cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Nationwide Analysis of the Use and Outcomes of Epidural Analgesia in Open Colorectal Surgery

Epidural analgesia has demonstrated superiority over conventional analgesia in controlling pain following open colorectal resections. Controversy exists regarding cost-effectiveness and postoperative outcomes. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2002–2010) was retrospectively reviewed for elective open colorectal surgeries performed for benign and malignant conditions with or without the use of epidural analgesia. Multivariate regression analysis was used to compare outcomes between epidural and conventional analgesia. A total 888,135 patients underwent open colorectal resections. Epidural analgesia was only used in 39,345 (4.4 %) cases. Epidurals were more likely to be used in teaching hospitals and rectal cancer cases. On multivariate analysis, in colonic cases, epidural analgesia lowered hospital charges by US$4,450 (p < 0.001) but was associated with longer length of stay by 0.16 day (p < 0.05) and a higher incidence of ileus (OR = 1.17; p < 0.01). In rectal cases, epidural analgesia was again associated with lower hospital charges by US$4,340 (p < 0.001) but had no effect on ileus and length of stay. The remaining outcomes such as mortality, respiratory failure, pneumonia, anastomotic leak, urinary tract infection, and retention were unaffected by the use of epidurals. Epidural analgesia in open colorectal surgery is safe but does not add major clinical benefits over conventional analgesia. It appears however to lower hospital charges.
Compatibility stresses in fatigued bicrystals: Dependence on misorientation and small plastic deformations

Abstract Compatibility stresses are calculated for twist boundaries about [1¯49] and a “random” high angle boundary between a [1¯49] grain and a [100] grain, assuming piecewise homogeneous elastic fields and copper as model material. The “in-plane” compatibility stresses produced by uniaxial tension perpendicular to the boundary are a strong function of the crystallography of the grains and their misorientation. The effects of small plastic strains via crystallographic slip are also studied for three particular misorientations ([1¯49] 90° and 180° twist boundaries and the “random” misorientation) and the type and amount of slip close to the boundary predicted by minimizing the elastic energy and using experimental measurements of the axial component of the plastic strain. The predictions agree quite well with experimental observations of slip traces close to the boundaries of copper bicrystals with those misorientations tested under high cycle fatigue conditions.
Retinal rod GTPase turnover rate increases with concentration: A key to the control of visual excitation?

Guanosine triphosphate (GTP) binding proteins mediate cellular responses to hormones, neurotransmitters, growth factors and light. Activated GTP binding proteins are shut off by GTPase mediated hydrolysis of GTP. Photoreceptor GTPase rates are reported to be 10-50 times too slow to account for electrophysiological recovery time after light stimulus. Recovery rates of other parts of the system, however, appear fast enough. We present evidence that the GTPase rate increases markedly with photoreceptor membrane concentration implying the existence of a diffusible factor controlling the GTPase. When extrapolated to physiological concentrations, the GTPase turnover rate is fast enough (0.25-1.5 sec) to account for the recovery rate of the light stimulated signal of the photoreceptor cells.
Estimating Strength of the Williamsburg Bridge Suspension Cables

Abstract The Williamsburg Bridge, a major east-west route over the East River in New York City, is now being rehabilitated. Before the decision to rehabilitate, the New York City Department of Transportation hired the consulting firm of Steinman, Boynton, Gronquist, and Birdsall to estimate the strength of the bridge's suspension cables. As a result of this major engineering effort, Steinman concluded that the cables have adequate strength. Steinman's analysis and results are compared to results obtained using the Weibull distribution and order statistics to estimate cable strength from wire strength.
A three-element description for muscle with viscoelastic passive elements.

Abstract This paper explores the implications of expanding Hill's three-element model by replacing the series and parallel elastic elements with nonlinear viscoelastic elements. The resulting model includes a contractile element whose shortening relates not to a mechanical length, but to the number of active cross-bridges. Given this interpretation, the contractile element behaves in qualitatively agreement with known sarcomere biophysics. It also explains why one cannot vary maximum tetanic force and maximum shortening velocity independently in skeletal muscle, why cardiac muscle fails to exhibit hyperbolic force-velocity curves and why the curve's shape depends on how one obtains the curve. This analysis also shows that the classical formula for contractile element velocity, V CE (t) = P (KP + C) , actually gives initial muscle shortening velocity for a twitch that begins shortening at time t, not contractile element velocity. This model suggests a simple hypothesis to relate the inotropic agents action at a subcellular level to the mechanical events and permits indexing inotropic state at constant muscle length with one parameter. These results follow from replacing the two purely elastic elements with viscoelastic ones; they would still follow even if the exact formulation proposed for the viscoelastic element was wrong.
Percolative phenomena and electrorheological structures in reverse micelles

Structural relaxations in AOT (sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulphosuccinate) and lecithin reverse micelles are investigated by means of dielectric relaxation and conductivity measurements. The different behaviours exhibited by the two systems are interpreted in terms of the different kinds of interaction between the water and the surfactant molecules. In the case of lecithin, the application of an external electric field induces the establishing of some electrorheological structure. The temperature dependence of the observed electrorheological effects agrees with the hypothesis of a structural arrangement consisting in a percolated network of branched cylindrical micelles. The experimental results are compared with other literature data and discussed within the framework of the current theories.
Comparing likelihood and Bayesian coalescent estimation of population parameters.

