cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parental Leave Policies and Practices of US Family Medicine Residency Programs.

Background and objectives Adequate parental leave policies promote a supportive workplace environment. This study describes how US family medicine (FM) residency program parental leave policies compare to reported leave taken by residents and faculty. Methods This is a descriptive study of questions from a 2017 Council of Academic Medicine Educational Research Alliance (CERA) survey of accredited US FM program directors. Results The overall survey response rate was 54.6% (261/478). Paid maternity leave policies varied widely (0 to g12 weeks; mean=5.3 weeks for faculty and 4.5 weeks for residents); paid paternity leave ranged from 0 to 12 weeks (mean=2.7 weeks for faculty and 2.4 weeks for residents). Some FM programs reported offering residents (29.1%) and faculty (28.5%) no paid maternity leave; 37.2% offered residents and 40.4% offered faculty no paid paternity leave. Both female and male faculty took significantly less leave than was offered (maternity leave: faculty 0.6 weeks less, Pl.01; residents 0.5 weeks less, Pl.01; paternity leave: faculty 1.6 weeks less, Pl.01; residents 0.6 weeks less, Pl.01). The amount of paid and total maternity and paternity leave surrendered by residents was strongly correlated with the amount surrendered by faculty in the same program (correlation coefficients 0.46-0.87, Pl.01). Residents in smaller programs, and programs with a rural focus, surrendered more parental leave. Conclusions Programs vary widely in their parental leave offerings, and FM residents and faculty frequently take less parental leave than offered. As the amount of leave taken by residents and faculty at the same institution is correlated, institutional culture may contribute to parental leave use.
Ocular Ischemic Syndrome With Congenital Absence of Internal Carotid Artery

Purpose:This article describes a case of ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS) in a patient with a congenitally absent left internal carotid artery (ICA).Methods:Retrospective case report with anterior-se...
In situ thermal ablation augments antitumor efficacy of adoptive T cell therapy.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate whether radiofrequency ablation (RFA) improves the efficacy of adoptive T cell immunotherapy in preclinical mouse cancer models.Method: Mice implant...
Therapeutic Haptics for Mental Health and Wellbeing

Preliminary results in the literature have demonstrated how haptic technology can support mental health and wellbeing by addressing associated risks including abnormal levels of stress/anxiety as well as social isolation/exclusion. Given the importance of mental health on our personal, social, and professional lives, the aim of this chapter is to review therapeutic haptic technologies and their results for mental health and wellbeing to garner attention and interest from the community to investigate this topic more deeply. Included in this survey are commercial products, research prototypes, paradigms, and ideas, organized as follows: games, toys, and play; emotion regulation; stimulation therapy; distributed touch therapy; and haptics for social wellness. The final section, haptics for social wellness, presents a review of technologies to support and enrich social interactions, including devices to enable social touch from a distance (i.e., haptic interpersonal communication) as well as social assistive aids for individuals who are blind. Given the innovation seen within haptics for social wellness, this section is given the widest coverage, and surveys technologies, including those for therapy, play, and general communication, from a historical perspective. Finally, guidelines for designing mediators for haptic interpersonal communication are discussed.
Challenges in the development and implementation of a healthcare system based extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) program for the treatment of out of hospital cardiac arrest.

Abstract Introduction Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) can treat cardiac arrest refractory to conventional therapies. Many institutions are interested in developing their own ECPR program. However, there may be challenges in logistics and implementation. Aims The aim of our protocol was to demonstrate that an ECPR team was feasible within our healthcare system and that the identification of UPMC Presbyterian as a receiving center allowed for successful treatment within 30 min from EMS dispatch. Methods We developed out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) ECPR protocols for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), EMS communications, and our in-hospital ECPR team. Inclusion criteria indentified patients with a potentially reversible arrest etiology and high probability of recoverable brain injury using a simple checklist: witnessed collapse, layperson CPR, initial shockable rhythm, and age 18–60 years. We trained local EMS crews to screen patients and reviewed the criteria with a Medic Command Physician prior to transport to our hospital. Results From October 2015 to March 31st 2018, EMS treated 1165 EMS OHCA cases, transported 664 (57%) to a local hospital, and transported 120 (10%) to our institution. Of these, five (4.1%) patients underwent ECPR. Among excluded cases, 64 (53%) had nonshockable rhythms, 48 (40%) were unwitnessed arrests, 50 (42%) were over age 60 and the remaining 20 (17%) had no documented reasons for exclusion. For ECPR cases, median pre-hospital CPR duration was 26 [IQR 25–40] min. Four patients (80%) received mechanical CPR. Interval from arrest to arrival on scene was 5 [IQR 4–6] min and interval from radio call to activation of ECPR was 13 [IQR 7–21] min. Interval from EMS dispatch to departure from scene was 20 [IQR 19–21] min. Time from EMS dispatch to initiation of ECPR was 63 [IQR 59–69] min. Conclusions ECPR is an infrequent occurrence in EMS practice. Most apparently eligible patients did not get ECPR, highlighting the need for ongoing programmatic development, provider education, and qualitative work exploring barriers to implementation.
Female patient preferences regarding physician gender: a national survey.

