cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing Competency and Training of Upper Endoscopy in a General Surgery Residency Program

Background: Guidelines for optimal endoscopic training for surgical residents have not been formally integrated into modern teaching programs. Our purpose was to apply two endoscopic evaluation tools (EE-1 and EE-2) designed to measure surgical resident competency in the performance of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Methods: Prospectively collected data were reviewed from consecutive EGDs in a single institution by a single attending surgeon over 3 years (July 2008 to July 2011). Demographic, procedural, and outcome data were collected. Residents were graded at the completion of each procedure by the attending surgeon using EE-1 and EE-2. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and comparisons based on PGY levels were made using Fisher’s exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests . P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: All procedures (N = 50) were performed by residents under the direct attending surgeon supervision. Average patient age was 51 years (range, 31-79 years), 66% were women, and 66% were Caucasian. PGY-3 residents performed 62% of the procedures. Average resident participation was 84% of each procedure. Biopsies were performed in 80% of patients and dilatations in 16%. All EGDs were successfully completed (average time, 13.1 min). EE-1 results demonstrated significantly different grades (P < 0.05) among PGY levels in seven of eight variables. EE-2 grades were significantly different (P < 0.05) among PGY levels in all 10 variables with a general trend of improvement as PGY level increased. There were no mortalities or morbidities. Conclusions: Residents can perform EGDs safely and expeditiously with appropriate supervision. Methods to assess competency continue to evolve and should remain an area of active research. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/gr520w
A Novel Translational Animal Model of Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias

Overview Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) are highly disabling primary headache disorders that involve severe unilateral head pain coupled with significant lateralized cranial autonomic features. Our understanding of these disorders and the development of novel and more effective treatments has been limited by the lack of a suitable animal model to explore their pathophysiology and screen prospective treatments. Discussion This review details the development of a novel preclinical model that demonstrates activation of both the trigeminovascular system and parasympathetic projections, thought to be responsible for the severe head pain and autonomic symptoms. Conclusion This model demonstrates a unique response to TAC specific treatments and highlights the importance of the cranial parasympathetic pathway to the pathophysiology of TACs and as a potential locus of action for treatments. The development of this model opens up opportunities to understand the pathophysiology of these disorders further, the likely involvement of the hypothalamus, as well as providing a preclinical model with which to screen novel compounds.
Aspects of nonlinear simulations using shallow-water models based on the wave continuity equation

Abstract Finite element models of the shallow-water equations using the wave continuity formulation do not generate the noise that plagued early modeling efforts based on a primitive formulation. Furthermore, simulations using the wave continuity formulation produce results consistent with both analytical solutions and field-measured values. However, in certain applications—particularly ones in which the nonlinear advective terms and finite-amplitude terms are significant—the algorithm is susceptible to mass balance errors as well as errors in the generation of nonlinear tidal constituents. In this article, we evaluate two methods to minimize these errors: (1) formulation of the advective terms in a manner consistent with the momentum balance; (2) use of a generalized form of the wave continuity equation. In a one-dimensional setting, it is shown that both significantly improve mass conservation and substantially reduce or eliminate errors in the generation of nonlinear tidal constituents. An application to the Bight of Abaco in the Bahamas using a simulator incorporating the two modifications demonstrates that the one-dimensional results carry over to two-dimensional problems, i.e. errors in the mass balance and tidal constituents are significantly reduced, if not eliminated. Moreover, the consistent treatment of the advective terms improves the stability of the simulator for nonlinear applications.
White matter tract abnormalities between rostral middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus and striatum in first-episode schizophrenia

Background Previous studies have shown that frontostriatal networks, especially those involving dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) mediate cognitive functions some of which are abnormal in schizophrenia. This study examines white matter integrity of the tracts connecting DLPFC/VLPFC and striatum in patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FESZ), and their associations with cognitive and clinical correlates.
Impact Fees, Growth Management, and Development: A Contractual Approach to Local Policy and Governance

This article explores economic consequences of impact fees on local economic development and job growth. The authors focus on the implied contractual relationship between local governments and the development community in shaping patterns of economic growth in the community. Pooled time series cross-section analyses are employed to estimate economic consequences of impact fees in 66 Florida counties from 1991 to 2001. Contrary to the conventional wisdom that impact fees increase development costs and impede economic development, the authors report that implementation of impact fee systems enhances economic performance and lead to job growth.
Demonstration of Intercoronary Anastomoses in Human Hearts with a Low Viscosity Perfusion Mass

The coronary arteries of 120 nonselected human hearts were perfused with a low viscosity radiopaque medium comprising essentially a suspension of barium sulfate in agar. In each of four groups of 30 hearts, one major artery was perfused, that is, right coronary, left main coronary, left anterior descending trunk, or left circumflex trunk. Anastomoses were detected either by cross-filling of unperfused vessels or by direct stereoscopic visualization. Anastomoses were demonstrable in 84% of the entire series, but the frequency varied between the four groups (right coronary 93%, left main coronary 90%, left anterior descending 90% and left circumflex 60%). The presence of stenotic disease did not seem to affect the frequency of demonstrable stenosis since 84% of the hearts virtually free of arterial disease contained recognizable stenoses as compared with 92% of hearts with a stenosis of more than 50% of the arterial lumen. Neither did age, hypertension or left ventricular hypertrophy produce any alteration ...
An examination for construct bias in the WISC-R across socioeconomic status

