cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An examination of drinkers' consequences by sexual orientation.

Abstract Objective: This study examined college student drinkers by sexual orientation (SO), alcohol use, and negative consequences in a national sample that self-identified gender and SO. Participants: Students completing the Spring 2005 National College Health Assessment (N = 54,111). Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted examining student responses by SO to items regarding negative consequences associated with alcohol. Results: Bisexual students had the highest mean scores on an index of alcohol-related harm. Significant differences were found by SO among male high-risk drinkers for alcohol-related consequences of “fighting” and “injuring another,” and females for “injuring another” and “unprotected sex.” Bisexual students had significantly greater than expected cell counts for significant results, including a significant finding for bisexual low-risk female students for alcohol-related “regret.” Conclusion: These findings suggest that more research is necessary to discern real differences in alc...
The inertial mechanism in the mechanical filtration of aerosols

Abstract It has been shown that the inertial mechanism definitely exists and plays an important role in the mechanical filtration of aerosols at lower particle radii than calculated by Albrecht and Langmuir. The manner in which the inertial effect enters into the filtration mechanism can be expressed by the equations K p d e = 2rpv p 9n , K m d e = 2r 2 pv m 9n , where Kp and Km are constants, de is the effective fiber diameter, r is the particle radius, ρ is the particle density, vp is the velocity at which the inertial effect becomes measurable (penetration starts to decrease with increasing velocity), vm is the velocity above which no additional inertial effect occurs, and η is the viscosity of the gaseous medium. Tentative value for the constants Kp and Km have been determined experimentally. Calculated values of de for various filters are shown to be either direct measures of the actual fiber diameter (df), the interfiber distance (di), or some function of the two depending on the method of formation of the filter. The general structure of a complete three-dimensional filtration diagram for a given filter is indicated. The inertial effect is proposed as the reason that no maximum occurs in the penetration-radius curve in the predicted size range.
Doppler strain imaging closely reflects myocardial energetic status in acute progressive ischemia and indicates energetic recovery after reperfusion.

Background Capitalizing on mechanoenergetic coupling, we investigated whether strain echocardiography can noninvasively estimate the ratio of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), a marker of energetic status during acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Methods Twenty-eight pigs were divided into 7 groups (1 baseline, 4 ischemic, and 2 reperfusion). Ischemia was induced by left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. Longitudinal systolic lengthening (SL) and postsystolic shortening (PSS) strain were measured by echocardiography. The ATP/ADP ratio was obtained from myocardial biopsies in the ischemic and control regions. Results SL and PSS strain and the ATP/ADP ratio progressively decreased ( P r = 0.94, P Conclusions Strain echocardiography closely reflected changes and enabled the noninvasive estimation of the ATP/ADP ratio. A higher ATP/ADP ratio is associated with functional improvement after reperfusion.
Antibiotic impregnated external ventricular drainage and third ventriculostomy in the management of hydrocephalus associated with posterior cranial fossa tumours.

Background The effectiveness of antibiotic pre-treated ventricular catheters in reducing the risk of CSF infections (determined on CSF cultures) resulting from the use of per-operative external ventricular drainages (EVD) and the success rate of post-operative endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in the management of persistent hydrocephalus after posterior cranial fossa tumour removal are assessed.
The Civil‐Religious Hierarchy in Mesoamerican Communities: Pre‐Spanish Background and Colonial Development

ONE of the basic features of the traditional Indian peasant communities of Mesoamerica is the civil-religious hierarchy that combines most of the civil and ceremonial offices of the town's organization in a single scale of yearly offices. I will call it the ladder system. All men of the community have to enter into it and all have a chance to climb up to the highest steps and reach the status of elder. This system is closely connected with all the major aspects of the community's social structure. It has been well defined and here I will mention only a few salient traits (Tax 1937:442-44; Camara 1952). It can be characterized as a type of democracy in which all offices are open to all men and in which the operation of the ladder eventually results in everyone sharing in turn the responsibilities of office. The number of positions is always larger in the lower steps of the ladder; errand boys for ceremonial or civil officials and policemen are usually grouped in gangs from different sections or wards of the town who take turns in performing their duties. The higher offices are those of town councilmen (regidores) and judges or mayors (alcaldes) in the civil government, and several ceremonial stewardships (mayordomias) in the cult organization. When a town is subdivided into wards, most often each ward participates equally in the higher levels of the hierarchy; there are parallel offices of the same rank, one for each ward, or a single position rotates year after year among the different wards. Generally a man alternates between civil and religious positions and, after filling an office, takes a period of rest during which he does not actively participate in the town's civil or ceremonial organization until the time comes again for him to occupy a higher office. As a citizen of the community he has the obligation to serve, and social pressure to that effect is always strong, while the individual will also be driven to apply for offices in order to raise his social status. In the ceremonial organization, office-holding can also be the outcome of a religious vow by which an individual tries to obtain supernatural help through participation in or sponsorship of a public ceremony. Participation in the lower ranks of the ladder simply involves the performance of menial tasks such as sweeping, carrying messages, or policing the town. Higher offices carry higher responsibilities in the political and ceremonial organizations and usually demand a number of expenditures in the form of sponsorship of festivals and the banqueting connected with the transmission of office. These celebrations are, in effect, feasts of merit in which the consump-
Heart Failure and the Emergency Department: Epidemiology, Characteristics, and Outcomes

