cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurogenic influence on pulmonary surface tension and cholesterol in cats.

SummaryPrevious work showed that stress involving the sympathetic nervous system via mechanical head injury and hyperbaric oxygen results in a decreased lung compliance and altered alveolar surfactants. Similar changes were associated with sympathetic nerve stimulation via the stellate ganglion. In view of reports that the minimum surface tension attained by lung wash fluid is increased by very small amounts of cholesterol, the present experiments were performed in order to determine what effect sympathetic stimulation in the cat might have on the cholesterol content of the alveoli. The results show a nearly 200% increase in intra-alveolar cholesterol as well as high minimum surface tensions following sympathetic nerve stimulation. Such changes developed in the absence of any increase in lung wet wt/dry wt ratios. The results from the present study suggest that the previously reported decreased lung compliance and increased minimum surface tension associated with sympathetic stimulation may be due at leas...
Nerve growth factor somatic mosaicism produced by herpes virus-directed expression of cre recombinase

Focal molecular genetic alteration of the intact mammalian brain will be required to elucidate gene product function in cells comprising synaptic networks. To this end, a somatic mosaic approach has been developed for the mouse whereby a dormant germline transgene is activated by the somatic delivery and expression of cre recombinase. Transgenic mice harboring a recombinational substrate, the germline-transmitted nerve growth factor excision activation transgene (NGF-XAT) were generated. Somatic delivery of virus vectors expressing cre recombinase into the brain of NGF-XAT mice resulted in regional recombination and activation of the transgene as demonstrated at the DNA level by PCR and at the protein level by both immunocytochemistry and ELISA. This approach has been used to evaluate a behavioral correlate of unilateral NGF mosaicism within the dorsal hippocampal formation. NGF-XAT mice activated by expression of cre recombinase manifest increased locomotor activity compared with NGF-XAT mice transduced by a control virus expressing Escherichia coli β-galactosidase. These data indicate that focally increased expression of NGF in one part of a synaptic network can elicit changes in behavior presumably by altering the overall function of NGF-responsive neural circuitry. This approach should have broad application to other gene products and promises to provide the unprecedented ability to create and study discrete genetic modifications in the context of an intact adult mammal.
GMM-free DNN acoustic model training

While deep neural networks (DNNs) have become the dominant acoustic model (AM) for speech recognition systems, they are still dependent on Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) for alignments both for supervised training and for context dependent (CD) tree building. Here we explore bootstrapping DNN AM training without GMM AMs and show that CD trees can be built with DNN alignments which are better matched to the DNN model and its features. We show that these trees and alignments result in better models than from the GMM alignments and trees. By removing the GMM acoustic model altogether we simplify the system required to train a DNN from scratch.
Demonstration of a dual-band IR imaging spectrometer

A prototype of a compact, low mass, multispectral imaging spectrometer suitable for space-based applications has been built utilizing a dual-band infrared focal plane array. The spectrometer design uses a grating blaze chosen to be efficient at both 3.75-6.05 and 7.5-12.1 μm. The spectrometer had previously been spectrally calibrated with flooded blackbody illumination and the mercury cadmium telluride focal plane array was found to have cutoff wavelengths near 5.2 and 10.5 μm. The spectrometer was tested in the MWIR band by imaging a blackbody at a distance of 100 m. Spectral images of the Sun were obtained in both MWIR and LWIR, allowing comparison of the solar diameter at various IR wavelengths with tabulated visual widths. The performance of the spectrometer is characterized at a deeper level as a result of these observations.
GPS measurements of present-day convergence across the Nepal Himalaya

The high elevations of the Himalaya and Tibet result from the continuing collision between India and Asia, which started more than 60 million years ago1–4. From geological and seismic studies of the slip rate of faults in Asia5, it is believed that approximately one-third of the present-day convergence rate between India and Asia (58 ± 4mmyr−1) is responsible for the shortening, uplift and moderate seismicity of the Himalaya. Great earthquakes also occur infrequently in this region, releasing in minutes the elastic strain accumulated near the boundary zone over several centuries, and accounting for most of the advance of the Himalaya over the plains of India. The recurrence time for these great earthquakes is determined by the rate of slip of India beneath Tibet, which has hitherto been estimated indirectly from global plate motions6, from the slip rates of faults in Asia7,8, from seismic productivity9, and from the advance of sediments on the northern Ganges plain10. Here we report geodetic measurements, using the Global Positioning System (GPS), of the rate of contraction across the Himalaya, which we find to be 17.52 ± 2 mm yr −1. From the form of the deformation field, we estimate the rate of slip of India beneath Tibet to be 20.5 ± 2 mmyr–1. Strain sufficient to drive one or more great Himalayan earthquakes, with slip similar to that accompanying the magnitude 8.1 Bihar/Nepal 1934 earthquake, may currently be available in western Nepal.
Water, Acid, and Calcium Carbonate Pretreatment of Fly Ash: The Effect on Setting of Cement−Fly Ash Mixtures

