cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Radical”; feminists and “bickering”; women: Backlash in U.S. media coverage of the United Nations fourth world conference on women

Newspaper coverage of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women was analyzed for themes indicating backlash against feminism. The study found that several backlash themes, such as women in conflict and stereotypical portrayals of women, were present throughout New York Times and Washington Post coverage. Further, lack of substantive coverage of the conference issues and agendas indicated an underlying backlash; i.e., if the media do not cover the conference, they do not have to acknowledge the existence of issues that are important to women.
Popular culture and professional identity: Accountants in the movies

Abstract Films are among the most visible and accessible artifacts of modern popular culture, serving both to reflect and to generate social values. Since 1957, accountants have appeared as central characters in 16 popular films. Through three dramatic functions—humor, characterization, and plot development—I examine the way film-makers have adapted the serious, technical world of accounting to the production of mass popular entertainment.
Anisotropic Thermal and Electrical Properties of Thin Thermal Interface Layers of Graphite Nanoplatelet-Based Composites

Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are crucial components of high density electronics and the high thermal conductivity of graphite makes this material an attractive candidate for such applications. We report an investigation of the in-plane and through-plane electrical and thermal conductivities of thin thermal interface layers of graphite nanoplatelet (GNP) based composites. The in-plane electrical conductivity exceeds its through-plane counterpart by three orders of magnitude, whereas the ratio of the thermal conductivities is about 5. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the anisotropy in the transport properties is due to the in-plane alignment of the GNPs which occurs during the formation of the thermal interface layer. Because the alignment in the thermal interface layer suppresses the through-plane component of the thermal conductivity, the anisotropy strongly degrades the performance of GNP-based composites in the geometry required for typical thermal management applications and must be taken into account in the development of GNP-based TIMs.
Using Textbooks and Teachers' Guides: A Dilemma for Beginning Teachers and Teacher Educators

ABSTRACTBased on data from a longitudinal study of teacher preparation conducted at a large Midwestern U.S. university, this article describes and appraises what elementary teacher education students were taught about textbooks, what they learned, and what they did with these lessons during student teaching. Although the student teachers were enrolled in two different teacher education programs, all of them developed the impression that if they wanted to be good teachers, they should avoid following textbooks and relying on Teachers' guides. They believed that good teaching means creating your own lessons and materials instead. These ideas proved difficult to act on during student teaching when the student teachers worked in classrooms where textbooks formed the core of instruction and they confronted the fact that they were beginning teachers lacking knowledge, skill, and experience.This article points out that deciding what to teach beginning teachers about textbooks poses a significant dilemma for teac...
Dislocations within elliptical holes

Abstract Elastic fields are derived for edge and screw dislocations within holes of elliptical cross-section. The results are applicable to interactions with defects near the tips of blunted cracks and to hollow dislocation cores.
The effect of initial shunt outflow position on patency of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts.

PURPOSE It has been suggested that initial stent position in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) with relation to hepatic venous outflow is an important determinant of shunt patency. It was hypothesized that TIPS with the stent-implanted segments terminating in the hepatic vein (HV) have shorter primary unassisted shunt patency durations than TIPS with the stent-implanted segments extending to the hepatocaval junction. MATERIALS AND METHODS A consecutive group of 107 patients who underwent TIPS creation for variceal bleeding were retrospectively identified, and the angiographic images during initial TIPS creation were reviewed independently by two observers who were blinded to outcome. Primary unassisted patency was estimated in group A (TIPS terminating in the HV; n =47) and group B (TIPS terminating at the hepatocaval junction; n = 60) with the Kaplan-Meier method, and the two groups were compared with the log-rank test. Patients who had less than 30 days of follow-up were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS Among all 107 patients, primary unassisted patency rates at 3, 6, and 12 months were 91% ± 4%, 74% ± 6%, and 49% ± 6%. TIPS were classified into group A or group B with high interobserver agreement (Cohen κ = 0.98). At 12 months, the primary unassisted patency rate among the patients in group A was 36% ± 10%, compared with 58% 8% among the patients in group B ( P = .017, log-rank test). Patients in group A were twice as likely to lose patency than patients in group B (95% CI of odds ratio, 1.2–4.5). Thirty-day mortality was similar between groups (15% vs 12%; P = .13). CONCLUSION Initial stent position within the hepatic venous outflow is predictive of shunt patency, with TIPS extending to the hepatocaval junction having a longer lifespan than shunts terminating in the HV.
Reprocessing anaglyph images

In related work, we have shown that conventional digital cameras easily can be modified to directly capture anaglyphs. Anaglyph images commonly have been used to encode stereo image pairs for viewing, but anaglyphs also can be treated as an efficient encoding of two-view image data for reprocessing. Each of the two views encoded within an anaglyph has only partial color information, but our preliminary results demonstrate that the "lost" information can be approximately recovered with any of a variety of reasonably efficient algorithms. This not only allows credible full-color stereo pairs be computationally extracted, but also enables more sophisticated computational photography transformations such as creation of depthmaps and various types of point-spread-function (PSF) substitutions.
Department of Energy Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program: An Update

