cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alzheimer's Disease-Related Neuropathology Among Patients with Medication Treated Type 2 Diabetes in a Community-Based Autopsy Cohort.

Background Diabetes is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Epidemiologic evidence shows an association between diabetes medications and ADRD risk; cell and mouse models show diabetes medication association with AD-related neuropathologic change (ADNC). Objective This hypothesis-generating analysis aimed to describe autopsy-measured ADNC for individuals who used diabetes medications. Methods Descriptive analysis of ADNC for Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) Study autopsy cohort who used diabetes medications, including sulfonylureas, insulin, and biguanides; total N = 118. ADNC included amyloid plaque distribution (Thal phasing), neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) distribution (Braak stage), and cortical neuritic plaque density (CERAD score). We also examined quantitative measures of ADNC using the means of standardized Histelide measures of cortical PHF-tau and Aβ 1-42. Adjusted analyses control for age at death, sex, education, APOE genotype, and diabetes complication severity index. Results Adjusted analyses showed no significant association between any drug class and traditional neuropathologic measures compared to nonusers of that class. In adjusted Histelide analyses, any insulin use was associated with lower mean levels of Aβ 1-42 (-0.57 (CI: -1.12, -0.02)) compared to nonusers. Five years of sulfonylureas and of biguanides use was associated with lower levels of Aβ 1-42 compared to nonusers (-0.15 (CI: -0.28, -0.02), -0.31 (CI: -0.54, -0.07), respectively). Conclusion Some evidence exists that diabetes medications are associated with lower levels of Aβ 1-42, but not traditional measures of neuropathology. Future studies are needed in larger samples to build understanding of the mechanisms between diabetes, its medications, and ADRD, and to potentially repurpose existing medications for prevention or delay of ADRD.
Utility of the Health Belief Model to Predict Adherence

Objective: To investigate whether the constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM) can be applied to understand and predict adherence among HIV-positive pregnant women.
Racial Bias in Pulse Oximetry Measurement Among Patients About to Undergo ECMO in 2019-2020, A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background Pulse oximeters may produce less accurate results in non-White patients. Research Question Do pulse oximeters detect arterial hypoxemia less effectively in Black, Hispanic, and/or Asian patients than in White patients in respiratory failure and about to undergo extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)? Study Design and Methods Data on adult patients with respiratory failure readings 6 h before ECMO from 324 centers, January 2019 to July 2020, were provided by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry. Our primary analysis was of rates of occult hypoxemia—low arterial oxygen saturation (Sa o 2 ≤ 88%) on arterial blood gas measurement despite a pulse oximetry reading in the range of 92% to 96%. Results The rate of pre-ECMO occult hypoxemia, that is, arterial oxygen saturation (Sa o 2) ≤ 88%, was 10.2% (95% CI, 6.2%-15.3%) for 186 White patients with peripheral oxygen saturation (Sp o 2) of 92% to 96%; 21.5% (95% CI, 11.3%-35.3%) for 51 Black patients (P = .031 vs White); 8.6% (95% CI, 3.2%-17.7%) for 70 Hispanic patients (P = .693 vs White); and 9.2% (95% CI, 3.5%-19.0%) for 65 Asian patients (P = .820 vs White). Black patients with respiratory failure had a statistically significantly higher risk of occult hypoxemia with an OR of 2.57 (95% CI, 1.12-5.92) compared with White patients (P = .026). The risk of occult hypoxemia for Hispanic and Asian patients was equivalent to that of White patients. In a secondary analysis of patients with Sa o 2 ≤ 88% despite Sp o 2 > 96%, Black patients had more than three times the risk compared with White patients (OR, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.12-11.10; P = .032). Interpretation Compared with White patients, the prevalence of occult hypoxemia was higher in Black patients than in White patients about to undergo ECMO for respiratory failure, but it was comparable in Hispanic and Asian patients compared with White patients.
Respuesta al comentario de Almeida, Sergio. “Colomina, Juan J. ‘¿Qué podemos aprovechar del análisis austiniano del significado y de la verdad?’”

Respuesta al comentario de Almeida, Sergio . "Colomina, Juan J. '?Que podemos aprovechar del analisis austiniano del significado y de la verdad?'", Ideas y Valores LX/146 (2011): 219-223.
Interleukin-31: its role in canine pruritus and naturally occurring canine atopic dermatitis.

