cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk Adjustment in the California Joint Replacement Registry: Is Patient Complexity Accurately Assessed in Academic Versus Nonacademic Hospitals?

Abstract Background We sought to report on the differences in observed versus expected arthroplasty outcomes between academic and nonacademic hospitals in a large joint registry. We utilized the California Joint Replacement Registry’s data and risk adjustment model. Methods Observed versus expected hip and knee arthroplasty complications were utilized to assess hospital and surgeon risk-adjusted complication rates (RACRs). Based on a hospital and surgeon RACR, each was assigned a performance rating (“worse,” “expected,” “better”). Associations between academic status and performance ratings, rates of individual complications, prevalence of risk factors associated with increased complication rates, and differences in complication rates were calculated. Results A higher percentage of academic providers had “worse” than expected ratings, whereas a higher percentage of nonacademic providers had “expected” and “better” than expected ratings (P = .011) based on the observed versus expected complication rates. There was a higher incidence of patients with congestive heart failure and an elevated American Society of Anesthesiologists classification in academic institutions (P = .0001). The complication rate was higher in academic institutions for all total knee arthroplasties (P Conclusions We identified disparities in RACRs between nonacademic and academic institutions. This may reflect the difficulty of fully adjusting for medical risk and surgical complexity in a large arthroplasty database.
Proteomic Signatures During Treatment in Different Stages of Heart Failure.

Background: Proteomics have already provided novel insights into the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction. Previous studies have evaluated cross-sectional protein si...
22. POPULAR ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT WITHOUT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

n the wake of the 2000 presidential election, it is certain that there will be debate about whether a nationwide popular vote should be substituted for the electoral college mechanism for choosing the President. But that debate may be stiOed to a degree because of the widespread assumption that constitutional amendment is the only way to eOect this change.1 Amendment of the United States Constitution basically requires the agreement of two-thirds of each house of Congress and three-fourths of the states. For a variety of reasons, those hurdles are likely to prove insuperable, at least initially. But in fact a constitutional amendment may not be necessary. For it is entirely possible that just a few states – conceivably just one or two – could bring about de facto direct election. And if that were to occur, opposition to a constitutional amendment might just melt away. Each state’s electoral college delegation is equal to its total representation in the House and Senate, with the District of Columbia given the state minimum of three electoral college votes by the Twenty-third Amendment. It is usually assumed that this apportionment favors the less populous states by virtue of the two electors that each state receives on account of its Senators. This assumption is, however, questionable. All states but two (Maine and Nebraska) have adopted a winner-take-all system for selecting their electors. In those 48 states, no matter how close the statewide popular vote among presidential candidates, the entire electoral college delegation goes to the winner. A voter in a populous state thus helps determine more electoral college votes than a voter in a less populous state. The net result of the two-elector “bonus” for less populous states and the winner-take-all rule is that voters in the states with very large delegations cast a mathematically weightier vote than do
Novel Influences of Sex and APOE Genotype on Spinal Plasticity and Recovery of Function after Spinal Cord Injury.

Spinal cord injuries can abolish both motor and sensory function throughout the body. Spontaneous recovery after injury is limited and can vary substantially between individuals. Despite an abundance of therapeutic approaches that have shown promise in preclinical models, there is currently a lack of effective treatment strategies that have been translated to restore function after SCI in the human population. We hypothesized that sex and genetic background of injured individuals could impact how they respond to treatment strategies, presenting a barrier to translating therapies that are not tailored to the individual. One gene of particular interest is APOE, which has been extensively studied in the brain due to its allele-specific influences on synaptic plasticity, metabolism, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Despite its prominence as a therapeutic target in brain injury and disease, little is known about how it influences neural plasticity and repair processes in the spinal cord. Utilizing humanized mice, we examined how the e3 and e4 alleles of APOE influence the efficacy of therapeutic intermittent hypoxia (IH) in inducing spinally-mediated plasticity after cervical SCI. IH is sufficient to enhance plasticity and restore motor function after experimental SCI in genetically similar rodent populations, but its effect in human subjects is more variable (Golder, 2005; Hayes et al., 2014). Our results demonstrate that both sex and APOE genotype determine the extent of respiratory motor plasticity that is elicited by IH, highlighting the importance of considering these clinically relevant variables when translating therapeutic approaches for the SCI community. Significance Statement There is currently a critical need for therapeutics that restore motor and sensory function effectively after cervical spinal cord injury. Although many therapeutic approaches, including intermittent hypoxia, are being investigated for their potential to enhance spinal plasticity and improve motor outcomes after SCI, it is unknown whether the efficacy of these treatment strategies is influenced by individuals’ genetic background. Here we show that APOE genotype and sex both play a role in determining the propensity for motor plasticity in humanized mice after cervical SCI. These results indicate that sex and genetic background dictate how individuals respond to therapeutic approaches, thereby emphasizing the importance of developing personalized medicine for the diverse SCI population.
Building Capacity in Implementation Science for Cancer Prevention and Control Through a Research Network Scholars Program

