cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional Process Modeling for Design for Environment

This research is an effort towards providing higher level Design for Environment (DFE) tools for a broad industrial region. Issues ranging from the levels immediately above existing design tools, to the envisioned highest level for a broad geographical region are discussed. A tool for the regional planning of the DFE activities is proposed, considering a model construction based on material flows across the industry. The Multi-Lifecycle approach is supported by organizing the input/output flows for industries, potentially utilizing waste material, side products and recycling. Capitalizing on the conceptual integration of the design and process activities, an Abstract Design Environment is used for the design of the basically process oriented material flow tool. Within the context, the relations among design, process and flow-modeling concepts are discussed.
Restoration of Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate-Nitrate Reductase Activity of a Neurospora Mutant by Extracts of Various Chlorate-Resistant Mutants of Escherichia coli

Acid-treated extracts of Escherichia coli were tested for their ability to restore reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-nitrate reductase activity to an extract of a Neurospora nit-1 mutant which produces a defective enzyme. With wild-type E. coli this complementation activity was more readily detected in the cytoplasmic fraction, although the nitrate reductase activity was found primarily in the particulate fraction. chlB mutants of E. coli appeared to have more complementation activity in the cytoplasm than was observed in the wild type, but no activity in the particulate fraction. The other chl mutants had little or no activity in either fraction. These results suggest that chlB mutants can produce a component or cofactor which is missing in the other mutants and in the Neurospora mutant, but cannot transfer it to the nitrate reductase enzyme.
The highest utilizers of care: Individualized care plans to coordinate care, improve healthcare service utilization, and reduce costs at an academic tertiary care center

BACKGROUND High utilizers are medically and psychosocially complex, have high rates of emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions, and contribute to rising healthcare costs. OBJECTIVE Develop individualized care plans to reduce unnecessary healthcare service utilization and hospital costs for complex, high utilizers of inpatient and ED care. DESIGN Quality-improvement intervention with a retrospective pre/post intervention analysis. SETTING Nine hundred twenty-four–bed tertiary academic medical center. PATIENTS Twenty-four medically and psychosocially complex patients with the highest rates of inpatient admissions and ED visits from August 1, 2012 to August 31, 2013. INTERVENTION A multidisciplinary team developed individualized care plans integrated into our electronic medical record (EMR) that summarize patient histories, utilization patterns, and management strategies. MEASUREMENTS Primary outcomes included inpatient admissions, ED visits, and corresponding variable direct costs 6 and 12 months after care-plan implementation. Secondary outcomes include inpatient length of stay (LOS) and 30-day readmissions. RESULTS Hospital admissions decreased by 56% (P < 0.001) and 50.5% (P = 0.003), 6 and 12 months after care-plan implementation. Thirty-day readmissions decreased by 66% (P < 0.001) and 51.5% (P = 0.002), 6 and 12 months after care-plan implementation. ED visits, ED costs, and inpatient LOS did not significantly change. Inpatient variable direct costs were reduced by 47.7% (P = 0.001) and 35.8% (P = 0.052), 6 and 12 months after care-plan implementation. CONCLUSIONS Individualized care plans developed by a multidisciplinary team and integrated with the existing healthcare workforce and EMR reduce hospital admissions, 30-day readmissions, and hospital costs for complex, high-utilizing patients. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2015;10:419–424. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine
NATURAL SELECTION WITH NUCLEAR AND CYTOPLASMIC TRANSMISSION. I. A DETERMINISTIC MODEL

A deterministic model allowing variation at a nuclear genetic locus in a population segregating two cytoplasmic types is formulated. Additive, multiplicative and symmetric viability matrices are analyzed for existence and stability of equilibria. The protectedness of polymorphisms in both nuclear genes and cytoplasmic types is also investigated in the general model. In no case is a complete polymorphism protected with this deterministic model. Results are discussed in light of the extensive variation in mtDNA that has recently been reported.
School Correlates of Academic Behaviors and Performance Among McKinney–Vento Identified Youth:

We utilized a pooled sample of elementary, middle, and high school–aged children identified as homeless via definitions set forth by McKinney–Vento legislation in a large urban district in Californ...
Circumferential periosteal release in the treatment of children with leg-length inequality

