cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulsed laser damage in thin film coatings: Fluorides and oxides

Abstract The absorbing-inclusion model of pulsed-laser-induced damage in thin films is reviewed and generalized. A solution is derived which can accommodate arbitrary absorption functions and pulse shapes. It is shown that this model applies to regions which were previously excluded. This occurs when the wavelength dependence of Mie absorption by a small inclusion in a thin film is taken into account. When this is done an additional wavelength dependence of the imaginary index of refraction is observed. That is, the localized absorbing region exhibits an intrinsic absorption wavelength dependence. The model reveals that fluoride film damage is thermally dominated and dependent on the thermal properties of the film materials with absorption that appears generally to be material independent but wavelength dependent. Furthermore, it also shows that thermal diffusion plays an important part in oxide film damage; however, there is apparently some material dependence not accounted for in the present model. It is postulated that this material dependence enters through the absorption process. As might be expected, absorption in oxide films is also shown to be wavelength dependent.
Cyclooctadiene systems derived from austrobailignan-5: revised stereochemical assignments

Abstract A number of the stereochemical assignments made in an earlier publication are revised in light of the data based on X-ray crystallographic studies which became available more recently.
4‐Bromo­phenyl­boronic acid ethanol 0.04‐solvate

The title compound, C6H6BBrO2·0.04C2H6O, is known to show very high antibacterial activity in the family of aryl-substituted boronic acids. Individual molecules are interconnected by hydrogen bonding, resulting in an extended chain. These chains are held parallel by weak van der Waals forces.
Impact of Anemia in Critically Ill Burned Casualties Evacuated From Combat Theater via US Military Critical Care Air Transport Teams.

Background US military Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT) transport critically ill burn patients out of theater. Blood transfusion may incur adverse effects, and studies report lower hemoglobin (Hgb) value may be safe for critically ill patients. There are no studies evaluating the optimal Hgb value for critically ill burn patients prior to CCATT evacuation. Objective The aim of the study was to determine if critically ill burn casualties with an Hgb of 10 g/dL or less, transported via CCATT, have similar clinical outcomes at 30 days as compared with patients with an Hgb of greater than 10 g/dL. Methods We conducted an institutional review board-approved retrospective cohort study involving patients transported via CCATT. We separated our study population into two cohorts based on Hgb levels at the time of theater evacuation: Hgb ≤10 g/dL or Hgb ≥10 g/dL. We compared demographics, injury description, physiologic parameters, and clinical outcomes. Results Of the 140 subjects enrolled, 29 were Hgb ≤10, and 111 were Hgb ≥10. Both groups were similar in age and percent total body surface area burned. Those Hgb ≤10 had a higher injury severity score (34 ± 19.8 vs. 25 ± 16.9, P = 0.02) and were more likely to have additional trauma (50% vs. 25%, P = 0.04). Modeling revealed no persistent differences in mortality, and other clinical outcomes measured. Conclusions Critical Care Air Transport Teams transport of critically ill burn patients with an Hgb of 10 g/dL or less had no significant differences in complications or mortality as compared with patients with an Hgb of greater than 10 g/dL. In this study, lower hemoglobin levels did not confer greater risk for worse outcomes.
Genomic analysis identifies a transcription-factor binding motif regulating expression of the alpha C protein in Group B Streptococcus.

The virulence-associated alpha C protein (ACP) of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) facilitates the bacterial interaction with host epithelial cells. We previously demonstrated that phase-variable expression of ACP is controlled by variation in short-sequence repeat sequences present upstream of the promoter of bca, the gene encoding ACP. To determine if trans-acting transcriptional control also influences ACP expression, we developed an in silico prediction algorithm that identified a potential transcription-factor binding motif (TTT-N6-ATAT) in the bca upstream region. In vitro reporter gene expression studies confirmed that this motif is required for full ACP expression, and DNA-binding assays with a GBS protein extract demonstrated that the predicted site is bound by a protein. This approach demonstrates the utility of in silico genomic predictive methods in the study of GBS regulatory mechanisms.
Multilevel Parallelization Models in CFD

*† We present two multilevel parallel models based on MPI/MPI (MPI denoting Message Passing Interface) and MPI/OpenMP (OpenMP denoting Open Multi-Processing) for highorder CFD methods and compare their performances. These models are implemented within the spectral/hp element framework to take advantage of the hierarchical structures arising from deterministic and stochastic CFD computations. For MPI/MPI, we employ MPI process groups to decompose the computations into different levels. For MPI/OpenMP, we take a Single-Program-Multiple-Data (SPMD) style approach to OpenMP shared memory parallelism that significantly reduces the OpenMP synchronizations. These models demonstrate a good scalability with respect to the problem size and a good speedup for fixed problem sizes. With identical configurations, the MPI/MPI parallel model is observed to be generally more efficient. The advantage of these multilevel approaches lies in that they reduce the number of processes participating in each communication and the latency overhead, and thus enable the applications to scale to a large number of processors more efficiently. The models have been applied to the direct simulation of turbulent flows past a circular cylinder at Reynolds number Re=10,000.
Coronary revascularization after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator for unstable angina pectoris: Results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial☆