: The objective of this paper is to summarize the program planning activities and current research being conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy Methane Hydrate Program.
The Release of Trichlorofluoromethane from Rigid Polyurethane Foams

The use of trichlorofluoromethane (CCl3F or F-11) in rigid closed cell polyurethane foams has risen dramatically during the past decade and now constitutes one of the major applications of this fluorocarbon, whereas previously aerosol spray cans consumed most of the production of F-11. Our study shows that F-11 remains in the foams for a very long time, perhaps for a hundred years or more, if the foams remain Intact. While in the past F-11 was released relatively soon after it was produced, now polyurethane insulating foams may constitute a growing reservoir from which F-11 will slowly and persistently leak Into the atmosphere for as long as the foams are in use. Although uncertainties remain, we estimate that in the next 50 years it is probable that as much F-11 will be tied up in foams as in the entire atmosphere at present.
'Charging' effects in the scanning electron microscope

A mechanism for the 'charging' artifacts which obscure detail on SEM images of high resistivity specimens is described. An interaction equation, relating the properties of specimen and environment, predicts negative charge build-up and large potential fields. Charging effects are traced to the specular deflection of beam electrons in these fields, and experiments with uncoated polymer fibres are described.
Is Seeing Believing? Photographs, Eyewitness Testimony, and Evidence of the Holocaust

During World War II, the first media outlets to publish photographs of the Nazi mass murder of Jews and others were Soviet newspapers and magazines. The problem with Soviet photographs was that the Soviet media were considered unreliable from a Western standpoint, because unlike in the West, which perceived a clear ideological differentiation of art from photojournalism, Soviet photography blurred that distinction. According to Western standards of evidence, Soviet photography could never be taken seriously as photojournalism, precisely because the photographer was always metaphorically present. Since Soviet photojournalism failed the test of the documentary imperative, it rarely convinced people of the truth of its subject matter. In this epistemological context when photographs might fail to convince, the act of physically bearing witness, of seeing with one's own eyes, became the most important way of proving to a disbelieving public the veracity of Nazi atrocities.
How I Lost My Memory and Never Got It Back

This piece is a cross over memoir writing / short story that could also qualify as exilic writing. It emerges from my own experience of immigration and exile to the United States and in particular it tells the story of my last day in my native country of Romania before my escape in 1983. It also recounts the wrenching episode of my passing through customs and leaving my country forever on a plane to Rome. The essay is about memory, the trauma of exile and the troubled journey of recerating myself as an immigrant straddling two different countries and cultures.
Experience teaching an introduction to DBMS

This paper describes the methodology used to teach an introductory Database Management System course. Although all content description refers exclusively to this class, the methodology can be used to teach other computer science courses. There are several unique aspects of the course. Students do a preliminary presentation and a final presentation of their projects. During the preliminary presentation, they perform the role of the client (inversion of roles); while during the final presentation, the class performs the role of the client and students evaluate their colleagues.
HOLDUP STRUCTURE IN HIGHLY VISCOUS NEWTONIAN AND NON-NEWTONIAN LIQUIDS IN BUBBLE COLUMNS

Abstract Gas holdup structures in highly viscous glycerine and CMC solutions are studied in a 0.305 m diameter batch bubble column. The fractional gas holdups are determined using the dynamic gas disengagement method. Empirical correlations for the gas holdup based on data covering wide ranges of viscosities in Newtonian and pseudoplastic non-Newtonian solutions are presented. For highly viscous pseudoplastic solutions in small diameter columns, the gas holdup has a square root dependence on the diameter of the column. The absence of small bubbles is suggested to be a reason for the very low volumetric mass transfer coefficients in highly viscous solutions, reported in the literature.
Compiling optimized array operations at run-time

Experiments were performed for APL functions on a Vax-750 running UNIX to compare the execution times of two types of interpreted code run time run time compiled code for the dyadic function subtract. The data type and size varied over integer, real, one element, and a 5x5x5x5x5 (=3125) element arrays. The experiment showed a range of more than 2.5:1 in execution times of interpretive code to compiled code.
Patient perceptions of preoperative anaesthesia assessment at a distance

