cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Patients Referred for Cardiac Rehabilitation after Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Purpose To provide safety and outcomes data on LVAD recipients referred for cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Methods A single center continuous-flow LVAD cohort (n=505) was searched for patients with information on CR participation (n=292). The analysis was then limited to LVAD recipients who fit into one of three main CR categories: those who graduated CR (n=138), those who would have been able to participate but declined (n=61), and those who were too sick to complete or start CR (n=28). To assess the association between CR categories and mortality and hospitalizations on LVAD support, multivariate cox regression and negative binomial regression analyses were performed, respectively. Results The mean age of the cohort with CR data available was 59 +/- 14 years, 44% (128/292) were bridge to transplant (BTT), and 40% (114/292) received a HeartMate 3 device. Among those who started CR and had the opportunity to finish (enough follow up time, insurance coverage), 79% graduated. Those who graduated CR had a 96% survival at 1 year (95% CI 91-98). In the unadjusted and adjusted analyses, those who graduated CR had the highest survival and the lowest incidence rates of hospitalization among the CR categories (Table). Conclusion This study is the largest to date to report outcomes of LVAD recipients referred for cardiac rehabilitation. The lower readmission rates and high survival in the group that graduated cardiac rehab provides further evidence for the safety of CR in LVAD recipients.
Chairman Mao's Children: Generation and the Politics of Memory in China

In the 1960s and 1970s, around 17 million Chinese youths were mobilized or forced by the state to migrate to rural villages and China's frontiers. Bin Xu tells the story of how this 'sent-down' generation have come to terms with their difficult past. Exploring representations of memory including personal life stories, literature, museum exhibits, and acts of commemoration, he argues that these representations are defined by a struggle to reconcile worthiness with the political upheavals of the Mao years. These memories, however, are used by the state to construct an official narrative that weaves this generation's experiences into an upbeat story of the 'China dream'. This marginalizes those still suffering and obscures voices of self-reflection on their moral-political responsibility for their actions. Xu provides careful analysis of this generation of 'Chairman Mao's children', caught between the political and the personal, past and present, nostalgia and regret, and pride and trauma.
Sirtuin Modulators and Brain Aging

The sirtuins are proteins with enzymatic activity, which regulate diverse cellular processes including aging, longevity, inflammation, obesity, and stress resistance. There are seven sirtuins in mammals with varied subcellular localization and enzymatic activity. Of these, SIRT1 exhibits NAD-dependent deacetylase activity, and it has been the most studied isoform to target aging-related neurodegenerative disorders and longevity due to caloric restriction. SIRT activation can exert positive effects in aging-related disorders such as metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases; while SIRT1 inhibitors have anticancer properties. Currently, a number of clinical trials are conveyed with modulators of SIRT. This chapter focuses on SIRT activators and their effects on brain aging.
Let them go! Compassionate release for disabled prisoners with chronic health conditions during the COVID-19 public health emergency

Inmates with disabilities are at high risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19 due to crowded and unsanitary conditions. The punishment for serious crimes is incarceration—not exposure to a dangerous, contagious virus. Prisoners have human rights, notwithstanding the loss of most of their civic rights. Critical Disability Studies draws attention to multiple and overlapping injustices and oppressions. Prisoners with disabilities often suffer from race and ethnic discrimination, poverty, trauma, multiple physical impairments, mental illness, and/or cognitive limitations. This essay calls for action to accelerate compassionate release of disabled inmates, many of whom are at high risk for COVID-19, and offers recommendations for improving conditions of confinement for disabled inmates who remain incarcerated.
Microsoft and the Evolution of the Intellectual Property Concept

In the old economy of railroads and electric power companies, the public utility concept was frequently employed to justify monopoly as natural, to turn state granted privileges into property rights, and to immunize business practices from antitrust enforcement. In the new economy of information industries, a similar concept is now evolving, one which we can call the intellectual property concept. Built vaguely around intellectual property law, the new intellectual property concept turns out to be remarkably similar in its rhetoric and economics to the old public utility concept. And, like the public utility concept, the desired effect of the intellectual property concept is to provide an immunity from antitrust law. This article explores the evolution of this new intellectual property concept, describing the concept through the lens of two antitrust prosecutions brought against the Microsoft Corporation - perhaps the paradigm new economy firm - and showing how the intellectual property concept might properly be used in cases raising a conflict between intellectual property rights and antitrust. The article begins by examining the role that intellectual property issues played in the liability and remedy phases of the monopolization case that the Department of Justice and the states brought against Microsoft. The second part of the article discusses the more central role that intellectual property issues are playing in the proceeding that the European Commission brought under Article 82 of the EC Treaty. The third part of the article, drawing on the experience in these two cases as well as on our past experience with applying antitrust to regulated industries, suggests five specific principles for applying an evolved intellectual property concept to antitrust cases and shows how those principles could have been applied in several recent court of appeals' decisions.
Immigration Phobia and the Security Dilemma: Russia, Europe, and the United States

