cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Construction and Representation of Visual Space in the Inferior Parietal Lobule

In human subjects, neurological case histories have provided details of striking deficits of cognitive functions. These findings have been supplemented by comparative studies in nonhuman primates that permit invasive manipulations and measurements of brain tissue, as well as theories that provide a structure for the synthesis and distillation of such clinical and experimental results into general principles. The formation of visuospatial representations of the surrounding world has proven to be particularly amenable to this multifaceted approach. Although far from being completely understood, substantial progress has been made in the past 20 years in the analysis of this cognitive process. One patient, suffering from profound hemi-inattention has: lost her idea of ‘left,’ both with regard to the world and her own body. Sometimes (when eating) she complains that her portions are too small, but this is because she eats only from the right half of the plate—it does not occur to her that it has a left half as well. Sometimes, she will put on lipstick, and make tip the right half of her face, leaving the left half completely neglected: It is almost impossible to treat these things, because her attention cannot be drawn to them, and she has no conception that they are wrong. She knows it intellectually, and can understand, and laugh; but it is impossible for her to know it directly. (Sacks, 1985) This particular type of spatial and attentional deficit arises from damage to associational cortical regions which were initially defined on the basis of late myelination during development (Flechsig, 1876). This patient does not have a hemianopia (half-vision field blindness), for her vision is normal. But her cognitive disassociations are in a sense more profound than blunt dissections of primary sensory or motor function. Removal of primary sensory or motor cortex leads to devastating blindness, deafness, or paralysis. But such loss can be overcome, at least in the sensory modality, by reliance on spared sensory capabilities. However, damage to the association cortex strikes at the very core of being. The patient can see but cannot attend to half of her visual world. She cannot intellectually compensate, because her spatial intellect itself is damaged. The challenge to neuroscience is to generate mechanistic explanations, perhaps reductionist, perhaps synthetic, to account for normal cognitive deficits on this scale. These explanations might explain cognitive function in the normal individual.
Hand hygiene duration and technique recognition using wrist-worn sensors

Hand washing is an effective countermeasure to the spread of many types of infection. Recently, sensing technology has automated the sampling and study of hand hygiene rates. Surprisingly, many questions about the area are unresolved, motivating further exploration based on wrist-worn commodity sensors (accelerometer and MEMS gyroscope). This paper describes initial work on techniques for measuring the duration of washing events and classifying different scrubbing motions. The work compares different sensor types and their fusion, compares sensing from one wrist to measuring both wrists, and explains results of experiments on a range of hand washing motions in a variety of subject populations, some in clinics of a teaching hospital. Machine learning is used to explore such questions: the paper investigates numerous features extracted from sensor data, looking at sampling rates, windowing, and platform details that affect classification. In training and classification experiments, data collection starts on the wrist, activated by a message from a disinfectant dispenser; data is then transferred by radio to a base station for subsequent reduction, analysis and characterization. Results show that hand hygiene motions can be classified with up to 93% accuracy.
Thermal stressing techniques for flaw characterization with shearography

Controlled heating of a test specimen with a laser source provides several advantages for flaw detection using shearographic detection. This stressing method is non-contacting, can be localized, and allows defect information to be obtained while heating. In addition, the beam profile can be tailored to aid in the detection of different defect types. This paper presents results of simultaneous observations of material response to an applied thermal load using both TRIR and shearographic detection methods. Of particular importance is the demonstration that the depth of a defect can be determined by measuring the time-dependence of the shearographic fringe development during heating.
Coupling of a global MHD code and an inner magnetospheric model: Initial results

[1] This paper describes the coupling of BATS-R-US (Block Adaptive Tree Solar-wind Roe-type Upwind Scheme), a magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) code representing the Earth's global magnetosphere and its coupling to the ionosphere and solar wind, and the Rice Convection Model (RCM), which represents the inner magnetosphere and its coupling to the ionosphere. The MHD code provides a time-evolving magnetic field model for the RCM as well as continuously updated boundary conditions for the electric potential and plasma. The RCM computes the distribution functions of inner magnetospheric particles, including transport of inner plasmasheet and ring current particles by gradient/curvature drifts; it thus calculates more accurate inner magnetospheric pressures, which are frequently passed to the MHD model and used to nudge the MHD values. Results are presented for an initial run with the coupled code for the case of uniform ionospheric conductance with steady solar wind and southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). The results are compared with those for a run of the MHD code alone. The coupled-code run shows significantly higher inner magnetospheric particle pressures. It also exhibits several well-established characteristics of inner magnetospheric electrodynamics, including strong region-2 Birkeland currents and partial shielding of the inner magnetosphere from the main force of the convection electric field. A sudden northward turning of the IMF causes the ring current to become more nearly symmetric. The inner magnetosphere exhibits an overshielding (dusk-to-dawn) electric field that begins about 10 min after the northward turning reaches the magnetopause and lasts just over an hour.
Predicting First-Session Attendance: The Influence of Referral Source and Client Income

