cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic-Assisted Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Postoperative Pain Control in Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) is associated with considerable postoperative pain. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks have proven effective in controlling postoperative pain in a variety of laparoscopic abdominal operations. To date, no studies have focused on TAP blocks in LVHR. Our goal was to assess whether TAP blocks reduce opioid requirements and pain scores after LVHR. Study Design Patients undergoing LVHR were randomly assigned to receive a TAP block or placebo injection. The primary end points were cumulative opioid use at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours postoperatively and pain scores recorded at 1 and 24 hours postoperatively. Results Patients in the experimental TAP group (n = 52) and control group (n = 48) were comparable with respect to patient demographics and clinical characteristics. In the postanesthesia care unit, the TAP group had significantly lower pain scores than the control group (p 0.05). Conclusions Transversus abdominis plane blocks given during LVHR significantly decrease both short-term postoperative opioid use and pain experienced by patients.
Potentiation of epinephrine effects by flavonoid compounds.

IT has been suggested1 that one of the biological roles of substances having so-called ‘vitamin P' action is their ability to protect epinephrine (or syrnpathin) from destruction in the body by combining with copper. This is believed to result in enhanced tone and diminished permeability of the capillaries, with a subsequent amelioration of the haemorrhagic diatheses for which ‘vitamin P' has been claimed to be effective2. Many substances, ranging from such simple ones as catechol and pyrogallol3 to complex glycosides such as rutin1'4, have been reported as potentiating epinephrinemediated effects on isolated organs and in intact animals. An examination of the structure of those substances which have been reported to be effective in decreasing capillary fragility or permeability suggests that there may be no common mechanism of action of these substances.
Double differential inclusive hydrogen and helium spectra from neutron-induced reactions on carbon at 27.4, 39.7, and 60.7 MeV

Double differential cross sections for the neutron-induced production of p, d, t, $^{3}\mathrm{He}$, and alpha particles from carbon have been measured using unpolarized neutrons. Neutron beam energies of 27.4, 39.7, and 60.7 MeV were used. The charged particle energy spectra at nine laboratory angles---15, 20, 35, 40, 45, 65, 90, 130, and 150 deg---range up to the kinematic maximum, from a lower energy cutoff of 4 MeV for p, d, t, and alpha and 8 MeV for $^{3}\mathrm{He}$. A CH target was used so that the absolute normalization was obtained simultaneously from the n-p cross sections. Intranuclear cascade plus deexcitation calculations were carried out. The data are compared with these calculations and with available proton induced (charge symmetric) reaction spectra.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{12}\mathrm{C}(\mathrm{n}, \mathrm{p}x; \mathrm{d}x; ^{3}\mathrm{H}x; ^{3}\mathrm{He}x; ^{4}\mathrm{He}x)$, ${E}_{\mathrm{n}}=27.4, 39.7, 60.7$ MeV; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta}; E)$, ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{lab}}=15, 20, 35, 40, 45, 65, 90, 130, 150$ deg. Intranuclear cascade plus deexcitation calculations.
Phenotype-genotype correlations in autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa caused by RHO, D190N

Purpose: To phenotype a family with RHO (Asp190Asn or D190N) dominantly inherited retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and to describe an approach to surveying affected families. Methods: Four patients from a family with a history of autosomal dominant RP had complete clinical examinations and underwent full-field electroretinography (ERG), fundus autofluorescence (AF) imaging, and genetic testing. One patient had microperimetry (MP) mapping. Results: The patients’ ages ranged from 6 years to 47 years. The proband, the father, had fundoscopic findings typical of RP. A small hyperfluorescent ring centered at the fovea was apparent on AF. MP showed preservation of central 7 degrees of visual field within this ring. The three children were all asymptomatic with visual acuity of 20/15 in each eye. One child had mild retinal pigment epithelium migration on fundoscopy; the other two children had normal fundoscopic examinations. Two children showed increased parafoveal AF. In the two affected children, average ERG b-wave i...
Climatic forcing of glacier thinning on the mountains of equatorial East Africa

Equatorial glaciers are particularly climate sensitive components of the environment and their area shrinkage is spectacular, but the quantitative appraisal of climatic forcing requires information on net balance and changing ice thickness. Unique in the tropical belt, observations of mass budget and surface topography have been gathered by decades-long monitoring on Mount Kenya, particularly its largest, the Lewis Glacier. More limited information on ice thickness change is available for the summit of Kilimanjaro. Sensitivity analyses with constant precipitation, net allwave radiation and relative humidity serve to explore the sensible and latent heat transfer processes; humidity change riding on that of temperature providing the more substantial energy contribution to ablation. For Lewis Glacier it is found that with air some 0.7 °C cooler the mass budget could reach equilibrium. Observations on the secular evolution of air temperature and humidity in the areas of Mount Kenya and Rwenzori show compatible magnitudes, although contribution by radiative forcing cannot be excluded. For the summit of Kilimanjaro, above the mean freezing level, where ablation is limited to sublimation, turbulent heat transfer processes associated with temperature differences cannot account for the imbalance of the mass budget, and solar radiation forcing continues to be important for both the ice thinning and the lateral retreat of ice cliffs. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Autoradiographic measurement of tritiated agmatine as an indicator of physiologic activity in Hermissenda visual and vestibular neurons.

