cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of agricultural extension services on adoption of root crops technologies in Ondo State, Nigeria

The study investigated the impact of extension services on the adoption of root crop technologies in Akoko North-West Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria. Data from 90 randomly selected farmers in nine randomly selected villages were used. Findings show that improved cassava varieties, seed yam minisett technique and cassava rapid multiplication had the highest adoption respectively. This was found to be due to financial gain from the technologies. The study shows low adoption of agronomy practices associated with adopted varieties. The extension was the major source of information for the majority of the respondents, with farmers' field day and small plot adoption technique were the most preferred methods of extension contact on root crop technologies. Contact with extension was found to have a significant relationship with the adoption of only a few technologies and did not have significant relationship with the improved level of production of root crops. The study therefore recommended that extension organizations should consider a number of factors other than contact with farmers for farmers' adoption of new technologies. These include the arrangement of follow-up visits to farmers after adoption for further education on the technologies. For effective technology adoption by farmers, the use of facilitative methods such as farmers' field day and small plot adoption technique were recommended. Keywords : accessibility, agricultural information, women farmers South African Journal of Agricultural Extension Vol. 34(2) 2005: 181-187
UNDER THE BANNER OF VIOLENCE: HAMAS, AL-GAMA’A AL-ISLAMIYYA, AND RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM

Examining the process by which religious and political groups undergo radicalization to a point where they eventually espouse the instrumentality of violence and terrorism for achieving their political objectives is a prevalent issue in the post-post-9/11 world, or in an era that might come to be known as the “9/11-century.” This topic is timely and relevant in the context of religion and politics in the current geopolitical world given that we consistently see cyclical patterns of violent (Islamic) extremism, especially during times of crises, and in which members of entire demographic spectrums have become involved. This paper presents an examination of the religious radicalization of the highly ritualistic and extremely conservative Muslim group Hamas (Harakat Al-Muqawamah Al-Islamiyyah) or “The Islamic Resistance Movement” and former armed revolution group in Egypt during the 1970s and much of the 1990s Al-Gama’a Al’Islamiyya (GAI). In doing so, it connects with the subjects of radicalization and deradicalization of such groups analyzing why some extremist groups eventually undergo a process of deradicalization while others do not. As one perspective commonly held among experts on terrorism and political violence underscores, terrorism is ultimately the product of parallel radicalization, and focuses on three groups; those of: victims, perpetrators, and bystanders (Baumeister, 1997; Miller, 1999; Staub, 1989). Thus, terrorism or asymmetric conflict and forms of political violence may be seen as the product of the interaction of multiple agents that consider their actions correct, a legitimate method of expressing discontent, and is consequently conducive to a vicious cycle of violence, aggression, and insecurity.
The Impact of CEO Turnover on Firm Volatility

A change in executive leadership is a significant event in the life of a firm. This study investigates an important consequence of a CEO turnover: a change in equity volatility. We develop three hypotheses about how changes in CEO might affect stock-price volatility, and test these hypotheses using a sample of 872 CEO turnovers over the 1979 to 1995 period. We find that volatility increases following a CEO turnover, even for the most frequent type, when a CEO leaves voluntarily and is replaced by someone from inside the firm. Forced turnovers increase volatility more than voluntary turnovers, which we argue is consistent with forced departures implying a higher probability of large strategy changes. For voluntary departures, outside successions increase volatility more than inside successions, which we attribute to increased uncertainty over the successor CEO's skill in managing the firm's operations. We also document a greater stock-price response to earnings announcements following CEO turnover, consistent with more informative signals of value driving the increased volatility. Our findings are robust to controls for firm-specific characteristics such as changes in firm operations, firm size, and both volatility change and performance prior to the turnover.
Temperature dependent mechanical behavior of plastic packaging materials

This paper outlines sample preparation methodology and provides mechanical property data for commonly used plastic packaging materials. Included are die attach epoxies, mold compounds, liquid encapsulants (glob top material), printed circuit board laminate, and solder mask. Elastic modulus and thermal expansivity were characterized in the temperature range between -65/spl deg/C and 260/spl deg/C. Where possible, data were measured on samples cut from actual product to account for any microstructural effects that are process dependent. If special samples had to be fabricated, they were first subjected to the temperature profiles expected in actual manufacturing processes before being tested. The main effect of these added thermal exposures was to increase the glass transition temperature.
Typing of Proteus mirabilis by Bacteriocin Production and Sensitivity as a Possible Epidemiological Marker