Abstract The ten subtests comprising the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children —Revised (WISC-R) were independently factor analyzed for middle and low socioeconomic status children. Two factors described the structure of the test in both cases. These two factors corresponded quite closely to the Verbal Comprehension and Perceptual Organization factors usually reported for the WISC-R. After testing for the equivalence of covariance matrices between the two socioeconomic status groups, coefficients of congruence between the factors were calculated. These coefficients indicated equivalence in the constructs being measured across the two groups.
Lg=0.25-um CMOS devices with N+-polycide gate for 3.3-V application

Jeong YeoI Choi and Zhijian MaIntegrated Device Technology2670 Seely Ave., San Jose, CaliforniaABSTRACTA single N+ polycide gate CMOS process in O.25tm gate-length regime for 3.3V application is presented withemphasis onprocess control, reliability and manufacturability. Key process steps include super-steep retrograde twin N/P wells, 70A gateoxide, shallow LDD implants, i000A spacer, and 800°C/6Ominute furnace annealing. Process parameters such as implantenergy and oxide thickness were chosen for good control and manufacturability. Devices show excellent I-V characteristics,subthreshold slopes and good suppression of short-channel effects such as punch-through, VT roll-off, DIBL and high-fieldeffects for 3.3V applications. The devices are optimized with a trade-off between performance and reliability byadjustingphysical dimension and doping concentration in the LDD region. A gate delay of 27 ps/stage at 3.3V has been realized forO.25jim N+-polycide gate CMOS technology.Keywords: CMOS, N+ single gate, N+/P+ dual gate, short-channel effects, hot-carrier effects1. INTRODUCTIONThe necessity of N+/P+ dual gate technology has been predicted' for devices in the sub-half-micron regime, because of thesuperior short-channel effects of P+-gate surface-channel P-MOSFET's, compared to N+-gate buried-channel P-MOSFET's.However, the migration from N+ single-gate CMOS to N+IP+ dual-gate CMOS is not as fast as originally expected, even inthe sub-O.25jtm gate length regime. Industry experiences tend to drive the choice of gate material to N+type because it is amatured and proven technology.P+-gate P-MOSFET's suffer from boron penetration4 through gate oxide and lateral dopant interdiffusion5 in N+/P+ dual-gate polycides. These cause threshold instability and gate oxide integrity problems. Any process changes that prevent theseunwanted problems are not only complicated but also result in performance degradation67. Dual-gateprocess may involve
Achievable rates and training optimization for fading relay channels with memory

In this paper, transmission over time-selective, flat fading relay channels is studied. It is assumed that channel fading coefficients are not known a priori. Transmission takes place in two phases: network training phase and data transmission phase. In the training phase, pilot symbols are sent and the receivers employ single-pilot MMSE estimation or noncausal Wiener filter to learn the channel. Amplify-and-Forward (AF) and Decode-and-Forward (DF) techniques are considered in the data transmission phase and achievable rate expressions are obtained. The training period, and data and training power allocations are jointly optimized by using the achievable rate expressions. Numerical results are obtained considering Gauss-Markov and lowpass fading models. Achievable rates are computed and energy-per-bit requirements are investigated. The optimal power distributions among pilot and data symbols are provided.
Synthetic and Structural Studies of (NHC)Pd(allyl)Cl Complexes (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene)

The synthesis and structural characterization of a series of palladium complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) as supporting ligands are described. The reaction of commercially available [Pd(allyl)Cl]2 and isolated or in situ generated NHC leads to monomeric palladium complexes where one NHC is bound to the metal center, as indicated by spectroscopic and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The relative reactivity trend for these complexes as catalysts in aryl amination is discussed in terms of ligand steric properties, which vary as a function of imidazole-nitrogen substituents and perturbation resulting in modulation of ring planarity. The concept of buried volume is used to quantify the steric demand of each NHC in the corresponding complexes.
When does cross‐border acquisition of insurance firms lead to value creation?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on international acquisitions that took place in the insurance sector by US‐based firms in the years 1997‐2003 and their impact on shareholder wealth.Design/methodology/approach – The study sample is based on 52 international acquisitions in 24 countries undertaken by US firms in the insurance industry during the years 1997‐2003. The event‐study methodology is used to verify the impact of international acquisition announcements on an insurance firm's shareholder wealth. Cross‐sectional regression analysis is used to determine the importance of host country factors.Findings – Overall results of this study show that firms undertaking overseas acquisitions face statistically insignificant negative market returns, indicating the market neither rewards nor penalizes such firms. The market returns faced by firms during such acquisitions tend to vary by the degree of wealth of the host country, amount of bilateral trade between host and home country, extent of pote...
Investigation of Particle Size and Coating Thickness for Pulse Performance of Automotive Lithium Ion Batteries