We present the results of 38 children with leg inequality treated by circumferential periosteal release. Leg-length discrepancy was expressed as a percentage of the longer limb. All patients showed a decrease in percentage difference at one year after operation, the mean difference dropping from 7.24% to 5.45%. The size of the response was directly related to the age of the patient at operation, being more pronounced in the younger patients. The response was not related to sex, diagnosis, or rate of growth of the patient immediately preceding operation.
Isolation of rapidly growing mycobacteria in patients with cystic fibrosis

as a consequence of the traction placed on the caudal nerve roots has been referred to as the tethered cord syndrome. 1 Typically, individuals with untreated lesions present with orthopedic deformities of the lower extremities or with urologic problems such as retention, incontinence, or infection. The insidious fashion in which the complications of the tethered cord syndrome develop means that some children may suffer irreversible damage to the nerve roots before symptoms are mani fes t? ~ Early diagnosis is therefore imperative. In the four patients with dysraphism, the neurologic examinations were normal and the radiographs were considered normal preoperatively. This implies that evaluation must extend beyond these studies. Addit ional information may be obtained through the use of air or positive contrast myelography or computerized tomograplay of the spine5 ~ The relative risk of these procedures vis-fi-vis radiation exposure and technical difficulty should be weighed against direct surgical exploration, in which both diagnostic and therapeutic benefit may be obtained. Although careful and repeated neurologic follow-up is an acceptable alternative, it is our opinion that surgical exploration of the structures underlying the cutaneous defect may well be the most conservative approach to aplasia cutis congenita of the lumbosacral area.
Terrain profile modelling using stochastic partial differential equations

For realistic and efficient predictions of vehicle performance in off-road conditions, it is critical to incorporate in the simulation realistic representations of the variability of the terrain profile. Many studies using dedicated modelling techniques and computational methods have been recently conducted to identify effective ways to reduce experimental data in order to preserve only essential information needed to recreate the main terrain characteristics. The method we propose in this paper is to model non-stationary terrain profile in two dimensions using the finite difference approach for solving linear second-order stochastic partial differential equations. Certain assumptions are made for the values of the model coefficients to obtain the terrain profile while preserving the stochastic properties of the original terrain topology. Additional techniques are currently being explored to further refine the estimation of the model coefficients to realistically model the terrain profile.
Use of the WISC-R and K-ABC with Learning Disabled, Borderline Mentally Retarded, and Normal Children.

The aim of this investigation was to examine normal (N = 34), learning disabled (N = 34), and borderline mentally retarded (N = 33) children's performance on the WISC-R and K-ABC. Results revealed no significant differences between the WISC-R Full Scale IQ and K-ABC Mental Processing Composite by group (F = 0.7, p > .15). The Full Scale IQ and Mental Processing Composite standard score correlated .85 for the entire sample, and all other subscale correlations ranged from .65 to .90 (all significant at p < .001). Analysis of Verbal-Performance, Mental Processing-Achievement, and Simultaneous-Sequential discrepancy means by group revealed no significant differences in comparison to normative values. Subtest patterns analysis revealed high rank order correlations between the learning disabled and mentally retarded groups, but lower correlations between the exceptional and normal groups. Implications of these findings are discussed.
A randomized study comparing two regimens of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy in multimodal therapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer

Two regimens of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for previously untreated patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer were compared with the goal of identifying a regimen with a greater than 50% complete response (CR) rate. Patients with a performance status of 0 to 2 and normal end-organ function were randomized to receive either four cycles of neoadjuvant methotrexate, cisplatin, and continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (MPF) (arm A), or four cycles of bleomycin, cisplatin, and methotrexate (PBM) alternating with cisplatin and 5-FU (PF) (arm B). Patients with a performance status of greater than 2 or a carbon monoxide diffusion capacity of less than 50% of the predicted value were assigned to the arm A regimen but were analyzed separately (arm C). Local therapy consisted of surgery (for patients with resectable disease) or radiation therapy followed by two cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with the regimen that was administered initially. Of the 42 patients who were evaluated, 16 were randomized to arm A, 13 to arm B, and 13 to arm C. The clinical CR rate was 19% on arm A (95% confidence interval, 0% to 38%), 39% on arm B (95% confidence interval, 12% to 66%) (P = 0.41), and 54% on arm C (95% confidence interval, 27% to 81%). At a median follow-up time of 35 months, the 2-year actuarial survival rate was 61% on arm A, 69% on arm B (the P value was not significant), and 38% on arm C. The 2-year survival rate for all 42 patients who were treated was 57% and the median survival time was 31 months. Toxicities of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on all arms consisted of mild to moderate myelosuppression and renal toxicity. The incidence of moderate to severe mucositis was significantly higher on arm A than arm B (P = 0.02). Two cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy were administered to only 11 of 42 patients due to patient refusal or cumulative toxicity. In conclusion, both neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens resulted in similar response and survival rates, but mucositis was more severe with arm A. However, since neither regimen was likely to cause a CR rate of greater than 50%, this study was closed to further patient accrual.
Congenital Goiter with Defective Iodide Transport

