cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification and Interpretation of First Order Space-Time ARMA Models

The effect of system size and shape on the theoretical space-time autocorrelation function is described for first order STARMA models. Figures and tables are presented to assist in identification considerations which include model interpretation, patterns of the theoretical spacetime autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation functions, and initial estimation for the STAR(11) and STMA(11) models.
Characterization of silicon nitride particles synthesized in an atmospheric-pressure convection-stabilized arc

Silicon nitride powders were synthesized in an atmospheric-pressure convection-stabilized arc using silicon and ammonia as reactants. The morphology and particle size distributions of the silicon nitride particles were characterized by SEM, TEM, and electron diffraction analyses. The silicon nitride particles collected in the plasma reactor were formed by either gas-condensed phase reactions or chemical vapor reactions. The morphologies of the particles formed by gas-condensed phase reactions consisted of β-Si3N4 prisms, α-Si3N4 matte, α-Si3N4 needles, and spaghetti-like whiskers. For the homogeneously nucleated particles, the morphologies included dendrites, needles, platelets, and amorphous particles. Most of the particles formed were aggregates with particle size distributions ranging from 500 to 1500 A depending on the location of injection of the reactants.
Zenker’s diverticulum in the elderly: is operation justified?

Abstract Background. Surgical correction of symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum is effective; however, elderly symptomatic patients may be denied surgical intervention because of perceived increased risks. Methods. To address this concern, we reviewed 75 patients (46 men and 29 women) found to have this condition during the past two decades. Results. Median age was 79 years (range, 75 to 91 years). Preoperative symptoms included dysphagia in 69 patients (92%), regurgitation in 61 (81%), pneumonia in 9 (12%), halitosis in 3 (4%), and weight loss in 1 (1%). Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms were noted in 27 patients (36%). Diagnosis was made by barium swallow in 63 patients, esophagoscopy in 5, and a combination of both in 7. Surgical procedures included both diverticulectomy and myotomy in 57 patients (76%), myotomy alone in 9 (12%), diverticulopexy and myotomy in 5 (7%), and diverticulectomy alone in 4 (5%). There was no in-hospital mortality. Complications occurred in 8 patients (11%) and included esophagocutaneous fistula in 4, pneumonia and urinary tract infection in 1, and wound infection, myocardial infarction, and persistent diverticulum in 1 each. Follow-up was available in 72 patients (96%) and ranged from 8 days to 17 years (median, 3.3 years). At follow-up, 64 patients (88%) were asymptomatic and 4 (6%) were improved with minimal symptoms. The remaining 4 patients (6%) have had varying degrees of dysphagia and all have been treated with periodic esophageal dilations. Conclusions. Operation for symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum in the elderly is safe and effective and will result in resolution of symptoms and improved quality of life in most patients
Quenching of Li(3P) by CH4, C2H4, C2H6, C3H8

Abstract A kinetic scheme was used to study the quenching of excited Li(3p) state in the presence of a buffer gas RH (CH 4 , C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 6 , C 3 H 8 ). The formation and decay of excited states of Li is expressed by a set of coupled differential equations based on a two state model. By measuring the gas pressure dependence of the fluorescence decay rates from Li(3s), total quenching cross-sections of Li(3p) states were obtained. The values increased with increasing size of the perturber with 12.08 ± 1.305 A 2 for CH 4 , 15.44 ± 1.87 A 2 for C 2 H 4 , 22.44 ± 2.5 A 2 for C 2 H 6 and 23.57 ± 3.5 A 2 for C 3 H 8 . The results are compared to a theoretical calculation based on a simple orbiting collision model, and cross-sections of other alkali atoms. Despite the large quenching cross-sections, it is found that only the collision of Li(3p) with C 2 H 4 leads to the formation of LiH. The continuum or “scattering state” of the transient LiRH (RH = C 2 H 4 , C 2 H 6 , C 3 H 8 ) collision complex was also spectroscopically probed. Ignoring the internal structure of perturbers in the interpretation of the absorption profile is not valid in this work, as the shapes of the profiles in the red wing are different for each perturber. The results show similar profiles in the blue wing.
An epistemological foundation for thinking: A Deweyan approach

With the proliferation of thinking skills programs and studies of cognition in the last two decades, it is clear that educators have come to recognize thinking as a primary goal of education. In an important sense, we are seeing the latent impact of John Dewey’sHow We ThinkandDemocracy and Education. Yet, despite this increasing focus on thinking, critically important problems in understanding the nature of thinking itself remain unresolved. Among the most philosophically significant problems in understanding the nature of thinking are critical deficiencies in the prevalent epistemology of thinking. The rise of cognitive science in the middle part of the twentieth century — much of it at odds with Dewey’s understanding of cognition — has created a widely shared epistemological background in which theconception of thinking gives rise to important philosophical problems. These problems suggest the need for a thorough reconstruction of the epistemological basis of thinking. Such a reconstruction, I suggest, can best be developed by a reconsideration of Dewey’s work on the issue and by extending Dewey’s ideas in light of some of the recent theories in cognitive science that appear to carry forward, using the latest tools, some of the basic themes in Dewey’s approach to thinking.
Acetylcholine dramatically increases prostanoid synthesis in piglet parietal cortex

