cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Subpopulation of Human Basal Keratinocytes Has a Low/Negative MHC Class I Expression

Abstract By means of flow cytometry, we demonstrate that a subpopulation of cells in the basal layer of the human epidermis has undetectable levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule. The percentage of MHC class I–negative cells in the basal layer ranged 0.5%–2%. MHC class I–negative cells were characterized by small size (low forward scatter) and low granularity (low side scatter). Upon culturing of MHC class I–negative cells, increase of MHC class I expression was observed. This expression was lower than the expression of MHC class I molecule both in cultured MHC class I–positive cells and in ex vivo keratinocytes. Furthermore, stimulation of MHC class I–negative keratinocytes with interferon gamma (IFN-γ) did not bring about further increase in MHC class I expression. MHC class I–negative cells were identified as keratinocytes as they expressed keratin 14 and formed keratinocyte colonies in vitro.
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: long-term weight loss outcomes

Abstract Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become an increasingly popular stand-alone weight loss surgery, but there is a paucity of long-term efficacy data. Objective To determine long-term outcomes for patients undergoing LSG. Setting Tertiary care university hospital in the United States. Methods This study presents a case series of the first 16 patients undergoing LSG at our institution. Inclusion criteria were accepted indications for bariatric surgery, and exclusion criteria were any prior bariatric surgery, gastrectomy, substance abuse, uncontrolled psychiatric illness, end-stage organ disease, or advanced-stage cancer. Patients were followed for 7 years. Outcomes included percent excess weight loss (%EWL), percent weight loss (%WL), resolution of co-morbidities, and major and minor complications. Results Patients enrolled in this study had a mean body mass index (BMI) of 43.5 kg/m 2 and a mean age of 49, and 14 of 16 patients were women. Fourteen of 16 patients had 7-year follow-ups with a mean %WL of 29.6%±8.95 and a mean %EWL of 59.6%±89.9%. At 7 years, 11 of 14 patients achieved>50% EWL. One-year follow-up data revealed a mean EWL of 72%±20%, which was significantly greater than the %EWL at 7 years ( P = .005). Complications included 1 partial obstruction at the gastric incisura angularis and 1 subacute leak; both were managed endoscopically. There were no reoperations and no deaths. Five of 14 patients experienced new-onset gastroesophageal reflux disease. Conclusions At 7 years postoperative, the LSG remained a durable and successful operation.
People Skills as a Discipline, Pedagogy, and Set of Standard Practices

The article develops a pedagogy of "people skills" that is consistent and coherent with traditional academic standards. It outlines (a) a practical definition of people skills that is grounded in linguistic and management theory and (b) suggestions for class-room applications that have been used in undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs.
A comparison of the ketosis developed during fasting by obese patients and normal subjects.

The general cause of obesity is obviously the ingestion and utilization by an individual of calories in excess of those expended by the organism (1). But obesity is after all only a symptom and there is every reason to suppose that it may result from numerous causes, for it would be most unreasonable to assume that all types of obesity are alike. However, our present attempts to classify obese patients are based not on truly objective findings but rather on the broad and more or less uncertain grounds of clinical observation. A possible approach to the classification of obesity appeared to be through a study of the extent of the ketosis developed during fasting in these patients. The route of the normal oxidation of fat in the body is not known with certainty, but is generally assumed to be through such a route that the so called ‘ketone bodies’—beta hydroxybutyric acid, acetoacetic acid and acetone—are produced enroute to oxidation to carbon dioxide and water. Under conditions in which either the absolut...
DNA SYNTHESIS AMONG UNINVOLVED AND INVOLVED PSORIATIC EPIDERMAL CELLS AND NORMAL EPIDERMAL CELLS IN VITRO

Epidermal cells from 8 patients with psoriasis (involved and uninvolved areas) and from 7 normal individuals, were propagated in vitro. DNA synthesis was determined autoradiographically by measuring the labeling index (1 hr) and a continuous labeling index (72 hr) on 8–10 day old cell cultures. No differences in these 2 kinetic parameters were obtained with respect to involved and uninvolved psoriatic cells. However, when psoriatic cells (involved and uninvolved) were compared to normal cells, the psoriatic cells exhibited a much higher labeling index and continuous labeling index, 200–300% and 60–70% respectively. These data clearly show that in vitro (1) epidermal cells from clinically uninvolved skin of psoriatics proliferate at a rate equal to that of involved psoriatic cells and (2) psoriatic epidermal cells proliferate at a rate greater than normal cells.
Resection of a giant aggressive angiomyxoma in the Philippines.