THE TWENTY-TWO known cases of congenital goiter, with or without cretinism, that are due to defective iodide concentrating ability have been compared. The defect may be total or partial, sometimes becomes clinically manifest long after the neonatal period, shows male predominance, and frequently occurs without evidence of consanguinity or partial defects in the parents. The degree of clinical or laboratory hypothyroidism may vary but radioiodide uptake is low or absent. The diagnosis is based on the failure to concentrate iodide in salivary or gastric secretions on the one hand, and the attainment of the euthyroid state by iodide replacement alone. Limited evidence suggests that the defect is due to the absence or malfunction of the iodide carrier. The ion exchange basis of thyroidal anion selectivity dictates certain properties for the hypothetical iodide carrier which are dicussed. Introduction The concept that iodide transport is an independent step in the biosynthesis of the thyroid hormones was first...
Genotypic variation in ethylene production by maize grown under nutrient deficiency

Summary Ethylene production by drought-resistant and drought-sensitive genotypes of maize ( Zea mays L.), grown in full strength Hoagland's solution or in solutions lacking nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium, was measured to determine genotypic variation of ethylene evolution under nutrient deficiency. Shoot height, root length, total fresh weight, and total dry weight of the plants were also determined. When the plants were grown without N, P, or K, the drought-resistant genotype grew an average of 4.4 cm taller, but had an average root length that was 5.5 cm shorter, than the drought-sensitive genotype. The total fresh and dry weights of the drought-resistant genotype also were greater than those of the drought-sensitive genotype. At the end of the 26-day experiment, total fresh weight and total dry weight of the drought-resistant genotype averaged 0.21 and 0.03 g per plant more, respectively, than those of the drought-sensitive genotype. Ethylene released by the drought-resistant genotype was not affected by nutritional status. However, the drought-sensitive genotype evolved 1.4 times more ethylene under nutrient deficit (-N, -P, -K) than it did when grown with all nutrients. These results showed that genotypes of maize vary in the amount of ethylene evolved under nutrient starvation.
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON SPONTANEOUS AND RADIATION-INDUCED LEUKEMIA IN GERMFREE MICE.

SummaryGermfree ICR and RF mice X-irradiated in a single exposure to 300-900 R have been observed for leukemia for periods up to 10 months after irradiation, along with nonirradiated controls. Preliminary data indicate that the cumulative incidence of leukemia in the irradiated germfree mice is as high as, or higher than, in the irradiated conventional mice. The incidence is higher in both irradiated groups than in the unirradi-ated germfree and conventional controls, which do not differ in spontaneous leukemia incidence. All leukemias examined thus far histopathologically have been lymphosarco-mas. Tissues of a germfree RF mouse with X-ray-induced leukemia contained tailed “virus-like” particles similar to those noted in conventional mice and associated with transmission of the disease. Both germfree and conventional mice with leukemia showed renal glomerulosclerosis.We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of D. M. Robie, E. I. Mynatt, and E. Teeter for maintenance and surveillance of the gremfree colon...
Assignment of the human FKBP12-rapamycin-associated protein (FRAP) gene to chromosome 1p36 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

This report describes the localization of the human FKBP12-rapamycin-associated protein (FRAP) gene to human chromosome 1p36 using fluorescence in situ hybridization. This protein is the binding site for rapamycin and FK506, two potent immunosuppressive drugs. 12 refs., 1 fig.
Human Trafficking Is More Than Sex Trafficking and Prostitution: Implications for Social Work

The human trafficking discussion has focused primarily on women and children who are trafficked for sexual exploitation. However, as social workers confront the issue, they require an understanding of the problem that also acknowledges individuals who are forced to work in other areas. This article critically examines the current discourse on human trafficking because the sole focus on women and children diverts attention from the study of trafficking within the context of globalization and the exploitation of labor. It analyzes the term human trafficking, particularly how it became linked to antiprostitution campaigns, and suggests guidelines for a framework that is grounded in social work values.
Beamforming with extended co-prime sensor arrays

Co-prime sensor arrays (CSAs) interleave two uniform linear subarrays that are undersampled by co-prime factors. The resulting nonuniform array requires far fewer sensors to match the spatial resolution of a fully populated ULA of the same aperture. Choosing the co-prime undersampling factors as close to equal as possible minimizes the number of sensors in the CSA. However, the peak side lobe of the CSA is higher than the peak side lobe of the equivalent full uniform linear array (ULA). Increasing the number of sensors in the CSA subarrays by half while maintaining the interelement spacing gurarantees that the CSA peak side lobe is less than that of the full aperture ULA when both arrays use rectangular windows.
Stochastic models for telecom commodity prices

Abstract Bandwidth is becoming commoditized and markets are starting to appear. Potential behaviors of these markets are not yet understood because these markets are still in the early stages of development. This is reflected in the lack of current research on the structure and dynamics of network commodity market prices. We present a method for constructing telecom commodity spot price processes as a first step for understanding these developing markets. Bandwidth, like electricity, is not storable so we draw inspiration from electricity prices and models. However, unique network features of telecommunications require specific inclusion. These are geographical substitution (arbitrage), quality of service (QoS), and the continuing pace of technological development. Developing liquidity acts as a further complication. Thus we model price development as a combination of link price processes modified by prices for equivalent QoS routes. We demonstrate our method on a simple triangular network topology and characterize a network contract graph derived from more than 10 major carrier backbones and new entrant networks. Our results cover the existence and value of arbitrage opportunities together with their effect on price development and network value (NPV). Application of this work ranges from network design to infrastructure valuation and construction of real options.
Alteration of a Salt Marsh Bacterial Community by Fertilization with Sewage Sludge

