U.S. Integration, Policy Reforms, and Economic Change

The economic and political ramifications of immigration will become increasingly evident in the United States during the coming decade, particularly in view of recent immigration policies that guarantee that the magnitude and diversity of the inflow will continue to grow. This symposium presents research that examines the role of immigrants in industrial restructuring and evaluates the effects of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. The importance of English language skills for economic advancement, and of government-supported training for refugees, are also examined. Together, this body of research directs our attention to the need for a more active public and private sector role in assisting all U.S. workers prepare for the demands of the labor market of the future.
Fast algorithms for complex matrix multiplication using surrogates

Novel fast algorithms for multiplying square complex matrices are presented. The algorithms are based on concepts from fast methods of complex multiplication in which a surrogate is used for the square root of minus one. Previous methods imposed the structure of a finite ring or field on the problem. The novel algorithms also use a surrogate, but do not require the imposed structure and its inherent rounding. The number of real matrix multiplications required can be reduced from four to two for even dimension, and to 2+1/N/sup 2/ for odd dimension N. The disadvantage of the algorithms is the imposition of a requirement on the structure of one of the two complex matrices being multiplied. The 2*2 case of the algorithm can be adapted to computing Givens rotations, resulting in a 17% savings in real matrix multiplications. >
Statin Therapy for Cardiac Hypertrophy and Heart Failure

Cardiac hypertrophy leading to heart failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, or statins, have been shown to inhibit cardiac hypertrophy and improve symptoms of heart failure by cholesterol-independent mechanisms. Statins block the isoprenylation and function of members of the Rho guanosine triphosphatase family, such as Rac1 and RhoA. Because Rac1 is a requisite component of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, which is a major source of reactive oxygen species in cardiovascular cells, the ability of statins to inhibit Rac1-mediated oxidative stress contributes importantly to their inhibitory effects on cardiac hypertrophy. Furthermore, inhibition of RhoA by statins leads to the activation of protein kinase B/Akt and up-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the endothelium and the heart. This results in increased angiogenesis and myocardial perfusion, decreased myocardial apoptosis, and improvement in endothelial and cardiac function. Because these effects of statins occur independently of cholesterol lowering, statins may have therapeutic benefits in nonhyperlipidemic patients with cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.
Characterization of the Rhodobacter capsulatus Housekeeping RNA Polymerase IN VITRO TRANSCRIPTION OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND OTHER GENES

To begin to characterize biochemically the transcriptional activation systems in photosynthetic bacteria, the Rhodobacter capsulatus RNA polymerase (RNAP) that contains the sigma70 factor (R. capsulatus RNAP/sigma70) was purified and characterized using two classical sigma70 type promoters, the bacteriophage T7A1 and the RNA I promoters. Transcription from these promoters was sensitive to rifampicin, RNase, and monoclonal antibody 2G10 (directed against the Escherichia coli sigma70 subunit). Specific transcripts were detected in vitro for R. capsulatus cytochrome c2 (cycA) and fructose-inducible (fruB) promoters and genes induced in photosynthesis (puf and puc) and bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis (bchC). Alignment of these natural promoters activated by R. capsulatus RNAP/sigma70 indicated a preference for the sequence TTGAC at the -35 region for strong in vitro transcription. To test the -35 recognition pattern, the R. capsulatus nifA1 promoter, which exhibits only three of the five consensus nucleotides at the -35 region, was mutated to four and five of the consensus nucleotides. Although the nifA1 wild type promoter showed no transcription, the double mutated promoter exhibited high levels of in vitro transcription by the purified R. capsulatus RNAP/sigma70 enzyme. Similarities and differences between the RNAPs and the promoters of R. capsulatus and E. coli are discussed.
Long-Distance Caregiving: A Systematic Review of the Literature

There are an estimated 5-7 million long-distance caregivers (LDCs) in the United States, but little is known about this growing population. This study reviewed the literature on LDCs and examined 16 identified studies. Although studies defined LDCs differently, a composite description of who LDCs are and what they do is presented. LDCs make substantial contributions in terms of physical, financial, and social support. Distance complicates communication about care recipients' health and care needs, as well as the types of care that can be provided. Related to this, geographic separation can exacerbate care-related stressors. Implications for future research were also identified.
Hybrid state equations of motion for flexible bodies in terms of quasi-coordinates

