cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pseudophakic Retinal Detachment: Surgical Success Rate with Various Types of IOLs

Abstract The overall anatomic success rate of surgical treatment of 122 consecutive cases of pseudophakic retinal detachment was 82%. In 78 eyes with iris-supported intraocular, lenses (IOLs), the success rate was 83%, and it did not differ between the 47 eyes with intracapsular and the 31 eyes with extracapsular extraction. Reattachment rate was highest in 14 eyes with posterior chamber IOLs (100%) and lowest (70%) in 30 eyes with anterior chamber IOLs. Low success rate was associated with the preoperative findings of vitreous gel in the anterior chamber in front of the IOL, vitreous reaction, and vitreous hemorrhage, all of which were found most frequently with retinal detachment in eyes with anterior chamber IOLs. Of the 30 eyes with anterior chamber IOLs, 43% required repeat operations, 43% had perioperative complications, and only 14% of the 21 successful cases achieved 20/40 or better postoperative vision.
GABA-mediated behavioral inhibition during ontogeny in the mouse.

Although immature rats and mice generally demonstrate poor behavioral inhibitory capacities, some recent evidence may indicate the presence of substantial inhibitory control. The present experiment investigated the possibility that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) systems may mediate some behavioral inhibition during early development. Mice 9 – 100 days old were injected with the GABA-elevating agent amino-oxyacetic acid (AOAA) and tested for behavioral activity. High levels of locomotor activity characteristic of immature control mice were attenuated following AOAA injection, whereas AOAA had little effect on the activity of adult mice. Moreover, AOAA produced a period of rebound hyperactivity for young but not for adult mice. These findings suggest that although GABA systems may mediate early behavioral inhibition, coordination between excitatory and inhibitory capacities matures slowly. In a second experiment the dopamine-β-hydroxylase inhibitor FLA-63 prevented rebound hyperactivity in young mice pretreated with AOAA, suggesting that the excitatory component may be mediated by noradrenergic systems.
Primary care experience and racial disparities in self-reported health status.

Context: Access to high quality primary care was identified by Healthy People 2010 as one of the mechanisms through which racial and ethnic disparities in health might be reduced. Despite the well-established connections between good primary care and health, the scientific evidence on whether good primary care can reduce racial disparities in health is sparse. Objective: To examine whether better primary care experience can attenuate racial and ethnic disparities in self-reported health status. Data Sources: The 1996 to 1997 and 1998 to 1999 data from the Community Tracking Study (CTS) sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Study Design: Cross-sectional, bivariate, and multivariate analyses of inter-relationships between self-rated general and mental health status, access to and interpersonal relationship with primary care provider, and vulnerability measured by race and poverty status. Results: We found that higher quality primary care levels are associated with reduced racial and ethnic disparities in health status, as measured by self-rated general and mental health. This relationship is particularly pronounced for the racial and ethnic minorities living at or below poverty level. Based on the data from 1996 to 1999, the study also confirmed the presence of significant and persistent health differences across racial and ethnic groups. Conclusion: Promoting primary care may be a viable approach toward reducing racial and ethnic disparities in self-reported health status.
Corona and line surges

Tests on an experimental transmission line show that from the standpoint of damping transient surges there is no advantage in operating the line at so high a voltage that the conductors will be in corona.
Final state effects in photoemission studies of Fermi surfaces

Photoelectron spectroscopy is one of the most important methods for extracting information about the Fermi surface (FS) of materials. An electron photoexcited from the FS is emitted from the crystal conserving the parallel momentum, , while the perpendicular momentum is reduced due to the surface potential barrier. A simple interpretation of the process assumes the final state is free-electron-like allowing one to 'map' the detected photoelectron back to its initial k momentum. There are multiple final state effects that can complicate the interpretation of photoelectron data and these effects are reviewed here. These can involve both energy and k broadening, which can give rise to shadow or ghost FS contours, scattering and final state diffraction effects that modify intensities, and matrix element effects which reflect the symmetries of the states involved and can be highly dependent on photon polarization. These matrix elements result in contours of photoelectron intensity that follow the dispersion in k-space of the initial state, the FS, and the final state. Locations where intensities go to zero due to matrix element and symmetry effects can result in gaps where FS contours 'disappear'. Recognition that these effects can play a significant role in determining the measured angular distributions is crucial in developing an informed model of where the FS contours actually lie in relation to measured intensity contours.
Simulation of in situ uraninite leaching. part I: A partial equilibrium model of the NH4HCO3-(NH4)2CO3-H2O2 leaching system

