cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A general likelihood framework for characterizing the time course of neural activity

We develop a general likelihood-based framework for use in the estimation of neural firing rates, which is designed to choose the temporal smoothing parameters that maximize the likelihood of missing data. This general framework is algorithm-independent and thus can be applied to a multitude of established methods for firing rate or conditional intensity estimation. As a simple example of the use of the general framework, we apply it to the peristimulus time histogram and kernel smoother, the methods most widely used for firing rate estimation in the electrophysiological literature and practice. In doing so, we illustrate how the use of the framework can employ the general point process likelihood as a principled cost function and can provide substantial improvements in estimation accuracy for even the most basic of rate estimation algorithms. In particular, the resultant kernel smoother is simple to implement, efficient to compute, and can accurately determine the bandwidth of a given rate process from individual spike trains. We perform a simulation study to illustrate how the likelihood framework enables the kernel smoother to pick the bandwidth parameter that best predicts missing data, and we show applications to real experimental spike train data. Additionally, we discuss how the general likelihood framework may be used in conjunction with more sophisticated methods for firing rate and conditional intensity estimation and suggest possible applications.
Financial development, fiscal policy and volatility: Their effects on growth

This paper analyzes how fiscal policies and credit constraints can affect the impact of macroeconomic volatility on long-run growth. The model by Aghion et al. (2005) is extended by allowing for governmental fiscal policy over the business cycle. The analysis shows that in an economy facing credit constraints, an increase in volatility will result in lower mean growth, and all the more the less financially developed and the more procyclical the fiscal policy is. The main implication is that in countries with lower degrees of financial development, countercyclical fiscal policies are particularly important in reducing the negative consequences of adverse aggregate shocks on firms' long-run investments. An empirical analysis is finally conducted using different groups of countries that confirm the theoretical predictions.
Spontaneous combustion of shale spoils at a sanitary landfill

Shale deposits excavated from the Upper Cretaceous, Eagle Ford Formation for a sanitary landfill near Dallas, Texas spontaneously combusted. The shale is dark gray in color, with 3-4% fractional organic carbon, and no lignite seams. Gradual sifting and segregation of fine particles, having high surface area per unit volume, along with moisture trapped in the pile as it accumulated led to spontaneous combustion. Hot summer temperatures compounded the problem by heating the pile and preventing heat from efficiently venting to the atmosphere. Maximum temperatures exceeded 960 degrees F (516 degrees C) at several hot spots located approximately 4 m beneath the pile surface. The ongoing combustion problem, which has lasted for approximately 1 year, eventually will be extinguished by spreading the deposits in thin layers, and compacting them to reduce air circulation and segregation of fines.
Dynamic evaluation of spatial CNC contouring accuracy

Abstract An instrument capable of measuring arbitrary, dynamic CNC tool paths through three-dimensional space with micrometer-level accuracy is developed and tested. The instrument uses three Laser Ball Bars simultaneously (i.e., simultaneous trilateration) to allow for dynamic path measurements. The design of the instrument is described. The performance is verified by static repeatability testing, comparison with an independent measurement system, and comparison with the dimensions of machined parts. The instrument is demonstrated to be capable of measurement of arbitrary three dimensional tool paths with near micron level accuracy.
Design of a Linear Bi-Stable Compliant Crank-Slider-Mechanism (LBCCSM)

This paper presents a new model for a linear bistable compliant mechanism and design guidelines for its use. The mechanism is based on the crank-slider mechanism. This model takes into account the first mode of buckling and post-buckling behavior of a compliant segment to describe the mechanism’s bistable behavior. The kinetic and kinematic equations, derived from the Pseudo-Rigid-Body Model, were solved numerically and are represented in plots. This representation allows the generation of step-by-step design guidelines. The design parameters consist of maximum desired deflection, material selection, safety-factor, compliant segments’ widths, maximum force required for actuator selection and maximum footprint (i.e. the maximum rectangular area that the mechanism can fit inside of and move freely without interfering with other components). Because different applications may have different input requirements, this paper describes two different design approaches with different parameters subsets as inputs.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
The field of a screened magnetic dipole

The purpose of this note is to quantitatively study the asymptotic behavior of the dipole magnetic field in the tail region of a paraboloidal or cylindrical model of the magnetosphere, assuming the complete screening of the internal field by magnetopause currents. This screening assumption is equivalent to imposing the boundary condition that the normal component of the magnetic field is zero at the magnetopause. With this boundary condition, the screened dipole field falls off exponentially with distance down the tail, in sharp constrast to the bare dipole field. Analytic expressions for a cylindrical and paraboloidal magnetopause are given.
Laser feedback: its effect on laser frequency