BACKGROUND The number of male medical students selecting Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) has declined in recent years. However, it is unclear whether patients prioritize a female provider. The aim of the study was to assess gender preferences amongst female patients regarding their OBGYN and other medical providers. A secondary aim was to evaluate qualities that are important to female patients regarding their OBGYN. METHODS This was a USA cross-sectional survey using an internet-based provider (SurveyMonkey®) in January 2019. A 19-item questionnaire was distributed to females aged 18-80. The survey queried demographics, gender preferences for medical providers and important qualities in selecting their OBGYN. A goal of 1000 responses was determined for the study. RESULTS One thousand and fifteen women completed the entire survey. Sixty-six percent of respondents (N.=667) preferred a female OBGYN, while 8% (N.=87) preferred male, 25% (N.=261) no preference. The majority (51%) voiced no gender preference regarding other providers (N.=521). When asked to rank the 3 most important qualities in selecting their OBGYN, experience (57%), knowledge (51%), reputation (35%) and personality (34%) were most frequently chosen amongst the top 3. Gender was listed among the 3 important qualities by only 8% (N.=88). Women who identified as single, <45 years of age, and nulliparous had a higher likelihood of preferring a female OBGYN (P<0.003). CONCLUSIONS Majority of women reported a female preference when selecting an OBGYN. However, when compared to other qualities, it is deemed less important. Male medical students considering OBGYN should be reassured by this information.
Systems Genetics and Systems Biology Analysis of Paraquat Neurotoxicity in BXD Recombinant Inbred Mice.

Paraquat (PQ) is an herbicide used in many countries, including the United States. It is also implicated as a risk factor for sporadic Parkinson's disease, especially in those living in agricultural areas and drinking well water. Studies linking PQ to sporadic Parkinson's disease are not consistent however and there appears to be interindividual differential susceptibility. One likely reason is genetically based differential susceptibility to paraquat neurotoxicity in subpopulations. To address this issue, we tested the effects of paraquat in a genetic reference population of mice (the BXD recombinant inbred strain family). In our earlier work, we showed that in genetically susceptible mice, paraquat increases iron in the ventral midbrain, the area containing the substantia nigra. Our hypothesis is that genetic variability contributes to diverse PQ-related susceptibility and iron concentration. To test this hypothesis, we treated male mice from 28 to 39 BXD strains plus the parental strains with 1 of 3 doses of paraquat, 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg 3 times on a weekly basis. At the end of the treatment period, we analyzed the ventral midbrain for concentrations of iron, copper, and zinc, also we measured the concentration of paraquat in cerebellum, and proinflammatory cytokines in serum and cerebellum. The effect on paraquat-treated mice with 5 mg/kg and principal component analysis of iron showed suggestive quantitative trait loci on chromosome 5. Overall, our results suggest that gene Prkag2 and related networks may serve as potential targets against paraquat toxicity and demonstrate the utility of genetically diverse mouse models for the study of complex human toxicity.
Dynamic modes of inflow jet in brain aneurysms.

Abstract The transition of the inflow jet to turbulence is crucial in understanding the pathology of brain aneurysms. Previous works Le et al. (2010, 2013) have shown evidence for a highly dynamic inflow jet in the ostium of brain aneurysms. While it is highly desired to investigate this inflow jet dynamics in clinical practice, the constraints on spatial and temporal resolutions of in vivo data do not allow a detailed analysis of this transition. In this work, Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) is used to identify the most energetic modes of the inflow jet in patient-specific models of internal carotid aneurysms via the utilization of high-resolution simulation data. It is hypothesized that dynamic modes are not solely controlled by the blood flow waveform at the parent artery. They are also dependent on jet-wall interaction phenomena. DMD analysis shows that the spatial extent of low- frequency modes corresponds well to the most energetic areas of the inflow jet. The high-frequency modes are short-lived and correspond to the flow separation at the proximal neck and the jet’s impingement onto the aneurysmal wall. Low-frequency modes can be reconstructed at relatively low spatial and temporal resolutions comparable to ones of in vivo data. The current results suggest that DMD can be practically useful in analyzing blood flow patterns of brain aneurysms with in vivo data.
Familial Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Mimicking Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy.

