cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visual Laser Ablation of the Prostate: A Preliminary Report

Objective To report our preliminary experience with visual laser ablation of the prostate (VLAP) for treating bladder outlet obstruction caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and to evaluate its shorterm outcome. Design We reviewed our laser technique in 47 men with symptomatic obstruction caused by BPH who underwent VLAP between July 1992 and April 1993 at our institution, and we compared our results with those reported in the literature. Material and Methods Our 47 patients were from 43 to 87 years old (mean, 69.6). The mean pretreatment American Urological Association symptom score was 22, mean peak flow rate was 9.5 mL/s, and mean postvoid residual urinary volume was 136 mL. Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser energy was delivered at the 2-, 4-, 8-, and 10-o'clock positions and, when necessary, to the median lobe by one of two lateral-firing laser probes. All but the first four patients were treated on an outpatient basis, and all patients were catheterized (Foley catheter) for 2 to 10 days after VLAP. Results Of the 47 patients, 32 had data pertaining to a mean follow-up of 5 months; they had a mean symptom score of 10, mean peak flow rate of 15.7 mL/s, and mean postvoid residual volume of 63 mL. In 12 patients, data from a mean follow-up of 11 months were available; they had a mean symptom score of 6, mean peak flow rate of 18.8 mL/s, and mean postvoid residual volume of 10 mL. Perioperative complications (myocardial infarction, thrombophlebitis, and epididymitis) in three patients responded to conservative therapy. Urinary retention occurred for 2 to 60 days after initial removal of the Foley catheter in 12 patients, who then had resumption of spontaneous voiding. In three patients who stated their condition was worse postoperatively, conventional transurethral resection of the prostate was done 6 months after VLAP, and a fourth patient had a persistently obstructive bladder neck incised 8 months after VLAP. Conclusion Our early experience and that reported in the literature indicate that VLAP is a safe and efficacious alternative treatment of obstructive BPH. Although the early results of VLAP rival those of transurethral resection of the prostate, the success rate in treating large prostates should be improved, and long-term results should be assessed to determine the durability of the beneficial effects.
Small tip angle three-dimensional tailored radiofrequency slab-select pulse for reduced B1 inhomogeneity at 3 T.

This work presents a 3D tailored RF slab-select pulse for reducing the B1 field inhomogeneity at 3T and possibly higher applied field strengths. The small tip angle approximation is used to design a compensated 3D slice profile from a map of the B1 inhomogeneity. The SNR improvement and degree and artifact reduction were evaluated in NiCl2 doped phantom experiments. The method was also implemented in-vivo in the human brain where it was found to be effective in reducing inhomogeneities as large as 35% of the peak image magnitude in all three spatial directions in the brain. The main drawback of the technique is long pulse lengths.
Use of ion‐molecule reaction equilibria to identify structural isomers

A new approach is described for identifying structural isomers which cannot be distin-guished on the basis of their electron-impact mass spectra. Using a pulsed ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer, equilibrium constsnts are measured for ion-molecule reactions involving various C8H10 isomers and C7H8O isomers. The equilibrium constants are shown to be highly sensitive to the structural features of the various isomers.
Effect of Thermal Exposures on the Strengths of Nextel™ 550 and 720 Filaments

The effects of thermal exposure on the strengths of Nextel™ 550 and 720 tows, bare and coated with carbon, were determined by room-temperature tensile testing of single filaments extracted from tows that had been exposed to different thermal environments (i.e., air or vacuum) at temperatures from 550° to 1400°C. The results help define the allowable composite processing conditions when using these tows. A 28% drop in the strength of Nextel 550 filaments occurred after a thermal exposure at 1100°C for 2 h in air. After an exposure of 1300°C/2 h/air, a strength degradation of ∼47% resulted. Filaments exposed above 1100°C under vacuum showed more severe strength degradation than filaments exposed in air. The observed strength degradation may stem from a combination of phase transformations of the alumina, the onset of mullite crystallization, and/or exaggerated mullite grain growth. Strength after heat treatment under vacuum at 1050° and 1150°C did not deteriorate as rapidly as after heat treatment under vacuum between 950° and 1050°C or between 1150° and 1250°C. This may be a result of the competition between healing of flaws by the amorphous silica and its evaporation (leading to an increase in its viscosity or loss) and/or densification of the filaments. Nextel 720 filaments exhibited about 9% strength loss after an exposure at 1100°C/2 h/air. The filaments maintained 75% of their strength after a 1300°C/2 h/air heat treatment. The observed strength degradation may stem from thermal grooving, grain growth, and/or annealing of the mullite subgrain boundaries. Thermal exposure of >10 h at 1300°C was required to produce measurable grain growth. Strength loss between 1200° and 1300°C (air heat treatment) was not as great as between 1100° and 1200°C or 1300° and 1400°C.
Histone Deacetylase 3 Is Necessary for Proper Brain Development

