cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microwave ionization of Na Rydberg atoms

Electric field ionization of excited Na atoms by microwave fields between 12 and 15 GHz exhibits several interesting phenomena. The $|m|=0 \mathrm{and} 1$ states may be ionized with a very low microwave field, $\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{1}{{3n}^{5}}$, corresponding to the point at which the $n$ and $n+1$ Stark manifolds of principal quantum numbers $n$ and $n+1$ intersect. The ionization occurs by an atom's making a succession of Landau-Zener transitions to higher-lying states, finally reaching the classical ionization limit. The $|m|=2$ states, on the other hand, ionize at a very high microwave field, $\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{1}{{9n}^{4}}$. Both these observations and the more familiar static or low-frequency result of ionization by a field of $\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{1}{{16n}^{4}}$ are all consistent with ionization in a completely classical fashion. The apparent differences are due to the dynamics of passing from zero field to a high ionizing field.
Raloxifene and endothelial function in healthy postmenopausal women

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of raloxifene on endothelial function in healthy, postmenopausal women. Study design: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Subjects (n = 19; mean age, 61 years) underwent endothelial function testing at baseline and after treatment with placebo or raloxifene (60 mg per day for 6 weeks). Results: Brachial artery diameter change (flow-mediated dilation) increased 5.0% with placebo and 8.56% with raloxifene (SE = 1.83, P = .03) in response to a hyperemic stimulus; an adjustment of this response for a variation in stimulus intensity resulted in greater discrimination ( P = .009). The ratio of area under the curve response to area under the curve reference with the use of laser Doppler measures was 1.18 for placebo and 1.28 for raloxifene ( P = .05). Flow-mediated dilation and area under the curve ratio correlated significantly ( r = 0.33, P = .04). Conclusion: Treatment with raloxifene enhanced endothelial-mediated dilation in brachial arteries and digital vessels in healthy, postmenopausal women. A potential mechanism for a cardioprotective effect of raloxifene is suggested and warrants further study. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:304-9.)
A Turing Test for Computational and Associative Theories of Learning

A Turing test is proposed to evaluate current computational and associative models of learning, and to guide theoretical developments. This test requires a specification of the procedures to which the model applies, a sampling of procedures and response measures, and an objective way to determine the difficulty of discriminating the responses of the model from the responses of the animal. Scalar timing theory is used as an example of a well-developed computational theory of timing that involves addition, multiplication, division, and sampling. The behavioral theory of timing is used as an example of a well-developed associative theory of timing that involves state transitions and strengthening of connections. A Turing test provides a way to evaluate such theories.
On statistical testing of prevalence studies.

Abstract 1. 1. Several methods of evaluating data in prevalence or incidence studies are presented, with examples. 2. 2. The significance of a single study of a small area can be evaluated by calculating the confidence limits of the observed rate. The 95 per cent confidence band is the range in which the ‘true’ rate of the area can be expected to lie 19 times out of 20. For a prevalence study this band can be approximated from x ± 2√x, where x is the observed number of cases in the study. For more precision, a correction for asymmetry can be employed. These values, when divided by the population of the area, can then be transposed into the 95 per cent confidence limits of the prevalence rate of the area. 3. 3. The significance of distributions within parts of a large-area prevalence study can be evaluated by an adaptation of the chi-square contingency test: χ2 = Σ (O-E) 2 E where O = observed number of cases in each part , E = the expected number of cases in the same part . Expected values are obtained by multiplying the total prevalence by the population of each part. Significance of χ2 found depends upon the degrees of freedom, which is one less than the number of areas in the study. With certain precautions, the individual value of (O-E) 2 E for each part may be considered an ‘approximate chi-square’ for this part vs. all others in the study, and such values exceeding 4.0 will usually be significantly high or low vs. the remainder of the parts. The minimum expected number of cases for any part should be 5 when using this (combined) approach. 4. 4. The significance of associations between distributions of a disease and those of some other factor may be evaluated by the use of the Spearman rank-order correlation test, provided the relationship sought is roughly linear. The coefficient of correlation (r) indicates the closeness of a positive association by its nearness to +1.00. When there are 20 ranks (=parts within the prevalence study) a decision of ‘no significant association’ at the 5 per cent level (l-tailed) would result when less than 14 per cent of the variation could be due to the association. 5. 5. The use of these three measures would suffice for an assessment of most prevalence or incidence studies of disease, and are especially useful for the reader who wishes to judge the merits of published conclusions from such studies. Interest in these or similar measures might lead more frequently to the presentation of basic data in this type of report.
Dynamics of a Floating Ice Sheet

Civilian and military operations are frequently conducted on the surface of floating ice sheets. For reasons of safety and operational reliability it is often required to predict the deformation and stresses in such floating ice plates due to surface loading. The present dynamic analysis considers the deformation of a floating ice sheet of infinite extent subjected to rapidly applied surface loads. Solutions are obtained within the framework of both improved and classical theories.
Muzk Mesh: Interlinking Semantic Music Data

The vision of the Semantic Web is to lift current Web into semantic repositories where heterogeneous data can be queried and different services can be mashed up. The Web becomes a platform for integrating data and services. The paper discusses the MuzkMesh music portal which mashups existing semantic music data from the Linked Open Data (LOD) bubbles and other common APIs. It aims to demo the power of semantic integration and useful use scenarios on music retrieval and entertainment.
(Hg,Cd)Te Photodiode Laser Receivers for the 1-3-micro Spectral Region.