Abstract Two bacteriocin typing methods, based on bacteriocin production and bacteriocin sensitivity, were developed to aid in the separation of strains of Proteus mirabilis. One hundred sixty-two isolates of P. mirabilis and 10 Cradock-Watson bacteriocin producers were grown inproteose peptone no. 3 broth and induced with mitomycin C under culture conditions found optimum for bacteriocin production. Crude bacteriocin lysates were spotted on 186 indicator strains, and after incubation for 18 h at 35°C, positive zones of inhibition were recorded. A cluster analysis computer program was used to select 16 bacteriocin-producing and 16 indicator strains for inclusion in two bacteriocin typing sets. One hundred clinical isolates of P. mirabilis were differentiated by bacteriocin sensitivity into 41 distinct patterns, with 72% of the strains typable, whereas typing by bacteriocin production demonstrated 29 separate lysis patterns among the 80% typable strains. Combining the results of each typing method resulted in 72 individual bacteriocin production-sensitivity patterns and 91% of the isolates typed. Typing 14 epidemic strains by bacteriocin production revealed that 13 of 14 strains were identical, whereas only 2 of 14 strains were typable by bacteriocin sensitivity. Electron microscopy of partially purified bacteriocin revealed tail components of contractile bacteriophages. Standard bacteriocin lysates were destroyed by boiling for 1 h. In addition, all bacteriocin lysates tested were resistant to trypsin. The use of our bacteriocin production typing method against the presently selected 16 standard indicator strains is recommended for the investigation of any cases of suspected P. mirabilis cross-infections within hospitals.
Hepatic Angiosarcoma: An Unusual Case of Intractable Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Hepatic Angiosarcoma is an extremely rare malignant neoplasm of the vascular or lymphatic endothelium accounting for about 2% of all sarcomas. It is considered idiopathic in up to 70% of cases. We describe the case of a 32-year female transferred to our center for evaluation of intractable gastrointestinal bleeding. Definitive diagnosis remained elusive despite multiple endoscopic assessments with repeated cauterization of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Autopsy results confirmed metastatic hepatic Angiosarcoma. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/ gr539 w
Globalizing Research Ethics: Justice & Biomedical Research in Developing Countries

AbstractA variety of factors are pushing biomedical research (e.g. pharmaceutical drug trials) to be increasingly performed in developing countries by foreign sponsors from wealthier nations. However, research takes on unique ethical dimensions when studies are performed in developing countries. Factors like poverty, imbalance of power, and cultural difference between sponsors/researchers and participants combine to increase possibilities for research abuses. Biomedical research in developing countries must therefore be given informed ethical analysis to ensure that research may be performed without exploiting developing nations. In this article I argue that an ethical framework for research in developing countries should be formulated through the adoption of four important conceptual changes: i) accounting for the vulnerability of subjects, ii) acknowledging contextual factors including social structures, culture, and political climate, iii) challenging ‘reasonable availability’ and other narrow concepts of benefit to research subjects, and iv) forging and utilizing lasting relationships with institutions already established in developing nations.
Positive blood alcohol is associated with reduced DVT in trauma.

INTRODUCTION: Trauma patients exhibit a complex coagulopathy which is not fully understood and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) rates remain high. The effects of alcohol (EtOH) consumption on coagulopathy in trauma patients have not been studied. We hypothesized that acute EtOH intoxication would produce a relative hypocoagulable state as measured by thrombelastography (TEG) and would be associated with reduced DVT rates. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected on 213 trauma patients at a level 1 trauma centre and analyzed in a retrospective secondary analysis. Thrombelastography (TEG), standard laboratory tests and ETOH levels were performed. If the level was positive, patients were grouped as EtOH+ and all patients were screened for DVT using a standard protocol. Statistical significance was pRESULTS: The EtOH+ group was predominantly male (76%), was younger (pCONCLUSIONS: Alcohol consumption is associated with a relative hypocoagulable state on TEG that is associated with a decreased DVT incidence. This difference is not detected by conventional assays. Language: en
Umbilical artery velocity waveforms and intrauterine growth retardation.

Abstract A continuous-wave Doppler unit was used to obtain umbilical artery velocity waveforms and to calculate the peak-systolic/diastolic ratio, a reflection of vascular resistance distal to the point of measurement. A total of 587 examinations were performed on 189 women between 18 to 42 weeks' gestation. The neoriates were divided in four groups based on their centile birth weight: 75% for that gestational age. In all four groups the placental vascular resistance as reflected by the systolic/diastolic ratio fell progressively from the 24 weeks onward. In the lower weight group, placental vascular resistance between 31 to 39 weeks' gestation was higher than in the other three groups (p
Effects of word frequency on acquisition and retention under conditions of free-recall learning

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of word frequency on acquisition and retention under conditions of free-recall learning. Three levels of frequency—high (HF), medium (MF) and low (LF)—were compared. Original learning consisted of four study-test cycles. A test of retention was given either 30 sec. or 7 days after the end of original learning and was followed by three cycles of relearning. List HF was learned and retained better than lists MF and LF; the latter two did not differ. Degrees of sequential organization in original learning increased with word frequency, as did the persistence on the tests of retention of the output orders which had occurred at the end of acquisition. For subjects learning a given type of list, however, there was little relation between degree of sequential ordering and amount of recall.
Projections from the lateral part of the central amygdalar nucleus to the postulated fear conditioning circuit

