cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Imprinting in older ducklings: Some tests of a reinforcement model

Ducklings (Anas Platyrhynchos domesticus) older than the so-called critical period (Days 1 and 2 posthatch) were exposed to an imprinting stimulus after various experimental histories. The first study found that in previously isolated 10-day-old subjects the stimulus exhibited the same capacity to reinforce an operant response and to generate a burst-like pattern of responding as in ducklings imprinted to it on Day 1. In Experiment 2, an imprinting stimulas exhibited reinforcing capacities in 5 to 10-day-old ducklings that had previously been imprinted to a different stimulus. Most of these ducklings came to prefer the second imprinting stimulus over the first. Experiment 3 revealed that in 5-day-old ducklings with a prior history of imprinting to a different stimulus, the otherwise neutral features of a new imprinting stimulus acquired the same kind of persistent control over distress vocalization that they acquire in younger, naive subjects. In all these studies, the only difference between imprinting in older vs. younger subjects was that in older subjects a novel imprinting stimulus initially evoked fear reactions rather than filial behavior. These findings contradict the traditional view of imprinting as an irreversible process that occurs only during a brief critical period, but are entirely consistent with a reinforcement model of imprinting.
Cell-specific changes in expression of mRNAs encoding splice variants of Aplysia cell adhesion molecule accompany long-term synaptic plasticity

Aplysia neurons express several splice variants of apCAM, a member of the Ig superfamily of cell adhesion molecules. The major transmembrane isoform is endocytosed in sensory neurons (SNs) during the early phases of long-term facilitation (LTF) of SN synapses evoked by serotonin (5-HT) or in the motor neuron L7 during the early phases of long-term depression (LTD) of SN synapses evoked by Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-amide (FMRFa). We used single cell RT-PCR to evaluate whether expression of mRNAs encoding for different apCAM isoforms in SNs and L7 is regulated during LTF produced by 5-HT, and LTD produced by FMRFa. Single SNs and L7s express mRNAs encoding for all major isoforms, but the proportion of each isoform expressed differs for the two cells. SN expresses more mRNA encoding for GPI-linked isoforms, while L7 expresses more mRNA encoding for the major transmembrane isoform. The neuromodulators produced significant changes in the proportional levels of mRNAs encoding for specific apCAM isoforms during the first 4 h after treatments without affecting overall levels of apCAM mRNA. 5-HT evoked changes that exaggerated cell-specific differences in isoform expression. FMRFa evoked changes that reduced cell-specific differences in isoform expression. The effects of the neuromodulators on apCAM mRNA expression were not detected when cells were cultured alone or when SNs were cocultured with another motor cell that failed to induce synapse formation (L11). The results suggest that rapid cell-specific regulation of splice variant expression may contribute to different forms of long-term synaptic plasticity. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 45: 152–161, 2000
The dynamics of random interfaces in phase transitions

A review is given of recent developments involving the dynamics of random interfaces formed in the evolution of metastable and unstable systems. Topics which are discussed include interface growth and nonequilibrium dynamical scaling. The possibility of there being dynamical universality classes in first-order phase transitions is also discussed. There are a large number of systems of experimental interest which include binary alloys, binary fluids, and polymer mixtures. Other systems studied by computer simulation include the kinetic Ising, Potts, andZ N models.
Allergy in identical twins

Abstract 1.1. Case reports of seven pairs of identical allergic twins are presented, including direct and passive transfer tests on each. 2.2. These reports emphasize the following: (A) the similarities in allergic manifestations in identical twins; (B) the marked constitutional tendencies towards the development of allergic conditions in each; (C) occasional slight differences which may be explained by minor variations in exposure and contact.
Feeding Fitness and Quality of Domesticated and Feral Predators: Effects of Long-Term Rearing on Artificial Diet

Abstract Predatory geocorids, Geocoris punctipes Say (Geocoridae: Hemiptera), that had been reared (domesticated) for over 6 years (60 continuous generations) on an artificial diet were compared with feral (F 1 ) counterparts to determine possible domestication-associated losses in predatory capabilities. Using adult female predators provided with either tobacco budworm larvae, Heliothis virescens F., or pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris, as prey, I measured predator weights, handling time with a single prey, amount extracted, consumption rate, and feeding (gut) capacity. Domesticated females were significantly smaller than ferals, weighing 4.53 mg versus 5.09 mg, respectively. Domestication did not significantly influence handling times, which averaged 131 (domesticated) and 122 min (feral) for predators feeding on H. virescens larvae and 106 (domesticated) and 94 min (feral) for G. punctipes feeding on A. pisum. Although there were significant differences in the weights of the two kinds of prey ( H. virescens larvae being about twice as heavy as the A. pisum ), both prey species exceeded the ingestion capacity of the predators. Amounts extracted by predators were 1.12 to 1.20 mg and were not significantly influenced by rearing background, prey biomass, or prey type. Consumption rates of 11.86 and 12.91 μg/min were nearly identical for both domesticated and feral predators regardless of prey species.
Abstract B99: Electronic prompting significantly increases hepatitis B screening in at-risk Asian populations