[3H]Agmatine (amino-4-guanidobutane) has been shown to be potentially useful for identifying and assessing the ACh sensitivity of specific neurons. Small cationic amines are able to permeate ACh-activated ion channels in sympathetic neurons and vertebrate endplates. Sensory neurons of the photic pathway in the nudibranch molluscHermissendacrassicornis are cholinergic and the synaptic interactions between the photic and vestibular systems have been well characterized electrophysiologically. We have therefore tested the feasibility of using autoradiography with [3H]agmatine, (a) to identify known ACh-responsive postsynaptic cells and (b) to examine its ability to serve as an indicator of physiologic activity within the photic and vestibular pathways under conditions of darkness and light stimulation.
Dialysable neuraminic acid in human cerebrospinal fluid.

BECAUSE of the presence of interfering sugars in great excess, it has not been possible heretofore to determine with any certainty in other laboratories as well as our own1 whether neuraminic acid occurs in dialysable form in cerebrospinal fluid. Recent methods developed in this laboratory for the quantitative fractionation of all the carbohydrate constituents of specimens of human cerebrospinal fluid have been described in the first paper of this series on the cerebrospinal fluid2. By using concentration by lyophilization and exhaustive dialysis, all the solids of cerebral spinal fluid have been separated quantitatively into non-dialysable and dialysable fractions. An accurate estimate of the neuraminic acid bound to protein has thereby been obtained without interference from dialysable sugars2,3. Evidence is now presented that neuraminic acid does indeed occur in dialysable form as well as in protein-bound form, in specimens of human cerebrospinal fluid. The dialysable neuraminic acid does not, however, appear to be free, but rather to be bound to hexose and nitrogenous residues in glycopeptide-like low molecular weight compounds.
Lake Superior Regulation Effects

: The outflows of Lake Superior through the St. Marys River have been modified from natural conditions, initially by the construction of engineering works, such as bridges, and later by the construction of control works and the regulation of the lake. For all practical purposes, the period from 1860 to 1887 represents the natural river conditions. During the period 1888-1900 the regimen was modified by the construction of the International Railroad Bridge and the Chandler-Dunbar Power Canal. In 1901 construction began on the compensating works. Following the completion of the compensating works in August 1921, the Lake Superior outflows were regulated in accordance with the Orders of Approval, 26 and 27 May 1914. A hydrologic response model was developed to simulate the natural Lake Superior regime. The model was run for the 1860–1975 period to simulate natural Lake Superior levels and outflows. The simulated levels were compared with the recorded levels to determine the effect of regulation. It was found that regulation has resulted in a rise in Lake Superior water levels. The simulated natural outflows for the period from 1937 to 1975 were run through the Great Lakes hydrologic response model to analyze the regulation effects on Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, and Erie. The results show no long-term bias due to regulation.
Radial basis functions as approximate particular solutions: review of recent progress

Solution of Poisson type differential equations can be achieved by finding an approximate particular solution to the forcing term followed by a boundary element method or more simply by using a boundary collocation method. The approximate particular solution is often found by using radial basis functions approximations to the forcing function. The advantage of radial basis functions is they involve a single independent variable regardless of the dimension of the problem. They prove particularly attractive when the domain cannot be expressed as product domains of lower dimensions. This paper provides a review of some of the recent progress in this field (in connection with the solution of Poisson type differential equations) together with some new results. Particular emphasis will be on the solution of non-linear and time dependent differential equations.
Individual differences on two measures of incidental learning.

Summary.-Two tests of incidental learning were administered to 40 undergraduate and graduate women. Incidental learning of verbal stimuli did not correlate significantly with incidental learning of non-verbal stimuli. Capacity to explore the visual environment, to persist in attending, and to detect subtle signals was assessed by a vigilance task. Hits on the vigilance task correlated significantly with incidental learning of non-verbal stimuli but not of verbal stimuli. To account for individual differences in incidental learning many hypotheses have been offered (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). Generally speaking, two overlapping hypotheses about individual differences in incidental learning have emerged. Individual differences in (a) attentive capacity or breadth of attention and (b) sensitivity to environmental stimuli have been implicated in the induction of individual differences in incidental learning. Investigators have assumed that superior verbal incidental learners will excel1 in other incidental learning tasks. It was hypothesized in this study that S who actively explores and searches the visual environment more extensively, persists in attending for a longer time, detects more subtle stimuli, switches attention swiftly, repeatedly, and efficiently from one visual stimulus to another, will assimilate more environmental stimuli, will tend to ignore fewer environmental stimuli, and will be superior in incidental learning tasks. METHOD
Attenuated activities and structural alterations of arylsulfatase A in tissues from subjects with pseudo arylsulfatase A deficiency.

