cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distributed Control of Spatially Reversible Interconnected Systems with Boundary Conditions

We present a class of spatially interconnected systems with boundary conditions that have close links with their spatially invariant extensions. In particular, well-posedness, stability, and performance of the extension imply the same characteristics for the actual, finite extent system. In turn, existing synthesis methods for control of spatially invariant systems can be extended to this class. The relation between the two kinds of systems is proved using ideas based on the "method of images" of partial differential equations theory and uses symmetry properties of the interconnection as a key tool.
ONTOGENETIC STUDIES OF FLORETS IN POA (GRAMINEAE): ALLOMETRY AND HETEROCHRONY.

Species distinctions in grasses are based on differences in sizes of parts, particularly floral parts, and on differences in distribution of hairs; both sets of characters are apparently subject to repeated parallel evolution. Developmental studies of florets in the genus Poa reveal that there are only two developmental trajectories for lemma length relative to anther length (a measure of time to maturity): either lemma growth is continuous with anther growth, or the lemma reaches its adult size well before the anthers do. The tuft of long, cobweb-like hairs on the callus of many species forms early in lemma development, as might be expected for a character that marks a large group of species. The five possible patterns of hair distribution on the lemma itself represent stages of a single developmental pathway; differences between species presumably reflect differences in timing of onset or truncation of the developmental program (heterochrony).
Condensates and quasiparticles in inflationary cosmology: Mass generation and decay widths

During de Sitter inflation massless particles of minimally coupled scalar fields acquire a mass and a decay width thereby becoming quasiparticles. For bare massless particles nonperturbative infrared radiative corrections lead to a self-consistent generation of mass, for a quartic self-interaction $M\ensuremath{\propto}{\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{1/4}H$, and for a cubic self-interaction the mass is induced by the formation of a nonperturbative condensate leading to $M\ensuremath{\propto}{\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{1/3}{H}^{2/3}$. These radiatively generated masses restore de Sitter invariance and result in anomalous scaling dimensions of superhorizon fluctuations. We introduce a generalization of the nonperturbative Wigner-Weisskopf method to obtain the time evolution of quantum states that include the self-consistent generation of mass and regulate the infrared behavior. The infrared divergences are manifest as poles in $\ensuremath{\Delta}={M}^{2}/3{H}^{2}$ in the single particle self-energies, leading to a rearrangement of the perturbative series nonanalytic in the couplings. A set of simple rules that yield the leading order infrared contributions to the decay width are obtained and implemented. The lack of kinematic thresholds entail that all particle states acquire a decay width, dominated by the emission and absorption of superhorizon quanta $\ensuremath{\propto}(\ensuremath{\lambda}/H{)}^{4/3}[H/{k}_{ph}(\ensuremath{\eta}){]}^{6}$; $\ensuremath{\lambda}[H/{k}_{ph}(\ensuremath{\eta}){]}^{6}$ for cubic and quartic couplings respectively to leading order in $M/H$. The decay of single particle quantum states hastens as their wave vectors cross the Hubble radius and their width is related to the highly squeezed limit of the bi- or trispectrum of scalar fluctuations respectively.
The molecular organization of xylan diacetate and acetylated d-xylose oligosaccharides at the air-aqueous interface

Abstract In a condensed monolayer, xylan diacetate (XDA) molecules are oriented in an extended chain conformation in which the chain axes are parallel to the substrate and the xylose rings are approximately perpendicular to it. This closely resembles the conformation of cellulose triacetate (CTA) molecules in condensed monolayers. However, the β,1–4 linkage in the xylan backbone is more flexible than the same linkage in CTA, which allows the residues to tilt independently out of the surface during compression, permitting closer packing. While cellobiose octaacetate proved to be a good model for the monolayer behavior of CTA (15), xylobiose hexaacetate was not adequate as a model for XDA. It is not until the chain length is increased to 4 that the xylose rings assume a vertical orientation as proposed for the polymer. This supports the greater ease of rotation about the two bonds linking the residues to the glycosidic oxygen in XDA than in CTA.
Bimanual response asymmetry as an indicator of speech dysfunction

Poor spellers and good spellers were tested to see if specific verbal disabilities were associated with anomalous patterns of cerebral dominance. Hemispheric dominance for speech was assessed by latency for recognition of unilaterally presented letter pairs. Poor spellers did not differ from good spellers in patterns of cerebral dominance, but they had longer latencies when responding with the preferred (right) hand than with the left hand, or than the good spellers with either hand.
A change of heart. Finding the right balance.

