cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Head Direction, Place, and Movement Correlates for Cells in the Rat Retrosplenial Cortex

The retrosplenial cortex is strongly connected with brain regions involved in spatial signaling. To test whether it also codes space, single cells were recorded while rats navigated in an open field. As in earlier work (L. L. Chen, L. H. Lin, C. A. Barnes, & B. L. McNaughton, 1994; L. L. Chen, L. H. Lin, E. J. Green, C. A. Barnes, & B. L. McNaughton, 1994), the authors found head direction cells with properties similar to those in other areas. These cells were slightly anticipatory. Another cell type fired to particular combinations of location, direction, and movement, which suggested that they may fire whenever the rat approaches a particular location, using a particular locomotor behavior. The remaining cells could not be clearly categorized but also showed a significant correlation with one or more of the spatial-movement variables examined. The fact that the retrosplenial cortex contains spatial and movement-related signals and is connected with the motor cortex suggests that it may play a role in path integration or navigational motor planning.
On the Chromatic Number of the Square of the Kneser Graph K (2 k +1, k )

The Kneser graph K(n, k) is the graph whose vertices are the k-element subsets of an n-element set, with two vertices adjacent if the sets are disjoint. The chromatic number of the Kneser graph K(n, k) is n−2k+2. Zoltan Furedi raised the question of determining the chromatic number of the square of the Kneser graph, where the square of a graph is the graph obtained by adding edges joining vertices at distance at most 2. We prove that χ(K2(2k+1, k))≤4k when k is odd and χ(K2(2k+1, k))≤4k+2 when k is even. Also, we use intersecting families of sets to prove lower bounds on χ(K2(2k+1, k)), and we find the exact maximum size of an intersecting family of 4-sets in a 9-element set such that no two members of the family share three elements.
Surface scatter effects in grazing incidence x-ray telescopes

Non-intuitive surface scatter effects resulting from practical optical fabrication tolerances frequently dominate both diffraction effects and geometrical aberrations in high resolution grazing incidence x-ray telescopes. The resulting reduction optical performance due to scattering is a strong function of x-ray energy, residual surface characteristics, incident angle, and the optical performance criterion appropriate to the application. A simple Fourier treatment of surface scatter phenomena, based upon a non-paraxial scalar diffraction theory, is referenced and utilized to produce parametric performance predictions that provide physical insight and understanding into the surface scatter phenomenon and its effect upon image quality. The optical prescription for the Solar X-ray Imager will be used as an example.
Protein Metabolism in Chicks Fed Raw Soybean Meal

Abstract Evans et al. (1947) and Bouthilet et al. (1950) reported the digestibility of the protein of raw soybeans in chicks to be only about 80% of that of heat treated soybean meal. Renner and Hill (1960) showed significantly lower metabolizable energy values for raw soybean flakes and further reported that raw soybean meal interfered with fat absorbability in the chick. While metabolizable energy measurement provides an excellent means for determining the over-all utilization of the diet, it does not identify the nature or source of the products of excretion. In the present study the nitrogenous end products of urinary origin were estimated in order to determine if protein metabolism is altered in chicks fed raw soybean meal. Male New Hampshire × Delaware chicks used in the experiment were maintained in battery brooders with raised wire screen floors, kept in a temperature controlled and ventilated laboratory. Eight chicks were randomly assigned…
New Considerations Relating to Class Effect With Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitors‐The PEACE Study

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy provides positive outcome benefits in a number of cardiac scenarios including congestive heart failure, postmyocardial infarction, as well as in the hypertensive patient at cardiac risk. This benefit exists both in normotensive and hypertensive individuals and is present in those with various grades of cardiovascular risk. This beneficial cardiovascular effect has now been observed with several angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, suggesting a class effect. The Prevention of Events with Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition trial studied the effect of adding the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor trandolapril to a contemporary therapeutic regimen of patients with stable coronary artery disease and preserved left ventricular function. In this study, the addition of trandolapril did not confer any additional benefit in terms of reducing the incidence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. The neutral findings in this trial add a new wrinkle to the concept of class effect for cardiovascular protection with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with coronary artery disease.
Documenting the Corneal Phenotype Associated with the MIR184 c.57C>T Mutation

Ten years ago, we published the clinical features of a novel hereditary anterior-segment dysgenesis, which we termed EDICT syndrome for endothelial dystrophy, iris hypoplasia, congenital cataracts, and stromal thinning.1 We followed this with a report on the linkage of this dysgenesis to chromosome 15q.2 Hughes et al. later published a report of a family with hereditary keratoconus and cataracts, which linked to a region within the EDICT interval.3,4 Recently, Hughes et al. identified a mutation in MIR184, encoding microRNA 184 (MIM 613146), and this mutation is responsible for the disease of keratoconus and cataracts noted in their family.
Success factors for manufacturing expert system development

