cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear adaptive control using neural networks: estimation with a smoothed form of simultaneous perturbation gradient approximation

This is a condensed version of a full length interdisciplinary paper spanning the fields of control statistics, neural networks and optimisation. In this paper only the following two topics are considered: 1) consider the problem of developing adaptive controllers for general dynamic systems with unknown governing equations and develop a solution for an important class of such problems; and 2) introduce a modification to simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation that is based on smoothing gradient approximations across iterations and illustrate this modification on the neural net based control problem.
Integrin α1β1 Regulates Matrix Metalloproteinases via P38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Mesangial Cells: Implications for Alport Syndrome

Previous work has shown that integrin α1-null Alport mice exhibit attenuated glomerular disease with decreased matrix accumulation and live much longer than strain-matched Alport mice. However, the mechanism underlying this observation is unknown. Here we show that glomerular gelatinase expression, specifically matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and MMP-14, was significantly elevated in both integrin α1-null mice and integrin α1-null Alport mice relative to wild-type mice; however, only MMP-9 was elevated in glomeruli of Alport mice that express integrin α1. Similarly, cultured mesangial cells from α1-null mice showed elevated expression levels of all three MMPs, whereas mesangial cells from Alport mice show elevated expression levels of only MMP-9. In both glomeruli and cultured mesangial cells isolated from integrin α1-null mice, activation of the p38 and ERK branches of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway was also observed. The use of small molecule inhibitors demonstrated that the activation of the p38, but not ERK, pathway was linked to elevated MMP-2, -9, and -14 expression levels in mesangial cells from integrin α1-null mice. In contrast, elevated MMP-9 levels in mesangial cells from Alport mice were linked to ERK pathway activation. Blockade of gelatinase activity using a small molecule inhibitor (BAY-12-9566) ameliorated progression of proteinuria and restored the architecture of the glomerular basement membrane in α1 integrin-null Alport mice, suggesting that elevated gelatinase activity exacerbates glomerular disease progression in these mice.
Normal Approximations to Likelihoods and to Posteriors

In this chapter, we review several elementary concepts and methods from mathematical statistics. In Section 2.1, the likelihood and loglikelihood functions are defined and illustrated. The definition and illustration of the posterior density are also presented. Noninformative and conjugate priors are discussed in Section 2.2. In Section 2.3, the method of maximum likelihood is defined and the Newton-Raphson algorithm is presented as an algorithm for locating the posterior/likelihood mode. Section 2.4 presents Frequentist and Bayesian justification for using the normal approximation to the likelihood or to the posterior as the basis for inference. The delta method is defined and illustrated in Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 reviews the notion of the Highest Posterior Density region, a Bayesian approach to confidence regions and significance levels.
Gene Delivery into Plant Cells for Recombinant Protein Production

Recombinant proteins are primarily produced from cultures of mammalian, insect, and bacteria cells. In recent years, the development of deconstructed virus-based vectors has allowed plants to become a viable platform for recombinant protein production, with advantages in versatility, speed, cost, scalability, and safety over the current production paradigms. In this paper, we review the recent progress in the methodology of agroinfiltration, a solution to overcome the challenge of transgene delivery into plant cells for large-scale manufacturing of recombinant proteins. General gene delivery methodologies in plants are first summarized, followed by extensive discussion on the application and scalability of each agroinfiltration method. New development of a spray-based agroinfiltration and its application on field-grown plants is highlighted. The discussion of agroinfiltration vectors focuses on their applications for producing complex and heteromultimeric proteins and is updated with the development of bridge vectors. Progress on agroinfiltration in Nicotiana and non-Nicotiana plant hosts is subsequently showcased in context of their applications for producing high-value human biologics and low-cost and high-volume industrial enzymes. These new advancements in agroinfiltration greatly enhance the robustness and scalability of transgene delivery in plants, facilitating the adoption of plant transient expression systems for manufacturing recombinant proteins with a broad range of applications.
Teaching Introductory Artificial Intelligence through Java-Based Games

We introduce a Java graphical gaming framework that enables students in an introductory artificial intelligence (AI) course to immediately apply and visualize the topics from class. We have used this framework in teaching a mixed undergraduate/graduate AI course for six years. We believe that the use of games motivates students. The graphical nature of each game enables students to quickly see how well their algorithm works. Because the topics in an introductory AI course vary widely, students apply their algorithms to multiple game environments. A final challenging environment enables them to tie together the concepts for the entire semester.
Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