Glenda Gillaspy, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Along the way to becoming an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at a public land-grant university, I explored a career briefly as a faculty member at a liberal arts institution. I want to
Critical scaling of the transport behavior and the magnetic phase diagram of polycrystalline YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7

A magnetic phase diagram for polycrystalline ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ was constructed using a combination of results from bulk magnetic and magnetotransport measurements. Electric field as a function of current density E(J) can be scaled, with the critical coefficients \ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\approxeq}1 and z\ensuremath{\approxeq}4, to identify the temperature of a phase transition into a state characterized by zero linear resistance. The magnetic-field dependence H of the critical current density ${\mathit{J}}_{\mathit{c}}$ can be explained based on the penetration of magnetic flux between, and into, the individual grains of the polycrystalline material. The H dependence of the magnetization suggests that the individual crystallites of the polycrystalline material have low defect densities (clean).
Treatment of endodermal sinus tumor in children using a regimen that lacks bleomycin

Background The EPO-VAC protocol was initiated to study 1) the efficacy of adding a cisplatin regimen (EPO) to VAC alone (the previous standard of care) and 2) the effect of replacing bleomycin with etoposide in the treatment of pediatric endodermal sinus tumors. Methods The eligibility requirements for entry included age <21 years at diagnosis, diagnosis of a primary gonadal or extragonadal tumor (excluding central nervous system tumors and stage I testicular tumors), and histological confirmation of endodermal sinus tumor. Children who met the eligibility criteria were treated with four courses of EPO (etoposide, cisplatin, vincristine) alternating with three courses of VAC (vincristine, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide). Results Eleven children were entered on the protocol. Six patients had extragonadal disease, five patients had ovarian primaries. Seven patients had low-stage tumor (I or II) and four had advanced-stage tumor (III or IV). Three of six evaluable patients attained a complete response at 21 weeks. The three patients with a residual soft tissue mass at restaging underwent further therapy. No patient has relapsed after a median of 51 (range 14–88) months of follow-up. Conclusions The results of this protocol suggests that a cisplatin-containing regimen that lacks bleomycin is active in childhood endodermal sinus tumors. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
American Power, East Asian Regionalism and Emerging Powers: in or against empire?

Abstract Recent years have seen a revival of discussions on American decline. This paper intervenes in this debate by suggesting that there is a tendency towards partial conceptualisations of US power. It suggests a new historical materialist perspective that makes it possible to theorise American Empire as a relational social totality embedded within global capitalism. The paper then analyses the social limits of China’s rise and the integration of East Asian regionalisation into American Empire, suggesting the extent to which world power has shifted east has tended to be overestimated. It also analyses the emergence of Brazil, India, and the brics meetings, suggesting these developments have a limited, but overstated, capacity to challenge American Empire.
Quantification of P-selectin expression after renal ischemia and reperfusion

Neutrophils are important in ischemia and reperfusion injury. Multiple factors may be responsible for the adhesion of granulocytes to endothelial cells. P-selectin is a carbohydrate-binding glycoprotein that is stored preformed in endothelial cells as Weibel-Palade bodies. This preformation implies a very early role of P-selectin in the leukocyte adhesion process. Previous studies of P-selectin have not quantified its expression. The purpose of this study is to quantitate the expression and time course of P-selectin in response to renal ischemia and reperfusion injury. P-selectin was measured in 34 C57BL-6 mice after 30 minutes of occlusive left renal ischemia followed by 20 minutes, 2, 5, 10, and 24 hours of reperfusion. This was also performed in control and sham laparotomy groups. P-selectin was quantified using a new double radiolabeled 125I/131I monoclonal antibody technique and reported as percent injected dose per gram of tissue. P-selectin expression peaked at 20 minutes, plateaued up to 5 hours, and fell at 10 hours. Additionally, genetically altered mice that do not express P-selectin showed no up regulation after 5 hours of reperfusion. Pathology results confirmed significant renal injury. Renal ischemia and reperfusion injury caused significant upregulation of P-selectin. Expression of P-selectin at the short reperfusion time of 20 minutes reinforces the premise that P-selectin is one of the earliest adhesion molecules expressed. This early peak is probably caused by the release of preformed P-selectin. The delineation of these mechanisms of injury may be important in understanding and preventing renal injury in transplantation, sepsis, and shock.
The ultraviolet aurora - The spectrum between 2100 A and 2300 A

Rocket-borne spectroscopic observations of the ultraviolet aurora between 2100 A and 2300 A reveal bands from the N2 Lyman-Birge-Hopfield and Vegard-Kaplan systems. A strong feature at 2144 A is identified as the quintet doublet of N II. This emission feature is shown from altitude profiles to have little if any quenching.
Effects of variations in rectangular pulse duty cycle and intensity on pulsating direct current electro-analgesia of cat tooth pulp