In situ leaching of uraninite and calcite by H2O2-NH4HCO2-(NH4)2CO3 solutions has been simulated using a partial equilibrium model which incorporates a one-parameter mixing cell model of solution flow. Rate laws for UO2 dissolution and for CaCO2 dissolution/precipitation were taken from the literature, as were equilibrium constants for solution phase reactions. Parameters of the model include the UO2 and CaCO3 ore grades, the concentrations of the H2O2, NH4HCO3, and (NH4)2CO3 components, porosity, exit solution flow rate, ore and mineral densities, and mineral rate constants and surface areas. Mineral conversions, component and species concentrations, and porosity are among the time-dependent quantities calculated using the model. For the conditions simulated, calcite dissolved somewhat faster than uraninite. The results emphasize the importance of the coupling between the mineral reactions and solution flow. Changes in the concentrations of the CO32- and HCO3- species are particularly complicated and not predictable from the calcite kinetics alone or from a purely equilibrium model; although the simulations did not reveal any conditions under which the solution would become saturated with CaCO3, the pH continued to change throughout the calcite dissolution and is buffered only after calcite has been consumed.
Hippocampal BDNF mRNA shows a diurnal regulation, primarily in the exon III transcript.

Endogenous expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA were assessed using in situ hybridization to investigate whether there is a natural diurnal fluctuation in BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus of rats housed with a normal (12:12 h) light/dark cycle. BDNF expression was increased during lights out (dark-cycle) to 134%-158% of light-cycle levels in hippocampal regions CA1, CA3, and hilus. In addition, expression levels of the four BDNF transcript forms, exons I-IV, were assessed to evaluate whether expression of specific BDNF transcripts exhibited differential endogenous fluctuation. All exons had lowest levels of expression at either noon or 6 p.m. Significant correlations were found between exon expression level and time, with elevated expression occurring at dark-cycle timepoints. The exon III transcript showed the greatest diurnal change in expression in all hippocampal fields, with dark-cycle expression elevated to 219-419% of light-cycle expression level. In addition to exon III, dark-cycle exon II mRNA levels were elevated in all hippocampal subfields, to 140-180% of light-cycle levels, suggesting that the endogenous fluctuation in BDNF expression results predominantly from activation of the promoters linked to exons II and III. Previously we have shown that physical activity increases BDNF expression. The naturally occurring rise in BDNF expression during the dark-cycle, the time when rats are most physically active, may be due to increased activity and arousal levels. Because BDNF has a role in plasticity, the increase in BDNF expression during the time that a rat is maximally interacting with its surroundings may be part of an ongoing stimulus-encoding mechanism, or may be a mechanism to maximize information storage about the environment.
Life satisfaction—Aspirations and alcohol use: A preliminary report

Significant differences have been found to exist among individuals with different drinking patterns with respect to past life satisfactions — five years ago (p < 0.001) and present satisfaction (p < 0.005); however, no significant difference in future aspirations could be identified. In addition, using an ‘unrealistic hopefulness’ coefficient, the authors found higher future aspirations levels than would be normally expected. Those individuals who drink more now than five years ago consistently show the lowest mean satisfaction scores on the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale. Those whose drinking pattern remained stable over time consistently perceived themselves highest on the scale both five years ago and now, regardless of present drinking pattern.
Microcatalepsy and disruption of forelimb usage during operant behavior: differences between dopamine D1 (SCH-23390) and D2 (raclopride) antagonists.

In an experiment designed to distinguish between the behavioral consequences of treatment with SCH-23390, a D1 dopamine receptor blocker, and raclopride, a D2 antagonist, rats were trained to perform a water-reinforced forelimb operant response. Response rate and the duration of each forelimb contact with the operandum were recorded. In addition, the durations of the rat's visits to the reward well were detected by a photobeam which was blocked by the rat's muzzle as it remained at the reward well. In a between-groups dosing design, separate groups of rats (11–13 rats/group) received SCH-23390 (0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08, 0.12 mg/kg, IP, 30 min) or raclopride (0. 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 mg/kg, IP, 30 min) for 21 consecutive days. Quantitative analyses indicated that for comparable amounts of operant rate reduction, raclopride had a significantly greater tendency than SCH-23390 to increase the duration of operant responses and to increase the maximum muzzle entry duration (i.e., to induce microcatalepsy). The results support the idea that at relatively low doses D2 antagonism is more likely than D1 antagonism to produce effects identified preclinically with extrapyramidal side effects.
Evaluation of the Helical Screw Rheometer as an On-line Viscometer

Measurements with a helical screw rheometer (HSR), which consisted of a helical screw enclosed in a tight fitting barrel, were compared with readings from a cone and plate rheometer. Comparable viscosity measurements were obtained with both instruments using carboxymethylcellulose solutions and tomato products. The HSR had the advantages that it could be more easily used for on-line measurements and was suitable for fluid food suspensions because it prevented settling or separation of particulates during the measurement.
Dark matter as dark energy

Abstract Velocity-dependent interactions in a fundamental string-dominated universe lead quite naturally, with reasonable assumptions on initial conditions, to an accelerating expanding universe without assuming the existence of a cosmological constant. This result also holds generically for a universe dominated by moving extremal black holes, owing to a repulsive velocity-dependent force. This interaction, however, does not preclude structure formation. Here we discuss a toy model including both ordinary and extremal matter, in which the latter accounts for dark matter while simultaneously acting as effective dark energy. Eternal acceleration is once more seen to arise in this case.
Determining predictors of attrition in an outpatient substance abuse program.