Abstract We investigated effects of exogenous acetylcholine on prostanoid synthesis by parietal cortex in neonatal pigs. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with no drug, and CSF containing acetylcholine at 10−6 to 10−3 M was injected under a ‘closed’ cranial window, and after 5 min the CSF was collected and analyzed by radioimmunoassay for prostaglandin (PG) E2, PGF2α, PGD2, 6-keto-PGF1α (the hydrolysis product of prostacyclin), and thromboxane (TX) B2 (the hydrolysis product of TXA2). PGE2 and PGF2α were the predominant prostanoids in CSF under control conditions. Levels of all CSF prostanoids increased after topical application of acetylcholine, with the largest increases being for PGE2 and PGF2α. During control conditions, levels were 1294 ± 170 (mean ± S.E.M.) pg/ml for PGE2 (n = 16). 1032 ± 143 pg/ml for PGF2α (n = 3), 659 ± 92 pg/ml for 6-keto-PGF1α (n = 15), 141 ± 44 pg/ml for TXB2 (n = 12), and were below detectable levels for PGD2. Following application of 10−3 M acetylcholine, levels were 34,535 ± 5438 pg/ml for PGE2, 15,539 ± 2772 pg/ml for PGF2α, 2967 ± 547 pg/ml for 6-keto-PGF1α, 580 ± 105 pg/ml for TXB2, and 556 ± 221 pg/ml for PGD2 These results suggest that prostanoids could play a role in mediating effects of acetylcholine in the brain, or in modulating acetylcholine release via a negative feedback mechanism.
Best Least Squares Solutions to Finite Difference Equations Using the Generalized Inverse and Tensor Product Methods

A direct (noniterative) method for solving some singular systems of equations arising from finite difference approximations to partial differential equations is developed. The Moore-Penrose generalized inverse of some large tensor product matrices is expressed in terms of smaller matrices. Some techniques are given to improve computational efficiency.
Comparison of Three Hemolytic Plaque Assays Using Sheep and Mouse Erythrocytes as Antigens in Rats

Several hemolytic plaque assays using spleen cells from rats immunized with sheep or mouse erythrocytes were compared. Modifications of the assays were made to define optimal conditions. Mrbc in assays with guinea pig complement yield a much reduced number of plaques than is observed when human complement is used. In contrast, no difference in numbers is noted with Srbc regardless of complement source. The use of Srbc in an assay technique that does not employ agarose is more sensitive than techniques that require agarose; the result is a 50-100% increase in the number of plaques. This increase in plaque number was observed with either guinea pig or human complement. In contrast, there was considerable clumping of Mrbc in the absence of agarose which tended to obscure distinct plaque formation. Increased sensitivity of plaque development for Srbc in the absence of agarose was due to increased numbers of direct (IgM) plaque detection and not to concomitant detection of cells producing IgG (indirect plaques). Maximal detection of plaques with Mrbc was observed when human complement was used in assays containing agarose. These assays gave a threefold increase in plaque numbers when compared with assays without agarose. It is evident from the above that the most sensitive and reproducible hemolytic plaque assay to be used by an investigator will depend primarily upon the antigen, and on reagents selected for the test.
Enhanced ArF laser absorption in a collagen target under ablative conditions.

The time-resolved transmission of collagen targets during ArF excimer laser ablation has been measured. The transmitted excimer pulse measurements demonstrate enhanced media attenuation that is a nonlinear function of incident laser fluence. Forward scattering of the transmitted pulse has been assessed to be a negligible contributor to the observed phenomena. Results of pump/probe interrogation of the ablation site indicate that the onset of enhanced attenuation occurs on the time course of the ablating laser pulse and persists for times on the order of hundreds of microseconds. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Electrical conductivity, diffusion of iron and the defect structure of α-Al2O3: Fe

Abstract A detailed defect model is developed for α-Al 2 O 3 :Fe accounting for conduction and diffusion at high temperatures as a function of iron concentration, oxygen pressure and temperature. This model involves single native and iron defects as well as triplets of (Fe Al Al i Fe Al ), the latter dominating the defect structure at high Fe concentrations. Diffusion of Fe in A1 2 O 3 is attributed to Fe i 3. . The position of the Fe Al ' level is estimated.
A QFD Approach to the Delivery of an Online Degree

Technology has profoundly changed the manner with which we perform our most basic functions. The innovation of the Internet and other communication media have allowed us to communicate, conduct business, and buy and sell without ever having to leave home. Education has been affected in the same way, as those that would seek to obtain a degree or certification can do so in the comfort of their own homes as opposed to having to commute to a college campus to do so. This paper will discuss how elements of Quality Function Deployment have been used to facilitate a partnership between a traditional university located in western Arkansas and various community colleges in the eastern Arkansas Delta Region. The students in this region are non-traditional, place-bound individuals without access to higher education opportunities, but at the same time, in need of these opportunities to advance in the workplace. This paper will discuss how a university some three hundred miles away is able to deliver a baccalaureate degree to individuals who will most likely never see the college campus. The impact of the initiative as well as particular hurdles and lessons learned thus far will be shared.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Early Intervention and the Early Experience Paradigm: Toward a Better Framework for Social Policy