Predicting which clients will keep their therapy appointments is an important task given the costs associated with therapy nonattendance. In particular, past research suggests that some prospective clients are at high risk of not attending their first sessions. The authors examined whether basic information provided by 397 prospective outpatient clients at the time of scheduling their initial appointments could predict which clients would attend their first sessions. Consistent with past studies, 37% of prospective clients did not attend their first sessions. A logistical regression revealed that referral source was a significant predictor of which clients would be first-session attendees, explaining 22% of the variance associated with first-session attendance. Client annual income accounted for an additional 2% of the explained variance. The combination of these predictors accurately predicted first-session attendance for 73% of prospective clients. Possible explanations for these findings as well as the...
3,3-Bis(halomethylstannyl)propyl ethyl sulfoxides. The nature of intramolecular coordination in the crystals and in solution

Preparation de (Me 2 ClSn) 2 CHCH 2 CH 2 S(O) Et. (1) et de (MeCl 2 Sn) 2 CHCH 2 CH 2 S(O) Et (2). (1) cristallise dans P1 avec Z=2; affinement jusqu'a R=0,068. (2) cristallise dans P1 avec Z=2; affinement jusqu'a R=0,032. (MeBr 2 Sn) 2 CHCH 2 CH 2 S(O) Et cristallise dans P2 1 /n avec Z=4; affinement jusqu'a R=0,076
A Positive Modifier of Spinal Muscular Atrophy in the SMN2 Gene

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common autosomal-recessive motor neuron disease caused by the homozygous loss of the SMN1 gene. A nearly identical gene, SMN2, has been shown to decrease the severity of SMA in a dose-dependent manner. However SMN2 is not the sole phenotypic modifier, because there are discrepant SMA cases in which the SMN2 copy number does not explain the clinical phenotype. This report describes three unrelated SMA patients who possessed SMN2 copy numbers that did not correlate with the observed mild clinical phenotypes. A single base substitution in SMN2, c.859G>C,, was identified in exon 7 in the patients' DNA. We now show that the change creates a new exonic splicing enhancer element and increases the amount of full-length transcripts, thus resulting in the less severe phenotypes. This demonstrates that the c.859G>C substitution is a positive modifier of the SMA phenotype and that not all SMN2 genes are equivalent. We have shown not only that the SMA phenotype is modified by the number of SMN2 genes but that SMN2 sequence variations can also affect the disease severity.
Boundary Effect on Temperature Gradients in Microchannels

The effect of boundary conditions on heat transfer in rectangular microchannels is investigated. Of primary interest in this study is the influence of the boundary conditions on the temperature gradients in such geometries. The top of the microchannel under consideration is exposed to a uniform heat flux, which simulates the energy dissipated from electronic chips. Cooling fluid is allowed to flow through channels underneath the heat source. The physical configuration is subjected to various boundary conditions (e.g., first, second, and third kinds) and any combination of convection and radiation energy exchanges between the exposed surfaces and the external environment. The current configuration covers typical situations as found in most electronic cooling systems. The influences of the heat source strength, the external environment, and the aspect ratio are studied. The effects of varying these factors in a range typical of electronics thermal management applications are investigated. Temperature gradients along the fluid flow direction and their effect on the fluid resistance are presented.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Reexamination of instrument change effects in the U.S. Historical Climatology Network

[1] The homogenized U.S. Historical Climatology Network (HCN) data set contains several statistical adjustments. One of the adjustments directly reflects the effect of instrument changes that occurred in the 1980s. About sixty percent of the U.S. HCN stations were adjusted to reflect this instrument change by use of separate constants applied universally to the monthly average maximum and minimum temperatures regardless of month or location. To test this adjustment, this paper reexamines the effect of instrument change in HCN using available observations. Our results indicate that the magnitudes of bias due to the instrument change at individual stations range from less than −1.0°C to over +1.0°C and some stations show no statistical discontinuities associated with instrument changes while others show a discontinuity for either maximum or minimum but not for both. Therefore, the universal constants to adjust for instrument change in the HCN are not appropriate.
It’s not whether you win or lose: integrating games into the classroom for science learning

This Forum paper explores how Matthew Gaydos and Kurt Squire in their manuscript, CITIZEN SCIENCE: Role Playing Games for Scientific Citizenship, represent issues of games literacy and science literacy. What is the meaning of expertise in the context of games-based learning? An examination of the studies presented suggests that games, like other ways of teaching, have both strengths and limitations, and that the exploration of games for science learning should reflect these considerations as well as the context of goals for science learning.
ACTION OF METHYLENE BLUE ON BODY TEMPERATURE AND METABOLISM.