To estimate the effect of laser feedback, a simple mirror system is considered and the effect on the frequency calculated. The analytical approach used is the same as that used in multifilm calculations. The mirrors are considered in sequence. The complex, Fresnel, amplitude reflection coefficient in conjunction with the next mirror is used to calculate the Fresnel reflection coefficient from the last three mirrors, and so on. This process is continued until the output mirror of the laser is reached and the complex reflection coefficient for the output mirror and all mirrors beyond is determined.
Evaluation of a three-exposure mouse bone marrow micronucleus protocol: Results with 49 chemicals

Forty-nine chemicals were tested in a mouse bone marrow micronucleus test that employed three daily exposures by intraperitoneal injection. Bone marrow samples were obtained 24 hr following the final exposure. Twenty-five rodent carcinogens and 24 noncarcinogens were selected randomly from the 44 carcinogens and 29 noncarcinogens used by Tennant et al. (Science 236:933-941, 1987) to evaluate the performance of four in vitro genetic toxicity tests. As in that study of in vitro tests, the micronucleus tests were conducted with coded chemicals and test results (positive or negative) were determined prior to decoding. This study was conducted as part of an effort to assess the ability of the micronucleus test to discriminate between rodent carcinogens and noncarcinogens and to determine its potential role, in combination with other short-term tests, in identifying genotoxic chemicals that present a carcinogenic hazard. Nine chemicals were judged to be positive in the micronucleus test. This relatively low number of positive results, along with published and unpublished results from rodent micronucleus and chromosome aberration assays on several of these 49 chemicals, contributed to the conclusion that a single micronucleus test protocol is not adequate to detect all chemicals capable of inducing chromosomal damage in the bone marrow. However, a combination of two relatively simple assays such as the Salmonella and micronucleus tests can provide important information on the genetic toxicity of test chemicals and may provide guidance on the need for and the nature and extent of future toxicity studies.
Instrumental interactions: Speech acts in daily life

This essay challenges the assumption that Black speech events serve primarily the expressive function of influencing the audience by enhancing the speaker's character. Blacks use speech events instrumentally to adjust others to their ideas; this instrumental function is examined in the speech event of “boasting.”
Rescuing the Failing Heart by Targeted Gene Transfer

Congestive heart failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Although progress in conventional treatments is making steady and incremental gains to decrease heart failure mortality, there is a critical need to explore new therapeutic approaches. Gene therapy was initially applied in the clinical setting for inherited monogenic disorders. It is now apparent that gene therapy has broader potential that also includes acquired polygenic diseases, such as congestive heart failure. Recent advances in understanding of the molecular basis of myocardial dysfunction, together with the evolution of increasingly efficient gene transfer technology, have placed heart failure within the reach of gene-based therapy. Furthermore, the recent successful and safe completion of a phase 2 trial targeting the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase pump along with the start of more recent phase 1 trials are ushering in a new era of gene therapy for the treatment of heart failure.
The Hamiltonian structure for dynamic free boundary problems

Hamiltonian structures for 2- or 3-dimensional incompressible flows with a free boundary are determined which generalize a previous structure of Zakharov for irrotational flow. Our Poisson bracket is determined using the method of Arnold, namely reduction from canonical variables in the Lagrangian (material) description. Using this bracket, the Hamiltonian form for the equations of a liquid drop with a free boundary having surface tension is demonstrated. The structure of the bracket in terms of a reduced cotangent bundle of a principal bundle is explained. In the case of two-dimensional flows, the vorticity bracket is determined and the generalized enstrophy is shown to be a Casimir function. This investigation also clears up some confusion in the literature concerning the vorticity bracket, even for fixed boundary flows.
Wireless gastric stimulators

Gastric dysmotility disorders including gastroparesis cause chronic debilitating symptoms. Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) has shown to be effective in stomach pacing, gastric emptying and treating gastric dysrhythmia. However, the current battery-based GES devices are bulky yet with limited lifetime. The device implantation requires a major surgery. In this paper, we present miniature wireless gastric electrical stimulators to overcome the existing shortcomings. Rechargeable battery based and batteryless stimulators were tested in benchtop experiments and live porcine animal models. The battery-based system utilizes wireless charging while the batteryless device harvests electromagnetic energy to power a microcontroller that delivers electrical pulses to tissues. Both prototypes were tested at three different stimulation settings for demonstration. Recorded electrogastrograms (EGG) in stomach were analyzed in terms of signal amplitude, frequency, stimulation power and energy. EGG frequency variations, amplitude ratios, and gastric rhythmic activities during GES were analyzed. The results showed that the wireless miniature stimulators modified gastric rhythmic activities. Utilization of these miniature devices may eliminate the need of repeated surgeries for battery replacement. The small size of the stimulators also makes it feasible to implant them through endoscopic surgeries.
The study and analysis of radiochromatograms following I131 administrations to humans

Abstract An automated approach to the digitization, analysis and storage of radiochromatographic information is presented. The method incorporates statistical evaluation and graphical display of fully processed data thereby facilitating interpretation and increasing the potential clinical and research applications of radiochromatography in thyroid disease.
Nitrous oxide in the emergency department