We have developed a Bayesian version of our likelihood-based Markov chain Monte Carlo genealogy sampler LAMARC and compared the two versions for estimation of Θ = 4Neμ, exponential growth rate, and recombination rate. We used simulated DNA data to assess accuracy of means and support or credibility intervals. In all cases the two methods had very similar results. Some parameter combinations led to overly narrow support or credibility intervals, excluding the truth more often than the desired percentage, for both methods. However, the Bayesian approach rejected the generative parameter values significantly less often than the likelihood approach, both in cases where the level of rejection was normal and in cases where it was too high.
Coronary artery bypass graft: why is the saphenous vein prone to intimal hyperplasia?1

Proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells and the resultant intimal hyperplasia cause coronary artery bypass graft failure. Both internal mammary artery and saphenous vein are the most com...
To Be a Mediator: Expressive Tactics in Mediation

Labor mediators lack formal authority to compel parties to settle. What authority mediators do have emanates from their person, their behavior and skill, and the parties' ongoing assessment of them during a case. These “expressive” dimensions of mediation are latent features of the process, which makes them difficult to isolate and study. In this study, a dramaturgical framework is applied to observational case data to identify a core of expressive tactics commonly used by mediators. These tactics are organized around the theme of professional work. The findings suggest that mediators manage impressions of their expertise to frame settlements, impressions of their social position to convey neutrality toward the parties and a shared collegial network with chief negotiators, and impressions of their legitimacy to establish reputations for action and success. Contrasts in the ways these tactics are used suggest tentative postulates about the differential ways authority is mobilized in mediation.
Pinned incommensurate structure of cesium intercalated graphite.

An inhibition of long-range three-dimensional order at low temperatures in nearly commensurate Cs-graphite (stages 2 and 3) is reported. We interpret this as the result of a competition between local in-plane ordering at domain walls and interlayer interactions which in stage 3 favor a simple hcp intercalant stacking. Computer modeling shows evidence for two stable rotated domain-wall configurations.
Exploring We Will Go: The Investigation of Religion and Spirituality in Older Populations (Reflections on Glicksman's “The Contemporary Study of Religion and Spirituality Among the Elderly”)

The field of research in religion and spirituality within aging is expanding and there is need for much more knowledge integration. At the same time, it is valuable to acknowledge some unique aspects to inquiry in this area. Researcher considerations include awareness of cultural biases, limitations in all methods of research, the influence of religious traditions and external environments that favor or marginalize this research, and the danger of reductionism through definitional limits. Spirituality particularly is difficult to trimly capture in categories. Thus, holding open the possibility of intuitive insight for greater knowledge and maintaining a goal of compassionate understanding can help us end our journey at the beginning point of our exploration and know it in a way that is rich and deep, as if seeing it for the first time.
Behavioral responses of American toad and bullfrog tadpoles to the presence of cues from the invasive fish, Gambusia affinis

The introduction of non-native predators is thought to have important negative effects on native prey populations. The susceptibility of native prey to non-native or introduced predators may depend on their ability to respond appropriately to the presence of these non-native predators. We conducted a laboratory based behavioral experiment to examine the response of American toad (Bufo americanus) and bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles to the presence of cues from the introduced mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), a potential tadpole predator. Neither the American toad tadpoles nor the bullfrog tadpoles responded behaviorally to the presence of mosquitofish cues. If tadpoles are unable to respond to the presence of mosquitofish cues appropriately, then their ability to avoid predation by mosquitofish may be compromised and this may contribute to the impacts of mosquitofish on some tadpole populations.
CENTRAL MOMENTS AND PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION OF COLLESS'S COEFFICIENT OF TREE IMBALANCE.

The great increase in the number of phylogenetic studies of a wide variety of organisms in recent decades has focused considerable attention on the balance of phylogenetic trees-the degree to which sister clades within a tree tend to be of equal size-for at least two reasons: (1) the degree of balance of a tree may affect the accuracy of estimates of it; (2) the degree of balance, or imbalance, of a tree may reveal something about the macroevolutionary processes that produced it. In particular, variation among lineages in rates of speciation or extinction is expected to produce trees that are less balanced than those that result from phylogenetic evolution in which each extant species of a group has the same probability of speciation or extinction. Several coefficients for measuring the balance or imbalance of phylogenetic trees have been proposed. I focused on Colless's coefficient of imbalance (7) for its mathematical tractability and ease of interpretation. Earlier work on this statistic produced exact methods only for calculating the expected value. In those studies, the variance and confidence limits, which are necessary for testing the departure of observed values of I from the expected, were estimated by Monte Carlo simulation. I developed recursion equations that allow exact calculation of the mean, variance, skewness, and complete probability distribution of I for two different probability-generating models for bifurcating tree shapes. The Equal-Rates Markov (ERM) model assumes that trees grow by the random speciation and extinction of extant species, with all species that are extant at a given time having the same probability of speciation or extinction. The Equal Probability (EP) model assumes that all possible labeled trees for a given number of terminal taxa have the same probability of occurring. Examples illustrate how these theoretically derived probabilities and parameters may be used to test whether the evolution of a monophyletic group or set of monophyletic groups has proceeded according to a Markov model with equal rates of speciation and extinction among species, that is, whether there has been significant variation among lineages in expected rates of speciation or extinction.
Hypochondriac Hermeneutics: Medicine and the Anxiety of Interpretation