The functional role of histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) in the developing brain has yet to be elucidated. We show that mice lacking HDAC3 in neurons and glia of the central nervous system, Nes-Cre/HDAC3 conditional KO mice, show major abnormalities in the cytoarchitecture of the neocortex and cerebellum and die within 24 h of birth. Later-born neurons do not localize properly in the cortex. A similar mislocalization is observed with cerebellar Purkinje neurons. Although the proportion of astrocytes is higher than normal, the numbers of oligodendrocytes are reduced. In contrast, conditional knockout of HDAC3 in neurons of the forebrain and certain other brain regions, using Thy1-Cre and calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II α-Cre for ablation, produces no overt abnormalities in the organization of cells within the cortex or of cerebellar Purkinje neurons at birth. However, both lines of conditional knockout mice suffer from progressive hind limb paralysis and ataxia and die around 6 weeks after birth. The mice display an increase in overall numbers of cells, higher numbers of astrocytes, and Purkinje neuron degeneration. Taken together, our results demonstrate that HDAC3 plays an essential role in regulating brain development, with effects on both neurons and glia in different brain regions.
Is isn't be

In this paper I provide evidence that the copula in English, which has both verbal (V) and Infl properties, should be analyzed as having dual categorial status. That is, there are two copulas in English: one is a verb (be), while the other is an Infl head and is not raised from a V position (is, am, etc.). Evidence for this split approach comes from an interpretive difference between the verbal (V) copula and the non-verbal (Infl) copula. The split approach to the English copula is further supported by similar splits found in the English dialects of African American English and child standard English, and in languages such as Irish and Hebrew. Microvariation between these languages in the V/Infl-copula split is discussed.
Psychophysically determined work durations for limiting shoulder girdle fatigue from elevated manual work

Abstract An early symptom of many soft tissue disorders is excessive muscle fatigue during manual work. This study adopted a psychophysical approach to determine work durations for limiting shoulder-girdle fatigue. In a series of four experiments, each subject monitored his/her level of arm/shoulder discomfort while performing a task requiring repetitive, elevated arm movements. Over the course of a short (3–6 hr) work day, the subject terminated each trial, initiating a 1-min rest period, when the discomfort reached a pre-specified level on Borg's 10-point category-ratio scale. Average trial durations decreased minimally or remained stable over the work day. Nevertheless, increases in task loading variables, including repetition rate, required force, tool weight and reach height, each led to significant decreases in work duration. (Average trial durations associated with varying levels of work demand ranged from 29 to 160 sec.) Rate and force of movement had the largest effects on work duration. The effects of reach height and tool weight were small by comparison. Thus, the former two factors are relatively more crucial in the development of shoulder and arm fatigue. Unexpectedly, males tended to engage in longer work trials than females, despite controlling for upper body strength. The possible role of gender-related experimental demand characteristics is discussed.
Fe 57 Mössbauer study of chromium-doped magnetite, Fe 3 − x Cr x O 4 ( 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5 ) above the Verwey transition

$^{57}\mathrm{Fe}$ M\"ossbauer measurements show that the ratio of the integrated intensities of the $^{57}\mathrm{Fe}$ $A$- and $B$-site M\"ossbauer subspectra is in good agreement with those expected for the cation distribution $({\mathrm{Fe}}^{3+})({\mathrm{Fe}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}^{3+}{\mathrm{Fe}}^{2+}{\mathrm{Cr}}_{x}){\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, $0\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}0.3$. The magnetic moments are also found to be in good agreement with this cation distribution. The compositional dependences of the M\"ossbauer hyperfine parameters display no features in this compositional range that would result from a qualitative change in electronic structure. The observed line broadening and line shapes are readily accounted for by the local configurations of ions resulting from a random substitution of ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{3+}$ on the $B$ sites. Consequently, the conduction mechanism in these doped magnetites is similar to that in pure ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. The marked changes in the spectra for $x\ensuremath{\approx}0.5$ are due primarily to the commencement of the occupation of the $A$ site by ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{2+}$ ions and the change of the M\"ossbauer parameters between $x=0.3$ and $x=0.5$ are as expected if $A$-site ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{2+}$ ions are present.
Simulation and interpretation of 2D diffraction patterns from self-assembled nanostructured films at arbitrary angles of incidence: from grazing incidence (above the critical angle) to transmission perpendicular to the substrate.

A method to calculate the location of all Bragg diffraction peaks from nanostructured thin films for arbitrary angles of incidence from just above the critical angle to transmission perpendicular to the film is reported. At grazing angles, the positions are calculated using the distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA), whereas for larger angles where the diffracted beams are transmitted though the substrate, the Born approximation (BA) is used. This method has been incorporated into simulation code (called NANOCELL) and may be used to overlay simulated spot patterns directly onto two-dimensional (2D) grazing angle of incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) patterns and 2D SAXS patterns. The GISAXS simulations are limited to the case where the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle (αi > αc) and the diffraction occurs above the critical angle (αf > αc). For cases of surfactant self-assembled films, the limitations are not restrictive because, typically, the critical angle is around 0...
Two-dimensional multi-Gabor representations

We present a theory and algorithms of 2D multi-Gabor representations (2DMGR) using a set of nonseparable 2D window waveforms. These windows can be customized to have different spatial and frequency orientations, and different shapes and variances. Together, they form a frame in a 2D space. 2DMGRs have clear values in applications where different spatial and frequency contents and orientations of an image are important features, e.g., in texture analysis, synthesis and segmentations, and in studies of mammalian visual systems, etc.. Numerical recipe and simulation examples are also provided.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cerebellar noradrenergic systems in aging: studies in situ and in in oculo grafts.