Building capacity of researchers and practitioners in the dissemination and implementation (D&I) of evidence-based interventions is greatly needed to improve cancer prevention and control. A diverse workforce trained in D&I science is critical for improving cancer outcomes and reducing cancer-related health disparities. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN) Scholars Program aimed at training students, researchers, and practitioners in D&I for cancer prevention and control launched in 2021. The purpose of this paper is to describe the creation of the training program, curriculum, and evaluation plans, and to present the baseline results and lessons learned. CPCRN investigator and partner input and formative interviews (n = 16) with assistant professors, postdoctoral fellow, doctoral and undergraduate students, and a program manager guided development of the program. Twenty of 24 applicants were accepted into the inaugural year of the program. The majority of accepted scholars identified as female (80%) and were graduate students (50%). Thirty-five percent were of racially diverse backgrounds. Most self-rated their previous D&I experience and competencies at a beginner level. The multi-step approach used for development of this training program and lessons learned will be helpful for others collaborating on preparing the research and practice workforce in D&I science.
Programming with Continuations

Progress in programming language design has often been achieved by making an abstraction a “first class object”, one that can be passed to and returned from procedures and entered in data structures. For example, the importance of functional parameters has long been recognized, though it is only more recently that actor semantics [2] and object oriented programming have demonstrated the power of first class functional objects. This paper illustrates, with a novel example, the power of first class control objects, called continuations.
A synthesis of global particle export from the surface ocean and cycling through the ocean interior and on the seafloor

[1] We present a new synthesis of the oceanic cycles of organic carbon, silicon, and calcium carbonate. Our calculations are based on a series of algorithms starting with satellite-based primary production and continuing with conversion of primary production to sinking particle flux, penetration of particle flux to the deep sea, and accumulation in sediments. Regional and global budgets from this synthesis highlight the potential importance of shelves and near-shelf regions for carbon burial. While a high degree of uncertainty remains, this analysis suggests that shelves, less than 50 m water depths accounting for 2% of the total ocean area, may account for 48% of the global flux of organic carbon to the seafloor. Our estimates of organic carbon and nitrogen flux are in generally good agreement with previous work while our estimates for CaCO3 and SiO2 fluxes are lower than recent work. Interannual variability in particle export fluxes is found to be relatively small compared to intra-annual variability over large domains with the single exception of the dominating role of El Nino-Southern Oscillation variability in the central tropical Pacific. Comparison with available sediment-based syntheses of benthic remineralization and burial support the recent theory of mineral protection of organic carbon flux through the deep ocean, pointing to lithogenic material as an important carrier phase of organic carbon to the deep seafloor. This work suggests that models which exclude the role of lithogenic material would underestimate the penetration of POC to the deep seafloor by approximately 16–51% globally, and by a much larger fraction in areas with low productivity. Interestingly, atmospheric dust can only account for 31% of the total lithogenic flux and 42% of the lithogenically associated POC flux, implying that a majority of this material is riverine or directly erosional in origin.
Growth Curve Analysis

Growth curve analysis (GCA) is a statistical technique that assesses change and correlates of change. Although often hailed as a new technique, growth curve analysis actually has long historical roots in slopes-as-outcomes models, repeated measures analysis of variance, mixed and variance components models, time series analysis, random effects models, and empirical Bayes models. It has been only relatively recently, however, that advances in estimation methods and computer technology have made it possible to execute GCA with reasonable facility and considerably more flexibility than its predecessors.
When is classical loop shaping H ∞ -optimal?

This paper examines conditions under which a given SISO LTI control system is H∞-optimal with respect to weighted combinations of its sensitivity function and its complementary sensitivity function. The specific weighting functions considered are defined in terms of the sensitivity and complementary sesitivity functions. We show that a large class of practical controllers are in fact H∞-optimal, including typical stable controllers.
Infrared and Ultraviolet Spectra of Fulleranes: HREELS Studies and Implications for the Interstellar Medium

The reaction of atomic hydrogen with few-layer buckminsterfullerene films deposited on silicon in ultrahigh vacuum produces fullerane mixtures, which are studied in situ by high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy. The vibrational and electronic excitation spectra are measured and discussed. Their main features are compared to observational data, including the infrared emission from interstellar and circumstellar clouds and the interstellar extinction curve. Laboratory spectra show remarkable agreement with important features detected in the observational data, among others the so-called canonical interstellar spacing of infrared spectra and the single bump in the ultraviolet absorption spectra. These studies suggest that members of the buckminsterfullerane family may be the primary carriers of the unidentified spectral features seen in interstellar dust.
Flood Regulation by Columbia Treaty Projects

Reservoir regulation by Columbia Treaty Projects, in conjunction with existing U.S. Columbia Treaty Projects, will provide assured control of major floods to reasonably safe levels. A flood control operating plan for the Treaty Projects has been developed in accordance with Treaty requirements. This paper describes the flood characteristics of the Columbia River, the principles of flood regulation, and the methods used in developing the flood control operating plan. A summary of results of flood regulation studies for the 30-yr. period, 1929–1958, together with the flood of 1894, the maximum flood of historic record, are presented.
The use of ovarian transplants for hormonal replacement therapy.