The lateral part of the central nucleus projects densely to only three regions: the medial part of the central nucleus, restricted parts of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis, and the parabrachial nucleus in the pons. The possible role of the lateral central amygdalar nucleus in circuitry mediating conditioned emotional responses is discussed; changing neuropeptide levels in the lateral part may act as a 'gain control' for reversible long-term modulation (LTM) of medial part output.
Calculation of eigenvalue and eigenvector derivatives for nonlinear beam vibrations

A beam with immovable ends under large amplitude oscillations is axially subjected to an amplitudedependent stretching force which is induced by the geometrical nonlinearity. The design sensitivity analysis for such a beam is investigated in this study. Two variational formulations pertaining to nonlinear beam vibration based on two different approximations of nonlinear stretching force are presented. The analytical equations of design sensitivity analysis for these nonlinear equations are then derived. Finally, a computational scheme using the finite element method is developed to calculate the design sensitivity derivatives of the eigenvalue and eigenvector numerically. The numerical results show that the proposed algorithm for calculating design derivatives of nonlinear eigenvalues and eigenvectors is valid, and, compared with the direct finite difference method, the proprosed algorithm is efficient.
PARTICLE DEPOSITION WITHIN BRONCHIAL AIRWAYS: COMPARISONS USING CONSTANT AND CYCLIC INSPIRATORY FLOWS

Particle deposition patterns were measured in the first five branching generations of replicate hollow casts made from a solid cast of a human tracheobronchial tree. The casts were exposed to radioactively tagged aerosols, having MMADs of approx. 3 and 8 μm, under a series of constant and cyclic inspiratory flow patterns having equivalent mean flow rates. Deposition efficiencies at bifurcation and length subregions of each generation were greater under cyclic flow and these differences were greater for the smaller sized aerosol.
Developing educational virtual worlds with game engines

Game engines are often overlooked in the investigation of virtual worlds technology. First-person shooters, head-to-head death-matches, and full-blown massively multiplayer online role-playing games have a lot in common with virtual worlds. Modifying existing games, as well as using authoring engines and toolkits, not only creates a new opportunity for the educator but also allows them to dip into a well-supported and well-populated world of creative energy, talent, and help. Also, because educators are not the primary audience for the gaming industry, many game companies are eager to work with educators and some are very generous with their licensing. The educator's task is to repurpose these tools for their pedagogical requirements. With these tools in hand, this paper looks to address those pedagogical issues and in many places asks more questions than it answers.
Improvement curve analysis of changeovers in JIT environments

Abstract Improvement curves are extremely useful management tools for predicting and controlling labor time and cost. This paper reviews some progress curve models and uses the log-linear improvement model to analyze the impact of product set-ups or changeover on productivity.
Underbuilding or Overbuilding Electrical Power Generating Capacity

Abstract This case study is an evaluation of actual alternatives for capacity expansion of an electrical power company. A systematic analysis of the important parameters of this complex problem is described to illustrate how multiple attribute decision analysis can be utilized to include the monetary and nonmonetary aspects of such a real world capacity expansion problem. The service cost data utilized is the type generated routinely by utilities and/or regulatory staffs. However, the use of outage costs and socio-economic coats demonstrates that the readily available service coats data can be expanded and combined into a framework that allows a more detailed analysis of the complex, capacity planning problem. The information reported here has been altered to the extent necessary to conceal the identity of the utility.
Crystal growth and materials research in photovoltaics: progress and challenges

Abstract Photovoltaics (PV) is solar electric power —a semiconductor-based technology that converts sunlight to electricity. Three decades of research has led to the discovery of new materials and devices and new processing techniques for low-cost manufacturing. This has resulted in improved sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiencies, improved outdoor reliability, and lower module and system costs. The manufacture and sale of PV has grown into a $5 billion industry worldwide, with more than 740 megawatts of PV modules shipped in 2003. This paper reviews the significant progress that has occurred in PV materials and devices research over the past 30 years, focusing on the advances in crystal growth and materials research, and examines the challenges to reaching the ultimate potential of current-generation (crystalline silicon), next-generation (thin films and concentrators), and future-generation PV technologies. The latter includes innovative materials and device concepts that hold the promise of significantly higher conversion efficiencies and/or much lower costs.
Statistics on student diversity and multiculturalism in higher education

Abstract Many people are working to develop a diverse student base in our colleges and universities. The success, or lack thereof, of these recruiting and retention efforts requires hard data against which current efforts can be evaluated. The purpose of this study is to provide, in one place, national-level statistics on diversity and multi-culturalism in our institutions of higher education. Statistics for both bachelors' and masters' degree levels are presented from the AICPA and from several U.S. government sources by race/ethnic groups for several years. This article provides the statistical benchmarks against which individual accounting and business programs can compare their respective positions and achievements in promoting student diversity and multi-culturalism in their programs.
Red Drum Somatolactin: Development of a Homologous Radioimmunoassay and Plasma Levels after Exposure to Stressors or Various Backgrounds

