cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Same day versus next day antroduodenal manometry results in children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND We evaluated the changes in antroduodenal manometry (ADM) parameters and interpretation when the test is performed the day of catheter placement and the following day. METHODS Catheter was placed endoscopically under anesthesia and recorded on day 1 and repeated on day 2. Study parameters including antrum and small bowel motility index (MI) during fasting, meal, postprandial, erythromycin (EES), and octreotide (OCT) challenge phases, the presence of the phase III of the migrating motor complex (MMC), visual postprandial response, and study interpretation were compared between both days. KEY RESULTS Twenty patients were studied. Antrum and small bowel MI during fasting, postprandial, and EES challenge phases were significantly higher on day 2 than on day 1 (P < 0.05). The proportion of patients having a phase III of the MMC was significantly higher on day 2 compared to day 1 (65% vs 15%; P = 0.006). Study interpretation changed from day 1 to day 2. On day 1, 70% of the patients had a normal study and 30% had an abnormal study. On day 2, 67% of the patients with an abnormal study on day 1 changed to normal and 33% remained abnormal. All patients with a normal study on day 1 remained normal on day 2. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES ADM parameters are affected the day of catheter placement. The MI and presence of the phase III of the MMC were significantly higher on day 2 compared to day 1. Overall, ADM study interpretation changed from day 1 to day 2 in 20% of the patients.
Information in stock prices: the case of the 2016 U.S. presidential election

On the day before the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the odds of Hillary Clinton winning the presidency, according to political prediction markets, were above 90%. Surprisingly, Donald Trump won ...
A Four-year Automation and Integration Concentration for Manufacturing Engineering

This paper outlines plans to develop an Automation and Integration concentration for a Manufacturing Engineering program in response to a growing interest in manufacturing automation in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region and among our regional industrial partners. The concentration will build off of an introduction to engineering and design course sequence, which will introduce students to microcontrollers, and continue with five concentration-specific courses in areas including automatic controls, industrial robotics, automated inspection and data analysis, and automated system integration. While the bulk of the courses will occur during the junior and senior years, the intent of the program is to achieve more depth than most programs by including courses in all four years of the curriculum.
Computational Method for Optimal Guidance and Control Using Adaptive Gaussian Quadrature Collocation

A method is described for computational optimal guidance and control using adaptive Gaussian quadrature collocation and sparse nonlinear programming. The method employs adaptive Legendre–Gauss–Rada...
Dynamic Wettability Alteration of Calcite, Silica and Illite Surfaces in Subsurface Environments: A Case Study of Asphaltene Self-Assembly at Solid Interfaces

Abstract A fundamental understanding of dynamic wettability alteration at complex solid interfaces in varying fluidic environments representative of the subsurface environments is essential for engineering field-scale strategies to enhance energy recovery while reducing environmental impacts. In this study, we characterize dynamic wettability alteration at solid surfaces (e.g., calcite, silica and illite) resulting from the self-assembly and adsorption of polyaromatic macromolecules known as asphaltenes in heptane and toluene solvents at 200 bar and 313 K using classical molecular dynamics simulations. These conditions are chosen to be representative of the subsurface environments. On adding asphaltenes, the equilibrium contact angles on calcite, silica and illite surfaces which are in the range of 25–34° increased to 69–79°. The adsorption and self-assembly of asphaltene molecules on the solid surfaces and the accumulation on water/hydrocarbon interfaces reduces the spreading distances of water molecules and enhances the hydrophobicity of the solid surfaces. Further, the accumulation of asphaltene molecules at the water/liquid hydrocarbon interfaces results in a reduction of the interfacial tension of water/heptane and water/toluene, thus stabilizing the water droplet. The enhanced surface hydrophobicity contributes to the formation of layered structures of heptane and toluene close to the solid surfaces and reduces the self-diffusivities of these molecules close to the surface.
Who was the greatest of all-time? A historical analysis by a complex network of professional boxing

This study seeks to examine and compare boxers throughout history creating a pound-for-pound list of the different fighters. A PageRank algorithm was utilized to rank the boxers from the network to determine a list of the top 10 fighters from 1897 to 2019. Two data sets were utilized, a truncated subset and a larger data set, to explore the impact of network size on the rank of boxers. Additionally, the researchers systematically varied the damping factor of the PageRank algorithm to determine the effects on the rankings. A discussion of the results includes a comparison of journalistic rankings and those from a points-based system from the respected boxing website BoxRec.
A multi-agent-based algorithm for data clustering

Clustering algorithms aim to detect groups based on similarity, from a given set of objects. Many clustering techniques have been proposed, most requiring the user to set critical parameters, such as the number of groups. This work presents the implementation and evaluation of a clustering algorithm based on a multi-agent system, which automatically detects the number of groups and the group labels for a given dataset. Groups formed during the clustering process emerge as patterns from the interaction among agents. The proposed algorithm is experimentally validated over benchmark datasets from the literature. The quality of clustering results is computed using seven internal indexes and one external index. Under this methodology, the proposed algorithm is compared to K-means and DBSCAN (density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise).
Implementation and Evaluation of a Novel High-Value Care Curriculum in a Single Academic Surgery Department.

