cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
See One, Do One, Forget One: Early Skill Decay After Paracentesis Training.

Internal medicine residents perform paracentesis, but programs lack standard methods for assessing competence or maintenance of competence and instead rely on number of procedures completed. This study describes differences in resident competence in paracentesis over time. From 2016 to 2017, internal medicine residents (n = 118) underwent paracentesis simulation training. Competence was assessed using the Paracentesis Competency Assessment Tool (PCAT), which combines a checklist, global scale, and entrustment score. The PCAT also delineates two categorical cut-point scores: the Minimum Passing Standard (MPS) and the Unsupervised Practice Standard (UPS). Residents were randomized to return to the simulation lab at 3 and 6 months (group A, n = 60) or only 6 months (group B, n = 58). At each session, faculty raters assessed resident performance. Data were analyzed to compare resident performance at each session compared with initial training scores, and performance between groups at 6 months. After initial training, all residents met the MPS. The number achieving UPS did not differ between groups: group A = 24 (40%), group B = 20 (34.5%), p = 0.67. When group A was retested at 3 months, performance on each PCAT component significantly declined, as did the proportion of residents meeting the MPS and UPS. At the 6-month test, residents in group A performed significantly better than residents in group B, with 52 (89.7%) and 20 (34.5%) achieving the MPS and UPS, respectively, in group A compared with 25 (46.3%) and 2 (3.70%) in group B (p < .001 for both comparison). Skill in paracentesis declines as early as 3 months after training. However, retraining may help interrupt skill decay. Only a small proportion of residents met the UPS 6 months after training. This suggests using the PCAT to objectively measure competence would reclassify residents from being permitted to perform paracentesis independently to needing further supervision.
Building Hopefulness Through Financial Education and Coaching

Financial behaviors play an important role in promoting or reducing financial stability and may have an impact on health outcomes, in general. Hope theory is a framework applicable to promoting beh...
COVID-19 Joint Pandemic Modeling and Analysis Platform

The non-pharmaceutical intervention to reduce the impact and spread of COVID-19 requires the development of policies and guidance through a collaborative effort among government, academia, medicine, and citizens. To operationalize this effort, we have developed an all-encompassing situational awareness platform that can process multi-modal and multi-source data allowing informed decision making. Besides, showing the current spread of infection, the platform also captures the impact of human dynamics on the infection spread, location, and availability of critical infrastructure, prediction, and high-performance computing driven simulation. The platform is extensible, allowing third-party integration and services to consume the curated data and analytics in near real-time. We believe the platform will augment critical decision making for reducing the impact and spread of the pandemic.
Performance Analysis of Squarely Packed Dimorphic MWCNT Bundle for High Speed VLSI Interconnect

According to the demand of present era, carbon nanotubes are getting closer attention as VLSI high speed interconnects. This consequence drives us to conduct our research on the performance evaluation of different configurations of MWCNT bundle as interconnect based on the propagation delay estimation. Throughout this paper, we are going to propose our own configuration model, named Squarely packed Dimorphic MWCNT, develop mathematical model for different circuit elements i.e. Resistance, Capacitance and Inductance. Finally, we are going to put a decision regarding the configuration with better performance by simulating different configuration and different interconnect material using MATLAB.
Cochlear nerve anomalies in paediatric single-sided deafness - prevalence and implications for cochlear implantation strategies.

Objective To determine the prevalence of cochlear nerve anomalies on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with unilateral or bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Methods A retrospective case series was conducted at a tertiary referral centre. The inclusion criteria were paediatric patients with bilateral or unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, investigated with magnetic resonance imaging. The primary outcome measure was the rate of cochlear nerve hypoplasia or aplasia. Results Of the 72 patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, 39 per cent (28 cases) had absent or hypoplastic cochlear nerves on the affected side. Fifteen per cent (11 cases) had other abnormal findings on magnetic resonance imaging. Eighty-four patients had bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, of which cochlear nerve hypoplasia or aplasia was identified only in 5 per cent (four cases). Other abnormal findings were identified in 14 per cent (12 cases). Conclusion Paediatric patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss are more likely to have cochlear nerve anomalies than those patients with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. This has important implications regarding cochlear implantation for patients with single-sided deafness.
The incremental value of angiographic features for predicting recurrent cardiovascular events: Insights from the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease.