Immigration phobia is a paradoxical global phenomenon: neither theories that link conflict to symbolic and realistic threats, nor the 'contact hypothesis' can systematically explain intense anti-migrant alarmism and exclusionism toward marginally small migrant minorities. Through a careful comparative study of immigration attitudes in the Russian Far East, the EU, and the United States, this book is the first to demonstrate that concerns about national identity and economic interests associated with migration are themselves ignited by a unique perceptual logic of the security dilemma. Regression analysis and case studies trace support for expulsion of migrants to human yearning for pre-emptive self-defense under uncertainty. Alarmism and hostility arise from ambiguities about immigration consequences and migrants' motivations. Framing migration as a national security problem is therefore logical, but counterproductive. The book instead recommends managing migration through economic incentives and new institutions at the global, national, and local level.
A Seeing Monitor for Solar and Other Extended Object Observations

In this article I describe a site survey facility, which measures the signals of the solar equivalent of a Differential Image Motion Monitor (S-DIMM) and of a six element linear array of solar scintillometers. Combining the S-DIMM ro andscintillometer σI observations allows the determination of the fractions of the seeing in the free atmosphere and in the ground/lake layer. From the scintillometer array observations Cn2(h) is determined for heights corresponding to the first ∼500 m along the line-of-sight. With minor changes this seeing monitor can also be used for other extended objects like the Moon and planets.
Respiratory syncytial virus-induced pulmonary disease and exacerbation of allergic asthma

Several respiratory viruses have been shown to cause exacerbations of asthma. While the various viral responses likely have common mechanisms of activation, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) appears to promote specific responses that on their own can cause severe pulmonary problems. Understanding the mechanisms that promote inappropriate immune responses and local damage may lead to better therapy. The activation and recruitment of T cells that amplify and skew the immune response toward more intense pathology, including mucus production and remodeling of the airways, are likely scenarios that lead to more severe disease and clinical crisis in asthmatic patients. These mechanisms may also contribute to a significant proportion of exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This review will focus on recent research on specific pathways of RSV-mediated activation of the innate host defense, including chemokine biology and TLR pathways, as well as on acquired immunity.
INCENTIVES FOR KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION WITH MANY PRODUCERS

INCENTIVES FOR KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION WITH MANY PRODUCERS ESRC Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge Working Paper No. 292 By Bronwyn H. Hall University of California at Berkeley and NBER Department of Economics 549 Evans Hall University of California at Berkeley Berkeley, CA 94720-3880. (visiting ESRC Centre for Business Research, 2004) Email: bhhall@econ.berkeley.edu September 2004 This Working Paper forms part of the CBR Research Programme on Enterprise and SMEs
Physiological recordings from zebrafish lateral-line hair cells and afferent neurons.

Abstract Sensory signal transduction, the process by which the features of external stimuli are encoded into action potentials, is a complex process that is not fully understood. In fish and amphibia, the lateral-line organ detects water movement and vibration and is critical for schooling behavior and the detection of predators and prey. The lateral-line system in zebrafish serves as an ideal platform to examine encoding of stimuli by sensory hair cells. Here, we describe methods for recording hair-cell microphonics and activity of afferent neurons using intact zebrafish larvae. The recordings are performed by immobilizing and mounting larvae for optimal stimulation of lateral-line hair cells. Hair cells are stimulated with a pressure-controlled water jet and a recording electrode is positioned next to the site of mechanotransduction in order to record microphonics—extracellular voltage changes due to currents through hair-cell mechanotransduction channels. Another readout of the hair-cell activity is obtained by recording action currents from single afferent neurons in response to water-jet stimulation of innervated hair cells. When combined, these techniques make it possible to probe the function of the lateral-line sensory system in an intact zebrafish using controlled, repeatable, physiological stimuli.
Looking Before Watergate: Early Foundations and Patterns in the Development of Signing Statements, 1933-1966

How have signing statements evolved over the course of the modern presidency? This paper addresses a portion of that question by examining shifts and patterns in the characteristics of presidential signing statements from FDR to Johnson. The analysis unveils the importance of the early modern presidents in developing the constitutional argumentation that serves as precedent for the expansion of this power by subsequent presidents, especially in regard to provisions of law that contain legislative vetoes. The research also shows the development of signing statements as a way for presidents to reward political allies, claim credit for legislative accomplishments, distance themselves from politically unsavory provisions, and call for future legislation to rectify problems with the new law. These uses are influenced by the presence of divided or unified government.
Dendroecological analysis of defoliator outbreaks on Nothofagus pumilio and their relation to climate variability in the Patagonian Andes