Background – Interleukin-31 (IL-31) is a member of the gp130/interleukin-6 cytokine family that is produced by cell types such as T helper 2 lymphocytes and cutaneous lymphocyte antigen positive skin homing T cells. When overexpressed in transgenic mice, IL-31 induces severe pruritus, alopecia and skin lesions. In humans, IL-31 serum levels correlate with the severity of atopic dermatitis in adults and children. Hypothesis/Objective – To determine the role of IL-31 in canine pruritus and naturally occurring canine atopic dermatitis (AD). Animals – Purpose-bred beagle dogs were used for laboratory studies. Serum samples were obtained from laboratory animals, nondiseased client-owned dogs and client-owned dogs diagnosed with naturally occurring AD. Methods – Purpose-bred beagle dogs were administered canine interleukin-31 (cIL-31) via several routes (intravenous, subcutaneous or intradermal), and pruritic behaviour was observed/quantified via video monitoring. Quantitative immunoassay techniques were employed to measure serum levels of cIL-31 in dogs. Results – Injection of cIL-31 into laboratory beagle dogs caused transient episodes of pruritic behaviour regardless of the route of administration. When evaluated over a 2 h period, dogs receiving cIL-31 exhibited a significant increase in pruritic behaviour compared with dogs that received placebo. In addition, cIL-31 levels were detectable in 57% of dogs with naturally occurring AD (≥13 pg/mL) but were below limits of quantification (<13 pg/mL) in normal, nondiseased laboratory or client-owned animals. Conclusions – Canine IL-31 induced pruritic behaviours in dogs. Canine IL-31 was detected in the majority of dogs with naturally occurring AD, suggesting that this cytokine may play an important role in pruritic allergic skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, in this species.
Finite wordlength requirements for adaptive signal processing elements in digital QAM ADSL systems

Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) services attempt to provide high rate data transmission on a variety of copper loops both inside and outside the carrier service area. The data rates range from 1.6 Mbps half-duplex on long loops to 6 Mbps half-duplex on shorter loops. Thus far, several studies have been performed on the performance of different ADSL system architectures, but little attention has been paid to the wordlength requirements of the transceiver ASIC that is at the heart of an economical implementation. In this paper we focus on the adaptive equalizer block of the system proposed by Daneshrad and Samueli (1992). Results of studies are presented that show the minimum word lengths for the front-end analog-to-digital converter (A/D) as well as the different signals within the adaptive filters of the equalizer. For both the feedforward equalizer (FFE) and the decision feedback equalizer (DFE) wordlength requirements of four signals are studied (a) the filter input, (b) the multiply-accumulator at the output of the filter, (c) the number of bits required to store and update the adaptive coefficient, (d) the number of coefficient bits actually used in the filtering operation. It is found that a 10 bit A/D is sufficient for such a system, and that all other signals studied require no more than 22 bits of dynamic range. Armed with such information, the system designer can use the minimum word lengths without sacrificing system performance, while at the same time reducing the size, power consumption, and cost of the transceiver ASIC (application specific integrated circuit). >
A cognitive perception/action cycle for a notional fighter radar

In this paper we discuss simulating a cognitive perception-action cycle and applying its algorithms to a notional medium PRF fighter radar featuring an adaptive advanced electronically scanned array. The cognitive cycle adapts to the presence of electronic attack by designing and invoking an ever-increasingly capable set of electronic protection waveforms. The perception-action cycle ends with the generation of pulse descriptor words describing the characteristics of each radar pulse. The simulation is intended for insertion into either open loop or closed loop electronic attack evaluation systems.
A Phenomenological Reflection on Kurosawa's Ikiru in Light of the Early Heidegger's Concept of “Distance”

This article focuses on one of Heidegger's early lecture courses, Phenomenological Interpretations of Aristotle: Initiation into Phenomenological Research, in order to explore his early development of fallenness. Within this lecture it is termed ruinance and at the heart of its development is what Heidegger refers to as distance. The first half of this article is dedicated to examining the concept of distance and to following Heidegger's movement of life towards ruinance through his understanding of distance. Heidegger understands distance as the relationship between life and its possibilities and it is the variances within this relationship that cause for a natural movement towards ruinance and also allow for a return from it. The second half of this article is a phenomenological reflection upon Kurosawa's film Ikiru in light of Heidegger's observation of this movement of life. Ikiru provides a concrete example of a life that has fallen completely and unwittingly into ruinance. Heidegger's understanding ...
On the representation of occluded shapes

Most approaches to simultaneously recovering both model parameters and segmentation have relied on an edge field to represent segmentation. This restriction, and the implementations it leads to, have fundamental limitations in representing occluded stimuli. The authors develop a framework that overcomes these limitations by using multiple layers of explicit support to represent segmentation. Results from an initial implementation demonstrate that this method can segment images containing occluded objects. >
Etiology of autism: genetic influences

In summary, there are a few specific genetic conditions that can be associated with autism. Among cases of unknown etiology, there is ample evidence for a higher genetic liability to autism in siblings of autistic probands than expected from the population prevalence. It appears likely that both parents and siblings have a higher liability for social and cognitive deficits that are milder but conceptually similar to those found in autism. Others factors may alter this underlying genetic liability such as sex, IQ, and prenatal and perinatal injury. In the future, genetic analyses and genetic linkage studies will need to consider using a broader definition of the autism phenotype to include not only autism but severe cognitive and social deficits. The exact genetic mechanisms and genes involved are the subject of current investigations by several research groups. Investigations in this area are likely to continue to provide important information about the causes of autism.
Update on Colon Ischemia: Recent Insights and Advances