Determining pre-treatment variables that predict attrition in an outpatient cocaine abuse program is critically important in efforts to enhance retention and ultimately improve client outcome. Pote...
Specters of Wal-Mart: A critical discourse analysis of stories of Sam Walton's ghost

We content analyze the text of Wal-Mart annual reports (1972–2006), both for what is said and in antenarrative fashion what is left out. We find that the specter of Samuel Walton, dead since 1992, dwells in stories told. We intend a critical discourse analysis of the narrative ways in which Wal-Mart translates and crystallizes its version of hyperglobalization by rearticulating its dead leader. Our analysis uses the three-step specter arrival described by Derrida. We also investigate the Weberian routinization of Mr. Sam's charisma, and examine the specter's Bakhtinian double narration. Our thesis: Specters are re-narrated and theatrically enacted by restorying dead leaders. The specter of Sam Walton is employed to answer concerns about Wal-Mart raised by activists. At the same time, the activists also re-present Mr. Sam, claiming: ‘Mr. Sam is rolling over in his grave at what his successors have done, in his name.’ In sum, we explore what Derrida calls a hauntology of the world's largest corporation. Cor...
Autoimmune retinopathy: a review and summary

Three main forms of autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) have been identified over the last 15 years: cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR), melanoma-associated retinopathy (MAR), and nonneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy (npAIR). In this chapter, the term AIR will be used to encompass all three disorders where there is commonality to their features. Complicating the issue is that AIR can be a secondary complication of other conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa, ocular trauma, birdshot retinopathy, acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR), or multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS). The many forms of AIR tend to have common clinical features despite the fact that there has been no uniform set of anti-retinal antibodies circulating in these patients. Patients tend to have a wide variance of anti-retinal antibody activity often with three to six different antibodies found on immunoblots. Patients typically present with a sudden onset of photopsia, rapid visual loss, and abnormal electroretinograms (ERGs). Most patients have a panretinal degeneration without pigment deposits.
Production of Specific Neutralizing Antibody with Soluble Antigens of Type 5 Adenovirus.

SummaryInjection into rabbits of virusfree soluble antigen preparations obtained from type 5 adenovirus-infected HeLa cells results in production of specific virus neutralizing antibody. The neutralizing antibodies are present in antisera in high titer and are completely type-specific. This is interpreted as evidence that the virus-induced soluble antigens are structurally related to virus protein. Adsorption studies employing purified group-specific (L) antigens derived from types 2, 4, and 5 virus-infected cells and antiserum specific for the type 5 L antigen reveal basic immunological differences in these “common group'antigens: The type 5 L antigen cross-reacted with type 2 and 4 antigens; however, the type 5 antigen, in addition, had an antigenic reactivity which was type-specific.
Closest Conjunct Agreement in Head-Final Languages

We discuss the phenomenon of closest conjunct agreement with a special focus on head-final languages; we present data from two such languages, Hindi and Tsez, which allow agreement with the rightmost conjunct when the verb follows the conjoined phrase. This contrasts with head-initial languages, such as Arabic, where close conjunct agreement is with the leftmost conjunct in clauses with VS order. In addition, both languages exhibit certain flexibility of word order at root clause level; when the verb precedes the conjoined phrase, it can also agree with the leftmost conjunct. The empirical data from the two languages raise the following questions. First, is the typological difference between head-initial and head-final languages in the context of coordination due to a difference in the structure of coordination in these two groups? Second, to what extent is the syntactic configuration relevant to the computation of closest conjunct agreement? Third, what is the role of linear proximity in closest conjunct agreement? These questions have wider implications for the analysis of agreement and the relation between syntax and the morpho-phonological component.
The 12C(p, pn)11C reaction from 50 to 160 MeV

Abstract The production of 11 C activity by the reaction 12 C(p, pn) 11 C has been studied in the region of 50 to 160 MeV. The measurements are relative but have been normalized to an absolute determination at 98.1 MeV. The results have a relative error of 2.5% with a normalizing error of 0.5%. These data are more accurate than previously published work in this region and they span a larger energy range as well. In addition, studies have been made of the loss of radioactive gas from Pilot B plastic scintillator. The thinnest samples were 27 mg/cm 2 ; the effect was largest for these but the activity lost was only 1.5±1.0%.
Shedding Light on the Relationship Between Personal Standards and Psychopathology: The Case for Contingent Self-Worth