Background High value care (HVC), maximizing quality while minimizing cost, has become a major focus of surgical practice. Effective education in healthcare value concepts is critical during residency to ensure graduates are able to deliver high value surgical care and participate in interprofessional teams to improve the system. Study Design An HVC curriculum was implemented at a single academic medical center. Sixty-six residents from general surgery, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, and urology completed the curriculum over 3 academic years (2016 to 2019). The 1-year curriculum taught residents the concepts of HVC before participating in a value improvement project the following year. Residents’ knowledge of value was assessed pre- and post-participation using a validated assessment tool, the Quality Improvement Knowledge Application Tool Revised (QIKAT-R), and a curriculum-specific assessment tool. The overall success of the program was evaluated by assessing residents’ skills in completing value improvement projects using a novel scoring rubric. Results After completing the program, residents expressed improved confidence in their ability to complete a value improvement project. Residents also demonstrated improved knowledge on the curriculum-specific assessment (4.7/13 to 10.9/13) and the scenario assessment using the QIKAT-R tool (8.5/27 to 16.4/27). As the program underwent iterative improvements each year, the quality of the residents’ projects also improved, as assessed by the novel scoring rubric. Conclusions Multimodal assessment demonstrated improvement in residents’ objective knowledge of HVC principles, residents’ ability to design and lead clinical value improvement projects, and residents’ confidence they could use HVC principles in their current and future practice.
Tropospheric NO 2 measurements using a three-wavelength optical parametric oscillator differential absorption lidar

Abstract. The conventional two-wavelength differential absorption lidar (DIAL) has measured air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ). However, high concentrations of aerosol within the planetary boundary layer (PBL) can cause significant retrieval errors using only a two-wavelength DIAL technique to measure NO 2 . We proposed a new technique to obtain more accurate measurements of NO 2 using a three-wavelength DIAL technique based on an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) laser. This study derives the three-wavelength DIAL retrieval equations necessary to retrieve vertical profiles of NO 2 in the troposphere. Additionally, two rules to obtain the optimum choice of the three wavelengths applied in the retrieval are designed to help increase the differences in the NO 2 absorption cross-sections and reduce aerosol interference. NO 2 retrieval relative uncertainties caused by aerosol extinction, molecular extinction, absorption of gases other than the gas of interest and backscattering are calculated using two-wavelength DIAL (438 and 439.5 nm) and three-wavelength DIAL (438, 439.5 and 441 nm) techniques. The retrieval uncertainties in aerosol extinction using the three-wavelength DIAL technique are reduced to less than 2 % of those when using the two-wavelength DIAL technique. Moreover, the retrieval uncertainty analysis indicates that the three-wavelength DIAL technique can reduce more fluctuation caused by aerosol backscattering than the two-wavelength DIAL technique. This study presents NO 2 concentration profiles which were obtained using the HU (Hampton University) three-wavelength OPO DIAL. As a first step to assess the accuracy of the HU lidar NO 2 profiles, we compared the NO 2 profiles to simulated data from the Weather Research and Forecasting Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model. This comparison suggests that the NO 2 profiles retrieved with the three-wavelength DIAL technique have similar vertical structure and magnitudes typically within ± 0.1 ppb compared to modeled profiles.
INTIMIDADES EN RED: EXHIBICIÓN Y VIGILANCIA EN KENTUKIS DE SAMANTA SCHWEBLIN

En la literatura latinoamericana del siglo XXI se ha explorado la relacion entre la tecnologia y la intimidad, y se han planteado los dilemas legales, politicos y afectivos en relacion con la libertad de los sujetos, el control de su intimidad y los sistemas que los vigilan. En Kentukis se plantea la imagen de la conexion global por medio de una red de intimidades en las que los sujetos observan y son observados. Sobre la base de estas conexiones, sostengo que la exhibicion de la intimidad permite considerarla un fenomeno colectivo e insertarla en la discusion sobre los derechos ciudadanos
A (Not So) Complex Solution to a2 + b2 = cn

(2004). A (Not So) Complex Solution to a2 + b2 = cn. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 77, No. 4, pp. 300-302.
Connections of the juxtaventromedial region of the lateral hypothalamic area in the male rat.