Introduction: Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a hereditary disorder that causes progressive muscle wasting. Increasing knowledge of the pathophysiology of FSHD has stimulated interest in developing biomarkers of disease severity. Methods: Two groups of MRI scans were analyzed: whole-body scans from 13 subjects with FSHD; and upper and lower extremity scans from 34 subjects with FSHD who participated in the MYO-029 clinical trial. Muscles were scored for fat infiltration and edema-like changes. Fat infiltration scores were compared with muscle strength and function. Results: The analysis revealed a distinctive pattern of both frequent muscle involvement and frequent sparing in FSHD. Averaged fat infiltration scores for muscle groups in the legs correlated with quantitative muscle strength and 10-meter walk times. Conclusions: Advances in MRI technology allow for acquisition of rapid, high-quality, whole-body imaging in diffuse muscle disease. This technique offers a promising disease biomarker in FSHD and other muscle diseases. Muscle Nerve 52: 512–520, 2015
Performance characteristics of a whole-body PET scanner.

METHODS This study characterizes the performance of a newly developed whole-body PET scanner (Advance, General Electric Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI). The scanner consists of 12,096 bismuth germinate crystals (4.0 mm transaxial by 8.1 mm axial by 30 mm radial) in 18 rings, giving 35 two-dimensional image planes through an axial field of view of 15.2 cm. The rings are separated by retractable tungsten septa. Intrinsic spatial resolution, scatter fraction, sensitivity, high count rate performance and image quality are evaluated. RESULTS Transaxial resolution (in FWHM) is 3.8 mm at the center and increases to 5.0 mm tangential and 7.3 mm radial at R = 20 cm. Average axial resolution decreases from 4.0 mm FWHM at the center to 6.6 mm at R = 20 cm. Scatter fraction is 9.4% and 10.2% for direct and cross slices, respectively. With septa out, the average scatter fraction is 34%. Total system sensitivity for true events (in kcps/(microCi/cc)) is 223 with septa in and 1200 with septa out. Dead-time losses of 50% correspond to a radioactivity concentration of 4.9 (0.81) microCi/cc and a true event count rate of 489 (480) kcps with septa in (out). Noise-equivalent count rate (NECR) for the system as a whole shows a maximum of 261 (159) kcps at a radioactivity concentration of 4.1 (0.65) microCi/cc with septa in (out). NECR is insensitive to changes in lower gamma-energy discrimination between 250-350 keV. CONCLUSIONS The results show the performance of the newly designed PET scanner to be well suited for clinical and research applications.
Approximation algorithms for distributed systems

Distributed Approximation is a new and rapidly developing discipline that lies at the crossroads of various well-established areas of Computer Science - Distributed Computing, Approximation Algorithms, Graph Theory and often, Computational Geometry. This thesis focuses on the design and analysis of distributed algorithms to solve optimization problems that usually arise in large-scale, heavily dynamic, resource constrained networks, e.g. wireless ad-hoc and sensor networks, P2P systems, mobile networks etc. These problems can often be abstracted by variations of well-known combinatorial optimization problems, such as topology control, clustering etc. Many of these problems are known to be hard (NP-complete). But we need fast and light-weight distributed algorithms for these problems, that yield near-optimal solutions. The results presented in this thesis can be broadly divided in two parts. The first part contains a set of results that obtain improved solutions to the classic problem of computing a sparse “backbone” for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). In graph-theoretic terms, the goal is to compute a spanning subgraph of the input graph, that is sparse, lightweight and has low stretch. The term “low stretch” indicates that in spite of dropping many edges, the distance between any two nodes in the graph is not increased by much. We model WSNs as geometric graphs - unit ball graphs, quasi-unit ball graphs etc. in Euclidean spaces, as well as in more general metric spaces of low doubling dimension. We identify and exploit a variety of geometric features of those models to obtain our results. In the second part of the thesis we focus on distributed algorithms for clustering problems. We present several distributed approximation algorithms for clustering problems (e.g., minimum dominating set, facility location problems) that improve on best known results so far. The main contribution here is the design of distributed algorithms where the running time is a “tunable” parameter. The advent of distributed systems of unprecedented scale and complexity motivates the question of whether it is possible to design algorithms that can provide non-trivial approximation guarantees even after very few rounds of computation and message exchanges. We call these algorithms “ k-round algorithms”. We design k-round algorithms for various clustering problems that yield non-trivial approximation factors even if k is a constant. Additionally, if k assumes poly-logarithmic values, our algorithms match or improve on the best-known approximation factors for these problems.
The Dynamics of Entrepreneurial Human Capital

There is broad international recognition of the importance of entrepreneurship for economic growth and development, yet we know relatively little about the process by which entrepreneurs come into ...
Corpus callosal morphology in treatment-naive pediatric obsessive compulsive disorder