The treatment of class C, I, and F fly ash (FA) with water, HNO3, and aqueous CaCO3 has been investigated to develop a simple chemical route to change the morphology and surface chemistry of fly ash particles to enhance the setting properties of a cement/fly ash (C/FA) composite. The treatment of C-FA with an aqueous CaCO3 solution results in a dramatic improvement in the setting time and the setting profile on C-class FA; in contrast, the treatment has no effect on the set time for F-FA and reduces the set time and appears to result in an even more nonideal induction setting curve as compared to the untreated C/I-FA. The enhancement observed for the treatment of C-FA with aqueous CaCO3 solution is not a consequence of the water solution since simply washing with water (i.e., C-FAH2O) results in the extraction of Na and Ca with a concomitant increase in surface area and a performance similar to those observed for untreated I-FA and F-FA despite a much higher surface area. The acid (HNO3) treatment of I-FA...
Explaining citizens' attitudes toward pornography: Differential effects of predictors across levels of geographic proximity to outlet sources

Although recent court decisions have emphasized the importance of local community standards in defining and regulating pornography, virtually none of the empirical studies have examined the effects of predictors when the geographic location of the outlet source is varied. Data collected from a random sample of residents in one county were used to compare the effects of explanatory factors on citizens' attitudes toward various forms of pornography at different geographic distances. Findings demonstrated that some variables have consistent effects on attitudes toward pornography; others exert a stronger influence when citizens are considering outlet sources in their own neighborhood versus other locations, and vice versa.
Predicting elections from biographical information about candidates: A commentary essay

Abstract Armstrong and Graefe apply the index method to predict presidential elections. They imply that the technique is also useful for business decision making. Their idea has merit and may be relevant when the decision context is dynamic, has few prior “observations,” and where domain knowledge exists. However, Armstrong and Graefe fail to adequately explain the variable selection process, clarify the conditions when the index method is appropriate, or identify the types of problems most amenable to the index method, and fail to discuss how the index method can be calibrated to help make single option decisions.
Estimation bias from using nonlinear Fourier plane correlators for sub-pixel image shift measurement and implications for the binary joint transform correlator

When using Fourier plane digital algorithms or an optical correlator to measure the correlation between digital images, interpolation by center-of-mass or quadratic estimation techniques can be used to estimate image displacement to the sub-pixel level. However, this can lead to a bias in the correlation measurement. This bias shifts the sub-pixel output measurement to be closer to the nearest pixel center than the actual location. The paper investigates the bias in the outputs of both digital and optical correlators, and proposes methods to minimize this effect. We use digital studies and optical implementations of the joint transform correlator to demonstrate optical registration with accuracies better than 0.1 pixels. We use both simulations of image shift and movies of a moving target as inputs. We demonstrate bias error for both center-of-mass and quadratic interpolation, and discuss the reasons that this bias is present. Finally, we suggest measures to reduce or eliminate the bias effects. We show that when sub-pixel bias is present, it can be eliminated by modifying the interpolation method. By removing the bias error, we improve registration accuracy by thirty percent.
Chromophoric spin-labeled β-lactam antibiotics for ENDOR structural characterization of reaction intermediates of class A and class C β-lactamases

The chromophoric spin-label substrate 6-N-[3-(2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-oxypyrrolin-3-yl)-propen-2-oyl]penicillanic acid (SLPPEN) was synthesized by acylation of 6-aminopenicillanic acid with the acid chloride of 3-(2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-oxypyrrolinyl)-2-propenoic acid and characterized by physical methods. By application of angle-selected electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), we have determined the molecular structure of SLPPEN in solution. SLPPEN exhibited UV absorption properties that allowed accurate monitoring of the kinetics of its enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis. The maximum value of the (substrate-product) difference extinction coefficient was 2824 M(-1) cm(-1) at 275 nm compared to 670 M(-1) cm(-1) at 232 nm for SLPEN [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 117 (1995) 6739]. For SLPPEN, the steady-state kinetic parameters kcat and kcat/KM, determined under initial velocity conditions, were 637 +/- 36 s(-1) and 13.8 +/- 1.4 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), respectively, for hydrolysis catalyzed by TEM-1 beta-lactamase of E. coli, and 0.5 +/- 0.04 s(-1) and 3.9 +/- 0.4 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) for hydrolysis catalyzed by the beta-lactamase of Enterobacter cloacae P99. We have also observed "burst kinetics" for the hydrolysis of SLPPEN with P99 beta-lactamase, indicative of formation of an acylenzyme reaction intermediate. In DMSO:H2O (30:70, v:v) cryosolvent mixtures buffered to pH* 7.0, the half-life of the acylenzyme intermediate formed with the P99 enzyme at -5 degrees C was > or = 3 min, suitable for optical characterization. The observation of burst kinetics in the hydrolysis of SLPPEN catalyzed by P99 beta-lactamase suggests that this chromophoric spin-labeled substrate is differentially sensitive to active site interactions underlying the cephalosporinase and penicillinase reactivity of this class C enzyme.
Effects of relational proclivity and marketing intelligence on new product development