Evolutionary conservation of the hypothalamus attests to its critical role in the control of fundamental behaviors. However, our knowledge of hypothalamic connections is incomplete, particularly for the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). Here we present the results of neuronal pathway-tracing experiments to investigate connections of the LHA juxtaventromedial region, which is parceled into dorsal (LHAjvd) and ventral (LHAjvv) zones. Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHAL, for outputs) and cholera toxin B subunit (CTB, for inputs) coinjections were targeted stereotaxically to the LHAjvd/v. RESULTS: LHAjvd/v connections overlapped highly but not uniformly. Major joint outputs included: Bed nuc. stria terminalis (BST), interfascicular nuc. (BSTif) and BST anteromedial area, rostral lateral septal (LSr)- and ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) nuc., and periaqueductal gray. Prominent joint LHAjvd/v input sources included: BSTif, BST principal nuc., LSr, VMH, anterior hypothalamic-, ventral premammillary-, and medial amygdalar nuc., and hippocampal formation (HPF) field CA1. However, LHAjvd HPF retrograde labeling was markedly more abundant than from the LHAjvv; in the LSr this was reversed. Furthermore, robust LHAjvv (but not LHAjvd) targets included posterior- and basomedial amygdalar nuc., whereas the midbrain reticular nuc. received a dense input from the LHAjvd alone. Our analyses indicate the existence of about 500 LHAjvd and LHAjvv connections with about 200 distinct regions of the cerebral cortex, cerebral nuclei, and cerebrospinal trunk. Several highly LHAjvd/v-connected regions have a prominent role in reproductive behavior. These findings contrast with those from our previous pathway-tracing studies of other LHA medial and perifornical tier regions, with different connectional behavioral relations. The emerging picture is of a highly differentiated LHA with extensive and far-reaching connections that point to a role as a central coordinator of behavioral control.
The Promise of Caribbean Philosophy: How it Can Contribute to a 'New Dialogic' in Philosophy

The Caribbean is a site where multiple cultures, peoples, ways of thinking and acting have come together and where new forms of philosophy are emerging. The promise of Caribbean philosophy lays in its ability to give shape to an intellectual tradition which is both true to and beneficial to Caribbean peoples while simultaneously being provocative enough to engage wisdomseekers of various geographies and identities. I argue that only by pursuing a “New Dialogic” which engages the philosophical traditions of Africans, African Americans, and Native Americans can we hope to assert a unique philosophy of value to Caribbean peoples and cultures. The highest form of Caribbean philosophy thus must be plural and dialogical. Unfortunately, dialogues in philosophy have been typically characterized by a fixation with Europe, and a lack of consideration of other philosophical traditions or sources. The “New Dialogic” that I propose here involves a more dynamic model of dialogue to open or intensify different and multiple avenues of conceptual elaboration. I provide general guidelines or principles for this “New Dialogic” and demonstrate the extent to which Caribbean philosophers can both contribute to the expansion of this project and be aided by it in their formulations of the field.
Comparison of target breeding weight and breeding date for replacement beef heifers and effects on subsequent reproduction and calf performance

A 3-yr study was conducted with spring-born heifers (n = 240) to determine the effects of developing heifers to either 55 or 60% of mature BW at breeding on reproduction and calf production responses. A concurrent study was also conducted with summer-born heifers (n = 146) to examine effects of breeding heifers with the mature cow herd or 1 mo earlier on reproduction and calf production variables. Spring-born crossbred heifer calves were weaned and developed on two different levels of nutrition to achieve the desired prebreeding BW. Summer-born heifers were developed to similar target breeding BW (60% of mature BW) to begin calving either 1 mo before (May) or at the same time as the mature cowherd (June). Blood samples were taken before breeding to determine differences in estrous cyclicity. Pregnancy rates through the fourth pregnancy were determined. Cow and calf production variables were evaluated through the third gestation. Spring-born heifers reached 53 or 58% of mature BW at breeding and had similar reproduction and first calf production traits between the two, groups. Calving difficulty with the second calf was greater (P < 0.05) for heifers developed to 58% of mature BW at breeding. Subsequent second calf weaning weight and ADG were decreased (P < 0.05) for heifers developed to 58% of mature BW at breeding. Feed costs were $22/heifer less for heifers developed to 53% of mature BW. Summer-born first-calf heifers calving in June had less (P < 0.01) calving difficulty than did heifers calving in May; however, calf birth weights were similar. Breeding summer-born heifers 1 mo before the cowherd did not influence pregnancy rates over three calf crops; however, first calf adjusted weaning weights and ADG were greater for calves born earlier. Development costs were $11/heifer more for heifers developed to calve in May vs. June. Developing spring-born heifers to 53% of mature BW did not adversely affect reproduction or calf production traits compared with developing heifers to 58% of mature BW, and it decreased development costs. Breeding summer-born heifers before the cowherd increased heifer development costs, increased calving difficulty, and improved calf performance, but had no effect on pregnancy rates.
Multiple channel queues in heavy traffic