A 67-year-old man was referred from ophthalmology for possible cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) discovered during work-up of possible optic neuropathy. MRI (figure 1) demonstrated innumerable periventricular, brainstem, and cortical cerebral microhemorrhages (CMH). Scattered, non-specific white matter hyperintensities was seen on T2-weighted imaging without surrounding hypointense rim. He had no hypertension, and the distribution was uncharacteristic for CAA. Despite absent family history of stroke or seizure, testing for familial cerebral cavernous malformation (FCCM) identified a pathogenic mutation of KRIT1 (c.382G>T).
Outcomes of acute but not delayed reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humerus fracture are equal to those for rotator cuff arthropathy

Abstract Background The utilization of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) for the treatment of proximal humerus fractures in the elderly is increasing. Recent results support the use of RTSA for this indication over hemiarthroplasty or open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). However, there are limited data on the outcomes of RTSA for fracture or fracture sequelae as compared to RTSA for cuff tear arthropathy (CTA). We hypothesized that patients undergoing RTSA for fracture or fracture sequelae would have worse outcomes compared to patients undergoing RTSA for CTA. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected outcomes database of all patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty at a single institution between 2008 and 2019. Patients were included if they underwent primary RTSA for a diagnosis of acute fracture, fracture nonunion or malunion, failed hemiarthroplasty or ORIF for proximal humerus fracture, or rotator cuff arthropathy. The primary outcome was American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score at the most recent follow-up, with minimum 1-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes included range of motion (ROM) at most recent follow-up, patient satisfaction with surgery, and revision or reoperation rates. Analysis of variance was used to compare continuous variables between the groups, while chi-square or Fisher's exact test were used to compare categorical variables. Linear regression analysis was used to perform multivariable analysis. Prosthesis survival rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Significance was defined as P Results There were 287 patients included in the final cohort, including 62 with fracture and 225 with CTA. Sex, diagnosis, increasing patient comorbidities, and diagnosis (malunion/nonunion and failed prior surgery) were associated with worse ASES scores on univariate analysis (P .05). Outcomes of delayed RTSA for malunion/nonunion and hemiarthroplasty/ORIF were significantly worse than those for acute fracture/CTA (P Conclusion Treatment of acute proximal humerus fractures with RTSA leads to similar improvements in patient outcomes compared to elective treatment for CTA, but outcomes of delayed RTSA for fracture are considerably worse. These findings provide further guidance to clinicians counselling patients on treatment options and outcomes for proximal humerus fractures. Level of evidence Level III; Retrospective comparative study
End-To-End Bias Mitigation: Removing Gender Bias in Deep Learning

Machine Learning models have been deployed across many different aspects of society, often in situations that affect social welfare. Although these models offer streamlined solutions to large problems, they may contain biases and treat groups or individuals unfairly based on protected attributes such as gender. In this paper, we introduce several examples of machine learning gender bias in practice followed by formalizations of fairness. We provide a survey of fairness research by detailing influential pre-processing, in-processing, and post-processing bias mitigation algorithms. We then propose an end-to-end bias mitigation framework, which employs a fusion of pre-, in-, and post-processing methods to leverage the strengths of each individual technique. We test this method, along with the standard techniques we review, on a deep neural network to analyze bias mitigation in a deep learning setting. We find that our end-to-end bias mitigation framework outperforms the baselines with respect to several fairness metrics, suggesting its promise as a method for improving fairness. As society increasingly relies on artificial intelligence to help in decision-making, addressing gender biases present in deep learning models is imperative. To provide readers with the tools to assess the fairness of machine learning models and mitigate the biases present in them, we discuss multiple open source packages for fairness in AI.
Strong Coupling between Plasmonic Gap Modes and Photonic Lattice Modes in DNA-Assembled Gold Nanocube Arrays

Control of both photonic and plasmonic coupling in a single optical device represents a challenge due to the distinct length scales that must be manipulated. Here, we show that optical metasurfaces with such control can be constructed using an approach that combines top-down and bottom-up processes, wherein gold nanocubes are assembled into ordered arrays via DNA hybridization events onto a gold film decorated with DNA-binding regions defined using electron beam lithography. This approach enables one to systematically tune three critical architectural parameters: (1) anisotropic metal nanoparticle shape and size, (2) the distance between nanoparticles and a metal surface, and (3) the symmetry and spacing of particles. Importantly, these parameters allow for the independent control of two distinct optical modes, a gap mode between the particle and the surface and a lattice mode that originates from cooperative scattering of many particles in an array. Through reflectivity spectroscopy and finite-difference...
Properties of immunoglobulin A in serum of individuals with liver diseases and in hepatic bile

In comparison with normal individuals, sera of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and other liver diseases had two to four times higher levels of immunoglobulin A and three to ten time higher levels of polymeric immunoglobulin A. The possible participation of the liver in the selective removal of polymeric immunoglobulin A from serum into bile was investigated by analyzing immunoglobulin A in serum and bile specimens obtained from a group of patients with T-tube drainage of the common bile duct. Gel filtration revealed three principal fractions of biliary immunoglobulin A: secretory immunoglobulin A with J chain and secretory component; polymeric immunoglobulin A associated with J chain; and monomeric immunoglobulin A devoid of J chain and secretory component. Secretory component-complexed immunoglobulin A composed only 50% or less of the total biliary immunoglobulin A. In comparison with immunoglobulin G, polymeric forms of immunoglobulin A appeared to be selectively transported into bile whereas monomeric immunoglobulin A was not. These data suggested that the liver selectively transports polymeric immunoglobulin A from serum into bile by both secretory component-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
On Asymptotic Structure, the Szlenk Index and UKK Properties in Banach Spaces

Let B be a separable Banach space and let X=B * be separable. We prove that if B has finite Szlenk index (for all e > 0) then B can be renormed to have the weak* uniform Kadec-Klee property. Thus if e > 0 there exists δ (e) > 0 so that if x n is a sequence in the ball of X converging ω* to x so that $$\lim \inf _{n \to \infty } \left\| {x_n - x} \right\| \geqslant \varepsilon {\text{ then }}\left\| x \right\| \leqslant 1 - \delta (\varepsilon )$$ . In addition we show that the norm can be chosen so that δ (e) ≥ cep for some p 0.
Intraoperative protective ventilation: too early to redefine management parameters?