Abstract Action potentials in single pulp-driven units of the trigeminal ganglion were elicited by bipolar electrical stimulation of the maxillary canine tooth pulp in cats anaesthetized with a barbiturate. The effects of electro-analgesia currents ranging in peak values from 10 to 100 μA applied to the test tooth were investigated independently for three pulsating direct-current waveforms comprised of trains of monopolar anodal rectangular pulses of various duty cycles. The effects of constant direct-current analgesia were used as a standard for comparison. Logarithmically-spaced duty cycles (per cent on time) of 1.00, 3.16 and 10.0 per cent were investigated, using a fixed frequency of 1000 Hz. Intensity-dependent pulp threshold elevations reaching approximately 400–500 per cent were observed for both constant direct current and 10 per cent duty cycle pulsating direct current analgesia of 20–70μA. In contrast, pulsating direct current analgesia waveforms having duty cycles of 3.16 and 1.00 per cent were approximately 25 per cent effective and ineffective, respectively, when compared to continuous direct current analgesia. The maximum effect was attained with waveforms of 70 μA. Averaged pulp thresholds dropped to near normal values within a few minutes following the termination of effective electro-analgesia. The results indicate that pulsating direct-current analgesia composed of rectangular anodal pulses of 10 per cent duty cycle and 1000 Hz frequency produces effects indistinguishable from that of continuous direct current analgesia at comparable peak intensities.
The microenvironment in mantle cell lymphoma: Cellular and molecular pathways and emerging targeted therapies

There is growing evidence suggesting that cross talk between mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cells and stromal cells in tissue microenvironments, such as the bone marrow and secondary lymphoid organs, causes disease progression by promoting lymphoma cell survival, growth, and drug resistance. Conceivably, while conventional treatment eliminates the bulk of MCL cells, residual lymphoma cells may lurk in protective tissue niches, where they receive signals from accessory cells that promote survival and drug-resistance, thereby paving the way for residual disease and relapses. Based on this concept, the lymphoma microenvironment has become a growing area of current research, and initial clinical trials targeting cross talk between MCL cells and their microenvironment are showing promising early results. In this review, we summarize key cellular and molecular interactions between MCL cells and their microenvironment, and update new clinical developments in this area.
Military Enlistment and Family Dynamics: Youth and Parental Perspectives

In 1987, data were collected on 2,731 young men and their parents as part of the Army Communications Objectives Measurement System (ACOMS) survey to understand factors associated with military enlistment and to evaluate military advertising. The ACOMS data are unique because parents and children are linked, which allows researchers to analyze the influence of parental attitudes and behaviors on the enlistment decision independently of youth reports of their parents’ attitudes. Results indicate that the youths’ perceptions of parental attitudes toward the military and reported parental attitudes correlate at a low level (.14 to .22) showing that youth perceptions of parental attitudes cannot function as a proxy for actual parental attitudes. This may reflect a failure of parents to communicate clearly their attitudes or a failure of children to interpret them accurately. Results also indicate that (a) youth perceptions of parental attitudes predict stated enlistment propensity, which predicts military enlistment, and (b) reported parental attitudes predict military enlistment independently of youth-stated enlistment propensity. The analyses suggest that military enlistment might be enhanced through (a) fostering youth perceptions that competent parents have positive views of the military, (b) fostering positive parental attitudes by educating parents about military benefits and lifestyle, (c) using reports of positive parental attitudes as an indicator of their child’s positive military enlistment propensity, and (d) actively involving parents in the enlistment process.
A longitudinal study of articulation, language, rate, and fluency of 22 preschool children who stutter

Abstract This is a longitudinal study of the speech and language characteristics of 22 preschool-age stuttering children, 16 from Ryan [J. Speech Hear. Res. 35 (1992) 333.]. They were tested approximately quarterly, eight times over a 2-year period. None received treatment during the first year. All of the children demonstrated improvement in articulation and language and 68.2% recovered from the stuttering without treatment. There were no significant differences in articulation and language test scores between those who recovered and those who persisted, nor any significant correlations between articulation and language tests and stuttering. Of the variables studied, the trend in repeated measures of stuttering over time of individual children was predictive with 90.9% accuracy of recovery or persistence of stuttering. Educational objectives: (1) The learner will be able to describe the findings from repeated tests of articulation and language for groups of preschool-age children who recovered or persisted in stuttering. (2) The learner will be able to describe how trends in the frequency of stuttering over time may be used as a predictor of recovery or persistence. (3) The learner will be able to describe how longitudinal studies of preschool-age children provide important information on the natural course of stuttering.
Targeting Bacteria to Improve Cancer Therapy

The activity of many drugs is constrained by their metabolism. Agents that are administered as precursors (“prodrugs”) require enzymatic conversion to an active form; conversely, drugs given as active small molecules are converted to excretable entities or degraded by metabolic processes. In the clinic, this knowledge of drug metabolism has been exploited to enhance the efficacy of some drugs. On page 831 of this issue, Wallace et al. demonstrate that inhibiting an enzyme (β-glucuronidase) produced by good gut flora can prevent the intestinal metabolism of the anticancer drug irinotecan, thereby diminishing a life-threatening toxicity and conceivably allowing dose escalation that will enhance the drug's efficacy ( 1 ).
COMPARISON OF THE BINDING OF OPTICALLY PURE (-)- AND (+)- (3H)NICOTINE TO RAT BRAIN MEMBRANES

A comparison of the binding of (−)- and (+)-[3H]nicotine to rat brain membranes revealed that only the (−)-enantiomer showed high affinity binding; while the (+)-enantiomer was at least 1/10 as effective as the (−)-enantiomer when in competition with (−)-[3H]nicotine as the ligand. Positive cooperativity, which is observed with (−)-[3H]nicotine as the presence of low concentrations of (+)-nicotine, may account for the seeming paradox.
Depression and sexual adjustment following breast cancer in low-income Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women.