Background/Aim: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the principal risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among Asian Americans. Earlier detection of HBV may be life-saving; however, rates of HBV screening in Asian Americans remain unusually low. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of an electronic health record (EHR)-based provider intervention to increase HBV screening in Asian Americans within an academic health system. Methods: Entry criteria were: outpatients, ages 18–64, with Chinese or Vietnamese surnames scheduled for appointment in a primary care clinic with no record of an HBsAg test, and who were not pregnant. Providers at any of 15 primary care clinics were randomly assigned to the control or intervention arm. Providers in the intervention arm received a standardized EHR message 24 hours prior to the appointment which referred to the patient as a candidate for HBV screening and included recommendations for testing. Providers in the control group (“usual care”) received no message. Outcome measures to compare differences between intervention and control arms were the proportion of patients with (1) HBsAg tests ordered by providers; (2) HBsAg tests completed by patients. Results from patients who were tested for HBV were reported. Results: One hundred thirty patients meeting entry criteria were seen by 63 providers during the 3 month study period. Sixty seven patients were seen by 31 providers who were randomized to the intervention arm and 63 patients were seen by 32 providers randomized to the control arm. Patient demographics did not differ significantly between groups. The mean number of patients per provider was 2.09 and 2.03 in the intervention and control groups, respectively. For outcome (1), providers ordered HBsAg tests for 36/67 (53.7%) intervention patients versus 1/67 (1.6%) control patients (p Conclusions: Electronic prompting resulted in significantly greater rates of HBsAg tests ordered by providers (p Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):B99.
Littoral and offshore communities of diatoms, cladocerans and dipterous larvae, and their interpretation in paleolimnology

The remains of diatoms, cladocerans, and midges are usually the most abundant of freshwater organisms and to now have been most useful in interpreting past conditions in a lake. Each taxocene consists of two separate communities, one in the warm littoral zone and the other offshore. Remains of inshore organisms are moved offshore by wind-generated currents, the amount of transport varying with individual characteristics of the lakes. Nowhere do remains of the two communities become completely integrated numerically, although the remains of the littoral chydorid Cladocera become integrated by species before they are incorporated into the sediments. The taxa of the planktonic Eubosmina and of the offshore midges correspond to levels of productivity in present-day lakes, and hence changes in the fossil record are commonly regarded as indicating eutrophication over time. The deepwater midges respond to the concentration of dissolved oxygen in deep water, which may be controlled more by a decrease in volume of deep water through accumulation of sediments than by any real increase in edaphic productivity. While such changes are going on offshore during the Holocene, the littoral communities of cladocerans and midges are scarcely changing at all, suggesting a different response of the inshore from the offshore communities to longterm changes resulting from increasing productively or from other functions. Thus, considering these different responses of the two communities of organisms and their incomplete mixing, the remains of littoral and offshore taxa recovered from an offshore core of sediments must be tabulated separately and interpreted separately. For any studies involving accumulation rates, there must be an understanding of the integration of inshore and offshore remains, its variation over the lake bottom, and how it may have varied with marked fluctuations in water level.
Use of autologous spiral vein grafts for vascular reconstructions in contaminated fields

Abstract Vascular reconstructions in heavily contaminated fields can be particularly challenging. Prosthetic grafts are rarely suitable because of the risk of infection, but the saphenous vein is usually too small for isodiametric replacement of large arteries and veins. Although surgeons rarely consider the use of spiral vein grafts, they may occasionally be the ideal autogenous vascular replacement because they can be tailored to fit a vessel of any size. We report the use of spiral vein grafts in three patients requiring vascular reconstructions in the presence of heavy bacterial contamination. (J VASC SURG 1988;8:442-6.)
Characterization of domestic and foreign image intensifier tubes

The market for military-use Generation 2 and Generation 3 image intensifier (I2) tubes has become truly global, with major manufacturers and customers spanning five continents. This worldwide market is becoming increasingly important to U.S. manufacturers, with the majority of U.S. Army intensifier fielding having been completed in 2012. Given this keen global competition, it is not surprising that the advertised tube performance of a given source is often discounted by competitors, and the customers have no objective "honest broker" to determine the relative accuracy of these claims. To help fill this void, the U.S. Army RDECOM CERDEC NVESD recently measured a number of domestic and foreign image intensifier tubes, using consistent test equipment/procedures with which the U.S. industry must correlate for Army tube deliveries. Data and analysis will be presented for the major tube parameters of luminance gain, equivalent background input (EBI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), limiting resolution, halo, and modulation transfer function (MTF). The bright-light resolution provided by various auto-gated and non-gated tubes will also be addressed, since this area has been an important factor in the international market. RDECOM CERDEC NVESD measurement data will be compared to the corresponding manufacturer specifications whenever possible.
NONLINEAR SOUND GENERATION BY HADRON SHOWERS