Age-related changes in noradrenergic function in the rat cerebellum were examined using electrophysiological and electrochemical techniques. Sprague-Dawley and Fischer 344 rats showed subsensitivity to norepinephrine (NE) locally applied onto cerebellar Purkinje neurons. The modulatory actions of NE on Purkinje cell-evoked activity was also examined. In young rats NE preferentially inhibits spontaneous activity more than evoked excitations when compared to control. These modulatory actions of NE are not seen in senescent Fischer 344 rats. The intrinsic vs. extrinsic influences determining the loss of efficacy to NE were examined using three groups of rats with in oculo cerebellar grafts. The first group had young grafts gown in young hosts and these grafts showed a potent response to perfused NE. The second group, old grafts in old hosts, showed a diminished responsiveness to NE with respect to the first group. The third group consisted of young grafts in old hosts. These grafts demonstrated a responsiveness to NE that was indistinguishable from those in the first group. The integrity of the presynaptic NE fibers was examined in the grafts using electrochemical techniques. No difference in the release of NE was observed in the old grafts. Taken together, these results suggest a loss of postsynaptic NE function that is intrinsically determined. The change in NE modulation could influence information processing within the aged cerebellar cortex. This deficit could underlie behavioral changes seen in senescence.
Fatty acid amide of glycerylphosphorylethanolamine—A lytic lipid from hog stomach

Abstract 1. A lipid composed of glycerol, phosphorus, ethanolamine and fatty acids has been isolated from hog stomach lipids by column fractionations on DEAE-cellulose and silicic acid followed by purification on thin-layer plates. 2. The purified lipid exhibited strong lytic activity toward red blood and cultured rabbit kidney cells. 3. Infrared spectra of the lytic lipid were characterized primarily by the strong absorption typical of secondary amide in addition to absorption indicative of phosphate ester groups and by the absence of absorption from C=O of esters. 4. Treatment of the lytic lipid with periodate resulted in destruction of glycerol indicating the presence of free vicinal hydroxyl groups on the glycerol part of the lipid molecule. 5. Glycerol, glycerylphosphate, fatty acid amide of ethanolamine and fatty acid amide of phosphorylethanolamine were identified from the products of partial acid hydrolysis of the lytic lipid. 6. Glycerylphosphate and fatty acid amide of ethanolamine have been identified as products resulting from the treatment of the lytic lipid with phospholipase D. Treatment of the lipid with phospholipase C resulted only in a partial release of glycerol. 7. Hexadecenoate, tetradecanoate and hexadecanoate were the principal fatty acids: fatty acids longer than C 18 were absent. 8. The isolated lipid appears to be a fatty acid amide of glycerylphosphorylethanolamine.
Health Care Reform: Why We Cannot Afford To Fail

Under the auspices of the Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center, the authors of this Perspective participated in a two-year consensus-building process among more than 2,000 health care stakeholders. The result was agreement on reforming U.S. health care along four key principles: improving health care quality and value; undertaking payment reform; vastly improving coordination of care; and providing insurance coverage for all. The authors expand on these ideas and make additional recommendations for how health care financing and delivery should be transformed as soon as possible.
Adult female hamsters require long and sustained exposures to heterospecific males to avoid interspecific mating

Interspecific mating normally decreases female fitness. In many species, females avoid heterospecific males innately or by imprinting on their parents. Alternatively, adult females could learn to discriminate against heterospecific males after exposure to such males. For example, Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) females learn to discriminate between conspecific males and Turkish hamster (M. brandti) males during adulthood by exposure to males of both species. Adult females not previously exposed to Turkish hamster males will mate similarly with conspecific and heterospecific males. However, in a previous study we showed that exposure to a heterospecific male and a conspecific male for 8 days led to mating avoidance and aggression towards the heterospecific male. Here we conducted two experiments to investigate how much exposure to the heterospecific male was required for females to avoid mating with the heterospecific male (Experiment 1) and how long that avoidance lasted in the absence of continuous exposure to heterospecific stimuli (Experiment 2). Fast and durable learning would indicate the evolution of an efficient avoidance response. In Experiment 1, females were exposed to a heterospecific male for 1, 4 h, 4 or 8 days and then paired with that male. We found more avoidance of interspecific mating after 4 or 8 days of exposure than after 1 or 4 h of exposure. In Experiment 2, females were exposed to a heterospecific male for 8 days and then paired with that male either 10 min later or 8 days later. We found that after an 8-day delay females were highly sexually receptive to the heterospecific male. Additionally, a comparison between the current experiments and a previous study indicates that female Syrian hamsters do not require concurrent exposure to a conspecific male and a heterospecific male to learn to avoid interspecific mating; exposure to a heterospecific male is sufficient.
A framework for knowledge-based temporal abstraction