Abstract 1. 1. The literature concerning the transplantation of ovarian tissue in the human being is reviewed and discussed. 2. 2. Nineteen cases of homeotransplant of ovarian tissue to the rectus muscle carried out in the Sloane Hospital are reviewed. 3. 3. The viability of the transplants is investigated not only in terms of resumption of physiological function by the organism (menstruation) but also in terms of vaginal smears, urinary estrogen excretion, endometrial biopsy, and basal body temperature chart.
ANASTOMOTIC ULCER: SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AUGMENTED HISTAMINE TEST.

Summary Twenty-two patients with proven postgastrectomy anastomotic ulcer were compared with an equal number without ulcer after gastrectomy. Basal and histamine stimulated maximal acid outputs were measured using intragastric phenolsulfonphthalein infusion as an index of recovery of secretion. Both mean basal and mean maximal acid outputs after histamine were significantly increased in patients with anastomotic ulcer after partial gastrectomy. Maximal histamine acid output of more than 15 mEq/hour strongly supports the diagnosis of anastomotic ulcer. No anastomotic ulcer subject had histamine fast achlorhydria, and the presence of "achlorhydria" (pH 7.6) under basal circumstances virtually excluded this diagnosis. High basal rates greater than 60% of maximal rates of secretion after histamine were found in only 1 of 3 postgastrectomy patients known to have the ZollingerEllison syndrome. Two patients with retained antral in exclusion demonstrated basal rates greater than 60% of maximal histamine response and thus simulated the pattern of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. With the methods used, suction recovery of secretion in gastrectomized patients was adequate. Poor recovery of secretions as determined by the use of a phenolsulfonphthalein marker did not account for the absence of gastric hypersecretion in many of the ulcer group, nor could this be explained by differences in the site of the ulcer with respect to the site of the anastomosis, by delays in peak response to histamine, or by the use of an antihistaminic agent.
Splitting families and the Noetherian type of β ω ∖ ω

Extending some results of Malykhin, we prove several independence results about base properties of βω / ω and its powers, especially the Noetherian type Nt(βω / ω ), the least κ for which βω / ω has a base that is κ -like with respect to containment. For example, Nt(βω / ω ) is at least s, but can consistently be ω 1 , c, c + , or strictly between ω 1 and c . Nt(βω / ω ) is also consistently less than the additivity of the meager ideal. Nt(βω / ω ) is closely related to the existence of special kinds of splitting families.
Recombinant platelet factor 4 reversal of heparin in human cardiopulmonary bypass blood

The ability of recombinant platelet factor 4, a protein of human origin with high heparin affinity, and the present clinical heparin reversal agent, protamine, to neutralize heparin in human whole blood was studied by means of three standard whole blood coagulation tests: whole blood clotting time, heparin assay, and activated clotting time. Ten subjects were chosen at random among patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass operations. Heparinized blood, free of protamine, was obtained from the bypass reservoir for testing. Whole blood aliquots, without reversal agents (controls) or with either protamine (10, 20, 30, or 40 micrograms/ml) or recombinant platelet factor 4 (10, 20, 40, or 80 micrograms/ml), were analyzed. The quantity of each agent required to reverse the ten samples, using 95% upper confidence bounds (t distribution) was determined for each method. Recombinant platelet factor 4 reversed heparin at 40 micrograms/ml and protamine at 20 micrograms/ml, suggesting a reversal ratio for recombinant platelet factor 4/protamine of 2:1 on a milligram basis. Further, currently available methods for testing coagulation should be reliable, without modification, to monitor the restoration of normal coagulation parameters with recombinant platelet factor 4 after cardiopulmonary bypass.
Effect of Chronic Ischemia on Constitutive and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in Erectile Tissue

Arterial occlusive disease is one of the leading causes of organic erectile dysfunction (ED). Recent studies have shown that the incidence of cardiovascular disease closely correlates with the prevalence of ED. Also, ED is thought to be an early signal of impending cardiovascular problems. We previously found that the atherosclerosis of iliohypogastric arteries in the rabbit causes ED, down-regulates cavernosal neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) gene expression, and impairs NO synthesis. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of atherosclerosis-induced ischemia on cavernosal nNOS, endothelial NOS (eNOS), and inducible NOS (iNOS) expression and NO-mediated smooth muscle relaxation in the rabbit. Our study showed that iliac artery blood flow, intracavernosal blood flow, and intracavernosal oxygen tension were unchanged 4 weeks after the induction of arterial atherosclerosis, whereas they were significantly diminished at weeks 8 and 16. Erectile responses to nerve stimulation and cavernosal smooth muscle relaxation were unchanged at week 4 and were significantly diminished at weeks 8 and 16 after the induction of atherosclerosis. Western blotting showed that cavernosal nNOS and eNOS protein levels were unaffected at week 4 but were significantly decreased at weeks 8 and 16 after the induction of atherosclerosis. iNOS protein, however, markedly increased during the course of the induced arterial disease. Immunohistochemical staining showed no change in cavernosal eNOS or nNOS expression at week 4. A dramatic decrease in both was evident at 8 and 16 weeks. iNOS expression progressively increased between 4 and 16 weeks of atherosclerosis. Down-regulation of nNOS and eNOS, along with up-regulation of iNOS, may explain ischemic cavernosal smooth muscle relaxation impairment in the rabbit. Ischemically altered NOS expression may be of great pathophysiologic importance in atherosclerosis-induced ED. These data may provide further insight into the mechanism of arteriogenic ED.
Ultrafast LTDs for brems diodes and Z-pinch