In connection with Project DUMAND, the proposal to utilize the ocean as a giant acoustic detector of neutrinos, we have studied the applicability of a recent theory of thermoacoustic arrays (Peter J. Westervelt and Richard S. Larson, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 54 (1973) 121). In the static case or at very low frequencies, about 10 % of the coefficient of thermal expansion for water at 20°C can be attributed to Debye-like modes. Debye-like modes generate sound via the non-linear mechanism responsible for the operation of the parametric acoustic array (Peter J. Westervelt, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 35 (1963) 535). The contribution of the Debye-like modes to the thermal expansion coefficient, and thus to the sound pressure, is essentially independent of the ambient water temperature. Hence if the Debye-like modes are not fully excited as we postulate to be the case at high frequencies, then the thermal expansion coefficient will be less than the static value by an amount that causes it to vanish at about 6°C instead of at 4°C, the temperature of maximum water density. This theory is in agreement with recent measurements of the temperature dependence of sound generated by proton deposition in water (L. Sulak et al., Proceedings of the La Joll a Workshop on Acoustic Detection of Neutrinos, 25-29 July 1977, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, U.C.L.A., San Diego, Hugh Bradner, Ed.). A further consequence of our work implies that the conventional thermoacoustic theory be modified by subtracting the parametric source terms at high frequencies.
Tetracycline-Resistant T-Mycoplasmas (Ureaplasma urealyticum) from Patients with a History of Reproductive Failure

The susceptibilities of T-mycoplasmas (Ureaplasma urealyticum) to minocycline, demeclocycline, doxycycline, tetracycline, and erythromycin were determined by a direct tube dilution test. T-mycoplasma-positive urine sediments of 105 patients with a history of reproductive failure were used as inocula. Minocycline was found to be the most active of the group of antibiotics commonly used to eradicate T-mycoplasma infection. Based on the median initial minimum inhibitory concentration, minocycline was the lowest with 0.03 μg/ml, followed by demeclocycline and doxycycline with 0.125 μg/ml, tetracycline with 0.25 μg/ml, and erythromycin with 2.0 μg/ml. Six T-mycoplasma isolates which had been cloned three times were also tested for susceptibility to the same five antibiotics. The same susceptibility pattern was found. Strains resistant to high concentrations of all antibiotics occurred. Strong positive correlation was seen in 21 patients between in vitro highly resistant strains and positive posttreatment cultures. These results indicate that empirical treatment of genital mycoplasma infections is not justified. Cultures should be taken pretreatment, susceptibility testing performed prior to treatment, and follow-up cultures done posttreatment.
Acoustic characterization of metal/polymer membrane enclosures

Polyaniline, an inherently conducting polymer, was synthesized and fabricated as an acoustic membrane enclosure for the packaging of a MEMS-based acoustic microsensor. The packaging was designed to minimize environmental ambient impact, including dust and excess moisture, but maximize microphone performance. Free-standing films of emeraldine base polyaniline were doped with metal salts of aluminum acetoacetate, iron acetoacetate, copper acetoacetate, or titanium ethoxide. Polymer-metal hybrid compositions were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and deconvoluting X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) to discern interactions between metal atoms and polyaniline. Mechanical properties of the material, specifically the glass transition temperature and elastic and imaginary moduli, were measured by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) as a function of metal type, mechanical excitation frequency and temperature. The hybrid materials were then formed and shaped as flat membranes or as shaped domes of variable radii of curvature,, including hemispherical. Acoustic transmission properties of metal-doped planar and dome-shaped membranes were measured by insertion loss as a function of acoustic frequency between 100 to 2000 Hz in a plane wave tube. Results indicated an effect of metal type upon incorporation into polyaniline, which showed increases in mechanical stiffness and acoustic resonance frequency consistent with increased metal-polymer interaction. Acoustic performance was compared to a numerical model of sound transmission through hemispherical domes as a function of sound frequency, membrane structure, modulus of elasticity, thickness, and source angle of incidence.
SIRT6 Links Histone H3 Lysine 9 Deacetylation to NF-κB-Dependent Gene Expression and Organismal Life Span

