cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ramifications of the globus pallidus in the rat as indicated by patterns of immunohistochemistry

An attempt has been made to redefine the borders of the globus pallidus by the aid of the unique pattern of enkephalin-like and substance P-like immunoreactivity characterizing the pallidum of both monkey6 and rat. In preparations immunoreacted for these two peptides by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase histochemical method of Sternberger22 this pattern appears in the form of ribbon-like fibers (here called “woolly fibers”) that have been interpreted by Haber and Eide6 as unstained pallidal elements (dendrites and cell bodies) each enmeshed by a plexus of thin, enkephalin- or substance P-positive striatopallidal fibers. A dense enkephalin-positive woolly-fiber plexus fills the entire external pallidal segment as conventionally defined (here called “dorsal pallidum”) and extends from there in various, generally ventral, directions. The most massive, rostral extension defines the subcommissural or “ventral pallidum” of Heimer and Wilson10 and expands from there ventralward into the olfactory tubercle, supporting Heimer’s9 suggestion that many of the large cells of the tubercle are pallidal neurons. Further extensions from the enkephalin-positive dorsal pallidum plexus invade the ventral striatal region (including the nucleus accumbens), a dorsal region of the amygdala, and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Substance P-positive woolly fibers, like their enkephalin-positive counterparts, fill the ventral pallidum and invade the olfactory tubercle, but avoid all except a small rostroventral part of the dorsal pallidum, and do not invade the striatum, the amygdala, or the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. On the other hand, the dense substance P-positive woolly-fiber plexus filling the internal pallidal segment (entopeduncular nucleus) expands medialward into the lateral hypothalamic region. The entopeduncular nucleus invades the hypothalamus also with a loose plexus of enkephalin-positive woolly fibers.
Ethnicity or race, area characteristics, and sexual partner choice among American adolescents.

The aim of this paper is to examine the association of individual demographic variables and area characteristics with the characteristics of sexual partners of American adolescents. Data for the study were drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The data indicate that the community characteristics of ethnic or racial composition of the population and region were most strongly related to the ethnicity or race of the partner. Regional differences in the ethnicity or race of partners were significant even after controlling for the ethnic or racial composition of the community. Differences in partner's age, grade, neighborhood, and school or residence were not related to school and community characteristics. In addition, the individual characteristics of age, gender, and race or ethnicity were also related to ethnicity or race of partner.
The Columbian Timber Beetle, Corthylus columbianus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). II. Fungi and Staining Associated with the Beetle in Soft Maple

Graphium sp. near rigidum (Pers.) Sacc, Ceratocystis ? pluriannulata (Hedgc.) Moreau, Fusarium tricinctum Cda., F. oxysporum Schl., F. solani Mart., Pichia n. sp., Gliocladium roseum Bainier, and Rhizoctonia sp. were isolated from galleries of Corthylus columbianus Hopkins and the associated stains in sapwood of soft maple, Acer saccharinum L. The white pseudomycelial mat of Pichia sp. is very conspicuous in the egg chambers of the beetle during its egg and larval stages, and the larvae depend solely upon it for the food mass. Optimum temperatures for growth of the Ceratocystis and the Pichia , respectively, were 65°–85° and 65°–75°F. Pichia sp. did not grow at 40° or 90°F, but these 2 temperatures did not inhibit growth of Ceratocystis . No stain developed in soft maple sapwood blocks inoculated in the laboratory. The Pichia and the Ceratocystis failed to grow in test blocks with 20.7%–25.4% moisture content (based on oven-dry weight), but moisture contents of 66.7%–83.2% were favorable for their growth at 75°F. Inoculations of a living soft maple tree with pure cultures of Ceratocystis sp., Pichia sp., Fusarium tricinctum, Graphium sp., and Rhizoctonia sp. resulted, 7 months later, in 100% staining, but the respective organisms were recovered at only 8%–50% of the inoculation sites. Though sapwood stain associated with some species of fungi was significantly longer than with the null, aseptic inoculation controls, all excavations yielded well-developed stains. While the presence of certain fungi may augment stain development, the results indicate that the role of the fungi is minor and that mechanical injury alone is the primary inciter of staining.
Strength of elastorners—a perspective

The dependence of stress-strain curves on temperature and extension rate is first discussed qualitatively along with aspects of the fracture process. Considered thereafter are the strength and extensibility, measured over broad ranges of temperature and extension rate, of elastomers in several classes: (a) singlephase non-crystallizable; (b) crystallizable, both unfilled and containing a reinforcing filler; and (c) block copolymers which contain plastic domains. It is shown that all single-phase noncrystallizable elastomers lack toughness except under restricted test conditions and that toughness necessitates a dispersed phase. Data are presented on crystallizable rubber vulcanizates and on polyurethane and poly(urea-urethane) block copolymers to show that plastic domains are highly effective sources of strength. The properties of these block copolymers are examined in detail, and their strengths are compared with those of other segmented copolymers and triblock elastomers. Factors responsible for strength are delineated.
Radwaste volume in lithium and Flibe thick liquid wall and comparison to conventional SW concepts