To determine the role of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in unstable angina, it was compared with placebo in a randomized, double-blind trial. Forty patients with angina at rest and provocable ischemia (pacing induced) had baseline coronary angiography, study drug infusion and then repeat angiography at 20 ± 9 hours. All patients received diltiazem, nitrates, β blockers, aspirin and intravenous heparin. During study drug infusion (150 mg over 8 hours), refractory ischemia necessitating emergency bypass surgery (CABG) or coronary angioplasty (PTCA) occurred in 4 of 20 t-PA patients compared with 1 of 20 placebo patients (p = 0.21). Before discharge, revascularization for persistent, provocable ischemia and a residual stenosis ≥ 60% was as follows: t-PA patients, 8 PTCA and 7 CABG; placebo patients, 11 PTCA and 8 CABG (p = 0.39). Quantitative angiographic percent diameter stenosis of the culprit artery at baseline and follow-up was: t-PA 71 ± 17 and 63 ± 22; placebo 70 ± 19 and 67 ± 22 (difference not significant). However, 3 t-PA patients compared with no placebo patients demonstrated an insignificant (< 60% diameter) residual stenosis and averted PTCA (p = 0.14). There were no complications of PTCA in the 8 t-PA patients; in contrast, 3 of 11 placebo patients had abrupt closure, necessitating emergency CABG in 2 (p = 0.23). Thus, intravenous t-PA in unstable angina can eliminate the need for PTCA in a few patients, does not appear to decrease the overall or emergency rate of revascularization procedures and may facilitate the safety of PTCA.
Who is a Christian?: Toward a dialogic approach in the anthropology of Christianity

This article aims to contribute to the continued formation of an anthropology of Christianity. We argue that anthropologists should adopt a more dialogic approach to the anthropological study of Christianity, one that shifts the concern from the problems posed by Christianity to anthropology, to the problems posed by Christianity to Christians themselves. In particular, we argue that the problem of determining who and what counts as a Christian is not a strictly anthropological problem, but is a potent source of debate within Christian communities. Attending to such debate offers a window into what is at stake in the lives of Christians themselves, and thus has the capacity to provide a non-essentializing foundation for the anthropology of Christianity as a comparative project. We begin with a review of recent anthropological literature and conclude with a set of ethnographic illustrations that show the import of such a shift for future research.
Copper binding affinity of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) gills : Implications for assessing bioavailable metal

In this study, we determined the conditional stability constant (log K′) of copper for the gills of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss; RBT) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis; BT). Using toxicity-based complexation bioassays, which measure the effect of competing organic ligands on copper toxicity, the RBT gill copper log K′ range was 6.4 to 7.2. Using a Scatchard analysis of gill Cu accumulation, the RBT log K′ was 7.50 and the BT log K′ was 7.25. The close agreement in RBT log K′ values between these two methods suggests that measurement of gill copper accumulation is an acceptable alternative for determining a toxicity-based gill copper binding affinity. Our results also suggest that there is either a single gill copper binding component or, more realistically, multiple components with similar binding properties that function collectively to define a single toxicologically relevant copper conditional stability constant. These results suggest analytical approaches to measuring bioavailable metal concentrations, such as geochemical modeling where biological ligands are included in speciation calculations, may adequately simulate complex biological ligands. A method to convert gill copper accumulation to a bioavailable water criterion is also discussed.
Evaluation of toxic conditions associated with oranging symptoms of rice in a flooded Oxisol in Sumatra, Indonesia

The toxic conditions of Oxisol soils attributed to oranging symptoms of rice grown in the Sitiung Transmigration area, Sumatra, Indonesia were evaluated in the laboratory. Changes of pH and Eh of flooded soils, and concentrations of nutrients in the soils and in the rice plants were measured. The soils were clayey, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic, Typic Haplorthox. It was found that Eh of the soils sharply decreased from an average value of +460 ± 150 mV to −217 ± 15 mV following 60 days of flooding (DF). During the same period of flooding, soil pH increased from an average value of 5.2 ± 0.6 to 6.6 ± 0.2. Concentrations of NaOAc extractable Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo, Ca, Mg, P, and K, but not Al, increased markedly whereas their water-soluble form, except Fe, decreased slightly following 60 DF. Leaf tissue analyses indicated that 13, 51 and 58% of the rice plant samples contained potentially toxic level of Mn, Fe and Al, respectively, as their contents were higher than the assumed threshold toxicity levels of 2500, 300, and 300 mg kg−1. Thirteen, 16, 2, and 3% of the leaf tissue also contained potentially deficient levels of P, K, Ca, and Mg, respectively. The oranging symptom in the rice leaf tissue appeared to be due to indirect toxicity of Fe, Mn, and Al, i.e., Fe-induced, Mn-induced, and Al-induced deficiency of P, K, Ca and Mg. As a result of the relatively high concentrations of NaOAc extractable Fe, Mn, and Al in the soil solution, root growth was limited and coated with iron and manganese oxides thereby reducing the root's capacity to absorb nutrients from the soils.
From behind the veil: Students' resistance from different directions