Colon ischemia (CI) is the most common manifestation of ischemic injury to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This usually self-limited disease is being diagnosed more frequently, and the list of known causes is increasing. Local hypoperfusion and reperfusion injury are both thought to contribute to the disease process, which manifests with a wide spectrum of injury including reversible colopathy (subepithelial hemorrhage and edema), transient colitis, chronic colitis, stricture, gangrene, and fulminant universal colitis. The distribution is usually segmental with left-sided disease (e.g., inferior mesenteric artery distribution) being more frequently observed than right-sided involvement (e.g., superior mesenteric artery distribution). Any portion of the colon can be affected, but the anatomic distribution of CI recently has been shown to be associated with outcome. Patients with isolated-right colon ischemia (IRCI) have a different presentation and worse outcomes than other distributions of disease. Although somewhat variable depending on disease location, CI presents with cramping abdominal pains over the segment of colon involved followed by a short course of bloody diarrhea. Diagnosis is usually made clinically and is supported with serologic, radiologic, and colonoscopic findings. Colonoscopy is the most accurate diagnostic study. Most patients respond to conservative supportive therapy although some with more severe disease require antimicrobials and/or surgical intervention.
Parenting and Preschool Child Development: Examination of Three Low-Income U.S. Cultural Groups

We examined the impact of parenting behaviors on preschool children’s social development in low-income families from three cultural groups: European American (n = 286), African American (n = 399), and Hispanic American (n = 164) using Spanish as the primary language in the home. Observed parenting behaviors of stimulation, responsivity, and acceptance of the child in European American and African American families showed positive impacts on children’s social development with notable exceptions discussed. Corporal punishment had a negative impact on children’s social development. With the exception of corporal punishment, none of the parenting behaviors predicted social development outcomes for Hispanic children.
Religion, morale individuelle et politique américaine

EnglishReligion no longer serves so much as a surrogate for class and ethnicity in American politics. Thus, it is religiosity, in addition to denomination, that has become a key factor that works t...
Emulating bulk turbulence with a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator

We have developed a novel system that emulates the optical effects of bulk atmospheric turbulence in a dynamic, repeatable, and accurate way without moving parts. Such turbulence-emulating systems (TES) are necessary for testing laser systems including laser weapons, free-space optical communications, and atmospheric imaging systems. Most current TESs utilize the layered turbulence model with static phase plates or diffractive optics acting as the turbulent layers. Until now, the only way to emulate bulk turbulence in a laboratory has been by creating real turbulence with a heating element and a fan contained in a miniature wind tunnel. In contrast, the TES that we developed uses phase retrieval-based wavefront control to shape a laser beam into a turbulence-distorted beam. Several important properties of the measured irradiance patterns have shown good agreement with the theoretical expectations.
Characterizing deep sequencing analytics using BFAST: towards a scalable distributed architecture for next-generation sequencing data

Next Generation DNA Sequencing platforms produce significantly larger amounts of data compared to early Sanger technology sequencers. In addition to the challenges of data-management that arise from unprecedented volumes of data, there exists the important requirement of effectively analyzing the data. In this paper, we use BFAST -- genome-wide mapping application, as a representative example of the typical analysis that is required on data from NGS machines. We investigate two model genomes -- human genome and a microbe (Burkerholderia Glumae), that represent an eukaryotic and a prokaryotic system. The computational complexity of genome-wide mapping using BFAST, amongst other factors depends upon the size of a reference genome, the data size of short reads. We analyze the performance characteristics of BFAST and understand its dependency on different input parameters. Characterizing the performance suggests that genome-wide mapping benefits from both scaling-up (increased fine-grained parallelism) and scaling-out (task-level parallelism -- local and distributed). For certain problem instances, scaling-out can be a more efficient approach than scaling-up. We then design, develop and demonstrate a runtime-environment that supports both the scale-up and scale-out of BFAST on production grid and cloud environments.
Index of Suspicion in the Nursery

A 10-day old male infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has a small amount of purulent drainage from his right eye, but no other signs of infection. His respiratory rate is 40 to 64 breaths/min, with oxygen saturations of more than 90% in room air and no significant episodes of apnea. His pulse is 140 to 164 beats/min, with no significant episodes of bradycardia, and his temperatures are recorded at 97.7° to 98.1°F (36.5° to 36.7°C) in a heated bed. He is tolerating feedings of expressed human milk through a feeding tube and has gained weight consistently since the sixth postnatal day, although he is still approximately 100 g below birthweight. His only medication is caffeine for apnea of prematurity, which was started on the second postnatal day. The patient was born at 29 4/7 weeks’ gestation to a 35-year-old, G2P1→2 woman who developed preterm labor that was resistant to tocolysis with magnesium and nifedipine. The infant was delivered vaginally and resuscitated in the delivery room with supplemental oxygen via facemask. Apgar scores were 7 at 1 minute and 8 at 5 minutes. His birthweight was 1,660 g. He was admitted to the NICU because of preterm birth and mild respiratory distress syndrome. Laboratory tests upon admission included a complete blood count (CBC) and blood cultures, and ampicillin and gentamicin administration was initiated. His initial CBC revealed a white blood cell count of 14.3×103/mcL (14.3×109/L), with 58% neutrophils, 3% bands, 25% monocytes, and 14% lymphocytes. He received a total of four doses of ampicillin and two doses of gentamicin over the first two postnatal days; antibiotics were discontinued when initial blood cultures showed no growth at 48 hours. He did not require intubation; he was maintained initially on continuous positive airway pressure and then …
Liver biopsy in the evaluation of patients with chronic hepatitis C who have repeatedly normal or near-normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels.