Abstract A model of intellectual development assuming direct and causal linkages between early experiences and subsequent intellectual functioning is seen as having constituted a basic but inadequate paradigm for developmental psychology. The predicted success of compensatory education was such a central tenet of the early experience paradigm that a failure to demonstrate permanent increases in intelligence with early intervention has constituted a basic challenge to the validity of the paradigm. It is argued that future evaluations of the efficacy of early educational intervention must recognize and go beyond the conceptual constraints imposed by the early experience paradigm with its emphasis on critical periods. A reconceptualization of the effects of early experience, emphasizing the cumulative and dialectical nature of development is advocated.
Coalescence of two equal cylinders: exact results for creeping viscous plane flow driven by capillarity

The coalescence of two equal viscous cylinders under the influence of capillarity is of interest in the theory of sintering. Although the flow in typical cylinder coalescence experiments is not planar, the plane-flow case is of general interest and is a good approximation in the early stage. An essentially exact analytic solution giving the shape as a function of time for slow plane flow is presented in simple closed form. 16 references, 2 figures, 1 table.
Synthesis and characterization of CO2-laser-evaporated ZnS:Mn thin films

Abstract Manganese-doped zinc sulfide (ZnS:Mn) thin films were grown by evaporation of ZnS:Mn powder using a CO 2 laser. Microprobe analysis and X-ray diffraction identify the films as stoichiometric cubic and hexagonal ZnS:Mn. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the films are smooth but crazed, which is due to the mismatch in thermal expansion coefficient between ZnS:Mn and the fused silica substrate. Photoluminescence measurements of the powder shows the broad luminescence spectrum centered at around 590 nm and a fluorescent lifetime of 330 μs. The emission peak of the thin film is shifted to 596 nm and has a fluorescent lifetime of 240 μs.
Clinical features and quality of life in patients with different phenotypes of Crohn's disease of the ileal pouch.

Crohn’s disease of the pouch can occur in patients with colectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis performed for ulcerative colitis. The clinical features of inflammatory, fibrostenotic, and fistulizing Crohn’s disease have not been characterized. A total of 73 eligible patients with Crohn’s disease of the pouch, who were seen in the Pouchitis Clinic, were enrolled: 25 with inflammatory Crohn’s disease, 17 with fibrostenotic Crohn’s disease, and 31 with fistulizing Crohn’s disease. The clinical phenotypes of Crohn’s disease were based on a combined assessment of clinical, endoscopic, radiographic, and histologic features. Clinical symptoms, endoscopic and histologic features, and health-related quality-of-life scores were assessed. Demographic and clinical features, including preoperative and postoperative parameters, were similar between the three phenotypes of Crohn’s disease of the pouch. The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, neuropsychiatric drugs, antidiarrheal agents, and Crohn’s disease medicines was not different between the three groups. Predominant symptoms, as expected, were significantly different between the three phenotypes: diarrhea and/or pain in 92 percent of patients with inflammatory Crohn’s disease, obstructive symptoms in 64.7 percent of patients with fibrostenotic Crohn’s disease, and fistular drainage in 51.6 percent of those with fistulizing Crohn’s disease (P < 0.0001). There was no statistical difference in quality-of-life scores between the three phenotypes, adjusted for disease activity. There was no significant correlation between quality-of-life and symptom scores in any of the three groups. Although not statistically significant, patients with fistulizing Crohn’s disease (16.1 percent) tended to have an increased risk for pouch failure compared with inflammatory (8 percent) or fibrostenotic (5.9 percent) Crohn’s disease. Predominant symptoms were different in clinical phenotypes of Crohn’s disease. Each of the three phenotypes of Crohn’s disease similarly affected quality-of-life. Fistulizing Crohn’s disease may be associated with a higher risk for pouch failure.
A micromechanics based multiscale model for nonlinear composites

A micromechanics model for fiber-reinforced composites that can be used at the subscale in a multiscale computational framework is established to predict the effective nonlinear composite response. Using a fiber–matrix concentric cylinder model as the basic repeat unit to represent the composite, micromechanics is used to relate the applied composite strains to the fiber and matrix strains by a six by six transformation matrix. The resolved spatial variations of the matrix fields are found to be in good agreement with corresponding finite element analysis results. The evolution of the composite nonlinear response is assumed to be governed by two scalar, strain-based variables that are related to the extreme value of an appropriately defined matrix equivalent strain, and the matrix secant moduli are used to compute the composite secant moduli for nonlinear analysis. The results from the micromechanics model are compared well with a full finite element analysis. The predictive capability of the proposed model is illustrated by two distinct fiber-reinforced material systems, carbon and glass, for the fiber volume fraction varying from 50 to 70 %. Since fully analytical solutions are utilized for the micromechanical analysis, the proposed method offers a distinct computational advantage in a multiscale analysis and is therefore suitable for large-scale progressive damage and failure analyses of composite material structures.
Uncoating of tobacco mosaic virus RNA in protoplasts.