In this chapter, critical race and expectancy violation theories are used to deconstruct students' resistance to a female faculty member of color, a Muslim Arab American who wears the traditional Islamic cover. The author provides a narrative of her teaching experience and some techniques she has used to face such resistance.
Characterization of nonlinear magnetostrictive dynamics by fiber optic interferometry

A high strain resolution fiber optic interferometer is utilized to characterize the nonlinear magnetostrictive dynamics of amorphous ferromagnetic ribbons. Strain response of the magnetostrictive oscillator is found to exhibit several interesting routes to chaos as a function of applied dc and ac magnetic fields. In particular, we study parametric effects near a period doubling bifurcation. Small signal gain predicted near a super-critical period doubling bifurcation is verified in this system and has been used to demonstrate a fiber optic magnetic field sensor with gain. For appropriate parameter settings, the magnetostrictive oscillator also displayed a hysteretic sub-critical bifurcation. Stochastic resonance (SR) has been observed near such a sub-critical bifurcation. Suggestions are made regarding the exploitation of the SR effect for making novel magnetic field sensors.
Electrochemical detection of individual DNA hybridization events

We report on real-time electrochemical detection of individual DNA hybridization events at an electrode surface. The experiment is carried out in a microelectrochemical device configured with a working electrode modified with single-stranded DNA probe molecules. When a complementary DNA strand labelled with a catalyst hybridizes to the probe, an easily detectable electrocatalytic current is observed. In the experiments reported here, the catalyst is a platinum nanoparticle and the current arises from electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine. Two types of current transients are observed: short bursts and longer-lived steps. At low concentrations of hydrazine, the average size of the current transients is proportional to the amount of hydrazine present, but at higher concentrations the hydrazine oxidation reaction interferes with hybridization.
Telescope Multi-Field Wavefront Control with a Kalman Filter

An effective multi-field wavefront control (WFC) approach is demonstrated for an actuated, segmented space telescope using wavefront measurements at the exit pupil, and the optical and computational implications of this approach are discussed. The integration of a Kalman Filter as an optical state estimator into the wavefront control process to further improve the robustness of the optical alignment of the telescope will also be discussed. Through a comparison of WFC performances between on-orbit and ground-test optical system configurations, the connection (and a possible disconnection) between WFC and optical system alignment under these circumstances are analyzed. Our MACOS-based computer simulation results will be presented and discussed.
Controlled Cellular Growth by Superhydrophobic Microstructured Surfaces of Implantable Biodegradable Polymer Substrate

Biodegradable polymers with elastomeric properties have recently received attention for their potential use in the engineering of soft tissues such as blood vessel, heart valves, cartilage, tendon, and bladder, which exhibit elastic properties [1, 2]. In this paper, microfabrication technology has been applied successfully to biodegradable polymer films to encourage cell growth in designated area. This work is presented with the final goal of fabricating implantable polymer scaffolds to produce blood capillaries in controlled manner spatially by using the concept of superhydrophobic surfaces.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Phonon Dispersion and the Propagation of Sound in Liquid Helium-4 below 0.6°K

Recent experiments on the attenuation and velocity of sound in liquid ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ at low temperatures are discussed in terms of the excitation model of liquid ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$. By assuming for the long-wavelength excitations the dispersion relation $\ensuremath{\epsilon}(p)=cp[1\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}{p}^{2}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta}{p}^{4}\ensuremath{\cdots}]$ with $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ negative, we are able to reconcile previous disagreements between theory and experiment.
Specificity of the Antheridogen from Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn.

Characteristics of the fern antheridogen from Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn. are investigated. These are: (a) determination of molecular size (it is readily dialyzable), (b) pKa (about 5), (c) movement in thin layer chromatography, and (d) ability to induce dark germination of fern spores. These four characteristics are compared to the same characteristics of three other antheridogens (antheridogens A and B or GA). Molecular size and pKa are similar, but, the antheridogens are separable from each other using thin layer chromatography. It was also shown that spore germination is not induced by the Ceratopteris antheridogen, even in its own spores, a characteristic not reported as shared by the other antheridogens. However, the inconsistency of spore germination as an assay for antheridogen is demonstrated. The presence of gametophyte-produced allelopathic substances is also shown.
Has the marketing concept returned to the United States

Examines the renewed interest and application of the marketing concept in the United States. Argues that recent interest is the result of a decline in corporate America and the emergence of Japanese competition, signalling America′s refocus on customer needs, internal needs, and vendor relations. Calls for continued use of the marketing concept in American industry.
Analysis of the Rhesus Cytomegalovirus Immediate-Early Gene Promoter