Abstract Introduction. Medicine for Humanity is a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals, travelling to developing areas throughout the world on medical missions. The following is one of many technically challenging and unique cases presented for treatment. Case. A 38-year-old woman gradually developed a giant mass arising from the right labium majus, extending into the retroperitoneum. Surgical resection was performed by abdominal and perineal teams. Intraoperative blood loss was approximately 10,000 ml, requiring 18 units of whole blood transfusion—including 6 units acutely donated by members of the surgical team. A "pack and go back" technique was used for hemostasis. The tumor weighed 19.8 kg. Final histology confirmed an aggressive angiomyxoma. Conclusion. This patient had the largest, histologically confirmed, aggressive angiomyxoma described to date. The surgical management of this case followed the principles in treating hemorrhagic shock, but required modifications based on availability of resources in Cebu City, Philippines.
Barotrauma of the ears and sinuses after scuba diving

The pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and currently available management of barotrauma affecting the ears and sinuses after scuba diving are reviewed, along with medical standards for resuming scuba diving after barotrauma has resolved.
Penalty method for the KdV equation

This article is the first part of a work in progress, related to the numerical simulation of hyperbolic equations with non-compatible data. The Korteweg–de Vries equations with non-homogeneous incompatible data are considered here. In this article we are able to prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions for the KdV equation despite the lack of regularity (compatibility) of the data. However, the lack of regularity is known to produce, for hyperbolic equations, large numerical errors which propagate within the whole domain. A method is proposed to replace the KdV equation with incompatible data by a system with compatible data using a penalty method. In this article we prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions of the exact and approximate problems and the convergence of the approximate solutions to the exact ones. The numerical simulations which justify the procedure will be presented elsewhere [N. Flyer, Z. Qin, and R. Temam, Numerical simulations of the penalty method for the KdV and Schrodin...
Plasma hydrophilic surface treatment for dehumidifying heat exchangers

This paper describes a method using plasma gas to form a hydrophilic surface on fin stock for dehumidifying finned-tube heat exchangers. The heat exchangers (with and without the plasma treatment) were subjected to 1000 wet/dry cycles and the contact angle was measured as a function of cycling time. The heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of these heat exchangers were then measured in a wind tunnel after each 250 wet/dry cycles. Data was taken for dry and wet surface (de-humidification) heat transfer on both untreated and treated surface heat exchangers. After 1000 wet/dry cycles, the wet surface pressure drop on the plasma treated surface was 30% greater than the dry surface value, as opposed to a 100% pressure drop increase for the untreated surface heat exchanger. This data shows that the plasma treatment provides long-term pressure drop reduction. For fixed air frontal velocity, the plasma treated and untreated heat exchangers give practically the same air-side heat transfer coefficient. However, the plasma treated heat exchanger yields 25% lower air pressure drop than the untreated heat exchangers for the fully wet condition. Hence, at fixed frontal velocity, the plasma treated heat exchanger will require less fan power for the same cooling duty and will result in reduced fan noise.
Language News in Review: UNESCO and the Quest for Cultural Diversity

This article analyzes recent news-making initiatives by UNESCO and their implications for language policy on the international level. In particular, I focus on two conventions relevant to language policy-making, the ‘Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions’ (approved October 2005), and the ‘Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage’ (which entered into force in April 2006). The adoption of the former was preceded by a widely publicized controversy regarding the status of cultural activities and goods in relation to international trade agreements and protectionism. The latter is a complement to the UNESCO World Heritage program that provides for a similar listmaking of expressions of intangible heritage (including oral traditions). I discuss both conventions in the light of media response and analyze their potential for driving language policy in Member States; and I conclude with a brief description of other UNESCO efforts at shaping language politics.
INTENSITY OF UPWARD MUON FLUX DUE TO COSMIC-RAY NEUTRINOS PRODUCED IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Calculations were performed to determine the upward going muon flux leaving the earth's surface after production by cosmic-ray neutrinos in the crust. Only neutrinos produced in the earth's atmosphere are considered. Rates of the order of one per 100 sq m/day might be expected if an intermediate boson exists and has a mass less than 2 Bev. (auth)
Transfer from perceptual pretraining as a function of number of task dimensions.

Abstract Children (average age 6 years 7 months) learned an initial discrimination (OL) and a reversal shift (RS) with 1 dimension relevant and either 0, 1, or 2 dimensions irrelevant following pretraining which required Ss to make same-different judgments to stimulus objects varying along the dimensions appearing in the transfer tasks. Pretraining did not affect performance in OL relative to a control condition, and performance degraded as a linear function of number of irrelevant dimensions. In RS, perceptually pretrained and control Ss did not differ under the condition of 0 dimensions irrelevant, but with increasing amounts of irrelevant stimulation the performance of the control Ss deteriorated in the same manner as in OL while the performance of perceptually pretrained Ss was unaltered.
Patient preferences for screening in the first trimester.