Abstract A specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) for measurement of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) somatolactin (rdSL) was developed using somatolactin purified from red drum pituitaries and antisera to rdSL raised in rabbits. The rdSL antisera specifically bound to cells in the pars intermedia bordering the neurohypophysis in red drum and Atlantic croaker ( Micropogonias undulatus ) pituitaries. These cells correspond to the periodic acid-Schiff-positive cells and are distinct from the lead-hematoxylin-positive cells which include the α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) cells. No cross-reaction in the rdSL RIA was observed with red drum growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), recombinant tuna GH, Atlantic croaker maturational GTH (GTH II), human GH, PRL, human follicle-stimulating hormone α subunit (FSHα), bovine FSHβ subunit, human adrenocorticotropic hormone, synthetic mammalian α-MSH, βMSH, γ-MSH, δ-MSH, or cortisol. Dilution curves of plasma and pituitary extracts from red drum and Atlantic croaker were parallel to the rdSL standard curve. The assay had a sensitivity of 0.14 ng/ml plasma when 100 μl plasma was assayed. SL levels in juvenile red drum ranged from 0.5 to greater than 32 ng/ml in plasma and from 0.5 to 13.5 μg/mg tissue in pituitaries. No significant elevation in plasma SL levels was observed in either red drum or Atlantic croaker exposed to acute stressors. In contrast, plasma SL levels were significantly higher in both red drum and Atlantic croaker exposed to dark backgrounds than in those exposed to light backgrounds. These results provide the first evidence that SL may play a role in adaptation to dark backgrounds in sciaenid fishes.
Cloning and characterization of an extracellular Ca 2+ -sensing receptor from bovine parathyroid

Maintenance of a stable internal environment within complex organisms requires specialized cells that sense changes in the extracellular concentration of specific ions (such as Ca2+). Although the molecular nature of such ion sensors is unknown, parathyroid cells possess a cell surface Ca(2+)-sensing mechanism that also recognizes trivalent and polyvalent cations (such as neomycin) and couples by changes in phosphoinositide turnover and cytosolic Ca2+ to regulation of parathyroid hormone secretion. The latter restores normocalcaemia by acting on kidney and bone. We now report the cloning of complementary DNA encoding an extracellular Ca(2+)-sensing receptor from bovine parathyroid with pharmacological and functional properties nearly identical to those of the native receptor. The novel approximately 120K receptor shares limited similarity with the metabotropic glutamate receptors and features a large extracellular domain, containing clusters of acidic amino-acid residues possibly involved in calcium binding, coupled to a seven-membrane-spanning domain like those in the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily.
Methamphetamine dependence and human immunodeficiency virus risk behavior

We examined human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related risk behaviors among methamphetamine (MA)-dependent users. Secondary data analysis was performed on data from a large clinical trial: The Methamphetamine Treatment Project (N = 784). All MA-dependent participants were enrolled in an outpatient treatment program, receiving either a standardized psychosocial protocol (Matrix model) or treatment-as-usual. HIV-related risk behavior, including injection and unsafe sexual practices, was assessed using the AIDS Risk Assessment at baseline, treatment discharge, and 6, 12, and 36 months following treatment participation. Results indicated that HIV risk behaviors substantially decreased over time. Treatment factors (retention and completion) and frequency of MA use were both positively associated with increased reduction of HIV risk behaviors. The findings suggested that treatment of MA dependence is promising for reducing behaviors that have been shown to transmit HIV.
Robotic and laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy: a hybrid approach

Objectives Minimally invasive surgery is beneficial for complex operations; robotics may improve performance in these procedures; however, robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has been plagued by long operative times. We describe a small series (n = 5) of patients who underwent a hybrid PD for treatment of obstructive jaundice and pancreatic mass. Methods After diagnostic laparoscopy, the gallbladder was retracted cephalad and the porta hepatis was dissected. The lesser sac was opened to expose the superior mesenteric vein below the pancreas. Once the vein was cleared, the bile duct, stomach, pancreas, and jejunum were transected. After the uncinate process was cleared, the specimen was removed. The da Vinci S Surgical Robotic System was docked to perform a mucosa-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy and an end-to-side choledochojejunostomy. A stapled gastrojejunostomy and drain placement completed the operation. Results Five patients underwent hybrid PD between May 2006 and June 2007. All patients had a history of pancreatitis and presented with obstructive jaundice and a pancreatic mass. The operations were completed with 5 ports. The mean operative time was 7 hours. The mean hospital stay was 9.6 days. At 6 months after the operation, all patients were disease-free. Conclusions Complex procedures such as PD can be accomplished with minimally invasive surgical techniques using robotic instrumentation.
Technologies for Upgrading Light Water Reactor Outlet Temperature