Objective: Hispanics are the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority group in the United States and breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Hispanic women. However, Hispanics are underrepresented in the psychosocial breast cancer literature. Methods: This study included 677 low-income women (425 Hispanic, 252 non-Hispanic White) enrolled in the Medi-Cal Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program. Data were gathered through phone interviews conducted in English or Spanish 6 and 18 months following breast cancer diagnosis. We focus on three variables that the literature indicates are salient for breast cancer survivors: sexual function, body image and depression. Results: Results of an ANCOVA indicated worse sexual function for Hispanic women, even after controlling for significant covariates. Hispanics reported significantly less sexual desire, greater difficulty relaxing and enjoying sex, and greater difficulty becoming sexually aroused and having orgasms than non-Hispanic White women. Both Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women endorsed a lack of sexual desire more frequently than problems with sexual function. Body image did not differ between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women. In all, 38% of Hispanic and 48% of non-Hispanic White women scored above cut-off scores for depressive symptoms. While there was no ethnic difference in depressive symptoms, single women reported more depressive symptoms than partnered women. Conclusions: Findings suggest that low-income breast cancer survivors may experience symptoms of depression more than a year following diagnosis, and that sexual dysfunction may be particularly salient for low-income Hispanic women. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exopolysaccharide Psl Facilitates Surface Adherence and NF-κB Activation in A549 Cells

In order for the opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa to cause an airway infection, the pathogen interacts with epithelial cells and the overlying mucous layer. We examined the contribution of the biofilm polysaccharide Psl to epithelial cell adherence and the impact of Psl on proinflammatory signaling by flagellin. Psl has been implicated in the initial attachment of P. aeruginosa to biotic and abiotic surfaces, but its direct role in pathogenesis has not been evaluated (L. Ma, K. D. Jackson, R. M. Landry, M. R. Parsek, and D. J. Wozniak, J. Bacteriol. 188:8213-8221, 2006). Using an NF-kappaB luciferase reporter system in the human epithelial cell line A549, we show that both Psl and flagellin are necessary for full activation of NF-kappaB and production of the interleukin 8 (IL-8) chemokine. We demonstrate that Psl does not directly stimulate NF-kappaB activity, but indirectly as a result of increasing contact between bacterial cells and epithelial cells, it facilitates flagellin-mediated proinflammatory signaling. We confirm differential adherence of Psl and/or flagellin mutants by scanning electron microscopy and identify Psl-dependent membrane structures that may participate in adherence. Although we hypothesized that Psl would protect P. aeruginosa from recognition by the epithelial cell line A549, we instead observed a positive role for Psl in flagellin-mediated NF-kappaB activation, likely as a result of increasing contact between bacterial cells and epithelial cells.
The thermal diffusivity of eight well-characterized rocks for the temperature range 300–1000 K

The objectives of this research were to make accurate measurements of thermal diffusivity at normal and elevated temperatures on eight well-characterized rocks and to investigate the effects of water saturation and heating upon thermal diffusivity. The eight rock types studied were Barre Granite, Dresser Basalt, St. Cloud Granodiorite, Westerly Granite, Berea Sandstone, Holston Marble, Salem Limestone, and Sioux Quartzite. A summary geologic description and chemical analysis of each rock type is included. The thermal diffusivity measurements were made at one atmosphere pressure using the laser flash method. In the natural, air-dried state at 300 K the values of diffusivity ranged from about 0.280 cm2 sec−1 for the quartzite to 0.0114 cm2 sec−1 for the limestone. Thermal diffusivity varies inversely with temperature and at 800 K the value is 50 to 75% lower than at room temperature. At room temperature, rocks saturated with water increase in diffusivity as much as 24 percent. Several qualitative trends were observed relating the thermal diffusivity of rock to its composition, texture and structure.
Heart block in children. Evaluation of subsidiary ventricular pacemaker recovery times and ECG tape recordings.

To evaluate subsidiary ventricular pacemaker function in 20 children with congenital or surgically induced complete heart block, we measured recovery times following overdrive ventricular pacing. Long-term ECG tape recordings were performed in eight of these children. Ages ranged fom 1 month to 17 years. The resting R-R intervals ranged from 595 to 1,740 msec. The ventricles were paced at various cycle lengths of 400 to 1,000 msec with either transvenous electrode catheters or surgically implanted epicardial electrodes. His bundle recordings showed that the site of block did not allow separation of patients with symptoms from those without symptoms. Prolonged recovery times were present in patients with block above the His bundle recording site who had symptoms of syncope or dizziness, as well as in patients who had a wide QRS. However, some asymptomatic patients with heart block above the His bundle recording site also had long recovery times. None of the asymptomatic patients who had ECG tape recordings had paroxysmal tachycardia in more than 300 hours of recordings. However, one symptomatic patient with congenital heart block and a prolonged recovery time had brief episodes of paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia that produced no symptoms at the time of recording. The results suggest that the coexistence of prolonged recovery times and paroxysmal tachycardia may be predisposing factors to the development of symptoms in patients with complete heart block. We believe that further electrophysiologic investigation of this possibility is warranted in patients with heart block.
Self-Efficacy and Cognitive Achievement Implications for Students with Learning Problems