Abstract A cytomegalovirus (CMV) isolate has been recovered from a rhesus macaque ( Macaca mulatta ) experimentally infected with simian immunodeficiency virus. The full-length immediate-early gene (IE) was cloned from a genomic library of this primary rhesus CMV isolate (RhCMV) using the African green monkey (AGM) CMV IE gene as probe. The promoter region and the first non-coding exon of the RhCMV IE gene have been sequenced. Nucleotide sequence comparisons from positions -733 to +625 (relative to the start site of transcription at +1) reveal 70 and 48% sequence homology with the AGM CMVIE and the human CMV (HCMV) IE genes, respectively. A region that includes the TATA box, the cis repression signal and the first exon in the RhCMV IE gene sequence is 91 and 76% homologous with the AGM CMV and HCMV IE genes, respectively. In permissive MRC-5 cells infected with RhCMV, synthesis of RNA from the IE gene peaks at 4-8 hr post infection. These studies provide a basis for elucidating molecular mechanisms regulating expression of the RhCMV IE gene and viral replication.
Activation of Barium-Sensitive Inward Rectifier Potassium Channels Mediates Remote Dilation of Coronary Arterioles

Background Conducted vasodilation seems to be critical for the functional distribution of blood flow in the skeletal muscle microcirculation. However, this vasoregulatory phenomenon has not been documented in the coronary microcirculation, and its underlying mechanism remains elusive. Because potassium ions are potent metabolic vasodilators in the heart, by activating vascular inward rectifier K+ (Kir) channels, we tested the hypothesis that coronary arterioles exhibit remote vasodilation through activation of this type of channel. Methods and Results Porcine coronary arterioles were isolated, cannulated, and pressurized for in vitro study. Vessels dilated concentration-dependently to extraluminal KCl (5 to 20 mmol/L), bradykinin, adenosine, pinacidil, and sodium nitroprusside. A Kir channel blocker, BaCl2 (30 μmol/L), inhibited vasodilatory responses to KCl and bradykinin but not to adenosine, pinacidil, or nitroprusside. In a flow chamber, localized administration of bradykinin, adenosine, and KCl to th...
IMPACT OF FETAL HEART RATE MONITORING & BLOOD SAMPLING ON INFANT MORTALITY & MORBIDITY - ONGOING STUDY

Since the introduction of fetal monitoring (heart rate & acid base) 10 years ago, first on a research basis, then as an adjunct to clinical care, the proportion of patients being monitored during labor has increased to 70% (2,000 patients/year). Associated with this there has been a gradual reduction in morbidity as reflected by better Apgar scores and in mortality, for infants weighing 1000 g or more. The proportion of infants with a 1 min. Apgar score of 6 or less prior to monitoring averaged 25%; this has fallen to approximately 12%. There was a comparable improvement in the 5 min. Apgar score. Neonatal death rate has been reduced by almost 40% and perinatal mortality by approximately 10%. Furthermore, of infants requiring intensive care in the neonatal period, those who were monitored during labor were found to require a significantly shorter period in the ICU than those who were not monitored. This difference was even more striking when only infants above 2500 g were considered. Four factors appear to be of major importance in the acceptance and institution of monitoring: an adequate number of monitors maintained in good working order at all times; continuing education of the medical and nursing staff in the use of the equipment and interpretation of records; education of patients; services of a knowledgeable bioengineer and acid-base technician on a regular basis.
Money management practices influencing household asset ownership

The purpose of this research is to describe the types and amounts of assets owned by households, and to determine socio-demographic variables and money management practices that influence the household's total asset ownership. The data used for this study are from a survey conducted during the winter of 1982. Definite patterns of financial asset ownership emerged. A majority, 70% or more, of the households owned current and savings accounts, and cars and real estate. A minority, 30% or less, owned certificates of deposit, mutual funds, stocks, bonds and individual retirement accounts. Age, net income and housing tenure were significant socio-demographic variables in explaining variation in total asset ownership among households. Only two money management practices, i.e. number of credit cards owned and the amount the manager felt comfortable charging on these cards, were significant in explaining variations in the amount of total assets owned by a household.
Effect of Freezing of Beef on Subsequent Postmortem Aging and Shear Force

Seventy-two steaks were used to determine effects of freezing postrigor muscle on aging of meat and shear force. Steaks were removed from each carcass 24 hr postmortem and aged at 2°C for 2 or 6 days; or frozen at − 30°C for 27 days, thawed 24 hr and aged 2 or 6 days at 2°C. After aging, steaks were cooked and shear force determinations made. Aging of meat reduced shear force values; however, meat aged after freezing had lower (P < 0.03) shear force values than meat aged before freezing. Meat cooked after freezing had greater (P < 0.05) cooking losses. Freezing enhances the aging process and improves shear values of meat.
Improvement of olfaction in laeyngectomized patients with the larynx bypass

Tube en plastique entre le tracheostome et la cavite buccale, ce qui retablit le courant aerien nasal. L'odorat reapparait pour les stimuli du nerf trijumeau mais pas pour les substances qui stimulent le nerf olfactif (initialement sinon totalement)
Phosphatase enzyme histochemistry for studying vascular hierarchy, pathology, and endothelial cell dysfunction in retina and choroid