Abstract As a testimony to their success, the use of Expert Systems (ES) has increased dramatically within and among manufacturing organizations. As the investment in this important area grows, so does the need for an assessment of their value. IBM's Corporate Manufacturing Expert Systems Project Center collected information from 55 project managers regarding the level of user satisfaction and six of the important factors leading to ES development success. Based on the existing literature, six hypotheses regarding the determinants of ES development success as measured by user satisfaction were tested. The results clearly support the proposed relationships between the variables and suggest the need for ES project managers to pay special attention to these determinants of user satisfaction with ES. The report provides recommendations to ES project managers for enhancing the likelihood of project success.
Finite area method for nonlinear conical flows

A fully conservative finite area method for the computation of steady inviscid flow about general conical bodies at incidence is described. The procedure utilizes the potential approximation and implements a body conforming mesh generator. The conical potential is assumed to have its best linear variation inside each mesh cell and a secondary interlocking cell system is used to establish the flux balance required to conserve mass. In the supersonic regions the scheme is desymmetrized by adding appropriate artificial viscosity in conservation form. The algorithm is nearly an order of a magnitude faster than present Euler methods and predicts known results accurately and qualitative features such as nodal point lift off correctly. Results are compared with those of other investigations.
Depression, anxiety, and resting frontal EEG asymmetry: A meta-analytic review.

Emotion-related disturbances, such as depression and anxiety, have been linked to relative right-sided resting frontal electroencephalograph (EEG) asymmetry among adults and infants of afflicted mothers. However, a somewhat inconsistent pattern of findings has emerged. A meta-analysis was undertaken to (a) evaluate the magnitude of effects across EEG studies of resting frontal asymmetry and depression, anxiety, and comorbid depression and anxiety and (b) determine whether certain moderator variables could help reconcile inconsistent findings. Moderate effects of similar magnitude were obtained for the depression and anxiety studies, whereas a smaller effect emerged for comorbid studies. Three moderating variables predicted effect sizes: (a) Shorter EEG recording periods were associated with larger effects among adults, (b) different operationalizations of depression yielded effects of marginally different magnitudes, and (c) younger infant samples showed larger effects than older ones. The current data support a link between resting frontal EEG asymmetry and depression and anxiety and provide a partial account of inconsistent findings across studies.
Characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi invasion of cultured endothelial cells.

Borrelia burgdorferi can adhere to cultured endothelial cells and penetrate through cell monolayers by passing through intercellular tight junctions and through the host cell cytoplasm. Borrelia burgdorferi strains which were isolated from different sources and areas of the U.S. all demonstrated similar invasive capabilities. Bacterial penetration from the apical to the basal surface of the monolayer was 20 times more efficient than from the basal to the apical surface. Borreliae which were non-viable as a result of either heat treatment or ultraviolet (UV) irradiation showed reduced association with the endothelial cell monolayer and loss of invasive capabilities. Borreliae were able to invade when protein synthesis was inhibited with streptomycin or chloramphenicol. When assays were conducted at 4 degrees C, bacterial penetration of the monolayer was completely inhibited. Treatment of borreliae with proteases affecting outer surface proteins greatly reduced cell association and bacterial invasion.
Computerized Data Generation for Teaching Statistics

(a) The customary proof that 2 (xj iX)2 22 in samples from a normial population has a Chi Square dis- -tribution with n 1 degrees of freedom, involves Hel- mert's -transformations yj = [JiXj+l (xj + . . . + xj)]jV(j + 1). Some ma- -trix theory is usually brought into the first probability and s-tatistics course to make the development manageable. The first part of this paper suggests an easier version of the proof, using a transformation easy to handle by elementary algebra: Uj = (xj X) + A (x,, X4), (j = 1, ... , n 1), with a certain choice of A. (b) In the second part of the paper, the sanie con- trasts (or any n 1 orthogonal contrasts) are used to cons-truct test statistics for differences in spread: samples of n 1 absolute contrasts |uj| (or transforms of ihem) are compared by a nonparametric or robust test on location. This is a modification of Levene's method (comparison of samples of xj -xl's) and sacri- fices one element per sample in return for freedom from the correlations dragging on the (Xj -x)S.
Tricyclic Antidepressant and Methylphenidate Treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder in Children

Twelve boys with attention deficit disorder (ADD) were treated in a double-blind placebo controlled crossover experiment with methylphenidate, clomipramine (CMI) and desipramine (DMI). A Latin square design was followed to control for the order of presentation of the drugs. Behavioral ratings by teachers and child care workers indicated methylphenidate had a greater efficacy than the other drugs. The therapeutic action of the short-acting sympathomimetic agent diminished by evening, whereas the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) have a longer half-life and therefore continued to be effective. The TCAs were more effective with affective symptoms and less likely to disturb sleep. The present study underscores the need to understand better the amelioration of various ADD symptoms by different medications.
Ignimbrites of the Seven Springs Formation, Barrilla Mountains, Western Texas