Abstract Background and aims Identifying patient subgroups with cardiovascular disease (CVD) at highest risk for recurrent events remains challenging. Angiographic features may provide incremental value in risk prediction beyond clinical characteristics. Methods We included all cardiac catheterization patients from the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease with significant coronary artery disease (CAD; 07/01/2007–12/31/2012) and an outpatient follow-up visit with a primary care physician or cardiologist in the same health system within 3 months post-catheterization. Follow-up occurred for 3 years for the primary major adverse cardiovascular event endpoint (time to all-cause death, myocardial infarction [MI], or stroke). A multivariable model to predict recurrent events was developed based on clinical variables only, then adding angiographic variables from the catheterization. Next, we compared discrimination of clinical vs. clinical plus angiographic risk prediction models. Results Among 3366 patients with angiographically-defined CAD, 633 (19.2%) experienced cardiovascular events (death, MI, or stroke) within 3 years. A multivariable model including 18 baseline clinical factors and initial revascularization had modest ability to predict future atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events (c-statistic = 0.716). Among angiographic predictors, number of diseased vessels, left main stenosis, left anterior descending stenosis, and the Duke CAD Index had the highest value for secondary risk prediction; however, the clinical plus angiographic model only slightly improved discrimination (c-statistic = 0.724; delta 0.008). The net benefit for angiographic features was also small, with a relative integrated discrimination improvement of 0.05 (95% confidence interval: 0.03–0.08). Conclusions The inclusion of coronary angiographic features added little incremental value in secondary risk prediction beyond clinical characteristics.
Nanocomposite-seeded Single-Domain Growth of Lithium Niobate Thin Films for Photonic Applications

Epitaxial single-domain LiNbO 3 thin-films are realized using a novel nanocomposite seeding method. Full microstructure characterization and optical property measurement is conducted as a first step to demonstrate viability of this material for integrated photonics applications.
Fundamental Principles of Law and Economics

Introduction Part I: Economic Theory, Law, and Morality, Chapter One: Background Principles in Microeconomics, Chapter Two: Essential Concepts in the Law-and-Economics Literature, Chapter Three: Utilitarianism, Neoclassical Welfare Economics, and the Ethics of Markets Part II: The Law of Tort, Chapter One: The Economics of Liability Rules and Accidents, Chapter Two: An Economic Account of Tort Doctrine Part III: Criminal Law, Chapter One: An Economic Account of Criminal Behaviour, Chapter Two: Optimal Criminal Sanctions, Chapter Three: Problems in Criminal Law Part IV: Property , Chapter One: The Economic Role of Property Rights, Chapter Two: Protecting Entitlements Part V: The Law of Contract, Chapter One: An Economic Theory of Contract Law, Chapter Two: The Economics of Contractual Remedies Part VI: Litigation, Chapter One An Economic Theory of Litigation Part VII: Innovation Policy, Chapter One: Innovation Policy, Chapter Two: The Patent System, Chapter Three: Copyright Law Part VIII: Competition Law and Natural-Monopoly Regulation, Chapter One: Antitrust and The Regulation of Business Strategy, Chapter Two: Antitrust Limits on Contract, Chapter Three: Monopolisation, Chapter Four: The Regulation of Natural Monopoly Part IX: Behavioural Law & Economics , Chapter One Behavioural Law & Economics Conclusion
Yield, water use efficiency and economic analysis of energy sorghum in South Texas

Abstract Yields, water use efficiency and economic returns (net farm revenues) of biomass sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] were investigated over two years (2012 and 2014) under limited water resource conditions. Energy sorghum was grown under four water supply regimes: rain-fed (or dry-land, level 1), 50% (level 2), 75% (level 3) and 100% (level 4) of crop evapotranspiration rates (% ETc). Biomass yields ranged from 5.8 to 16.6 Mg ha−1 (dry weight) after 126 days of growth. Average water use efficiencies ranged from 3.95 kg m−3 to 23.4 kg m−3. Net return was approximately 410 $ ha−1 with water depths above 400 ha-mm. These results suggest that it is possible to obtain more than 60 Mg ha−1 of sorghum biomass (wet basis) with at least 425 mm of water. While biomass yield under irrigation was greater than rain-fed conditions, there were no significant differences among irrigation treatments. Biomass chemical composition did not differ significantly among water treatments suggesting that biofuel quality would not be affected by water deficits.
Why Distributed Representation is Inherently Non-Symbolic

There are many conflicting views concerning the nature of distributed representation, its compatibility or otherwise with symbolic representation, and its importance in characterizing the nature of connectionist models and their relationship to more traditional symbolic approaches to understanding cognition. Many have simply assumed that distribution is merely an implementation issue, and that symbolic mechanisms can be designed to take advantage of the virtues of distribution if so desired. Others, meanwhile, see the use of distributed representation as marking a fundamental difference between the two approaches. One reason for this diversity of opinion is the fact that the relevant notions — especially that of distribution — are rarely adequately characterized before addressing the issues. At this level of generality, an adequate characterization is one that is sufficiently abstract to subsume most paradigm cases of representation of a given type, yet also sufficiently precise to give real theoretical bite when addressing questions such as those raised above. This paper advances a definition of distributed representation and shows that, understood this way, distribution is in fact incompatible with the core notion of symbolic representation found in the cognitive science literature. For this reason, genuinely distributed connectionist models cannot be, or implement, physical symbol systems (Newell & Simon 1976) or “classical” symbolic models (Fodor and Pylyshyn 1988). Thus, I am endorsing the view that distributed connectionist models do indeed present a radical new approach to modeling cognitive processes.
Oliguric acute renal failure in mycosis fungoides with lymphomatous infiltrates in the kidneys.

