cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Review of the Definitions, Prevalence, and Response to Treatment of Nocturnal Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Background & Aims More than half of patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) report nocturnal symptoms. We performed systematic literature review to define nocturnal heartburn and to determine potential causality between nocturnal reflux and extraesophageal manifestations. Methods We performed a search of literature published from 1974–2007. Each study was examined by 2 reviewers and rated on the basis of study type and outcome. Results Screening of 445 trials identified 59 (13%) studies relevant for analysis. Twenty-two (5%) of the trials described potential changes in sleep parameters resulting from treatment of heartburn. In most studies, nocturnal reflux was defined as heartburn symptoms that impacted sleep quality and duration. On the basis of 5 large population studies, the mean ± standard deviation prevalence of nocturnal heartburn was 54% ± 22%. Consequences of nocturnal reflux included poor sleep quality, daytime fatigue, difficulty initiating sleep or arousals from sleep, and impaired work productivity. The strength of the association between the occurrence of nocturnal reflux and late evening meals was flawed as a result of the confounding effect of the evening meal content. There was no evidence supporting causality between nocturnal heartburn and asthma or obstructive sleep apnea. Subjective, but not objective, measures of sleep improved with antireflux therapy. Head of bed elevation, proton pump inhibitor therapy, H 2 -receptor antagonists, and Nissen fundoplication alleviated nocturnal heartburn and associated sleep disturbances. Conclusions Nocturnal GERD is common and is associated with adverse sleep parameters. It can be effectively managed with medical and surgical therapy.
Elevated levels of eosinophil major basic protein in the sera of patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objective. To examine eosinophil activation, as reflected by evidence of eosinophil degranulation in the blood and affected tissues, in patients with diffuse and limited cutaneous forms of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods. Levels of the eosinophil-derived major basic protein (MBP), a marker of eosinophil degranulation, were determined in sera from 46 SSc patients, from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and giant cell arteritis, and from healthy volunteers, and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 4 SSc patients. Extracellular tissue deposition of MBP was evaluated in biopsy specimens from affected skin or lung of 11 SSc patients. Results. Patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) had elevated serum MBP levels compared with normal individuals (mean ± SD 762 ± 271 ng/ml versus 534 ± 144 ng/ml; P = 0.0004). MBP levels were positively correlated with the extent of cutaneous involvement, and negatively correlated with pulmonary function and duration of disease (r = –0.20). By immunohistochemical analysis, modest extracellular MBP deposition could be demonstrated in involved skin in 7 of 10 biopsy specimens, and MBP staining was prominent in affected lung tissues in 2 patients. Conclusion. Eosinophil degranulation appears to be increased in some patients with dcSSc, as indicated by elevated serum levels of MBP and extracellular accumulation of MBP in the lung. Eosinophil granule proteins may contribute to the development of cutaneous and pulmonary fibrosis in SSc.
Terahertz spectroscopic investigation of S-(+)-ketamine hydrochloride and vibrational assignment by density functional theory.

The terahertz (THz) spectrum of (S)-(+)-ketamine hydrochloride has been investigated from 10 to 100 cm−1 (0.3−3.0 THz) at both liquid-nitrogen (78 K) and room (294 K) temperatures. Complete solid-state density functional theory structural analyses and normal-mode analyses are performed using a single hybrid density functional (B3LYP) and three generalized gradient approximation density functionals (BLYP, PBE, PW91). An assignment of the eight features present in the well-resolved cryogenic spectrum is provided based upon solid-state predictions at a PW91/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. The simulations predict that a total of 13 infrared-active vibrational modes contribute to the THz spectrum with 26.4% of the spectral intensity originating from external lattice vibrations.
Enhancing accuracy of drape simulation. Part II: Optimized drape simulation using industry-specific software

Abstract Three-dimensional virtual representations of fabrics are done based on mass-spring modeling, which represents cloth as a mesh of particles connected by springs. The spring constant values input to the model correspond to the mechanical properties of the modeled fabric. For apparel, these representations have been incorporated into commercial software packages for use in design and development of garments. However, fabric mechanical property values as derived using industry test methods cannot be input directly into the commercial software to produce simulations that accurately represent a specific fabric. A systematic way of selecting input parameters to a particle model was developed by comparing the drape of circular fabric samples whose mechanical properties were measured by the Kawabata evaluation system to simulations produced by the particle model using methods developed in Part I of this paper. Also, a relationship was developed between measured fabric mechanical properties and simulation ...
Cognitive and behavioral outcomes in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes

Abstract We review the evidence that BECTS may be associated with cognitive dysfunction and behavioral problems, the extent to which these problems may be associated with patterns of EEG abnormalities in BECTS, and the impact of antiepileptic medication on cognition and behavior in BECTS. A growing literature examining cognitive and behavioral outcomes suggests that children with BECTS perform below the level of their peers. Consistent with this, neuroimaging studies reveal that BECTS has an impact on structural and functional brain development, but the potential influence of frequency and lateralization of centrotemporal spikes (CTS) on cognition and behavior is not well understood. Treatment with AEDs is an option in BECTS, but existing studies have not clearly shown a clear relationship between elimination of CTS and improved cognitive or behavioral outcomes.
Enhanced neuronal differentiation of NTera-2 cells expressing neuronally restricted β2 adrenergic receptor