This paper is concerned with the general motion of a flexible body in space. Using the extended Hamilton’s principle for distributed systems, standard Lagrange’s equations for hybrid systems are first derived. Then, the equations for the rigid-body motions are transformed into a symbolic vector form of Lagrange’s equations in terms of general quasi-coordinates. The hybrid Lagrange’s equations of motion in terms of general quasi-coordinates are subsequently expressed in terms of quasi-coordinates representing rigid-body motions. Finally, the second-order Lagrange’s equations for hybrid systems are transformed into a set of state equations suitable for control. An illustrative example is presented.
PROCESS IMPROVEMENT: AN EXPLORATORY DATA ANALYSIS APPROACH WITHIN AN INTERVAL‐BASED OPTIMIZATION FRAMEWORK

This article revisits an old problem; “systematically explore the information contained in a set of operating data records and find from it how to improve operational performance by taking the appropriate decisions in the space of operating conditions,” thus leading to continuous process improvement. A series of industrial case studies within the framework of the internships in the Leaders for Manufacturing (LFM) program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology led us to a reexamination of the traditional formulations for the above problem. The resulting methodology is characterized by the following features: (1) problem statement and solutions are expressed in terms of hyperrectangles in the decision space, replacing conventional pointwise results; (2) data-driven, nonparametric learning methodologies were advanced to produce the requisite mapping between performance and decisions; (3) operating performance is in essence multifaceted, leading to a multiobjective problem, which is treated as such. The proposed methodology has been applied to a number of industrial examples and in this paper we provide a brief overview only of those that can be discussed in the open literature.
Comparison of two oddity tasks with pigeons

Abstract Two oddity tasks were compared: one in which the odd stimulus could appear on any of the three stimulus positions (true oddity); the other in which the odd stimulus could only appear on the left or right but not the center (oddity-from-sample). A stimulus-configuration theory predicts faster oddity-from-sample learning, whereas a theory, based on shifts in observing over trials, predicts faster learning of true oddity. Pigeons learned the oddity-from-sample task faster, thus supporting configuration theory. Performance on the oddity-from-sample task but not the true oddity task was facilitated by increasing the number of responses required to terminate a trial. When the oddity-from-sample pigeons were shifted to the true oddity task, no evidence of positive transfer was found, suggesting that a configuration theory alone is insufficient to explain differences in acquisition. Only when a correction procedure was introduced did the true oddity pigeons perform above 50%.
Biofeedback control of skin potential level.

This study explored the possibility of using biofeedback to arrest spontaneous declines in tonic electrodermal levels. For 3 days, 10 subjects(S) received 20 minutes of training in increasing skin potential level (SPL) negativity (arrested declines), followed by 20 minutes of training in decreasing SPL negativity (facilitating declines), with reverse order for half of theSs. Simultaneous analogue and binary feedback of SPL were used. Training in the direction of SPL increases resulted in arrest of spontaneous declines in SPL negativity but did not result in large-magnitude increases above baseline. Training in the direction of SPL decreases facilitated declines in SPL. The absolute mean difference between the increase condition and the decrease condition on the 3rd day was 8.28 mV. Correlations suggested that considerable intraindividual variability may have been independently related to the Locus of Control personality dimension and to a Law of Initial Values limitation on SPL change. It was concluded that SPL was controllable to the extent of facilitating or arresting spontaneous declines.
Transgenic sterility in Populus: expression properties of the poplar PTLF, Agrobacterium NOS and two minimal 35S promoters in vegetative tissues