As a consequence of the availability of highly sensitive diagnostic tests, the screening of transfusion recipients and former intravenous drug users, and the likelihood that symptomatic patients have already been diagnosed, hepatitis C is being diagnosed more commonly in apparently healthy people who have normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels. Hence, strategies for managing these patients are increasingly important. A recent National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference concluded that treatment of these patients “is not beneficial” but acknowledged “a weak association between alanine aminotransferase levels and severity of the histopathological findings on liver biopsy” (1). Serum alanine aminotransferase levels, however, may fluctuate during the course of the disease, and some patients with normal levels may have advanced liver disease (2– 6), although this has not been seen in all studies (7–10). In some of these studies, the criterion for a normal value and the frequency of serum alanine aminotransferase determinations were not defined, and liver biopsy samples were not evaluated systematically by a pathologist blinded to laboratory values. Moreover, heterogeneity of the hepatitis C virus, including different genotypes and quasispecies, suggests that observations in some parts of the world may not be relevant in the United States. To address these issues, we compared liver biopsy findings in hepatitis C-infected patients who had repeatedly normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels with biopsy results in patients who had elevated levels.
Thermodynamic data for the expanded-metal compound tetrakismethylaminelithium(0)

Abstract Differential thermal analysis results are presented for solutions of lithium dissolved in methylamine ranging in concentration from 0 to 19.7 mol.% metal. Three sets of peaks were observed, corresponding to a solids-solid transition at 145 K, a solid-liquid transition at 154 K and the excess methylamine dissolving liquidus at various temperatures depending on composition. The invariant peaks at 145 and 154 K were calibrated, giving ΔH1 = 1.5 ± 0.4 kJ mol−1andΔH2 = 2.0 ± 0.4 kJ mol−1 respectively. These values are compared with ΔH1 = 2.18 kJ mol−1andΔH2 = 2.32 kJ mol−1 for the corresponding transitions in Li(NH3)4. The entropy changes for the solid-liquid transitions are 6.3 J K−1 mol−1, 26.5 J K−1 mol−1 and 13 J K−1 mol−1 for lithium, Li(NH3)4 and Li(CH3NH2)4 respectively.
Standards for foreign language learning and the teaching of culture

Standards for Foreign Language Learning were released to the U.S. public in November, 1995. The product of a collaborative effort among four major language professional associations, the standards represent a milestone in the history of education in the U.S. National standards in a number of disciplines mark the first time in the history of U.S. education that the federal government has taken a leadership role in promoting guidelines that delineate what students should know and be able to do at various points in their precollegiate schooling. In this article, we provide information on the Standards document as well as perspectives from the U.S. and from Britain. First we explain the genesis and context of the new national standards for foreign language learning and describe the standards document. Then, more specifically, we discuss the role of culture learning within the new standards and analyse this role from a European perspective on the teaching of culture. Lastly, we provide some observations on the...
A Screening Instrument for the Identification of Foreign Language Learning Problems

Authors describe a self-scoring screening instrument designed to predict college students' risk for success or failure in foreign language classes. The instrument's questions, based on the authors' experiences with students with learning disabilities, focus on students' foreign language backgrounds, developmental and academic learning histories, and tests and classroom learning characteristics. Results of research studies conducted with the instrument and implications of these findings for foreign language instructors are presented.
p38 MAPK Mediates γ-Irradiation-induced Endothelial Cell Apoptosis, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Protects Endothelial Cells through the Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase-Akt-Bcl-2 Pathway

Therapeutic radiation is widely used in cancer treatments. The success of radiation therapy depends not only on the radiosensitivity of tumor cells but also on the radiosensitivity of endothelial cells lining the tumor vasculature. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a critical role in protecting endothelial cells against a number of antitumor agents including ionizing radiation. Strategies designed to overcome the survival advantage afforded to endothelial cells by VEGF might aid in enhancing the efficacy of radiation therapy. In this report we examined the signaling cascade(s) involved in VEGF-mediated protection of endothelial cells against gamma-irradiation. gamma-Irradiation-induced apoptosis of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) was predominantly mediated through the p38 MAPK pathway as an inhibitor of p38 MAPK (PD169316), and dominant negative mutants of p38 MAPK could significantly enhance HDMEC survival against gamma-irradiation. Inhibition of the PI3K and MAPK pathways markedly up-regulated gamma-irradiation-mediated p38 MAPK activation resulting in enhanced HDMEC apoptosis. In contrast, VEGF-treated HDMECs were protected from gamma-irradiation-induced apoptosis predominantly through the PI3K/Akt pathway. Bcl-2 expression was markedly elevated in VEGF-treated HDMECs, and it was significantly inhibited by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. HDMECs exposed to irradiation showed a significant decrease in Bcl-2 expression. In contrast, VEGF-stimulated HDMECs, when irradiated, maintained higher levels of Bcl-2 expression. Taken together our results suggest that gamma-irradiation induces endothelial cell apoptosis predominantly via the activation of p38 MAPK, and VEGF protects endothelial cells against gamma-irradiation predominantly via the PI3K-Akt-Bcl-2 signaling pathway.
Vitamin D deficiency: A forgotten treatable cause of motor delay and proximal myopathy