The queueing systems considered in this paper consist of r independent arrival channels and s independent service channels, where as usual the arrival and service channels are independent. Arriving customers form a single queue and are served in the order of their arrival without defections. We shall treat two distinct modes of operation for the service channels. In the standard system a waiting customer is assigned to the first available service channel and the servers (servers - service channels) are shut off when they are idle. Thus the classical GI/G/s system is a special case of our standard system. In the modified system a waiting customer is assigned to the service channel that can complete his service first and the servers are not shut off when they are idle. While the modified system is of some interest in its own right, we introduce it primarily as an analytical tool. Let Ai denote the arrival rate (reciprocal of the mean interarrival time) in the ith arrival channel and /j the service rate (reciprocal of the mean service time) in the jth service channel. Then A = E r= Ai is the total arrival rate to the system and yu = E = #ij is the maximum service rate of the system. As a measure of congestion we define the traffic intensity p = A/lt. We shall restrict our attention to systems in which p > 1. Under this condition the systems are of course unstable (a proof of this fact is an easy byproduct of our results). Our principal objective will be to obtain functional central limit theorems (invariance principles) for the stochastic processes characterizing these systems after appropriately scaling and translating the processes. There has been a growing literature on queues in heavy traffic beginning with Kingman ((1961), (1962)); see Kingman (1965) for a summary of his work. We use the term heavy trafficin a broader sense than Kingman. While he considered queueing systems with traffic intensity less than but close to
Asymmetric Rent-Seeking with More than Two Contestants

This article considers a rent-seeking model with N asymmetriccontestants. Each contestant may have a different valuation ofthe rent or a different relative ability to win the rent. Oneof the N contestants is selected as the winner based onTullock's probabilistic contest rule with constant returns toscale. A pure strategy Nash equilibrium solution is obtainedand its consequences are investigated.
Chapter 7 Implementing Representations of Uncertainty

Abstract Chapters 3–6 discussed generating the basic random numbers that drive a stochastic simulation, as well as algorithms to convert them into realizations of random input structures like random variables, random vectors, and stochastic processes. Still, there could be different ways to implement such methods and algorithms in a given simulation model, and the choices made can affect the nature and quality of the output. Of particular interest is precisely how the basic random numbers being generated might be used to generate the random input structures for the model. This chapter discusses these and related issues and suggests how implementation might best proceed, not only in particular simulation models but also in simulation software.
Perceived barriers to immunizations as identified by Latino mothers.

Purpose: Identify low-income Latino mothers’ perceived barriers to immunizations. Data sources: A 1-month survey was conducted in a Southern California, low-income primary care clinic. Mothers of Latino children aged 2 months to 18 years were surveyed in Spanish using a 52-question immunization survey. Conclusions: Latino mothers’ perception of immunizations and knowledge of up-to-date status greatly influenced their children's immunization status. In addition, Latino children had lower immunization rates and encountered more barriers to immunizations than children in other population groups despite government efforts to provide vaccines to healthcare providers at no cost to assist low-income children. Most mothers (92%) believed their children were up-to-date on immunizations; however, immunization records documented that 42% of the children were current based on age. The most common barriers reported were that the child was sick at the time of the visit (51%) and/or transportation problems (39%). Implications for practice: When working with low-income, uninsured Latinos, nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals with low immunization rates in their clinic must assess the barriers to immunization and implement an action plan.
Metals in the molluscan kidney: Uptake and subcellular distribution of 109Cd, 54Mn and 65Zn by the clam, Mercenaria mercenaria

Abstract 1. 1. Experiments were conducted to assess the relative tissue distribution of Cd, Mn and Zn accumulated by Mercenaria mercenaria from seawater using 109Cd, 54Mn and 65Zn. 2. 2. The kidney accumulated all three metals most extensively with Cd in particular showing the greatest degree of renal concentration. 3. 3. Subcellular fractionation of the kidney showed that 34.3% of the 54Mn, 5.6% of the 65Zn and 1.3% of the 109Cd had been incorporated into mineral concretions present in kidney cells. 4. 4. Gel permeation chromatography of renal cytosol fractions showed the isotopes to be bound to macromolecules with mol. wt of approximately 60,000, 12,000 and 7500.
Inkjet-Based Biopatterning of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 to Spatially Control Calvarial Bone Formation

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate spatial control of osteoblast differentiation in vitro and bone formation in vivo using inkjet bioprinting technology and to create three-dimensional persistent bio-ink patterns of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and its modifiers immobilized within microporous scaffolds. Semicircular patterns of BMP-2 were printed within circular DermaMatrix human allograft scaffold constructs. The contralateral halves of the constructs were unprinted or printed with BMP-2 modifiers, including the BMP-2 inhibitor, noggin. Printed bio-ink pattern retention was validated using fluorescent or (125)I-labeled bio-inks. Mouse C2C12 progenitor cells cultured on patterned constructs differentiated in a dose-dependent fashion toward an osteoblastic fate in register to BMP-2 patterns. The fidelity of spatial restriction of osteoblastic differentiation at the boundary between neighboring BMP-2 and noggin patterns improved in comparison with patterns without noggin. Acellular DermaMatrix constructs similarly patterned with BMP-2 and noggin were then implanted into a mouse calvarial defect model. Patterns of bone formation in vivo were comparable with patterned responses of osteoblastic differentiation in vitro. These results demonstrate that three-dimensional biopatterning of a growth factor and growth factor modifier within a construct can direct cell differentiation in vitro and tissue formation in vivo in register to printed patterns.
Evidence for selective adsorption and polymerization of thel-optical isomers of amino acids relative to thed-optical isomers on the edge faces of kaolinite