A new domain-independent knowledge-based inference structure is presented, specific to the task of abstracting higher-level concepts from time-stamped data. The framework includes a model of time, parameters, events and contexts. A formal specification of a domain's temporal abstraction knowledge supports acquisition, maintenance, reuse and sharing of that knowledge. The knowledge-based temporal abstraction method decomposes the temporal abstraction task into five subtasks. These subtasks are solved by five domain-independent temporal abstraction mechanisms. The temporal abstraction mechanisms depend on four domain-specific knowledge types: structural, classification (functional), temporal semantic (logical) and temporal dynamic (probabilistic) knowledge. Domain values for all knowledge types are specified when a temporal abstraction system is developed. The knowledge-based temporal abstraction method has been implemented in the RESUME system and has been evaluated in several clinical domains (protocol-based care, monitoring of children's growth and therapy of diabetes) and in an engineering domain (monitoring of traffic control), with encouraging results.
Gender differences, similarities, and interdependencies: Some problems with the different cultures perspective

Nature begins with the cause and ends with the experience; we must follow the opposite course, that is, beginning… with experience, and from this investigate the reason.—Leonardo da Vinci
Childhood obesity and insulin resistance

Insulin resistance (IR) in childhood has importance to the understanding and prevention of the growing epidemic of insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) in adults with attendant obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), atherosclerotic diseases, hypertension, gout, non-alcoholic, steato-hepatitis (NASH), gall bladder disease, nephropathy, polycystic ovarian disease (PCOS), infertility and premature senility. The severity of IR and its’ complications in children unfortunately and usually progresses in their pubertal transition to adulthood; affected young children are more likely than adults to have underlying causal monogenic disorders; the sequence of natural history and events give insights into disease pathogeneses, and optimal life style choices that last are best made during the early formative years. Some features of IR in children discussed herein are: a strong tendency to low birth weight for gestational age, adverse effects of adrenarche and therapeutic steroid therapy, predisposition to premature pubarche, acanthosis nigricans, tall stature despite pituitary GH suppression, allergic diathesis, hyperandrogenism and PCOS, dyslipidemia and fatty liver disease, and diagnosis by clinical and biochemical markers of IR including insulin regulated hepatic hormonal binding proteins such as IGFBP-1. The national preoccupation with the “metabolic syndrome” T2DM and obesity, should be appropriately directed to an improved understanding of IR in children and their management, if the looming health crisis in affected adults is to be seriously addressed. The nation is facing its’ first generation of children who will be less healthy and die younger than the previous generation (Marks (2005) Presentation to the American Association of Diabetes Educators 32nd Annual Meeting and Exhibition, August 10–13, Washington, DC).
Computer application in solving statically determinate truss problems using FEA and Matlab

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a very powerful tool that is used in virtually every area in the field of Mechanical Engineering and many other disciplines. It is beneficial for the mechanical engineering students to have exposure to this tool as early as possible and as frequently as possible in their engineering education. The earliest time comes when the students are taught the truss problems in Statics. However, the traditional finite element formulation uses the displacement as the solution variable, and the deformation theory is generally not covered in a traditional Statics course. In this article, a MATLAB computer model of FEA solution for truss problems is presented. Finite element formulations for truss problems with the solution variables being the forces inside the truss members and the reaction forces at the fixed and sliding joints are presented step by step. The property of the final assembled coefficient matrix, with the boundary conditions applied, determines the truss problem at hand to be statically determinate or statically indeterminate. Using this approach, students in sophomore Statics course can be taught the FEA methodology, without knowing the deformation theory. The computer implementation using Matlab also strengthens the students' knowledge of the software that they learned in a freshman Computer Tools For Engineers class and their programming skills. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 363–371, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20168
Adenylate cyclase activity as a predictor of thyroid tumor aggressiveness