Sensitive high speed photodiode detectors have been prepared in various compositions of (Hg,Cd)Te for the 1-μ to 3-μ spectral region. These detectors, operating at room temperature, exhibit quantum efficiencies in the 40–70% range and specific detectivities that range from 3×1011 cm Hz12/W at 1.3 μ to 5×109 cm Hz12/W at 3 μ. Improved performance is possible by cooling the photodiode detector; specific detectivities of 2×1012 cm Hz12/W approaching the BLIP limit at 2.2 μ have been measured at 77 K. Response time measurements using detector–preamplifier modules have been made with 0.9 μ, 1.06 μ and 1.54-μ pulsed radiation. The response time of approximately 10 nsec does not appear wavelength-dependent and is limited by the RC product and amplifier bandwidth. When the photodiode is terminated with a very broadband amplifier, the pulse response is limited by the RC product to 0.5 nsec and a secondary time constant of ~5 nsec is observed that is believed to be caused by the transit time of stored charge carriers.
A hyper-Kloosterman sum identity

From a Davenport-Hasse identity of Gauss sums an identity of a hyper-Kloosterman sum has been deduced. Using this identity the theory of Kloosterman sheaves and equidistribution of hyper-Kloosterman sums can be applied to an exponential sum over a cyclic algebraic number field of prime degree. This identity might also be applied to base change problems in representation theory via a possible relative trace formula over the cyclic number field.
Total synthesis of eupomatilones 4 and 6: structurally rearranged and atropisomerically fluxional lignan natural products.

A convergent and diastereocontrolled total synthesis of eupomatilones 4 and 6 is reported and was based on a diastereoselective hydroboration/oxidation sequence and a convergent Lipshutz biarylcuprate cross-coupling reaction. The structure of eupomatilone 6 is revised.
Distribution and experimental responses to substrate of marine oomycetes (Halophytophthora spp.) in mangrove ecosystems

Two marine oomycetes, Halophytophthora vesicula and Halophytophthora spinosa , were predominantly frequent (up to 100% and 80% respectively), on newly submerged leaves of red mangrove ( Rhizophora mangle ) near or within stands of mangroves on cays surrounding Exuma Sound, Bahama Islands. Outside of the mangrove tidal channels, H. vesicula (but not H. spinosa ) was most frequent (47–93%) on newly submerged leaves placed near naturally submerged, decaying leaves. Within a tidal channel in an extensive stand of mangroves (15 km 2 ), H. vesicula was more frequent (67–93%) than H. spinosa (7–40%). H. vesicula may compete better than H. spinosa for new substrate when there is a large zoospore source nearby, and vice versa when zoospores are rare and must travel several metres to new substrate. H. vesicula and H. spinosa selectively colonized mangrove leaves (45–100% frequency) as opposed to mangrove twigs (0–45%), other leaves (0–5%), or cellulose pads (0–5%). Protection of leaves from turbulent diffusion, but not from zoospore-swimming contact, reduced frequencies of both H. vesicula and H. spinosa by ca 75–100%, suggesting that chemotaxis toward leaves is, at most, of only very localized significance.
Some agrometeorological aspects of pest and disease management for the 21st century

Abstract In the 21st century increasing societal, environmental, and economic pressures will create a changing context for solving agricultural pest management problems. Interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving will be needed to meet goals such as mitigating environmental degradation associated with the use of farm chemicals, and increasing productivity by reducing insect and disease damage to crops, and reducing competition from weeds. Crop system models will provide useful frameworks in which to examine the interrelationships among plants, the pest complex, and the environment to determine the most appropriate management strategies to meet individual and societal goals. Improved techniques for managing pests, such as transgenic plants resistant to pests and diseases, new biological control agents, innovative cultural controls, biological pesticides, and additional information to improve efficacy of traditional chemicals, will require weather data and forecasts in order to be used, and climate information to determine their suitability for use. Climatic change, including global warming and increased variability, will require improved analyses that can be used to assess risks associated with existing and newly developed pest management strategies and techniques, and to gauge the impact of these techniques on productivity and profitability. Control recommendations will need to be evaluated for suitability in the farming system where they are to be implemented. Training in the basics of agrometeorological relationships and pest management disciplines will have to be supplied to agricultural meteorologists, extension personnel involved in this work, and farmers. Research to successfully develop the new technologies and the weather and climatic information required by the technologies must be approached by interdisciplinary teams that include agricultural meteorologists.
SipCloud: dynamically scalable SIP proxies in the cloud