It is widely recognized that the impact of heart failure on society is enormous. The research community has responded, resulting in an ongoing period of rapid advancement across a wide range of fields. The pace of progress is perhaps most apparent in the barrage of new and revised terminology appearing in the heart failure literature. Although sometimes confusing, the complexity of nomenclature directly reflects a growing appreciation that the symptom complex previously labeled "heart failure" is actually a spectrum of complex multisystem pathologies. Accordingly, clinicians must adopt a more sophisticated and more effective approach to evaluation and treatment that is increasingly based on objective measurement of outcome-linked physiologic parameters rather than the subjectively described symptom constellations relied on previously.
Quantitative measurement of muscle oxygen saturation without influence from skin and fat using continuous-wave near infrared spectroscopy

A method to non-invasively and quantitatively measure muscle oxygen saturation (SmO(2)) using broadband continuous-wave diffuse reflectance near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is presented. The method obtained SmO(2) by first correcting NIR spectra for absorption and scattering of skin pigment and fat, then fitting to a Taylor expansion attenuation model. A non-linear least squares optimization algorithm with set boundary constraints on the fitting parameters was used to fit the model to the acquired spectra. A data preprocessing/optimization scheme for accurately determining the initial values needed for the optimization was also employed. The method was evaluated on simulated muscle spectra with 4 different scattering properties, as well as on in vivo forearm spectra from 5 healthy volunteer subjects during arterial occlusion. Measurement repeatability was assessed on 24 healthy volunteers with 5 repeated measurements, each separated by at least 48 hours.
The Efficacy of Sotalol in Preventing Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract Objective Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias including atrial fibrillation are common and troubling complications after cardiac surgery, and thus considerable interest in pharmacologic prophylaxis has developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of sotalol in the prevention of postoperative supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Methods Standard methods of meta-analysis were used. Randomized clinical trials published in English language were eligible for the meta-analysis. Results A systematic review revealed 15 eligible publications that provided 20 comparisons of sotalol with a control group. The incidence and relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of developing postoperative supraventricular tachyarrhythmias while taking sotalol were sotalol (n=489) versus placebo (n=499): 22.5% versus 41.5%, RR=0.55 (CI, 0.454-0.667, P 001); sotalol (n=304) versus no treatment (n=311): 12% versus 39%, RR=0.329 (CI, 0.236-0.459, P 001); sotalol (n=488) versus beta-blocker (n=555): 14% versus 23%, RR=0.644 (CI, 0.495-0.838, P 001); sotalol (n=139) versus amiodarone (n=146): no significant differences in supraventricular tachyarrhythmia prevention; and sotalol (n=51) versus magnesium (n=54): no significant differences in supraventricular tachyarrhythmia prevention. Initiating sotalol orally or intravenously had no significant effect on efficacy. Initiating sotalol after surgery showed a trend toward less adverse events (before: RR=1.700 [CI, 0.903-3.200] and after: RR=0.767 [CI, 0.391-1.505]). Conclusion Sotalol is more effective in the prevention of supraventricular tachyarrhythmia than placebo or beta-blockers. Initiating sotalol before cardiac surgery has no advantage compared with initiating sotalol shortly after surgery. Starting sotalol intravenously after surgery may be a more reliable method than administering via a nasogastric tube or delaying treatment until the patient can take oral medication.
Children Are in Families Too! The Presence of Children in Communication Research

Based on an analysis of top communication journals, this study examines the presence of children in communication research. A content analysis of articles reporting on youth under the age of 18 revealed the extent to which children have been represented in communication research from 1997–2010, as well as the methodologies, topical areas, and theories guiding communication research on children. Results indicate that only 3.7% of all published articles in leading communication journals focused on children, a number far less than the 10% speculated in previous research. This article uncovers a vast array of theories employed in studies of children, with social cognitive/learning theory being the most common and survey methods the most common tool for collecting information. Implications of this underrepresentation of children are discussed for the future of communication scholarship, particularly family communication.
Changes in serum catecholamine levels during acute bronchospasm