Optimization of the performance of Micro-hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEV) requires a close match between the demands of the driving profile and the chemical and engineering characteristics of the material. Typical driving patterns present the opportunity for regenerative braking pulses that may be over 30 seconds in some cases. Our goal is to provide more opportunity for regenerative braking, particularly for high-speed, long deceleration pulses. In this work we have used electrochemical modeling of NMC 1:1:1 cells to investigate the effects of particle size, coating thickness, and system capability on the energy and power capability of lithium ion batteries. We demonstrate a novel metric for evaluating the regeneration capability of a cell – recovered energy per volume, Whrecov/L – against which these effects are optimized. Finally, we have modeled lithium concentration gradients in both the electrolyte and particle surface and have identified conditions under which regeneration capability is affected.
Macrophages as a Source of HIV During Opportunistic Infections

The source of increasing viremia that characterizes the latter stages of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease has remained a paradox because it occurs at a time when lymphoid tissue is quantitatively and qualitatively impaired, and the patients' CD4 T lymphocytes are steadily declining. Here, macrophages, both infected and uninfected with common opportunistic pathogens of HIV disease such as Mycobacterium avium complex and Pneumocystis carinii, were identified as highly productive sources of HIV in coinfected lymph nodes. These observations indicate that tissue macrophages are not only infected with HIV, but that common pathogens of HIV disease can dramatically increase their production of virus. Thus, prevention or successful treatment of opportunistic coinfections, or both, potentially benefits the patient twofold by limiting the pathology caused by opportunistic infection and by controlling induction of HIV replication.
Percutaneous treatment of lymphatic malformations.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to investigate a new treatment regimen for macrocystic and microcystic lymphatic malformations (LM) of the head and neck. Study Design The study represents a retrospective review of outcomes from new percutaneous treatments for lymphatic malformations. Subjects and Methods Thirty-one patients (age range, 2 days to 51 years of age) underwent percutaneous treatment for LM of the head and neck from 2001 to 2007. The LM involved the orbit, ear, parotid gland, face, and neck. Twenty-seven patients underwent primary treatment of LM; 4 were treated for recurrence after operative resection. Macrocysts (≥1 cm) were treated with dual-drug chemoablation (sequential intracystic sodium tetradecyl sulfate and ethanol); doxycycline was used for microcysts. Macrocysts and microcysts were treated after complete cyst aspiration with sonographic guidance. Fifty-four macrocysts and 125 microcysts were treated. The goal of treatment was complete cyst ablation documented by sonography or MR imaging. Results Mean number of treatments was 1.7 per patient; mean number of treatments for macrocysts was 1.1; mean treatments for microcysts was 1.7. Ablation efficacy was 179 of 179 (100%) cysts. Effective cyst ablation achieved effective clinical control with resolution of the external mass appearance. Treatments included massive head and neck mixed LM and cysts surrounding the facial nerve and brachial plexus. Infection occurred in 2 (6%) of 31 patients. No patient experienced postprocedural pain, skin necrosis, neuropathy, skin retraction, or myoglobinuria. Conclusion Percutaneous sclerotherapy provides effective treatment for macrocystic and microcystic LM as primary treatment or for recurrence after surgical resection.
Interspecies mixed effect pharmacokinetic modeling of penicillin G in cattle and swine

Extralabel drug use of penicillin G in food-producing animals may cause an excess of residues in tissue which will have the potential to damage human health. Of all the antibiotics, penicillin G may have the greatest potential for producing allergic responses to the consumer of food animal products. There are, however, no population pharmacokinetic studies of penicillin G for food animals. The objective of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model to describe the time-concentration data profile of penicillin G across two species. Data were collected from previously published pharmacokinetic studies in which several formulations of penicillin G were administered to diverse populations of cattle and swine. Liver, kidney, and muscle residue data were also used in this study. Compartmental models with first-order absorption and elimination were fit to plasma and tissue concentrations using a nonlinear mixed-effect modeling approach. A 3-compartment model with extra tissue compartments was selected to describe the pharmacokinetics of penicillin G. Typical population parameter estimates (interindividual variability) were central volumes of distribution of 3.45 liters (12%) and 3.05 liters (8.8%) and central clearance of 105 liters/h (32%) and 16.9 liters/h (14%) for cattle and swine, respectively, with peripheral clearance of 24.8 liters/h (13%) and 9.65 liters/h (23%) for cattle and 13.7 liters/h (85%) and 0.52 liters/h (40%) for swine. Body weight and age were the covariates in the final pharmacokinetic models. This study established a robust model of penicillin for a large and diverse population of food-producing animals which could be applied to other antibiotics and species in future analyses.
Linguistic Anthropology in 2008: An Election‐Cycle Guide