This essay considers hypochondria not as a psychiatric diagnosis but as a hermeneutic position: a consequence of attending to the uncertainty of being an embodied human; an anxious skepticism; a resistance to reassurance based on an arguably too-close reading of body and self. Medicine commonly rejects such interpretation in order to reduce the potential proliferation of meaning to those signs it can interpret in diagnostically and therapeutically useful ways. I suggest that the literary model of close reading might helpfully illuminate interpretive anxiety as a problem facing both physician and patient, and I consider three ways that medicine might think about challenges to its hermeneutic security: pathologizing the uncertainty and "hating the hypochondriac" patient; attempting to override uncertainty with additional information; and, finally, imaginatively inhabiting the patient's anxiety and working within it, through the recognition that medicine itself is a hermeneutic and potentially hypochondriac enterprise.
Hyperresponsiveness of Patients with Clinical and Premyopathic Myotonic Dystrophy to Human Growth Hormone1

A previous study showed 4 men with myotonic muscular dystrophy (MMD) retained 3 to 10 times more N, P, K, Na and Cl than normal men in response to 0.168 unit human growth hormone (hGH)/kg (body weight)3/4/day. The present investigation aimed to learn if the trait of hyperresponsiveness to GH could be used to determine the premyopathic state of the disease. Subjects were 3 MMD parents and 16 of their offspring (“B” and “W” kindreds). Each individual was evaluated for clinical muscle disease (atrophy, weakness, myotonia), 3 conventional premyopathic indicators of MMD (cataract, depressed immunoglobulin G, myotonic discharges in the electromyogram), and hyperresponsiveness to hGH. Among the B and W offspring, 3 had “clinical muscle disease” (atrophy, weakness, myotonia), 4 had no clinical muscle disease but exhibited one or more of the indicators of premyopathic MMD, and9 had neither clinical nor premyopathic abnormality. To investigate a sex difference in hyperresponsiveness to hGH which became apparent in ...
The interactive effects of exercise and feeding on oxygen uptake, activity levels, and gastric processing in the graceful crab Cancer gracilis.

Abstract Exercise and digestive processes are known to elevate the metabolic rate of organisms independently. In this study, the effects of simultaneous exercise and digestion were examined in the graceful crab Cancer gracilis. This species exhibited resting oxygen uptake levels between 29 and 42 mg O2 kg−1 h−1. In postprandial crabs, oxygen uptake was approximately double that of unfed crabs. During exercise, oxygen uptake increased three‐ to fourfold, reaching maximal levels of more than 130 mg O2 kg−1 h−1. However, there was no difference in oxygen uptake during activity between unfed and postprandial animals. There was also no difference in exercise endurance levels between unfed and postprandial animals; both sets of animals were unable to right themselves after being turned on their backs, reaching exhaustion after 13–15 attempts. To determine whether increased activity affected gastric processes, the passage of a meal through the digestive system was followed using a fluoroscope. Passage of digesta...
Always talking to some purpose

Abstract Distinguished molecular biologist, Sydney Brenner, has said he won't write an autobiography. Mark Ptashne reviews the next best thing.
Sexually transmitted infections in adolescents: a treatment update.

In the United States almost half of all high school students have had sexual intercourse1 and a substantial number more engage in other sexual behaviors that put them at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI). As a result of a combination of developmental behavioral and biologic factors adolescents are disproportionately affected by STI. Further adolescents are often less likely to present for diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this paper is to review STI treatment issues that are specific to adolescents with a focus on adolescent women. Table 1 summarizes important features of treatment for each infection. (excerpt)
Talent development professional development evaluation model: A paradigm shift

This chapter illustrates the importance of a comprehensive professional development evaluation design.
A Decomposition Theorem for Domains

A domain constructor that generalizes the product is defined. It is shown that with this constructor exactly the prime-algebraic coherent Scott-domains can be generated from two-chains and boolean flat domains.
Excess Volatility and Predictability of Stock Prices in Autoregressive Dividend Models with Learning

