cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gastric stromal tumors: a clinicopathologic study of 77 cases with correlation of features with nonaggressive and aggressive clinical behaviors.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms that have clinical and histologic features that vary depending on their location within the gastrointestinal tract. Prediction of clinical behavior in this group of tumors is notoriously difficult, and the same criteria for malignancy do not necessarily apply to stromal tumors from different sites within the gastrointestinal tract. Using known clinical behavior with long-term follow-up, we attempted to determine which features, if any, are associated with clinical behavior in stromal tumors arising in the stomach, the most common site for such tumors. Seventy-seven gastric stromal tumors were studied and classified as "adverse outcome (AO) tumors" (malignant) or "nonadverse outcome tumors" (benign) based on their known clinical outcome. AO was defined as metastasis and/or death due to tumor. Patients with a non-AO had at least 5 years of tumor/metastasis-free follow-up. Thirty-seven patients had an AO (follow-up [metastasis at presentation] 0-73 months; median 6 months), and 40 patients had a non-AO (follow-up 60-264 months; median 84 months). All cases were reviewed by two authors (J.R.G., H.D.A.), who were blinded to clinical outcome and gross features, and classified as histologically benign or not benign using preset, defined histologic criteria based upon the authors' prior experience with a large number of these tumors. If the tumor did not fit with either the characteristic cellular spindle cell or benign epithelioid cell patterns, the tumor was classified as not benign. Clinical outcome was then correlated with the histologic designation to determine if these preset criteria were valid. The authors were able to accurately classify the tumors as benign or not benign with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 92%. In addition, for all cases individual morphologic and clinical features were examined. Features associated with an AO included tumor size >/=7 cm, high cellularity, mucosal invasion, high nuclear grade, mitotic counts >/=5/50 high power fields, mixed cell type, and the presence of a myxoid background and/or absence of stromal hyalinization. By recognizing several well-defined patterns of benign gastric stromal tumors and the myriad of individual features shown to correlate with an AO, one can better predict the clinical behavior of gastric stromal tumors.
N-acetylcysteine decreased nicotine self-administration and cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking in rats: comparison with the effects of N-acetylcysteine on food responding and food seeking

Rationale Chronic nicotine administration decreases the functioning of the cystine–glutamate antiporter system xc− which is hypothesized to promote nicotine-taking and nicotine-seeking behaviors. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a cystine pro-drug, increases the activity of the cystine–glutamate antiporter system xc−. Thus, NAC could potentially reverse nicotine-induced alterations in glutamatergic transmission and decrease nicotine taking and seeking.
Adjunctive techniques for optimization of ocular hemodynamics in children undergoing ophthalmic artery infusion chemotherapy

Purpose To develop a reproducible technique for selective ophthalmic artery infusion chemotherapy (SOAIC) that is technically efficacious in children with unfavorable patterns of ophthalmic artery (OA) flow. Materials and methods Initially, all SOAIC was performed with intention to treat using a standard selective OA (microcatheter) infusion technique (sSOAIC). Temporary balloon occlusion (TBO) of the external carotid artery (ECA), a balloon-assisted SOAIC (bSOAIC) technique, was performed only if OA angiography did not show robust and sustained anterograde OA flow. In our more recent experience, all SOAIC was performed with intention to treat by bSOAIC. Verapamil infusion into the OA and internal carotid artery was performed in selected cases. Technical success was defined as delivery of chemotherapeutic agent(s) into the OA with robust and sustained anterograde perfusion. sSOAIC was considered to have failed if converted to bSOAIC. Results 19 eyes were treated in 17 patients (age 5 months to 16 years) between December 2008 and May 2013. Eighty-three procedures were undertaken and the OA was successfully catheterized in all. Technical success was achieved in 35/41 (85%) sSOAIC cases and 42/42 (100%) bSOAIC cases. TBO of the ECA augmented anterograde OA flow and converted all cases of retrograde OA flow to anterograde. Verapamil further augmented anterograde ocular perfusion during SOAIC. There were no access site complications, strokes, or deaths. Conclusions TBO of the ECA is a safe, effective, and reproducible method for optimizing ocular hemodynamics during SOAIC regardless of baseline OA flow pattern. Verapamil infusion may further favorably modify OA flow. Trial registration number NCT01466855.
The healthcare technologies management program

Developing an engineer's awareness of factors that affect the cost of healthcare technology is discussed. It is concluded that the Healthcare Technologies Management Program offered by Marquette University and the Medical College of Wisconsin is a unique program that meets the unique needs of engineers and their employers. The program prepares new graduate engineers to work in hospitals, medical device companies, and consulting firms, and it provides experienced engineers with the training needed for career advancement. It provides several advantages over graduate business and technical degrees and many benefits to students and their employers. The emphasis of the program can play a role in the reduction of the costs associated with the development of healthcare technology.
Synthesis of dinaphthoporphyrins from dihydronaphtho[1,2-c]pyrroles