Prior studies in our laboratory have shown that human thyroid neoplasms have a greater adenylate cyclase activity in response to thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) than does the adjacent histologically normal thyroid tissue. However, there is little information relating activity of the TSH receptor-adenylate cyclase system to the type of thyroid neoplasm. Thyroid tissue from 67 patients was divided by clinical and histological criteria into 6 categories: normal (59), benign tumors (20), stage 1 carcinoma—intrathyroidal involvement only (25), stage 2 carcinomaregional lymph node involvement (6), stage 3 and 4 carcinoma—tissue invasion or distant metastasis (11), and medullary carcinoma (3). Adenylate cyclase activity in an 8,000 x g thyroid membrane preparation was determined in the basal state and when maximally stimulated with 300 mU/ml TSH. The cyclase responsiveness was the ratio of TSH stimulated adenylate cyclase activity compared to basal adenylate cyclase activity. The cyclase responsiveness by category is: normal, 2.8±0.2 (mean ± SEM); benign, 17.9±2.4; stage 1 carcinoma, 9.2±1.9; stage 2 carcinoma, 4.0±1.0; stage 3 and 4 carcinoma, 1.6±0.4; and medullary carcinoma, 1.05±0.04 (for the neoplasms,p <0.02 by ANOVA). Tumor stage was the only correlate with this trend as other prognostic risk factors (age, sex, a history of neck irradiation, or papillary versus follicular histology) showed no difference in cyclase responsiveness. These studies demonstrate a consistent inverse correlation between adenylate cyclase responsiveness and tumor stage or aggressiveness. Cyclase responsiveness appears to have clinical application for predicting which thyroid tumors will behave aggressively.
On the geography of hate

Abstract Where do hate groups flourish? We address this question by examining characteristics of the communities where these groups are located. Our findings suggest that economic or sociological explanations for the existence of hate groups in an area are far less important than adventitious circumstances due to history and particular conditions.
Phytoremediation of polychlorinated biphenyls: new trends and promises.

Transgenic plants and associated bacteria constitute a new generation of genetically modified organisms for efficient and environment-friendly treatment of soil and water contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). This review focuses on recent advances in phytoremediation for the treatment of PCBs, including the development of transgenic plants and associated bacteria. Phytoremediation, or the use of higher plants for rehabilitation of soil and groundwater, is a promising strategy for cost-effective treatment of sites contaminated by toxic compounds, including PCBs. Plants can help mitigate environmental pollution by PCBs through a range of mechanisms: besides uptake from soil (phytoextraction), plants are capable of enzymatic transformation of PCBs (phytotransformation); by releasing a variety of secondary metabolites, plants also enhance the microbial activity in the root zone, improving biodegradation of PCBs (rhizoremediation). However, because of their hydrophobicity and chemical stability, ...
Design of the angiography beamline for the Argonne Advanced Photon Source

Abstract The angiography beamline planned for the Argonne Advanced Photon Source (APS) is a very special beamline dedicated to medical imaging. It is especially designed to enhance the art of digital subtraction angiography. It is different from the angiography beamlines presently in operation that scan the X-ray picture line by line, in that it will take both the high and low energy angiography X-ray pixtures simultaneously as full frame pictures. Pictures with 0.25 mm resolution and good signal to noise will be possible with 2 ms exposure times. This is possible because of the increase in flux that is available at the APS. The source of the 33 keV photons is a special high intensity wiggler. The photon beam is separated into two parts, spread out in the vertical direction, and monochro- matized with two convex bent crystals. These two crystals are bent in a non-uniform way that allows one to both make the photon flux uniform over the 15 cm × 15 cm examining area and stabilize the shape of the surface of the diffraction crystal against distortion caused by the heat load on the crystal. Most of the energy of the photon beam is absorbed by a fast shutter placed in front of the crystals. The two images at the two different energies are recorded in two large position-sensitive detectors.
A stereoselective 3-endo-alkyl-5,6-dehydroisoquinuclidine synthesis.

Abstract Cycloaddition of N-carbethoxy-2-alkyl-1,2-dihydropyridines 4 with phenylvinylsulfone 5 provides adducts 6 , which upon desulfonylation afford stereoselectively N-carbethoxy-3- endo - alkyl-5,6-dehydroisoquinuclidines 1 .
Causes of depressed pulmonary function following reimplantation of the canine lung.

Following reimplantation of the left lung of dogs, serial bronchospirometric studies of the ventilation and oxygen uptake of both lungs were made. The functional effect noted was a moderate initial depression in both oxygen uptake and tidal volume in the reimplanted lung on the day of operation followed by a continued fall for the next two to three weeks. Tidal volume tended to be depressed less than oxygen uptake. After reaching a nadir during the first three weeks, two different patterns were observed. In 14 animals without structural defects, oxygen uptake gradually rose toward control valves, whereas in the group of 28 animals with structural defects oxygen uptake remained depressed.
Plasma membrane charging of Jurkat cells by nanosecond pulsed electric fields

The initial effect of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) on cells is a change of charge distributions along membranes. This first response is observed as a sudden shift in the plasma transmembrane potential that is faster than can be attributed to any physiological event. These immediate, yet transient, effects are only measurable if the diagnostic is faster than the exposure, i.e., on a nanosecond time scale. In this study, we monitored changes in the plasma transmembrane potential of Jurkat cells exposed to nsPEFs of 60 ns and amplitudes from 5 to 90 kV/cm with a temporal resolution of 5 ns by means of the fast voltage-sensitive dye Annine-6. The measurements suggest the contribution of both dipole effects and asymmetric conduction currents across opposite sides of the cell to the charging. With the application of higher field strengths the membrane charges until a threshold voltage value of 1.4–1.6 V is attained at the anodic pole. This indicates when the ion exchange rates exceed charging currents, thus providing strong evidence for pore formation. Prior to reaching this threshold, the time for the charging of the membrane by conductive currents is qualitatively in agreement with accepted models of membrane charging, which predict longer charging times for lower field strengths. The comparison of the data with previous studies suggests that the sub-physiological induced ionic imbalances may trigger other intracellular signaling events leading to dramatic outcomes, such as apoptosis.
Materiel availability modeling and analysis for a complex Army weapon system