It had been shown previously that arylsulfatase A activity was attenuated in pseudo arylsulfatase A deficiency fibroblasts and that subunits of the enzyme were smaller than subunits of the enzyme in normal fibroblasts. Attenuated enzyme activity has now been affirmed in other tissues. Subunits of the enzyme from these sources were also found to be smaller with apparent molecular size 59 and 56 kdaltons. Subunits of enzyme in corresponding control tissues were larger and there was heterogeneity in apparent molecular size as follows: fibroblast, 63 and 59 kdaltons; liver, 63 and 59 kdaltons; kidney, 62 and 58 kdaltons; and urine, 61 and 57 kdaltons. Attenuated enzyme activity and structurally altered enzyme in pseudo arylsulfatase A deficiency appears to be systemic. However, the reason for reduced amounts of structurally altered enzyme with normal catalytic activity is unresolved.
Intercomparison of aerosol extinction measured by Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II and III

[1] Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II and SAGE III are two satellite experiments designed to monitor aerosol extinction and the concentration of trace gases in the atmosphere using the solar and/or lunar occultation technique. While SAGE III used nine aerosol channels, four of them were centered at wavelengths very close or equal to the four aerosol channels used by SAGE II. Since both satellites conducted measurements between 2002 and 2005, there are comparison opportunities when their measurement locations on the same day are nearly coincident. In this study, the coincidence events are identified, and the aerosol extinction coefficients, color ratios (ratio of the extinction at two wavelengths), and optical depths measured by both satellites are compared. It is found that in the main stratospheric aerosol layer, between about 18 and 26 km, the differences of extinction coefficients are generally within their measurement uncertainties and are less than about 30%. The discrepancy between the wavelength dependence of the aerosol extinction coefficient, color ratio, and optical depth measured by SAGE II and SAGE III is also discussed. In the main stratospheric aerosol layer, the SAGE III mode radius deduced from the color ratio is about 20 to 30% less than the SAGE II mode radius. Wavelength dependence biases of the aerosol extinction coefficient evident in prior releases of SAGE III data persist in version 4.00.
Potential Use of One-Phase Poly(methyl methacrylate) in Dental Implants:

Through compounding and molding techniques, variation of porosity and the resulting effect on the mechanical properties of one-phase poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were studied. Characterization of the composites developed was pursued by correlating the microstructure with the physical and mechanical behavior of the material. From the three compounding techniques studied, NaCl-filled PMMA proved to have the best overall mechanical properties and control of porosity compared to a wide range of filler content.
Microcirculatory response to surgical trauma in composite-tissue transfer

A rat cremaster muscle-flap model for direct in vivo microcirculatory studies was combined with a rat hind-limb amputationlreplantation model, to evaluate changes related to transfer trauma. Forty-eight inbred Sprague-Dawley rats were studied in two experimental groups. In a control group, the cremaster muscle was dissected as an island tube flap, transposed into the hind limb, and anchored at ankle level. No amputation was performed. In a second composite-limb-cremaster-graft group, the limb, with the inserted cremaster muscle flap, was amputated at mid-thigh level, and transferred to a recipient animal. In both groups, at follow-up periods of 1, 24, 48, and 72 hr, the cremaster flap was withdrawn from the limb and prepared for microcirculatory studies. The following parameters were measured: vessel diameters, RBC velocities, capillary density, and leukocytes in the postcapillary venules. Arteriolar and venular diameters, as well as RBC velocity values, were comparable in both groups. However, the composite isografts presented 50 percent more leukocytes sticking to the lumen of the postcapillary venules (p<0.05) immediately following transfer. In addition, a significant decrease (12 percent) in the number of perfused capillaries was observed in the composite grafts throughout 72 hr. In this study on composite tissue transfer, trauma alone compromised the microcirculatory integrity of the tissue and proved to act as an independent factor. This should be considered during allotransplantations, where the addition of a reiection factor can further compromise graft survival
Magnesium and Dialysis: The Neglected Cation.

Disorders of magnesium homeostasis are very common in dialysis patients but have received scant attention. In this review, we address measurement of plasma magnesium, magnesium balance and the factors that affect magnesium flux during dialysis, the prevalence of hypo- and hypermagnesemia in dialysis patients, and the potential clinical significance of hypo- and hypermagnesemia in dialysis patients. Many factors can affect plasma magnesium concentration, including diet, nutritional status (including plasma albumin level), medications (such as proton pump inhibitors), and dialysis prescription. Further interventional studies to determine the effect of normalization of plasma magnesium concentration on clinical outcomes are needed. At the present time, we recommend that predialysis plasma magnesium be measured on a regular basis, with the dialysate magnesium concentration adjusted to maintain plasma magnesium concentration within the normal range.
A Rationale for International Library Education.