Members of the sirtuin (SIRT) family of NAD-dependent deacetylases promote longevity in multiple organisms. Deficiency of mammalian SIRT6 leads to shortened life span and an aging-like phenotype in mice, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here we show that SIRT6 functions at chromatin to attenuate NF-kappaB signaling. SIRT6 interacts with the NF-kappaB RELA subunit and deacetylates histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) at NF-kappaB target gene promoters. In SIRT6-deficient cells, hyperacetylation of H3K9 at these target promoters is associated with increased RELA promoter occupancy and enhanced NF-kappaB-dependent modulation of gene expression, apoptosis, and cellular senescence. Computational genomics analyses revealed increased activity of NF-kappaB-driven gene expression programs in multiple Sirt6-deficient tissues in vivo. Moreover, haploinsufficiency of RelA rescues the early lethality and degenerative syndrome of Sirt6-deficient mice. We propose that SIRT6 attenuates NF-kappaB signaling via H3K9 deacetylation at chromatin, and hyperactive NF-kappaB signaling may contribute to premature and normal aging.
Actin Co-Sedimentation Assay; for the Analysis of Protein Binding to F-Actin

The actin cytoskeleton within the cell is a network of actin filaments that allows the movement of cells and cellular processes, and that generates tension and helps maintains cellular shape. Although the actin cytoskeleton is a rigid structure, it is a dynamic structure that is constantly remodeling. A number of proteins can bind to the actin cytoskeleton. The binding of a particular protein to F-actin is often desired to support cell biological observations or to further understand dynamic processes due to remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. The actin co-sedimentation assay is an in vitro assay routinely used to analyze the binding of specific proteins or protein domains with F-actin. The basic principles of the assay involve an incubation of the protein of interest (full length or domain of) with F-actin, ultracentrifugation step to pellet F-actin and analysis of the protein co-sedimenting with F-actin. Actin co-sedimentation assays can be designed accordingly to measure actin binding affinities and in competition assays.
Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 in Midwestern United States cattle

Abstract. Cattle fecal material has been shown to be a major reservoir for the foodborne pathogen Escherichia coli O157. Contaminated fecal material that comes into contact with the hide can lead to contamination of the carcass at slaughter. Thus, it is essential to minimize the prevalence of E. coli O157 in cattle feces in order to minimize the number of contaminated meat products. The Midwestern United States has variable weather patterns and is home to a large percentage of cattle used in the beef industry. The objective of this study was to determine if a prevalence difference of E. coli O157 exists among different Midwestern cattle herds and to assess fecal shedding in the winter and spring. Five Midwestern herds entering a single feedlot in Nebraska were sampled in February and May. Fecal samples (n=50) from each herd were collected and processed by multiple culture-dependent methods. Results of this study indicated that there was no difference in prevalence rates by location but a prevalence rate d...
Practical Algorithms for Polycyclic Matrix Groups

In this paper we describe a suite of new algorithms for studying polycyclic matrix groups?algorithms for testing membership and for uncovering the polycyclic structure of the group. We also describe an algorithm for deciding whether or not a group is solvable, which, in the important context of subgroups ofGL (n,Z), is equivalent to deciding whether or not a group is polycyclic. Algorithms were developed in Baumslag et al. (1991. The algorithmic theory of polycyclic-by-finite groups. J. Algebra, 142, 118?149) for all of these problems, but the algorithms in this paper represent a first step toward finding practical algorithms: experiments show that they are fast enough to be useful in studying some reasonably complex examples using current technology.
Structural and elastic property changes in superlattices induced by high energy ion irradiation

Abstract The shear elastic modulus and structural properties of a series of Ag Co superlattice films have been characterized using Brillouin scattering and X-ray diffraction. A softening of the shear modulus of the unirradiated Ag Co superlattices with decreasing modulation wavelength is observed and is correlated with an expansion in the average lattice spacing. With increasing irradiation fluence, a reduction in the anomalous shear modulus softening and lattice expansion are observed. These reductions imply that the anomalous elastic properties are related to lattice strains present, which are relieved by the irradiation.
Josephson current in tunneling between coupled superconductors

It is of pedagogical interest to observe that the phase-dependent Josephson supercurrent between coupled superconductors is a conserved axial- vector current: A short derivation based on standard invariance principle of quantum field theory is presented. (auth)
Some results on gaps