Objective: To present the clinicalpicture of acute renal failure in patients withmycosis fungoides (MF) and renal lymphomatousinfiltrates. To analyze the pathogenesis ofrenal failure.Methods:Correlation of clinicalpicture, urinary findings, imaging reports andautopsy findings in two patients withlong-standing MF who died with renal failure.Case summaries:Both subjects hadsustained oliguria in the last 2 weeks. Onepatient had persistent hypotension, normalurinalysis, normal renal sonogram, and scarceinterstitial lymphomatous infiltrates withpreservation of renal parenchymal architecture. He was thought to have ischemic acute renalfailure not directly linked to the lymphomatousinfiltrates. The second patient developedhypertension one month prior to death, and hadmoderate proteinuria, hematuria, pyuria,grossly enlarged kidneys with hypoechoicmasses, and extensive replacement of the renalparenchyma by lymphomatous infiltrates. Thispicture is typical of renal failure secondaryto lymphomatous replacement of the kidneys.Conclusions:The development of oliguricrenal failure in MF with renal lymphomatousinfiltrates may have varying clinical andimaging manifestations and pathogeneses. Potentially reversible pathogenic mechanismsshould be systematically investigated,particularly if the overall clinical picture isnot characteristic of renal failure secondaryto lymphomatous replacement of theparenchyma.
Mid-infrared frequency comb for rapid detection of CH 4 and H 2 O in open air

We present open-air trace-gas spectroscopy utilizing a mid-infrared frequency comb. The MIR beam spanning 300 nm propagates through 26 m of atmosphere and absorption spectra are collected in 2 ms with a Virtual-Image Phased-Array spectrometer.
Dynamic subnets for sensor networks [navy radar tracking sensor network example]

A sensor's capability to distribute data in a wireless network is limited by the available bandwidth (Hz) and/or allocated spectrum and the sensor's communication spectral efficiency (bits/sec/Hz). It is communication constraints that prevent sensors in a network from passing arbitrarily large volumes of data to one another, potentially hampering even modest scalability. To address scalability limitations in such sensor networks, we have developed an algorithm for dynamically creating subnets comprised of small groups of sensors that share information. This algorithm chooses the sensors that comprise a subnet, based on the quality of the mutual information that each sensor's data imparts weighed against the attendant cost of communications; we call this algorithm dynamic subnets for sensor networks (DSSNET). This paper formalizes the algorithms that constitute DSSNET, compares DSSNET's performance to other robust and popular data compression techniques, and describes DSSNET's application in a representative navy littoral combat networked sensor (LCNS) scenario.
Loss of Integration and Resiliency with Age: A Dissipative Destruction

The sections in this article are: 1 Senescence 1.1 Models in Science 1.2 Senescence Is Not the Same as Aging 1.3 What Senesces? 1.4 System Death or Component Death 2 Regular Phenomena 2.1 Increases in Regularity with Senescence 2.2 Regularity of a Variable's Time History 3 Physical Background of Senescence 3.1 Complexity 3.2 Order 3.3 Vertical Integration (Hierarchy) 3.4 Horizontal Integration (Heterarchy) 3.5 Causality 3.6 Stability 3.7 Energy vs. Entropy in Self-Organization 4 General Principle of Homeodynamic Senescence 4.1 Homeodynamics Instead of Homeostasis 4.2 Irreversibility and Constraints 4.3 Biological Markers of Age 5 Homeodynamics and Predictability 5.1 Specifying the Homeodynamic Construct 5.2 Fluctuations and Chance 6 Counterintuitive Effects of Clamping a Homeodynamic System 6.1 Environmental Potentials 6.2 Clamping 7 Redefinition of Senescence 7.1 Escape from Senescence-Induced Fatal Failures by Re-Initialization 7.2 Summary of Characteristics of Senescence as Homeodynamic Instability 8 Aspects of Senescence 8.1 Aspect Theories 8.2 Generalizations from Aspect Theories 9 Wear-and-Tear Revisited 9.1 Reliability Theory for Machines 10 Human Senescence as Dissipative Destruction 10.1 Component Failure–Cell Culture Senescence 10.2 Dissipative Destruction as Basis of Gompertz Mortality Kinetics 11 Summary
Crossing Party Lines: Volatility and Ticket Splitting in Mexico (1994–2000)

This article aims to amplify our portrait of the Mexican electorate by examining the ways in which Mexican electors distributed their votes among the parties during 1994–2000, both over successive elections (volatility) and in the same election (ballot splitting). Aggregate and survey data revealed that Mexicans engaged in these two forms of electoral behaviour frequently, indicators of an electorate in flux. Regression analysis indicated that, contrary to the expectation that the politically sophisticated differentiated their votes, virtually all parts of Mexican society were equally likely to switch parties and split tickets.
New Regulations and Collateral Requirements – Implications for the OTC Derivatives Market

The paper provides a snapshot of the changing collateral space and how this will impact the regulatory push to move over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives to CCPs. With continued quantitative easing (QE) by some central banks, price signals from the repo market indicate a shortage of good collateral. This paper focuses on the collateral demand in the OTC derivatives market as they move to central counterparties (CCPs) and suggests alternatives on how to reduce risk in this market. The proposed route of removing OTC derivatives from banks books creates new SIFIs, destroys the economics of netting on the books of the banks, silo(s) collateral and decreases collateral velocity, and increases the interconnectedness of the financial system. Alternately, if every user of OTC derivatives contributed their share of margin(s) when using OTC derivatives (relative to the proposed bifurcated “clearing” and “non-cleared” worlds including legacy trades that will not clear), the risk from derivatives at SIFIs would be eliminated. There would be no need for CCPs.
Early secondary repair of third- and fourth-degree perineal lacerations after outpatient wound preparation