Purpose – A number of studies in the marketing and strategy literature show that a firm's resource endowment is a major driver in the formation of advantage-generating capabilities. Some researchers have suggested, however, that capabilities are path dependent and that a firm's behavioral predispositions and proclivities should be viewed as antecedents to capability formation. The purpose of this paper is to examine how a firm's behavioral tendencies, along with its existing business resources, contribute to the formation of new product development (NPD) capability. Design/methodology/approach – Hypotheses are tested by using survey data from more than 150 US-based firms. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the proposed model and analyze hypothesized relationships. Findings – Results of the paper suggest that a firm's competency in marketing intelligence and its tendency to engage in partner-style relationships have both direct and interactive effects on NPD capability. This capability is fu...
Stability of amorphous-silicon TFTs deposited on clear plastic substrates at 250/spl deg/C to 280/spl deg/ C

Amorphous-silicon (a-Si) thin-film transistors (TFTs) were fabricated on a free-standing new clear plastic substrate with high glass transition temperature (T/sub g/) of >315/spl deg/ C and low coefficient of thermal expansion of <10 ppm/ /spl deg/ C. Maximum process temperatures on the substrates were 250/spl deg/C and 280/spl deg/C, close to the temperatures used in industrial a-Si TFT production on glass substrates. The first TFTs made at 280/spl deg/C have dc characteristics comparable to TFTs made on glass. The stability of the 250/spl deg/C TFTs on clear plastic is approaching that of TFTs made on glass at 300/spl deg/C-350/spl deg/C. TFT characteristics and stability depend only on process temperature and not on substrate type.
Nonconversion of o,p'-DDT to p,p'-DDT in Rats, Sheep, Chickens, and Quail

The finding of appreciable quantities of p,p'-DDT after feeding o,p'-DDT to rats led to the proposal of a theory, that an isomeric metabolic conversion occurs. The presence of p,p'-DDT as an impurity in supposedly pure samples of o,p'-DDT is the correct explanation for the appearance of p,p'-DDT. Purified o,p'-DDT and (14)C-labeled o,p'-DDT yielded no data to support the idea that o,p'-DDT is converted to the p,p'-DDT isomer.
Drag and lift forces on a spherical particle moving on a wall in a shear flow at finite Re

Recent research (Zeng, PhD thesis, 2007; Zeng et al., Phys. Fluids, vol. 21, 2009, art. no. 033302) has shown that both the shear- and wall-induced lift contributions on a particle sharply increase as the gap between the wall and the particle is decreased. Explicit expressions that are valid over a range of finite Re were obtained for the drag and lift forces in the limiting cases of a stationary particle in wall-bounded linear flow and of a particle translating parallel to a wall in a quiescent ambient. Here we consider the more general case of a translating and rotating particle in a wall-bounded linear shear flow where shear, translational and rotational effects superpose. We have considered a modest Reynolds number range of 1–100. Direct numerical simulations using immersed boundary method were performed to systematically figure out the characteristics of hydrodynamic forces on a finite-sized particle moving while almost in contact with a wall. We present composite correlation for the hydrodynamic forces which are in agreement with all the available low-Reynolds-number theories.
Fabrosauridae, the basal family of ornithischian dinosaurs (Reptilia: Ornithopoda)

In fabrosaurids the upper jaw is flat and the lower jaw is slender so the ’cheek’ teeth are marginal and not inset as is the case in all other ornithischian dinosaurs. The ’cheek’ teeth of fabrosaurids have anteroposteriorly expanded crowns but lack wear surfaces formed by tooth to tooth contact. Two genera are recognized from the Triassic-Jurassic boundary of Lesotho with good material previously referred toFabrosaurus as a new genus that represents the most conservative ornithopod described to date. The anatomy ofNanosaurus (Upper Jurassic, U.S.A.) andEchinodon (Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, England) is redescribed; in both genera the tooth bearing bone of the lower jaw is deepened posteriorly and inEchinodon there is a true canine tooth in the upper jaw.
Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of polyethylene glycol oligomers

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) oligomers, H(OC2H4O)nH, were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for oligomers, n = 2–11, without indications of pyrolysis of the higher oligomers at oven temperatures of 330°C. The electron ionization (EI) mass spectra (70 eV and 12–14 eV) of these PEG oligomers contain only low molecular weight fragment ions and, essentially, no M+ ions. The low-voltage EI spectra contain more abundant high mass ions and allow easier identification of the PEG oligomers. The major fragment ions in all EI spectra are (C2H4O)xH+ at m/z 45, 89, 133 and 177. The base peak in the low-voltage spectra varies with molecular weight and suggests preferential cleavage at the second and third ether linkages. The relative molar sensitivities (70 eV EI) of PEG oligomers (n = 1–6) are linear functions of molecular weight or polarizability ratios. The CH4 chemical ionization mass spectra of the PEG oligomers contain, predominantly, (C2H4O)xH+ ions at m/z 45, 89, 133 and 177. The relative ab...
Intraoperative ultrasound for liver tumor resection in children.