The attention to detail, use of a large representative dataset, and rigorous statistical approach in Ladha and colleagues’ study of intraoperative mechanical ventilation and postoperative respiratory complications all help advance our knowledge.1 However, important limitations mean that these data must be interpreted with caution, especially before changing ventilatory management practices for patients in the operating room. In a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, the authors showed in both unmatched and propensity matched analyses that patients who had all three of low plateau pressures (Pplat), low tidal …
Possible Increases in the Underreporting of Cigarette Consumption

Abstract Data from four major surveys, spanning the years since the Surgeon General's Report, suggest a significant reduction in rates of cigarette smoking. These data, however, conflict with production and sales data which record only a slight reduction. Explanations for this discrepancy range from problems in the surveys' methodology to increased underreporting of cigarette consumption because of both a growing awareness of the threat to health and the social undesirability of smoking. This article emphasizes the need for caution in the design of surveys and interpretation of their results, regardless of the explanation of the discrepancy.
Matrix metalloproteinase-dependent EGF receptor activation in hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy

Agonist stimulation of certain G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) causes shedding of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) through activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), with subsequent transactivation of the EGF receptor. MMPs are widely expressed, and their dysregulated expression is crucial in cancer, inflammation, and cardiovascular remodeling. Recent studies in hypertensive animals have shown enhanced expression and activation of MMPs and EGF receptors, and their inhibition attenuates cardiac hypertrophy, vasoconstriction and hypertension induced by GPCR agonists such as angiotensin II, endothelin-1 and phenylepherine. These findings suggest that selective inhibition of MMPs might have therapeutic potential in hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.
The penetration of exogenous prostaglandin and arachidonic acid into, and their distribution within, the mammalian eye

The distribution of 3H and 14C activities in intraocular fluids and tissues was studied after topical application of 3H-prostaglandin F2α (3H-PGF2α) and/or 14C-arachidonic acid (14C-AA) to rabbit eyes; intravenous (i.v.) infusion of 3H-PGF2α into rats; and after incubation of rat or rabbit globes in media containing these and other tracers. Thirty min after topical application of 14C-AA, the order of distribution of 14C per unit of tissue weight was cornea>>sclera>ciliary body>iris>aqueous>retina-choroid>vitreous>lens. The distribution of 3H was sclera>cornea>retinachoroid>ciliary body>aqueous>vitreous (lens > 0; iris > 0). After i.v. infusion of 14C-sucrose and 3H-PGF2α into rats for 1 to 5 min, the globe/blood ratio of 3H was significantly lower than that of 14C. When isolated rat globes were incubated, the order of tracer uptake into the whole globe was AA>thiourea P`F2α>sucrose, while the order of entry into the aqueous was thiourea>sucrose A>-PGF2α. The isolated rabbit cornea accumulated large amount...
Genetic and nucleotide sequence homologies in Bacillus genomes

The extent of divergence in the organization of the aromatic amino acid cluster among the heterogenetic strains of Bacillus subtilis has been examined by hybridizations to a trp homolog from B. pumilus and bymarker survivals after restriction. The trp operon in the W23, 3610 and 168M genomes exhibit variations in the location of the EcoRI and HindIII cleavage sites consistent with the relative transforming activity of the surviving genes and the history of the strains.
Genesis of interneurons in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat.

Most neurons in the A-laminae of the cat's dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) are born between embryonic days 22 and 32. Whereas approximately 78% of these cells are destined to become geniculocortical relay cells, the remaining 22% of LGN neurons do not appear to establish connections with visual cortex, and therefore can be considered interneurons. In the present study we have combined the 3H-thymidine method for labeling dividing neurons with the retrograde horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method for identifying LGN relay cells in order to study specifically the genesis of interneurons in the cat's LGN. Developing LGN interneurons in 12 kittens were labeled with 3H-thymidine by injecting the radioactive label into the allantoic cavity of their pregnant mothers on different embryonic days. Approximately 8–22 weeks after birth LGN relay cells in the A-laminae were labeled retrogradely by injecting large volumes of HRP into visual cortex areas 17 and 18. LGN cells that could not be labeled retrogradely with HRP were considered to be interneurons. Our results show that interneurons are born on each of the embryonic days studied, E24–E30. This period represents approximately the middle two-thirds of the entire period of LGN neurogenesis. Although the birth rate for interneurons is not uniform, there is no indication from our data that interneurons and relay cells in the cat's LGN are born at different times during LGN neurogenesis.
Electrophoretic behavior and surface reactions of sol-gel derived alumina