Abstract Among the advantages offered by the deployment of thick liquid walls (LW) in high power density reactors is the substantial reduction in radwaste volume and hazard that is mainly attributed to the extended lifetime of structural materials. In this paper, we quantitatively estimate the volume of the generated waste when different thick LWs are used. In particular, we make a comparison of the radwaste volume between lithium and Flibe as potential candidates for deployment as the thick LWs in high power density reactors (10 MW/m2). In addition, the volume of the generated waste is compared with the corresponding volume in two conventional solid wall (SW) blankets with low wall load (LWL, 5 MW/m2) and high wall load (HWL, 10 MW/m2). In this assessment exercise, the blankets under consideration were optimized first such that adequate tritium breeding ratio (TBR) is obtained and the same level of magnet protection against radiation damage is reached. This initial optimization step was necessary to arrive at consistent comparisons. It is shown that using LWL conventional SW blanket generates ∼10% more waste volume per unit height than that generated with the lithium LW concept while ∼35% more waste volume is generated if the HWL conventional SW blanket is deployed. On the other hand, it is shown that the thick Li LW option generates total waste whose volume is a factor of ∼1.3 larger than the one with the thick Flibe option which has superior neutron moderating capabilities compared with lithium.
Anemia and new-onset congestive heart failure in the general Medicare population.

Abstract Background Anemia is associated with disease severity and prognosis for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). It is unknown whether anemia is associated with the development of new-onset CHF in the elderly. Methods and Results This retrospective longitudinal cohort study used the Medicare 5% database. In the incident analysis, the study sample comprised subjects without CHF in 1999 (n=1,063,495); the main exposure variable evaluated was the presence or absence of anemia in 1999; and the primary study outcome was the occurrence of new-onset CHF. The prevalence of chronic anemia and CHF in 1999 was 5.0% and 9.9%, respectively. The incidence of new-onset CHF in 2000 in those with and those without anemia in 1999 was 12.3% and 5.9%, respectively, corresponding to an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.29 ( P P P P Conclusion Anemia in the Medicare population is associated with the diagnosis and prognosis of new-onset CHF.
External anal sphincter volume measurements using 3-dimensional endoanal ultrasound.

Objective Significant nerve injury to a muscle can be associated with muscle atrophy and volume loss. Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound can measure muscle volume, but the reproducibility of the technique has not been established for the anal sphincter. Study design Using a 10 MHz 360-degree rotating endoanal probe, we performed 3D endoanal ultrasounds on 9 nulliparous and 23 asymptomatic primiparous subjects at 12 weeks' postpartum. Two blinded examiners measured the length of the external anal sphincter (EAS) from a midsagittal image, and the width of the EAS and internal anal sphincter (IAS) from axial images at mid anal canal. The EAS volume was calculated by repetitively outlining only the EAS in each sequential axial view. Both examiners measured the EAS volumes twice, blinded to previous calculations. Results The intrarater reliability for EAS volume was 0.79 to 0.89 (intraclass coefficient). The mean difference of the EAS volume between the 2 examiners was 0.5 mL ( P = .3, t test). Correlation between the 2 examiners for measuring EAS volume was r = 0.77 ( P Conclusion Quantitative 3D ultrasound of the anal sphincter is moderately reproducible.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Distancing and the Geographic Relationship Between Electricity Consumption and Production in Massachusetts*

Objective. Based on the concept of “distancing” and its implications for ecological feedback and environmental inequality, this article examines the influence of geographic distance from power plants on residential electricity consumption in Massachusetts. Methods. Mean geographic distance to all power plants in Massachusetts was calculated to a rasterized surface and aggregated by municipality for 243 cities and towns. Using stepwise regression, annual per household residential electricity consumption by municipality was regressed on mean distance to power plants, median household income, percent minority, median number of rooms, and median age. Results. Mean geographic distance to power plants and median number of rooms emerged as statistically significant predictors of per household residential electricity consumption. Conclusions. The findings lend support to the concept of “distancing” and its implications for consumption in a domestic context. This analysis offers evidence of scale-independent similarity between global and local phenomena of environmental inequality and resource consumption.
A double-blind, randomized trial of pyridoxine versus placebo for the prevention of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin-related hand-foot syndrome in gynecologic oncology patients†