1. Methylene blue injected intravenously in white rats is hyperthermizing or hypothermizing according to the environmental temperature. 2. It causes an increase in metabolism at 28°C. or above. At lower temperature it does not affect, or rather depresses, metabolism. 3. It does not seem likely that its hypermetabolic action is due to catalysis of cell oxidations. 4. In animals exposed to an atmosphere with a high partial pressure of oxygen, methylene blue causes pulmonary edema, much more rapidly than does oxygen alone.
Response of the lens to oxidative-osmotic stress.

Abstract Both aldose reductase and glutathione reductase share a common cofactor, NADPH. Glutathione reductase is preferentially activated due to its higher affinity for the cofactor. Since NADPH is primarily consumed by glutathione reductase, which in conjunction with glutathione peroxidase detoxifies H 2 O 2 present in the aqueous humor, the cataractogenic role of sorbitol-induced osmotic pressure must therefore depend on the availability of NADPH for aldose reductase activity. We examined the response of the lens to an oxidative-osmotic double stress and found that the lens indeed produced 79% less sorbitol and 45% less fructose than a lens subjected to the osmotic stress alone. Morphological studies showed that photo-oxidation damaged the epithelium where the cation pump resided. However, with additional osmotic stress, the swelling of lens fibers in the posterior pole region became more pronounced, and cell nuclei deep in the lens nuclear bow were dislodged to the posterior pole. This could be explained by the slight but significant loss of K + in the lenses under the double stress. Apparently, the slightly decreased 86 Rb uptake (26% loss), caused by photooxidation could not maintain adequate ionic balance even though the stress from accumulation of sorbitol + fructose was sub-maximal. No disturbance in the glycolytic activity or to the 86 Rb efflux was found in these lenses, however.
A zero-one law for logic with a fixed-point operator

The logic obtained by adding the least-fixed-point operator to first-order logic was proposed as a query language by Aho and Ullman (in “Proc. 6th ACM Sympos. on Principles of Programming Languages,” 1979, pp. 110–120) and has been studied, particularly in connection with finite models, by numerous authors. We extend to this logic, and to the logic containing the more powerful iterative-fixed-point operator, the zero-one law proved for first-order logic in ( Glebskii, Kogan, Liogonki, and Talanov (1969) , Kibernetika 2, 31–42; Fagin (1976) , J. Symbolic Logic 41, 50–58). For any sentence φ of the extend logic, the proportion of models of φ among all structures with universe {1,2,…, n} approaches 0 or 1 as n tends to infinity. We also show that the problem of deciding, for any φ, whether this proportion approaches 1 is complete for exponential time, if we consider only φ's with a fixed finite vocabulary (or vocabularies of bounded arity) and complete for double-exponential time if φ is unrestricted. In addition, we establish some related results.
A phase I trial of nab-paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and capecitabine for metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Substantial antitumor activity has previously been demonstrated with the addition of nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane [Celgene, Summit, NJ]), an albumin-bound formulation of paclitaxel, to gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Given preclinical evidence of synergy when a fluoropyrimidine is added to gemcitabine plus a taxane in a sequence-specific schedule, we conducted a phase I study to evaluate the combination of nab-paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and capecitabine administered biweekly in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer and an ECOG performance status of 0–1 were eligible to participate. Study design utilized a 3 + 3 dose-escalation schema, with expanded cohort at maximum-tolerated dose (MTD). Treatment was administered in 14-day cycles, with capecitabine given on days 1–7 and both gemcitabine (at fixed-dose rate infusion) and nab-paclitaxel on day 4 of each cycle. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) definitions included grade 3–4 hematologic toxicities and grade 2–4 hand–foot syndrome, neuropathy, or diarrhea. Fifteen patients were enrolled across two dose levels. Final MTD was established at nab-paclitaxel 100 mg/m2, gemcitabine 750 mg/m2, and capecitabine 750 mg/m2 twice daily. Patients received a median of four treatment cycles (range 1–16). The most frequent adverse events (any grade) for the entire study cohort included fatigue, rash/hand–foot syndrome, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, neuropathy, and elevated liver function tests. Ten patients (66.7 %) experienced at least one grade 3–4 adverse event. Grade 3–4 hematologic toxicities were uncommon. Two of 14 evaluable patients (14.3 %) exhibited a partial response, and 6 of 12 patients (50 %) with elevated CA19–9 at baseline had a ≥50 % biomarker decline. While well tolerated overall, this regimen demonstrated only modest antitumor activity in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Recognizing the limits of cross-study comparisons and small sample size, these results do not match those reported at MTD in the phase I/II trial of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel. The lower doses used in the current study suggest that dose intensity may be a critical aspect to optimize multidrug regimens.
Are practice variations among obstetric providers and anesthesiologists responsible for an increase in operative delivery in patients with epidural anesthesia