In the temperate forests of the southern Andes, Nothofagus pumilio, the dominant species of the most extensive forest type, experiences severe defoliation caused by caterpillars of the Ormiscodes genus (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). This study uses tree rings to reconstruct the history of Ormiscodes outbreaks for the 1850–2005 period and examines relationships between outbreaks and climate variability. We used local climate records to compare outbreak–climate relationships in the northern Patagonian Andes (c. 411S) and the cooler southern Patagonian Andes (c. 491S). We also examined relationships between outbreak events and regional climate variability driven by variability in the Southern
Postoperative Catecholamine Response to Onychectomy in Isoflurane‐anesthetized Cats Effect of Analgesics

Twenty-four healthy adult cats were anesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen. Six cats (group 1) served as controls; onychectomy of the forefeet was performed in the other three groups. Saline was administered intravenously to group 1, and morphine, xylazine, and salicylate were administered to groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Mixed venous blood samples were drawn for catecholamine analysis before induction of anesthesia, after recovery from anesthesia, and 30 minutes and 60 minutes after administration of the analgesic agent. Plasma catecholamine concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Isoflurane anesthesia alone induced a transient increase in epinephrine concentration. Norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations increased significantly after onychectomy. Morphine and xylazine significantly decreased postoperative norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations; salicylate did not.
Google's MapReduce programming model — Revisited

Google's MapReduce programming model serves for processing large data sets in a massively parallel manner. We deliver the first rigorous description of the model including its advancement as Google's domain-specific language Sawzall. To this end, we reverse-engineer the seminal papers on MapReduce and Sawzall, and we capture our findings as an executable specification. We also identify and resolve some obscurities in the informal presentation given in the seminal papers. We use typed functional programming (specifically Haskell) as a tool for design recovery and executable specification. Our development comprises three components: (i) the basic program skeleton that underlies MapReduce computations; (ii) the opportunities for parallelism in executing MapReduce computations; (iii) the fundamental characteristics of Sawzall's aggregators as an advancement of the MapReduce approach. Our development does not formalize the more implementational aspects of an actual, distributed execution of MapReduce computations.
Studies on the pharmacology of α-methyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (α-methyl-dopa) and α-methyl-norepinephrine Part I

Abstract α-methyl-DOPA (α-MD), injected intraperitoneally into cats with chronically implanted electrodes, in doses of 200–400 mg/kg exerted a calming effect, particularly evident 2–4 hr after injection. At this time a reserpine-like ptosis was note. Twenty to thirty minutes after injection of α-MD, the animals appeared to be slightly excited. Depressed amplitude and increased frequency occurred in the EEG pattern, sometimes with signs of synchronisation a few hours later. In rabbits the action of α-MD 200 mg/kg was characterized mainly by a definite synchronization 2–3 hr after intravenous injection. The arousal reaction produced by stimulation of the brain stem reticular formation or by acoustic stimuli was slightly depressed in some experiments on cats after intraperitoneal injection of α-MD. No excitant action was found in cats pretreated with nialamide and MO-911, but the behavioural and EEG effects due to reserpine were suppressed. α-MD did not modify the EEG effects of LSD-25 in rabbits, whether injected before or after the hallucinogen. α-methylnorepinephrine (α-MNE) injected intraventricularly caused similar behavioural and EEG effects to norepinephrine. Crystals of α-MD injected intraventricularly, or introduced through a cannula into the caudate nucleus, caused depression of the amplitude and reduced the frequency in the leads from the caudate. α-MD in doses 50–100 mg/kg intramuscularly, decreased the number of responses made by pigeons in a fixed ratio schedule and prolonged the hexobarbital sleeping time in mice. α-MD had no effect on the recruiting response or hippocampal seizures. DOPA and 5-hydroxytryptophane increased the threshold of the recruiting response, eliciting at the same time an increased response from the mesencephalic reticular formation. It is suggested that the transient sedative effect of high doses of α-MD is due to the short-lasting decrease of serotonin level in the brain. The central effects of α-MNE are not clear.
Acute Elevations in Salt Intake and Reduced Renal Mass Hypertension Compromise Arteriolar Dilation in Rat Cremaster Muscle

Alterations in arteriolar reactivity to dilator agonists were assessed in the skeletal muscle microcirculation of normotensive male Sprague-Dawley rats fed either high- (4% NaCl; HS) or low- (0. 4% NaCl; LS) salt diets and in reduced renal mass hypertensive rats (RRM-HT) on a high-salt diet for 3 days. An in situ cremaster muscle preparation was superfused with physiological salt solution, transilluminated, and viewed via television microscopy. A videomicrometer was used to measure changes in diameter of distal arterioles in response to increasing concentrations of acetylcholine (ACH), iloprost (ILO), cholera toxin (CT), forskolin (FOR), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Arteriolar dilation in response to ACH, ILO, and CT was significantly reduced in both HS and RRM-HT rats, while responses to FOR and SNP were decreased in RRM-HT rats only. The maximum dilation of the arterioles (determined during superfusion of the muscle with Ca2+-free solution containing 10(-4) M adenosine) was similar in the normotensive control animals on LS and HS diets, but was reduced in the RRM-HT rats, suggesting that early anatomic remodeling of the vessel wall may be occurring with RRM-HT. We conclude that arteriolar reactivity to endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilator agonists is impaired as early as 3 days after the development of RRM hypertension or commencement of a high-salt diet in normotensive rats. Structural remodeling of the arteriolar wall, although becoming evident in the hypertensive rats, takes longer to develop than the impaired vasodilator reactivity.
Prenatal diethylstilbestrol exposure and performance on college entrance examinations.