The effects of long-term fertilization with sewage sludge on the aerobic, chemoheterotrophic portion of a salt marsh bacterial community were examined. The study site in the Great Sippewissett Marsh, Cape Cod, Mass., consisted of experimental plots that were treated with different amounts of commercial sewage sludge fertilizer or with urea and phosphate. The number of CFUs, percentage of mercury- and cadmium-resistant bacteria, and percentage of antibiotic-resistant bacteria were all increased in the sludge-fertilized plots. Preliminary taxonomic characterization showed that sludge fertilization markedly altered the taxonomic distribution and reduced diversity within both the total heterotrophic and the mercury-resistant communities. In control plots, the total heterotrophic community was fairly evenly distributed among taxa and the mercury-resistant community was dominated by Pseudomonas spp. In sludge-fertilized plots, both the total and mercury-resistant communities were dominated by a single Cytophaga sp.
Dendritic Function: Where does it all begin?

Dendrites from a variety of neurons support action potentials, but the role of dendritic electrogenesis in spike initiation remains unclear.
Bacteria associated with deep, alkaline, anaerobic groundwaters in Southeast Washington.

The microbial diversity in two deep, confined aquifers, the Grande Ronde (1270 m) and the Priest Rapids (316 m), Hanford Reservation, Washington, USA, was investigated by sampling from artesian wells. These basaltic aquifers were alkaline (pH 8.5 to 10.5) and anaerobic (Eh −200 to −450 mV). The wells were allowed to free-flow until pH and Eh stabilized, then the microflora was sampled with water filtration and flow-through sandtrap methods. Direct microscopic counts showed 7.6 × 105 and 3.6 × 103 bacteria ml−1 in water from the Grande Ronde and Priest Rapids aquifers, respectively. The sand filter method yielded 5.7 × 108 and 1.1 × 105 cells g−1 wet weight of sand. The numbers of bacteria did not decrease as increasing volumes of water were flushed out. The heterotrophic diversity of these bacterial populations was assessed using enrichments for 20 functional groups. These groups were defined by their ability to grow in a matrix of five different electron acceptors (O2, Fe(III), NO3 −, SO4 2−, HCO3 −) and four groups of electron donors (fermentation products, monomers, polymers, aromatics) in a mineral salts medium at pH 9.5. Growth was assessed by protein production. Culture media were subsequently analyzed to determine substrate utilization patterns. Substrate utilization patterns proved to be more reliable indicators of the presence of a particular physiological group than was protein production. The sand-trap method obtained a greater diversity of bacteria than did water filtration, presumably by enriching the proportion of normally sessile bacteria relative to planktonic bacteria. Substrate utilization patterns were different for microflora from the two aquifers and corresponded to their different geochemistries. Activities in the filtered water enrichments more closely matched those predicted by aquifer geochemistry than did the sand-trap enrichments. The greatest activities were found in Fe(III)-reducing enrichments from both wells, SO4-reducing enrichments from the Grande Ronde aquifer, and methanogenic enrichments from the Priest Rapids aquifer. Organisms from these aquifers may be useful for high-pH bioremediation applications as well as production of biotechnological products. These organisms may also be useful for modeling potential reactions near buried concrete, as might be found in subsurface waste depositories.
Thickening of the human dorsal root ganglion perineurial cell basement membrane in diabetes mellitus

Lumbar dorsal root ganglia were sampled at autopsy from 27 diabetics and 22 nondiabetics. Using quantitative ultrastructural morphometry, the perineurial cell basement membrane thickness was estimated for each case, and a highly significant difference was found between the patient means for each group (nondiabetics 114 +/- 18 nm vs. diabetics 203 +/- 64 nm, P less than 0.001). These results indicate that perineurial cell basement membrane thickening probably is present diffusely throughout the diabetic peripheral nervous system because it has been reported in the sural nerves and dermal nerves. The increased permeability of the blood-nerve barrier of the dorsal root ganglia is apparently not a factor in the development of this basement membrane hypertrophy.
A Thermo-Mechanical Approach for Fatigue Testing of Polymer Bimaterial Interfaces