Abstract Porphyrins with two fused dihydronaphtho units on the opposite or adjacent pyrrole rings have been prepared by the MacDonald condensation or by the cyclization of suitably substituted a,c,-biladienes; dehydrogenation with 2 equivalents of DDQ afforded the corresponding dinaphthoporphyrins in excellent yields.
The isomeic compositon of diisovaleroylglycerides: A specificity for the biosynthesis of the 1,3-diisovaleroyl structure

Abstract 1. 1. Diisovaleroylglycerides were found to be preferentially deposited in a discrete region (acoustic window) of the external mandibular tissue of the porpoise (Tursiops tmncatus), through which sound waves arc directed to the interior mandibular waveguide. The diisovaleroylglycerides may play a significant role in modifying the properties of sound received from the aquatic environment. 2. 2. Mass spectral analyses revealed that the diisovaleroylglycerides from the acoustic tissues arc almost exclusively the 1,3-isomers. 3. 3. The previously reported active mctabolismof the isovaleroyl chains in the diisovaleroyl glycerides of acoustic tissues is discussed in relation to the occurrence of essentially a single isomeric form.
Increasing flexibility in rangeland management during drought

Extreme droughts like the recent 2011-2013 drought impacting the central and western United States present a challenge to sustaining livestock ranching operations and the ecosystem goods and services they produce. Wyoming ranchers manage half of this drought-prone state and are at the forefront of this challenge. We examined Wyoming ranchers' drought management strategies and how ranch characteristics affect drought management flexibility, a key component of resilience, through a mail survey. We find that many survey respondents manage drought in similar ways, by selling livestock and buying feed, highlighting the market risks associated with drought. Ranches that are larger, include yearling livestock, use shorter grazing periods, and/or incorporate alternative on-ranch activities (e.g., hunting) use more drought management practices and thus have greater flexibility. Larger ranches experience fewer drought impacts, highlighting advantages of a larger resource base. Our findings suggest three components of national drought policy that encourages flexibility and thus increases resilience of ranches to drought: (1) encouraging forage-sharing mechanisms; (2) promoting income diversification that is independent of climatic variability; and (3) facilitating a shift to diversified livestock production systems. These measures could increase sustainability of ranching livelihoods and provision of ecosystem services despite predicted increases in intensity and duration of future droughts. © 2014 Kachergis et al.
Interpersonal Ratings and Mutual Eye Contact

This study explores associations of mutual eye contact (MEC) with self-accepting and other- accepting conduct by small group members as assessed by pooled group peers and self. Peer- based estimates of individuals' MEC consistently correlated positively and significantly with peers'ratings of their self-accepting behavior, with the spans individuals used for these in terpersonal ratings, and more mildly but consistently with their severity as raters, but not with self-ratings of self-acceptance or other-acceptance or with peer-rated acceptance of others. The results indicate robust and substantial connections between interpersonal behav iors representing the nonverbal and verbal domains despite rather limited reliability of these MEC measures.
The piezo-optic and electro-optic constants of zincblende

Abstract The piezo-optic constant, Π44 the elasto-optic constant, p44, and the electro-optic constant, r41, of zincblende are considered. The values for the piezo-optic constants Π44 and p44 given in the literature are corrected.
Spectral Sensitivity of Single Neural Units in the Bullfrog Retinal

Nerve impulses from retinal units, presumably ganglion cells, were elicited by calibrated light flashes of various luminances, wavelengths, and durations, delivered to the eye of the intact bullfrog under scotopic and photopic conditions. Although several response measures were utilized, latency to the first impulse was particularly useful. A simple linear function relating reciprocal of latency to log light luminance was associated with the dark-adapted state and more complex latency-luminance functions were associated with the light-adapted state. Spectral sensitivity curves were derived from these latency-luminance functions by determining the relative energy at the various wavelengths required to produce a criterion latency. A wide variety of relative spectral-sensitivity curves were found. The average shift of spectral sensitivity toward the longer wavelengths (Purkinje shift) between scotopic and photopic conditions was in approximate quantitative agreement with a shift from the rhodopsin to the iodopsin absorption spectrum. The Purkinje shift was also seen in the results obtained from some individual neural units. Among the variety of spectral sensitivity curves obtained from the 20 dark-adapted units, a homogeneous group of curves (11 units) was identified which was well fitted by the rhodopsin absorption curve. Of the 16 light-adapted units, one group (7 units) was roughly fitted by the iodopsin curve. Of special interest to color theory are the units not included in the rhodopsin or iodopsin groups. While none of the curves were completely fitted by Granit’s modulators, many of the sensitivity peaks were at wavelengths that correspond to his green and red modulators (frog). Relatively narrow spectral-sensitivity curves with maxima below 450 mμ were obtained from several of the dark-adapted units; these were reliably different from Granit’s blue modulator (frog) and were approximately fitted by Dartnall’s blue-sensitive pigment.
Cantor, Schroder, and Bernstein in Orbit