Research has shown the feasibility of early secondary repair of third- and fourth-degree perineal laceration dehiscence after a short period of inpatient wound preparation; therefore, we evaluated the feasibility of early closure after outpatient wound preparation. In this case series, 23 patients underwent early repair of third- or fourth-degree perineal laceration after outpatient wound preparation. Twenty-one patients (91%) had a fourth-degree dehiscence, whereas two (9%) had a third-degree dehiscence. We repaired the defects after 4-10 days (mean 7) of outpatient debridement and wound preparation. All repairs were successful (95% confidence interval 85-100%), and no subsequent breakdowns occurred. One patient developed a small rectal-perineal fistula which, after irrigation, closed spontaneously within 3 months. Early repair of third- or fourth-degree dehiscence after outpatient wound debridement and preparation is both practical and effective. Forcing patients to wait the traditional 3–4 months before repairing such defects may be both cruel and unnecessary.
Nonanatomic postmortem techniques: postmortem serology.

This report is a preliminary look at efforts to incorporate serological techniques into day-to-day autopsy procedures at the University of Tennessee Medical Units. The efforts arose from a continuing desire to make postmortem examination as sophisticated and complete as possible.
Activated basophils give lupus a booster shot

Basophils have recently been identified as antigen-presenting cells that are required for optimal antibody responses. New findings now show that activation of these cells can amplify autoimmune responses in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (pages 701–707).
Multigenerational impact of maternal overnutrition/obesity in the sheep on the neonatal leptin surge in granddaughters.

Multigenerational impact of maternal overnutrition/obesity in the sheep on the neonatal leptin surge in granddaughters
Measurement of droplet interfacial phenomena by light‐scattering techniques

Two light-scattering techniques have been applied to study the kinetics of droplet evaporation and attendant interfacial phenomena. The first technique, which is particularly useful for noisy data, utilizes the fast Fourier transform of phase function data (intensity vs. scattering angle) to obtain the size by comparing the phase function with Lorenz-Mie theory. The second method applies optical resonance measurements to obtain very precise measurements of size and/or refractive index as functions of time. The techniques have been used to measure the slow evaporation of multicomponent and single-component organic microdroplets, rapid evaporation of water droplets, and rapid evaporation of droplets of aqueous solutions and surfactant solutions. The experiments were performed in an electrodynamic balance, which was used to suspend single microdroplets in a polarized laser beam. Rapid evaporation rate data yield information on the surface temperature, and data for surfactant solution evaporation show that insoluble monolayer formation at the microdroplet surface reduces the evaporation rate by a factor of 200. In addition, it is shown that droplet explosion due to surface charge effects can occur well below the Rayleigh limit of charge.
It's Not Just Sex

The dosage of X and Y chromosome genes varies systematically in males and females. In mammals, X inactivation largely compensates for this, but in this issue of Developmental Cell, Wijchers et al. show that the expression of hundreds of autosomal genes is still influenced by sex chromosome dosage, independently of physiological sex.
Evaluating the effect of a course Web site on student performance

THE AUTHOR CREATED A NUMBER OF WEB SITES to enhance traditional classroom instruction in computer science courses. These Web sites included lecture notes, assignments, downloadable programs, links to sites related to the course subject matter, and a program allowing students to see their grades on all assignments and tests and thus determine exactly where they stood in the course at any time. This study reports on two types of data analyzed to gain insight into students’ use of the site: responses to an author-created survey and students’ final grades. Students demonstrated strong positive reactions to the course Web site on the survey and showed statistically significant final grade improvement after the Web site was introduced. While these results should be interpreted conservatively due to the large number of uncontrolled variables that affect student performance, they are nonetheless encouraging enough to warrant continued effort to develop and evaluate course Web sites.
TAHAP PEMBACAAN AL-QURAN DALAM KALANGAN PELAJAR DI UiTM TERENGGANU

Kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti sejauhmana kemampuan pelajar UiTM Terengganu membaca al-Quran. Maklumat kajian diperoleh melalui dua cara, iaitu kaedah kuantitatif dan kaedah kualitatif. Melalui kaedah kuantitatif, maklumat diperoleh melalui sampel soal selidik daripada 500 orang pelajar diploma tahun akhir, dan kaedah kualitatif dilakukan melalui temu bual soalan berangka dengan 6 orang pelajar tahun akhir yang dipilih secara rawak. Data kajian yang dikumpul, diproses dengan menggunakan program windows SPSS versi 12.0. Penemuan kajian menunjukkan bahawa kemampuan para pelajar adalah sederhana dalam aspek asas pembacaan al-Quran dan dalam aspek-aspek tertentu masih ramai pelajar agak lemah seperti dalam menguasai pengetahuan tentang lagu, bacaan berlagu, pengetahuan hukum tajwid dan pembacaan secara bertajwid. Kajian menunjukkan juga bahawa wujudnya perbezaan penguasaan membaca al-Quran mengikut pemboleh ubah jantina, sekolah asal pengajian, bidang pengajian dan pencapaian mata pelajaran Agama Islam pada peringkat SPM. KataKunci: kemampuan, membaca al-Quran, pelajar UiTM
Interarticular disc in wide mandibular opening in rhesus monkeys.