We investigated patient perceptions of a pilot telemedicine preoperative evaluation clinic. Thirteen patients scheduled for elective surgery participated in an outpatient clinic-based preoperative evaluation using telemedicine. The clinic was 80 km from the tertiary care surgical centre. At the clinic, there was an anaesthesia nurse practitioner. An anaesthetist evaluated electrocardiograms, medical records and physical findings via a videoconferencing link. The subjects completed a 15–item, 5–point Likert scale questionnaire. The mean score in the technical quality domain (five items) was 1.7. The mean score in the efficacy perception domain (four items) was 1.6. The mean score in the affective experience domain (three items) was 4.4 (negative perception questions). The mean score in the patient preference domain (three items) was 1.3. The present study confirms that patients accepted remote preoperative anaesthesia services, with positive perceptions in the four domains examined.
SU‐E‐I‐130: Improved Quantification of Cerebral Metabolites in Hepatic Encephalopathy Using 2D L‐COSY and ProFit

Purpose: To detect, separate, and quantify more cerebral metabolites than is currently possible with one‐dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1D MRS) by using 2D localized correlated spectroscopy (2D L‐COSY) with prior‐knowledge fitting algorithm (ProFit). Methods: 14 patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) (mean age ± standard deviation (SD) = 53.3± 10.6 years) and 18 control subjects (52.7±12.6 years) were studied with 1.5T GEMRScanner. A body coil for transmission and a 3‐ inch surface coil for reception were used. A localizer followed by high‐ resolution T1‐weighted axial images (TR/TE = 800/8 ms, 35 slices, 4 mm thickness with no gap) were collected. We used a CHESS sequence for water suppression. 2D L‐COSY spectra were recorded using the following parameters: TE = 30 ms; TR = 2000 ms; total number of scans = 768 (96 &#916;t1 increments and 8 averages per &#916;t1); and spectral width, F1 = 625 Hz and F2 = 2500 Hz. A 27ml voxel was placed on the anterior cingulate gyrus. A battery of neuropsychological tests (NP) was done to correlate the MRS results with the NP data. Results: : The 2D L‐COSY data processed with the ProFit was able to separate and quantify fourteen cerebral metabolites in both healthy controls and patients as opposed to five with 1DMRS. The ratios of myoinositol (mI), glutamate (Glu), total choline, scyllo‐inositol (sI), phosphoethanolamine (PE), and total NAA with respect to creatine (Cr) showed a statistically significant decline in patients compared to healthy controls whereas the ratio of glutamine to Cr (Gln/Cr) was significantly increased. Conclusions: Our technique allows for separation and quantitation of Glu from Gln, strengthening the astrocyte‐ ammonia detoxification hypothesis in HE. In addition, clear separation of glycerol‐phosphocholine (GPC) from total choline in conjunction with the decline in PE, points to a decrease in phospholipid metabolism in HE. This research was supported by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) grant #1R01MH06569501A1
The second intracellular loop of the m5 muscarinic receptor is the switch which enables G-protein coupling.

Abstract We have completed a systematic search of the intracellular loops of a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor for domains that govern G-protein coupling. A unique feature of the second intracellular (i2) loop was an ordered cluster of residues where diverse substitutions cause constitutive activation. A second group of residues in i2 was identified where mutations compromised receptor/G-protein coupling. The residues of each group alternate and are spaced three to four positions apart, suggesting an α-helical structure where these groups form opposing faces of the helix. We propose that the constitutively activating face normally constrains the receptor in the “off-state,” while the other face couples G-proteins in the “on-state.” Therefore, the i2 loop functions as the switch enabling G-protein activation.
An efficient and robust integration technique for applied random vibration analysis

Abstract The mode-based finite element formulation of the equations of motion is usually adopted for linear random vibration analysis (RVA). In general, the RVA of large systems requires a large number of numerical integrations which is very time-consuming for a reasonable level of desired accuracy. Moreover, conventional numerical integration methods may fail to converge when the integrands are highly oscillatory due to slow propagation velocities. In this paper, a robust general-purpose RVA integration technique which can overcome these drawbacks is presented. Multi-point base and nodal excitations including wave passage effect and frequency-independent spatial correlation can be taken into account in the analysis. The proposed technique is based on the closed-form solutions for polynomial-type power spectral density functions and has been verified to be efficient and accurate for many engineering problems. This paper describes the implementation details, presents two examples taken from engineering applications and demonstrates the dramatic time-saving in the computation compared to numerical integration solutions. Response statistics, such as standard deviation of structural responses, are computed and displayed over the entire structures for these examples.
Additivity-based prediction of equilibrium constants for some protein-protein associations.