In this little essay, I try to answer the question: Why engage in international education of librarians? Before that question can be dealt with, it is necessary to consider the nature of library education. And that begins with libraries themselves. Libraries emerge at a stage in the development of community when urgent needs for information storage and transfer become widely recognized. Oral tradition no longer serves. The community, through designated officials, creates agencies to deal with those needs: schools, museums, and finally public libraries. As schools become complex, they also produce libraries : so do museums, and so do other agencies. Business and industry, reaching critically complex levels, establish their own libraries. While libraries remain small and simple, the occupation of librarians is also small and simple. No special training is thought to be needed. Librarians learn on the job. But “the library is a growing organism”, and as it grows, the work of the librarian becomes more difficult. Some tricks of the trade are invented; assistants are hired and taught these tricks. The apprentice system serves to institutionalize this practice. To save time, the tricks are taught to groups-short courses are planned. Standard tests are created to evaluate the students in these courses. A semi-formalized library education is at hand. I have described a basic theoretical model for the necessity of library education. It also represents a historical series of actual events, terminat-
Chemical Pruning of Plants

The lower alkyl esters of the C8 to C12 fatty acids and the C8 to C10 fatty alcohols selectively kill or inhibit the terminal meristem without damaging the axillary meristems, foliage, or stem tissue of a wide variety of plants. The axillary meristems develop at nearly the same time as those of plants whose terminal meristems have been removed manually. The concentration of the fatty acid esters and alcohols required to kill the terminal meristem range from 0.025 to 0.05M for herbaceous plants, 0.05 to 0.16M for semi-woody plants, and 0.16 to 0.27M for woody plants.
Synthesis of 3-[( N -Carboalkoxy)ethylamino]-Indazole-Dione Derivatives and Their Biological Activities on Human Liver Carbonyl Reductase

A series of indazole-dione derivatives were synthesized by the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of appropriate substituted benzoquinones or naphthoquinones and N-carboalkoxyamino diazopropane derivatives. These compounds were evaluated for their effects on human carbonyl reductase. Several of the analogs were found to serve as substrates for carbonyl reductase with a wide range of catalytic efficiencies, while four analogs display inhibitory activities with IC(50) values ranging from 3-5 microM. Two of the inhibitors were studied in greater detail and were found to be noncompetitive inhibitors against both NADPH and menadione with K(I) values ranging between 2 and 11 microM. Computational studies suggest that conformation of the compounds may determine whether the indazole-diones bind productively to yield product or nonproductively to inhibit the enzyme.
SUMMER SCHOOL IN MEXICO1

Author's summary.— Summer school at the University of Mexico deserves to attract more American visitors. Advantages and possibilities of a summer in Mexico; detailed suggestions for the prospective visitor, student or tourist.
Assistive Technology for Students with Mild Disabilities

Details ways that assistive technology can be used in the classroom for students with mild disabilities
Enhanced behavioral depressant effects of reserpine and α-methyltyrosine after 6-hydroxydopamine treatment

The effects of 6-hydroxydopamine treatment on behavioral performance in an operant, shuttle-box and a T-maze task were examined. In spite of marked depletions of brain catecholamines, 6-hydroxydopamine-treated rats showed no significant reductions in performance level in these tasks. However, administration of 1 mg/kg of reserpine which had no effect in control subjects was found to cause severe disruption of bar press responding on a CRF schedule in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated rats. Similarly, low doses of α-MPT which also had no observable effect in control rats produced a severe depression of performance of not only CRF responding but also responding in the shuttle-box avoidance and T-maze tasks in centrally-sympathectomized subjects. The relationship of these findings to the proposal that catecholamines are important to the maintenance of behavioral responding and to possible mechanisms involved in the behavioral effects of 6-hydroxydopamine are discussed.
The Role of Colletotrichum spp. in Postharvest Anthracnose of Citrus and Survival of C. acutatum on Fruit

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causes postharvest anthracnose of citrus fruit and is a common saprobe in citrus groves, whereas C. acutatum infects flower petals and causes postbloom fruit drop (PFD). The purpose of this study was to determine whether C. acutatum caused anthracnose, survived as quiescent infections on fruit, and represented a threat for introduction of the PFD pathogen to disease-free areas. When Robinson tangerine fruit were artificially inoculated with both species and exposed to high levels of ethylene, only fruit inoculated with C. gloeosporioides developed postharvest anthracnose. However, C. acutatum was readily reisolated from inoculation sites on asymptomatic fruit. Navel oranges harvested from groves with severe PFD the previous spring developed low levels of anthracnose, but only C. gloeosporioi-des was isolated from lesions. Valencia orange fruit harvested at bloom during a PFD outbreak had high surface populations of C. acutatum which declined rapidly during 2 to 3 weeks of storage. Quiescent infections formed on artificially inoculated and naturally exposed fruit were reduced but not eliminated by washing, waxing, and fungicide treatment in the packinghouse. Since C. acutatum does not produce postharvest anthracnose, the risk of introduction of this pathogen to disease-free areas is minimal. However, if fruit were harvested during a PFD outbreak, C. acutatum might survive standard packinghouse treatment and shipment as quiescent infections.
Empirical Analysis Of The Determinants Of Demand For Children In Jimma City, Ethiopia: An Application Of Count Data Model