Nuclear energy could potentially be utilized in hybrid energy systems to produce synthetic fuels and feedstocks from indigenous carbon sources such as coal and biomass. First generation nuclear hybrid energy system (NHES) technology will most likely be based on conventional light water reactors (LWRs). However, these LWRs provide thermal energy at temperatures of approximately 300°C, while the desired temperatures for many chemical processes are much higher. In order to realize the benefits of nuclear hybrid energy systems with the current LWR reactor fleets, selection and development of a complimentary temperature upgrading technology is necessary. This paper provides an initial assessment of technologies that may be well suited toward LWR outlet temperature upgrading for powering elevated temperature industrial and chemical processes during periods of off-peak power demand.Chemical heat transformers (CHTs) are a technology with the potential to meet LWR temperature upgrading requirements for NHESs. CHTs utilize chemical heat of reaction to change the temperature at which selected heat sources supply or consume thermal energy. CHTs could directly utilize LWR heat output without intermediate mechanical or electrical power conversion operations and the associated thermodynamic losses. CHT thermal characteristics are determined by selection of the chemical working pair and operating conditions. This paper discusses the chemical working pairs applicable to LWR outlet temperature upgrading and the CHT operating conditions required for providing process heat in NHES applications.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Clinical Remission in Endoscope-Guided Pneumatic Dilation for the Treatment of Esophageal Achalasia: 7-Year Follow-Up Results of a Prospective Investigation

Background and Aims Prospective, long-term reports and predictors of outcome of endoscope-guided pneumatic dilation are lacking in the literature. The aim of this prospective 7-year follow-up study is to report the efficacy of endoscope-guided pneumatic dilation and determine the possible confounding factors related to remission.
Main-sequence binaries, contact binaries, and blue stragglers in globular clusters

The existence of binary stars in globular clusters has a long history of controversy1–3. At present the only evidence for binaries in globular clusters comes from binaries in extreme states: cataclysmic variables4,5 and X-ray sources (see refs 6 and 7 for reviews, and ref. 8 for new observations of very weak X-ray sources). The existence of the latter is customarily ascribed to tidal capture of red dwarf companions by neutron stars (or possibly solar-mass black holes)9. In fact, tidal capture should be at least as effective in creating close binaries comprising two main-sequence stars9,10. Subsequent evolution of such binaries is very likely to lead to mass exchange between the two, and possibly merger. In conventional calculations, gravitational radiation drives the binary orbital evolution11,12; recently, it has been shown that in the denser globular clusters, where tidal capture is most effective, gravitational encounters with passing field stars also have an important role, both by slow, cumulative compression of the binary orbit, and by occasional catastrophic physical collisions13. On the basis of these mechanisms, we predict that globular clusters should contain substantial numbers of: close binaries; low-mass contact binaries, perhaps similar to the somewhat more massive WUMa stars; and ‘blue stragglers’, stars lying on the extrapolated main sequence beyond the turn-off. These objects should be most common in the densest regions of the Galaxy's globular cluster system.
.alpha.-Thrombin-induced nuclear sn-1,2-diacylglycerols are derived from phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis in cultured fibroblasts

Diglycerides play an important role in a number of agonist-induced signal transduction pathways. We have recently demonstrated that alpha-thrombin induces a rapid increase in the level of diglyceride mass in the nucleus and a selective increase in nuclear PKC-alpha [Leach, K.L., Ruff, V.A., Jarpe, M.B., Fabbro, D., Adams, L.D., & Raben, D.M. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 21816-21822]. In the present report, we examined the potential source of the induced nuclear diglycerides by examining the molecular species profiles of both the induced diglycerides and nuclear phospholipids by capillary gas chromatography. The molecular species profiles of the nuclear diglycerides generated resemble the species profiles of PC, and not PI species, at all times. In addition, while our previous data indicated that the molecular species of whole-cell phospholipids did not change in response to alpha-thrombin, nuclear PE was altered in a dramatic and selective manner in response to this agonist. These results demonstrate that PC hydrolysis is the predominant, if not exclusive, source of the alpha-thrombin-induced nuclear diglycerides in these fibroblasts.
Distal posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms: clinical features and management.

Object. Aneurysms located on the distal portion of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) are uncommon, and their underlying pathology, natural history, and clinical management are poorly understood. To clarify these lesions more fully, the authors undertook a retrospective analysis of the clinical features and management results of 22 distal PICA aneurysms in 20 consecutive patients treated at one institution by the same surgeon during the past decade. Methods. The series included 10 men and 10 women (mean age at presentation 51 years). Nine patients presented with only subarachnoid and/or intraventricular hemorrhage (median Hunt and Hess Grade II). In seven patients intracerebellar hemorrhage was also found; two patients presented with pressure effects and two hemorrhages were incidentally discovered. Prominent comorbidities included cigarette smoking (50%) and hypertension (50%). The 13 saccular and nine fusiform distal PICA aneurysms were distributed on the following segments of the PICA: lat...
Criterion for the dynamical stability of a non-adiabatic spherical self-gravitating body