Auf Kaolinitkristallen werden diel-optischen Isomeren der Aminosauren vollstandiger adsorbiert und schneller polymerisiert als died-optischen Isomeren.
LVars: lattice-based data structures for deterministic parallelism

Programs written using a deterministic-by-construction model of parallel computation are guaranteed to always produce the same observable results, offering programmers freedom from subtle, hard-to-reproduce nondeterministic bugs that are the scourge of parallel software. We present LVars, a new model for deterministic-by-construction parallel programming that generalizes existing single-assignment models to allow multiple assignments that are monotonically increasing with respect to a user-specified lattice. LVars ensure determinism by allowing only monotonic writes and "threshold" reads that block until a lower bound is reached. We give a proof of determinism and a prototype implementation for a language with LVars and describe how to extend the LVars model to support a limited form of nondeterminism that admits failures but never wrong answers.
Lean body mass-body fat interrelationships in humans.

Lean and fat compartments of the body are companions. Dietary alterations induce changes in both compartments.
Regulation of ovarian ecdysteroid production in the housefly, Musca domestica

Highly purified Musca ecdysteroidogenin (ESG) was obtained by extracting housefly heads with an acid-ethanol-urea procedure followed by desalting on a Sephadex G25F column and fractionation on a Sephadex G50F column. Further fractionation was done on a semi-preparative C18 reverse-phase HPLC column with an acetonitrile gradient in 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in water. Ecdysteroidogenic activity eluted from the column with 35% acetonitrile. I-125 size exclusion HPLC revealed activity in a fraction with a molecular mass of 8.1 kDa. ESG from the C18 column at a concentration of 1.1 μg/fly stimulated ovarian development to late vitellogenesis when injected into flies without the corpus allatum-cardiacum complex and stimulated maximal ovarian ecdysteroid production in vitro at a concentration of 40 μg/μl. Concentrations of ESG outside these ranges were less effective. Ovaries produced about 500 pg each of ecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone, and makisterone A when exposed to ESG in vitro. However, control ovaries produced about a tenth the amount of ecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone and half the amount of makisterone A. An exposure of 4 h or more to ESG was required by ovaries before they would make ecdysteroid, with the greatest rate of ecdysteroid production occurring in the 12–24 h interval of exposure. Ecdysteroid production ceased from 36–50 h after ESG was removed from the medium. A juvenile hormone analog (JHA) did not stimulate ovarian ecdysteroid production, but ovaries from flies without the corpus allatum-cardiacum complex required JHA to produce high levels of ecdysteroid during incubation with ESG. ESG activity was recovered from both male and female heads. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 35:135–148, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.1
Contact fatigue crack initiation under repeated oblique force

Abstract This study was planned and developed with the object of obtaining further information on the mechanism for the initiation of pitting cracks. An interesting feature observed during cyclic loading tests in which a onedirectional tangential force was applied under stationary line contact is that two different types of cracks are observed at both edges of the contact region. A simple dislocation dipole model is proposed for this contact fatigue crack initiation. These two types of cracks are explained in terms of two stress values; one value is the amplitude of the average shearing stress over a semicircular plane inclined to the surface and the other is the maximum of the average normal stress over the same semicircular plane.
LOSS MINIMIZATION OF A DC MOTOR DRIVE

ABSTRACT This paper presents a practical method for operation of a semi-converter-fed DC motor drive at the point of maximum efficiency while maintaining any particular torque-speed load point. Design and operation of an economical, microprocessor-based adaptive controller used to retrofit a commercially available SCR drive for minimum loss operation of a DC motor is described. Experimental and simulation results are presented in graphical forms, giving comparison of overall drive system efficiencies between loss minimization adaptive control and conventional constant field current operation for a standard-efficiency DC motor with a 7½ hp rating for both separately excited and shunt connected configurations. The greatest potential for energy savings is found to exist for the case of light load at low speeds.
Bird Ectoparasites From South Farallon Island, California

During two visits to South Farallon Island in July 1964 and 1965 the nests and bodies (if both were accessible) of 11 species of birds and single individuals of a further 5 species, as well as 3 species of mammal, were examined for ectoparasites. Three species of Siphonaptera were collected, one host specific, another confined to passerines and the third widely distributed; 5 new host records were recorded, to which may be added a further 3 possibilities; 5 new accidental host associations were observed. Of the 14 species of Mallophaga collected, one was previously known only from a male specimen removed from a now extinct host, and a further 4 species constitute new host records. Numerous specimens of a tick were collected from the nests of Western Gulls which, it is suggested, should be known as Omithodoros sp. near denmarki . A new species of dermanyssid mite was collected from 2 sp cies of host.
Hindbrain raphe stimulation boosts cyclic adenosine monophosphate and signaling proteins in the injured spinal cord