ABSTRACT Loosely following the structure of the U.S. election cycle, I identify some of the more important institutions and events that have recently served as venues for field-building scholarly practices and processes in linguistic anthropology. I examine various trends and concerns animating recent publications on language and social life. I discuss the ongoing impact on the field of recent major works that attempt to codify methodological and theoretical approaches to the intersection of language and society. I also consider some of linguistic anthropology's emergent ventures, including new collaborative projects and new proposals for interdisciplinary work. Finally, I discuss some of the political implications of academic specialization, disciplinary boundaries, and impending “generational shift,” both in the subdiscipline and the academy generally. I close by raising questions about future directions and possibilities for research in linguistic anthropology and other interdisciplinary enterprises. [Keywords: linguistic anthropology, interdisciplinarity, linguistic ideology, semiotic practices, linguistic variation]
Pulsed laser deposition of ferroelectric thin films for active microwave electronic devices

High quality thin films of SrxBa(1-x)TiO3 are currently being grown using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). These films are being used for the construction of frequency tunable microwave electronic devices. In particular, a low phase noise, voltage controlled oscillator (1.5 - 2.5 GHz) is currently being developed. Single phase and oriented SrxBa(1-x)TiO3 films have been deposited by PLD onto (100) LaAlO3 and MgO and single crystal Ag films. The dielectric properties of these films has been measured at 1 MHz and between 1 and 20 GHz. A 75% change in the capacitance can be achieved using a 40 V bias across a 5 micrometer interdigital capacitor gap (80 kV/cm). The dissipation factor (measured at 1 MHz) depends on film composition and temperature. Dielectric loss measurement at 1 - 20 GHz have shown a dielectric loss tangent as small as 1.25 multiplied by 10-2.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Infrared Spectroscopy of H3O+: The ν1 Fundamental Band

Abstract The infrared spectrum of H 3 O + in positive column discharges of H 2 /O 2 gas mixtures has been studied by a difference frequency laser spectrometer. The ν 1 fundamental band of H 3 O + was identified in the region of the strong . Molecular constants were obtained by the least-squares fitting of the observed frequencies, and band origins of the and subbands were determined to be 3389.656(2) and 3491.170(2) cm −1 , respectively. During this study, assignment of the ν 3 fundamental band was extended to higher J , K transitions, which do not fit to the calculated pattern well, but have definitely been assigned by using the ground state combination differences and relative intensities. Vibration–rotation interactions between the ν 1 and ν 3 states have been considered, which explained some large discrepancies between observed and calculated frequencies and led to the identification of forbidden transitions. Energy differences in the ground state between the Δ K = 3 rotational levels were obtained from the combination differences of the forbidden and allowed transitions, which led to an accurate determination of C and D K . Equilibrium structure of H 3 O + has been derived to be r e = 0.974(1) A and α e = 113.6(1)°.
Controversies in Organ Donation: Donation After Cardiac Death

An ever-increasing disparity between the demand for vital organs for transplantation and the number of available donors presents challenges to the medical community. Persistent barriers to donation include public concerns regarding definitions of death; concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest; and worries that end-of-life care may be compromised. Strategies to increase the number of eligible donors have included the development of brain-death criteria and donation after cardiac death (DCD) protocols. DCD combines the elective withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy, followed by organ donation. DCD meets desired ethical goals, but creates potential for ethical conflicts, errors, and harm. Two particularly problematic issues are the administration of medications to the dying patient that might hasten death, and redefining the moment of death to facilitate organ donation.
Biological Properties of Apolipoprotein A-I Mimetic Peptides

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) mimetic peptides resemble the physiochemical properties of the helices of apoA-I and show promise for the treatment of atherosclerotic vascular diseases and other chronic inflammatory disorders. These peptides have numerous properties, such as the ability to remodel high-density lipoprotein, sequester oxidized lipids, promote cholesterol efflux, and activate an anti-inflammatory process in macrophages, any or all of which may contribute to their antiatherogenic properties. In murine models, the 4F peptide attenuates early atherosclerosis but seems to require the addition of statins to influence more mature lesions. A recently developed method for the oral delivery of the peptides that protects them from proteolysis will facilitate further research on the mechanism of action of these peptides. This review focuses on the properties of the 4F peptide, although numerous apoA-I mimetics are under investigation and a single “best” peptide that mimics all of the properties of the antiatherogenic protein apoA-I has not been identified.
Surface Pressure Relaxation and Hysteresis in Stearic Acid Monolayers at the Air-Water Interface

Time-dependent changes in the surface pressure of stearic acid monolayers were examined using an automated Wilhelmy-type film balance. Different surface pressure-area isotherms were obtained for two different rates of compression. Pressure relaxation from preselected surface pressures was examined as a function of time. The results indicated two types of relaxation which, along with the compression rate effect, may be rationalized on the basis of changes in molecular orientation and redistribution, together with expulsion from the monolayer at areas below the limiting area per molecule. Marked hysteresis effects were also noted when stearic acid monolayers were subjected to compression expansion cycles. The effect of repeated cycling and the minimum area of compression on hysteresis were investigated. The onset and extent of hysteresis may also be explained on the basis of expulsion and reentry and orientation and redistribution of molecules at the interface.
Reactions of iodine oxide and iodine oxoacid anion species with nitric acid