Abstract The fetal rodent brain is permanently altered by exposure to sex hormones. Long-term effects of prenatal sex hormones on the human brain are far less clear. In order to explore such effects, we studied a measure of cognitive function among young adults who had been exposed in utero to a powerful synthetic estrogen. In a randomized clinical trial conducted at the University of Chicago in 1950–1952, 1646 pregnant women were randomly assigned to receive either high doses of diethylstilbestrol or placebo. Women in this study gave birth to 1653 liveborn infants, of whom 1603 (820 sons and 783 daughters) survived to their fifteenth birthday. College entrance examination scores were obtained for 42% of these offspring. No differences in test performance were seen among exposed daughters. Among sons, test scores were marginally higher among the exposed, probably due to chance.
Probing chain-end functionalization reactions in living anionic polymerization via matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Abstract Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is applied to examine the products arising upon the preparation of chain-end functional polymers via living anionic polymerization techniques. Both post-polymerization functionalizations as well as the use of functionalized initiators are investigated. MALDI-TOF MS is shown to be a sensitive probe for the qualitative analysis of the major and minor oligomers from novel functionalization reactions whose mechanisms are not yet well established. The method is particularly valuable for the identification of the end groups of the minor, and often unexpected, distributions that may be undetectable by other analytical means. Complete characterization of all oligomers generated during functionalization reactions provides an essential tool to the synthetic chemist for understanding the corresponding mechanisms. This insight is necessary for selecting alternative routes or making modifications to the reaction conditions. It is demonstrated that MALDI-TOF MS can convey quantitative information about the yields of the chain-end groups introduced during functionalization. From the cases presented it is evident that post-polymerization reactions allow for better control of chain-end functionality and molecular weight than functionalization with the limited number of currently available protected functionalized initiators.
Effect of dietary protein and exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone on circulating progesterone concentrations and performance of Holstein cows.

Abstract Sixty-three Holstein cows were used in a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments to determine the effects of dietary protein and exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone on performance postpartum and on circulating concentrations of progesterone. The experimental diets, 14 or 20% CP (dry basis), were fed from parturition to 14 wk postpartum. Blood serum urea N was elevated in the cows fed the 20% versus 14% CP diet. Feed intake was increased, but yield and composition of milk were not affected by the higher protein diet. Circulating concentrations of progesterone were lower in cows fed 20% than 14% protein on d 12 of both the synchronized and subsequent estrous cycles. Exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone administered on d 12 of the preceding estrous cycle did not increase the concentration of progesterone on d 12 of the subsequent estrous cycle. Luteal phase concentrations of progesterone were reduced by high dietary protein, but were not affected by gonadotropin-releasing hormone given on d 12 of the preceding cycle.
Recent progress in object recognition from range data

Abstract Within the last half decade active devices have been able to provide three-dimensional data directly to vision systems. This paper examines some of the progress that has been made with this data in the field of 3D computer vision. Aspects of this field from acquisition to recognition are discussed and some major research results are reviewed.
Family background of alcohol abuse and its relationship to alcohol consumption among college students: an unexpected finding.

The purpose of this study was to determine the possible association between positive family background of alcohol abuse (having a parent or grandparent who sometimes or often drank too much) and the amount of alcohol consumed per week among college students. It was additionally to determine the possible differences between students with positive, compared to students with negative, family backgrounds of alcohol abuse in regards to drinking patterns, using a survey instrument that indirectly measures family background for alcohol abuse. For this cross-sectional study, a quota sample of 971 college students from all four regions of the United States was selected. Results revealed no association between family history and mean amount of alcohol consumed per week for the total sample (r = .007), or for men (r = .04) or women (r = .02). Curve analysis indicated a slightly positively skewed curve for the total group and also for male and female students. A t test and chi-square analysis found no significant dif...
Circulation and concentration of s- and p-polarized light in two-dimensional compound gratings