Abstract Early recovery from incomplete spinal cord contusion is improved by prolonged stimulation of the hindbrain's serotonergic nucleus raphe magnus (NRM). Here we examine whether increases in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), an intracellular signaling molecule with several known restorative actions on damaged neural tissue, could play a role. Subsequent changes in cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of protein kinase A (PKA) and PKA-dependent phosphorylation of the transcription factor “cAMP response element-binding protein” (CREB) are also analyzed. Rats with moderate weight-drop injury at segment T8 received 2 h of NRM stimulation beginning three days after injury, followed immediately by separate extraction of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal cord for immunochemical assay. Controls lacked injury, stimulation or both. Injury reduced cAMP levels to under half of normal in all three spinal regions. NRM stimulation completely restored these levels, while producing no significant change in non-injured rats. Pretreatment with the 5-HT7 receptor antagonist pimozide (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) lowered cAMP in non-injured rats to injury amounts, which were unchanged by NRM stimulation. The phosphorylated fraction of PKA (pPKA) and CREB (pCREB) was reduced significantly in all three regions after SCI and restored by NRM stimulation, except for pCREB in lumbar segments. In conclusion, SCI produces spreading deficits in cAMP, pPKA and pCREB that are reversible by Gs protein-coupled 5-HT receptors responding to raphe-spinal activity, although these signaling molecules are not reactive to NRM stimulation in normal tissue. These findings can partly explain the benefits of NRM stimulation after SCI.
Contributions from the sociology of technology to the study of innovation systems

Literature in the area of innovation systems (IS) has been growing in importance and the IS approach has become well established. It is widely used in North America, Western Europe and Scandinavia, both in academic contexts and also as a framework or tool for policymaking. This paper examines work by sociologists, historians and others who have attempted to provide new insights into the nature of technology, in order to determine how the new sociology of technology literature—particularly social construction of technology methodologies—can contribute to, and unpack the study of innovation system.
Lossless Compression of Floating-Point Geometry

ABSTRACT The geometric data sets found in scientiﬁc and industrial applications are often very detailed. Storing them using standard uncompressed formats results in large ﬁles that are expensive to store and slow to load and transmit. Many efficient mesh compression techniques have been proposed, but scientists and engineers often refrain from using them because they modify the mesh data. While connectivity is encoded in a lossless manner, the ﬂoating-point coordinates associated with the vertices are quantized onto a uniform integer grid for efficient predictive compression. Although a ﬁne enough grid can usually represent the data with sufficient precision, the original ﬂoating-point values will change, regardless of grid resolution. In this paper we describe how to compress ﬂoating-point coordinates using predictive coding in a completely lossless manner. The initial quantization step is omitted and predictions are calculated in ﬂoating-point. The predicted and the actual ﬂoating-point values are then broken up into sign, exponent, and mantissa and their corrections are compressed separately with context-based arithmetic coding. As the quality of the predictions varies with the exponent, we use the exponent to switch between different arithmetic contexts. Although we report compression results using the popular parallelogram predictor, our approach works with any prediction scheme. The achieved bit-rates for lossless ﬂoating-point compression nicely complement those resulting from uniformly quantizing with different precisions.
Grammatical abstraction and incremental syntax analysis in a language-based editor

Processors for programming languages and other formal languages typically use a concrete syntax to describe the user's view of a program and an abstract syntax to represent language structures internally. Grammatical abstraction is defined as a relationship between two context-free grammars. It formalizes the notion of one syntax being “more abstract” than another. Two variants of abstraction are presented. Weak grammatical abstraction supports (i) the construction during LR parsing of an internal representation that is closely related to the abstract syntax and (ii) incremental LR parsing using that internal representation as its base. Strong grammatical abstraction tightens the correspondence so that top-down construction of incrementally-parsable internal representations is possible. These results arise from an investigation into language-based editing systems, but apply to any program that transforms a linguistic object from a representation in its concrete syntax to a representation in its abstract syntax or vice versa.
Systemic effect of orthophosphates and polyphosphates on oral streptococci in young men1

Abstract Reduced susceptibility to dental caries by increasing phosphate levels in the diets has been reported in experimental animals. Phosphates may interfere directly with oral streptococci or exert their effect systemically, and previous studies indicate, that different phosphate compounds may exert varying degrees of inhibition. The systemic effects of ortho- and polyphosphates at two levels of calcium intake in ten young males were evaluated, in this study. Each subject consumed five diets: basal; low Ca, high orthophosphate or high hexametaphosphate; and high Ca, high orthophosphate or high hexametaphosphate. Mineral supplements were provided in capsule form. For each dietary period, oral streptococci in saliva and swabs of buccal and mandibular vestibule surfaces were enumerated and analyzed. Rate of sucrose metabolism and acid production in saliva samples was assessed by pH measurements, and phosphorus and calcium levels in saliva were assayed. Counts of colony, forming units on Mitis-Salivarius agar showed no statistically significant difference in any of the diets in either saliva, buccal, or vestibule surfaces. Acid was produced at a similar rate in all saliva samples, and mineral levels in the diets did not affect their respective levels in saliva 12–14 hours after intake. It is concluded that the cariostatic effect of phosphates in humans is not mediated systemically.
Topology based placement of multicast capable nodes for supporting efficient multicast communication in WDM optical networks