Previous research has revealed some puzzling inconsistencies in the relationship of Personal Standards (PS) to measures of psychopathology. This study was designed to explore the hypothesis that setting high Personal Standards will relate to psychopathology only when meeting these standards is a necessary condition for a sense of self-worth. We generated items that reflected a sense of conditional self-worth based on the meeting of Personal Standards and named this measure the Contingent Self-Worth Scale (CSWS). Factor analysis of the CSWS and the PS subscale of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale yielded three types of Personal Standards: Pure Personal Standards," Success-Based Self-Worth," and Activity-Based Self-Worth." Two of the original PS items did not load on the Pure Personal Standards scale. Correlational analyses revealed that Pure Personal Standards was related to measures of adaptive outcome whereas both measures of Contingent Self-Worth were related to more maladaptive functioning, although with some small differences. We call for further research to explore the relationship of PS to the construct of perfectionism.
Trends in Alternative Models of Schooling: Introduction

Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. —Kofi Annan Most world citizens would agree with the sentiments above, spoken...
Co-localization of calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand with intracellular calcium pools.

The calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand (CAML) protein activates Ca2+ influx signaling when overexpressed in Jurkat T cells. Although CAML appears to directly participate in Ca2+-dependent signaling initiated by the transmembrane activator and CAML interactor cell surface receptor, its mechanism of action is unknown. To address this issue, we have determined its membrane topology, subcellular localization, and ability to mobilize intracellular Ca2+pools. Fractionation of cell extracts on discontinuous sucrose gradients and indirect immunofluorescence indicate that CAML co-localizes with sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium/ATPase-2 and calreticulin at membrane-bound cytosolic vesicles. Limited trypsin digests indicate that the hydrophilic NH2-terminal domain of CAML is directed toward the cytoplasm. Functionally, CAML overexpression was shown to deplete thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ pools. These data suggest that CAML may initiate Ca2+ signaling through activation of a capacitative Ca2+ influx pathway.
Policy Partnering Between the Public and the Not-for-Profit Private Sectors: A Key Policy Lever or a Dire Warning of Difficulty Ahead?

There is good reason to attempt to draw on existing stocks of social capital in collaborative partnerships directed to community quality-of-life improvements. Such efforts tend to be broadly suppor...
Targeted suppression of an amyloidogenic transthyretin with antisense oligonucleotides.

Transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis, the most common form of hereditary systemic amyloidosis, is characterized clinically by adult-onset axonal neuropathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy. More than 85 mutations in transthyretin have been found to cause this hereditary disease. Since essentially all circulating TTR is of hepatic origin, orthotopic liver transplantation has been used as the only specific form of therapy. Unfortunately, in many patients amyloid deposition continues after orthotopic liver transplantation, indicating that mutant TTR is no longer required for progression of the disease after tissue deposits have been initiated. As a first step toward medical treatment of this disease, we have employed antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to inhibit hepatic expression of TTR. A transgenic mouse model carrying the human TTR Ile84Ser mutation was created and shown to express high levels of human mutant transthyretin. TTR ASOs suppressed hepatic TTR mRNA levels and serum TTR levels by as much as 80%. Suppression of hepatic synthesis of transthyretin may offer a medical treatment for transthyretin systemic amyloidosis. Muscle Nerve, 2006
The acquisition during development of Ca-activated potassium currents by cochlear hair cells of the chick

Voltage-clamp recordings were done on hair cells from a region of the chick’s cochlea. In the adult, these cells have voltage-sensitive Ca currents and rapid, Ca-activated K currents that together support an electrical resonance, showing voltage oscillations at frequencies greater than 100 Hz. In embryos 14-days old (at one week before hatching) the same cells had a voltage-sensitive Ca current like that in adults, but a more slowly acting K current (of the delayed-rectifier type). In current-clamp they could generate only slowly repetitive action potentials. By two days before hatching, Ca-activated K currents were present. We suggest that the acquisition of Ca-activated K currents contributes to functional maturation of the chick’s cochlea.
Adaptive Mobile Robot Navigation and Mapping

The task of building a map of an unknown environment and concurrently using that map to navigate is a central problem in mobile robotics research. This paper addresses the problem of how to perform concurrent mapping and localization (CML) adaptively using sonar. Stochastic mapping is a feature-based approach to CML that generalizes the extended Kalman filter to incorporate vehicle localization and environmental mapping. The authors describe an implementation of stochastic mapping that uses a delayed nearest neighbor data association strategy to initialize new features into the map, match measurements to map features, and delete out-of-date features. The authors introduce a metric for adaptive sensing that is defined in terms of Fisher information and represents the sum of the areas of the error ellipses of the vehicle and feature estimates in the map. Predicted sensor readings and expected dead-reckoning errors are used to estimate the metric for each potential action of the robot, and the action that yi...
A network decomposition/aggregation procedure for a class of multicommodity transportation problems