Abstract 1. 1. Abnormalities in association circuits have been described in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and may reflect neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Primary and association cortices are topographically mapped in the corpus callosum (CC). The authors hypothesized alterations in CC subdivisions that connect association, but not primary cortices in pediatric OCD. The authors predicted that normal age-related increases in CC area would be absent in OCD. 2. 2. The authors compared the midsagittal magnetic resonance images of 21 psychotropic-naive, nondepressed OCD patients, 7.2–17.7 years, and 21 case-matched healthy controls. Total CC area as well as that of the anterior, middle and posterior genu, anterior and posterior bodies, isthmus, and the anterior, middle and the posterior splenii were measured. 3. 3. All of the CC regions except the isthmus were significantly larger in OCD patients than in controls. CC area correlated significantly with OCD symptom severity but not illness duration. The age-related increase in CC size seen in normal subjects was absent in OCD patients. 4. 4. These findings support theories of abnormal association cortex development in OCD but also suggest possible abnormalities of other primary cortical regions as well.
Use of high content image analyses to detect chemical-mediated effects on neurite sub-populations in primary rat cortical neurons.

Abstract Traditional developmental neurotoxicity tests performed in vivo are costly, time-consuming and utilize a large number of animals. In order to address these inefficiencies, in vitro models of neuronal development have been used in a first tier screening approach for developmental neurotoxicity hazard identification. One commonly used endpoint for assessing developmental neurotoxicity in vitro is measurement of neurite outgrowth. This biological process is amenable to high-throughput measurement using high content imaging (HCI) based methodologies. To date, a majority of HCI studies of neurite outgrowth have focused on measurements of total neurite outgrowth without examining whether stereotypic neuronal growth patterns are disrupted or whether specific sub-populations of neurites ( i.e. axons or dendrites) are selectively affected. The present study describes the development and implementation of two HCI based analysis methods for assessing chemical effects on neuronal maturation. These methods utilize the stereotypical growth pattern of primary rat cortical neurons in culture ( i.e. the Staging Method), as well as the differential cytoplasmic distribution of β III -tubulin and MAP2 ( i.e. the Subtraction Method), to quantify inhibition of neurite initiation, axon outgrowth and secondary neurite (or dendrite) outgrowth in response to chemical exposure. Results demonstrate that these distinct maturational processes are differentially affected by pharmacological compounds (K252a, Na 3 VO 4 , Bis-1) known to inhibit neurite outgrowth. Furthermore, a group of known developmental neurotoxicants also differentially affected the growth of axons and secondary neurites in primary cortical culture. This work improves upon previous HCI methods by providing a means in which to rapidly and specifically quantify chemical effects on the growth of axons and dendrites in vitro.
Measurement Noise Limitations in Eukaryotic Chemotaxis

Many types of eukaryotic cells are able to detect chemical gradients and move accordingly. Unlike the case for bacteria, these cells are large enough for the gradient detection to rely on differential receptor binding probabilities on the cell membrane. This talk will focus on recent experimental and theoretical work using the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum as a model system to investigate this process. The main focus is on how the noisy input data from the cAMP receptors is processed by the cell to make the motion decision and on under what conditions response is limited by measurement accuracy.
Effects of Force, Race, and Coping Style on Pain During Patient-Controlled Mammography

ABSTRACT Breast cancer is a major killer of American women, with 182,000 new cases and 46,000 deaths expected in 1993. If women over age 50 were to get regular screening mammograms, mortality from this disease could be reduced by about 30%. Although concern about pain is not the most important barrier to mammography utilization, it appears to be a significant concern, especially for minority women. We hypothesized that giving women control over compression during mammography would decrease their self-rated pain, and that a woman's coping style would affect perceived pain. We also investigated the relationship of self- versus technologist compression, amount of force, race, coping style, and pain. Data were collected on 109 women from three sources—a 30-item patient questionnaire prior to the exam, 12 additional patient items completed after the exam, a technologist assessment, and radiologists' ratings of mammogram quality. Of the 48 women who rated technologist-applied compression and patient-controlled ...
The Hubbard model and all that

Abstract The numerical simulation of strongly correlated electron systems is described. Emphasis is placed on recent algorithm developments and remaining problems. Numerical results are presented for the two-dimensional Hubbard model.
Sensitive on-column absorbance detection of native molecules

Laser wave mixing is presented as a sensitive detection method for absorbance measurements in flowing liquid analytes. Wave mixing is an unusually sensitive multi-photon nonlinear optical method since the analytical signal is generated as a coherent laser beam. Since the bright signal is visible to the naked eye, optical alignment is convenient. For liquid analytes in continuously flowing cells, we have demonstrated excellent detection sensitivity levels using various wave-mixing optical configurations and laser sources. Since it is an optical absorption method, laser wave-mixing detection offers excellent detection sensitivity for both fluorescing and non-fluorescing analytes. Hence, one does not have to label non-fluorescing analytes with tags in order to obtain good detection sensitivity in wave-mixing detection methods. Sensitivity detection of analytes in their native form offers many obvious advantages especially when interfaced to popular capillary separation methods. Since the analyte laser probe volume is very small, wave-mixing detection is suitable for on-column detection in various capillary electrophoresis or micro liquid chromatography systems.
Three-dimensional ovarian cancer models: imaging and therapeutic combinations