Two-dimensional compound gratings (2dCGs) are capable of π-radian difference phase resonances (PRs). Circulation and concentration of s- and p-polarized light incident on 2dCG metal structures are studied. In prior work, it has been shown that PRs can occur for s- and p-polarized light in one-dimensional compound gratings (ldCGs). In contrast, the structure studied in this work has two asymmetric holes in the unit cell, each filled with a material of high dielectric permittivity (Epsilon=l0.84) and can support PRs in 2dCGs in the spectral range from 8 to 12 GHz. Due to asymmetry within the system, the two apertures react differently to the incident light and support polarization dependent PRs that are resonantly excited within the apertures. It is shown that PRs occur in 2dCGs with similar characteristics of ldCGs, such as having narrow bandwidths, high Q values, and high concentrations of electromagnetic fields. However, PRs occurring on 2dCGs have a benefit of manipulating in more numerous ways as compared with ldCGs. As the incident light excites waveguide cavity modes, the fields in the corresponding neighboring cavities in 2dCGs are coupled by circulations of counter-propagating modes and the π-radian phase differences produce a concentration and narrowband inversion of the transmissivity/opacity. The dependencies of bandwidth and wavelength of the PRs on structural and material properties, polarization of the incident beam, as well as the Poynting vector fields are described. Applications include narrow bandwidth optical filters, light trapping, antireflection coatings, waveguiding structures, and electromagnetically induced transparency.
The housing and neighborhood conditions of persons with severe mental illness

Objective: This study compared the housing and neighborhood conditions of persons with serious mental illness with those of the general population. Methods: Data were derived from two surveys: the Community Care Survey administered in 1988-1989 in Baltimore, Maryland, and in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, aspart of the national evaluation of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Program on Chronic Mental Illness and the American Housing Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Results: Persons with serious mental illness generally have worse housing and neighborhood circumstances than the overall population. Persons with serious mental illness typically had housing cost burdens that were significantly higher than the general population; their dwellings and neighborhoods often bad higher rates of pbysical deficiencies and other problems, especially crime. Conclusions: Although the relationship between the well-being of seriously mentally ill persons and t...
Role of pH and dissolved mineral species in Pittsburgh no. 8 coal flotation system — I. Floatability of coal

Abstract The roles of pH and of dissolved mineral species on the floatability of Pittsburgh No. 8 coal was investigated. Isolation of the direct effect of pH from that of the interaction of the dissolved mineral species with OH − was achieved by the appropriate design of the experimental procedure. The effect of pH on flotation, determined using a washed coal sample, was found to be significant, especially above pH 8, with the floatability falling sharply with pH increase. The effect of interaction of the dissolved mineral species with OH − depended on the path of approach to the flotation pH. Under the conditions of increasing pH , precipitation/adsorption of Fe, Al, Ca and Mg species occurred, and the effect of interaction was marked with the floatability decreasing with pH increase. This was shown to be mainly due to precipitation/adsorption on the coal surface of dissolved Fe species which were the predominant inorganic species in the supernatant of the coal slurry. Under the conditions of decreasing pH , dissolution of Fe, Ca and Mg species and precipitation of Al species occurred as the pH is lowered, and the effect of the interaction between pH and the dissolved mineral species was marginal.
Aziridine cure of acrylic colloidal unimolecular polymers (CUPs)

Polymers were synthesized with a 1:7 or 1:8 ratio of acrylic acid to acrylate monomers to produce an acid-rich resin. The polymers were water-reduced and solvent-stripped to produce colloidal unimolecular polymers (CUPs). These particles are typically 3–9 nm in diameter, depending upon the molecular weight, and have different rheological behavior from micelles, polyelectrolytes, fullerenes, and latex particles, due to their charged surface and large surface areas. They were then formulated into ambient cure clearcoatings with aziridine crosslinking. These aziridine-cured acrylic CUPs were either solvent-free or very low VOC. The coatings were evaluated for their MEK resistance, adhesion, hardness, gloss, flexibility, wet adhesion, and abrasion and impact resistance properties.
Segmented symbolic analysis

Symbolic analysis is indispensable for software tools that require program semantic information at compile time. However, determining symbolic values for program variables related to loops and library calls is challenging, as the computation and data related to loops can have statically unknown bounds, and the library sources are typically not available at compile time. In this paper, we propose segmented symbolic analysis, a hybrid technique that enables fully automatic symbolic analysis even for the traditionally challenging code of library calls and loops. The novelties of this work are threefold: 1) we flexibly weave symbolic and concrete executions on the selected parts of the program based on demand; 2) dynamic executions are performed on the unit tests constructed from the code segments to infer program semantics needed by static analysis; and 3) the dynamic information from multiple runs is aggregated via regression analysis. We developed the Helium framework, consisting of a static component that performs symbolic analysis and partitions a program, a dynamic analysis that synthesizes unit tests and automatically infers symbolic values for program variables, and a protocol that enables static and dynamic analyses to be run interactively and concurrently. Our experimental results show that by handling loops and library calls that a traditional symbolic analysis cannot process, segmented symbolic analysis detects 5 times more buffer overflows. The technique is scalable for real-world programs such as putty, tightvnc and snort.
Comparison of three methods of estimating confidence intervals for stereotactic error.