Abstract Background Primary hepatic neoplasms in children are rare tumors. All malignant and medically refractive benign primary pediatric liver tumors ultimately require surgical resection for cure. Accurate preoperative imaging including multidetector helical computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is necessary to determine resectability. In the literature intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) has proven to be a vital adjunct to liver surgery in adults, but this is not well established in children. Materials and methods Between April 2003 and November 2014, children ( Results Preoperative evaluation with high-resolution MRI and IOUS were discordant in 4 of 19 patients (21%). In one case, right hepatic vein involvement was not accurately assessed with MRI. Two cases showed tumor involvement in segment IV by MRI; however, IOUS revealed no medial segment involvement. The final patient had a large (>5 cm), solitary hepatic adenoma on MRI, but IOUS in this case revealed diffuse adenomatosis. The operative management was altered in three of these cases. Conclusions Although MRI can provide a detailed view of the hepatic anatomy and is an invaluable tool for preoperative planning for the pediatric patient with a primary liver neoplasm, IOUS may provide further and more up to date delineation of tumor extent and should be considered a crucial element in operative planning for hepatectomy in children.
Synthesis and structure of polyglyoxal

The polymerization of glyoxal has been carried out in the presence of sodium naphthalene in THF at −78°C. The polyglyoxal decomposed at 150°C. and was slightly soluble in water and alcohol. The polymer was readily acetylated with acetic anhydride to yield a material that decomposed at about 290°C. Structure elucidation of the glyoxal polymer indicated that it had a polyacetal type of structure containing pendant enol groups and also a cyclic chelated structure involving hydrogen bonding between an enolic hydroxy group and a pendant carbonyl group.
The environmental cost of reducing agricultural fine particulate matter emissions.

Abstract The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in 2006, reducing acceptable fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels; state environmental protection agencies in states with nonattainment areas are required to draft State Implementation Plans (SIPs) detailing measures to reduce regional PM2.5 levels by reducing PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursor emissions. These plans need to account for increases in emissions caused by operating control technologies. Potential PM2.5 emissions reductions realized by adding a second set of dust cyclones were estimated for the cotton ginning industry. Increases in energy consumption were calculated based on dust cyclone air pressure drop. Additional energy required was translated into increased emissions using published emission factors and state emissions inventories. Reductions in gin emissions were compared with increases in emissions at the power plant. Because of the electrical energy required, reducing one unit o...
Compiling C* programs for a hypercube multicomputer

A data parallel language such as C* has a number of advantages over conventional hypercube programming languages. The algorithm design process is simpler, because (1) message passing is invisible, (2) race conditions are nonexistent, and (3) the data can be put into a one-to-one correspondence with the virtual processors. Since data are mapped to virtual processors, rather than physical processors, it is easier to move algorithms implemented on one size hypercube to a larger or smaller system. We outline the design of a C* compiler for a hypercube multicomputer. Our design goals are to minimize the amount of time spent synchronizing, limit the number of interprocessor communications, and make each physical processor's emulation of a set of virtual processors as efficient as possible. We have hand translated three benchmark programs and compared their performance with that of ordinary C programs. All three programs—matrix multiplication, LU decomposition, and hyperquicksort—achieve reasonable speedup on a commercial hypercube, even when solving problems of modest size. On a 64-processor NCUBE/7, the C* matrix multiplication program achieves a speedup of 27 when multiplying two 64 × 64 matrices, the hyperquicksort program achieves a speedup of 10 when sorting 16,384 integers, and LU decomposition attains a speedup of 7 when decomposing a 256 × 256 system of linear equations. We believe the degradation in machine performance resulting from the use of a data parallel language will be more than compensated for by the increase in programmer productivity.
INCIDENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF POSITIVE MARGINS IN RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY SPECIMENS

The first study to carefully analyze margins of resection in radical prostatectomy specimens was published in 1983. 27 Subsequently, a growing body of information concerning margins of resection has been published. For reasons that are detailed throughout this study, it is very difficult to compare data from one institution to another concerning margins of resection. This study presents the often diverse data and potential explanations for these differences.
Respiratory modulation of the pharyngeal airway in lean and obese mice.