Abstract In his article in “Open Problems in Topology” Nyikos asked if it is consistent with = ω 2 that every ⊂ ∗ -increasing ω 1 -sequence of subsets of ω is the bottom half of some tight (ω 1 , ω 2 )-gap. He also asked if this can be generalized to higher cardinals and if in addition it is also possible to get . Another question from the same article is whether = ω 1 implies that there is a tight (ω 1 , ω 1 )-gap in ω ω. Positive answers to the second and third questions are presented here. Theorem 2.12 answers the second question from which the answer to the first question follows as a special case. I also prove Theorems 3.3 and 3.4 which can also be seen as refinements of Hausdorff's theorem on (δ 1 , δ 1 )-gaps when other assumptions are made in addition to ZFC. Regarding the first question to Nyikos, M. Rabus independently constructed a model of ZFC in which = = ω 2 and every ⊂ ∗ -increasing ω 1 -sequence of subsets of ω is the bottom half of some tight (ω 1 , ω 2 )-gap. But he has not answered the generalized version of the question. Preserving tight gaps through iteration is more difficult than just preserving gaps, and actually involves preserving a condition stronger than tightness, which in turn implies tightness. Using a completely different method from Rabus, I prove Theorem 2.12 answering in full the most general form of Nyikos' second question and also show that it is possible to get MA to hold below a certain cardinal and at the same time preserve tightness in gaps.
Detection of equine antiplatelet and antineutrophil antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Abstract An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( elisa ) was standardised and applied for the detection of anti-platelet and antineutrophil antibodies using a heterologous system consisting of equine platelets or neutrophils and antisera raised in rabbits. The standardised technique consisted of using Immulon type 3 plate, I per cent gelatine as a blocking solution, poly-L-lysine buffer as a coating solution, unfixed antigen, 90 μl test serum, horseradish peroxidase conjugated antibody and o-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride as a substrate. The number of unfixed platelets or neutrophils required for optimum detection of antibodies was 250,000 per well. Unfixed cellular antigens were as good as their extracts and superior to paraformaldehyde-fixed antigens in detecting specific antibodies. Microtitre plates coated with platelet or neutrophil antigens could be stored at 4° and −70°C for four to five weeks without significant loss of antigenicity. The ELISA was very sensitive in that antiplatelet antibody was detected up to a titre of 1:204,800 and antineutrophil antibody to a titre of 1:51,200. Some cross-reactivity (1:1600) was detected in antiplatelet and antineutrophil sera for neutrophil and platelet antigens, respectively. Platelet-associated antibody was also detected in extracts from platelets pretreated with 1:2 and 1:8 dilutions of antiplatelet serum. Standardised elisa detected antiplatelet antibodies in nine and antineutrophil antibodies in three of 100 isologous equine blood typing sera.
Prospective Examination of Leisure-Time Exercise Behavior During Pregnancy

The Pennsylvania State University,Online Publication Date: 01 September 2005To cite this Article: Hausenblas, Heather A. and Downs, Danielle Symons (2005)'Prospective Examination of Leisure-Time Exercise Behavior During Pregnancy',Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 17:3, 240 - 246To link to this article: DOI: 10.1080/10413200591010111URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10413200591010111PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLEFull terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdfThis article maybe used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction,re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expresslyforbidden.The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will becomplete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should beindependently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings,demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with orarising out of the use of this material.© Taylor and Francis 2007
Effects on Category Clustering of Category-Name Cues and Frequencies of Occurrence and Familiarity Scale Values of Nouns

The short-term organized recall (category clustering) of 756 Ss was measured with the repetition ratio for 40-word stimulus lists. Each list, which was presented once to each S, contained 10 nouns from each of the animal, articles of dress, occupation, and persons' names categories. Three independent variables were combined in a 3 × 2 × 2 arrangement: three levels of the frequencies of occurrence of the words, .22 < 1, 1–4 and 5–100 + words per million; two levels of familiarity scale values of the words, low or high familiarity; and two levels of administration of retrieval cues in the form of category name instructions, instructions or no instructions. The frequency of occurrence and familiarity variables produced clearly separable effects on the category clustering of the nouns; the repetition ratio was an increasing function of each variable. The greatest effects of frequency variations were found at the highest frequency level. Retrieval cues did not influence category clustering. Comparison with pre...
Stiction Identification in Nonlinear Process Control Loops

Abstract Abstract Nearly 20–30% of all process control loops oscillate due to stiction and lead to loss of productivity. Thus, the detection and quantification of stiction in control valves using just the raw operating data is an important component of any automated controller performance monitoring application. Many techniques have been proposed for the detection and quantification of stiction. Pattern based identification approaches use unique shapes of the PV and OP data to identify stiction. Other approaches that include some measure of nonlinearity index have also been used to identify stiction. A solution technique for stiction detection in nonlinear processes with known process models is also available. In this paper, one possible approach to detect stiction in nonlinear process control loops with unknown process models is discussed.
Ecological mechanisms of extinction.

Ecological theory offers predictions, sometimes conflicting, about the ecological characteristics of species that correlate with their risk of extinction. It is generally agreed that risk should be higher for species with small populations, small geographic ranges, and poor dispersal ability than for their ecological counterparts (1–3). How suites of life history characteristics affect risk of extinction is less clear. Species with high variance in the intrinsic rate of population increase (r), which is often associated with high fecundity, moderate to low survival rates, short generation times, and small body size, are predicted to be more susceptible to extinction because they are prone to large stochastic population fluctuations (4). Alternatively, species with a low r (because of low fecundity, high survival, and long generation times) are predicted to be at increased risk, because they would recover slowly from a severe reduction in population size and remain threatened longer by demographic and genetic stochasticity (5, 6). Such species are typically large. Thus, it is unclear whether the “fast lifestyle” associated with small body size and short generation times or the “slow lifestyle” represented by large organisms with long generation times makes species and lineages more or less likely to become extinct. Empirical studies of island fauna yielded contradictory conclusions about the effects of body size and lifestyle on the risk of extinction and produced conflicting explanations to account for the mechanisms underlying the patterns (5, 7–11). Resolution of such issues transcends academic debates, as governments and conservation organizations struggle to apply laws, like the United States Endangered Species Act, and decide how to rank threats and allocate funds among taxa that may differ in risk (12).
Single catheter technique for accurate cardiac outputs from left ventricle