When planning a stereotactic procedure, it is clinically valuable to know the spatial confidence intervals of a particular stereotactic technique. To do this, the aggregate error distribution of the stereotactic technique must first be estimated. In a frame-based stereotactic procedure, there is an imaging step and a treatment delivery step. If error is introduced independently at these steps, then the error of a stereotactic procedure may be computed from the error distributions of the component steps. Three computational methods of doing this were compared: parametric, convolution, and Monte Carlo. To test these methods, the error distributions of an imaging technique, a delivery technique, and the corresponding stereotactic imaging-plus-delivery system were measured empirically using a phantom, computed tomography, and the CRW stereotactic system. The three methods gave concordant estimates of mean aggregate error (respectively 2.71 ± 1.52, 2.45 ± 2.30, 2.51 ± 2.34, and 2.47 ± 2.31 mm for the empiric, ...
The adsorption of potassium bromide from constant ionic strength solutions of potassium bromide and potassium fluoride

Summary The adsorption of KBr from xM KBr+(1− x ) M KF at the mercury-aqueous solution interface has been investigated. The necessary data were obtained from the differential capacity curves and streaming electrode potentials for ten solutions. The adsorption of KBr from KBr+KF is similar to that for KCl from KCl+KF if the data in the same range of specifically adsorbed charge are compared. The results at larger values of specifically adsorbed charge have not to our knowledge been previously observed for halide systems.
FT-IR Imaging of the Thermal Oxidation of Polyisoprene (PI) Rubber at High Temperature

The thermal aging of PI rubber in hot air (140 °C) has been studied using the FT-IR imaging technique. From the analysis of the FT-IR images of the absorbance of the carbonyl (C = O) groups, it was found that the most significant thermal oxidation occurred at the surface of the rubber with a decreasing gradient of oxidation from the surface to the interior of the system. The hydroxyl (OH) groups followed the same pattern as the carbonyl groups. The C = C double bonds decreased from the interior of rubber to the surface, demonstrating the existence of a highly cross-linked oxidative coating, which functions as a protective layer blocking further invasion of the oxygen. The depth of the oxidation coating was constant at approximately 160 μm and the most significant oxidation layer was ~90 μm after 10 h oxidation. Based on the FT-IR images as a function of time, the oxidation process is interpreted and classified in terms of four time periods: an induction period, a rapid oxidation period, a slow oxidation period, and a diffusion-forbidden period. Both the thickness of the oxidation coating and the degree of oxidation at different depths show that the oxidation process is autocatalytic and the induction period is approximately two hours.
In vitro repair of synthetic ionizing radiation-induced multiply damaged DNA sites.

Abstract When ionizing radiation traverses a DNA molecule, a combination of two or more base damages, sites of base loss or single strand breaks can be produced within 1–4 nm on opposite DNA strands, forming a multiply damaged site (MDS). In this study, we reconstituted the base excision repair system to examine the processing of a simple MDS containing the base damage, 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG), or an abasic (AP) site, situated in close opposition to a single strand break, and asked if a double strand break could be formed. The single strand break, a nucleotide gap containing 3′ and 5′ phosphate groups, was positioned one, three or six nucleotides 5′ or 3′ to the damage in the complementary DNA strand. Escherichia coli formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (Fpg), which recognizes both 8-oxoG and AP sites, was able to cleave the 8-oxoG or AP site-containing strand when the strand break was positioned three or six nucleotides away 5′ or 3′ on the opposing strand. When the strand break was positioned one nucleotide away, the target lesion was a poor substrate for Fpg. Binding studies using a reduced AP (rAP) site in the strand opposite the gap, indicated that Fpg binding was greatly inhibited when the gap was one nucleotide 5′ or 3′ to the rAP site. To complete the repair of the MDS containing 8-oxoG opposite a single strand break, endonuclease IV DNA polymerase I and Escherichia coli DNA ligase are required to remove 3′ phosphate termini, insert the “missing” nucleotide, and ligate the nicks, respectively. In the absence of Fpg, repair of the single strand break by endonuclease IV, DNA polymerase I and DNA ligase occurred and was not greatly affected by the 8-oxoG on the opposite strand. However, the DNA strand containing the single strand break was not ligated if Fpg was present and removed the opposing 8-oxoG. Examination of the complete repair reaction products from this reaction following electrophoresis through a non-denaturing gel, indicated that a double strand break was produced. Repair of the single strand break did occur in the presence of Fpg if the gap was one nucleotide away. Hence, in the in vitro reconstituted system, repair of the MDS did not occur prior to cleavage of the 8-oxoG by Fpg if the opposing single strand break was situated three or six nucleotides away, converting these otherwise repairable lesions into a potentially lethal double strand break.
Randomized equivalence trial of intensive and semiannual applications of fluoride varnish in the primary dentition.