One form of the Cantor-Schroder-Bernstein Theorem states that if X and Y are given non-empty, disjoint sets, f a one-to-one mapping from X onto a subset of Y and g a one-to-one mapping from Y onto a subset of X, then there exists a one-to-one mapping 0 from X onto Y. There are two commonly given proofs of this theorem. The first [5,6], which traces sets, is easy to follow but not very intuitive; and so a beginning student gains little insight from it. The second, which traces points, is also easy to follow and gives more insight. However, the way it is usually presented [3, 6] suffers from a defect. This defect is linguistic rather than mathematical but can nevertheless lead to confusion and misunderstanding. It lies in the use of such terms as "parent," "ancestor," and "descendant." Thus, for example, if there are points x in X and y in Y such that f(x) = y and g(y) = x, then x is a parent of y and y is a parent of x, and each of x and y is its own ancestor over and over again-a rather counterintuitive state of affairs. In addition, the diagrams that accompany the proof as given, e.g., in [3] and [6] shed little light on the situation. The principal purpose of this note is to present a picture (given some years ago in [10]) which makes the point-tracing argument very clear, i.e., a proof (almost) without words of the Cantor-Schroder-Bernstein Theorem. To this end, for any x in X, define the orbit of x to be the set of points
Failure of balloon aortic valvuloplasty to result in sustained clinical improvement in patients with depressed left ventricular function.

Abstract Although balloon aortic valvuloplasty usually results in acute hemodynamic improvement, recurrent symptoms often occur within several months. The current study was designed to determine whether clinical characteristics, including invasive hemodynamic parameters of left ventricular (LV) performance, are predictive of short-term patient outcome. Eighty-one consecutive patients were prospectivety enrolled in the study protocol. High-fidelity dual sensor micromanometer catheters, digital ventriculography and aortography and Fick cardiac output were measured before and immediately after balloon aortic valvuloplasty. Stroke work was defined from pressure-volume loops. The acute hemodynamic results obtained in patients with overall improved symptoms were compared to those with recurrent symptoms at 3 months. Fifty-three patients (65%) were improved at 3-month evaluation (group 1), whereas 28 patients (35%) had either returned to symptoms at baseline (17), had undergone aortic valve replacement (3) or had cardiac death (8). Compared to patients with improved symptoms, patients with recurrent symptoms demonstrated a tower cardiac output, higher LV end-systolic volume, decreased LV ejection fraction, diminished LV stroke work and decreased LV peak positive dP/dt. The final aortic valve area and change in aortic valve area did not predict which patients would develop recurrent symptoms. Stepwise logistic regression revealed that LV ejection fraction was the only independent predictor of overall status at 3 months (p = 0.002). Eighty-four percent of patients with an ejection fraction >;45% were improved. In the group with an ejection fraction ≤45%, less than half of the patients demonstrated improved symptoms at short-term followup. Parameters of LV performance can accurately predict short-term patient outcome after balloon aortic valvuloplasty. Because patients with depressed baseline LV function are much less likely to have improved symptoms compared to patients with preserved LV performance, the clinical outcome of balloon aortic valvuloplasty appears primarily related to underlying LV function rather than any measurable change during the procedure.
Quality versus intelligibility: Evaluating the coding trade-offs for American Sign Language video

Real-time videoconferencing using cellular devices provides natural communication to the Deaf community. Compressed American Sign Language video must be evaluated in terms of the intelligibility of the conversation and not in terms of the overall aesthetic quality of the video. This work studies the trade-offs between intelligibility and quality when varying the proportion of the rate allocated explicitly to the signer. An intelligibility distortion measure and a quality measure (PSNR) are applied in a rate-distortion optimization framework and a novel encoding technique controls the degree to which intelligibility is emphasized over quality. Understanding the relationship between intelligibility and quality allows the encoder to identify operating points that maximize PSNR while maintaining a minimal level of intelligibility. At fixed bitrates, PSNR can be increased on average by 5 dB with little penalty in intelligibility by providing a nominal amount of rate to the background region. Further increases in PSNR can be achieved at the price of reduced intelligibility.
Cancer nursing research short course: long-term follow-up of participants, 1984-1998.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe research activities of cancer nurses following participation in the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS)/National Cancer Institute Cancer Nursing Research Short Course from 1984-1989. DESIGN Descriptive survey. SETTING National survey of course participants. SAMPLE 128 cancer nurses who attended the courses presented from 1984-1998. METHODS Mailed survey. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Demographic characteristics, current job titles, participation in research since course attendance, sources and amounts of research support, research roles, and publications. FINDINGS The course provided new investigators with a unique research experience not available at their own institutions and helped them launch their research careers. The participants' commitment to research is illustrated in their response rate to the survey, record of studies, funding sources, and research roles. CONCLUSIONS The short course is a valuable resource for increasing the number of committed oncology nursing researchers and assisting in the scientific foundation for the care of patients with cancer. Findings clearly show the value of the course to participants' research careers. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING ONS has a commitment to oncology nursing research as the means to increase the scientific foundation for cancer nursing care. The Cancer Nursing Research Short Course provides a valuable resource for meeting this commitment.
Glass Laser System Used Routinely For Target Irradiation