To what extent can agents' learning and incomplete information about the "true" underlying model generating stock returns explain findings of excess volatility and predictability of returns in the stock market? In this paper we analyse two models of recursive learning in the stock market when dividends follow a (trend-)stationary autoregressive process. The asymptotic convergence properties of the models are characterized and we decompose the variation in stock prices into rational expectations and recursive learning components with different rates of convergence. A present-value learning rule is found to generate substantial excess volatility in stock prices even in very large samples, and also seems capable of explaining the positive correlation between stock returns and the lagged dividend yield. Self-referential learning, where agents' learning affect the law of motion of the process they are estimating, is shown to generate some additional volatility in stock prices, though of a magnitude much smaller than present value learning
Scalable customization of atrial fibrillation detection in cardiac monitoring devices: Increasing detection accuracy through personalized monitoring in large patient populations

To make it viable for remote monitoring to scale to large patient populations, the accuracy of detectors used to identify patient states of interests must improve. Patient-specific detectors hold the promise of higher accuracy than generic detectors, but the need to train these detectors individually for each patient using expert labeled data limits their scalability. We explore a solution to this challenge in the context of atrial fibrillation (AF) detection. Using patient recordings from the MIT-BIH AF database, we demonstrate the importance of patient specificity and present a scalable method of constructing a personalized detector based on active learning. Using a generic detector having a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 57% as its seed, our active learning approach constructs a detector with a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 85%. This performance approaches that of a patient-specific detector, which has a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 85%. By selectively choosing examples for training, the active learning approach reduces the amount of expert labeling needed by almost eight fold (compared to the patient-specific detector) while achieving accuracy within 99%.
Health behaviors of adolescents who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Many challenges related to the development and diagnosis of cancer are faced by adolescents with the disease. Adolescence is a developmental period for behaviors that risk health. The article describes behaviors that promote and risk health among adolescents who have been diagnosed with cancer. A paucity of studies exists on health-promoting and-risking behaviors among adolescents with cancer. Further studies are needed to explore and describe these adolescents' health-promoting and-risking behaviors. Health care professionals must comprehensively address these adolescents' health care needs related to the diagnosis of cancer as well as the developmental challenges of adolescence.
“Tough” laws: Policymaker perceptions and commitment

Abstract Surveys were administered to assess policymaker perceptions on the effectiveness and consequences of, and their commitment to “tough” criminal legislation in California. In relation to this, policymaker reaction to California's 1982 DUI laws was assessed. Results suggest that the populations surveyed recognized that problems were created by “tough” laws, specifically jail crowding. Differences existed, however, between the various populations on the perceptions of the effectiveness of such law changes and their commitment to them. Policy implications drawn from this research are discussed.
Lung infection--a public health priority.

The pervasive burden of lung infections receives proportionately little attention from the biomedical and public health communities, argues Mizgerd.
Expression of cytokine signaling genes in morbidly obese patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and hepatic fibrosis.

Background White adipose tissue (WAT) from visceral adiposity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Development of NASH and its progression to fibrosis is partially due to cytokines and adipokines produced by WAT. The aim of this study was to assess the association of hepatic fibrosis and NASH by evaluating the intrinsic differences in the inflammatory cytokine signaling in the visceral adipose tissue obtained from morbidly obese patients.
Curcuminoid binding to embryonal carcinoma cells: reductive metabolism, induction of apoptosis, senescence, and inhibition of cell proliferation.

Curcumin preparations typically contain a mixture of polyphenols, collectively referred to as curcuminoids. In addition to the primary component curcumin, they also contain smaller amounts of the co-extracted derivatives demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Curcuminoids can be differentially solubilized in serum, which allows for the systematic analysis of concentration-dependent cellular binding, biological effects, and metabolism. Technical grade curcumin was solubilized in fetal calf serum by two alternative methods yielding saturated preparations containing either predominantly curcumin (60%) or bisdemethoxycurcumin (55%). Continual exposure of NT2/D1 cells for 4–6 days to either preparation in cell culture media reduced cell division (1–5 µM), induced senescence (6–7 µM) or comprehensive cell death (8–10 µM) in a concentration-dependent manner. Some of these effects could also be elicited in cells transiently exposed to higher concentrations of curcuminoids (47 µM) for 0.5–4 h. Curcuminoids induced apoptosis by generalized activation of caspases but without nucleosomal fragmentation. The equilibrium binding of serum-solubilized curcuminoids to NT2/D1 cells incubated with increasing amounts of curcuminoid-saturated serum occurred with apparent overall dissociation constants in the 6–10 µM range. However, the presence of excess free serum decreased cellular binding in a hyperbolic manner. Cellular binding was overwhelmingly associated with membrane fractions and bound curcuminoids were metabolized in NT2/D1 cells via a previously unidentified reduction pathway. Both the binding affinities for curcuminoids and their reductive metabolic pathways varied in other cell lines. These results suggest that curcuminoids interact with cellular binding sites, thereby activating signal transduction pathways that initiate a variety of biological responses. The dose-dependent effects of these responses further imply that distinct cellular pathways are sequentially activated and that this activation is dependent on the affinity of curcuminoids for the respective binding sites. Defined serum-solubilized curcuminoids used in cell culture media are thus suitable for further investigating the differential activation of signal transduction pathways.
Three-in-One Parenteral Nutrition in Neonates and Pediatric Patients Risks and Benefits