This article presents a self-efficacy model of achievement that comprises entry characteristics, self-efficacy for learning, task engagement variables, and efficacy cues. Students' sense of self-efficacy for learning is influenced as they work on tasks by cues that signal how well they are learning. Research is summarized on the effects of social and instructional variables on self-efficacy and achievement behaviors. Empirical evidence supports the idea that self-efficacy predicts student motivation and learning. Future research directions are provided, along with educational implications for students with learning problems.
RADIATION-HYDRODYNAMICS APPROACHES TO LASER-MATTER INTERACTIONS

Abstract A review is in progress of the radiation-hydrodynamics approaches that are employed in selected laser-matter interaction codes. Particular emphasis has been given to the more fundamental kinetic-theory foundations, which allow for the investigation of phenomena that cannot be understood within the framework of a hydrodynamics viewpoint. Various approaches to the electron heat conduction and radiation transport problems are discussed, and some of the inadequacies of simple models are circumvented only by the adoption of the more fundamental, but more difficult, kinetic-theory descriptions. The exchange of energy between matter and electromagnetic radiation includes both the laser deposition and plasma radiation processes, and particular emphasis is given to the possible importance of departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium.
Changing Income inequality in nonmetropolitan counties, 1980 to 1990

Income inequality has been increasing across the United States, but little is known about changing income inequality in nonmetropolitan counties. Data from the 1980 and 1990 Summary Tape Files of the U.S. Census of Population and Housing are used to estimate ordinary least squares models of change in income inequality. Household income inequality increased in a smaller share of nonmetro than metro counties from 1980 to 1990, and increases in income inequality were influenced more strongly by economic restructuring in nonmetro than in metro counties. Other factors, such as change in household structure, demographic composition, and labor supply and job quality, were generally similar in affecting income inequality in nonmetro and metro counties. The greater importance of economic restructuring in nonmetro counties indicates the lesser diversity and smaller size of local economies, and their greater vulnerability to forces of economic restructuring.
Collecting duct carcinoma of the kidney

Collecting duct carcinoma is an unusual variant of renal cell carcinoma, whose appearance and behavior are not well established. We identified six cases of collecting duct carcinoma in our files. The clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical characteristics of these tumors are reported. The most common symptom was gross hematuria (four cases). Two patients had cervical adenopathy due to metastatic tumor. Four rapidly developed systemic metastases and died within 4 to 24 months. The primary renal tumors were located predominantly in the renal medulla and pelvis and had a partially cystic white-gray appearance. Histologic examination showed prominent tubulopapillary structures, nests of clear cells, and infiltrating tubules in a dense desmoplastic stroma. Atypical hyperplastic changes were found in some of the adjacent collecting ducts. Mucicarminophilic material was present in glandular elements in all six cases. Immunohistochemical studies revealed positivity with antibodies to epithelial membrane antigen, keratins, peanut agglutinin, vimentin, Leu M1 and lysozyme. The location of this tumor in the medulla, its distinctive histologic appearance, mucin positivity, expression of high molecular weight cytokeratins, and peanut agglutinin suggest that this is a distinct clinicopathologic entity which has an aggressive clinical course.
Masculinizing the feminine: Inviting women on line Ca. 1997

This essay uses rhetorical critical methods to examine how persuasive appeals to women to come on line have marginalized and excluded some women even as they invited them to become involved. Authors of many trade books and gateway web sites have interpellated women using such masculinized gender traits as aggressiveness, opportunism, and technical proficiency. They have tacitly devalued such traits as hesitancy, fear, and technological ignorance. Their use of narrative and dissociation constructed female readers as late arrivals on a new frontier who are unprepared for a hostile male‐dominated environment. Their persuasive appeals can be contrasted with the discourse of web sites for young women, teens, and girls. These sites provided noncommercial forums for social support, humor, self‐expression, and advice‐forums that could be degendering the computer by engendering new uses for computer‐mediated communication.
Blunt thoracic aortic injuries: CT characterisation and treatment outcomes of minor injury