Nitrous oxide was discovered by Joseph Priestly in 1772, one year after his discovery of oxygen. Humphrey Davy was interested in the properties of nitrous oxide in the late eighteenth century and published his observations of this gas in 1800. He was the first to describe nitrous oxide’s analgesic and anesthetic effects. ’ Nitrous oxide remained a novelty until 1844, when Horace Wells had one of his teeth extracted while breathing the “laughing gas.“’ In 1868, Andrews3 advocated the addition of oxygen with nitrous oxide to prevent the hypoxia often associated with its administration, thus permitting gaseous anesthesia with a nitrous oxide-oxygen mixture to become a reality. In 1881, Stanislav Klikovich in Russia introduced the use of nitrous oxide in the treatment of angina pectoris. He was the first physician to make a detailed study of nitrous oxideoxygen mixtures to provide pain relief without loss of consciousness or hypoxia.4 In 1934, Minnitt5 was the first to introduce a self-administered apparatus containing nitrous oxide and air for analgesia during childbirth. Seward in 19496 improved on Minnitt’s apparatus by adding oxygen instead of air to a self-administered mask for more prolonged analgesia and sedation during childbirth without hypoxia. Holst introduced nitrous oxide-oxygen mixtures for dentistry in Denmark in 1955. To date, there have been more than 3,000,OOO administrations of nitrous oxide in Denmark without serious morbidity or mortality.7 Nitrous oxide has been used in Britain for the treatment of coronary pain since 1966.* Self-admin-
Inhibitor of trypsin and chymotrypsin in cultures of HeLa cells.

An inhibitor of trypsin and chymotrypsin with apparent molecular weight of 68000 and a mobility similar to α1-globulin on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was isolated from serum-free supernatant preparations from HeLa cells. Immunoelectrophoresis assays indicated that the inhibitor differed serologicaly from known inhibitors of serine proteinases in plasma and urine but shared antigenic determinants with an unidentified protein in these body fluids and with an inhibitor recently isolated from cultures of lung.
The relationship between local relapse and distant metastases revisited

the number of patients. However, this difference is what one would predict by using a modification of the formula proposed by Suit and Westgate to determine the potential survival benefit from improved local control (21). The survival gain can be calculated by assessing the difference in local control for the two treatments, multiplying this difference by the percentage of patients with local control who develop distant metastases, and subtracting from this number the percentage of patients with a local failure who are salvaged by subsequent treatment. Using data from the Ontario Clinical Oncology Group axillary node negative trial, the 22% improvement in local control (30%8%) would be expected to result in a 4-5% survival benefit. The 5-year actuarial survival after a breast recurrence was 74% and it can be inferred from Figure 3 that approximately 25-30% of patients with local control died from distant metastases. Therefore, the data support the concept that an improvement in local control for node-negative breast cancer may result in a small survival benefit.
Ethanol's fluidizing effects on RBC membranes from children at risk for alcoholism

The fluidizing effects of ethanol on membrane fluidity at 37°C have been assessed using steady-state anisotropy measurements in both children at high risk for developing alcoholism and control children. Erythrocyte membranes were labeled with 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and fluidity measurements recorded by steady-state fluorescence anisotropy for three ethanol concentrations—0, 0.5 M, and 1.0 M. The in vitro fluidizing effects of acute ethanol treatment by concentration were clearly shown in both groups. However, RBC membranes taken from children at high risk for developing alcoholism showed no significant differences in baseline membrane fluidity or to the fluidizing effects of ethanol.
Twiston vs. random fluctuation as the source of the rapid motion of polyethylene in the inclusion complex with perhydrotriphenylene

Recently molecular dynamics simulations were performed for polyethylene in the inclusion complex with perhydrotriphenylene. The system contained ninety molecules of perhydrotriphenylene, arranged in six stacks of fifteen molecules each, and one molecule of n-tetracontane, C40H82. The internal CH2-CH2 bonds in n-tetracontane have a very strong preference for the trans state. Nevertheless, the chain exhibits a high degree of internal flexibility. This motion produces a characteristic pattern in δ|ψ N + i ψi| vs. N, where ψi describes the instantaneous angle of a C-H bond vector at carbon atom i about the axis defined by the channel, and δ denotes the fluctuation. The pattern expected for δ|ψ N + i ψi| vs. N is derived for the case where the rapid internal motion is produced by a twiston. It is compared with the results from the simulation and from the expectation for the case where the rapid motion arises from uncorrelated internal fluctuations within the trans state at each CH2-CH2 bond.
Regulatory sequences of orthologous petD chloroplast mRNAs are highly specific among Chlamydomonas species.