Obesity is an important risk factor for pharyngeal airway collapse in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). To examine the effect of obesity on pharyngeal airway size on inspiration and expiration, respiratory-gated MRI of the pharynx was compared in New Zealand obese (NZO) and New Zealand white (NZW) mice (weights: 50.4 g vs. 34.7 g, p < 0.0001). Results: (1) pharyngeal airway cross-sectional area was greater during inspiration than expiration in NZO mice, but in NZW mice airway area was greater in expiration than inspiration; (2) inspiratory-to-expiratory changes in both mouse strains were largest in the caudal pharynx; and (3) during expiration, airway size tended to be larger, though non-significantly, in NZW than NZO mice. The respiratory pattern differences are likely attributable to obesity that is the main difference between NZO and NZW mice. The data support an hypothesis that pharyngeal airway patency in obesity is dependent on inspiratory dilation and may be vulnerable to loss of neuromuscular pharyngeal activation.
Loss of Differentiative Potential of the Mammary Gland in Ovariectomized Mice: Prevention and Reversibility of the Defect

The differentiative functions, lactose synthetase activity and casein synthesis, are not expressed in vitro in mammary gland explants from female virgin mice castrated for 1-2 months. 17 beta-Estradiol (E2) treatment (3 micrograms, twice weekly) initiated immediately after ovariectomy completely preserves this ability for as long as 2 months; however, elevating serum PRL levels by either perphenazine treatment or pituitary transplantation under the renal capsule is ineffective. Therefore, the loss of differentiative potential in the mammary gland appears to be a result of E3 deprivation and not depressed serum PRL concentrations. E2 therapy for 5 weeks also partially restores this potential in animals whose mammary glands have previously lost it. Complete reversal of this defect occurs when the tissue from mice castrated for 4 weeks is transplanted into the cleared fat pads of intact virgins. These data suggest that E2 has an important role in differentiation of the mouse gland in addition to its known role in mammary epithelial growth.
An exact analytical procedure to evaluate Sommerfeld integrals in layered media problems

In this work, we develop a comprehensive numerical method to evaluate the Sommerfeld Integrals appearing in layered media problems using simple algebraic functions which enable closed form integration. The resulting algorithm is much simpler than the conventional discrete complex image method. Detailed mathematical steps are enumerated for evaluating Sommerfeld integrals involving zero-order and first-order Bessel functions and can be extended to higher-order functions easily.
Response of lymphocytes to penicillin: comparison with skin tests and circulating antibodies in man.

THE peripheral blood lymphocytes of man respond to a variety of stimulants in tissue culture, and undergo changes in structure including enlargement and mitosis. Non-specific stimuli such as phytohaemagglutinin, as well as specific antigens such as tuberculin, to which the cell donor has been sensitized, may evoke these changes1,2.
Family life and teenage pregnancy in the inner-city: Experiences of African-American youth

Abstract This paper analyzes in-depth interviews to compare the relative plausibility of family processes versus schooling opportunities as factors associated with sex and motherhood in poor communities. The data are from life history interviews with 80 African-American women aged 15–20, conducted between 1987–1990. Perceptions of family life were coded into three dimensions of emotional relationships, presence of rules in the home, and extent of stressful events. Early schooling descriptions were coded in two dimensions of personal experiences of and familial encouragement of the student role. The impact of family life and early schooling for both age of first sex and school-age motherhood is examined. The young women who delayed onset of sexual activity, and who stayed in school even as a teen mother, had more positive perceptions of being students and of receiving family encouragement and supervision. Policies and programs that target early home-school linkages, increase familial social supports, and improve access to reproductive health care would, according to these young women, reduce teen pregnancy in the inner-city.
The ECPD proposed canons of ethics

THE TERM “professional ethics”, is commonly used quite loosely but, in fact, it means “rules of right conduct in which each item is fundamental to social relations” within the scope of professional activities. It is often said that engineering is not a profession because it has been unable to agree upon a suitable code of ethics which applies through the field of all of our great engineering societies. The lawyers, through the American Bar Association many years ago, adopted a code of ethics which they have modified and added to in the interval and which has 47 items. This code is published by the Association under the tide “Canons of Professional Ethics” in a small pamphlet, along with some additional matters relating to judicial ethics. The doctors also, through the American Medical Association, have their code published by the Association in a pamphlet called “Principles of Medical Ethics,” containing 42 items. Each lawyer and physician usually possesses a copy of the pamphlet relating to his profession and cherishes it as of importance in his active life.
Oxidative stress regulates the interaction of p16 with Cdk4.

Abstract Oxidative stress can have a myriad of effects on many different cell types. The mechanisms by which these effects occur are not completely known. Chimeric proteins of the GAL4 DNA binding domain and Cdk4, or the GAL4 activation domain with p16, were expressed in the yeast two-hybrid system. Cells expressing these chimeric proteins were cultured with hydrogen peroxide and decreases in β-galactosidase activity were observed when compared to cells incubated without hydrogen peroxide. When cells, which expressed the intact GAL4 binding protein, were cultured in the presence of hydrogen peroxide the opposite was observed. Incubation of cells with buthionine sulfoximine augmented these responses to hydrogen peroxide. These data suggest that one of the mechanisms by which oxidative stress acts is via the modulation of protein-protein interactions and demonstrate that the yeast two-hybrid system may be a model by which to study protein interactions due to oxidative stress.
Ln2(C2O4)(O2CCH2OH)4 (Ln = Gd(III), Tb(III)): Unprecedented Interpenetrating 4,6-Connected Net Built on Unusual Rectangular and Distorted Hexagonal Lanthanide Nodes