For many protein families, such as serine proteinases or serine proteinase inhibitors, the family assignment predicts reactivity only in general terms. Both detailed specificity and quantitative reactivity are lacking. We believe that, for many such protein families, algorithms can be devised by defining the subset of n functionally important sequence positions, making the 19n possible single mutants and measuring their reactivity. Given the assumption that the contributions of the n positions are additive, the reactivities of the 20n variants can be predicted. This is illustrated by an almost complete algorithm for the Kazal family of protein inhibitors of serine proteinases.
The Impact of Adaptive Automation Invoking Thresholds on Cognitive Workload and Situational Awareness

Adaptive automation is expected to reduce workload and increase situational awareness; however, these measures can either converge or diverge. Thus, whether the adaptive system improves both, or ju...
Femtosecond multiphoton dynamics of higher-energy potentials

The real-time motion of wave packets prepared coherently in different potential energy surfaces of molecular iodine is reported. Using multiphoton excitation and depletion techniques, we observe the phase-shifted oscillatory motion of the packet and the different transients characteristic of the bound B 0^+u(^3Π) and D 0^+u(^1Σ) state potentials along with the repulsive 0^+g (^1Π) state potential. The approach helps in extending FTS to higher energy potentials and “dark” states, and illustrates experimental control schemes in a relatively simple system.
Matrix Hyaluronan-Activated CD44 Signaling Promotes Keratinocyte Activities and Improves Abnormal Epidermal Functions

Hyaluronan (HA), a major component of the extracellular matrix, is enriched in skin tissues, particularly the epidermis. HA binds to a ubiquitous, abundant, and functionally important family of cell surface receptors, CD44. This article reviews the current evidence for HA/CD44-mediated activation of RhoGTPase signaling and calcium mobilization, leading to the regulation of keratinocyte activities and various epidermal functions. It further discusses the role of HA-mediated CD44 interactions with unique downstream effectors, such as RhoGTPases (RhoA and Rac1), Rho-kinase, protein kinase-Nγ, and phosphoinositide-specific phospholipases (phospholipases Ce and Cγ1) in coordinating certain intracellular signaling pathways, such as calcium mobilization, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–AKT activation, cortactin-actin binding, and actin-associated cytoskeleton reorganization; generating the onset of important keratinocyte activities, such as cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation; and performing epidermal functions. Topical application of selective HA fragments (large versus small HA) to the skin of wild-type mice (but not CD44 knockout mice) improves keratinocyte-associated epidermal functions and accelerates permeability barrier recovery and skin wound healing. Consequently, specific HA fragment (large versus small HA)–mediated signaling events (through the CD44 receptor) are required for keratinocyte activities, which offer new HA-based therapeutic options for patients experiencing epidermal dysfunction and skin damage as well as aging-related skin diseases, such as epidermal thinning (atrophy), permeability barrier dysfunction, and chronic nonhealing wounds.
Fine structure of the Mongolian gerbil adrenal cortex.

The relative weight of the Mongolian gerbil adrenal is one of the largest of any animal species. The adrenal cortex of the gerbil can be divided into three major zones and one zone located between th zona fasciculata and zona reticularis. Mitochondrial cristae of zona glomerulosa cells are plate-like, those of the zona fasciculata are tubular whereas cristae are extensively developed and plate-like in the zona reticularis. Lipid droplets are numerous in fasciculata cells and sparse in glomerulosa and reticularis cells. Fasciculata and glomerulosa cells contain tubules of smooth endoplasmic reticulum whereas rough reticulum predominates in reticularis and border cells. Abundant lysosomes are found in glomerulosa cells; lysosomes are aggregated beneath the cell membrane of reticularis cells. Whorls of concentric lamellae of rough endoplasmic reticulum are localized exclusively to cells in the border zone. Cells in the border zone resemble those of the reticularis because of a virtual absence of smooth endoplasmic reticulum although mitochondrial cristae are tubular and therefore similar to those of the zona fasciculata. It is suggested that cells in the border zone represent a reserve of cells which may transform into fasciculata cells upon stimulation.
On the mechanism of singlet-triplet transitions

Abstract We identify and discuss a non-adiabatic channel for triplet state relaxation. The contribution of this channel is found to depend strongly on the spacing between triplet levels with the same spin projection. The present analysis, which requires the familiar radiative and spin-orbit contributions in addition to the new non-adiabatic channel, provides an explanation of experimental data for substituted benzenes.
Controlling for occasion-specific effects when assessing the test-retest reliability of self-report health questionnaires.

This study proposes a method for self-report health questionnaires to adjust test–retest reliability for changes during the test–retest interval based on an external measure, and to distinguish such changes from random response errors. In our application, eighty participants completed the Symptoms of Illness Checklist (SIC) on two occasions, two weeks apart, immediately before interviews given on each occasion by one of two physicians in a crossover design. The physician interview scores served as external measures, and structural equation modeling was used to estimate the parameters of a model that corrected for the occasion-specific effect of participants’ responses using information from the interviews. Correcting for changes in symptoms during the test–retest interval increased SIC test–retest reliability from .744 to .804 and significantly improved model fit (χ2 diff (1) = 30.78, p < .001). The results suggest methods that can improve the evaluation of self-report health questionnaire test–retest reliability by identifying changes using an external measure, and distinguishing these from random response errors; these increased the estimated SIC test–retest reliability and indicated that the SIC was indeed able to measure changes over the studied time interval. This method can be applied across a broad range of questionnaires.
Formation of a cobalt(II) complex with the ligand 2,4,6,-tripyridyl-s-triazine. Reduction in solution to the univalent state