Abstract Results of studies of the reactivity of anions of iodine oxides and iodine oxoacids with nitric acid are reported, including bimolecular reaction rate constants and the observed ion products. Based on this new information, these reactions are evaluated in terms of the elaborate chemistry observed. The potential relevance to atmospheric chemistry, including applications for active chemical ionization mass spectrometry, is also discussed.
Synthesis and properties of thin film polymorphs of molybdenum trioxide

Abstract Thin film polymorphs of molybdenum trioxide have been synthesized by reactive r.f. sputtering in an atmosphere of argon plus oxygen. Films deposited on thermally insulated substrates are polycrystalline and exhibit preferred orientation. Depending on the oxygen partial pressure P O 2 during sputtering, the films crystallize in either the thermodynamically stable α-MoO 3 form ( P O 2 ≈ 50%) (unique two-dimensional layered structure) or the newly discovered, metastable monoclinic β-MoO 3 phase ( P O 2 ≈ 10%) (three-dimensional ReO 3 -related structure). Metastable β films convert thermally to the α phase and the transformation appears topotactic. In contrast, films deposited on cooled substrates are amorphous. A correlation between the particular phase formed and adatom mobility is noted.
Numerical fourier transforms in one, two, and three dimensions for liquid state calculations

When a Fourier transform (FT) is to be numerically computed and subsequently numerically inverted, perhaps repetitively, it is desirable that the algorithm used to accomplish this should maintain the orthogonal nature of the Fourier expansion. Algorithms with this property are derived here for the FT of central functions in one, two, and three dimensions. These rules for mechanical quadrature are similar to the trapezoidal rule, but with intervals determined by the zeros of the orthogonal basis functions. A numerical test using Gaussians shows a high accuracy in the computed transforms. The procedure can be extended to other Fourier-Bessel transforms.
Psychological Predictors of Children's Recess Physical Activity Motivation and Behavior

Purpose: This study explored the relationship between children's basic psychological needs satisfaction at recess, level of recess physical activity motivation (RPAM), and recess physical activity (RPA). Method: Fifth-grade children (N = 203; 50.2% boys; 71.7% healthy-weight) completed measures of age, gender, basic psychological need satisfaction, and level of self-determined motivation for RPA. Children also wore pedometers during six consecutive 30-min mid-school-day recesses. Results: Multiple regression analyses indicated unique significant predictors of RPAM and RPA according to gender and weight status. RPAM was significantly predicted by all three basic psychological needs for boys and only competence need satisfaction for girls and healthy-weight children. RPA was predicted by RPAM for girls, competence need satisfaction for overweight children, and autonomy need satisfaction for boys and healthy-weight children. Conclusions: Findings support self-determination theory and provide important insigh...
Convergent inputs to the inferior olive from the dorsal column nuclei and pretectum in the cat.

The dorsal column nuclei (DCN) consist of an anatomically heterogeneous population of neurons, some of which project to the inferior olive and pretectum. Recent anatomical experiments on cats have shown that neurons in the parts of the pretectum which receive input from DCN also project to the inferior olive. Thus, DCN neurons provide an input to the inferior olive via both a direct DCN-olivary pathway and an indirect pathway through the pretectum. This connective situation provides a mechanism by which incoming somatic sensory information that is processed at different levels of the brainstem (i.e. DCN and pretectum) has access to the cerebellum by way of the inferior olive. It is of interest whether the two sets of differently processed information are conveyed to the same group of inferior olive neurons. Although DCN and pretectal projections to the inferior olive have been generally described, the relationship between the DCN targets in the inferior olive and those specifically from the DCN-recipient parts of the pretectum have not. To address this question, this study used single and double anterograde labeling strategies with a variety of tracers to compare the two targets in the inferior olive of cats. It was found that projections to the inferior olive from the DCN-recipient parts of the pretectum were located predominantly in the dorsal accessory portion of the inferior olive where they overlapped extensively with projections directly from DCN. These results provide evidence for a pathway by which sequentially processed somatic sensory information, first in the DCN and then in the pretectum, has access to the cerebellum by way of the same group of inferior olive neurons.
When do we interact multimodally?: cognitive load and multimodal communication patterns