The 5′ untranslated regions (UTR) of chloroplast mRNAs often contain regulatory sequences that control RNA stability and/or translation. The petD chloroplast mRNA in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has three such essential regulatory elements in its 362-nt long 5′ UTR. To further analyze these elements, we compared 5′ UTR sequences from four Chlamydomonas species (C. reinhardtii, C. incerta, C. moewusii and C. eugametos) and five independent strains of C. reinhardtii. Overall, these petD 5′ UTRs have relatively low sequence conservation across these species. In contrast, sequences of the three regulatory elements and their relative positions appear partially conserved. Functionality of the 5′ UTRs was tested in C. reinhardtii chloroplasts using β-glucuronidase reporter genes, and the nearly identical C. incerta petD functioned for mRNA stability and translation in C. reinhardtii chloroplasts while the more divergent C. eugametos petD did not. This identified what may be key features in these elements. We conclude that these petD regulatory elements, and possibly the corresponding trans-acting factors, function via mechanisms highly specific and surprisingly sensitive to minor sequence changes. This provides a new and broader perspective of these important regulatory sequences that affect photosynthesis in these algae.
Real-time monitoring in vitro transcription using molecular beacons.

A homogeneous fluorescence-based molecular beacon (MB) method has been developed for real-time monitoring of in vitro transcription reactions. MB probes are structured as target-specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides containing a proximate fluorophore-quencher pair. Upon binding to its target sequence, the probe undergoes a structural rearrangement that separates the proximate pair, thus dequenching fluorescence. We demonstrate that this simple, inexpensive, rapid, and homogeneous fluorescence-based assay permits real-time monitoring of in vitro transcription and end-point measurement of RNA. The results from the RNA MB assay were comparable to those from other methods.
Transient temperature model for reaction injection molding

A model of the temperature response for reaction injection molding (RIM) operation is developed that assumes uniform mold temperature and a very fast reaction with slow heat transfer from the reacting mass to the mold and negligible heat losses to the surroundings. The model parameters are fit to data from a number of RIM experiments that agree well with published values of the physical constants for the reactants. The simple model can be fitted on-line to data from the RIM apparatus and the results used to detect and correct deviations of the part properties from its desired values which could otherwise result in the production of many defective parts.
Integration: Reaching Consensus in Low-Diameter Wireless Networks

In a centrally controlled system consensus is often reached by decree: the central entity in charge of the system dictates the "consensus" to the rank-and-file. The situation is vastly different in a truly decentralized distributed system where the various entities in the system must agree on a common view ? the consensus. Consensus is, in this regard, an exercise in integration, for it is the local, often parochial, views of the various participants that are being integrated in the process. We study the consensus problem in an eminently decentralized distributed system populated by anonymous participants communicating by radio. Our main contribution is to show that consensus can be reached in four deterministic communication steps in systems whose underlying graph has diameter two, even if the topology of the network is completely unknown to the participants. This result is relevant to all situations where a consensus must be reached by anonymous participants (who perhaps do not wish to reveal their identities) provided that the underlying graph has low diameter.
Reflections on teaching and learning

Editor's Note: Jacques Barzun, one of the eminent scholars of our time, examines the current state of American education in a new book appearing this spring: Begin Here: The Forgotten Conditions of Teaching and Learning (The University of Chicago Press). This collection of fifteen newly edited and introduced essays covers a wide range of subjects. What follows are the introductions to three essays that he felt would be of particular interest to our readers. We thank Prof. Barzun and The University of Chicago Press for their interest in having these pieces appear in our pages.
Soft computing in multidisciplinary aerospace design—new directions for research

Abstract There has been increased activity in the study of methods for multidisciplinary analysis and design. This field of research has been a busy one over the past decade, driven by advances in computational methods and significant new developments in computer hardware. There is a concern, however, that while new computers will derive their computational speed through parallel processing, current algorithmic procedures that have roots in serial thinking are poor candidates for use on such machines—a paradigm shift is required! Among new advances in computational methods, soft computing techniques have enjoyed a remarkable period of development and growth. Of these, methods of neural computing, evolutionary search, and fuzzy logic have been the most extensively explored in problems of multidisciplinary analysis and design. The paper will summarize important accomplishments to-date, of neurocomputing, fuzzy logic, and evolutionary search, including immune network modeling, in the field of multidisciplinary aerospace design.
MicroRNA-9 up-regulates E-cadherin through inhibition of NF-κB1–Snail1 pathway in melanoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. Hsa-miR-9 has been shown to have opposite functions in different tumour types; however, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here we show that hsa-miR-9 is down-regulated in metastatic melanomas compared to primary melanomas. Overexpression of miR-9 in melanoma cells resulted in significantly decreased cell proliferation and migratory capacity with decreased F-actin polymerization and down-regulation of multiple GTPases involved in cytoskeleton remodelling. miR-9 overexpression induced significant down-regulation of Snail1 with a concomitant increase in E-cadherin expression. In contrast, knockdown of miR-9 increased Snail1 expression as well as melanoma cell proliferation and migration capacity. Mechanistically, miR-9 expression down-regulated NF-κB1 in melanoma and the effect was abolished by mutations in the putative miR-9 binding sites within the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of NF-κB1. Anti-miR-9 miRNA inhibitor also increased the expression of NF-κB1. The effects of miR-9 on Snail1 expression and melanoma cell proliferation and migration were rescued by overexpression of NF-κB1 in these cells. Furthermore, miR-9 overexpression resulted in significantly decreased melanoma growth and metastasis in vivo. In summary, miR-9 inhibits melanoma proliferation and metastasis through down-regulation of the NF-κB1-Snail1 pathway. This study finds a new mechanism that miR-9 utilizes to decrease E-cadherin expression and inhibit melanoma progression. The results suggest that function of microRNAs is context and tumour type-specific.
Membranous glomerulonephropathy with tubular dysfunction and linear tubular basement membrane IgG deposition