The formation of a cobalt complex involving the ligand 2,4,6-tripyridyl-s-triazine (TPTZ) is reported. Spectral data, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and conductance values are compatible with a six coordinate, high spin cobalt(II) complex, which in solution is found to be polarographically reducible to a formal univalent state. The reduction potentials of Co(TPTZ)22+ and Co(terpy)22+ are compared and discussed (terpy = 2,2′,2″-terpyridine).
Effects of cocultivation with transformed cells on surface proteins of normal cells

Abstract Virally transformed fibroblasts do not have on their surface a major protein (large external transformation-sensitive, LETS) which is present in normal cells. Cocultivation of the transformation cells with normal cells whose surface proteins have been prelabelled induces an accelerated release of the LETS protein from the normal cells. We have investigated various conditions which affect this phenomenon. Our results show that alteration of cell surface proteins by cocultivation with the transformed cells is time and dose-dependent and requires cell contact. Serum was depleted at least 99% of plasminogen by affinity chromatography and used in the cocultivation experiments. It was found that activation of plasminogen was not required for the accelerated turnover of the LETS protein. Other diffusible proteases are also unlikely to be involved. The possibility that transformed cells have a membrane bound activity is discussed. The role of plasminogen activation was also tested for its relevance in transformation related proteolysis, growth and morphology of cells.
Swallowing in Alzheimer's Disease

Using a prospective case series design, we examined the incidence of oropharyngeal swallowing abnormalities in 25 patients with moderate or severe Alzheimer's disease by videofluoroscopy. Aspiration occurred in 6 of 25 (28.6%). Only four patients showed unequivocally normal performance. Exploratory statistical analyses showed that swallowing abnormalities associated significantly with duration of dementia, eating dependency, and abnormal oral praxis. We observed a trend toward a higher incidence of aspiration in patients with more severe dementia. We conclude that oropharyngeal swallowing abnormalities, including aspiration, are more prevalent in patients with Alzheimer's disease than in normal elderly individuals.
Influence of History on Physicians' Interpretations of Girls' Genital Findings with Respect to Sexual Abuse † 668

Objective: Because physicians customarily obtain histories about possible sexual abuse before examining children, and because their opinions can influence social and legal outcomes, we investigated whether girls' histories influence physicians' interpretations of their genital findings. Design: In mailed questionnaires, 1,387 randomly selected Fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics and all 802 members of 4 professional groups concerned with child abuse or pediatric gynecology were asked to interpret 7 simulated cases, each containing a brief history and a photo of a girl's external genitalia Respondents were asked to interpret 7 more cases in a second questionnaire mailed 4 months later. Both sets of cases involved the identical 7 photos. In 6 case pairs, the 2 histories linked to the photo differed in the extent to which they suggested sexual abuse. In the seventh pair--a control--the identical history was presented in both cases.Results: The response rate was 51%. Data from 28% of 2,189 potential respondents were analyzable. Mean interpretation scores for genital findings changed when the histories changed in 2 case pairs for the 110 experienced (Exp) physicians, in 5 pairs for the 278 moderately experienced(Modexp) physicians, and in all 6 pairs for the 216 inexperienced physicians(Inexp) physicians (P≤0.01 for each case pair). The proportion of Exp physicians who reversed their interpretations of genital findings in the direction suggested by the history--from “no indication of abuse” to “probable abuse” or vice versa--ranged from 0%-6% in the 6 case pairs with differing histories. The comparable proportions were 2%-20% for Modexp physicians and 4%-27% for Inexp physicians. In 4 of 6 cases, Exp physicians reversed their interpretations of genital findings less often than did the less experienced physicians (P≤0.02). The Exp and Modexp physicians interpreted 2 of the 3 case pairs with unambiguous genital findings more consistently than they interpreted the control pair (P≤0.02).Conclusions: In 6 simulated cases, diagnostic expectation influenced some physicians' interpretations of girls' genital findings. Physicians should be alert to the likelihood of this bias and its potentially serious social and legal consequences.
Stress-displacement relations and terrain-vehicle mechanics: A critical discussion

Abstract Current theoretical concepts on the soil-running gear interaction are based upon empirical pressure-sinkage and shear stress-displacement relations. The validity of this concept is critically examined in general terms. It is found that the tests from which these relations are obtained have little or no analogy to the soil-running gear interaction. In particular, the use of the shear stress-displacement relation for an analytical evaluation of the shear stresses at the contact surface of rigid wheels on sand is shown to be misleading, primarily because this relation refers essentially to a state of stress that does not exist in the immediate neighbourhood of rigid wheels. Using a simple approximate relation between the M/(RW) ratio and the mean τ/σ ratio taken over the total contact surface, Sela's theory was checked by means of constant-slip rigid wheel tests. Since this theory is exclusively based on the shear stress-displacement concept, it provides an excellent means to check this concept as a whole. The experimental findings strongly support the conclusion that the shear stress-displacement relation used by Sela is irrelevant to soil-wheel mechanics.
The pathophysiology of spinal cord injury and its clinical implications

