cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of stimulus duration on amplitude modulation processing with cochlear implants

This study investigated temporal integration processes underlying cochlear implant (CI) users’ amplitude modulation processing. Thresholds for modulation detection (AMDTs) and modulation frequency discrimination (AMFDTs) were measured for 50-, 100-, and 200-Hz modulation frequencies with stimulus durations from 50 to 400 ms in eight adult CI users. The results showed significant interactions between modulation frequency and stimulus duration for AMDTs and AMFDTs. The data suggest that temporal integration limits CI users’ sensitivity to low temporal pitch over short durations, and that temporal integration over longer durations may not enhance CI users’ sensitivity to high temporal pitch.
Development and Evaluation of Just-in-Time Training to Provide Cardio-Pulmonary Resusciation

More than 350,000 people die annually of cardiac arrest. In response to this epidemic, automated defibrillators are advocated, but they do not provide important respiratory support. However, adding respiratory support makes the system more complex and difficult to use. To solve this problem we developed a graphical computer based “just-in-time” training that instructs a responder to follow a standard treatment protocol. We simulated a medical emergency in a patient simulator and asked novice volunteers to care for the patient. When using a paper-based version of the treatment protocol (based on a NASA protocol), subjects took significant longer to remove an obstruction from the airway and stabilize the injured person than when using an animated graphic treatment protocol. These findings validate the potential of graphically based just-in-time training to instruct novices in tasks they have not performed before.
First Report of Crown Gall Caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens on Euphorbia esula/virgata in Europe

Hypertrophy and hyperplasia resembling crown galls were found on roots of Euphorbia esula/virgata at a single site in east-central Hungary in 2005. E. esula/virgata, known as leafy spurge in North America, is an invasive species causing substantial economic losses to the value of grazing lands in the Northern Great Plains of the United States and is the target of biological control. E. esula/virgata is widely distributed throughout Eurasia and is found on ditch banks, along roadsides, and in other noncultivated areas in its native range. Large galls on roots resembling crown gall were first noted in 1992 on plants collected for phylogenetic studies from three locations in east-central Hungary. One of these sites was relocated during a 2005 survey and galls were collected from infected plants. Galls were diced and incubated overnight in tubes containing 3 ml of sterile water at room temperature (20 to 25°C). The supernatant was streaked onto plates of potato dextrose agar (PDA), medium 1A, medium 2E, and R...
Coded Corrugated Microfluidic Sidewalls for Code Division Multiplexing

The transduction of a biological event into a readable electronic signal generally occurs as a result of modulation of amplitude of either an optical, electrical, or mechanical signal. Several limitations occur as a result of amplitude modulation, like limitation of sensitivity due to amplitude noise and difficulty of multiplexing. In the electronics industry, the modulation of frequency or phase of the signal is widely used and offers many advantages such as extraction of signals buried in amplitude noise, or detection of multiple codes on a single line, and several other advantages. Here we introduce a novel method involving the use of gratings in the sidewalls of microchannels for coding a signal in phase in addition to amplitude. The use of this technique allows for several advantages such as improvement in signal-noise ratio, and also allows for the possibility of using a single line for simultaneous multiplex measurement of biological events.
InsP3 Receptor Is Essential for Growth and Differentiation but Not for Vision in Drosophila

Abstract Phospholipase C (PLC) is the focal point for two major signal transduction pathways: one initiated by G protein-coupled receptors and the other by tyrosine kinase receptors. Active PLC hydrolyzes phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP 2 ) into the two second messengers inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP 3 ) and diacyl glycerol (DAG). DAG activates protein kinase C, and InsP 3 mobilizes calcium from intracellular stores via the InsP 3 receptor. Changes in [Ca 2+ ] i regulate the function of a wide range of target proteins, including ion channels, kinases, phosphatases, proteases, and transcription factors (Berridge 1993). In the mouse, there are three InsP 3 R genes, and type 1 InsP 3 R mutants display ataxia and epileptic seizures (Matsumoto et al. 1996). In Drosophila, only one InsP 3 receptor (InsP 3 R) gene is known, and it is expressed ubiquitously throughout development (Hasan and Rosbash 1992; Yoshikawa et al. 1992; Raghu and Hasan 1995). Here, we characterize Drosophila InsP 3 R mutants and demonstrate that the InsP 3 R is essential for embryonic and larval development. Interestingly, maternal InsP 3 R mRNA is sufficient for progression through the embryonic stages, but larval organs show asynchronous and defective cell divisions, and imaginal discs arrest early and fail to differentiate. We also generated adult mosaic animals and demonstrate that phototransduction, a model PLC pathway thought to require InsP 3 R, does not require InsP 3 R for signaling.
Synthesis and Oxygen to Iron Methyl Migration Reaction of the Heterodinuclear Methoxycarbyne Complex Cp(CO)Fe(μ-COCH3)(μ-CO)Cr(CO)(η6-C6H6)