Objective We theorized that a significant number of women would choose integrated screening (IS) over first trimester screening (FTS) and that demographic characteristics and baseline anxiety levels might predict which patients would choose each test. We also hypothesized that screening results might alter patients' future preferences. Method Patients underwent non-directive genetic counselling and were offered FTS or IS. Prior to undergoing nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound, patients were given surveys. These questionnaires were repeated in the second trimester and postpartum. They focussed on the patients' background, motivations for screening and anxiety level. Results Out of 110 patients surveyed, 81 returned their initial questionnaire. 60% of these patients chose FTS and 40% chose IS. There were no demographic differences between the groups. FTS patients desired early reassurance while IS patients wanted the 'most information' and the lowest chance of needing diagnostic testing. In all, 47 women returned second trimester questionnaires and 35 women returned postpartum surveys. These surveys demonstrated that women's motivations remained constant over time. Of the five screen positive results, only one woman regretted her screening choice. Conclusion One cannot predict patients' screening preferences, thus both FTS and IS should be offered. Given non-directive counselling, patients are generally satisfied with their screening choices.
Effect of strain rate and temperature on the performance of epoxy mortar

The behavior of epoxy mortar was studied under various curing conditions, temperature and strain rate. The effect of aggregate size and distribution on the mechanical properties of epoxy mortar was also studied. Epoxy mortar with a uniform fine sand was cured at various temperatures to determine the optimum curing condition. The strain rate was varied between 0.01 to 6 percent strain per minute and the testing temperature between 22°C and 80°C. The strength, modulus, and compressive strain-strain relationship of polymer mortar are influenced by the curing method, testing temperature, and strain rate to varying degrees. The influence of test variables on the mechanical properties of epoxy mortar are quantified. Compared to the uniformly graded fine aggregate fillers the gap-graded aggregates produced polymer mortar with better mechanical properties. The compressive modulus and splitting tensile strength of epoxy mortar are related to their compressive strength. A new nonlinear constitutive model is proposed to predict the complete compressive stress-strain behavior of epoxy mortar. The constitutive relationship parameters are also related to the testing temperature and logarithmic strain rate.
Femtosecond applications for anterior segment surgery.

Purpose:To review the currently available femtosecond lasers that are used for anterior segment surgery and to compare those lasers with mechanical microkeratomes.Methods:The author reviewed the literature and websites of the manufacturers of femtosecond lasers to compare the hardware and software f
The main-chain dynamics of the dynamin pleckstrin homology (PH) domain in solution: analysis of 15N relaxation with monomer/dimer equilibration

The backbone dynamics of the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain from dynamin were studied by 15N NMR relaxation (R1 and R2) and steady state heteronuclear 15N [1H] nuclear Overhauser effect measurements at 500 and 600 MHz, at protein concentrations of 1.7 mM and 300 microM, and by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The analysis was performed using the model-free approach. The method was extended in order to account for observed partial (equilibrium) dimerization of the protein at NMR concentrations. A model is developed that takes into account both rapid monomer-dimer exchange and anisotropy of the over-all rotation of the dimer. The data show complex dynamics of the dynamin PH domain. Internal motions in elements of the secondary structure are restricted, as inferred from the high value of the order parameter (S2 approximately 0.9) and from the local correlation time < 100 ps. Of the four extended loop regions that are disordered in the NMR-derived solution structure of the protein, loops beta 1/beta 2 and beta 5/beta 6 are involved in a large-amplitude (S2 down to 0.2 to 0.3) subnanosecond to nanosecond time-scale motion. Reorientation of the loops beta 3/beta 4 and beta 6/beta 7, in contrast, is restricted, characterized by the values of order parameter S2 approximately 0.9 more typical of the protein core. These loops, however, are involved in much slower processes of motion resulting in a conformational exchange on a microsecond to submillisecond time scale. The motions of the terminal regions (residues 1 to 10, 122 to 125) are practically unrestricted (S2 down to 0.05, characteristic times in nanosecond time scale), suggesting that these parts of the sequence do not participate in the protein fold. The analysis shows a larger sensitivity of the 15N relaxation data to protein microdynamic parameters (S2, tau loc) when protein molecular mass (tau c) increases. The use of negative values of the steady state 15N[1H] NOEs as an indicator of the residues not belonging to the folded structure is suggested. The amplitudes of local motion observed in the MD simulation are in a good-agreement with the NMR data for the amide NH groups located in the protein core.
Microscopy: Reconstructing the third dimension

An approach to microscopy has been developed that can be used to determine, from a single imaging angle, both the position of a specimen's individual atoms in the plane of observation and the atoms' vertical position. See Letter p.243 State-of-the-art electron microscopy can readily resolve structures with subatomic resolution, but making three-dimensional images of similar resolution is a tougher challenge. Here, Dirk Van Dyck and Fu-Rong Chen describe an original image-reconstruction method that extracts information on the whereabouts of all atoms, in the plane as well as in the vertical direction, from just one projection. The concept is based on the assumption that each atom acts as a point source, scattering spherical waves that propagate to the detector, where they interfere with spherical waves from other atoms. The observed 'exit wave' contains information on all atoms in the sample, and can be retrieved using appropriate algorithms. The approach is demonstrated experimentally for a two-layered graphene sample. The authors note that their reconstruction technique resembles that used by cosmologists to construct a Hubble plot, hence the name 'Big Bang tomography'.
DESIGN OF A DIVERSION SYSTEM TO MANAGE THE FIRST FLUSH