Abstract Background: The consensus of opinion on obstetric outcome in patients receiving epidural anesthesia is still controversial. Women receiving epidural anesthesia may be at increased risk for operative vaginal and/or abdominal delivery according to few investigators. Objective: To investigate and compare biases in the private practices of obstetric care providers— including obstetricians, midwives, and family practitioners—to the biases of practices of epidural techniques by anesthesiologists. Methods: The obstetric care providers and anesthesiologists were coded. The coding was alphabetical (ie, A, B, C, D, etc., for obstetric care providers) and numerical (ie, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., for anesthesiologists). Each obstetric care provider and each anesthesiologist were combined as follows: A + 1, A + 2, A + 3, etc., B + 1, B + 2, B + 3, etc., C + 1, C + 2, C + 3, etc., D + 1, D + 2, D + 3, etc., E + 1, E + 2, E + 3, etc. Furthermore, each obstetric care provider was compared with various anesthesiologists. Likewise, each anesthesiologist was compared with various obstetric care providers. Only healthy patients following a normal, uncomplicated pregnancy were included. All patients were prehydrated with at least 1,000 mL of lactated Ringer’s solution before epidural placement. All epidurals were placed in the lumbar region using a “loss of resistance” technique. Either 18-gauge Hustead or 17-gauge Tuohy epidural needles were used. Results: When the epidural space was located, a test dose consisting of 3–5 mL of 1.5% lidocaine with epinephrine (1:200,000) was given through the needle. The test dose was followed by an 8–10-mL dose of 0.25% bupivicaine with or without 50–100 μg of fentanyl, which was also given through the needle. The epidural catheter was then placed, and placement was confirmed with a test dose of 1.5% lidocaine with epinephrine (1:200,000). Each patient then received a continuous epidural infusion consisting of 0.125% bupivicaine, 1 μg/mL of fentanyl and 1.25 μg/mL of epinephrine reconstituted in normal saline. Epidural infusions were continued until the patients delivered. Outcome of data is presented by retrospective analysis by patient charts for a period of 1 year.
Anterior plagiocephaly: epidemiology, clinical findings,diagnosis, and classification. A review

Anterior plagiocephaly due to the early unilateral fusion of the coronal suture is associated to a clinical phenotype characterized by the unilateral flattening of the frontal bone and the orbit and by the distortion and maldevelopment of adjacent cranial and facial bones. Homolateral anterior displacement of the ear and contralateral deviation of the nasal pyramid and mandible are other prominent clinical features. The differential diagnosis includes a variety of conditions characterized by facial asymmetry, namely, due to muscular alterations, anomalies of the visual function, congenital anomalies of the cervical spine and craniovertebral junction, abnormal pregnancy, and birth injuries. Anterior plagiocephaly is the direct cause of oculomotor anomalies, with a characteristic strabismus, and of progressive asymmetrical maldevelopment of the face, craniovertebral junction, and cervical spine. The medical literature was reviewed in regard to the epidemiology, clinical features, and radiological findings. Different categorization of the affected infants in specific subtypes according to the severity of the condition was analyzed. The aim was to contribute to a practical clinical classification to be utilized for the surgical indication and for predicting the prognosis according to the severity of the condition at presentation. Anterior plagiocephaly represents the most challenging simple suture craniosynostosis. The clinical differential diagnosis with other forms of cranial asymmetry is possible on the grounds of mere clinical findings. A classification system is necessary not only for the establishment of surgical planning but also to predict the late cosmetic and functional outcomes.
Postexercise Energy Expenditure following Upper Body Exercise

Abstract This study was designed to examine the magnitude and duration of excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) following upper body exercise, using lower body exercise for comparison. On separate days and in a counterbalanced order, eight subjects (four male and four female) performed a 20-min exercise at 60% of mode-specific peak oxygen uptake (VO2) using an arm crank and cycle ergometer. Prior to each exercise, baseline VO2 and heart rate (HR) were measured during the final 15 min of a 45-min seated rest. VO2 and HR were measured continuously during the postexercise period until baseline VO2 was reestablished. No significant difference between the two experimental conditions was found for magnitude of EPOC (t [7] = 0.69, p > .05). Mean (± SD) values were 9.2 ± 3.3 and 10.4 ± 5.8 kcal for the arm crank and cycle ergometer exercises, respectively. Duration of EPOC was relatively short and not significantly different (t [7] = 0.24, p > .05) between the upper body (22.9 ± 13.7 min) and lower body (...
Analysis of a read-through promoting compound in a severe mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of infantile death and caused by the loss of functional Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1). The remaining copy gene, SMN2, is unable to rescue from disease because the primary gene product lacks the final coding exon, exon 7, due to an alternative splicing event. While SMNΔ7 is a rapidly degraded protein, exon 7 is not specifically required in a sequence-specific manner to confer increased functionality to this truncated protein. Based upon this molecular observation, aminoglycosides have been examined to artificially elongate the C-terminus of SMNΔ7 by "read-through" of the stop codon. An SMNΔ7 read-through event benefits intermediate mouse models of SMA. Here we demonstrate that delivery of a read-through inducing compound directly to the CNS can partially lessen the severity of a severe model of SMA (Smn(-/-); SMN2(+/+)), albeit not to the extent seen in the less severe model. This further demonstrates the utility of read-through inducing compounds in SMA.
Using a microcomputer to convert percent response values to probits.