We report a four-year-old African boy referred for proximal muscle weakness, fatigability and episodic limb pain. Classical causes of structural and metabolic myopathy were initially considered before clinical and biological features of vitamin D deficiency rickets were identified. Prompt treatment with vitamin D and calcium supplementation led to a complete reversal of the muscle symptoms. Rickets-associated myopathy should be included in the differential diagnosis of proximal myopathy, especially in at-risk individuals. Vitamin D deficiency and its prevention remain important health issues in industrialized countries.
Reliability of controlled collapse interconnections

The use of solder pads to join multi-pad integrated circuit chips to modules provides a highly reliable, rugged interconnection technology. This paper reports some important aspects of the reliability evaluation that was carried out on the "controlled chip collapse" interconnection system developed by IBM. Included are an analysis of the mechanics of the system, a model to establish the relationship among differentt hermal fatigue testing conditions, and experimental verification of the model. In the course of this work, the chip failure rate of the interconnection as used in present designs was predicted to be better than 10-7%/1000 hours for the mechanism studied.
Integration of feeding and spontaneous physical activity: Role for orexin

Spontaneous physical activity is activity that is non-volitional, or subconscious, such as fidgeting and shifting in one's seat, and time spent moving (standing and ambulating). Recent evidence indicates that spontaneous physical activity, and the resulting thermogenesis (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) may be regulated by brain systems. A large number of brain areas, with their associated neurotransmitter populations and connectivity, participate in the regulation of feeding behavior by acting as energy sensing and modulating centers. Although less well characterized, it is likely that a multitude of neurotransmitters and brain areas act to mediate spontaneous physical activity. These two behaviors, feeding and spontaneous physical activity, affect energy intake and expenditure and thus are important to body weight. Interestingly, often the two behaviors are affected simultaneously; when feeding is affected, so too is spontaneous physical activity, and both food intake and physical activity (whether spontaneous or volitional) influence activity of brain areas important to both. Several brain areas and neuropeptides are important to feeding and spontaneous physical activity. The lateral hypothalamus is one area that appears important to both behaviors, as stimulation or lesion of this region produces alterations in feeding behavior and spontaneous physical activity. Orexin neurons, with their central location in the lateral hypothalamus, widespread projections and connectivity to other brain areas important to energy homeostasis, are well situated to perform an integrative function. This review focuses on how hypothalamic orexins participate in both feeding and spontaneous physical activity, and provides potential models for the integration of signals important to both.
Phase transformation and microstructural evolution in Ti-44Al-4Nb-4Zr alloy during heat treatment

Phase transformation and microstructural evolution have been studied in Ti-44Al-4Nb-4Zr-0.2Si-0.1B alloys that were cooled from theα +β phase region with various cooling rates. It has been shown that the cooling rates have different influence on the morphology of the transformation products for the three phase transformations studied,α →α2, B2 →ω, andα →γ. Under slow cooling, all three transformations can be fulfilled. Under rapid cooling, B2 →ω is partially detained and a diffuseω phase forms as metastable phase, butα →γ is almost completely suppressed, which supports that theγ lamellae formation is diffusion controlled.
A Characterization of Bounded-Input Bounded-Output Stability for Linear Time-Invariant Systems with Distributional Inputs

We consider linear time-invariant operators defined on the space of distributions with left-bounded support. We argue that in this setting the convolution operators constitute the most natural choice of objects for constructing a linear system theory based on the concept of impulse response. We extend the classical notion of bounded-input bounded-output stability to distributional convolution operators and determine precise conditions under which systems characterized by such maps are stable. A variety of expressions for the "gain" of a stable system is derived. We show that every stable system has a natural threefold decomposition based on the classical decomposition of functions of bounded variation. Our analysis involves certain extensions of the Banach spaces $L^p$ in the space of distributions.
Finite-size scaling: new results

Abstract A brief survey is presented of selected recent developments in the finite-size scaling theory of first- and second-order phase transitions.
The impact of empowering scientific advisory committees to constrain catch limits in US fisheries

Following a 2006 revision to the US Magnuson--Stevens Act, the eight Fishery Management Councils that manage the nation's stocks have been restricted from setting regional catch levels that exceed the recommendations of their primary scientific advisory committees. This paper reviews the impact of that new requirement using principal--agent theory. After demonstrating that the advisory committees are still agents of the Councils, I show that the process of managing federal fisheries stocks now requires a lengthy dialogue between the two groups revolving around issues of risk tolerance, management buffers, and data availability that has resulted in the development of explicit rules for setting biological boundaries on catch. Copyright , Oxford University Press.
Alligator Gar Movement and Macrohabitat Use in the Lower Trinity River, Texas