An effective method of solving a practical class of multicommodity transportation problems is presented. The heuristic procedure combines theoretical results concerning multicommodity network structures and recent results on aggregation theory. Computational implementation has shown that problems with thousands of variables can be solved to within a few percent of optimality in a matter of seconds. Only widely available network codes are required to implement the procedure, thus making it attractive for smaller computers.
Temporal Trends and Factors Associated with Survival after Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia in California, 1983–1992

The authors investigated quarterly trends in survival after the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia for 19,607 patients in California in the decade from January 1, 1983, through December 31, 1992. Subjects included all cases for whom P. carinii pneumonia was the initial (and only) acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining diagnosis as reported to the California human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS surveillance registry. There was a period of rapidly improving survival from approximately June 1986 until April 1988, coincident with the widespread introduction of antiretroviral therapy (zidovudine) and the institution of P. carinii pneumonia prophylaxis (with cotrimoxazole and pentamidine). There was no evidence, however, of meaningful improvements in survival for these patients after that period. The association of several covariates (risk transmission group, gender, race/ethnicity, certainty of P. carinii pneumonia diagnosis, age, region of residence, availability of CD4 count, and level of CD4 count) were also studied both by proportional hazards regression and by recursive partitioning (i.e., tree-based) survival analysis. The availability of a CD4 count (regardless of its level) was the single factor most strongly associated with survival (median survival 36 months among those with and 14 months among those without reported CD4 counts, p < 0.05). Data from this large, population-based surveillance registry of AIDS in California suggest that, despite earlier improvements in survival after the diagnosis of P. carinii pneumonia, the long-term survival of these patients remains poor (39% alive 2 years after diagnosis) and that no improvement in survival has occurred since 1988.
The role of response directedness in discriminative and conditional stimulus control

Six pigeons were trained to press a treadle for variable-interval reinforcement when a blue light was present on the response key; a red light signaled extinction. Subsequently the birds were trained on the reversal of this discrimination. During initial training the houselight was off in the operant chamber; during reversal training it was on. The subjects learned the discrimination problems, although they performed substantially more poorly than they do when the key- peck response is used. Wavelength generalization testing in extinction with the two houselight conditions alternating in blocks of trials revealed that the houselight cues had gained conditional control over discriminative responding; the gradients peaked at (or near) the appropriate S+ values in each context. Thus the directedness of the response affects discriminative stimulus control but not conditional stimulus control.
A Computational Model of Eye Movements during Object Class Detection

We present a computational model of human eye movements in an object class detection task. The model combines state-of-the-art computer vision object class detection methods (SIFT features trained using AdaBoost) with a biologically plausible model of human eye movement to produce a sequence of simulated fixations, culminating with the acquisition of a target. We validated the model by comparing its behavior to the behavior of human observers performing the identical object class detection task (looking for a teddy bear among visually complex non-target objects). We found considerable agreement between the model and human data in multiple eye movement measures, including number of fixations, cumulative probability of fixating the target, and scanpath distance.
A higher order statistical approach to spectral unmixing of remote sensing imagery

In this paper, a novel approach for unsupervised spectral unmixing in remote sensing imagery is presented. This approach is derived from independent component analysis (ICA). First, we present the limitations of Gaussian mixture model (GMM) and ICA for spectral unmixing. To overcome these limitations we have developed an approach that employs the ICA model to characterize the data generation process and have proposed an ICA mixture model (ICAMM) based approach for unsupervised spectral unmixing. This approach estimates the endmember probability density function by modeling it with a nonGaussian probability distribution. Thus, the ability to model higher order statistical properties of remote sensing imagery increases the practical applicability of ICAMM for spectral unmixing. The results from our experimental study have demonstrated the efficacy of the proposed algorithm for unsupervised spectral unmixing.
Properties of Pyrolytic Graphite

Pyrolytic graphite is a vapor-deposited form of carbon which is characterized by strong anisotropic properties. The anisotropy is caused by the tendency of the individual crystallites to align themselves in such a way that their c axes are perpendicular to the surface of deposition. The Individual crystallites are composed of parallel graphitic layers which are randomly oriented with respect to the c axis. The ultimate strength of pyrolytic graphite in tension, bending, and compression has been found to increase considerably with increasing test temperatures. Other properties such as thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity give extremely high and low conduction parallel and perpendicular to the basal planes, respectively, in addition to varying considerably with increasing test temperatures. Properties are also influenced by the as-deposited microstructure and by the amount of graphitization to which the material has been subjected. The properties and possible uses of this unique material are presented, discussed, and compared with the properties of other high-temperature materials.
Design of optimal modulation controllers for AC/DC systems