Transgenic sterility is a desirable trait for containment of many kinds of transgenes and exotic species. Genetically engineered floral sterility can be imparted by expression of a cytotoxin under the control of a predominantly floral-tissue-specific promoter. However, many otherwise desirable floral promoters impart substantial non-floral expression, which can impair plant health or make it impossible to regenerate transgenic plants. We are therefore developing a floral sterility system that is capable of attenuating undesired background vegetative expression. As a first step towards this goal, we compared the vegetative expression properties of the promoter of the poplar (Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray) homolog of the floral homeotic gene LEAFY (PTLF), which could be used to impart male and female flower sterility, to that of three candidate attenuator-gene promoters: the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S basal promoter, the CaMV 35S basal promoter fused to the TMV omega element and the nopaline synthase (NOS) promoter. The promoters were evaluated via promoter::GUS gene fusions in a transgenic poplar hybrid (Populus tremula L. × P. alba L.) by both histochemical and fluorometric GUS assays. In leaves, the NOS promoter conveyed the highest activity and had a mean expression level 5-fold higher than PTLF, whereas the CaMV 35S basal promoter fused to the omega element and the CaMV 35S basal promoter alone directed mean expression levels that were 0.5× and 0.35× that of PTLF, respectively. Differential expression in shoots, leaves, stems and roots was observed only for the NOS and PTLF promoters. Strongest expression was observed in roots for the NOS promoter, whereas the PTLF promoter directed highest expression in shoots. The NOS promoter appears best suited to counteract vegetative expression of a cytotoxin driven by the PTLF promoter where 1:1 toxin:attenuator expression is required.
A filtered solution of the primitive shallow-water equations

Abstract It is well documented that the direct solution of the primitive equation form (PE) of the shallow-water equations by conventional Galerkin finite elements fails to control numerical noise. While some alternative numerical techniques applied directly to the primitive equations have been successfully developed, a reformulation of the fundamental equations into the generalized wave continuity equation form (GWCE) provides an alternative noise-free procedure that has been used in numerous field applications. The selection of penalty parameter, ‘G’ for GWCE must, however, be carefully adjusted to achieve both mass balance and noise control. In this paper, a numerical method for solving the primitive equation with a filter is presented. It is shown that a filtered primitive equation method (FPE) controls numerical noise and is mass conservative. Since the FPE method derives its basis from observations about the behavior of GWCE, we present comparisons of the solution of the primitive equations via FPE with the solution of the wave equation via the GWCE form.
Isolated hepatic perfusion for the treatment of patients with advanced liver metastases from pancreatic and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms

Background We report results of using isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) in patients with advanced progressive liver metastases (LM) from pancreatic and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). Methods Thirteen patients with LM from NENs (mean percent hepatic replacement, 30; range, 10-60) were treated with a 1-hour hyperthermic IHP via a laparotomy with the use of 1.5 or 2.0 mg/kg melphalan and/or 1 mg tumor necrosis factor. An oxygenated extracorporeal circuit with inflow through the gastroduodenal artery and common hepatic artery, and outflow to a segment of the inferior vena cava was used. Portal flow and inferior vena cava flow were shunted to the axillary vein. Radiographic response, recurrence pattern, and survival were assessed. Results Mean operative time was 9 hours (8-11 hours), and a median hospital stay was 10 days (6-64 days). Fifty percent of evaluable patients had a radiographic partial response in the liver (mean duration, 15 months; range, 6-26 months; 2 ongoing). Four had a marginal response (25%-49% reduction in the neoplasm). The median, hepatic, progression-free survival was 7 months (range, 3-27 months). The median actuarial survival was 48 months including 1 treatment mortality (median follow-up, 23 months). Conclusions For patients with advanced LM from NENs, IHP provides a reasonable response rate and duration with acceptable morbidity; continued clinical evaluation is important.
An electron energy loss spectral library

Abstract Although the general characteristics of an energy loss spectrum are reasonably well known, tables of atomic energy levels are not always sufficient to uniquely identify all features in a given spectrum. Systematic variation on an element-to-element basis across the periodic table can be substantial and has not yet been documented in a single reference source. A wide range of specimens has been studied using EELS, resulting in a fairly extensive data base, which is now being prepared for general distribution to the scientific community in the form of a spectral library.
Continuum and Molecular-Level Modeling of Fatigue Crack Retardation in Self-Healing Polymers