Certain relationships between dose/concentration and percent response/binding in various biochemical systems are sigmoidal rather than linear. This sigmoid relationship is considered linear only over the 20-80 percent range. Appropriate analysis of such data over nearly the entire response/binding range requires the conversion of the percent response data to probits or probability units, producing a linear relationship. While tables of probits are available, the author has incorporated the probability function for probit conversion into a commercially available spreadsheet program. Also included is the Rohlf and Sokal approximation for the area under the normal distribution curve (conversion of probits to cumulative percent). These functions allow use of a spreadsheet to automate the creation of dose-response curves, or standard curves as part of chemical assays (i.e., radioimmunoassay).
Discordant Place-Based Literacies in the Hilton Head, South Carolina Runway Extension Debate

In making a case for ecocomposition, Sidney Dobrin has claimed that writing, place, and environment cannot be separated. As Donehower, Hogg, and Schell and Deborah Brandt might argue, literacy cannot be separated from place either. But it might sometimes be separated from environment as an ecosystem that has value distinct from, and without the influence of, humans. In the Hilton Head, South Carolina airport runway extension debate, how stakeholders read, write, and speak of the land next to the airport is inherently connected to how they interact with that place and with each other. But they do not read and write of the land as a valuable ecosystem. Opposition to the runway extension has nothing to do with environmental impacts. The place is valued for economic, social, and historical reasons. As an environment, it is not much considered.
Abdominal Vascular Sonography

This is an introductory article on abdominal vascular ultrasound in dogs. An overview of the hemodynamics of venous and arterial blood flow and Doppler principles, spectral analysis, and velocity waveforms is given. The anatomic and Doppler features of major abdominal vessels that can be examined routinely with ultrasonography are discussed. Select cases of vascular pathology affecting various abdominal vessels in the dog and cat are described.
Phylogentic constraints, adaptive syndromes, and emergent properties: From individuals to population dynamics

The hypothesis is developed that there are causal linkages in evolved insect herbivore life histories and behaviors from phylogenetic constraints to adaptive syndromes to the emergent properties involving ecological interactions and population dynamics. Thus the argument is developed that the evolutionary biology of a species predetermines its current ecology.Phylogenetic Constraints refer to old characters in the phylogeny of a species and a group of species which set limits on the range of life history patterns and behaviors that can evolve. For example, a sawfly is commonly limited to oviposition in soft plant tissue, while plants are growing rapidly.Adaptive Syndromes are evolutionary responses to the phylogenetic constraints that minimize the limitations and maximize larval performance. Such syndromes commonly involve details of female ovipositional behavior and how individuals make choices for oviposition sites relative to plant quality variation which maximize larval survival. Syndromes also involve larval adaptations to the kinds of choices females make in oviposition. The evolutionary biology involved with phylogenetic constraints and adaptive syndromes commonly predetermines the ecological interactions of a species and its population dynamics. Therefore, these ecological interactions are calledEmergent Properties because they are natural consequences of evolved morphology, behavior, and physiology. They commonly strongly influence the three-trophic-level interactions among host plants, insect herbivores, and carnivores, and the relative forces of bottom-up and top-down influences in food webs. The arguments are supported using such examples as galling sawflies and other gallers, shoot-boring moths and beetles, budworms, and forest Macrolepidoptera. The contrasts between outbreak or eruptive species and uncommon and rare species with latent population dynamics are emphasized.
Index finger pollicization

The thumb is a specialized organ with unique functions that cannot be replicated by any other digit. The most powerful technique for construction of a missing thumb is index finger pollicization. In this article, we outline our technique for index finger pollicization. Over a 30-year period, certain technical refinements have improved the function and appearance of these transposed digits.
Ultrastructure of coronary arterial changes in spawning pacific salmon (Genus oncorhynchus) and steelhead trout (Salmo gairdnerii).

Abstract Irregular and indented bases, separated from elastic lamina, characterized endothelial cells of epicardial arteries from Pacific salmon and Steelhead trout with large numbers of focal lesions regardless of the stage of sexual maturity. Changes in the pattern of vacuolization and degree of cell sloughing accompanied sexual maturation. The arteriosclerotic lesions had no lipid, little collagen and no evidence of mucopolysaccharide. Smooth muscle cells in the lesions had few vacuoles and were oriented differently from cells in the media of the vessel. There was some endothelial cell thinning and damage around the lesions.
Dysregulation of Ca2+ Entry and SR Calcium Leak are Responsible for Elevated Resting Free Ca2+ in Triadin-Null Myotubes