patient's condition progressed to end-stage renal disease. The decline in GFR was coincident with the development of poorly responsive and eventually severe and nonresponsive proteinuria. Glomerular damage and proteinuria may be causally related or independently related to another primary factor. We suggest that the proteinuric state might have been a causative factor in the progression of the mesangial sclerosis and glomerular capillary damage; there is experimental and clinical evidence to support such a causal relationship. Heavy proteinuria induced in rats by the injection of protein is associated with the development of focal glomerulosclerosis. 8' 9 These histologic changes are partially, and the functional changes completely, reversed when injections are discontinued? Fivesixths nephrectomy in the rat, with the accompanying increase in single nephron glomerular filtration and solute excretion, produces focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. 1~ The equivalent of these changes in the remnant kidney is seen in children with oligomeganephronia, a form of severe hypoplasia leading to renal insufficiency, and in children left with a marked decrease in GFR following relief of obstructive uropathy. All of these observations suggest that a large increase in the excretion of protein or other solute per nephron (functional overload) can lead to progressive glomerular sclerosis as was observed in our patient. If the degree of proteinuria is important in determining progressive glomerular damage, efforts to decrease the rate of protein excretion, including cytotoxic drugs, should be considered in patients with the most severe and persistent proteinuria. Unfortunately, no clear benefit has been shown for such therapy in patients with histologic patterns other than minimal lesion disease. Further, overly vigorous use of albumin infusions, together with diuretics, can produce increased protein excretion and lead potentially to epithelial Cell damage and mesangial sclerosis. The patient with the nephrotic syndrome described here developed end-stage renal disease after 18 years of steroidresponsive relapses, over which time there were 40 relapses, each responding to prednisone with disappearance of proteinuria. When resistance to steroid therapy developed, the renal histology was focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. We suggest that repeated episodes of heavy proteinuria were a factor in the development of the renal pathologic changes. REFERENCES
Aristocrats in Bourgeois Italy: The Piedmontese Nobility, 1861–1930

List of tables Acknowledgements Introduction 1. The making of the Piedmontese nobility, 1600-1848 2. The long goodbye: aristocrats in politics and public life, 1848-1914 3. Old money: the scale and structure of aristocratic wealth 4. Perpetuating an aristocratic social elite 5. The limits of fusion: aristocratic-bourgeois relations in nineteenth-century Piedmont 6. Retreat and adaptation in the twentieth century Bibliography Index.
An enzyme histochemical study of cerebral arteriosclerosis

The distribution of two oxidative enzymes (DPN-diaphorase and succinic dehydrogenase), two hydrolytic enzymes (acid and alkaline phosphatase) and data on mitochondria were described as to their relationship to the histopathology of cerebral arteriosclerosis. Incomplete necrosis of gray matter was characterized by a patchy, irregular decrease of oxidative enzyme activity in the neuropil. Complete necrosis (infarcts) showed a loss of enzyme activity in the tissue except the walls of capillaries which still showed activity of oxidative enzymes and also alkaline phosphatase. Hypertrophic astrocytes in the adjacent tissue were characterized by excessive increase of oxidative enzyme activity. Microglia showed little oxidative enzyme activity but strong activity of acid phosphatase. Fatty degeneration of cells was consistently accompanied by decreased oxidative enzyme activity; there was no such inverse relationship for acid phosphatase. Study of capillarization, normal histochemistry, and of pathological changes of the periarterial tissue suggested that the wall of thick arteries normally provided sufficient nutrition of the periarterial tissue. Impairment of this function in arteriosclerosis was considered responsible for the formation of periarterial scars in arteriosclerosis.
Electrical Response to Illumination of the Euphausiid Crustacean Eye

WE have obtained reliably reproducible measurements of the electric potentials developed in the eyes of euphausiid crustaceans during stimulation by light. Such measurements may provide an objective method for the laboratory study of vision and photoregulated behaviour in planktonic forms which undergo vertical migrations too extensive to be duplicated experimentally with any available equipment. Preliminary observations of two species from the San Diego Trough off California, and one from Loch Fyne in Scotland, are presented here.
The application of stress theory to the study of family violence: Principles, problems, and prospects