Hydrothermal synthesis was used to prepare Ln2(C2O4)(O2CCH2OH)4 (Ln = Gd(III)/1 Tb(III)/2) from HCO2CH2OH and C2O42−, the latter being formed in situ from HCO2CH2OH. The new compounds crystallize with the same unique 2-fold interpenetrating 4,6-connected net described by (32·62·72)(34·42·64·75) topology, a topology that is based on a combination of highly unusual rectangular and distorted hexagonal lanthanide nodes. Gd2(C2O4)(O2CCH2OH)4, 1, exhibits fully paramagnetic behavior with µeff = 7.938(5) µB per Gd(III) ion; in the solid state, Tb2(C2O4)(O2CCH2OH)4, 2, exhibits very strong luminescence.
Neurostimulation Therapy for Epilepsy: Current Modalities and Future Directions

Neurostimulation is a recent development in the treatment of epilepsy. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), the only approved neurostimulation therapy for epilepsy to date, has proved to be a viable adjunctive treatment option. The exact mechanism of action of VNS is not fully understood. In 2 randomized double-blind trials, seizure frequency declined approximately 30% after 3 months of treatment. Long-term follow-up studies suggest that response improves over time, with approximately 35% of patients experiencing a 50% reduction and 20% experiencing a 75% reduction in seizure frequency after 18 months of treatment. Unfortunately, the number of patients rendered medication-free and seizure-free with VNS is low. Vagus nerve stimulation is best viewed as an option for patients who are not surgical candidates or who hesitate to take the risk of surgery yet continue to have seizures despite maximal medical therapy. Stimulation of other regions of the central nervous system for treating epilepsy, including the anterior and centromedian nuclei of the thalamus, the hippocampus, the subthalamic nucleus, and the cerebral neocortex, is currently under investigation. We review the history, proposed mechanisms of action, clinical trials, adverse effects, and future direction of VNS and other modalities of neurostimulation therapy for epilepsy.
On being unreasonable: Progressive planning in Sheffield and Chicago

Abstract This paper gives an account of ‘left’ and ‘progressive’ economic development politics and policy in Sheffield and Chicago in the early 1980s. The origins of these policies in activist work and grassroots organizing, and the leadership of John Benington and David Blunkett in Sheffield and of Robert Mier and Harold Washington in Chicago are characterized and briefly compared.
Interacting two-time physics field theory with a BRST gauge invariant action

We construct a field theoretic version of 2T physics including interactions in an action formalism. The approach is a Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) formulation based on the underlying $\mathrm{Sp}(2,R)$ gauge symmetry and shares some similarities with the approach used to construct string field theory. In our first case of spinless particles, the interaction is uniquely determined by the BRST gauge symmetry, and it is different than the Chern-Simons type theory used in open string field theory. After constructing a BRST gauge invariant action for 2T physics field theory with interactions in $d+2$ dimensions, we study its relation to standard 1T physics field theory in $(d\ensuremath{-}1)+1$ dimensions by choosing gauges. In one gauge we show that we obtain the Klein-Gordon field theory in $(d\ensuremath{-}1)+1$ dimensions with unique $\mathrm{SO}(d,2)$ conformal invariant self interactions at the classical field level. This $\mathrm{SO}(d,2)$ is the natural linear Lorentz symmetry of the 2T field theory in $d+2$ dimensions. As indicated in Fig. 1, in other gauges we expect to derive a variety of $\mathrm{SO}(d,2)$ invariant 1T physics field theories as gauge fixed forms of the same 2T field theory, thus obtaining a unification of 1T dynamics in a field theoretic setting, including interactions. The BRST gauge transformation should play the role of duality transformations among the 1T physics holographic images of the same parent 2T field theory. The availability of a field theory action opens the way for studying 2T physics with interactions at the quantum level through the path integral approach.
The occurrence of SV40-Neutralizing antibodies in sera of patients with genitourinary carcinoma.

Neutralizing antibodies to simian virus 40 (SV40) were detected in sera of seven of 182 patients studied at the Roswell Park Memorial Institute. Four of 91 (4.4%) bladder tumor patients, two of 24 (8.3%) patients with prostatic carcinoma, and one of four patients with testicular tumors had antibodies. Neutralizing antibodies were demonstrable in repeated bleedings over a 5–11 month period. T antibodies were not detected in any of the sera. None of the antibody-positive patients gave a history of immunization with (potentially SV40-contaminated) poliovirus vaccines, the only known source of major human exposure to SV40 in the United States. These findings suggest that the seven antibody-positive donors were infected with a virus cross-reacting with SV40 or that infection with SV40 may have occurred in some unknown manner.
Experience with 509 Plate Electrodes Implanted Epidurally from C1 to L1