Reaction of CpFe(CO)2-+·∼0.5THF and (η6-C6H6)Cr(CO)2(CH3CN) gives the new heterodinuclear anion Cp(CO)Fe(μ-CO)2Cr(CO)(η6-C6H6)-Na+ (6-Na+) in 77% yield. Metathesis of 6-Na+ with PPN+Cl-[PPN+ = bis(triphenylphosphine)nitrogen(+1)] gives 6-PPN+ in 73% yield. Alkylation of 6-Na+ was accomplished with Me3O+BF4- to give the new methoxycarbyne complex Cp(CO)Fe(μ-COCH3)(μ-CO)Cr(CO)(η6-C6H6) (7) in 29% yield. Cis/trans isomerization of 6-Na+ was observed by 1H and 13C NMR to occur remarkably rapidly, with ΔG⧧(300 K) = 11.5 ± 0.6 kcal/mol in CD3CN. Isomerization of 7 is slower but still rapid by comparison to related compounds, with ΔG⧧(300 K) = 14.3 ± 1.8 kcal/mol in toluene-d8 and 15.2 ± 1.9 kcal/mol in CD2Cl2. Thermal decomposition of 7 provides the fourth example of oxygen to metal methyl migration from a methoxycarbyne complex. However, it is the first example in which a methoxycarbyne follows kinetics in which the rate constants are independent of the phosphine concentration, giving k = 8.1 ± 0.6 × 10-5 s-1 ...
Stereo images of alcoholic hyaline filaments

Abstract Alcoholic hyaline filaments (AHF, Mallory bodies) were observed in liver tissues obtained from human alcoholic hepatitis specimens or from livers of griseofulvin-fed mice. The AHF were viewed in situ or as isolated fractions at an accelerating voltage of 100 Kv with a Phillips EM 400 electron microscope equipped with a goniometer stage to obtain stereo pair imgaes. The AHF were seen as branching filaments often attached or closely associated with plasma membrane fragments or vesicles.
Desktop flight simulators: Simulation fidelity and pilot performance

Improvements in the computing power and visual resolution of modern desktop computing systems, as well as advances in software technology for displaying high-speed animations, have encouraged the development of relatively sophisticated real-time flight simulators for the PC and Macintosh. We review some of the factors that determine how well such programs capture the actual experience of flight. The most significant factor limiting the quality of performance in flying a simulated aircraft is the “frame rate” problem: at low altitudes and in highly detailed visual environments, as in approaching a runway threshold during landing, the computational demands of the animation may necessitate a reduction in the number of frames displayed per second on the screen. The delayed sensory feedback that results proves to be very detrimental to sustaining smooth control of the aircraft, especially during the flare to touchdown where such control is needed most. This finding parallels the well-known effects of delayed auditory feedback (Lee, 1950) and delayed visual feedback (Smith, 1962).
Craniofacial abnormalities in mice carrying a dominant interference mutation in type X collagen

Type X collagen is a short, non-fibril forming collagen restricted to hypertrophic cartilage, and has been hypothesized to play a role in endochondral ossification. The purpose of the study was to investigate the consequences resulting from the interference of type X collagen function on the growth and development of the craniofacial skeleton through analysis of transgenic mice with a dominant interference mutation for type X collagen. The craniofacial tissues of 21-day-old transgenic mice were examined by: cephalometric and radiographic densitometry analyses, conventional histology, and immunohistochemistry using antibodies specific for either endogenous mouse type X collagen or the transgene product. Genotypically positive mutant mice showed moderate but statistically significant craniofacial skeletal abnormalities, including the underdevelopment of the chondrocranium and mandible, but no cleft palate. Mean radiographic optical densities of the mutant condylar cartilage and the subchondylar areas were 32% less than the corresponding areas of normal mandibles, while mean radiographic optical density measured at the incisor tooth point remained constant. Histologically, transgene-positive mice revealed compressed hypertrophic cartilage zones and reduced trabeculae in both the mandibular condyle and the synchondroses of the chondrocranium. In the normal condyle, mouse type X collagen was localized by the monospecific antibody against a synthetic rat type X collagen NC1 peptide throughout the hypertrophic cartilage layer; in the mutant condyle, immunoreactivity to endogenous type X collagen was only seen sporadically. The truncated type X collagen transgene product, identified with the monoclonal antibody against an epitope within the chick type X collagen NC2 domain, persisted in the lower hypertrophic cartilage layer and the primary spongiosa, rather than being removed by subsequent endochondral ossification. The data suggested that the expression of the chick type X collagen transgene product was strongly associated with the craniofacial skeletal abnormalities that were distinct from other cartilage-related phenotypes.
Endoscopic surface imaging of Barrett's Esophagus: an optimistic view.

Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is a well-recognized premalignant condition for the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), the most rapidly rising cancer in the Western world. Endoscopic screening of subjects with chronic reflux symptoms has been recommended as a method of detecting BE and early cancer. Despite the lack of clinical evidence, BE patients are then routinely enrolled in surveillance programs to detect EAC at a preinvasive stage and ultimately reduce cancer-related deaths. Detection of intestinal metaplasia and early neoplasia arising in BE patients using standard endoscopic techniques combined with random 4-quadrant biopsies continues to be a challenge. Current surveillance protocols are fraught with several limitations: time consuming, labor intensive, sampling errors, increased cost, and limited reliability of histologic interpretation of dysplasia. Early identification of EAC at a preinvasive stage also allows these patients to be offered endoscopic treatments (endoscopic mucosal resection, mucosal ablation) that may help to alleviate the morbidity and mortality associated with esophagectomy. All these factors coupled with dismal survival rates associated with late-stage EAC provide the necessary impetus for development of new endoscopic imaging techniques aimed at providing an accurate, “real-time” diagnosis. Advances in imaging of BE are progressing at an increasingly rapid rate. In this report, we discuss the potential role of advanced broadfield surface imaging techniques such as chromoendoscopy, enhanced magnification and high-resolution endoscopy (HRE), autofluorescence imaging (AFI), and narrow band imaging (NBI) in BE and how they are likely to modify clinical practice in the near future. Chromoendoscopy is a technique that involves the application of agents to improve characterization of the mucosa resulting in selective uptake (vital staining— methylene blue, Lugol’s solution) or enhancement of mucosal surface pattern (contrast staining—indigo carmine, acetic acid). It is often used in combination with high-resolution and high-magnification endoscopes.
History of plains resurfacing in the Scandia region of Mars

Abstract We present a preliminary photogeologic map of the Scandia region of Mars with the objective of reconstructing its resurfacing history. The Scandia region includes the lower section of the regional lowland slope of Vastitas Borealis extending about 500–1800 km away from Alba Mons into the Scandia sub-basin below −4800 m elevation. Twenty mapped geologic units express the diverse stratigraphy of the region. We particularly focus on the materials making up the Vastitas Borealis plains and its Scandia sub-region, where erosional processes have obscured stratigraphic relations and made the reconstruction of the resurfacing history particularly challenging. Geologic mapping implicates the deposition, erosion, and deformation/degradation of geologic units predominantly during Late Hesperian and Early Amazonian time (∼3.6–3.3 Ga). During this time, Alba Mons was active, outflow channels were debouching sediments into the northern plains, and basal ice layers of the north polar plateau were accumulating. We identify zones of regional tectonic contraction and extension as well as gradation and mantling. Depressions and scarps within these zones indicate collapse and gradation of Scandia outcrops and surfaces at scales of meters to hundreds of meters. We find that Scandia Tholi display concentric ridges, rugged peaks, irregular depressions, and moats that suggest uplift and tilting of layered plains material by diapirs and extrusion, erosion, and deflation of viscous, sedimentary slurries as previously suggested. These appear to be long-lived features that both pre-date and post-date impact craters. Mesa-forming features may have similar origins and occur along the southern margin of the Scandia region, including near the Phoenix Mars Lander site. Distinctive lobate materials associated with local impact craters suggest impact-induced mobilization of surface materials. We suggest that the formation of the Scandia region features potentially resulted from crustal heating related to Alba Mons volcanism, which acted upon a sequence of lavas, outflow channel sediments, and polar ice deposits centered within the Scandia region. These volatile-enriched sediments may have been in a state of partial volatile melt, resulting in the mobilization of deeply buried ancient materials and their ascent and emergence as sediment and mud breccia diapirs to form tholi features. Similar subsurface instabilities proximal to Alba Mons may have led to surface disruption, as suggested by local and regional scarps, mesas, moats, and knob fields.
Next Generation Catalog on the Horizon. A Report of the LITA Next Generation Catalog Interest Group Program, American Library Association Midwinter Meeting, Dallas, January 2012

The LITA Next Generation Catalog Interest Group (NGCIG)'s program at the ALA 2012 midwinter meeting in Dallas featured presentations from five speakers representing five major Integrated Library Sy...
An Investigation of Test Bias in Two Nonverbal Cognitive Measures for Two Ethnic Groups

One hundred fifteen second- and third-grade Anglo and Mexican-American boys and girls from an isolated rural town in Arizona were tested on two nonverbal measures of cognitive skills to examine tes...
Gertrude Stein's Identity Puppet Modernism in the U.S.

Donald Vestal's 1930s puppet theatre production of a Gertrude Stein play, Identity, or I Am I Because My Little Dog Knows Me, marked a confluence of Midwest modernism, the resources of the Federal Theatre Project, the development of American puppet theatre as a modernist art form, and the coincidental presence of Stein, Vestal, Thornton Wilder, Bil Baird, and other artists of 1930s Chicago.
Central ventilatory responses to O2 and CO2 at three levels of carotid chemoreceptor stimulation.