One of the features of cloud computing platforms is the ability to scale applications dynamically. Generally, this feature is used in a web services context where the web service provider adds more web servers during times of high traffic and remove web servers during time of low traffic. Real-time communications service providers can also benefit from such feature. In this project, we propose and implement a highly scalable SIP proxy architecture that utilizes dynamic scalability. An evaluation of dynamic scalability of a part of the system is presented as well.
Anal manometric parameters: predictors of outcome following anal sphincter repair?

Controversy exists over the utility of manometry in the management of fecal incontinence. In light of newer methods for the management of fecal incontinence demonstrating favorable results, this study was designed to evaluate manometric parameters relative to functional outcome following overlapping sphincteroplasty. Twenty women, 29 to 84 years of age (mean age 50 years), with severe fecal incontinence and large (≥50%) sphincter defects on ultrasound were studied. All participants underwent anal manometry (mean resting pressure, mean squeeze pressure, anal canal length, compliance), pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) testing, and completed the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons fecal incontinence severity index (FISI) survey before and 6 weeks after sphincter repair. Statistical analysis for all data included the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Mann-Whitney test, and Spearman’s correlation. Significant perioperative improvement was seen in the absolute resting and squeeze pressures and anal canal length. Overlapping sphincteroplasty was also associated with significant improvement in fecal incontinence scores (FISI 36 vs. 16.4; P = 0.0001). Although no single preoperative manometric parameter was able to predict outcome following sphincteroplasty, preoperative mean resting and squeeze pressures as well as anal canal length inversely correlated with the relative changes in these parameters achieved postoperatively. These findings suggest that either the physiologic parameters studied are not predictive of functional outcome or the scoring system used is ineffective in determining function. The perioperative paradoxical changes in resting pressure, squeeze pressure, and anal canal length would support the use of overlapping sphincteroplasty in patients with significant sphincter defects and poor anal tone.
The Everyday Versus the Disaster Role of Local Officials: Citizen and Official Definitions

This study examines the definitions of active citizens and local government officials regarding the everyday and disaster roles of local government. The principal finding is that citizens and officials agreed on the everyday but not the disaster role. Citizens expected a custodial orientation in the everyday situation, but an "active" one in disaster. Officials defined the everyday role as custodial and did the same for the disaster. The definitional incongruity in the disaster environment had consequences for at least two alterations in the postdisaster community structure: group emergence and political reorganization.
Inaccuracy of wedge pressure as an index of pulmonary capillary pressure.

The wedge and left atrial pressures were compared in 12 subjects with congenital and acquired heart disease; all experiments were carried out with closed chest under basal conditions. A poor correlation between the wedge and left atrial pressures was noted in over half the patients. The wedge pressure is especially inaccurate in mitral stenosis with marked elevations in left atrial pressure.
Non-surgical periodontal therapy may reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Effect of periodontal therapy on pregnancy outcome in women affected by periodontitis. Tarannum, F. and M. Faizuddin (2007). J Periodontol 78(11):2095-103. Level of Evidence Level 2 (Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence) Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable Purpose/Question What is the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on pre-term birth and low birth weight among pregnant women with a history of periodontitis? Source of Funding Information not available. Type of Study/Design Randomized controlled trial.
Comparison of initial and lateral boundary condition sensitivity for a limited-area model

The sensitivities of two forecast aspects with respect to perturbations of initial and lateral boundary conditions are determined using an adjoint of a limited-area model. Sensitivities are presented as gradient fields. Some characteristics of the sensitivity fields have simple dynamical explanations, such as their strong dependence on winds, and do not require an adjoint model to reveal them. Other characteristics would be difficult to ascertain without an adjoint model, although they, too, in retrospect, have simple dynamical explanations. Still others, although equally important and undoubtedly dependent on the dynamics, would be practically impossible to determine without an adjoint. The quantity and quality of information provided by the adjoint solutions render the adjoint model a tool that is indispensable for sensitivity analysis. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.1993.00015.x
An epizootic of cutaneous zygomycosis in cultured dwarf African clawed frogs (Hymenochirus curtipes) due to Basidiobolus ranarum.