This article summarizes the experience gained with implantation of 509 plate electrodes performed by a single neurosurgeon. 350 patients were subjected to implantation of plate electrodes in the dorsa
Finance capital in dynamic factor-demand models

The lagged partial-adjusment money-demand function has been studied theoretically and empirically for the aggregate economy. This paper focuses on a sectoral analysis of two partial-adjustment functions: one for optimal money demand and another for optimal loans demand. The two partial-adjustment equations are derived employing a representive-firm approach. A dynamic factor-demand model with internal costs of adjustment is utilized to generate Euler equations for the demand for money and short-term business loans. These Euler equations parallel the aggregate partial-adjustment money-demand equations typically employed in applied monetary research. The significant difference between the ad hocderivation and the microtheoretic derivation employed here, is that desired money and loan holdings are found by solving the Euler equations. These particular definition of desired money and loan holding are model consistent and depend upon the predetermined and exogeneous variables of the model. Empirical analysis ge...
Suicidal overdoses of psychotropic drugs by elderly in New York City: Comparison with younger adults

Abstract We compared New York City suicide victims aged 18–59 with those 60+ according to rates by which psychotropic/analgesic drugs and ethanol contributed to death. Barbiturates were more frequent in the elderly, while antidepressants were more frequent in younger adults. Addressing the potential for overdose with barbiturates may aid suicide prevention in the elderly.
Air-borne organo-mercury and elemental mercury emissions with emphasis on central sewage facilities

Abstract Field studies strongly suggest that central sewage facilities constitute a widespread source of organic mercury as well as elemental mercury emissions. We have found evidence for organic and elemental mercury emissions covering a concentration range greater than 107. These findings are based on air samples obtained in cities with populations ranging from 20000 to 700000. Particular emphasis was given to meteorological and spatial factors relative to central sewage facilities. The concentration of elemental mercury in the atmosphere falls off sharply with increasing distance from the central sewage plant. That of the more volatile organic forms of mercury increases (for at least several miles) with distance. The concentration maxima of the organic mercury emissions appear to be related to population size.
Arterial responses to balloon coronary angioplasty: an intravascular ultrasound study.

Abstract Objectives . The purpose of this study was to examine the coronary artery response to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty by using intravascular ultrasound. Background . The immediate effects of coronary angioplasty on arterial wall geometry and surface appearance are understood poorly. Most of the available data are derived from small necropsy series, inferred from animal models or extrapolated from in vitro studies. High frequency intravascular ultrasound provides transmural images of coronary arteries in vivo. Methods . We used intravascular ultrasound to study 29 patients before or after, or both, successful coronary angioplasty. Results . The angiographic diameter narrowing was 72 ± 13% before and improved to 19 ± 11% after angioplasty. Calcium was visualized in 7 (24%) of the 29 angioplasty sites by fluoroscopy versus 15 (52%) of sites by intravascular ultrasound (p = 0.022). Arterial dissection after angioplasty was observed in 8 (27%) of cases by contrast angiography versus 24 (83%) by intravascular ultrasound (p Conclusions . Intravascular ultrasound is more sensitive than angiography for identifying arterial calcium and dissection at the site of angioplasty. At the site of angioplasty, arterial dissection occurred more frequently in calcified plaques whereas arterial expansion occurred more frequently in noncalcified plaques. Successful angioplasty causes a continuum of arterial responses that vary importantly with plaque composition.
APPLICATION OF MICROSCOPIC TECHNIQUES TO THE DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE OF DEHYDRATED FOOD SYSTEMS

A wide variety of optical microscopic techniques are available for elucidation of the structure of materials. Many can be applied by the food scientist for studying the structure of dehydrated food materials and the influence of the structure on physical properties of the food. Also recent developments in scanning electron microscopes and related instruments permit new approaches to the study of food structure. The application of some of these microscopic techniques for studying the structure of dehydrated food materials and of the relationship of the observed structure on some physical properties of the foods will be described by use of a number of selected examples.
Performance Evaluation of Energy-Efficient Parallel I/O Systems with Write Buffer Disks

In the past decade, parallel disk systems have been developed to address the problem of I/O performance. A critical challenge with modern parallel I/O systems is that parallel disks consume a significant amount of energy in servers and high performance computers. To conserve energy consumption in parallel I/O systems, one can immediately spin down disks when disk are idle; however, spinning down disks might not be able to produce energy savings due to penalties of spinning operations. Unlike powering up CPUs, spinning down and up disks need physical movements. Therefore, energy savings provided by spinning down operations must offset energy penalties of the disk spinning operations. To substantially reduce the penalties incurred by disk spinning operations, we developed a novel approach to conserving energy of parallel I/O systems with write buffer disks, which are used to accumulate small writes using a log file system. Data sets buffered in the log file system can be transferred to target data disks in a batch way. Thus, buffer disks aim to serve a majority of incoming write requests, attempting to reduce the large number of disk spinning operations by keeping data disks in standby for long period times. Interestingly, the write buffer disks not only can achieve high energy efficiency in parallel I/O systems, but also can shorten response times of write requests. To evaluate the performance and energy efficiency of our parallel I/O systems with buffer disks, we implemented a prototype using a cluster storage system as a testbed. Experimental results show that under light and moderate I/O load, buffer disks can be employed to significantly reduce energy dissipation in parallel I/O systems without adverse impacts on I/O performance.
A Nonlinear Reduced-Order Model for Electrostatic MEMS