We report our experience in cardiac output measurements using a single catheter for left ventricular green dye injection with sampling from the side arm of a femoral artery introducer sheath. This technique is compared to thermal dilution (20 patients) and pulmonary artery green dye injection (20 patients). There were no significant differences between the single catheter left ventricular method and the other two accepted methods for measuring cardiac output.
Pleural Effusions in a Series of 181 Outpatients With Sarcoidosis

Objectives Pleural effusion (PE) is considered to be a rare manifestation of pulmonary sarcoidosis. We performed thoracic ultrasonography prospectively in consecutive outpatients with sarcoidosis to determine the frequency of PEs caused by sarcoidosis and to define their pleural fluid characteristics. Design Consecutive outpatients aged ≥ 18 years with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis underwent ultrasonography. Setting University hospital, outpatient sarcoidosis clinic. Results One hundred eighty-one outpatients were enrolled into the study. The subjects were predominately African-American and female. Most were between 30 and 60 years of age. The Scadding radiograph stages were fairly evenly distributed across all five stages (0 through 4). Five (2.8%) of 181 patients were found to have pleural fluid. Two patients had a unilateral left-sided PE, and three patients had bilateral PEs. Pleural fluid analysis (PFA) was performed in four patients. The PFA showed a lymphocyte-predominant exudate using protein criterion in only two patients, which is consistent with sarcoidosis-related PE; one patient underwent pleural biopsy, which was consistent with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. A sarcoidosis-related PE was seen in 1 of 9 patients (11.1%) who had an exacerbation of pulmonary sarcoidosis compared to 1 of 172 patients (0.6%) who did not have an exacerbation (p Conclusion PEs are rare in outpatients with sarcoidosis, even when a sensitive technique, such as ultrasonography, is used. The frequency of PEs was 2.8% (5 of 181 patients) with only 2 of the 181 PEs (1.1%) caused by sarcoid pleural involvement. PE in patients with sarcoidosis should not be assumed to be related to sarcoidosis. Discordance between levels of pleural fluid total protein and lactate dehydrogenase may be a characteristic finding in patients with sarcoid PE. An exacerbation of pulmonary sarcoidosis was not an independent risk factor for the development of sarcoid-related PE.
Statin Use and the Risk of Incident Dementia: The Cardiovascular Health Study

Results: Compared with never use of LLAs, ever use of statins was not associated with the risk of all-cause dementia (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; 95%confidenceinterval[CI],0.77-1.52),Alzheimerdisease alone (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.76-1.91), mixed Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.44-1.72), or vascular dementia alone (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.61-3.06). In contrast, in secondary analyses, current use of statins compared with nonuse of LLAs was associated with HRs of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.46-1.02) for allcausedementiaand0.56(95%CI,0.35-0.92)foranyAlzheimer disease. Conclusions: In this cohort study, statin therapy was not associated with a decreased risk of dementia. Methodologicaldifferencesmayexplainwhyresultsofthiscohort investigation differ from those of prior casecontrol studies. Additional investigation is needed to determine whether and for whom statin use may affect dementia risk. Arch Neurol. 2005;62:1047-1051
4D image warping for measurement of longitudinal brain changes

This paper presents a method for robustly measuring temporal morphological brain changes, by means of a 4D image warping mechanism. Longitudinal stability is achieved by considering all temporal MR images of an individual simultaneously in image warping, rather than by individually warping a 3D template to an individual, or by warping the images of one time-point to those of another time-point. Moreover, image features that are consistently recognized in all time-points guide the warping procedure, whereas spurious features that appear inconsistently at different time-points are eliminated. This deformation strategy significantly improves robustness in detecting anatomical correspondences, thereby producing smooth and accurate estimations of longitudinal changes. The experimental results show the significant improvement of 4D warping method over our previous 3D warping method in measuring subtle longitudinal changes of brain structures.
Optimal time for delivery with preterm premature rupture of membranes from 32 to 36 6/7 weeks.