The Seven Springs Formation of the Barrilla Mountains, western Texas, consists of 4 tuff units, 3 ignimbrite units, and 1 basalt unit. The ignimbrites consist of anorthoclase (Or 35–40 ) phenocrysts in a matrix of glass, alkali feldspar, and quartz. The percentage of anorthoclase phenocrysts, the degree of welding of the matrix, and the grain size of the matrix all increase from the oldest to the youngest ignimbrites. The ignimbrites can be genetically related to the underlying Star Mountain Rhyolite flow in terms of sequential eruption of all units from a single magma chamber in which anorthoclase phenocrysts were crystallizing, settling, and being partially resorbed. All ignimbrites underwent posteruptive loss of Na 2 O.
Knowledge-based interaction potentials for proteins.

We discuss the derivation of atomic-level potentials of mean force from the known protein structures and their applicability for structural evaluation applications. In the derivation process, rigorous density estimation methodology is used to estimate the probability density functions (PDFs) for the distributions of interatomic distances in the protein structures. Potentials of mean force are then derived from these density functions using simple Boltzmann's relation. We also test the potentials against pairs of current and superseded protein structures in the Protein Data Bank. Using PDF potentials to evaluate each structure pair, we are able to identify, with high accuracy, which of the two structures is of higher resolution or better quality. This result shows that the PDF potentials are sensitive to details in protein structures as the current and superseded atomic coordinates generally do not differ by more than 1 A in root-mean-square deviation, and that the PDF potentials could potentially be used for X-ray structure refinement and protein structure prediction. Proteins 1999;36:54–67. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Modeling of type-II InAs/GaSb superlattices using an empirical tight-binding method and interface engineering

We report the most recent work on the modeling of type-II InAs/GaSb superlattices using the empirical tight binding method in an ${\mathrm{sp}}^{3}{s}^{*}$ basis. After taking into account the antimony segregation in the InAs layers, the modeling accuracy of the band gap has been improved. Our calculations agree with our experimental results within a certain growth uncertainty. In addition, we introduce the concept of ${\mathrm{Ga}}_{x}{\mathrm{In}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$ type interface engineering in order to reduce the lattice mismatch between the superlattice and the GaSb (001) substrate to improve the overall superlattice material quality.
Personal Relationships as an Interface between Social Networks and Social Cognitions

The concept of shared knowledge structures is introduced as one way of demonstrating how personal relationships serve as a bridge between collective activity at the level of the social network and cognitive activity at the level of the individual. The field of social cognition has studied how individuals organize information, and social network analysis has studied how information is passed within groups, but both have largely ignored the role that personal relationships play in leading individuals to share the ways they organize and interpret this information. This conceptual framework is applied to two qualitative studies on the production of shared knowledge structures: first, for knowledge about coping with the stresses of recent widowhood, and second, for the organization of knowledge about preventing heart attacks. The results point to the importance of integrating work on social cognition, personal relationships, and social networks.
Effect of age on RNA synthesis by rat hepatocytes.

Abstract The incorporation of (3H) orotic acid into RNA by hepatocytes from rats of various ages was studied. A 37% decrease in the incorporation of (3H) orotic acid into RNA was observed by hepatocytes isolated from 30-month-old rats compared to 12-month-old rats. There was no age-related difference in the incorporation of (3H) orotic acid into acid-insoluble material by hepatocytes. The incorporation of (3H) orotic acid into UTP by hepatocytes was determined by high pressure liquid chromatography. The (3H) orotic acid was rapidly converted to UTP by hepatocytes, and the specific activity of the UTP reached a steady state after 10 min of incubation. There was no significant difference in the specific activity of the UTP in hepatocytes isolated from rats ranging in age from 6 to 25 months. Therefore, the age-related decrease in the incorporation of (3H) orotic acid into RNA by hepatocytes is not due to an age-related difference in the uptake or conversion of (3H) orotic acid into UTP.
Beyond Materialism: A Coevolutionary Reinterpretation of the Environmental Crisis

Materialism, both as a vision of the good life and as a cosmological basis underlying epistemology and modern science, drives humanity's environmental crisis. The dominant thrust of the environmental movement has been simply to shift to a longer slower materialism. Understanding how materialism creates our environmental problems and limits our vision of the good life is a necessary step toward creating a different future. Understanding development as a process of coevolution between knowledge, technology, social organization, values, and nature provides an alternative cosmological and epistemological framing which both gives us perspective on materialism and suggests an alternative vision for the future.
Assessment of E.M.F. cell equilibria by open circuit relaxation