NTera-2/D1 (NT2) is a human teratocarcinoma cell line which can be cultured as a dividing population of precursor cells that can be manipulated with retinoic acid (RA) to yield post-mitotic neurons. Precursor cells were transfected with the human β2 adrenergic receptor, controlled by the neuronal cell specific rat synapsin-1 promoter. Transfected precursor cells did not display elevated expression of the β2 adrenergic receptor. Upon differentiation to a neuronal phenotype with RA, βSyn2 and βSyn4 (β2Syn-NT2; ATCC CRL-12356) displayed elevated β2 adrenergic receptor levels, and an elevated coupling to cAMP production. It was also observed that the elevated expression of the β2 adrenergic receptor in the neuronal NT2 cells resulted in an enhanced level of neuronal differentiation compared to the wild type cells. These results demonstrate that the neuronally restricted expression of the human β2 adrenergic receptor in NT2 neurons results in increased receptor levels and receptor stimulated generation of cAMP, this may result in the observed improvement in neuronal differentiation.
Women in the field of control systems

This article focuses on six women who made important contributions to the control systems field. For each, biographical data is provided, as well as a sketch of their research interests and accomplishments. All of these women had to make their way in a field dominated by men. They are: Irmgard Flugge-Lotz (1903-1974); Violet Haas (1928-1986); Faina M. Kirillova (b.1931); Makiko Nisio (b.1931); Huashu Qin; and Jane Cullum.
Flux vector formulation for photon propagation in the biological tissue

We present a generalized delta-Eddington phase function to simplify the radiative transfer equation to an integral equation with respect to the photon flux vector. The solution of the integral equation is highly accurate to model the photon propagation in the biological tissue over a broad range of optical parameters, especially in the visible light spectrum where the diffusion approximation breaks down. The methodology is validated in the Monte Carlo simulation and can be applied in various optical imaging applications.
Integration of a fuel cell into the power system using an optimal controller based on disturbance accommodation control theory

Abstract In this paper, the integration of a fuel cell into the power system is treated as a load frequency control (LFC) problem with the fuel cell acting as a load disturbance source. The integration of a fuel cell into the power system results into a change in real power. But changes in real power affect the system frequency. Thus, the integration will result into a change of frequency of the synchronous machines. Hence, we need to design a control scheme for keeping the system in the steady state. An optimal controller based on the disturbance accommodation control (DAC) theory is proposed for this load frequency control problem. For demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed controller, we have considered a two-area power system with the fuel cell introduced in area 1. The fuel cell is considered as an external disturbance to each subsystem. A mathematical model is derived for each subsystem and based upon these models controllers are designed for keeping each subsystem stable, which in turn stabilizes the overall system. So, the proposed controller is decentralized in nature. To account for the modeling uncertainties, an observer is designed to estimate each subsystem’s own and interfacing variables. The controller uses these estimates to optimize a given performance index and allocate generating unit outputs according to the requirements.
Regional distribution of neural cell adhesion molecule (N‐CAM) and L1 in human and rodent hippocampus

Cell surface adhesion molecules N-CAM and L1 are implicated in central nervous system (CNS) cell migration and axon outgrowth in in vitro and in vivo developmental studies. These molecules show a differential distribution during CNS development, thus suggesting that they subserve different roles in process outgrowth and tissue organization. A variety of N-CAM isoforms are known, and individual N-CAMs undergo posttranslational modification. Such changes and the potential for generating numerous molecules may mediate development of specific neural cell contacts and circuitry. We evaluated immunohistochemical staining of polyclonal antibodies to L1 and N-CAM, as well as monoclonal antibodies directed against embryonic N-CAM and the 140 and 180 kDa species of N-CAM in human, rat, and mouse hippocampus. Staining patterns in the three species were qualitatively similar, but staining in the mouse hippocampus was quantitatively greater for some epitopes. A distinctive pattern of staining was found, corresponding to the known anatomy of the structure. Total N-CAM staining was intense in the hilus and inner molecular layer (ML) of the dentate gyrus with lighter staining in the dentate outer ML. The mossy fiber tract (MFT), comprising axons traveling from the dentate granule cells to CA3 pyramidal cells, was strongly stained by polyclonal antibody to N-CAM. There was abundant staining of the stratum radiatum (SR) and stratum oriens (SO) of CA1, but stratum lacunosum moleculare (LM) showed very little staining. The monoclonal antibody 12F11, which recognizes the 140 and 180 kDa forms of N-CAM, intensely stained the MFT, hilus, and inner ML.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Large-scale effects of transcriptional DNA supercoiling in vivo.