Study objectives: Previous studies reported that norepinephrine levels increased during acute asthma, while epinephrine levels have remained at normal levels. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the lack of rise in epinephrine levels is due to an inherent defect in catecholamine secretion in asthmatics or is a result of an insufficient stimulus for epinephrine release. Design: County-owned, university-affiliated emergency department. Setting: Prospective study. Type of participants: Patients more than 18 years old presenting to the ED with an acute exacerbation of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Interventions: Initial phlebotomy and spirometry were followed by treatment with either albuterol or albuterol and glycopyrrolate. Asthmatic patients received steroids. Phlebotomy and spirometry were performed again after treatment. Measurements and main results: There was no difference in epinephrine levels between patients with asthma and those with COPD either before or after treatment. Norepinephrine levels were higher in patients with COPD, both before and after treatment. There was only a weak correlation between epinephrine levels and pretreatment FEV 1 for asthma but not for COPD. Conclusion: Moderate bronchospasm is not a major stimulus for epinephrine release in either acute asthma or COPD.
'From victim to agent': the clinical and social significance of self-help group participation for people with life-threatening diseases.

`From victim to agent': the clinical and social significance of self-help group participation for people with life-threatening diseases Aim : The main objective of the paper is to discuss the ways in which self-help groups can be useful to persons with life-threatening diseases like cancer or human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The paper offers an outline of the central characteristics of self-help groups, highlighted by the participants themselves. Background : Self-help groups are a growing phenomenon across national borders. New empirical sociological studies show that nurses have become important agents in self-help groups, both within and outside the public health-care system. However, research on self-help groups is a relatively new area within nursing studies yet it serves an important function in shedding light on a rather unique form of social practice organized and managed partly by the participants themselves. Methods : Qualitative interviews designed to examine how participants evaluate their experiences with self-help groups. The study includes 53 self-help group participants suffering from cancer or HIV/AIDS. Findings : Contact with other people, forming of friendships, new networks and increased self-confidence are some of the effects indicated by the participants. Participation in a self-help group has a positive impact on the patients' ability to cope with the psychological and social consequences of living with a life-threatening disease. Conclusions : It is evident that the positive effects of self-help groups are mainly because of their inherent capacity for universalizing personal problems, which, in itself, legitimizes the scientific relevance of self-help groups. There is no evidence to indicate that self-help groups have a positive influence on the life expectancy of participants who suffer from cancer or HIV/AIDS, but it should be noted that this is not the explicit concern when groups are formed. By their very existence self-help groups indicate the need for a reevaluation of the scope and focus of the individualized care and nursing. The clinical and social significance of self-help group participation has not been sufficiently accounted for.
A Review of Extant Taxa of the "Group of Balanus Conca Vus" (Cirripedia, Thoracica) and a Proposal for Genus-Group Ranks1)

Les taxa caracteristiques du "Groupe Balanus concavus" sont connus de l'Oligocene d'Europe et de l'ouest de l'Amerique du Sud. Ses representants etaient apparemment largement distribues au Miocene mais le groupe a ensuite decline (Miocene du Pakistan et du Japon, Pleistocene d'Europe et Pliocene de l'Atlantique occidental). De la vingtaine de taxa decrits, quelques uns seulement existent encore, et, ce qui est interessant, sont confines au Pacifique oriental. Dans le present travail sont revues toutes les especes existantes qui ont ete attribuees au groupe. Un statut generique est propose pour celles qui peuvent actuellement y etre rattachees et elles sont reparties en deux nouveaux sous-genres.
Textual Engagement with the Other in Cyrano de Bergerac's L'Autre Monde

This article argues that Cyrano de Bergerac’s two novels, known collectively as L’Autre Monde , offer both a critique of efforts to categorize the Other in late seventeenth-century travel narratives, and a model for privileging an ethical, rather than definitional, approach to it. The first section, through an analysis of the scene where the narrator is mistakenly thought to be the female of an animal in the queen’s zoo, shows how Cyrano lambasts this gesture of categorizing the Other in one’s own terms. The second section analyses two scenes where Cyrano presents a different version of the biblical tree of life in order to show how he privileges multiplicity and openness of meaning. Cyrano’s project employs both form and content to shift from an authoritative and narrative mode to a mode of what we call ‘reading the Other’. We define this term with regard to Cyrano to mean that one encounters the world as an attentive reader of fiction would: attuned to multiplicity, seeking an accretion of meaning via stories rather than via a one-to-one correspondence between word and thing, a willingness to be passive rather than authoritative when encountering something new, and valuing ethical relationships between beings.
A systematic appraisal of ventricular–aortic load in African American men