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of hand-foot syndrome (HFS) in patients who received pyridoxine versus placebo during pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian, breast, or endometrial cancer. METHODS: Patients received PLD 40 mg/m2 for a maximum of 6 cycles. Patients were assigned randomly to receive pyridoxine 100 mg twice daily (Group A) or placebo (Group B) and received standard HFS education. Patients completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy quality-of-life (QOL) questionnaire. The incidence of HFS as measured by common toxicity criteria was compared between groups. Analyses were conducted according to an intent-to-treat basis. Chi-square tests or Fisher exact tests were used. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients were enrolled (18 in Group A and 16 in Group B), and 5 patients were unevaluable for HFS assessment. Overall, 15 of 29 patients (52%) had HFS (all grades), and 10 of 29 patients (35%) had grade 2/3 events. Eight of 15 patients in Group A (53%) and 7 of 14 patients in Group B (50%) had HFS (P = .857). For grade 2/3 events, there was no difference between groups: Six of 15 events (40%) occurred in Group A, and 4 of 14 events (29%) occurred in Group B (P = .70). There was no difference in QOL scores between patients who had grade 2/3 HFS and patients who had grade 0/1 HFS. QOL analysis revealed that all patients had elevated social well being. CONCLUSIONS: Pyridoxine as administered in the current study did not prevent HFS in patients who received PLD. It is possible that QOL is not compromised in patients with HFS because they may have increased social well being while coping with their disease. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
New manufacturing modeling methodology: a hybrid approach to manufacturing enterprise simulation

Manufacturing enterprise decisions can be classified into four groups: business decisions, design decisions. engineering decisions, and production decisions. Numerous physical and software simulation techniques have been used to evaluate specific decisions by predicting their impact on the system as measured by one or more performance measures. In this paper, we focus on production decisions, where discrete-event simulation models perform that evaluation. We argue that such an evaluation is limited in time and scope, and does not capture the potential impact of these decisions on the whole enterprise. We propose integrating these discrete-event models with system dynamic models and we show the potential benefits of such an integration using an example of semiconductor enterprise.
Donor-acceptor biomorphs from the ionic self-assembly of porphyrins.

Microscale four-leaf clover-shaped structures are formed by self-assembly of anionic and cationic porphyrins. Depending on the metal complexed in the porphyrin macrocycle (Zn or Sn), the porphyrin cores are either electron donors or electron acceptors. All four combinations of these two metals in cationic tetra(N-ethanol-4-pyridinium)porphyrin and anionic tetra(sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin result in related cloverlike structures with similar crystalline packing indicated by X-ray diffraction patterns. The clover morphology transforms as the ionic strength and temperature of the self-assembly reaction are increased, but the structures maintain 4-fold symmetry. The ability to alter the electronic and photophysical properties of these solids (e.g., by altering the metals in the porphyrins) and to vary cooperative interactions between the porphyrin subunits raises the possibility of producing binary solids with tunable functionality. For example, we show that the clovers derived from anionic Zn porphyrins (elect...
Surviving the infarct: A profile of cardiac myosin binding protein-C pathogenicity, diagnostic utility, and proteomics in the ischemic myocardium

Cardiac myosin binding protein-C (cMyBP-C) is a regulatory protein of the contractile apparatus within the cardiac sarcomere. Ischemic injury to the heart during myocardial infarction (MI) results in the cleavage of cMyBP-C in a phosphorylation-dependent manner and release of an N-terminal fragment (C0C1f) into the circulation. C0C1f has been shown to be pathogenic within cardiac tissue, leading to the development of heart failure. Based on its high levels and early release into the circulation post-MI, C0C1f may serve as a novel biomarker for diagnosing MI more effectively than current clinically used biomarkers. Over time, circulating C0C1f could trigger an autoimmune response leading to myocarditis and progressive cardiac dysfunction. Given the importance of cMyBP-C phosphorylation state in the context of proteolytic cleavage and release into the circulation post-MI, understanding the posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of cMyBP-C would help in further elucidating the role of this protein in health and disease. Accordingly, recent studies have implemented the latest proteomics approaches to define the PTMs of cMyBP-C. The use of such proteomics assays may provide accurate quantitation of the levels of cMyBP-C in the circulation following MI, which could, in turn, demonstrate the efficacy of using plasma cMyBP-C as a cardiac-specific early biomarker of MI. In this review, we define the pathogenic and potential immunogenic effects of C0C1f on cardiac function in the post-MI heart. We also discuss the most advanced proteomics approaches now used to determine cMyBP-C PTMs with the aim of validating C0C1f as an early biomarker of MI.
A technique for embedding strain gages within curing bone cement

Abstract A technique has been described to embed strain gages within curing bone cement. Both open faced and encapsulated strain gages were employed. Using a simple cantilever beam inbending test, the experimentally measured strains were linear over the range of bending strains applied and in good agreement with the calculated theoretical values.
Chicken sternal cartilage for simulated septal cartilage graft carving: A rhinoplasty educational model