Abstract The scale of negative DNA supercoiling generated by transcription in Top+Escherichia coli cells was assessed from the efficiency of cruciform formation upstream of a regulated promoter. An increase in negative supercoiling upon promoter induction led to cruciform formation, which was quantitatively measured by chemical probing of intracellular DNA. By placing a cruciform-forming sequence at varying distances from the promoter, we found that the half-dissociation length of transcription supercoiling wave is ≈800 bp. This is the first proof that transcription can affect DNA structure on such a remarkably large scale in vivo. Moreover, cooperative binding of the cI repressor to the upstream promoter DNA did not preclude efficient diffusion of transcriptional supercoiling. Finally, our plasmids appeared to contain discrete domains of DNA supercoiling, defined by the features and relative orientation of different promoters.
Some thoughts on allocation of reliability

Abstract The technical feasibility of allocating reliability to reactor systems, subsystems, components, and structures is discussed in this paper. The basic premise for this analysis is that a set of objective functions or safety variables has been defined on a global basis for a class of nuclear power plants. The decision variables, which represent the system, subsystem, component, and structural reliabilities are related to the global objective functions by a risk model obtained from an existing plant-specific probabilistic risk assessment (PRA). A multiobjective optimization technique is employed to obtain the set of decision variables which optimize (minimize) all of the objective functions. A cost function is introduced (and incorporated in the optimization scheme) which measures the cost of increasing reliability. Illustrative calculations were performed for a boiling water reactor with an existing PRA.
Ultrasound detection of bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis: a comparison to routine radiographs of the hands and feet

To determine if ultrasound (US) of selected joints in the hands and feet can detect more erosions than radiography and establish the presence of erosive disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Eighty joints in ten patients with RA and 40 joints in five healthy control subjects, who were age, gender and ethnicity-matched to the patients with arthritis, were prospectively studied with radiographs and sonography. Conventional radiographs of the hands and feet were obtained. US examinations of the 2nd and 5th metacarpal-phalangeal (MCP) joints of the hands, and the 1st and 5th metatarsal-phalangeal (MTP) joints of the feet were performed. Radiographs and US exams were independently graded for the presence of erosions. None of the control subjects had erosions. US detected erosions in 17/80, and radiographs detected erosions in 6/80 joints assessed with both modalities. US detected all erosions seen by radiographs in these selected joints. Erosive disease was present in the radiographs of seven of ten RA patients. US established erosive disease in eight of ten RA patients. US determined erosive disease in two of the three patients without radiographic erosions. US of the MTP and MCP joints in RA can detect erosions not seen with radiography and may be complementary to radiography in establishing the presence of erosive disease in early RA.
Preimaginal Development, Survival, and Field Abundance of Insect Predators on Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis Corn

Laboratory studies determined the effects of feeding corn, Zea mays L., pollen expressing a Cry1Ab protein derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) subsp. kurstaki on 3 predatory species: Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Orius insidiosus Say (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae), and Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). No acute detrimental effects of the transgenic B. thuringiensis pollen (Cry1Ab protein) on preimaginal development and survival were observed among these predators. The following percentage survival values (±SE) were observed: C. maculata , 89 ± 2.2% ( B. thuringiensis corn pollen), 69 ± 5.9% (non- B. thuringiensis corn pollen); O. insidiosus , 63 ± 12% ( B. thuringiensis corn pollen), 44 ± 10.2% (non- B. thuringiensis corn pollen); and C. carnea , 49 ± 3.5% ( B. thuringiensis and non- B. thuringiensis corn pollen). No detrimental effects were observed in the abundance of Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) predators (coccinellids, anthocorids, chrysopids) in B. thuringiensis corn compared with non- B. thuringiensis corn during 2 yr of field evaluations. Predator numbers observed before, during, and after pollen shed suggest that B. thuringiensis corn pollen will not affect natural enemy movement in corn. Additional studies are needed to test for chronic and reproductive effects over several generations before concluding that transgenic B. thuringiensis corn pollen has no effect on insect predators.
Silicon Carbide Emitter Turn-off Thyristor, A Promising Technology For High Voltage and High Frequency Applications

A novel MOS-controlled SiC thyristor device, the SiC emitter turn-off thyristor (ETO), as a promising technology for future high voltage high frequency switching applications has been developed. The world's first 4.5-kV SiC p type ETO prototype based on a 0.36 cm2 SiC p type GTO shows a forward voltage drop of 4.6 V at a current density of 25 A/cm2 and a turn-off energy loss of 9.88 mJ. The low loss indicates that the SiC ETO could operate at a 4 kHz frequency with a conventional thermal management system. This frequency capability is about 4 times higher than the 4.5-kV-class silicon power devices. The numerical simulations have been carried out to discuss the potential improvement of the high voltage (10-kV) SiC ETOs. The results show that the 10-kV SiC n type ETO has much better trade-off performance than that of the p type ETO due to a smaller current gain of the internal lower (PNP) bipolar transistor in the SiC n type GTO. The experimental and theoretical studies show that the SiC ETO is a promising candidate for high-voltage (≫ 5-kV) high-frequency power conversion applications.
Seducing the Elites: The Politics of Decision Making and Innovation in Organizational Network