Abstract Using acoustic telemetry, we characterized movements and macrohabitat use of 46 Alligator Gars Atractosteus spatula in the lower 180 km of the Trinity River, Texas. Although several Alligator Gars used over 100 km of the river, 83% of the tagged fish had linear home ranges less than 60 km during the 22 months of study. As a result, home ranges of fish that were tagged in different parts of the study area rarely overlapped. Home range size varied by season, with the smallest home ranges occurring in winter. Greatest movements occurred during the spawn (May–June) and postspawn (July–October) seasons, and movements were correlated with increasing water temperatures based on detections of tagged fish at fixed receiver stations. Tagged Alligator Gars were most often associated with main-channel habitats when river stage was at base level and during small flood pulses (<3-m rise). When in the main channel, tagged Alligator Gars selected water that was deeper than the average within their home ranges. I...
Velocity characteristics along a small step–pool channel

This paper summarizes measurements of velocity along three reaches of a small mountain channel with step–pool bedforms. A one-dimensional electromagnetic current meter was used to record velocity fluctuations at 37 fixed measurement points during five measurement intervals spanning the peak of the annual snowmelt hydrograph. Measurement cross-sections were located upstream from a bed-step, at the step lip, downstream from the step, and in a uniform-gradient run. Data analyses focused on characteristics of velocity profiles, and on correlations between velocity characteristics and the potential control variables bedform type, reach gradient and flow depth. To test the hypothesis that velocity characteristics are related to channel bedform types, ANOVA and ANCOVA tests were performed for the average velocity and coefficient of variation of point velocity data. Results indicate that high frequency velocity variations correlate to some degree with both channel characteristics and discharge. Velocity became more variable as stage increased, particularly at low-gradient reaches with less variable bed roughness. Velocity profiles suggest that locations immediately downstream from bed-steps are dominated by wake turbulence from mid-profile shear layers. Locations immediately upstream from steps, at step lips, and in runs are dominated by bed-generated turbulence. Adverse pressure gradients upstream and downstream from steps may be enhancing turbulence generation, whereas favourable pressure gradients at steps are suppressing turbulence. The bed-generated turbulence and skin friction of runs appear to be less effective energy dissipators than the wake-generated turbulence and form drag of step–pool bedforms. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Prehistoric Civilizations of Nuclear America

THE native agricultural civilizations of the New World had their beginnings and their highest development in those areas that have been subsumed under the term "Nuclear America" (Kroeber 1948:779). The designation has both a geographical and a cultural connotation. The areas involved embrace central and southern Mexico, Central America, the north Andes, and Peru. This is the axis of aboriginal high culture in the Americas and, as such, the major center of prehistoric diffusion for the western hemisphere. To the best of our knowledge, it stands clearly apart and essentially independent from the comparable culture core of the Old World. Kroeber (1948:784-85; 1952:377-95) has suggested the analogy between the American civilizational nucleus of Mexico-Peru and the "Oikoumene" of
ANODIZED LAYERS ON TITANIUM AND TITANIUM ALLOY ORTHOPEDIC MATERIALS FOR ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY APPLICATIONS

ABSTRACT The development of a post operative infection following the implantation of a foreign material, such as a total joint prosthesis, is one of the most feared complications in orthopedic surgery. Prevention of such bacterial infections is best accomplished through the delivery of antibiotics as close to the implant as possible. A novel method has been developed to attach, retain and release antibiotics from titanium based materials. This technique consists of forming porous surface coatings by anodizing and using the surface chemical properties of the oxide coatings to attach antibiotics. Coatings with pores in the size range 0.1 to 10 urn have been formed in acid as well as basic solutions. The thickness, stoichiometry and morphology of the coatings have been characterized by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and electron spectroscopy techniques. The isoelectric point of the coatings has been measured by a streaming potential technique. The attachment and retainment of gentamicin sulfate, a ca...
Failure characteristics during cyclic oxidation of yttria stabilized zirconia thermal barrier coatings deposited via electron beam physical vapor deposition on platinum aluminide and on NiCoCrAlY bond coats with processing modifications for improved performances

In this study, the cyclic oxidation lives of the current state-of-the-art thermal barrier coating (TBC) systems (heavy grit-blasted Pt aluminide and NiCoCrAlY bond coats with EBPVD TBCs) were investigated first, followed by TBC systems that were modified based on the results obtained on the failure of the state-of-the-art TBC systems. The specimens were subjected to cyclic oxidation testing, mostly at 1100 °C, in a bottom-loading furnace in laboratory air. Optical and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to characterize the as-processed and failed specimens. The state-of-the-art TBC systems with NiCoCrAlY bond coats failed as the result of defects that were identified as TBC defects, transient oxides, surface defects, and reactive element-rich oxide protrusions. On the other hand, the failures of the state-of-the-art TBC systems with Pt aluminide bond coats were due to deformation of the bond coat by a mechanism known as ratcheting. The stored strain energy in the thermally grown oxide (TGO) was also a factor that contributed to the failure of both systems. Most of the modifications performed on the state-of-the-art TBC systems improved their lives to some extent. In the case of NiCoCrAlY systems, elimination or at least minimization of the identified defects was responsible for the improvements, whereas the prevention of the ratcheting type of failure was the main reason for the improvement in lives in the case of Pt aluminide systems. On the other hand, other issues, such as slower growth of the TGO as well as improved TGO/bond coat interfacial toughnesses with some of the modifications, were observed to be contributing factors in the improved lives. Based on the observations on the failure of both the state-of-the-art as well as the modified TBC systems, the surface condition of the bond coats and the morphology of the TBCs close to the TGO were found to have a first-order effect on the failure of TBC systems. The characteristics of the TGO, such as composition, growth rate, and adherence both to the bond coat and the TBC, as well as the characteristics of the bond coats were also observed to have an effect on the failures. Recommendations for future work that should be pursued to better define the conditions necessary for optimized TBC performances are given.
ABSOLUTE MEASUREMENTS OF TOTAL CROSS SECTIONS FOR THE SCATTERING OF LOW-ENERGY ELECTRONS BY ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR OXYGEN.