Abstract Electrophoretic mobilities of aluminas, derived by a sol-gel process and calcined at various temperatures in air, were measured using a microelectrophoresis technique. The isoelectric points (IEP) of the various aluminas were determined by plotting EM versus pH. The unusually low initial IEP value (8.6) for alumina calcined at 500°C was a result of thermochemical reactions of a by-product alcohol from the sol-gel reaction. Under aging conditions at room temperature solutions of various pH, the IEP values tend to decrease with time up to approximately 2 days, unlike commercial α-alumina. However, after 2 days the trend was reversed for the sol-gel aluminas and maximum IEPs were reached after approximately 20 days. After ∼20, days, all aluminas showed decreasing IEPs which appears to be a result of organic impurities from the plastic containers adsorbed on the surface of alumina.
Adaptive optimization of join trees for multi-join queries over sensor streams

Data processing applications for sensor streams have to deal with multiple continuous data streams with inputs arriving at highly variable and unpredictable rates from various sources. These applications perform various operations (e.g. filter, aggregate, join, etc.) on incoming data streams in real-time according to predefined queries or rules. Since the data rate and data distribution fluctuate over time, an appropriate join tree for processing join queries must be adaptively maintained in response to dynamic changes to prevent rapid degradation of the system performance. In this paper, we address the problem of finding an optimal join tree that maximizes throughput for sliding window based multi-join queries over continuous data streams and prove its NP-Hardness. We present a dynamic programming algorithm, OptDP, which produces the optimal tree but runs in an exponential time in the number of input streams. We then present a polynomial time greedy algorithm, XGreedyJoin. We tested these algorithms in ARES, an adaptively re-optimizing engine for stream queries, which we developed by extending Jess (Jess is a popular RETE-based, forward chaining rule engine written in java). For almost all instances, trees from XGreedyJoin perform close to the optimal trees from OptDP, and significantly better than common heuristics-based XJoin algorithms.
Small-scale distributions of zooplankton biomass

Horizontal variability of zooplankton biomass was evaluated using a multiple opening-closing plankton net. Thirty-eight plankton hauls (8 nets per haul) were taken at 90 m during 4 days and 3 nights, 350 km west of San Diego, California. There was a day-to-night increase in zooplankton abundance. Relative level of variations (S2/x) was larger at night than during the day. Spatial variability was found on scales of 100 to 2100 m but no one scale dominated. Linear trends resulting from larger-scale variability (> 2 km) were present throughout the sampling period and were easier to distinguish from sample-to-sample variatility at night than during the day. The trends were clearly differentiable from sample-to-sample variations only after several hundred meters of water were integrated. Biomass distributions were not strongly skewed; the data fit both lognormal and normal distributions well. Small changes in net depth and temperature did not significantly influence the observed spatial pattern. Small changes in net towing profile did affect biomass measurements. If a feeding generalist is preying upon zooplankton and can detect the biomass trends, then such predators could follow the trends to higher concentrations of food.
Molecular Basis of Lysosomal Enzyme Recognition: Three-Dimensional Structure of the Cation-Dependent Mannose 6-Phosphate Receptor

Targeting of newly synthesized lysosomal hydrolases to the lysosome is mediated by the cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CD-MPR) and the insulin-like growth factor II/cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (IGF-II/CI-MPR). The two receptors, which share sequence similarities, constitute the P-type family of animal lectins. We now report the three-dimensional structure of a glycosylation-deficient, yet fully functional form of the extracytoplasmic domain of the bovine CD-MPR (residues 3-154) complexed with mannose 6-phosphate at 1.8 A resolution. The extracytoplasmic domain of the CD-MPR crystallizes as a dimer, and each monomer folds into a nine-stranded flattened beta barrel, which bears a striking resemblance to avidin. The distance of 40 A between the two ligand-binding sites of the dimer provides a structural basis for the observed differences in binding affinity exhibited by the CD-MPR toward various lysosomal enzymes.
Silicon diffusion in a natural quartz aggregate: constraints on solution-transfer diffusion creep

Abstract Silicon bulk diffusion rates were determined in a fine-grained (1.2 μm diameter) natural quartz aggregate (novaculite) from Hot Springs, AR. The diffusion experiments were done at 600–800°C and 150 MPa confining pressure (hydrothermal) and at 800–1100°C and 1 atm (in a stream of dry N2). The technique employed an isotopic tracer (30Si) and standard step-scan analysis using an ion microprobe (SIMS). The temperature dependence of silicon bulk diffusion in the novaculite is described by the Arrhenius parameters: D0, bulk=3.7×10−10 m2/s and Q=137 ±18 kJ/mol, and D0, bulk=6.2×10−9 m2/s and Q=178 ±38 kJ/mol for the hydrothermal and dry experiments, respectively. At 800°C, the silicon bulk diffusion rate at 150 MPa, hydrothermal is about a factor of 10 greater than at 1 atm, dry. For an assumed effective grain boundary width of 2 nm, the silicon grain boundary diffusion rates in novaculite are a factor of two to three less than oxygen diffusion rates for similar hydrothermal conditions, and more than 12 orders of magnitude greater than anhydrous silicon volume diffusion rates extrapolated to the temperature of these experiments. The results of this study provide valuable constraints on the role of diffusion-accommodated deformation in quartz-rich rocks.
Magnetic ordering and structural distortion in Ru-doped BaFe 2 As 2 single crystals studied by neutron and x-ray diffraction