Objective. To evaluate the optimal time for delivery in singleton pregnancies with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) when delivered between 32 and 36 6/7 weeks gestational age (GA).Study design. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all singleton pregnancies with PPROM who delivered between 32 and 36 6/7 weeks gestation at our institution. We matched the delivery and NICU datasets to determine composite morbidity (COMP MORB) and NICU length of stay (LOS) stratified by weeks of gestation. COMP MORB was defined as one or more of: bronchopulmonary dysplasia, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing entercolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, dissiminated intravascular coagulation, and culture proven sepsis. We used χ2 and student ‘t’ test as appropriate and a receiver operating characteristc curve (ROC).Results. There were 195 newborns with PPROM with a range of 30 babies at 36 weeks to a high of 53 at 34 weeks. The mean (±SD) NICU LOS was 22.5 (±9.9) days at 32 weeks, 17.8 (±10.0) days ...
VISUAL MOTION ANALYSIS FOR PURSUIT EYE MOVEMENTS IN AREA MT OF MACAQUE MONKEYS

We asked whether the dynamics of target motion are represented in visual area MT and how information about image velocity and acceleration might be extracted from the population responses in area MT for use in motor control. The time course of MT neuron responses was recorded in anesthetized macaque monkeys during target motions that covered the range of dynamics normally seen during smooth pursuit eye movements. When the target motion provided steps of target speed, MT neurons showed a continuum from purely tonic responses to those with large transient pulses of firing at the onset of motion. Cells with large transient responses for steps of target speed also had larger responses for smooth accelerations than for decelerations through the same range of target speeds. Condition-test experiments with pairs of 64 msec pulses of target speed revealed response attenuation at short interpulse intervals in cells with large transient responses. For sinusoidal modulation of target speed, MT neuron responses were strongly modulated for frequencies up to, but not higher than, 8 Hz. The phase of the responses was consistent with a 90 msec time delay between target velocity and firing rate. We created a model that reproduced the dynamic responses of MT cells using divisive gain control, used the model to visualize the population response in MT to individual stimuli, and devised weighted-averaging computations to reconstruct target speed and acceleration from the population response. Target speed could be reconstructed if each neuron’s output was weighted according to its preferred speed. Target acceleration could be reconstructed if each neuron’s output was weighted according to the product of preferred speed and a measure of the size of its transient response.
Online detection of defects in layered manufacturing

Layered manufacturing is an additive manufacturing process where the parts are built layer by layer based on the geometry provided by a CAD system. There are several different technologies for layered manufacturing. We focus on fused deposition of ceramics. Here layers are formed by depositing material through a liquefier-head on adjacent roads in the shape of contours and/or rasters. As this technology is being pushed into new frontiers to build functional parts, the quality of the fabricated parts is becoming a major driving force for improving the technology. We present our preliminary results on an online monitoring system that can be used to detect defects. The ultimate objective is to use such a system to detect and remove the defects on any given layer prior to the next layer.
Out-of-pocket expenses incurred by patients obtaining free breast cancer care in Haiti: A pilot study.

Background Women in low- and middle-income countries account for 51% of breast cancer cases globally. These patients often delay seeking care and, therefore, present with advanced disease, partly because of fear of catastrophic health care expenses. Although there have been efforts to make health care affordable in low- and middle-income countries, the financial burden of out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses for nonmedical costs, such as transportation and lost wages, often is overlooked. Methods An institutional review board exemption was granted from Boston Children's Hospital and Partners in Health/Zanmi Lasante for this cross-sectional study. In total, 61 patients receiving breast cancer care free of charge at Hopital Universitaire de Mirebalais (HUM) in Haiti were selected via convenience sampling. They were interviewed between March and May 2014 to quantify the expenses they incurred during the course of diagnosis and treatment. These expenses included medical costs at outside facilities, as well as nonmedical costs (eg, transportation, meals, etc). Results The median, nonmedical OOP expenses incurred by breast cancer patients at HUM were $233 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] $170–304) for diagnostic visits, $259 (95% CI $200–533) for chemotherapy visits, and $38 (95% CI $23–140) for surgery visits. The median total OOP expense (including medical costs) was $717 (95% CI $619–1,171). To pay for these expenses, 52% of participants stated that they went into debt; however, the amount of debt was not quantified. The median income of these patients was $1,333 (95% CI $778–2,640), and the median sum of OOP expenses and lost wages was $2,996 (95% CI $1,676–5,179). Conclusion Despite receiving free care: at HUM, more than two-thirds of participants met conservative criteria for catastrophic medical expenses (defined as spending more than 40% of their potential household income on OOP payments). Further studies are needed to understand the magnitude of OOP health care expenses for the poor worldwide, how to aid them during their treatment program, and its impact on their health outcomes.
Simulating early failure in integrated circuits

A layout-level Monte-Carlo simulator capable of predicting the probability of defect-related early failure in the metal-interconnect subsystem of integrated circuits is presented. The interconnect is decomposed into distinct layout-level objects, namely contiguous metal runs and vias, and user-defined cumulative distribution functions are used to determine the probability of failure. The failure distributions for nets, which are sets of interconnected layout-objects, are obtained by combining the distributions of their component objects. System reliability is obtained by sampling from the reliability network comprising all nets. Variance reduction techniques are used wherever possible to improve the statistical confidence in estimates made. A prototype that interfaces directly with commercially used CAD software has been implemented. Results provide a qualitative verification of the methodology and show that failures due to defects are significant during the first few years of system operation.
Preoperative inpatient hospitalization and risk of perioperative infection following elective vascular procedures.