Abstract The disassembly of tobacco mosaic virus particles during the establishment of infections in tobacco protoplasts was investigated by reverse transcription and PCR analysis of the parts of the viral RNA that remained encapsidated at various times after inoculation. Within the first 3 min, uncoating had proceeded from the 5′ terminus of the viral RNA to a position at least 4635 nucleotides from the 5′ terminus. Removal of coat protein subunits from the part of the virus particle near the origin of assembly sequence of the RNA occurred more slowly. The results also suggested that progeny virus particles began to be produced 35-40 min after inoculation.
GAUGE COVARIANT CONFORMAL TRANSFORMATIONS

The action of conformal transformations on gauge potentials can be defined in a gauge covariant fashion. This unconventional procedure is used in several branches of theoretical physics, with the consequence that gauge potentials do not transform according to a representation of the conformal group; rather, they provide a representation for the ''group of paths'' of the conformal group. The nonintegrable phase factor is central to the construction.
The significance of age-related enlargement of the cerebral ventricles in healthy men and women measured by quantitative computed X-ray tomography.

Objective (1) To establish the range of cerebral atrophy across the adult age spectrum in optimally healthy, rigorously evaluated individuals. (2) To determine, across the age spectrum, the relation of gender and cerebral atrophy (as measured by ventricular enlargement) to cognitive function. Design Cross-sectional comparison by age and gender. Setting Ambulatory research unit. Participants Sixty-four healthy men (mean age +/- SD = 49 +/- 18 yr) and 43 healthy women (51 +/- 18 yr) volunteers enrolled in a longitudinal study of healthy aging. The population was selected for optimal health; all were rigorously screened to exclude medical and psychiatric illness. Main outcome measures Brain atrophy by CT scan and cognitive function by standardized neuropsychological testing. Results After correction for inter-subject variability in cranial volume, women had smaller lateral, but not third, ventricles. For both genders, there were significant differences with age in ventricular volume. After an approximately constant 20% increase in ventricular volume per decade in both genders, a precipitous increase in volume was found beginning in the fifth decade in men and in the sixth decade in women. In men and women, there was a significant negative correlation between ventricular volume and the sum of performance scale scores on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WPSS) but not in the sum of the verbal scale scores (WVSS). However, after controlling for age, ventricular volume no longer significantly contributed to the relation between age and WPSS. Conclusions In unequivocally healthy individuals, gender plays an important role in age-associated central cerebral atrophy as measured by progressive ventricular enlargement. Increase in ventricle volume independent of age, does not explain normal age-related declines seen in WPSS scores.
Lymphomatoid hypersensitivity reaction to levofloxacin during autologous stem cell transplantation: a potential diagnostic pitfall in patients treated for lymphoma or leukemia

Drug-associated cutaneous lymphomatoid hypersensitivity reactions are rare eruptions that can clinically and microscopically mimic a bona fide lymphomatous process. Clinically, the appearance ranges from papulosquamous to purpuric. Histopathologically, these reactions simulate a wide variety of lymphoma subtypes; the most frequently reported examples resemble mycosis fungoides. We report a 61-year-old female who developed a purpuric eruption prior to engraftment of an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant for stage IV mantle cell lymphoma. Skin biopsies showed a superficial perivascular and interstitial infiltrate of large, immature-appearing mononuclear cells associated with spongiosis, papillary dermal edema and erythrocyte extravasation. The cells were immunoreactive for T-cell markers and lacked B-cell marker expression, excluding recurrence of the underlying mantle cell lymphoma as a diagnostic possibility. The cutaneous eruption was temporally linked to levofloxacin administration and resolved after discontinuation of this medication. This is the first report of a lymphomatoid hypersensitivity reaction associated with fluoroquinolone use. The histopathologic features presented in this paper underscore the potential for misdiagnosis of such lesions as lymphoma or acute myeloid leukemia, particularly in the setting of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for underlying lymphoma or leukemia. Clinical correlation, morphologic comparison to the original malignancy and immunohistochemical studies aid the dermatopathologist in rendering the correct diagnosis.
The Role of Ethics Institutionalization in Influencing Organizational Commitment, Job Satisfaction, and Esprit de Corps

Given increasing ethical problems in business, many organizations have tried to control these problems by institutionalizing ethics such as by creating new ethics positions and formulating and enforcing codes of ethics. In this study, the impact of implicit and explicit forms of institutionalization of ethics on job satisfaction, esprit de corps, and organizational commitment for marketing professionals is investigated. Additionally, the influence of organizational socialization, ethical relativism, and age relative to each of the above organizational climate constructs is examined. Results indicate that at least one of the forms of institutionalization of ethics is a significant determinant of all three organizational climate constructs. However, while organizational socialization is a significant determinant of all three organizational climate variables, relativism is only significant in determining organizational commitment (in a negative direction) and age is only significant in determining job satisfaction.
Age-dependent variation of copper in tissue and proteins of neonatal rat small intestine.