Background: In rhinoplasty, cartilage is often harvested from the nasal septum and meticulously carved into delicate grafts designed to reshape and strengthen the nasal osteocartilaginous framework. Proficiency at this task develops with experience in the clinical setting. Objective: The author offers a simulated educational model designed to provide rhinoplasty surgeons with increased preclinical experience in cartilage graft carving. Methods: This model relies on inexpensive, food-grade chickens, which may be purchased at any grocery store. Four whole chickens were dissected to expose and harvest the sternal (breast/keel) cartilage. A technique was developed for preparing the cartilage to approximate the shape and dimensions of human septal cartilage. Measurements were made to demonstrate similarities between the model material and the human septum. Results: The average weight of the chickens was 4.27 lb. The average cartilage height, length, and thickness were 2.36 cm, 6.13 cm, and 3.4 mm, respectively. This size compared favorably with typical septal harvest pieces, which had both heights and lengths of 2.5 cm and thicknesses of 3.25 mm. The author found that one sternal cartilage piece could be employed to carve two spreader grafts, a columellar strut graft, a tip graft, and two alar rim cartilage grafts. The performance of the avian cartilage was subjectively very similar to that of septal cartilage. Furthermore, two pieces of the sternal cartilage could be glued together and fastened within a model of a human skull to replicate the cartilaginous septum in situ. This construct was employed for demonstrations of actual septal cartilage harvest. Conclusions: Carving septal cartilage into grafts is a difficult process. Precision and improved results increase with clinical experience on human patients, but this cadaveric avian (chicken) model provides an opportunity for simulated surgical training on a very similar tissue type at a very low cost. This model has the potential to improve human outcomes by providing increased practice opportunities in a procedure that requires precision and artistry for the formation of reproducible geometric graft shapes.
Updates on the corporate attorney‐client privilege

Purpose – This paper seeks to describe and assess recent legal developments that affect the corporate attorney‐client privilege.Design/methodology/approach – Discusses and analyzes the corporate attorney‐client privilege and work product doctrine and the role of such protections in US society; discusses how recent developments including policies of the US Department of Justice and the evolving role of corporate auditors have adversely affected these protections, and shows how some of these developments can be ameliorated so as to preserve the important principles underlying the corporate attorney‐client privilege.Findings – The upsurge of investigations into alleged corporate criminality has reignited the debate over the value of the privilege and the ability to have confidential communications between corporations and clients. Although judicial decisions do not favor adoption of a “selective waiver” doctrine, concerns have also been raised that legislative adoption of a selective waiver in this current c...
Chronobiology of alcohol: studies in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J inbred mice.

Human alcoholics display dramatic disruptions of circadian rhythms that may contribute to the maintenance of excessive drinking, thus creating a vicious cycle. While clinical studies cannot establish direct causal mechanisms, recent animal experiments have revealed bidirectional interactions between circadian rhythms and ethanol intake, suggesting that the chronobiological disruptions seen in human alcoholics are mediated in part by alterations in circadian pacemaker function. The present study was designed to further explore these interactions using C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) inbred mice, two widely employed strains differing in both circadian and alcohol-related phenotypes. Mice were maintained in running-wheel cages with or without free-choice access to ethanol and exposed to a variety of lighting regimens, including standard light–dark cycles, constant darkness, constant light, and a “shift-lag” schedule consisting of repeated light–dark phase shifts. Relative to the standard light–dark cycle, B6 mice showed reduced ethanol intake in both constant darkness and constant light, while D2 mice showed reduced ethanol intake only in constant darkness. In contrast, shift-lag lighting failed to affect ethanol intake in either strain. Access to ethanol altered daily activity patterns in both B6 and D2 mice, and increased activity levels in D2 mice, but had no effects on other circadian parameters. Thus, the overall pattern of results was broadly similar in both strains, and consistent with previous observations that chronic ethanol intake alters circadian activity patterns while environmental perturbation of circadian rhythms modulates voluntary ethanol intake. These results suggest that circadian-based interventions may prove useful in the management of alcohol use disorders.
A reinvestigation of the reactions of enolate anions with cyclotriphosphazenes

Abstract : The reactions of enolate anions with hexachlorocyclotriphosphazenes have been reexamined. Based on N.M.R. spectroscopic data, structures of the type N3P3X5OCR=CH2 (X=F, Cl; R=H, C6H5) are proposed. (Author)
Comparing Dosimetric, Morbidity, Quality of Life, and Cancer Control Outcomes After 3D Conformal, Intensity-Modulated, and Proton Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

New radiation technologies have been developed and adopted for clinical use in prostate cancer treatment in response to a need to deliver dose-escalated radiation therapy while minimizing treatment-related morbidity. The goal of this article is to examine the currently available evidence comparing dosimetric and patient outcomes of newer versus older radiation technologies in prostate cancer. Overall, although a body of dosimetry studies have demonstrated the ability of newer versus older technologies (intensity-modulated radiation therapy vs 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy; proton vs intensity-modulated radiation therapy) to reduce radiation doses delivered to the rectum and bladder, more studies are needed to demonstrate that these dosimetric benefits translate into improved patient outcomes.
Apolipoprotein E-ε4 polymorphism and cognitive dysfunction after carotid endarterectomy