Computed tomography (CT)-defined anatomical differentiation of minor and major blunt traumatic aortic injuries (TAIs) was applied to determine injury grade and management/outcomes in minor TAIs, and if the presence of peri-aortic mediastinal haematoma (MH) correlated with TAI grade. Admission chest CT of blunt TAI cases during 2005–2011 were reviewed by consensus and categorised as major or minor. Minor was defined as pseudoaneurysm <10 % normal aortic lumen, intimal flap or contour abnormality. Presence/absence of MH was determined. Clinical management/outcome was ascertained from medical records. Of 115 TAIs, 42 were minor (33 with MH, 9 without). Among the 73 with major TAI, 3 had no MH. Twenty-six (62 %) minor TAI patients were managed medically, 12 (29 %) percutaneous stent-grafts, 2 (5 %) died of non-aortic causes and 2 (5 %) underwent surgery. Of 26 managed without intervention, none developed complications from TAI at last clinical or CT follow-up. The relationship between presence/absence of peri-aortic MH and grade of TAI was statistically significant. More than a third of multi-detector (MD) CT-diagnosed TAIs were minor. Minor TAIs treated medically were stable at last follow-up, suggesting this is a reasonable initial management approach. Absence of MH cannot be relied upon to exclude minor TAI, indicating the need for careful direct aortic inspection. • MDCT can differentiate minor from major blunt traumatic aortic injuries. • About one-third of MDCT-diagnosed blunt traumatic aortic injuries are minor. • Minor aortic injuries are not necessarily accompanied by mediastinal haemorrhage. • MDCT diagnosis of minor aortic injury supports application of medical management.
Scheduling with alternatives: a link between process planning and scheduling

The objective of this research is to develop and evaluate effective, computationally efficient procedures for scheduling jobs in a large-scale manufacturing system involving, for example, over 1000 jobs and over 100 machines. The main performance measure is maximum lateness; and a useful lower bound on maximum lateness is derived from a relaxed scheduling problem in which preemption of jobs is based on the latest finish time of each job at each machine. To construct a production schedule that minimizes maximum lateness, an iterative simulation-based scheduling algorithm operates as follows: (a) job queuing times observed at each machine in the previous simulation iteration are used to compute a refined estimate of the effective due date (slack) for each job at each machine; and (b) in the current simulation iteration, jobs are dispatched at each machine in order of increasing slack. Iterations of the scheduling algorithm terminate when the lower bound on maximum lateness is achieved or the iteration limit is reached. This scheduling algorithm is implemented in Virtual Factory, a Windows-based software package. The performance of Virtual Factory is demonstrated in a suite of randomly generated test problems as well as in a large furniture manufacturing facility. To further reduce maximum lateness, a second scheduling algorithm also incorporates a tabu search procedure that identifies process plans with alternative operations and routings for jobs. This enhancement yields improved schedules that minimize manufacturing costs while satisfying job due dates. An extensive experimental performance evaluation indicates that in a broad range of industrial settings, the second scheduling algorithm can rapidly identify optimal or nearly optimal schedules.
Catalytic hydrogen evolution properties of nickel-doped tungsten disulfide

The dark and photocatalytic properties of Ni-doped WS{sub 2} supported on SiO{sub 2} were investigated. Adding Ni increases the dark catalytic hydrogen evolution activity of WS{sub 2}. With separate particles of CdS on SiO{sub 2} to photosensitize WS{sub 2}/SiO{sub 2}, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of Ni-doped WS{sub 2} maximizes at intermediate Ni loading levels. With fluorescein as a sensitizer, the addition of Ni lowers the activity of WS{sub 2}. The authors interpret the results in terms of a model in which Ni on the surface of WS{sub 2} plays an important role in controlling the surface geometric and electronic properties of the substrate and thereby the efficiency of interfacial energy and charge transfer.
Predicting the octanol solubility of organic compounds

The molar octanol solubility of an organic nonelectrolytes can be reasonably predicted solely from its melting point provided that its liquid (or a hypothetical super-cooled liquid) form is miscible with octanol. The aim of this work is to develop criteria to determine if the real or hypothetical liquid form of a given compound will be miscible with octanol based on its molar volume and solubility parameter. Fortunately, most organic compounds (including most drugs) conform to the criteria for complete liquid miscibility, and therefore have solubilities that are proportional to their melting points. The results show that more than 95% of the octanol solubilities studied are predicted with an error of less than 1 logarithmic unit. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 102:2112–2119, 2013
It's Not about Winning, It's about Getting Better:

This article describes the leadership style of Coach Jack Clark, under whose leadership Cal Rugby has won 21 national championships during the last 25 years. The article examines his leadership philosophy and strategies to create a high performance team culture. It discusses how his experiences as an athlete and businessman helped shape his approach to leading and developing teams. He cites the importance of good recruitment practices, setting expectations, constant performance feedback, managing conflict, and having a shared definition of leadership as keys factors to a successful team. In 2010, Clark faced a series of unprecedented challenges, including having his team downgraded from varsity to dub status because of budget cuts. This article describes how he addressed these challenges.
Discussion: medical illness and depression