Summary form only given. Most of the modern high-current high-voltage induction linacs require several stages of pulse conditioning (pulse forming) to convert the multi-microsecond pulses of the Marx generator output to the 40-100 ns pulse required for a cell cavity. This makes the devices large, cumbersome to operate, and expensive. In the present design we eliminate Marxes and pulse-forming networks and instead utilize a new technology recently implemented at the Institute of High Current Electronics in Tomsk (Russia). Each inductive voltage adder cavity is directly fed by a number of fast 100-kV small-size capacitors arranged in a circular array around each accelerating gap. The number of capacitors connected in parallel to each cavity defines the total maximum current. By selecting low inductance switches, voltage pulses as short as 30-50-ns FWHM can be directly achieved. The voltage of each stage is low (100-200 kV). Many stages are required to achieve multi-megavolt accelerator output. However, since the length of each stage is very short (4-10 cm), accelerating gradients of higher than 1 MV/m can easily be obtained. Each LTD voltage adder can deliver up to 1-MA current to the load. To produce drivers of higher current, many LTDs are connected in parallel. A conceptual design for Saturn three ring diode and Z-pinch and a compact 12-MV 100-kA 40-ns accelerator for advanced radiography will be presented. In both designs the LTDs operate in vacuum and no liquid dielectrics like oil or deionized water will be required. Even elimination of ferromagnetic material (air-core cavities) is a possibility This makes the devices cheaper, smaller, and lighter than the presently utilized which are based on conventional pulsed power technology architecture. We estimate a factor of 3 reduction in size and cost.
New opportunities: harnessing induced pluripotency for discovery in diabetes and metabolism

The landmark discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by Shinya Yamanaka has transformed regenerative biology. Previously, insights into the pathogenesis of chronic human diseases have been hindered by the inaccessibility of patient samples. However, scientists are now able to convert patient fibroblasts into iPSCs and differentiate them into disease-relevant cell types. This ability opens new avenues for investigating disease pathogenesis and designing novel treatments. In this review, we highlight the uses of human iPSCs to uncover the underlying causes and pathological consequences of diabetes and metabolic syndromes, multifactorial diseases whose etiologies have been difficult to unravel using traditional methodologies.
Fiber optic absorbance and fluorescence measurements in high temperature liquid chromatography

Chemical sensing in high temperature liquid chromatography (HT-LC) is a difficult task. In this setting, detection must be performed directly following the separation, at the column temperature, and at suitable back pressure, in order to preserve chemical information encoded by the chromatographic separation. A z-configuration flow cell with "in-situ" fiber optic monitoring of both absorbance and fluorescence has been developed and examined for HT-LC (ambient to 150 0C). The fiber optic based measurements circumvent problems and limitations associated with using commercially available instrumentation that does not function properly in the high temperature environment. Solarization of the fiber optic in the UV range was evaluated, and precautions emphasized. Refractive index (RI) dependencies and aberrations associated with making an absorbance measurement with a single fiber optic were examined and minimized by a unique detection approach using a position sensitive detector (PSD). Intensity fluctuations of the mercury-xenon lamp, initially more than 0.1% were reduced with the absorbance detector, leading to a 1 x 10-4 au detection limit (3 x rms noise level). Fluorescence quenching was also considered.
On predicting and improving the quality of Volunteer Geographic Information projects

Initiatives that rely upon the contributions of volunteers to reach a specific goal are growing more and more with the success of Web 2.0–interactive applications. Also scientific projects are testing and exploiting volunteers' collaboration, but the quality of information obtained with this approach is often puzzling. This paper offers a rich overview of many scientific projects where geographic contributions are committed to volunteers, to the aim of defining strategies to improve information quality. By describing real examples of Volunteer Geographic Information (VGI), the contribution establishes a categorization based on the characteristics of the information, tasks, and scopes of the projects. After a discussion on the relationships of categories and VGI quality, the paper analyses techniques to improve the quality of volunteered information according to the moment of its assessment (i.e., ex ante, ex post, or both with respect to information creation). The paper outlines the main limitations of th...
The GA-minor submotif as a case study of RNA modularity, prediction, and design.