Morbidity and mortality approaching 100% occurred in dwarf African clawed frogs (Hymenochirus curtipes) from a culture facility in central California. Moribund frogs exhibited preference for a terrestrial environment rather than their normal aquatic environment. Affected animals had a slight pallor of the integument but were otherwise grossly unremarkable. Microscopic examination revealed a fungal infection of the integument primarily characterized by the presence of surface and intra-epidermal conidia. Skin cultures of the infected animals yielded an organism identified as Basidiobolus ranarum, based on the formation of conidia in culture with internal cleavage to form sporangiospores. The organism was transmitted to healthy frogs by co-habitation with infected frogs but not by short-term immersion exposure of healthy frogs to homogenized broth cultures of the fungus. Benzalkonium chloride at 2·0 mg 1-1 was efficacious in controlling the infection. Although Basidiobolus species are normally found in the ...
In-vivo carieslike lesion prevention with argon laser: pilot study

In vitro research has demonstrated the ability of argon laser irradiation to reduce demineralization or loss of tooth structure. This clinical pilot study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of this procedure in vivo. Using the Ogaard model of producing demineralization, the experimental teeth were irradiated with argon laser (primarily 488 nm and 514 nm) of 250 mW, approximately 12 J/cm 2 fluence, prior to banding. Polarized light evaluation of the sectioned, extracted teeth showed reduced demineralization in the experimental teeth as compared to the bilateral control teeth. Lower powered argon laser irradiation significantly reduced demineralization clinically.
Studies of sulfate utilization by algae 18. identification of glutathione as a physiological carrier in assimilatory sulfate reduction by Chlorella

Abstract Adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate-sulfotransferase is the first enzyme in the pathway of assimilatory sulfate reduction in Chlorella, and transfers the sulfo group from APS (adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate) to a thiol acceptor forming an organic thiosulfate. In vitro, adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate-sulfotransferase transfers to a variety of thiol acceptors, the best among the monothiols is glutathione, the only one to show a regulatory interaction with adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate-sulfotransferase. To identify the physiological acceptor, adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate-sulfotransferase is assayed without thiols; the cell fraction which stimulates adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate-sulfotransferase activity is expected to contain the physiological acceptor. Boiled Chlorella extract contains physiological acceptor when assayed in the presence of adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate-sulfotransferase and NADPH. Physiological acceptor is dialyzable but is retained by filters of 1000 daltons cut off. After passage through DEAE—Sephadex A-25 and Sephadex G-25, physiological acceptor is found to be ninhydrin-positive and shows co-electrophoresis with oxidized glutathione. Upon reduction with dithiothreitol, physiological acceptor moves with reduced glutathione and on acid hydrolysis yields amino acids identical with those from authentic oxidized glutathione. Physiological acceptor, with adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate-sulfotransferase and AP35 S, yields labeled glutathione—S—SO3−. Thiosulfonate reductase from Chlorella reduces glutathione—S—SO3− to bound sulfide. Only one active accepting component is found in the boiled extracts.
Supporting the Cognitive Work of Information Analysis and Synthesis: A Study of the Military Intelligence Domain

Information Analysis and Synthesis (henceforth “IAS”) is a type of cognitive work that plays a key role in many high-performance, complex, and mission-critical domains. These can range from tactical military intelligence to scientific or technological forecasting, business and financial intelligence to national strategic counterterrorism, and include areas as disparate as geopolitical policy analysis to computer network intrusion detection. The specific subject of this study is the military intelligence domain as one instantiation of IAS. Several innovative ethnographic and cognitive task analysis methods were used to observe team-based distributed work done by actual domain practitioners. The main investigative effort took the form of a scaled-world study, leveraging a real world tactical intelligence training exercise as a natural laboratory for investigating the contrasts between weaker and stronger IAS. Specifically, we examined the role of instructors in providing broadening checks to the team analyt...
Influence of patient characteristics and arterial grafts on freedom from coronary reoperation.

Objective Arteriosclerosis is a progressive disease, and many patients require repeat coronary intervention after coronary artery bypass grafting. We sought to identify patient characteristics and operative factors that predict the need for or bias toward reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods From 1971 to 1998, 48,758 patients underwent primary isolated coronary artery bypass grafting, and 1000 per year were followed every 5 years (n = 26,927). A multivariable time-related analysis was performed to model freedom from coronary reoperation and to identify patient and operative variables associated with occurrence of coronary reoperation. Results Freedoms from reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting were 99.6%, 98.4%, 93%, 82%, 72%, and 65% at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years, respectively. Risk of reoperation (hazard function) demonstrated a short, rapidly declining early phase, followed by a long, slow-rising late phase. Patient variables that increased the likelihood of coronary reoperation included younger age ( P P = .0004) and triglyceride levels ( P = .0005), lower high-density lipoprotein ( P = .0002) level, diabetes mellitus ( P P = .01). Increasing extent of arterial grafting performed at primary coronary artery bypass grafting decreased occurrence of coronary reoperation ( P Conclusion Patient factors associated with arteriosclerosis progression and type of bypass conduit influence the need for or bias toward repeat coronary artery bypass grafting. Aggressive patient risk-factor reduction and extensive arterial coronary revascularization at primary coronary artery bypass grafting should result in fewer coronary reoperations.
Contingent tolerance to the anorexigenic effects of amphetamine.