Abstract Five rhesus monkeys were sacrificed after their jaws were propped wide open. Histologic sections showed the following: 1. The interarticular discs had moved completely in unison with the condyle in mandibular opening. 2. There was no indication of pressure to the peripheral parts of the discs. 3. The external pterygoid muscles did not seem to play an active role in the anterior positioning of the discs. 4. There was no histologic evidence of an anterior joint capsule. 5. Large vascular and open synovial spaces appeared in the retrocondylar soft tissues. 6. Superficial soft tissues including part of the parotid glands had been pulled into the retrocondylar space during the opening of the mandible.
Embedded linear classifiers on wireless sensor networks for damage detection

Damage detection on engineered systems is a challenging task that has been explored by numerous researchers. In recent years wireless sensors systems have arisen as a vehicle for low-power, low-cost, and localized damage detection that can be applied to various structural systems. Such sensors, however, are limited in their computational capacity and as a result, careful consideration must be taken as to which algorithms can be effectively embedded so as to balance energy constraints with computational efficiency. In this study, two classifier algorithms (least squares classifier and Fisher's linear discriminant analysis) are explored for detecting damage on a cooling system test bed. In particular, the algorithms are used to determine the valve configuration of the system and to verify if damage exists within the valves. To validate the efficiency of the algorithms in the embedded domain, the algorithms are implemented on a wireless sensing network and used to classify the system state of the test bed.
The temperature dependence of conductivity and critical concentration of two typical colloidal electrolytes.

Abstract 1. 1. Conductivity curves for aqueous solutions of two colloidal electrolytes, lauryl sulfonic acid and potassium laurate, were determined at 0°, 25°, 50°, 70°, and 90°C. 2. 2. The critical concentrations, as determined by conductivity, pass through a minimum in the neighborhood of room temperature. A comparison of the critical concentrations determined here with those determined by other methods shows approximate agreement with all except those reported for refractive index of potassium laurate at elevated temperatures. 3. 3. The variation of the conductivity ratio, α, with temperature is briefly discussed.
Economic Development and Financial Stability

T HERE ARE TWO schools of thought in relation to financing economic development. On one side are those who hold that a policy of monetary and financial stability is incompatible with development and are resigned to the idea that inflation and disequilibrium in international payments are inevitable, if there is to be any development at all. On the other are those who assert that a policy of financial stability is the best way to attain balanced economic development. This paper,1 in supporting the second of these views, analyzes the basic objectives of development policy without a continual rise in prices, without monetary depreciation, and without disequilibria in international payments. The analysis requires an examination, at some length, of the internal mechanics of the process of increasing production in a closed economy and of the factors that determine the equilibrium of international payments in an open economy.
The cultured fetal mouse heart as a model for studying myocardial ischemic necrosis

Abstract A flow-independent model of anoxic injury employing the whole fetal mouse heart in organ culture was used to define the extent of ultrastructural damage and eventual necrosis resulting from hypoxia alone or hypoxia plus substrate depletion. In order to assess early ultrastructural damage fetal mouse hearts either received 1, 3 or 5 hr of hypoxia with or without substrate, following which the hearts were processed for electron microscopy. In order to assess extent of necrosis another group of hearts received 1, 3 or 5 hr of hypoxia with or without substrate followed by a recovery phase which consisted of 24 hr of reoxygenation with substrate. The percent of the fetal hearts which showed histologic necrosis was determined from 1 μm thick toluidine blue stained sections. Several ultrastructural changes were seen during the early phases of anoxic injury including nuclear chromatin clumping and margination, loss of glycogen, intracellular swelling and vacuolization which became progressively worse as the duration of hypoxia increased from 1 to 5 hr. In hearts submitted to substrate deprivation as well as hypoxia intracellular swelling was more severe with 3 to 5 hr of injury. In hearts which received 1 to 5 hr of hypoxia plus 24 hr of recovery well delineated areas of necrosis could be visualized. In hearts with 1 hr of hypoxia plus recovery 4 ± 2% of the myocardium was necrotic; with 3 hr of hypoxia plus recovery 15 ± 3% was necrotic, and with 5 hr of hypoxia plus recovery 52 ± 3% of the myocardium was necrotic. With the addition of substrate depletion hearts developed more necrosis at 3 hr (29±4%) and 5 hr (64 ± 4%) compared to exposure to hypoxia alone ( P In conclusion, the fetal mouse heart is a flow-independent model which can be used to test the effects of hypoxia and substrate deprivation on the extent of myocardial damage; the duration of hypoxia is the major determinant of the extent of necrosis in this model while substrate depletion also increases damage.
Synthesizing partial orders given comparability information: Partitive sets and slack in critical path networks