ABSTRACT: To manage the first flush of storm runoff in urbanized areas, a diversion box and detention basin system has been proposed for a new storm sewer system or for retrofitting an existing system. A software package for a personal computer has been developed to facilitate the analysis and design of the system. Hydrographs and pollutographs are generated at the inlet and outlet of the diversion box and the detention basin. The peak outflow and peak pollutant concentrations are compared with the allowable outflow and pollutant concentration for urban stormwater quantity and quality management. The model is developed for both analysis and design purposes.
The long-line graph of a combinatorial geometry. II. Geometries representable over two fields of different characteristics

Abstract Let q be a power of a prime and let s be zero or a prime not dividing q. Then the number of points in a combinatorial geometry (or simple matroid) of rank n which is representable over GF(q) and a field of characteristic s is at most (qν − qν−1)(2n+1)−n, where ν = 2q−1 − 1.
Direct method approximation to the state regulator control problem using a Ritz-Trefftz suboptimal control

The linear quadratic cost control problem \dot{x}(t) = A(t)x(t) + B(t)u(t) x(0) = x_{0} with a cost functional J[u] = \frac{1}{2} \int\min{0}\max{T} [\langlex, Q(t)x\rangle + \langleu, R(t)u\rangle] dt is considered, supposing S is a suitable space of piecewise cubic polynominals on a mesh of norm h on the interval [0, T] . Then a Ritz type algorithm is developed for minimizing J [\cdotp] over S . The authors have previously discussed [3] certain convergence properties of the algorithm. Here the algorithm is discussed in a form suitable for real-time implementation and additional convergence criteria are presented. In [3] it was shown that the Ritz-Treffiz suboptimal control \bar{u} converges to the optimal control u\ast with order 0(h^{3}) . If x_{\bar{u}} is the trajectory generated by \bar{u} , then it is shown that x_{\bar{u}} approximates the optimal trajectory x\ast to 0(h^{3}) . Finally, it is shown that J[\bar{u}] approximates J[u\ast] to order 0(h^{6}) . The numerical properties of the algorithm, including speed and accuracy comparisons with the conventional numerical approach, are presented in a forthcoming paper.
Nonaccommodative esotropia after cataract extraction in a patient with previous accommodative esotropia

We report a case of nonaccommodative esotropia developing after bilateral cataract surgery that corrected the preexisting hyperopia in a patient with accommodative esotropia since childhood. The esotropia required surgical correction despite the good visual acuity after the cataract surgery. In patients with preexisting strabismus, there is a possibility of decompensation of adaptive binocular mechanisms after cataract surgery and refractive procedures.
Interactions between network cation coordination and non-bridging oxygen abundance in oxide glasses and melts: Insights from NMR spectroscopy

Abstract In aluminosilicate glasses, recent experimental work has greatly increased our knowledge of structural details that go beyond conventional models, such as high-coordinated Al and non-bridging oxygens (NBO) in metaluminous and even peraluminous compositions. Particularly as network cation coordination increases at high pressure, the interplay of such species (how their concentrations depend on each other through reaction equilibria) becomes especially important to understand and to relate to physical properties: for example, in NBO-rich compositions, this species is systematically reduced as Al or Si coordination increases. These interactions can often be seen more clearly in ambient-pressure borosilicate and germanate systems, where composition and temperature can have dramatic effects on network and oxygen speciation. In particular, the field strengths of the network modifier cations have strong effects on structure, as higher field strength often promotes the concentration of negative network charge as either NBO or highly-charged BO such as Al–O–Al groups; accompanying changes in network cation coordination often occur but are linked in a complex fashion. Here we compare such speciation reactions in silicate, aluminosilicate, borosilicate and germanate melt systems, primarily as sampled by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy, note commonality of behavior, and point out important gaps in our knowledge for future exploration.
Dynamic response of a spherical structural system in fluid media

Abstract The dynamic response of a one degree of freedom spherical structural system immersed in viscous fluid media is studied with the fluid forces obtained by Basset included in the differential equation of motion. The closed-form solution to the integrodifferential equation of motion of the system is obtained. Response curves are presented which illustrate the effect of the various parameters on the response of the system. The question of critical damping of the system in viscous fluid media is considered. Finally, the concept of degree of instability is presented and the influence of the fluid medium on the practical stability of specific structural systems is discussed.
New method to reduce alignment error by optical system