Previously we have shown that lack of triadins expression in skeletal muscle cells results in significant increase of myoplasmic resting free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]r), suggesting a role for triadins in modulating global intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. To further characterize this mechanism, here we study the effect of triadin on Ca2+ entry, [Ca2+]r, and Ca2+ release pathways using Mn2+ quench, Ca2+ selective microelectrodes and Ca2+ imaging in Wt and triadin-null myotubes. Comparison of Mn2+ quench rates in resting conditions revealed that triadin-null cells have higher Ca2+ entry rates than Wt cells. However, prevention of Ca2+ entry with Cd2+ and La3+ was insufficient to restore [Ca2+]r of triadin-null cells to levels similar to Wt cells, suggesting either an additional Ca2+ entry pathway, insensitive Cd2+ and La3+, or an enhanced Ca2+ release. Inhibition of Ca2+ release by ryanodine resulted in a significant reduction of [Ca2+]r in triadin-null cells but not in Wt, indicating that triadin-null cell also have increased baseline RyR1 channel activity. Western blot analysis and lipid bilayer studies revealed that calcium channels from triadin-null cells have reduced FKBP-12 binding and increased subconductance states, respectively. Accordingly, over expression of FKBP-12.6 caused a significant reduction in [Ca2+]r in triadin-nulls but did not affect Wt cells. Overall these data support the idea that elevated resting free calcium levels observed in triadin-null myotubes are the combined effect of at least two things: (i) an increase in calcium entry mediated by Cd2+ and La3+ sensitive channels, but insensitive to nifedipine, and (ii) an augmented basal SR calcium release as the result of enhanced RyR1 channel activity induced by a deficiency in RyR1/FKBP-12 binding.Supported by NIH Grants 5K01AR054818-02 (to CFP) and 1P01AR044750 (to PDA).
Lightning injuries: Prognostic signs for death

A chi-square analysis of 66 cases, including the author's eight cases and 58 from the literature, was undertaken to determine prognostic signs for death in patients seriously injured by lightning. A review of the injuries and of the physics and pathophysiology of lightning is presented. Prognosis was poor for those victims suffering leg burns (mortality 30%), cranial burns (37%), or cardiopulmonary arrest (76%). Death occurred in 30% of the cases studied. Permanent sequelae were found in 74% of the survivors. Nonsignificant factors were age, sex, and trunk and arm burns. Resuscitation of victims exhibiting loss of consciousness should begin immediately, as these are the most likely to die.
Algebraic algorithms and coding theory

The associated talk surveys some recent developments in algorithmic coding theory that answer some fundamental questions with algebraic techniques.
Thermoelasticity of Silicate Perovskite and Magnesiowustite and Stratification of the Earth's Mantle.

Analyses of x-ray-diffraction measurements on (Mg,Fe)SiO3 perovskite and (Mg,Fe)O magnesiowustite at simultaneous high temperature and pressure are used to determine pressure-volume-temperature equations of state and thermoelastic properties of these lower mantle minerals. Detailed comparison with the seismically observed density and bulk sound velocity profiles of the lower mantle does not support models of this region that assume compositions identical to that of the upper mantle. The data are consistent with lower mantle compositions consisting of nearly pure perovskite (>85 percent), which would indicate that the Earth's mantle is compositionally, and by implication, dynamically stratified.
D-Optimal cyclic two-dimensional block designs

In this paper we consider a class of incomplete block designs in which every block is two dimensional. Thus heterogeneity is removed not only between blocks, but also in two directions within each block. Such designs have been considered before in Srivastava (1977,1978). Here, we consider the class of cyclic designs of this type when the number of treatments ? is an odd number between 5 and 25, and present designs that are D-optimal within this class
Sign language interpreters and burnout: The effects of perfectionism, perceived stress, and coping resources

The multidimensional construct of perfectionism is well studied as it relates to coping with stress and burnout (Childs & Stoeber 2012; Flett & Hewitt 2002). Bontempo and Napier (2011) identify the personality trait of conscientiousness, which includes perfectionistic traits, as beneficial to an interpreter’s job performance. In contrast, several studies suggest that constructs related to maladaptive perfectionistic traits play a role in the development of burnout among interpreters, although perfectionism has not been explicitly identified or used as a research variable (Qin et al. 2008). These studies identify key components of both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism in the assessment of stress-related outcomes, thereby laying the groundwork for a more focused study on the particular role of perfectionism among interpreters who experience burnout. The current study evaluated the relationship between perfectionism, perceived stress, coping resources and burnout in a sample of sign language interpreters. The results provided support for the mediating role of perceived stress in the association of maladaptive perfectionism and burnout within the sample. Coping resources did not serve as a moderator between perfectionism variables and burnout, or as a moderated mediator between perfectionism variables and perceived stress. The implications of these findings for sign language interpreters are discussed.
Polymer-based board-level optoelectronic interconnects via micromirror coupler

We report the design and formation of a high-performance polymer waveguide array with 45-degree micro-mirror couplers for achieving fully-embedded board-level optoelectronic interconnects. We have used Si CMOS process compatible polymer as the fabrication material, which is relatively easy to process and has low propagation loss at 850 nm wavelength. 45-degree total interior reflection micro-mirror couplers fabricated within the channel waveguides provide surface-normal light coupling between the waveguide and the optoelectronic devices, thus forming a fully-embedded 3D optoelectronic interconnect. We have demonstrated a hybrid optoelectronic integrated system of GaAs MSM photodetector array and polymer channel waveguide array with 45-degree micro-mirror couplers, showing an aggregate 3 dB bandwidth of 32 GHz.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Ruthenium-catalyzed alkyne-propargyl alcohol addition. An asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-alpha-kainic acid.