AbstractTissue copper levels in the small intestine of neonatal rats increased rapidly following birth, reaching a maximum value of 302.6 ± 22.2 μg/g dry wt on Day 7 and then steadily declined to 6.4 ± 0.5 μg/g dry wt on Day 21. When subjected to gel filtration on Sephadex G-75, high-speed supernatant prepared from the small intestine of rats aged 0 to 21 days eluted as two copper-containing fractions corresponding to molecular weights of 60,000 and 9000 daltons. The copper contents of both fractions varied with age in a manner that correlated significantly with the variations observed in the tissue copper levels. However, orally administered 64Cu was found to be associated primarily with the low-molecular-weight fraction in 5-day-old rats. Furthermore, the amount of 64Cu in the low-molecular-weight fraction did not appear to turnover during the 42 hr following administration of the dose. These results suggest that a portion of the copper ingested by the neonatal rat is initially sequestered in the small ...
The purification of hyaluronic acid by the use of charcoal.

Abstract A new method for the purification of hyaluronate requiring simply the passage of suitable extracts over a Darco-cellulose pad is described. Hyaluronate of reasonable purity has been obtained by this method from umbilical cords, streptococcal extracts and vitreous humor. The rapidity of the method renders it useful for the simultaneous purification of multiple hyaluronate samples, while the mildness of the method provides hyaluronate of minimum degradation.
A retrospective analysis of reasons for reoperation following initially successful peripheral nerve stimulation.

Object The authors investigated the causes for surgical reexploration in patients with complex regional pain syndrome Type II who received initial relief of pain from implantation of a peripheral nerve stimulator (PNS). Methods The authors reviewed the charts of 11 consecutive patients who underwent a total of 27 PNS-related operations at one institution. Duration of follow up ranged from 5 days to more than 24 months. Of 11 patients who received PNS implants, seven (64%) required one or more additional surgeries to relocate the PNS because initial pain relief following stimulation was lost and not restored by changing pulse generator settings. Loss of analgesia was attributed to migration of the sutured electrode strip paddle (nine [33%] of 27 surgeries), infection (four [15%] of 27), and the need for placement in an alternative location (three [11%] of 27). Conclusions Although infection is attributable to surgical technique, most complications requiring repeated surgery (nine [33%] of 27) are caused by...
Localization of 14C-4-corticosterone in the 2-day-old rat and a consideration of the mechanism involved in early handling.

IT has been known for several years that stimulation in infancy has important effects on a variety of behavioural and physiological processes in adulthood1,2. The most common procedure for stimulating infant animals is a technique called “handling”, although other forms of stimulation including electric shock, heat, cold and shaking have also been used3. When rats are handled in infancy it has been well known that, as adults, they will (a) be less emotionally reactive than non-stimulated controls, and (b) have an adrenocortical response pattern very different from that of controls4–6.
Prenatal exposure to virilizing progestins: an adult follow-up study of twelve women.

Psychological data were collected on 12 young women, aged 16 to 27 years, with a history of prenatal progestin exposure. In 11 cases, this exposure had induced virilization of the external genitalia. The 12th woman was an anatomically unaffected sister of one of the other women. The sample was composed of 10 women reported on as children by Ehrhardt and Money (1967), Money and Ehrhardt, (1972) as well as two others who were added to this group because they conformed to the original selection criteria for the Money and Ehrhardt studies. Of the 12 women, 10 had completed high school; of these, 7 were in college, 2 were in graduate school, and 1 was raising a family full-time. None of the 12 had a history of difficulty in establishing friendships or dating relationships. Despite childhood characterizations as “tomboys” and avid interest in high school sports, none of the women pursued sports as a career or major pastime. Because of difficulties in personally contacting all 12 women, data on erotic behavior are available for only 6. Only one of these 6, the youngest, reported no erotic experience, and the remaining 5 reported exclusively heterosexual erotic experience and imagery.
PROPERTIES OF K+ CONDUCTANCES IN CAT RETINAL GANGLION CELLS DURING THE PERIOD OF ACTIVITY-MEDIATED REFINEMENTS IN RETINOFUGAL PATHWAYS