Summary An open circuit relaxation method has been used to assess equilibria at Pu-Fe and Mg-Ni alloy electrodes in high temperature fused salts. The information provided is believed to increase the reliability and accuracy of e.m.f. measurements at less expense in time and material than multiple experiments would require. It was found that for e.m.f. cells with stable potentials, useful information can be obtained at relaxation times greatly in excess of those considered reliable when a knowledge of the diffusion coefficient is important.
Beyond genetics in personalized cancer treatment: assessing dynamics and heterogeneity of tumor responses

Cancer has been considered a genetic disease for over a century – ever since von Hansemann first described abnormal chromosomes in cancer cells [1] and Rous demonstrated the ability of transmissible agents (viruses) to cause cancer in chickens [2]. By linking genetic alterations with disrupted biochemical processes, Tatum and Beadle paved the way for others to identify individual genes responsible for oncogenic transformation [101]. Major breakthroughs came in the 1970s when Martin described that a viral gene (v-src) is required to maintain the transformed state of virally infected cells [3] and Varmus, Bishop and colleagues discovered that viral oncogenes have mammalian cell orthologs [4–6]. Subsequent studies determined that many cellular proto-oncogenes are kinases [7–9]. This realization paved the way for the development of targeted cancer therapies that specifically inhibit these oncogenic kinases. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing and the ability to screen thousands of genes from individual tumor samples, many tumors that were once evaluated solely by their histopathological characteristics are now being genetically characterized in astounding detail. With sufficient numbers of molecularly characterized tumors, statistical correlations have suggested links between specific alterations of oncogenic kinases within distinct tumor types or subtypes [10,11]. Some of these molecular alterations are the basis of successful personalized cancer therapy, including HER2 amplification in breast cancer [12], BCR–ABL translocations in chronic myelogenous leukemia [13], mutations within the kinase domain of the EGF receptor (EGRF) in adenocarcinoma of the lung [14,15] and activating BRAF mutations in melanoma [16]. In each of these cases, specifically targeting the genetically altered kinase has provided significant clinical benefit to patients by prolonging overall survival and decreasing treatment-associated morbidity when compared with conventional chemotherapy. It is thought that the success of these drugs is due to the tumor cells being ‘addicted’ to the oncogenic signaling such that when the oncogenic signal is abrogated, the tumor cells stop dividing or die [17,18]. However, the targeted treatments are not curative and the tumors ultimately progress even in the continued presence of the targeted agents, clearly indicating that not all tumor cells die in response to treatment and setting the stage for resistance. Progression of initially responsive tumors is a major challenge to personalized cancer therapy since the clinical benefit of treatment is generally reported in months rather than years, and many questions remain about how and when tumors recur. Answers to these questions would provide enormous clinical benefit, providing physicians with the information necessary to select optimal patient treatment options.
"The Wordless Nothing": Narratives of Trauma and Extremity

At the end of a work which details her journey through the narratives of forty refugee women telling of their political persecution in the Mideast and Latin America, Inger Agger writes: "In this space they begin to experience the nec? essary turning point between the wordless nothing dominated by chaotic anxi? ety and the wordless fellowship given form and expression in the symbol of the circle and its healing ritual" (Agger, 1994, p. 126). Here we find one ex? pression of what is often a key element in many persons' experience of trauma, "the wordless nothing," and one indication of a powerful element for healing in the aftermath of trauma, fellowship, in this instance gained through the refu? gee women sharing their stories with the researcher, giving testimony to an interested and sympathetic listener of what they had endured. But what is this "wordless nothing"? And how can anyone speak an experience of it, putting it into words?
Case report 747

Vena caval leiomyosarcomas are rare tumors; noncaval leiomyosarcomas are even less common and are rarely diagnosed preoperatively. We present a case of leiomyosarcoma of the great saphenous vein that was diagnosed by MRI based on its appearance and location. The presence of an intraluminal tumor in a vein on MRI should suggest the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma of the vein, allowing definitive operative excision. With widespread use of MRI for indeterminate soft-tissue masses, we anticipate presurgical diagnosis of venous leiomyosarcoma will be made with increasing certainty and frequency.
Autonomic control of the regional hemodynamic response to scald

Abstract Ultrasonic flow probes were placed around the ascending aorta and each femoral artery of dogs to record cardiac index and femoral blood flow, respectively. Intravenous hexamethonium (n = 5) produced 30% decreases in systemic mean arterial pressure and in cardiac index, and a 14% increase in femoral blood flow, effects that waned over time, consistent with the half-life of the agent. Without hexamethonium, hind paw scalding with boiling water for 5 sec (n = 5) caused a marked increase in ipsilateral femoral artery blood flow ( 70.7 ± 8.9 ml/min pre-burn vs 243.7 ± 23.7 ml/min 5 min post-burn) that persisted for the 3 hr observation period. Contralateral femoral blood flow, systemic mean arterial pressure, and cardiac index were unchanged. Compared to burn only dogs, pre-burn treatment with hexamethonium (n = 6) blunted the femoral vasodilator response to burn ( 78.8 ± 9.7 ml/min pre-burn vs 116.5 ± 7.5 ml/min 5 min post-burn). These data suggest that post-ganglionic autonomic nerves are at least partially responsible for mediation of the regional vasodilator response to thermal injury.
Probability Analysis of Vessel Collisions and Groundings in Southeast Texas Waterways