We introduce a new platform to study treatment response in adherent micrometastatic ovarian cancer, combining an in vitro 3D model, with custom quantitative analysis routines to report growth and cytotoxic response in large sets of image data. OVCAR-5 human ovarian cancer cells were grown on a bed of Growth Factor Reduced Matrigel TM (GFR Matrigel TM ). Using batch analysis routines to analyze longitudinal image data we show that in vitro tumor growth leads to a reproducible log-normal size distribution with two well-defined peaks. These distinct growth modes correspond to a population with approximately constant diameter of 20μm over the time probed, while the other peak corresponds to a more rapidly assembling sub-distribution of micronodules which shifts towards larger peak center positions with mean equivalent diameters of 92μm, 120μm and 150μm at days 7, 10 and 17 following plating. At day 10, 3D and monolayer cultures were treated with a regimen of either carboplatin or photodynamic therapy. Using a quantitative fluorescence imaging approach we report dose response curves and demonstrate that 3D nodules are significantly less sensitive to treatment than the same cells grown in monolayer. 3D cultures subject to 5J/cm 2 PDT (250nM BPD-MA) exhibited a mean viability of 80% (95% CI = 73% to 82%) relative to no treatment control. 3D cultures subject to carboplatin treatment at 100μM concentration exhibited a mean viability of 92% (95% CI =86% to 97%). A combination treatment of 5J/cm 2 PDT followed by 100μM carboplatin yielded an enhanced cytotoxic effect with mean viability of 46%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (35 % to 46%).
One Hundred Consecutive Deep Plane Face-lifts

Asubplaytysmal face-lift technique in a deeper anatomical plane of the face was described in the 1970s. The deep plane rhytidectomy is based on sound anatomical principles of tissue mobilization, advancement, and repair. Wide undermining is accomplished in a subplaytsmal plane and continued, extending over the zygomatic muscle to the melolabial fold. This large compound cheek flap of skin, muscle, and fat is then advanced and tightened to dramatically influence the jowl and melolabial fold. A prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the results of 100 deep plane face-lifts using this technique. Postoperative observations and evaluations were made at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months. A questionnaire response and photographic analysis were obtained after 6 months. The rate of hematomas was low, with none occurring beneath the thick cheek flap. There were no persistent problems, facial irregularities, paralysis, or paresis. Ninety-seven percent of the patients were pleased with the aesthetic results. In conjunction with wide cervical undermining and an anterior platysmal plication, the deep plane face-lift affords a predictable improvement for the aging face and neck. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1996;122:17-22)
Functional programming for computer vision

Functional programming is a style of programming that avoids the use of side effects (like assignment) and uses functions as first class data objects. Compared with imperative programs, functional programs can be parallelized better, and provide better encapsulation, type checking, and abstractions. This is important for building and integrating large vision software systems. In the past, efficiency has been an obstacle to the application of functional programming techniques in computationally intensive areas such as computer vision. We discuss and evaluate several 'functional' data structures for representing efficiently data structures and objects common in computer vision. In particular, we will address: automatic storage allocation and reclamation issues; abstraction of control structures; efficient sequential update of large data structures; representing images as functions; and object-oriented programming. Our experience suggests that functional techniques are feasible for high- performance vision systems, and that a functional approach simplifies the implementation and integration of vision systems greatly. Examples in C++ and SML are given.
Fast out-of-order processor simulation using memoization

Our new out-of-order processor simulatol; FastSim, uses two innovations to speed up simulation 8--15 times (vs. Wisconsin SimpleScalar) with no loss in simulation accuracy. First, FastSim uses speculative direct-execution to accelerate the functional emulation of speculatively executed program code. Second, it uses a variation on memoization---a well-known technique in programming language implementation---to cache microarchitecture states and the resulting simulator actions, and then "fast forwards" the simulation the next time a cached state is reached. Fast-forwarding accelerates simulation by an order of magnitude, while producing exactly the same, cycle-accurate result as conventional simulation.
The influence of rates of nitrogen and potassium application on the cooking quality of four potato varieties

The influence of four nitrogen and four potassium levels on sloughing, mealiness, softness, colour and discoloration of cooked potatoes was investigated with the varietiesAristo, Irene, Libertas andIJsselster, grown on twelve trial fields on sandy soils.
Inequality decomposition of farm family living expenditures and the role of the life cycle