The design of a neodymium glass laffr system for irradiation of targets of 10 -1012 watt pulses in a high brightness beam requires simultaneous solution of a number of technical problems. These problems can be separated into two areas relating to self focusing and to target and interstage isolation in the system.© (1974) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Experimental analysis of the diurnal and tidal spawning rhythm in the chiton Acanthopleura japonica (Lischke) by manipulating conditions of light and tide

The environmental time cues entraining the diurnal and tidal spawning periodicity of the chiton Acanthopleura japonica (Lischke) were analysed experimentally by providing artificial tidal and lighting conditions. The timing mechanism of synchronous spawning is entrained by a diurnal light-dark cycle and a semidiurnal tidal immersion cycle, sensed at both the beginning and the end of immersion. Consequently, gametes are released principally before the peak of morning high water on spring tides. The timing mechanism guarantees that chiton gametes are released at the time of high water, when they are immersed and that release is concentrated within a short period, independent of the height of the shore inhabited by the chitons.
High-Energy Electron Scattering and the Charge Distribution of Carbon-12 and Oxygen-16

The scattering of high-energy electrons from ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$, reported previously, has been extended to 420 Mev. The elastic and inelastic scattering from the first excited level at 4.43 Mev has been studied between 33\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 70\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The new data are in good agreement with what one would expect from the earlier measurements on ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ performed at 187 Mev. Additional measurements of the elastic ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$-scattering cross sections of 240-, 360-, and 420-Mev electrons as functions of the scattering angle furnish information on the size and shape of the ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$ nucleus. Pronounced diffraction minima in the angular distributions were observed for ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ and ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of a theoretical phase-shift analysis derived for the harmonic-well independent-particle model of the nucleus. Preliminary best fits confirm the shell-model predictions for the charge density distribution of these $p$-shell nuclei. The preliminary analysis of the data shows that the length parameter of the well is 1.66\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm for ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$, and 1.76\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm for ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$, thus indicating a slight variation of the curvature of the harmonic well as the $p$ shell is filled in.
Anti-luck Epistemology, Pragmatic Encroachment, and True Belief

Two common theses in contemporary epistemology are that ‘knowledge excludes luck’ and that knowledge depends on ‘purely epistemic’ factors. In this essay, I shall argue as follows: given some plausible assumptions, ‘anti-luck epistemology,’ which is committed to the fi rst thesis, implies the falsity of the second thesis. That is, I will argue that anti-luck epistemology leads to what has been called ‘pragmatic encroachment’ on knowledge. Anti-luck epistemologists hoping to resist encroachment must accept a controversial thesis about true belief or a dubious claim about luck and value and interests.
Catalytic effect of sulfhydryl oxidase on the formation of three-dimensional structure in chymotrypsinogen A

Abstract The effect of sulfhydryl oxidase on the rate of disulfide bond formation and polypeptide chain folding in reductively denatured chymotrypsinogen A has been investigated using an immobilized zymogen preparation and a cylindrical quartz flow-through fluorescence cell. Enzymatic oxidation of the 10 sulfhydryl groups in reduced chymotrypsinogen followed first order kinetics at pH 7.0 with an apparent first order rate constant governing sulfhydryl group disappearance of 4.2 × 10−2 min−1. This provides a t 1 2 of 16.3 min for the sulfhydryl oxidase-catalyzed oxidation, whereas 165 min are required for nonenzymatic aerobic oxidation of one-half the sulfhydryl groups. Refolding of the reductively denatured polypeptide chains, monitored by changes in protein fluorescence, did not follow first order kinetics characteristic of a simple two-state mechanism, nor did the return of trypsin activatability. It appears that at least one intermediate must exist in such refolding, in both the uncatalyzed and sulfhydryl oxidase-catalyzed processes. Estimation of the rate constants governing refolding, assuming a single intermediate between the denatured and native states, provided values of 3 × 10−2 min−1 and 7 × 10−3 min−1 for uncatalyzed autoxidation and 4 × 10−2 min−1 and 1.1 × 10−2 min−1 for the sulfhydryl oxidase-catalyzed transition. Thus, enzymic catalysis of disulfide bond formation can lead to apparent catalysis of protein refolding as monitored both by fluorescence and by acquisition of biological function.
Superstructure in chemically etched poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Abstract The new technique of contact etching has been utilized to study the bulk morphology of polyethylene terephthalate by the echant, n-propylamine. A variety of films and fibers with different mechanical and thermal histories have been subjected to contact etching. The sample surfaces have been studied principally by scanning electron microscopy. A network superstructure with its characteristic dimension (thickness) of from 700 to 3000 A, depending on sample history, has been observed. In the oriented samples the network superstructure aligns perpendicular to the direction of sample orientation. A simple model is proposed to describe the network superstructure which is believed to be moderately crystalline.
MICROWAVE SPECTRUM, STRUCTURE AND DIPOLE MOMENT OF 3‐METHYL‐1‐BUTYNE