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a life-sustaining therapy designed to deliver essential nutrients to patients unable to meet nutrition needs via the enteral route. PN may be delivered via a 2-in-1 system (one solution containing amino acids, dextrose, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, and fluids and one solution containing intravenous fat emulsions [IVFEs]) or via a 3-in-1 system (all nutrients mixed in one container). Although the use of 3-in-1 PN solutions is not necessarily therapeutically advantageous, certain benefits may exist such as the potential to reduce the risk of contamination due to decreased manipulations; ease of administration, particularly in the home care setting; possible cost savings; and reduced IVFE wastage. However, the incorporation of IVFE in 3-in-1 solutions also presents unique risks for the neonatal and pediatric population such as decreased stability, increased lipid globule size, decreased sterility and the potential for increased microbial growth/infectious complications, the need to use a larger filter size, precipitation and compatibility risks, and an increased chance of catheter occlusion. This review outlines the unique issues and challenges to be considered when formulating neonatal and pediatric 3-in-1 PN admixtures. While 3-in-1 PN solutions may be advantageous for certain pediatric populations, specifically those dependent on home PN, the risks do not outweigh the benefits in neonatal patients, and use should be avoided in this population.
A comparison of the high molecular weight RNAs of visna virus and Rous sarcoma virus.

Abstract Visna virus RNA consists of a high molecular weight and low molecular weight species. The size, subunit composition, complexity, and secondary structure of high molecular weight RNA have been studied and compared with Rous sarcoma virus RNA. Visna high molecular weight RNA cosediments in 0.1 M sodium chloride wiih the 70S UNA of Rous sarcoma virus consistent with a molecular weight of 10–12 × 10 daltons. On dissociation with heat, subunit structures of 2.8 × 10 6 daltons are released. Both the size and heterogeneity of the subunit RNA are identical with the subunit RNA of transforming Schmidt-Ruppin Rous sarcoma virus. Comparison of the complexity of visna RNA with poliovirus RNA indicate unique nucleotide sequences of 7–10 × 10 6 daltons, in accord with the physical data. The evidence also indicates that there is lack of significant reiteration of nucleotide sequences in the visna RNA. Major differences in the secondary structure of visna and Rous sarcoma virus RNA were observed. Both RNAs possess an exceptional degree of secondary structure when assayed by chromatography on cellulose at various temperatures. Reduction of ionic srength markedly decreases the secondary structure of visna RNA relative to Rous sarcoma virus RNA and leads to anomalous migration in polyacrylamide gels. The differences in secondary structure and in the low molecular weight RNA species associated with 70S RNAs of these viruses indirectly implicate the 4 and 5S RNA in the maintenance of secondary structure of 70S RNA of Rous sarcoma virus.
Social Participation of Professionals in Rural Areas

ALTHOUGH an extensive literature on professions (and professionalization) has accumulated,' there are few researches of rural professionals,2 and fewer still which allow a systematic comparison between the major professions. The former condition, the neglect of professionals located in rural areas, is perhaps, in part, due to the fact that the growth of professions has to a large extent accompanied urbanization. The latter condition may be due to several factors such as the restricted interest of the researchers, the costs of enlarging the sample, the paucity of "rural
All-optical 100-Gbit/s word packet time-division-multiplexed access node in a looped-back configuration: enabling technologies for sequential add-drop functionality.

We experimentally demonstrate the adding, dropping, and passing through of 100-Gbit/s word packets in a looped-back all-optical time-division-multiplexed (TDM) access node. Packets are routed with a 17-dB contrast ratio and demultiplexed with a 20-dB contrast ratio. This node uses short 100-Gbit/s words to demonstrate its potential to process data packets from multiple sources and to perform packet switching in a multinode ring network configuration. The ability to tolerate timing jitter as well as varying input signal characteristics is essential to an all-optical access node in a multinode network. For 2-ps input pulses, the header processor has a timing window of ∼5 ps, and the demultiplexer has a timing window of ∼5.5 ps. This allows for tolerance to bit-to-bit timing jitters or to an increase in the pulse width of as much as 3 ps. Packet-to-packet timing jitter is detected and compensated by the technique used to synchronize the local source to each packet. The key enabling technologies of an all-optical TDM packet add–drop multiplexer are discussed, including an erbium-doped fiber laser, a nonlinear optical loop mirror logic gate, self-synchronization to incoming packets with a fast-saturation/slow-recovery gain element followed by an intensity discriminator, a two-wavelength nonlinear optical loop mirror demultiplexer, and synchronization of new packets to the network packet rate with a phase-locked loop. The local source is automatically synchronized to the incoming packet, because it uses an extracted pulse from the packet, which has a contrast ratio of >20 dB to the rest of the packet. Finally, new packets are added by use of a local laser and a synchronization method, which gives a timing jitter of ∼1 ps. Using a statistical method of measuring Q value with picosecond resolution, we show that a header processor with two cascaded logic gates has a Q value of 7.1 with a 95% confidence level.
Extending the compensated Arrhenius formalism to concentrated alcohol electrolytes: Arrhenius vs. non-Arrhenius behavior