During ontogeny retinal ganglion cells manifest pronounced changes in excitable membrane properties. To further our understanding of the ionic conductances underlying such functional changes, the whole-cell voltage-clamp variation of the patch-clamp technique was used to record potassium currents in 220 ganglion cells dissociated from cat retinas ranging in age from embryonic day 31 to postnatal day 10. Potassium currents were isolated by blocking voltage-gated Na+ and Ca2+ currents with tetrodoxin (TTX) and CoCl2 respectively and were characterized by their pharmacology, kinetics and voltage-dependence of activation and inactivation. In all cases, a combination of three currents accounted for the total outward calcium-independent K+ current: (i) a steady linear conductance; (ii) a voltage-gated transient current, IA, and (iii) a voltage-gated sustained current, IK. Both voltage-gated currents were affected by the application of 4-aminopyridine and tetraethylammonia (TEA): IA showed a greater sensitivity to 4-aminopyridine, while IK was more sensitive to TEA. Both voltage-gated currents were present throughout the developmental period examined; however, the percentage of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) expressing IA showed a marked decline from 82% at E31 to 45% at postnatal ages. During this developmental period there was an increase in the density of the two voltage-gated and the linear conductance. Additionally, with maturation, significantly slower inactivation kinetics were observed for IK. These findings, and our previous results dealing with maturational changes in the TTX-sensitive voltage-gated Na current, are related to the generation of excitability in developing retinal ganglion cells. Furthermore, the presence of cells with and without transient K+ conductance throughout development suggests that the different spiking patterns observed in RGC classes may be partially due to differences in their membrane properties.
A comparison of energy expenditure estimates from the Actiheart and Actical physical activity monitors during low intensity activities, walking, and jogging

Combining accelerometry with heart rate monitoring has been suggested to improve energy estimates, however, it remains unclear whether the single, currently existing commercially available device combining these data streams (Actiheart) provides improved energy estimates compared to simpler and less expensive accelerometry-only devices. The purpose of this study was to compare the validity of the heart rate (HR), accelerometry (ACC), and combined ACC/HR estimates of the Actiheart to the ACC estimates of the Actical during low and moderate intensity activities. Twenty-seven participants (mean age 26.3 ± 7.3) wore an Actical, Actiheart and indirect calorimeter (K4b2) while performing card playing, sweeping, lifting weights, walking and jogging activities. All estimates tended to underestimate energy, sometimes by substantial amounts. Viewed across all activities studied, there was no significant difference in the ability of the waist-mounted Actical and torso-mounted Actiheart (ACC, HR, ACC/HR) estimates to predict energy expenditure. However, the Actiheart provided significantly better estimates than the Actical for the activities in which acceleration of the pelvis is not closely related to energy expenditure (card playing, sweeping, lifting weights) and the Actical provided significantly better estimates for level walking and level jogging. Similar to a previous study, the ACC component of the Actiheart was found to be the weakest predictor of energy suggesting it may be responsible for the failure of the combined ACC/HR estimate to equal or better the estimates derived solely from a waist mounted ACC device.
Toxicity of atrazine to the juvenile hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria.

Abstract The herbicide atrazine is one of the most heavily used pesticides in the United States. The effects of atrazine on the clam Mercenaria mercenaria were evaluated in aqueous and sediment laboratory assays. Juvenile clams of approximately 1 mm in size were used for all experiments. An acute aqueous bio-assay was used to determine the 96-h LC50 for the juvenile clams. A chronic aqueous bioassay was conducted at lower atrazine concentrations over a 10-day exposure period to examine both lethal and sublethal (dry mass, shell size, and condition index) endpoints. A chronic sediment bioassay examined mortality and sublethal endpoints in a 10-day exposure. The acute 96-h LC50 was 5608 μg/L with 95% confidence intervals ranging from 5003 to 6287 μg/L. Results of the chronic aqueous assay indicated both lethal and sublethal (reduced shell size) effects at high atrazine concentrations. In the 10-day chronic aqueous assay, the no observable effect concentration was 500 μg/L, the lowest observable effect concentration was 1000 μg/L, and the maximum allowable toxicant concentration (MATC) was 707 μg/L. There were no significant effects of atrazine in the chronic sediment exposure. Safe concentrations for the aqueous experiments were estimated by applying an uncertainty factor of 10 to the calculated MATC values. While there were adverse effects of atrazine at high concentrations, these results suggest that atrazine is not directly toxic to M. mercenaria at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Activity-dependent extracellular K+ accumulation in rat optic nerve: the role of glial and axonal Na+ pumps

1. We measured activity-dependent changes in [K+]o with K(+)-selective microelectrodes in adult rat optic nerve, a CNS white matter tract, to investigate the factors responsible for post-stimulus recovery of [K+]o. 2. Post-stimulus recovery of [K+]o followed a double-exponential time course with an initial, fast time constant, tau fast, of 0.9 +/- 0.2 s (mean +/- S.D.) and a later, slow time constant, tau slow, of 4.2 +/- 1 s following a 1 s, 100 Hz stimulus. tau fast, but not tau slow, decreased with increasing activity-dependent rises in [K+]o. tau slow, but not tau fast, increased with increasing stimulus duration. 3. Post-stimulus recovery of [K+]o was temperature sensitive. The apparent temperature coefficients (Q10, 27-37 degrees C) for the fast and slow components following a 1 s, 100 Hz stimulus were 1.7 and 2.6, respectively. 4. Post-stimulus recovery of [K+]o was sensitive to Na+ pump inhibition with 50 microM strophanthidin. Following a 1 s, 100 Hz stimulus, 50 microM strophanthidin increased tau fast and tau slow by 81 and 464%, respectively. Strophanthidin reduced the temperature sensitivity of post-stimulus recovery of [K+]o. 5. Post-stimulus recovery of [K+]o was minimally affected by the K+ channel blocker Ba2+ (0.2 mM). Following a 10 s, 100 Hz stimulus, 0.2 mM Ba2+ increased tau fast and tau slow by 24 and 18%, respectively. 6. Stimulated increases in [K+]o were followed by undershoots of [K+]o. Post-stimulus undershoot amplitude increased with stimulus duration but was independent of the peak preceding [K+]o increase. 7. These observations imply that two distinct processes contribute to post-stimulus recovery of [K+]o in central white matter. The results are compatible with a model of K+ removal that attributes the fast, initial phase of K+ removal to K+ uptake by glial Na+ pumps and the slower, sustained decline to K+ uptake via axonal Na+ pumps.
A nontangential cutting plane algorithm