Abstract The microwave spectra of four isotopic species of 3-methyl-1-butyne, isopropylacetylene, (CH 3 ) 2 CHCCH, have been analyzed. With certain assumed structural parameters the following parameters were calculated: r (CC) = 1.495 ± 0.011 A , r (CC) = 1.527 ± 0.003 A , ∢ (CCC) = 109.6±0.2° and ∢(CCC) = 112.9±0.3°. The dipole moment was determined to be 0.721 ± 0.009D. A tentative assignment of the vibrational excited states indicates that the barrier to internal rotation of the methyl groups is 3650 ± 500 cal/mole. The results are compared to those of similar molecules, especially with cyclopropylacetylene.
Effect of protein intake and urea on sodium excretion during inappropriate antidiuresis in rats

Administration of urea to patients with the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) is thought to ameliorate hyponatremia by both producing an osmotic diuresis and diminishing ongoing natriuresis. The present study evaluated these effects in a rat model of SIAD utilizing dilutional hyponatremia induced by continuous infusion of 1-deamino-[8-D-arginine] vasopressin. Following 48 hours of sustained hyponatremia, separate groups of rats were then refed with either: (1) 5% dextrose alone, (2) a 20% protein chow, (3) an isocaloric protein deficient (0%) chow, or (4) the isocaloric protein-deficient chow supplemented with oral urea. Our results demonstrate that rats refed a 20% protein diet significantly improved their plasma [Na+] as compared to rats refed protein deficient diets, and this improvement was accompanied by decreases in natriuresis despite an increased glomerular filtration rate and an unchanged negative free water clearance. Identical effects were observed in rats refed a protein deficient diet but supplemented with oral urea, suggesting that urea generation from catabolism of dietary protein is responsible for the effect of protein refeeding to decrease urinary sodium excretion. Both the protein and urea refed rats had significantly higher inner medullary urea contents and concentrations compared to rats refed protein-deficient diets and also to rats studied immediately before protein refeeding, supporting the hypothesis that urea and dietary protein decrease natriuresis in patients with SIAD in association with increased inner medullary urea concentrations.
Daryl J. Maeda, Chains of Babylon: The Rise of Asian America

Daryl J. Maeda, Chains of Babylon: The Rise of Asian America (2009), xviii + 203 (Minnesota University Press, Minneapolis, $60.00, paperback $20.00). Chains of Babylon is a welcome addition to the ...
Scheduling for maximum capacity in S/TDMA systems

Space-time division multiple access (S/TDMA) applies spatial multiplexing enabled by antenna arrays on top of time-division multiplexing. Packet scheduling in S/TDMA can be described as a partition of a given set of packets such that the packets in each subset can be properly separated in the space domain and thus be assigned to the same time slot in a TDMA frame. This paper presents a information-theoretic framework for packet scheduling in S/TDMA systems by deriving the S/TDMA channel capacity as a function of the partition scheme. Optimization of the packet scheduling then can be performed by maximizing the channel capacity. The paper also presents a graph theory model for the optimization problem. It shows that that the optimization is to find a proper dominating set in an associated graph.
Justifying Morality, Part II: Beyond Justification as Clarification

Bernard Gert offers a justification of morality that is successful on its own terms but is, as he acknowledges, limited in what it may be used to accomplish. However, the deliberative structure he has set up in advancing the justification is fruitful. With some modifications, it can be used to generate a significantly more powerful justification of morality. Gert’s justification proceeds from a recognition that considerations of rationality alone cannot generate a requirement to act morally. On Gert’s account, a rational action is, roughly, any action the agent performs that does not cause him or others he cares for harm, unless any such harms have compensating benefits. A person may thus act rationally while systematically violating the moral rules, for example, if the person egocentrically pursues his own interests without caring about harm to individuals who stand in the way of the pursuit and if the person either takes reasonable care not to appear to harm the other individuals or has sufficient power over them that they cannot retaliate. Gert nevertheless successfully argues for a more limited link between rationality and morality: deliberators who operate under certain belief limitations will have no rational option but to publicly endorse the moral system in preference to any nonmoral systems. This satisfies Gert’s concern to show that there is a conceptual connection between rationality and morality, and constitutes what he believes is the strongest possible justification of morality.
Determination of most economical scrapers fleet

Scrapers are valuable construction equipment for large earthmoving operations. Their production rates vary widely as they depend on the equipment performance, operation’s travel time, and haul-road conditions. Determining the most economical selection of the size, model, and number of scrapers is a rather tedious process that involves repetitive calculations. A spreadsheet application was created in order to facilitate such calculations and select the most economical scraper from the list of available equipment for the job under consideration. The application is made of seven spreadsheets containing a scrapers’ database, performance charts, soil properties, and other supporting worksheets. The application provides a user interface to solicit all data entries specific to a project. Once the user enters the required data the system compares the production rate, time required for the job, determines the estimated unit cost for each scraper in the database, and recommends the most economical selection.
Exposure to Maternal Distress in Childhood and Cortisol Activity in Young Adulthood.