Summary Background We examined several measures of ventricular–vascular load as they relate to ECG-derived measures of left ventricular (LV) morphology in a cross-section of 19 young African American and 19 white men. Methods Measures of steady and pulsatile LV load derived from aortic blood pressure waveforms included: aortic characteristic impedance ( Z c ), effective arterial elastance ( E a ), arterial compliance, aortic reservoir function, aortic wave reflection (AIx), and total peripheral resistance (TPR). Also derived from the pressure waveform were the rate pressure product (RPP), tension–time index (TTI), diastolic pressure–time index (DPTI), and the subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR). ECG was used to measure R-wave area, R-wave amplitude, and QRS duration as crude proxies of LV morphology. Results African American men had greater E a , AIx, TPR and reduced aortic compliance compared with white men (all p E a , Z c , TPR and LV morphology ( p p p p Conclusions In young African American men, LV morphology is influenced by LV load stemming from aortic stiffness and vascular resistance more-so than augmented pressure from wave reflections. Aortic reservoir function is preserved in young African American men, balancing myocardial oxygen supply and demand in the presence of altered vascular–ventricular coupling and LV remodeling.
Phonon effects in molecular transistors: Quantal and classical treatment

We present a comprehensive theoretical treatment of the effect of electron-phonon interactions on molecular transistors, including both quantal and classical limits. We study both equilibrated and out of equilibrium phonons. We present detailed results for conductance, noise and phonon distribution in two regimes. One involves temperatures large as compared to the rate of electronic transitions on and off the dot; in this limit our approach yields classical rate equations, which are solved numerically for a wide range of parameters. The other regime is that of low temperatures and weak electron-phonon coupling where a perturbative approximation in the Keldysh formulation can be applied. The interplay between the phonon-induced renormalization of the density of states on the quantum dot and the phonon-induced renormalization of the dot-lead coupling is found to be important. Whether or not the phonons are able to equilibrate in a time rapid compared to the transit time of an electron through the dot is found to affect the conductance. Observable signatures of phonon equilibration are presented. We also discuss the nature of the low-T to high-T crossover.
Enantioselective Synthesis of Oasomycin A, Part I: Synthesis of the C1–C12 and C13–C28 Subunits

Oasomycin A (I) is a member of the desertomycin family of macrolide natural products and was isolated in 1993 by Thiericke and co-workers during the screening of secondary metabolites of Streptoverticillium baldacii. The overall structure of oasomycin A was established through extensive NMR spectroscopic studies and by direct comparison to other members of the desertomycin family. In 2001, Kishi and coworkers issued a proposal for the relative and absolute stereochemistry of oasomycin A through the use of their “universal NMR database” (Scheme 1). To validate the structural assignment of oasomycin A, we decided to pursue the synthesis of the reported structure, I. Herein, and in the following Communications, we describe our efforts which culminated in the synthesis of oasomycin A (I) and confirm the stereochemical assignment by Kishi and co-workers. First, we describe the synthesis of the C1–C12 and C13–C28 subunits II and III, respectively, which will be united by using the Julia coupling reaction (Scheme 1). Our plan for the synthesis of the C13–C28 fragment III is outlined in Scheme 2. Aldehyde III could be derived from a chelate-controlled reduction of the a,b-unsaturated ketone IV, which in turn can be disconnected at the C21 C22 bond to afford fragments V and VI. We predict successful union of these two fragments because of the greater reactivity of the Weinreb amide VI, which is required to avoid self-condensation of V (M=Li, MgX). This prediction is based on the supposition that the inductive effect of the a-alkoxy substituent should elevate the amide reactivity of VI above that of its reaction partner V. Synthesis of subunit II commenced with the aldol addition of known b-ketoimide 1 to aldehyde 2, which afforded the desired anti,anti aldol adduct as an 84:16 mixture of Scheme 1. Retrosynthetic analysis of oasomycin A (I).
Mono-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate Stimulates Androgen Production but Suppresses Mitochondrial Function in Mouse Leydig Cells With Different Steroidogenic Potential

Numerous studies have reported on testicular toxicity of phthalates in different experimental paradigms and showed that Leydig cells (LCs) were one of the main targets of phthalate actions. Adverse effects of phthalates on LCs steroidogenesis have been attributed to their metabolites, monophthalates. This study focuses on investigation whether LCs responsiveness to monophthalates action is associated with their potential to produce androgens. We found that of 3 monophthalates investigated [ie, mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), mono-n-butyl phthalate, and mono-n-benzyl phthalate] only MEHP caused biological effects on the mouse LCs function. This monophthalate stimulated basal steroidogenesis associated with upregulation of StAR protein expression with no effect on hCG-stimulated androgen production by LCs from CBA/Lac and C57BL/6j mouse genotypes were observed. Further, MEHP attenuated ATP production and increased superoxide generation by both phenotypes of mouse LCs that indicated on mitochondrial dysfunction induced by the monophthalate. All together, our data indicate that MEHP-mediated stimulation of steroidogenesis and perturbation in mitochondrial function are not associated with the capacity of the LCs to synthesize androgens. We suggest that this effect of MEHP observed in LCs of rodent origin needs to be taken into consideration in analysis of earlier start of puberty in boys and may highlight a possible influence of phthalates on reproductive health in males.
How we diagnose and treat iron deficiency anemia