Materiel availability (A m ) is a new US Department of Defense Key Performance Parameter (KPP) implemented through a mandatory Sustainment Metric consisting of an Availability KPP and two supporting Key System Attributes (KSAs), materiel reliability and ownership cost. Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia), in conjunction with several US Army organizations, developed the analytical foundation, assumptions, and brigade-level modeling approach to support lifecycle, fleet-wide A m modeling and analysis of a complex Army weapon system. Like operational availability (A o ), A m is dependent on reliability, but A m is also affected by other factors that do not impact A o . The largest influences on A m are technology insertion and reset downtimes. A m is a different metric from A o . Whereas A o is an operational measure, A m is more of a programmatic measure that spans a much larger timeframe, additional sources of downtime, and add itional sources of unscheduled maintenance.
Product market competition and corporate investment decisions

Purpose – The study aims to examine the association between product market competition and corporate investment decisions on, particularly, risk-taking and investment efficiency. Existing theoretical studies on whether product market competition mitigates or exacerbates agency problems are inconclusive. Prior research generally finds that competition constrains management opportunism in reporting operating performance. However, the association between product market competition and managerial investment decisions has largely been unexplored. Design/methodology/approach – The primary measure of product market competition is the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index. The authors use regression analysis to examine the association between corporate risk-taking and over-investment of free cash flow (FCF) (as dependent variables) and product market competition (as an independent variable). Findings – Using firm-year observations from 1990 to 2010, the authors find that competition encourages managers to invest in risky in...
Outcomes after esophagectomy: a ten-year prospective cohort

Abstract Background The Department of Veterans Affairs National Surgical Quality Improvement Program is a unique resource to prospectively analyze surgical outcomes from a cross-section of surgical services nationally. We used this database to assess risk factors for morbidity and mortality after esophagectomy in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers from 1991 to 2001. Methods A total of 1,777 patients underwent an esophagectomy at 109 Veterans Affairs hospitals with complete in-hospital and 30-day outcomes recorded. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were completed. Results Thirty-day mortality was 9.8% (174/1,777) and the incidence of one or more of 20 predefined complications was 49.5% (880/1,777). The most frequent postoperative complications were pneumonia in 21% (380/1,777), respiratory failure in 16% (288/1,777), and ventilator support more than 48 hours in 22% (387/1,777). Preoperative predictors of mortality based on multivariable analysis included neoadjuvant therapy, blood urea nitrogen level of more than 40 mg/dL, alkaline phosphatase level of more than 125 U/L, diabetes mellitus, alcohol abuse, decreased functional status, ascites, and increasing age. Preoperative factors impacting morbidity were increasing age, dyspnea, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, alkaline phosphatase level of more than 125 U/L, lower serum albumin concentration, increased complexity score, and decreased functional status. Intraoperative risk factors for mortality included the need for transfusion; intraoperative risk factors for morbidity included the need for transfusion and longer operative time. Conclusions These data constitute the largest prospective outcomes cohort in the literature and document a near 50% morbidity rate and 10% mortality rate after esophagectomy. Data from this study can be used to better stratify patients before esophagectomy.
Magnetic Susceptibility and Specific Heat of the Coqblin-Schrieffer Model

The exact thermodynamic equations of the Coqblin-Schrieffer model are solved in the scaling regime and the impurity susceptibility and specific-heat curves are obtained as a function of temperature for zero field and for the impurity spin $J=\frac{1}{2},\dots{},\frac{7}{2}$. The strong dependences of the numerical results on the impurity spin are discussed in terms of a noninteracting Fermi-liquid model.
CORDIC Algorithms: Theory And Extensions

Optimum algorithms for signal processing are notoriously costly to implement since they usually require intensive linear algebra operations to be performed at very high rates. In these cases a cost-effective solution is to design a pipelined or parallel architecture with special-purpose VLSI processors. One may often lower the hardware cost of such a dedicated architecture by using processors that implement CORDIC-like arithmetic algorithms. Indeed, with CORDIC algorithms, the evaluation and the application of an operation, such as determining a rotation that brings a vector onto another one and rotating other vectors by that amount, require the same time on identical processors and can be fully overlapped in most cases, thus leading to highly efficient implementations. We have shown earlier that a necessary condition for a CORDIC-type algorithm to exist is that the function to be implemented can be represented in terms of a matrix exponential. This paper refines this condition to the ability to represent , the desired function in terms of a rational representation of a matrix exponential. This insight gives us a powerful tool for the design of new CORDIC algorithms. This is demonstrated by rederiving classical CORDIC algorithms and introducing several new ones, for Jacobi rotations, three and higher dimensional rotations, etc.
THE ETHICS OF BEHAVIOR THERAPY