Dysregulated cortisol is a risk factor for poor health outcomes. Children of distressed mothers exhibit dysregulated cortisol, yet it is unclear whether maternal distress predicts cortisol activity in later developmental stages. This longitudinal study examined the prospective relation between maternal distress during late childhood (9–12 years) and adolescence (15–19 years) and cortisol response in offspring in young adulthood (24–28 years). Data were collected from 51 recently divorced mothers and their children across 15 years. Higher maternal distress during late childhood was associated with lower total cortisol independent of levels of maternal distress in adolescence or young adulthood. Maternal distress during adolescence marginally predicted blunted cortisol when distress in childhood was low. Findings suggest that blunted cortisol activity in young adulthood may be a long-term consequence of exposure to maternal distress earlier in development.
Mutual Kerr-lens mode-locking

Mutual Kerr-lens mode-locking is implemented to create synchronized, bidirectional pulse-trains in a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser, in a linear as well as in a ring configuration. A simple ABCD matrix method is used to optimize the location of apertures in the cavity for preferential bidirectional mode-locked operation.
Automating regression testing for real-time software in a distributed environment

Many real time systems evolve over time due to new requirements and technology improvements. Each revision requires regression resting to ensure that existing functionality is not affected by such changes. Testing these systems often require specialized hardware and software, and both are expensive. While the overall regression testing process is similar across different organizations, the strategies and tools used by them vary according to their product needs. Hence a good framework for regression testing should provide the flexibility to configure it depending on the particular organization's needs while at the same time maximizing utilization. Manual processes are typically slow and error prone and result in under-utilization of valuable test resources. The paper proposes an automated distributed regression testing framework that provides flexibility to the user to configure it to their needs while at the same time optimizing resource usage.
Writing Up the New Negro : The Construction of Consumer Desire in the Twenties

On the eve of the publication of his first novel, The Fire in the Flint, Walter White received a letter from T. S. Stribling, whose novel Birthright had inspired White to write Fire in the first place.1 Both novels tell the story of a Northern-educated black's return to his Southern hometown with the intention of uplifting the black community and improving race relations. In his letter, however, Stribling makes it clear that the similarities between the two novels end there.
Which Noun Phrases Denote Which Concepts

Resolving polysemy and synonymy is required for high-quality information extraction. We present ConceptResolver, a component for the Never-Ending Language Learner (NELL) (Carlson et al., 2010) that handles both phenomena by identifying the latent concepts that noun phrases refer to. ConceptResolver performs both word sense induction and synonym resolution on relations extracted from text using an ontology and a small amount of labeled data. Domain knowledge (the ontology) guides concept creation by defining a set of possible semantic types for concepts. Word sense induction is performed by inferring a set of semantic types for each noun phrase. Synonym detection exploits redundant information to train several domain-specific synonym classifiers in a semi-supervised fashion. When ConceptResolver is run on NELL's knowledge base, 87% of the word senses it creates correspond to real-world concepts, and 85% of noun phrases that it suggests refer to the same concept are indeed synonyms.
Associations between concentrations of α- and γ-tocopherol and concentrations of glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, insulin and C-peptide among US adults

Our objective was to study the cross-sectional associations between concentrations of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol and concentrations of glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, insulin and C-peptide among US adults. We used data for 1289 participants without self-reported diabetes who were aged > or =20 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000. Alpha-tocopherol concentration was inversely associated with glucose concentration (beta per mmol/l=-0.01064, SE 0.00356, P=0.004) after adjusting for age, sex, race or ethnicity, education, smoking status, concentrations of total cholesterol and triacylglycerols, systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, alcohol use, physical activity, time watching television or videos or using a computer, and use of vitamin/mineral/dietary supplements. Among 659 participants who did not report using supplements, this association was no longer significant whereas the concentration of alpha-tocopherol was inversely associated with concentration of C-peptide (beta per mmol/l=-0.01121, SE 0.00497, P=0.024). Gamma-tocopherol concentration was positively associated with concentration of glucose (beta per mmol/l=0.09169, SE 0.02711, P=0.001) and glycosylated haemoglobin (beta per mmol/l=0.04954, SE 0.01284, P<0.001), but not insulin or C-peptide. The relationships between physiologic concentrations of the various forms of vitamin E and measures of glucose intolerance deserve additional investigation.
Testosterone rapidly reduces anxiety in male house mice (Mus musculus).