Abstract Rats given pretest injections of amphetamine and post-test injections of saline develop tolerance to the anorexigenic effects of the drug. Rats given the same number of injections, but in the reverse order, fail to develop tolerance during the same period of time. Thus, the development of tolerance is contingent on the relationship between time of injection of amphetamine and eating.
Accurate Square Roots

IN NATURE for June 19, Mr. John Wishart directs attention to certain inaccuracies of one unit in the last printed place in Barlow's Tables of the square roots of numbers. Such errors are very common in these tables, applying to approximately ten per cent, of all the square roots; and they also apply, apparently even more frequently, to the cube roots. The reciprocals in the same tables are much more accurate, but even these are occasionally in error by a unit of the last printed place.
Safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein thrombosis.

PURPOSE Despite the absence of conclusive data, portal vein (PV) thrombosis is considered a contraindication to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of our study was to establish the safety of TACE in such patients and identify key prognostic factors and survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were prospectively collected from 32 consecutive patients with unresectable HCC and PV thrombosis who underwent treatment with TACE. History and physical examination, relevant laboratory values, and contrast material–enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images were obtained before each TACE procedure. Repeated TACE was performed every 6 weeks unless patients developed a contraindication or MR imaging showed complete response. RESULTS Median overall survival was 9.5 months (range, 3–50 months). Child-Pugh numerical disease stage was the prognostic factor most strongly related to survival. The 30-day mortality rate was zero and there was no evidence of TACE-related hepatic infarction or acute liver failure. The 6-, 9-, 12-, and 18-month survival rates were 60%, 47%, 25%, and 12.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS PV thrombosis should not be considered a contraindication to TACE. Compared with historical control subjects who received traditional forms of treatment, the patients in the present study had extended survival. However, prospective randomized trials are necessary to show this conclusively and to show which subgroups benefit.
The role of hepatocyte growth Factor/c-Met in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Background Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a growth factor thought to attenuate Th2-driven eosinophilic airway inflammatory responses. Increased expression of HGF and its receptor c-Met in nasal polyps suggests a role in disease pathogenesis. The effect of HGF on human sinonasal epithelial cell (SNEC) responses to Th2 inflammatory cytokines in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) has not been explored. Methods SNECs isolated from patients with CRSwNP and control subjects were grown in cell culture at the air-liquid interface. The Th2 cytokine IL-13 was applied for 24 hours in the presence or absence of HGF. Eotaxin-3 and c-Met expression was assessed using real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Results SNECs obtained from both CRSwNP and control subjects showed markedly increased expression of eotaxin-3 after exposure to IL-13. HGF significantly blocked IL-13-induced expression of eotaxin-3 in control SNECs, but not in SNECs derived from CRSwNP subjects. Conclusion SNECs are active participants in sinonasal mucosal immunity, expressing inflammatory mediators in response to potential pathogens and endogenous cytokines. Although Th2 cytokines can elicit expression of proeosinophilic mediators by SNECs, HGF appears to have a down-regulating effect on this response. In patients with CRSwNP, SNECs are resistant to this attenuation, showing continued IL-13-induced eotaxin-3 expression despite HGF treatment. Abnormalities in the regulation of epithelial cell responses to endogenous cytokines and growth factors may contribute to the persistent eosinophilic inflammatory state in CRSwNP.
Sensor Embedded Computers for better life cycle management

This research investigates the advantages offered by embedded sensors for cost-effective and environmentally benign product life cycle management for desktop computers. During their use by customers as well as at the end of their lives, Sensor Embedded Computers (SECs) by virtue of sensors embedded in them generate data and information pertaining to the conditions and remaining lives of important components such as hard-drive, motherboard, and power supply unit. A computer monitoring framework is proposed to provide more customer comfort, reduce repair costs and increase the effectiveness of current disassembly practices. The framework consists of SECs, remote monitoring center (RMC), repair/service, disassembly, and disposal centers. The RMC collects dynamic data/information generated by sensors during computer usage as well as static data/information from the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The RMC forwards this data/information to the repair/service, disassembly, and disposal centers on need-basis. The knowledge about the condition and remaining life of computer components can be advantageously used for planning repair/service and disassembly operations as well as for building refurbished computers with known expected lives. Simulation model of the framework is built and is evaluated in terms of the following performance measures: average downtime of a computer, average repair/service cost of a computer, average disassembly cost of a computer, and average life cycle cost of a computer. Test results show that embedding sensors in computers provides a definite advantage over conventional computers in terms of the performance measures.
Complications After Surgery for Congenital and Infantile Cataracts