Most existing algorithms for the problem of optical signal splitter placement or multicast splitting-capable node placement in a WDM network are based on the performance of attempting a large set of randomly generated multicast sessions in the network. Experiments show that placement of multicast capable nodes based on their importance for routing one set of multicast sessions may not be a right choice for another set of multicast sessions. In this work, we propose placement algorithms that are based on network topology and the relative importance of a node in routing multicast sessions, which is measured by our proposed metrics. Since a network topology is fixed once given, the proposed algorithms are essentially network traffic independent. We evaluate the proposed placement algorithms given static sets of multicast sessions as well as under dynamic traffic conditions, which are routed using our splitter constrained multicast routing algorithm. Our results show that the proposed algorithms perform better, compared to existing algorithms.
Composing fractals

This paper describes a simple but flexible family of Haskell programs for drawing pictures of fractals such as Mandelbrot and Julia sets. Its main goal is to showcase the elegance of a compositional approach to program construction, and the benefits of a clean separation between different aspects of program behavior. Aimed at readers with relatively little experience of functional programming, the paper can be used as a tutorial on functional programming, as an overview of the Mandelbrot set, or as a motivating example for studies in computability.
Extension of the telluride erosion surface to Washington State, and its regional and tectonic significance

Abstract The Wenatchee Formation of Oligocene age (34 m.y.) rests on a profound unconformity that developed during an extended period of erosion and tectonic quiescence from perhaps 40–34 m.y. B.P. Its occurrence strongly suggests that a stripped erosion surface in the northern Cascade Range, previously considered of Miocene age, is of Late Eocene—early Oligocene age and that it is part of a more widespread surface in the Pacific North-west. The Late Eocene—early Oligocene unconformity/erosion surface is apparently of continental extent, from British Columbia to Mexico. Where it is incised on crystalline basement rocks, it now may be exhumed and exposed as a plateau or level-crested divides of concordant elevation. Where it is developed on sedimentary rocks, it may be found as a profound unconformity. Widespread eruptions of pyroclastic volcanic rocks covered much of the surface in Oligocene time and tended to protect and preserve it. The surface is particularly well documented in the San Juan volcanic field of Colorado. There it was given the name “Telluride peneplain”, which is here broadened to the Telluride erosion surface of continental extent. A magmatic gap indicating a period of magmatic quiescence is generally associated with tectonic quiescence implied by the erosion surface, but the timing varies regionally. Development of the Telluride surface and associated magmatic gaps correlates with general plate reorganization during the Eocene. An erosion surface correlates with a global tectonic transition because erosion rates immediately dominate uplift rates when compressive deformation is slowed or shut off. An analysis of the dynamic balance between erosion rates and plate convergence rates suggests that erosion may maintain a continental surface of low relief if the relative convergence rate falls to about 0.5 cm/yr or less. Gaps in magmatic activity do not correlate as precisely with the 40 m.y. tectonic transition, in part because of the possibility of time lags. A great deal of scattered geologic evidence suggests a major global event at about 40 m.y. BP. The timing does not always precisely correlate with the timing of events in western North America, which suggests that the 40 m.y. tectonic transition was spread over several millions of years: A most impressive global impact of the 40 m.y. transition is the largest drop in eustatic sealevel at about 30 m.y. BP. The 40 m.y. tectonic transition profoundly altered geologic history, including the development of continental landscapes, global sea-level, and global climate. Classical stratigraphic studies remain the best way of documenting its effect on the continental surface. The small remnant of Oligocene rocks in central Washington, overlooked in early reconnaissance studies, is of great geologic significance. Other undiscovered remnants probably exist in western North America.
Future for very high power pulsed microwave tubes

During the last two decades, in this country and in the former USSR, the military developed an interest in directed microwave energy, both as the means to disable the electronics of enemy assets and in defending against such a threat. The Russians, who are very clever microwave engineers, were probably ahead in the field, at least in the offensive aspects of it. With the collapse of the Soviet Union a good deal of the immediacy of the threat disappeared, but the potential of it remains and the work continues, albeit presumably attenuated.
The jurisprudential approach to comparative law: a field guide to "rats"

What, precisely, is the relevance of legal philosophy to comparative law? On the face of things, the two subjects appear to have a great deal to say to each other. Comparative law the study of all the world's legal systems, in all ages and all places should, by exhibiting the empirical, observed variability in human law, be both a spur to philosophical reflection and testing-ground for philosophical theories. Legal philosophy, on the other hand, should help both to lay the methodological foundations for comparative law to say how, in general, a foreign legal system ought to be studied and, more concretely, to suggest specific topics of inquiry: How are the institutions of punishment, or contract, or tort thought of in other legal cultures than our own?
Reversible Renal Failure Due to IgA Nephropathy Associated With Osteomyelitis