Advanced stepper or scanner needs extremely high accuracy alignment system. This alignment accuracy is mainly affected by the errors caused by mark deformations and by optical system. To improve the alignment accuracy of our wafer alignment system called 'FIA' we have developed a method called the 'FFO'. Our studies have already shown that FFO has the effect of reducing the errors caused by mark deformations. To examine the errors caused by optical system, new approaches are adopted. In the new approaches a simulation method and a suitable experimental are used. The simulation results by the new method, Spatial Frequency Analysis of Image, show the relation between defocus and the errors caused by optical system and the superiority of FFO. Suitable experimental system brings us the same results as the simulation method. As a result, FFO also has a positive effect on the errors caused by optical system. FIA with FFO is much more accurate alignment sensor for ULSI production.
New approaches to the treatment of frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

Purpose of review Treatment approaches for frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are rapidly evolving with improved understanding of the disease. This brief review highlights recent advances. Recent findings Early-onset dementia has a devastating impact on families and rids its victims of their most productive and rewarding years. Over the past 10 years, FTLD has emerged as the commonest cause of dementia under the age of 60 years, outstripping even Alzheimer's disease in prevalence. Remarkable progress has occurred in our understanding of FTLD both as a set of distinctive clinical syndromes and as a set of disorders with unique genetic and pathological profiles. Although there are no Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for FTLD, new evidence of specific genetic and neurochemical defects is beginning to provide a strong rationale for pharmacological treatment. Summary Behavioral changes, which are common in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and semantic dementia, often respond to treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Memantine also holds promise to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms, but more prospective trials are needed.With better understanding of pathogenic molecular pathways involving microtubule-associated protein tau, progranulin and TDP-43, potential disease-modifying therapies are being studied in animal models and approaching human trials.
Aqueous methylation of lead (II) ion by a dimethylcobalt (III) macrocyclic complex

Abstract This study tests the feasibility of various reactions which could lead to environmental methylation of lead compounds. We tested the reactivity of Pb2+ in water toward a trans‐dimethylcobalt (III) complex, methylcobalamin, methyl iodide, and three models for S‐adenosylmethionine. Reactions of Pb2+ with the trans‐dimethylcobalt (III) complex resulted in tetramethyllead, but we did not detect it in reactions of the other reagents with Pb2+.
Rapid stress-induced elevations in corticotropin-releasing hormone mRNA in rat central amygdala nucleus and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus: An in situ hybridization analysis

High densities of nerve cells containing corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) are located in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. These brain regions play an important role in activating autonomic, behavioral, and endocrine responses to stress. This study was conducted to provide needed information concerning the acute effects of stress on CeA and PVN CRH mRNA expression. Rats were exposed to restraint stress for 1 h and brains collected after a 1-h post-stress interval. CRH mRNA expression occurring in the CeA and PVN was examined using in situ hybridization techniques. Densitometric analysis revealed that acute restraint stress produced significant increases in CRH mRNA levels in the PVN and in the rostral CeA region. In addition, the area in the rostral CeA encompassing high CRH mRNA signals increased significantly after stress. Results provide clear evidence that CRH neurons in the CeA and PVN exhibit rapid increases in CRH mRNA expression after exposure to stress.
Militant Ideologies and Organizational Contexts: The War on Poverty and the Ideology of “Black Power”

IN RECENT YEARS we have witnessed the emergence and widespread acceptance of a radical formulation of American racial problems--the "Black power" ideology. The ideology first emerged in the mid-sixties as little more than a slogan. At that point the concept of "Black power" was not clearly formulated and did not enjoy much support from Negroes. Yet, by the end of the decade a fairly coherent "Black power" ideology had developed and gained a substantial following. The late sixties also saw the implementation of the War on Poverty. The Black power movement and the anti-poverty program shared the same social space and developed a complex interactive relationship. Their association in time and social location led some observers to argue that a causal relationship existed, i.e., that the War on Poverty in some way caused the growth of the Black power movement and its increasing militancy. Yet, the exact nature of the relationship is not well understood.
Spectral analysis for oil spill identification using hyperspectral data

In this study, advanced techniques for oil spill detection and oil spill type identification using hyperspectral (HSI) AVIRIS data are presented. The new HSI techniques make it possible to model water–leaving radiances from different types of oil slicks. Several methods are used including Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) and Partial Unmixing (PU) techniques. Our study is focusing on target identification for oil slick type and signature feature analysis for oil spill thickness. We show that oil spills on sea water can be clearly identified. In addition, oil spill thickness and slick types at different stages could be identified by analyzing the spectral features of AVIRIS data.
No-reference objective blur metric based on the notion of wavelet gradient, magnitude edge width