Complex natural RNAs such as the ribosome, group I and group II introns, and RNase P exemplify the fact that three-dimensional (3D) RNA structures are highly modular and hierarchical in nature. Tertiary RNA folding typically takes advantage of a rather limited set of recurrent structural motifs that are responsible for controlling bends or stacks between adjacent helices. Herein, the GA minor and related structural motifs are presented as a case study to highlight several structural and folding principles, to gain further insight into the structural evolution of naturally occurring RNAs, as well as to assist the rational design of artificial RNAs. WIREs RNA 2013, 4:181–203. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1153 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Association between intestinal vitamin D receptor, calcium absorption, and serum 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D in normal young and elderly women.

The exact mechanism for the decrease in intestinal calcium absorption with age is not yet understood. A decrease with age in serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) or a decrease in the intestinal vitamin D receptor (VDR) protein concentration are possible causes. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of age on these factors. Fifty-nine young women age 25–35 years were compared with 41 elderly women age 65–83 years who underwent measurements of VDR, calcium absorption using a 20 mg and 100 mg calcium carrier, and calciotropic hormones. Calcium absorption by both tests was lower in the elderly women compared with the young women (p < 0.05). Serum 1,25(OH)2D and duodenal VDR protein concentration were not significantly different between the two age groups. Serum 1,25(OH)2D correlated with the 20 mg calcium absorption test in both young (r = 0.35, p < 0.007) and elderly women (r = 0.58, p < 0.0001) and with the 100 mg calcium absorption in the elderly (r = 0.32; p < 0.05). VDR did not correlate with calcium absorption in young women or elderly women, nor did VDR correlate with serum 1,25(OH)2D and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. In summary, the decrease in calcium absorption cannot be explained by a decrease in intestinal VDR. The correlation between serum 1,25(OH)2D and both calcium absorption tests only accounts for 12–30% of the variance in the age-related change in the calcium absorption tests. Other factors, not yet understood, are responsible for the decline in calcium absorption with age.
Power spectrum of small-scale turbulent velocity fluctuations in the solar wind

[1] It is well known that the power spectrum of magnetic field fluctuations in the solar wind exhibits a Kolmogorov spectrum f−α in the inertial range of the turbulence with a power law exponent α near 5/3. The power spectrum of velocity fluctuations has not been as well studied, partly because of the lack of high time resolution measurements needed to resolve a significant fraction of the inertial range. In situ measurements in the ecliptic plane at 1 AU acquired by the 3DP instrument on board the Wind spacecraft near solar minimum in 1995 are used to determine power spectra of the proton bulk velocity fluctuations between 10−5 and 10−1 Hz. The spectrum for the proton kinetic energy (the sum of the spectra for the individual components Vx, Vy, and Vz) obtained using 3-s velocity data is found to possess the spectral exponent α = 1.50 in the inertial range of the turbulence. A similar calculation of the magnetic energy spectrum yields the exponent α = 1.67. The Alfven ratio, the ratio of the kinetic to magnetic energy spectrum, is a slowly increasing function of frequency throughout the inertial range increasing from approximately 0.5 to 1 in the frequency interval from 10−4 to 10−2 Hz. This indicates that the partition of energy between small-scale velocity and magnetic field fluctuations is frequency-dependent, contrary to some theories. The total energy spectrum (kinetic plus magnetic) has the power law exponent 3/2. A brief investigation of high- and low-speed solar wind streams is also performed, which shows that different spectral exponents for velocity and magnetic field fluctuations are observed in both high- and low-speed wind.
Fully integrated low-power area-efficient FSK demodulator for inductively powered biomedical implants

A fully integrated low-power digital FSK demodulator is presented. Employing a novel clock extractor, the clock can be reliably retrieved from the FSK carrier, which also enables robust synchronisation of the clock and data without using a phase-locked loop. This implantable demodulator was fabricated in a 0.35 μm CMOS process and tested using inductively coupled coils.
Current trends in in-vehicle electrical engineering applications

Novel electrical engineering applications play a major role in in-vehicle technology. Today's automobile industry is transforming from mechanically driven functions to electronic and software driven functions. We can see the impact of electrical engineering technology in many parts of vehicle and in all of its operations such as control, power conversion, navigation, communication, entertainment, safety and security. In addition, today's automobile industry is showing a renewed interest in electric transportation. This paper presents a review on the recent developments in the in-vehicle electrical engineering applications classified into two sections, the embedded systems and the power and energy system, both of which can strongly influence the automobile industry in the future.
Electroencephalographic recordings from deep cerebellar structures in patients with uncontrolled epileptic seizures

Abstract In three uncontrollable epileptic patients, electroencephalographic recordings were performed from cerebellar structures with depth electrodes inserted into the regions of the fastigial and the dentate nuclei and their vicinity. The insertion was made as a preliminary evaluation of the response to electrical stimulation of the cerebellum in view of a planned chronic implant of cerebellar stimulation electrodes (after Cooper et al. 1973). In each patient, some degree of cerebellar participation in cerebral paroxysmal activity was noted but such synchronous spike activity in the cerebellum was less prominent than the spike discharges on the scalp or in cerebral depth leads. Spontaneous clinical seizures were recorded in two patients and there was marked cerebellar participation.
Changing intra-metropolitan accessibility in the U.S.: Evidence from Atlanta