compounds (0≤x ≤0.246). Neutron and x-ray diffraction measurements demonstratethat, unlike for the electron-doped compounds, the structural and magnetic transitions remain coincident in tem-perature. Both the magnetic and structural transitions are gradually suppressed with increased Ru concentrationand coexist with superconductivity. For samples that are superconducting, we ﬁnd strong competition betweensuperconductivity, the antiferromagnetic ordering, and the structural distortion.
Renal Sinus Myelolipoma Coexistent With Renal Pelvis Papillary Transitional Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report:

A unique case of renal sinus myelolipoma presenting as a mass coexistent with papillary transitional cell carcinoma is reported. The patient was a 64-year-old man with a history of bladder transitional cell carcinoma. He presented with gross hematuria and a filling defect in the renal pelvis on computed tomography scan. Pathological findings revealed an irregular myxoid fatty mass, in addition to high-grade papillary transitional cell carcinoma. The differential diagnosis included myxoid liposarcoma, myxoid variant of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (myxofibrosarcoma), and angiomyolipoma. Immunoperoxidase staining confirmed the presence of hematopoietic cells, whereas diagnostic histological and immunohistochemical features of liposarcoma, myxofibrosarcoma, and angiomyolipoma were absent. Myelolipoma and papillary transitional cell carcinoma appear to be unrelated coexistent entities in this case.
The misuse and use of metatheory

Some approaches to metatheory are criticized for their tendency to avoid scientific sociology's central task: to explain how the social universe operates. While much metatheory is intellectually stimulating, it can also be debilitating in that it pulls social theory into reviews of the history of ideas, textual debate, philosophical discourse, ideological critique, and other unresolvable intellectual issues. In so doing, metatheory directs attention away from the analysis of the operative dynamics of the social world. Such need not be the case, however, for metatheory can be used to produce better theories. A general strategy for using metatheory to produce theory is proposed, and portions of this strategy are illustrated with a preliminary analysis of several conflict theories.
Fatigue crack-growth behavior of materials in viscous fluid environments

The potent effect of the hydrodynamic pressure developed in the wake of a crack growing under cyclic loads in a viscous fluid environment is considered. While existing semi-analytical solutions provide an estimate of the hydrodynamic pressure effect, they are inherently restricted by the assumption of specific crack opening profiles. To correct this limitation and to extend the study to a complete range of materials and fluid environments, a fully consistent numerical approach was developed. A self-consistent fracture mechanics solution procedure is derived initially for atomistically sharp cracks in brittle materials, and then extended to include the effect of crack tip blunting in more ductile materials. Three important dimensionless parameters are identified through which effects of various physical properties on crack-growth behavior can be examined. These include specimen geometry, material properties, fluid viscosity and cyclic loading conditions. General plots are constructed spanning wide ranges of these dimensionless parameters so that the hydrodynamic pressure contribution to crack-growth rates can easily be estimated for a complete range of materials, fluid environments and loading parameters.
Scintillation scanning in the diagnosis of hepatic abscess in children

T g ~ D I A G N O S I S o f liver abscess is f r e q u e n t l y difficult in children. The complaints are often nonspecific and the diagnosis usually reached by exclusion after considerable delay. There may be no history of a predisposing event such as trauma. Fever (often listed as of unknown origin), leukocytosis, abdominal discomfort or pain, sometimes localized to the right upper quadrant, and irritability comprise the most common presenting findings. Although hepatic radioisotopic imaging is widely used in adults for the diagnosis of focal hepatic lesions, it has seldom been mentioned in the pediatric literature. Two brief case histories are therefore presented as an illustration of how the hepatic scintiscan may pinpoint the diagnosis of hepatic abscess. In addition, a technique of hepatic imaging for children is described briefly.
Experimental Design for Product and Process Design and Development

The design of new products, or the improvement of existing ones, as well as the design and development of manufacturing processes to produce them, are crucial activities in most industrial organizations. Engineers and scientists play a critical role in these activities, and the efficiency and effectiveness with which the development process is performed are often a key factor in organizational success. Statistically designed experiments are an important component of product and process design and development. The last 20 years have seen many new developments in experimental design, accompanied by a significant growth of applications in engineering. Typical experimental design application areas include process and product characterization, achieving variability reduction, control and stability, process optimization and designing processes and products to achieve robustness. This presentation focuses on these applications, surveying and discussing contemporary methodology. Examples are given that illustrate applying these techniques in practice.
Risk-based capital regulation revisited: evidence from the early 2000s