We have developed a new technique that uses a noncontact fiber optic displacement sensor to investigate the crack growth along polymer interfaces under thermal fatigue conditions. This technique has been used to test the underfill/passivation interface of a direct chip attach (DCA) assembly, the thermal fatigue driven delamination of which is a major cause for failure of DCA assemblies. The sample is prepared as a multilayered cantilever beam by capillary flow of the underfill over a polyimide coated metallic beam. During thermal cycling the crack growth along the interface from the free end changes the displacement of this end of the beam and we measure this displacement at the lowest temperature in each thermal cycle. The change in beam displacement is converted into crack growth knowing the geometry of the specimen. The crack growth rate depends on the maximum difference in the strain energy release rate of the crack in each cycle and the mechanical phase angle. This paper outlines the theoretical basis of the technique and provides initial results obtained for a variety of underfills dispensed over a commercial (PMDA/ODA) polyimide. The technique was validated by comparing the crack growth measured by displacement changes with direct optical microscopy measurements of the crack length.
Evaluation of the responsiveness of elevated pulmonary vascular resistance in children by Doppler echocardiography.

Changes in the Doppler indexes, acceleration time (AcT), right ventricular ejection time (RVET), AcT/RVET ratio and pulmonary artery peak velocity were measured as were changes in pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance in 21 children with pulmonary hypertension due to a large interventricular communication. In 11 children pulmonary vascular resistance was >4.6 U/m2(mean 8.6 ± 1.6), whereas in 10 it was 50% of baseline values (from 5.3 ± 0.7 to 1.6 ± 0.3 U/m2), whereas in the 10 nonresponders mean pulmonary vascular resistance decreased from 7.0 ± 1.9 to 4.9 ± 1.1 U/m2. There was no significant change in the Doppler indexes except for an increase in pulmonary artery peak velocity in the responders from 1.34 ± 0.07 to 1.66 ± 0.06 m/s (p < 0.001). The results indicate that Doppler echocardiography cannot predict either the level of increased pulmonary vascular resistance or the degree of responsiveness sufficiently to obviate the need for cardiac catheterization in patients with interventricular communication and pulmonary hypertension.
The development and validation of the methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) beliefs questionnaire (MDMA-BQ) in college students

Approximately 15% of individuals aged 18–35 currently report use of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). In order to identify and assess the subjective effects of MDMA, the MDMA Beliefs Questionnaire (MDMA-BQ) was developed and validated on a sample of college students. Participants (N = 913) responded to items describing possible outcomes of using MDMA. Principal components analyses (PCA) revealed a five-factor solution. The five scales were named: (a) Global Positive Effects; (b) Safety; (c) Health Risks; (d) Psychological Consequences; and (e) Dose/Mixing Effects. The MDMA-BQ scale scores were associated with level of MDMA use. Overall, nonusers’ scale scores for negative outcomes associated with MDMA were higher than individuals who endorsed having used MDMA once or more, and participants who had used MDMA rated the positive outcome expectancies higher than nonusers. Findings are consistent with previous research and provide evidence of construct validity for the MDMA-BQ. In a second study, scores on...
Does minimally invasive transsacral fixation provide anterior column support in adult scoliosis

Background Spinal fusion to the sacrum, especially in the setting of deformity and long constructs, is associated with high complication and pseudarthrosis rates. Transsacral discectomy, fusion, and fixation is a minimally invasive spine surgery technique that provides very rigid fixation. To date, this has been minimally studied in the setting of spinal deformity correction.
Big Vee: The story of a function, an algorithm, and three mathematical worlds

The Dubins-Savage theory of gambling takes place in a world of finitely additive probability measures defined on all subsets of a set of arbitrary cardinality. When the theory is specialized to a more conventional world of countably additive measures defined on the Borel subsets of a standard Borel space, the question arises whether the gambler is harmed when restricted to measurable strategies; that is, whether the optimal reward function V remains the same. The answer to this question uses methods from the world of descriptive set theory. Ashok Maitra was perhaps the unique person who was completely at home in all three of these mathematical worlds.
Multistep, In-Situ Single Wafer Processing - Materials, Device and Equipment Issues

Multistep, in-situ single wafer processing is being explored as an alternative processing approach to standard batch silicon wafer processing. Advantages and disadvantages of this approach are explored and an evaluation given of the potential for future advanced, low temperature wafer processing. Multistep, single wafer processing offers many advantages for advanced device and IC development but much technology research and equipment development is needed to achieve its potential.
Carcinogen-induced chromosome breakage in Fanconi's anaemia heterozygous cells