In the past decade, the number and popularity of digital cameras has increased many fold, increasing the demand for a blur metric and quality assessment techniques to evaluate digital images. There is still no widely accepted industry standard by which an image's blur content may be assessed so it is imperative that better, more reliable, no-reference metrics be created to fill this gap. In this paper, a new wavelet based scheme is proposed as a blur metric. This method does not rely on subjective testing other than for verification. After applying the discrete wavelet transform to an image, we use adaptive thresholding to identify edge regions in the horizontal, vertical, and diagonal sub-images. For each sub-image, we utilize the fact that detected edges can be separated into connected components. We do this because, perceptually, blur is most apparent on edge regions. From these regions it is possible to compute properties of the edge such as length and width. The length and width can then be used to measure the area of a blurred region which in turn yields the number of blurred pixels for each connected region. Ideally, an edge point is represented by only a single pixel so if a found edge has a width greater than one it likely contains blur. In order to not skew our results, a one by n-length rectangle is removed from the computed blur area. The areas are summed which will represent the total blur pixel count per image. Using a series of test images, we determined the blur pixel ratio as the number of blur pixels to the total pixels in an image.
The environmental consequences of stagnation in Nicaragua

Abstract A decade of war and revolution under the Sandinistas caused macroeconomic chaos but may have been indirectly beneficial to the environment. Now the country is a ward of the international financial community with foreign debt at almost six times GDP and few policy options. The Chamorro government, elected in 1990, has reduced the role of government and restored the price system as the principal means of resource allocation and income distribution. A three-gap model is used to show that environmental deterioration is likely to accelerate as a result of pursuing neoliberal policies. The analysis is based on a distinction between intensive and extensive environmental decay.
Decomposition Principle for Linear Programs

A technique is presented for the decomposition of a linear program that permits the problem to be solved by alternate solutions of linear sub-programs representing its several parts and a coordinating program that is obtained from the parts by linear transformations. The coordinating program generates at each cycle new objective forms for each part, and each part generates in turn from its optimal basic feasible solutions new activities columns for the interconnecting program. Viewed as an instance of a “generalized programming problem” whose columns are drawn freely from given convex sets, such a problem can be studied by an appropriate generalization of the duality theorem for linear programming, which permits a sharp distinction to be made between those constraints that pertain only to a part of the problem and those that connect its parts. This leads to a generalization of the Simplex Algorithm, for which the decomposition procedure becomes a special case. Besides holding promise for the efficient computation of large-scale systems, the principle yields a certain rationale for the “decentralized decision process” in the theory of the firm. Formally the prices generated by the coordinating program cause the manager of each part to look for a “pure” sub-program analogue of pure strategy in game theory, which he proposes to the coordinator as best he can do. The coordinator finds the optimum “mix” of pure sub-programs using new proposals and earlier ones consistent with over-all demands and supply, and thereby generates new prices that again generates new proposals by each of the parts, etc. The iterative process is finite.
A fluid-mechanical study of the closure of heart valves

The fluid mechanics of heart-valve motion is investigated experimentally and theoretically. From the experiments, it is found that the principal mechanism ensuring optimal mitral-valve closure is the pressure field induced by a strong flow deceleration through the valve. A complete theory, evolved from the Bellhouse & Talbot analytical model, is developed for both the mitral and the aortic valve to provide a relationship between valve motion and valve flow. Results predicted by this theory agree consistently well with those obtained from experiments.
Effect of alcohol in traumatic brain injury: is it really protective?

BACKGROUND: Studies have proposed a neuroprotective role for alcohol (ETOH) in traumatic brain injury (TBI). We hypothesized that ETOH intoxication is associated with mortality in patients with severe TBI. METHODS: Version 7.2 of the National Trauma Data Bank (2007-2010) was queried for all patients with isolated blunt severe TBI (Head Abbreviated Injury Score ≥4) and blood ETOH levels recorded on admission. Primary outcome measure was mortality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess factors predicting mortality and in-hospital complications. RESULTS: A total of 23,983 patients with severe TBI were evaluated of which 22.8% (n = 5461) patients tested positive for ETOH intoxication. ETOH-positive patients were more likely to have in-hospital complications (P = 0.001) and have a higher mortality rate (P = 0.01). ETOH intoxication was an independent predictor for mortality (odds ratio: 1.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.1-2.1, P = 0.01) and development of in-hospital complications (odds ratio: 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.1-2.8, P = 0.009) in patients with isolated severe TBI. CONCLUSIONS: ETOH intoxication is an independent predictor for mortality in patients with severe TBI patients and is associated with higher complication rates. Our results from the National Trauma Data Standards differ from those previously reported. The proposed neuroprotective role of ETOH needs further clarification. Language: en
The influence of growth retardation on perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