It is estimated that one-third of the world's population is anemic, the majority being due to iron deficiency (ID). In adults, ID is associated with fatigue in the absence of anemia, restless legs syndrome, pica and, in neonates, delayed growth and development. In adolescents, ID is associated with decrements in learning and behavioral abnormalities. In the absence of a clear cause, search for a source of bleeding is indicated. No single test is diagnostic of ID unless the serum ferritin is low or the percent transferrin saturation is low with an elevated total iron binding capacity. Oral iron is considered front line therapy except for conditions such as gastric bypass, heavy uterine bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Oral iron has many unpleasant side effects, resulting in low patient adherence. For patients intolerant of, or unresponsive to, oral iron, intravenous (IV) administration is the preferred route. While early formulations were associated with a high incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs), newer formulations are much safer with SAEs occurring very infrequently. Full replacement doses can be administered in a matter of minutes to a few hours. Nevertheless, there remains a reluctance to use IV iron due to a misunderstanding of the safety of the available formulations. IV iron is safe and effective in all clinical circumstances including pregnancy. The preponderance of published evidence suggests IV iron therapy is underutilized and we believe that IV iron should be moved forward in the treatment of ID and iron deficiency anemia (IDA).
Distributive Models of Culture: A Sapirian Alternative to Essentialism

The Boasian conception of culture has been roundly criticized in recent years for its essentialist, or even racist, implications. Yet an alternative model that avoids these implications was proposed in the 1930s by Boas student Edward Sapir. Having long survived on the margins of anthropological theory, Sapir's “distributive” concept of culture is now entering the theoretical mainstream through recent developments in both psychological and “postmodernist” anthropology. By emphasizing the full range of variation within any so-called culture, anthropologists have begun to apply the same style of population thinking that helped launch the Darwinian revolution in biology.
Child Maltreatment—An Update on New Science to a Vexing Pediatric Problem

The incidence of child maltreatment in the United States remains unacceptably high, with an overall incidence of substantiated cases of 10/1000, translating to approximately 700 000 children each year, and an additional 300 000 children are evaluated within child welfare's alternative response system in many states. This public health burden often intersects with emergency departments as the primary gateway to medical and forensic evaluations and management of child maltreatment. Many children may present with subtle signs and symptoms and/or with factitious information, making it even more challenging for the clinician to accurately diagnose without having an index of suspicion for child maltreatment and having a greater knowledge of child maltreatment injuries and management of these children. In a study evaluating knowledge, comfort, and clinical training related to the medical management of child abuse among pediatrics, emergency medicine, and family medicine residents, significant training gaps were identified, especially among emergency medicine and family medicine trainees. There also exists a significant gap with regard to the scope of the problem of child maltreatment and the available resources to evaluate these children. Child Abuse Pediatrics has been recognized as a newly board-certified pediatric subspecialty since 2009, with fellowship training programs being accredited through the Accreditation Council for
Neurobiology of nicotine dependence

Nicotine is a psychoactive ingredient in tobacco that significantly contributes to the harmful tobacco smoking habit. Nicotine dependence is more prevalent than dependence on any other substance. Preclinical research in animal models of the various aspects of nicotine dependence suggests a critical role of glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), cholinergic and dopamine neurotransmitter interactions in the ventral tegmental area and possibly other brain sites, such as the central nucleus of the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex, in the effects of nicotine. Specifically, decreasing glutamate transmission or increasing GABA transmission with pharmacological manipulations decreased the rewarding effects of nicotine and cue-induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking. Furthermore, early nicotine withdrawal is characterized by decreased function of presynaptic inhibitory metabotropic glutamate 2/3 receptors and increased expression of postsynaptic glutamate receptor subunits in limbic and frontal brain sites, while protracted abstinence may be associated with increased glutamate response to stimuli associated with nicotine administration. Finally, adaptations in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor function are also involved in nicotine dependence. These neuroadaptations probably develop to counteract the decreased glutamate and cholinergic transmission that is hypothesized to characterize early nicotine withdrawal. In conclusion, glutamate, GABA and cholinergic transmission in limbic and frontal brain sites are critically involved in nicotine dependence.
Gene Therapy: Future or Flop

Many pediatric diseases have now reached a therapeutic plateau using standard therapy. Gene therapy has emerged as an exciting new means to achieve specific therapeutic benefit. Although there have been important and promising breakthroughs in recent clinical trials, there have been some serious setbacks that have tempered this initial excitement. In this review, we discuss the important developments in the field of gene therapy as it applies to various pediatric diseases and relate the recent successes and failures to the future potential of gene therapy as a medical therapeutic application.
Image annotation using search and mining technologies