We reviewed the records of 78 patients who underwent 128 surgical procedures for congenital or infantile cataracts before age 30 months for the type and frequency of postoperative complications. The surgeries included 92 limbal lensectomies and anterior vitrectomies, 13 pars plicata lensectomies, 20 aspirations, and three additional procedures. Complications developed after 21 of the 105 lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy procedures. Ten eyes (10%) required additional surgery for a secondary membrane, 12 eyes (11%) developed glaucoma, and one (1%) developed a retinal detachment. Patients who underwent surgery by 8 weeks of age had a significantly greater number of complications (P
Small-Signal Permittivity of the Stationary (100)-180° Domain Wall in BaTiO3

The small-signal permittivity of the (100)-type 180° domain wall in BaTiO 3 is calculated relative to the signal-domain permittivity according to a previously-reported microscopic model of 180° domain walls in BaTiO 3 . A perturbation approach is developed which makes use of the known zero-field solutions of this domain wall and the single domain. It is found that the (100) domain-wall permittivity is about 6\(\frac{1}{2}\)-times larger than the single-domain permittivity, and there are two reasons for this effect; First, the internal fields and polarizabilities of the ions in the wall region differ from the single-domain values; and second, the presence of a field lowers the domain-wall symmetry promoting the polarization of the Ba and O b ions on the (100) domain-wall plane. The dominant contribution to the enhanced domain-wall permittivity is the induced Ba and O b polarizations.
The Social Self, Body Dissatisfaction, and Binge Eating in Obese Females

We examined the relationship of the social self to body dissatisfaction and to binge eating in two clinical samples of obese females. In the first study, with 32 nonbingeing obese females, social self measures of Public Self-Consciousness and Social Anxiety were positively correlated with body dissatisfaction. Self-esteem was negatively correlated with body dissatisfaction. In the second study, 11 obese binge eaters were compared with 11 matched nonbingeing obese females. Binge eaters were characterized by significantly higher levels of social anxiety and body dissatisfaction than the obese nonbingeing controls. These findings support the hypothesized links of social self concerns to body dissatisfaction and to binge eating in obese females.
Equivalent disk allocations

Declustering techniques reduce query response times through parallel I/O by distributing data among multiple devices. Except for a few cases it is not possible to find declustering schemes that are optimal for all spatial range queries. As a result of this, most of the research on declustering have focused on finding schemes with low worst case additive error. Number-theoretic declustering techniques provide low additive error and high threshold. In this paper, we investigate equivalent disk allocations and focus on number-theoretic declustering. Most of the disk allocations are equivalent and provide the same additive error and threshold. Investigation of equivalent allocations offer many advantages. By keeping one of the equivalent disk allocations, we can reduce the complexity of search for good disk allocations under various criteria such as additive error and threshold. Probabilistic approaches to finding good declustering schemes is feasible using equivalent allocations.
Force model for needle-tissue interaction

Force modeling of needle insertion into soft tissue is important for accurate needle placement and efficient tissue cutting. In this paper, we studied the pre-puncture and puncture forces during needle insertion. A plane strain FE model was developed to simulate the pre-puncture force prior to tissue rupture. A sensitivity study was performed to investigate the influence of needle and tissue characteristics on pre-puncture force using FE simulation. A force model that incorporates needle geometry and tissue properties was proposed. The force model was able to accurately predict the needle tip force prior to tissue rupture. In addition to studying the pre-puncture force, the puncture force was experimentally characterized for different needle diameters and tip angles. The experimental results show that the puncture force has a strong dependency on needle geometry.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Direct Methods in Neutron Crystallography: Structure of L-Proline Monohydrate by Symbolic Addition and Tangent Refinement

“DIRECT METHODS” for the solution of crystal structures lead directly to the phases of the structure factors from the distribution of the intensities of Bragg reflexions. Most of these methods depend on the assumption that the scattering density is everywhere positive, an unassailable assumption for the electron density associated with X-ray scattering. In neutron diffraction the scattering density for hydrogen atoms is negative, so that it becomes questionable whether the same techniques are applicable. One possible answer to the question has been suggested by Karle in the squared structure approach1, and the structure of glycolic acid has been solved by Ellison and Levy2 following Karle's suggestion. Sikka3 has suggested that the conventional symbolic addition method4 may be used in neutron crystallography when the scattering by hydrogen is less than 1/3 of the total scattering: where bi is the neutron scattering length. The structure of trichloroacetic acid, Cl3CCO2H, was solved by direct methods from neutron diffraction data by Jonsson et al. (unpublished work). This is a centrosymmetric structure, and the amount of hydrogen scattering is small, so that a successful structure solution by application of the Σ2 relationship4 was not surprising.
Significance and estimation of chromatographic parameters