Abstract Two series of experiments were performed on anesthetized dogs to study the steady-state ventilatory responses of the central respiratory mechanism to hypoxia and hypercapnia at three different levels of cartotid body stimulation. A cross-perfusion technique was used to perfuse a recipient dog's carotid bodies with blood of desired oxygen tension from a donor dog. Central hypoxia and hyper-capnia were induced by allowing the recipient dog to spontaneously breathe specific gas mixtures for 6-min periods. Findings indicate that: (1) Hypoxia depresses ventilation centrally, even at a moderate level of hypoxia (Pa O 2 = 45–55 mm Hg). This ventilatory depression by moderate hypoxia is probably due to central hypocapnia resulting from increased cerebral blood flow. (2) Central hypoxia shifts the -Pa CO 2 relationship toward a higher P CO 2 range in addition to decreasing the slope. This may be due to metabolic depression of neurons produced by the coexistence of hypoxia and hypercapnia. This hypoxic depression of central CO 2 sensitivity is diminished by an increase in carotid chemoreceptor drive.
Photolytic demethylation of monuron and demethylmonuron in aqueous solution

Photochemical demethylation of monuron [3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea] and of demethylmonuron [ 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methylurea] in aqueous solution was investigated. The photoproducts identified in this study were formaldehyde, formic acid and carbon dioxide. These products indicate that demethylation occurs either by oxidation of a methyl group to hydroxymethyl which is readily cleaved to yield formaldehyde, or by further oxidation to an N-formyl group, which is slowly hydrolysed under weakly acidic conditions to yield formic acid. Samples equilibrated either with air or oxygen (> 99 % purity) gave essentially the same yield of oxidation products. Experimental evidence indicated that extensive photodegradation of formaldehyde was occurring during photolysis, causing low recoveries of formaldehyde. Consequently, with [2H3-methyl]demethylmonuron and deuterated water, only steady state concentrations of formaldehyde could be measured in an isotopic study.
Caregiver psychosocial characteristics and children's adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

Although parents and caregivers may have primary responsibility for their children's medication- taking, surprisingly few studies have examined caregiver psychosocial correlates of children's adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). This cross-sectional, descriptive study examined the relationship between caregiver psychosocial characteristics and medication adherence among children with HIV. Fifty-four caregivers of children with HIV completed a demographic questionnaire, the Parenting Stress Index, the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Family Support Scale, and the Support Functions Scale. Adherence to ART was measured with children's 6-month pharmacy refill histories. Children and caregivers were primarily African American, urban, and poor (63% reported /= 80% refill rate) was associated with shorter duration of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) treatment, nondisclosure of the HIV diagnosis to the child, lower caregiver income level, having a nonbiologically related caregiver, and less caregiver psychiatric distress. In a multivariate logistic regression, duration of child's HAART treatment, child HIV disclosure status, caregiver income, and caregiver psychiatric distress accounted for 63% of the variance in adherence. Findings highlight the complexity of children's adherence to ART and the need for multicenter studies with greater sample sizes to explore in more detail the effects of caregiver psychological distress and child HIV disclosure status on adherence as well as the ways in which regimen fatigue and adherence fluctuate over time.
Drift-diffusion simulations of InAs/AlAsSb quantum dot intermediate-band solar cells

We present drift-diffusion simulations of InAs QDs embedded in AlAsSb, which is a promising candidate system for realizing intermediate band solar cells as it features bandgaps close to the ideal, a nearly flat type-II valence band lineup. Absorption coefficients calculated by the 8-band k.p method have been used, along with. It is concluded that state-of-art InAs/AlAsSb QDs can only provide modest efficiency increases far below what Detailed-Balance theory predicts, and that the major reason for the discrepancy comes from the idealized modeling of wavelength-independent absorption often used, which fail to capture imbalances in the absorption coefficient. A few possibilities for improving the performance are presented.
Estimation of the probability of an event as a function of several independent variables

SUMMARY A method for estimating the probability of occurrence of an event from dichotomous or polychotomous data is developed, using a recursive approach. The method in the dichotomous case is applied to the data of a 10-year prospective study of coronary disease. Other areas of application are briefly indicated. The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for estimating from dichotomous (quantal) or polychotomous data, the probability of occurrence of an event as a function of a relatively large number of independent variables. A key feature of the method is a recursive approach based on Kalman's work (Kalman, 1960 and unpublished report) in linear dynamic filtering and prediction, derivable also from the work of Swerling (1959), which provides an example of many other possible uses of recursive techniques in nonlinear estimation and in related areas. The problem that motivated the investigation is a central one in the epidemiology of coronary heart disease, and it will be used to fix ideas and illustrate the method. Some indication of the range of applications will be given in the conclusion.
Protection from paraquat-induced lung damage and lethality in adult rats pretreated with clofibrate.