Abstract : The atom beam recoil technique was used to measure absolute total cross sections for the scattering of electrons by atomic and molecular oxygen at 22 energies between 0.5 and 11.3 eV, with additional data obtained up to 100 eV. In this method, a modulated electron beam cross-fires an atom beam, whose attenuation at the modulation frequency is observed. The angular resolution in the electron polar scattering angle ranges from about 15.6 degrees at 1 eV to 9.6 degrees at 12 eV, for 0, and from about 18.5 degrees at 1 eV to 11.4 degrees at 12 eV, for 02. Our absolute values for 02 between 0.5 and 11.3 eV are between 10 and 20% higher than those of Bruche, while the shape of the curve agrees well. The atomic cross sections vary from about 5.3 sq. A at 0.5 eV to 8.3 sq. A at 11.3 eV, with an estimated error of 20% except for the 0.5 eV point which has an error of 30%. These results are in excellent agreement with semi-empirical calculations of Cooper and Martin and Robinson and Geltman, as well as with the polarized orbitals calculation of Temkin. (Author)
Is Conditioning Really Incompatible with Holism

Jonathan Weisberg claims that certain probability assessments constructed by Jeffrey conditioning resist subsequent revision by a certain type of after-the-fact defeater of the reasons supporting those assessments, and that such conditioning is thus “inherently anti-holistic.” His analysis founders, however, in applying Jeffrey conditioning to a partition for which an essential rigidity condition clearly fails. Applied to an appropriate partition, Jeffrey conditioning is amenable to revision by the sort of after-the-fact defeaters considered by Weisberg in precisely the way that he demands.
Patria, Criollos and Blacks: Imagining the Nation in the Mercurio peruano, 1791–1795

In Constructing the Criollo Archive, Antony Higgins (2000) called attention to the relevance of examining the seldom-studied eighteenth-century Latin American discursive production in order to bett...
Baffle Obstruction Following the Mustard Operation: Cause and Treatment

Baffle obstruction developed in 11 patients after they had undergone the Mustard procedure. Eight of them required operative revision. The cause of the baffle obstruction seemed to be related to patient age (less than 1 year) and to the use of Dacron for the baffle but not to the shape of the baffle. A technique of revision that involves widely opening the previously placed baffle and enlarging it and the atriotomy with polytetrafluoroethylene was employed for the last 6 patients. All 5 survivors of this operation had good long-term results without recurrence.
Ovarian cancer immuno-reactive antigen domain containing 1 (OCIAD1), a key player in ovarian cancer cell adhesion.

Abstract Objectives To identify proteins unique to metastatic ovarian cancer and test their potential involvement in cell adhesion. Methods We purified plasma membrane from paired metastatic and primary tumor tissues from patients with stage IIIC ovarian cancer. Membrane proteins unique to metastases were identified by liquid chromatographic mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The role of one of the identified proteins, ovarian cancer immuno-reactive antigen domain containing 1 (OCIAD1) in cell adhesion was determined in the presence of LPA using both over-expression and down regulation approaches. Results We identified a differentially expressed 29 kDa protein as OCIAD1 over-expressed in metastatic tissues, when compared to primary tumor tissues. OCIAD1 over-expression in HEY ovarian cancer cells increased LPA-induced, but not basal level cell adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins collagen I and laminin 10/11. This enhancement was not blocked by LY294002 and GF109203X, suggesting that OCIAD1 does not use PKC and PI3K signaling pathways to exert its effect on adhesion. In addition, LPA induced cell adhesion to collagen I was unaffected by paclitaxel (5 µM) in OCIAD1 overexpressing cells. Conclusions This is the first report that OCIAD1 is over-expressed in metastatic ovarian cancer tissues. The effect of OCIAD1 on cell adhesion may be related to its function in ovarian cancer. Failure of paclitaxel to affect ovarian cancer cell adhesion in presence of OCIAD1 raises the possibility of OCIAD1's role in tumor metastasis. Ongoing studies using a mouse orthotopic LPA-dependent ovarian cancer metastasis model are focused on strategies to inhibit the potential role of OCIAD1 in tumor metastasis.
A Note on the Homology of Signed Posets