Abstract A problem which arises in the analysis of reaction times is considered. Suppose a task requires the completion of a set of mental activities which can be represented as a partially ordered set of arcs in a critical path network, but the network is unknown. If one knows for every pair of activities whether the pair is comparable (i.e., sequential) or incomparable (i.e., concurrent), then a partial order for the activities can be constructed with a procedure known as the transitive orientation algorithm. It is known that only two partial orders are possible, one the converse of the other, unless some proper nonsingleton partitive subset of the activities is not stable. Two main results are presented: First, a set of arcs generating a weakly connected subnetwork is partitive if and only if the subnetwork has a unique source, a unique sink, and no vertex of attachment other than these. Second, a simple relationship between partitive sets of activities and the slack between comparable activities is presented. These issues are important for the uniqueness problem in the synthesis of critical path networks representing cognitive tasks.
Ten-year trends in self-reported emotional and behavioral problems of Dutch adolescents

Research comparing population samples from different time periods to investigate secular changes in adolescents’ psychosocial problems have mostly focused on parent and teacher reports. The few studies using self-reports have limitations, such as using only school-based samples or investigating a limited range of problems. We investigated changes from 1993 to 2003 in Dutch 11- to 18-year-old girls’ and boys’ self-reported emotional and behavioral problems. We also examined whether trends were different for various socio-demographic groups. We used the Youth Self-Report (YSR) to assess emotional and behavioral problems, and obtained self-reports of police contact, substance abuse, suicidal ideation and self-harm across two adolescent population samples, assessed in 1993 and 2003. To investigate whether reports were different for the 2 years, we performed analyses of variance on the mean scores, and chi-square analyses on the percentages of deviant-scoring children and children reporting specific problem behaviors for boys and girls separately. Logistic regressions were conducted to investigate interactions of year with various socio-demographic variables. For boys, results showed a few small changes, indicating decreases from 1993 to 2003 in self-reported Social Problems, Externalizing, Aggressive Behavior, and Rule- Breaking Behavior. For girls, Thought problems, Somatic Complaints, Internalizing problems, suicidal ideation and self-harm increased. Drunkenness and drug use increased for both boys and girls. There were some differences between socio-demographic groups. Boys from low-SES families and younger adolescent girls experienced most increases. We found evidence for some small trends in self-reported problems. For boys, some decreases were seen, regarding mostly behavioral problems, whereas for girls, some increases were seen in emotional and behavioral problems. Changes appeared to have most negatively affected young adolescent girls’ functioning.
Rare earth ion distribution in sol–gel silicate glasses

Sol-gel glasses are porous networks that have been densified through chemical processing and heat treatment. Due to their relative insolubility in silica, rare earth (RE) ions in silicate glasses enter as network modifiers and compete for non-bridging oxygens in order to complete their coordination. Energy transfer between Tb 3+ ions is used here to study the distribution of RE ions in these porous glasses. The non-exponential decay of the 5 D 3 fluorescence is due to cross relaxation. Using a model for energy transfer in fractional dimensions and fitting the decay profile to a stretched exponential, the number of nearby Tb 3+ ions and the dimensionality of the Tb 3+ ions in the pores could be determined. Analysis indicates that the observed fluorescence originates from relatively isolated ions. Samples annealed below 950°C exhibit a dimensionality of ∼1.2.
Anti-platelet therapy in graft thrombosis: Results of a prospective, randomized, double-blind study

Hemodialysis (HD) vascular access thrombosis remains a major cause of morbidity, accounting for 17.4% of all HD patient hospital admissions in 1986. We initiated this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study to examine if dipyridamole and/or aspirin decreased the rate of thrombosis of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts in HD patients. Two patient groups were studied: Type I--with a new ePTFE graft; and Type II--with thrombectomy and/or revision of a previously placed ePTFE graft. One hundred and seven patients were followed for 18 months or until the first thrombotic episode. Actuarial analysis of Type I patients showed cumulative thrombosis rates (mean +/- SEM) of 21 +/- 9% on dipyridamole alone, compared with 25 +/- 11% on dipyridamole and aspirin combination, 42 +/- 13% on placebo, and 80 +/- 12% on aspirin alone. The relative risk of thrombosis with dipyridamole was 0.35 (P = 0.02) and that for aspirin was 1.99 (P = 0.18). In Type II patients, the rate of thrombosis was high in all study drug and placebo groups (overall 78% thrombosis) and actuarial analysis was not carried out because of the small number of patients enrolled. We conclude that dipyridamole is beneficial in patients with new ePTFE grafts and that aspirin does not improve the risk of thrombosis in ePTFE grafts. Neither dipyridamole nor aspirin has any beneficial effect in patients with prior thrombosis of ePTFE grafts.
Moderate Pressure is Essential for Massage Therapy Effects

Moderate pressure appears to be necessary for massage therapy effects. Studies comparing moderate and light pressure massage are reviewed and they suggest that growth and development are enhanced in infants and stress is reduced in adults, but only by moderate pressure massage. The stimulation of pressure receptors leads to increased vagal activity which, in turn, seems to mediate the diverse benefits noted for massage therapy.
Novel autoimmune targets and crossreactivity in myasthenia gravis