Approximately 25% of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) exhibit cognitive dysfunction (CD) 1 day and 1 month after CEA. The apolipoprotein E (apoE)-e4 polymorphism has been previously identified as a robust independent risk factor for CD 1 month after CEA. We aimed to determine whether the apoE-e4 polymorphism is also an independent risk factor for CD as early as 1 day after CEA and to confirm the previous findings at 1 month. Patients undergoing elective CEA (n = 411) were enrolled with written informed consent in this follow-up observational study. CD was evaluated via an extensive neuropsychometric battery. apoE-e4 carriers exhibited significantly more CD 1 day (30.1% versus 17.9%, p = 0.01) and 1 month (25.7% versus 9.8%, p = 0.001) after CEA compared to non-carriers. Multivariate regression models were generated to determine independent predictors of CD. At 1 day, apoE-e4 was significantly associated with higher risk of CD (odds ratio [OR]: 2.24 [95% confidence interval 1.29–3.84], p = 0.004), while statin use was significantly associated with lower risk (OR: 0.40 [0.24–0.67], p < 0.001). At 1 month, apoE-e4 was significantly associated with higher risk of CD (OR: 3.14 [1.53– 6.38], p = 0.002), while symptomatic status was significantly associated with lower risk (OR: 0.45 [0.20–0.94], p = 0.03). The apoE-e4 polymorphism is an independent risk factor for CD as early as 1 day after CEA and is confirmed to be an independent risk factor for CD at 1 month as well.
Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of fractures of the proximal phalanx.

This study reports the results of 12 unstable extraarticular fractures of the proximal phalanx treated with transarticular intramedullary Kirschner wires. Early proximal interphalangeal joint motion was allowed and all patients achieved uneventful union, with an average total active motion of 265°. Objective physical assessment revealed one significant flexion contracture, one flexor tendon adhesion and one significant rotational deformity. Excellent results were observed in ten of the 12 patients.
Hypotensive and renovascular actions of 6-keto-prostaglandin E1, a metabolite of prostacyclin

Either intra-aortic or intravenous injections of a stable prostaglandin metabolite, 6-keto-prostaglandin E1 (6-keto-PGE1), caused similar dose-dependent falls in blood pressure and reductions in renovascular resistance in the anesthetized rat. The threshold dose was 0.3 microgram/kg. A maximum hypotensive effect occured at 10 micrograms/kg, but renal blood flow was further reduced by a dose of 30 microgram/kg. 6-keto-PGE1, like prostacyclin, could be a circulating hormone.
Dispersion-managed solitons in optical communications

As data rates in individual channels increase in optical communication systems, the nonlinear effects in optical fibers become increasingly important. Initially soliton in optical fibers were suggested as a pulse format to achieve a natural balance between the optical nonlinearity and fiber dispersion, however, at the cost of system complexity. Dramatic progress in NRZ-type formats using dispersion- management have led to impressive increases in channel bit- rates over very long distances. Recently a new data propagation format, called dispersion-managed solitons, has emerged that combines the best of both worlds. This new pulse format eliminates the need for in-line controls that are required for standard solitons thus making them more attractive for use in terrestrial and undersea optical communication systems. Currently, for single channel data rates at 10 Gbits/sec to 40 Gbit/sec the dispersion-managed soliton can reach much longer distances than NRZ-style formats. Dispersion maps, pulse dynamics, amplified spontaneous emission, timing jitter, and bit-error rate measurements are all key elements in understanding and characterizing dispersion-managed soliton communication systems.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
HQMM: A Hybrid QoS Model for Mobile Ad-hoc Networks

Quality of Service (QoS) support for Mobile Ad-hoc NETworks (MANETs) is a challenging task due to the dynamic topology and limited resource in MANETs, and the QoS model should be the first matter to consider as a system goal. The INSIGNIA framework and DiffServ model can both provide a system-level QoS support for MANETs, but each have pros and cons in service precision and scalability. In this paper, we propose a hybrid QoS model for MANETs, called HQMM, which combines the per-flow granularity of INSIGNIA and the per-class granularity of DiffServ, to provide a responsive, scalable, and flexible QoS support for MANETs. The simulation results show that HQMM can achieve effective service differentiation and offer the best QoS to the per-flow service under various mobility conditions.
Assessment of executive function in preschool-aged children.

Assessment of the overarching self-regulatory mechanisms, or executive functions, in any age group is challenging, in part due to the complexity of this domain, in part due to their dynamic essence, and in part due to the inextricable links between these central processes and the associated domain-specific processes, such as language, motor function, and attention, over which they preside. While much progress has been made in clinical assessment approaches for measuring executive functions in adults and to some extent in adolescents and school-aged children, the toolkit for the preschool evaluator remains sparse. The past decade, however, has seen a substantial increase in attention to executive functions in very young children from a developmental neuropsychological perspective. With this has come a necessity for better, more specific, and more internally valid performance measures, many of which are now described in the experimental literature. Few such tasks, however, have adequately demonstrated psychometric properties for clinical application. We present two performance tasks designed to tap selective aspects of executive function in preschoolers that are emerging from the experimental laboratory and hold promise of appropriate reliability and validity for the clinical laboratory. Performance tests alone, however, are insufficient to develop a comprehensive pic ture of a child’s executive functioning. Thus, we present a rating scale of preschoolers’ executive function in the everyday context, and advocate a model of executive function assessment that incorporates both controlled performance tasks that target specific aspects of executive function and parent/teacher ratings that target more global aspects of self- regulation in the everyday context.
A paradigm for user-defined security policies