Clinical features of acute glomerulonephritis, with microscopic hematuria, red blood cell (RBC) casts, proteinuria, and acute renal insufficiency developed in a patient with chronic osteomyelitis. Before the development of osteomyelitis, renal function and findings on urinalysis were normal. Complete eradication of osteomyelitis by surgical amputation led to resolution of the abnormal urinary findings, and renal function returned to near pre-osteomyelitis levels. Although acute glomerular disease has been reported to occur as a rare complication of osteomyelitis, the unique feature of the present case was the histological finding of IgA nephropathy. There was no arthritis, purpura, skin rash, or gastrointestinal involvement to suggest a diagnosis of Henoch-Schonlein purpura and there was no evidence of chronic liver disease. The temporal relationship between the onset of the renal disease, which followed the development of chronic osteomyelitis, and its resolution following removal of the focus of infection, suggests that the IgA nephropathy may have been related directly to the osteomyelitis (secondary IgA nephropathy). Glomerular diseases associated with chronic bacterial infections, including osteomyelitis, are discussed, with emphasis on infections that have been associated with the development or exacerbation of IgA nephropathy.
Exploiting Innate Immune Cell Activation of a Copper-Dependent Antimicrobial Agent during Infection

Recalcitrant microbial infections demand new therapeutic options. Here we present an approach that exploits two prongs of the host immune cell antimicrobial response: the oxidative burst and the compartmentalization of copper (Cu) within phagolysosomes. The prochelator QBP is a nontoxic protected form of 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ) in which a pinanediol boronic ester blocks metal ion coordination by 8HQ. QBP is deprotected via reactive oxygen species produced by activated macrophages, creating 8HQ and eliciting Cu-dependent killing of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans in vitro and in mouse pulmonary infection. 8HQ ionophoric activity increases intracellular Cu, overwhelming the Cu-resistance mechanisms of C. neoformans to elicit fungal killing. The Cu-dependent antimicrobial activity of 8HQ against a spectrum of microbial pathogens suggests that this strategy may have broad utility. The conditional activation of Cu ionophores by innate immune cells intensifies the hostile antimicrobial environment and represents a promising approach to combat infectious disease.
Influence of Oxygen at Atmospheric and High Pressure on the Developing Tooth Germ in Rat Embryos

Repeated exposure of pregnant rats to oxygen at high pressure (65 psi) twice a day for seven days increased the height of the tooth germ and ameloblastic layer of the embryo, but the width and odontoblastic layer were not changed. Exposure of pregnant rats to oxygen at atmospheric pressure stimulated the body growth of the embryo in utero.
A DEMONSTRATION OF SEVERAL DEOXYRIBONUCLEASE ACTIVITIES IN MAMMALIAN CELL MITOCHONDRIA

Extracts of purified mitochondria from adult rabbit liver and kidney have been prepared by lysis with Triton X-100. Such extracts contain deoxyribonuclease activity demonstrable at alkaline pH. Studies utilizing the effects of substrate variation, differing ionic strength, nucleoside di- and triphosphates, and SH-group inhibitors reveal the existence of at least five distinguishable deoxyribonuclease activities in these extracts. Assay of lysosomal and mitochondrial enzyme markers indicates no significant lysosomal contamination of the mitochondrial extracts. Further studies also suggest that the alkaline deoxyribonuclease activity is specifically located in or in association with mitochondria.
NMR Studies of Drugs: Antipyrine and Analogs. I. Use of Achiral and Chiral Lanthanide Shift Reagents to Examine Hindered Rotation.

Abstract The 200 MHz 1H NMR spectra of the analgesic, antipyrine, 1, have been studied in CDC13 solution at ambient temperatures with the achiral lanthanide shift reagent (LSR) tris (6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8-heptafluoro-2, 2-dimethyl-3, 5-octanedionato) europium (III), Eu(FOD)3, 2, and with the chiral LSR, tris[3-(heptafluoropropylhydroxymethylene)-(+)-camphorato]europium(III), Eu(HFC)3, 3., Lanthanide-induced shift (LIS) magnitudes and broadening of selected signals are consistent with predominant LSR binding at the carbonyl oxygen with either 2 or 3. Of the different possible conformational regimes for the N-phenyl group of 1, our results appear to rule out a slow exchange limit (SEL) system with the N-phenyl coplanar with the heterocyclic ring. Perpendicular rings in an SEL regime can not be ruled out. A rapidly-rotating N-phenyl (fast exchange limit, FEL system) would also be consistent with observed results. Accurate chemical shifts for the aryl protons (overlapped in the 200 MHz spectrum of unshifted 1) ...
Secondary Interference Fringes

A dissonance phenomenon is observed to occur between two types of interference fringes: (1) those produced by stationary light waves formed in front of a mirror and made visible on a thin translucent film and (2) the fringes of equal thickness formed by the wedge of air enclosed between the thin film and the mirror.