Optimal modulation controllers for a multiarea AC/DC system designed by changing the weighting matrix Q of the quadratic performance criterion are presented. The controller assigns the modes corresponding to electromechanical oscillations at the desired location on the real axis. Dynamic simulations of the linearized AC/DC system show significant improvement in the dynamic performance of the interconnected system. >
Gonadotropic Response to Testicular Transplants in the Rat

Adult inbred male rats were bilaterally castrated and received one testicle as a transplant to the scrotum. The blood supply of the grafts was reestablished by performing an end—to—side anastomosis between an aorto—caval segment of the donor bearing the testicular vessels and the abdominal aorta plus vena cava of the recipient. The average ischemia was 40 min. After 9, 14 and 20 weeks the grafts were removed. Lutenizing hormone (LH) and follicle—stimulating hormone (FSH) were determined by radioimmunoassay in serum samples obtained at weekly intervals from intact controls, hypophysectomized, castrated, and transplanted rats. The transplant recipients maintained LH and FSH values within the range of intact controls (LH = 60–120 μg/ml; FSH = 350–550 μg/ml). Hypophysectomized rats displayed undetectable LH and FSH levels. Removal of the grafts was followed in each instance by a rise of LH and FSH in a castrate pattern. Histology revealed good preservation of the testicular structure after transplantation. (E...
Ultra fast electro-optic tuning of optical quality factor

We demonstrate ultra fast tuning of the optical quality factor of a resonator on a silicon chip using electro-optic tuning. We tune the cavity quality factor from 20,000 to 6,000 in 100 ps.
Can universal coverage eliminate health disparities? Reversal of disparate injury outcomes in elderly insured minorities

Abstract Background Health outcome disparities in racial minorities are well documented. However, it is unknown whether such disparities exist among elderly injured patients. We hypothesized that such disparities might be reduced in the elderly owing to insurance coverage under Medicare. We investigated this issue by comparing the trauma outcomes in young and elderly patients in California. Methods A retrospective analysis of the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development hospital discharge database was performed for all publicly available years from 1995 to 2008. Trauma admissions were identified by International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, primary diagnosis codes from 800 to 959, with certain exclusions. Multivariate analysis examined the adjusted risk of in-hospital mortality in young ( Results A total of 1,577,323 trauma patients were identified. Among the young patients, the adjusted odds ratio of death relative to non-Hispanic whites for blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans/others was 1.2, 1.2, 0.90, and 0.78, respectively. The corresponding adjusted odds ratios of death for elderly patients were 0.78, 0.87, 0.92, and 0.61. Conclusions Young black and Hispanic trauma patients had greater mortality risks relative to non-Hispanic white patients. Interestingly, elderly black and Hispanic patients had lower mortality risks compared with non-Hispanic whites.
Cement-Based Electronics

Cement-based electronics in the form of electrical circuit elements (conductor and diode in the form of a pn-junction), sensors of strain and damage, thermistor and thermoelectric device are reviewed. They enable a concrete structure to provide electronic functions.
Population density, body size, and phenotypic plasticity of brood size in a burying beetle

Theory predicts that organisms living in heterogeneous environments will exhibit phenotypic plasticity. One trait that may be particularly important in this context is the clutch or brood size because it is simultaneously a maternal and offspring characteristic. In this paper, I test the hypothesis that the burying beetle, Nicrophorus orbicollis, adjusts brood size, in part, in anticipation of the reproductive environment of its adult offspring. N. orbicollis use a small vertebrate carcass as a food resource for their young. Both parents provide parental care and actively regulate brood size through filial cannibalism. The result is a positive correlation between brood size and carcass size. Adult body size is an important determinant of reproductive success for both sexes, but only at higher population densities. I test three predictions generated by the hypothesis that beetles adjust brood size in response to population density. First, average adult body size should vary positively with population density. Second, brood size on a given-sized carcass should be larger (producing more but smaller young) in low-density populations than in high-density populations. Third, females should respond adaptively to changes in local population density by producing larger broods when population density is low and small broods when population density is high. All three predictions were supported using a combination of field and laboratory experiments. These results (1) show that brood size is a phenotypically plastic trait and (2) support the idea that brood size decisions are an intergenerational phenomenon that varies with the anticipated competitive environment of the offspring. Copyright 2005.
Optimizing Multiple Distributed Stream Queries Using Hierarchical Network Partitions