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to use data from the 2007 Agricultural Resource Management Survey to assess the inequality in the distribution of farm family living expenditures. The impact on inequality of marginal increases in expenditure components with respect to aggregate expenditures is also addressed in the context of the life cycle and under various “equity” weights that reflect the extent to which society is averse to inequality.Design/methodology/approach – Inequality in the distribution of households' equivalent‐scale total expenditures E and of their K components is measured using the concept of the extended Gini coefficient (GE).Findings – Results show an unequal distribution of total expenditures, with “food including food away from home” and “clothing, personal care products, etc.” as the two expenditure items that are most suitable for either a subsidy or a tax‐hike. No discernable statistical difference is found when the elasticities of expenditures were estimated across two distin...
Effects of Ethanol on the Shoaling Behavior of Zebrafish (Danio Rerio)

Ethanol (EtOH) often has stimulatory effects at low doses and inhibitory effects at high doses, affecting behavior and physiology of many organisms in a non-linear manner suggestive of hormesis. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) shoaling was studied in adult fish exposed to one of five different EtOH concentrations (v/v): 0.0% control, 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.0%. Digital photographs of groups of four fish were taken every 2 min, with each trial lasting a total of 12 min. The median nearest neighbor distance and shoal area were calculated for each photograph. Exposure to 1.0% EtOH inhibited shoaling. In contrast, as predicted from hormesis, shoaling was significantly tighter (as measured by nearest neighbor distance) at low concentrations (0.125%, 0.25%) compared to the control, and a J-shaped dose-response curve was present. A similar pattern occurred for shoal area, but in this case the only statistically significant differences were between the high concentration and all others.
Gesture in Political Communication: A Case Study of the Democratic Presidential Candidates During the 2004 Primary Campaign

In this article, I investigate forms and functions of hand-gestures in two Democratic Party primary debates during the 2004 presidential campaign. I argue that in an age of televised politics, the study of “politics as cultural practice” (Schudson, 2001) should include the descriptive analysis of bodily expression. This analysis could form the foundation for studies of audience responses and media effects. Analysis of hand gestures made by the Democratic Party candidates shows that the candidates enacted a shared code of pragmatic gesticulation, using hand gestures to mark speech acts and display aspects of information structure and thereby providing viewers with visual structure that facilitates the parsing and processing of speech. The one exception to this shared code was Howard Dean, who mainly enacted a single, repetitive hand gesture—a raised index finger—which embodied a hierarchical address of the audience. The article seeks to integrate a classical perspective—that of Quintilianus (1922/100)—with...
A Search for Candidate Old Open Clusters: Preliminary Photometry of the Saurer et al. Clusters

We have performed V and I CCD observations of the previously unstudied open cluster candidates proposed by Saurer et al. in 1994. Five of these clusters are found to be true clusters, with ages older than 1 Gyr, based on the "morphological age index" of Janes & Phelps, while effects of differential extinction make the identification of another as a true cluster inconclusive. The derived ages of the clusters range between a low of about 1 Gyr to a high of 7–8 Gyr for cluster A. Based on the derived parameters, cluster A is one of the oldest and the most distant of any Galactic open clusters studied to date.
Hyperacute autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced by a synthetic autoantigen

EXPERIMENTAL autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) induced by immunisation with CNS tissue in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). It is generally regarded as an animal model of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. In Lewis rats a hyperacute variant of EAE can be induced using appropriate CNS immunogen with Bordetella pertussis vaccine as adjuvant with or without CFA1–3. Hyperacute EAE (HEAE) differs from ordinary EAE clinically in its early onset and in its rapid and severe course, with high incidence of cerebral involvement and mortality. Histological lesions of HEAE are characterised by the presence in the CNS parenchyma of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and necrosis, haemorrhage, oedema and fibrin1,2. Because HEAE and ordinary EAE overlap histopathologically and immunologically2 they provide experimental evidence supporting the concept that certain human demyelinating diseases represent a spectrum of autoimmunity ranging from chronic multiple sclerosis to acute haemorrhagic necrotising leukoencephalopathy, for which HEAE is a model1,2,4. We report here that the induction of HEAE is favoured by the absence of a methyl group in a sequence of 14 amino acids of the primary structure of the immunogen.
The time-resolved resonance raman spectrum of pulse radiolytically produced phenoxyl radical

Abstract The time-resolved resonance-enhanced Raman spectrum of phenoxyl radical has been observed at microsecond times in pulse radiolysis experiments. Raman b
Team interdependence and turnover: evidence from the NFL