The pathophysiology of spinal cord injury can be categorized as acute impact or compression. Acute impact injury is a concussion of the spinal cord. This type of injury initiates a cascade of events focused in the gray matter, and results in hemorrhagic necrosis. The initiating event is a hypoperfusion of the gray matter. Increases in intracellular calcium and reperfusion injury play key roles in cellular injury, and occur early after injury. The extent of necrosis is contingent on the amount of initial force of trauma, but also involves concomitant compression, perfusion pressures and blood flow, and administration of pharmacological agents. Preventing or quelling this cascade of events must involve mechanisms occurring in the initial stages. Spinal cord compression occurs when a mass impinges on the spinal cord causing increased parenchymal pressure. The tissue response is gliosis, demyelination, and axonal loss. This occurs in the white matter, whereas gray matter structures are preserved. Rapid or a critical degree of compression will result in collapse of the venous side of the microvasculature, resulting in vasogenic edema. Vasogenic edema exacerbates parenchymal pressure, and may lead to rapid progression of disfunction. Treatment of compression should focus on removal of the offending mass.
Surface local ionization energies and electrostatic potentials of the conjugate bases of a series of cyclic hydrocarbons in relation to their aqueous acidities

We have computed surface local ionization energies [ĪS(r)] and electrostatic potential minima (Vmin) for the conjugate bases of a series of cyclic hydrocarbons, using an ab initio self-consistent field–molecular orbital approach. Our ĪS(r) and Vmin results are discussed in relation to the acidities of the parent hydrocarbons. A good correlation exists between experimentally determined pKa values and the lowest surface Ī(r) values [ĪS,min], providing a predictive capability for estimating unknown pKa's. The electrostatic potential minima, Vmin, do not relate as well to pKa as does ĪS,min. Using our ĪS,min versus pKa correlation, we predict the pKa's of the strained cage polyhedranes cubane, triprismane, and tetrahedrane to be 36, 32, and 26, respectively.
The Brutality of Redemption

Like her fellow countryman Joe Orton, Sarah Kane is a twentiethcentury dramatist whose repertoire is unfortunately limited given her untimely and tragic death. Blasted, the first of her five works, was originally performed at London's Royal Court Theatre in 1995, four years prior to Kane's suicide. It is a play rich with grotesque cruelty in the form of torture, sodomy, masturbation, corpses (most particularly that of an infant child), and overt sexual abuse. The play begins as a disturbing piece of realism before morphing into
On the time and space complexity of computation using write-once memory or is pen really much worse than pencil?

We introduce a model of computation based on the use of write-once memory. Write-once memory has the property that bits may be set but not reset. Our model consists of a RAM with a small amount of regular memory (such as logarithmic orn α for α<1, wheren is the size of the problem) and a polynomial amount of write-once memory. Bounds are given on the time required to simulate on write-once memory algorithms which originally run on a RAM with a polynomial amount of regular memory. We attempt to characterize algorithms that can be simulated on our write-once memory model with very little slow-down. A persistent computation is one in which, at all times, the memory state of the computation at any previous point in time can be reconstructed. We show that any data structure or computation implemented on this write-once memory model can be made persistent without sacrificing much in the way of running time or space. The space requirements of algorithms running on the write-once model are studied. We show that general simulations of algorithms originally running on a RAM with regular memory by algorithms running on our write-once memory model require space proportional to the number of steps simulated. In order to study the space complexity further, we define an analogue of the pebbling game, called the pebble-sticker game. A sticker is different from a pebble in that it cannot be removed once placed on a node of the computation graph. As placing pebbles correspond to writes to regular memory, placing stickers correspond to writes to the write-once memory. Bounds are shown on pebble-sticker tradeoffs required to evaluate trees and planar graphs. Finally, we define the complexity class WO-PSPACE as the class of problems which can be solved with a polynomial amount of write-once memory, and show that it is equal toP.
A review of factors influencing defect detection in infrared thermography: Applications to coated materials

Infrared thermography is a technique that is used to nondestructively inspect parts for the presence of subsurface defects. The technique normally consists of applying heat to one surface of the part and observing the thermal response, using heat-sensing devices such as infrared cameras, as the part cools. Internal defects such as voids modify the thermal response and produce local hot or cold spots on the specimen surface. For the detection of subsurface defects, the sensitivity of the technique to different parameters such as defect depth, material properties, and heating methods has not been established due in part to the complex nature of the heat/flaw interaction. A finite element model is used here to examine the influence of these parameters on defect dectability. The model shows that the defect detectability decreases with increasing defect depth beneath the surface, and that the technique is most sensitive to the inspection of low thermal diffusivity coatings bonded to high thermal diffusivity substrates. The results also show that the heat pulse duration should be made as short as possible to maximize defect detectability.
Effects of glide slope, noise intensity, and noise duration on the extrapolation of FM glides through noise.