Let S be a signed poset in the sense of Reiner l4r. Fischer l2r defines the homology of S, in terms of a partial ordering P(S) associated to S, to be the homology of a certain subcomplex of the chain complex of P(S). In this paper we show that if P(S) is Cohen-Macaulay and S has rank n, then the homology of S vanishes for degrees outside the interval ln/2, nr.
Usage induced changes to surface topography and material properties in polysilicon MEMS electrothermal structures

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of electrothermal poly-Si MEMS structures wherein changes to the surface topography and material properties are observed due to use. The ex-situ AFM characterization reveals changes in the surface topography after cyclic actuation. The extent of topical SiO2 appears to increase with the number of actuation cycles and increasing stress levels on the polysilicon surfaces. The differences in the surface topography and oxide thickness are characterized as a function of fatigue cycling and in-situ annealing of the electrothermal actuators. FEA analyses were performed to evaluate the magnitude and distribution of stresses in the actuators to compare stress effects from oxide development on electrothermomechanical structures. With the observation of topographical changes, the intrinsic material property like resistivity was also affected. A change of 1.4% was seen for a 20% duty cycle, 3.1% for 50% duty cycle and 4.1% for 80% duty cycle. Similar experiments were performed for sealed devices in order to observe the changes in resistivity under inert conditions. A comparison of change in resistivity for sealed devices and nonsealed devices was done. Finally, force-distance curves were plotted to ascertain the adhesion forces for the actuator surfaces before and after actuation. The adhesion forces increases from ~7nN (un-actuated chevron) to ~40nN (10,000 cycles).
Stereotactic Radiosurgery of Angiographically Occult Vascular Malformations: 14-Year Experience

OBJECTIVE: Radiosurgery is generally effective in obliterating true arteriovenous malformations, but less is known about its effects on angiographically occult vascular malformations (AOVMs). Since July 1983, 57 patients with surgically inaccessible AOVMs of the brain were treated using helium ion (47 patients) or linear accelerator (10 patients) radiosurgery. This study retrospectively evaluates the response of these AOVMs to treatment. METHODS: All patients presented with previous hemorrhage. The mean patient age was 35.6 years (range, 13-71 yr). The mean AOVM volume was 2.25 cm 3 (range, 0.080-15.2 cm 3 ), treated with a mean of 18.0 Gy equivalent (physical dose × relative biological effectiveness, which is 1.3 for helium ion Bragg peak) (range, 7.0-40 Gy equivalent). The Drake scale scores before treatment were as follows: excellent (25 patients), good (26 patients), and poor (6 patients). The mean follow-up period was 7.5 years (range, 9 mo-13.8 yr). RESULTS: Eighteen patients (32%) bled symptomatically (20 hemorrhages) after radiosurgery. Sixteen hemorrhages occurred within 36 months after radiosurgery (9.4% annual bleed rate; 16 hemorrhages/171 patient yr); 4 hemorrhages occurred more than 36 months after treatment (1.6% annual bleed rate; 4 hemorrhages/257 patient yr) (P < 0.001). Complications included symptomatic radiation edema (four patients, 7%), necrosis (one patient, 2%), and increased seizure frequency (one patient, 2%). Eight patients underwent surgical resection of their AOVMs 8 to 59 months after radiosurgery because of subsequent hemorrhage. The Drake scale scores after treatment were as follows: excellent (25 patients), good (24 patients), poor (3 patients), and dead (5 patients, 3 of whom died as a result of causes unrelated to the AOVMs or radiosurgery). CONCLUSION: Radiosurgery may be useful for AOVMs located in surgically inaccessible regions of the brain. A significant decrease in bleed rate exists more than 3 years after treatment compared with the bleed rate within 3 years of treatment. Because current neuroradiological techniques are not able to image obliterative response in these slow-flow vascular lesions, longer term clinical follow-up is required.
Changes in myocardial function and hemodynamics after ligation of the ductus arteriosus in preterm infants.

Objective To characterize the changes in systemic hemodynamics and systolic, diastolic, and global myocardial performance after patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation in very-low-birth-weight infants. Study design Echocardiograms were performed on 23 neonates (mean gestational age, 26.2 ± 2.2 weeks) at 2.3 ± 2.0 hours before PDA ligation (n = 23) and at 2.0 ± 1.4 hours (n = 23) and 23.5 ± 2.5 hours after (n = 11) PDA ligation. Results Mean blood pressure, heart rate, load-independent contractility, shortening fraction, left ventricular (LV) afterload, and diastolic function did not change. Preload (early and atrial mitral inflow velocities) decreased immediately after ligation but remained unchanged thereafter. LV output decreased and systemic vascular resistance increased after surgery. The LV myocardial performance index (MPI), a measure of global myocardial performance, deteriorated acutely after ligation but improved by 23.5 hours after surgery. Changes in LV MPI were most closely correlated with changes in LV output. Conclusions After PDA ligation, LV output and MPI decrease, due primarily to a decrease in LV preload, although LV contractility and diastolic function do not change. However, the changes in LV MPI after ligation also reflect an acute deterioration followed by an improvement in global cardiac function, because LV loading conditions remained unchanged after surgery and thus cannot explain the improvement in MPI by 24 hours after ligation.