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the interactive effect of turnover and task interdependence on performance in work teams. Based on pervious research, the authors contend that turnover will have a negative effect on team performance and this effect will be more pronounced as teams perform highly interdependent tasks. Design/methodology/approach – Using longitudinal data from the National Football League (NFL), the authors empirically examine the effect of player turnover on NFL team performance (i.e. wins and losses in the subsequent year), and the difference in team performance based on the high/low task interdependence of the work team. Findings – Findings suggest a negative impact of turnover on organizational performance, regardless of the interdependent nature of work team tasks. In addition, the negative influence of turnover is enhanced by the task interdependence within a team. Originality/value – This is one of the few studies that examine task interdependence as ...
Microtopography and surficial sediment patterns in the central Gulf of Maine: A 3.5-kHz survey and interpretation

Abstract The seafloor of the Gulf of Maine is dominated by ice-contact, glaciomarine, and postglacial sedimentary deposits, based on 2085 km of 3.5-kHz seismic profiling. Hummocky topography, interpreted as morainal in origin, is present over about half of the seafloor in water depths of 100–300 m. Small exposures (∼ 2%) of overlying multilayered glaciomarine reflectors extend, with the hummocky surface, under much of an acoustically transparent layer. Covering about one third of the survey area, this postglacial marine silty clay unit is up to 25 m thick. Other less common facies include an acoustically opaque smooth bed (∼ 10%) and bedrock (∼ 6%). The continuous seismic records reveal the sedimentary sequence and the complex, patchy distribution of deposits accumulated during and after the retreat of the late Wisconsinan Laurentide ice sheet from the Gulf of Maine. Over the bedrock and morainal hummocks the meltwaters of glacial retreat locally deposited the glaciomarine multilayered acoustic reflectors. The still younger acoustically transparent marine silts and clays display a smooth nearly level surface except for apparent scour around bedrock promontories and V-shaped depressions suggestive of pockmark formation in four locations. Similarly postglacial to contemporary reworking of the seafloor produced the sand waves of Georges Shoals and smooth sandy seabed areas that are acoustically opaque.
On Hultgren's Criticism of the Disequilibrium Theory of Changes in Total Economic Activity

IN A RECENT ARTICLE in this Journal, Thor Hultgren (1) takes to task a long list of economics textbook authors, including the present one (2), for allegedly foisting upon countless numbers of students a theory which he maintains has no observable factual basis. He limits his list to a dozen but a full list would probably include the authors of all macroeconomics textbooks written in the last 25 years. What is this theory that is purportedly so at variance with the facts? If the economy is operating at an output level above the equilibrium level, by definition the aggregate supply of goods exceeds the aggregate demand (these are equal only at the equilibrium level of output) which means that stocks of goods in the hands of business are being involuntarily added to; and the opposite is true, i.e. stocks of goods in the hands of business are being involuntarily depleted, if the economy is operating below equilibrium. Now to quote Hultgren: In all the textbooks cited (assuming disequilibrium), movement is toward equilibrium. An upswing in GNP (Gross National Product) is a movement toward balance; so is a downswing. If the data support the theory, stocks should gradually be used up during an upswing, and they should build up throughout a downswing.... According to the theory, inventory formation should be negative throughout an expansion of GNP and positive throughout a contraction of GNP. But the actual direction of change in stocks is almost exactly the opposite to the direction contemplated by the theory (3).
Characterization of a Cobalt-Specific P1B-ATPase

The P1B-type ATPases are a ubiquitous family of P-type ATPases involved in the transport of transition metal ions. Divided into subclasses based on sequence characteristics and substrate specificity, these integral membrane transporters play key roles in metal homeostasis, metal tolerance, and the biosynthesis of metalloproteins. The P1B-4-ATPases have the simplest architecture of the five P1B-ATPase families and have been suggested to play a role in Co2+ transport. A P1B-4-ATPase from Sulfitobacter sp. NAS-14.1, designated sCoaT, has been cloned, expressed, and purified. Activity assays indicate that sCoaT is specific for Co2+. A single Co2+ binding site is present, and optical, electron paramagnetic resonance, and X-ray absorption spectroscopic data are consistent with tetrahedral coordination by oxygen and nitrogen ligands, including a histidine and likely a water. Surprisingly, there is no evidence for coordination by sulfur. Mutation of a conserved cysteine residue, Cys 327, in the signature transmem...
Characterization of Conversion-Coated Aluminum Using Fourier Transform Infrared and Raman Spectroscopies

Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies have been employed to define the molecular composition of chromium phosphate conversion coatings on aluminum. Attenuated total reflectance at 55° can be employed to probe the structure of conversion coatings present on aluminum at relatively high coating weights (≥23 mg Cr/m2). Both reflection-absorption infrared and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic techniques can discern the presence of conversion coatings at coverages as low as 9 mg Cr/m2. On the basis of the vibrational spectra from these techniques, we have determined that hydrated chromium phosphate is the major component in these conversion coatings on aluminum. Reflection-absorption infrared and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopies also provide a means to determine the molecular structure of the nascent oxide layer on aluminum as a function of processing conditions. Specular reflection, attenuated total reflectance at 35°, diffuse reflectance, and Raman spectroscopic methods, in general, lack the surface sensitivity necessary to probe thin (≤ 23 mg/m2) inorganic films on aluminum.
Porphyrins in black trona water

Abstract Metalloporphyrins have been found in black trona water, a solution of sodium salts of organic acids occurring naturally in the Green River Formation of Wyoming. The porphyrins consist largely of nickel deoxophylloerythrin, a C-33 acid, and two lower methylene homologues, C-32 and C-31 acids, and possibly structural isomers of these. The C-32 acid is noticeably more abundant than either the C-33 or C-31 acids. Minor amounts of nickel etioporphyrins also are present. These porphyrins are believed to have been derived from the chlorophyll α synthesized by algae that inhabited Eocene Lake Gosiute. The transformations to porphyrins occurred under the influence of high pH, a reducing environment, and geological time.
Characteristics, goals, and motivations of applicants pursuing a fourth-year advanced endoscopy fellowship.

Background The number of applications to advanced endoscopy fellowships has increased in past years. There is limited knowledge regarding why gastroenterology fellows pursue interventional/advanced endoscopy (AE) as a career. Objective To explore the characteristics, goals, and motivations of applicants applying for AE fellowships. Design A total of 101 applicants of the 2011 AE fellowship match were sent a survey via electronic mail 4 weeks after the match. Participants A total of 65 applicants participated. Intervention Study questionnaire. Results The response rate was 64.4% (95% certainty ± 5%). By the first year of gastroenterology fellowship, 67% had decided to apply for an AE fellowship. Half stated that pursuing a career in AE was a difficult decision; primary concerns included the additional year of training and the delay in income. A total of 69% of applicants intended to pursue academics. Applicants listed endoscopic procedures (92%), exposure to mentors in the field (46%), and demand for the skill set (43%) as the most significant sources of motivation in pursuing AE. Influential factors in an applicant's decision to choose a program included high procedure volume (69%), reputation of the program (63%), and a desirable geographic location (61%). Applicants who reported difficulty in choosing AE as a career were less inclined to pursue academia as compared with those with no difficulty deciding (54.8% vs 84.4%; P = .006). These same applicants were similarly less motivated to pursue research (3.1% vs 34.3%; P = .002). Applicants who favored academia versus private practice listed mentors in the field (54% vs 25%; P = .031) and research interest (27.3% vs 0%; P = .012) as significant factors. Limitations One-year sample of applicants. Conclusion Although a majority of applicants decided to pursue careers in AE during the first year of gastroenterology fellowship, making the decision was difficult for half of the applicants. Motivations for choosing AE as a career differed among applicants interested in academics versus private practice.
Accelerating engineering degree completion for military veterans

This paper addresses an accelerated track for military veterans into bachelor's degrees in engineering. It is an update on a project that was first reported at FIE 2011. An initial thorough evaluation of the veterans' training, experiences, and expertise has been conducted with the option of granting academic credit where appropriate. Therefore, it is important to have contact with the military veteran prior to their arriving on campus to begin their schooling. Current policies give little credit for military experience or training. The development of on-line pre and post assessments and subject based tutorials are being used to accelerate the veteran's entry into the traditional math sequence. Veterans may have a base of technical knowledge acquired through the technical nature of their service posts. Assigning them to introductory level courses with traditional freshman and sophomore students does not respect their technical expertise nor challenge their capabilities and accustomed pace.
XAFS Measurements of Rb-O Bonds in Ambient and Supercritical Water

XAFS measurements and analyses of Rb + ions in 0.5 molal RbBr at ambient and several supercritical (P > P c = 220 bar, T > T c = 374° C) conditions are presented. The first coordination shell of Rb + ion is seen to be dominated by oxygen from nearby water molecules. Upon going from ambient to supercritical conditions, the Rb-O coordination number decreases significantly, and the Rb-O distance decreases by 0.10 A relative to the ambient Rb-O distance ( 2.93 A). Although ion pairing has been predicted for supercritical conditions (due in part to a substantial decrease of the dielectric constant at the critical point), and has been observed with XAFS in other aqueous solutions, we see no direct evidence of pairing of Br - with Rb + in our measurements.
Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and rapid plasma reagin in a trauma population.