Phosphatase enzymes cleave an inorganic phosphate from a substrate. Phosphatase enzyme histochemistry followed by flat-embedding in glycol methacrylate is extremely useful in studying retinal and choroidal vascular development and loss, since only viable blood vessels have these enzyme activities. Sites of occlusion and remodeling can be identified and analysed, resulting in new insights into the cause of occlusion. The phosphatase activities are elevated in neovascularization making possible high resolution analysis of neovascularization, the feeder vessels, and the retinal milieu in which angiogenesis occurs. Adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase) catalyzes ADP to an inorganic phosphate plus adenosine monophosphate, preventing accumulation of ADP, one of the most potent stimuli for platelet aggregation. The ADPase technique can be used in any species but this report highlights its use in dog and human retinas. The ADPase technique has yielded important insights into vaso-occlusive and vasoproliferative processes in retinopathy of prematurity, sickle cell and diabetic retinopathies. The alkaline phosphatase flatembedding technique is useful in evaluating dog, cat, and human choroidal vasculatures. It has permitted quantification of the loss of choriocapillaris in diabetic choroidopathy and of the RPE and choriocapillaris in geographic atrophy and exudative age-related macular degeneration.
Aggressive surgical management of recurrent rectal cancer—Is it worthwhile?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether radical surgery in appropriately selected patients who have recurrent rectal cancer can produce significant disease-free survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective review of the management of all patients presenting with recurrent local and metastatic rectal cancer at a single institution during an 11-year period. RESULTS: Of 489 patients who underwent curative surgery for primary rectal cancer during the period reviewed, 44 (9 percent) developed recurrent disease at a median interval of 18 (range, 3–60) months after curative surgery. Local pelvic recurrence alone was present in 28 (5.7 percent) patients. Overall survival after diagnosis of recurrent disease was 41 percent (18/44) at a median interval of 15 (range, 2–60) months. Curative resection was performed in 14 (32 percent) patients with a disease-free survival of 86 percent (12/14) at a median of 25 (range, 9–60) months after curative surgery. In comparison, survival in patients who underwent palliative treatment was significantly less (25 vs.12 months;P<0.05; 95 percent confidence interval, 10, 23 (Mann-WhitneyUtest)); 20 percent survival at a median of 12 months ranged from 2 to 36 after diagnosis of recurrent disease. Of six patients in the curative group who developed second recurrences, four underwent further curative surgery and are disease-free at a median of 19.5 (range, 12–29) months after surgery. Palliative surgery provided good symptomatic relief and improved quality of life in 11 patients in the palliative group, although there was no survival advantage over those who underwent nonsurgical palliative treatment (n=19). CONCLUSION: In appropriately selected cases, aggressive surgical therapy produces significant disease-free survival in patients with recurrent rectal cancer.
Laws for stationary states in systems with extremal dynamics.

Laws are derived for stationary states in self-organized critical systems with extremal dynamics. In a class of models, the exponent {eta} for the survival of activity is zero in all dimensions. Scaling relations for other critical exponents are found. Numerical simulations of Sneppen`s interface depinning model, Zaitsev`s low temperature creep model, and the Bak-Sneppen evolution model agree with these predictions.
The evolution of the universe.

THE discovery of the red shift in the spectra of distant stellar galaxies revealed the important fact that our universe is in the state of uniform expansion, and raised an interesting question as to whether the present features of the universe could be understood as the result of its evolutionary development, which must have started a few thousand million years ago from a homogeneous state of extremely high density and temperature. We conclude first of all that the relative abundances of various atomic species (which were found to be essentially the same all over the observed region of the universe) must represent the most ancient archaeological document pertaining to the history of the universe. These abundances must have been established during the earliest stages of expansion when the temperature of the primordial matter was still sufficiently high to permit nuclear transformations to run through the entire range of chemical elements. It is also interesting to notice that the observed relative amounts of natural radioactive elements suggest that their nuclei must have been formed (presumably along with all other stable nuclei) rather soon after the beginning of the universal expansion. In fact, we notice that natural radioactive isotopes with the decay periods of many thousand million years (such as uranium-238, thorium-232 and samarium-148) are comparatively abundant, whereas those with decay periods measuring only several hundred million years are extremely rare (as uranium-235 and potassium-40). If, using the known decay periods and natural abundances of these isotopes, we try to calculate the date when they have been about as abundant as the corresponding isotopes of longer life, we find that it must have been a few thousand million years ago, in general agreement with the astronomically determined age of the universe.
Equations for Estimating the Similarity Parameter from Radiation Measurements within Weakly Absorbing Optically Thick Clouds

Abstract Series expansions are derived for estimating the similarity parameter, which is a combination of the single-scattering albedo and asymmetry factor, from radiance measurement deep in the interior of a weary absorbing cloud. One expansion requires the measurements of the radiance in only the zenith and nadir directions, while a second uses the downward and upward irradiances. Numerical calculations show the estimates for the similarity parameter are very insensitive to different values of the asymmetry factor.
Patterns of anemia and infection from medieval York, England