A novel route to the neuroexcitatory amino acid, kainic acid, is developed. The key concept derives from a ruthenium-catalyzed cycloisomerization of a tethered alkyne−propargyl alcohol to form a cylic 2-vinyl-1-acyl compound. A single stereocenter introduced by an asymmetric reduction of a ketone sets the stage for all the other stereocenters. A novel 1,6-addition of silyl cuprate serves to install a hydroxyl group at the diene termines.
Initiation of sporulation in Clostridium difficile: a twist on the classic model

The formation of dormant endospores is a complex morphological process that permits long-term survival in inhospitable environments for many Gram-positive bacteria. Sporulation for the anaerobic gastrointestinal pathogen Clostridium difficile is necessary for survival outside of the gastrointestinal tract of its host. While the developmental stages of spore formation are largely conserved among endospore-forming bacteria, the genus Clostridium appears to be missing a number of conserved regulators required for efficient sporulation in other spore-forming bacteria. Several recent studies have discovered novel mechanisms and distinct regulatory pathways that control the initiation of sporulation and early-sporulation-specific gene expression. These differences in regulating the decision to undergo sporulation reflects the unique ecological niche and environmental conditions that C. difficile inhabits and encounters within the mammalian host.
Schemata for teaching structured assembly language programming

The paper advocates the use of structured programming techniques in designing and developing assembly language programs. It presents schemata for implementing the major constructs of structured programs in IBM 370 Assembly language. These include the extensive use of equates for defining labels and the use of indentation to illustrate logical dependencies in pseudocode comments.
The State of General Surgery Training: A Different Perspective

Background Much has been written about the influences of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) work restrictions, the litigious climate in American medicine, and the proliferation of subspecialty fellowships on general surgery training. Few previous studies have addressed general surgical residents' perceptions of surgical training on a national level. Methods A 38-question Institutional Review Board-approved survey was sent via e-mail to the program directors at all ACGME-approved general surgical training programs for distribution to categorical general surgery residents. Voluntary responses to statements focusing on job satisfaction, quality of life, and the influences of operative experience, work hours, fellows, physician extenders, as well as faculty and administration on resident training were solicited. Results Overall, 997 responses were received from residents of all clinical levels from 40 states. Most respondents were from university-based programs (79%) with a broad representation of program sizes (mean of 6 graduates per year; range 2 to 11). Residents believe that they will be prepared to enter clinical practice at the conclusion of their training (86%), that the duration of surgical training is adequate (85%), and that they are exposed to sufficient case volume and complexity (85% and 84%, respectively). Only 360 respondents (36%) believe that they are financially compensated appropriately. Although most respondents support the ACGME work-hour restrictions (70%), far fewer feel that they improve their training or patient care (46.6% and 46.8%, respectively). Most respondents are proud to be surgical residents (88%), view surgery as a rewarding profession (87%), and would choose surgery as a profession again (77%). Conclusions Surgical residents are positive regarding the quality of their training and life, although they feel poorly compensated for their work. Most residents intend to pursue fellowship training. Survey responses were consistent irrespective of gender, ethnicity, and program type.
Biomodification of fats and oils: Trials withCandida lipolytica

Various oil-accumulating yeasts were tested for their ability to produce lipase and live on fats and oils as carbon sources. Of these,Candida lipolytica seemed most promising, and the possibility was explored of modifying fats and oils by fermenting them withC. lipolytica and extracting the modified oil deposited in the yeast cells. Oxygen was required for the growth of yeast on fats and oils, but unless the oxygen level was controlled at a low value after cell populations peaked, most of the substrate oil was converted to citrates rather than accumulating as oil. Oil accumulation byC. lipolytica from a corn oil substrate was slightly depressed by excess nitrogen in the medium. The yeasts were able to use about 18 g/l of oil in 72 hr. At substrate oil levels greater than 18 g/l, the dry yeasts were 60% oil, and about 45–57% of the substrate oil was recovered as yeast oil. The fatty acid composition of the yeast oil was quite similar to that of the substrate oil under optimum conditions of deposition. Sterols, but not tocopherols, were transferred from the substrate to the yeast oil.Candida lipolytica oil was high in free fatty acids. The greatest potential for biomodification by fermentation withC. lipolytica seems to be in altering glyceride structure.
3D discrete curvelet transform