Listeners are quite adept at maintaining integrated perceptual events in environments that are frequently noisy. Three experiments were conducted to assess the mechanisms by which listeners maintain continuity for upward sinusoidal glides that are interrupted by a period of broadband noise. The first two experiments used stimulus complexes consisting of three parts: prenoise glide, broadband noise interval, and postnoise glide. For a given prenoise glide and noise interval, the subject’s task was to adjust the onset frequency of a same-slope postnoise glide so that, together with the prenoise glide and noise, the complex sounded as “smooth and continuous as possible.” The slope of the glides (1.67, 3.33, 5, and 6.67 Bark/sec) as well as the duration (50, 200, and 350 msec) and relative level of the interrupting noise (0, −6, and −12 dB S/N) were varied. For all but the shallowest glides, subjects consistently adjusted the offset portion of the glide to frequencies lower than predicted by accurate interpolation of the prenoise portion. Curiously, for the shallowest glides, subjects consistently selected postnoise glide onset-frequency values higher than predicted by accurate extrapolation of the prenoise glide. There was no effect of noise level on subjects’ adjustments in the first two experiments. The third experiment used a signal detection task to measure the phenomenal experience of continuity through the noise. Frequency glides were either present or absent during the noise for stimuli like those used in the first two experiments as well as for stimuli that had no prenoise or postnoise glides. Subjects were more likely to report the presence of glides in the noise when none occurred (false positives) when noise was shorter or of greater relative level and when glides were present adjacent to the noise.
Columnar organization and reciprocity of commissural connections in cat primary auditory cortex (AI).

Abstract The laminar distribution and reciprocity of commissural axon terminals and cells of origin in cat primary auditory cortex (AI) were studied after injections of tritiated proline combined with horseradish peroxidase in the middle ectosylvian gyrus. Terminal fields were found in every cortical layer in the contralateral AI, and they were characterized quantitatively. The largest concentration of silver grains was in layer III (about 25% of the total number of silver grains) and, to a lesser extent, in layers V, VI. and I (some 18% of the total in each layer). The labeling in layer I was concentrated in its deeper half, while the labeling in the other layers was more homogeneous. Layer IV had the least labeling, followed by layer II, each receiving about 10% of the total. The labeling was always heaviest over the neuropil and lightest over neuronal perikarya. Commissural terminal fields formed radial patches oriented perpendicularly to the pia, and averaging 543 μm in width. There was consistently three times more silver grains in a patch than in an inter-patch area. However, the number of silver grains in an inter-patch area was always significantly above background, indicating a possible commissural projection to these zones as well. The patches of commissural terminal fields formed bands oriented across AI and running in a caudoventral to rostrodorsal direction. Strict reciprocity between the commissural cells of origin and terminal fields was not found at the light microscopic level when adjacent sections, corrected for differential shrinkage, were compared. Often, patches of terminal fields were free of retrogradely labeled cells and, conversely, there were patches of labeled cells without an overlying commissural terminal field. The terminal fields connected homotopic regions of the contralateral AI, and every region of AI received commissural innervation, unlike the primary somatic sensory and visual cortex, where large zones receive only a few commissural afferents. The more complete pattern of interhemispheric connectivity in auditory cortex is in contrast to the less continuous commissural representation in other sensory neocortical fields. Perhaps this pattern contributes to the anatomical representation of binaurality in auditory cortex.
Table of mean deviates for various portions of the unit normal distribution.

In the absence of sound units of measurement, the data obtained by use of a psychometric instrument may sometimes be so irregular that they cannot be accepted as a good representation of the true function of the trait measured. Frequently, ordered categorical or ranked data and other irregular distributions are obtained to represent traits that are obviously continuous and probably unskewed functions. In such cases, the data may be improved in the direction of a better approximation of the true function by converting them to normal distribution form. A table of mean deviates of various portions of the unit normal curve is presented to facilitate this conversion.
An automatic 96-well solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide in human plasma.