Pretreatment of adult rats with the hypolipidemic agent clofibrate (60 mg/kg/day × 6 days) resulted in a marked degree of protection from paraquat-induced lung toxicity and lethality. The 10-day survival of treated rats was 3956 (70%) compared to 2176 (28%) (LT50 = 2.8 days) for controls (p < 0.001). Although clofibrate reportedly increases catalase activity in the liver, we found no increases in any of the antioxidant enzymes in the lung (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, or G-6-PD) after clofibrate pretreatment. Lung lipid peroxidation at 24 and 48 hr post-paraquat was equivalent in both groups, although the clofibrate-pretreated rats showed significantly reduced lung edema and pathologic changes at these times. Blood paraquat levels were similar in both groups at 1, 3, and 24 hr postinjection. In two experiments, administration of clofibrate after paraquat injection afforded no protective effects. However, since pretreatment with clofibrate provided the best overall survival rate reported to date after a lethal dose of paraquat (35 mg/kg), further studies toward elucidating the mechanism(s) of action of this agent are warranted. Unraveling the protective mechanism(s) of the pretreatment regimen may still provide valuable clues to suggest effective post paraquat treatment approaches.
The base rate of suboptimal effort in a pediatric mild TBI sample: Performance on the Medical Symptom Validity Test

Performance on the Medical Symptom Validity Test (MSVT) was examined in 193 consecutively referred patients aged 8 through 17 years who had sustained a mild traumatic brain injury. A total of 33 participants failed to meet actuarial criteria for valid effort on the MSVT. After accounting for possible false positives and false negatives, the base rate of suboptimal effort in this clinical sample was 17%. Only one MSVT failure was thought to be influenced by litigation. The present results suggest that a sizable minority of children is capable of putting forth suboptimal effort during neuropsychological exam, even when external incentives are not readily apparent. The MSVT appears to have good potential value as an objective measure for detecting symptom invalidity in school-age youth.
RFLP mapping of the maize dzr1 locus, which regulates methionine-rich 10 kDa zein accumulation.

The dzr1 locus in maize posttranscriptionally regulates the accumulation of methionine-rich 10 kDa zein in the endosperm. An allele of this locus present in the inbred line BSSS53, dzr1 + BSSS53, conditions several-fold higher accumulation of the 10 kDa zein in comparison with standard inbred lines, leading to enrichment of methionine content in BSSS53 by 30%. In a population segregating for high and low 10 kDa zein, dzr1 + BSSS53 was found tightly to cosegregate with a 22 kDa zein gene cluster, belonging to the ZIC subfamily of α-zeins that is located on chromosome 4S. One member of this gene cluster, azs22/6, was estimated to be located less than 0.4 cM from dzrl + BSSS53, while three other 22 kDa zein genes mapped 3.4 cM away. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) mapping of dzr1 was conducted using additional maize DNA markers and orthologous rice DNA markers. One maize marker, php20725, was identified that mapped 1.1 cM from dzr1, proximal to the centromere. Another marker derived from rice, rz329, mapped 6.6 cM distal to dzrl. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of the 22 kDa zein cluster showed that probably all copies of the 22 kDa zein genes are present within a 200 kb SalI fragment. The recombination frequency within this cluster was estimated to be 20-fold higher than that predicted for the maize genome.
The Belief in a Just World: An Examination of Reliability Estimates Across Three Measures

In this study, we utilized reliability generalization procedures to examine internal consistency estimates across 3 scales measuring the belief in a just world. The distribution of reliability estimates for the measures suggest low to moderate ranges of internal consistency reliability coefficients. The Global Belief in a Just World Scale (Lipkus, 1991) produced the highest average reliability score (α = .81) compared to the Just World Scale (Rubin & Peplau, 1973; α = .64) and the Just World Scale Revised (Rubin & Peplau, 1975; α = .68).
Determination of jerk, acceleration, and magnetic field loadings on a projectile launched from an electromagnetic railgun

The development of the numerical procedures that provide a first-order estimate of the jerk, acceleration, and magnetic field loadings are presented. Various power schemes, including inductively driven, distributed energy system (DES), and compulsator driven railguns, are studied. The development and use of nondimensional profiles that may be used to scale the loadings for various performance levels are described. The most severe loads on the projectile are likely to occur while the projectile is in one of the three transition regions in the launcher (preinjector breech, railgun breech, and muzzle). Determination of these loads is dependent on launcher design; schemes for estimating the exit loadings at the muzzle are presented. >
Comparative distribution and embryotoxicity of acetylsalicylic acid in pregnant rats and rhesus monkeys.