For children in the primary dentition with high caries prevalence the standard semiannual application of fluoride varnish may not be successful in preventing tooth decay. Oftentimes this population is mobile and does not receive consistent preventive care. This trial tested whether an intensive fluoride 5% sodium varnish regimen (three applications/2 weeks) applied annually has an equivalent effect on caries progression in the primary dentition compared to single applications applied semiannually. This study was a randomized clinical trial with two treatment groups. All participants (n = 600; mean age ± SD = 55.3 ± 4.6 months) received three varnish applications (active varnish or placebo) at semiannual visits over 3 years. Once per year the intensive-treatment group received one set of three active treatments and three placebo treatments 6 months later, each time within 2 weeks. The standard group received one active and two placebo treatments every 6 months. Children were assessed clinically at baseline and 12, 24 and 36 months after the initiation of the study. The mean (SD) numbers of newly decayed primary tooth surfaces observed over 3 years were 9.8 (8.6) and 7.4 (7.7) in the intensive and standard groups, respectively. The adjusted rate ratio was 1.13 (95% CI = 0.94–1.37, p = 0.20). In conclusion, the trial failed to demonstrate clear evidence of a difference in efficacy. However, differences of up to 36% greater rates of caries in the intensive group could not be ruled out, thus equivalence of the treatments cannot be concluded.
The effects of a peer-mediated intervention on the social communicative interactions between children with and without special needs

Six nondisabled elementary age peers were taught five social communication facilitation strategies to use during interactions with agemates with severe cognitive disabilities. A multiple baseline design across three triads was used to evaluate the extent of behavioral changes in all children as a result of the intervention. Results indicated that the nondisabled peers were able to apply the five strategies (mirroring, assistance, choicemaking, descriptive talk, and responding) while playing with their partners with special needs. Also, changes were evident in nondisabled peers' frequency of verbal behavior directed to the target child and the percentage of communicative attempts to which nondisabled peers verbally responded. Nondisabled peers and children with special needs spent a greater percentage of the play period engaged in social interaction following training. The three children with special needs displayed positive, but variable, changes in their frequency of nonverbal and verbal communicative attempts during the feedback phase.
Ultrastructural and electrophysiological features of meningioma whorls in tissue culture.

Cultured cells derived from a psammomatous meningioma were induced to from whorls in vitro by deprivation of nutrients. The ultrastructural features of desmosomes and junctional complexes were similar to sections from the surgical specimen; also prominent were 9–10 nm cytoplasmic filaments. Microelectrode recording of whorled cells showed a larger resting membrane potential than that of similar isolated meningioma cells in culture. Whorl formation seen in this tumor may be a result of relative nutritional deprivation and the need for metabolic cooperation among tumor cells.
Precise laboratory fractional distillation of fatty acid esters

Important factors in the construction and operation of laboratory fractionating columns are discussed. These include column diameter and insulation, packing, pressure drop, effect of reflux and molecular weight on fractionating efficiency, reflux regulation, choice of operating pressure, constant pressure maintenance, and accurate measurement of pressure. Accurate boiling points in the 1–20 mm. range are reported for the first time for methyl esters of myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids. Heats of vaporization are given.
Direct Action of Prostaglandins on Renin Release from Rat Renal Cortical Slices

AbstractVarious prostaglandins (PG's) and their precursors were superfused to rat renal cortical slices to evaluate their renin-stimulating actions. PGE2, PGI2, PGF2α, PGE1, and PGD2 stimulated renin release significantly. However, PGA2 and 6-keto-PGF1α did not stimulate renin release. The prostaglandin precursors, arachidonic acid and the endoperoxide analog, U-44069, also stimulated the release of renin. Since the renin-stimulating action of arachidonic acid was blocked by indomethacin, arachidonic acid-mediated renin release was caused by its conversion to the endoperoxides or to PG's. Our studies indicate that PG's may play an important role in the control of renin release. From our results, PGE2 produced a significant increase in renin release at lower concentrations than any other PG's tested whereas PGI2 caused the greatest percentage increase in renin release.
Defining the biochemistry of mismatch repair

Following a period of intensive and illuminating genetic analysis, the biochemical mechanism of mismatch repair was deciphered by Paul Modrich and his colleagues. The establishment of an in vitro assay that specifically supports strand-specific excision repair of mismatched bases was a seminal contribution to this body of work.
Patronage motives and product purchase patterns: a correspondence analysis

Examines patronage motives and product purchase patterns within the context of a mall. Specifically, determines: the relative importance consumers attach to a set of 24 patronage motives when choosing a place to shop; these shoppers’ purchase patterns of a set of 21 products; and inter and intra similarities/dissimilarities among motives and product purchase patterns. Managerial implications for mall administrators are discussed. Concludes that to enhance its appeal to variety seeking shoppers, the mall should monitor consumer buying trends and make necessary adjustments to its tenant mix. Amenities and center quality also need to be considered. Recommends further research of this type in other communities.
The influence of lateral mass flux on free convection boundary layers in a saturated porous medium