Why do stars and planets maintain their dynamical stability over cosmically long periods of time? The standard answer is that the first generalized adiabatic exponent of their material, Γ1, exceeds the value 4/3. Yet it has never been rigorously demonstrated (except for the simple one-zone model) that non-adiabatic effects do not modify this result at some level. Many authors, in fact, have suggested the probable need for a non-adiabatic correction to the square of the radial adiabatic eigenfrequency, σ2, which ostensibly governs dynamical stability in the more general case where Γ1 varies throughout a fully distributed self-gravitating spherical body. Here, a carefully controlled series of numerical experiments based on linear and non-linear hydrodynamical models of highly non-adiabatic spherically symmetric stellar envelopes (mimicking the envelopes of luminous blue variables) confirms, quite generally, that the purely adiabatic criterion σ2>0 does in fact determine dynamical stability. An accurate approximation to this criterion is further shown to be that the volumetric pressure-weighted average of Γ1 must exceed 4/3. These results, which concern only radial stability, verify the theoretical basis of the more sophisticated models for luminous blue variables that were constructed by the author and C.-w. Chin, but they do not support the objections to these models raised by W. Glatzel and M. Kiriakidis.
Understanding the object benefit in visual short-term memory: The roles of feature proximity and connectedness

Past research has identified visual objects as the units of information processing in visual short-term memory (VSTM) and has shown that two features from the same object can be remembered in VSTM as well (or almost as well) as one feature of that object and are much better remembered than the same two features from two spatially separated objects. It is not clear, however, what drives this object benefit in VSTM. Is it the shared spatial location (proximity), the connectedness among features of an object, or both? In six change detection experiments, both location/proximity and connectedness were found to be crucial in determining the magnitude of the object benefit in VSTM. Together, these results indicate that location/proximity and connectedness are essential elements in defining a coherent visual object representation in VSTM. nt]mis|This research was conducted while Y.X. was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Vision Sciences Laboratory, Psychology Department, Harvard University. Part of this research was first presented at the 44th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society (2003), Vancouver. It was supported by the James McDonnell Foundation program in cognitive neuroscience, Grant JSMF 2002045, and by the National Science Foundation program in cognitive neuroscience, Grant NSF BCS-0518138, to Y.X.
Using artificial neural networks for load shedding to alleviate overloaded lines

Previous work by the authors (see Proc. First Internat. Forum on Appls. of Neural Nets to Power Systs., Seattle, p.205-9, 1991) has shown the viability of using artificial neural networks (ANNs) for the early detection and control of overloaded lines. This paper focuses on the development of an artificial neural network based scheme for intelligent load shedding. The load shedding scheme consists of localized detectors that consider parameters of the power system during an emergency. The research was developed using the IEEE 30 bus test system which incorporates a design of net import and export regions. The approach is implemented in the import area of the system. The purpose of the scheme is to detect overloaded lines and make intelligent decisions about where within the topology of the system the load should be dropped and how much load to shed. The proposed scheme is designed to avoid unintentional separation of the system by fast, proactive, and adaptive control. >
GPU-Accelerated Monte Carlo Electron Transport Methods: Development and Application for Radiation Dose Calculations Using Six GPU cards

An electron-photon coupled Monte Carlo code ARCHER ─ A ccelerated R adiation-transport C omputations in H eterogeneous E nviR onments ─ is being developed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as a software testbed for emerging heterogeneous high performance computers that utilize accelerators such as GPUs. This paper presents the preliminary code development and the testing involving radiation dose related problems. In particular, the paper discusses the electron transport simulations using the class-II condensed history method. The considered electron energy ranges from a few hundreds of keV to 30 MeV. For photon part, photoelectric effect, Compton scattering and pair production were modeled. Voxelized geometry was supported. A serial CPU code was first written in C++. The code was then transplanted to the GPU using the CUDA C 5.0 standards. The hardware involved a desktop PC with an Intel Xeon X5660 CPU and six NVIDIA Tesla™ M2090 GPUs. The code was tested for a case of 20 MeV electron beam incident perpendicularly on a water-aluminum-water phantom. The depth and later dose profiles were found to agree with results obtained from well tested MC codes. Using six GPU cards, 6x106 electron histories were simulated within 2 seconds. In comparison, the same case running the EGSnrc and MCNPX codes required 1645 seconds and 9213 seconds, respectively. On-going work continues to test the code for different medical applications such as radiotherapy and brachytherapy.
Markovian start-up demonstration tests with rejection of units upon observing d failures

Abstract By conditioning on the time of the first failure, several results are derived for demonstration tests of the start-up reliability of equipment. The start-ups are assumed to follow a Markov chain. The equipment is accepted if k consecutive successful start-ups occur before d failures. We compute the probability of the demonstration test ending with acceptance of the unit and the expectation and variance of the number of start-ups until termination of the test. We also give recursive formulas for computing the probability distribution of the number of start-ups and the probability of acceptance or rejection of the equipment in a specified number of trials. The conditional distribution of the number of start-ups in the test given that the unit is accepted or rejected is obtained as a by-product. Examples are given to illustrate the usefulness of these results.
Angioplasty Reduces Pharmacologically Mediated Vasoconstriction in Rabbit Carotid Arteries With and Without Vasospasm