The Sabine-Neches Waterway (SNWW) connects the Texas ports of Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange with the Gulf of Mexico. The SNWW can be divided into three navigation routes, although they share some channels. The first route is the waterway from the Neches River, north of the port of Beaumont, to the port of Port Arthur, and then to the Gulf of Mexico. The second route is a part of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW), west of Port Arthur, which extends east of the port of Orange. The third route is from the port of Orange to the Gulf of Mexico. The SNWW plays an important role in its support of the economic growth of southeast Texas. Safe navigation in narrow waterways is one of the most important concerns of maritime authorities and researchers, while collisions and groundings are two of the most common kinds of vessel accidents. In the study reported here, the grounding and collision analysis toolbox was employed to analyze the probabilities of collisions and groundings in multiple segments along the...
Improving DPCM system performance

A differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) system provides a fast and inexpensive data compression technique for analog signals. Two methods of improving the performance of DPCM systems are studied: the introduction of delays using incremental tree coding techniques and the design of nonuniform quantizers based upon optimization theory. The performance of matched integrator, perfect integrator, and optimization-based DPCM systems are compared for first order Gauss-Markov sources and mean square error using simulation techniques. Both methods improve system performance. The optimization based DPCM system provides substantial improvement for high bit rates. >
Do 5α-Reductase Inhibitors Alter Prostate Cancer Detection and What Are the Implications?

Abstract The 5α-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) have a number of effects on benign, hyperplastic, and malignant prostate epithelium. The extent of these effects appears to differ significantly among patients, and on average, appears less than that observed with luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist therapy. Indeed, the "characteristic changes" observed for hormonal therapy may not be so specific after all, if such changes can also be observed in men not receiving 5-ARIs or hormonal therapy. Although prostate specimens derived from men receiving a 5-ARI need to be interpreted with care, currently little evidence supports the original contention that use of a 5-ARI can result in significant misinterpretation of Gleason grade in those with prostate cancer. Data from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) strongly suggest that the reduction in prostate volume combined with changes in the performance of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) observed with 5-ARI treatment results in an excess detection of tumours, especially high-grade lesions, compared with untreated men. The effects of 5-ARIs on PSA appear to improve the predictive value of PSA as a diagnostic test for prostate cancer, possibly by differential suppression of PSA derived from cancerous and noncancerous tissue. New analyses, under development, are seeking to examine how this increased detection affects the reduction in risk of prostate cancer observed with 5-ARI therapy during the 7 yr of the PCPT.
An Experimental Investigation of Flow Boiling Characteristics of Water in Parallel Microchannels

Microchannels are being considered in many advanced heat transfer applications including automotive and stationary fuel cells as well as electronics cooling. However, there are a number of fundamental issues from the heat transfer and fluid mechanics perspectives that still remain unresolved. The present work focuses on obtaining the fundamental heat transfer data and two-phase flow patterns present during flow boiling in microchannels. An experimental investigation is performed for flow boiling using water in six parallel horizontal microchannels with a hydraulic diameter of 207 μm. The ranges of parameters are: mass flux from 157 to 1782 kg/m 2 s, heat flux from 5 to 930 kW/m 2 , inlet temperature of 22°C, quality from sub-cooled to 1.0. and atmospheric pressure at the exit. The corresponding single-phase, all-liquid flow Reynolds number range at the saturation conditions is from 116 to 1318. The measured single-phase, adiabatic pressure drop agreed with the conventional theory within the experimental error
HERMES: a high-speed radar imaging system for inspection of bridge decks

Corrosion of rebar in concrete bridges causes subsurface cracks and is a major cause of structural degradation that necessitates repair or replacement. Early detection of corrosion effects can limit the location and extent of necessary repairs, while providing long-term information about the infrastructure status. Most current detection methods, however, are destructive of the road surface and require closing or restricting traffic while the tests are performed. A ground-penetrating radar imaging system has been designed and developed that will perform the nondestructive evaluation of road-bed cracking at traffic speeds; i.e., without the need to restrict traffic flow. The first-generation system (called the HERMES bridge inspector), consists of an offset-linear array of 64 impulse radar transceivers and associated electronics housed in a trailer. Computers in the trailer and in the towing vehicle control the data acquisition, processing, and display. Cross-road resolution is three centimeters at up to 30 cm in depth, while down-road resolution depends on speed; 3 cm below 20 mph up to 8 cm at 50 mph. A two-meter- wide path is inspected on each pass over the roadway. This paper, describes the design of this system, shows preliminary results, and lays out its deployment schedule.
Acute pancreatitis in children