Abstract The effects of lateral mass flux with prescribed temperature and velocity on vertical free convection boundary layers in a saturated porous medium at high Rayleigh numbers are studied analytically in this paper. Within the framework of boundary-layer theory, similarity solutions are obtained for the special case where the prescribed temperature and velocity of the fluid vary as ξ λ and ξ (λ − 1) 2 respectively. The effects of mass flux on surface heat-transfer rate and boundary-layer thickness are shown. Application to warm water discharge along a well or fissure to an aquifer of infinite extent is discussed.
Fatty acids and hydrocarbons as evidence of life processes in ancient sediments and crude oils

Sediments and crude oils analyzed for fatty acids, considering abiological or bacterial origin of acids
The clinical utility of bronchoalveolar lavage in interstitial lung disease – is it really useful?

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) can be a very useful tool in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease, but BAL must be performed properly and the retrieved BAL fluid adequately processed and analyzed to allow accurate conclusions to be drawn from BAL analysis. A differential cell count of nucleated immune cells can show cell patterns that suggest or support certain diagnoses, and other testing (stains and cultures for infectious pathogens, malignant cell cytology) can be performed on BAL fluid that can also aid in diagnosis. When combined with the results of a careful history, physical examination, thoracic imaging, and other pertinent laboratory testing, the BAL analysis may allow a confident diagnosis of a specific interstitial lung disease to be made without proceeding to more invasive testing (e.g., surgical lung biopsy) that is associated with increased risk of complications.
The Association of Self-Monitoring with Self-Disclosure

While there are many studies of self-monitoring and self-disclosure independently, few studies have looked at their relationship. Such inquiry may help refine the definitions of these two complex constructs as well as clarify how interpersonal relationships are formed. For 100 undergraduate students at a small liberal arts college a small but significant negative correlation (r = −.20) was found between scores on the Self-monitoring Scale and Self-disclosure Index. The men had significantly higher self-monitoring scores than the women, but not on self-disclosure.
Severe left diaphragmatic hernia limits size of fetal left heart more than does right diaphragmatic hernia

© 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Objectives To assess whether severity of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) correlates with the degree of left heart hypoplasia and left ventricle (LV) output, and to determine if factors leading to abnormal fetal hemodynamics, such as compression and reduced LV preload, contribute to left heart hypoplasia. Methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of fetuses at 16-37 weeks' gestation that were diagnosed with CDH between 2000 and 2010. Lung-to-head ratio (LHR), liver position and side of the hernia were determined from stored ultrasound images. CDH severity was dichotomized based on LHR and liver position. The dimensions of mitral (MV) and aortic (AV) valves and LV were measured, and right and left ventricular outputs were recorded. Results In total, 188 fetuses with CDH were included in the study, 171 with left CDH and 17 with right CDH. Fetuses with severe left CDH had a smaller MV (Z = -2.24 ± 1.3 vs -1.33 ± 1.08), AV (Z = -1.39 ± 1.21 vs -0.51 ± 1.05) and LV volume (Z = -4.23 ± -2.71 vs -2.08 ± 3.15) and had lower LV output (26 ± 10% vs 32 ± 10%) than those with mild CDH. MV and AV in fetuses with right CDH (MV, Z = -0.83 ± 1.19 and AV, Z = -0.71 ± 1.07) were larger than those in fetuses with left CDH, but LV outputs were similarly diminished, regardless of hernia side. Severe dextroposition and abnormal liver position were associated independently with smaller left heart, while LHR was not. Conclusion The severity of left heart hypoplasia correlates with the severity of CDH. Altered fetal hemodynamics, leading to decreased LV output, occurs in both right- and left-sided CDH, but the additional compressive effect on the left heart is seen only when the hernia is left-sided. Improved knowledge of the physiology of this disease may lead to advances in therapy and better risk assessment for use in counseling affected families.
Putting the drum in conundrum: Guadeloupean gwoka, intangible cultural heritage and postnationalism

Since 2004, Felix Cotellon, the president of the centre for traditional music and dance on the island of Guadeloupe, has spearheaded a grass roots campaign to see gwoka inscribed on the UNESCO’s list of Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanities. The move has been surprising, even controversial. Gwoka, a drum-based music and dance, has been used as a symbol of Guadeloupean cultural identity and resistance against French colonialism since the late 1960s. Moreover, Cotellon has had a long association with separatist activism. However, because Guadeloupe remains a French overseas department without a seat at the UN, the petition to add gwoka to the ICH list had to be sponsored by the French state. Following a successful bid, gwoka is now listed as representative of the culture of a French region. In this article, I draw from my ethnographic work as well as my own involvement in the committee that drafted Guadeloupe’s application to trace the complex network of individuals, who are shaping gwok...