The success or failure of innovative ventures depends largely upon gaining and holding the support of organizational elites. This article presents analysis and strategies to elicit elite support initially, and develops the innovator's role in maintaining elite support for the innovation until its eventual implementation.
Mean Annual Egg Weight in Relation to Mean Weight of First Ten Eggs Laid

Abstract A STUDY of the relationship between the mean weight of the first ten eggs and the mean weight of all eggs laid by birds in their first year of laying is of practical importance for two reasons. In the first place, it would be highly valuable to know what the average weight of the first ten eggs laid should be in order that the mean annual egg weight might approximate 56.7 grams per egg, which represents the standard market weight. In the second place, if it could be determined that the mean weight of the first ten eggs laid by a bird was of such a low order as to probably preclude such a bird from laying even a reasonable proportion of standard weight eggs during her first laying year, she could be eliminated from the breeding flock as soon as she had laid ten eggs. A number of investigators . . .
Identification of quantum dot bioconjugates and cellular protein co-localization by hybrid gel blotting

New approaches are needed to address the interaction of nanoparticles and cellular proteins at the molecular level. We present a modification of PAGE co-immunoprecipitation, QD-based PA-AGE electrophoresis blotting, and apply this to identify quantum dot (QD) bioconjugate-cellular protein association. This method provides the capability to isolate and evaluate the action of QD bioconjugate-protein complexes in intact cells and to correlate these identified interactions with their location in cells.
Time series modelling of strong ground motion from multiple event earthquakes

Abstract Large earthquakes are often made up of several subevents. Thus the cumulative damage is higher than for single event earthquakes. Many procedures have been developed to simulate earthquake ground motion occurring from a single energy release; however, procedures to model accelerograms with several periods of strong shaking and to relate the modelling parameters to physical variables have not been developed. In this research, a database of strong motion accelerograms from multiple event earthquakes (including the 1978 Miyagiken-Oki earthquake) the 1968 Tokachi-Oki earthquake, the 1983 Nihonkai-Chubu earthquake, and the 1985 Michoacan earthquake) was modelled by an ARMA process, after first processing the records with multivariate variance and frequency stabilizing transformations. The modelling parameters were related to the time, magnitude and location of each subevent and to the site conditions using a regression analysis.
Psychology and Financial Decisions: A Literature Assessment

A common finding of many surveys of corporate financial management practice is that the actual usage of normative financial models is infrequent. This is mainly due to the complexity of the decision environment, the use of information processing heuristics by decision makers, and the presence of psychological factors that influence the decision maker's behaviour. This paper reviews certain psychological concepts and their effects on the validity of traditional fundamental analysis in finance. Second, it discusses how cognitive limitations of human information processing may interfere with the implementation of certain decision rules in financial management, especially when decision makers experience information overload. Third, it provides a review of the advances that have been suggested to overcome the cognitive limitations of human information processing and to evaluate whether such advances can circumvent the psychological biases inherent in human decision makers.
An approximate analytical solution of the problem of melting and evaporation during disruptions in magnetic fusion reactors

Abstract An approximate analytical solution of the problem of melting and evaporation during disruptions in magnetic fusion reactors is developed via a technique known as the heat balance integral method. The heat balance integral method has been used successfully in the past in analyzing a variety of heat transfer problems, and is particularly well suited to handle nonlinear boundary value problems such as the one considered in this paper. The results obtained with this approach are then compared with results generated via a numerical techniques based computer code developed elsewhere. It is found that the results obtained via this method are quite reasonable in view of the assumptions made in developing the solution. In addition, some tentative approximate scaling laws are derived.
Current concepts in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Abstract The “chain of survival” is important in the resuscitation of a patient who has had a cardiac arrest. The provision of Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is essential in this “chain of survival”. Both BLS and ACLS have undergone several revisions since their initial inception. This article reviews (1) the current established and investigational issues of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, (2) the incidence and outcomes of anesthesia-related cardiac arrest, (3) the use of cardiopulmonary bypass in resuscitation, and (4) cerebral protection during and after resuscitation.
Synchroneity of cratonic burial phases and gaps in the kimberlite record: Episodic magmatism or preservational bias?