FANCONI'S anaemia (FA) is one of the genetic syndromes in which chromosomal instability has been associated with an increased predisposition to cancer1. An increased risk of malignancy has also been reported for presumptive carriers of the FA gene2,3, although no evidence of chromosome abnormalities has been found in cultured lymphocytes or fibroblasts from the FA heterozygote. The nature of the genetic defect in FA is still unclear, although there is evidence for defective DNA repair4–6.Lymphocytes from FA homozygotes have an increased incidence of chromosome aberrations after exposure to ionising radiation7 or alkylating agents8,9. We reported recently that baseline breakage rates for FA cell strains varied from 0.20 to 0.36 breaks per cell, and that after carcinogen treatment of the type described below, these rates were increased three to fivefold10. The same carcinogen treatment had no clastogenic effect on normal, xero-derma pigmentosum and trisomy 18 fibroblasts. There is at present no way to distinguish FA heterozygous individuals from normal. The only distinction that has been reported has been an increased susceptibility to in vitro transformation by the onco-genic virus SV40 in both homozygous and heterozygous FA fibroblasts11, but similar results have been obtained with cell strains from patients with several other syndromes. As the ability to identify carriers of the FA gene would be of great benefit because of their increased cancer risk, we report here the results of experiments in which we were able to distinguish FA heterozygous cell strains from normals, after exposing the cells to the difunctional alkylating agent diepoxybutane (DEB), an active mutagen and carcinogen 12–15.
A heuristic method for statistical digital circuit sizing

In this paper we give a brief overview of a heuristic method for approximately solving a statistical digital circuit sizing problem, by reducing it to a related deterministic sizing problem that includes extra margins in each of the gate delays to account for the variation. Since the method is based on solving a deterministic sizing problem, it readily handles large-scale problems. Numerical experiments show that the resulting designs are often substantially better than one in which the variation in delay is ignored, and often quite close to the global optimum. Moreover, the designs seem to be good despite the simplicity of the statistical model (which ignores gate distribution shape, correlations, and so on). We illustrate the method on a 32-bit Ladner-Fischer adder, with a simple resistor-capacitor (RC) delay model, and a Pelgrom model of delay variation.
Autonomic influences in atrial ischemia: vagally mediated atrial conduction improvement

Abstract To investigate the effects of autonomic nerve activation on electrophysiological properties of ischemic atrial myocardium, experiments were performed in 10 open chest adult dogs anesthetized with xylazine and alpha-chloralose. Ischemia was created in the right atrial free wall by ligation of one or more branches of the right coronary artery. Bipolar electrograms were recorded from multiple sites in the ischemic and non-ischemic zones. The atria were paced at 400 ms and 180 ms to assess conduction properties. One hour after ligation, delayed activation, electrogram fractionation, and electrogram alternans were observed in the ischemic zone. All local conduction abnormalities were heart rate dependent in that they were only observed at a pacing cycle length of 180 ms. The average duration of ischemic zone electrograms was significantly prolonged from 17.7±1.6 ms to 26.4±1.6 ms ( P P P
Factors that influence fast mapping in children exposed to Spanish and English.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether children exposed to 2 languages would benefit from the phonotactic probability cues of a single language in the same way as monolingual pe...
Microfluidic technologies for studying synthetic circuits.

Advances in synthetic biology have augmented the available toolkit of biomolecular modules, allowing engineering and manipulation of signaling in a variety of organisms, ranging in complexity from single bacteria and eukaryotic cells to multi-cellular systems. The richness of synthetic circuit outputs can be dramatically enhanced by sophisticated environmental control systems designed to precisely pattern spatial–temporally heterogeneous environmental stimuli controlling these circuits. Moreover, the performance of the synthetic modules and ‘blocks’ needed to assemble more complicated networks requires more complete characterization as a function of arbitrarily complex environmental inputs. Microfluidic technologies are poised to meet these needs through a variety of innovative designs capitalizing on the unique benefits of manipulating fluids on the micro-scales and nano-scales. This review discusses the utility of microfluidics for the study of synthetic circuits and highlights recent work in the area.
On the wave equation with small quantum numbers

The determination of the Eigenwerte, and the normalization of the Eigenfunktionen of the one-dimensional wave equation, with a potential energy that has a single minimum, is customarily based on the use of the so-called phase integral and W.K.B. formulas. These formulas are asymptotic in character. As they have usually been applied, they accordingly lead to conclusions which can be regarded as established only when the respective quantum numbers are sufficiently large. This restriction has been both unfortunate and puzzling. For on the one hand, the cases of small or moderate quantum numbers are often peculiarly interesting while, on the other hand, the phase integral formulas have been found by trial, at least in a variety of simple cases, to give surprisingly good results even in the lower quantum number range.It is shown in this paper how the asymptotic method should be applied when small or moderate quantum numbers are in question. In the case of the Eigenwerte, the characteristic equation appropriate to the lower range is derived, and a comparison of this new equation with the familiar one based on the phase integral is made. It is thus theoretically established that under certain very liberal conditions upon the potential energy the older method does give good approximations. In the special case of the harmonic oscillator the two equations are, in fact, identical. For the normalization of the Eigenfunktionen a method which has been used in principle by W. H. Furry is applied. It is, however, framed in a manner appropriate to the smaller quantum number range. Formulas are given for the normalized Eigenfunktionen over the several intervals of the variable, over the critical interval which includes the minimum of the potential energy and the turning points, as well as over the intervals remote from the turning points.In the special case of the harmonic oscillator, the method here used gives certain exact---not merely asymptotic---results. These, therefore, supply a basis for the appraisal of the corresponding results that are obtainable by other means.
Performance evaluation of the atmospheric phase of aeromaneuvering orbital transfer vehicles