The effect of growth retardation on the extent of brain damage produced by hypoxia-ischemia was assessed in immature rats. Newborn rats were raised in litters of 6 or 14 pups from day 2 to 7. On postnatal day 7, those immature rats raised in litters of 14 weighed 18% less than animals raised in litters of 6 (P < 0.001). They then were subjected to cerebral hypoxia-ischemia by unilateral common carotid artery ligation followed by 3 h of exposure to 8% oxygen-92% nitrogen at 37°C. Upon return to their dams, all litters were culled to 6 pups. At 30 days of age, the animals underwent perfusion-fixation of their brains under pentobarbital anesthesia. Brain damage was assessed by measuring the length and width of each cerebral hemisphere. The extent of brain damage varied from no difference in the size of the two cerebral hemispheres to marked shrinkage of the hemisphere ipsilateral to the common carotid artery occlusion. The range of brain damage between the well-nourished and poorly nourished animals was comparable. Rank order of the extent of damage demonstrated significantly greater tissue injury in those animals well nourished prior to hypoxia-ischemia (Mann-Whitney U-test; P = 0.003). The results indicate that nutritional deprivation in the immature rat is associated with a decreased rather than increased susceptibility to brain damage arising from hypoxiaischemia. The findings of the investigation have relevance to the human infant suffering from intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).
Object-oriented graphical analysis

The author describes how object-oriented techniques may be used in the output analysis phase of a simulation, using a system designed for highly interactive, graphical data analysis. The implementation is in Common Lisp; the graphic package is part of the QUAIL (quantitative analysis in Lisp) system. Applications to analysis of simulation data are discussed. The capabilities of the plot package are illustrated with a graphical analysis of a simulation experiment, and interactive techniques for analyzing time-varying response variables are described. >
Effects of Attractiveness and Gender on the Perception of Achievement-Related Variables.

The present study was an examination of the effects of physical attractiveness and gender on perceptions of academic success, achievement-related traits, intelligence, initiative, and attributions of ability and effort in relation to academic success. It was hypothesized that attractive persons and men would be rated more favorably along these dimensions than would unattractive persons and women. The participants were 144 U.S. undergraduates who observed photographs of attractive and unattractive men and women and then rated the persons in the photographs on the aforementioned dimensions. Physical attractiveness had a differential effect on the dimensions within achievement. Also, being perceived as physically attractive created positive impressions of achievement-related traits for men but negative impressions for women.
Factors of horocycle flows

We classify up to an isomorphism all factors of the classical horocycle flow on the unit tangent bundle of a surface of constant negative curvature with finite volume.
Metrics of Urban Form and the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem

There is growing interest in incorporating urban form indicators into transportation planning and travel analysis. These indicators typically are measured at a certain level of spatial aggregation (e.g., traffic analysis zone) and therefore are subject to the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) known primarily in the statistical and geographic literature but generally overlooked by transportation researchers. The presence of the MAUP can cause serious inconsistency in analytical results and consequently misinform policy making. This study diagnoses the MAUP in measuring urban form through empirical modeling of travel mode choice in the Boston, Massachusetts, region. Using data aggregated in grids with five cell sizes and at the transportation analysis zone, the census block group, and the block level, the study explores the sensitivity of coefficient estimates for population density, network pattern, and land use balance to data aggregation in predicting mode choice decisions. Having confirmed the presen...
Does negative refraction make a perfect lens

A discussion of a question, studied earlier by Veselago in 1967 and by Pendry in 2000, is given. The question is: can a slab of the material with negative refraction make a perfect lens? Pendry's conclusion was: yes, it can. Our conclusion is: no, in practice it cannot, because of the fluctuations of the refraction coefficient of the slab. Resolution ability of linear isoplanatic optical instruments is discussed.
Spiders (Araneae) as subtle indicators for successional stages in peat bogs

Assemblages of epigeic spiders were studied in the Dubringer Moor (Saxony, Germany) in 2012 by pitfall-trapping. The Dubringer Moor is a percolation mire that includes (sub-) natural humid habitats such as peat bogs, fens, reeds and birch moor woods. Large areas outside the core zones have been afforested with Pinus sylvestris or Picea abies monocultures. Eight sites were examined: a Sphagnum-rich Erica tetralix-bog (peat bog), a degeneration stage of the bog dominated by Molinia caerulea, four varieties of Picea abies forest and two varieties of birch wood. A total of 130 spider species were collected. A canonical correspondence analysis considering spider occurrence and abundance clearly shows five different groups of species. Their distribution depends on biotic and abiotic environmental factors reflected by habitat type. The results were compared with communities collected at the same peat bog site in 1973 and 1986/1987. The turnover of the most abundant species in each year—Pirata piscatorius in 1973, Piratula hygrophila in 1986/1987 and Aulonia albimana in 2012—illustrates the subtle dehydration that is presumably correlated with heather spreading. We show the actually observed succession and discuss the potential succession based on the 1973, 1986/1987 and 2012 sampling. This study underlines the outstanding indicator value of spiders in peat bogs. This is especially valid for subtle and long-term changes.
Maternal temperature variation during parturition.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To characterize temperatures for normal full-term parturients. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 189 consecutive singleton deliveries during 1996 was conducted. All available maternal sublingual temperatures were collected from the time of admission to the time of discharge from the delivery area. To evaluate the effect of prophylactic antibiotics in labor, maximum labor temperatures of patients who did not receive (group 1) and who received (group 2) antibiotics were compared. Using simple linear regression, temperature slopes were calculated for patients who had at least two temperature observations during labor. RESULTS: A total of 147 (77.7%) patients met inclusion criteria. No statistical difference was found between the maximum temperatures of patients who received and did not receive prophylactic antibiotics for labor or recovery. The mean maximum temperature in labor was 37.0 ± 0.42C. The average of each patient’s mean temperature was 36.8 ± 0.33C, and 95% of the observations were between 36.2C and 37.5C. The mean temperature slope of the 100 patients who had more than one labor temperature observation was 0.01 ± 0.12C per hour. CONCLUSION: In the normal full-term parturient, labor alone does not significantly increase normal body temperature.
Decision-Making in an Authoritarian Regime: Theoretical Implications from a Mexican Case Study