In this paper, we present the first 3D discrete curvelet transform. This transform is an extension to the 2D transform described in Candes et al..1 The resulting curvelet frame preserves the important properties, such as parabolic scaling, tightness and sparse representation for singularities of codimension one. We describe three different implementations: in-core, out-of-core and MPI-based parallel implementations. Numerical results verify the desired properties of the 3D curvelets and demonstrate the efficiency of our implementations.
Membranous posterior glottic stenosis successfully treated by extended cricoid split procedure: a case report☆

Posterior glottic stenosis resulting in limitation of vocal cord abduction is a difficult clinical problem. Usually secondary to intubation, mature posterior glottic stenosis is a difficult clinical problem better prevented than treated. We present a case of a patient with early, membranous posterior glottic stenosis successfully treated with a cricoid split procedure, lysis of the stenosis and planned postoperative intubation. This treatment allowed healing of the interarytenoid area and resulted in good vocal cord abduction. A literature review and rationale for the procedure are presented.
Influence of pH on inhibition of bacteria, fungi, and coliphages by bisulfite and sulfite.

Abstract Studies were performed to determine the effects of bisulfite (HSO3−) and sulfite (SO32−), the anionic solubility products of sulfur dioxide (SO2), on the growth of bacteria and fungi and on the survival of a coliphage. Although differential sensitivities to these anions were noted among the test microorganisms, HSO3 was always more inhibitory than SO32−. The inhibitory effects of HSO3− and SO32− were pH dependent: The lower the pH, the greater their toxicity. Consequently, when evaluating the overall effects of pollution by SO2 and the resultant acid rain on the biosphere, attention must be focused on the anionic solubility products of SO2 and on the impact of the pH of the receiver environment on their toxicity to microbes.
Molecularly imprinted micro and nanospheres for the selective recognition of 17β-estradiol

Abstract A one-step precipitation polymerization procedure for the synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers selective for 17β-estradiol yielding imprinted micro and nanospheres was developed in this study and compared to templated materials obtained by conventional bulk polymerization. The polymer particles prepared by precipitation polymerization exhibited a regular spherical shape at the micro and nanoscale with a high degree of monodispersity. Moreover, the influence of the polymerization temperature, and the ratio of functional monomer to cross-linker on the size of the obtained particles was investigated. The selectivity of the imprinted micro and nanospheres was evaluated by HPLC analysis and via radioligand binding assays. HPLC separation experiments revealed that the imprinted microspheres provide higher or similar affinity to the template in contrast to imprinted polymers prepared by conventional bulk polymerization or synthesized by multi-step swelling/polymerization methods. The dimensions of the imprinted nanospheres facilitate suspension in solution rendering them ideal for binding assay applications. Results from saturation and displacement assays prove that the imprinted nanospheres exhibit superior specific affinity to the target molecule in contrast to control materials. The binding properties of the nanospheres including binding isotherms and affinity distribution were studied via Freundlich isotherm affinity distribution (FIAD) analysis. Moreover, release experiments show that 70% of rebound 17β-estradiol was released from the imprinted nanospheres within the first 2 h, while more intimately bound 17β-estradiol molecules (approx. 16%) were released in the following 42 h. Fitting Brunnauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) multi-point adsorption isotherms to the obtained results indicated that the micro and nanospheres are characterized by a comparatively homogenous and narrow distribution of mesopores in contrast to the corresponding bulk polymers.
Perfect harmony: a mathematical analysis of four historical tunings.

In Western music, a musical interval defined by the frequency ratio of two notes is generally considered consonant when the ratio is composed of small integers. Perfect harmony or an “ideal just scale,” which has no exact solution, would require the division of an octave into 12 notes, each of which would be used to create six other consonant intervals. The purpose of this study is to analyze four well-known historical tunings to evaluate how well each one approximates perfect harmony. The analysis consists of a general evaluation in which all consonant intervals are given equal weighting and a specific evaluation for three preludes from Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier,” for which intervals are weighted in proportion to the duration of their occurrence. The four tunings, 5-limit just intonation, quarter-comma meantone temperament, well temperament (Werckmeister III), and equal temperament, are evaluated by measures of centrality, dispersion, distance, and dissonance. When all keys and consonant intervals are equally weighted, equal temperament demonstrates the strongest performance across a variety of measures, although it is not always the best tuning. Given C as the starting note for each tuning, equal temperament and well temperament perform strongly for the three “Well-Tempered Clavier” preludes examined.
Graduate Student Symposium Planning Committee Experiences

The Graduate Student Symposium Planning Committee (GSSPC) is a Division of Chemical Education (CHED) sponsored initiative designed to promote graduate student-led programming at American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meetings and to provide an opportunity for graduate students to network with professionals inside and outside the ACS on a topic of student interest. Described here are general suggestions offered by the University of Connecticut's GSSPC (incorporating the collective wisdom of several GSSPC's) that affords critical information for future graduate student groups that wish to serve as a GSSPC, such as the planning, organization, and execution of an ACS National Meeting symposium.