The compensated Arrhenius formalism is applied to ionic conductivities in alcohol-based electrolytes at concentrations where the salt makes a non-negligible contribution to the static dielectric constant of the solution. The temperature-dependent behavior of the conductivity depends on the amount of added salt. Non-Arrhenius behavior is observed for low to moderate salt concentrations, while Arrhenius behavior occurs at high concentrations. The compensated Arrhenius formalism provides insight into this behavior by analyzing the effect of salt concentration on the temperature dependence of the exponential prefactor. When the compensated Arrhenius prefactors are plotted against the solution static dielectric constants using the Ea obtained from the compensated Arrhenius equation, the prefactors lie on a single master curve. In contrast, a similar plot based on the Ea obtained from a simple Arrhenius plot of the same conductivity data does not yield a master curve. Application of the compensated Arrhenius formalism requires the construction of a reference curve. It is essential that the range of static dielectric constant values spanned by the reference curve encompasses the range of temperature-dependent static dielectric constant values of the selected alcohol electrolyte. This will allow an accurate interpolation to obtain the appropriate reference conductivity. A detailed description is given for the method used to construct an appropriate reference conductivity curve.
Entanglement of flux lines in superconductors with finite thickness

Abstract The transition between entangled and disentangled states of the vortex liquid in a clean superconductor with finite thickness along the magnetic field direction is studied using path-integral Monte Carlo simulations. It is shown that within the mapping of the vortex system onto interacting bosons in (2+1) dimensions the onset of entanglement corresponds to a Kosterlitz–Thouless transition between a superfluid phase and a classical liquid.
Endoscopic observations of obstructive sleep apnea in children with anomalous upper airways: predictive and therapeutic value.

Summary This report describes the variability in the mechanism of upper airway collapse seen in children with obstructive apnea secondary to craniofacial anomalies. Emphasis is on the nasopharyngoscopic observation of the upper airway and the accurate assessment of the site and mechanism of obstruction in order to prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Defects in amorphous insulators

Abstract Electron spin resonance characterizations are presented for a number of defects in a selection of amorphous insulators, including oxide glasses, oxyhalide glasses, halide glasses, nitrate glasses, oxynitride glasses, and a sulfide glass.
Observations on interactions between naturally-collected bacteria and several species of algae

Interactions between a naturally-collected algal species and strains of bacteria with which it was closely associated were examined under controlled conditions. Three strains of bacteria, Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas and Flavobacterium, were isolated from Oscillatoria. These bacteria were grown in combination with axenic cultures of the Oscillatoria culture as well as with several additional algal species. Oscillatoria growth was stimulated by all of the bacteria, but other algal species varied in their response. Some were stimulated, but others were inhibited or unaffected by exposure to the bacterial strains. There were also observations indicating that some algae may be able to develop resistance to antagonistic bacteria. These data suggest that succession and dominance of individual algal species may be influenced by interactions with bacteria.
Transformation of postischemic perineuronal glial cells. I. Electron microscopic studies.

The effects of cerebral ischemia on perineuronal glia were studied in the rat model of transient four-vessel occlusion. Striatum containing irreversibly injured neurons and paramedian cerebral cortex containing re-versibly injured neurons were prepared for electron microscopy at intervals of 3 min up to 24 h following ischemia. Perineuronal astrocytes showed cytoplasmic swelling and configurational changes in and pleomorphism of mitochondria similar to those described previously in parenchymal astrocytes in this model. Dark oligodendroglia showed only transient swelling of cisterns of Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum. However, medium-light oligodendrocytes significantly increased in size and accumulated microtubules and tubovesicular profiles in the cytoplasm. Reactive glia with features of both oligodendrocytes and astrocytes appeared at 15 min. A sharp drop in the number of perineuronal medium-light oligodendrocytes occurred at 3 h after ischemia and was accompanied by increased numbers of astr...
Lentiviral vectors incorporating a human elongation factor 1α promoter for the treatment of canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency

Lentiviral vectors incorporating a human elongation factor 1α promoter for the treatment of canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency
A low-power field-programmable analog array for wireless sensing

We present a field-programmable analog array (FPAA) for sensor interfacing and information extraction in wireless, resource-constrained applications. Ultra-low-power operation is achieved through low-overhead reprogramming and an efficient processing architecture. We demonstrate reconfigurability and performance through the synthesis of a temperature sensor, heart-rate alarm, and audio spectrum normalizer, which have measured full-system power consumptions of 12µW, 20µW, and 17.25µW, respectively.
Perfluorochemical (PFC) Evaporation from the Lungs: Effect of Initial Dose † 1773