Abstract OBJECTIVES: Currently, there is no scoring system for predicting severity in acute pancreatitis in children. Our intent was to evaluate the performance of existing scoring systems in children, to develop a system for children, and to examine the etiology of acute pancreatitis in children. METHODS: A chart review of children with acute pancreatitis was conducted at six centers, three serving as criterion centers and three as validation centers. Ranson and Glasgow scores were calculated for each admission. Additional clinical data were collected, and parameters correlating with severity were incorporated into a new scoring system. Performance characteristics were calculated for each system. RESULTS: A total of 301 admissions were reviewed, 202 in the criterion group and 99 in the validation group. Eight parameters were included in a new scoring system for children. The parameters were as follows: age ( 18,500), admission LDH (>2,000), 48-h trough Ca2+ ( 75 ml/kg/48 h), and 48-h rise in BUN (>5 mg/dl). When the cut-off for predicting a severe outcome was set at 3 criteria, the new system had better sensitivity versus Ranson and Glasgow scores (70% vs 30% and 35%, respectively) and a better negative predictive value (91% vs 85% and 85%). The specificity (79% vs 94% and 94%) and positive predictive value (45% vs 57% and 61%) fell slightly. CONCLUSION: The new scoring system performs better in this group than do existing systems.
Three-dimensional finite element modeling of dynamic arc behavior in a dc plasma torch

Summary form only given. The behavior of the electric arc inside a direct current non-transferred arc plasma torch is simulated using a three-dimensional, time-dependent, thermodynamic equilibrium model. The fluid and electromagnetic equations are solved in a fully coupled approach by a variational multiscale finite element method, which implicitly accounts for the multiscale nature of the flow. Simulations of a commercial plasma spray torch operating with Ar-He under different operating conditions are presented. The obtained results show that, due to the imbalance between electromagnetic and flow drag forces, the arc is first dragged downstream by the flow and then jumps to form a new attachment, preferably at the opposite side of the original attachment, as has been observed experimentally. This is the first time that such behavior of the arc has been obtained in a numerical simulation. Furthermore, simulations of the torch operating with different total currents yields results which qualitatively reproduce the experimentally observed change of the behavior of the arc as the total current is decreased (as the arc is driven from a steady or takeover mode of operation towards a restrike mode): a decrease in the reattachment frequency and a transition of the voltage signal from periodic to a quasi-periodic with sharp fluctuations
Growth compensation for destroyed and replaced plants in Central African field tobacco

SUMMARY Plants surrounding a gap in stand compensated to some extent for leaf yield lost to missing plants. The contribution of plants in an adjacent row was much less than that of plants next to the gap within the row. Losses were reduced and quality was improved by replacing destroyed plants within two weeks of the original planting.
Total chemical synthesis and X-ray structure of kaliotoxin by racemic protein crystallography

Here we report the total synthesis of kaliotoxin by ‘one pot’ native chemical ligation of three synthetic peptides. A racemic mixture of D- and L-kaliotoxin synthetic protein molecules gave crystals in the centrosymmetric space group P that diffracted to atomic-resolution (0.95 A), enabling the X-ray structure of kaliotoxin to be determined by direct methods.
A Dynamic Analysis of Resale Price Maintenance: Inefficient Brand Promotion, Higher Margins, Distorted Choices, and Retarded Retail Innovation

This article responds to Professor Benjamin Klein’s recently published article that describes a comprehensive procompetitive rationale for RPM - resolving the incentive incompatibility between the brand manufacturer and the retailers that sell that brand. Retailers commonly have insufficient incentive to carry and promote products that, if effective distribution were available, would be highly profitable to the manufacturer. The Klein article uses a manufacturer profit/output standard to argue that RPM resolves this incompatibility in a procompetitive manner. I accept Klein’s premise that RPM is a way of encouraging retailers to carry and promote the manufacturer’s brand, but challenge his measure of procompetitive effect as inconsistent with the Sherman Act’s focus on competition, not profitability for individual market participants. I further develop salient features of RPM that undercut the Klein thesis, including the inefficiency of RPM as a brand promotion tool, the inflated manufacturer margins commonly associated with RPM, and the stifling effect of RPM on innovative and efficient retailing. An analysis of six contemporary RPM cases illustrates these anticompetitive effects and provides robust support for a strong presumption that RPM is a violation of the Sherman Act.
Public opinions on tax and retail-based tobacco control strategies