A numerical model to study the fatigue crack retardation in a self-healing material (White et al., 2001, Nature, 409, pp. 794-797) is presented. The approach relies on a combination of cohesive modeling for fatigue crack propagation and a contact algorithm to enforce crack closure due to an artificial wedge in the wake of the crack. The healing kinetics of the self-healing material is captured by introducing along the fracture plane a state variable representing the evolving degree of cure of the healing agent. The atomic-scale processes during the cure of the healing agent are modeled using a coarse-grain molecular dynamics model specifically developed for this purpose. This approach yields the cure kinetics and the mechanical properties as a function of the degree of cure, information that is transmitted to the continuum-scale models. The incorporation of healing kinetics in the model enables us to study the competition between fatigue crack growth and crack retardation mechanisms in this new class of materials. A systematic study of the effect of different loading and healing parameters shows a good qualitative agreement between experimental observations and simulation results.
A block copolymer nanotemplate for mechanically tunable polarized emission from a conjugated polymer

A polymer blend system consisting of polystyrene grafted onto poly (p-phenylene ethynylene) (PS-g-PPE) and poly (styrene-block-isoprene-block-styrene) triblock copolymer (SIS) yields highly polarized emission due to the unidirectional alignment of the PPE molecules. During the roll casting, the triblock copolymer microphase separates and creates unidirectionally aligned PS cylindrical microdomains in the rubbery PI matrix. PPE, a fluorescent conjugated polymer, was grafted with polystyrene (PS) side chains that enabled sequestration and alignment of these rigid backbone emitter molecules into the PS microdomains of the SIS triblock copolymer. Deforming the thermoplastic elastomer in a direction perpendicular to the orientation direction of the cylinders causes rotation of the PS cylinders and the PPE emitter molecules and affords tunable polarized emission due to re-orientation of the PPE containing PS cylinders as well as film thinning from Poisson effect.
Mucous glycoproteins of teleostean fish: a comparative histochemical study.

To examine the hypothesis that the histochemical characteristics of teleostean mucus reflect functional characteristics, mucous cells were studied in four related and behaviourally similar species of fish (Family Belontidae). Histochemical characteristics were determined with Alcian Blue at both pH 2.6 and pH 1.0 followed by the periodic acid-Schiff technique. It was found that the four species differed in glycoprotein type as well as in number of mucus-containing cells. The differences are ciscussed in regard to functional characteristics and environmental influence.
Conservation of endemic plants in serpentine landscapes

Serpentine outcrops in northern California occur in a variety of configurations, from scattered small patches to extensive landscapes covering hundreds of square kilometers. These areas support a distinctive flora with numerous uncommon or rare endemic species. I studied the reproductive ecology of two endemic plant species on large and small serpentine outcrops. The perennial herb, Calystegia collina, exhibited significantly lower reproductive success on small outcrops, partly because compatible pollen was not available from other, nearby populations. Local populations are more likely to produce seeds, and therefore potential colonists, when they occur in clusters of populations. Number of alleles and average heterozygosity were not significantly different between C. collina patches in small versus large outcrops. Vegetative reproduction enables small patches to persist for many years and apparently maintains genetic diversity despite low levels of seed production. Pollinators and insect herbivores of C. collina were not significantly less numerous on small outcrops than on large outcrops, suggesting that species interactions are not directly responsible for reproductive failure on small outcrops. The annual herb, Helianthus exilis, was entirely absent from small outcrops. This locally distributed serpentine endemic is restricted to moist seeps, a specialized microhabitat found only within large serpentine outcrops. Transplant experiments showed that H. exilis survives poorly or not at all outside these narrow conditions. Results from these investigations illustrate the need to protect serpentine landscapes that contain multiple local populations and the full range of microhabitats that are inhabited by serpentine endemic plants.
The effect of amitriptyline on pain intensity and perception of stress in bruxers.

Purpose The purpose of this clinical pilot study was to evaluate the effect of a tricyclic antidepressant, amitriptyline, on pain-intensity level and level of stress in bruxers. Materials and Methods In a randomized, double-blind, crossover experimental design, 10 subjects received active (amitriptyline 25 mg/night) and inactive (placebo 25 mg/night) medication, over a period of 4 weeks. Results The administration of amitriptyline for 4 weeks did not significantly (p > .05) reduce pain intensity. However, it significantly (p < .05) reduced the level of stress perception. Conclusion The results of this limited study do not support the administration of small doses of amitriptyline over a period of 4 weeks for the management of pain resulting from sleep bruxism. However, the results support the administration of small doses of amitriptyline for the management of the perception of stress levels associated with sleep bruxism.
A specific method for determination of free tryptophan and endogenous tryptophan in Escherichia coli