Liquid-assisted ventilation LAV with PFC has been shown to be beneficial in treating a variety of respiratory diseases in animals and humans. While PFC evaporation from the lungs is in part dependent on ventilation strategy and positioning, guidelines for initial and replacement dosing are unclear. We hypothesized that PFC evaporative loss (EL)profile over time is dependent upon initial dosing. To test this hypothesis, PFC(perflubron:LiquiVent) was instilled endotracheally over 3-5 minutes using three initial volumes (GR I=2ml/kg, GR II=6 ml/kg, GR III =17ml/kg) while repositioning to optimize distribution. Juvenile rabbits (wt =2.2±.7 kg; n=11) were ventilated using a constant position & ventilator strategy: frequency =30br/min, tidal volume= 10.7±.13 ml/kg, Vm=325±4.2 ml/min/kg. A previously described thermal detector device measured PFC content in expired gas and was used to calculate EL profile[loss rate C'PFC (ml/kg/hr) and residual PFC in the lung RPFC (% initial dose)] up to 4 hrs after initial dosing. Data expressed as (Mean±SE). There was a significant dose, time, and dose-time interaction such that EL profile was dependent on initial PFC volume and time after fill (p<0.05). The total perflubron loss over 4 hrs was 0.96ml/kg(GR I); 3.1ml/kg(GR II); 4.6ml/kg(GR III). The R PFC after 4 hrs was 52±2.6%(GR I), 45±6.7%(GR II); 74±2.4%(GR III). We conclude that EL profile is dependent upon initial PFC dose and time after dosing. Thus, in addition to ventilation strategy and positioning, EL profile should be considered in order to optimize replacement dosing. Table
Synthesis and release of luteinizing hormone in vitro by rat anterior pituitary cells: effects of gallopamil hydrochloride (D600) and pimozide.

We compared the role of Ca2+ in regulating GnRH-induced LH synthesis and release from cultured rat pituitary cells. LH synthesis and release were measured after a 4-h treatment of cells with gallopamil hydrochloride (D600; 1 and 100 μM), a Ca2+ channel blocker, or pimozide (0.5 and 5.0 μM), a calmodulin inhibitor, with or without 1 nm GnRH. LH translation and glycosylation were monitored by measuring incorporation of [14C]alanine and [3H]glucosamine, respectively, into total (cell and medium) immunoprecipitable LH. GnRH significantly (P < 0.01) increased total [3H]LH (glycosylation), but had no effect on total [14C]LH (translation). D600 significantly (P < 0.01) depressed (1 HM) and completely blocked (100 μM) GnRH-induced LH glycosylation and release of [3H]LH, [14C]LH, and immunoreactive LH. D600 (100 μM) also reduced (P < 0.05) total basal synthesis of [14C]LH. Neither dose of D600 altered uptake of [3H]glucosamine, but 100 μM D600 significantly (P < 0.01) depressed its incorporation into total protein...
Lessons Learned in Detecting and Correcting Response Heaping: Conceptual, Methodological, and Empirical Observations

Wildlife agencies have used hunter/angler surveys for decades to assist in estimating game populations and harvest. When hunters and anglers are asked to recall a frequency (e.g., days of participation) or a quantity (e.g., game bagged), some respondents round their answers to numbers ending in 0 or 5 (0–5 prototypes) or multiply days of participation by an integer to approximate harvest. Both types of survey responses result in response heaps (spikes in response frequency functions) and can result in biased estimates (e.g., means and totals). This article summarizes recent advances in detecting and correcting for response heaps in survey data. We address 11 lessons learned from previous research. These collective findings and observations are organized in three broad areas: (1) conceptual, (2) methodological, and (3) analytical lessons. We also discuss knowledge gaps where additional work is necessary. The identification of bias and development of corrective methods will hopefully enable wildlife manager...
Age of acquisition's effect on memory for semantically associated word pairs.

This experiment investigated the effects of age of acquisition (AoA) in memory for associated word pairs in a cued recall task. Participants studied a list of frequency-controlled early- and late-acquired words in semantically related pairs and then were asked to recall the second word of the pair when cued with the first. Reaction time effects were found, showing that a late-acquired cue for an early-acquired target word was responded to significantly faster than other combinations. Additionally, late-acquired target words resulted in significantly more accurate responses. As significant differences were found even when frequency was controlled, the effects must therefore stem from the manipulations of AoA. Given this evidence, the implications for AoA's effects on the organization of semantic memory are explored.
BOLD study of stimulation-induced neural activity and resting-state connectivity in medetomidine-sedated rat.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in anesthetized-animals is critical in studying the mechanisms of fMRI and investigating animal models of various diseases. Medetomidine was recently introduced as an independent anesthesia for longitudinal (survival) fMRI studies in rats. Since stimulation-induced fMRI signal is anesthesia-dependent and its characteristics in rats under medetomidine are not fully elucidated, the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) fMRI response to electrical forepaw stimulation under medetomidine was systematically investigated at 9.4 T. Robust activations in contralateral primary somatosensory cortex (SI) and thalamus were observed and peaked at the stimulus frequency of 9 Hz. The response in SI saturates at the stimulus strength of 4 mA while the response in thalamus monotonically increases. In addition to fMRI data acquired with the forepaw stimulation, data were also acquired during the resting-state to investigate the synchronization of low frequency fluctuations (LFF) in the BOLD signal (<0.08 Hz) in different brain regions. LFF during resting-state have been observed to be synchronized between functionally related brain regions in human subjects while its origin is not fully understood. LFF have not been extensively studied or widely reported in anesthetized-animals. In our data, synchronized LFF of BOLD signals are found in clustered, bilaterally symmetric regions, including SI and caudate putamen and the magnitude of the LFF is ~1.5%, comparable to the stimulation-induced BOLD signals. Similar to resting-state data reported in human subjects, LFF in rats under medetomidine likely reflect functional connectivity of these brain regions.
Chemical characterization of heavy-metal contaminated soil in southeast Kansas