Using cross-section data on urban households from Jimma city, Southwestern Ethiopia, in this paper we apply the economic theory of consumer choice and examine some endogenous household characteristics that affect the demand for children among urban households in Ethiopia. Based on parameter estimates derived from a count data model, we also simulate the average number of children desired by a woman of median urban household characteristics and assess the extent to which an exogenously set population policy goal of lower fertility can be achieved. The results of our study indicate that enhancing paternal and maternal education, altering the economic value of children, increasing household income, and delaying the marriage age as important policy measures that should be pursued to reduce fertility. Institutional approaches that involve “faith-based initiatives” are also relevant. An important implication of the study is that by using measures that target these socio-economic variables via market incentives, fertility levels among urban households in Jimma and other urban areas of Ethiopia with similar demographic features can be reduced.
Role of Autocatalytic Transformation in Zone Shape and Toughening of Ceria–Tetragonal-Zirconia–Alumina (Ce-TZP/Al2O3) Composites

Stress-strain behaviors in three-point bending, transformation zones in single-edge-notch-bend specimens, and transformation toughening were studied in two types of Ce-TZP/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} composites. A commercial grade exhibited yield-point behavior triggered by autocatalytic transformation and elongated zones. A new grade of Ce-TZP/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} composite showed monotonic stress-strain behavior and a zone shape close to theoretical prediction based on a shear-dilation yield criterion. The effects of zone sizes and shapes on fracture toughness of the two ceramic composites are shown to be qualitatively consistent with the predictions of transformation-zone shielding theories.
Robotic intercostal nerve graft for reversal of thoracic sympathectomy: a large animal feasibility model.

Background A subset of patients who undergo video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy for hyperhydrosis develop post-procedure compensatory sweating that is perceived as more debilitating than their initial complaints. We propose a novel treatment to reverse sympathectomy by implantation of an intercostal nerve graft using the da Vinci robot. Methods A robotic swine model was established using single-lung ventilation and four ports. The pleura was incised and a representative segment of sympathetic chain was transected. A nearby intercostal nerve was harvested and sutured to the sympathetic chain using four interrupted 10-0 nylon sutures on the epineurium. Results The intercostal nerve was an excellent size match and post-procedure necropsy yielded successful anastomoses without apparent complications. Conclusions Robotic intercostal nerve grafting for reversal of thoracic sympathectomy is technically feasible. The robotic device allows the principles of neural microsurgery to be maintained and provides a minimally invasive option for reconstruction of the sympathetic chain. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
DMDmdx3Cv and DMDmdx4Cv dystrophin mutations in mice: rapid polymerase chain reaction genotyping

We devised non-radioactive PCR assays for the DMD(mdx3Cv) and DMD(mdx4Cv) mouse dystrophin point mutations, in which mutant and wild type reactions electrophoresed separately diagnose whether the DNA carries the mutant, wild type, or both alleles. This simple and reliable assay facilitates the use of these mutant mouse models, which have an extended inflammatory phase (DMD(mdx3Cv)), less reversion to wild type (DMD(mdx4Cv)), and reduced expression of dystrophin mRNAs arising from internal promoter usage than the DMD(mdx) mouse. The PCR assays described facilitate the use of the DMD(mdx3Cv) and DMD(mdx4Cv) mutant mouse models, when maintaining the mutations as heterozygotes, backcrossing into different inbred genetic backgrounds, or when crossing targeted mutations into these dystrophic backgrounds.
Analyzing Kleinberg's (and other) small-world Models

We analyze the properties of Small-World networks, where links are much more likely to connect "neighbor nodes" than distant nodes. In particular, our analysis provides new results for Kleinberg's Small-World model and its extensions. Kleinberg adds a number of directed long-range random links to an nxn lattice network (vertices as nodes of a grid, undirected edges between any two adjacent nodes). Links have a non-uniform distribution that favors arcs to close nodes over more distant ones. He shows that the following phenomenon occurs: between any two nodes a path with expected length O(log2n) can be found using a simple greedy algorithm which has no global knowledge of long-range links.We show that Kleinberg's analysis is tight: his algorithm achieves θ(log2n) delivery time. Moreover, we show that the expected diameter of the graph is θlog n), a log n factor smaller. We also extend our results to the general k-dimensional model. Our diameter results extend traditional work on the diameter of random graphs which largely focuses on uniformly distributed arcs. Using a little additional knowledge of the graph, we show that we can find shorter paths: with expected length O(log3/2n) in the basic 2-dimensional model and O(log1+1/k) in the general k-dimensional model (fork≥1).Finally, we suggest a general approach to analyzing a broader class of random graphs with non-uniform edge probabilities. Thus we show expected θ(log n) diameter results for higher dimensional grids, as well as settings with less uniform base structures: where links can be missing, where the probability can vary at different nodes, or where grid-related factors (e.g. the use of lattice distance) has a weaker role or is dismissed, and constraints (such as the uniformness of degree distribution) are relaxed.
High thoracic epidural analgesia for relief of coronary ischemia syndrome without cardiac surgery