Mobile usage patterns often entail high and fluctuating levels of difficulty as well as dual tasking. One major theme explored in this research is whether a flexible multimodal interface supports users in managing cognitive load. Findings from this study reveal that multimodal interface users spontaneously respond to dynamic changes in their own cognitive load by shifting to multimodal communication as load increases with task difficulty and communicative complexity. Given a flexible multimodal interface, users' ratio of multimodal (versus unimodal) interaction increased substantially from 18.6% when referring to established dialogue context to 77.1% when required to establish a new context, a +315% relative increase. Likewise, the ratio of users' multimodal interaction increased significantly as the tasks became more difficult, from 59.2% during low difficulty tasks, to 65.5% at moderate difficulty, 68.2% at high and 75.0% at very high difficulty, an overall relative increase of +27%. Analysis of users' task-critical errors and response latencies across task difficulty levels increased systematically and significantly as well, corroborating the manipulation of cognitive processing load. The adaptations seen in this study reflect users' efforts to self-manage limitations on working memory when task complexity increases. This is accomplished by distributing communicative information across multiple modalities, which is compatible with a cognitive load theory of multimodal interaction. The long-term goal of this research is the development of an empirical foundation for proactively guiding flexible and adaptive multimodal system design.
The Interferon-Inducible Gene viperin Restricts West Nile Virus Pathogenesis

Type I interferon (IFN) signaling coordinates an early antiviral program in infected and uninfected cells by inducing IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) that modulate viral entry, replication, and assembly. However, the specific antiviral functions in vivo of most ISGs remain unknown. Here, we examined the contribution of the ISG viperin to the control of West Nile virus (WNV) in genetically deficient cells and mice. While modest increases in levels of WNV replication were observed for primary viperin(-/-) macrophages and dendritic cells, no appreciable differences were detected in deficient embryonic cortical neurons or fibroblasts. In comparison, viperin(-/-) adult mice infected with WNV via the subcutaneous or intracranial route showed increased lethality and/or enhanced viral replication in central nervous system (CNS) tissues. In the CNS, viperin expression was induced in both WNV-infected and adjacent uninfected cells, including activated leukocytes at the site of infection. Our experiments suggest that viperin restricts the infection of WNV in a tissue- and cell-type-specific manner and may be an important ISG for controlling viral infections that cause CNS disease.
Consensus evidence evaluation in resuscitation research: analysis of Type I and Type II errors

Objective: This paper addresses the following statistical question: ‘if genuine improvements in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were discovered that doubled the probability of resuscitation success in a series of randomized clinical trials, would they be recognized and incorporated into consensus guidelines?’. Methods: Statistical powers for hypothetical individual clinical trials comparing experimental and control CPR were computed as a function of the study N when the true probabilities for immediate survival, 24 h survival, and discharge survival in the experimental group were twice those in the control group. Next, the binomial distributions describing the numbers of statistically significant studies in a series of equally powered trials of the same intervention were determined. These were compared with varying criteria for consensus among expert reviewers, expressed in terms of the number of ‘positive’ studies showing a statistically significant difference that reviewers would require before approving the experimental method. Results: False-negative evaluations (i.e. failures to approve a technique that actually doubled survival) were extremely common under a wide range of realistic assumptions and consensus criteria, especially when simulated long-term survival data were considered. Similar methods showed that false-positive evaluations would be extremely rare, provided that at least two of the clinical trials in a series showed a statistically significant benefit of the experimental method. Conclusions: Optimization of evidence evaluation can and should be carried out to make better use of available data in creating resuscitation guidelines. One simple approach is the ‘two and one quarter test’: if at least two well-conducted studies in a series are significantly positive (P<0.05) comprising at least one-quarter of all studies in the series, a positive effect can be inferred with small Type I and Type II errors. In addition, greater reliance on modern, unbiased methods such as cumulative meta-analysis is needed to increase the sensitivity of evidence evaluation for detecting useful innovations in resuscitation.
Non-sugrical embryo transfer in the cow

Abstract Embryos were recovered from superovulated heifers and transferred non-surgically through the cervix of heifers via an ureteral catheter. The ureteral catheter was passed into the anterior portion of the uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum through a series of concentric stainless steel tubes. One morula or blastocyst was transferred to each of 95 heifers. Eighteen heifers (19%) were pregnant 55 to 60 days later. The pregnancy rate was not significantly influenced by treatment of the vagina with antibiotics before transfer; whether a morula or blastocyst was transferred; or whether ovulation occurred from the left or right ovary. There were no significant differences among the three technicians. Fifty of the 77 recipients that were not pregnant at 60 days of gestation were observed in estrus after 18–23.5 or 37–44.5 days, representing normal or double the normal estrous cycle lengths. However, 11 showed a shortened return to estrus (9–26 days), and 16 had a delayed return to estrus (25–33 or 48–55 days). We conclude that this technique results in premature luteolysis in some recipients and probably in more early embryonic death than normal.
Selective Pathway Choice of a Single Central Axonal Fascicle by a Subset of Peripheral Neurons during Leech Development