Studies are underway to design reusable orbital transfer vehicles that would be used to transfer payloads from low-earth orbit to higher orbits and return. One promising concept is to use an atmospheric pass on the return leg to reduce the amount of fuel for the mission. This paper discusses a six-degree-of-freedom simulation analysis for two configurations, a low-lift-to-drag ratio configuration and a medium-lift-to-drag ratio configuration using both a predictive guidance technique and an adaptive guidance technique. Both guidance schemes were evaluated using the 1962 standard atmosphere and three atmospheres that had been derived from three entries of the Space Shuttle. The predictive technique requires less reaction control system activity for both configurations, but because of the limited number of updates and because each update used the 1962 standard atmosphere, the adaptive technique produces more accurate exit conditions.
Survival impact of time to initiation of chemoradiotherapy after resection of newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

OBJECT There are few and conflicting reports on the effects of delayed initiation of chemoradiotherapy on the survival of patients with glioblastoma. The standard of care for newly diagnosed glioblastoma is concurrent radiotherapy and temozolomide chemotherapy after maximal safe resection; however, the optimal timing of such therapy is poorly defined. Given the lack of consensus in the literature, the authors performed a retrospective analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to investigate the effect of time from surgery to initiation of therapy on survival in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. METHODS Patients with primary glioblastoma diagnosed since 2005 and treated according to the standard of care were identified from TCGA database. Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to compare overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between groups stratified by postoperative delay to initiation of radiation treatment. RESULTS There were 218 patients with newly dia...
A Rice Membrane Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase Is Induced by Gibberellin

A rice (Oryza sativa) seed plasma-membrane calcium-dependent serine/threonine protein kinase (CDPK) has been partially purified. Comparing results in seeds that were treated with and without the plant hormone gibberellin (GA) for 10 min showed that rice CDPK was highly induced by GA. After separating solubilized membrane proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, followed by renaturation, a radiolabeled phosphoprotein band of approximately 58 kD was detected, and it was apparently produced by autophosphorylation. There are five aspects of the rice CDPK that show similarity to mammalian protein kinase C (PKC) and to other plant CDPKs: (a) Histone IIIS and PKC peptide-ser25 (19-31) are phosphorylated by rice CDPK. (b) The phosphorylation reaction is strictly dependent on calcium. (c) The activity of the rice CDPK is inhibited by either staurosporine or the PKC inhibitory peptide (19-36). (d) Addition of calmodulin has no effect on the activity of the enzyme; however, the CDPK is inhibited by the calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine and W-7. (e) The rice CDPK reacts with a mammalian anti-PKC antibody in immunoblotting analysis. However, there is one major difference between the rice CDPK and other CDPKs: the rice CDPK is induced by GA, whereas no mammalian PKC or other plant CDPKs are known to be induced by any hormone.
The effect of patient race and socio-economic status on physicians' perceptions of patients.

Abstract Despite its potential influence on quality of care, there has been little research on the way physicians perceptions of and beliefs about patients are affected by patient race or socio-economic status. The lack of research in this area creates a critical gap in our understanding of how patients' demographic characteristics influence encounter characteristics, diagnoses, treatment recommendations, and outcomes. This study uses survey data to examine the degree to which patient race and socio-economic status affected physicians' perceptions of patients during a post-angiogram encounter. A total of 842 patient encounters were sampled, out of which 193 physicians provided data on 618 (73%) of the encounters sampled. The results of analyses of the effect of patient race and SES on physician perceptions of and attitude towards patients, controlling for patient age, sex, race, frailty/sickness, depression, mastery, social assertiveness and physician characteristics, are presented. These results supported the hypothesis that physicians' perceptions of patients were influenced by patients' socio-demographic characteristics. Physicians tended to perceive African-Americans and members of low and middle SES groups more negatively on a number of dimensions than they did Whites and upper SES patients. Patient race was associated with physicians' assessment of patient intelligence, feelings of affiliation toward the patient, and beliefs about patient's likelihood of risk behavior and adherence with medical advice; patient SES was associated with physicians' perceptions of patients' personality, abilities, behavioral tendencies and role demands. Implications are discussed in terms of further studies and potential interventions.
Defensive conditioning of electrographic arousal with delayed and differentiated auditory stimuli.