One method for solving the Lagrangian dual problem of a convex program is the cutting plane algorithm. Although this algorithm generally requires cuts that are tangential, or nearly so, to the dual function, this paper demonstrates that the algorithm still converges to an optimal solution when cuts are nontangential or generated by not solving the subproblems to optimality or nearly so. Computational results from randomly generated linear and quadratic programming problems indicate that nontangential cuts can lead to a more efficient algorithm.
Human behaviour and disease hazards: Spatial perspectives on rural health

Paper presented to IGU Commission on Rural Development Symposium, Bali, 1977 Human behaviour in a given society and environment can result in behaviour-associated increases or decreases in local disease hazard. Following the concepts of health researchers Jacques May, E.N. Pavlovsky, J. Ralph Audy, and Frederick Dunn and the geographer Torsten Hagerstrand, the identity and spatial distribution of infectious disease hazards generated by normative behaviour of rural-dwelling Ethiopians are delineated. Graphic illustrations represent an Ethiopian highland village environment by a cross section of contact habitat cells. For Ethiopia, the probable disease hazards brought about by human behaviour associate with specific cells of this spatial cross section. The conclusion portrays the utility of identification by geographers of the spatial aspects of these human-generated hazards for improved programs of rural development in Third World areas.
Tocopherol and carotenoid contents of selected Korean fruits and vegetables

Abstract The tocopherol ( α -, γ -, and δ -) and carotenoid ( α -carotene, β -carotene, β -cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene) contents of seven raw fruits and 14 raw or processed (cooked or fermented) vegetables commonly consumed by young children in Kwangju, Republic of Korea, were determined using reversed-phase HPLC. All samples were obtained from three different locations (households or local markets) in Kwangju during summer, 2005. All fruits and vegetables in this study had detectable quantities of α -tocopherol, while many had detectable quantities of γ - and δ -tocopherols. β -carotene was contained in all samples except cooked bracken. Except for sweet potato, all fruits and vegetables contained lutein. β -cryptoxanthin and lycopene were not detected in any of the cooked vegetables in this study. Also, none of the fermented vegetables (kimchi) had detectable levels of zeaxanthin and lycopene. The findings of this study may be valuable for use in Korean and other food composition databases.
Additional Organizational Features of the Murine Folylpolyglutamate Synthetase Gene TWO REMOTELY SITUATED EXONS ENCODING AN ALTERNATE 5′ END AND PROXIMAL OPEN READING FRAME UNDER THE CONTROL OF A SECOND PROMOTER

Nucleotide sequence analysis of independently isolated clones from a mouse liver cDNA library identified two additional splice variants of folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) mRNA with novel sequence at the 5' end. These variants incorporate two new alternatives (exons A1a and A1b) of exon 1 in the murine FPGS gene which are also spliced to exon 2. Exon A1a encodes most of the 5'-untranslated region. Exon A1b encodes a downstream segment of the 5'-untranslated region, two ATG start codons, and a unique mitochondrial leader peptide as well as 15 additional amino acids of cytosolic FPGS not encoded by all previously identified (Roy, K., Mitsugi, K., and Sirotnak, F. M. (1996) J. Biol. Chem., 271, 23820-23827) splice variants. It was also found by direct sequencing of genomic fragments that although exon A1b is spliced to exon 2, these new alternatives (i.e. exons A1a and A1b) to exon 1 are found approximately 9.5 kilobases upstream from exons B1a, B1b, and B1c. Exons A1a and A1b are separated from each other by a 124-nucleotide intron. Sequencing of the region 5' to exon A1a revealed a nucleotide sequence that was promoter-like and different from the downstream promoter region in the content of putative cis-acting elements. Primer extension analysis identified a number of potential transcription start sites within the more 3' end of this region. FPGS RNA transcripts incorporating exons A1a and A1b were detected in both normal mouse tissues, particularly, liver and kidney, and also to a varying extent in tumors; FPGS RNA transcripts incorporating exons B1a, B1b, and B1c were detected mainly in tumors. Thus, transcription of the FPGS gene in this tissue-specific manner appears to reflect the different usage of alternates to exon 1 under the control of different promoters. An unusual splice variant identified infrequently in a mouse liver cDNA library was 2.67 kilobases in size and incorporated exons A1a and A1b and a segment of the downstream promoter region along with exons B1c and B1b and exons 2-15.
Semianalytical technique for sensitivity analysis of unsteady aerodynamic computations