One of today's major challenges in computer security is the ever-increasing multitude of individual, application-specific security requirements. As a positive consequence, a wide variety of security policies has been developed, each policy reflecting the specific needs of individual applications. As a negative consequence, the integration of the multitude of policies into today's system platforms made the limitations of traditional architectural foundations of secure computer systems quite obvious. Many of the traditional architectural foundations originally aimed at supporting only a single access control policy within a single trusted system environment. This paper discusses a new paradigm to support user-defined security policies in a distributed multi-policy system. The paradigm preserves the successful properties of the traditional architectural foundations while additionally providing strong concepts for user-defined security policies. Among these concepts are policy separation, encapsulation, persistency, cooperation, and reusability. We illustrate the application of our approach in a DCE environment.
High-Power Metal-Metal Waveguide Terahertz Quantum-Cascade Laser with a Hyperhemispherical Lens

We demonstrate an ~85 mW (pulsed, 5 K), metal-metal waveguide, terahertz quantum- cascade laser using an optically coupled lens. The device has a FWHM of ~6 Deg. and a maximum pulsed operating temperature of 155 K.
Homicides Clearances an Analysis of Arrest Versus Exceptional Outcomes

A number of studies in the homicide clearance literature combine arrest and exceptional clearances into a single category. This study addresses the question of whether these divergent homicide case...
Does Trade Clustering Reduce Trading Costs? Evidence from Periodicity in Algorithmic Trading

We use quasi-exogenous variation in trading activity at the sub-second frequency to show that higher trade and quote intensities cause higher volatility but perhaps surprisingly have no significant effect on stock liquidity. This result has significant implications for the theories of strategic trading. We use the fact that many more trades and quote updates arrive within the first 100 milliseconds than during the rest of a second. These periodicities originate from algorithms that trade predictably by repeating instructions in loops with round start times and time increments. This seemingly irrational behavior serves as a synchronization mechanism for other investors. We also show that HFTs are much less prone to this bias.
Research Notes: Organizational Size, Technology, and Structure: Replication of Study of Social Service Agencies Among Small Retail Firms

The article presents the replication of a study on social service agencies among small retail firms. The author discusses the importance of size and technology as determinants of organizational str...
Cross-Layer Energy and Delay Optimization in Small-Scale Sensor Networks

The general joint design of the physical, MAC, and routing layers to minimize network energy consumption is complex and hard to solve. Heuristics to compute approximate solutions and high-complexity algorithms to compute exact solutions have been previously proposed. In this paper, we focus on synchronous small-scale networks with interference-free link scheduling and practical MQAM link transmission schemes. We show that the cross-layer optimization problems can be closely approximated by convex optimization problems that can be efficiently solved. There are two main contributions of this paper. First of all, we minimize the total network energy that includes both transmission and circuit energy consumptions, where we explore the tradeoff between the two energy elements. Specifically, we use interference-free TDMA as the medium access control scheme. We optimize the routing flow, TDMA slot assignment, and MQAM modulation rate and power on each link. The results demonstrate that the minimum energy transmission scheme is a combination of multihop and single-hop transmissions for general networks; including circuit energy favors transmission schemes with fewer hops. Secondly, based on the solved optimal transmission scheme, we quantify the best trade-off curve between delay and energy consumption, where we derive a scheduling algorithm to minimize the worst-case packet delay.
Implementation of a Novel Algorithm For Generating Synthetic CT Images From Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data Sets for Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy

Purpose To describe and evaluate a method for generating synthetic computed tomography (synCT) images from magnetic resonance simulation (MR-SIM) data for accurate digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR) generation and dose calculations in prostate cancer radiation therapy. Methods and Materials A retrospective evaluation was performed in 9 prostate cancer patients who had undergone MR-SIM in addition to CT simulation (CT-SIM). MR-SIM data were used to generate synCT images by using a novel, voxel-based weighted summation approach. A subset of patients was used for weight optimization, and the number of patients to use during optimization was determined. Hounsfield unit (HU) differences between CT-SIM and synCT images were analyzed via mean absolute error (MAE). Original, CT-based treatment plans were mapped onto synCTs. DRRs were generated, and agreement between CT and synCT-generated DRRs was evaluated via Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Dose was recalculated, and dose-volume metrics and gamma analysis were used to evaluate resulting treatment plans. Results Full field-of-view synCT MAE across all patients was 74.3 ± 10.9 HU with differences from CTs of 2.0 ± 8.1 HU and 11.9 ± 46.7 HU for soft tissue structures (prostate, bladder, and rectum) and femoral bones, respectively. Calculated DSCs for anterior-posterior and lateral DRRs were 0.90 ± 0.04 and 0.92 ± 0.05, respectively. Differences in D99%, mean dose, and maximum dose to the clinical target volume from CT-SIM dose calculations were 0.75% ± 0.35%, 0.63% ± 0.34%, and 0.54% ± 0.33%, respectively, for synCT-generated plans. Gamma analysis (2%/2 mm dose difference/distance to agreement) revealed pass rates of 99.9% ± 0.1% (range, 99.7%-100%). Conclusion Generated synCTs enabled accurate DRR generation and dose computation for prostate MR-only simulation. Dose recalculated on synCTs agreed well with original planning distributions. Further validation using a larger patient cohort is warranted.
A New Twist on Vocabulary Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities in Biology