Sympathetic blockade for the control of ischemia in patients with coronary atherosclerotic disease has been controversial and is questioned as to its benefit in comparison to other pharmacologic and interventional therapies available. The main concern is that thoracic analgesia (TEA) only blocks pain and the patient continues to be ischemic. Coronary blood flow is dependent on both β- and α-adrenergic input. In normal patients, there is a balance of these inputs, so the heart is adequately perfused. In the case of coronary artery disease, the vessels no longer respond normally to circulating catecholamines. Even though β-blockade is used, α-blockade is not tolerated by patients due to hypotension which can decrease coronary perfusion pressures. The growing body of experience and literature confirms that there are significant physiological changes rather than a placebo effect with TEA. Its use can preferentially shunt blood to endocardium, dilate stenotic vessels, favorably balance the determinants of myocardial supply and demand, allow increased exercise tolerance, decrease catecholamine levels, and improve quality of life. Thus, TEA is a viable option to control intractable angina when the usual modalities have failed.
Chronic bretazenil produces tolerance to chlordiazepoxide, midazolam, and abecarnil

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to determine if chronic treatment with a nonsedative benzodiazepine partial agonist would confer tolerance to the rate-decreasing effects of other benzodiazepine ligands in a fixed-interval procedure in rats. A separate group of rats was treated chronically with the sedative benzodiazepine full agonist, chlordiazepoxide, for comparison. It was hypothesized that tolerance would develop rapidly to chlordiazepoxide due to loss of reinforcement density at rate-decreasing doses and that there would probably be cross-tolerance to other rate-decreasing benzodiazepine ligands such as midazolam and abecarnil. Because bretazenil does not produce rate decreases, however, it was not expected that tolerance would be found to chlordiazepoxide, midazolam, or abecarnil. After 8–12 weeks of chronic treatment with either chlordiazepoxide or bretazenil, however (final dose of benzodiazepine = 30 mg/kg/day), tolerance was found to the rate-decreasing effects of chlordiazepoxide, midazolam, and abecarnil in both groups. It is concluded that such tolerance was most likely due to a saturation of benzodiazepine receptors by this high-affinity partial agonist.
Effect of pretreatment of germanium-132 on Na+-K+-ATPase and galactose cataracts

PURPOSE. Recently, we reported that topical administration of 2-carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) concurrently with 50% galactose feeding delayed the establishment of mature cataracts and reduced advance glycation product. This study was to determine the effect of pretreatment of Ge-132 on galactose associated morphological changes and Na + -K + -ATPase activity. METHODS. Young Sprague Dawley rats received topical eye drops four times a day of either saline or Ge-132 seven days prior to the 50% galactose diet and during galactose feeding. At desired intervals the lenses were extracted, photographed and processed for either light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy or the determination of Na + -K + -ATPase activity. RESULTS. In Ge-132 pretreated lenses as compared to saline pretreated lenses the following results were observed: (a) the galactose-induced morphological alterations in the majority of lenses were delayed and (b) Na + -K + -ATPase activity was protected. CONCLUSIONS. Our previous...
A computer program for the generalized chi-square analysis of categorical data using weighted least squares (GENCAT)

GENCAT is a computer program which implements an extremely general methodology for the analysis of multivariate categorical data. This approach essentially involves the construction of test statistics for hypotheses involving functions of the observed proportions which are directed at the relationships under investigation and the estimation of corresponding model parameters via weighted least squares computations. Any compounded function of the observed proportions which can be formulated as a sequence of the following transformations of the data vector - linear, logarithmic, exponential, or the addition of a vector of constants - can be analyzed within this general framework. This algorithm produces minimum modified chi-square statistics which are obtained by partitioning the sums of squares as in ANOVA. The input data can be either: (a) frequencies from a multidimensional contingency table; (b) a vector of functions with its estimated covariance matrix; and (c) raw data in the form of integer-valued variables associated with each subject. The input format is completely flexible for the data as well as for the matrices. Multivariate analysis Categorical data Contingency tables Minimum modified chi-square Weighted least squares Linear models Computer program Rates and proportions
The UW-Whitewater management computer systems program

Employers of students trained in computer science and data processing fall largely in three categories: manufacturers of computer equipment, software houses, and finally end users of the computers. Of these categories, most employment opportunities are in the third category, the end user.For each employer there is a range of positions from systems programmer to applications programmer to business systems analyst. Figure 1 shows the organization chart of a medium sized systems and data processing area in a company that manufactures consumer products. Of the sixty five positions which would require a degree in computer science or data processing, in at most seven (perhaps only two) of these positions would the traditional computer science graduate be preferred (if the employer had a choice).At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater our program is aimed at the large number of positions where a business background is helpful. In addition to introductory programming we require three programming courses, two analysis and design courses, a course in hardware and software selection and a course including data base management. In addition, all students must have at least 15 hours of business courses including two accounting courses and a management course. Our graduates have the technical ability to be good programmers and/or systems analysts, and they have the business background so that they can talk to users in the users own language.In developing the major the faculty consulted outside business computing managers and the ACM Information Systems Curriculum1. Many of the courses in the major are very close to those specified in the ACM curriculum.
Large Mammal Restoration: Ecological and Sociological Challenges in the 21st Century . David S. Maehr, Reed F. Noss, and Jeffery L. Larkin, eds. 2001. Island Press, Washington, DC. 375 pp. $65.00 hardcover, $30.00 paperback.