We evaluated the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) among patients admitted to our trauma unit from April 15 to June 30, 1993. Of 984 patients tested, we found 255 (26%) had evidence of exposure to one or more of these agents : HIV, 4% ; HBV, 20% ; HCV, 14% ; and RPR, 1%. Thirty-eight percent of patients had more than one positive serology, 75% of the HIV patients, 49% of the HBV patients, and 66% of the HCV patients. There was no difference between penetrating and nonpenetrating trauma with respect to any of the viruses. The risk factors for HIV-positive patients were non-White race, positive drug screen, positive alcohol screen, and city resident. Risk factors for HBV patients were non-White race, positive drug screen, and city resident. Risk factors for HBC patients were male sex, non-White race, positive alcohol screen, positive drug screen, and city resident. The risk of blood-borne infections in this group of patients is substantial.
Religious Involvement and the Health of the Elderly: Some Hypotheses and an Initial Test

The study examines patterns of religious involvement, health status, functional disability, and depression among noninstitutionalized elderly residents of New Haven, Connecticut, in 1982. Controlling for demographic variables and physical health status, cross-sectional analysis of data from the Yale Health and Aging Project (N= 2811) shows higher levels of public religious involvement associated with lower levels of functional disability and depressive symptomatology; among men the analysis also shows that private religious involvement modifies the associations of health status with disability, and disability with depression. Four alterntive explanatory hypotheses with roots in classical sociological theories of religion are proposed and tested, three arguments for indirect effects of religious involvement through health behaviors, social cohesiveness, and cognitive coherence, and one for an interactive theodicy effect. Most research on the effects of social networks and social support on health status has barely begun to exploit the fact that neither networks nor support are evenly dispersed throughout people's social environments. Rather, they are found clustered together in social institutions which are frequently made up of nonintersecting networks and which offer substantively different kinds of support. Available epidemiological research, however, has tended to treat these social resources in the two simplest possi*An earlier version of this paper was read at the 1986 meetings of the American Sociological Association. Financial support for the analysis was provided by a U.S. Public Health Service Predoctoral Traineeship Grant 5 T32 MH15783-04, and a Charlotte Newcombe Dissertation Fellowship, Woodrow Wilson Foundation. I am indebted to Lisa F. Berkman, Adrian M. Ostfeld, Stanislav Kasl, and the Establishment of Populations for Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (EPESE) Project of the National Institute on Aging for allowing me to use data from the Yale Health and Aging Project, and to Lisa F. Berkman, Jerome Myers, Allan Horwitz, Stephen Hansell, David Mechanic, and an anonymous referee for their comments. Address correspondence to the author, Department of Sociology, Lucy Stone Hall, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903. C 1987 The University of North Carolina Press
Complex spontaneous bile duct perforation: An alternative approach to standard porta hepatis drainage therapy

Abstract Introduction Spontaneous perforation of the bile duct (SPBD) is a rare abnormality of the extrahepatic biliary tree in infants. Limited porta hepatis exploration and drainage of the bile-soiled peritoneum are often sufficient treatment. Here, we describe three cases of SPBD, one of which required complex multi-disciplinary interventions for restoration of biliary continuity. Methods Three infants with bilious ascites from spontaneous biliary perforation were reviewed. Metrics included age, presenting symptoms, diagnostic tests, interventions performed, and outcomes. Results The presenting symptoms of all three infants were bilious ascites, sepsis, lethargy, anorexia, fever and persistent emesis. SPBD was confirmed pre-operatively by HIDA scan (hepatobiliary scintigraphy) in each case. Intra-operative, trans-cholecystic cholangiogram confirmed SBDP in two cases. Two of the infants were successfully treated with placement of a cholecystostomy tube and porta hepatis drains. The third infant, having failed multiple similar drainage procedures, required percutaneous transhepatic drainage of a persistent porta hepatis biloma. Ultimately percutaneous, transhepatic cannulation of the extra-hepatic biliary tree for prolonged stenting was required to successfully treat this biliary perforation. Conclusion Complex spontaneous biliary perforation may require extensive interventions if the perforation fails to resolve with standard porta hepatis drainage. Access of the biliary tree via Interventional Radiology procedures for complex biliary disease of this type is novel and presents an alternative to traditional open surgical treatment and control of spontaneous biliary perforations.
The Potential Future of Dysphagia: Population-Specific Diagnosis and Treatment

Care of patients with dysphagia includes screening, diagnosis, treatment and management. This article examines the increasing evidence that to be most effective each of these aspects of patient care must be tailored to the patient's medical diagnosis, specific swallowing disorders and stage of recovery or degeneration. The need to define the optimal window of intervention for each patient type is also discussed. Future research needs are emphasized.