Background While tobacco taxes and smoke-free air regulations have significantly decreased tobacco use, tobacco-related illness accounts for hundreds of thousands of annual deaths. Experts are considering additional strategies to further reduce tobacco consumption. Methods We investigated smokers’ (n=2118) and non-smokers’ (n=2210) opinions on existing and theoretical strategies, including tax and retailer-based strategies in New York City, across three cross-sectional surveys. Results Compared with smokers, non-smokers were significantly more likely (p Conclusions While the support level varied between smokers and non-smokers, price and retail-based tobacco control strategies were consistently supported by the public, providing useful information for jurisdictions examining emerging tobacco control strategies.
The Effects of an Exercise Program in Leukemia Patients

Purpose. To examine the feasibility of administering an in-hospital exercise program to acute leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy. A secondary purpose explored the impact of exercise on selected physiological, psychological, and inflammatory markers. Methods. Ten patients, aged 18 to 50 years, diagnosed with acute leukemia or newly relapsed were assessed for body weight, height, body composition (skinfolds), cardiorespiratory endurance (total minutes on bicycle ergometer at 60% heart rate reserve), dynamic muscular endurance (Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute protocol), fatigue (Revised Piper Fatigue Scale), depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, National Institute of Mental Health questionnaire), and quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—General) at baseline (within 3 days of diagnosis) and at the end of induction phase of treatment. Blood draws were taken at baseline, midpoint, and at the end of induction for analyses of inflammatory markers ...
Growth, reproduction and survival of a tropical sea anemone (Actiniaria): benefits of hosting anemonefish

The ecological performance of the sea anemone Heteractis magnifica was examined during a 36-month experiment with respect to season and the presence and numbers of a mutualist (orange-fin anemonefish Amphiprion chrysopterus). Anemones primarily grew during the autumn, with most asexual reproduction occurring in winter; mortality was not strongly seasonal. Individual growth rates did not differ between anemones harboring one or two anemonefish, but these rates were three times faster than for anemones lacking Amphiprion. Anemones with two anemonefish had the highest fission rate, whereas those without anemonefish had the lowest. By contrast, anemones that were not defended by anemonefish suffered higher-than-expected mortality. As a consequence, anemones with two Amphiprion had the greatest net increase in surface area, and those lacking anemonefish had a negligible gain that was statistically indistinguishable from zero after three years. Anemonefish not only enhanced anemone survivorship as previously believed, they also fostered faster growth and more frequent asexual reproduction.
Trends in dietary patterns of Latin American populations

It is important to characterize the level and magnitude of changes in food consumption patterns in Latin American populations as they undergo demographic and developmental transitions because of the effects of such changes on the development and progression of chronic diseases. This paper examines trends in food intake across regions in Latin America. Although trends in apparent food consumption differ in magnitude and timing, the overall patterns of change are remarkably consistent. Intakes of total fat, animal products, and sugar are increasing, even while there have been rapid declines in the intake of cereals, fruit, and some vegetables. The costs of the increased prevalence of chronic disease associated with these dietary changes are already affecting health systems still coping with malnutrition and infectious disease. Because this pattern of change is predictable, it is important to learn from the experiences gained in countries that are more advanced in the transition. Efforts to educate the population on the importance of a healthy diet and to issue policies to improve the availability of a healthy food supply can help to reduce the rapid escalation of obesity and chronic diseases.
Devices to Treat Peripheral Chronic Total Occlusions

Chronic total occlusions occur in approximately 40% of patients with peripheral vascular disease and are a difficult lesion subset to treat by endovascular approaches. The challenge lies in the difficulty in placing a wire across the site of occlusion and remaining in an intraluminal position. Conventional percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty for chronic total occlusions involves advancing a stiff wire through the site of obstruction, has the chance for vessel dissection and perforation, and is associated with high rates of procedural failure. Several mechanical devices have thus been developed to treat peripheral chronic total occlusions. In this article, we provide a review of the currently available devices that may increase the procedural success of treating peripheral chronic total occlusions.
Quality of well being in panic disorder: the assessment of psychiatric and general disability.

Background: Panic disorder is a common and debilitating anxiety disorder which significantly disrupts the lives of patients and their family members. Recent epidemiological studies and analyses of data from clinical trials suggest that patients with panic disorder suffer significant work and social dysfunction. The authors hypothesized that this dysfunction could be characterized using both a well-validated, generalized scale of functioning and a specifically designed scale for assessing function in psychiatric patients and that these findings would correlate with symptomatology. Method: Fifty-six patients with panic disorder were characterized using the Sheehan Disability Scale, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index, and the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Scale. Measures of health related quality of life from the Quality of Well Being Scale were compared with ratings for matched, historical, and population controls. Results: Patients with panic disorder lost 39 quality-adjusted days for each year that they lived with the disorder. This decrease in quality of life is similar to what is observed in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes. Diminished quality of life is correlated with the number of panic attacks, state anxiety, and depressive symptoms. These patients also demonstrated significant dysfunction in Sheehan total disability and subscale scores, including work-related functioning. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the specific disabilities inherent in panic disorder can be linked to declines in quality of life as measured by the Quality of Well Being Scale and by measures of work-related dysfunction. Such an association between disease specific measures and a generalized measure of health related quality of life may offer clinicians a new tool to understand panic disorder and to conceptualize it within the broader context of disease and disability.
Analysis of iron transporters in the soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) genome