We consider the problem of query optimization in distributed data stream systems where multiple continuous queries may be executing simultaneously. In order to achieve the best performance, query planning (such as join ordering) must be considered in conjunction with deployment planning (e.g., assigning operators to physical nodes with optimal ordering). However, such a combination involves not only a large number of network nodes but also many query operators, resulting in an extremely large search space for optimal solutions. Our paper aims at addressing this problem by utilizing hierarchical network partitions. We propose two algorithms - top-down and bottom-up which utilize hierarchical network partitions to provide scalable query optimization. Formal analysis is presented to establish the bounds on the search-space and to show the sub-optimality of our algorithms. Through simulations and experiments using a prototype deployed on Emulab we demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithms.
Tgif1 Counterbalances the Activity of Core Pluripotency Factors in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Core pluripotency factors, such as Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog, play important roles in maintaining embryonic stem cell (ESC) identity by autoregulatory feedforward loops. Nevertheless, the mechanism that provides precise control of the levels of the ESC core factors without indefinite amplification has remained elusive. Here, we report the direct repression of core pluripotency factors by Tgif1, a previously known terminal repressor of TGFβ/activin/nodal signaling. Overexpression of Tgif1 reduces the levels of ESC core factors, whereas its depletion leads to the induction of the pluripotency factors. We confirm the existence of physical associations between Tgif1 and Oct4, Nanog, and HDAC1/2 and further show the level of Tgif1 is not significantly altered by treatment with an activator/inhibitor of the TGFβ/activin/nodal signaling. Collectively, our findings establish Tgif1 as an integral member of the core regulatory circuitry of mouse ESCs that counterbalances the levels of the core pluripotency factors in a TGFβ/activin/nodal-independent manner.
The work of education in the age of ecollege

Abstract This article provides an overview of online education models developed by commercial and academic institutions. I examine some rhetorical strategies used to talk about online education and discuss some of the hopes and fears associated with online instruction by academics, administrators, and businesspeople. The article outlines some of the main players and positions involved in debates about online education, and suggests strategies that academic groups might explore. In particular, I argue that academics need something like an open-source movement and, drawing inspiration from groups like the Free Software Foundation, should create a “Free Courseware Foundation” to give teachers greater control of their resources, better enabling them to share materials with other teachers and with the public. I consider how composition and rhetoric teachers could become involved in such a project.
Quantitative Structure-Pharmacokinetic Relationships for the Prediction of Renal Clearance in Humans

Renal clearance (CLR), a major route of elimination for many drugs and drug metabolites, represents the net result of glomerular filtration, active secretion and reabsorption, and passive reabsorption. The aim of this study was to develop quantitative structure-pharmacokinetic relationships (QSPKR) to predict CLR of drugs or drug-like compounds in humans. Human CLR data for 382 compounds were obtained from the literature. Step-wise multiple linear regression was used to construct QSPKR models for training sets and their predictive performance was evaluated using internal validation (leave-one-out method). All qualified models were validated externally using test sets. QSPKR models were also constructed for compounds in accordance with their 1) net elimination pathways (net secretion, extensive net secretion, net reabsorption, and extensive net reabsorption), 2) net elimination clearances (net secretion clearance, CLSEC; or net reabsorption clearance, CLREAB), 3) ion status, and 4) substrate/inhibitor specificity for renal transporters. We were able to predict 1) CLREAB (Q2 = 0.77) of all compounds undergoing net reabsorption; 2) CLREAB (Q2 = 0.81) of all compounds undergoing extensive net reabsorption; and 3) CLR for substrates and/or inhibitors of OAT1/3 (Q2 = 0.81), OCT2 (Q2 = 0.85), MRP2/4 (Q2 = 0.78), P-gp (Q2 = 0.71), and MATE1/2K (Q2 = 0.81). Moreover, compounds undergoing net reabsorption/extensive net reabsorption predominantly belonged to Biopharmaceutics Drug Disposition Classification System classes 1 and 2. In conclusion, constructed parsimonious QSPKR models can be used to predict CLR of compounds that 1) undergo net reabsorption/extensive net reabsorption and 2) are substrates and/or inhibitors of human renal transporters.
Undergraduate Psychology Alumni: Gender and Cohort Differences in Course Usefulness, Postbaccalaureate Education, and Career Paths

We surveyed psychology majors who graduated between 1967 and 1986 to investigate gender and cohort differences in current perceptions of undergraduate course usefulness, postbaccalaureate education, and occupational achievements. W e found that more women than men (a) obtained bachelor's degrees in psychology during the 20-year period; (b) earned advanced degrees in psychology and psychology-related fields; and (c) in recent years, worked in psychology a d psychology-related positions. The two courses most frequently named as useful since graduation were Abnormal Psychology and Methodology. Our results provide evidence for the male flight from and the resulting feminization of the undergraduate psychology major.
Democratic Competition and Terrorist Activity