Division of Behavioral Medicine and Consultation Psychiatry, Mount Sinai/New York University Medical Center Recebido 28-02-06 Aprovado 01-03-06 The comorbidity of medical and psychiatric illness presents many dilemmas for psychiatric diagnosis that have not been sufficiently taken into account in either the Diagnostic and Statistical Manu al of Mental Disorders IV – Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) or the Tenth Revision of International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) psychiatric section. These lexicons have not considered the confounds that arise with medical and psychiatric comorbidity. For example, vegetative signs of fatigue, change in appetite (increased or decreased), diminished libido, and sleep disturbances (either hypo or hypersomnia) can accompany medical illness, e.g., cardiac disease, or major affective disorders (MAD). DSM states that if a symptom can be attributable to a medical disease it cannot be enlisted to support a psychiatric diagnosis. Because it is so difficult to ascertain symptom attribution, the diagnosis of depression in the medically ill is significantly compromised with comorbidity. Symptom origin can be psychological, medical – somatic, pharmacological, mixed – or indeterminate. Comorbidity then means that there are two systems of diagnoses, two genres of medications to be considered, two disciplines of medical doctors, and two systems of patient care. Since depression is associated with making many medical illnesses worse it is essential that an attempt be made to diagnose this protean disease in the medical setting. For example, it has been shown that depressed patients with a Discussion: medical illness and depression
Interactions of Collimation, Sampling and Filtering on Spect Spatial Resolution

The major factors which affect the spatial resolution of single-photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) include collimation, sampling and filtering. A theoretical formulation is presented to describe the relationship between these factors and their effects on the projection data. Numerical calculations were made using commercially available SPECT systems and imaging parameters. The results provide an important guide for proper selection of the collimator-detector design, the imaging and the reconstruction parameters to avoid unnecessary spatial resolution degradation and aliasing artifacts in the reconstructed image. In addition, the understanding will help in the fair evaluation of different SPECT systems under specific imaging conditions.
Tianeptine decreases both serotonin transporter mRNA and binding sites in rat brain

In situ hybridization histochemistry and quantitative autoradiography were used to evaluate the effects of repeated administration of the serotonin reuptake enhancer, tianeptine. Tianeptine (10 mg/kg twice daily, for 14 days) significantly reduced both the expression of serotonin transporter mRNA and serotonin transporter binding sites labeled by [3H]paroxetine in rat dorsal raphe nucleus. In median raphe nucleus, tianeptine did not change either expression of serotonin transporter mRNA or binding. This effect, which is similar to a reported effect for serotonin reuptake inhibitors, may help to explain the antidepressant effect of tianeptine.
A grid-based approach for enterprise-scale data mining

We describe a grid-based approach for enterprise-scale data mining, which is based on leveraging parallel database technology for data storage, and on-demand compute servers for parallelism in the statistical computations. This approach is targeted towards the use of data mining in highly-automated vertical business applications, where the data is stored on one or more relational database systems, and an independent set of high-performance compute servers or a network of low-cost, commodity processors is used to improve the application performance and overall workload management. The goal of this paper is to describe an algorithmic decomposition of data mining kernels between the data storage and compute grids, which makes it possible to exploit the parallelism on the respective grids in a simple way, while minimizing the data transfer between these grids. This approach is compatible with existing standards for data mining task specification and results reporting, so that larger applications using these data mining algorithms do not have to be modified to benefit from this grid-based approach.
Use of diatoms to assess agricultural and coal mining impacts on streams and a multiassemblage case study

AbstractWe developed and tested a species-level Bray–Curtis (BC) similarity to reference index and a genus-level diatom model affinity (DMA) index to quantify agricultural and acid mine drainage (AMD) impacts on streams in the Western Allegheny Plateau of southeastern Ohio. Decreased similarity to references sites was found in impaired streams, and diatom metrics further indicated how assemblages were impacted. Sites identified by index scores as impaired had significantly greater conductivity, PO4-P, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, Cl−, % pasture in the upstream watershed, and forest fragmentation than minimally impaired sites (p < 0.05). Percent acidophilic diatoms significantly increased with reduced alkalinity caused by mining impacts (p < 0.01). Relative abundances of species indicating low P and N status decreased with increased pasture and row crops in upstream watersheds (p < 0.01), whereas abundance of motile diatoms increased (p < 0.01). In a case study, diatom, macroinvertebrate, and fish assemblages were com...
Tight-binding model for hydrogen-silicon interactions.

We have developed an empirical tight-binding model for use in molecular-dynamics simulations to study hydrogen-silicon systems. The hydrogen-silicon interaction is constructed to reproduce the electronic energy levels and vibration frequencies of silane (${\mathrm{SiH}}_{4}$). Further use of the model in the studies of disilane (${\mathrm{Si}}_{2}$${\mathrm{H}}_{6}$) and of hydrogen on the Si(111) surface also yields results in good agreement with first-principles calculations and experiments.
The Hybrid Reciprocal Velocity Obstacle