(2002). Large Mammal Restoration: Ecological and Sociological Challenges in the 21st Century. David S. Maehr, Reed F. Noss, and Jeffery L. Larkin, eds. 2001. Island Press, Washington, DC. 375 pp. $65.00 hardcover, $30.00 paperback. Environmental Practice: Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 172-173.
Employee-Organization Exchange Relationships, HRM Practices, and Quit Rates of Good and Poor Performers

We developed and tested an exchange-theory-based extension of the relationship between human resource management (HRM) practices and quit rates in a two-wave trucking industry study and attempted a constructive replication in a two-wave study of supermarkets. We found that HRM inducements and investments relate negatively to good- and poor-performer quit rates, whereas expectation-enhancing practices relate negatively to good-performer quit rates and positively to poor-performer quit rates. We find support for the predictions that expectation-enhancing practices attenuate the negative relationship between inducements and investments and goodperformer quit rates (Study 1) and exacerbate the negative relationship with poorperformer quit rates (Study 2). Researchers have historically viewed the question of why people quit in terms of several individual bases for turnover (see Maertz and Griffeth [2004] for a review), but in the last ten years the outlook has shifted toward an organization-level view of the phenomenon based on human resource management (HRM) systems. High turnover rates have deleterious effects on outcomes such as productivity and safety in manufacturing and transportation (Shaw, Gupta, & Delery, 2005), sales performance in customer service industries (Batt, 2002; Kacmar, Andrews, Van Rooy, Steilberg, &
α-Tocopherol supplements and high-density-lipoprotein–cholesterol levels

1. In a randomized, double-blind 6-month study, alpha-tocopherol (728 mg) or placebo were administered daily to seventy-eight volunteers (forty-nine men, twenty-nine women) to investigate the possible enhancing effect of vitamin E on plasma high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. In addition, the available reported values from short-term (4-6 weeks) studies, as well as the 4-week results from the present study, were combined and analysed for factors which may modify the effect of alpha-tocopherol on HDL-C. 2. No consistent effect of alpha-tocopherol on plasma HDL-C levels was observed either in the combined 4-week values or in the 6-month study. Further analysis of the combined short-term values and 6-month values indicated that, in subjects with low initial HDL-C levels, treatment with alpha-tocopherol or placebo did not produce significantly different HDL-C changes.
Do Parenting and the Home Environment, Maternal Depression, Neighborhood, and Chronic Poverty Affect Child Behavioral Problems Differently in Different Racial-Ethnic Groups?

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the processes through which parenting practices, maternal depression, neighborhood, and chronic poverty affect child behavioral problems are similar or different in minority and nonminority children in the United States.
Intrinsic asthma: not so different from allergic asthma but driven by superantigens?

Summary The mechanisms of intrinsic or non-allergic asthma remain uncertain as allergens have no obvious role in driving the inflammatory process in the airways. However, IgE synthesis occurs in the airways, despite negative skin prick tests and serum-specific IgE. Furthermore, the inflammatory process in the airways is very similar between allergic and non-allergic asthma, with increased T-helper type 2 (Th2) cells, mast cell activation and infiltration of eosinophils. This pattern of inflammation is associated with a similar expression of inflammatory mediators, including Th2 cytokines and eosinophilotactic chemokines. There is increasing evidence that microbial superantigens, particularly Staphylococcal enterotoxins are important in amplifying inflammation in atopic dermatitis and chronic rhinosinusitis, in atopic and non-atopic patients. Superantigens may also be important in intrinsic asthma as airway epithelial cells may be colonized by Staphylococci and other superantigen-producing microbes. Superantigens produced locally in the airways may lead to class switching of local B cells, resulting in polyclonal IgE production in the airways and also specific IgE against the superantigen (which functions as a ‘superallergen’). This leads to sensitization of mast cells, which can be activated by the usual asthma triggers, such as exercise. Superantigens also cause clonal expansion of T cells, resulting in increased Th2 cells and CD8 1 cells, while suppressing regulatory T cells. Superantigens may also reduce responsiveness to corticosteroids, resulting in more severe asthma. Finally, cytotoxic autoantibodies may also be implicated as IgG antibodies directed against epithelial proteins, such as cytokeratin-18, have been detected in intrinsic asthma, possibly as a result of epithelial damage and this may make epithelial cells more susceptible to microbial colonization. The therapeutic implications are that antibodies against local IgE and microbial superantigens or antibiotic therapy to eradicate the relevant superantigen-producing microorganisms may improve the efficacy of conventional therapy with corticosteroids.
Activity of the c-myc Replicator at an Ectopic Chromosomal Location