Abstract The U.S. federal government appears committed to the idea of performance measurement. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (1991), provides an opportunity to change the focus of metropolitan transportation planning and policy from fostering mobility (more travel) increasing accessibility (greater potential for desired interaction), which is widely viewed as a desirable objective among planners and the general public. This paper does three things: (1) defines the concept and clarifies questions of measurement, (2) reviews the literature to identify importat issues associated with changing accessibility, including accessibility's relationship to land use and value, poverty and unemployment, race, energy use and air pollution, (3) reports results from a case study of change in gravity-accessibility to employment by automobile in Atlanta, between 1980 and 1990. Other authors have argued that accessibility has been increasing over time, as well as becoming more homogenous in U.S. metropolitan areas. Together these developments are thought to have reduced its policy importance. This case study illustrates that this was not entirely the case in Atlanta in the late 1980s. Overall accessibility declined at the end of the decade, rather than continuing its steady increase, and its influence on residential density at the tract level (the access-density gradient) also changed direction. However, accessibility's explanatory power did decline from 1980 to 1900 in Atlanta, as expected. It seems likely therefore that accessibility will continue to be valuable as an indicator of metropolitan transportation systems' performance, as well as allowing planners to better anticipate change and to be more aware of its consequences.
Cholesteric Pitch Near the Smectic-C Phase

Abstract The temperature dependence of the cholesteric pitch of the chiral ester 4-n-hexyloxyphenyl-4'-(2”-methylbutyl)biphenyl-4-carboxylate has been measured in detail using the method of selective reflection. This compound has a cholesteric to smectic-C transition at 79°C. Because of the first-order nature of the transition, the pretransitional unwinding of the pitch is considerably less pronounced than that in cholesteryl esters near the smectic-A transition. The wavelength of maximum reflection increases from 440 nm at 110°C to 560 nm at the transition. When fitted to a power-law temperature dependence, the data imply an exponent of 0.82 ± 0.15, which is consistent with de Gennes’ theory in the meanfield approximation.
A novel method for analysis of TOMROP data.

Purpose To develop an efficient method for extracting maps of the corrected T1 from images generated using the T One by Multiple Read Out Pulses (TOMROP) sequence. Materials and Methods An expression is developed for the true T1 in terms of the parameters from a three-parameter fit of the TOMROP data. Solutions of gadodiamide in normal saline with concentrations of 0.0, 0.06, 0.11, 0.23, 0.46, and 0.91 mM were prepared and T1 measurements were performed using both the inversion recovery (IR) and the TOMROP methods. The TOMROP data were analyzed using the proposed technique and the results compared to those from the IR measurements. Results The T1 estimates generated from the TOMROP data using the proposed method were consistent with the IR results. However, systematic errors were observed in the T1 estimates when the repetition time was not sufficient for full recovery of axial magnetization. Relaxation times determined using the proposed method were within 1% of the spectroscopiclly determined values for T1 values in the range of 0.28–2.8 seconds when a suitable delay was employed. Conclusion The proposed method of analysis was found to yield accurate T1 estimates when the assumptions used in the analysis were not violated. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;19:508–512. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Preparation of Valved Conduits by Plasma Immersion and Autoclaving

A method is described for preparing the graft portion of a manufactured valved conduit by plasma immersion and autoclaving while protecting the attached mechanical valve from coagulum and debris.
Millimeter-Wave and Vibrational State Assignments for the Rotational Spectrum of Glycolaldehyde

Glycolaldehyde (CHOCH2OH), the simplest two-carbon α-hydroxy aldehyde, has become of great interest in the field of astrochemistry due to its recent detection toward the Sagittarius B2 (N-LMH) molecular cloud. The original interstellar identification was based on an extrapolation of prior microwave rotational spectroscopy of glycolaldehyde. The millimeter and submillimeter spectra of this molecule from 128 to 354 GHz were subsequently measured after the interstellar detection. We present here the millimeter spectrum of this molecule from 72 to 122.5 GHz along with a combined millimeter and submillimeter pure rotational analysis of the ground and the first three vibrationally excited states of glycolaldehyde that enables a more complete molecular partition function to be determined. These results show that excited vibrational state contributions to the partition function are an important consideration when determining the column density of a molecule with low-lying torsional states.
Wound fluids and the pathogenesis of chronic wounds