Background Health care–associated infections are not uncommon after elective vascular surgery and can negatively impact mortality rates and hospital resource utilization. Identification of modifiable risk factors for perioperative infection is critical for efforts aimed toward reducing their incidence. We evaluated the associations between preoperative inpatient hospitalization and perioperative surgical site infection (SSI), pneumonia, and urinary tract infection (UTI) following elective vascular surgery procedures. Methods Vascular procedures were identified from the 2005 to 2008 American College of Surgeons National Safety Quality Improvement Participant User Data File by using primary Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Perioperative infections were evaluated as outcomes based on three categories: SSI, pneumonia, and UTI. Patients admitted ≥1 day before operation were considered inpatients before surgery. Associations between preoperative inpatient hospitalization and perioperative SSI, pneumonia, and UTI were evaluated using the Cochran–Armitage trend test and multivariable logistic regression. Results In total 40,669 elective vascular procedures were identified, of which 7,514 (18.5%) were preoperative inpatients. Patients with preoperative inpatient hospitalization had a greater frequency of age >80 years and dependent functional status and also had higher rates of several comorbid conditions, including congestive heart failure, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, >10% weight loss over the past 6 months, history of bleeding disorder, and current smoker within 1 year, than patients admitted on the same day of their procedure. The overall rates of SSI, pneumonia, and UTI were 3.2%, 1.9%, and 1.4%, respectively. Patients with preoperative inpatient hospitalization had higher 30-day incidence of SSI (4.5 vs. 2.9%), pneumonia (3.1 vs. 1.6%), and UTI (2.3 vs. 1.2%). In multivariable models including preoperative risk factors, preoperative inpatient hospitalization was associated with increased 30-day risk of SSI (odds ratio [OR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.39; p = 0.0066), pneumonia (OR, 1.64; 95% CI: 1.39-1.94; p < 0.0001), and UTI (OR, 1.46; 95% CI: 1.20-1.77; p < 0.0001). Conclusion Preoperative inpatient hospitalization is associated with higher rates of perioperative SSI, pneumonia, and UTI in patients undergoing elective vascular surgery procedures. Avoidance of unnecessary preoperative hospitalization has potential to reduce rates of perioperative infection, but additional research is needed to develop evidence-based management strategies when hospitalization before elective procedures is necessary.
Aprepitant and fosaprepitant use in children and adolescents at an academic medical center.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of aprepitant and fosaprepitant, a neurokinin 1 (NK-1) receptor inhibitor, in children and adolescents at a large academic medical center, for the prevention and management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted using an electronic medical record system to evaluate the use of aprepitant and fosaprepitant in all pediatric patients that were discharged from a single academic medical center between February 25, 2009 and May 25, 2012. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were included in this review and received a total of 287 doses over the span of 114 cycles. Mean age was 10.1 years, with a range of 11 months to 17 years old. In 16 of 26 patients, aprepitant was used as the primary prophylaxis. Of those patients who received primary prophylaxis, 6 of 16 received it for highly emetogenic chemotherapy, and 10 of 16 received it for moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. Intravenous fosaprepitant was used in 7 of 26 patients, a...
A Critique of Experimental Research on Negotiation

There has been immense progress in experimental research on negotiation in the last 50 years. Still there are significant weaknesses in this field. One is the absence of a cumulative theory of negotiation. The output of our studies is ever more complex and sophisticated findings. These findings can be categorized and listed end-to-end, but they have never been synthesized into a broader theory or even into rival theories. A second problem is the narrowness of the topics under study; most aspects of negotiation are not being studied. A third problem is undue reliance on experimental games, which are based on narrow assumptions unchanged from the work of 19th century economists.
A review of algebraic multigrid

Abstract Since the early 1990s, there has been a strongly increasing demand for more efficient methods to solve large sparse, unstructured linear systems of equations. For practically relevant problem sizes, classical one-level methods had already reached their limits and new hierarchical algorithms had to be developed in order to allow an efficient solution of even larger problems. This paper gives a review of the first hierarchical and purely matrix-based approach, algebraic multigrid (AMG). AMG can directly be applied, for instance, to efficiently solve various types of elliptic partial differential equations discretized on unstructured meshes, both in 2D and 3D. Since AMG does not make use of any geometric information, it is a “plug-in” solver which can even be applied to problems without any geometric background, provided that the underlying matrix has certain properties.