Abstract A sensitive, simple spectrofluorometric technique for determination of tryptophan inamounts as small as 10 pmol is described. It is based on tryptophanase hydrolysis of tryptophan and spectrofluorometric analysis of the resulting indole. The relationship between released indole and fluorescence is linear over three orders of magnitude. The method is free from interference by other amino acids, polar indole derivatives, and a number of other compounds found in cell extracts or used in bacterial growth media. The method is rapid, reproducible, and accurate. A simple method for extraction and measurement of endogenous free tryptophan from bacterial cells is also described.
Surface chemistry of ethylenediamine (NH2CH2CH2NH2) on Pt(1 1 1)

Abstract Reflection absorption infrared (RAIR) spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption have been used to study the adsorption and reaction chemistry of ethylenediamine on Pt(1 1 1) over the temperature range of 80–550 K. In agreement with previous studies, ethylenediamine is found to adsorb without dissociation between 80 and 300 K. At 360 K, large changes in the RAIR spectra reveal that the molecule rearranges to form a new surface species, which is identified as diaminoethylene, H2NCCNH2. At temperatures above 360 K, diaminoethylene decomposes to form aminomethylidyne, CNH2.
The spatial extent of chemical equilibrium in some high-grade metamorphic rocks from the grenville of southeastern Ontario

Many of the recent studies of chemical equilibrium in metamorphic rocks may have been hampered by sampling which did not reflect single regions or domains of local equilibration. This paper records results of tests performed to determine the specific volume of rock in chemical equilibrium with respect to a certain phase, under a particular set of conditions. Two samples of high-grade metamorphic gneisses from the Grenville Series of southeastern Ontario were selected for intensive study. The garnets of one specimen, possessing a biotite-garnet-cordierite assemblage, underwent in situ laser microprobe spectrochemical determinations for Fe, Mg, Mn and Ca. Conclusions are thus possible as to the volumes over which free diffusion and chemical equilibrium took place. These volumes were found to be on the order of only a few cubic centimeters and their shapes are strongly controlled by rock structures such as foliation and lineation. A higher-grade pyroxene granulite was also investigated with respect to garnet and biotite equilibrium. Somewhat larger volumes of equilibration were noted in this rock.
Body mass index and the development of new-onset diabetes mellitus or the worsening of pre-existing diabetes mellitus in adult kidney transplant patients.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the development of new-onset diabetes after transplant (NODAT) as well as the worsening of pre-existing diabetes mellitus (DM) in adults after kidney transplantation. Design and Subjects A medical record review was conducted using the records of 204 adult patients who underwent a first renal transplant between September 2009 and February 2011 at a single transplant center. Patients who received simultaneous transplantation of another organ, who were immunosuppressed for nontransplant reasons, or those who were less than 18 years of age were excluded. Main Outcome Measures Outcome data collected at the time of hospital discharge and at 3, 6, and 12 months after kidney transplantation included the development of NODAT and the components of DM treatment regimens. Results The cumulative incidence of NODAT at discharge and 3, 6, and 12 months post-transplantation was 14.2%, 19.4%, 20.1%, and 19.4%, respectively. The odds of developing NODAT by discharge or 3 or 6 months post-transplantation increased by a factor of 1.11 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0-1.23), 1.13 (95% CI: 1.03-1.24), and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.05-1.27), respectively, per unit increase in pretransplantation BMI. The need for more aggressive DM treatment (suggesting a worsening of DM status) was most usually seen between discharge and 3 months; 50% of patients with preexisting DM required more aggressive DM treatment post-transplantation (X 3 2 = 13.25; P = .001). Conclusion The odds of developing NODAT at discharge and 3 and 6 months post-transplantation increased per unit of pretransplantation BMI. The most common time for NODAT to develop or for preexisting DM to worsen was within 3 months of kidney transplantation.
Breast cancer and osteolytic metastases: can bisphosphonates help?

Intravenous infusions of pamidronate ameliorate the skeletal complications of breast cancer metastases to bone.