In the CNS of leech, the central projections of peripheral sensory neurons segregate into three distinct axonal tracts during early development. We have previously shown that a subset of these neurons, recognized by the monoclonal antibody lan 4-2, projects axons into only one of these fascicles (Johansen et al., 1992, Neuron 8, 599). Here we report on a developmental and biochemical characterization of another fascicle-specific antigen labeled by the monoclonal antibody lan 3-6. By immunocytochemistry and double labelings we demonstrate that the lan 3-6 epitope is expressed only by a small subgroup of the peripheral neurons in Macrobdella embryos. The axons of these neurons selectively fasciculate in the CNS, but to only one of the three lan 3-2-positive tracts, which is different from the previously described lan 4-2-positive tract. These observations support the existence of a hierarchy of guidance cues mediating specific tract formation in this system. A biochemical analysis of the antigen suggests that it is likely to be a glycosylated protein with a molecular weight of approximately 200 kDa. Thus, the restricted expression of the lan 3-6 antigen and its biochemical properties are consistent with the hypothesis that this antigen may be playing a role in axonal guidance.
Density and composition analysis using focused MeV ion mubeam techniques

Abstract Nuclear muscopy uses focused MeV ion mubeams to non-destructively characterize materials and components with mun scale spatial resolution. Although a number of accelerator-based mubeam methods are available for materials analysis, this paper centers on the techniques of Ion mutomography (IMT) and Particle-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). IMT provides quantitative three-dimensional density information with mun-scale spatial resolution and 1% density variation sensitivity. Recently, IMT has become more versatile because greater emphasis has been placed on understanding the effects of reconstruction artifacts, beam spatial broadening, and limited projection data sets. PIXE provides quantitative elemental information with detection sensitivities to 1 μg/g or below in some instances. By scanning the beam, two-dimensional maps of elemental concentration can also be recorded. However, since X-rays are produced along the entire path of the ion beam as it penetrates the sample, these measurements only give depth-averaged information in general. PIXE tomography (PIXET) is the natural extension from conventional PIXE analysis to the full three-dimensional measurement and forms the bridge linking the complementary techniques of PIXE and IMT. This paper presents recent developments and applications of these ion beam techniques in a diverse range of fields including characterizing metal-matrix composites, biological specimens and inertial confinement fusion targets.
Effects of a dorsal column lesion on temporal processing within the somatosensory system of primates

A dorsal column (DC) lesion has lasting effects on behavioral tasks that require temporal processing of tactile information (e.g., frequency and duration discrimination). The present experiments describe physiological correlates of these deficits in temporal discrimination. Compound action potentials evoked by electrocutaneous stimulation were recorded from the major white matter subdivisions of the spinal cord in anesthetized monkeys, and relationships between stimulation frequency and evoked potential (EP) amplitude were determined for the ascending pathways. At 10 pulses per second (Hz) EPs recorded in the lateral spinal columns were attenuated slightly (by 15% or less, relative to 1.5 Hz), whereas potentials recorded from the DCs were not attenuated. The attenuation increased with stimulation frequencies up to 50 Hz, reaching 80% for the anterolateral column and 38% for the dorsolateral column, but only 15% for the DC. Epidural EPs were recorded, before and after interruption of the contralateral DC, from awake animals with electrodes chronically implanted over primary somatosensory cortex (SI). Following the lesion. EP responses to 1.5-Hz stimulation were 46% of preoperative responses to the same stimulus. At 10 Hz, EP amplitudes were attenuated even more, to 27% of the preoperative amplitude at 1.5 Hz. Principal components analysis was employed to quantify alterations in EP conformation and stimulus frequency was varied from 1.5 to 10 Hz, before and after a DC lesion. Interruption of the DC resulted in a significant decrease in the information provided by the EP about changes in stimulus frequency. EPs were also recorded from different locations along the anterior-posterior dimension of the hindlimb region of SI in lightly anesthetized animals. Principal components analysis revealed that there was less information present in the EP about changes in stimulus frequency (1.5-10 Hz) at all recording locations in animals with a DC lesion, compared with the cortex of normal animals. The DC lesion significantly decreased the amplitude of cortical EPs evoked by repetitive stimulation. At 10 Hz the EP was nearly buried in noise, consistent with behavioral deficits in discrimination of the duration of 10 Hz stimulation following interruption of the DC. Also, significantly less information was present in the cortical EPs about changes in stimulus frequency in the absence of intact DCs, which is consistent with deficits in frequency discrimination. This reduction could be explained in part by a lesser capacity of spinal pathways in the lateral column to follow repetitive stimulation above 10 Hz. However, more rostral manifestations of a DC lesion, at either the thalamus or the cortex, are likely to contribute to the reduced capacity of animals with DC lesions to make temporal discriminations.
Psychological stress and immunological responsiveness in normally cycling, follicular-stage women

Abstract Nineteen women in the follicular stage of their menstrual cycles were assessed for immunological responsiveness to a 50-min series of three psychological tasks which reliably elicit cardiovascular and neuroendocrine stress responses. Ten follicular-stage women not subjected to stress served as controls. Stress decreased lymphocyte responsiveness to PHA and PWM, percent of CD4+ cells and the ratio of CD4 + CD8 + cells. Conversely, stress increased natural killer cell number and cytolytic activity, white blood cell, lymphocyte, T and B cell count. Except for natural killer cell number, none of these changes was exhibited by controls. Most of these stress responses are similar to those reported for men and form the basis for a continuing study of the effects of reproductive hormones and stress on cardiovascular and immunological function in women.
Relationship between Force, Velocity, and Integrated Electrical Activity in the Masticatory Muscles of Man: Normal and Abnormal Occlusions