The meaning and logical implications of determinism in the ethics of behavior therapy are discussed, and the common ethical criticisms of behavior therapy by anti-determinists are countered.
Assessment of psychological distress among children and adolescents with food allergy

Background Youth with food allergy may experience psychosocial stressors including limitations in activities, differences from peers, and anxiety. Factors such as allergy-related medical history, children's attitudes toward their allergies, and parental anxiety may function as risk and resilience factors associated with psychological distress in this population. Objective To assess mean scores and rates of elevated scores on standardized measures of psychological distress among youth with food allergy and identify factors associated with distress. Methods A total of 141 mothers of children age 2 to 17 years with food allergy completed questionnaires about child medical history, child anxiety and depressive symptoms, and maternal anxiety symptoms. A total of 69 children age 8 to 17 years completed self-report measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms, social stress, and attitudes toward food allergy. Results Mean scores on self-report and parent-report measures of child anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and social stress fell in the average range on standardized measures of child distress. Comparisons with normative scores generally indicated either no differences or lower rates of distress in our sample of youth with food allergy, with the exception of child-reported anxious coping and separation anxiety symptoms, which were significantly higher than normative scores. Maternal reports of child symptoms were significantly higher than child self-reports. Multiple regression analyses yielded models in which child attitudes toward food allergy and maternal anxiety were associated with child distress for children 8 to 17 years old. Conclusion Results suggest targets for prevention of distress, including assessment of attitudes toward food allergy and support for parental anxiety management.
When is a sequential machine the realization of another

Three different definitions (all of them from published literature) of the concept of realization of a sequential machine by another are examined. It is shown that the definitions are all different and the exact relations between them are discussed. Consequences of the results to the problems of linear realizability of sequential machines and of state splitting are also investigated.
Mechanistical studies on the formation of isotopomers of hydrogen peroxide (HOOH), hydrotrioxy (HOOO), and dihydrogentrioxide (HOOOH) in electron-irradiated H218O/O2 ice mixtures

In order to investigate the chemical reactions inside water–oxygen ice mixtures in extreme environments, and to confirm the proposed reaction mechanisms in pure water ice, we conducted a detailed infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry study on the electron irradiation of H218O/O2 ice mixtures. The formation of molecular hydrogen, isotopically substituted oxygen molecules 18O18O and 16O18O, ozone (16O16O16O, 16O16O18O, and 16O18O16O), hydrogen peroxide (H18O18OH, H16O16OH and H16O18OH), hydrotrioxy (HOOO), and dihydrogentrioxide (HOOOH) were detected. Kinetic models and reaction mechanisms are proposed to form these molecules in water and oxygen-rich solar system ices.
Inviscid freejet flow with low specific heat ratios.

therefore, does not necessarily establish the validity of these assumptions. In summary, if sensors of different diameters are tested and the resultant plots of S vs Tw intersect'below the abscissa, the techniques of Refs. 1 and 2 are not applicable. If they intersect at the abscissa these techniques are equivalent and are valid if, and only if, qj = 0. If the plots intersect above the abscissa, the technique of Ref. 2 may be used provided it is reasonable to assume q'. ~ constant. Of course if values of qj can be obtained or if a relationship among the qf 's is known, then Tg can be calculated from Eq. (9) or Eq. (10) without recourse to the assumptions of Refs. 1 and 2. If no information regarding the values of the .'s is available, then none of the techniques discussed can be safely applied.
Characteristics of a double-orifice nebulizer

Abstract Aerosol generation in a pneumatic nebulizer with a double-orifice nozzle was studied in the particle size range of 0.8–10 μm. It was found that the aerosol generation rate can be changed without significant changes in the aerosol size distribution by changing the distance between the orifices. The aerosol size distribution was modified by changing the input air pressure. A Wright type nebulizer was modified to produce a wider spectrum of particles.
Pituitary regulation of appetite and growth in the turtles Pseudomys scripta elegans and Chelydra serpentina.

Eleven weeks of treatment with growth hormone (20 μg 3 times/wk) and prolactin (20 μg 3 times/wk) increased the size of immature Pseudomys scripta elegans beyond controls. Food consumption was controlled so that all effects of the hormones were direct ones on growth and not due to hyperphagia. Hypophysectomy decreased growth, food consumption and liver protein in Chelydra serpentina. Growth hormone replacement (20 μg/2 days) in hypophysectomized animals increased growth, food consumption, liver protein, liver water and decreased liver lipid and liver glycogen compared to hypophysectomized animals. In intact Chelydra serpentina, growth hormone (5 and 50 μg/2 days) also increased appetite, growth, liver protein, liver water and decreased liver lipid and glycogen. Blood sugar was not altered by growth hormone treatment.
Lead effects on tissue and whole organism respiration of the estuarine teleost fish, Gillichthys mirabilis.