In this paper, we present a novel solution to the image annotation problem which annotates images using search and data mining technologies. An accurate keyword is required to initialize this process, and then leveraging a large-scale image database, it 1) searches for semantically and visually similar images, 2) and mines annotations from them. A notable advantage of this approach is that it enables unlimited vocabulary, while it is not possible for all existing approaches. Experimental results on real web images show the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed algorithm.
Enhancement of memory pools toward a multi-threaded implementation of the joint integrated mission model (JIMM)

The Joint Integrated Mission Model (JIMM) is a legacy real-time discrete-event simulator. Its initial single-threaded implementation employed a memory pool to speed up run-time performance and easily checkpoint simulation state. Unfortunately, when JIMM started migrating to a multi-threaded implementation, this legacy memory pool was quickly identified as a bottleneck. This problem is addressed by dividing the memory into large chunks managed by a global controller but where thread-specific memory managers handled lower level memory allocation. This paper will focus on the legacy memory pool in JIMM and enhancements necessary for an efficient multi-threaded implementation.
Artificial neural network inversion of tree canopy parameters in the presence of diversity

Artificial neural networks have shown themselves to be able to invert many parameters of interest from multi-frequency and multi-polarization radar data when the tree canopies exhibit low variability in their parameters for a given age (Pierce, et. al., 1992). However, when this same model is applied to a forest stand whose parameters are slightly off the modeled age curve, then the inversion fails. This paper describes the authors' efforts to develop an inversion technique for Loblolly pine stands with the natural diversity of their canopy parameters accounted for. Given a set of Loblolly pine stands from the Duke forest a set of parameters that sufficiently model the stands using MIMICS (Ulaby, et al., 1988) were developed. Next, several important parameters were chosen to be varied over a specified interval with a Gaussian distribution to allow for natural variation. This generated a large data set of 1000 different Loblolly pine canopies. MIMICS was then employed to generate the expected radar backscatter from this set at P, L, and C bands. This data, was then used to train two artificial neural networks: one to invert for the average trunk diameter and subsequently another to invert for the large branch density. This cascaded approach worked well giving errors of only a few percent for trunk diameters and 5% for branch density, when using data with trunk diameters varying between 1 cm and 10 cm. Beyond 10 cm the radar signal begins to saturate due to the high biomass, and was not invertible. >
An agent-based stochastic tumor model for predicting mitotic arrest drug response

We present a 2D agent-based stochastic solid tumor model which incorporates cellular response to a chemotherapeutic drug such as paclitaxel (Taxol). First, we show that our model not only reproduces the findings of past mathematical models but also agrees qualitatively with previously observed experimental findings in vitro. Then, the model is used to study two contrasting methods of chemotherapeutic dosing: (1) maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and (2) metronomic dosing. Results of our simulations confirm the typical clinical observation that a single front-loaded dosing to MTD leads to a period of remission followed by recurrence, while metronomic dosing maintains or reduces the tumor size. These results suggest patient treatment strategies should favor the more recently proposed metronomic dosing paradigm over the traditionally used MTD therapy. The model proposed here is adaptable to different solid tumor types as well as different chemotherapeutic drug pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, making it ideal for similar studies on different clinical problems.
Vortex axisymmetrization: Dependence on azimuthal wave-number or asymmetric radial structure changes

SUMMARY Intense vortices in the atmosphere and ocean exhibit a high degree of axisymmetry despite persistent asymmetric forcing from their environment. To further elucidate vortex axisymmetrization a variety of idealized initial-value models for barotropic non-divergent flow is considered. To ensure basic understanding, disturbance evolution is first examined in a rectilinear system of simple shear. Particular emphasis is placed on identifying how inviscid disturbance-evolution depends on the zonal wave-number and on the meridional structure of the initial conditions. Insight acquired from the rectilinear problem is then applied to a bounded Rankine vortex. Here, the dependency of disturbance evolution on the azimuthal wave-number is of special interest. Recent development of a low-frequency balance theory for rapidly rotating (large Rossby number) vortices has provided observational evidence that the low-azimuthal-wave-number asymmetries, especially wave number one, are dominant in the nearvortex region. The results of this work provide further theoretical evidence of an inviscid wave-number-selection mechanism that preferentially damps the high-wave-number asymmetries. The radial structure and location of the initial conditions are found to be important factors in determining how rapidly a disturbance is compressed or elongated. This in turn controls the rate of disturbance growth or decay. For swirling flows, a definition of an effective shear is proposed that accounts for both the radial variations of the initial condition and the radial variation of the angular velocity. Using the reciprocal of this effective shear, time-scales for il disturbance to decay to half its initial energy, the half-life, are calculated for initial conditions and symmetric wind-profiles that are found in hurricanes. Simple-shear flow and the bounded Rankine vortex do not admit discrete modal solutions since there is no mean-state vorticity-gradient to support them. The unbounded Rankine vortex is examined to investigate how the presence of discrete modes (Rossby edge-waves) associated with the radial vorticity-gradient of the Rankine swirl modifies the continuous spectrum solutions presented here.
Hardware Assisted Pruned Index System For Consumer Electronics