A tri-state mining region, including parts of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas, was the site of intense lead and zinc mining and smelting activity until the 1950's. A study was initiated to characterize the heavy-metal contamination of soils in this area. Water-soluble, an index of plantavailable, total, and sequentially extractable metals; organic, and total carbon; and saturated paste pH were determined for mine tailings and soil samples. Mine tailings contained 81 to 89 mg kg−1 total Cd, 1 150 to 1 370 mg kg−1 total Pb, and 11 400 to 13 700 mg kg−1 total Zn. Total concentrations in soil samples were 15 to 86 mg kg−1 Cd, 35 to 1 620 mg kg−1 Pb, and 99 to 18 500 mg kg−1 Zn; and, DTPA extractable concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 10 mg kg−1 Cd, 7.8 to 68 mg kg−1 Pb, and 33 to 715 mg kg−1 Zn. Samples were sequentially extracted to approximate the proportions of the metals in the sulfide, carbonate, organic, sorbed, and exchangeable fractions. For Zn and Cd, concentrations were greatest in the sulfide fraction followed by carbonate, organic, sorbed, and exchangeable. Lead followed the same pattern, except higher concentrations were observed in the sorbed than the organic fractions.
Maternal Empathy and Changes in Mothers’ Permissiveness as Predictors of Toddlers’ Early Social Competence with Peers: A Parenting Intervention Study

The goal of the current study was to examine how changes in parenting due to a parenting intervention designed to decrease permissive parenting affected the quality of children’s peer interactions. Forty-nine mothers of toddlers aged 2–3 years participated in a 12-week intervention in which half got hands-on training and practice using positive guidance in a toddler classroom setting, while the other half learned positive guidance solely via a seminar format. To observe children’s peer interactions, toddlers were divided into 8 groups of 5–7 children mixed across condition. Observers coded mothers’ empathy, permissiveness, and positive guidance parenting strategies. Children’s peer interactions were coded for antisocial behaviors, verbal aggression, physical aggression, prosocial behaviors, positive social bids, and empathy. Prior analysis of this intervention indicated that mothers in both conditions showed reductions in permissiveness over the course of the intervention. Results from the present study indicated that reductions in permissiveness predicted decreases in toddlers’ verbal aggression. Maternal empathy was a moderator such that mothers low in empathy who got hands-on training in positive guidance had children who demonstrated the greatest reductions in antisocial behaviors.
Brain localization for arbitrary stimulus categories: a simple account based on Hebbian learning

A central theme of cognitive neuroscience is that different parts of the brain perform different functions. Recent evidence from neuropsychology suggests that even the processing of arbitrary stimulus categories that are defined solely by cultural conventions (e.g., letters versus digits) can become spatially segregated in the cerebral cortex. How could the processing of stimulus categories that are not innate and that have no inherent structural differences become segregated? We propose that the temporal clustering of stimuli from a given category interacts with Hebbian learning to lead to functional localization. Neural network simulations bear out this hypothesis.
Automated data verification in a large-scale citizen science project: A case study

Although citizen science projects can engage a very large number of volunteers to collect volumes of data, they are susceptible to issues with data quality. Our experience with eBird, which is a broad-scale citizen science project to collect bird observations, has shown that a massive effort by volunteer experts is needed to screen data, identify outliers and flag them in the database. The increasing volume of data being collected by eBird places a huge burden on these volunteer experts and other automated approaches to improve data quality are needed. In this work, we describe a case study in which we evaluate an automated data quality filter that improves data quality by identifying outliers and categorizing these outliers as either unusual valid observations or mis-identified (invalid) observations. This automated data filter involves a two-step process: first, a data-driven method detects outliers (ie. observations that are unusual for a given region and date). Next, we use a data quality model based on an observer's predicted expertise to decide if an outlier should be flagged for review. We applied this automated data filter retrospectively to eBird data from Tompkins Co., NY and found that that this automated process significantly reduced the workload of reviewers by as much as 43% and identifies 52% more potentially invalid observations.