This paper investigates the nature of the relationship between social stress and family violence. Specifically, a model of the stress process is presented, the applicability of the concept of stress to the occurrence of family violence is discussed, important research issues relating to the nature of the relationship between these two variables are raised, and predictions are offered regarding the likely impact of social stress upon the incidence of violence in the American family in the future.
Design and modeling of pre‐denitrification single‐sludge activated sludge systems

Abstract A step‐by‐step design approach for sizing anoxic/oxic single‐sludge activated sludge systems is presented. A computer model utilizing an EXCEL spreadsheet was also developed which simulates the pre‐denitrification single‐sludge activated sludge process. The biokinetic equations developed by Lawrence and McCarty are utilized in the model. The model was calibrated using data from a full‐scale, pre‐denitrification activated sludge process. Two‐tailed, paired comparison Student's “t‐test”; performed on effluent BOD5, SS, TKN, NH3‐N, NO3 ‐‐N, and TN indicated there was no significant difference between the actual effluent concentrations and those predicted by the model at a 95 percent confidence level.
1351 CENTRAL NEURAL MATURATION OF THE EXCITATORY RESPONSE TO CAROTID SINUS NERVE STIMULATION

The biphasic respiratory response (hyperpnea followed by hypoventilation) of the newborn human has been attributed to central hypoxic depression of the respiratory centers. Recently, we have shown that, in the absence of hypoxia, the excitatory effect of continued carotid sinus nerve (CSN) stimulation fatigues in piglets 4-14 days of age (The Physiologist 23:140, 1980). To study maturation of the excitatory effects of the CSN without confounding blood gas changes, we compared changes in respiratory output (RO=f × neural tidal volume) during electrical CSN stimulation in young and older piglets (7 piglets 4-14 days; 7 piglets 20-34 days). The piglets were anesthetized, vagotomized, paralyzed and ventilated (FIO2=1.0). End-tidal CO2 was kept constant with a servo-controller (mean end-tidal CO2=30.2mmHg). RO was quantified by moving average of the rectified phrenic neurogram. The RO of all piglets increased (p<.01) at the onset of CSN stimulation due to change in both frequency and neural tidal volume. However, by 50-60s, the average RO had decreased to 54±7% (±SEM) of peak RO in young piglets whereas in the 7 older piglets respiratory output was 78±5% of peak. This difference was significant (p<.025). Again, change in both frequency and neural tidal volume accounted for the changes in RO. These findings demonstrate that central neural mechanisms control the biphasic respiratory response to hypoxia. We conclude that neural maturation during the first 4 weeks of life permits the more sustained response seen in the older animals.
A pharmacological study of certain basic derivatives of ethyl diphenylacetate.

Abstract Six new basic derivatives of ethyl diphenyl- acetate have been subjected to a pharmaco-logical investigation. The results of antihis- taminic, antispasmodic, local anesthetic, vasodepressor, analgetic, irritant and toxicity tests are presented.
Linking strategy, performance, and pay.

The appraisal portion of the strategic plan has long been a problem. How do you reward the achievement and performance of individuals as they operate the organization's strategic plan? How do you use the performance appraisal area to motivate the management team to achieve the objective in the strategic plan? How do you provide incentive for your people to stay with your organization? How do you develop a commonsense approach to salary and bonus rewards?
Corticotropin releasing factor increases in brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and heart rate through dorsomedial hypothalamus and medullary raphe pallidus

Corticotropin releasing factor, acting at hypothalamic corticotropin releasing factor receptors, contributes to the neural signaling pathways mediating stress-related responses, as well as those involved in maintaining energy balance homeostasis. Sympathetically-regulated lipid metabolism and heat production in brown adipose tissue contributes to the non-shivering thermogenic component of stress-evoked hyperthermia and to energy expenditure aspects of body weight regulation. To identify potential central pathways through which hypothalamic corticotropin releasing factor influences brown adipose tissue thermogenesis, corticotropin releasing factor was microinjected into the lateral ventricle (i.c.v.) or into hypothalamic sites while recording sympathetic outflow to brown adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue temperature, expired CO2, heart rate and arterial pressure in urethane/chloralose-anesthetized, artificially-ventilated rats. I.c.v. corticotropin releasing factor or corticotropin releasing factor microinjection into the preoptic area or the dorsomedial hypothalamus, but not the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, elicited sustained increases in brown adipose tissue sympathetic nerve activity, brown adipose tissue temperature, expired CO2 and heart rate. These sympathetic responses to i.c.v. corticotropin releasing factor were eliminated by inhibition of neuronal activity in the dorsomedial hypothalamus or in the raphe pallidus, a putative site of sympathetic premotor neurons for brown adipose tissue, and were markedly reduced by microinjection of ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists into the dorsomedial hypothalamus. The increases in brown adipose tissue sympathetic outflow, brown adipose tissue temperature and heart rate elicited from corticotropin releasing factor into the preoptic area were reversed by inhibition of neuronal discharge in dorsomedial hypothalamus. These data indicate that corticotropin releasing factor release within the preoptic area activates a sympathoexcitatory pathway to brown adipose tissue and to the heart, perhaps similar to that activated by increased prostaglandin production in the preoptic area, that includes neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus and in the raphe pallidus.
Predicting Adult Criminal Behavior from Juvenile Delinquency: Ex-Ante vs. Ex-Post Benefits of Early Intervention.