Abstract Acetylsalicylic acid was given orally to pregnant rats on gestation Days 9–12 and to pregnant monkeys on Days 23–32 and to nonpregnant females of both species at doses of 100 and 150 mg/kg twice daily. Concentrations of salicylic acid were determined in maternal plasma, embryo, decidua, placenta, and chorionic and amniotic fluids at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 17 hr after the last dosage. Total salicylic acid concentrations in plasma after comparable doses were generally higher in rats than in monkeys and in nonpregnant than in pregnant rats, but concentrations varied in pregnant vs nonpregnant monkeys. Unbound salicylate in rat plasma ranged between 30 and 50% of the total plasma concentration and was closely paralleled by the concentration in the rat embryo. Unbound salicylate in monkey plasma was lower, ranging between 17 and 30% of the total plasma concentration and was to some degree paralleled by the concentration in the monkey embryo. The greater embryotoxicity of acetylsalicylic acid in the rat than in the monkey was correlated with higher concentrations and longer duration of concentrations in the respective embryos on a day-to-day basis.
Enhanced expression of nitric oxide synthase by rat retina following pterygopalatine parasympathetic denervation

Removal of the pterygopalatine ganglion enhanced the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the ipsilateral rat retina and optic nerve by immunohistochemical and biochemical criteria. The denervation procedure did not alter the apparent histochemical reactivity of retinal cells normally immunoreactive for NOS but did induce expression in retinal ganglion cells and their axons in the retinal nerve fiber layer and optic nerve. After denervation, the induced NOS immunohistochemical reactivity was consistently visualized by day 7, reached a maximum intensity during days 14 to 28, and thereafter gradually attenuated to become barely detectable by microscopy at 10 weeks. Biochemical assays performed two weeks after pterygopalatine denervation confirmed the immunohistochemical observations, especially with regard to the optic nerve. The induced enzyme activity in both retina and optic nerve showed calcium dependency. These results point towards interactions of the ocular parasympathetic innervation and the retina, between which no known neuronal connections exist.
Review: Evidence for the effectiveness of interventions to prevent foot ulcers in patients with diabetes is limited

Source Citation Arad Y, Fonseca V, Peters A, Vinik A. Beyond the monofilament for the insensate diabetic foot: a systematic review of randomized trials to prevent the occurrence of plantar foot ulc...
Calibrating a mobile camera's parameters

Abstract The calibration of the relative rotation and translation between a camera and a mobile robot's coordinate systems is addressed, as well as the camera's intrinsic parameters, from a sequence of monocular images and robot movements. Existing hand/eye calibration procedures for robot arms are not directly applicable because they require the robot hand to have at least two rotational degrees of freedom. A suitable representation for camera rotation is used, and the calibration task is decomposed into two stages. Furthermore, to recover the camera's rotation motion, the inverse perspective geometry constraints of a rectangular corner are employed. Complicated calibration patterns are thus not needed. The calibration procedures are tested using both synthetic and real data.
Changes in surface temperature at Taal Volcano, Philippines 1965 – 1966

Taal Volcano erupted in September 1965 ending a dormant period of 54 years. A quiescent interval of 9 months followed, terminated by new eruptions in July 1966 at the same site. Aerial surveys with a scanning infrared radiometer were made at three periods during the quiescent interval and twice following the July 1966 eruption. The survey technique yields a quasiphotographic image of the radiant temperature of the volcanic terrain. Results indicate that the principal changes in surface temperature stemmed from changes in convective heat transfer by hydrothermal fluids. New hot springs developed along the structurally-controlled northwest and southeast flanks of the 1965 explosion crater. The northwest spring grew in size prior to the 1966 eruption, persisted through that eruption and has since maintained its discharge. The 1965 cinder cone meanwhile showed a persistent rim of hydrothermal activity with some shift in position of maximum discharge. The July 1966 eruptions took place on the rim about midway between two positions of maximum discharge.
Public health genomics knowledge and attitudes: a survey of public health educators in the United States.

Purpose: This study assessed U.S. public health educators' attitudes toward genomic competencies, their awareness of efforts in the health promotion field to promote/incorporate genomics, and their basic & applied genomic knowledge. Methods: A total of 1607 public health educators, nationwide, responded to a web-based survey. Results: The sample comprised predominantly white (76.8%) female (83.9%) participants, with an average age of 40.1 years and 11.2 years of practice in public health education/promotion. Generally, participants had negative attitudes toward genomic competencies, low awareness, and deficient genomic knowledge. Although various socioeconomic characteristics (e.g., ethnicity, gender, and educational level) correlated with participants' attitudes, awareness, and genomic knowledge, training in genetics/genomics or public health genomics also exhibited a positive association. After we controlled for socioeconomic factors, awareness, training, and genomic knowledge remained significantly associated with respondents' attitudes toward genomic competencies. Conclusion: Although this sample of public health educators had unfavorable attitudes and limited genomic knowledge, training seems to affect these variables. Thus, relevant training for this group of health professionals should be developed and advocated. Continuing education tools, focusing on public health genomics content, might be a venue for delivery of information and the development of favorable professional attitudes.
Modelling of plastic flow in coarse grained nickel-base superalloy compacts under isothermal forging conditions