Abstract An analytical solution to the equations providing a mechanistic description of linear chromatography is used to examine the predicted effects of different parameters. The mechanisms accounted for are convection, axial dispersion, mass transfer to and within the particles, and sorption—desorption kinetics. Intraparticle rate limitations, i.e. , slow intraparticel diffusin and sorptions kinetics, are found to produce similar chromatographic results, making it difficult to distinguish their effects. In both cases the resulting peaks are symmetric, in contrast to the pronounced tailing which is shown to arise from secondary sorption. Calculation of plate heights from the model results indicates that moment determinations are susceptible to appreciable error; estimation of mechanistic parameters should therefore be performed using the time-domain results. The utility of several limiting approximations is demonstrated using both direct comparison with the analytical solution as well as order-of-magnitude estimates of the characteristic times of the different processes in the column.
Motor milestone development in young children with autism spectrum disorders: an exploratory study

This study aimed to determine if a sample of children currently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) would have shown motor milestone delays before age three as compared to typically developing children. Given delays in motor skills, the study also strived to determine which specific skills might be delayed. Parents of 44 children who had been diagnosed with ASDs answered survey questions related to their child’s early motor milestone development. Survey responses were compared to Bayley’s motor milestone data for typically developing children. Results suggested that all 44 children (age range 82–90 months) with ASDs were delayed on all 26 motor milestones. Specifically, children with autistic disorder (n = 26) were significantly delayed on 11 motor milestones; nine of them delayed before age two. Children with Asperger Syndrome (n = 18) showed significant delay on four milestones; three of them delayed before the age of two.
Safety and Management of Food Additives in the United States

Food safety is an important issue related to the government regulatory authorities, food industry and food consumers. And the increasing use of food additives has become a matter of public and administrative concern, so an extensive safety evaluation on food additives must be carried out and the use of the additives in food should be controlled by law. In the United States, the Congress has entrusted the FDA with the responsibility to ensure that new additives to be used in foods and the foods the consumers purchase are safe. This paper discusses the supervision and management system of food additives in the United States. The conclusion is that FDA has developed a scientifically rigorous, sound and dependable system to assure the safety of food, thus a new food additive must be approved by FDA before it can be used in food. Management of food additives in the United States is also a helpful reference for government food control agencies in other countries.
Side‐chain liquid crystalline polymers with silphenylene‐siloxane main chains. III. Synthesis and characterization of polymers with phenyl benzoate mesogenic groups

Side-chain liquid crystalline (SCLC) silphenylene-siloxane polymers with a phenyl benzoate mesogenic group and polymethylene spacers were prepared and characterized, and their properties were compared with those of equivalent SCLC polymers, SCLCPs, with a biphenyl mesogenic group. With identical spacers and terminal substituents, the melting temperatures of the former were much lower, but the isotropization temperatures were lowered to a lesser extent, than those of the latter, and, consequently, a more thermally stable nematic phase was obtained for the former. Both types of SCLCPs formed nematic phases, while polymethylsiloxanes with the same side-chain mesogens exhibited smectic phases with wider temperature ranges. The lower thermal stability of the mesophases in the silphenylene-siloxane SCLCPs compared to those of the SCLC polymethylsiloxanes can be attributed to both the rigidity of the backbone and the greater separation of the side-chains along the main chains of the former.
Linear stability of viscoelastic Taylor–Couette flow: Influence of fluid rheology and energetics

In this study we have theoretically investigated the effect of detailed fluid rheology (e.g., spectrum of relaxation times, shear thinning of first normal stresses, finite second normal stresses, and ratio of solvent to total viscosity) and energetics on the purely elastic instability of Taylor–Couette flow. The isothermal analysis showed that irrespective of the details of the fluid rheology, solvent to total viscosity ratio and gap width, the secondary flow is time-dependent and nonaxisymmetric. However, as the number of relaxation times is increased, the critical Deborah number reaches an asymptotic value which is approximately half of the critical Deborah number predicted by the single-mode constitutive equation. These results strengthen the conclusions of Al-Mubaiyedh et al. (1999) that have attributed the existence of a stationary secondary flow in the experiments of Baumert and Muller (1995, 1997) to the effect of energetics. The nonisothermal analyses predicted, for experimentally realizable value...
Grading essays in computer ethics: rubrics considered helpful

Computer ethics courses differ from technical courses in the manner in which they are taught and assessed. A common assignment in a computer ethics course is to write an essay that addresses a technical dilemma. Computer science faculty typically do not have training or experience in grading essays. The purpose of this paper is to present a scoring rubric that has been successfully used to grade and track students' knowledge development as they progress through a computer ethics course. Although this paper focuses upon a specific rubric, general principles will be emphasized to show how scoring rubrics can be used across different courses.
Site-Specific Fragmentation of Small Molecules Following Soft-X-Ray Excitation.