Abstract Purpose: To describe two areas of ongoing investigation into analysis of wound fluids that may eventually lead to better understanding of pathophysiology of chronic wounds and to improved care and treatment. Methods: Studies used Lowry protein assay, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, and zymography to analyze fluids from acute and chronic wounds and serum samples collected from healthy and affected volunteers. Subjects: Thirty-one subjects with ages ranging from 32 to 79 years participated in the research; fluid was collected from chronic wounds in 10 patients (two female, four male, and four unrecorded), fluid was collected from acute mastectomy wounds in 15 patients (all female); blister fluid and blood were collected from two volunteers (one male, one female); and blood for serum preparation was collected from four volunteers (two female, two male). Primary outcome variables: (1) Fibronectin degradation and (2) expression of matrix metalloproteinases. Results: Fibronectin can be degraded in fluid from chronic wounds but remains intact in blood-derived serum, plasma-derived serum, blister fluid, and mastectomy wound fluid. Matrix metalloproteinases are overexpressed in fluid from chronic wounds compared with mastectomy wound fluid, blood-derived serum, and plasma-derived serum. Matrix metalloproteinases are also expressed at somewhat higher levels in mastectomy fluid than in blood-derived and plasma-derived serum. Conclusions: These studies identified two factors that may contribute to delayed healing of chronic wound: fibronectin degradation and overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases.
Synoptic-Dynamic Climatology of the “Bomb”

Abstract By defining a “bomb” as an extratropical surface cyclone whose central pressure fall averages at least 1 mb h−1 for 24 h, we have studied this explosive cyclogenesis in the Northern Hemisphere during the period September 1976–May 1979. This predominantly maritime, cold-season event is usually found ∼400 n mi downstream from a mobile 500 mb trough, within or poleward of the maximum westerlies, and within or ahead of the planetary-scale troughs. A more detailed examination of bombs (using a 12 h development criterion) was performed during the 1978–79 season. A survey of sea surface temperatures (SST's) in and around the cyclone center indicates explosive development occurs over a wide range of SST's, but, preferentially, near the strongest gradients. A quasi-geostrophic diagnosis of a composite incipient bomb indicates instantaneous pressure falls far short of observed rates. A test of current National Meteorological Center models shows these products also fall far short in attempting to capture ob...
Occupational stress management: A review and appraisal

Published and unpublished studies evaluating the merits of occupational stress management are reviewed. Worksite stress management studies are compared along dimensions of type of work group, programme orientation and format, stress management methods, non-specific effects, and long-term maintenance of skills and benefits. Although studies differ widely on these dimensions and too few studies have been conducted to state unequivocally general conclusions, worksite stress management programmes appear to offer promise for helping workers cope with stress and exert greater control over physiological and psychological systems which are reactive to stressors. Troublesome issues in this young research area are noted and future research needs are enumerated. Finally, the advantages and potential disadvantages of worksite stress management programmes are described.
Phantoms and Somatic Sensation in Cases of Congenital Aplasia

Summary Data are presented from interviews with 101 cases of congenital aplasia. Hand strength and finger dexterity were studied in 44 of these cases with unilateral upper extremity aplasia. Pressure, two-point, and point localization thresholds were obtained on the stump, homologous area, and palm in 27 of the cases with upper extremity aplasia. 1. Thirteen new cases of phantoms in congenital aplasics are described in addition to the five previously reported. 2. The characteristics of the phantoms obtained in the present population of congenital aplasics agree with those previously reported. 2. Terminal aplasics tend to have a higher incidence of phantoms than do intercalary aplasics, a finding consistent with greater cortical representation of such parts. 2. Phantoms acquired after amputation of deformities resemble the deformity, a finding inconsistent with theories based on phantasy. 2. Although use of prostheses is unrelated to strength, fitting a prosthesis before the age of seven significantly enhances the probability of phantom occurrence in congenital aplasics. 2. Strength and coordination of the right and left hands do not differ in cases of unilateral aplasia. 2. The tactual sensitivity of the stump equals that of the palm, and exceeds that of its homologous region. The implications of these findings are discussed with regard to theories of phantom causation and brain function.
EPR and optical-absorption study of Br Cl − and associated centers in doped KCl Crystals. III

Correlated optical and EPR studies have shown that after x or $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ irradiation and proper thermal treatment, a Br${\mathrm{Cl}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ center with a positive-ion vacancy in a nearest-neighbor position to both nuclei of the molecule ion, called $\mathrm{Br}{\mathrm{Cl}}^{\ensuremath{-}}({v}_{+})$, is formed in crystals of KCl doped with small amounts of KBr and Pb${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$. Prolonged excitation of the high-energy transition of $\mathrm{Br}{\mathrm{Cl}}^{\ensuremath{-}}({v}_{+})$ at 77 K results in the decomposition of this center and the formation of a new center $\mathrm{Cl}_{2}^{}{}_{}{}^{\ensuremath{-}}({v}_{+})$, a ${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ with a positive-ion vacancy in a nearest-neighbor position to both nuclei. The internuclear axis of $\mathrm{Cl}_{2}^{}{}_{}{}^{\ensuremath{-}}({v}_{+})$ lies in a {100} plane and parallel to a 110g direction; however, the molecular bond is bent through an angle of 2.8\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The $\mathrm{Cl}_{2}^{}{}_{}{}^{\ensuremath{-}}({v}_{+})$ center has a strong $\ensuremath{\sigma}$-polarized transition at 362 nm and a less intense weakly $\ensuremath{\pi}$-polarized transition near 750 nm; optical excitation at 77 K can cause preferential orientation of these molecule ions. Thermal reorientation of $\mathrm{Cl}_{2}^{}{}_{}{}^{\ensuremath{-}}({v}_{+})$ occurs in the neighborhood of 111 K; a study of the reorientation kinetics shows that the reorientation takes place by 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} jumps.
Molecular Crystal Structures and Nonlinear Optical Properties in the Series of Dicyanovinylbenzene and Its Derivatives