We present the hybrid reciprocal velocity obstacle for collision-free and oscillation-free navigation of multiple mobile robots or virtual agents. Each robot senses its surroundings and acts independently without central coordination or communication with other robots. Our approach uses both the current position and the velocity of other robots to compute their future trajectories in order to avoid collisions. Moreover, our approach is reciprocal and avoids oscillations by explicitly taking into account that the other robots sense their surroundings as well and change their trajectories accordingly. We apply hybrid reciprocal velocity obstacles to iRobot Create mobile robots and demonstrate direct, collision-free, and oscillation-free navigation.
Color Stability of Restorative Resins Under Accelerated Aging

The color stability of seven commercial composite resins, an unfilled resin, and three glazes was studied under conditions of accelerated aging by reflection spectrophotometry and visually with Munsell color tabs. After aging for 900 hours, most of the resins had lower values of luminous reflectance and excitation purity and higher values of dominant wavelength and contrast ratio compared to values at baseline.
"Wanton and Senseless" Revisited: The Study of Warfare in Civil Conflicts and the Historiography of the Algerian Massacres

Over the past two decades, attention in the social sciences increasingly has been drawn to the problem of violent civil conflicts, a problem that has disproportionately affected Africa more than any other region. Two approaches to this problem have come to dominate the field: attempts to understand the root causes of civil conflict and attempts to understand the dynamics of its violence. Critics of the former approach have elaborated the ways in which the etiological agenda itself makes, and then politically mobilizes, the reality it claims to find. The goal of this article is to elaborate a similar critique for the latter agenda by examining the productive and destructive interaction between theoretical assumptions and empirical realities that have informed attempts to understand the Algerian massacres of the late 1990s. The overall intention is not to promote a new understanding of those atrocities. Rather, it is to gain a deeper insight into the processes by which episodes of mass civil violence become objects of scientific analysis—and thus objects for political utilization—despite their having emerged from an empirical milieu of contested, ambiguous, and indeterminate realities. Resume: Au cours des vingt dernieres annees, l’attention s’est portee dans les sciences sociales et naturelles sur les problemes lies a la violence dans les conflits civils, une situation qui touche demesurement l’Afrique plus que toute autre region. Deux approches du probleme dominent aujourd’hui ce domaine de recherche: celle qui tente de comprendre les causes premieres des conflits civils, et celle qui tente de comprendre la dynamique de la violence qui s’y rattache. Les critiques de la premiere approche ont mis a nu les manieres dont l’agenda etiologique lui-meme faconne et mobilise politiquement la realite qu’il trouve soi-disant. L’objectif de cet article est d’elaborer une critique similaire de l’agenda soutenant la deuxieme approche en examinant la nature productive et destructive de l’interaction entre les suppositions theoriques et les realites empiriques qui ont informe des tentatives menees pour comprendre les massacres en Algerie dans la fin des annees 90. L’intention globale n’est pas de promouvoir une nouvelle comprehension de ces atrocites. Le but est en revanche d’acceder a une perception plus elaboree des processus par lesquels des episodes de violence civile deviennent des objets d’analyse scientifique, et par la meme objets a usage politique, en depit du fait qu’ils naissent d’un milieu empirique de realites contestees, ambigues, et mal determinees.
Farnesoid X nuclear receptor ligand obeticholic acid for non-cirrhotic, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (FLINT): a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Summary Background The bile acid derivative 6-ethylchenodeoxycholic acid (obeticholic acid) is a potent activator of the farnesoid X nuclear receptor that reduces liver fat and fibrosis in animal models of fatty liver disease. We assessed the efficacy of obeticholic acid in adult patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Methods We did a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, randomised clinical trial at medical centres in the USA in patients with non-cirrhotic, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis to assess treatment with obeticholic acid given orally (25 mg daily) or placebo for 72 weeks. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 using a computer-generated, centrally administered procedure, stratified by clinical centre and diabetes status. The primary outcome measure was improvement in centrally scored liver histology defined as a decrease in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score by at least 2 points without worsening of fibrosis from baseline to the end of treatment. A planned interim analysis of change in alanine aminotransferase at 24 weeks undertaken before end-of-treatment (72 weeks) biopsies supported the decision to continue the trial (relative change in alanine aminotransferase −24%, 95% CI −45 to −3). A planned interim analysis of the primary outcome showed improved efficacy of obeticholic acid (p=0·0024) and supported a decision not to do end-of-treatment biopsies and end treatment early in 64 patients, but to continue the trial to obtain the 24-week post-treatment measures. Analyses were done by intention-to-treat. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01265498. Findings Between March 16, 2011, and Dec 3, 2012, 141 patients were randomly assigned to receive obeticholic acid and 142 to placebo. 50 (45%) of 110 patients in the obeticholic acid group who were meant to have biopsies at baseline and 72 weeks had improved liver histology compared with 23 (21%) of 109 such patients in the placebo group (relative risk 2·2, 95% CI 1·4 to 3·3; p=0·0002). 33 (23%) of 141 patients in the obeticholic acid developed pruritus compared with nine (6%) of 142 in the placebo group. Interpretation Obeticholic acid improved the histological features of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, but its long-term benefits and safety need further clarification. Funding National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Intercept Pharmaceuticals.