Abstract 1. 1. In three cats, a delayed (2 min.) auditory conditioned stimulus associated with moderate shock to the skin, produced in the electrographic sleep record a characteristic pattern of: ( a ) an initial brief activation followed by ( b ) a more prolonged period of synchrony, changing usually midway through the CS to ( c ) a return of activation enduring to the delivery of the unconditioned stimulus. Recording points leading in the development of activation and showing the greatest resistance to synchrony were auditory cortex, reticular formation, and hippocampus. Points showing the reciprocal predominance of synchrony and resistance to activation were in association cortex. 2. 2. The degree and duration of synchrony present during the first half of the CS varied inversely with the intensity of the US and directly with the progression of trials in a given daily session. Synchrony was not definitely present until the conditioned stimulus had been extended longer than one minute. 3. 3. A differentiated stimulus of 20 sec. duration, applied after full differentiation in combination with the CS during the early synchrony response, briefly desynchronized that response, without disturbing the total duration of synchrony or the overall conditioned electrographic response pattern. 4. 4. When combined with the CS and associated to a withholding of reinforcement, the differentiated stimulus evoked marked synchrony during the standardized activation response to the second half of the delayed conditioned stimulus. 5. 5. Interpretations of these findings in relation to Pavlovian inhibition, hypnogenic inhibition theory of sleep, and competitive interactions in the brain are discussed.
Characterization of RNA Strand Displacement Synthesis by Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus Reverse Transcriptase

The RNase H activity of reverse transcriptase (RT) is presumably required to cleave the RNA genome following minus strand synthesis to free the DNA for use as a template during plus strand synthesis. However, since RNA degradation by RNase H appears to generate RNA fragments too large to spontaneously dissociate from the minus strand, we have investigated the possibility that RNA displacement by RT during plus strand synthesis contributes to the removal of RNA fragments. By using an RNase H−mutant of Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) RT, we demonstrate that the polymerase can displace long regions of RNA in hybrid duplex with DNA but that this activity is approximately 5-fold slower than DNA displacement and 20-fold slower than non-displacement synthesis. Furthermore, we find that although certain hybrid sequences seem nearly refractory to the initiation of RNA displacement, the same sequences may not significantly impede synthesis when preceded by a single-stranded gap. We find that the rate of RNA displacement synthesis by wild-type M-MuLV RT is significantly greater than that of the RNase H− RT but remains less than the rate of non-displacement synthesis. M-MuLV nucleocapsid protein increases the rates of RNA and DNA displacement synthesis approximately 2-fold, and this activity appears to require the zinc finger domain.
Structure of graphite by neutron diffraction

THE structure of graphite1 consists of layers of linked hexagons of carbon atoms. The layers are stacked in a ⋯ ABAB ⋯ sequence so that half the atoms in a layer are directly above and below carbon atoms in the adjoining layers, and half are directly above and below centres of the hexagons. The hexagonal unit cell contains atoms at the (0, 0, 1/4), (1/3, 2/3, 1/4), (0, 0,−1/4) and (2/3, 1/3,−1/4) positions. Modifications to this structure have been proposed by several workers. Lukesh2 reported diffraction patterns indicating a lower symmetry, and Pauling3 has proposed an orthorhombic structure in which the interconnected six-membered rings are distorted so that two-thirds of the bonds are longer. Pauling based his model on the high compressibility of the basal planes, and considerations of stacking bonds in the layered structure. Ergun4 suggested that data on pyrolitic graphite indicated an apparent quinoid structure in the graphite layers, but errors in his analysis have been reported5. X-ray and neutron diffraction studies of graphite were undertaken in our laboratory to study the details of the electron charge density and atomic motion in the graphite structure. The results of the neutron diffraction work show that all in plane carbon–carbon distances have the same value 1.422±0.001 A.
OFFLINE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION AND IDENTIFICATION USING DISTANCE STATISTICS

This paper describes a novel approach for signature verification and identification in an offline environment based on a quasi-multiresolution technique using GSC (Gradient, Structural and Concavity) features for feature extraction. These features when used at the word level, instead of the character level, yield promising results with accuracies as high as 78% and 93% for verification and identification, respectively. This method was successfully employed in our previous theory of individuality of handwriting developed at CEDAR — based on obtaining within and between writer statistical distance distributions. In this paper, exploring signature verification and identification as offline handwriting verification and identification tasks respectively, we depict a mapping from the handwriting domain to the signature domain.
NAMING RANGES AND WRITING MACROS

I recently developed a spreadsheet template that would summarize the year‐to‐date expenditures and encumbrances of a library and calculate the balance left in the budget. One of the design objectives was to minimize the number of instructions for clerical workers who would be using the template. Macros, or programmed sequences of key‐strokes, had to be developed—and when using macros, it is best to do a lot of range naming in order to keep things understandable.
REHABILITATION COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING KNEE SURGERY

This article provides an overview of the clinical management of common complications following knee surgery for ligamentous and meniscal pathology.