An essential element of science instruction is content literacy. In order to improve literacy specific to science, vocabulary must be addressed. As Jitendra et al. (2004) pointed out, “because learning vocabulary during independent reading is very inefficient for students with reading difficulties, vocabulary and word learning skills must be taught.” We provide a summary of an investigation to improve the technology-based vocabulary of students with learning disabilities in a freshman high school biology class. The procedures for the project are provided, along with lessons learned about vocabulary instruction of students with disabilities.
Supporting Families A Preschool Model

The Family-Centered Preschool Model is a family support model for center-based preschool programs. The model utilizes family consultants—parents of children with disabilities—to augment the support...
Some twisted self-dual solutions for the Yang-Mills equations on a hypertorus

TheSU(N) Yang-Mills equations are considered in a four-dimensional Euclidean box with periodic boundary conditions (hypertorus). Gauge-invariant twists can be introduced in these boundary conditions, to be labeled with integersn μν (= −n μν ), defined moduloN. The Pontryagin number in this space is often fractional. Whenever this number is zero there are solutions to the equationsG μν =0 HereG μν is the covariant curl. When this number is not zero we find a set of solutions to the equations $$G_{\mu \nu } = \tilde G_{\mu \nu } $$ , provided that the periodsa μ of the box satisfy certain relations.
Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy: Are we overtreating patients

Patients with unilateral breast cancer are at increased risk for developing cancer in the contralateral breast. As a result, some patients choose contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) to prevent cancer in the contralateral breast. Several studies have reported that the CPM rates have markedly increased in recent years in the United States. In this article, we will discuss recent CPM trends, potential reasons patients choose CPM, outcomes after CPM, and alternative strategies for managing the increased risk of contralateral breast cancer among survivors of unilateral breast cancer. In addition, we will try to determine if women undergoing CPM are adequately informed about their decision.
Phospholipid Composition and Metabolism of Micrococcus denitrificans

The phospholipid composition of Micrococcus denitrificans was unusual in that phosphatidyl choline (PC) was a major phospholipid (30.9%). Other phospholipids were phosphatidyl glycerol (PG, 52.4%), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE, 5.8%), an unknown phospholipid (5.3%), cardiolipin (CL, 3.2%), phosphatidyl dimethylethanolamine (PDME, 0.9%), phosphatidyl monomethylethanolamine (PMME, 0.6%), phosphatidyl serine (PS, 0.5%), and phosphatidic acid (0.4%). Kinetics of (32)P incorporation suggested that PC was formed by the successive methylations of PE. Pulse-chase experiments with pulses of (32)P or acetate-1-(14)C to exponentially growing cells showed loss of isotopes from PMME, PDME, PS, and CL with biphasic kinetics suggesting the same type of multiple pools of these lipids as proposed in other bacteria. The major phospholipids, PC, PG, and PE, were metabolically stable under these conditions. The fatty acids isolated from the complex lipids were also unusual in being a simple mixture of seven fatty acids with oleic acid representing 86% of the total. Few free fatty acids and no non-extractable fatty acids associated with the cell wall or membrane were found.
Application of Molecular Orbital Calculations to Fracture Mechanics: Effect of Applied Strain on Charge Distribution in Silica

To further our understanding of the mechanism of environmentally enhanced crack growth, molecular oribital calculations (MO) using the ab initio self-consistent-field (SCF) technique have been employed to investigate the effect of applied strain on the atomic charge distribution and the bond overlap population of the Si–O bond at the crack tip of silica. Pyrosilicic acid (H6Si2O7) with eclipsed conformation has been employed as the model molecule. Strain effects up to 20% were simulated in terms of bond stretching and angle distortion. The results indicate that, regardless of how the external strain is applied on the model molecule, the gross electron population on the bridged oxygen increases as strain increases and that on the silicon decreases.
Medical Bottle Tightness Detection Based on Digital Image Processing

This paper presents a medical bottle detecting system based on image processing, and completing the tightness detection task for the installation of vial and cap. Firstly, the image of the bottle is captured by using the background subtraction method; secondly, getting the ideal threshold T by the iterative formulae and carrying on linearization processing for image; then, the ideal target image of medical bottle can be obtained by using morphologic operations. Finally, using the 8-directional chain code to calculate the circumference, area and height of bottle. The image processing course and experimental results are discussed at the end of the thesis. The experimental result shows that this algorithm is effective and accurate.
Excess Returns in the Cross Section of US Equities: An Analysis of Calendar/Time-of-Day Effects and Industry Aggregation for Priced Factors, with an Extension to Arbitrage with Market Frictions