In recent years, as political scientists have witnessed the establishment of non-democratic governments in an ever-increasing number of countries, there has been renewed interest in the concept of an authoritarian regime. Despite its frequent use, however, the concept of an authoritarian regime rarely has been defined so that it could be applied in a comparative analysis. Furthermore, the theoretical utility of classifying a regime as “authoritarian” remains unclear. If the classification is to have some explanatory value, the way in which such a regime's defining characteristics produce distinctive political processes and behavior must be demonstrated.
A client-server system for simulating and visualizing the random packing of polydiverse spheres

The random packing of particles is important to understand the properties of geological materials, especially unconsolidated sediments that are typically difficult to sample without destroying their structure. Computer simulation algorithms are now widely used to simulate the packing of granular materials but are computationally intensive - typically O(n3) — exercises that are especially complicated when simulating the packing of materials with different size and density distributions. The objective of this project was to develop a polydisperse packing algorithm for scalable execution on multiple processor (i.e., parallel) computers. We present VirtualSoil, a client-server numerical computation package written in C++ that utilizes a portable OpenGL-based graphical user interface and particle visualization system for the client and the Message Passing Interface (MPI library) based parallel computation for the server. The packing algorithm is based on a Monte Carlo simulation in which all the grains simultaneously settle in a concentrated suspension. Input data requirements include the particle size intervals and number of particles in each interval whereas the data output is a final spatial distribution of a packed bed.
Do Lanchester's laws of combat describe competition in ants?

Lanchester’s laws are mathematical models, originally designed to model military combat, that describe battle outcomes based on the sizes of armies and the potencies of individual fighting units. The ‘‘square law’’ describes a scenario in which small-sized competitors may use a numerical advantage to overcome large-sized competitors in simultaneous combat. The ‘‘linear law’’ describes how a competitor with large-sized fighting units may use one-on-one combat to favor victory when outnumbered. Lanchester’s laws have been suggested as an important regulator of interspecific competition in social insects, but without experimental support. In this study, experimental platforms were designed to invoke the conditions of both Lanchester’s laws in a community of ants in lowland tropical wet forest in Costa Rica. I measured behavioral dominance at the food platforms in two separate manners: an ordinal ranking of the number of workers present, and the monopoly of the food platforms. At the platform invoking simultaneous combat, satisfying the square law, small-sized ants were more behaviorally dominant by numerical superiority. At the platform invoking one-on-one combat, satisfying the linear law, larger ants were more behaviorally dominant by monopoly. These results suggest that Lanchester’s laws explain, in part, the outcome of interspecific competition in ants. Key words: Lanchester battles, ant, fighting, competition, foraging behavior, leaf litter, Ectatomma, Pheidole, Solenopsis, Wasmannia. [Behav Ecol 11:686–690 (2000)]
THE VAN URK-SALKOWSKI REAGENT - A SENSITIVE AND SPECIFIC CHROMOGENIC REAGENT FOR SILICA GEL THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF INDOLE DERIVATIVES

The chromogenic reagent described has been tested with seventy-nine indole derivatives and found to be very sensitive and indole-specific. The lower limit of detection on silica gel thin-layer plates was between 25 and 50 ng for most indoles. Phenols and hydroxy-, and amino-benzoic acids, hydroxy-, and methoxy-cinnamic acids did not yield chromophores with the exception of p-amino-benzoic acid and p-hydroxy-cinnamic acid which gave yellow and pink chromophores at concentrations greater than 1 and 2 mug. Although many of the C-3 substituted indoles such as indole-3-acetic acid and tryptamine had colors in the reddish-violet-blue color region, most exhibited sufficient color differentiation to allow their identification by thin-layer chromatography. The procedure was simple and required only 10 min from the time of spraying the thin-layer plate until full color development was reached. The colors had a wide spectral range from yellow of the indole-3-glyoxylamide chromophore to blue of the melatonin chromophore, and were extremely stable.