SYNOPSIS IN INTERLINGUALE RELATION INTER FORTIA, VELOCITATE, E INTEGRATE ACTIVATE ELECTRIC IN LE MUSCULOS MASTICA-TORI DE HUMANOS; OccLusiON NORMAL E ANORMAL.—Le function del masseter e del musculos temporal esseva analysate a base de electromyographia quantitative. Esseva mantenite a nivellos constante (1) le velocitate del movimento o (2) le carga super le musculo. In subjectos con occlusion tanto normal como etiam anormal, nulle symmetria bilateral esseva notate in le activitate muscular, sed in le presentia de un occlusion normal, certe irregularitates esseva observate in le rendimento de energia per le musculo in relation con le velocitate del movimento e le carga. Configurationes interferential de electromyographia es difficile a interpretar si illos non es integrate e si le velocitate del movimento o le carga non es mantenite a un nivello constante.
Initial oxidation and sulfidation of a Ni60Fe40(100) alloy surface

Abstract The adsorption of oxygen or sulfur on a Ni 60 Fe 40 (100) surface produces a well-ordered c(2 × 2) surface phase near half-monolayer coverage which undergoes an order-disorder transition around 525°C for oxygen and 800°C for sulfur. Coadsorption of sulfur and oxygen also produces a c(2 × 2) structure which we believe to be made up of two phases at lower temperatures. The results are schematically represented on a temperature-coverage-cornposition surface phase diagram for this two-dimensional binary (S + 0) adsorbate system. A highly oriented Fe-rich oxide nucleates epitaxially on the c(2 × 2)O phase at 500 °C and LEED features observed with increasing O 2 exposure suggest that layers of Fe 1- x O and Fe 3 O 4 are formed; at 100°C, diffuse oxide LEED patterns indicate polycrystalline oxide growth. Submonolayer amounts of sulfur on the alloy strongly reduce oxide growth rates; a surface completely covered by a c(2 × 2)S phase remains inert to O 2 adsorption for up to 8000 langmuirs of O 2 exposure, independent of temperature. For lower sulfur coverages, the initial oxide morphology at 500 °C appears to consist of thick oxide islands coexisting with c(2 × 2)S domains while at 100 °C, a polycrystalline oxide layer coalesces over the sulfur in the same O 2 exposure range. Sulfides formed on the clean alloy at 500°C from S 2 vapor contain both Fe and Ni and grow epitaxially with a (111) texture, similar to the oxides, but with much faster growth rates.
Hydrogen-bonded turns in proteins: the case for a recount.

β-Turns are sites at which proteins change their overall chain direction, and they occur with high frequency in globular proteins. The Protein Data Bank has many instances of conformations that resemble β-turns but lack the characteristic N–H(i) → O=C(i − 3) hydrogen bond of an authentic β-turn. Here, we identify potential hydrogen-bonded β-turns in the coil library, a Web-accessible database utility comprised of all residues not in repetitive secondary structure, neither α-helix nor β-sheet (http://www.roselab.jhu.edu/coil). In particular, candidate turns were identified as four-residue segments satisfying highly relaxed geometric criteria but lacking a strictly defined hydrogen bond. Such candidates were then subjected to a minimization protocol to determine whether slight changes in torsion angles are sufficient to shift the conformation into reference-quality geometry without deviating significantly from the original structure. This approach of applying constrained minimization to known structures reveals a substantial population of previously unidentified, stringently defined, hydrogen-bonded β-turns. In particular, 33% of coil library residues were classified as β-turns prior to minimization. After minimization, 45% of such residues could be classified as β-turns, with another 8% in 310 helixes (which closely resemble type III β-turns). Of the remaining coil library residues, 37% have backbone dihedral angles in left-handed polyproline II structure.
Use of γ-cyclodextrin/epichlorohydrin polymer in merging fabric formation and coloration processes

A candidate polymeric size was synthesised by the polymerisation of γ-cyclodextrin with epichlorohydrin under alkaline conditions. The motivation for the synthesis was to produce a polymer that could not only function as a warp size for fabric formation, but also serve as a host for dye molecules that could subsequently be released after the weaving process, ultimately promoting the merging of fabric formation and coloration processes. The γ-cyclodextrin/epichlorohydrin polymer has been found to promote the dissolution of textile dyes, such as CI Disperse Blue 3, CI Disperse Yellow 82 and CI Disperse Red 91 to yield pad baths capable of evenly coating polyester fabric. Upon padding and subsequent drying, the dye–γ-cyclodextrin/epichlorohydrin polymer pad baths have been used for dyeing the fabric upon thermofixation. Furthermore, cross-sections of fibre dyed in the same manner indicate dye penetration into the fibre.