An assessment of the presence and patterns of porotic hyperostosis and periosteal reactions in the skeletal population (n = 1,014) from St. Helen-on-the-Walls, York, are used to examine health and disease in urban medieval England. The analyses of these two lesions indicate that 58% of the population display evidence of porotic hyperostosis and that 21.5% of the population display periosteal reactions. Through differential diagnosis it is asserted that porotic hyperostosis is associated with iron-deficiency anemia, and that periosteal reactions may be the result of endemic treponematosis and/or non-specific infection, including parasitic infestation. An association between the presence of remodeled lesions and adulthood is noticeable for both porotic hyperostosis and periosteal reactions, as is a pattern of increased average age at death for those displaying both conditions.
TRANSVERSE PATTERNS IN LASERS

Laser patterns in the plane transverse to the beam propagation direction are investigated. We find a lasing state, alternating standing waves, which consists of two perpendicularly oriented, out-of-phase standing waves in the transverse plane. This state is stable near threshold and gives rise to square intensity patterns. Numerical simulation on the laser equations has been carried out and the effect of transverse boundaries on wave patterns is addressed.
Fish and stream habitat risks from uncharacteristic wildfire: Observations from 17 years of fire-related disturbances on the Boise National Forest, Idaho

Abstract Several large, uncharacteristic wildfires occurred on the Boise National Forest in Southwest Idaho, from 1986 to 2003. From 1987 to 1994, severe wildfires burned almost 50% of the ponderosa pine forest types (about 200,000 ha). The intensity of the fires varied across the landscape, with a mix of low to moderate severity, and lesser amounts of high burn severity. After the fires, localized debris flows favored smaller order streams in watersheds less than 4000 ha in size, where there had been mostly high severity burning. Locally, areas experiencing high heat and post-fire debris flows had reduced fish numbers and altered fish habitats. Uncharacteristic wildfires on the managed portions of the Boise National Forest appeared to have more pronounced, short-term effects on fish habitats as compared with characteristic wildfires in the Central Idaho Wilderness. Even in the most severely impacted streams, habitat conditions and trout populations improved dramatically within 5–10 years. Post-fire floods apparently rejuvenated stream habitats by exporting fine sediments and by importing large amounts of gravel, cobble, woody debris, and nutrients, resulting in higher fish productivities than before the fire. These observations suggest that important elements of biodiversity and fish productivity may be influenced, or even created by fire-related disturbances. In some cases, habitats that were completely devoid of salmonid fishes just after the debris floods, were later re-colonized with migrants returning from downstream or nearby tributary rearing habitats. Re-population was likely enhanced by higher fecundity, homing instinct, and greater mobility of the larger migratory fish. Ecosystem restoration activities that reduce both short- and long-term threats of uncharacteristic wildfire on imperiled fishes could be emphasized in areas where local populations may be weak and/or isolated, but potentially recoverable. But forest ecosystem restoration alone may not reduce risks to fish if existing habitat conditions and isolation are limiting the population.
Age-graded change in the initiation of positive affect

Abstract This study presents data on the initiation of positive affect during mother–child interaction in 12-( n =31), 18-( n =28), 24-( n =30), and 32-( n =25) month-olds. The proportion of child- initiated and prompted episodes increased with age, whereas that of mother–initiated episodes decreased, indicating that children are increasingly active partners.
Computational experience with an application of a simultaneous transportation equilibrium model to urban travel in Austin, Texas

Abstract Safwat and Magnanti (1988) have developed a combined trip generation, trip distribution, modal split, and traffic assignment model that can predict demand and performance levels on large-scale transportation networks simultaneously, i.e. a simultaneous transportation equilibrium model (STEM). The major objective of this paper is to assess the computational efficiency of the STEM approach when applied to an urban large-scale network, namely the urban transportation system of Austin, Texas. The Austin network consisted of 520 zones, 19,214 origin-destination (O-D) pairs, 7,096 links and 2,137 nodes. The Central Processing Unit (CPU) time on an IBM 4381 mainframe computer was 430 seconds for a typical iteration and about 4,734 seconds, less than 79 minutes, to arrive at a reasonably accurate solution in no more than 10 iterations. The computational time at any given iteration is comparable to that of the standard fixed demand traffic assignment procedure. These results encourage further applications of the STEM model to large urban areas.
Prostaglandins and surgical diseases: Part I.

Prostaglandins are important in the allograft response. Allograft antigenic stimulation causes release of prostaglandins both in vivo and in vitro. Macrophages and monocytes are the cells that produce the prostaglandins from arachidonic acid via the cyclooxygenase pathway. Prostaglandins exert immunosuppressive effects at several steps on both afferent and efferent phases in the cell-mediated immune system: reduction of Ia expression in antigen-presenting cells, inhibition of IL-1 and IL-2 production, and activation of suppressor cells. The immunosuppressive effects of blood transfusions and essential fatty acids appear to be mediated by PGE.
Gastric and duodenal ulcer are each many different diseases.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that peptic ulcer is not one disease, but a genetically, etiologically, and pathogenetically heterogeneous group of diseases that share a common endpoint, an ulcer crater in those parts of the gastrointestinal tract exposed to acid and pepsin. The evidence that both gastric and duodenal ulcer are each many different diseases is reviewed and a classification of the peptic diseases is proposed. The implication of this extensive heterogeneity is that each of the disorders leading to peptic ulcer may have a distinct etiology, pathophysiology, genetics, and natural history, and thus may be amenable to different modes of therapy and prevention. Only through the conplete delineation of each of the disorders leading to peptic ulcer will specific diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment be possible for peptic ulcer patients and their families.
CDF Run II silicon tracking projects