Abstract A constitutive relationship for predicting the flow stress and the evolution of microstructure during isothermal forging of coarse grained P/M Ni-base superalloy compacts, forged below their γ′ solvus temperatures, is derived. These coarse grained compacts gradually transform to microduplex γ−γ′ microstructures during forging and this leads to softening during plastic flow. To model the transformation and the resulting softening, the material is considered as a composite material consisting of hard (untransformed) and soft (transformed to the fine microduplex γ−γ′ grains) regions. A rate equation for this material is written in terms of that for the hard and the soft regions assuming that both carry the same stress but each region is subjected to different strain rates. This is consistent with the occurrence of flow localization in the transformed microduplex regions as observed experimentally. A single grain microstructural model and modified forms of established transformation kinetics relationships for grain boundary nucleated reactions are proposed for modelling the deformation dependent transformation. The constitutive relationship is consistent with necklace structure formation typically characteristic of these materials, and it is suggested that it can be used to predict the development of grain size gradients and shear instabilities in forgings.
Characterizing Wing Rock as a Function of Size and Conflguration of Vertical Tail

Flight at high angle-of-attack conditions, which range beyond wing stall, has numerous advantages for mission performance; however, that ∞ight regime is often afiected by adverse behaviors. A particularly notable behavior is associated with uncommanded oscillations primarily about the roll axis and is known as wing rock. This paper investigates wing rock for a small, propeller-powered UAV with a high degree of symmetry ∞own at high angleof-attack conditions. Most importantly, the investigation characterizes the nature of wing rock as a function of size and conflguration of the vertical tail. The ∞ight data indicates that wing rock is dependent on the conflguration but not on the size of the vertical tail: wing rock oscillations are present for upright but not inverted regardless of vertical tail size. Furthermore, a time-frequency analysis indicates that the wing rock is actually a narrow-band phenomenon whose central frequency varies with time.
Bus stop information-experience in the deregulated environment

In the deregulated environment, where services can, and do, change frequently, the prospective passenger is unlikely to be aware of the services on offer if he or she has to rely upon the traditional timetable. It is now recognised that to attract passengers to services about which they have little, if any, prior knowledge it is necessary to make information available in different and easy to use fashions. The advent of information technology enables operators to provide quality information at all stages of a journey related to their own services, and for passengers to find out details of competing services. This data ranges from information in the home or office before the journey starts, to information presented during the journey itself. Key to this information revolution is the provision of real time information at the bus stop and its integration into a total information system. The author discusses the type of information required by the customer and the technology used to implement the information system.
Prognostic Features of Galactomannan Antigenemia in Galactomannan-Positive Invasive Aspergillosis

Prognostic features of serum galactomannan (GM) remain poorly defined in patients with GM-positive invasive aspergillosis (GPA). We identified 93 patients with proven or probable invasive aspergillosis (IA) and GM values of ≥0.50 from January 2005 to March 2009. We used Cox modeling of time to 6- and 12-week mortality for the GM level at the time of diagnosis (GM0), GM decay in the week following diagnosis in 72 patients with ≥2 GM values, other predictors of mortality, and antifungal use during the week following diagnosis. Six-week mortality was 55% in the whole cohort and 43% in patients with ≥2 GM determinations. The hazard ratio (HR) of GM0 per unit increase and 1-week GM decay per unit decline per week were 1.25 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.54; P = 0.04) and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.96; P = 0.02), respectively, adjusting for other predictors of IA mortality; these values remained stable after adjusting for antifungal use and were predictive of all-cause mortality at 12 weeks with similar adjusted HR values. We conclude that the combination of GM0 and 1-week GM decay is predictive of all-cause mortality in patients with GPA, independent of other traditional risk factors for mortality and antifungal exposure, supporting GM decay as a potential surrogate endpoint for future antifungal therapeutic trials.
Second-order sigma-delta modulation for digital-audio signal acquisition

The authors compare the second-order sigma-delta ( Sigma Delta ) modulator to several alternative modulator architectures in the context of digital-audio signal acquisition. Design details and experimental results are presented for a 1 mu m CMOS implementation that does not require error correction or component trimming to achieve virtually ideal 16 b performance at a conversion rate of 50 kHz. The experimental modulator is a fully differential circuit that operates from a single 5 V power supply and does not require the use of precision sample-and-hold circuitry. With an oversampling ratio of 256 and a clock rate of 12.8 MHz, the modulator achieves a 98 dB dynamic range and a peak signal-to-(noise+distortion) ratio (SNDR) of 94 dB. Measurements and simulations of discrete noise peaks in the output spectrum that result from limit-cycle oscillations are also presented and discussed. >
MINI REVIEW Keratan sulfate: structure, biosynthesis, and function