We describe HAPI, a reconfigurable content indexing device for consumer personal devices such as PDAs and intelligent cell phones, which provides efficient search technology based on a pruned inverted index structure. HAPI accommodates patterns of different lengths to support high reusability and efficiency and can be used either as an internal slave component or as an external co-processor. HAPI controllers take only a minimal percentage of the target device space leaving the majority of the space to term and posting entries.
Ionic dehydration reactions: The effect of location of the activated complex on kinetic energy release

A broad range of kinetic energy release has been found for the 1,4 elimination of water in a series of ortho substituted benzyl alcohols and benzoic acids. It is suggested that the trend reflects, in part, the position of the activated complex on the reaction coordinate. More specifically, reactions which proceed via an ‘early’ transition state release only small quantities of energy, whereas those processes occurring ‘later’ release a larger fraction of the available energy. Consequently, the o- methyl derivatives give large kinetic energy release compared to o- amino or hydroxy substituted compounds. Father verification is obtained from the small kinetic energy release observed for the 1,4 ionic dehydration in simple,acyclic alcohols.
Role of Extracellular Ca2+ and Calcium Channel Activated by a G Protein-Coupled Receptor Regulating Pheromone Production in Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The physiological action of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) on isolated pheromone glands of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was investigated with regard to the role of the Ca2 channel in stimulating pheromone biosynthesis. A dose–response profile indicated that the minimum level of PBAN stimulation was achieved at 10−11 M. PBAN activity requires the influx of extracellular Ca2 . A time delay of up to 7.5 min from receptor activation by PBAN and influx of extracellular Ca2 was determined. These results indicate that activation of the PBAN-receptor maintains the activation of a Ca2 channel for a period of time. Similar results were found using transfected Sf9 cells expressing the cloned PBAN-receptor. This indicates that the Sf9 cells have a Ca2 channel that is coupled to the receptor in a similar way as in the pheromone gland cells. To determine the type of Ca2 channel, isolated glands were incubated with PBAN and organic Ca2 channel blockers. L-type voltage-gated Ca2 or nonselective Ca2 channel blockers did not inhibit pheromone production. However, quinidine, a potassium channel blocker, inhibited pheromone production. These results indicate that the receptor-activated Ca2 channel in the pheromone gland may not be a voltage-activated Ca2 channel but rather a nonselective ion channel. Our results provide further insight into the action of PBAN with regard to the Ca2 channel in the signal transduction of pheromone biosynthesis in moths.
An assessment of the direction-finding accuracy of bat biosonar beampatterns

In the biosonar systems of bats, emitted acoustic energy and receiver sensitivity are distributed over direction and frequency through beampattern functions that have diverse and often complicated geometries. This complexity could be used by the animals to determine the direction of incoming sounds based on spectral signatures. The present study has investigated how well bat biosonar beampatterns are suited for direction finding using a measure of the smallest estimator variance that is possible for a given direction [Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB)]. CRLB values were estimated for numerical beampattern estimates derived from 330 individual shape samples, 157 noseleaves (used for emission), and 173 outer ears (pinnae). At an assumed 60 dB signal-to-noise ratio, the average value of the CRLB was 3.9°, which is similar to previous behavioral findings. Distribution for the CRLBs in individual beampatterns had a positive skew indicating the existence of regions where a given beampattern does not support a high accuracy. The highest supported accuracies were for direction finding in elevation (with the exception of phyllostomid emission patterns). No large, obvious differences in the CRLB (greater 2° in the mean) were found between the investigated major taxonomic groups, suggesting that different bat species have access to similar direction-finding information.
Personalized medicine in neuro-oncology

*Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; and Department of Neurosurgery, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA; and Department of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Kaiser Permanente, Redwood City, CA, USA; vlevin11@gmail.com
Isomerization of trans-[Ru(PTA)4Cl2] to cis-[Ru(PTA)4Cl2] in water and organic solvent: revisiting the chemistry of [Ru(PTA)4Cl2].