We provide a detailed investigation of interaction effects, calendar and time-of-day effects, and industry-aggregation returns of various cross-sectional biases in the literature using a WLS Fama-Macbeth regression methodology on daily returns in the US equity markets from 1982 to 2011 and on intraday returns from 1993 to 2007. Among our findings regarding return effects are that 1) the reversal-momentum-reversal pattern in the short-, medium-, and long-term is highly variable by month, that 2) the industry momentum effect, as initially reported in Moskowitz and Grinblatt (1999) has largely disappeared according to the given methodology, and that 3) while intraday cross-sectional return variation displays periodicity effects as described by Heston, Korajczyk and Sadka (2010), the return structure varies significantly by time of day, unlike their report. Additionally, we also find that the “linearity” of a stock’s past returns, as well as the skewness of the returns, have power in predicting the cross-section of stock returns; the results for skewness provide some empirical support for the results of Barberis and Huang (2008). For the size, value, risk, and turnover factors that we test, returns are generally much stronger in January than in other months, although industry aggregates general show little predictive power (with a few exceptions), echoing the results of Asness, Porter, and Stevens (2000). Finally, we implement a testing scheme that evaluates returns to portfolios that capture some of the pricing biases, taking into account various real-world constraints and trading costs. We find that 1) there are significant risk-adjusted returns to semi-active “structured” portfolios that arbitrage the noted biases (net of trading costs, given the constraints), especially after 2002, but that 2), using a short-scale time frame for calculating IR encourages benchmark hugging and suggests a semi-passive portfolio over active portfolios.
Cerebral arterial dissection. A case report with histopathologic and ultrastructural findings.

Cerebral artery dissection is an uncommon cause of cerebral infarction, but should be considered in young stroke patients who lack istroke risk factors. A case and autopsy results are reported of a 23-year-old female with dissection of the middle cerebral and anterior cerebral arteries. Multiple factors potentially related to the pathogenesis in this case include migraine headaches, traufna, and alcohol intake. The clinical, histopathologic, and ultrastructural findings are discussed and the literature is reviewed.
Brief report: The risk of overanticoagulation with antibiotic use in outpatients on stable warfarin regimens

BACKGROUND: Medication interactions account for a significant proportion of overanticoagulation in warfarin users. However, little is known about the incidence or degree of interaction with commonly used oral antibiotics.
Study on Determination of Microamount Nitrite in Foods and Water with a New Catalytic Spectrophotometry

Objective To study determination of microamount nitrite in foods and water with a new spectrophotometry so as to find out an easy method for microamount nitrie detection. Methods Dissolved oxygen was catalyzed with NO_2~- . Fe~(2+) was oxidized to Fe~(3+). The catalytic reaction could be stopped by urea and Fe~(2+). Results There was no significant difference of the results produced by this method and the GB method. Conclusions The advantages of this method were simple operation, lees time-consuming, high sensitivity and good reproducibility.
Carbohydrate vaccines for the immunotherapy of cancer.

On the basis of the observation that tumor cells exhibit aberrant glycosylation, carbohydrate vaccines are being developed for the active immunotherapy of cancer. Potential targets include members of the ABH Lewis blood group family (e.g., Lewis(y)), members of the mucin core family (e.g., Tn, sialyl Tn and T-F) and gangliosides (e.g., GM2). Most studies have used glycoconjugate vaccines in which a synthetic oligosaccharide is coupled to a protein carrier, for example, KLH, but completely synthetic constructs are also being examined. Preclinical studies in mice have shown the effectiveness of some of these vaccines. Clinical studies are under way in a number of human cancers but the results are still being evaluated.
The parametric reduction of the amplitude of slow space-charge waves in an experimental device

At the 1960 International Congress on Microwave tubes held in Munich, Sturrock [l] proposed a scheme for using the principle of parametric pumping to reduce the slow wave noise in an electron beam. This mechanism could be used, for example, as the basis of a low noise travelling wave amplifier. Since the slow wave is a negative a. c. power carrier, the slow wave noise cannot be removed from the beam by direct coupling to a matched resistance.
Kisspeptin as a new serum biomarker to discriminate miscarriage from viable intrauterine pregnancy

Objective To validate the ability of serum kisspeptin-54 to discriminate between first-trimester viable pregnancies and miscarriages. Design Case-control study. Setting Academic medical centers. Patient(s) Women with confirmed viable intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) at estimated gestational age 6–10 weeks (n = 20), women with confirmed miscarriage (spontaneous abortion [SAB]) at estimated gestational age 6–10 weeks (n = 20), and nonpregnant women (n = 19). Intervention(s) Collection of serum samples from women with confirmed IUP, SAB, and nonpregnant women for the measurement of serum kisspeptin and serum hCG levels. Main Outcome Measure(s) Serum kisspeptin and hCG. Result(s) The limit of detection was 0.024 ng/mL; intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 5.1% and 8.6%, respectively. Kisspeptin levels differed between the pregnant and nonpregnant state and by viability. Kisspeptin levels were positively associated with gestational age. There was also a significant positive association with hCG in SAB, but not in IUP. Conclusion(s) Plasma levels of kisspeptin have been suggested as a biomarker for miscarriage. This study demonstrates kisspeptin assay stability in serum and its potential clinical utility as a biomarker for early pregnancy viability.