Abstract Recent analyses of the long-term societal benefits from early intervention (prenatal care, home visitation, and high quality preschool) for at-risk children commonly include significant savings to society in the form of reduced juvenile delinquency and adult criminal behavior. However, a nontrivial proportion of the reported benefits of several early intervention programs are based on forecasts of criminal behavior throughout adulthood conditional on intervention effects on delinquency in adolescence. Data from the Chicago Longitudinal Study (CLS), an investigation of the life course of 1539 children from low-income families born in 1979–1980, are used to investigate the bias resulting from predicting the effect of early intervention on adult criminal behavior from the effect on delinquency in adolescence. The investigation concludes that the general method used to predict adult criminal behavior results in a conservative estimate of the reduction in the cost of adult criminal behavior attributed to early intervention.
Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Protocol on Balance in the Elderly

The purpose of this study it to understand the effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) on vestibular balance control structures. It was hypothesized that following an OMT treatment protocol, elderly patients would show significant improvement in empirical outcome measurements used to quantify postural stability.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Isolated spin 3/2 plaquettes in Na3RuO4

Abstract The crystal structure of Na3RuO4 determined by powder neutron diffraction is reported. The structure consists of isolated tetramers of edge sharing RuO6 octahedra in the ab plane, creating isolated four-member plaquettes of Ru atoms comprised of two equilateral triangles sharing an edge. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal an antiferromagnetic transition at ∼29 K, with θ w = - 141 K . Neutron diffraction data indicate the onset of three-dimensional magnetic ordering at 29 K.
Genetic testing: Implications for professional nursing

Scientific information emerging from human genome research has significant implications for the practice of professional nursing. Professional nurses assist individuals in making decisions about DNA studies, ensure that consent is informed before genetic testing, and help clients cope with genetic information after test results are known. Nurses with advanced education in genetics identify and counsel people who are candidates for DNA testing. Gene identification can have beneficial as well as harmful outcomes. Education is needed to prepare nurses for new roles regarding genetic testing.
Enhancing transdural lumbar disk herniation

Transdural migration of an intervertebral disk fragment is accompanied by more severe clinical manifestations than the more common extradural disk herniation. We report on two patients with transdural lumbar disk herniation who had had no previous surgery. In both, there was intense enhancement of the intradural disk material on magnetic resonance imaging. The pathological specimen showed vascularization of the intradural fibrocartilage in one patient.
Sialoadenectomy and the Metabolism of Calcium-45 in Bone and Soft Tissues of the Mouse

IT has been reported that there are substances extractable from salivary glands which, when administered to animals, lead to a reduction of the plasma calcium1. Further observations2 indicated the extracted proteins to be capable of promoting the calcification of hard tissues. Sialoadenectomy has been reported to reduce markedly the total ash, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus of the bones of the rat3. Our observation4 that sialoadenectomized rats and mice exhibited reduced rates of growth, plus the study of Mari5, who observed an increased growth-rate in chick embryo femurs, suggested that we study the metabolism of calcium in intact and sialoadenectomized animals.
Preliminary Design for a 360 Watt Radioisotope Thermionic Generator

A preliminary design for a 360 watt radioisotope thermionic generator is presented. Curium 244 is used as the energy source; and the generator design concept allows for containment of the radioisotope under all possible conditions involving the earth. Provision is made for helium gas generated in the decay of Curium 244 (alpha emitter). For these conditions the proposed design has a maximum specific weight of 254 lb./KW. The results of this study indicate that radioisotope thermionics offers promise of a versatile, compact, light weight and reliable means of supplying electrical power in space.
Self assembly of ordered artificial solids of semiconducting ZnS capped CdSe nanoparticles at carbon nanotube ends

The utilization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as building blocks for nanodevices can only be realized when their electronic properties are preserved in the device configuration. It has been shown that bending and overlapping of CNTs result in a decrease in their conductance. Heterojunctions of quantum dots (QDs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) could become better alternatives for the synthesis of nanoscale devices which would preserve the electronic properties of MWCNTs. Here, we present a significant refinement of a previously reported technique to integrate QD at the ends of MWCNTs and report a novel MWCNT–QD–MWCNT heterostructure with detailed chemical and physical characterization of the heterojunctions conducted via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy. We have discovered a novel phenomenon of mesoscale ordering of thiol stabilized ZnS capped CdSe QDs containing amine terminal groups at the ends of acid treated MWCNTs during the conjugation process, which has been investigated using high resolution TEM.
Thinking Clearly About Schizotypy: Hewing to the Schizophrenia Liability Core, Considering Interesting Tangents, and Avoiding Conceptual Quicksand