Summary The identification of the AChR as the antigenic target in the autoimmune disease MG stemmed from advances in understanding of the structure of the neuromuscular junction. The improved understanding of the structure of the synapse is being associated, concomitantly, with improved understanding of the antigenic targets of autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction. Intramolecular and inter-molecular spreading of antigenic targets appears to occur at the synapse and may explain the development of antibodies against cytoskeletal proteins in patients whose initial immune attack is directed against the AChR. Immune responses directed exclusively against these cytoskeletal proteins however may explain the phenomenon of seronegative myasthenia gravis. Molecular mimickry with crossreactive immune responses may explain the development of anti-AChR, anti-titin and anti-ryanodine receptor antibodies in patients with thymoma and MG. The chemical reactivity of proteins at the synapse may also render them susceptible to immune attack as a consequence of altered structure.
Iodine imaging using spectral analysis

Existing radiographic imaging systems provide images which represent an integration or averaging over the energy spectrum. In order to provide noninvasive angiography it is necessary to image the relatively small amounts of iodine which are available following an intravenous administration. This is accomplished by making use of the special spectral characteristics of iodine. Two methods will be presented. One involves a special grating for encoding the iodine information in the form of a fine line pattern. This is subsequently decoded to provide images of iodinated structures which are otherwise almost invisible. The second method utilizes a scanned X-ray beam which is rapidly switched in the high energy region. In this region, iodine experiences significant variations in the attenuation coefficient while bone and soft tissue do not. An efficient and accurate X-ray detector can be used with scanned X-ray beams. This provides a high degree of sensitivity enabling the visualization of small vessels containing relatively dilute iodine.
Adriamycin therapy for advanced insulinoma.

Two patients with advanced metastatic insulinoma are presented. Both failed to respond to streptozotocin and were refractory to other forms of chemotherapy. Therapy with adriamycin (Patient #1) and adriamycin plus 5-fluorouracil (Patient #2) led to significant decreases in insulin levels or measurable disease and both patients had clinical remissions lasting 5 to 7 months. Adriamycin may be effective in patients with advanced insulinoma unresponsive to conventional chemotherapy.
Cytotoxic Polyacetylenes from the Twigs of Ochanostachys amentacea

Bioassay-guided investigation of the twigs of Ochanostachys amentacea using LNCaP (hormone-dependent human prostate cancer) cells as a monitor led to the isolation of three alkynes, the known (S)-17-hydroxy-9,11,13,15-octadecatetraynoic acid (minquartynoic acid, 1) and two novel analogues, (S)-17,18-dihydroxy-9,11,13,15-octadecatetraynoic acid (2) and (S)-17-hydroxy-15E-octadecen-9,11,13-triynoic acid (3). Compounds 1−3 were tested against a panel of human tumor cell lines and found to be significantly cytotoxic.
Enhanced mixing and plume containment in porous media under time-dependent oscillatory flow.

Solute transport experiments were conducted in a decimeter scale flow cell packed with sand to study the potential for enhanced mixing of solutes in porous media and improved containment of injected plumes under multiple pumping-well driven, time-dependent oscillatory flow with respect to constant flow. Real-time imaging of the colorimetric reaction of Tiron (1,2-dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonic acid) and molybdate was used to quantify mixing, whereas fluorescein was used to better examine plume size. Results from the small scale experiments clearly demonstrated the enhanced mixing of solutes under low Reynolds number oscillatory flow (a factor of 2 with respect to constant flow in homogeneous sand and a factor of 3 in layered sand), as the result of increased contact interface for solute diffusion. Further, the injected solute plume was better contained under oscillatory flow (25% less area with respect to constant flow in homogeneous sand) due to the cancellation of advective transport at each well over ...
Photoreactivity of Unsaturated Compounds with Hydrogen-Terminated Silicon(111)

We report the photoreactivity of H−Si(111) with dioxygen and terminally unsaturated hydrocarbons. Illumination of H−Si(111) in air with ultraviolet light of wavelength of 350 nm or shorter produces oxidized silicon; longer wavelengths cause no oxidation. When H−Si(111) is immersed in unsaturated hydrocarbons (1-octene, 1-octadecene, 1-octyne, styrene, and phenylacetylene) that have been deoxygenated, illumination with a Hg lamp results in densely packed hydrocarbon films of molecular thickness. Previous work and the results presented here suggest that the H−Si bond adds across the unsaturated bond in these reactions similar to hydrosilylation reactions known for small-molecule chemistry and produce adsorbates covalently bonded to the surface. We present spectroscopic evidence showing films resulting from terminal acetylenes consist of adsorbates linked to the surface by a vinyl group. We propose that all of these reactions occur through a radical-chain mechanism initiated by the wavelength-dependent photo...
Cost-benefit analysis, benefit accounting and fuzzy decisions. (I). Theory