Abstract Eight experiments supported the hypotheses that reflexive testosterone release by male mice during sexual encounters reduces male anxiety (operationally defined in terms of behavior on an elevated plus-maze) and that this anxiolysis is mediated by the conversion of testosterone to neurosteroids that interact with GABAA receptors. In Experiment 1, a 10-min exposure to opposite-sex conspecifics significantly reduced both male and female anxiety 20 min later (as indexed by increased open-arm time on an elevated plus-maze) compared to control mice not receiving this exposure. In contrast, locomotor activity (as indexed by enclosed-arm entries on the elevated plus-maze) was not significantly affected. The remaining experiments examined only male behavior. In Experiment 2, exposure to female urine alone was anxiolytic while locomotor activity was not significantly affected. Thus, urinary pheromones of female mice likely initiated the events leading to the male anxiolysis. In phase 1 of Experiment 3, sc injections of 500 μg of testosterone significantly reduced anxiety 30 min later while locomotor activity was not significantly affected. Thus, testosterone elevations were associated with reduced male anxiety and the time course consistent with a nongenomic, or very rapid genomic, mechanism of testosterone action. In phase 2 of Experiment 3, the anxiolytic effect of testosterone was dose dependent with a 250 μg sc injection required. Thus, testosterone levels likely must be well above baseline levels (i.e., in the range induced by pulsatile release) in order to induce anxiolysis. In Experiment 4, a high dosage of 5α-dihydrotestosterone was more anxiolytic than a high dosage of estradiol benzoate, suggesting that testosterone action may require 5α-reduction. In Experiments 5 and 6, 3α,5α-reduced neurosteroid metabolites of testosterone (androsterone and 3α-androstandione) were both anxiolytic at a lower dosage (100 μg/sc injection) than testosterone, supporting the notion that testosterone is converted into neurosteroid metabolites for anxiolytic activity. Experiments 7 and 8 found that either picrotoxin or bicucculine, noncompetitive and competitive antagonists of the GABAA receptor, respectively, blocked the anxiolytic effects of testosterone. However, conclusions from these 2 experiments must be tempered by the reduction in locomotor activity that was also seen. The possible brain locations of testosterone action as well as the possible adaptive significance of this anxiolytic response are discussed.
Extensive lipomatous metaplasia in bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia.

Abstract Objective.—We describe a case of macronodular hyperplasia with marked adrenal enlargement in which mature adipose tissue was a significant component. To our knowledge, this condition has n...
HIGH-HEAT-FLUX RESISTANCE HEATERS FROM VPS AND HVOF THERMAL SPRAYING

This article describes the application of thermal spray techniques to produce resistance heating elements suitable for applying very large heat flaxes to solid surfaces. The surface to be heated is electrically insulated by deposition of a ceramic layer onto which a thin metallic layer is deposited; the metallic layer serves as the heating element. Each layer has a thickness in the range of 75 to 300 μm. Design considerations for the heaters are described. Previous efforts have produced the films using air plasma spraying. In the present work, we applied vacuum plasma spraying and high-velocity oxygen fuel spraying, which result in considerable improvements in performance and reliability. Heaters have been tested at fluxes up to 17 MW/m2, The heaters generally fail by fracture once the thermal stresses in the system exceed a level that depends on the process by which the films have been deposited. These heaters are useful for the experimental development of high-heat-flux cooling systems.
ECG screening in athletes: time to develop infrastructure.

e y Twenty-one years ago, on March 4, 1990, Hank Gathers collapsed and died while doing what he loved. His highly publicized sudden death raised critical awareness regarding the hidden risks to young athletes during sport and sparked a national movement toward preventing such tragedies. Twentyone years later, we have a greater understanding of the different causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletes and the frequency of these tragic events. And twenty-one years later we must reflect on whether the prevention strategies implemented to identify at-risk athletes have made any difference. In this issue of HeartRhythm, Marek et al present their findings of a study conducting ECG screenings of more than 32,000 high school students and student-athletes. The retrospective study demonstrates that their model of communitybased large-scale ECG screening in adolescents and young adults is feasible and produces a low proportion of ECGs (2.5%) requiring additional evaluation. The debate regarding ECG screening in young athletes remains quite polarized. This is the largest U.S. report of ECG screening to date, and the authors should be commended for their volunteer efforts and commitment to the identification of cardiac disease in the young. Major criticisms against ECG screening have been that testing cannot be done on a large scale and that the abnormal rate will be too high (in the range from 10%–40%), leading to excessive and costly testing, unnecessary disqualification, and anxiety for many studentathletes and parents. The low rate of ECGs requiring further evaluation in this study demonstrates that ECG screening can be done with a low and acceptable false-positive rate when contemporary standards for ECG interpretation are used. In a similar study of competitive athletes and physically active school children in the United Kingdom, Wilson et al reported total positive rate of less than 2% from ECG screening when odern ECG criteria were used.
Automatic self-healing systems in a cross-product IT environment