Abstract Design features, functionality, and expected performance are reviewed for the silicon charged particle track detectors to be used by the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) during the upcoming Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron. The original design has been supplemented by addiition of a new layer of silicon mounted on the beam pipe that improves the vertexing performance of the combined assembly. Progress has been made in many areas of design and construction of the silicon sensors, readout electronics, and associated systems. The resulting detector array should provide substantial improvements in coverage and performance over those of previous CDF silicon vertex detectors.
A separable potential in triaxially ellipsoidal coordinates satisfying the Laplace equation

This paper derives the most general potential function which allows separation of the hamilton-Jacobi equation in orthogonal coordinates and which satisfies the Laplace equation. The resulting potential is then specialized to the case of interest for near-Earth satellites, where the proper behavior of the potential at infinity is obtained and singularities in the region of interest are eliminated. The Vinti potential is found as a special case.
Palmar carpal instability secondary to dislocation of scaphoid and lunate: Report of case and review of the literature

An isolated dislocation of scaphoid and lunate is presented. We believe that this injury was responsible for the later development of a palmar carpal instability pattern. Carpal kinematics and pertinent literature are reviewed to support this belief. In our patient, the scaphoid relationship to the trapezium and trapezoid had remained largely undisturbed. The separation of lunate and capitate, a frequent form of carpal dislocation, could be explained on an anatomical basis. The lunate remained attached to the scaphoid, but completely dissociated from the triquetrum. This provided a rare clinical model for the evaluation of the effects of triquetrolunate dissociations on carpal alignment.
Teaching Apparel Merchandising/Retail Industry Career Exploration and Professional Development by Involvement of Students in Survey Research

A total of 424 surveys that addressed the construct of corporate excellence were collected by 106 students in a sophomore-level professional development course for apparel merchandising and retaili...
Symmetric signalling within asymmetric dimers of the Staphylococcus aureus receptor histidine kinase AgrC.

Summary Virulence in Staphylococcus aureus is largely under control of the accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum-sensing system. The AgrC receptor histidine kinase detects its autoinducing peptide (AIP) ligand and generates an intracellular signal resulting in secretion of virulence factors. Although agr is a well-studied quorum-sensing system, little is known about the mechanism of AgrC activation. By co-immunoprecipitation analysis and intermolecular complementation of receptor mutants, we showed that AgrC forms ligand-independent dimers that undergo trans-autophosphorylation upon interaction with AIP. Remarkably, addition of specific AIPs to AgrC mutant dimers with only one functional sensor domain caused symmetric activation of either kinase domain despite the sensor asymmetry. Furthermore, mutant dimers involving one constitutive protomer demonstrated ligand-independent activity, irrespective of which protomer was kinase deficient. These results demonstrate that signalling through either individual AgrC protomer causes symmetric activation of both kinase domains. We suggest that such signalling across the dimer interface may be an important mechanism for dimeric quorum-sensing receptors to rapidly elicit a response upon signal detection.
Rubbery Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Solid-State, Thin-Film Lithium Batteries

Graft copolymer electrolytes (GCEs) of poly[(oxyethylene)9 methacrylate]-g-poly(dimethyl siloxane) (POEM-g-PDMS) (70:30) have been synthesized by simple free radical polymerization using a macromonomer route. Differentialscanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, and small angle neutron scattering confirmed the material to be microphase-separated with a domain periodicity of ∼25 nm. Over the temperature range 290 200 cycles) at a discharge rate of 2/3 C and could be cycled (charged and discharged) at subambient temperature (0°C).
Setting WIP levels with statistical throughput control (STC) in CONWIP production lines

We develop a simple adaptive production control method for setting WIP levels to meet target production rates in a pull production operating under the CONWIP (Constant work in process) protocol. This method, termed Statistical Throughput Control (STC), uses real-time data to automatically adjust WIP levels (via kanban cards) in the face of noisy estimates of throughput. Because STC does not rely on a steady-state model, it is well-suited to systems subject to environmental changes such as those induced by continuous improvement efforts. Using simulation, we demonstrate the effectivness of STC under a variety of conditions, including single and multiple products, simple flow lines, routeings with shared resources and assembly systems.
Assessing Criminal Justice Practice Using Social Justice Theory