Abstract A variety of models are used to explain an apparent episodicity in kimberlite emplacement. Implicit in these models is the assumption that the preserved kimberlite record is largely complete. However, some cratons now mostly devoid of Phanerozoic cover underwent substantial Phanerozoic burial and erosion episodes that should be considered when evaluating models for global kimberlite distributions. Here we show a broad temporal coincidence between regional burial phases inferred from thermochronology and gaps in the kimberlite record in the Slave craton, Superior craton, and cratonic western Australia. A similar pattern exists in the Kaapvaal craton, although its magmatic, deposition, and erosion history differs in key ways from the other localities. One explanation for these observations is that there is a common cause of cratonic subsidence and suppression of kimberlite magmatism. Another possibility is that some apparent gaps in kimberlite magmatism are preservational artifacts. Even if kimberlites occurred during cratonic burial phases, the largest uppermost portions of the pipes would have been subsequently eroded along with the sedimentary rocks into which they were emplaced. In this model, kimberlite magmatism was more continuous than the preserved record suggests, implying that evidence for episodicity in kimberlite genesis should be carefully evaluated in light of potential preservational bias effects. Either way, the correlation between burial and kimberlite gaps suggests that cratonic surface histories are important for understanding global kimberlite patterns.
FFT-truncated multilevel interpolation method for wellbore resistivity simulations of hydrofractures

The FFT-truncated multilevel interpolation method is used to accelerate the solution of the volume electric field integral equation pertinent to the simulation of wellbore resistivity measurements of hydraulic fractures. The scattering problem includes geometrical features at multiple length scales and the analysis is in the mixed-frequency regime, where the discretization lengths are dictated not just by the wavelengths/skin depths but also by the geometrical features. Numerical results validate the method's accuracy and efficiency.
Reparenting in the therapeutic relationship with a birth parent: A case

This paper discusses work with a parent in a foster care situation. A case example is used to demonstrate the value of a model of a parentchild relationship for therapeutic work with seemingly unmotivated clients such as parents whose child is in foster care.
A mathematical model for the determination of viscoelastic behavior of brain in vivo—I Oscillatory response

In a recent experiment for determining the mechanical response of brain in vivo, a probe, inserted through scalp, skull and dura, is placed in contact with and normal to the brain, given a prescribed motion, and the time variation of corresponding force is measured. In the corresponding continuum mechanical model, brain is idealized as a linear isotropic viscoelastic solid constrained by a rigid skull. At the mating surface, the shear stress and normal displacement vanish everywhere except under the probe which exerts a local radial displacement. This model introduces effective viscoelastic moduli in shear, which is unknown, and in dilation, which is considered known from other sources. Part I of this study considers steady oscillations of the probe. A transcendental equation for the complex shear modulus is established in terms of probe displacement and force amplitude ratio and phase lag and is solved for specific test data. The corresponding stress and displacement fields are evaluated so that the probe influence may be assessed.
Comments on ICRU Report No. 49: Stopping Powers and Ranges for Protons and Alpha Particles

The International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) published Report No. 49, Stopping Powers and Ranges for Protons and Alpha Particles, in 1993. Since the report shows only limited comparisons to experimental data, this Commentary discusses limits on the accuracy of its tables. Some of the stopping tabulations appear to have unusual variations for high energies (>1 MeV/nucleon) of the order of 2-4%, while the lower energies have possible errors of 10-20% for those targets which were not fitted with new data.
COMBINATION OF MULTIPLE FEATURE SELECTION METHODS FOR TEXT CATEGORIZATION BY USING COMBINATORIAL FUSION ANALYSIS AND RANK-SCORE CHARACTERISTIC

Effective feature selection methods are important for improving the efficiency and accuracy of text categorization algorithms by removing redundant and irrelevant terms from the corpus. Extensive research has been done to improve the performance of individual feature selection methods. However, it is always a challenge to come up with an individual feature selection method which would outperform other methods in most cases. In this paper, we explore the possibility of improving the overall performance by combining multiple individual feature selection methods. In particular, we propose a method of combining multiple feature selection methods by using an information fusion paradigm, called Combinatorial Fusion Analysis (CFA). A rank-score function and its associated graph, called rank-score graph, are adopted to measure the diversity of different feature selection methods. Our experimental results demonstrated that a combination of multiple feature selection methods can outperform a single method only if each individual feature selection method has unique scoring behavior and relatively high performance. Moreover, it is shown that the rank-score function and rank-score graph are useful for the selection of a combination of feature selection methods.
Sustained unilateral blockade of rat striatal M1 muscarinic receptors with m1-toxin1 in vivo