DNA replication starts at multiple discrete sites across the human chromosomal c-myc region, including two or more sites within 2.4 kb upstream of the c-myc gene. The corresponding 2.4-kb c-myc origin fragment confers autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) activity on plasmids, which specifically initiate replication in the origin fragment in vitro and in vivo. To test whether the region that displays plasmid replicator activity also acts as a chromosomal replicator, HeLa cell sublines that each contain a single copy of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae FLP recombinase target (FRT) sequence flanked by selectable markers were constructed. A clonal line containing a single unrearranged copy of the transduced c-myc origin was produced by cotransfecting a donor plasmid containing the 2.4-kb c-myc origin fragment and FRT, along with a plasmid expressing the yeast FLP recombinase, into cells containing a chromosomal FRT acceptor site. The amount of short nascent DNA strands at the chromosomal acceptor site was quantitated before and after targeted integration of the origin fragment. Competitive PCR quantitation showed that the c-myc origin construct substantially increased the amount of nascent DNA relative to that at the unoccupied acceptor site and to that after the insertion of non-myc DNA. The abundance of nascent strands was greatest close to the c-myc insert of the integrated donor plasmid, and significant increases in nascent strand abundance were observed at sites flanking the insertion. These results provide biochemical and genetic evidence for the existence of chromosomal replicators in metazoan cells and are consistent with the presence of chromosomal replicator activity in the 2.4-kb region of c-myc origin DNA.
On the spectral factor ambiguity of FIR energy compaction filter Banks

This paper focuses on the design of signal-adapted finite-impulse response (FIR) paraunitary (PU) filter banks optimized for energy compaction (EC). The design of such filter banks has been shown in the literature to consist of the design of an optimal FIR compaction filter followed by an appropriate Karhunen-Loe/spl grave/ve transform (KLT). Despite this elegant construction, EC optimal filter banks have been shown to perform worse than common nonadapted filter banks for coding gain, contrary to intuition. Here, it is shown that this phenomenon is most likely due to the nonuniqueness of the compaction filter in terms of its spectral factors. This nonuniqueness results in a finite set of EC optimal filter banks. By choosing the spectral factor yielding the largest coding gain, it is shown that the resulting filter bank behaves more and more like the infinite-order principal components filter bank (PCFB) in terms of numerous objectives such as coding gain, multiresolution, noise reduction with zeroth-order Wiener filters in the subbands, and power minimization for discrete multitone (DMT)-type nonredundant transmultiplexers.
Image restoration using multigrid methods

In this paper, we discuss several iterative methods for solving the system of linear equations that arises in the process of solving a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. When applied to the very large systems that arise in connection with two- or three-dimension signal reconstructions, direct methods based on the singular-value decomposition require too much computation and conventional single grid iterative schemes may converge too slowly. We have developed a multigrid scheme in which the solution is sought on a fine grid, but discretizations on a set of coarser grids are used for intermediate calculations to reduce the overall computation effort. Although the quality of the reconstruction obtained using such methods is typically not as good as that achieved using a singular-value decomposition based method, computational considerations should make multigrid methods appealing for large systems of equations.
Financial conflicts of interest and their association with outcome and quality of fibromyalgia drug therapy randomized controlled trials

Aims To evaluate the association of financial conflicts of interest (FCOI) with the characteristics, outcome and reported methodological quality of fibromyalgia drug therapy randomized controlled trials (FM-RCTs). Methods A cross-sectional study of original, parallel-group, drug therapy FM-RCTs published between 1997 and 2011 from Medline and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was conducted. Two reviewers independently assessed each RCT for funding source, authors' FCOI(s), study characteristics, reporting of methodological measures important for internal validity and outcome (positive [statistically significant result favoring experimental drug for the primary outcome] or non-positive). Results Forty-seven RCTs were eligible with funding source as: 26 (55.3%) industry; eight (17%) non-profit source(s); five (10.6%) mixed; and eight (17%) unspecified. Industry-funded RCTs were more likely to be multicenter and enroll greater number of patients. Reporting of key methodological measures was suboptimal; however, industry and non-profit funded RCTs did not differ in their reporting. Thirty (63.8%) RCTs had ≥ one author who disclosed an FCOI (receipt of research grant [21, 44.7%], industry sponsor employee [20, 42.6%], receipt of consultancy fee/honorarium [16, 34%] and stock ownership [11, 23.4%]). Although industry funding and certain authors' FCOIs (employment and receipt of consultancy fee/honorarium) were univariately associated with positive outcome, such association was not observed after adjusting for study sample size. Conclusions The majority of FM-RCTs were industry-sponsored, and had at least one author with an FCOI. Reporting of key methodological measures was suboptimal. After adjusting for study sample size, no association of industry funding or author's FCOI with study outcome was seen.