X-ray single-crystal structures, molecular mechanics (MM) calculations of the optimal molecular dimers, and calculations of the static second-order polarizabilities (β) were performed for a large series of methoxy- and dimethylamino-substituted derivatives of dicyanovinylbenzene and some of its analogues having large values of the molecular nonlinear optical susceptibilities. X-ray structural analysis has been performed for 3,4-dimethoxy- and 3,4,5-trimethoxy-dicyanovinylbenzenes (I, II), p-(dimethylamino)-dicyanovinylbenzene (III), 1,1-dicyano-2-phenyl-2-(2-methoxyphenyl)ethene (2-MeO−C6H4−C(C6H5)C(CN)2) (IV), and 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,1-dicyano-1,3-butadiene (4-MeO−C6H4−CHCH−CHC(CN)2) (V). Crystal packing analysis and energetic MM calculations revealed the factors responsible for the formation of the centrosymmetric crystals. Compounds III and V were found to form acentric crystal structures (space groups P21 and Pc, respectively) and therefore are capable to the second-harmonic generation (SHG) in soli...
Performance of Agrisure ® Viptera™ 3111 corn against Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in seed mixed plantings *

Corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), is a major target of pyramided Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn. In the U.S. Corn Belt, a refuge-in-the-bag (RIB) strategy has been adopted to provide susceptible populations for insect resistance management (IRM) in planting pyramided Bt corn. In this study, eight field trials were conducted to evaluate occurrence and injury of H. zea in three planting patterns of non-Bt and Bt corn containing the Agrisure® Viptera™ 3111 trait. Viptera 3111 corn possesses two Bt genes, Vip3A and Cry1Ab, targeting above-ground lepidopteran pests. Occurrence of H. zea eggs was similar between non-Bt and Bt corn ears. Eggs of H. zea were distributed either randomly or uniformly in all three planting patterns. Field trials consistently showed that Viptera 3111 corn was extremely effective in H. zea control in both structured and RIB plantings. Across all the trials, there were very little or no larval survival and damage on Bt corn ears. Ear damage and larval occurrence at the peak of 3rd to 4th instars on refuge ears in the RIB plantings were not less than those observed in the structured non-Bt corn plantings. However, larval development on RIB refuge ears was significantly delayed relative to that on ears of structured non-Bt corn plantings. Information generated from this study should provide useful information to improve IRM modeling for Bt corn.
FETAL ATTRACTION: LEGAL, ETHICAL, AND SOCIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE CRIMINALIZATION OF PREGNANCY

ABSTRACT During the late 1980s governmental attempts at imposing special restrictions on women on the basis of pregnancy have been particularly prevalent in the context of the use of controlled substances by pregnant women. All over the country pregnant women have been charged with a variety of crimes including criminal neglect, child abuse, child neglect, delivery of ″drugs to a minor, and assault with a deadly weapon. This paper examines the legal, ethical and sociological issues that are involved in these prosecutions.
Optimizing the performance of local canonical correlation analysis in fMRI using spatial constraints

The benefits of locally adaptive statistical methods for fMRI research have been shown in recent years, as these methods are more proficient in detecting brain activations in a noisy environment. One such method is local canonical correlation analysis (CCA), which investigates a group of neighboring voxels instead of looking at the single voxel time course. The value of a suitable test statistic is used as a measure of activation. It is customary to assign the value to the center voxel for convenience. The method without constraints is prone to artifacts, especially in a region of localized strong activation. To compensate for these deficiencies, the impact of different spatial constraints in CCA on sensitivity and specificity are investigated. The ability of constrained CCA (cCCA) to detect activation patterns in an episodic memory task has been studied. This research shows how any arbitrary contrast of interest can be analyzed by cCCA and how accurate P-values optimized for the contrast of interest can be computed using nonparametric methods. Results indicate an increase of up to 20% in detecting activation patterns for some of the advanced cCCA methods, as measured by ROC curves derived from simulated and real fMRI data.
Analysis of multiconductor transmission lines of arbitrary cross section in multilayered uniaxial media

A mixed-potential electric field integral equation is formulated and applied in conjunction with the method of moments to analyze a transmission-line system consisting of multiple conducting strips of arbitrary cross section embedded in a stratified medium with or without top and/or bottom ground planes. Each layer of the medium is possibly uniaxially anisotropic, with its optical axis perpendicular to the dielectric interfaces. Computed dispersion curves and modal currents are presented and, when possible, are compared with data available in the literature. >