Background and Purpose We tested the hypothesis that vasospastic arteries do not reconstrict after angioplasty because angioplasty decreases smooth muscle contractility. Methods Twenty-four rabbits had carotid angiography and placement of silicone elastomer sheaths around both carotid arteries in the neck. Sheaths were empty (control groups) or filled with clotted blood (vasospasm groups). Angiography was repeated 2 days later, and one carotid artery was dilated with a balloon catheter. Animals were killed 1, 5, or 28 days after angioplasty, and the carotid arteries were studied pharmacologically under isometric tension. Results Before angioplasty, there was significant vasospasm in the vasospasm groups but not in the control groups ( P <.05, ANOVA). Angioplasty produced significant, long-lasting dilation of arteries in the vasospasm groups. One and 5 days after angioplasty, arteries from control and vasospasm groups that had angioplasty had significantly reduced contractions to serotonin, KCl, and caffeine compared with arteries not subjected to angioplasty. Twenty-eight days after angioplasty, contractions were reduced in arteries subjected to vasospasm compared with controls, but there were no differences between arteries with or without angioplasty. At all times after angioplasty, vasospasm significantly decreased acetylcholine-induced relaxations of arteries contracted with serotonin. Relaxations were further decreased by angioplasty in the vasospasm group 1 day after angioplasty. Arterial wall compliance was significantly decreased in the vasospasm and control groups at all times after angioplasty, although there were no significant differences between arteries with and without angioplasty. Conclusions These results suggest that arteries do not reconstrict after angioplasty because angioplasty decreases smooth muscle contractility. There was no evidence that angioplasty disrupted the arterial wall matrix, as judged by the lack of increase in arterial wall compliance after angioplasty.
Emittance Theory for Cylindrical Fiber Selective Emitter

A fibrous rare earth selective emitter is approximated as an infinitely long, cylinder. The spectral emittance, e(sub x), is obtained L- by solving the radiative transfer equations with appropriate boundary conditions and uniform temperature. For optical depth, K(sub R), where alpha(sub lambda), is the extinction coefficient and R is the cylinder radius, greater than 1 the spectral emittance depths, K(sub R) alpha(sub lambda)R, is nearly at its maximum value. There is an optimum cylinder radius, R(sub opt) for maximum emitter efficiency, n(sub E). Values for R(sub opt) are strongly dependent on the number of emission bands of the material. The optimum radius decreases slowly with increasing emitter temperature, while the maximum efficiency and useful radiated power increase rapidly with increasing, temperature.
"Low-grade leiomyosarcoma" and late-recurring smooth muscle tumors of the uterus: a heterogenous collection of frequently misdiagnosed tumors associated with an overall favorable prognosis relative to conventional uterine leiomyosarcomas.

In most instances, uterine smooth muscle tumors (USMTs) are readily diagnosed as either benign or malignant. Rare patients whose smooth muscle tumors fail to meet leiomyosarcoma (LMS) diagnostic criteria will experience recurrence, and occasional cases of LMS patients experience a protracted clinical disease course. The aim of this study was to investigate whether "low-grade uterine LMS" can be defined as a clinicopathological entity and to learn which histologic features of USMTs correlate with indolent prognosis. We searched institutional databases for cases diagnosed between 1982 and 2008 that had been coded as low-grade LMS and/or cases coded as LMS that were associated with recurrences after 5 years of diagnosis. There were 185 cases with available clinical follow-up data (mean follow-up for survivors was 5.4 y); 57% of patients were dead of disease (DOD), 16% of patients were alive with disease (AWD), and 24% had no evidence of disease (NED). All available slides were reviewed by 2 pathologists (E.V. and R.S.) using Stanford USMT criteria to identify cases of bona fide LMS. Cases were not excluded if they failed to meet these criteria. Nine percent (16 of 185) of tumors had been coded as low-grade LMS. On review of cases with available slides (n=16), only 4 cases (25%) met Stanford USMT criteria for LMS, and 1 additional case was a myxoid LMS. Three cases were reclassified as endometrial stromal sarcomas with smooth muscle differentiation, and 7 cases (44%) failed to meet criteria for sarcoma [ie, they were atypical smooth muscle neoplasms (ASMNs)]. Six of 16 (38%) patients were NED with a mean follow-up of 76 months; 4 of 16 (25%) patients were AWD with a mean follow-up of 102.5 months; 4 of 16 (25%) patients were DOD with a mean follow-up of 79.2 months; and 2 of 16 (12.5%) patients died of unknown causes at 104 and 120 months. Despite being coded as having low-grade LMS in the database, none of the ASMN patients died of disease. Twelve percent of all cases (n=22) were associated with late recurrences. Of the 9 cases with available slides, 5 were bona fide LMSs, and 4 were ASMNs (coded as low-grade LMS in the database and included as part of the low-grade LMS portion of this study). Five of 9 (56%) patients were NED with a mean follow-up of 214 months; 2 (22%) are AWD with a follow-up of 107 and 201 months; and 2 patients were DOD with a follow-up of 108 and 143 months. Bona fide LMS recurrences in this group were earlier (mean, 6.2 y) and frequently fatal (2 of 5), whereas those patients with recurrent ASMN experienced disease progression later (mean, 12 y), and none died of disease. Whether "low-grade" uterine LMSs indeed exist is a matter still open for debate; however, when Stanford criteria are strictly applied, all tumors classified as LMSs should be regarded as intrinsically "high grade."
Cloning and partial characterization of four plasmalemmal-associated syntaxin isoforms in Limulus.