The last 5 years have seen a marked increase in research on keratan sulfate (KS) and a concomitant increase in our understanding of the range of molecules that carry this adaptable polysaccharide. More than 15 KS-linked proteins have been identified and many of the genes encoding these have been cloned. KS-containing molecules have been identified in numerous epithelial and neural tissues in which KS expression responds to embryonic development, physiological variations, and to wound healing. A corneal cell culture system has been developed in which long-term KS biosynthesis is maintained. Progress has been made toward identification of the glycosyl- and sulfotransferases responsible for KS biosynthesis. A mouse knockout of a corneal KS-proteoglycan has provided the first experimental support for the role of KS in corneal transparency. Evidence has also been presented supporting functional roles of KS in cellular recognition of protein ligands, axonal guidance, cell motility, and in embryo implantation. These findings have served to expand the concept of what keratan sulfate is and the potential roles it may play in the cellular biology of diverse tissues.
Life Course Heterogeneity in the Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood Among Adolescent Mothers

Longitudinal data were used to examine pathways taken by 227 adolescent mothers during the transition from adolescence into adulthood. Latent profile analysis identified three sub-groups of adolescent mothers from 6 months to 6 years postpartum: a problem-prone profile (15%), a psychologically vulnerable profile (42%), and a normative profile (43%). Group membership was related to long-term adult outcomes (adult status markers, health-risk and deviant behaviors, substance use, mental health, and intimate relationships) when respondents were nearing age 30. The psychologically vulnerable group reported greater health and mental health problems, relational problems, and substance use than the normative profile group. Only the problem-prone profile group, taken together, reported serious problems in all domains of adult outcomes examined including financial, relational, behavioral, and health and mental health problems. Results confirm the existence of different pathways through adolescent parenthood that are associated with adult functioning 12 years postpartum.
Dynamic Programming for Optimal Capacity Expansion of Wastewater Treatment Plants

: A dynamic programming procedure for the planning and operation of a wastewater treatment plant over a long period of time is presented. In order to meet increased demands for wastewater treatment in the future, the expansion of existing plants must be considered. Dynamic programming is employed to determine the optimal schedule of expansion at each plant, simultaneously determining an optimal operating policy (treatment level). The optimal schedule of expansion at each plant depends on the following: (1) the shape of the projected wastewater demand function; (2) the interest rate used; (3) the locations and capacities of the facilities available; and (4) the rates of increase of the costs of construction, labor, chemicals, and electric power. An example illustrating the use of the procedure is presented.
Locality phase prediction

As computer memory hierarchy becomes adaptive, its performance increasingly depends on forecasting the dynamic program locality. This paper presents a method that predicts the locality phases of a program by a combination of locality profiling and run-time prediction. By profiling a training input, it identifies locality phases by sifting through all accesses to all data elements using variable-distance sampling, wavelet filtering, and optimal phase partitioning. It then constructs a phase hierarchy through grammar compression. Finally, it inserts phase markers into the program using binary rewriting. When the instrumented program runs, it uses the first few executions of a phase to predict all its later executions.Compared with existing methods based on program code and execution intervals, locality phase prediction is unique because it uses locality profiles, and it marks phase boundaries in program code. The second half of the paper presents a comprehensive evaluation. It measures the accuracy and the coverage of the new technique and compares it with best known run-time methods. It measures its benefit in adaptive cache resizing and memory remapping. Finally, it compares the automatic analysis with manual phase marking. The results show that locality phase prediction is well suited for identifying large, recurring phases in complex programs.
Parapharyngeal Space Schwannomas: Preoperative Imaging Determination of the Nerve of Origin

Objectives To determine if preoperative radiographic cross-sectional images can predict the nerve of origin of a parapharyngeal schwannoma and, specifically, whether it originates from the vagus nerve or the cervical sympathetic chain. Design A retrospective review. Setting Academic medical center. Patients The study population comprised 12 patients who underwent surgical resection of schwannomas of the parapharyngeal space. The nerve of origin was identified based on operative findings and postoperative physical examinations. Of the 12 patients, 11 underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and 1 underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography. A CAQ (Certificate of Added Qualification)–certified neuroradiologist reviewed the imaging studies, blinded to the surgically determined nerve of origin. For each case, it was predicted whether the tumor arose from the vagus nerve or sympathetic chain based on the location of the schwannoma with reference to the carotid sheath vessels. Main Outcome Measure Identification of the nerves of origin using the displacement of vessels as a marker. Results At the time of operation, it was determined that 5 patients (42%) had schwannomas from the cervical sympathetic chain and 7 patients (58%) had schwannomas of the cervical vagus nerve. By imaging, the nerve of origin was successfully determined in 4 of 5 cases of sympathetic chain schwannoma (80%) and in 7 of 7 cases of vagal nerve schwannoma (100%). Schwannomas of the cervical sympathetic chain were found to displace both the carotid and jugular vessels without separating them. Vagal nerve schwannomas were found to separate the carotid arteries from the internal jugular vein. A vagal nerve schwannoma may also displace the sheath vessels posteriorly, without splaying them. Conclusions Carotid and jugular vessel displacement, as determined by cross-sectional imaging, can predict the likely nerve of origin of a parapharyngeal space schwannoma. This determination allows for effective preoperative counseling regarding the expected sequelae of surgical resection.