Oxygen consumption rates of whole fish and isolated gill tissue were measured using specimens ofGillichthys mirabilis exposed to lead-dosed sea water for varying periods of time. Whole organism oxygen consumption was significantly higher in lead-exposed fish than in those held for equivalent periods of time in non-leaded sea water.In vitro gill respiration rates were virtually identical for control and lead-exposed fish. Lead-exposed fish were also extremely more active in the aquaria than the control group.
Pubertal girls only partially adapt to low dietary calcium intakes.

We evaluated the effects of low calcium in the diets of young adolescent girls. We measured calcium absorption and excretion using stable isotopes. We found partial adaptation to low intakes but a persistent large deficit relative to recommended intakes. Low calcium intakes pose a substantial risk of inadequate calcium retention. Introduction: A substantial number of adolescent girls in the United States have habitual calcium intakes 500 mg/day (about 40% of the current recommended intake). The ability to adapt to these very low intakes by increasing calcium absorption and decreasing calcium excretion is not known. We sought to determine the effects of recommended (REC-Ca) versus very low (LO-Ca) calcium intakes on calcium absorption and excretion in white and black girls. Materials and Methods: Pubertal, but premenarcheal girls, were adapted to low or recommended calcium intakes for at least 2 weeks before each study. Calcium absorption (n 51) and endogenous fecal calcium excretion (n 36 of the 51) were determined by dual-tracer stable isotope studies. Subjects were then switched to the other diet for at least 6 weeks, and the study was repeated. Results: Calcium intake was 389 10 mg/day on LO-Ca and 1259 35 mg/day on REC-Ca diets. Fractional absorption increased from 44.9 1.9% on REC-Ca to 63.4 1.7% on LO-Ca (p 0.01), but the net calcium absorption remained less than one-half the value on LO-Ca as on REC-Ca. Despite decreases in both endogenous fecal calcium excretion and urinary calcium excretion, net calcium balance was much lower on LO-Ca compared with REC-Ca1 (131 14 versus 349 32 mg/day, respectively; p 0.001). We found significantly lower urinary calcium excretion but not calcium absorption in black girls compared with white girls. Conclusions: Very low calcium intakes are only partially adapted to by increased absorption and decreased excretion. Very low calcium intakes place both white and black pubertal girls at substantial risk for inadequate calcium retention. J Bone Miner Res 2004;19:759 -763. Published online on January 19, 2004; doi: 10.1359/JBMR.040122
Keynote speaker: Big data: A scientific visualization perspective

Summary form only given. Modern high performance computers have speeds measured in petaflops and handle data set sizes measured in terabytes and petabytes. In the next decade (or less) we will see exascale computational resources. Although these machines offer enormous potential for solving very large-scale realistic computational problems, their effectiveness will hinge upon the ability of human experts to interact with their simulation results and extract useful information. One of the greatest scientific challenges of the 21st century is to effectively understand and make use of the vast amount of information being produced. Visual data analysis will be among our most important tools in helping to understand such large-scale information.
Chemical shift parameters for shallow donors in semiconductors

Abstract A model for a shallow donor impurity in a semiconductor is used to calculate two relationships and several conditions involving the chemical shift parameters. The model is based on the standard effective mass form for the donor electron wave function, the existence of a potential in the chemical cell which may be real, pseudo, or rather general in nature, and a few somewhat restrictive approximations. The parameters, Δ, δ and Λ are theoretically calculated and are shown to be related if the approximations are valid. These parameters determine the 1S multiplet level structure and it is shown how properties of the central cell potential can be deduced from a knowledge of this structure. As an example, the inverted structure for Si(Li) is discussed. The often neglected parameter, Λ, is shown to be quite important. A length parameter is determined by the model and is a measure of the effective range of influence of the central cell potential. The model should be useful in determining if choices for the potential and wave function in the central cell region lead to self consistent results. The agreement between the theoretical predictions and the experimental data from both silicon and germanium and five donor impurities from both Group I (lithium) and Group V (arsenic, phosphorus, antimony and bismuth) suggest the model is reasonable.
MEMS structures using polycrystalline diamond single-material micro technologies

Large band gap materials such as diamond (5.5eV) and AlN (6eV) offer the possibility of making MEMS structures out of a single material by varying the doping level to achieve the semi-conducting, metallic and insulating (undoped) properties needed in a typical MEMS structure. Polycrystalline diamond (poly-C), which has recently been used in the fabrication of BioMEMS, RFMEMS, and MEMS packaging, is inexpensive and retains many of the unique properties of single-crystal diamond. However, the development of diamond-based SMM technology faces a number of challenges including (a) producing highly-insulating and highly-conducting poly-C films, (b) creating ohmic contacts, and (c) patterning by dry etching of poly-C films grown on SiO 2 . The results presented in this paper, which addresses these issues for the first time, are expected to lead to SMM based MEMS structures and packaging.