Abstract m1-Toxin1 is a trace component of the venom of the green mamba that antagonizes M1 muscarinic receptors specifically and irreversibly in vitro. It was injected into the right caudatoputamen of Wistar rats to occlude M1 receptors specifically for several days (‘M1 knockdown’), and to begin to establish the unknown effects of striatal M1-neurotransmission on movement. The extent and duration of M1-blockade were evaluated with receptor binding assays and light microscopic autoradiography, using 1–2 nM [3H]pirenzepine to assess unoccupied M1 receptors. An injection of 27 pmol m1-toxin1 blocked almost all of the M1 receptors in one caudatoputamen (4 pmol), followed by their slow recovery to supranormal levels (115%) during a week. During maximum M1-blockade, the binding of 1 nM [3H]N-methylscopolamine to striatal membranes was reduced by only half, indicating no blockade of M4 receptors, which comprise 51% of striatal muscarinic receptors. It is concluded that m1-toxin1 can produce acute, focal, selective, unilateral and long-lasting M1-blockade for investigations of the effects of M1-neurotransmission in vivo. Rats with extensive unilateral striatal M1-blockade appeared normal, and did not show unilateral deficits in spontaneous forearm use, in contrast to rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the substantia nigra. Since M1-blockade should decrease the activity of both striatonigral and striatopallidal projection neurons, and the relative activity of these neurons is believed to control movement, the results suggest that a balanced decrease in the activity of these neurons on one side of the brain does not produce a right/left imbalance in spontaneous movement.
CONSTANT PROPAGATION IN A HIERARCHICAL INTERMEDIATE PROGRAM REPRESENTATION

A crucial problem in parallelizing compiler design is the choice of a suitable Intermediate Representation (IR) to make parallelism detection and extraction easy and possible. Dependence graphs have long been recognized as useful tools for this aim. Several versions were proposed [1,4,6,20], which encapsulate relations of data dependence, control dependence or both. They were also used in conventional optimizations, but always coupled with the traditional Control Flow Graph (CFG). However, it would be preferable to apply both conventional and parallelizing optimizations to the same IR. Recently, some attempts were made to use dependence graphs as a unifying framework on which all types of optimization [4] are applied. This is one of the aims of our work in this research area. We started working on the well known Hierarchical Task Graph (HTG) of Polychronopoulos and Girkar [6,7,8]. The HTG, by definition, is an acyclic and then a reducible graph. In fact it is built from a CFG arranged hierarchically around loops with all loop back edges removed. This CFG is then enriched with control and data dependence information (edges). Our proposal is an extension of the HTG, named Extended Hierarchical Task Graph (EHTG), that is a HTG where data dependence edges are annotated with a boolean branch path expression indicating the CFG paths through which the data dependences are established. We developed two algorithms of constant propagation (used for dead code elimination) running directly on our EHTG without using the traditional CFG. The two algorithms can be applied only to sequential programs whose parallelism is represented by the HTG structure. They are not suited to perform constant propagation on explicitly parallel programs [12]. Complexity and correctness of the algorithms are analyzed and we also prove that one of them has the same complexity and finds the same class of constants as the well known Wegman & Zadeck constant propagation algorithm [20], that uses a hybrid sparse representation.
Effects of Self-Hypnosis Training and EMG Biofeedback Relaxation Training on Chronic Pain in Persons with Spinal-Cord Injury

Thirty-seven adults with spinal-cord injury and chronic pain were randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of self-hypnosis (HYP) or EMG biofeedback relaxation (BIO) training for pain management. Participants in both treatment conditions reported substantial, but similar, decreases in pain intensity from before to after the treatment sessions. However, participants in the HYP condition, but not the BIO condition, reported statistically significant decreases in daily average pain pre- to posttreatment. These pre- to posttreatment decreases in pain reported by the HYP participants were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Participants in the HYP condition, but not the BIO condition, also reported significant pre- to posttreatment increases in perceived control over pain, but this change was not maintained at the 3-month follow-up.
Empowering Parents in the College-Planning Process: An Action-Inquiry Case Study.

Involving parents in the college-planning process is essential to increasing access for students from low-income communities of color. Using the action inquiry model, we explore how collaboration between a school district and a university can empower parents to engage in meaningful conversations and planning related to college access. This qualitative case study draws from 3 years of data gathered from the development and implementation of a college-access program designed for underperforming middle and high school students who would be first-generation college students. Our findings suggest that parents want access to specific information, desire a deeper connection with other parents going through the process, and lack proper knowledge to feel empowered to lead discussions with their children.
Significance of signet ring cells in high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma of the peritoneum from appendiceal origin

Significance of signet ring cells in mucinous adenocarcinoma of the peritoneum from appendiceal origin has never been specifically studied. We retrospectively reviewed cases of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the peritoneum from appendiceal origin (n = 55) and collected clinical follow-up data. Signet ring cells were identified in 29 of 55 cases. No low-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma case (n = 11) had signet ring cells, whereas 29 of 44 high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma cases did. Cases of high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma were subdivided into 3 groups: (1) high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma without signet ring cells (n = 15), (2) high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells only within mucin pools (n = 20), and (3) high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells invading tissue (n = 9). Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival were subsequently evaluated. Five-year OS for cases of high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma without signet ring cells and high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells within mucin pools were similar at 31.8% (SE, 14.4%) and 35.8% (SE, 13.9%), respectively. A significant survival difference was seen for cases of high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells invading tissue with a median OS of 0.5 years versus 2.9 and 2.4 years (P = .04 and P = .03), respectively, for cases of high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma without signet ring cells and high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells within mucin pools. Finding signet ring cells floating in extracellular mucin pools made no prognostic difference when compared with cases of high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma without signet ring cells. In contrast, high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells invading tissue was significant for worse survival, and thus, we propose reporting signet ring cell tissue invasion particularly when extensive.
Epitaxial Growth of Metastable SnχGe1-χ Alloy Films by Ion-Assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy

The group IV metastable SnχGe1-χ alloy system is an interesting semiconductor material with potential applications in the fabrication of Si-based heterojunctions and long wavelength infrared optoelectronic devices. Band structure calculations have suggested that the SnχGe1-χ alloys may have direct energy gaps continuously tunable from 0.55 eV to 0 eV for compositions χ from 0.2 to 0.6 with very small electron effective masses and hence high electron mobilities. However, synthesis of SnχGeχ-1 alloy films in the direct gap composition range by conventional epitaxial or poly crystalline thin film growth techniques have not been successful due to the severe surface segregation of Sn during the film growth. In this work, we report the synthesis of epitaxial SnχGeχ-1/Ge/Si(001) with compositions up to χ = 0.34 by ion-assisted molecular beam epitaxy with 30–100 eV Ar+ ions produced by an electron cyclotron resonance ionization source with ion to atom flux ratios of the order of unity in the substrate temperature range of 120 °C to 200 °C. High flux low energy ion beam irradiation greatly inhibits Sn segregation without interrupting epitaxy. In situ reflection high energy electron diffraction as well as x-ray rocking curve indicated epitaxial SnχGeχ-1 alloy films, and Rutherford backscattering spectra confirmed the SnχGeχ-1 alloy compositions and indicated an absence of Sn segregation.
Anger in Children’s Tantrums: A New, Quantitative, Behaviorally Based Model

Because excessive anger in early childhood can predict later psychopathology, quantifying its intensity and time course is clinically important. Anger consists of a set of experiential, physiological, and behavioral responses whose coherence is sufficient to justify the assumption of a common latent variable that can vary in intensity. The relationships between anger intensity and various anger-driven behaviors in children’s tantrums are probabilistic, nonlinear, and different for each individual behavior. Although any one behavior can provide only a partial and indirect measure of anger intensity, the entire trajectory of anger across the tantrum may be reconstructed by combining the observed temporal distributions of the various behaviors. In particular, we observed that behaviors characteristic of lower intensities of anger tend to occur at both the beginning and the end of tantrums while behaviors linked to higher intensities of anger are distributed around a single early peak. Accordingly, our anger intensity-behavioral linkage function model reconstructs a single, common, latent anger intensity variable, MA(t), whose rise and fall controls the momentary probability of eight angry tantrum behaviors through linkage functions that are unique to each behavior. We introduce the MA50 as a practical measure of the “characteristic” intensity of the eight angry behaviors and note how the model may inform study of the neural substrates of anger.
Considerations for the use of short-acting opioids in general anesthesia

Anesthesiologists play a critical role in facilitating a positive perioperative experience and early recovery for patients. Depending on the kind of procedure or surgery, a wide variety of agents and techniques are currently available to anesthesiologists to administer safe and efficacious anesthesia. Notably, the fast-track or ambulatory surgery environment requires the use of agents that enable rapid induction, maintenance, and emergence combined with minimal adverse effects. Short-acting opioids demonstrate a safe and rapid onset/offset of effect; that short effect is both predictable and precise. It also ensures easier titration and reduced or rapidly reversed side effects. Due to their distinct pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, and, in one case, rapid extra-hepatic clearance of remifentanil, these agents have several applications in general anesthesia.
Evaluation of two rapid assays for detection of Clostridium difficile toxin A in stool specimens.

Rapid laboratory diagnosis of Clostridium difficile -associated diarrhea (CDAD) is highly desirable in the setting of hospital cost containment. We tested 654 stool specimens to compare the performance of two assays for rapid detection of toxin A, the Immunocard Toxin A test (Meridian Diagnostics, Inc.) and the Culturette Brand Toxin CD enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Becton Dickinson Microbiology Systems), with a cytotoxin assay (Cytotoxi Test; Advanced Clinical Diagnostics) and culture on cycloserine-cefoxitin-fructose agar followed by determination of the production of toxins A and B. A chart review was performed for patients whose stool specimens provided positive results on one to three of the assays. With the “gold standard” of all four assays positive or chart review evidence of CDAD, 97 (14.8%) stool specimens were positive by one or more assays and 557 (85.2%) were negative by all methods. Total agreement for all assays was 90.5% (592 of 654). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for toxigenic culture were 94.7, 98.6, 87.1, and 99.5%, respectively, for toxigenic culture; 87.7, 98.6, 86.2, and 98.8%, respectively, for the cytotoxin assay; 71.9, 99.3, 91.1, and 97.3%, respectively, for the Immunocard; and 68.4, 99.1, 88.6, and 96.9%, respectively, for the Culturette EIA. While easy to perform and highly specific, these rapid assays do not appear to be sufficient for accurate diagnosis of CDAD.
Nash equilibrium seeking for games with non-quadratic payoffs