Iron plays a significant role in numerous cellular functions. Improved uptake and efficiency of use can have strong positive effects on the health of plants, animals and humans. Major players in iron homeostasis are the Iron-Regulated Transporters (IRT). The purpose of this research is to identify putative Iron-Regulated Transporter genes in soybean, structurally characterize these genes and examine their relational phylogeny. Additionally, gene sequence data and gene expression patterns will be considered to differentiate each gene’s potential role in iron homeostasis of soybean. In this study, we identified fourteen soybean gene models with significant predicted protein similarity to A. thaliana IRT genes by comparing translated amino acid sequences from nucleotide sequences. Two gene models are most similar to AtIRT1/AtIRT2, while a third protein sequence is most similar to AtIRT3. Predicted protein similarity between soybean IRT11 Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 2 USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit, Ames, Iowa, 50011 3 Interdepartment Genetics Major, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011
Dentists’ Responses to Fear- and Nonfear-Related Behaviors in Children

Dentists may respond differently to fear- and nonfear-related behaviors in children, and those responses may influence the children’s further behavior. This study examines that interaction.
Hybrid Image Source Encoding For Real-Time Image Transmission

It is often convenient to transmit video signals over a data channel. However, when a signal is digitally encoded using PCM, the data rate is extremely high. For example, using a 4MHz bandlimited video signal, the data rate is often 48-64 Mbs. Further, typical film based image sensors generate billions of bits of information which take a long time to convey over realistic data channels. Thus in applications where real-time image transmission is of interest there is a need to compress the analog video bandwidth. In this paper we report on experiments that use hybrid source encoding techniques to compress video images. We use analog coherent spatial Fourier filtering for preprocessing and real-time linear and adaptive video delta modulators to digitally encode video images. The effects of spatial filter and digital rate parameters on image bandwidth compression is determined. Results of amplitude companding using half-tone techniques are also considered.© (1978) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A scientific workflow solution to the archiving of digital media

This work explores the challenges of embedding long-term preservation processes into existing video production workflows. The challenges are many: size of video data, bulk and parallel transfer into the archive, automation of the processes, elimination of human steps, automatic triggering of the preservation workflows, replication of content, automatic extraction of metadata, and most important mechanisms to ldquohardenrdquo the automation by providing recovery mechanisms in case of errors and discrepancies. We present production-quality solutions that automate this process and make use of Kepler scientific workflows and Storage Resource Broker (SRB) data grid environments.
Membrane trafficking and osmotically induced volume changes in guard cells

Guard cells rapidly adjust their plasma membrane surface area while responding to osmotically induced volume changes. Previous studies have shown that this process is associated with membrane internalization and remobilization. To investigate how guard cells maintain membrane integrity during rapid volume changes, the effects of two membrane trafficking inhibitors on the response of intact guard cells of Vicia faba to osmotic treatments were studied. Using confocal microscopy and epidermal peels, the relationship between the area of a medial paradermal guard-cell section and guard-cell volume was determined. This allowed estimates of guard-cell volume to be made from single paradermal confocal images, and therefore allowed rapid determination of volume as cells responded to osmotic treatments. Volume changes in control cells showed exponential kinetics, and it was possible to calculate an apparent value for guard-cell hydraulic conductivity from these kinetics. Wortmannin and cytochalasin D inhibited the rate of volume loss following a 0-1.5 MPa osmotic treatment. Cytochalasin D also inhibited volume increases following a change from 1.5 MPa to 0 MPa, but wortmannin had no effect. Previous studies showing that treatment with arabinanase inhibits changes in guard-cell volume in response to osmotic treatments were confirmed. However, pressure volume curves show that the effects of arabinanase and the cytochalasin D were not due to changes in cell wall elasticity. It is suggested that arabinanase, cytochalasin D, and wortmannin cause reductions in the hydraulic conductivity of the plasma membrane, possibly via gating of aquaporins. A possible role for aquaporins in co-ordinating volume changes with membrane trafficking is discussed.
At-Risk Girls and Delinquency Career Pathways

Through fieldwork and in-depth interviews examining the careers of adolescent girls in the juvenile justice system, this article reveals some of the interaction processes by which challenges to parental authority may facilitate contact, entry, and movement through the system. Parents or guardians act as informal agents of control until a breakdown in family solidarity prompts appeal to more formal measures of control. These findings suggest the continuing significance of status offenses in the arrest and incarceration of girls. The 1974 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act restrained courts from responding vigorously to status-type offenses. This article illustrates how families, in their interactions with authorities, have negotiated alternative methods for dealing with troublesome teenage girls.