Abstract A bioanalytical method using automated sample transferring, automated solid phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) was developed for morphine (MOR), and its metabolites morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) in human plasma. Samples of 0.25 ml were transferred into 96-well plate using automatic liquid handler (Multiprobe™ II). Automated SPE was carried out on a 96-channel programmable liquid handling workstation (Quadra™ 96) using a C 18 sorbent. The extract was injected onto a silica column using an aqueous-organic mobile phase. The chromatographic run time was 3.5 min per injection, with retention times of 1.5, 2.0 and 2.6 min for MOR, M6G, and M3G, respectively. The detection was by monitoring MOR at m/z 286→152, M6G and M3G at m/z 462→286. The deuterated internal standards were monitored at m/z 289→152 for MOR-d 3 , and m/z 465→289 for M6G-d 3 and M3G-d 3 . The standard curve range was 0.5–50 ng ml −1 for MOR, 1.0–100 ng ml −1 for M6G, and 10–1000 ng ml −1 for M3G. The inter-day precision and accuracy of the quality control samples were
Social networks of Rafinesque's big-eared bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) in bottomland hardwood forests

Understanding social relationships and organization in colonial bat species can provide valuable insight into species ecology and potentially aid in conservation efforts of rare bat species. We applied social network analysis to describe social relationships and organization in 3 colonies of Rafinesque’s big-eared bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) roosting in bottomland hardwood forests in Kentucky. We radiotracked 48 adult big-eared bats to 64 day-roosts over 549 bat-days during the summers of 2009–2011. We measured homophily, network centralization, density, transitivity, and core–periphery structure of networks of bats sharing common roosts, and we measured degree centrality of nodes (bats or roosts) within networks. Patterns of ties within each colony were homophilous by sex (E-I index ¼� 0.87). Males were consistently the least central nodes in bat networks. Bat network centralization ranged from 1.2% to 40% among colonies, and roost network centralization ranged from 17% to 40%. The colony exhibiting the least centralized and most dense bat network also occupied habitat with low roost availability. This roost network was highly centralized, with bats frequently aggregating at a single roost. The colony with the most centralized and least dense bat network occupied habitat with a greater availability of roosts, resulting in diffuse networks of bats and roosts. Transitivity decreased after young became volant in the colony with highest roost availability. Our findings suggest that social structure in colonies of Rafinesque’s big-eared bats is affected by the sex of individuals in colonies, reproductive season, and the preponderance of available day-roosting habitat.
The effects of alternate optimal solutions in constraint-based genome-scale metabolic models.

Genome-scale constraint-based models of several organisms have now been constructed and are being used for model driven research. A key issue that may arise in the use of such models is the existence of alternate optimal solutions wherein the same maximal objective (e.g., growth rate) can be achieved through different flux distributions. Herein, we investigate the effects that alternate optimal solutions may have on the predicted range of flux values calculated using currently practiced linear (LP) and quadratic programming (QP) methods. An efficient LP-based strategy is described to calculate the range of flux variability that can be present in order to achieve optimal as well as suboptimal objective states. Sample results are provided for growth predictions of E. coli using glucose, acetate, and lactate as carbon substrates. These results demonstrate the extent of flux variability to be highly dependent on environmental conditions and network composition. In addition we examined the impact of alternate optima for growth under gene knockout conditions as calculated using QP-based methods. It was observed that calculations using QP-based methods can show significant variation in growth rate if the flux variability among alternate optima is high. The underlying biological significance and general source of such flux variability is further investigated through the identification of redundancies in the network (equivalent reaction sets) that lead to alternate solutions. Collectively, these results illustrate the variability inherent in metabolic flux distributions and the possible implications of this heterogeneity for constraint-based modeling approaches. These methods also provide an efficient and robust method to calculate the range of flux distributions that can be derived from quantitative fermentation data.
A computational study of thin-body, double-gate, Schottky barrier MOSFETs

Nanoscale Schottky barrier MOSFETs (SBFETs) are explored by solving the two-dimensional Poisson equation self-consistently with a quantum transport equation. The results show that for SBFETs; with positive, effective metal-semiconductor barrier heights, the on-current is limited by tunneling through a barrier at the source. If, however, a negative metal-semiconductor barrier height could be achieved, on-current of SBFETs would approach that of a ballistic MOSFET. The reason is that the gate voltage would then modulate a thermionic barrier rather than a tunneling barrier, a process similar to ballistic MOSFETs and one that delivers more current.
Up-regulation of natural killer activity of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients by in vitro-differentiated macrophages.

Abstract Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related complex and asymptomatic individuals seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have depressed natural killer (NK) activity. Normal human macrophages cultured for 3–7 days significantly up-regulated the NK activity of mononuclear cells obtained from the blood of asymptomatic HIV-seropositive individuals and patients with AIDS. Following a 4-hr incubation of patients' cells with in vitro -differentiated macrophages, the greatest augmentation of NK activity was seen in asymptomatic HIV-seropositive individuals who were receiving treatment with azidothymidine. Stimulation of macrophage immunoregulatory activities or adoptive immunotherapy with ex vivo -activated monocytes may be beneficial in HIV-infected patients.