This paper presents the architecture and implementation of a prototype system developed to investigate fixing real-world problems with self-healing systems. Case studies performed to evaluate the efficacy of this approach are described along with the issues encountered and lessons learned.
Domestic Politics and Regional Harmonization in the European Communities

In an operational sense, European integration amounts to the transnational harmonization and standardization of diverse national laws, practices, and norms. Insight into the integrative process in Western Europe, therefore, can be gleaned by looking into problems encountered during attempts at transnational harmonization. Case studies of national attempts to implement EEC directives in the fields of regional aid, pharmaceutical marketing, investment control, and fiscal harmonization point up important interplays between regional harmonization and domestic politics. Evidence concerning the politics of regional implementation shows that the ability of an EEC country to contribute to European integration depends fundamentally upon its government's ability to act politically in its domestic arena.
LARVAL HABITAT AND REINTRODUCTION SITE SELECTION FOR CICINDELA PURITANA IN CONNECTICUT

For Cicindela puritana to be a viable member of New England's biota, there must be more than the current two occurrences. Assessment of the chance that the species can spread, whether on its own or through reintroduc- tion, required identifying vacant habitat patches, which in turn, required refining the description of the species' larval habitat. Analysis of larval microhabitat variables identified sand texture as the most important determinant of habitat suitability. I then surveyed a 79 km stretch of the Connecticut River in Connecti- cut looking for suitable habitat patches. Of 32 beaches, none that appeared to be suitable was nearer than 12 km from currently occupied patches. Dispersal is unlikely to lead to establishment of new populations, so I recommend reintro- ducing C. puritana to an area in the vicinity of Windsor, CT where there are beaches on three islands that appear to be suitable larval habitat.
Nondestructive techniques to determine degradation modes: Experimentation with 18 years old photovoltaic modules

Photovoltaic (PV) module degradation in the field is a known issue; however, understanding the modes and mechanisms in which modules degrade is still a major undertaking for researchers. To understand the degradation modes and mechanisms, both nondestructive and destructive characterization techniques need to be employed. This paper presents the results and conclusions obtained based on a few major nondestructive techniques. In this paper nine, 18 years old modules exposed in a hot-dry climate were acquired and investigated in the laboratory to identify the degradation modes and to determine the degradation rate. The nondestructive techniques utilized in this work are: current-voltage measurements (I-V), visual inspection (VI), diode failure (DF), infrared (IR) imaging, electroluminescence (EL) imaging, dark current-voltage (D-I-V) nondestructive cell-module quantum efficiency (C-M-QE), and module level reflectance spectroscopy (M-RS).
Concepts and Applications of a MIMO Radar System with Widely Separated Antennas

This chapter contains sections titled: Background MIMO Radar Concept NonCoherent MIMO Radar Applications Coherent MIMO Radar Applications Chapter Summary Appendix 9A Deriving the FIM Appendix 9B Deriving the CRLB on the Location Estimate Error Appendix 9C MLE of Time Delays ??????-?????? Error Statistics Appendix 9D Deriving the Lowest GDOP for Special Cases Acknowledgments References
Phytophthora infection in flooded citrus trees reduces root hydraulic conductance more than under non-flooded condition

Abstract Phythophthora infections in citrus trees may result in poor tree health. Infections are very common under wet conditions. However, the interaction of Phytophthora and flooding conditions has yet to be studied in citrus. In this study, Phytophthora was inoculated into the soil of potted grapefruit trees, and trees were either well-watered or flooded for six weeks; then, these trees were compared with trees without Phytophthora inoculation under the same irrigation regimes. Phytophthora reduced root hydraulic conductance in citrus even though the propagule count was very low when root hydraulic conductance was measured (at the end of the experiment). In the presence of flooding, Phytophthora significantly reduced root hydraulic conductance compared to non-flooded citrus trees inoculated with Phytophthora alone. Flooding reduced stomatal conductance and increased tree mortality more than Phytophthora, but Phytophthora decreased the number of leaves per tree and tended to decrease tree growth more than flooding.
A two-gap capacitive structure for high aspect-ratio capacitive sensor arrays

This paper presents a two-gap CMOS-compatible technology to fabricate very tall (>500μm) 3D high aspect-ratio (HAR) silicon structures with narrow HAR sensing gaps (<5μm) to achieve high sensitivity in capacitive sensors. This technology is especially suited for forming capacitive MEMS sensor arrays and offers the following advantages: 1) hundreds or thousands of small-footprint high-sensitivity devices can be integrated on a single chip to provide multiplicity of functions (greater dynamic range, fault-tolerance, reconfigurability, etc.); and 2) the ability to integrate MEMS devices on top of CMOS circuitry perform local signal processing for individual elements in the array. We designed, fabricated and tested capacitive accelerometer arrays in 1mm thick silicon using this technology, and demonstrated 8X increase in capacitive sensitivity thanks to the narrow HAR gaps, increased transduction area, increased device height (larger proof-mass), and reduced spring stiffness.