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to replicate Avery and Berger’s (1991) analysis using data from 2001 through 2011. Although risk-based capital (RBC) regulation is a key component of US banking regulation, empirical evidence of the effectiveness of these regulations has been mixed. Among the first studies of RBC regulation, Avery and Berger (1991) provide evidence from data on US banks that new RBC regulations outperformed old capital regulations from 1982 through 1989. Design/methodology/approach – Using data from the Federal Reserve’s Call Reports, the authors compare banks’ capital ratios and RBC ratios to five measures of bank performance: income, standard deviation of income, non-performing loans, loan charge-offs and probability of failure. Findings – Consistent with Avery and Berger (1991), the authors find banks’ risk-weighted assets to be significant predictors of their future performance and that RBC ratios outperform regular capital ratios as predictors of risk. Originality/value – The st...
A case for human tumor-suppressor genes.

Much of the recent work on oncogenes has been interpreted as signifying that the cancerous phenotype is caused by the direct expression of ‘dominantly-acting’ oncogenes. On the other hand, numerous somatic cell hybridization experiments suggest that there are potent tumour-suppressor genes in the genome. The conflict between the observations and the possible nature of the relationships between oncogenes and tumour-suppressor are discussed.
A Heuristic Study of Relegation of Control in Constrained Robotic Systems

La tâche du systeme de commande est d'influencer le couplage mecanique et de permettre une commande separee des trajectoires et des forces. La relegation de la commande vers l'entree ou l'etat est possible. On etudie les strategies de relegation a l'entree de facon exacte et approchee. Application a un robot a 3 articulations
Foraging success of largemouth bass at different light intensities: implications for time and depth of feeding

lx)andnear0%intotaldarkness.Overarangeoflowtohighwaterclarities(0·5,2·0,and4·0mSecchidepth),estimateddepthlimitsforfeedingduringthedayrangedbetween5·5to44mandfrom1·6to13matnightduringafullmoon.Atstarlight,lightintensityrapidlyattenuatedtoalevelbelowthefeedingthresholdwithin0·5mofthesurfaceatallwaterclarities. Thedepthofthewatercolumnavailableforfeedinginlowclaritywater(0·5mSecchi)was67and75%lessthanatmoderate(2·0mSecchi)andhigh(4·0mSecchi)waterclarities. TheﬁndingsillustratehowdiVerences in the light environment can have important ramiﬁcations for predator–preyinteractions.Keywords:
SAR imaging technique for reduction of sidelobes and noise

Multiplicative noise poses a big challenge for SAR imaging system, in which energy from the sidelobes of large RCS man-made and natural clutter objects spread throughout the resulting SAR imagery. Detection of small RCS targets is very difficult since their signatures might be obscured or even embedded in this multiplicative noise floor that is proportional to the RCS of surrounding clutter objects. ARL has developed a Recursive Sidelobe Minimization (RSM) technique that is combined with the standard backprojection image formation algorithm to suppress the multiplicative noise floor in the resulting SAR imagery. In this paper, we present the Recursive Sidelobe Minimization (RSM) technique. Although the technique is originally developed and tested using data from the Army Research Lab (ARL) UWB Synchronous Impulse Reconstruction (SIRE) forward-looking radar, it is also applicable for other SAR data sets with different configurations.
Neutrino mixing in SO(10)

The possibility of nonzero neutrino rest masses and mixing angles, resulting in the occurrence of neutrino oscillations, has become a significant area of research.1 There is now a large number of experiments, both completed and in progress, to measure 2,3 In order to have oscillations, one requires not only large mixing angles but also a substantial difference in the corresponding neutrino masses. The treatment of these phenomena in the context of a grand unified field theory (GUT) such as SO(10)4 with neutrino masses generated by the Gell-Mann-Ramond-Slansky (GM-R-S) mechanism consists in the introduction of a large Majorana mass for the right-handed neurtino, so that a Dirac mass of the quark scale results in a small mass for the left-handed neutrino.
Protein synthesis by cerebral cortex polysomes: Characterization of the system

Abstract The polysomal amino acid incorporation system, isolated from rat cerebral cortex without the use of detergents, has been further characterized. In vivo , it acquires nascent protein label rapidly (≤ 10 minutes). After more prolonged in vitro incubation in the presence of labeled amino acids, large polysomes break down to smaller polysomes, disomes, and monosomes, coincident with the appearance of labeled polypeptide on all these particle types as well as on ribosomal subunits and in the soluble fraction. The kinetic pattern suggests that, in vitro , soluble proteins are released only slowly and as a consequence of this continued breakdown of polysomes to smaller particles, and that their reaggregation to form functional polysomes constitutes one of the barriers to continued active incorporation. Chromatographic analysis of the in vitro products by means of Sephadex G-25 and G-200 followed by DEAE-cellulose indicates that the bulk (>80%) of the radioactivity newly incorporated into the soluble portion is constituted by polypeptides of a molecular weight >10 4 daltons. Approximately 50% of the counts is in proteins of a size or shape as to be excluded by Sephadex G-200, and approximately 33% is found among several acidic proteins. The soluble proteins acquiring radioactivity in this system account for approximately 25% of the total incorporated amino acids. On the average, 2 mμmoles of individual amino acid is incorporated into soluble protein in 30 minutes, per milligram of an active polysomal preparations.
Statistical noise reduction with projection space multiscale decomposition and penalized weighted least square