In this article, I introduce two of the leading theories of social justice put forth by John Rawls and David Miller. Then, I assess criminal justice practice, from law-making to corrections, in terms of ways in which it is consistent and inconsistent with these theories of social justice. Throughout the article, I also identify ways in which criminal justice practice is inconsistent with social justice. Finally, I make recommendations for reforming criminal justice to make it more consistent with social justice.
Chemotherapeutic management of soft tissue sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of connective tissue tumors, with more than 50 different subtypes. Given the heterogeneity, and the relative small numbers of patients, performing large adequately powered clinical trials in which one can glean any overall broad treatment decisions based on outcome is difficult at best. There is controversy on which chemotherapeutic agents to use in the adjuvant and metastatic settings, or even if to use chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting. In the metastatic setting, doxorubicin and ifosfamide have remained the standards of care for more than 20 years. This review discusses the data on chemotherapy for treatment of metastatic sarcomas and the utility of chemotherapy in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings. In addition, the utility of newer biologic agents in the treatment for sarcomas is considered.
An interpretable and converging set-membership algorithm

Set membership (SM)-based techniques, with least square error overlay, suffer from a trade-off between interpretability and proof of convergence. The authors introduce a modified SM algorithm with 'forgetting' covariance updating in conjunction with minimum volume data selecting strategy. The convergence properties of this algorithm and its resemblance to the stochastic approximation method are discussed. >
A generalized hypothetical reference decoder for H.264/AVC

In video coding standards, a compliant bit stream must be decoded by a hypothetical decoder that is conceptually connected to the output of an encoder and consists of a decoder buffer, a decoder, and a display unit. This virtual decoder is known as the hypothetical reference decoder (HRD) in H.263 and the video buffering verifier in MPEG. The encoder must create a bit stream so that the hypothetical decoder buffer does not overflow or underflow. These previous decoder models assume that a given bit stream will be transmitted through a channel of a known bit rate and will be decoded (after a given buffering delay) by a device of some given buffer size. Therefore, these models are quite rigid and do not address the requirements of many of today's important video applications such as broadcasting video live or streaming pre-encoded video on demand over network paths with various peak bit rates to devices with various buffer sizes. In this paper, we present a new HRD for H.264/AVC that is more general and flexible than those defined in prior standards and provides significant additional benefits.
Pharmacologic therapy for reducing myocardial infarct size in clinical trials: failed and promising approaches.

In patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, early, successful, and durable reperfusion therapy optimizes the likelihood of favorable outcomes. Fibrinolysis and primary percut...
Does complete aneurysm exclusion ensure long-term success after endovascular repair?

l l Purpose: To examine whether complete aneurysm exclusion is a reliable marker for suc- cessful long-term endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Methods: The medical records, computed tomographic (CT) scans, and duplex examina- tions of all the patients who underwent endovascular AAA repair at a single institution and had at least 12 months of follow-up were reviewed. Sixty-seven patients (58 men; mean age 74 years, range 57-87) were identified. Complete aneurysm exclusion was de- fined by the absence of an endoleak at any time before an adverse event. The primary endpoint included all major adverse events that occurred during the postoperative period, including aneurysm expansion, acute symptoms referable to the AAA, late secondary pro- cedures, ruptures, and deaths from ruptures and all other causes. Results: There were 44 adverse events (8 expanding aneurysms, 4 acute symptoms, 17 secondary procedures, and 15 deaths from other causes) in 28 (42%) patients. Among 36 (54%) patients who had initial complete aneurysm exclusion (no endoleak), 12 (33%) ex- perienced adverse events, compared with 16 (52%) events in 31 patients who had endoleak (x 2 5 1.59, p 5 0.21). Conclusions: There was no statistically significant difference in adverse events based on the presence or absence of endoleak. Complete aneurysm exclusion as defined by absence of an endoleak does not indicate an event-free postoperative course. A better marker of clinical success of endovascular AAA repair is needed. J Endovasc Ther 2000;7:494-500
Histamine Phase Shifts the Hamster Circadian Pacemaker via an NMDA Dependent Mechanism

The SCN acts as the central pacemaker for circadian rhythms in mammals. Histamine has been shown to affect circadian rhythms both in vivo and in vitro. We investigated the mechanism by which histamine phase shifts circadian rhythms in vitro. Hypothalamic slices containing the SCN were prepared from golden hamsters, and spontaneous firing rates of individual cells were recorded on the second day in vitro. Application of histamine (1 microM-10 mM) at the extrapolated time of 2 h after lights off (ZT 14) on day 1 in vitro delayed the time of peak firing in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-exposure to the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist (+/-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5; 100 microM-1 mM) 5 min before histamine (1 microM) was applied to the slice blocked the phase-delaying effects of histamine. Application of the H1 blocker mepryamine (100 nM) or the H2 blocker cimetidine (10 microM) followed by histamine had no effect on the phase delay induced by histamine. In whole cell recordings from acutely dissociated neurons of hamster SCN, histamine (50 microM) was shown to potentiate NMDA-evoked currents by 52 +/- 12%. These experiments demonstrate that histamine phase shifts of the circadian clock are dependent on NMDA receptor activation and that histamine can directly potentiate NMDA currents in SCN neurons. Histamine may alter circadian clock function by acting directly on NMDA receptors, possibly via binding to the polyamine site.