We present an analytical approach and a reduced-order model (macromodel) to investigate the behavior of electrically actuated microbeam-based MEMS. The macromodel provides an effective and accurate design tool for this class of MEMS devices. The macromodel is obtained by discretizing the distributed-parameter system using a Galerkin procedure into a finite-degree-of-freedom system consisting of ordinary-differential equations in time. The macromodel accounts for moderately large deflections, dynamic loads, and the coupling between the mechanical and electrical forces. It accounts for linear and nonlinear elastic restoring forces and the nonlinear electric forces generated by the capacitors. A new technique is developed to represent the electric force in the equations of motion. The new approach allows the use of few linear-undamped mode shapes of a microbeam in its straight position as basis functions in a Galerkin procedure. The macromodel is validated by comparing its results with experimental results and finiteelement solutions available in the literature. Our approach shows attractive features compared to finite-element softwares used in the literature. It is robust over the whole device operation range up to the instability limit of the device (i.e., pull-in). Moreover, it has low computational cost and allows for an easier understanding of the influence of the various design parameters. As a result, it can be of significant benefit to the development of MEMS design software.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Training Advanced Practice Providers to Collect Functional Outcomes After Fragility Fractures.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether advanced practice providers could learn to collect objective functional assessment data accurately and efficiently with commercially available devices that measure kinematics and kinetics (Nintendo Wii Balance Board [WBB] and Level Belt [LB]) to aid in the assessment of fall risk and outcomes after fragility fractures. Methods: Nine advanced practice providers participated in a 1-hour clinical assessment tools (CATs) training session on equipment use, providing standardized instructions, and practice of the testing procedures. Afterward, they participated in a skills demonstration evaluation and completed a postsession survey. Results: Participants successfully achieved a mean of 18.22 (standard deviation 1.56) of 20 performance measures. Of the incomplete or omitted tasks, the majority (10 of 16) occurred within the first of 3 CATs activities. Postsession survey results revealed that 9 of 9 participants reported that the 1 hour provided for training on the CATs was sufficient. All participants reported that after the training, they felt confident they could reliably carry out the tasks to test patients on both the WBB and the LB. The majority of participants reported that they believed that the WBB (7 of 9) and LB (8 out of 9) would be good assets to clinics in assessing patient functionality after fragility fractures. Conclusion: These results indicate that advanced practice providers can confidently learn and effectively test patients with the WBB and LB within 1 hour of training. In the future, adoption of CATs in the clinical setting may allow for objective, easy-to-use, portable, noninvasive, and relatively inexpensive measures to assess functional outcomes in patients with fragility fracture.
Stabilization of High Ionic Strength Slurries Using the Synergistic Effects of a Mixed Surfactant System

Abstract The stability of colloidal slurries is an important parameter in many industries due to problems that can arise as a result of particle settling. Particle settling is often caused by the shielding of surface charges on the particles which otherwise would prevent coagulation and subsequent settling. This is particularly a problem in high ionic strength slurries, where large amounts of ions serve to enhance the charge shielding and compression of the electrical double layer around the particles. This phenomenon has been investigated for industrially significant slurries used for tungsten and copper chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). It has been found that the effects of addition of conventional stabilizing agents (e.g., ionic surfactants, polymers) to these high ionic strength slurries are neutralized by the electrolytes in solution. However, the synergistic combination of a properly chosen ionic and nonionic surfactant has been found to be a suitable stabilizing agent for this type of system. For the CMP slurries investigated, the synergistic effect has been shown to be maximum for combinations of sodium dodecyl sulfate anionic surfactant and a variety of polymeric nonionic surfactants. The stabilization observed for these mixed surfactant systems has been explained in terms of adsorption of ionic surfactant on particle surfaces and nonionic surfactant molecules penetrating the film of the ionic surfactant due to hydrocarbon chain interactions. This brings about the steric stabilization of the slurry.
A non-multiplicative technique for the determination of spatial spectra

Abstract Walsh functions or ‘sequency’ can be used advantageously in the determination of the spatial frequency content of a scene brightness distribution imaged upon a line array of detectors. Relative to a Walsh basis spectral coefficients can be determined without multiplication, only sums and differences of sample values are required. The hierarchy of functions leading to Walsh functions is described. Also, a relationship between the Hadamard matrix and the Walsh functions is shown. As a final step, the transformation is given for converting spectral coefficients from a Walsh to a Fourier basis.