Soft-x-ray excitation involving C $1s$ electrons in CO and acetone, ${(\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_{3})}_{2}$CO, is found to result in ionic fragmentation of the original molecule. The fragmentation pattern changes whether the C $1s$ electron gets ionized or excited into a Rydberg-line orbital or into an antibonding ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{*}$ molecular orbital. Moreover, the fragmentation occurs specifically around the site of the carbon atom where the optical excitation takes place. Based on these observations one might consider the use of tunable soft x rays to stimulate chemical reactions or to selectively break large organic molecules.
Psychiatric Disease in the Twenty-First Century: The Case for Subcortical Ischemic Depression

The current approach to psychiatric diagnoses involves identifying symptom clusters that fit a specific syndrome. Although this approach has facilitated the field's development, advances in genetics and neuroimaging raise the question of how causality may fit into the diagnostic process. One approach would be a two-axial system, wherein clinical presentation is on one axis and putative risk factors are on the other. This approach applies to subcortical ischemic depression (SID), a diagnosis corresponding to the "vascular depression" hypothesis. Subcortical ischemic depression affects clinical presentation, long-term outcomes, and response to antidepressant therapy, arguing that it is a valid diagnostic entity worth further study.
Coupled Resonances to Increase Bandwidths of Metamaterial Antennas

Metamaterial or plasmonic nanoparticles employed as scatterers may represent new elements for nanoantenna devices. We explore how coupling closely packed plasmonic nanoparticles may provide an increase in the bandwidth of such radiators.
A decrease in the plasma DHEA to cortisol ratio during smoking abstinence may predict relapse: a preliminary study

Rationale Increases in depressive symptoms during smoking cessation have been associated with risk for relapse. Several studies have linked plasma levels of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or DHEA-sulfate (DHEAS) to depressive symptoms.
Multiconfigurational Self-Consistent Field Study of the Excited State Properties of 4-Thiouracil in the Gas Phase

A comprehensive theoretical study of the vertical singlet and triplet electronic transitions of 4-thiouracil was performed at the multiconfigurational self-consistent field (MCSCF) level of theory. The ground state geometry of the molecule was optimized at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level. The MCSCF calculations were performed using the 6-311+G(d) basis set. The active space for the MCSCF calculations consisted of 12 orbitals in which 6 orbitals were the occupied π type while the remaining 6 orbitals were the virtual π* type. To compute the nπ* transitions, the two occupied orbitals were replaced with two a orbitals localized at the thiocarbonyl and carbonyl groups, respectively. Further, MCSCF calculations were also performed with a slightly smaller active space where 10 electrons were distributed in 11 orbitals The effects of dynamic electron correlation on the MCSCF energies were considered at the second-order multiconfigurational quasi-degenerate perturbation (MCQDPT2) theory. The computed transition energies after the MCQDPT2 correlation were found to be in agreement with the experimental data. The ground and excited state molecular electrostatic potentials and the Mulliken charge distributions in different states were also investigated.
Sensory and Texture Quality of Canned Whelk (Astraea undosa) Subjected to Tenderizing Treatments

Whelk (Astraea undosa), treated with 0.25% papain solution infused by tumbling for 5, 10, or 20 min before canning, was compared to commercial abalone (standard) and untreated canned whelk (control) for sensory and texture characteristics. Treated whelk samples showed changes in sweetness and bitterness. Opercular muscle treated with papain for 10 or 20 min had lower sensory hardness, springiness and chewiness than untreated canned whelk. Instrumental texture analysis (TPA) indicated opercular muscle with 20 min papain treatment had lower hardness and chewiness compared to untreated whelk. Thus, papain treatment demonstrated the feasibility of improvement of canned whelk eating quality by reducing hardness and chewiness.
Cell-to-Cell Communication and Vascular Dementia

Vascular Dementia (VaD) is the second most common form of dementia second only to that caused by Alzheimer's Disease. As the name indicates, VaD is predominantly considered a disease caused by vascular phenomena. In this opinion, we introduce the reader to recent developments in defining VaD as a unique form of dementia. We discuss the clinical and experimental evidence which supports the notion that the microcirculation, specifically cell-to-cell communication, likely contributes to the development of VaD. Through exploration of the concept of the neurovascular unit, we will elucidate the extensive cerebro-vascular communication which exists and highlight models which may help test the contribution(s) of cell-to-cell communication at the microvascular level to the development and progression of VaD. Lastly we explore the possibility that some dementia, generally considered to be purely neurodegenerative, may actually have a vascular component at the neurovascular level. This recognition potentially broadens the critical involvement of microvascular events that contribute to the numerous dementias affecting an increasingly larger sector of the adult population.