trans-[Ru(PTA)4Cl2] (trans-1), (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]decane) has been isolated and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The structure reveals ruthenium in a slightly distorted-octahedral environment bound to two axial chlorides and four equatorial PTA ligands. In organic solvents, trans-1 undergoes a relatively clean isomerization to cis-1. In aqueous environments, trans-1 undergoes a more complicated transformation involving isomerization, protonation, and ligand substitution affording cis-1 and a series of structurally related molecules. From these results, we conclude that the synthesis of [Ru(PTA)4Cl2] (1) affords trans-1, not cis-1, as earlier reports suggest. The water-soluble hydride cis-[Ru(PTA)4H2] (2) has also been synthesized from the reaction of trans-[Ru(PTA)4Cl2] with excess sodium formate. Compound 2 is stable in deoxygenated water and undergoes H/D exchange with D2O (t1/2 ≈ 120 min, at 25 °C). The solid-state structures of both trans-1 and 2 are d...
Titration of St. Louis Encephalitis Virus and Jungeblut-Sanders Mouse Virus in Tissue Culture.∗

ConclusionBoth the St. Louis encephalitis virus and the Jungeblut-Sanders mouse virus have been successfully titrated in vitro by the use of embryonic mouse brain tissue and with the help of another system consisting of chick embryo tissue and Western strain of equine encephalomyelitis virus.
Adolescent indoor tanning use and unhealthy weight control behaviors.

ABSTRACT:Objective:Youth indoor tanning rates remain high despite the potential for increased melanoma risk. No previous study has assessed the prevalence of unhealthy weight control behaviors in both male and female adolescent indoor tanning users using a nationally representative survey.Methods:Po
Measuring Disclosure Using 8K Filings

We develop firm-specific voluntary and mandatory disclosure measures using information provided by firms in their 8K filings. Our measures allow for much broader coverage in the time-series and crosssection of firms relative to prior disclosure measures — depending on the prior measure used, we double or triple the sample size. We also show that an 8K-based voluntary disclosure measure subsumes voluntary prior disclosure measures employed (e.g., management forecasts, non-GAAP earnings, conference calls) and captures additional variation. We also document a positive association between our 8K-based voluntary and mandatory disclosure measures and firm characteristics frequently linked to overall firm disclosure. To support the usefulness of our measures, we reexamine the link between voluntary disclosure and investor sentiment, a theoretical relation with mixed empirical results in the literature. We find a negative relation between voluntary disclosure and investor sentiment, consistent with managers increasing disclosure to correct low-sentiment induced mispricing, even after controlling for the level of mandatory disclosure. Consistent with this story, mispricing is corrected more for firms that increase their corporate voluntary disclosure following low sentiment periods.
APPLIED PULMONARY PHYSIOLOGY.

Mechanical changes in the lung may be separated into two groups, the first causing increased airway resistance, obstruction to air flow, and uneven ventilatory distribution, and the second causing restriction of lung expansion which decreases compliance and diminishes vital capacity. Tests which measure the rate of air flow and the lung volume permit evaluation of mechanical impairment and separation of the groups. The equipment is neither complex nor difficult to operate, and results can be readily interpreted by the practicing physician. Such tests together with blood gas and pH determinations afford insight into various parameters of pulmonary dysfunction.
Hypoxia/reoxygenation selectively impairs alpha 1b-adrenoceptor function in small mesenteric arteries

The present study examined whether hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) attenuates norepinephrine (NE) effectiveness in small arteries by interfering with function of alpha 1a- and/or alpha 1b- adrenoceptor subtypes. Small mesenteric arteries (approximately 150 microns) were obtained from rats mounted on a small vessel myograph in oxygenated physiological salt solution (PSS), and the relationship between NE concentrations and contractile tension was assessed. Hypoxia was induced by bubbling the vessels with 95% N2-5% CO2 for 15 min. Vessels were then reoxygenated for 30 min, and NE responses were reevaluated. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were added to the PSS in one group of vessels to investigate the role of reactive oxygen metabolites. In other groups, alpha 1b-receptors were blocked with chloroethylclonidine and alpha 1a-receptors were blocked with 5-methylurapidil or WB-4101 to produce exclusive alpha 1a- or alpha 1b-responses to NE. H/R decreased the NE negative logarithm of the mean effectiv...
Label-Free Imaging of Single Microtubule Dynamics Using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy.

Due to their diameter, of only 24 nm, single microtubules are extremely challenging to image without the use of extrinsic contrast agents. As a result, fluorescence tagging is the common method to visualize their motility. However, such investigation is limited by photobleaching and phototoxicity. We experimentally demonstrate the capability of combining label-free spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) with numerical processing for imaging single microtubules in a gliding assay. SLIM combines four different intensity images to obtain the optical path length map associated with the sample. Because of the use of broadband fields, the sensitivity to path length is better than 1 nm without (temporal) averaging and better than 0.1 nm upon averaging. Our results indicate that SLIM can image the dynamics of microtubules in a full field of view, of 200 × 200 μm2, over many hours. Modeling the microtubule transport via the diffusion-advection equation, we found that the dispersion relation yields the standa...