The concept of schizotypy represents a rich and complex psychopathology construct. Furthermore, the construct implies a theoretical model that has considerable utility as an organizing framework for the study of schizophrenia, schizophrenia-related psychopathology (eg, delusional disorder, psychosis-NOS (not otherwise specified), schizotypal, and paranoid personality disorder), and putative schizophrenia endophenotypes as suggested by Rado, Meehl, Gottesman, Lenzenweger, and others. The understanding (and misunderstanding) of the schizophrenia-related schizotypy model, particularly as regards clinical illness, as well as an alternative approach to the construct require vigilance in order to ensure the methodological approach continues to yield the fruit that it can in illuminating the pathogenesis of schizophrenia-related psychopathology. The articles in the Special Section in this issue of Schizophrenia Bulletin highlight methodological and theoretical issues that should be examined carefully.
Surfactant effects on decarboxylation of alkoxynitrobenzisoxazole-3-carboxylate ions. Acceleration by premicelles

Decarboxylation of 6-nitro-5-alkoxybenzisoxazole-3-carboxylate ion (1,OMe and 1,OTD, alkoxy = MeO, n-C14H29O, respectively) is accelerated by cationic micelles of cetyltrialkylammonium bromide (CTABr, CTEABr, CTPABr, CTBABr, alkyl = Me, Et, n-Pr, n-Bu respectively). The first-order rate constants kobs for reaction of 1,OMe increase monotonically with [surfactant] and become constant when the substrate is fully bound and kobs = k‘M. The values of kobs for 1,OTD increase sharply with increasing [surfactant] and reach well-defined maxima at [surfactant] at or below the cmc, before decreasing to values corresponding to kobs = k‘M. The magnitude of the rate maxima and the increase in k‘M are in the sequence CTABr < CTEABr < CTPABr < CTBABr. The rate maxima are due to formation of premicellar complexes of substrate with one or a few surfactant monomers, but they “dissolve” in micelles at higher [surfactant]. A rationalization is provided for acceleration by very dilute surfactants.
INVARIANT SCALAR PRODUCT AND OBSERVABLES IN A RELATIVISTIC THEORY OF PARTICLES OF ARBITRARY SPIN

In a recent paper a relativistically covariant Schr\"odinger equation was derived for particles of arbitrary spin $s$, locally covariant wave functions without redundant components being used to describe states of a particle. Here we determine the invariant scalar product with respect to which the representation of Poincar\'e transformations on these wave functions is unitary. It is shown that the conventional position and spin operators, not being Hermitian with respect to this scalar product, cannot be observables. New operators which can represent these observables are constructed with the aid of a generalized Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation which is determined explicitly for arbitrary spin.
Lack of evidence for intravenous vasodilators in ED patients with acute heart failure: a systematic review

There are nearly 700,000 annual US emergency department (ED) visits for acute heart failure (AHF). Although blood pressure is elevated on most of these visits, acute therapy remains focused on preload and not afterload reduction. Data from recent prospective studies suggest that patients with AHF with concomitant acute hypertension benefit from intravenous (IV) vasodilators. To better understand the use of vasodilators for such patients, we conducted a systematic review of (1) currently available intravenous vasodilators for ED patients with AHF, or (2) intravenous vasodilators that are not yet available, but have completed phase III clinical trials in AHF, and may be available for ED use in the future. We used multiterm search queries to retrieve research involving nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, enalaprilat, hydralazine, relaxin, and nesiritide. A total of 2001 unique citations were identified from 3 databases: PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL. Of these, 1966 were excluded on the basis of established review criteria, leaving 35 published articles for inclusion. Our primary finding was that intravenous nitrovasodilators, when used in the treatment of AHF in ED and ED-like settings, do improve short-term symptoms and appear safe to administer. There are no data suggesting that they impact mortality. Other commonly used vasodilators such as hydralazine and enalaprilat have very little published data about their safety and efficacy. Of note, few studies enrolled patients early in their course of treatment. Thus, to assess the specific impact of vasodilator therapy on both short- and long-term outcomes, future research efforts should focus on patient recruitment in the ED setting.
The Medical Humanities at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine: historical, theoretical, and curricular perspectives.

The Human Values in Medicine Program (HVM) at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine is composed of 120 required hours in medical humanities, social sciences, and behavioral sciences. In addition to a required HVM month in the fourth year when the bulk of the course work is completed, students can also choose from lectures, seminars, and short courses during the first, second, and third years. The broad goal of the HVM program as originally conceived was for students to use the content and skills of the humanities disciplines to reflect on their own and others' values, and to appraise their role in the patient-physician relationship, both in the community and in the larger culture. During the past several years, a cultural studies orientation has also been included, particularly the practice of critical analysis aimed at identifying the inequities and injustices within the doctor-patient relationship, in medical training, and in health care access and delivery in the U.S. and beyond. Current program development includes standardizing a bioethics curriculum for all students and developing a required fourth-year course that all students take during their HVM elective month.