We introduce a non-model based approach for asymptotic, locally stable attainment of Nash equilibria in static noncooperative games with N players. In classical game theory algorithms, each player employs the knowledge of both the functional form of its payoff and the other players' actions. The proposed algorithm, in which the players only measure their own payoff values, is based on the so-called “extremum seeking” approach, which has previously been developed for standard optimization problems and employs sinusoidal perturbations to estimate the gradient. We consider static games where the players seek to maximize their non-quadratic payoff functions. Since non-quadratic payoffs create the possibility of multiple, isolated Nash equilibria, our convergence results are local. Specifically, the attainment of any particular Nash equilibrium is not assured for all initial conditions, but only for initial conditions in a set around that specific stable Nash equilibrium. For non-quadratic payoffs, the convergence to a Nash equilibrium is not perfect, but is biased in proportion to the perturbation amplitudes and the third derivatives of the payoff functions. We quantify the size of these residual biases
Relationships Between Wisconsin Mastitis Test Scores and Cell Counts in Milk

Abstract Wisconsin Mastitis Test (WMT) scores and cell content were determined on milk samples of quarter and tank origin over a period of five days. Wisconsin Mastitis Test scores utilized for analysis ranged from 4 to 34 and cell content of the samples from 87,000 to approximately 4million per ml. The relationship between WMT score and cell content was the same for milk of quarter or tank origin when the samples were of similar age, except possibly for tank milk collected on a 48-hr pickup schedule. A direct relationship between WMT score and cell content was obtained when the cell content, divided by 10 5 , was converted to its common logarithm and then plotted against the WMT score. The conversion of WMT score to cell content as originally suggested was found to underestimate the cell content of the sample by approximately 38%. Our best estimate of the line of regression for WMT scores on cell content of milk 0–24 hr old is Y WMT = 0.352 + 21.17 log 10 (cells×10 −5 ). Wisconsin Mastitis Test score and cell content of milk did not decrease proportionately with age of milk and scores decreased faster than cell numbers. Therefore, the estimated line of regression for fresh milk cannot be used for milk older than 24 hr, if an estimate of the original cell content of the milk is desired. The regression line Y WMT = −.231 + 19.51 log 10 (cells×10 −5 ) is our best estimate for converting WMT scores of milk between 25 and 48 hr old to cell content at time of milking. Additional regression lines are presented for older milk and for comparison between laboratories. Implications of the changing relationship between WMT score and cell content of milk samples are discussed.
Intraoperative pressure sore prevention: An analysis of bedding materials

The relationship between operating room (OR) table surfaces and skin integrity was examined. Preoperatively, patients (N = 505) were rated for pressure sore potential (Hemphill); postoperatively, skin condition was assessed. Skin changes were more likely with a standard mattress only or with surgery longer than 2.5 hr. The overlay was more effective than the foam and gel or standard foam mattresses for preventing pressure sore formation. Factors predictive of pressure sore development included surgery of 2.5+ hr, 40+ years, vascular disease, and a preoperative Hemphill value of 4+. Patient characteristics, surgical experience variables, and OR table surfaces are determinants in pressure sore development.
Parameter determination of Photovoltaic Cells from field testing data using particle swarm optimization

This paper presents a swarm intelligence approach to extract equivalent circuit parameters of Photovoltaic (PV) Cells. The circuit model of a PV cell is non-linear and transcendental, which makes it difficult to solve using conventional numerical methods. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) was applied to extract the solar cell parameters. It has been confirmed that the proposed approach can obtain good parameter precision under the variations of solar insolation and environmental temperature.
Thrombin activates a membrane-associated calcium-independent PLA2 in ventricular myocytes

Activation of phospholipase A2(PLA2) and accumulation of lysophosphatidylcholine contribute importantly to arrhythmogenesis during acute myocardial ischemia. We examined thrombin stimulation of PLA...
Sugar promotes vegetative phase change in Arabidopsis thaliana by repressing the expression of MIR156A and MIR156C

Nutrients shape the growth, maturation, and aging of plants and animals. In plants, the juvenile to adult transition (vegetative phase change) is initiated by a decrease in miR156. In Arabidopsis, we found that exogenous sugar decreased the abundance of miR156, whereas reduced photosynthesis increased the level of this miRNA. This effect was correlated with a change in the timing of vegetative phase change, and was primarily attributable to a change in the expression of two genes, MIR156A and MIR156C, which were found to play dominant roles in this transition. The glucose-induced repression of miR156 was dependent on the signaling activity of HEXOKINASE1. We also show that the defoliation-induced increase in miR156 levels can be suppressed by exogenous glucose. These results provide a molecular link between nutrient availability and developmental timing in plants, and suggest that sugar is a component of the leaf signal that mediates vegetative phase change. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00260.001.