Why is terrorist activity more prevalent in democracies than in nondemocracies? I argue that the main motivation for terrorist attacks in democracies is intergroup dynamics, with terrorist groups of various ideologies competing with one another for limited political influence. I conduct a cross-national, longitudinal analysis of 119 countries for the period 1975–97, using political competition as the key independent variable and the number of transnational terrorist incidents originating in the country as the dependent variable. I find preliminary support for the hypothesis that intergroup competition, motivated by the competition of the political regime, explains an increase in terrorist incidents originating in a state. Evidence also reveals a positive relationship between political competition and the number of terrorist groups that emerge within a state and a positive relationship between the density of domestic interest group participation and terrorist activity. Officials should consider intergroup ...
AGONIST-SPECIFIC MODULATION OF GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTOR-MEDIATED TRANSCRIPTION BY IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS

Although the immunosuppressive drugs FK506, rapamycin and cyclosporin A have been reported to potentiate transcriptional activation mediated by a non-saturating concentration of the glucocorticoid receptor agonist dexamethasone, the precise mechanism(s) underlying these responses remains unclear. The murine L-929-derived LMCAT cell line stably transfected with the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter-chloramphenicol acetyl transferase reporter gene construct was utilized in the present study to further investigate the mechanism(s) underlying this dexamethasone potentiation as well as the possible agonist specificity of this potentiation.. The present data demonstrate that pretreatment (2 h) of LMCAT cells with 10 mM FK506, rapamycin or cyclosporin A results in the potentiation of reporter gene transcription mediated not only by dexamethasone ( 12-fold), but also by hydrocortisone (6-fold) and triamcinolone acetonide ( 2.5-fold). In sharp contrast, the data show for the first time that pretreatment with any one of these immunosuppressive drugs suppresses ( 2‐8-fold) the transcriptional responses mediated by corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, and cortexolone. Pretreatment of intact LMCAT cells with FK506 increases the subsequent whole cell specific binding of [ 3 H]dexamethasone, but does not increase specific cytoplasmic binding when the tritiated agonist is added directly to cytosolic extracts prepared from the pretreated cells. These data suggest that the FK506-mediated potentiation of the transcriptional responses induced by some agonists, like dexamethasone, may be related to the ability of this immunosuppressant to inhibit the membrane-associated multidrug resistance (MDR) P-glycoprotein, which actively extrudes some steroids from cells. Identical pretreatment with FK506 has no detectable effect on the subsequent whole cell specific binding of [ 3 H]corticosterone, a steroid which is not effectively extruded by the MDR pump. Two additional MDR pump inhibitors, verapamil and quinidine, potentiate (30-fold) the dexamethasone-mediated transcriptional response as expected, but have no detectable effects on a corticosterone-mediated transcriptional response. Unlike immunosuppressive drugs, these ion channel blockers do not bind to receptor-associated immunophilins (FK506-binding proteins or cyclophilins). Collectively, these results suggest that immunosuppressants potentiate a dexamethasone-mediated transcriptional response in LMCAT cells by inhibiting efflux of this steroid. In contrast, these drugs appear to suppress a corticosterone-mediated transcriptional response by a different mechanism, perhaps one involving their binding to glucocorticoid receptor-associated immunophilins. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
BIOFILM AND NANOWIRE PRODUCTION LEADS TO INCREASED CURRENT IN GEOBACTER SULFURREDUCENS FUEL CELLS

Geobacter sulfurreducens developed highly structured, multilayer biofilms on the anode surface of a microbial fuel cell converting acetate to electricity. Cells at a distance from the anode remained viable, and there was no decrease in the efficiency of current production as the thickness of the biofilm increased. Genetic studies demonstrated that efficient electron transfer through the biofilm required the presence of electrically conductive pili. These pili may represent an electronic network permeating the biofilm that can promote long-range electrical transfer in an energy-efficient manner, increasing electricity production more than 10-fold.
Modeling and adaptive actuator failure compensation for a rocket fairing vibration control system

This paper deals with the actuator failure compensation problem for a Boeing rocket fairing vibration control testbed system. A baseline vibration reduction controller is studied and the deleterious impact of unknown actuator failures on system performance is evaluated. An adaptive compensation scheme is proposed for modifying the baseline controller design to accommodate some typical actuator failures whose values, pattern and time instants are uncertain, using a stable adaptive law for parameter adaptation in the presence of parameter uncertainties. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of adaptive actuator failure compensation scheme, verifying that the adaptive design is able to ensure the closed-loop signal boundedness and asymptotic output tracking in the presence of actuator failures.
Modular architecture for hybrid diagnostic reasoners

This paper describes technical progress made in maturing ISHM technologies for hybrid diagnostic reasoners under NASA's Exploration Systems Research & Technology (ESR&T) program by Northrop Grumman Corporation and its NASA partners at ARC, GRC, JPL, and JSC A layered architecture was developed that supports both distributed and hierarchical reasoning as well as interoperability and interchangeability of reasoning algorithms. A hybrid reasoner using this architecture was to be demonstrated performing automated fault detection and isolation in an "Apollo 13" - like failure scenario.