A semianalytical approach is developed for the sensitivity analysis of linear unsteady aerodynamic loads. The semianalytical approach is easier to implement than the analytical approach. It is also computationally less expensive than the finite difference approach when used with panel methods, which require a large number of panels. The semianalytical approach is applied to an isolated airfoil in a 2-D flow and rotating propfan blades in 3-D flow. Sensitivity coefficients with respect to non-shape-dependent variables are shown for some cases. It is expected that the semianalytical approach will be useful in aeroelastic design procedures particularly when mistuning is present, and that it is potentially useful for shape sensitivity analysis of linear unsteady aerodynamics.
The production of strong, broad He ii emission after the tidal disruption of a main-sequence star by a supermassive black hole

The tidal disruption event (TDE) PS1-10jh lacked strong Balmer lines but showed strong, broad, He II emission both before maximum light and for at least 8 months thereafter. Gezari et al. interpreted this as evidence for the disruption of a rare hydrogen-deficient star. However, Guillochon et al. have argued instead that the disrupted star was a normal main-sequence star and that the strength of the He II emission compared with the Balmer lines is a result the emission being similar to the broad-line region (BLR) of an AGN, but lacking the outer, lower-ionization BLR gas. We show that the profile of He II 4686 in PS1-10jh is similar to the blueshifted profiles of high-ionization lines in AGNs. We find an He II 4686/Halpha ratio for PS1-10jh of ~ 3.7. We show that both the high-velocity gas of the inner BLR of normal AGNs and the spectra of type II-P supernovae right after shock break out also produce very high He II 4686/Halpha ratios. A high He II 4686/Halpha ratio can thus be produced with a solar H/He abundance ratio. We demonstrate from photoionization modelling that the estimated He II 4686/Halpha ratio can be produced with a BLR truncated before the He++ Stroemgren length if the density is ~ 10^{11} cm^{-3}. The similarity of the He II 4686 emission in PS1-10jh to the emission from the inner BLRs of AGNs supports the idea that the emission after a TDE event is similar to that of normal AGNs.
Structural stability of C1 diffeomorphisms

Abstract In this paper we prove that if f is a C 1 diffeomorphism that satisfies Axiom A and the strong transversality condition then it is structurally stable. J. Robbin proved this theorem for C 2 diffeomorphisms. In addition to reducing the amount of differentiability necessary to prove the theorem, we also give a new proof combining the d f metric of Robbin with the stable and unstable manifold proof of D. Anosov. We also prove structural stability in the neighborhood of a single hyperbolic basic set (independent of its being part of a diffeomorphism that satisfies Axiom A and the strong transversality condition). These proofs are adapted to prove the structural stability of C 1 flows in another paper.
CIVL: the concurrency intermediate verification language

There are many ways to express parallel programs: message-passing libraries (MPI) and multithreading/GPU language extensions such as OpenMP, Pthreads, and CUDA, are but a few. This multitude creates a serious challenge for developers of software verification tools: it takes enormous effort to develop such tools, but each development effort typically targets one small part of the concurrency landscape, with little sharing of techniques and code among efforts. To address this problem, we present CIVL: the Concurrency Intermediate Verification Language. CIVL provides a general concurrency model capable of representing programs in a variety of concurrency dialects, including those listed above. The CIVL framework currently includes front-ends for the four dialects, and a back-end verifier which uses model checking and symbolic execution to check a number of properties, including the absence of deadlocks, race conditions, assertion violations, illegal pointer dereferences and arithmetic, memory leaks, divisions by zero, and out-of-bound array indexing; it can also check that two programs are functionally equivalent.
Statistical methods for longitudinal research on bipolar disorders.

Objectives: Outcomes research in bipolar disorders, because of complex clinical variation over-time, offers demanding research design and statistical challenges. Longitudinal studies involving relatively large samples, with outcome measures obtained repeatedly over-time, are required. In this report, statistical methods appropriate for such research are reviewed. Methods: Analytic methods appropriate for repeated measures data include: (i) endpoint analysis; (ii) endpoint analysis with last observation carried forward; (iii) summary statistic methods yielding one summary measure per subject; (iv) random effects and generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression modeling methods; and (v) time-to-event survival analyses. Results: Use and limitations of these several methods are illustrated within a randomly selected (33%) subset of data obtained in two recently completed randomized, double blind studies on acute mania. Outcome measures obtained repeatedly over 3 or 4 weeks of blinded treatment in active drug and placebo sub-groups included change-from-baseline Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) scores (continuous measure) and achievement of a clinical response criterion (50% YMRS reduction). Four of the methods reviewed are especially suitable for use with these repeated measures data: (i) the summary statistic method; (ii) random/mixed effects modeling; (iii) GEE regression modeling; and (iv) survival analysis. Conclusions: Outcome studies in bipolar illness ideally should be longitudinal in orientation, obtain outcomes data frequently over extended times, and employ large study samples. Missing data problems can be expected, and data analytic methods must accommodate missingness.