A statistical noise reduction approach is proposed for x-ray computed tomography imaging. The isotropic diffusion partial differential equation is derived from image space to projection space in the equi-angular fan-beam geometry and then used to obtain a projection space multi-scale decomposition by iteratively approximating a Gaussian convolution kernel function with an expected variance. Subsequently, the penalized weighted least square methods with three different objective functions are developed and implemented to reduce quantum noise in the projection data. Experimental results of computer simulated projection data have demonstrated the performance of the proposed approach.
What is Central and Eastern Europe

The historical trajectory of Central and Eastern Europe differed significantly from that of the West. The region became the periphery of a transforming West during the early modern centuries. The nineteenth and twentieth centuries were characterized by repeated attempts to catch up with the West. Romanticism brought in Western ideas and generated struggles for national independence and modernization. Failures paved the way for desperate revolts in the inter-war years. Left- and right-wing revolutions engulfed the region. Authoritarian, Fascist and Communist regimes looked for short cuts to finish nation-building and industrialization. In the end, all versions of state-run modernization failed, and the region revolted against them. At least its western rim seems to be successfully returning to Europe at the turn of the millennium.
The mathematical theory of chaos

Abstract The basic concepts of the mathematical theory of chaos are presented through a brief analysis of some interesting dynamical systems in one-, two- and three-dimensional space. We start with a discussion of interval maps and observe that when such maps are monotonic, their iterates behave in an orderly fashion. Then, by way of contrast, we study a well-known quadratic1 map iterates clearly manifest the archetypal characteristics of chaos, such as period-doubling bifurcations and the existence of a strange attractor. As a means of indicating that mappings in two dimensions yield a richer variety of chaotic regimes than do interval maps, we next discuss the horseshoe and solenoidal mappings of the two-disk. Dizzying forms of chaos emerge from these mappings, but there is an irony—the chaotic behavior can be characterized in an orderly way. We conclude with a cursory examination of the Lorenz differential equation in three-space: a primary source of the recent interest in chaos theory.
Representation Design Benchmarks: A Design-Time Aid for VPL Navigable Static Representations

Abstract A weakness of many interactive visual programming languages (VPLs) is their static representations. Lack of an adequate static representation places a heavy cognitive burden on a VPL's programmers, because they must remember potentially long dynamic sequences of screen displays in order to understand a previously written program. However, although this problem is widely acknowledged, research on how to design better static representations for interactive VPLs is still in its infancy. Building upon the cognitive dimensions developed for programming languages by cognitive psychologists Green and others, we have developed a set of concrete benchmarks for VPL designers to use when designing new static representations. These benchmarks provide design-time information that can be used to improve a VPL's static representation.
Effects of CO2 exposure on gas transport properties of glassy polymers

Abstract The effects of CO2 driving pressure and CO2 exposure history on transport properties for two polycarbonates and two acrylic polymers are described. For the polycarbonates, the CO2 permeability decreases with increased driving pressure while exposure to CO2 causes in subsequent measurements a decrease in permeability and an increase in the diffusion time lag. For the acrylics, each response is exactly the opposite. The effects may be important for membrane separation processes involving CO2 at high pressures.
Thermomechanical characterization of thermoset urethane shape‐memory polymer foams

The shape-memory polymer performance of urethane foams compressed under a variety of conditions was characterized. The foams were water-blown thermosets with a closed-cell structure and ranged in density from about 0.25 to 0.75 g/cm3. Compressive deformations were carried out over a range of strain levels, temperatures, and lateral constraints. Recovery stresses measured between fixed platens were as high as 4 MPa. Recovery strains, measured against loads up to 0.13 MPa, demonstrated the effects of various parameters. The results suggest that compression near the foam glass-transition temperature provided optimal performance. Foams with densities of about 0.5 g/cc and compressed 50% provided a useful balance (time, strain, and load) in the recovery performance. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
An Artificial Neural Network for Low-Energy Impact Monitoring

An artificial neural network has been developed that can analyze signals from piezoelectric sensors to detect the location and intensity of low-energy impact on a composite panel. The panel has two piezopolymer sensors attached some distance apart from each other. The signals are analyzed by the artificial neural network using a binary pattern associator. The binary pattern associator facilitates memory build-up during learn ing while simplifying signal discrimination during testing. The impact monitoring system, which consists of the artificial neural network and the piezoelectric sensors, has been used successfully to detect the location and height of impact when a small steel ball is dropped onto a composite laminate.