Abstract We describe herein the cloning of a group of syntaxins in Limulus that are associated with the plasma membrane. Initially, multiple degenerate oligonucleotide primers (DOP) and probes were designed from sequences of known plasma membrane associated syntaxins. Combined experiments using reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), colony hybridization and reverse dot blot yielded three distinct probes. Subsequently, two cDNA libraries derived from the Limulus central nervous system (CNS) were screened and four distinct isoforms, designated Limulus syntaxin ( Lim -syn) 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, were obtained from forty cloned full-length sequences. The predicted amino acid (aa) sequences 1–265 were identical for Lim -syn 1A, 1C and for Lim -syn 1B, 1D, respectively. A comparison of the 265 aa cytoplasmic segments for the two subgroups Lim -syn 1A/1C and Lim -syn 1B/1D differed at 13 aa residues within this sequence. Lim -syn 1A and 1B contained 290 aa residues, and both contained a transmembrane domain (TMD, 267–288) and a myristylation-like site (286–290) at the C-termini. Lim -syn 1C (291 residues) contained only the TMD whereas Lim -syn 1D was truncated (277 residues) and had neither a TMD nor a myristylation-like site. All Lim -syn isoforms showed great identity with syntaxin 1-homologs (syntaxin 1A/1B) from various other species. Ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) analyses revealed distinctive expression patterns for individual Lim -syn transcripts but all were detectable in the CNS. Moreover, the antibody (anti- Lim -syn-1) produced against aa 133–145 epitope of Lim -syn identified a protein of ∼35 kDa found only in CNS tissues.
Lichenoid Tissue Reaction/Interface Dermatitis: Clinical and Histological Perspectives

A number of uncommon, clinically diverse and poorly understood inflammatory skin diseases are linked by the presence of a set of histopathological elements that have traditionally been referred to as the "lichenoid tissue reaction/interface dermatitis" (LTR/IFD). The prototypic skin disease in this category is lichen planus. However, the LTR/IFD can also be seen in skin disorders associated with systemic illnesses (lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis), and the skin changes of potentially fatal disorders such as graft-versus-host disease, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis. It has been traditionally felt that cytotoxic T-lymphocytes represent the final effector cell type for the epidermal basal cell layer injury pattern that is common to LTR/IFD disorders. Recent work has suggested that a number of different LTR/IFD skin disorders share a common inflammatory signaling pathway involving the actions of plasmacytoid dendritic cell-derived IFN-alpha. This signaling pathway appears to amplify cytotoxic T cell injury to the epidermal basal cell compartment. This review will summarize the work implicating this pathway as well as the other cellular and molecular mechanisms that are thought to be responsible for the prototypic LTR/IFD disorder, lichen planus. It is hoped that a better understanding of the immunological commonalities shared by various LTR/IFD disorders will lead to more effective safer treatment options for these illnesses.
Identifying opportunities for cancer prevention during preadolescence and adolescence: puberty as a window of susceptibility.

Abstract Purpose Early life exposures during times of rapid growth and development are recognized increasingly to impact later life. Epidemiologic studies document an association between exposures at critical windows of susceptibility with outcomes as diverse as childhood and adult obesity, timing of menarche, and risk for hypertension or breast cancer. Methods This article briefly reviews the concept of windows of susceptibility for providers who care for adolescent patients. Results The theoretical bases for windows of susceptibility is examined, evaluating the relationship between pubertal change and breast cancer as a paradigm, and reviewing the underlying mechanisms, such as epigenetic modification. Conclusions The long-term sequela of responses to early exposures may impact other adult morbidities; addressing these exposures represents an important challenge for contemporary medicine.
Computation in a reduced KII network based on synchronization

When implementing dynamical systems for information processing, a well-defined set of computational primitives should be constructed to represent the state space. Based on the specific collective behavior of Freeman’s computational model of the olfactory cortex, we study the computation of reduced KII networks by using the synchronization of output channels. The design of coupling coefficients in the network for obtaining a desired output state response is presented. We demonstrate the computational power of reduced KII networks by two applications that address logic computation and associative memory, respectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Vertex radius calculation and sensitivity analysis for measuring paraboloidal surfaces with a three-ball spherometer

This paper expands on work previously presented that describes how to calculate the vertex radius of an off-axis parabolic segment using the sag measured by a three ball spherometer. An example of the vertex radius calculation is also presented.