Abstract In this essay, we present a logical framework for developing a comprehensive benefit information set for cost-benefit analysis where subjectivity and approximations are some important characteristics of the decision space. The concept of benefit, its components and their relationships to decision and choice are discussed. A benefit space equipped with a measure is presented. This is linked with a computational process through a technique of benefit identification matrices where the benefit space and the society are partitioned into real benefit characteristics and social classes respectively. From the elements in the benefit identification matrix, distributional weights of benefit intensities are computed by the logic of fuzzy decision and mathematical programming leading to a formula for computing total benefit. The method is argued to be compatible with direct assessment (contingent valuation method) and indirect assessment (market revealed approach).
Quantum-well heterostructure lasers

The various features peculiar to the operation of quantum-well semiconductor lasers are described and illustrated with data on single- and multiple-quantum-well Al x Ga 1-x As-GaAs heterostructures grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MO-CVD). Photo-pumped and p-n diode lasers (injection lasers) are described that are capable of continuous room temperature (CW 300 K) operation. The basic problems of carrier collection, thermalization, and quantum-well band filling are considered and have made clear the limits on single quantum-well laser operation and how these can be overcome with multiple quantum-well active regions. The idea that the steplike density-of-states of a quantum-well heterostructure can improve the operation of a semiconductor laser is shown to be valid. Also, it is shown that phonon participation in the operation of a quantum-well laser, which was not anticipated, is a major (even dominant) effect, with perhaps the phonon emission itself in the compact active region being stimulated. Besides the obvious freedom that quantum-well layers offer in how the active region of a semiconductor laser can be designed, quantum-well lasers are shown to exhibit a lesser sensitivity of the threshold current density on temperature, which is explained in terms of the step-like density-of-states and the disturbed electron and phonon distributions in the quantum-well active regions. Values as high as \sim437\deg C have been obtained for T 0 in the usual expression J_{th}(T) = J_{th}(0) \exp (T/T_{0}) . Since photopumped multiple-quantum-well MO-CVD Al x Ga 1-x As-GaAs heterostructures have operated as CW 300 K lasers with only 5-10 mW of photoexcitation (uncorrected for focusing and window losses, \lambda \sim 5145 A), it is suggested that quantum-well laser diodes can be made that will operate at ∼1 mA or even less excitation.
AN EMPIRICAL TEST OF THE TIMING OF BOND‐REFUNDING DECISIONS

In this paper we measure the ability of firms to time bond-refunding decisions. The timing performance achieved on a sample of 161 public utility bond refundings is compared with the timing performance achieved by three benchmark models. We find that firms achieve levels of timing performance significantly better than the random selection and 100-basis-point benchmark models, but not significantly better than a stopping-time model based on present value analysis.
Ramp response radar imagery spectral content

The physical optics (PO) approximation is examined in the time domain to illustrate certain relationships between an area function interpretation of the physical optics scattering estimate and the span of interrogating frequencies required to produce an image of the object. The consequences of extending the normal physical optics integration limit to encompass the entire object are demonstrated using conducting spheres, disks, cone spheres, and hemispherical objects. Low frequency interrogating signals are stressed for imaging purposes with an interpretation of when such signals must be supplemented by higher frequencies.
Residual stress behaviour of isomeric PMDA-ODA polyimides

Abstract Poly(3,4′-oxydiphenylene pyromellitimide) (PMDA-3,4′-ODA), an isomer of poly(4,4′-oxydiphenylene pyromellitimide) (PMDA-4,4′-ODA), was synthesized from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 3,4′-oxydiphenylene diamine (3,4′-ODA). For these two polyimide isomers and their poly(amic acid) precursors in the condensed state on Si wafers, residual stress behaviour over the range 25–400°C was investigated by the dynamic measurement of wafer bending. During thermal imidization both isomers did not show any difference in stress versus temperature behaviour. Once imidized, however, one isomer exhibited a quite different stress behaviour from that of the other during cool-down: the stress of PMDA-3,4′-ODA increased rapidly from zero at 400°C to ≈45 MPa at 40°C, whereas that of PMDA-4,4′-ODA rose gradually from zero to ≈27 MPa. For both cured isomers, stress-temperature profile on heating was the same as that on cooling, with some deviation due to moisture uptake over the temperature range 25–150°C, indicating that their stresses were insensitive to thermal cycling or thermal annealing. From independently measured properties (thermal expansion coefficient, modulus, Poisson's ratio of 0.34) of both polyimides, the thermal stresses were calculated and compared with the measured overall stresses. It is concluded that for both polyimides the overall residual stress results primarily from the thermal stress. In comparison with PMDA-4,4′-ODA, PMDA-3,4′-ODA showed a much higher stress despite its slightly lower thermal expansion coefficient. This leads to the conclusion that the large difference between the stresses of the isomers results from the large difference in their moduli (5.0 GPa for PMDA-3,4′-ODA and 3.0 GPa for PMDA-4,4′-ODA). This behaviour is further supported by the difference in morphological structures of these two isomers as determined by wide-angle X-ray diffraction: PMDA-3,4′-ODA showed a well-developed crystalline structure, whereas the PMDA-4,4′-ODA did not. In addition, the interfacial adhesion between polyimide film and Si wafer primed with A1100 was investigated.